That Hammer Guy

That Hammer Guy was based on that hardest of hard-boiled detectives, Mike Hammer, subject of the detective novels by Mickey Spillane. Erratic, mercurial, and violent, Hammer meets legions of shady characters as he fights his way to solve the mystery of the week with the stalwart assistance of his beautiful secretary, Velma.

The Mike Hammer character was popular from the first novel, I, the Jury; it has spawned comic books, movies, and at least three television series. One TV series in the 1950s starred a young Darren McGavin; two, one in the 1980s and another in the 1990s, starred Stacy Keach. I am not a fan of the Hammer novels, but I must say that I like Stacy Keach's Mike Hammer, particularly the 1980s version; the 1990s series had a much darker tone.

The radio show aired from 1952 to 1954. During its run, three different actors played Hammer, while Jan Miner played Velma, as well as many other female roles.

Learn more at the Old Time Radio Catalog.

Series description provided by Frank Bell.