Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio - Ellery Queen 1939-07-16 The Impossible Crime
Episode Information:
- Title: Ellery Queen 1939-07-16 The Impossible Crime
- Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
- Release Date: June 27, 2025
- Description: This episode transports listeners back to the Golden Age of Radio, featuring the celebrated gentleman detective Ellery Queen as he unravels a seemingly impossible crime. Set in 1939, this thrilling narrative blends mystery, deception, and the art of magic.
Introduction
The episode opens with a vibrant promotion by Ernest Chappell, introducing the Adventure of Ellery Queen presented by Bromo Seltzer. Chappell sets the stage for an interactive mystery, inviting listeners to engage as "armchair detectives."
Notable Quote:
"[00:02] Ernest Chappell: Promo Seltzer presents the Adventures of Ellery Queen..."
Setting the Scene
Ellery Queen welcomes the audience, hinting at the complexity of the evening's mystery—a vanishing magician named Avanti. Queen describes the impending challenge, emphasizing that even he found the case particularly perplexing.
Notable Quote:
"[00:51] Ellery Queen: Tonight's case will really test your mettle as an armchair detective..."
Characters and Conflict
The central characters introduced include:
- Mamie Dover and Hal Dover: A married couple struggling with financial difficulties and marital strains after 20 years of marriage.
- Filbert Forsythe (Inspector Queen): Hal's associate, who reminisces about past vaudeville successes, adding tension to the Dover household.
- Avanti: The enigmatic magician challenging Emmett Steel to an impossible disappearance.
Key Interactions:
- Mamie and Hal Dover express their frustrations and fears about losing their house due to a looming foreclosure.
- Inspector Queen's Nostalgia: Highlights the couple’s past and the deteriorating state of their careers.
Notable Quotes:
"[02:12] Mamie Dover: Maybe Vaudeville's coming back, Forsyth, but Hal and me won't come back with it..."
"[04:42] Inspector Queen: Vinnie, stay on guard at this front door while we go in..."
The Challenge
Avanti steps forward with a bold proposition: he will perform an illusion to disappear into thin air without the use of mirrors or apparatus. If Emmett Steel fails to deduce his method within 24 hours, Avanti will claim $25,000.
Notable Quote:
"[09:12] Inspector Queen: Huh, Vante. I'll hold you to that."
"[10:38] Inspector Queen: You sure are making it impossible for yourself, Evander."
Investigation Begins
Ellery Queen, alongside his son Inspector Queen and guest Armchair Detectives Ms. Sonia Bigman and Edward Pauley, delve into the mechanics of Avanti's illusion. They meticulously examine the Dover household, searching for hidden passages or secret mechanisms that could facilitate Avanti's disappearance.
Notable Quote:
"[16:04] Ellery Queen: Simple as ABC, Mr. Steele."
"[16:17] Nicky Steele: Oh, here's Sergeant Beeley."
Solving the Mystery
As hours pass without Avanti's disappearance, the team grows increasingly suspicious. Ellery Queen discerns that Avanti exploited the police's vigilance and uniform similarities to vanish unnoticed. By disguising himself in a police uniform and blending in with the surrounding officers, Avanti seamlessly escaped, leaving no trace of his trickery.
Key Insights:
- Psychological Manipulation: Avanti used the length of time (two hours) to wear down the police's alertness.
- Uniform Camouflage: The identical police uniforms created confusion, allowing Avanti to move unnoticed.
- Exploiting Environment: Conducted the illusion at night, reducing visibility and increasing the chances of blending in.
Notable Quotes:
"[24:06] Ellery Queen: ...Mr. Avante got away by the roof disguised in a police uniform."
"[25:07] Inspector Queen: Oh, sure. What a fool."
"[26:20] Nicky Steele: But where did Mr. Evanta get the police in his uniform?"
Armchair Detectives’ Analysis
Guest Armchair Detectives, Ms. Sonia Bigman and Edward Pauley, offer their hypotheses:
-
Ms. Sonia Bigman: Suggests that Avanti utilized multiple personas, possibly disguising himself as different policemen to navigate unnoticed through the house's identical exteriors.
Notable Quote:
"[21:17] Nicky Steele: ...he probably got himself dressed up as a policeman and walked in and out all over the place without being seen."
-
Edward Pauley (Inspector Queen): Highlights the psychological aspect and timing, asserting that Avanti needed a precise moment to execute his escape amidst the officers' routine patrols.
Notable Quote:
"[22:37] Ellery Queen: ...the police uniform is a great leveler of personality."
Resolution
Ellery Queen unveils Avanti's method, revealing that the magician exploited the police's uniformed anonymity and the structure of the Dover house. By disguising himself and timing his movements perfectly, Avanti escaped without detection, fulfilling his promise of vanishing into thin air.
Notable Quote:
"[27:11] Ellery Queen: ...Mr. Avanti got away by the roof disguised in a police uniform."
"[27:37] Avanti: ...I am so happy it wasn't you I challenged to solve my illusion..."
Conclusion and Rewards
The mystery is resolved just in time, with Avanti’s illusion exposed. Emmett Steel honors the bet, rewarding Avanti with the promised $25,000, albeit humorously expressing his bewilderment at being outsmarted.
Notable Quote:
"[23:52] Inspector Queen: Steele, I still can't believe you did it."
"[24:06] Nicky Steele: And I hope we'll not be seeing you."
Guest Segment and Future Mysteries
The episode transitions to the Armchair Detectives segment, where Ms. Sonia Bigman and Edward Pauley discuss their approaches to solving the case. They analyze clues and share insights, enriching the listener’s engagement with the mystery.
Notable Quote:
"[21:11] Ellery Queen: Ms. Vigman, how do you think the Great Avante disappears?"
"[22:52] Ernest Chappell: This is cover, Mandy..."
Ellery Queen teases the next episode’s mystery involving a $5,000 offer to recover a stolen $3, further enticing listeners to stay tuned.
Notable Quote:
"[28:44] Ellery Queen: ...next Saturday for the adventure of the Three Dollar Robbery."
Closing Remarks and Advertisements
The episode concludes with standard promotional segments, including endorsements for Bromo Seltzer and upcoming radio shows like "Fox Pop." These segments are artfully integrated into the narrative, maintaining the period's authentic radio feel.
Notable Quote:
"[28:09] Ernest Chappell: ...Bromo Seltzer fights headache not one, but three ways."
Final Thoughts
Ellery Queen 1939-07-16 The Impossible Crime masterfully weaves a complex mystery that challenges both its characters and the listening audience. Through clever dialogue, intricate plotting, and engaging guest participation, the episode exemplifies the allure of Golden Age radio dramas. The resolution underscores the ingenuity of detection, celebrating the timeless appeal of solving the "impossible crime."
Listeners new to this episode will find themselves immersed in a bygone era's intrigue, experiencing firsthand the charm and suspense that made Ellery Queen a legendary figure in mystery storytelling.