Lassie 49-11-19 Reprieve

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Lassie 49-11-19 “Reprieve”
Air Date: February 14, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 19, 1949

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Episode Overview

This special episode of Harold’s Old Time Radio features a heartwarming story from the “Lassie” radio series, entitled “Reprieve.” In this classic 1949 radio drama, Lassie takes on the role of a mutt named Mike, whose life is endangered after a mishap at a fruit stand. The story centers around themes of justice, compassion, and the innocence of childhood, showcasing golden age radio’s trademark blend of moral storytelling and rich character work.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Setting the Scene: A Family in Trouble

• [01:27] The story opens in the tenement home of Molly O’Malley and her sons, Timmy and Stevie, who are confronted by a dog catcher searching for Timmy and his dog, Mike.
• The dog catcher explains:

  "The kid tied the dog's leash to the leg of Tony Vitucci's fruit stand while he played ball. Dog busted the leg off and smashed $12 worth of fruit. And besides, the dog's got no license. It's 15 bucks. The kid's gotta cough up." — Dog Catcher [02:13]

2. The Dog’s Peril and Family Desperation

• Unable to pay the $15 fine, Timmy and Stevie are devastated to learn that Mike will be euthanized if they can’t pay within 48 hours.
• The gravity hits home:

  "Yeah, kid, he gets the gas chamber." — Stevie [04:28] "Oh, no. You can't kill my Mike. He didn't do nothing." — Timmy [04:32]

3. Parallel of Justice: The Governor’s Dilemma

• The narrative introduces a subplot involving Governor Carl, who is being pressured to grant clemency (“reprieve”) to a notorious criminal, Keller, for political reasons.
• A layered conversation:

  "Sarah, the men behind Keller represent a powerful political faction. So is the electrocution now of one man more important than my work to a truly good state government?" — Governor Carl [08:48]

• His wife retorts:

  "Yes, and the people would agree with me." — Sarah [09:00]

4. A Boy’s Determination: Timmy Earnestly Seeks Help

• Spurred by headlines about a criminal's potential reprieve, Timmy reasons that if a criminal can get mercy, surely his innocent dog deserves the same.
• Ingenious and heartfelt, Timmy sets off to find the governor, showing both his innocence and resolve:

  "Any guy that can spring a mud like Kelly that's knocked out plenty guys is a crooked politician." — Timmy [10:02] "I figure if he can give that moita a receive, he oughta be able to spring my dog, huh, mister?" — Timmy [10:13]

5. Compassion Triumphs

• Moved by Timmy’s earnest plea, Governor Carl returns with Timmy to the city, rescues Mike, and surprises the O’Malley family with a Thanksgiving turkey and a note of gratitude.
• The episode ends on an uplifting note:

  "It says in appreciation of Mike, who proved once again that a dog is man's best friend." — Ma, Molly O’Malley, reading governor’s note [11:46]

6. Moral and Social Commentary

• Stevie sums up the story’s underlying message—a reflection on political integrity and the values of the day:

  "The people who buy papers sure think a lot more of the governor since he didn't give that Keller a reprieve." — Stevie [11:53]

• The family’s joy, and roasted turkey, reinforce the sense of communal gratitude and redemption.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Time | Speaker | Quote/Description | |---------|----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:13 | Dog Catcher | "Dog busted the leg off and smashed $12 worth of fruit... It's 15 bucks." | | 04:28 | Stevie | "Yeah, kid, he gets the gas chamber." | | 08:44 | Governor Carl | "To be re-elected, must you consort with known criminals?" | | 10:13 | Timmy | "If he can give that moita a receive, he oughta be able to spring my dog, huh?" | | 11:46 | Ma (Molly O'Malley) | "In appreciation of Mike who proved once again a dog is man's best friend." | | 11:53 | Stevie | "The people who buy papers sure think a lot more of the governor since he didn't give that Keller a reprieve." |

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Important Segments (Timestamps)

• [01:27–03:01] — The dog catcher’s confrontation and Mike’s predicament.
• [04:03–04:32] — The dire consequences of the unpaid fee.
• [06:05–07:17] — Timmy draws inspiration from newspaper headlines about a criminal’s reprieve.
• [08:05–09:13] — Governor Carl debates signing the reprieve for Keller.
• [09:28–11:06] — Timmy’s heartfelt and blunt plea to the governor.
• [11:20–12:08] — Mike’s return, the governor’s note, and the family’s Thanksgiving celebration.

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Tone & Style

• The episode features the earnestness and directness of children in the late 1940s, the stern but kind voice of authority figures, and the melodramatic yet wholesome morality tale style emblematic of golden age radio.
• Language is period-authentic, with colloquial speech (“nuts,” “moolah,” “crooked politician”) and unfiltered emotional honesty.

