Retro Radio Podcast

On the way to school Walter discusses the recent basketball games with Clay City. Do they actually have a chance to win with the transfer of Tex Barton to Madison high? The good natured, drawling student thinks at first that Connie is Walter’s mom. Then he invites himself for dinner with the English teacher. Harriet seems smitten at first sight of the tall Texan. How will Mr Conklin receive the new student?

Conklin isn’t keen on the new student. What has him so stressed out over the sports losses to Clay City? Doesn’t he realize that Tex is a top scoring athlete on the court?

Before long Connie has yet another man horning in on having dinner with her. Boynton wants to check out the new potential basketball star too. In a candid moment, Tex reveals that he actually isn’t the basketball star everyone thinks he is.

Gifts are showered on Tex, and the matter of a passed along box of French chocolates makes an interesting, and dangerous round. . But is it as interesting and hazardous as revealing the mix up over Tex?

After visiting the studio to see why he hasn’t starred in another movie, Phil continues pursuing a serious role. Alice and Willie listen to his woes at his method acting style. In the studio, Frankie and the band get in their jokes at Phil’s expense. Will the guys be able to play the kind of dramatic music Phil needs to improve his image? Alice sings, It’s A Lovely Day Today.

Going to visit the writers of the show, Phil is impressed with the mansion. how does Frankie know where Mr Singer lives? Will Phil be able to get better lines on the show? Who is the real boss on the show, Phil or his writer? Not getting anywhere, Phil and Frankie decide to ad lib the show. They decide to re-write All About Eve, giving it an all male cast.

Phil issues the parts, taking the role Bette Davis played, and the production of All About Clyde begins. Veteran actor, Phil, recounts his many awards. The aging actor is paranoid, and blames his writers. Rising star, Frankie idolizes Phil. Julius helps with parts, and moving the play along. Soon Frankie is given a break and horns in on Phil. Where will this go, once Frankie becomes the aging star?

Extortionists demand payment. Will the answer be in swiping famous jewels for a big payoff? Hot rubies are usually not marketable, but the seven armed statue of the goddess has a home with a mystery client.

At the upscale party, the special occasion where the rubies are traditionally worn, of Course, Hollis is denied cash from his aunt to pay his debts. As she locks them into the safe for the evening, she has a premonition that she’ll never wear the Eyes of Sheba, ever again. Is it only because of theft, or will murder enter the picture?

A week has gone by, and the press is putting the heat on the cops for not solving the crime. What can Jim Brandon, and his secretary Fern do to help?

Tailing the suspects, Fern thinks that Hollis can’t be guilty. She and Jim describe the events at the country club as they watch. When Hollis turns up strangled, the case seems to be set back. Jim is sure he knows who the killer is, all he has to do is find him again. Was the stolen jewels hidden in golf balls that were sliced into the rough on the golf course?

A trap is set for Croft, but he may be too smart for Fern’s ruse. It takes the Avenger’s invisibility power to get the drop on the killer before he can do worse. I’n the hands of the cops, all the mystery is explained.

For a change, as is his usual custom, Jack introduces Don in honor of his 17 years in broadcasting. Fat jokes pepper the sentiments. Phil Harris and Mary Livingstone enter to honor Don, and Mary reads a poem for the occasion. The ever compliant Dennis Day enters and sings, Some Day You’ll Find Your Bluebird.

The play is introduced, based on the hit film Mr Smith Goes to Washington. Before it begins, Jack is scoffed over not winning an Academy Award. Parts are assigned, and a phone call from Rochester adds to the delays. Carmichael the polar bear has been acting up, and Rochester has trouble figuring his income tax. Phil Harris plays, Something or Other.

Frank Nelson helps to describe the scene as the local Waukegan boy does good, and sets out for Washington. Will Mr Benny find answers in the senate? Don’s speech is a motivational pitch for the sponsor. With Dennis as president, bills pass through the senate floor, but will anything new be passed? Or is all that gavel pounding just Dennis cracking nuts? Will senator Benny have his shining moment to deliver his speech?

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On the street, Richard talks with the newsboy about the woes of being a private detective. When Jeff springs for a treat at the malt shop, his bill is found to be a phony five spot. He gets his big chance to keep an eye out for the guy who he made change, while Richard reports the counterfeit to the cops.

Why does Walt think that every time Richard shows up, there’s a body involved? Walt Levinson knows about the bogus bills, but its outside his department as a homicide cop. Jeff phones in a tip, and Diamond is hot on the trail. His shakedown goes wrong, and Walker hits the streets on the run.

The trail gets dangerous when Richard faces the business end of a pistol. Fast thinking, and quick action turn the table. Will Walt get that body that he teased Richard about? It turns out that Walker was the only known link the cops had to the counterfeit ring, but can Richard help find the operation?

