Case Closed! – Jeff Regan and Philo Vance [May 6, 2026]
RelicRadio.com
Episode Overview
In this hour-long episode, “Case Closed” delivers two classic radio mysteries from the golden age:
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Jeff Regan, Investigator: "The Gambler and His Lady" (original air date: Dec 11, 1948) – A gritty Los Angeles investigation entangles Regan in a web of romantic deception, murder, and a high-stakes fur heist.
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Philo Vance: "The White Willow Murder Case" (original air date: Mar 22, 1949) – The cerebral investigator unravels the murder of a stockbroker, diving deep into a tangled net of suspects, motive, and clever forensic clues.
Both stories showcase the classic hard-boiled detective style: sharp dialogue, shady characters, fast twists, with overlapping themes of greed and betrayal.
Part 1: Jeff Regan, Investigator – "The Gambler and His Lady"
Main Plot (00:10 – 29:39)
- Regan (Jack Webb) is tasked by his boss “the Lion” to help a frantic mother, Mrs. Bascom, whose daughter Georgia has taken up with gambler Louie Desmond.
- The investigation leads Regan into LA’s dingier corners—hotels, gambling clubs, and wealthy Beverly Hills homes—where nothing is as it seems.
- A supposed romantic elopement gives way to murder, revenge, and a high-value fur heist.
Key Moments & Timestamps
- Regan’s Worldview (01:36):
- Classic opening monologue paints a noir Los Angeles:
“Four story apartment building the color of a rainy afternoon. They call it the Haven Wood. It sags in the middle like a tired frankfurter… The town’s all right, I guess, if you can afford the sedatives…”
- Mrs. Bascom’s Plea (04:40):
- She’s desperate to keep Georgia from “a real bum” like Louie Desmond, fearing for her daughter's safety and virtue.
- Quip by Regan:
“She’s old enough to call her plays.” (05:07)
- Confrontation at the Five Aces Club (07:30):
- Regan runs into Desmond’s muscle, then meets Louie, only to find Georgia with a wedding ring and plans to “go away” with the gambler.
- Georgia, showing off her ring:
“Look, Regan, three carats with a wedding band to match.” (09:32)
- Murder Strikes (12:32):
- Regan arrives at the Bascom apartment to find Mrs. Bascom has been shot. Homicide, led by detective Sanducci, is on the case.
- Sanducci to Regan:
“You’re pretty far from home. How’d I get around?” (12:49)
- Regan follows the fur trail (21:26):
- Max Loper, a suspicious furrier with a cube habit, visits Regan. Loper fears being framed but dodges the truth.
- Loper (jitters):
“I want you to prove to them I wouldn’t do a thing like that.” (22:20)
- Loper is shot on Regan’s doorstep.
- Everything’s a Con (24:45):
- The Lion discovers Georgia’s marriage is a sham; Desmond was already married to Stella—a heavy-drinking wife with a jealous streak.
- Showdown at the Lorena Hotel (25:24):
- Regan corners Georgia, exposes her involvement in the fur heist and the elaborate deception.
- Georgia breaks under pressure, blames Desmond for the murders.
- Climax (26:41-28:35):
- Louie Desmond appears, holding Regan and Georgia at gunpoint. Stella, the real wife, intervenes with a gun of her own. Georgia and Louie’s plot unravels.
Notable Quotes
- “Go home and pull a blanket over your head and say it’s all a bad dream.” – Louie Desmond to Regan (08:52)
- "You’re the only guy in town who can turn a shaving cut into a bankroll.” – Regan to the Lion (11:30)
- "That whole setup’s a phony." – The Lion, blowing the case wide open (24:45)
Conclusion (28:35–29:39)
Desmond and Georgia’s fur scam is exposed thanks to Regan’s persistence and the Lion’s research; Stella’s jealousy acts as the catalyst for downfall. In classic noir fashion, justice is ultimately served—mostly by circumstance—and everyone is left a little colder and a little sadder.
Part 2: Philo Vance – "The White Willow Murder Case"
Main Plot (31:11 – 56:32)
- Stockbroker Stuart Ames is murdered after his bad tips ruin George Leroy, who soon vows revenge. Nate Amico, a gangster, and Dawn Vander, a nightclub singer entangled with both men, are swept into the case.
