21st Precinct – "The Package"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: 54-03-24 (037)
Summary by: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Date: February 22, 2026

Overview:

This episode of 21st Precinct dramatizes a tense day at a New York City police precinct in the 1950s, as the officers investigate a bomb threat at an art gallery. Captain Frank Kennelly and his officers respond to the call, handle an anxious public, and pursue the source of the extortion attempt. The episode provides a window into police procedure, public anxiety, and the psychological toll of threats in postwar urban America.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The Initial Threat & Precinct Life

• [00:35] The story opens with Captain Kennelly in the 21st Precinct describing the daily operations and responsibilities of the officers.
• [01:40] The mundane is juxtaposed with the extraordinary as Kennelly discusses everyday concerns (like the price of a baseball mitt for a patrolman’s kid).
• [03:00] Mr. Wolfschman, a local shop owner, complains about youths loitering around his store—anxieties about “14, 15 year-old bullies”—and shares fears of deteriorating public order.
  • Notable Quote: “To tell you the truth, I’m a little bit scared of them myself.” — Mr. Wolfschman [03:20]

2. The Bomb Threat at the Broadstone Gallery

• [04:26] They get a call: an anonymous tip claims a bomb was planted during an art auction at the Broadstone Gallery.
  • “Bomb?” — Sergeant Jackson [04:30]
• [05:30] Police evacuate the gallery quickly and methodically, focusing first on public safety before searching for the suspected device.
  • Notable Quote: “We haven’t looked yet. The first job was to get the people out.” — Sergeant Jackson [05:52]
• [07:19] They discover a suspicious package under a chair; careful, tense teamwork allows them to isolate it and prepare for a possible blast.
• [09:25] The package contains only a lady’s hat, left behind by a patron; tension dissolves.
  • Memorable Moment: The banter around the price of a baseball glove returns, underscoring the stress and relief of police work.

3. Investigation & Extortion Demand

• [10:39] The officers interview Mr. Broadstone and his staff to reconstruct the threat:
  • Ms. McLeave recounts the first call—polite, pressing, a “matter of life and death.” [11:39-12:24]
  • “He was very polite. Really very polite.” — Ms. McLeave [11:54]
• [13:18] Broadstone recalls taking the second call. The caller insists there’s a bomb, urges swift action.
• [17:00] The caller reveals his motive: $5,000 or he’ll place a real bomb next time.
  • “Because I want something from you... I want $5,000… So I don’t really put a bomb in your gallery. And next time I will.” — Anonymous Caller [17:23]

4. Police Procedure: Tracking Down the Perpetrator

• [18:02] The gallery staff are frightened. Police surmise the caller is not a professional but possibly a disgruntled former employee or someone with a grudge.
• [20:57] Hours pass; detectives are assigned to monitor the gallery and Broadstone’s apartment continuously.
• [22:19] A breakthrough: Mr. Broadstone receives a newspaper-pasted ransom note, signed with a name and address.
  • “Deliver $5,000 by tonight at midnight. You must not fail. As I said, this is a matter of life and death.” — Ransom Note [22:34]

5. The Culprit Identified: Carlton Attbury

• [23:43-25:16] Police visit the address; Carlton Attbury is a reclusive, eccentric man living off an inheritance, frustrated at being cut off by the bank, fearful of being sent back to the hospital.
  • “Because I need it. But why him? … They said I have to go back to the hospital. And that’s not fair, is it? … I don’t want to go back to the hospital.” — Carlton Attbury [25:33]
  • He admits he never intended to use a real bomb: “I wasn’t going to make the bomb. I really wasn’t. I knew I wouldn’t need to if I frightened him enough.” [27:03]
  • The police prepare to return him to psychiatric care, having resolved the threat.

6. Reflections on Police Work

• [28:14] Captain Kennelly closes with a monologue on the unpredictable and relentless nature of police work—a “flesh and blood merry-go-round.”
• The episode ends with credits for the cast and production team, emphasizing its roots in real police procedures.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If we get [the suspicious package] under [the rug], that’d hold any blast down to a minimum.” — Captain Kelly [08:42]
• “These days, $13 isn’t so much.” (comic relief after the bomb turns out to be a lady’s hat) — Dylan [09:54]
• “This had to happen to me. Why did it have to happen to me?” — Mr. Broadstone [18:22]
• “He didn’t threaten to bomb the police station. He threatened to bomb my place of business.” — Ms. McLeave [18:06]
• “There has to be a reason for everything.” — Carlton Attbury [25:50]

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:35: Introduction to precinct life and officers
• 03:00: Community concerns and neighborhood tensions
• 04:26: Bomb threat call comes in
• 07:19: Discovery of the suspicious package
• 09:39: Package is harmless; officers relax
• 10:39: Interviews with gallery staff begin
• 13:18: First extortion call
• 17:00: Second extortion call, demand stated
• 22:34: Ransom note is received and examined
• 25:16: Interview with the suspect, Carlton Attbury
• 28:14: Captain’s closing reflection on police work

Tone & Language

The episode’s tone is matter-of-fact, procedural, and punctuated by moments of dry, understated humor among officers. Dialogues reflect the earnestness and pressures of daily police work, concern for community welfare, and empathy for those involved, including the disturbed caller. The language stays true to period radio drama, formal yet accessible, and with a deep respect for public service.

Takeaways for the Listener

• This 21st Precinct episode dramatizes not only the technical aspects of police investigation but also the human anxieties of modern urban life: fear of violence, unpredictability, loneliness, and the desire for stability.
• The threat reveals deeper issues—mental illness, economic uncertainty, and community relations—as much as it tests the efficiency and empathy of law enforcement.
• The everyday and the extraordinary intertwine, as officers juggle family life, neighbor complaints, and genuine threats to public safety.

[End of Summary]