Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police was an action-packed radio adventure series that aired weekly from January 2, 1937, to May 25, 1940. The plot follows 15-year-old pilot Speed Gibson and his friends as they take on international crime and the sinister Octopus, an elusive criminal mastermind, thanks to Speed's uncle Clint Barlow, a member of the International Secret Police. Speed's sidekick, Barney Dunlap, and Clint Barlow are played by John Gibson and Howard McNear, respectively.

The series, written by Virginia Cooke, features two main story arcs: "The Menace of the Octopus," which sees Speed and his friends pursuing the Octopus and his gang throughout the Orient, and "Speed Gibson And The Atlantian Syndicate," where the chase continues on the African continent. The show gained success for its aviation-based adventures, complete characters, and thrilling action, making it a popular choice among young listeners. Notably, all 178 episodes have survived intact.