Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: "21st Precinct 54-04-28 (042) The Story"

Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Type: Classic Golden Age Radio Drama

Overview

This episode features a classic installment from the 21st Precinct police procedural radio drama, "The Story" (original airdate: April 28, 1954). The drama unfolds across an evocative slice of New York City, following the aftermath of a violent robbery and shooting. The show provides a window into the operations and challenges of law enforcement in 1950s Manhattan, focusing on the investigation, interviews, and emotional fallout as officers unravel the crime.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The Emergency Unfolds

[01:04-03:36]

• The episode opens with a frantic call: a shooting has occurred.
• Captain Kennelly and Detective DeLuca quickly respond, arriving at a crowded Upper East Side sidewalk where the victim, Walter Ehrich, lies unconscious from gunshot wounds.
• Immediate confusion reigns; police work to secure the scene and gather witnesses.
  • Memorable Moment:
    "You're in the muster room at the 21st Precinct. The nerve center...A call is coming through. You will follow the action taken…" — Captain Kennelly [01:14]

2. Witness Statements and Initial Investigation

[03:36-07:57]

• June Nayland, the woman accompanying the victim, explains the events: after leaving a nightclub, two armed men hijacked their car, robbed them, and shot Walter when he resisted.
• Police ascertain the suspects fled in Nayland's blue 1952 Pontiac convertible.
• The show captures police methodology: interviewing witnesses, issuing vehicle descriptions, and immediate medical response.
  • Notable Quote:
    "He was just out to have a good time, after all. Just a good time. And something like this has to happen." — June Nayland [06:03]

3. Hospital Vigil and Critical Condition

[09:04-12:51]

• The next morning, Walter is still unconscious after surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital; his prognosis is grim.
• Ms. Nayland insists on staying, emotionally distraught over the pointless violence.
  • Notable Exchange:
    "Why did they have to shoot him? They could have had the money without shooting." — June Nayland [10:56]
    "They could have, but they didn't." — Captain Kennelly [11:10]

4. Break in the Case and Suspect Apprehension

[12:51-14:03]

• The police discover the suspects (Philip Creedy and Arthur Harrod) and Nayland’s stolen car near Albany thanks to a timely alarm and collaboration with state police.
• The suspects are apprehended and readied for transportation back to New York.
  • Procedural Highlight:
    The collaboration between New York and state police in pursuit of the suspects shows the pragmatic, resource-sharing approach to law enforcement evident in the series.

5. Interviewing June Nayland & Emergence of Suspicion

[14:03–21:21]

• At the station house, June Nayland is intensely questioned. Detectives probe her background, finances, and relationship to Walter Ehrich.

• The suspects allege that June orchestrated the robbery, introducing a sharp narrative twist.

  • Memorable Dialogue:
    "They told the officer who went up to bring them back that you hired them to rob Mr. Herrich." — Detective DeLuca [17:33]
    "That's absolutely crazy." — June Nayland [17:52]

• Nayland vehemently denies knowing the men or being involved, expressing outrage at the insinuations.

• The emotional stress is heightened when Walter’s wife arrives at the station to learn the account of her husband’s shooting.

6. Suspects’ Confession, Contradiction, and Resolution

[22:19–26:31]

• In an intense interrogation scene, Creedy and Harrod first assert June planned the crime and was the instigator.

• Under scrutiny and cross-examination, the story unravels; Harrod admits they aimed to shift blame onto June, hoping for leniency.

  • Revealing Confession:
    "He thought up the whole idea...let's put it over on the girl...it would go easier on us." — Creedy [25:50]
    "I'm sorry, lady. I didn't want to hurt you. There's enough people hurt already." — Harrod [26:09]

• June is cleared of suspicion; detectives apologize for the distress caused.

  • Closure:
    "I’m glad she’s cleared, Matt. Would have been too bad." — Captain Kennelly [27:06]

7. Return to Duty and Ongoing Cycles

[27:06-end]

• The episode closes by emphasizing the relentless nature of police work: as one case wraps up, another begins practically on the same call.
  • Closing Reflection:
    "And so it goes around the clock…every day, every year, 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." — Narration [27:49]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• First Response to Shooting — [01:04–03:36]
• Witness Interview (June Nayland) — [03:36–07:57]
• Hospital Update, Emotional Fallout — [09:04–12:51]
• Suspects Apprehended — [12:51–14:03]
• Interrogation of June Nayland — [14:03–21:21]
• Suspects’ Interrogation & Confession — [22:19–26:31]
• Resolution & Closing Narration — [26:31–end]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• "He was just out to have a good time after all. Just a good time. And something like this has to happen." — June Nayland [06:03]
• "Why did they have to shoot him? They could have had the money without shooting." — June Nayland [10:56]
• "I've been in this job 13 years. I haven't found out yet." — Detective DeLuca on the senselessness of violence [12:15]
• "They told the officer who went up to bring them back that you hired them to rob Mr. Herrich." — Detective DeLuca [17:33]
• "He thought up the whole idea while we were laying over in Auburn. He said, let's put it over on the girl." — Creedy [25:50]
• "Anyone can catch the brass ring—or the brass ring can catch anyone." — Narrator/Captain Kennelly [27:49]

Tone and Style

Throughout, the dialogue is brisk, realistic, and character-driven, typical of hardboiled 1950s crime dramas. The officers’ professionalism mixes with world-weariness. Ms. Nayland’s distress brings emotional texture, while the suspects’ shifting stories highlight both the difficulty and necessity of thorough police work.

Episode Impact

Listeners are given a front-row seat to both the procedural and emotional complexities faced by police, victims, and suspects. The show's layered narrative and reversals (the suspicion cast on June, the suspects’ attempt to save themselves) deliver suspense while portraying the era's belief in dogged investigation and moral justice.

The episode underscores the never-ending nature of big city law enforcement, leaving audiences both satisfied with the resolution and aware that, for the 21st Precinct, there is always another "story" beginning.