
Backstage Wife - Larry and Mary are Caught During a Gambling Raid
Loading summary
Talkspace Announcer
This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace.
Talkspace User/Testimonial
Last year I went through many different life changes. I needed to take a pause and examine how I was feeling in the inside to better show up for the ones who need me to be my best version of myself.
Talkspace Announcer
When you're navigating life's changes, Talkspace can help. Talkspace is the number one rated online therapy, bringing you professional support from licensed therapists and psychiatry providers that you can access anytime, anywhere.
Talkspace User/Testimonial
Living a busy life, navigating a long distance relationship, becoming a first stepfather, Talkspace made all of those journeys possible. I could speak with my therapist in the office. I could speak with my therapist in the comfort of my home. I was never alone.
Talkspace Announcer
Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a $0 copay. No insurance, no problem. Now get $80 off your first month with promo code SPACE80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com save $80 with code SPACE80 at talk.
Narrator
Here's a shoe whitener that does more than whiten Energene Shoe white actually cleans as it whitens, gives shoes a snowy whiteness that's unsurpassed because it contains the whitest pigment. Money can buy whitens evenly too. Today get the best whitest energene shoe white of all time. Now we present once again Backstage Wife, the story of Mary Noble, a little Iowa girl who married one of America's most handsome actors, Larry Noble, matinee idol of a million other women. The story of what it means to be the wife of a famous star. Remember how you were complimented on the beauty of your teeth last time you had them cleaned at the dentist? Well, when your dentist cleans your teeth so bright and sparkling, he often starts with powder, a special powder made for professional use only. It's easy to understand why you can't use the dentist powder at home daily, but you can use Dr. Lyons tooth powder. Made especially for home use twice a day. Dr. Lyons tooth powder is a scientific combination of the best known ingredients for cleansing and polishing teeth. So if your teeth have lost their natural luster, if they're smoke stained and unattractive because of improper cleansing, try powder Dr. Lyons tooth powder. Now see how even such dull and clouded teeth quickly regain the natural sparkle and brilliance of that brings you compliments. And remember, Dr. Lyons is back in metal cans. Enjoy the delightful full flavor that makes your mouth feel extra clean, extra fresh. Get Dr. Lyons, America's number one tooth powder today. And now, Backstage Wife, the Story of Mary Noble and what it means to be the wife of a famous star. Through the most innocent and unexpected set of circumstances, Larry and Mary Noble have been brought into the limelight by being mixed up in a raid on a gambling room of a roadhouse near their Rose Haven, Long island home. But although Larry has protested vigorously to the judge, his honor seems unimpressed. And so now, in a local police court, Mary is trying to put a call through to their house in the hope of getting help. As she stands at the wall phone waiting, Larry paces back and forth, saying,
Larry Noble
of all the fantastic, crazy things to happen. Wouldn't believe it could be possible. Caught in a gambling raid. Me without enough money in my bank account to pay for a deck of cards. What's the matter, Mary? Can't you get the number?
Mary Noble
It just started ringing, Larry. I can hear the buzz.
Larry Noble
Well, why doesn't somebody answer? Must be someone home.
Mary Noble
Takes a little while to get to the phone.
Larry Noble
Yes, and on top of it all, my lawyer had to be out of town. I swear, I don't see what else could happen.
Mary Noble
Hello? Oh, dear. I thought someone was answering, but I don't hear a sound.
Larry Noble
Now hang up and try again.
Mary Noble
No, I can still hear the bell ringing. Oh.
Larry Noble
Hello?
Mary Noble
Hello? Is that you, Eric?
Larry Noble
Yes, Mary. Where are you? Is the car fixed? Shall I get a taxi and come pick you up?
Mary Noble
Eric, we're in the most awful mess. Who is? Larry and I.
Larry Noble
Well, Mary, just leave the car there. I'll get a hired car and come get you.
Mary Noble
It isn't the car, Eric.
Larry Noble
You weren't hurt. You didn't have an accident. Ms. Marlowe said it wasn't anything serious. I got home shortly after you called and I've been worried ever since.
Mary Noble
No, it isn't an accident. We're perfectly all right.
Larry Noble
Oh, sure, we're fine. We're having the time of our lives. Tell him to come join us.
Mary Noble
I can't hear when you keep talking like that, Larry.
Larry Noble
What did you say, Mary?
Mary Noble
I was talking to Larry.
Larry Noble
Go ahead. Don't mind me. Mary, what's the trouble? You. You sound almost distracted. What is it?
Mary Noble
It's hard to explain. It's so absolutely unbelievable. What do you mean, we're. Oh, Eric, we're in jail. You what?
Photographer Red
Almost.
Larry Noble
Mary, you're shitting.
Mary Noble
No, I'm not. I wish I were. We're in jail over here.
