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21st Precinct 54-10-27 (068) The Mark - Harold's Old Time Radio | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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21st Precinct 54-10-27 (068) The Mark

Harold's Old Time Radio

Wed Feb 25 2026

Summary

Podcast Summary: 21st Precinct – “The Mark”

Podcast: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode: 21st Precinct 54-10-27 (068) The Mark
Release Date: February 25, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of 21st Precinct entitled “The Mark” is a classic police procedural from the Golden Age of Radio, spotlighting the daily dramas faced by New York City police. The central plot revolves around a con game targeting a hardworking tailor and his wife, exploring issues of gullibility, desperation, and the well-worn tactics of confidence tricksters. With Captain Frank Kennelly at the helm, the episode delivers a suspenseful and surprisingly contemporary account of human nature, crime, and justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Life in the 21st Precinct

The opening narration (02:48) immerses listeners in the daily operations of a Manhattan precinct, with a focus on its 173,000 residents and the men charged with their safety.
Captain Kennelly describes coming on duty during a heavy rainstorm and dealing with a multi-alarm fire that strains the precinct's resources.

“You are in the muster room at the 21st Precinct, the nerve center…” – Narrator/Captain Kennelly (02:36)

2. The Tailor’s Shop & The Unusual Package

Kennelly visits Phil Parazoni’s tailor shop to drop off uniform trousers before a scheduled school talk.
Phil seems distracted—his wife Rose is upset, foreshadowing an unusual problem (05:07).

3. The Confession: The Mark Is Revealed

Phil and Rose Parazoni confide in Captain Kennelly about their involvement in a murky situation involving a customer and a suspicious package found on a bus (07:07–12:14).
The package contains a large sum of money and “number slips” (illegal gambling documents).
A young woman named Marion persuades Rose to help stash the package in a Grand Central Station locker for supposed safekeeping. Marion then concocts a scheme that preys on Rose’s fear and desire for easy money.

Memorable dialogue:

“She thought you came to arrest her. That's why she acted that way.”
– Phil Parazoni (07:52)

“It was all my fault. He didn't have anything to do with it.”
– Rose Parazoni (07:31)

4. The Bunco Game: Anatomy of a Con

Rose describes being manipulated by Marion, who sets up an elaborate story involving police, unpaid parking tickets, and a desperate need for help (13:11).
The true aim is to get Rose to withdraw $750 to “help” Marion pay a fictitious court fine, with the promise of splitting the $3,000 “found” in the locker.
The police recognize this as a classic “pigeon drop” con—one that ensnares people annually through their own willingness to believe in quick profit (16:31).

“These confidence rackets are invariably based upon the victim's desire to get something for nothing... the gullibility of people is amazing.”
– Captain Kennelly (16:40)

5. The Police Sting: Turning the Tables

The 21st Precinct detectives devise a sting using a dummy package with real bills only on top and bottom, tracking serial numbers as evidence (24:20).
Mrs. Parazoni, coached by the police, arranges to meet Marion in the courthouse, under surveillance (24:44–27:44).
The con artist is caught red-handed as she receives the dummy package.

“All right, we're police officers. I'll take that package. What you've got there? I'll have it, please.”
– Detective (27:33)

The episode closes with a reflection on the moral: many fall for cons not just out of naivete, but out of the hope to “get something for nothing.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Human Nature in Confidence Schemes:

“Can you blame them too much if they see an opportunity to make some money just like that, a big opportunity to make it.”
– Phil Parazoni (07:54)
On The Appeal of Easy Money:

“It looked like money to me.”
– Rose Parazoni, on the package (22:39)
On the Foolproofness of Old Cons:

“It's incredible how many in the city of New York fall victim to these same old small con games year in and year out.”
– Captain Kennelly (16:38)
Detective’s Dry Humor at the Arrest:

“You picked the wrong mark. … He’s got a streak of honesty.”
– Detective King (28:09)

Important Timestamps

02:36 – Introduction to the 21st Precinct and its function.
05:07 – First reference to something being amiss at the tailor shop.
07:07 – Phil and Rose begin their confession to Captain Kennelly.
13:11 – Marion manipulates Rose with a fabricated story about unpaid traffic tickets.
16:31 – Police reflect on the recurring nature of small confidence games.
21:50 – Rose describes agreeing to Marion's request for $750.
24:44 – Police prepare the sting operation using dummy money.
27:33 – Arrest of Marion in the courthouse corridor.
28:09 – Detective King’s wry comment on the mark’s honesty and closing reflections.

Tone & Language

The episode maintains a matter-of-fact, procedural tone throughout, with the emotional undercurrent arising from the ordinary fears and hopes of good, hardworking people. The police maintain professional detachment but also compassion, while the Parazonis’ anxieties and hopes come through clearly. The criminal’s manipulation is evident in the natural flow of dialogue, allowing listeners to empathize with victims of such schemes.

Final Thoughts

“The Mark” is a resonant reminder of how classic bunco schemes thrive on the intersection of trust, fear, and greed. The story unfolds methodically but grippingly, with solid performances and plenty of period New York texture. The episode remains relevant, highlighting the perennial vulnerability of people to the promise of unearned rewards—and the enduring vigilance of those dedicated to keeping the city safe.

