Ann of The Airlines - (Unknown)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio — "Ann of The Airlines" (Unknown episode, March 28, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of Harold's Old Time Radio brings listeners into the suspenseful world of "Ann of The Airlines," a classic radio serial from the Golden Age of Radio. The story revolves around Ann Burton, a newly trained nurse aspiring to become an air hostess, who finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue involving hijacked planes, shady doctors, and criminal escapades. Set in an era when radio dramas captivated family audiences, this adventure episode features high stakes, quick thinking, and classic detective work.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of Past Intrigue (00:39–02:12)

• Narrator provides a brisk recap: Ann Burton returns from vacation, Jack Baker (pilot) is struck by a car, and after a series of events at the Tyler Sanitarium, Jack is chloroformed by two gangsters. Ann and Jack must foil a plot to steal a plane.
• Notable Setup: Ann demonstrates initiative, bringing in oxygen apparatus to revive Jack.

2. Ann's Quick Thinking: The Escape Plan (02:12–03:39)

• Ann revives Jack with an oxygen pump:
  • Ann: "I brought in this oxygen pump from the operating room and washed out your lungs with it. That brought you right out of it." (02:49)
  • Jack: "Smart girl. You ought to get a medal." (03:02)
• Ann organizes Jack’s escape, instructing him to leave through the window and promising to meet at her car.
• Tension: The urgency is palpable—“No telling when Dr. Talley will be back” (03:03).

3. The Rogues’ Gallery & Detective Work (03:39–06:16)

• Police Station Visit: Ann and Jack try to identify the assailants using police files.
  • Sergeant (sarcastic): "Sorry, but we can't have everybody prowling through our gallery just to see the pretty pictures." (04:25)
• Ann had the foresight to grab the chloroform bottle for fingerprints:
  • Ann: "I thought about the fingerprints before I left the hospital, so I went back and picked it up." (06:02)
  • Jack: "You ought to go into the detective business." (06:14)
• Breakthrough: Prints match a known criminal, Joe Tolliver. Details of his background are shared by the Sergeant (06:21–07:03).

4. Assembling the Team & Unveiling the Plot (07:03–09:08)

• Jack contacts his co-pilot Pete Peterson for backup at the Green estate, believed to be the site of the stolen plane.
  • Jack: "Now, if things are like I think they are, we'll find that ship at the Green Estate, all warmed up and ready to go." (09:03)
• Dramatic Irony: The characters worry about running into trouble and wonder about Doc Tyler’s motives.
• Pete expresses excitement and readiness for the challenge.

5. Final Showdown at the Estate (09:08–11:50)

• Sneaking to the Plane: Jack, Ann, and Pete coordinate tactics to approach the Aircat on the Green estate’s private field.
  • Jack (pragmatic): "If things are like I think they are, we'll find that ship at the Green Estate, all warmed up and ready to go." (09:03)
  • Ann (anxious): "Jack, look over there. Isn't that a car on the highway?" (10:55)
• When Dr. Tyler's car arrives, Ann and Jack sprint to the plane as shots ring out.
  • Jack: "They'll have to have wings if they catch us now, Anne." (11:34)
  • Ann: "But Pete. What about Pete?" (11:35)
• They take off under fire, planning to return the stolen plane.

6. Last-Minute Cliffhanger (11:50–12:46)

• Ann and Jack notice someone unexpected in the back of the plane cabin:
  • Ann: "There's someone in the back of the cabin. Turn on the light." (12:12)
• The episode ends with a narrator tease, urging listeners to tune in next time:
  • Narrator: "And just what or who will the lights reveal? …Tune in the next gripping episode of Anne of the Air Lane." (12:19)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ann’s Initiative:
  "When I found that they had chloroformed you... I brought in this oxygen pump... and washed out your lungs with it." — Ann Burton (02:49)

• Sergeant’s Humor:
  "Sorry, but we can't have everybody prowling through our gallery just to see the pretty pictures. Goodbye." — Sergeant (04:25)

