Broadway Is My Beat: The Jane Arnold Murder Case 05/19/1950

Summary

Broadway Is My Beat: The Jane Arnold Murder Case

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Host: Choice Classic Radio
Release Date: May 7, 2025
Original Air Date: May 19, 1950

Overview

"Broadway Is My Beat: The Jane Arnold Murder Case" is a gripping episode from Choice Classic Radio's collection of old-time radio detective stories. Starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover, this episode delves into the mysterious death of Jane Arnold amidst the vibrant yet perilous backdrop of Broadway. The narrative intertwines elements of showbiz intrigue, personal vendettas, and supernatural undertones, culminating in a classic whodunit resolution.

Setting the Scene

The story unfolds on the illustrious yet treacherous stretch of Broadway, described by the narrator as "the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world" ([00:26]). Detective Danny Clover is introduced as the protagonist navigating the murky waters of New York's entertainment underbelly.

The Crime and Initial Clues

The episode kicks off with the discovery of Jane Arnold's lifeless body on a wooden platform, dressed in a "glittering sequin covered suit of tights." The narrator sets a foreboding tone: "the faint color of death at her lips tells you it's a L. I." ([01:16]). Robert Rover, an entertainer affiliated with the International Order of Fuzzy Bears (IOOFB), reports the incident, hinting at foul play through suspected poisoning ([02:04]).

Character Introductions and Interrogations

Detective Clover begins his investigation by questioning key individuals involved in the gala where Jane Arnold was found dead.

• Robert Rover ([00:45] - [03:44]): Rover explains the festive atmosphere disrupted by Jane's sudden death. He suspects poisoning, noting, "She was poisoned. Why else would she die without a mark on her?" ([03:03]).

• Marvin the Great ([02:15] - [03:06]): Marvin, a magician and hypnotist, claims ignorance about the cause of death but indirectly acknowledges the poisoning by stating, "She is not hypnotized. She is dead." ([02:15]).

• Celia Stewart and Ernie Stewart ([05:02] - [07:56]): Celia, a dancer, and her husband Ernie, a ventriloquist, are introduced. Ernie exhibits signs of distress related to his ventriloquist dummy, Waldo, hinting at deeper personal issues ([05:16] - [07:56]).

Uncovering Evidence

Detective Clover pieces together clues pointing towards a conspiracy within the entertainment circle.

• Baggage Check Mystery ([10:54] - [12:20]): A six-month-old baggage check from the Strand Hotel linked to a dummy named Waldo raises suspicions. Robert Rover reveals that unclaimed baggage like this is auctioned off, leading to the identification of Louis Granger as the purchaser ([12:20]).

• Investigation of Louis Granger ([12:20] - [13:13]): Clover locates Granger at his residence but finds him unresponsive. Upon further inspection, it is discovered that Granger was poisoned ([12:50] - [13:13]).

The Twist: Ernie and Waldo

The plot thickens as Ernie Stewart's relationship with his dummy, Waldo, becomes central to the mystery.

• Ernie and Waldo ([16:34] - [21:08]): Detective Clover discusses theoretical aspects of the case with his superior, introducing insights from "Detective Frisbee Novotny." The conversation hints at the supernatural abilities of Jane Arnold and the enigmatic nature of ventriloquists. Ernie's emotional attachment to Waldo is scrutinized, suggesting his potential motive ([16:34] - [21:08]).

• Revelations from Waldo ([20:51] - [21:08]): Waldo begins to "speak," revealing critical information about Celia Stewart's motive. The dummy accuses Celia of jealousy and deceit, implying her role in Jane Arnold's murder ([20:51] - [21:08]).

The Culprit Revealed

Through meticulous investigation and supernatural hints, Detective Clover unravels the truth behind Jane Arnold's death.

• Confrontation with Marvin the Great ([19:32] - [21:22]): Clover interrogates Marvin, who dismisses any connection to Jane's death. However, inconsistencies in Marvin's demeanor and his relationship with Jane raise red flags ([19:32] - [21:22]).

• Final Confrontation with Celia Stewart ([24:00] - [28:44]): Celia Stewart is confronted with the evidence and Waldo's revelations. Under pressure, she admits to her motives driven by jealousy and her desire to keep Waldo with Ernie, leading to the poisoning of Jane Arnold and the murder of Louis Granger ([24:00] - [28:44]).

