Little Orphan Annie 36-xx-xx (1066) The Bridge Is Destroyed

Summary

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Little Orphan Annie 36-xx-xx (1066) — The Bridge Is Destroyed

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Date: August 30, 2025
Episode Theme:
This episode of Little Orphan Annie plunges listeners into a tense night at Simmons Corners, as Annie, her friends, and law enforcement pursue the escaped criminal Flint and his henchmen through flood-soaked fields—culminating in a dramatic and catastrophic showdown at the river bridge. The story weaves suspense, inventive thinking, and a moral resolution together, all framed within the classic, energetic style of Golden Age radio drama.

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Key Points & Discussion Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene (01:15–03:07)

• The episode kicks off after a brief Ovaltine ad and a recap: Flint, recently exposed for the payroll and bank robbery, has escaped with his accomplices. Annie, Joe, Marshal, Mr. Silo, and Mr. Caslin search for them amidst torrential rain and thunder.

"After Mr. Flint confessed to the payroll and bank robbery, he escaped with his cronies... The Marshal and Mr. Silo and Mr. Caslin and Annie and Joe are searching for them in the fields surrounding Simmons Corners."
— Narrator (02:55)

2. Tense Search in the Storm (03:07–07:02)

• The group debates their plan—or lack thereof. The characters, soaked by relentless rain, question their search strategy and reflect on Flint's knowledge of the area.
• Annie suggests they check the old Carson house—the previous hideout Flint used.

"What place around here does Mr. Flint know better than any other... That's the place where he kept Bill Corwin prisoner. The old Carson house."
— Annie (06:21-06:44)

3. The Chase to the Carson House (07:02–09:14)

• Guided by Annie and Joe's local knowledge, the group heads toward the Carson house near the river, struggling through rain and darkness.
• They reach the house quietly, fearing Flint may be hiding inside.

"Land sakes, I guess I'm not so young as I used to be when it comes to climbing."
— Mr. Caslin (07:33)

4. Confrontation and Escape (09:14–10:48)

• Entering the Carson house, they discover nothing at first.
• Annie suspects activity at the moving fireplace, which leads to a secret tunnel to the river. They realize Flint and his men escaped through it.

"It was the fireplace moving in there. The sliding fireplace that leads down to the tunnel under the house."
— Annie (10:11)

5. Final Pursuit and The Bridge Disaster (10:48–13:19)

• The group races to the riverbank, catching sight of Flint, Red, and Wright emerging and heading for the bridge.
• As the authorities give chase, Annie spots the bridge is unstable—its supports are failing due to the flood.
• Despite warnings, Flint and his men rush onto the bridge, which collapses under them, sweeping them away.

"Look at the bridge. Look at it there in the moonlight. Look at the center of it, just ahead of Flint... It's all falling apart!"
— Annie (12:13-12:25)

"There it goes. The whole bridge."
— Marshal (12:42)

"And with it its builders, Flint, Hogan and Wright. I guess you don't have to do any arresting now, Marshal."
— Mr. Caslin (13:05)

6. Resolution and Teaser for New Adventures (13:19–15:06)

• The narrator reflects on poetic justice having been served.
• Hints at a mysterious telegram heading Annie's way, promising new and greater adventures to come, and urges the audience to tune in next time.

"There is justice in the world. And as Mr. Flint sowed, so did he reap. And now there'll be no more robberies or cheating in Simmons Corners. But, say, don't think there isn't going to be plenty of fun and adventure for Annie."
— Narrator (13:19)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Auntie’s Ingenuity: "If they've gone down behind that fireplace, they're intending to get away through the tunnel to the riverbank. Maybe if we go straight down to the bank, we can head them off."
  — Annie (10:36)
• Rising Tension: “Say, these here fields are beginning to look like a sea with all this rain. What’s your plan?”
  —Marshal (05:27)
• Dramatic Climax: "Flint, come back. Come back. The bridge is crumbling... They think they're getting away.”
  —Marshal (12:32–12:37)

