21st Precinct 54-12-15 (075) The Loser - Harold's Old Time Radio

Harold's Old Time Radio – Episode Summary

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: 21st Precinct 54-12-15 (075) The Loser
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Original Broadcast Date: December 15, 1954
Podcast Release Date: February 25, 2026

Overview

In this episode, listeners are immersed in a classic police procedural from the golden age of radio. "The Loser" is a tense, slice-of-life drama following the officers of the 21st Precinct as they investigate an armed robbery at a New York City bar and grill, which left a customer shot. The episode explores detective work, the psychology of criminals, and the complicated realities faced by both law enforcement and those caught up in crime.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The 21st Precinct: Setting the Scene

[00:35 – 02:30]

Captain Frank Kennelly details the challenges of policing a small, densely populated Manhattan district.
Staffing is strained due to special events (a parade and the Shah of Iran's visit), prompting the captain to personally patrol.
Day-to-day police work continues alongside major events, highlighting the precinct's ceaseless responsibilities.

Notable Quote:
"Most of the 173,000 people wedged into the nine tenths of a square mile... wouldn't know, if you asked them, that they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not, the security of their homes, their persons and their property is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct."
— Captain Kennelly [00:35]

2. The Robbery Investigation Begins

[02:31 – 05:00]

Detectives Scanlon and Vitale act on an informant's tip about a suspect at a small hotel.
Interaction with the hotel clerk adds humor and color (astrology talk, NYC flavor).
They locate Floyd Binfield, the suspect registered at the hotel.

Notable Moment:
The hotel clerk, driven slightly mad by monotony, finds solace in astrology.
"I'm Aries. But when you get right down to it, two thirds of the stuff they print in there is just plain guesswork."
— Hotel Clerk [03:40]

3. Confronting Floyd Binfield

[05:01 – 11:00]

Detectives force entry, subdue Binfield, and cuff him after a brief struggle.
Binfield claims to be innocent, offering a shaky alibi: drinking with "Martha" in Long Island City.
Under questioning, his story begins to fall apart—he doesn't know Martha's last name, though she's supposedly a friend.

Notable Quote:
"A big mouth and a little brain. That's an unbeatable combination for getting into trouble."
— Floyd Binfield [21:12]

4. The Interrogation: Separating Fact from Fiction

[15:19 – 21:00]

Back at the precinct, Lieutenant King questions Binfield, who insists he was with Martha during the time of the crime.
Detectives reveal details of the robbery and pressure Binfield about his changing story.
The possibility of witnesses and a lineup prompts Binfield to confess, naming his accomplice as Ted Bryant (later clarified as William Tedburn).

Notable Dialogue:

Lt. King: "Why don't you stop wasting the time of everybody concerned? Tell us the truth about this thing." [17:32]
Binfield: "Okay, it was me." [18:49]

5. Chasing Down the Accomplice: William Tedburn

[21:20 – 25:00]

Detectives check files: Tedburn has prior robbery convictions; his aunt lives in Bayside, Queens.
Detectives canvas the aunt's house. She reveals Tedburn came home late and left early.
Searching his room, they find two empty .38 shells—evidence implicating him further.

6. The Arrest and Emotional Fallout

[25:14 – 28:30]

Detectives stay at the house, coordinating with Tedburn’s aunt.
Tedburn returns; a tense confrontation ensues, resulting in his capture.
The aunt is left grappling with shock and disappointment, underscoring the personal toll of crime.

Memorable Exchange:

Aunt: "He promised me he wouldn't get into anything. After the last time he went away for nearly three years. That should have been enough for him."
Detective Scanlon: "Well, that's the way it goes, I guess."
[24:25]

7. Aftermath & Reflections

[28:30 – End]

The episode closes on the theme that police work is relentless: new calls and crises arise even as cases close.
The cyclical, never-ending nature of crime and justice in NYC is emphasized.

