Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – 21st Precinct 53-10-06 (014) "The Bird"

Date: January 10, 2026
Podcast: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode: 21st Precinct 53-10-06 (014) – "The Bird"

Episode Overview

This episode revives the classic radio police procedural “21st Precinct,” set in 1950s New York. The story begins with a seemingly routine call about a gas leak but quickly escalates into a policy (illegal lottery) investigation. The episode captures the day-to-day reality faced by precinct officers—balancing public safety, procedural diligence, and the unpredictability of urban crime. The procedural drama is heightened by keen character interplay, the methodical work of law enforcement, and a healthy dose of period-appropriate attitude and banter.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The Gas Leak Incident

[00:35–06:15]

• Captain Kennelly and Patrolman Farrell respond to an emergency call about a possible gas leak at 618 East 75th Street.
• The building super, Mr. Champisi, alerted authorities after a tenant reported the scent of gas.
• Officers and the superintendent struggle to find the source; tenants are being evacuated.
• The situation is resolved when they discover a pot of coffee had boiled over, putting out the fire on the stove. No one is home in the apartment.
• The police have to forcibly enter the apartment, causing damage—a point of contention for the superintendent.

Notable Quote:

“What’d you expect us to do, Mr. Champisi? There might have been somebody overcome in here or a spark could have blown up the building.”
— Captain Kennelly, [06:03]

2. Suspicion and Discovery

[06:15–10:08]

• While inspecting the “lucky” apartment further (since the gas leak was not severe), officers stumble upon something unexpected—a large amount of cash and policy slips (lottery tickets) hidden in the oven.
• Further searching finds electric calculating machines and tally sheets—clear evidence the apartment is being used as a base for an illegal numbers bank.

Notable Quote:

“Looks like we’ve got a policy drop, Sergeant.”
— Captain Kennelly, [08:12]

“Boy, this guy was running some bank.”
— Patrolman Coley, [10:04]

3. Investigation and Interrogation of Residents

[10:38–13:30]

• Captain Kennelly instructs that plainclothes officers be called in to investigate further.
• Mr. Champisi, the super, is interviewed for more information on the tenant, Alfred Harrods, who has been living in the building for only a few weeks and paid rent in advance.
• The tenant's apparent occupation as a “salesman” is called into question.
• Attention shifts to a woman (Gloria Navin), suspected of being Harrods’ girlfriend, seen outside the building during the commotion.

Notable Quote:

“Tenant is a tenant until he proves himself otherwise.”
— Captain Kennelly, [09:16]

4. Gloria Navin: The Girlfriend and Her Interrogation

[15:50–21:19]

• Gloria Navin initially denies any connection to Harrods. Captain Kennelly, with consistent questioning, exposes her as both Harrods’s girlfriend and a runner in his operation.
• The search of her person uncovers about $400 and nearly 1,000 more policy slips.
• Gloria begins to crack under pressure, expressing both fear of sentencing and, more so, fear of Harrods’ retaliation if she “rats him out.”

Notable Quotes:

“They won’t keep me. I’ve got the number of a Barnsman. All I have to do is call them.”
— Gloria Navin, [18:22]

“I’ve seen people stand up there… think who you hurt in making a little book or writing a few numbers… then wham. They get it right between the eyes.”
— Captain Kennelly, [19:03]

5. Turning Informant

[21:11–21:44]

• Realizing the severity of her predicament, Gloria admits her full involvement and lists Harrods’s daily routine, including where and when he meets his collectors—at a Yorkville bar and grill, where money and policy slips are handed off covertly.

Notable Quote:

“Am I a friend of Al Harrods? Yes. Do I work for him too? Yes. What else?”
— Gloria Navin, [21:18]

6. The Sting and Capture of Harrods

[22:31–25:30]

• Officers stake out the bar and grill based on Gloria’s intel, hoping to catch Harrods in the act.
• A tense but conversational confrontation ensues in the bar between Kennelly, Thomas, and Harrods, who puts up a casual front.
• Despite Harrods’s insistence he’s gone straight (“I got my stomach full of that. That’s for the birds.”), officers demand he open the trunk of his car, having already raided his apartment and collected the evidence.

Notable Quotes:

“I’m telling you, I’m out of it. Since I finished that bit on Rikers Island, I’m out of it.”
— Al Harrods, [24:46]

“Yeah, it sure is for the birds, Al. And you’re a volk too, with a 20 foot wingspread.”
— Captain Kennelly, [25:00]

7. Episode Reflection and Closing

[27:12–27:40]

• The episode ends on a note reflecting the non-stop, unpredictable, and circular nature of police work in New York.
• The dramatic arrest wraps up, emphasizing that in the world of law enforcement, anyone can win—or lose—all in a day's work.

Notable Quote:

"A police precinct in the city of New York is a flesh and blood merry-go-round. Anyone can catch the brass ring, or the brass ring can catch anyone."
— Narrator, [27:29]

Memorable Moments & Insights

• The routine gas investigation mushrooming into a major gambling bust exemplifies the unpredictability of police work.
• The episode highlights the danger and difficulty faced by informants, as Gloria’s genuine fear of retaliation is juxtaposed with her ambiguous sense of loyalty and self-preservation.
• The interplay between police and suspects has a mix of menace, weariness, and world-weary humor emblematic of the Golden Age of Radio.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:35 – The gas leak call and evacuation
• 06:15 – Discovery of policy slips and cash in the oven
• 10:38 – Thorough search; plainclothes officers called
• 15:50 – Interrogation of Gloria Navin begins
• 18:22 – Gloria reacts to news of her impending charges
• 21:11 – Gloria agrees to turn informant
• 22:31 – The police stakeout and arrest of Harrods at the bar
• 27:29 – Narrator’s closing thoughts on precinct life

Conclusion

This episode of "21st Precinct" offers a tense, tightly woven procedural story showcasing the serendipitous nature of police work—how a minor incident can uncover a significant crime. The dialogue is sharp, displaying period realism, and the methodical build-up to the climax illustrates the dogged persistence of mid-century law enforcement. The show’s balanced tone—grave, sardonic, and compassionate—makes this a compelling listen for fans of Golden Age radio drama and crime stories alike.