Larry Noble
Tell him the facts, Mary. Don't stall around like that. Mary, tell me what happened.
Mary Noble
I want to, but you're both talking at once.
Larry Noble
Oh, go ahead. I won't say anything more, Mary. What happened?
Mary Noble
When our car broke down, we had to leave it on the Shore Road, Eric. Not very far from the Summer Shore Theater. As a matter of fact, that same road. And we were hungry and the man said it would be about two hours before we could have the car. So we stepped into a roadhouse next door for dinner.
Larry Noble
What about this jail?
Mary Noble
I'm getting to that. Barry and I decided to order dinner. And the man said it would take quite a little while. So we decided to walk around.
Larry Noble
Mary, I don't see where this is leading. What about being in jail?
Mary Noble
Please, Eric, I can't tell you any faster. Just listen.
Larry Noble
All right. Please go on.
Mary Noble
We went into a room thinking it was the cocktail lounge. And it seems they were running a gambling room there.
Larry Noble
What?
Mary Noble
We were just about to leave when suddenly the door flew open. And policemen came in and said we were all under arrest.
Larry Noble
You were caught in a gambling room?
Mary Noble
Yes. It's perfectly awful, Eric. Nobody will believe we weren't there to gamble.
Larry Noble
I don't believe it very well. That's too ridiculous for words. What's he saying?
Mary Noble
It isn't a joke to us, Eric. If you think it's funny, then funny.
Larry Noble
Here, give me that.
Mary Noble
No, Larry. No, please don't.
Larry Noble
I'm sorry, Mary. It's just that I was so shocked. I'll tell you what.
Mary Noble
You stay right there and I can't do anything else. Harry tried to phone his lawyer and he's away on a vacation. We've got to get someone to come over here and bail us out.
Larry Noble
I'll be right there, Mary. You just sit tight. I'll call this fellow Bonwell at the theater. He must have lots of influence. Maybe I'll get Clint Waters working.
Mary Noble
Not Clint Waters. Whatever you do, Eric, promise me you won't get Clint in on me.
Larry Noble
Of all the fool ideas. I told you not to get Eric mixed up in this. There's nothing he can do. He doesn't even live around here. Look, I'll call my agent. I'll get someone at the green room.
Mary Noble
Darling, I can't hear a word.
Larry Noble
Did you speak to me, Mary?
Mary Noble
I met Larry. You heard what I said about Clint?
Larry Noble
Yes, that's quite all right. If you'd rather have it like that, I'll get along without him. You just take it easy and don't worry. I'll be there as soon as I can get a car. Just tell me where the place is.
Mary Noble
All right, Eric. The driver will know. Tell him it's the police court in the Center.
Narrator
And as Eric Jackson writes down the directions, back in New York, in the office of a big metropolitan daily, a highly excited news photographer rushes into the office of the columnist Marty Rufus, saying,
Photographer Red
hey, Marty, take a look at this. Is that a honey or isn't it?
Narrator
Hey, what's the big idea busting in
Larry Noble
here like a tornado just when I'm putting my column together?
Photographer Red
I just want to give you the first glance at my little evening's work, Marty old boy, because I thought you'd be interested.
Narrator
Why should I?
Photographer Red
Only because it happens to be a flash of a couple of friends of yours.
Narrator
Of course, if you'd rather see it
Photographer Red
in the paper, the presses are rolling.
Narrator
So long.
Larry Noble
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
Narrator
What is this picture you're making such a fuss about?
Photographer Red
I wouldn't want to disturb you while you're working, Marty, my boy. Not while you're tearing sacred reputations to shreds.
Larry Noble
Come on, come on, let's see it.
Photographer Red
It's a glossier. The flash I took down on Long island just happened to run into it. Biggest break I've had for months.
Larry Noble
Look, who are these people?
Photographer Red
Don't tell me you don't recognize them. Two old friends. What? Did you ever see a madder guy? Look at that expression.
Larry Noble
But it's Larry Noble and Mary, right?
Photographer Red
If I don't get a bonus for this night's work, I'm gonna quit this rag and get another job. Did you ever see such a shot, Marty? Isn't it a beaut?
Larry Noble
Where'd you get it?
Narrator
Who are all these other people?
Photographer Red
Your lofty friends, the Nobles, were caught red handed in the gambling raid in a joint out on Long Island.
Mary Noble
What?
Photographer Red
Near the south shore? Not more than about five miles this side of the Summershaw Theater.
Larry Noble
Gambling raid? I don't believe it. Not Larry and Mary Noble.
Photographer Red
My camera don't lie, bud. This picture speaks for itself. Down the presses now. We'll beat every rag in town to the punch. I figure some of the weekly magazines will pick this up and I'll make a nice extra piece of change out of it. Isn't it a beautiful.