Conclusion and Resolution

The episode concludes with the arrest of Celia Stewart, providing closure to Detective Clover's investigation. The interplay between human emotions and the eerie presence of Waldo adds a layer of depth to the narrative, making it a quintessential old-time radio detective story.

Notable Quotes

• Robert Rover on Poisoning Suspicion ([03:03]):
  "How the girl dies is beyond my realm. Did you not see it too? You from the police?"

• Celia Stewart on Ernie and Waldo ([05:23], [07:12]):
  "Waldo sat on my lap and talked to me. No one talks to me anymore."
  "We work club dates and conventions, social. We bump into each other sometimes."

• Marvin the Great on Ventriloquists ([20:51]):
  "They are a strange group of men. A dummy is their soul."

• Waldo's Revelation ([27:07] - [27:47]):
  "Jane Arnold suspected it was Celia who had gotten rid of me. And because she liked Ernie and was worried about what happened to me, she kept looking through Celia's thing."

• Celia Stewart's Admission ([25:46] - [28:44]):
  "I'll kill him. He won't take you away from me, Ernie."
  "We can be together now, Ernie."

Insights and Themes

The episode explores themes of obsession, jealousy, and the blurred lines between reality and performance art. Ernie Stewart's dependency on his dummy, Waldo, serves as a metaphor for the destructive nature of unhealthy attachments. Celia Stewart's actions underscore the lengths individuals may go to preserve their sense of happiness and control.

Conclusion

"Broadway Is My Beat: The Jane Arnold Murder Case" masterfully combines traditional detective storytelling with unique character dynamics and eerie undertones. Detective Danny Clover's relentless pursuit of the truth amidst the glitz and glam of Broadway offers listeners an engaging and suspense-filled auditory experience.

Transcript

[Larry Thor]

Welcome to Choice Classic Radio where we bring to you the greatest old time radio shows like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube and thank you for [e-mail].

[Narrator]

Broadway's My Beat From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world.

[Larry Thor]

Broadway's My Beat. With Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover.

[Narrator]

Broadway's fury shrieks through the chasms of the city. And finally, the edge of fury washes against a doorway in a side street. The door opens and a voice asks a question. You answer the voice and it leads you down a littered hallway, pulls aside a frayed curtain half torn from its wooden rings, escorts you to the center of a wooden platform circled with pale anonymous faces and says, there.

[Robert Rover]

There she is.

[Narrator]

Under the naked white glare of a single spotlight lies a girl in a glittering sequin covered suit of tights. She's like a piece of sculpture torn from its pedestal, but the faint color of death at her lips tells you it's a L. I. Then the voice once more.

[Robert Rover]

We would have preferred to welcome you to the IOOFB in another way, in other circumstances. But the I be the International Order of Fuzzy Bears.

[Narrator]

Oh, and you're the head bear.

[Robert Rover]

Oh, no, no, no, no. I'm only the fuzzy bear in charge of entertainment.

[Larry Thor]

Robert Rover.

[Robert Rover]

Most people call me Bob. I sort of make a hobby of entertainment. That's why the fellas, the other Fuzzies voted me.

[Narrator]

Just tell me what happened, Mr. Rover.

[Robert Rover]

Well, we were in the midst of our gala spring get together. We always get together at the end of the hibernation period.

[Narrator]

Tonight, Mr. Rover, what happened tonight?

[Detective]

Tell you.

[Robert Rover]

All of us Fuzzies were having a jolly good time, very jolly.

[Ernie Stewart]

When.

[Robert Rover]

Well, I don't know what happened. I. I really don't know. Except that girl.

[Marvin the Great]

Perhaps I can assist you.

[Narrator]

Oh, you're.

[Robert Rover]

He's not one of us, Mr. Clover. He's only one of the entertainers here.

[Marvin the Great]

Please, Mr. Rover. I am Marvin the Great. A magician, a clairvoyant, a hypnotist.

[Narrator]

And the girl?

[Marvin the Great]

She works with me in my act. I put her in a trance, command her to perform the wishes of our audience. Then, like this, I release her.

[Robert Rover]

See? He did it again, Mr. Clover. He's been doing that for an hour or so. And she won't come out of it, as some of the bears who have been studying hypnotism tried it too. But still, she won't come out of.