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Episode Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|---------------------------------------------| | 01:15–03:07 | Recap and setup; search party forms | | 03:07–06:44 | Plodding through rain, discuss strategies | | 06:44–07:59 | Annie suggests the Carson House | | 09:14–10:48 | Investigation at the Carson House | | 10:49–12:42 | The chase to the river, bridge collapse | | 13:19–13:59 | Reflection on justice, conclusion | | 14:00–15:06 | Teaser for next adventure |

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Episode Takeaways

• Creative Youth: Annie’s sharp thinking guides the adults, showing the value of trusting children’s insights (especially about their own community’s geography).
• Classic Suspense: The story builds genuine tension through darkness, rain, and the threat of rising floodwaters.
• Poetic Justice: The destruction of the bridge, and the fate of the villains, is delivered as the natural outcome of their previous evil intentions.
• Episodic Continuity: A new mystery—an incoming telegram—ensures listeners are eager for Annie’s next adventure.

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Little Orphan Annie continues to deliver wholesome suspense, community teamwork, and innovative plotting—just as it did for families gathered around their radios in the pre-TV era.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Who's that little chatterbox? The one with pretty auburn locks? Whom do you see? It's Little Orphan Annie she and Sandy make a pair they never seem to have a care Cute little she this little Orphan Annie Bright eyes, cheeks a rosy glow There's a store of healthiness handy Might size always on the go if you want to know Princess Sandy always wears a sunny smile now wouldn't it be worth the while if you could be like Little Orphan Annie?

[C]

Well, here we are. Ready to start another big adventure with Orphan Annie in Simmons Corners. But first, let me ask you a question. When you drink your Ovaltine, do you always put in plenty of sugar? You know, Ovaltine comes unsweetened because in some cases when people are sick, doctors don't want them to have sugar. And that's why Ovaltine does not have any added sugar in it. So remember, when you're drinking your Ovaltine, you can always make it taste as sweet as you want just by adding the sugar yourself. If you've ever tried Ovaltine for the first time and maybe didn't like it because it wasn't sweet enough, ask your mother now to get you another can at her grocery or drugstore so you can try it again. Then when you're mixing your cupful, be sure to add at least one teaspoonful of sugar before you drink it. And boy, just wait till you see how good that Ovaltine is. Why, it tastes even better than a chocolate soda. What's more, your mother will be glad to let you have all the Ovaltine you want because it's so good for you. Every single cupful, every single gives you important food elements to help build up, strengthen energy and pep for you. Another thing, tell your mother she saves money by insisting on getting real Ovaltine and not some over sweetened product with a lot of sugar already in it. Because ordinary sugar is so cheap, you can just as well add your own and get more value for your money. So tell your mother to be sure to get genuine Ovaltine and not to take anything else in its place. And now, let's see what's happening to Annie. After Mr. Flint confessed to the payroll and bank robbery, he escaped with his cronies, Wright and Red Hogan. And right now The Marshal and Mr. Silo and Mr. Caslin and Annie and Joe are searching for them in the fields surrounding Simmons Corners. It's still pouring rain and the night's mighty dark. Just listen to that thunder.

[D]

The lizards. It seems to be raining hotter than ever.

[E]

Shugs, let her rain. We're as wet now as we ever can be. Who minds getting a little wetter?

[F]

Nobody, Joe. No, sir. Not if we can put this here Flint behind the bars where he belongs.

[G]

You're right, Mr. Silo. As citizens, we're gonna do our duty even if we get half drowned.

[H]

Good for you. I knew I picked a couple of good deputies when I got you two.

[G]

Where are we heading, Marshall? And what's the plan?

[H]

I don't know as there is a plan. Caslin Landsakes don't know as we need one. It's a cinch Flint and them others can't get out of the county. Not the way the sheriff and the state police have got the roads blocked by this time.

[F]

I know, but Mr. Castle means we ought to have some method of tramping around here in the wet. We may be going till daylight unless we work on some sort of theory.

[H]

What sort of theory? It's so dark out there. Don't seem no sort of theory hardly could get us any place. Looks to me as if we just have to stumble around until we come plump onto Flint.

[G]

In this dark and rain, Marshall? There's not much chance of that, Garnet.

[H]

I know it. Here, Joe. There's a hollow and some bushes over there along that fence. Turn that flashlight of yours in there.

[D]

All right.

[E]

Is that the spot?

[H]

Yep.

