The First Letter
Begin with the opening adventure and meet Dan as a new correspondent draws him into a murder accusation.
Listen to this episode ↗Crime & Detective
Box 13.
Alan Ladd is Dan Holiday, a former newspaperman who invites strangers to send him adventures for his next story. The replies to Box 13 bring blackmail, deception and danger to his door, with loyal secretary Suzy helping him through the trouble.
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A writer who goes looking for trouble.
Dan Holiday has left newspaper reporting for fiction, but he still needs something worth writing about. His solution is to advertise in the Star-Times for unusual experiences. People reply to the newspaper's Box 13, and Dan follows the invitation into circumstances that rarely stay harmless.
It is an inviting twist on the private-eye story. Holiday is chasing material rather than collecting a detective's fee. The opening letter gives each adventure a fresh starting point, while Alan Ladd's restrained delivery and Suzy's comic misunderstandings give the series its familiar rhythm.
Three letters worth opening.
Box 13 · THE COLLECTION
Choose your next episode.
Choose from 52 episodes. Search by title or sort by running time. Some episodes have two available recordings.
Showing 1-20 of 52 recordings.
The Treasure of Hang Li
26:33 · 2 recordingsShanghaied
27:00 · 2 recordingsDouble Right Cross
26:46 · 2 recordingsHouse of Darkness
26:31 · 2 recordingsActor's Alibi
26:15 · 2 recordingsLook Pleasant, Please
26:49 · 2 recordingsDouble Mothers
26:52 · 2 recordingsDeath is a Doll
26:31 · 2 recordingsDan and the Wonderful Lamp
26:31 · 2 recordingsFlash of Light
26:33 · 2 recordingsMexican Maze
26:30 · 2 recordingsDesign for Danger
26:30 · 2 recordingsExtra! Extra!
26:32 · 2 recordingsThe First Letter
26:36 · 2 recordingsRound Robin
26:31 · 2 recordingsFind Me, Find Death
26:31 · 2 recordingsTempest in a Casserole
26:33 · 2 recordingsDelinquent's Dilemma
26:26 · 2 recordingsHunt and Peck
26:33 · 2 recordingsLast Will and Nursery Rhyme
26:33 · 2 recordings
The directory follows the order of the available collection. Historical dates, where verified, are explained in the episode guides.
One series, more than one broadcast calendar.
Mayfair Productions made 52 transcribed stories for syndication. Radio Archives documents West Coast Mutual broadcasts from 15 March 1948 to 7 March 1949, followed by an East Coast run through WOR from 22 August 1948 to 14 August 1949. The UMKC premiere entry likewise distinguishes the two schedules.
That is why a date in one episode log need not be a universal premiere date. These are 1940s radio adventures, but this website keeps historical broadcast references separate from the modern publication dates of Heritage Radio Vault's recordings.
Did you know?
The Box 13 address belongs to a newspaper's correspondence box. It is the device that brings the next stranger into Dan's life, rather than the name of a detective agency.
Radio's Dan Holiday also reached television: Alan Ladd returned to the role in Committed, a 1954 General Electric Theater production adapted from a Box 13 story.
Before you listen.
Is Dan Holiday a private detective?
His background is newspaper reporting and his new profession is writing fiction. Investigating the adventures sent to Box 13 supplies material for his stories. [1]
Do I need to listen to Box 13 in order?
The adventures are self-contained. The First Letter is a helpful introduction to Dan and the premise, but you can choose another story without completing a serial. [1] [4]
Why are 52 episodes shown alongside 104 recordings?
The website groups 52 story titles. Each has two existing Heritage Radio Vault uploads, which remain selectable on one episode page. Recording notes explain what the comparison can establish.
If you enjoy Box 13.
The Whistler
For self-contained mysteries shaped by deception and consequences, with a framing narrator rather than Dan's investigations.
The Adventures of Frank Race
For a recurring adventurer whose investigations move into insurance intrigue and international danger.
The Adventures of Rocky Jordan
For another resourceful civilian drawn into trouble, this time around a Cairo cafe.
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Sources and recording notes.
Programme and historical references
- Radio Archives, Box Thirteen Volume 1 programme history ↗
- Radio Spirits, Box Thirteen: Hot Box ↗
- Ivan G. Shreve Jr., Box Thirteen: Hot Box programme guide ↗
- UMKC RadioGold Index 45552, The First Letter ↗
- UMKC RadioGold Index 8329, Last Will and Nursery Rhyme ↗
- UMKC RadioGold Index 45554, Shanghaied ↗
- UMKC RadioGold Index 60289, Book of Poems ↗
Heritage Radio Vault recordings
Official Box 13 recordings ↗ supplies the available audio, artwork and modern recording metadata.
Programme history comes from the historical references below. The 52 story pages group 104 existing Spreaker uploads. This website preserves every recording choice and keeps the two source-file labels separate; a title or matching duration does not by itself establish identical audio.
Historical references and modern publication dates describe different events. Sources checked 4 November 2026. Original scripts, recordings, performances and music may carry rights belonging to their respective owners. For corrections or rights enquiries: markwilliams@heritageradiovault.com.