[Marvin the Great]

It because she is not hypnotized. She Is dead. Any fool can see that. Did you not see it too? You from the police?

[Narrator]

Yeah. Yeah. I'd say poisoned. The color of her lips, the blue tinge. Wait. Her eyes. I'd say poisoned. Wouldn't you, Marvin?

[Marvin the Great]

How the girl dies is beyond my realm.

[Narrator]

Who is she? Huh?

[Robert Rover]

Oh, I have her name here on my list. Just a moment, please. Here it is. This one is Jane Arnold. Check. And Jane Arnold. The other entertainers were.

[Narrator]

Give me that list, Mr. Over.

[Robert Rover]

Of course, of course.

[Narrator]

How long have you been working with a girl, Marvin?

[Marvin the Great]

Two years, maybe three.

[Narrator]

You knew her well, then?

[Marvin the Great]

Only as a girl I hired to give femininity to my acts. I only knew her well enough to call her on the telephone and tell her I had a job for her.

[Narrator]

Someone wanted her dead. Who would that be? Beyond my red.

[Robert Rover]

One moment, please. I'm thinking.

[Narrator]

Huh?

[Robert Rover]

I'm thinking. I. I've got it.

[Narrator]

What? The murderer. Tell me too, mister.

[Robert Rover]

Oh, you say she was poisoned?

[Narrator]

Well, maybe.

[Robert Rover]

Absolutely. She was poisoned. Why else would she die without a mark on her? She was murdered by one of us. Either a fuzzy bear or one of the entertainers. The murderer is among us.

[Narrator]

Go on, mister.

[Robert Rover]

Oh, I knew if I put my mind to it, I could solve it. Before the show we were all being jolly. Very jolly. Liquids were flowing out of paper cups into our mouths. And some into the entertainer's mouths too. Someone. Someone slipped poison into a cup and murdered this Jane Arnold. But who have that? And we've got it solved.

[Narrator]

Brilliant, Mr. Rover. For a fuzzy bear, that's brilliant. The glow wore off. The boys from Technical arrived. Photographs and prints and questions and the thousand details that attend violence at 4 o'clock in the morning. An addition was made. Anyone or everyone in the hall could have slipped poison into Jane Arnold's drink. I told the bears to go home. And so did I. About nine, the routine started again. The questioning of the performers who had left the hall. Stop number one. The pull the bed down from the wall. Apartment of Celia Stewart, dancer.

[Celia Stewart]

Say, you're from the police.

[Narrator]

That's right.

[Celia Stewart]

Please come in. Sit down, please.

[Narrator]

Thanks.

[Celia Stewart]

Ernie. Ernie, we got a visitor. ERNIE'S My husband, Mr. Clover. Ernie.

[Ernie Stewart]

You calling me, Syl? You calling.

[Celia Stewart]

Pardon me, Mr. Clover.

[Waldo]

Oh, Ernie.

[Celia Stewart]

Come on. Come on, get up. Now. Ernie, stop it. Come on. We've got a visitor. There we are. This is my husband, Mr. Clover. Ernie. Mr. Clover.

[Narrator]

Hello, Ernie.

[Ernie Stewart]

Hello. I fell down. Would you like a drink, Mr. Clover? Do you think it's too early to have a drink?

[Narrator]

Thanks. Not now.

[Ernie Stewart]

Waldo would never Join me either. He was a good boy. Did you know Waldo, Mr. Clover?

[Narrator]

No.

[Ernie Stewart]

He was a good boy.

[Celia Stewart]

He was a fine boy, Ernie, but he ran away.

[Ernie Stewart]

He ran away, sir. Why did he go? You. You, Mr. Clover. Tell me why he ran away.

[Narrator]

I don't know, Mrs. Stuart.

[Celia Stewart]

Waldo and Ernie were a team of ventriloquist tunes.

[Ernie Stewart]

The best.

[Celia Stewart]

The best, Ernie.

[Narrator]

Waldo was. Oh, Ernie is a ventriloquist. And Waldo.

[Ernie Stewart]

Waldo sat on my lap and talked to me. No one talks to me anymore.

[Celia Stewart]

I do, Ernie.

[Ernie Stewart]

You do?

[Celia Stewart]

You don't understand, do you, Mr. Clover? Ernie had a dummy, Waldo. That was the act. Somehow Waldo got lost. You see what it's done to Ernie?

