Podcast Summary: Casey, Crime Photographer — "Christmas Shopping" (December 19, 1946)
Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Casey Crime Photographer 46-12-19 Christmas Shopping
Original Air Date: December 19, 1946
Summary Date: December 2, 2025
Overview
In this festive yet suspenseful episode, Casey, the ever-vigilant crime photographer, embarks on some last-minute Christmas shopping with his partner Annie Williams. Their holiday trip to the department store is quickly interrupted by a chance encounter with a notorious pickpocket, and what seems like an ordinary theft soon unravels into a deeper mystery involving kidnapping, ransom, and attempted murder. Set against the bustling background of the postwar holiday rush, the episode delivers both seasonal cheer and classic crime drama with witty banter, sharp observations, and a satisfying resolution.
Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown
1. Department Store Mayhem and the Pickpocket Incident
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Setting: Crowded pre-Christmas department store.
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Main Characters: Casey and Annie Williams.
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Action:
- Annie drags Casey around for Christmas shopping; Casey protests, relying on Annie's good taste for boring gifts ("Suppose I shop for all the uninteresting items while you go up to the toy department..." — Annie, 01:57).
- Casey spots "Fingers" Fogarty, a notorious pickpocket, stalking shoppers.
- They witness Fingers steal a wallet from a fat man but, when Casey confronts the victim, the man aggressively denies being robbed.
- Annie and Casey are bewildered; Casey is sure of what he saw, but the victim's reaction is suspicious.
Quote:
"I tell you, I saw him." — Casey, 03:40
"When a guy sees something that couldn't be seen, he's either goofy or drunk. On your way, fella." — Gus Pence, 03:41
2. The Blue Note Bar & News of the Kidnapping
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Characters: Casey, Annie, bartender Ethelbert.
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Key Developments:
- Casey complains at the bar while Annie and Ethelbert poke fun at his supposed “eye trouble.”
- Ethelbert breaks the big news: the police have arrested Fingers Fogarty with part of the ransom money from the famous Walters kidnapping/murder case (06:46).
Quote:
"Your police reporter Jake Birkin was in a few minutes ago and tipped me off... the cops arrested the kidnapper and murderer of Gregory Walters." — Ethelbert, 05:46
"It's that little runt Fingers Fogarty." — Ethelbert, 07:06
3. A Theory Emerges: Who's Really Guilty?
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Characters: Casey, Annie, Captain Logan.
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Investigation:
- Logan wonders if Fingers was setting up a fake theft as an alibi, expecting Casey to witness.
- Casey flips the theory: What if the fat man was the real kidnapper, using Fingers as a patsy to test if the ransom money was still “hot”?
- Logan is intrigued and asks Casey and Annie to help by reviewing mugshots of possible suspects (09:52–10:39).
Quote:
"Let's assume that Fingers is the real kidnapper... he acts like he's lifting it from a guy's pocket while Casey is watching him. He picked you for his star witness, pal." — Logan, 08:48
"Logan, hasn't it occurred to you that the fat guy might have been sending up that trial balloon?" — Casey, 09:20
4. Connecting the Dots: Two Pencers
- Development:
- Reviewing police photos, Annie and Casey notice a resemblance between their fat man and a mugshot of Nick Pencer, but the details (age, weight) don't match (12:21–12:53).
- Casey wakes up next morning with a hunch: Nick Pencer and the fat man could be relatives.
- He finds a John (Gus) Pence, and he and Annie set out to investigate.
5. The Confrontation and Peril
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Setting: Neighborhood near John Pence’s contracting business; a local drugstore.
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Action:
- Annie and Casey discover Gus Pence, the fat man, is indeed related to Nick Pencer.
- Gus recognizes the reporters, pulls a gun, and forces them at gunpoint to his garage, where Nick and Gus plan to kill them by carbon monoxide poisoning (18:16–21:34).
Quote:
"This hand in my pocket has a gun in it, mister. So do exactly as I tell you, okay?" — Gus Pence, 18:59
"Oh, the carbon monoxide treatment, huh?" — Nick Pencer, 21:31
6. Escape and Resolution
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Action:
- Casey and Annie manage to free themselves from being taped and bound inside the garage as the gas fills the room.
- Thinking quickly, they use the truck in the garage to forcibly escape, smashing the garage doors (23:32–24:06).
- Gus and Nick attempt to flee; Casey uses the truck to ram their car, disabling their escape.
Quote:
"This 10-ton truck does a nice job when it hits a tin can like that." — Casey, 24:24
7. Denouement at the Blue Note
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Setting: Back at the bar, safe and sound.
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Wrap-up:
- The real kidnappers (Gus and Nick Pence) are in custody; the ransom money is recovered thanks to Gus’ confession.
- The pickpocket, Fingers Fogarty, ends up imprisoned for a string of admitted thefts while trying to clear himself.
- Casey and Annie get a little comic relief with a comically large Christmas tree delivered to the bar.
Quotes:
"Gee, and all because you and Ms. Williams did some Christmas shopping." — Ethelbert, 26:40
"What happened to the little dip, Fingers Fogarty?" — Ethelbert, 26:44
"The cops can keep him in jail until 1999." — Casey, 26:48
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Pickpocketing:
"Pocket picking is considered antisocial. I've got to get Mr. Fogarty." — Casey, 02:46
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On Casey’s Determination:
"What burns me up is I didn't find out why the fat guy denied it." — Casey, 04:56
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Humor Amidst Tension:
"Oh, golly, Captain, why don't you have some good looking crooks in your files? I'm gonna have nightmares looking at pictures of so many ugly men." — Annie Williams, 12:06
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Nail-Biting Escape:
"I'm putting you in this truck... It's taking us out of here." — Casey, 23:33
Key Timestamps
- 00:58 — Episode introduction and department store scene
- 02:08 — Casey spots Fingers Fogarty
- 04:23 — At the Blue Note Bar
- 05:46 — News breaks about the Walters kidnapping
- 07:06 — Fogarty is revealed as the suspect, furthering the plot
- 08:48–10:39 — Strategic theories debated with Captain Logan
- 12:21–12:53 — Looking at police mugshots
- 13:29–14:26 — Casey's hunch and plan to investigate Gus Pence
- 16:03–18:19 — The investigation at the neighborhood drugstore
- 18:59 — Gus Pence confronts and threatens Casey and Annie
- 21:04–23:32 — Casey and Annie tied up, threatened with carbon monoxide
- 23:33–24:24 — Their dramatic escape by truck
- 26:26 — The case is closed, recap at the bar
- 27:08 — Lighthearted ending with a massive Christmas tree
Episode Tone and Style
The episode deftly balances classic noir detective intrigue, witty repartee (“Maybe you only need glass... I do after this, several glasses” — Annie & Casey, 04:06), and Christmas season warmth. Snake-like plot twists, playful banter, and a gritty sense of holiday hustle fill the air, making for a fast-paced yet jolly installment. The chemistry between Casey and Annie delivers heart, while the moral—crime doesn’t pay, even at Christmas—rings out clear, reinforced by a foray into festive humor with the closing Christmas tree gag.
In sum:
A delightful Golden Age radio crime story where a simple act of Christmas shopping unravels a deeper criminal plot; Casey and Annie’s sleuthing brings two crooks to justice, all wrapped in wit, seasonal spirit, and the nostalgia of radio drama’s heyday.