Podcast Summary: "The Falcon: The Case of the Burning Bridges" (06/01/1952)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: The Falcon: The Case of the Burning Bridges
Aired: June 1, 1952 (Originally); Podcast released November 20, 2025

Overview

This episode of The Falcon presents a tightly woven classic detective mystery set in 1950s New York. Private investigator Mike Waring, known as "The Falcon," is pulled into a perilous case involving rare antiques, deadly double-crosses, murder, and a web of criminal intrigue. At the heart of it all is a priceless artifact— the "Ho Shin Buddha"—allegedly one of only four in existence, with a price tag that hints at far more than its artistic value.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. The Setup: The Mysterious Buddha and the Underworld Dealings

• [00:46] - Mike Waring, aka the Falcon, is pulled from his plans by a call to assist a new case.
• [01:11] The story sets its stage in Manhattan’s Chinatown, where George Bridges approaches Paul Kessler’s import shop, seeking to buy the rare "Ho Shin Buddha" and flashing serious cash ($70,000 offered, haggling begins at $250,000).
• The Buddha’s rarity is emphasized (“There are only four in existence. This one was uncovered during the Boxer Rebellion.” – Paul Kessler, [03:40]), but there is suspicion about the deal’s authenticity and a suggestion the Buddha may be used to smuggle something illicit.

2. Suspicion and Intrigue in the Shop

• [03:00–05:20] - Immediate suspicions of forgery and deception arise regarding letters of reference and the Buddha itself.
  • Notable: Kessler and his associate Julian discover that the office intercom was left on, suggesting potential eavesdropping by Joan Calvin.
  • “You left the key on the intercom down.” – Kessler to Julian, [05:09]

3. Joan Calvin’s Fears & Entrance of the Falcon

• [06:00] - Joan Calvin, the firm’s secretary, approaches Mike Waring, deeply troubled, not fully grasping the criminal web but sensing something is wrong after overhearing the Buddha transaction.
• She provides a claim check for a parcel and a photograph of the Buddha, stoking Waring's curiosity and drawing him into the case.

4. The Exchange that Goes Wrong

• [08:00–11:00] - Waring attempts to retrieve the Buddha from Grand Central with Joan’s claim check but is intercepted and held up at gunpoint by Julian, who takes the parcel.
• Waring recognizes Julian from a criminal past (“You were pointed out to me about nine years ago in Detroit, when you were running with the Purple Mob.” – Waring, [10:06]).

5. Double-Cross, Deception, and Murder

• [12:00] - Kessler discovers the Buddha is filled with sugar, not the drugs expected. Both he and Julian suspect they've been double-crossed, bickering over who is responsible.
• [13:31] - Julian confronts Waring in his apartment at gunpoint, but collapses and dies—later determined to be from a stab wound, not Waring’s blow.

6. Police Involvement and Shifting Suspicions

• [15:44] - Sergeant Corbett investigates Julian’s death and grills Waring.
• Key forensic insight: Julian was stabbed with a thin instrument (likely a nail file), and bled internally long before arriving at Waring’s flat.
• The investigation continues with Waring and Corbett each vowing to pursue different leads: “You take care of Julian, I’ll take care of Joan.” – Waring, [16:49]

7. Piecing Together the Motive

• [18:00–20:00] - Waring quizzes Joan, confirming that her employers discouraged normal business and only entertained buyers like George Bridges—whose name ultimately proves key.
• Waring confronts Kessler directly, exposing inconsistencies and establishing that the Buddha relic was valuable only because of its supposed hidden contents.

8. The Big Reveal: Government Agents and Final Showdown

• [22:25–23:00] - Bridges, tracked down by Waring, threatens him with a gun, underscoring the danger, but ultimately is revealed [24:52] by Corbett to be not a gangster, but a Treasury Department narcotics agent, in deep cover.

9. The Solution: Kessler’s Guilt Exposed Through a Crucial Detail

• [26:00–28:13] - In a final confrontation between Waring, Joan, Corbett, and Kessler, a slip about a red tie versus yellow tie on Julian’s body exposes Kessler as the murderer:
  • “You must have some idea [who killed Julian].” – Waring, [27:15]
  • “He was wearing a blue suit with a yellow tie.” – Kessler, [27:25]
  • “He’s lying. He was wearing a red tie.” – Joan Calvin, [27:28]
• The deduction: Only the killer could know which tie Julian wore when he died.

10. Wrap-Up and Reflections

• [28:32–29:34] - Waring explains to Corbett how the set-up was not about trusting Joan but testing Julian.
  • “Kessler substituted Buddhas. Only Julian didn’t know. Before he could find out, Kessler punctured his vanity.” – Waring, [28:48]
• The classic "detective gets the girl" outro is humorously subverted when Waring ends up with Sergeant Corbett instead—until Joan Calvin finally arrives to close out the night.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Quick-witted banter:

  • “Well, it ain't nearly enough, Angel. Since I met you, the most interesting things have happened.” – Mike Waring to Joan, [17:07]
  • “He wound up murdered.” – Waring, explaining Julian’s fate to Bridges, [21:57]
  • “Now, if that ain't a boner, nothing is.” – Sergeant Corbett, on Waring’s romantic luck, [29:01]

• Classic detection logic:

  • “You see, there never was a Wang dynasty.” – Waring, underlining the Buddha scam, [18:51]
  • “According to Bridges, there was $70,000 worth of junk in that Buddha. Now I ask you, would a guy like Kessler trust a girl he hardly knew to pick it up? Why should he?” – Waring, [28:32]
  • “Only the killer could know what tie he was wearing.” – Inference after Kessler’s slip, [27:32]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:11] – Bridges enters Kessler’s import shop, Buddha deal begins.
• [06:00] – Joan Calvin brings her suspicions to Mike Waring.
• [09:00] – Julian robs Waring at Grand Central.
• [14:22] – Waring discovers Julian is dead in his apartment.
• [17:03] – Waring questions Joan Calvin about her employers.
• [20:00] – Kessler’s confrontation with Waring at the shop.
• [24:42] – Bridges is unmasked as an undercover Treasury agent by Corbett.
• [27:25] – Slip-up over Julian’s tie exposes Kessler as the killer.
• [28:32–29:34] – Waring breaks down the case; final humorous exchange.

Final Thoughts

The Case of the Burning Bridges showcases the hallmarks of Golden Age radio mysteries: snappy dialogue, clever misdirection, and classic hardboiled detective tropes. The episode's plot twists—from double-crosses over smuggled narcotics to the final trick of catching the killer with a simple, overlooked detail—are delivered with crackling wit and period flavor.

For Fans Of: Pulpy noir, razor-sharp one-liners, and old-school detective storytelling, this episode is a model example—with justice served, banter intact, and the satisfying snap of a case brought to a close.