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Transcript

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A (0:26)

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B (0:29)

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B (7:52)

Yeah, sure. That's all right. Well, what's the trouble, Phil? Captain, when you came in the store to get your pants pressed. Yes? Well, that's why she acted so funny. Because it was you. You see, she thought you came to arrest her. That's why she acted that way. Arrest her for what? It's a long story. It's a very long story. What did she Do. Look, Captain, when somebody who's worked so hard for so many years, worked really struggles, can you blame them too much if they see an opportunity to make some money just like that, a big opportunity to make it. Well, I can't blame them if it's legitimate. Well, in this case it's legitimate and it isn't. But it can't be both. Well, I mean, the money don't really belong to anybody. You better start at the beginning, Phil. Yeah. Well, it was yesterday morning. We were in the shop. Ross was at the counter like when you came in today, and I was in the back at the. Yeah? Well, the door opened and a customer came in. A woman. A very pretty young woman. Yeah, well, she came in mad as a wet hen. Well, I heard her talking to Rose and I came up to see what the matter with. She had on a nice wool suit. See, the front of the skirt was dirty and smart. I didn't blame her for being mad. Anyway, she said she was on the bus. She said two men got on and the man who was sitting next to her saw the two men. Well, she thinks they were detectives and they were after the man that was sitting next to her. Well, anyway, he jumped out of the seat and crawled all over and ruined a suit with his shoe and went out the back door of the bus and the two men ran out after him. Uh huh. Well, anyway, after a minute she looked down on the seat and there was a package, you see, a pretty big package. Must have belonged to the man that the policemen were chasing. She picked it up. And did the woman have the package when she came into the store? Oh, yeah, yeah, I seen it, had it all right. It was right down on the corner there all the time. Only anyway, I said I tried to fix up a skirt as best I could and she went in the dressing room. Well, I was in the back there working on a skirt. And then the lady asked Rose to bring the package into the dressing room. She'd like to take a look at it while she was waiting. So? So Rose brought the package in and Rose said, you know how curiosity can get the best of ladies. Well, they sat there looking at it and Rose was hoping that she would open it up. And finally the lady decided to open it up. What was in it? Well, I didn't know. I didn't find out until last night. Oh, didn't she? Well, she didn't say anything to me about it while we were in the store. I was busy back there. I didn't know what was going on in the dressing room. I see. Your wife only told you what was in it. Yeah. I never saw anything in there. Well, what was in the package? Money. Lots of money, Captain. How much? Well, I don't know exactly. Rose said at least 3,000, they think. Aren't they sure? Well, Rose told me they didn't count it. They were so scared, they didn't count it. Oh, the money. The money wasn't all that was in there. What else? Number slips. You know, slips from claim policy. Oh, yeah. Well, they figured out, Rose, milady, that this fella on the bus was a racketeer, you see, and he was being chased by the cops. Yeah. Oh, you going to ask Ro in? Well, I think we ought to have this story from her, don't you? Yeah. Yeah, I think we ought to. Miss Paroni?

B (23:44)

You don't have to Worry about that, Ms. Parazoni. You just do what we tell you. It was decided that Mrs. Parazoni would go ahead and complete the transaction with the con artist she knew only as Marion. A dummy package of money prepared in exactly the same manner as the paper package left in the locker in Grand Central was gotten ready. There was a $20 bill on top and a 10 on the bottom. In between was plain paper cut to size. The serial numbers of the two real bills were recorded for evidence. Detective Deluca was instructed to see that Mrs. Parazoni waited until the exact time of the appointment, entered the building and took the elevator to the second floor. Lieutenant King and I went into the lobby of the building and met two detectives of the Fifth Squad. The four of us took the elevator to the second floor. It was hardly necessary to make ourselves inconspicuous in the corridor. The place, as always on court days, was jammed with police officers, defendants, witnesses, complainants, bail bondsmen and attorneys waiting for their cases to be called in the various courts. The two detectives from the 5th Squad were planted near the elevators. Lt. King and I walked to a place in the corridor close to the telephone booth. And there we waited. Captain, it's the first time I've heard of the Criminal Court Building being part of a con game. It's impressive, man. You gotta give her credit for that. That's impressive, all right. There's a woman waiting. Think that's her? He's pretty close to the description. Wait a minute. There's another one down there. Where? That's a drinking fountain. Oh, yeah, lots of them. Captain. Yeah, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. How's the time? He's due up here now. How about moving across there where we can see the elevators? Yes. Okay. There's a babe there. The blue dress. Yeah, that could be hard, too. Now, let's see. Look, we better not both watch the elevators, man. No, I'll. I'll look this way. You just let me know what's going on, okay? Okay. There's another one. That could be the gal. That description fits half the women in New York. Yep. There's Ms. Parazoni coming off the elevator. She's starting to look around. Does she see her? Not yet. Which way is she looking? This way. Here she comes. She stopped. Just think. Marion showed. Yes, sir, she showed. Parazone is walking over to her. The one in the blue dress. I better keep looking this way. Yes, she's greeted her. They're making the change. Mrs. Parazoni is giving her the package. She's got it. All right, let's go. Good looking. All right. You think that'll help her? Go for her. Know how much good will do from now on?