Closing Reflection:
"Every day, every year, the 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."
— Narrator [28:55]

Notable Quotes & Moments

On police routine:
"The everyday business of the precinct went on." – Narrator [01:40]
On detective work:
"Didn't get a liberal education on this job." – Detective [15:17]
An informant's unreliability:
"This was a pretty good tip I got on you. Where it came from isn't wrong once in a year. Well, this is the time, believe me." – Detective, confronting Binfield [16:25]

Timestamps for Key Segments

Precinct introduction & staff shortages: [00:35 – 02:30]
Initial investigation at hotel: [02:30 – 05:01]
Confrontation with Floyd Binfield: [05:01 – 11:00]
Precinct interrogation: [15:19 – 21:00]
Investigation of accomplice Tedburn: [21:20 – 25:00]
Arrest at the aunt's house: [25:14 – 28:30]
Final narration/summary: [28:30 – 29:00]

Tone & Style

The episode is rich with realism, grit, and urban texture, told with the straight-ahead, procedural tone of Golden Age radio drama. The script maintains a matter-of-fact approach, with flashes of dry humor, world-weariness, and empathy for both police and those caught up in crime.

Summary

“The Loser” stands as a tightly plotted example of 21st Precinct’s brand of hard-nosed, unsensationalized police drama. It’s a window into the methods of mid-20th-century detectives, the human factors at play in both investigation and criminal behavior, and the ceaseless churn of life in the city’s underbelly. This episode underscores how easily crime can unravel—and the cost it takes on everyone involved, including families left in the wake.

For fans of classic radio drama or anyone interested in the roots of police procedurals, this episode demonstrates why 21st Precinct was a staple of its era.

Transcript

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Detective Scanlon (0:28)

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Detective Scanlon (0:35)

