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.