Larry Noble
Listen, Red, I still don't get it. How did they happen to get mixed up in this business?
Photographer Red
Don't ask me. All I know is I'm on my way back from the Summer Shore Theater after doing a flock of publicity shots and I stop in to have a drink or two at this roadhouse. First thing you know, in come the local cops and start tearing down the joint. And believe it or not, prominently displayed among the gamblers are the Larry Nobles. So I up and turn the trusty lens on him, and this is the result.
Narrator
I'll be hanged.
Larry Noble
What was Larry Noble doing in a place like that?
Narrator
And with his wife, too?
Photographer Red
You better get out there and ask him. The last I saw of Larry, he was waving his arms around like he was given the soliloquy from Hamlet. But the officer wasn't having any attention. He loaded them all into the wagon and took them away to the jug.
Larry Noble
What a story.
Photographer Red
I guess I better get out there
Larry Noble
and see what it's all about.
Photographer Red
This is one time when I got the inside track. Marty, this picture's my baby. And I beat everybody else to the punch.
Larry Noble
From the looks of the picture, I'd say you were lucky Noble didn't break your camera, not to mention your jaw.
Photographer Red
He was plenty burned, but I was a little too quick for him. That's what makes it such a good action shot. The guy looking like he's going to fight makes it much better. Prominent actor caught brawling in gambling raid. Nice going, huh?
Narrator
And as Marty Rufus, the famous columnist, hurries to the scene, Larry and Mary Noble are on their way home, accompanied by their house guest, the playwright Eric Jackson.
Mary Noble
Aunt Mary says, oh, it was wonderful the way you managed everything, Eric. Larry and I can't thank you enough.
Larry Noble
Why, don't mention it, Mary. Glad I was able to get you out of that place with all the crazy things to happen.
Mary Noble
Oh, it was like a nightmare, yet no more idea. There was a gambling room back of that door. Not till we were inside.
Larry Noble
I still can't see why you didn't get right out. Well, Larry, you should have known better. Oh, sure, I should have known better. What do you think? I've got second sight. How in thunder could I tell we were walking into a gambling room, much less a raid? Well, it was a bad place to be in the first place. Look, Eric, it's very easy to sit in judgment after a thing's happened. But it was all perfectly logical. Our car broke down, so we drove into the nearest service place. Then we go next door to get something to eat. No crime in that, is there, Eric? No, of course not. But a place like that, on the outside it looks like any one of a hundred rose houses, roadhouses that are dotted all over the island. We wanted something to eat. Should we have stood outside for two hours? Or should we have tramped along the road hitchhiking till we came to a better place?
Mary Noble
Don't, Larry. We're all on edge now. It's no time to start fussing at
Larry Noble
each other as far as I'm concerned. I'd like to skip the whole subject. We're in enough of a mess as it is. No amount of talking is going to make it any better. Well, I certainly agree, Larry, but it's just tough that you had to be pushed into such a lot of notoriety. Of course, I suppose the newspapers were all out in full force. Naturally. One photographer snapped our picture before I had a chance to do anything about it. Bet that's a lovely shot. So mad I was breathing fire. Well, that's bad, Larry. That's the kind of thing they just love to do to a man. I know. You don't have to remind me.
Mary Noble
Well, it's too late to do anything about it now. And there's no reason for any of us to feel guilty. It wasn't our fault. Any of it was just a very bad piece of luck. But I'm sure it'll all die down in a few hours.
Larry Noble
Oh, yes. I wish I could be half so confident. The newspapers will turn this into a Roman holiday. You see, if they don't.
Narrator
Is Larry Wright. It would seem so from the photograph that's now on its way to the newsstands in a late edition of a New York paper. But what will it mean to Larry's future, his career? Be sure to be listening tomorrow to Backstage Wife, the story of Mary Noble and her husband, Larry Noble, famous Broadway star. It's a wonderful feeling when your dentist has just cleaned your teeth. They feel so clean and they look so naturally bright, too. And notice how often your dentist starts with powder when he cleans your teeth. A special powder, of course, made exclusively for professional use. It's easy to understand why the powder your dentist uses cannot be used in your home. But you can use a powder especially made for daily home use. Dr. Lyons tooth powder. Famous Dr. Lyons is made to polish as it cleans. Millions of people who realize the importance of an attractive, sparkling smile in business and social life use Dr. Lyons tooth powder every day. Dr. Lyons is America's number one tooth powder. So if your teeth are beginning to lose their natural brightness due to improper cleansing, try Dr. Lyons tooth powder. See how even such dull, cloudy teeth quickly regain their natural sparkle and luster. And remember this secret secret of true dental beauty. Have your dentist clean your teeth twice a year with his special powder. And clean them at home morning and night with Dr. Lyons tooth powder. Notice that full, fresh, delightful Dr. Lyons flavor is once again preserved for you in metal cans. Get a can of Dr. Lyons. Mary Noble, Backstage Wife, will be on the air again tomorrow at this same time. Ron Rawson speaking for the makers of Dr. Lyons tooth powder.