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Closing & Next Episode Preview

• Lassie’s owner/trainer, Rudd Weatherwax, closes by previewing the next week’s episode: “The Chaplain’s Dog,” a prison story (14:23).

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Summary Takeaway

“Reprieve” is both a slice of old-fashioned urban Americana and a gentle lesson in mercy, showing listeners that sometimes justice is best served by the innocent logic and heartfelt persistence of a child. It’s a classic Lassie tale that explores loyalty, the difference between law and justice, and the enduring bond between a boy and his dog.

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Transcript

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[Narrator]

Lassie, the world's most famous dog, and Red Heart, America's favorite dog food team up for the Lassie Show. Guest from Hollywood. It's the Lassie Show. Transcribed by John Morrell Co. Makers of three flavor Red Heart. And here is Metro Goldwyn Mayer's lovable motion picture star, Lassie. In person. Lassie has fed Red Heart exclusively. And Lassie's vigorous bark, strong body and fine glossy coat are positive proof that Red Heart helps keep dogs healthy and happy. Lassie speaks for Red Heart, all three wonderful flavors. And now to introduce our story, here's Lassie's owner and trainer.

[Lassie's Owner/Trainer (Rudd Weatherwax)]

Thank you, Charlie. And hello everyone. Today Lassie plays a part of a mutt, a sweet, friendly mutt named Mike in a story entitled Reprieve. Our story began one November evening in the walk up tenement flat of Molly o' Malley and her two young sons on the east side of one of the world's great cities.

[Stevie]

I'm Henry. Can we eat now?

[Timmy]

My, can we?

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

There's no sense in waiting, Timmy. It'll be along or answer that stuff.

[Dog Catcher]

Yeah, I'm looking for a boy and a dog. A little kid, wears brown corduroy britches and a blue sweater, black and white dog?

[Timmy]

Yeah.

[Stevie]

What makes you think he's here?

[Dog Catcher]

Well, people say he lives here.

[Timmy]

No.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

Then what's all this?

[Stevie]

It's nothing, Ma. This guy's looking for a kid and a dog. What for do you want the kid?

[Dog Catcher]

Mister, I'm from the dog pound. The kid tied the dog's leash to the leg of Tony Vitucci's fruit stand while he played ball. Dog busted the leg off and smashed $12 worth of fruit. And besides, the dog's got no license. It's 15 bucks. The kid's got a cough up.

[Stevie]

Oh, yeah? Well, you don't see no kid, no dog here, mister. Better keep hunting.

[Dog Catcher]

No need to get tough, kid. I'm just working.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

No, then, Stevie, the man's right. But I think myself, mister, you'd be in better business hunting for somebody else. So good night to you.

[Dog Catcher]

I'll go, but I'll get that dog yet.

[Timmy]

Stevie, do you think that was Timmy.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

And Mike tipped over Tony's Fruit Stand?

[Stevie]

Of course it was. He's always got a tie, Mike to something. Cause he chases the ball and won't give it up.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

Oh, Lord, love the foolish dog. But I'd hate for the dog catcher to be getting him.

[Timmy]

Oh, sure.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

And I wonder where they are.

[Timmy]

Hey. Hey, what's that?

[Stevie]

Mike, where are they?

[Timmy]

Hi. Is he gone?

[Stevie]

Sam. Hey, what are you doing hiding in the clothes closet?

[Timmy]

I'm from the dog catcher. Is he gone? Good.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

Glory be hiding in the closet all the time.

[Dog Catcher]

Yes, boys, what can I do for you?

[Timmy]

You want my dog, mister?

[Stevie]

Wait a minute, Timmy. Look, mister, we come to spring the kid's mud hay. He's kind of medium big mother, black and white and kind of half long, half short hair. You got him? Oh, yeah.

[Dog Catcher]

He was brought in about an hour ago. You got the money?

[Timmy]

Yeah.

[Stevie]

Here's the three bucks.

[Dog Catcher]

I'm sorry, son. It'll be a little more than that. You know, I told you that dog tipped over a fruit stand. And the proprietors entered the claim for damages. That's $12 plus the license fee.

[Stevie]

15 bucks, eh? Oh, mister, me and the kid here couldn't make that much moolah together in a year.

[Dog Catcher]

Son, I'm sorry, but unless you pay a dog license fee and pay for that damage, my hands are tied. And you only have 48 hours, by the way.

[Timmy]

Huh?

[Stevie]

We only got 48 hours.

[Timmy]

Two days.

[Dog Catcher]

That's right. Then what happens, Son, I might as well tell you. The dog is put away.

[Stevie]

Yeah, kid, he gets the gas chamber.

