Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: 21st Precinct 54-10-20 (067) "The Virtuoso"

Original Airdate: October 20, 1954
Podcast Release: February 25, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio

Overview

This episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio" features a classic installment of the police procedural "21st Precinct." Titled "The Virtuoso," the story revolves around the theft of an invaluable cello belonging to a renowned virtuoso, and the ensuing investigation by Captain Frank Kennelly and his precinct team. The episode offers a compelling blend of procedural police work, human drama, and poignant backstory, underlined by themes of artistry, loss, and redemption.

Key Discussion Points & Story Beats

1. The Incident at the Precinct (00:34 – 03:15)

• The episode opens with Captain Frank Kennelly returning to the 21st Precinct after addressing a suicide attempt in the holding cells.
• Captain Kennelly checks in with Sergeant Waters about the quiet status of the night shift and the condition of the attempted suicide victim.

2. The Cello Theft (03:52 – 08:10)

• Irene Rudkovic and her husband Igor—revealed to be an acclaimed cello soloist— arrive at the precinct to report a stolen "Joseph" cello.
• The instrument, a rare Giuseppe Guarnerius cello (1759), was stolen from their car outside their Park Avenue apartment as they prepared for a weekend trip.
• Captain Kennelly and Sergeant Waters express disbelief at the cello’s immense sentimental and monetary value:
  • "A Stradivarius is a tone, sweet, sugary. Joseph is robust, full. No comparison." — Igor Rudkovic (06:31)
  • "For one cello? Oh, the money is nothing. I don't want the money. I can get money. But where can I get another Joseph? I want my Joseph." (07:44)

3. Investigation and Recovery (10:00 – 11:41)

• On patrol, Kennelly and Waters spot an intoxicated "bum" sleeping on church steps—next to a cello case bearing the Rudkovic initials.
• The officers suspect the cello is the stolen instrument and take both the suspect (later identified as Jason Newfield) and the cello to the station.
  • "What's he doing with the cello, Captain? Where'd he get it?" — Sergeant Waters (10:48)

4. The Suspect's Tale (18:02 – 23:51)

• In the detective’s office, Jason Newfield claims he doesn’t remember stealing the cello and launches into a story of his past as a failed cello prodigy.
  • "I was with the Hamburg Symphony... He came to be the soloist for a concert... he wanted to hear me play alone…"—Jason Newfield (21:26)
  • He details his descent into obscurity, blighted by alcoholism and a failed love affair with a singer in Prague.
  • "I haven't been any good for 20 years. Would you believe me? To look at me, I'm only 51 years old. That's all. I must look 70." — Jason Newfield (23:04)
• The officers, skeptical, press him for the truth, suggesting his story is a fabrication.
  • "You're the lousiest thief and the best liar I've seen to date." — Sergeant Waters (24:52)

5. Resolution and Human Connection (25:18 – 29:46)

• Mr. and Mrs. Rudkovic return to the precinct and confirm the cello's undamaged state.
• Igor Rudkovic, realizing Newfield's musical past, insists he play the cello before them:
  • "The virtuoso. All right, Mr. Virtuoso. Play." — Rudkovic (27:10)
• Newfield, despite years without practice, plays haltingly but movingly, bringing a moment of grace and sorrow to the scene.
• Rudkovic offers Newfield shelter, food, and the chance to play music together, disregarding Newfield’s tattered appearance and crime.
  • "An artist is not to be judged by his clothes. Wouldn't you like to come to my home to play my Joseph? Also, I have an Amati. You can shave and eat. I have some clothes for you." — Rudkovic (29:27)
• Sergeant Waters insists theft is still a crime, leaving Newfield’s fate ambiguous but the emotional resolution intact.

6. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the value of art:
  • Kennelly: "Does it look like $20,000? Not to me. To me either. I'd rather have the cash." (17:10)
• On human frailty and lost promise:
  • Newfield: "It was her. Manya... She was a singer. I met her in Prague and I fell deeply in love. Deeply in love. But she didn't return my love. So I started to drink more." (22:48)
• On unlikely compassion:
  • Rudkovic: "Forget the past. Come to my home. Would you like that?" (29:38)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Event | |:-------------:|----------------------------------------------------| | 00:34 | Opening action at the precinct | | 03:52 | Rudkovics report the cello theft | | 06:07 | Explanation of the "Joseph" cello | | 07:42 | Details on value and provenance of the cello | | 10:00 | Kennelly and Waters find the "bum" and cello | | 18:02 | Jason Newfield questioned, claims virtuosic past | | 21:26 | Newfield recounts his musical rise and fall | | 27:10 | Rudkovic demands Newfield to play the cello | | 28:43 | Newfield’s sorrowful performance | | 29:27 | Rudkovic’s gesture of compassion |

Tone & Style

The episode maintains the procedural, clipped dialogue and moral seriousness characteristic of "21st Precinct." Yet, it’s laced with human warmth and a touch of bittersweet irony, especially in the exchanges around the nature of artistry, redemption, and the tragic consequences of personal failings.

Conclusion

"The Virtuoso" is emblematic of radio drama’s ability to mix crime procedural with human drama. Its ultimate message is one of compassion and second chances, as the world-weary Captain and the devastated musician cross paths with a broken man whose greatest crime might simply be having lost hope. Listeners are left pondering the worth of art, the possibility of renewal, and the lifelong cost of a single misstep.