With July 4th right around the corner, we’ve got a quartet of radio mysteries involving great figures and moments of American history. Henry Fonda recreates his role of Young Mr. Lincoln in a radio version of the classic film on Academy Award (originally aired on CBS on July 10, 1946). Honest Abe is a lawyer who must clear his wrongfully accused clients of murder. Lee Bowman plays Allan Pinkterton, one of America’s most celebrated detectives, as he investigates a case of robbery and murder in “The Pinkerton Man” from The Cavalcade of America (originally aired on NBC on November 18, 1946). A recently released convict falls in with a gang that forges correspondence from historical figures in “Letters from Aaron Burr” from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on November 20, 1949). And “the man with the action-packed expense account” hunts for a stolen original copy of the Gettysburg Address. Bob Bailey stars as Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar in “The Meek Memorial Matter” (AFRS rebroadcast from March 3, 1957).

We’re tipping our deerstalker cap to Basil Rathbone in celebration of his June 13th birthday. Of course, we’ll hear him as Sherlock Holmes in three old time radio adventures from Baker Street - “Murder in the Casbah” (originally aired on Mutual on December 3, 1945), “The Indiscretion of Mr. Edwards” (originally aired on Mutual on February 4, 1946), and “The Adventure of the Uneasy Easy Chair” (originally aired on Mutual on May 13, 1946). Plus, he plays John Adams in his pre-presidential days as a lawyer defending British soldiers involved in the infamous Boston Massacre. We’ll hear Rathbone in “John Yankee” from The Cavalcade of America (originally aired on NBC on August 29, 1950).

Happy Father’s Day! We’re celebrating dear old Dad with a collection of radio mysteries featuring fathers. First, Ellery Queen and his police inspector father collaborate on a case of smuggling and murder. Larry Dobkin is Ellery in “Number Thirty-One” (originally aired on NBC on September 7, 1947). Next, George Valentine is hired by a convicted killer's son to clear his father’s name. Bob Bailey stars in “The Father Who Had Nothing to Say” from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on September 13, 1948). Then, meet private eye Joshua Sharp - known to his kids as The Big Guy. Henry Calvin plays the shamus and doting dad in "The Unheard Voice" (originally aired on NBC on May 7, 1950). And finally, Philip Marlowe hunts for a missing son for an ailing father. Gerald Mohr plays Marlowe in “The Last Wish” (originally aired on CBS on July 19, 1950).