Episode 145 – Wisdom of the East (Adventures of Charlie Chan)

From his first appearance in 1925, Charlie Chan has been a captivating yet controversial figure in the world of detective fiction. Earl Derr Biggers created the avuncular Hawaiian police detective and family man to dispel the "Yellow Peril" fear of the Chinese in America, and the character's popularity kicked off a long, successful run of B-movies. But the broken English and stereotypical traits have alienated Chan from some modern audiences. Ed Begley stars as Charlie in a mystery that hits too close to home – the kidnapping of his Number One Daughter! – in this episode rebroadcast on Mystery Playhouse from the Armed Forces Radio Service.