Mary Noble
Foreign.
Grainger Announcer
If you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H Vac and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock, so your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-GRAINGER visit grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
American Express Announcer
Dinner time it's more than just a meal. It's when work comes to a halt, where macaroni masterpieces are made and little moments turn into lasting memories. With the Blue Cash Preferred card, you can get 6% cash back at US supermarkets so you can bring home the flavors that bring everyone together. We did say everyone make the special moments even more rewarding. Learn more@americanexpress.com Explore BCP terms and cash Back Cap Apply with Blue Cash Preferred.
Podcast: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode Date: April 9, 2026
This episode of "Backstage Wife" centers around Larry and Mary Noble, a Broadway star and his devoted wife, who find themselves in an embarrassing and potentially damaging predicament when they are inadvertently caught in a police raid at a gambling roadhouse. What begins as an innocent stop for dinner during a car breakdown unravels into a public scandal that tests their composure, relationships, and reputation.
Car Troubles Lead to Trouble:
While driving near their Long Island home, the Nobles' car breaks down, forcing them to wait at a local garage (03:58). Looking for a bite to eat, they wander into what they believe is a cocktail lounge at the nearby roadhouse. Unbeknownst to them, this “lounge” is actually an illegal gambling room.
The Raid:
As Larry and Mary begin to realize the nature of the room, the police burst in, arresting everyone present for illegal gambling (06:10). Mary and Larry are swept up with the rest, unable to convince anyone of their innocence.
Desperation and Miscommunication:
Mary’s attempts to phone for help highlight their anxiety and the confusion of the moment. As she manages to reach their friend and houseguest, Eric Jackson, she tries to explain the situation amid Larry’s interruptions and Eric’s disbelief (05:12).
“Oh, Eric, we’re in jail.” – Mary Noble (05:12)
“Mary, you’re shitting!” – Larry Noble, in total shock (05:24)
Eric promises to help, while Larry and Mary argue about who should be contacted for assistance, particularly refusing to involve Clint Waters (06:56).
Photographic Evidence and Media Frenzy:
Meanwhile in New York, a news photographer, Red, rushes to the office of columnist Marty Rufus. He triumphantly reveals he has snapped the Nobles at the moment of their arrest (07:40-08:36).
“Your lofty friends, the Nobles, were caught red-handed in the gambling raid.” – Photographer Red (08:39)
“My camera don’t lie, bud. This picture speaks for itself. Down the presses now... I’ll make a nice extra piece of change out of it. Isn’t it a beauty?” – Photographer Red (08:51, 09:06)
Marty and others are incredulous, and the story is quickly moving to the headlines, threatening the Nobles’ social and professional standing.
Public Perception and Damage Control:
Back home, Larry, Mary, and Eric reflect on their ordeal as they are finally released. They discuss the bad luck that led them there and fear the impending fallout from the damning photo and ensuing press coverage (10:36-12:27).
“On the outside, it looks like any one of a hundred roadhouses.” – Eric Jackson (11:13)
“Our car broke down, so we drove into the nearest service place. Then we go next door to get something to eat. No crime in that, is there, Eric?” – Larry Noble (11:19)
The trio tries to console each other, but the anxiety over Larry’s career lingers.
“Oh yes. I wish I could be half so confident. The newspapers will turn this into a Roman holiday.” – Larry Noble (12:27)
The Moment of Truth:
“It’s hard to explain. It’s so absolutely unbelievable. What do you mean, we’re… Oh, Eric, we’re in jail.”
– Mary Noble (05:12)
Disbelieving Shock:
“Mary, you’re shitting!”
– Larry Noble (05:24)
Photographer’s Triumph:
“From the looks of the picture, I’d say you were lucky Noble didn’t break your camera, not to mention your jaw.”
– Marty Rufus (09:58)
Marital Tension and Justification:
“Look, Eric, it’s very easy to sit in judgment after a thing’s happened. But it was all perfectly logical. Our car broke down, so we drove into the nearest service place. Then we go next door to get something to eat. No crime in that, is there, Eric?”
– Larry Noble (11:19)
Foreboding for the Future:
“The newspapers will turn this into a Roman holiday. You see if they don’t.”
– Larry Noble (12:27)
This episode vividly captures the chaos and vulnerability when public figures are thrust into scandal through no fault of their own. The drama pivots not only on the misunderstanding but also on the power of the press to magnify such events. Listeners are left to ponder whether Larry’s reputation can survive the public spectacle, and what the next chapter holds for the Nobles.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the next installment of “Backstage Wife.”