• Jack’s Compliment:
  "Smart girl. You ought to get a medal." — Jack Baker (03:02)

• Teamwork:
  "If we only knew where the landing field is... Unless they're pretty well known to the police. Then we might be able to pick them out of the Rogues Gallery..." — Jack Baker (03:39)

• Cliffhanger:
  "There's someone in the back of the cabin. Turn on the light." — Ann Burton (12:12)
  "And just what or who will the lights reveal?... Tune in the next gripping episode..." — Narrator (12:19)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:39] — Story recap and set-up by the narrator
• [02:12] — Ann revives Jack, plans escape
• [04:09] — Visit to police, fingerprint investigation
• [06:21] — Sergeant identifies Joe Tolliver as suspect
• [08:17] — Introduction of co-pilot Pete Peterson, team forms plan
• [10:55] — Suspense escalates as Dr. Tyler arrives, chase to the plane
• [11:50] — Takeoff under fire, immediate suspense
• [12:12] — Discovery of a stowaway in the cabin, cliffhanger

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Style & Tone

The language throughout is brisk, economical, and laced with period-appropriate banter, dramatic tension, and a sense of imminent peril. The camaraderie and quick-thinking of Ann stands out, as do the jovial yet sardonic exchanges with the police sergeant.

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In Summary

This episode vividly captures the charm and suspense of classic radio drama, focusing on Ann Burton’s ingenuity and courage as she assists Jack Baker in a race against time to recover a stolen plane. The narrative is driven by fast-moving events, clever detective work, and a signature cliffhanger, immersing listeners in the high-flying, pulpy world of airline adventure.

Tune in next time to discover who is hiding in the back of the Aircat—and whether Ann, Jack, and Pete will succeed in their daring rescue mission.

Transcript

[Bleacher Report Announcer]

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[Jack Baker]

Over valley and mountain, river and plain

[Narrator]

through wind and storm Ride Zan of the Air Lane. After finishing her nurse's training, Ann Burton, who wishes to become an air hostess, returns from a vacation in Canada aboard a plane piloted by Jack Baker. After landing in the dark at the Springfield airport, Jack is struck by an automobile on the unlighted field and rendered unconscious. Taken to the Tyler Sanitarium, he is treated by Dr. Tyler, the owner, and by Ann, who has been offered the position of floor supervisor in Tyler's hospital. However, before Jack can leave, he is chloroformed by two ruffians employed by a mysterious Doc in order that he be forced to pilot a stolen Air Cat plane. The two hoodlums have been instructed to have the stolen ship ready at their secret landing field in an hour and to bring the unconscious Jack to the field by that time. Ann enters the hospital room just as the gangsters Vic and Joe are leaving through the window. Dr. Tyler warns Ann to keep still about the whole affair and tells her that Jack will be awake and capable of flying within an hour. A few moments later, we find Ann at the bedside of Jack with some mysterious looking apparatus nearby on a chair.

[Ann Burton]

It ought to be working by this time. If I could. I could only turn on a light. I wonder if I'll be able to. Jack. Jack, can you hear me?

[Sergeant]

Yes. What's this?

[Ann Burton]

Here. I'll take off that mask now. How do you feel?

[Jack Baker]

All right. But where's Doc Tyler and those two gangsters? What's this thing here? Looks like a welding outfit.

[Ann Burton]

We haven't any time to spare, Jack. You've got to get out of here.

[Jack Baker]

I'll say I have. Those mugs have stolen Tony Johnson's Aircat plane.

[Ann Burton]

But you'll have to listen. Just a minute, Jack. They said that you were going to fly it somewhere. You can't do that.

[Jack Baker]

Well, see, I'm not. I still want to know what this thing is here.

[Ann Burton]

Well, to make a long story short, when I found that they had chloroformed you. And Tyler said that you'd be capable of flying in an hour. I knew they were planning something, so I brought in this oxygen pump from the operating room and washed out your lungs with it. That brought you right out of it.

