Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode Title: 21st Precinct 54-02-24 (033) The Cure

Release Date: February 22, 2026
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Original Air Date (Show): February 24, 1954

Overview

This episode features a classic broadcast of 21st Precinct – a police procedural radio drama that authentically portrays the daily life and cases faced by New York City officers. In “The Cure,” the precinct responds to a late-night burglary call that transforms into a poignant story about human frailty, lost potential, and the ambiguous line between crime and tragedy. The episode explores themes of alcoholism, redemption, and the social responsibility of law enforcement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Burglary Call

• At 01:35 AM, Sgt. Burns receives a call from Audrey Camden, a fashion designer reporting a burglar in her apartment at 194 East 68th Street.
  • [03:31-04:22] Audrey Camden: "There was or there is [a burglar] right now. I saw him. I came home and opened the door...I got scared and I ran out...I used this phone on the street."
• Officers Colley and Vacano respond, locate Audrey, and enter the apartment.
• They find “Pop,” an older, intoxicated man asleep, who claims he lives there.
  • [06:52] Officer: “There he is. Well, how do you like that, old timer? Come on, wake up, Pop.”

2. Initial Confusion and Apprehension

• Audrey confirms she doesn’t know the intruder and is distressed at her missing liquor.
  • [08:39] Audrey Camden: "Oh, look. Oh, my two fifths of 12 year old scotch. I got them for Christmas and I was saving them."
• The man bizarrely insists the apartment is his and produces a key that unlocks the door.
  • [10:41] Intruder (Pop): “I have the key. Proves I live here.”
  • [11:03] Officer: “That’s funny, Captain. Couldn't work better if it was made for the lock.”
  • [11:14] Captain Kennelly: “It probably was.”

3. At the Station – The True Story Emerges

• The man gives a false name “George Jones” and a vague age. He rambles about being the true resident.
  • [14:17] Officer: “Is it going to kill you to tell me?”
  • [14:37] Intruder: “Take a guess.”
  • [14:39] Officer: “I'm 50.”
• He is intoxicated, barely cooperative, and eventually collapses with a head injury. Ambulance is called.
  • [16:09] Officer: “What a flop. Let me get the phone...I think he knocked his head on the corner of the desk."

4. Hospital Interview – The Past Revealed

• At Bellevue Hospital, Captain Kennelly and Lt. King interview the now sober man, who reveals his real name: George Jetley.

  • [19:22] Captain Kennelly: “You gave the name of George Jones at the station house last night. That's not your real name, is it?”
  • [19:24] Jetley: “No...Jetley. George Jetley.”

• His story unfolds:

  • Once an editor with good jobs, Jetley lost everything to alcoholism.
  • He abandoned his family after repeated relapses and never saw them again.
  • He still carried his old apartment key for years.
  • Returning to NYC, he drunkenly used the key to enter his former home, not knowing a stranger would be living there.
  • [21:23] Jetley: "She told me to get out. She said she was tired of my going off on tears every so often, hitting the bottle all the time, staying away three or four days, losing my job all the time...She said, next time it happens...don't come home. So I didn't."
  • [23:00] Jetley: "All these years, the only thing I kept was the key...All these years, I wore the key around my neck."
  • [23:53] Captain Kennelly: “You certainly did some harm.”
  • [23:55] Jetley: “Yeah, I know. Would you tell the lady I'm sorry? I am sorry.”

• Jetley declines the chance to reunite with his family, believing he’d only bring them pain.

  • [24:03] Jetley: “No. Why should I do that?...they're probably happy. I'd only bring them trouble, that's all. Look, now, you'll do me a favor if you just leave me George Jones. Forget about George Jetley. George Jetley should be dead and buried.”

5. Legal and Moral Considerations

• Captain Kennelly reflects on the ambiguous lines in law and human understanding:
  • The burglary charge won’t stand since there’s no evidence of intent to commit a felony.
  • The Captain considers that a charge of “unlawful entry” and a term in jail might actually offer George a chance at rehabilitation.
  • [24:23] Captain Kennelly (narration): "...a conviction for unlawful entry, a misdemeanor carrying an indeterminate sentence, might be the best thing for Jetley. A term in jail with its attendant medical treatment might be a step toward rehabilitation, if rehabilitation was at all possible."

6. Compassion, Forgiveness, and Closure

• Audrey Camden returns to the station, stating she doesn’t want to prosecute; she is sympathetic to Jetley’s situation.
  • [26:02] Audrey Camden: “Well, I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about him...I don’t think I care to prosecute him.”
  • [26:18] Captain Kennelly: “Don't you realize that a term in jail might be the best thing for him?”
  • [26:24] Audrey Camden: "What's the trouble with policemen? They're the same old cure for everything."
  • [26:29] Captain Kennelly: "Not for everything, Ms. Camden. The cure for him is pretty young, only 22, and we're gonna find it."
• The episode closes with word that Jetley’s son has been located and will visit him at the hospital—a glimmer of hope.
  • [26:50] Sergeant Burns: "Oh, yeah. Oh, you're located Jet Li's fern, huh? ... Son's going to visit him at Bellevue this afternoon. Yeah, well, the captain will be glad to hear that."

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “My house. My house.” — George Jetley, throughout his confused interactions ([10:41], [10:51], [12:09])
• “You'd better let me talk to him. Yes? No, it's not him, Lieutenant.” — insight into the busy, layered life of the precinct ([02:39])
• “Nobody knows me. Nobody.” — Jetley, expressing his alienation ([08:37])
• “All these years, the only thing I kept was the key…All these years, I wore the key around my neck.” — Jetley’s heartbreak and nostalgia ([23:00])
• “She didn't want me around the boy like that, you know. She said, next time it happens…don't come home. So I didn't.” — Jetley, describing his last days with his family ([21:23])
• "Not for everything, Ms. Camden. The cure for him is pretty young, only 22, and we're gonna find it." — Captain Kennelly offers hope ([26:29])

Important Timestamps

• [03:31]: The burglary report call from Audrey Camden
• [06:52]: Officers discover the drunken “burglar” in the apartment
• [10:51]: Discovery of the man’s key matching the door
• [16:06]: The prisoner collapses at the desk—medical urgency
• [19:01-23:59]: Jetley’s confession and backstory at Bellevue Hospital
• [26:00]: Audrey decides not to prosecute; moral debate
• [26:50]: News arrives that Jetley’s son will visit him

Tone, Style & Approach

21st Precinct maintains its documentary, matter-of-fact style, blending hard-boiled procedural realism with human warmth and subtle empathy. The dialogue is brisk, direct, and often laced with weary humor among the officers, contrasted by Jetley’s plaintive, drifting sorrow and Audrey’s shocked compassion.

Summary Remarks

“The Cure” is a powerful reminder of the thin line separating misfortune and criminality. Through the case of George Jetley, the episode shines light on deeper social issues—alcoholism, homelessness, and family estrangement—while the police demonstrate not just duty but a measure of understanding and mercy. By the end, justice and compassion intertwine, leaving listeners with a story that's as tender as it is true-to-life.

Perfect for:
Fans of classic radio drama, police procedurals, and anyone interested in stories of redemption, humanity, and the untold epilogues behind crime reports.