Retro Radio Podcast

With the school term at Yale over, Frank and Bart make summer plans. In New York, they are to make a cash payment at an art studio, and have the painting delivered later. I feel a mix up coming on. A newspaper reporter from the art section wants to see the painting before it gets shipped. It’s pronounced a fake, but who switched it? The studio, or another patron who was there?

Confronting the art dealer, the mystery behind the switch is investigated. The painting is verified as not only a fake, but not even a good one. Is the dealer’s reputation on the line? The frame is the same, but is it possible for the frame to have been switched? The custom frame, and its maker are easy enough to trace.

The framer sets Frank on the trail of the thief, but he needs to hurry before the ship sails from the harbor. Or is there some other clue to put Frank onto the real thief? Its time for a showdown, and Frank rounds up all the suspects for a dramatic conclusion.

The new vocal feature, the Kingsmen open with a song, Can’t You Take a Joke.

Molly has to help reign in Fibbers tongue as he crawls in through the window. He fell out after having a nightmare. She has surprises in store for him for his birthday, starting with breakfast plans. Gildersleeve pops in to spread cheer, and is oblivious to Fibbers insults.

More interruptions to the wheat cakes and sausages come in the form of the Old Timer. He tells it the way he hear’d it about bowl weevils. Bugle Nose McGee boasts about his Army days. Harlowe Wilcox pitches the sponsor in a bit of hard sales.

Stuffed after his breakfast, Fibber can hardly buckle his belt. He and Molly head out, and encounter Abigail Uppington. She has to explain her embarrassing limp today. Harlowe is next on their walk, but will he weave in another commercial? Somehow the McGee’s do it for him. Boomer is next on their brisk walk. Will he have tickets for the film, Pinocchio? Or just a lot of other scraps? The Kingsmen sing, Old MacDonald.

With all the sweetness and light coming Fibber’s way, he’s getting suspicious. Teeny meets up with the McGee’s but will she give into Fibbers desire for a fight? Will Fibber finally get his chance for an argument, when he breaks Gildey’s window?

Note: in this episode, Gildersleeve has both a wife, and a mother in law in his home. Later, on his own show he would be single, and never married.

Bob “Easter Parade” Hope jokes about all manner of egg jokes from coloring them, to chicks, hens, and more. More Easter topics include bunnies, gifts, the parade, but a flub has Baffled as he works out his timing. Celebrities, styles, girls in slacks, lilies, and more. Open toe shoes, furs, military fashions, zoot suits, and clothes shopping. Traffic, defense plants, victory suits, women’s hats, dresses, and more.

Francis Langford sings, I Don’t Wanna Walk Without You. Glamour girl, Brenda Marshall joins Bob to complement each others looks. Topics include fashion, clothes, shoes, the parade, tattoos, photographers, taxi’s, neighbors, eggs, housing shortages, and more. Movies, actors, compliments, love scenes, leading men, Sweetie Face, and more. After a flub, the talk and name dropping of celebrities continues.

Bob compares the styles between James Cagney, and Charles Boier. Will the French style help Bob on his date with Brenda? Maybe the tough guy type will win more points as Bob portrays James Cagney. Dating, fighting, kissing, fashion, dancing, nightclubs, and more. Skinny Ennis is joined by the Six Hits and a Miss to sing, Breathless.

Finding himself in jail, Bob has Skinny Ennis for his lawyer. What if the roles were reversed? What if Bob tries to break out? How does a lonely prisoner pass his time? Will Skinny’s correspondence course in law do the trick for Bob? Cliches of prison pictures abound. Elsewhere, Brenda complains to Francis about the dirty deeds that Bob has done. The girls describe the mishaps across the court room between Bob and Skinny. Judge Jerry Colonna presides. The judge is harsh on the cases on the docket. Will Bob stand a chance in the face of Jerry’s wackiness? When Brenda takes the stand, the men of the court are putty in her hands. Its up to Bob to take the stand in his own defense in the verbal sparring and confusion from Jerry.

A second box was delivered before the deal could be closed to sell the business back to Squire. Today the gents go through the new items, but none of it seems to be treasure.

A minor problem arises, and Lum questions why the boxes are sent to Abner, and not Lum.

Abner stalls, but is Lum correct in thinking that Abner made out to be the top man in the treasure company to the farmer in Tennessee?

The new shipment still impresses the townfolks. Will the gents loan it out? Will they sell some of it? it must be valuable if it was buried… right?

The gents decide to put their goods on display in their very own museum. Abner getss confused over an 80 year old man, while discussing museums. The whole time, Sister Simpson chatters on the prty line. Has she overheard the plans for a museum? Is this the kind of business where you can just sit and haul in the money? How will they be able to fit the store business into the museum business?

Rolling the clock back to the end of last week’s benefit for the March of Dimes, Jack and the cast share some behind the scenes moments. They critique their jokes, as they keep up the gags for this week. Phil reveals his new joke writer as, Bellylaugh Barton. Jack reveals their next trip starts in the morning, a ski trip to Yosemite. Always the coach, Jack advises on what kind of clothes and gear to buy. Mary resists the early rise time, then Dennis Day sings, It’s A Blue World Without You.

In the morning, Mary Livingston is far from sharing Jack’s enthusiasm. Even the sales clerk is less than helpful as Jack outfits himself. The rest of the cast pop in to round out their gear, but only Phil seems to be hep with the salesman’s jive. Phil plays some jazzy traveling music.

Snuggled under blankets, Mary’s dark mood keeps the bite in the chilly ride for the cast in Jack’s car. Rochester’s comments confirm the broken down state of the Maxwell. Only Don is able to nap, and mumbles a commercial in his sleep.