[Narrator]

Why doesn't he get another one to make one?

[Celia Stewart]

Oh, you laugh. He's done that. He can't get another dummy to talk to him.

[Narrator]

Oh, about last night, Mrs. Stewart.

[Celia Stewart]

I read about it. I'm sorry about it.

[Narrator]

Why did you leave before the entertainment was over?

[Celia Stewart]

If you've seen my act, you know why. Besides, I had Ernie to take care of.

[Narrator]

Ernie was there.

[Celia Stewart]

I don't leave Ernie alone.

[Narrator]

Mr. Clover, did you know Jane Arnold?

[Celia Stewart]

Of course. Dozens of us, Mr. Clover, in New York entertain, as we call ourselves. We work club dates and conventions, social. We bump into each other sometimes.

[Narrator]

I see.

[Celia Stewart]

I didn't kill her. That's what you're trying to ask me. Everybody liked her.

[Ernie Stewart]

I liked her. She liked Waldo. I liked her. Mr. Clover.

[Narrator]

Uh huh.

[Ernie Stewart]

Have you seen Waldo? No one has seen Walter. Where is he seated?

[Narrator]

Where is he? His body, his hands, his eyes pleaded in a beggar's whimper. Then he gave up. Ernie crumpled to the floor again and the agony inside him took hold and shook him. His wife watched him for a moment, went over and spoke quietly to him.

[Celia Stewart]

Ernie, get up. Ernie, please get up.

[Narrator]

Ernie and I got out. The second on the list of entertainers was Joe Lily, described as a comedian. Sight or talk can be reached through Rialto agency on West 45th. At the agency, a scrub woman told me no one was in. They were never in. If I wanted Joe Lily, try Charlie's Bar and Grill. That's where the clients hung out, waiting for a call, moaning it up and waiting for a call at Charlie's Bar and Grill. They pointed out the comedian to me. They knew that because he was the only one in the joint laughing. Don't it kill you? Don't it kill you where it hurts? What a name says to him for cheap. What will he do with the feathers? Kills you. Close your eyes because I got another one. Yeah, who else? Friend. Go away. Because I'm entertaining a group of friends. A point killer. The thoroughfares are lousy with point killers. A word, Joe. That's all I'll need. A word to a policeman. Hey, don't go away.

[Announcer]

Friends.

[Narrator]

Let's catch the man's routine. Could be a lot of rich material in it. That's right. Don't go away. You're my friends. Last night, Joe, you had a call. Yeah, I had a call. At the ioofb. Ask me what the initials stand for. Go on, somebody ask me. A girl was murdered there. Gina. Yeah, I read about it. The Mirror had an item about it. You didn't get a chance to go on, did you, Joe? No, I didn't. All those fuzzy bears were deprived of a finale of sock entertainment. Why did you leave? Well, I saw something was amiss with a girl, so I left. I figured a murder was a tough act. The top. How did you know it was murder? How did you know it right off like that? I read in the Mirror how you knew right off. You got a good notice, friend. You knew Jane well. We've worked benefits, parties, street corners. I've teased her. That's how much I know her. Not well enough to kill her. You drank with her before the show. Everybody drank with Jane. Everybody drank with everybody. Maybe you forgot. Maybe you were alone with her in her dressing room and you gave her a drink. I didn't forget. I wasn't alone with her in a dressing room because there was no dressing room. There never is. We dressed in the men's library. You went right home. I came here. My friends will be pleased to tell you. Because I bought him a drink on a cup. Or were you before the show? Here every day, all day. I don't make a move. There isn't. Someone knows it. My home away from home. Don't leave it, Joe. We may give you a call to entertain down at headquarters. Hi, Danny. Hello, Dadaglio. What have you got?

[Detective]

Among other things, Danny, a theory. A theory as to the decease of Jane Arnold.

[Narrator]

Okay, okay. Let's have it.

[Detective]

Got you on tenderhooks, huh? Now, this theory that I got is not my own, but belongs to the casebook of my favorite magazine, Detective Frisbee Novotny.

[Narrator]

Him again, huh?

[Detective]

Yeah. Frisbee Novotny had a similar case of a girl being found dead under similar circumstances. However, in the last paragraph, he revealed that the girl was not dead at all.

