Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode Summary: 21st Precinct (53-12-25) "The Plant"

Released: February 22, 2026
Show Description: Radio drama from the Golden Age of Radio, focusing on a New York police precinct's day-to-day operations.

Overview

This episode of "21st Precinct," titled "The Plant" (originally aired December 25, 1953), follows a busy afternoon and evening as Captain Frank Kennelly and his officers tackle an armed robbery on the Upper East Side. The story blends methodical police procedure, sharp interrogation, and the interplay of luck and intuition as the squad searches for two young male suspects, using leads from a woman caught at the crime scene. The episode reflects the gritty, unvarnished routine of mid-century policing in New York City with its signature docu-drama realism and snappy dialogue.

Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. The Incident: Armed Robbery at a Bar and Grill

[02:40]

• Sergeant Collins receives a frantic call reporting an armed robbery at a neighborhood bar and grill.
• Captain Kennelly quickly mobilizes, arranging logistics for official photographs even as he responds to the emergency.
• Officers respond and find a young woman, Edith Hargrave, left behind at the scene by the suspects. The two male suspects have fled.

2. Interviewing the Suspect: Edith Hargrave

[05:14–09:48]

• Edith is fingerprinted and questioned by Detective Cassidy and Lieutenant King.
• She maintains her innocence and insists this is her first brush with the law:
  • “I never was [arrested before]. Honest.” – Edith Hargrave ([05:54])
• Edith describes knowing “Dick,” one of the suspects, casually after he visited her workplace. She claims ignorance of the other accomplice and explains how she was unwittingly involved in a daytime bar crawl before the robbery.
  • “Smart girl finds out before she goes bar hopping with two guys like that.” – Detective ([06:57])
• The detectives probe for details, focusing on Dick’s acquaintances, eventually revealing a lead: a man named “Nelly.”

3. The Roll Call – Seeking Leads

[10:27–13:10]

• Lieutenant King addresses the lineup of patrolmen at evening shift change to rally help identifying “Nelly,” a 35-year-old local known to frequent bars in the area.
  • “The acquaintance is described as about 35 years old…He goes under the name of Nelly.” – Lt. King ([12:09])
• Patrolman Webber identifies Nelly as “Nelson Bevin,” a mechanic and small-time ex-con with a policy slip history.
• Webber is assigned to work undercover with the detectives to locate Nelly.

4. The Stakeout: Tracking Nelly

[15:10–17:00]

• Webber and Detective Cassidy stake out bars on Webber’s beat, waiting for Nelly’s usual late-afternoon appearance.
• Anecdotes during the wait reveal the officers’ backgrounds, camaraderie, and dangers of police work.
  • “I made a good collar. I almost had my head blown off.” – Cassidy ([15:55])

5. Interrogation of Nelly

[17:05–21:00]

• Nelly appears. The detectives approach him sociably, then pressure him for information about Dick.
• Nelly claims innocence, admits he saw Dick once with stolen items, and describes Dick’s tan Hudson car, corroborating details Edith gave earlier.
  • “Everything I tell you checks. You know me, Mr. Webber?” – Nelly ([20:20])
• He reluctantly mentions Dick may park near the Museum of Natural History, hinting at a possible hideout.

6. Closing the Net: Identification and the Hunt

[24:56–26:00]

• Edith Hargrave positively identifies Nelly in the precinct, confirming critical details for the detectives.
• The investigation pivots toward finding Dick’s tan Hudson vehicle.
• The search spans several precincts, coordinated among detective teams.

7. The Confrontation and Shootout

[28:00–31:08]

• Late at night, Webber and Cassidy spot the tan Hudson parked near the museum.
• As Cassidy steps away to check the car’s registration, the suspects return, confront the officers, and a gunfight ensues.
  • “They started blazing away. You sure handled them, though.” – Webber ([31:02])
• Cassidy is hit in the shoulder but subdues the attackers. The case closes with the squad rounding up the wounded suspects.

8. Closing Reflections

[31:20–32:30]

• The episode concludes with Captain Kennelly commenting on the relentless rhythm of police work:
  • “So it goes around the clock, through the week, every day, every year. A police precinct…a flesh and blood merry-go-round.” – Narration ([31:56])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Edith’s Innocence:
  “Never was [arrested before]. Honest.” – Edith ([05:54])

• Police Wisdom:
  “Smart girl finds out before she goes bar hopping with two guys like that.” – Detective ([06:57])

• Getting a Lead:
  “He goes under the name of Nelly.” – Lt. King ([12:09])

• Undercover Insights:
  “I made a good collar. I almost had my head blown off.” – Cassidy ([15:55])

• The Big Confrontation:
  “They started blazing away. You sure handled them, though.” – Webber ([31:02]) “So it goes around the clock... A police precinct in the city of New York is a flesh and blood merry go round.” – Narration ([31:56])

Important Timestamps

• [02:40] – Armed robbery call comes in
• [05:14–09:48] – Edith Hargrave’s questioning
• [12:09] – Description of Nelly given at roll call
• [15:10–17:00] – Webber and Cassidy’s stakeout
• [17:05–21:00] – Interrogating Nelly
• [24:56] – Edith ID’s Nelly at the precinct
• [28:00–31:08] – The shootout at the Hudson car
• [31:56] – Closing narration

Tone & Style

The episode is direct, gritty, and pragmatic, with crisp, realistic dialogue and a strong sense of duty and worldliness from the officers. The presentation is procedural and methodical, reflecting both routine and danger of urban policing in 1950s New York. The narrative maintains forward momentum while recognizing the fallibility and instinct-driven guesswork of real police work.

Summary

“21st Precinct: The Plant” is a classic slice of police procedural, built around a tense robbery investigation, persistent detective work, and the critical role of informants and small leads. The episode skillfully weaves personal stories, street wisdom, and decisive action into a compelling hour of radio drama, demonstrating both the monotony and unpredictability of a big city cop’s life.