Retro Radio Podcast

Returning to his office, Dick Diamond encounters a man with a case. He’s looking for a man named Louis Carnes, and he needs him in 5 hours. Why does Carnes need to be found? Why the time limit? Who cares, it’s worth $500 up front, and twice that once the job is done. The voice of reason ought to warn Dick Diamond off the case, but it doesn’t.

Police detective, Walter, is brought in to learn about the unusual man who came calling. Roger Vegas is a huge man with a nasty gray complexion. It isn’t hard to figure out that some sort of poisoning is involved, and the gray man is out for revenge at the attempt on his life.

His investigation leads Richard to the college campus to learn what kind of debt is to be paid back. What does Prof Carnes sister know of his disappearance?

Being the good detective, Diamond finds his man, now all that remains is to contact Vegas. What kind of fireworks might arise? Walter has some news on the gray complected Vegas, and how he got that way. The case becomes a race against time to prevent a murder, but who is going to die? A tale of blackmail and jealousy emerges as a motive, but no reason is worth killing some one.

Note: Arthur Q Brian is Walter. Dick Powell is Richard Diamond.

Announcer: Ken Niles. Music: Freddie Rich Orchestra,

Lou gets confused over Rudy Valle and singing through his nose. Does he have other unusual problems with his nose as well? Professor Mellonhead tries to coach Lou on how to properly entertain Rudy Valle. The rapid fire instructions on grammar, and eloquence would confuse any one, but even more so for Lou.

Freddie Rich plays, The Very Thought of You. In going to meet the famous singer, might Lou be jealous of Rudy as being a lady’s man? What eccentric behaviors does the entertainer have and expect of Bud and Lou? Kitzel is on hand to add to the eccentricities, but is it all a joke? Rudy enters with all the fanfare of royalty. Egos clash when Lou meets the famous guest..

A musical transition, and Public Service Announcement for the troops on saving plans fills time for the skipped commercial for AFRS.

Rudy builds Lou’s confidence by featuring him in a play he brought, which will begin right after a musical break. Connie Haines sings, Accentuate the Positive.

Presenting the stirring drama of Jack and the Beanstalk, Rudy narrates, and coaches Lou. In practice, Rudy reads the story, providing other voices and sound affect. Lou spends more time arguing over the lack of his lines, than having an actual part to read. You know the story, just enjoy it as Lou deals with his minimal contribution to it.

To fill more time for AFRS, music is added. Connie Haines sings, Making Believe.

Note: the movie, Jack in the Beanstalk, featuring Abbott and Costello, was released in 1952. Lou had a lot more parts to read, and act in that one. Find it on Youtube.

Busily preparing their museum exhibits, we find Lum preparing his speech for the anticipated lecture tour of the museum. As he works on what to say, Abner grumbles about the grind of tending to the exhibits. Now he has to take time away to listen to Lum practice.

Abner gets confused over stone tablets, wondering how many rocks it takes to make up one tablet. They must have had some husky scholars back in those days to tote them to school. Though he vows to keep his thoughts silent, Abner keeps interjecting comments as Lum ditalks about the museum displays.

What other ramifications does having to write on rocks have? Those poor old postal carriers. Their job must have been awful at Christmas time. Cedric enters to add to the interruptions. Will Lum ever get to deliver his speech? Confusion and interruptions continue to the end. Will their museum be worth the price of admission? Abner has his doubts.

It was ten years ago that Henry married Martha. Now in critical health, Martha leaves her desires for their daughter to be raised, and cared for. More time goes by, and Dorene has second thoughts about the man she is to marry. Has her behavior changed in the recent days? Is it an inherited disease that has lain dormant all these years that has begun to bother her?

Irving agrees to leave Dorene alone for her health, but later Clyde visits from Hollywood. Will Clyde be smitten by the red haired, green eyed daughter? Will she be just as smitten? But Clyde is already spoken for. Can Henry reason with Dorene, and talk her out of either suitor? Will it do to keep Dorene from love or being overly emotional, to keep her inherited tendency to murder under control?

In the morning, the inevitable happens, a body is found. Dorene seems the likely killer, but Irving confesses. Is it a cover up? There was a switch in rooms, and suddenly even Henry is a suspect. How will the cops figure it out with three suspects, each with the opportunity and motive for killing? The Whistler knows a few twists about psychic ability and emotional distress that’s sure to bring justice.

Billy Mills and his orchestra open with one of the hit songs of the year, Ma He’s Making Eyes At Me.

Feeling like it’s his day, Fibber expects a package, but instead a couple of girls, Charity and Faith have a word for the McGee’s. The little box contains an Egyptian good luck ring. Just rub it, say the magic words, and luck comes. Harlowe Wilcox arrives with a word, but the luck is the opposite of good. A phone call brings more bad luck, this time from the sponsor. A special delivery might be the luck Fibber wants, an inheritance from old uncle Spuds McGee. Said to have invented the potato chip. Harlowe Wilcox does a little hard sale of the sponsor product.

Down town, the McGee’s meet Abigail Uppington, to tell about her favorite classical composers. What will they find out in the lawyer’s office? The Old Timer is the elevator operator, calling out the departments as they go. Harlowe is back to twist the good luck charm theme into his sponsor message. The estate may have been a substantial one, but will there be anything left once the legal expenses are paid?

The Kingsmen sing, The Lamp Is Low.

Molly has had enough of the Egyptian ring, but Fibber has trouble getting it off. Will Teeny accept it if he can get it off? Will she think its so lucky? Nick Dipopolus finds the McGee’s on the street, but he isn’t interested in Fibbers ring either. Can Fibber slip the ring to his old pal Gildersleeve? Will there be a shift in the luck from bad to good?