[Jack Baker]

Smart girl. You ought to get a medal.

[Ann Burton]

Never mind about the metal. I've got to get you away from here as fast as I can. No telling when Dr. Talley will be back.

[Jack Baker]

Yes, and I've got to find out about 20.

[Ann Burton]

We'll talk about that later. Here. Here are your clothes. Get into them just as fast as you can and leave here through the window. Can't take a chance having you meet Tyler in the hall. I'll go get my car from the garage and meet you around on the side street in about two minutes. But hurry.

[Jack Baker]

Okay, Ann, in two minutes or less. Say that washing out the lungs with oxygen is a new one on me.

[Ann Burton]

I simply had to think of something. I knew that Dr. Tyler would be back and then. No telling what they could have done with you.

[Jack Baker]

What worries me now is about this Aircat plane of Tony's. We can't let them get away with that. If we only knew where the landing field is.

[Ann Burton]

If we knew who those hoodlums were, we might get some idea from that.

[Jack Baker]

Yeah, but I haven't the slightest idea in the world. Unless.

[Ann Burton]

Unless what?

[Jack Baker]

Unless they're pretty well known to the police. Then we might be able to pick them out of the Rogues Gallery at the police station.

[Ann Burton]

That gives me an idea. Jack, drive there as quickly as you can.

[Jack Baker]

Lucky you thought of it when you did. We're right around the corner. If they'll only let us in at this time of night.

[Ann Burton]

Oh, they'll have to, Jack. They'll just have to.

[Jack Baker]

Well, here we are. Let's hope our luck holds out. Pardon me, Sergeant. We'd like to have permission to go through the pictures of criminals here.

[Sergeant]

Sure, and wouldn't you know. Sorry, but we can't have everybody prowling through our gallery just to see the pretty pictures. Goodbye.

[Jack Baker]

Oh, look here, sergeant. I'm Jack Baker, pilot of Interstate Airlines. Tony Johnson's aircap plane was stolen tonight and we think we know who took it. At least we'd like a chance to see if we can verify our suspicions.

[Sergeant]

Oh, the stolen airship. Sure enough. Get a report on that. And every squad car has been told to keep an eye out for it. Oh, heaven help the rest of traffic if the boys keep gawking at the sky all night. Sure and you can come back to the identification bureau. Right this way.

[Ann Burton]

Thanks so much. Sergeant, you don't know how much we appreciate this.

[Sergeant]

Don't mention it at all. At all. You don't happen to be able to give me a description of these fellows, do you?

[Ann Burton]

Well, one of them was sort of taller, about six feet, folks.

[Sergeant]

To tell you the truth, it's a big job you've picked out for yourselves. We've got about 25,000 pictures here, more or less. But if you've got the time, you're welcome to.

[Jack Baker]

We've got less than an hour. It's a sense they'll find someone to get that ship away when they find I'm gone.

[Ann Burton]

I told you I had an idea, Sergeant. If we had the fingerprints of one of them, would that make it any easier?

[Sergeant]

Easier? If you had that, you could find your man in five minutes or less. If he has any record at all. At all.

[Ann Burton]

Then here this bottle. It should have at least two sets of prints on it. One of them should be the man.

[Sergeant]

Chloroform. Keep that cork in plenty tight. You just wait here a minute or so and we'll see. Oh, Branson, take this bottle and see what your funny little powders show up on it. The lady thinks one of the prints should be on record, so run them both through your sorting gadget right quick. Now, if you'll excuse me. Branson will look it up if there is anything.

[Ann Burton]

Oh, thanks a lot, Sergeant. We'll wait.

[Jack Baker]

But, Dan, where did you get that bottle?

[Ann Burton]

I thought about the fingerprints before I left the hospital, so I went back and picked it up. I remembered that one of the crooks was just setting it down when I opened the door and that his prints should be on it. The others should be Dr. Tyler's.

[Jack Baker]

You ought to go into the detective business.

[Ann Burton]

Maybe I'll have to. I don't dare go back to the sanitarium. Oh, here comes the sergeant.

