Transcript

A (0:10)

This is Case Closed Crime Stories from the golden age of radio.

B (0:32)

Sacky.

C (0:57)

Blackie, come on, wake up. Come on, wake up, Blackie.

B (1:03)

What's the matter, Shorty?

C (1:04)

Nothing's the matter, Blackie. There's an insurance man here wants to see you.

B (1:08)

Well, tell him I don't want any.

C (1:10)

I told him that, but he says he don't want to sell you nothing. He wants to give you something.

B (1:14)

Yes.

D (1:15)

$10,000, Blackie.

B (1:17)

Huh? Who are you?

C (1:19)

He's the insurance guy, Blackie.

B (1:21)

I'm sorry to disturb you so early

D (1:22)

in the morning, Blackie, but I'm Emil Barnes, agent for the Rodley Insurance Company.

B (1:27)

Well, that doesn't sound like any reason to wake me up.

E (1:30)

And I'm going back to sleep.

D (1:32)

Perhaps you'll open your eyes for $10,000.

E (1:35)

For that, I wouldn't even open one eye.

B (1:38)

No, no. Go away, little man. I'm sleepy.

D (1:42)

I realize that, and I hate to be so persistent, but, Blackie, I want you to do something for me.

B (1:48)

I want you to do something for me, too. Leave me alone. I won't offer you money again, Blackie.

D (1:57)

Instead, I'll offer you a mystery. A mystery I'll guarantee you can't solve.

F (2:10)

And now back to Dick Kalmer as Boston Blackie. Enemy to those who make him an enemy, friend to those who have no friend.

Summary

Case Closed! – "Boston Blackie and Michael Shayne"

Date: April 15, 2026
Podcast: Case Closed! (RelicRadio.com)
Episode Theme:
A classic double feature from the golden age of radio detective stories: first, Boston Blackie tackles a baffling diamond theft and murder in "The Stolen Diamonds," and then Michael Shayne is lured to Mexico for a crooked casino mystery in "The Case of the Crooked Wheel." Both stories immerse listeners in iconic 1940s noir, with shadowy crimes and clever detectives navigating peril and deception.

1. Boston Blackie: The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds (00:10–25:48)

Main Theme

Boston Blackie is enlisted by an insurance agent to uncover how diamonds keep vanishing from a tightly controlled jewelry setting room—a puzzle made even deadlier when the agent is murdered.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Blackie is Recruited for an "Unsolvable" Case

Setup: Emil Barnes, insurance agent, offers Blackie both a hefty reward and an irresistible mystery.
Situation: At Winthrop Jewelry, three diamond setters work in a locked room; diamonds disappear daily despite exhaustive searches and no outside contact.
- "Instead, I'll offer you a mystery. A mystery I'll guarantee you can't solve." — Barnes (01:57)

The Suspects & Circumstances

Suspects: Hans Van Houten (veteran from Holland), his protégé John Glass, and newcomer Jim Aldrich each bring lunch, never leave work, and are always searched—including via fluoroscope.
Constraints: No one enters or leaves, no obvious hiding places.

Blackie Goes Undercover

Blackie enters the shop as "John Jones."
Dynamics among the setters are tense; distrust and accusations abound.
- "We get searched like a bunch of thieves every time we leave work. But the diamonds keep disappearing just the same." — Aldrich (06:25)

The Impossible Theft

Blackie and sidekick Shorty inspect for possible hiding spots, including windows (but the 12th floor overlooks a river) and lunchboxes.
Discovery of a kernel of corn leads to an "aha" clue about lunch habits.
- "This kernel of corn for instance—why in the... Bird food. Mary, I got it." — Blackie (14:05)

Murder Complicates the Case

Emil Barnes is found shot dead as he leaves Winthrop Jewelry (10:16).
- "This fella's been shot... That's Barnes. Emil Barnes from the insurance company." — Winthrop & Blackie (10:25)
Inspector Faraday suspects one of the three men and ties the murder to the thefts.

Eureka: The Pigeon Scheme

Over a late-night snack, Blackie realizes the thief uses homing pigeons hidden in a lunchbox to fly out with diamonds undetected.
- "The diamonds fly out the window... attached to homing pigeons." — Blackie (15:11)
The theory: thief brings in a pigeon, ties diamond to its leg, releases it from the window when no one's watching.
Faraday, unconvinced but desperate, searches lunchboxes next morning—finds only lunches. Blackie expects the thief has “gone cold” due to the scrutiny.

The Rooftop Stakeout & Resolution

Blackie and Shorty stake out Van Houten’s roof pigeon coop, expecting to catch him.
Instead, they catch John Glass in the act.
- "Hey, Blackie, that wasn't Van Houten. That was John Glass!" — Shorty (23:41)
Glass attempts a rooftop escape, falls to his death ("Step back, Shorty, or you might. Wow. That's the end of John Glass." — Blackie, 23:53).

