Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode: Ellery Queen 45-11-07 (249) – The Message in Red
Date: October 8, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Harold’s Old Time Radio presents a classic Ellery Queen radio mystery, "The Message in Red." The show transports listeners to the Golden Age of Radio, when families gathered around to enjoy detective stories and suspenseful dramas. In this tale, famed gentleman detective Ellery Queen investigates a baffling string of murders—all linked by a mysterious, blood-written message left by the third victim.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Opening and Setting the Mystery

(01:31 – 02:06)

• Ellery Queen (Ellery): Introduces the night’s case as a particularly challenging one that stumped even his father, Inspector Queen.
• Nicky Porter (Nikki): Light banter suggests Ellery makes short work of mysteries.
  Quote:
  • Nikki: “I suppose all those murders were duck soup for you, huh?” (01:40)

2. The Three Murders

(04:19 – 05:27)

• Inspector Queen, Ellery, Nikki, and Sergeant: Review the murders:
  • Miss Kirby: Public stenographer, killed at 9:15pm at her hotel office.
  • Miss Hazel: Publisher’s manuscript reader, killed at 10:30pm in her home.
  • Lucille Dubois: Lady’s maid for the Canella family, killed in the Canella mansion.
• No robbery, no known connections, no clear motive, but all killed with the same gun: Quote:
  • Inspector Queen: “Ballistics reports the same gun killed both of them.” (04:53)

3. The Canella Family and Lucille’s Death

(05:50 – 09:09)

• The scene shifts to the affluent, dysfunctional Canella household after Lucille’s murder.
• Mrs. Cannella: More upset about missing her hairdresser and breakfast than her maid’s death.
• Madge Cannella: Furious, worried about a scandal affecting her social standing and engagement.
• Mr. Milford Cannella: Absent during the murder, preoccupied with his career ambitions.
• Bodies examined; a peculiar detail—calluses on Lucille’s right hand (09:10).

4. The "Message in Red"

(10:34 – 11:07)

• Under Lucille’s body, Ellery finds a slip of paper marked with a message written in blood:
  Quote:
  • "Starts with a capital M, but there are a lot of spatters and I can't quite make the rest out." (10:58)
• It’s clear Lucille tried to identify her killer before dying.

5. Piecing Together the Clues

(13:19 – 14:48)

• Ellery deduces the connection among the victims:
  • All interacted with the same manuscript:
    • Lucille, the author.
    • Miss Kirby, the typist.
    • Miss Hazel, the reader. The manuscript contained sensitive, potentially libelous details about the Canella family, putting their reputation and ambitions at risk. Quote:
  • Ellery: “Lucille Dubois was writing a great deal for a long time... a very extensive manuscript in long hand, Sergeant.” (13:46)

6. Publisher’s Office and The Critical Manuscript

(15:16 – 17:18)

• At Mason and Morrison publishers, Ellery inspects reports on recent manuscripts.
• Finds Miss Hazel’s notes on “The Maid Tells All,” which is Lucille’s exposé on the Canella family—a manuscript ripe with scandal, likely motive for murder. Quote:
  • Inspector Queen: “Manuscript’s filled a lot of nasty, unsuspected stuff about the Canella's that would have cost Milford Cannella that high diplomatic post he's been angling for.” (17:11)

7. Attempt on Ellery & The Sleuths

(18:26 – 20:00)

• As Ellery and company drive, their car is nearly run off the road, suggesting the killer seeks to intercept the "message in red" and silence the investigators.

8. Decoding Lucille’s Dying Clue

(20:35 – 21:32)

• Back at police headquarters, lab experts clarify Lucille’s blood-written message:
  • “M. KIN,” as deciphered, could refer to initials or abbreviations of the Canella family members.

9. Confronting the Canella Family

(21:52 – 22:49)

• All three suspects—Milford (father), Margaret (mother), and Madge (daughter)—give flimsy, easily falsifiable alibis.
• No clear evidence identifying which “M. Canella” did it.

10. Armchair Detective Segment: Guest Victor Jory’s Guess

(23:20 – 24:27)

• Actor Victor Jory serves as “armchair detective” and offers his theory: Quote:
  • “I think it was the mother, Margaret Canella... The mother’s alibi being in Central Park seems to me one that could be shaken less easily than... the girl in the car.” (24:02)

11. Ellery Queen’s Reveal: The True Meaning of the Clue

(25:41 – 27:22)

• Ellery asks: Why would Lucille leave an ambiguous initial "M" as a clue, when all Canellas have M names?
• He realizes that Lucille, a French native thinker (as referenced in her writing), used “M.” as the French abbreviation for Monsieur—meaning “Mr.”
• The clue is not to which M Canella, but to identify the killer as Monsieur—Mr. Milford Cannella.
• Ellery Queen closes the case: Quote:
  • “The French abbreviation for monsieur is simply capital M, period.” (27:22)
  • Inspector Queen: “If anyone’s going to sizzle, it’s you.” (27:27)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nicky (to Ellery): “I suppose all those murders were duck soup for you, huh?” (01:40)
• Inspector Queen: “Ballistics reports the same gun killed both of them.” (04:53)
• Ellery (on Lucille’s writing): “Lucille Dubois was writing a great deal for a long time.” (13:46)
• Inspector Queen (on manuscript’s impact): “Manuscript’s filled a lot of nasty, unsuspected stuff about the Canella’s...” (17:11)
• Victor Jory (Armchair Detective): “The mother’s alibi being in Central Park seems to me one that could be shaken less easily ... the car could be checked on afterwards.” (24:03)
• Ellery’s Reveal: “The French abbreviation for monsieur is simply capital M, period.” (27:22)
• Inspector Queen: “If anybody’s going to sizzle, it’s you.” (27:27)

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Time | |------------------------------------------|-------------| | Introduction & Host Banter | 01:31–02:06 | | Police Review Three Murders | 04:19–05:27 | | Investigation at Canella Mansion | 05:50–09:09 | | Blood-written “Message in Red” found | 10:34–11:07 | | Connection Among the Three Victims | 13:19–14:48 | | Manuscript Discovery at Publisher | 15:16–17:18 | | Car Attack on Ellery & team | 18:26–20:00 | | Lab Deciphers Dying Message | 20:35–21:32 | | Confrontation with Canella Family | 21:52–22:49 | | Armchair Detective Victor Jory’s Solution| 23:20–24:27 | | Ellery’s Explanation & Killer Revealed | 25:41–27:22 |

Tone & Style

The show delivers clever, rapid-fire dialogue laced with sardonic humor, classic detective tropes, and the witty interplay characteristic of Golden Age radio dramas. Ellery’s deductions are methodical and clear, while characters like Nicky and Inspector Queen bring warmth and comic relief.

Summary for Listeners

In this vintage Ellery Queen mystery, three women are murdered—each tied to a scandalous manuscript exposing secrets of a powerful New York family. A dying clue written in blood seems ambiguous… until Ellery spots the French twist: the "M." stands for "Monsieur," finger-pointing not at any Canella, but specifically at Mr. Milford Canella. As always, justice is served with razor wit, and the audience is invited to play armchair detective alongside a special guest from the era.

For fans of classic radio drama, detective fiction, and verbal sparring, this episode is a quintessential example of Golden Age storytelling brought back to vivid life.