[Sergeant]

Well, you were right, lady Wondered. The prince had no record at all at all that we can find. But the other is an old friend of ours, Joe Tolliver. Come over here and I think we can show you the picture.

[Jack Baker]

Gn Is this a break?

[Sergeant]

Now, let's see. Here it is. Joe's biggest life. Haven't seen Joey for some time now. He used to be one of our regular customers. Never could really pin anything on him, but he seemed to be always connected with the first bootleggers and later on diamond runners. Joey was always supposed to be the trigger man. Only I disremember that he Ever shot anyone.

[Ann Burton]

That's him all right. The kind of dumb acting one, remember, Jack? I wonder who the other one is.

[Sergeant]

It might be his brother. He's been in town for a long time. He's the smart one, though. Always seems to be the brains of the whole thing. Only we've never been able to hook him up with anything. He's taken care of the Green estate while old man Green is making that tour of South America. That's his picture.

[Jack Baker]

Nope, that's not the one that was with Joe in Detroit.

[Ann Burton]

No, no, his name was. I think that Joe called.

[Jack Baker]

I think I've got it. Let's go, Ann. Thanks a lot, Sergeant.

[Pete Peterson]

Sure.

[Sergeant]

And don't mention it at all. At all. Hey, here's your bottle in case you want to keep those prints. Anytime I can help you out, just let me know. And if you find that airship, I'll split the reward money.

[Jack Baker]

Okay? Now say, Sergeant, do you mind if I use your phone?

[Sergeant]

Here it is. Help yourself.

[Ann Burton]

Who are you calling, Jack?

[Jack Baker]

Oh, just a minute. Airport. Let me talk to pilot Pete Peterson. Hello, Pete, this is Jack. Never mind. Now listen. Meet us at the river bridge on Highway 109. This end. The east end? That's right. Huh? It's a small black coupe. I'll tell you when we see you, but step on it. So long. In, pete.

[Pete Peterson]

Let's go.

[Jack Baker]

Ms. Burton, this is my co pilot, Archibald Peterson. Just call him Pete. Pete, this is Anne.

[Pete Peterson]

Yeah, I met her when you cracked your noggin on the ambulance. Now, just what's this all about?

[Jack Baker]

You know the Green estate?

[Pete Peterson]

Green estate? Oh, yeah, yeah. Great big place just over the river. Got a private landing field and everything.

[Ann Burton]

Landing field? Oh, then that's what you meant by.

[Jack Baker]

You're both right. Now, Pete, somebody grabbed off Tony Johnson's Aircat this evening.

[Pete Peterson]

Don't I know it. The airport's been wild ever since. Somebody grabbed it right off the ramp and took off before you could say scat. Tony will be wild when he gets back and find that ship.

[Jack Baker]

Now listen, for some reason or other, it looks like Doc Tyler has snatched that ship to fly to Florida. I was supposed to do the flying, but thanks to Anne here, I'm out of it. Now, if things are like I think they are, we'll find that ship at the Green Estate, all warmed up and ready to go.

[Pete Peterson]

That ought to be easy. We'll just drive up, you jump in and ferry it back to the airport.

[Jack Baker]

I wish it were that easy. No, I think that somewhere around the place we'll find the two hoodlums I had the trouble with. And if Doc Tyler has found out about me leaving the hospital, he'll be there on the jump. So we may have to fight our way out. Are you with me?

[Pete Peterson]

Yeah, sure, Jack. But let me get this straight. What has Doc Tyler got to do with it?

[Ann Burton]

Well, that's what we don't know, Pete. Except that he seems to be the head of the whole thing. He had Jack Chloroform so he could force him to fly the Aircat to Florida.

[Pete Peterson]

He did?

[Jack Baker]

Why, this ought to be close enough. We can't risk them hearing us. I'll run the car into this clump of bushes.

[Pete Peterson]

Hadn't we better leave Ms. Burton in the car? We might run.