- District Attorney Markham and detective Philo Vance piece together the solution using minute forensic clues—an impression in a matchbook cover, cigarette brands, and alibis.
Key Moments & Timestamps
- Leroy Vows Revenge (32:51):
- After losing everything on Ames’ “dog stock,” Leroy snarls,
“You don’t think I’m going to take a loss like that lying down, do you?... Somebody’s going to take it lying down. But it won’t be me."
- Love, Betrayal, Blackmail (33:23):
- Dawn’s affair with Ames threatens her relationship with gangster Nate Amico, who oozes jealousy and menace.
- Hiring a Killer (36:37):
- Leroy tries to pay Amico to kill Ames; Amico chillingly responds he might “do it for the fun of it.”
"Maybe this is one job I don’t do for money. Maybe Ames gets knocked off just for the fun of it."
- Philo Vance on the Case (38:21):
- Vance, with Markham, gets details of the murder: a burning cigarette left at the scene (Ames didn’t smoke), a sports jacket button in Ames’ hand, and zero signs of struggle.
- Vance instantly deduces the button is "planted" and useless, focusing on the real clue: a matchbook cover with distinct fingernail markings (42:00).
- Women and Smokers (47:01):
- Vance interviews Dawn in jail. Her lighter is new—and tricky—suggesting it was a recent purchase to cover up a habit exposed by the fingerprinted matchbook.
- Cigarette Trap (50:46):
- Vance confirms with a tobacconist that Dawn bought the lighter and brand-new cigarettes to hide her true habits.
- Unmasking the Killer (52:28):
- Vance confronts his suspects. Leroy admits to hiring Amico, but Vance isn’t satisfied:
“Not quite, Markham. Not quite.”
- Vance’s Solution (53:16–55:53):
- Vance expertly explains how the clues point not to Amico or Leroy, but to Dawn:
- Cigarette left without lipstick? Dawn used a holder.
- Switched to a new brand to throw the police off.
- Bought a new lighter to avoid leaving matchbook traces.
- She marks her matchbooks unknowingly, as seen during her jail stay.
Notable Quotes
- “Finding murderers consists exclusively in knowing where to look.” – Philo Vance (38:43)
- “The answer is simple: she had a perfect self-defense alibi, an alibi you would have given her. But she might have gone to the chair if Nate Amico had ever decided to talk about her killing Ames.” – Vance’s summary (54:13)
Memorable Moments
- The Button Red Herring (40:00):
- Vance instantly dismisses the “button clue” as a plant—showcasing the detective’s sharp logic.
- The Matchbook Clue (42:00/53:16):
- The forensic detail—a nervous habit imprint—leads Vance straight to the real killer, despite red herrings and conflicting testimonies.
Conclusion
Vance exposes Dawn as Ames’ killer. Motive: rejection and lost money. The murder of Nate Amico, done while Vance and Markham listened, provides a ready-made alibi, but Vance is not fooled. A perfect blend of psychology, forensic evidence, and deductive reasoning leads to the truth.
Episode Highlights & Takeaways
Important Segments (Timestamps)
- [01:36] – Jeff Regan’s opening internal monologue sets the noir mood.
- [07:30] – Regan vs. Louie Desmond’s goon at the Five Aces Club.
- [12:48] – Discovery of Mrs. Bascom’s murder.
- [21:26] – Furrier Max Loper’s confession and subsequent murder.
- [24:45] – The Lion explains the "phony" marriage.
- [25:24] – Final confrontation with Georgia Bascom; Desmond’s downfall.
- [32:51] – Leroy threatens revenge in Philo Vance episode.
- [38:21] – Vance and Markham begin the "White Willow" investigation.
- [42:00] – Discovery of matchbook cover clue.
- [47:01] – Vance interviews Dawn, focuses on her lighter and smoking habits.
- [53:16–54:53] – Vance meticulously reveals how he deduced the killer’s identity.
Final Thoughts
This episode exemplifies the best of Old Time Radio crime drama: vivid settings, crisp dialogue, ethically gray characters, layered mysteries, and razor-sharp deductions. Both Regan and Vance solve their cases with experience and intuition, revealing the timeless allure of the hard-boiled and the intellectual detective.
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