21st Precinct. Detective Golden. What do you mean, Rob? Held up? Where is it? 35 or 39? What is it there? The bar. How many? Hold up. You are in the muster room at the 21st Place Precinct. The nerve center. A call is coming through. You will follow the action taken pursuant to that call from this minute until the final report is written in the 124 room at the 21st Precinct. All right, I'll send the officers right over there. Yeah, right away. They'll be there. Okay. Yeah. 21st Precinct. Transcribed it's just lines on a map of the city of New York. Most of the 173,000 people wedged into the nine tenths of a square mile. Between Fifth Avenue and the east river. Wouldn't know, if you asked them, that they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not, the security of their homes, their persons and their property. Is the job of the men of the 21st Precinct. The 21st. 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants. Of whom? Whom? I'm the boss. My name is Kelly. Frank Canelli. I'm captain in command of the 21st. I was working my day tour, 8am to 6pm it was a cold, windy day in the precinct. And our patrol problems had been increased enormously. Because of men drawn away from the command for temporary duty elsewhere. Orders had come via teletype at 7am from the Bureau of Orders. To detail four men to the Manhattan West Borough Command because of a parade on Broadway. In addition, the Shah of Iran had been scheduled to visit the exhibit of ancient Persian relics. At the Metropolitan Museum of art at 11am and consequently, six patrolmen and the sergeant. Were assigned from the 21st to duty on Fifth Avenue in the vicinity of the museum. Because we were short of men in the precinct for the day. I went out on patrol in sector car number two. As soon as I had turned out the platoon. And remained out for the balance of the morning. In the meantime, the everyday business of the precinct went on. For instance, detectives Ralph Scanlon and Chris Vitale, investigating the armed robbery of a bar and grill the previous night, parked their car on 3rd Avenue in the 80s and crossed the street under the L structure toward a small hotel, the entrance to which was wedged between two stores. The visit to the hotel was in response to a tip from an informant, sometimes reliable, sometimes not, but worth checking out because a customer had been shot during the course of the robbery. What do you say, you want to jump in for coffee after we get through here? Yeah. Be sure this doesn't turn out to be anything looking down the street there. Yeah, okay. Do they even have a clerk in the jail? He must be around someplace. What's the matter? I don't know. Something's the matter with me. I don't get any sleep. I seem to get tired. Oh, you should see a doctor. Somebody could walk away with this joint. No rooms. We're all filled up. We don't want a room. Pop. Come here. Oh, you're a detective from the station house. Yeah, that's right. I didn't recognize you for a minute. I was in BAT getting some reading matter. You can go nuts in this job if you don't have something to read, you know. What can I do for you? Look, Pop. You know, it's funny. I was just dancing through here. It says for the 15th, with Jupiter in the ascendancy that a friend in a high civic post may be a valuable assistance to you. Do you go for astrology? Thank you. Never touched this stuff. Listen, Top, we're interested in a guy that. Excuse me, I got to get the phone. All right, go ahead. Hotel. Who? How do you spell it? Double F or double S? No, no. Nobody here like that registered. Okay. Yeah, let's see you register P. Yeah, sure, help yourself here. You know, somebody left a couple of these astrology books around here once, and I got kind of interested in it. I'm Aries. Yeah, but when you get right down to it, two thirds of the stuff they print in there is just plain guesswork. Then why do you read it? Well, I'm the kind of guy which doesn't like to miss any bets, especially with mercury dominant. What are you looking for there now? Maybe I can help you. What's this guy's name right here? I can't read the writing. That's Binfield. Floyd R. Binfield. What room to him? He's in 22. You know something? I thought there was something the matter with him when he checked in. He looks like a Sagittarius. I had him pegged for a Sagittarius. When did he check in yesterday? Yesterday morning. Just about this time. Is he in his room now? Yeah, he's in there. Have you seen him this morning? Yeah, I've seen him. He came down for coffee and he went back up. He's in there. Where is 22? Up the stairs, straight down the hall, and the first one around the bend. The. What do you do to this guy? We got a couple of things we want to talk to him about. Where do we get these characters? Where do they come from? Don't ask me. Let's have the pass key. Listen, now, do you want me to come up and open this room for you? We want you to just stay here. Right here. Oh, he's a tough customer, huh? We don't know. We'll find out after we talk to him. Yeah, I always like the way you guys say talk. How about the passkey? Yeah. Yeah, be my guest. Thanks. Oh, listen. Yeah? What's your birthday? June. June 10th. Oh, you're all right. Gemini. Don't you worry. It's good to hear. Well, at least he's here. Ralph. Yeah. Oh, listen. Yeah? If you need some help now, just holler. Okay? All he's got to be is the right guy. We'll find that out soon enough. That way. 16. Keep going. That is. Hit it again. Yeah? Floyd Binfield. What is it? Police officers. We want to talk to you. All right. What the matter? Back in there. Let me alone. Go on the bed with him. Well, still. Give me the head. Cut it out. Oh, yeah. Let me go call him out. Dad, I got him. Yeah. Will you let me up? Okay. All right. Sit up. Eat that. Sit up. Okay. What are you trying to do, set yourself till? Who are you guys, anyway? We told you who we are. We're police officers. Oh, I thought you were somebody else. Yeah, I did. I thought you were somebody else. Well, we're not. Look, you don't have to put these things on me. You need them. You can't control your hands. Who do you think we were? A couple of guys? Yeah, a couple of guys I met the bar. Yeah, they were. They were trying to hustle me for a couple of bucks, so I let them have it. The other night, see, they. They said, come on downtown to the Village. We'll have a couple of drinks. Yeah, well, they had a car outside, so as we got into the car, I thought they were gonna try to get the dough I had on me, and I let them have it. Good. Welcome. Oh, I could handle both of them. Could Almost handle you two, couldn't I? Almost? Yeah. So that's it. Police officers. Well, what do you want with me? You signed the book. Downstairs is Floyd R. Benfield. What's your right name? That's it. Floyd R. Benfield. That's my right name. Hey, look, could you take these things off me? I won't give you no trouble, I promise it. Let them stay out a while. When you cool down, we'll take them over. I'm cool down. I didn't know you were cop. How was I supposed to know that? Have you ever done any big time, Floyd? Oh, me? Yeah. Have you? Well, yeah. What's that got to do with now? That's got nothing to do with now. What'd you do this time? Lewisburg. It's a federal deal. For what? A car friend asked me to drive a car from here to Campton. I didn't know it was hot. He didn't tell me anything about it being hot. Yeah, I didn't. I didn't have that bit coming to me. Yeah, well, what's the beef now? What do you want with me? What have you been doing this week, Floyd? Well, what do you mean what have I been doing? Where have you been? Well, I've been out of town. Until yesterday. I just got back in town yesterday. From where? From Boston. What were you doing in Boston? Oh, I was up there a couple of weeks, you know, hanging around, visiting some friends of mine. What did you do since you got back in town Yesterday? Not so much, you know. Hey, listen, fellas, have a heart. Will you take these things off? I won't be no trouble, I swear to you. What did you do last night? I saw this girlfriend of mine. What time was that? You mean that I saw her? Yeah. Well, she works in this cafe. She's a waitress. She got off about 9:30 and I picked her up there. Where'd you go with her? Oh, we went out and had a few drinks. And where was that? Some part. Some part? Out near where she works there in Long Island City. You stay in the bar very long? Well, yeah, pretty long time.