21st Precinct: Old-Time Radio Detective Drama

Captain Frank Connelly of the 21st Precinct in New York is on patrol when a bartender, Charlie Burgess, runs into the street and reports a shooting at a bar and grill. Officers rush to the scene and find the bartender Dutch shot dead. Charlie gives an account of two holdup men, but his descriptions shift and his story is questioned by Lieutenant Matt King and the district attorney's men. Charlie is taken to the Bureau of Criminal Identification to look through mug shots, where he picks out a man he says shot Dutch. Detectives follow the lead, tracking the suspect through a car and a girlfriend. This is 21st Precinct, first broadcast on July 21, 1953. The story is carried by Ken Lynch as Captain Connelly and Will Spahrick as Lieutenant King.

With Captain Frank Connelly, Lieutenant Matt King, Charlie Burgess, Dutch, Al Hance, Wanda, Johnny Farrell, Detective Fox.

Listen for: Charlie's shifting account of the holdup men and the mug-shot identification that leads detectives to Al Hance.

First aired on July 21, 1953.

Episode notes written with AI from the recording itself; the audio is the original broadcast.

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Captain Canelli of the 21st Precinct in New York City takes an interest in a case involving seventeen-year-old George Roth, arrested for robbery after muggings on the street. His mother, Mrs. Roth, who runs a small candy store, asks the captain to talk to her son and find out why he did it. Canelli questions George and arranges for victims to view a lineup in an effort to identify him. When George escapes and disappears into the neighborhood, the precinct launches a citywide search and puts his home and store under watch. The episode is an installment of the 21st Precinct series, first broadcast on CBS Radio on July 14, 1953.

With Captain Canelli, Mrs. Roth, George Roth, Lieutenant King, Detective Jim Tully, Patrolman Johnny Farrell, Sergeant Klein.

Listen for: Captain Canelli's conversations with Mrs. Roth and George, and the lineup scene

First aired on July 14, 1953.

Episode notes written with AI from the recording itself; the audio is the original broadcast.

Free, complete and restored, no modern ads. A new episode every week: 21st Precinct on Stupid Potato, every episode so far and the episode guide.

Stupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

Captain Frank Tenelli, commander of the 21st Precinct, is called back from a night out at the theater when three escaped bank robbers are reported hiding in an apartment on East 69th Street. Patrolman Johnny Powell passed along the tip after a boy named Richie told him about the men across the hall. Lieutenant King plans a raid, and Tenelli questions Lois Doney, who rented rooms to the men. When her account suggests the men might be armed and ready to resist, the operation is moved up to the earlier hours. The episode is part of the 21st Precinct series, which first aired on July 7, 1953.

With Captain Frank Tenelli, Ellen Tenelli, Lieutenant King, Johnny Powell, Lois Doney, Marie Doney, Carl Roth, Sergeant Klein.

Listen for: Johnny Powell explaining how he learned about the three escaped bank robbers from the boy, and Lois Doney's interrogation

First aired on July 7, 1953.

Episode notes written with AI from the recording itself; the audio is the original broadcast.

Free, complete and restored, no modern ads. A new episode every week: 21st Precinct on Stupid Potato, every episode so far and the episode guide.

Stupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.