[Timmy]

Oh, no. You can't kill my Mike. He didn't do nothing.

[Dog Catcher]

Son, I'm sorry. It ain't me. It's the law.

[Stevie]

Yeah, the law.

[Timmy]

Hate.

[Stevie]

Come on, kid, let's scram.

[Timmy]

No, no. I want to see Michael first.

[Dog Catcher]

That you can, son. He's in the first cage right through that door.

[Stevie]

Hurry, Timmy. We gotta get back to the newsstand.

[Timmy]

Oh, my. What? What? Gee, Mich, what are we gonna do? It ain't your fault. You didn't do anything. It's my fault. I shouldn't have tied you to the fruit stand. But I didn't mean to do nothing, Mike. Guy says if I don't get 15 bucks, they'll give you the chamber. But I'll get it, Mike. I'll spring you on a spike. I'll get it somewhere.

[Newspaper Seller]

Hey, you. Paper. What do you read? Hey, what do you read Governor expected to sign calorie free. Read all about it.

[Stevie]

Hey, Timmy, wake up. Get hustling, will you?

[Timmy]

Oh, Stevie, I don't feel like working.

[Stevie]

Yeah, I know, kid.

[Newspaper Seller]

What do you read? Hey, Governor expected to sign Keller reprieve. Read all about it.

[Stevie]

Sure. Look at this killer. A lousy crook. Killed plenty of guys and everybody knows it. But does he get the chair? Course not. Governor's gonna give him a reprieve. But your mutt tips over a fruit stand and right away they're gonna croak him.

[Timmy]

Yeah, but what? I could pay Tony back maybe. Maybe if he'd give me a couple months.

[Stevie]

Give you nuts? What do you read?

[Newspaper Seller]

Hey, here it is. Read all about reprieve. Brickella.

[Stevie]

Like when Powell was living, he was ward healing in this ward. He told me plenty of times. Stevie, he says, get yourself on the good side of a crooked politician and you're all set.

[Newspaper Seller]

Read all about it. Hey, what do you read?

[Timmy]

Hey. Yeah, that's what I gotta do. Stevie, how do you get friends with a crooked partition?

[Stevie]

How do I know?

[Newspaper Seller]

Read all about it. Governor expected to sign calorie free.

[Timmy]

Hey, you think the governor could. Could give Mike a. A receive?

[Stevie]

Hey, wait for your change, Mr. Hick.

[Dog Catcher]

Yeah, looks like the governor sure tied.

[Narrator]

Up with those crooks.

[Timmy]

Thanks. Hey, where's the governor, Stevie? Huh? Huh?

[Stevie]

He's downstairs.

[Timmy]

Hey, can we go and see Miss Stevie, can't we?

[Stevie]

Hay you nuts? Costs plenty of dough to go on a train.

[Timmy]

We can have a freight.

[Stevie]

Don't be nuts, kid.

[Newspaper Seller]

Read all about it. A government expected to sign Calerie Brave. What do you mean? Hey, Timmy. Hey, where'd that kid go?

[Timmy]

Sam.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

Carl, you aren't going to that meeting in the city, really, are you?

[Governor Carl]

Sarah, I must. I promise to attend the meeting.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

Then you are planning to sign that reprieve for Keller, as they say.

[Governor Carl]

I haven't made up my mind, dear. I. I'm still running things over in my mind.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

But, Carl, you yourself have said a dozen times that Keller is a vicious criminal. He has a dozen murders to his discredit, yet this is the first time the courts have been able to convict him. Now, with one signature, you wipe out all their work.

[Governor Carl]

Sarah, you know my plans for good government. You know how hard I've worked and want to keep on working for better government in this state. And to continue, I must ensure my re election.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

But to be re elected, must you consort with known criminals?

[Governor Carl]

Sarah, the men behind Keller represent a powerful political faction. So is the electrocution now of one man more important than my work to a truly good state government.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

Yes, and the people would agree with me.

[Governor Carl]

Perhaps you're right. But I'll attend the meeting, see what they have to say. Nothing can be lost by that. Good night, dear.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

Good night, Carl.

[Timmy]

Hey, mister.

[Governor Carl]

Oh, what is it, son?

[Timmy]

Where can I find this guy? The governor. They said this was his house.

[Governor Carl]

Well, perhaps it is. What did you want for the governor?

[Timmy]

Well, I gotta talk to him. He's the only guy who can spring somewhere that's gonna get knocked off. What?

[Governor Carl]

What did you say, son?

[Timmy]

Well, it's like this, see. Before he died, my old man used to be a ward healer in the city. He always said you gotta know a crooked politician to get anything done.

[Governor Carl]

Oh, I see. What makes you think the governor is a crooked politician?