[Jack Baker]

Better not. They might find the car while we're gone. She's safer with us. Now, take it easy and don't step on any twigs. They'll sound like a shot on a night like this.

[Ann Burton]

What's that noise I hear? Listen.

[Pete Peterson]

That sounds like an air cat motor. You can tell them a mile away, man. There's a flock of power there.

[Jack Baker]

Yeah, Sounds like it's over there.

[Ann Burton]

Isn't that it there? You can just see the outline of the wings.

[Jack Baker]

Yeah. Now listen, Pete, you better make sure the coast is clear. The chances are that they're all over there in the caretaker's house. See over there? There. You see that light? Oh, yeah.

[Pete Peterson]

Yeah.

[Jack Baker]

But you better get around to the other side just to make sure.

[Pete Peterson]

Okay, Jack, the best way is for me to go clear around the house and come out behind that hedge. That way I can get right up to the ship without getting out of the shadow.

[Ann Burton]

But suppose that somebody comes.

[Jack Baker]

In that case, make a break for the ship. The first one there takes off and flies to the airport and brings back help for the other. But make sure that one of us gets away, see?

[Pete Peterson]

Okay, Jack, if everything goes all right, I'll meet you on the other side of the plane. Good luck.

[Jack Baker]

Good luck, Pete. Well, Anne, we'll wait here for a minute or so to give Pete a chance to get around the house. Then we'll work our way over to the ship.

[Ann Burton]

Jack, look over there. Isn't that a car on the highway?

[Jack Baker]

Sure, but there's a lot of cars.

[Ann Burton]

I know, but this one seems to be turning into the drive. It is?

[Jack Baker]

Maybe he'll stop before he gets.

[Ann Burton]

That's Dr. Tyler's car. I'd know it anywhere. We've got to run.

[Jack Baker]

Take a run for that ship. Here, give me your hand. Come on.

[Ann Burton]

But somebody will Hear us? There.

[Jack Baker]

Too late for that now. Now run just a little farther.

[Ann Burton]

Jack, I can't run any farther.

[Jack Baker]

Here you are. Now up you go. That's Now I made it.

[Ann Burton]

The car. It's coming around the drive. They've seen us. They're getting out.

[Jack Baker]

They'll have to have wings if they catch us now, Anne.

[Ann Burton]

But Pete. What about Pete?

[Jack Baker]

He'll take care of himself. He hasn't shown up, has he?

[Ann Burton]

No, I don't see him anywhere now.

[Jack Baker]

Don't worry about it. Hang on. We're taking off.

[Ann Burton]

What are those flashes on the ground?

[Jack Baker]

Oh, they're shooting at us. Don't worry. We're out of range. Well, we got the Air Cat. Now all we have to do is to get it back to the airport.

[Ann Burton]

Do you suppose that Pete will be able to get away?

[Jack Baker]

Sure. He'll sneak back to the car and probably meet us at the airport. Pete knows his way around.

[Ann Burton]

Jack, did. Did you hear that?

[Jack Baker]

I know what?

[Ann Burton]

There's someone in the back of the cabin. Turn on the light.

[Narrator]

And just what or who will the lights reveal? Will it be the gangsters Vic and Joe? Or will it be faithful Pete who might have made his way to the plane? Will the powerful Aircat ship be returned safely to the airport from whence it was stolen? Tune in the next gripping episode of Anne of the Air Lane.

[Ann Burton]

Sam,

[Bleacher Report Announcer]

The Bleacher Report app is your destination for sports right now. The NBA is heating up, March Madness is here, and MLB is almost back. Every day there's a new headline, a new highlight, a new moment you've got to see for yourself. That's why I stay locked in with the Bleacher Report app. For me, it's about staying connected to my sports. I can follow the teams I care about, get real time. Scores and breaking news and highlights all in one place. Download the Bleacher Report app today so you never miss a moment. Support is available 247 with VRBoCare.

[Jack Baker]

We're here day or night, ready whenever you need help. Because a great trip starts with the right support.