[Narrator]

That's interesting. Yeah.

[Detective]

It turns out this girl could hold her breath for days. Her Daddy used to be a pole diver.

[Narrator]

And what have you got Jon Jane Arnold, Dr. Sinski?

[Detective]

The coroner says she is indeed dead from a deadly type poison. And all this. The personal effects of Jane Arnold as revealed by the contents of her purse.

[Narrator]

Plastic grompack.

[Detective]

Danny, did you notice the baggage check was six months old?

[Narrator]

Huh? Yeah. Yeah.

[Detective]

Look at it. A baggage check from the Strand Hotel. The date stamped on it says it's six months old.

[Narrator]

You did good to Taglia. You did fine, Frisbee. Be proud of you. I'm sorry.

[Robert Rover]

The bank for this trick. C154.

[Narrator]

It's not here. Where is it?

[Robert Rover]

Unclaimed baggage held for longer than six months is opened in its contents old and auctioned.

[Narrator]

A defray storage charge. Oh, that's what happened to it.

[Robert Rover]

Yes, it was sold in auction yesterday.

[Narrator]

Yesterday? To whom?

[Robert Rover]

I can tell you that I keep finding records.

[Narrator]

The manager, Mr. Font, always tells me that.

[Robert Rover]

Here, right here. The contents of M154 were sold to Mr. Louis Granger, 1312 14th Street.

[Narrator]

All right, all right. You want a room, mister? Hey, wait a minute. Where's your bag? Police. What's the room number of Lou Granger? Granger, That's.

[Ernie Stewart]

Let's see.

[Narrator]

Yeah, Room four. Right down there near the elevator. Thanks. Hey, don't go busting in there, because you can't do it. No? Why not? He's got a sign on his door says don't disturb. Anyhow, I rapped on his door just 15 minutes ago so the cleaning lady could get in. No answer will disturb him. You got your keys? Sure.

[Marvin the Great]

What's he done?

[Narrator]

Not a thing. Oh, why you police come around this Granger's room? Yeah. Why are you police? Open it. Okay, okay. Hey, Granger, those bottles. My, my, such a thirst. Come on, Granger, wake up. Granger, drink it. Dead to the world, ain't he? Poison. This drink is poison. Yeah, that stuff is poison. Dead. Dead.

[Ernie Stewart]

Wow.

[Narrator]

Well, did this man have any visitors recently? Well, I don't know. Maybe could have, but I don't know. What about him? What do you know about him? Show business guy had an act with dummies through his voice. Ventriloquist. Yeah, yeah, that's a word with one of them. Dump they. Hey, look. See? I guess Granger did have visitors. Yeah. Yeah. Strange, ain't it? Real strange. He said it about right. Strange. The thing that stared at both of us was 2ft high, dressed in red checked muslin, a doll, a dummy. And there was pain on its face as if it had something to do with A rip in its side. Its hand was thrust into the tear and the doll stared at us. And there was pain on its face.

[Larry Thor]

You are listening to Broadway's My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover.

[Announcer]

How well do you know the history of your army? For example, do you know when the first engineer Corps was established? Although there was a separate engineering department in the Continental army during the Revolution, it wasn't until 1802 that an act of Congress authorized and established an engineer corps in the United States Army. The first corps consisted of two assistant engineers, two other assistants, and ten cadets, all under the command of Chief Engineer Major Jonathan Williams. Thus, another page was added to the history of your United States Army.

[Narrator]

Broadway is beside itself when it feels the warm breath of sound at its cheek. Its fancy is lightly turned to thoughts of sleeping in the park, night ball games, and it stands on street corners considering the girls in their summer dresses. And until there's a favorable breeze, there's always the headlines to look at. Magician's Assistant Murdered. The early edition screamed. And later, Ventriloquist Murdered. Terrifying, Sensational, Grotesque. Or, as Sergeant Titaglia broke it to me the next day at headquarters, it's refreshing, Danny. What is these?

[Detective]

Mints. Go ahead, go ahead, take one.

[Narrator]

All right. Anything else? Do you know?

[Detective]

Well, now that you ask, Danny.

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Detective]

Yes, indeed.

[Narrator]

You'll tell, huh?

[Detective]

A man is waiting to see you. A man who gives his name as Ernie Stewart.

[Narrator]

I thought he might drop in here long.