[Timmy]

Aw, look, mister, he's so crooked he can't lay straight in bed. Any guy that can spring a mud like Kelly that's knocked out plenty guys is a crooked politician.

[Governor Carl]

But the governor hasn't signed that reprieve for Keller yet.

[Timmy]

Nah, but he's gonna. I sell papers on 6th and 13th and the headline says the governor's gonna sign the receive. Everybody says that when they buy them papers. Sure, the governor's tied up with them crooks now. I figure if he can give that moita a receive, he ought to be able to spring my dog, huh, mister?

[Governor Carl]

Spring your dog? Oh, yes, I understand. Where is your dog?

[Timmy]

Well, he's in stur in the city dog pound on 14th Street. And if I don't have 15 bucks by tomorrow, they turn on the gas.

[Governor Carl]

Son, how did you get down here from the city?

[Timmy]

I'll hop the freight.

[Dog Catcher]

A freight? A tyke?

[Governor Carl]

As little as you. Look, son, I'm driving to the city tonight. I'll take you back. Hop in the car there.

[Timmy]

I gotta see the governor.

[Governor Carl]

You've seen him, son. Hop in the car.

[Timmy]

Speak, mark, speak. Hey, nix, nix.

[Stevie]

Shut up that much.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

Please, boys, be more quiet with you.

[Stevie]

Well, he's all the time making a dog bark.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

Sure, Stevie. And it's good to be hearing old Mike bark when he thought he was a goner.

[Timmy]

Oh, my.

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

My Mike's got a lot to be thankful for. And it was me that didn't even know it was thanksgiving until this great turkey arrived with the governor's own calling card on it with a note to.

[Timmy]

Well, what does it say, ma?

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

Well, it don't make sense to me. It says in appreciation of Mike, who proved once again that a dog is man's best friend.

[Stevie]

Gee, that don't make no sense to me either. But I do know one thing. The people who buy papers sure think a lot more of the governor since he didn't give that Keller a reprieve.

[Timmy]

Hey, Ma, ain't the turkey nearly done?

[Ma (Molly O'Malley)]

I'd be carving it in five minutes.

[Stevie]

Gee, that's swell, Ma.

[Timmy]

He.

[Stevie]

I want nothing but white meat.

[Timmy]

Oh, yeah, or if there's anything else you want, Stevie. Remember me and Mike? We got influenza with the governor.

[Narrator]

Thank you, Lassie. Ruth Parrott, Tommy Bernard, Marvin Miller, Jeffrey Silver and Earl Keane. Now, friends, in just a moment, Rud Weatherwax will be back to tell you about next week's story. But first, a word from our star. Say, Lassie, you know, I have a little story of my own. It was told me by a friend who has a cocker spaniel. Now, some months ago, his neighbor got a dog too, an Irish setter. Well, that poor dog just wasn't getting enough to eat. He was all skin and bones. So when my friend fed his cocker, and you can bet he feeds him red heart, why, he'd put out a dish of red heart for the neighbor's dog too. Well, it wasn't long before the Irish setter was back to normal. His hips were well covered and he had a nice glossy coat. Only my friend didn't feel he could go on feeding the dog. But at the same time, he knew the setter would be back on a starvation diet unless something was done. So he took three cans of Red Heart over to his neighbor and very innocently said, I've been noticing that fine dog of yours. Just thought you might like to try feeding him Red heart. I think it's the best dog food there is. Well, from then on, the neighbor has fed that setter Red Heart every day. And now he's a healthy, happy dog because like all dogs, he likes red heart and gets more from Red Heart. Lassie knows Red Heart is federally inspected. Fresh, moist meat and wholesome meat by products with those health giving vitamins and minerals every dog needs. It comes in three wonderful flavors. Feed them to your dog in rotation. The A diet beef flavor, the B diet fish flavor, the sea diet cheese flavor. So he can enjoy a different flavor every day. Lassie speaks for Red Heart. All three wonderful flavors. And now again, here's Lassie's owner and trainer, Rudd Weatherwax.

[Lassie's Owner/Trainer (Rudd Weatherwax)]

Next week, Lassie plays a part of a dog named Cellmate in a prison story entitled the Chaplain's Dog. Now, don't miss it.

[Narrator]

Lassie is presented this week at the same time by John Morell Co. Makers of free flavor Red Heart, the taste tested food that your dog will enjoy, the health tested food that will keep him in shape. Lassie appeared by arrangement with Metro Goldwyn Mayer who invites you to see their production of Battleground starring Van Johnson, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban and George Murphy. The Lassie show is produced and transcribed in Hollywood by Frank Baron, directed by Harry Stewart, story by Hobart Donovan. This Charles LYON There's a $26,000 jackpot on Hollywood calling tomorrow on NBC.

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