Phil Harris zooms past, but with night falling, its time to pull off at a motor court. The rooms are full, and the cold, hungry, cast push on through the night. With only Jack’s enthusiasm and cheer to keep them going. Stay tuned to see how they hold up… next week.

With food prices skyrocketing, Alice wants to reduce the budget. Phil confuses her desire to reduce with going on a diet, and she pokes fun at his age. Naturally, Willie has something to say about high prices. Can Phil buy a week’s worth of groceries for $10 or less? That would be quite a feat, even for 1951 dollars. Frankie enters to get the scoop from Phil about the bickering over the grocery bill. Alice sings, I Hear Singing.

Rising to the challenge to snip the budget from $35 to only $5, Phil and Frankie do the shopping. Alice tags along in disbelief. What kinds of deals will be found at Joe’s Supermarket and Reclaimed Food? Phil figures a wholesale house will do the trick. Doesn’t that mean he has to buy in bulk? Phil sings, Possibilities.

To store the hundreds of pounds of meat he bought, Phil sets out to buy a commercial deep freeze. Despite wanting a legitimate dealer, Frankie knows a guy… and Grogan has just what he wants Phil to need. At home the meat has been delivered, along with Julius, who adds to the comedy of errors. Julius gets to test the walk in freezer, but it turns out to be a… well, just listen to the episode to figure it out.

Note: Frank Nelson is the grocery store owner, Joe. Sidney Sheldon is IJ Grogan.

Some sources list this show as I have in the title, but others list it as The Ruby of Caraval, which is how it’s announced in the show itself. It’s likely also misdated, and should be 471121. You can hear this show without the opening content by Keith and the Retrobots elsewhere on the site. Search for the show title, Ruby of Modoc.

My original show notes: A

car crash draws the attention of lawyer, Lamonte Cranston, and his secretary, Margot Lane. The petty burglar who died in the wreck is found with a valuable ruby that has an ancient curse on it. As Lamonte investigates, more details about the ruby and its strange curse emerge.

The ruby is returned to the famous actor who recently owned it, but is the curse causing deadly terror? What is really going on with the gunshots in the actor’s mansion, and the murder? The Shadow knows. Spooky things are afoot, and the truth of the mystery will be revealed when you listen in to join the Shadow as he lays his trap for the bad guys, and exposes the secret of the curse.

PS: Although, if you ask me, the killer is pretty dumb in his attempt to kill everybody in the house to try to get the ruby.

Note: Here’s why I think the date is wrong… The sound quality seems to be right for the era, but at the time, Orson Wells was the voice of the Shadow. Also, near the end Margot Lane clearly mentions the year being 1947. The calendar date fits in better with being an episode from 1947 as well.

Bonus Tracks

* Keith takes a voicemail messge, (401)753-4844, and responds with today’s feature.

* We also share a few items happening in the world news at the time this show likely aired in 1947.

* Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens – Louis Jordan 1947

* When the Retrobots have a small disagreemen, Keith steps in with, Feudin’ And Fightin’ – Dorothy Shay 1947

Taking a well deserved rest, Holmes and Watson attended a Shakespearean festival. The beauty of the place is enough to make Holmes almost wish he was a man of wealth. The luxuriant peacefulness ends when a gunshot echoes near our detectives. Though hit in the shoulder, Holmes seems unhurt as he listens to the rabbit hunters.

His collapse startles Watson, but Holmes later reveals he had a reason for feigning his collapse. Mrs Markham has crossed paths with Holmes in the past. Were there other accidental mishaps with firearms then too? Believing Sherlock to be laid up, Watson is invited to join the Markhams and actor friends, and admires hunting trophies. Concern that Mrs Markham might be planning to kill her husband is uncovered. Holmes reveals evidence about his shooting that escalates the possibility of danger.

Back at the Markham home, Mr Markham accuses his wife of pushing him into the lake. A large life insurance policy, on top of a suspected affair with an actor seems to be more than enough motive. Holmes returns , and hasn’t been idle in investigating. What cards does he have up his sleeve? Not only does Sherlock have the matter figured out, he is able to prevent a murder, he resolves a few other loose ends.

Texas rail men need the relentless Wild Bill to get bandits who place the lines. On the train, aunt Sara manages to milk Jinglees for information about the gang, though Bill prefers he keep things quiet. When the bandits strike, Bill is recognized. He lost his element of surprise, and caught in the crowded passenger car, he can do little.

Watching for his opening, Bill thwarts the efforts with good old fashioned fist fighting, but the gang leader gets away. Aunt Sara isn’t discriminating when she dotes on the hand cuffed prisoners, helping Jingles to guard them. Have the good guys been lulled into complacency? Will Bill be in danger as he pursues Roman Gall?

The chase is on to get to the hideout. Using some sneaky tricks of his own, Bill gets the jump on Gall. The advantage is short lived when the gang catches up, but will Jingles save the day, or will he and Bill end up in trouble? Stand by for lots of fist fighting, gun shooting action before its all done.

Dreams of wealth have come crashing down. The box of treasure the gents found was discovered to be worthless. Tom Foster is on the phone to ask for donations to the church. How can Lum face up to letting the town know their treasure is worthless? Will Lum try to still put on a good front, and pretend they were rich?

Lum doubtds any of the rest of the stuff is worth anything either. Now he’s back to mistrusting the kindly old farmer. Has he cheated them? Abner is optimistic that the ceap stuff was buried on top. The good stuff must be buried underneath it.

Folks in town are pleasant, but the gents gripe about everyone thinking they’re rich and having a hand out.

Squire comes around to ask about their wealth. What is he up to? Does he still expect a piece of the pie, even after selling out his part of the treasure company? His investment might be the way for Lum and Abner to get out of the embarrassment of the company free and clear.