Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: 21st Precinct 54-11-10 (070) "The Sticks"

Date Released: February 25, 2026
Theme: Classic Golden Age Radio Drama – Police Procedural

Overview

This episode of "21st Precinct," originally aired in 1954, centers on the theft of explosives from a construction site and the grim fallout when a group of neighborhood boys gets involved. The narrative follows Captain Kennelly and his fellow officers as they respond to the burglary, investigate the disappearance of dynamite and blasting caps, and deal with the tragic consequences when the stolen items lead to a serious accident involving a young boy.

The episode highlights the procedural, methodical approach of mid-20th century policing, emphasizing both community responsibility and the heartbreaking realities officers often encounter.

Key Discussion Points & Story Progression

1. Theft at the Construction Site

• [00:49-09:48]
  • Captain Kennelly is briefed about a burglary at a construction project.
  • Watchman Mr. Curley reports that 11 sticks of dynamite and 8 blasting caps are missing.
  • The explosives had been locked up, but the thieves broke in while the site was unattended for lunch ("It happened from between a quarter to twelve and a quarter after" – Mr. Curley, [06:17]).
  • Initial suspicions lean toward professional safe crackers – the missing dynamite is typically used by those seeking to crack safes.

2. The Investigation—Safe & Loft Squad

• [09:48-13:09]
  • Policemen thoroughly search the site but find no direct evidence.
  • Kennelly receives word of a patrolman at another precinct being injured by a youthful offender.
  • Lieutenant King finds no recent safe-blowing incidents or relevant ex-convict activity; the case has no immediate suspect ("They know of no one around who's using nitro to blow a safe. Haven't had a case like that in a couple of years." – King, [12:42]).

3. Rethinking the Suspects

• [13:09-14:16]
  • Captain Kennelly begins to suspect local kids may be involved: "I don't think it was safe burglars at all that broke into that shack. I think it was a bunch of kids." ([13:21])
  • A report comes in: an explosion has occurred on a vacant lot nearby.

4. Explosion and Aftermath

• [14:16-19:27]
  • Police rush to a vacant lot where a boy has been badly injured by detonating blasting caps ("Apparently he was playing around with the blasting caps." – Kennelly, [17:20]).
  • Witnesses saw three boys in the lot before the explosion; two left, leaving one behind who was injured.
  • The scene is chaotic, with bystanders, officers, and ambulance personnel trying to help.

5. Medical Emergency and Hospital Scene

• [19:27-22:54]
  • At the hospital, Dr. Westwolf works to save the boy, whose condition is extremely serious ("The blast tore a hole in his chest. Called in our chief thoracic surgery. It's on the way. Meantime, we're getting plasma." – Dr. Westwolf, [20:45]).
  • The boy is identified as Frank Harrods, age 14.
  • The remaining explosives and other boys involved are unaccounted for, raising the stakes for police.

6. Family Confrontation and Responsibility

• [22:54-29:14]
  • Frank’s father, Mr. Harrods, arrives at the hospital.
  • Emotional confrontation ensues between Frank’s absent, embittered father and the authorities, highlighting issues of parental responsibility:
    • "He's your boy, isn't he?" – Captain Kennelly ([25:38])
    • "But I got to work for a living. I got no time to raise him. That should have been his mother's job." – Carl Harrods ([25:43])
    • "It isn't a cop's job to straighten them out. Why do they hang it on us?" – Lieutenant King ([23:43])
  • The father refuses to identify the two other boys, until after hearing of his son’s death.

7. Tragedy and Reflection

• [27:22-29:41]
  • Dr. Westwolf informs the father that Frank has died from his injuries.
  • Overcome with guilt and grief, Mr. Harrods finally agrees to help police to prevent a similar fate befalling the other boys.
  • Reflective moment between Kennelly and King:
    • "He was [hard]. I just wish it hadn't taken so much to soften him up." – Captain Kennelly ([29:53])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Nature of the Neighborhood:
  "Most of the 173,000 people wedged into the nine-tenths of a square mile... would not know if you asked them that they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not, the security... is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct." – Captain Kennelly, [01:15]

• On Speculating About the Thieves:
  "But the boys that got it knew what they were after. I'm sure they know how to handle it. Safe burglars? Yes, that's what it looks like to me. They'll take it and boil it down to nitroglycerin..." – Lieutenant King and Captain Kennelly, [08:46-09:00]

• On Parenting and Responsibility:
  "He's your boy, isn’t he?... But I got to work for a living. I got no time to raise him. That should have been his mother's job." – Carl Harrods, [25:38-25:45]

• On the Reality of Police Work:
  "The trouble is, Matt, it doesn't get to us until somebody else has already missed the boat." – Captain Kennelly, [23:45-23:52]

• On the Final Realization:
  "He was [hard]. I just wish it hadn't taken so much to soften him up." – Captain Kennelly, [29:53]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:33] – Incident at the construction site reported
• [04:00] – Confirmation: 11 sticks of dynamite & 8 blasting caps stolen
• [06:17] – Timeframe provided by the watchman
• [09:00] – Discussion on safe burglars and dynamite use
• [13:21] – Kennelly shifts suspicion to local youths
• [14:16] – Report: Explosion on local vacant lot
• [17:18] – Witness account of the boys at the scene
• [20:45] – Hospital: Details about the boy’s injuries
• [22:54] – Frank’s father arrives at the hospital
• [27:25] – Notification: The boy has died
• [29:53] – Reflection on responsibility and loss

Summary & Tone

• The episode unfolds with classic radio delivery: patient, detail-oriented, with a mix of clipped police procedural dialogue and evocative narration.
• Underlying themes include the unpredictability of police work, the importance of community vigilance, and the tragedy of neglected youth.
• The tragic lesson is hammered home by the boy's death—it's a stark warning about both adult responsibility and the dangers children face when oversight lapses.

This episode is a haunting, somber example of Golden Age radio’s ability to capture social realities and human drama in a single, tightly scripted half-hour.