[Ernie Stewart]

Yeah.

[Detective]

Danny?

[Narrator]

Yeah?

[Detective]

Why?

[Narrator]

Nothing. Show me.

[Detective]

This way in to see Danny Corville. Mr. Stewart. Sit down. Sit down. Right over there.

[Ernie Stewart]

Thank you. You found him, didn't you, Mr. Clover? You found Waldo.

[Narrator]

Why do you say that? Don't play with me.

[Ernie Stewart]

Don't play. People have been for all this time.

[Narrator]

Take it easy.

[Ernie Stewart]

I saw his picture in the paper. You found Walter with that man in the room. Give him to me.

[Narrator]

All right. Is this Walter?

[Ernie Stewart]

Oh, Walter. Walter, boy. How are you, fella? You missed me?

[Waldo]

Hi, Ernie. I. I hurt, Ernie.

[Ernie Stewart]

Danny.

[Waldo]

Somebody ripped me. Ernie. I hurt.

[Narrator]

You'll be all right.

[Ernie Stewart]

I'll fix you so you'll be all right.

[Narrator]

Look.

[Ernie Stewart]

Look, Mr. Clover. Waldo talks to me. I'm all right again.

[Narrator]

Everything's all right again, huh?

[Ernie Stewart]

We're going home. Wallow. You gonna like that?

[Waldo]

You'll fix me so I won't hurt, Won't you?

[Detective]

Hey, Danny, this guy's great. Throwing his voice like that and making that dummy talk.

[Waldo]

Hey, Ernie, who's a baldy that starts.

[Narrator]

In the taglia, Waldo. Likewise to you, Ernie. Ernie, tell me about Jane Arnold.

[Ernie Stewart]

So pretty.

[Waldo]

She's dead.

[Ernie Stewart]

I knew it was going to happen, the way Marvin treated her aunt.

[Waldo]

Marvin, a magician. Oh, he was good for always being mean to Jane. Isn't that right, Ernie?

[Detective]

You're so right, Waldo. You're always right.

[Waldo]

Oh, you know it, Ernie. Why did you want to take me away from.

[Narrator]

Then? Waldo suggested to Ernie that they had taken enough of my precious time. Besides, Waldo was tired and drained. After all he'd been through, Waldo wanted to go home. Ernie apologized to the doll, lifted it to his chest, and carrying Waldo like a babe, walked out of the office. Sergeant Gino Tataglia and I sat looking at each other. That didn't get us anywhere. So I put a call through to Detective Mugavan. I told him to find the magician, Marvin the Great, in an hour. Mugavan had found him. Marvin had a week's booking in a tired vaudeville house on upper Broadway. The double feature Western was on, so probably Marvin was in his dressing room. Marvin was.

[Marvin the Great]

Do you mind, please, just to hand me my hairpiece, Mr. Clover?

[Narrator]

Huh?

[Marvin the Great]

The hairpiece. The toupee there on the severed mannequin's head.

[Narrator]

Oh, yeah. Here you are.

[Marvin the Great]

You're welcome. Ah, tragic days for magic.

[Narrator]

Jane Arnold's death, that's tragic, too.

[Marvin the Great]

Her mother, so, so tragic. It looks all right, huh? The hairpiece, Mr. Clover. The glue, it does not show. The line where the glue takes the hair to my face, that does not show.

[Narrator]

We're talking about Jane Arnold.

[Marvin the Great]

Why do you bother me with this dead girl? Why do you come before performance and bother me?

[Narrator]

I bleed for you. You didn't like Jane, huh? Marvin, I told you the other time.

[Marvin the Great]

Jane to me is nothing to like or to dislike. I paid her for being the girl in my act, that's all.

[Narrator]

I heard. You mistreated her. That's a lie.

[Marvin the Great]

An evil lie. Do not mistreat even an animal. I have animals in my act. Go ask them. Who told you such a lie?

[Narrator]

It doesn't matter. I heard it. You see?

[Marvin the Great]

Even you admit it's a lie.

[Narrator]

Wait a minute.

[Marvin the Great]

Ernie told you, huh? Ernie Stewart, that miserable alcoholic? That apology for a man who has no dignity or pride without a rag doll in his arms? I think Waldo is the man. And Ernie the dummy.

[Narrator]

Tell me more about Ernie, Marvin.