Note: The lawyer is played by Gale Gordon.

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Featuring Glen Ford.

Based on the 1935 thriller by Alfred Hitchcock. An American tourist enjoys a show in a theater. The man with the amazing memory has his act interrupted with gunshots. Fleeing the seen with a woman, she shares that she is a spy, and passes off information code named, the 39 Steps. When she is stabbed, he flees, and a series of evasion, capture, and escape begins.

Along the way, a mastermind spy is encountered. The professor is a man identified by the missing tip of his little finger. Can he be trusted? Once again fleeing for his life, our hero is entangled with a woman on a train, evades the police, is wanted for murder, and may soon find himself falling back into the clutches of the professor.

Will he escape with his life? Will he face capture and trial by the law? Will the secrets in the 39 steps be kept safe? Thrills never cease as one set back after another need to be overcome.

Bonus Tracks

* Keith keeps it brief, since the feature is a long one. He compares the fugitive aspect with the 1960’s TV show. No direct connection.

* Harry Roy (1935) O You Sweet Thing

Things have been going so well with the museum and store that Lum figures its time to hire extra help. Why does Lum feel so guilty then, when Abner enters and asks who was on the phone? Thinking it was a sick feller named Tom, Abner wants to get a fruit basket to send over. What’s it going to take to get Abner on board to hire someone?

Lum tries to convince Abner that its OK to have women in the workplace, in these times of labor shortages. War plants do it. Hiring and training women to do the same kind of work as men. Abner just thinks women should stay at home. They can’t work, just stay home, doing all that woman work like washing, chopping fire wood, and all manner of household drudgery. Not real work.

Lum still tries to get Abner to recognize the place of women in jobs around town. Will some reverse psychology work? How will Abner react when he learns Lum already had a woman lined up to work in the store?

Notable Quote: Lum threatens. I’ll hit you in the head so hard you’ll have to untie your shoes to see where your going.

Bob “Army Camp” Hope tries out a few introductions and ad libs to start this rehearsal show. He talks about his reception, crap games, training and requirements. Other jokes include military life, dames, pilot testing, test flights, and more. Pvt Ben Gage, former cast member jokes with Bob about chasing girls, physical training, Bob being cheap, bosses, army life, and marching.

Francis Langford is joined by the Six Hits and a Miss to sing, South American Way. Joined by Rita Hayworth, flubs get Bob off track. Dating, flirting, appearances, and shortages are in the mix of joke topics. Also included are dating, money, Bing Crosby’s horses, military training, and inadvertent homosexual joke. Movies, and the behind the scenes life of celebrities is discussed, including dancing, leading men, and even bull fighting. The topics of flirting, and military life are revisited when Ben Gage returns to the stage and steals Rita’s attention away from Bob. Will the guys end up fighting over her? Skinny Ennis, with the Six Hits and a Miss sing, Army Air Corps March.

Skinny Ennis and Bob take part in a day of military training. They anticipate their dates with Rita and Francis. Topics of military life include early rising, sergeants, KP, fighting, traffic, and Jerry Colonna is on hand as a street photographer. The girls join the fray, and dating jokes abound. Dancing, kissing, being manhandled, photographs, and partying at Jerry’s house. Will something unexpected develop in Jerry’s photo studio?

Flashing back to last week when our little band of merry travelers were on the way to Yosemite, Don gives the details, as both Jack and Mary add skeptical remarks regarding their travels. Rochester sings as he drives, since there’s no radio in the car. Will he also imitate the radio dramas? Don and Dennis relax in the back seat, as the cast tell how their night in the motor court went. Cars race past, but has the Maxwell met its match on the tall hills?

A lunchroom, and a gas station loom ahead, and its time to fill some tanks. Mary’s sarcasm is strong as ever, but where has Dennis disappeared to? Let’s just say the implication is that he’s emptying his tank. Inside, the cast enjoy a sandwich, and Dennis plays one of his records on the jukebox, Darn that Dream.

Restaurant lingo abounds as Jack speculates on being ahead of Phil, and his racy sports car. Armed with a thermos of coffee, and sandwiches for the road, Jack drives to escape a parrot who is a fan of Fred Allen. Where did Dennis get to again… oh… he has more to empty from his tank.

After a little traveling music, the cars keep passing, including a horse drawn wagon. To keep Phil from passing, road hog Jack has to deal with a traffic cop. Can Jack whip out a sob story to win the cops sympathy? Finally arriving, and with a racial joke at Rochesters expense, Jack may find a set back waiting for him. The prospect of spending the night at the roadside, in the rain, in the cold, only drives Mary’s mood darker. Tune in next week to see how things work out.

The children ask Alice about her movie career. Among the scrap books is one documenting the courtship of Alice and Phil. Are there any regrets in being married? For that matter, is the marriage license legal, if Frankie signed a phony name? Phil figures he ought to propose to Alice all over again. Will she say yes? Will it be a romantic renewal of love? Alice sings, Nobody’s Chasing Me.

Down at city hall, Frankie knows a guy… but going Deep in the bowels of the building is a little too much for Alice. The guys go their way to finish making the arrangements. With two guys looking for a marriage license, it confuses the clerk who tries issuing them other kinds of licenses.

Trying to keep their celebrity re-marriage out of the press, Frankie handles applying for the paperwork… uh-oh, I feel a disaster coming on. Meanwhile, Julius shows up to misunderstand that it’s Frankie who is getting married. Will they find a Justice of the Peace who won’t recognize them? Will the names all be legal?