Lost Crime Shows - Volume 1 (The Shadow / Unsolved / Chicago 2-1-2 / The Bogus Green) – DVD

Take a walk on the dark side of the street, where a constant battle is being waged between the pervasive forces of corruption and the brave men dedicated to the cause of justice. These four episodes are rare treasures from the vaults of unsold crime show pilots of the 1950s.

The Shadow: In "The Case of the Cotton Kimono," Lamont Cranston investigates the murder of a beautiful young singer. Suspects include the woman's lecherous music teacher and her jealous boyfriend, but only the Shadow knows what evil lurks in the heart of the real culprit. Starring Tom Helmore, Paula Raymond; Directed by Charles Haas.

Unsolved: Someone kills racketeer and club owner, Martin "Mugsy" Heidel in this thinly veiled retelling of the unsolved 1947 murder of Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, the infamous Las Vegas developer. Starring Simon Oakland, Joe DeSantis; Directed by Charles Rondeau.

Chicago 2-1-2: A serial arsonist is terrorizing Chicago with a string of deadly blazes. Inspector Ed McCook suspects that the perpetrator is among the crowd of curious spectators at the crime scene. Starring Frank Lovejoy, Roy Thinnes; Directed by Norman Foster.

The Bogus Green: Before the Big Top comes to town, circus advance man Brass McGannon arrives to grease the wheels, making all the necessary arrangements with local officials, police and press. But counterfeit money has also been appearing wherever the traveling show goes, spelling big trouble for McGannon. Starring Preston Foster, Martha Vickers; Directed by Lew Landers.

• television