From the shadows of early network television comes Front Page Detective — a rare crime-drama series from the DuMont Network, first broadcast in 1951. Starring veteran actor Edmund Lowe as newspaper columnist David Chase, the show dramatized stories of intrigue and danger inspired by the popular Front Page Detective true-crime magazine.
In this episode, “Penthouse Jungle” (1951), a heated confrontation inside a restaurant sends reporter David Chase looking for a story. He seeks out the psychiatrist involved in the scuffle for an interview — but during that visit, Chase unexpectedly encounters a native princess and learns of her deadly skill with poison darts. What begins as a routine interview quickly shifts into a danger… and Chase may be the next one in her sights.
Cast: Edmund Lowe, Mary Dunhill, Gregory Gay, Marya Marco, Bob Stevenson, Rod Kurry
Original Airdate: December 21, 1951
Broadcast at the dawn of network television and preserved on film, Front Page Detective is one of the many rare series that disappeared after DuMont ceased operations. Thanks to our preservation efforts, this episode now survives as a glimpse into noir-style storytelling and suspense-driven atmosphere of 1950s crime television.
Restored and preserved on 16mm film by Moviecraft Inc.
Watch more Front Page Detective on Moviecraft Inc.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcRkOkCw9vqQbc0W7UkhuXE9alYiSt0w
Front Page Detectives delivers the latest crime news, investigations and case updates from across the United States and around the world…Watch on SloppBoxx.Com.
Thank you 👍I have been a fan of Edmund Lowe , since watching his great old movies .🥰Good story
I just started watching this picture got up to the dancing wife ready to turn to stupid.
I guess I’m the only one who thinks this picture should be put to rest. Maybe it’s him they are after not her maybe both.Why does she keep calling him? Why does he keep going to her? Why am I still looking at this picture? I guess I want to be fair wash till the end. She never stays where she is told to. I won’t be tuning in next week or ever. Supite. Dumb didn’t like at all.
Why would/should ya?
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I like Edmond Lowe’s, but the other actors are awful. It’s a nice relaxing foolishness.
Glad you found it relaxing!
Front Page Detective is fun! Thank you for posting the episodes.
So glad you’re enjoying it!
The preservation of this is archeology, and it’s availability now, from then, is utter sci-fi. A great, weird episode. Much thanks.
Our feeling exactly, every time we explore a new film from the vault to present here…it is science fiction in a way….
Good twist in the plot. I like this series.
This says episode was broacast in ’53…. I remember seeing either this shows opening with the chevron symbols and/or a commercial very similar in the late 50s, as I was born in 52.
I thank you Moviecraft, and a happy 2026 to all.
happy 2026
Great Episode 👌
V v charming and magnetic man!!
Ty for this slice of history
Glad you enjoyed it.
Great piece of story. I love Edmund lowe murder series . I love it very much. Thanks somuch . 😮😮😮😮😮😅😅😅😅😊😊😊😊
Glad you enjoyed this episode!
What becme of Dumont Network? I know the granddaughters of the owner, or president, Deborah, and Rachel, by way of my older brothers. I knew they were wealthy, because they belonged to Bethesda Country Club. I was too young to know much, but because Deborah, or “Deedee” as she was nicknamed, was the girlfriend , then wife, of my late brother, and childhood friend of my late sis in law, Cindy, I saw Deedee over the years. I never asked her about her wealth, or the network, I guess I’ll see if there are answers online about was it sold, or absorbed into another network. I very much enjoy the shorter formats of the shows.
That is a fascinating connection to early television history. The DuMont Television Network was one of America’s pioneering TV networks, but financial difficulties and limited access to affiliated stations eventually forced it to shut down in 1956. It wasn’t simply absorbed by another network, although its surviving television stations later became part of Metromedia and eventually the Fox network. We’re glad you’re enjoying these early, shorter-format programs!