Jeff, while manning his station in the ice cream parlor, may be able to pick up on the gang, if he lives long enough to tell anybody. Richard has to retrace his steps, and danger is renewed when he’s back in the bar where he first encountered Walker. Guns blaze, fists fly, and Jeff gets to tag along with Richard on a hot date with his favorite red head.

Lizabeth has finally learned of Abner’s poppa coming to visit, and is recovering from the shock by getting his room ready. In the store, the gents discuss the arrival. Mose has phoned to warn Abner to keep his poppa away from his barber shop. Even US Quincey has a problem with the expected visitor.

The cantankerous old gent has yet to arrive, and Lum wonders if he got lost somewhere, or got into an argument that delayed him. The phone keeps ringing, but it goes unanswered. Abner has had enough of people telling him to keep his poppa away from them.

Lum finally answers, but Abner gets confused over what it means to reverse the charges. Does he need to back up to the phone? The long distance call is hard for Abner to understand, and Lum doesn’t do much better. All they know is that Phinus is mad over something. Will they figure out where to go to pick him up?

When other investigators have been driven away, it’s time to get Nick Carter on the job. Things get interesting pretty quick, as he mobilizes his team. Stubby and Patsy keep watch, as Nick thrusts himself into checking out the mining operation.

Special lead lined caskets are brought in to handle the bodies from the previously killed detectives. Hey, what’s the third one for? Stubby needs to be careful, or it might be for him. Nick suspects there’s more to the caskets, and hides out in one to go for a ride.

The crooks think they’re in the clear, until Nick makes his move. Has he thought of everything, or will Nick have the tables turned on him? Help comes from an unexpected direction. Has Nick finally blown the lid off the mystery at the Flying Duck Mine?

Note: This is a little longer than my typical Retro Original installments. Please let me know how you liked the added content… or not.

The pretenders ride in their brand new 1947 convertable cars to take us to fairy land.

Once upon a time, three brothers had offended a witch, and are now facing their fate. her magic spell turns the handsome men into ugly, frog like creatures. Their fine home is turned into a mud hut. Time passes, and a girl seeks shelter from the raging storm outside. Help for the brothers can only come if it’s not asked for, or explained. It can only be volunteered, of free will.

Mellalot is a brave girl, and has her own request of the ugly brothers. The storm has blown the roof off her house. The brothers make the repairs, and a grateful Mellalot can’t repay them, since she has nothing to offer in her humble cottage. How did bread and milk for the brothers appear out of nowhere? Her mothering instincts mean the brothers are shown hospitality, fed, and given a comfortable place to rest.

The magical things keep coming when fairies get involved. Selfless deeds continue for the gentle and true Mellalot, and the brothers. Will their secrets be revealed? Will their spell be broken? What’s in it for Mellalot for all her help?

Bonus Tracks

* Keith tells about last month’s National Fairytale Telling Day, and a spontaneous tale, thanks to Facebook followers.

* Also some personal thoughts on the Let’s Pretend series,

* and a reminder of how to support the podcast financially, using the Piggy Bank icon, or Amazon ads.

Even hard working law men need time to rest, and soothe aches and pains. At doctor’s orders, Jingles is told to take it easy. Try as they might, gunshots ring out to put an end to a day of relaxation.

Some well placed shots from Bill send the bandits on the run. It’s now up to our heroes to rescue a lady from a run away buckboard wagon. What’s her story, and why were the bandits after her? Marjie’s dad was shot back at their gold claim. Is Jingles nerves up to lending a hand? Danger is sure to be waiting for them.

Guns blaze as Bill and Jingles fight their way out of a trap. As Bill takes after the bandits, Jingles cares for the wounded miner. Fists fly, and guns blaze as first the bandits have the upper hand, then Bill and Jingles. Will they ever make it? Will Jingles get much of a vacation? The doctor seems pleased with the results of the quiet living.

Homicide Detail. Thousands of people crowd the streets, and one of them is a killer.

On the way back from dinner, Joe is invited to a party later at fellow cop’s house, Jack Connley. Joe describe how New Years is the hardest working day of the year for a cop. Responding to a shooting, Joe and Ben race their patrol car to the scene. Jack is the downed cop, but with the crowded street, nobody actually saw what happened.

The festive atmosphere in the Connley home has the night ruined when Joe has to deliver the sad, somber news that Jack isn’t coming home. The manhunt continues, but leads all point back to a bar near the crime scene including a cabbie with a description of a goofed up man, acting queer. Why is the bar owner so reluctant to cooperate? A heroine addict is identified, and Joe is soon on his trail.

In voiceover, Joe Friday describes the trail of clues. At a Salvation Army band meeting on the skid row street, Joe interviews a pusher who has gotten his act cleaned up. Though the informant thinks the sidewalk meetings would do well to save Harry’s soul, it’s not going to help keep him out of trouble with the law. A knock at the door, and Harry goes down in an explosion of gunfire and fists.