[Marvin the Great]

Gladly. You do not know about ventriloquists, Mr. Clover. They are a strange group of men. A dummy is their soul.

[Narrator]

Their wits there be.

[Marvin the Great]

Ernie tried to be a man without Waldo.

[Narrator]

Explain it to Me?

[Marvin the Great]

He tried to make time, as you say, with Jane. Jane would have no part of the shell of a man. Perhaps this infuriated Ernie.

[Robert Rover]

Huh?

[Marvin the Great]

Mr. Clover.

[Ernie Stewart]

Marvin, you're right.

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Marvin the Great]

Excuse me, please. I am wanted for my performance.

[Narrator]

The great Marvin walked through the door with a flourish, carrying his props behind him. The only thing left of him in the dressing room was a surplus rabbit who seemed impressed with what Marvin had pulled out of his hat. Ernie had been friendly with Jane. Jane was uninterested. Lou Granger turned up dead with Ernie's pride and joy, a dummy named Waldo. Ernie was a man with a lot of mot back at headquarters. Sergeant at Taglia had a dandy routine that also ended in a flourish. A transcript of a phone conversation to Lieutenant Danny Clover from Joe Lily. Subject Ernie Stewart remarks. Please meet Joe Lily at the bar. Not the grill of Charlie's Bar and Grill. Important. I went there. Can you stand me? This way, Mr. Clover. What way? Joe? In a blue and pensive mood A comic beating back the tears. How do you make a joke about a murderer? A nimble boy like you. A nimble boy like me? Suddenly I become a guy with a burden. A friend of mine turns out to be a killer. Ernie Stewart? Yeah. I'm informing him. You had your chance. When I talked to you the last time, what happened to your conscience since then? Nothing. Nothing. I leveled then. Just that the circumstances have changed. Now Luke Ranger's dead, too. That's the Circumstance. Go on, Mr. Clover. In the bottom of a shot glass lies the answer to all the questions. All the great questions. Yesterday I went visiting Mr. Clover to the flat of Ernie and Celia Stuart. Social call for last. That household needs laughs. In my grade B way, I try. Ernie didn't listen to me. Couldn't. He was out like a light. And? And the phone call came. Celia answered it. She talked with Lou Granger. Lou wanted Ernie to come down and pick something up. Celia seemed happy. She said she'd send Ernie as soon as he woke up. You know what happened? Yeah. Yeah, I guess so. Ernie went down to lose. Lou had Waldo the dummy. Ernie killed him. Yeah. Ernie would do that for Waldo. Yeah. Ernie would.

[Celia Stewart]

What? Oh, it's Mr. Clover, isn't it? You're the one.

[Narrator]

Yes, Ms. Stewart. Is ernian?

[Celia Stewart]

No, he's out making the rounds for job. Oh, yeah. He should be back soon, though. You want to wait for him?

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Celia Stewart]

Oh, please come in. I was gonna call you, Mr. Clover, to thank you.

[Narrator]

Thank me?

[Celia Stewart]

For what you've done for Ernie. What'd I Do you found Waldo when you did that, you wiped out six months of pain. Six months of it tore me apart. What it was doing to Ernie not having Waldo. But you fixed that. You gave Waldo back to him.

[Narrator]

Now Ernie doesn't need you.

[Celia Stewart]

What are you talking about?

[Narrator]

You told me you never let Ernie out of your sight. He's out of your sight now. He was out of your sight when he came to my office to pick up Waldo.

[Celia Stewart]

I told you. I told you I let him go to you because I knew what it meant to him. Now he's looking for a job, but he still needs it. Don't ever make a mistake about that, Mr. Clover.

[Narrator]

Ernie needed Jane Arnold too.

[Celia Stewart]

Oh, you know about this? Poor Ernie. He was so lost without Walter. He reached for anything. Even Jane Arnold. I think all that time he didn't even know I was around. Someone to pick him up, to put him to bed, to whisper sleep into his ear.

[Narrator]

Jane, how did Jane feel about Ernie?

[Celia Stewart]

She laughed at him. Everyone laughed at Ernie. Then laughed. Walked away from him. Not laughing.

[Narrator]

Mrs. Stewart, there was another time you let Ernie get away from you. Oh.

[Celia Stewart]

Oh, you mean the time when we got the call from Lou Granger?

