Podcast Summary: "Dick Tracy 38-02-10 (0029) Mystery in the Hotel"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Episode Date: January 11, 2026
Original Airdate: February 10, 1938
Episode Focus: An adventure-packed radio drama following detective Dick Tracy as he faces off with “the man with the yellow face” and unravels the enigma of the Black Pearl of Osiris, all while protecting Egyptologist Dryden Small aboard an ocean liner.

Main Theme

This episode immerses listeners in a perilous investigation at sea, with Dick Tracy working tirelessly to thwart a mysterious and menacing adversary known as the "man with the yellow face." The danger centers on protecting Dryden Small and unraveling the secrets of the coveted Black Pearl of Osiris, all while dealing with attempted murder and mounting supernatural rumors that have the ship’s crew on edge.

Key Discussion Points & Scene Breakdown

1. The Overboard Rescue (03:00–06:00)

• The episode picks up immediately following a dramatic altercation: Pat, Tracy’s close ally, has been thrown overboard by the powerful “man with the yellow face.”

• Dick Tracy heroically leaps into the chilly waters to save Pat. The ship’s crew scrambles a lifeboat for the rescue.

• Notable moment: The urgency and camaraderie among the crew as they struggle to pull both men back on deck.

  Quote:
  “All right, Mr. Tracy. We've got you, sir. We've got you. Take Patton. He's out.”—Crewman (05:20)

2. Piecing Together the Attack (06:10–09:10)

• Once safe, Pat recounts the terrifying encounter:

  • He and Small were shadowed by a suspicious figure.
  • A sudden, brutal confrontation leaves Small knocked off the deck, and Pat is hurled into the sea.

• The “man with the yellow face” is described as almost supernaturally strong.

  Quote:
  “Dick, I've never met anyone so powerful in all my life. I couldn't do a thing against him. He was so strong that he actually picked me up bodily and heaved me overboard.”—Pat (07:40)

• Tracy suspects Dryden Small knows more than he’s admitting—specifically, the connection to the Black Pearl of Osiris and the man with the yellow face's motives.

3. A New Crisis: The Crewman's Collapse (09:15–13:10)

• The ship’s Captain bursts in with alarming news:

  • A crewman, previously found unconscious, has suffered a potentially fatal heart attack after another fright in the storage room.
  • The Captain worries the incident will inspire ominous rumors among the crew, further endangering morale and safety.

  Quote:
  “What I'm worried about is the effect of all this on the crew, Tracy. They talk a great deal. Too much, perhaps. Rumors get around, you know. Before you know it, your ship has a bad name. I… I don't like it.”—Captain (12:00)

• Tracy encourages a thorough search of the ship, believing the incidents may be connected to the “man with the yellow face.”

4. Secrets of the Black Pearl (14:00–16:30)

• In the cargo hold, the Captain points out Dryden Small’s mummy case, rumored to contain the mummy of Tutankhamun’s second son—a detail that adds to the ship's tense atmosphere.

• Tracy expresses frustration at the lack of concrete leads and longing to solve the mystery of the Black Pearl of Osiris.

  Quote:
  “There’s so many things I’d like to know. I’d give a great deal, for instance, to know what the Black Pearl of Osiris is and where it is. I’d like to know why the man with the yellow face is so anxious to get hold of it.”—Dick Tracy (16:10)

5. Confrontation in the Stateroom (17:00–20:10)

• As Tracy and the Captain return to Dryden Small’s cabin, they overhear menacing voices:

  • The man with the yellow face is interrogating Pat at gunpoint, demanding the location of the Black Pearl.
  • Pat maintains ignorance and pleads innocence, while the adversary grows more threatening.

  Quote:
  “You will tell me nothing but what I want to know. Where is the Black Pearl of Osiris? Answer, you white devil, or it will be the worse for you.”—Man with the Yellow Face (18:10)

• Tracy and the Captain, unarmed and desperate, plot to bluff their way into the room to save Pat.

• The scene ends on a tense cliffhanger—Tracy bursts in, ready to confront the villain:
  “Dick, there you are. Drop that gun or I'll drop you.”—Dick Tracy (20:05)

6. Episode Cliffhanger (20:15)

• Will Tracy’s bluff succeed? Who truly is the man with the yellow face? What secrets does the Black Pearl of Osiris hold?
  • The unresolved confrontation catapults the story toward its next suspenseful chapter.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The rescue scene: Heightened tension as Pat and Tracy are dragged from the Atlantic, showcasing Tracy’s bravery.
• Pat describes his attacker:
  “He was so strong that he actually picked me up bodily and heaved me overboard.”—Pat (07:45)
• The Captain’s worries:
  “Before you know it, your ship has a bad name. I… I don't like it.”—Captain (12:00)
• Literal “shot from guns!”: Classic sponsor verbiage, setting the golden age radio tone.
• The villain’s intimidation:
  “This little pearl-handled revolver is about to speak. I do not think you would care to hear its voice.”—Man with the Yellow Face (19:00)

Important Timestamps

• 03:00 – Lifeboat rescue operations begin.
• 07:40 – Pat details his fight with the “man with the yellow face.”
• 09:15 – Captain reports the crewman’s second collapse.
• 12:00 – Captain expresses concerns about ship morale.
• 16:10 – Tracy speaks about the confusion and mystery of the Black Pearl.
• 18:10 – Confrontation: the villain pressures Pat for answers.
• 20:05 – Tracy and the Captain bust in to save Pat—cliffhanger.

Tone and Style

The episode features rapid-paced, suspenseful storytelling, typical of 1930s adventure radio. The dialogue is direct, dramatic, and peppered with classic detective bravado, balanced by moments of camaraderie and comic relief. Advertisements for the sponsor cereals are lively and woven seamlessly into the action, maintaining an energetic, all-ages atmosphere.

Conclusion

“Dick Tracy 38-02-10 (0029) Mystery in the Hotel” delivers classic radio suspense, combining peril on the high seas, a shadowy villain, and the lingering enigma of an ancient artifact. The entire ship teeters between skepticism and superstition as Tracy navigates physical danger and psychological intrigue. The dramatic cliffhanger leaves both Tracy and the listeners eager for the next thrilling installment.