The Reveal & Epilogue

Glass used Van Houten’s pigeons (unknown to their owner) and custom capsules to smuggle diamonds.
Glass also killed Barnes after overhearing hints the case was nearly solved.
- "He got the idea when he became friendly with Van Houten... He used Van Houten's pigeons to fly the diamonds back here. And Van Houten didn't know a thing about it." — Blackie (24:48)
Memorable banter closes out the case:
- "How’d you get away with it? You don’t know anything about diamonds."
- "Are you kidding? I don’t know anything about diamonds?" — Mary and Blackie (25:36)

Notable Quotes & Moments

[02:10] "Enemy to those who make him an enemy, friend to those who have no friend." — Narrator
[14:14] "Bird food. Mary, I got it!" — Blackie’s realization
[23:49] "Step back, Shorty, or you might. Wow. That’s the end of John Glass." — Blackie
[25:11] "He found several [capsules] in the pigeon coat. And one with the diamond still in it." — Blackie

2. Michael Shayne: The Case of the Crooked Wheel (26:10–51:00)

Main Theme

Detective Michael Shayne is hired by a flamboyant casino owner in Mexico to uncover how someone is cheating his roulette wheels, but quickly finds himself entangled in violence and betrayal.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Shayne’s Unusual Client

Ramon Paquito, casino owner with a penchant for “giving away money,” fears a scam is bankrupting him.
- "I give away thousands of pesos, free gratis, for nothing. No obligations." — Paquito (28:22)
Paquito fears he could “commit a murder” if the cheating continues.

Arrival & Trouble in Mexico

Shayne’s first steps in Mexico get him roughed up by local goons, rescued by the enigmatic Gabby.
- “You and I—a man head deep in nothing.” — Shayne, after being beaten and waking to Gabby (26:41, 31:52)
Gabby warns Shayne to leave, hinting at lethal consequences.

Inside the Casino

Shayne observes the Paquito Casino, meets Mark Hagen (the croupier), who defends the establishment’s honesty.
Shayne witnesses a cheating con: planted accomplices use hidden chips under bills—one gets ejected, the other collects undeserved winnings.
- “You were the little man in the dinner jacket. You threw down a hundred peso note with a blue chip underneath it. You get thrown out, dinner jacket collects 35 for one.” — Shayne deducing the scam (37:40)

Danger and Alliances

Shayne is shot while following the cheater, cared for by Hagen (who proves to be an ex-surgeon).
Suspects include Mark Hagen, Gabby, Hugo (the brute), and Drew (the dapper cheater).
- “Taking bullets out of people… It’s an old hobby of mine.” — Hagen (40:19)
Shayne tries to connect Hagen's old surgeon skills to possible roulette manipulation—suggesting Hagen could control the ball with great dexterity.

The Big Heist

Gabby and Hagen make a bold final play at the roulette table, exploiting Hagen’s skills to stack enormous winnings for Gabby.
Paquito, suspicious, stages a test—Gabby wins a string of improbable bets.
Drew joins for a "last spin," staking all on Gabby's number.

Violent Climax

As the wheel spins, Hagen and Drew draw weapons. In a blur, Hagen kills Drew, but is fatally shot himself (48:01).
Gabby flees; Shayne chases her to her room, where Hugo confronts them, gun drawn.
Gabby kills Hugo to save herself (and, incidentally, Shayne).

Resolution

Shayne exposes Gabby: she was double-crossing everyone. She and Hagen had fixed the wheel, and she tried to cut in with Hugo and Drew as well.
- “You thought you could double your profits by throwing in with Hugo and Drew. Maybe you were gonna double cross them, too. I don’t know.” — Shayne (50:04)
Gabby tries to seduce Shayne into running off together, but he calls the police instead.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

[28:14] "I give away thousands of pesos, free gratis, for nothing. No obligations." — Paquito, setting the tone
[41:19] "An ex surgeon could get the same idea. A man who could do things with his hands. Intricate things. What other reason for the roulette wheel on that table over there? Practice." — Shayne’s theory
[45:43] "On the next spin, the girl won again. Then she lost. Soon she began to double her bets and kept winning..." — narrator, building suspense
[48:01] The double-cross and shootout at the roulette table—a classic radio drama climax
[49:32] "Aren’t you going to thank me for saving your life?" — Gabby to Shayne, after shooting Hugo

3. Timestamps for Key Segments

00:10 – Opening; "Case Closed Crime Stories from the golden age of radio."
01:57 – Barnes offers Blackie the "unsolvable" mystery.
10:13 – Barnes is found murdered.
14:05 – Blackie’s corn kernel clue and revelation.
15:11 – Blackie outlines the pigeon-smuggling theory.
23:41 – Rooftop confrontation: Glass caught; his fatal fall.
25:48 – Boston Blackie case wrap-up.
26:10 – Michael Shayne story begins.
28:22 – Paquito worries about his "habit" of losing money.
31:53 – Gabby warns Shayne to leave Mexico.
37:40 – Shayne explains the casino con.
41:19 – Shayne's roulette wheel theory.
45:43 – Gabby’s "lucky" winning streak.
48:01 – Shootout between Hagen and Drew.
49:32 – Gabby kills Hugo; Shayne sees through her scheme.
50:31 – Episode close.

4. Tone & Original Language

Both dramas crackle with noir wit and hard-boiled banter, delivering puzzles laced with suspense, sly humor, and the kind of fast-paced, character-driven dialogue that defined mid-century radio mysteries.

5. Episode Highlights & Lasting Appeal

Ingenious solutions to "impossible" thefts—pigeons in Blackie; sleight-of-hand and rigged roulette in Shayne.
Classic detective tropes—undercover work, mistrust, sudden violence, and the key clue hidden in plain sight.
Memorable side characters: wisecracking sidekicks, tough-talking police inspectors, and femme fatales.
Each story closes with a nod to classic detective humility—victory tinged with rueful humor and romantic misdirection.

Perfect for:
Fans of vintage mystery, lovers of 1940s detective dialogue, and anyone wanting to hear how the masters of Old Time Radio spun two classic "locked room" puzzles into rich, atmospheric entertainment.