[Narrator]

That time.

[Celia Stewart]

Why shouldn't I have let Ernie go? Lou said he had Waldo. Bought him at a baggage auction at some hotel. Why shouldn't I have? Mr. Clover. Ernie. Lulu.

[Ernie Stewart]

Hi, everybody.

[Waldo]

Hey, look who's here. Ernie. The Lawson Fire department From the police. Maybe he came to get a reward for finding me.

[Ernie Stewart]

Waldo. You know, you're so right. We completely forgot about what shall we give him?

[Waldo]

We could give him Celia.

[Celia Stewart]

Ernie, Put him down. Ernie, put him down.

[Narrator]

Yeah, put him away. Ernie, you're coming with me.

[Waldo]

Hey, you lost your marbles? You can't find Ernie and me again. He's lost his marbles. Ernie.

[Ernie Stewart]

What do you Want for me, Mr. Clover?

[Narrator]

Murder.

[Celia Stewart]

Oh, Arnie. Ernie, why? Why did you do it? That girl. And why did you have to kill him?

[Waldo]

Ernie, get her, will ya? Get the ass.

[Celia Stewart]

You could've come to me, Ernie. I would have helped you. I've always help. Head up. Shut up, Waldo. Ernie, throw him away.

[Narrator]

Get rid of him.

[Celia Stewart]

We were happy without him, Ernie. I took good care of you. We were happy.

[Ernie Stewart]

Get away from me, Cesar.

[Narrator]

Get away.

[Waldo]

Take it easy, Ernie boy. You've been through enough. I'll talk for you.

[Narrator]

Yeah, what does he want to say, Walter, honey?

[Waldo]

Ernie, throw him away.

[Celia Stewart]

Kill him.

[Narrator]

What does he want to say, Walter?

[Waldo]

Celia says she was happy without me. That's why she put me in a trunk. Because she was jealous of me. She checked me in the baggage room at a hotel and forgot about me.

[Narrator]

Did you do that, Celia?

[Celia Stewart]

Don't listen to him.

[Waldo]

But Jane Arnold suspected it was Celia who had gotten rid of me. And because she liked Ernie and was worried about what happened to me, she kept looking through Celia's thing.

[Narrator]

So she found the baggage check in Celia's purse.

[Waldo]

Oh, that must have made you angry, Celia. Oh, angry enough to poison her.

[Narrator]

What about Lou, Waldo?

[Waldo]

Oh, that was tricky. Lou called Ernie to say he had me, but Celia went down there instead. When Lou saw it was Celia who came after me instead of Ernie, he knew what Celia had been doing. So Celia had to kill him and tried to kill me too.

[Narrator]

Yeah, that bothered me. Waldo, if Ernie went to Lou to pick you up, why did. Why did he leave you there?

[Waldo]

I'm telling you, it was serious.

[Narrator]

Why didn't Ernie tell me all this before, Waldo, he was sick.

[Waldo]

Without me, he can't think you wanted a murderer, Mr. Clover. Well, there she is.

[Celia Stewart]

I'll kill him. He won't take you away from me, Ernie. Give it to me. Give it to me. Ernie. Ernie, you monster. There you are. Three people like the girl. Like.

[Narrator]

Her. Fingers ripped at the cheap cloth, scattered it, tore away the laughing mouth. There was nothing left of Waldo Wood shavings, the broken face of rags. And standing there receiving it as if Waldo's death were his own death. Ernie. Then the woman, the murderous, fell to her knees, and her voice.

[Celia Stewart]

We can be together now, Ernie.

[Narrator]

See?

[Celia Stewart]

We can be together now.

[Narrator]

Broadway leaps into the night, and the sound it makes is the rasp of life deep inside the earth. The hiss of neon and the gaudy laugh, they melt together. And the sound you get is shock. But there's another. The teardrop and the sigh. No one listens because no one hears.

[Announcer]

It's Broadway.

[Narrator]

The gaudiest, most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway. My beat.

[Larry Thor]

Broadway's my Beat Stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover, with Charles Calvert as Tartaglia. The program was produced and directed by Elliot Lewis. The musical score was composed and conducted by Alexander Curry. Included in tonight's cast were Stan Waxman, Elliot Reed, Mary Lansing, Herb Butterfield, Jerry Hausner and High Averback.