Podcast Summary:

Harold's Old Time Radio – CBS The Saint (1947-12-24: Nineteen Santa Clauses)
Episode Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Featured Cast: Vincent Price as Simon Templar (The Saint), Larry Dotkin as Louie, Mary Ship as Sally Walters, Betty Lou Gerson as Carla Worth, Ted Osborne as Claude, Stanley Farrar as the Butler

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode features a classic radio mystery from The Saint series titled "Nineteen Santa Clauses," originally aired on Christmas Eve, 1947. The story centers on Simon Templar—a detective known as "The Saint"—who, while donning a Santa suit for charity, is pulled into a web of jewel theft, imposter Santas, murder, and festive intrigue. The light-hearted banter, sharp wit, and holiday setting combine to create a uniquely spirited crime caper in the golden age of radio style.

Key Discussion Points and Plot Breakdown

Setting the Stage: The Santa Suit (01:31–03:08)

• Simon Templar prepares to play Santa Claus for Mrs. Winterbottom's Christmas Eve charity event.
• Banter between Simon and his cabbie Louie sets a playful, festive tone.
  • "All I have to do now is get my whiskers on there." (Simon, 01:51)
  • Louie jokes about Santa's traditional figure, prompting Simon to pad himself with a cushion.

Intruder with a Gun: Mistaken Identity (03:12–05:07)

• Sally Walters (initially calling herself 'Sally') bursts in, gun in hand, demanding "the stuff" from Simon, whom she mistakes for 'Fats Boylan'.
• Quick repartee highlights the confusion and classic detective story humor.
  • "If you're going to shoot me, I insist on knowing your name." (Simon, 03:34)
  • Sally relents when flustered by the threat of bloodshed, admitting, "I can't stand the sight of blood." (Sally, 04:47)

Another Visitor, Another Threat (05:15–08:08)

• Joe Hudson enters, also confusing Simon for Fats Boylan and demanding a mysterious "package" at gunpoint.
• A scuffle is set off as Sally, hiding in the kitchen, fires a shot—scaring Hudson off.

Who is Sally? Unmasking the Intruder (08:13–09:00)

• Sally faints; Louie and Simon go through her bag, discovering her real identity as Sally Walters, a secretary.
  • "Here's a driver's license. Her name is Sally Walters." (Louie, 08:19)

At Carla Worth's Residence: The Jewel Heist (10:21–14:00)

• Simon and Louie visit the wealthy Carla Worth (address from Sally’s documents).
• They discover Carla's jewels were stolen from a party—by a Santa Claus, hired for the occasion, who then vanished.
• Claude Worth, Carla’s husband, is brusque and secretive, while police precautions and the insured jewels are discussed.
  • "We decided to have the party this afternoon... The jewels were in quite a large box. And Claude hired a Santa Claus. But before the party was over, Santa Claus had disappeared. So had the jewels." (Carla, 12:50–13:04)
• Sally reappears, urgently providing Boylan’s address, setting up the next investigation step.

Fats Boylan’s Apartment: A Murder Scene (15:06–16:32)

• At Boylan's place, Simon and Louie find a ransacked room—with the corpse of Fats Boylan, who turns out not to be "fat" at all.
  • "He's dead. And Louie? He wasn't fat." (Simon, 16:16)

Shadowed and Shaken: Unfolding Motives (16:33–19:24)

• The duo realize they are being followed—by Hudson, again. They confront him and force information out.
  • Revealed: Carla Worth had hired Hudson to follow Sally and Simon.
  • Carla suspected her husband Claude and Sally were romantically involved and sought evidence for a divorce.
    • "She had an idea her husband and Sally were kind of... decorating their own little tree together." (Hudson/Louie, 18:47)
  • They take Hudson's gun to prevent further interference.

The Climax: Unmasking the Killer (19:42–25:46)

• Simon and Louie return to the Worth residence to search for clues. Their investigation, including scenting a distinctive perfume, leads them to Sally’s room.
• Simon accuses Sally, tying the perfume found at Boylan's to her. He explains the theft’s mechanics: the thief was padded as Santa, hid the jewel box inside the padding, left "fat," and shed disguise en route out.
  • "Santa Clauses, as Louis pointed out to me earlier tonight, are fat. Therefore, Boylan entered this house wearing padding underneath his costume. He left it with a large jewel box in place of the padding." (Simon, 23:58)
• Claude Worth, gun in hand, admits to orchestrating the theft and murder to claim the insurance and keep the jewels.
• Simon distracts Claude and subdues him with a thrown perfume bottle.

The Resolution: Christmas Romance & Reflections (26:02–26:44)

• Carla shares a tender moment with Simon, kissing him.
  • "You've been sort of a Santa Claus to me... May I?" (Carla, 26:03)
  • "Santa Claus is no Saint." (Simon, 26:19)
• Louie reminds Simon of his charity Santa duties, bringing the episode full circle.

Closing Moral & Christmas Wishes (27:11–30:49)

• Vincent Price (Simon Templar) gives a holiday message about the importance of spiritual values and the freedom of worship in America.
  • "The freedom to worship as you please is yours... May I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and... peace in all the years to come." (Simon/Price, 28:30)
• Cast and credits are read, followed by jovial Christmas and New Year’s wishes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Louie’s wit:
  • "Santa Claus is fat." (Louie, 02:08)
  • "Pronounced Carla worse." (Louie, 14:12)
• Simon’s sleuthing:
  • "If you're going to shoot me, I insist on knowing your name." (Simon, 03:34)
  • "The ghost of a murderer." (Simon, 20:33)
• Holiday humor & romance:
  • "Santa Claus is no Saint." (Simon, 26:19)
  • "You’ve been very sweet, even without your whiskers." (Carla, 26:03)

Important Timestamps

• [01:31] - Simon dons the Santa Suit; Louie teases him
• [03:12–05:07] - Sally arrives, case of mistaken identity
• [05:15–08:08] - Joe Hudson encounters, gunplay, Sally faints
• [10:21–14:00] - At Carla Worth’s house, details of the jewel theft emerge
• [15:06–16:32] - Discovering Fats Boylan dead
• [19:42–25:46] - The mystery is unraveled; Claude Worth confesses and is subdued
• [26:02–26:44] - Christmas romance between Simon and Carla
• [27:11–28:30] - Vincent Price’s holiday spiritual message

Tone & Style

• Lightly comedic, witty, and brisk; the dialogue is peppered with wisecracks and gentle ribbing, all underpinned by the urgency of crime-solving.
• The festive backdrop lends warmth and irony, where even a Santa suit is the centerpiece of murder and mayhem.

Summary

"Nineteen Santa Clauses" is a blend of classic detective action and holiday charm. Simon Templar, intending only to play Santa for charity, lands amidst a web of mistaken identities, jewel theft, murder, and marital intrigue. Through keen deduction (notably, Santa’s padding and perfume as clues), Simon solves the case—foiling Claude’s plan and bringing peace to the Worth household just in time for Christmas.

This episode exemplifies the clever writing, rich characterization, and cozy suspense that made Golden Age radio so beloved—perfect for Christmas nostalgia and a dash of old-fashioned mystery.