[D]

There's nobody there, Marshall. Nobody at all.

[H]

I see there. Ain't thought maybe Flint and his men might have taken shelter in a hollow like that, Marshall.

[F]

I think we're just wasting our time prowling around here in the wind.

[H]

Well, it may be Wastin your time, Mr. Silo, but it ain't mine, Dog. Garnet, I'm not forgetting the way Flint taunted me that day we found Bill Corwin being kept a prisoner in the old Carson house. He said I wasn't much as a police officer. Just want to show him I am. And if I can get my hands on him, I guess that'll show him and here is with him all the time. That was keeping Bill prisoner.

[G]

I don't blame you at all, Marshal, for feeling the way you do. If I were in your shoes, I'd want to get my hands on Flint first, too. But I still think we're not doing much to get him by stumbling around out Here in these fields in the dark.

[F]

I agree with Mr. Caswell. We ought to have a plan for this here search.

[H]

Just you name me the plan and I'll jump at it. I'm as much at sea as you folks are right now. And say, these here fields are beginning to look like a sea with all this rain. What's your plan?

[G]

Well, I dunno exactly. How about you, Mr. Silo?

[F]

Well, I. I don't know as I had any exact plan in mind. It was you, Elmer, who thought of coming across these fields instead of going into town.

[H]

Sure it was. And it was a good idea. Of course, it's a cinch Flint and those others wouldn't have gone into Simmons Corners where they'd have been seen and been reported. They must have cut across the fields since they didn't have time to get in their automobiles.

[F]

Yeah, that makes sense, Elmer. But it doesn't make sense us tumbling around here and looking into hollows with Joe's flashlight. Right.

[G]

Cause it's easy to guess Flint wouldn't take a chance on hiding in any hollow.

[H]

All right, then, suppose you tell me where he is.

[G]

Well, I don't think I can.

[D]

Listen, Marshall, I've got an idea.

[F]

You have any?

[H]

What?

[D]

Well, look. What place around here does Mr. Flint know better than any other place, Lacey?

[H]

He'd know better.

[D]

Yeah, leaving a hideout for a short while until he had time to get away. Where would he be most likely to head for?

[H]

I don't know. I hadn't thought of that.

[D]

I can tell you there's one place he'd make for as quick as he could. Cause he knows it better than anybody else. And that's the place where he kept Bill Corwin prisoner. The old Carson house.

[F]

I swore. NY I'll bet you put your finger right on it.

[G]

Makes sense anyhow.

[D]

You bet it does. That's just where he'd go until he had time to plan his getaway.

[E]

Shucks, Annie, I'll bet he and those others are there right now.

[H]

Well, it's something to work on anyhow. I'm glad we brought you kids along with us. Chucks.

[E]

We want to be a help, Marshall.

[H]

Now, let's see now. Which way is that oval Carson House from here? Strikes me it's straight ahead.

[D]

No, it's to the left, Marshall. Over that fence there. We've been going even with the river. We gotta turn and go toward it.

[G]

And he's right, Marshall.

[F]

Sage, I reckon these children know these fields about here better than we do.

[E]

Shucks, I guess we do. Cause Annie And I haven't played in them for a long time.

[I]

All right.

[G]

Here.

[H]

Now, let's get over this fence here. Hold that light steady, Joe.

[E]

I will.

[G]

Land sakes. I guess I'm not so young as I used to be when it comes to climbing.

[F]

We'll make it all right There.

[H]

Can you kids get across?

[E]

You bet we can almost jump it. Come on, Annie.

[D]

Okay.

[F]

Now then, which way?

[D]

Straight ahead, right away from the fence. That'll take us to the riverbank and the Carson house. Is that right, Joe?

[E]

That's right, Annie.

[F]

Just a little to the left, though.

[D]

Yeah, that's it, Joe. A little to the left.

[H]

Well, come on, then.

[G]

I wish it would stop this rain for a while. It's running right down my eyes.

[H]

Well, you got to stand it, Haslin.

[G]

Oh, I'm all right.

[F]

Listen, we must be getting close to the river. I can hear it.

[D]

We are close. It's just ahead there.

[H]

Land sakes, I haven't heard the river run like that since I was a boy. Just listen to it.

[G]

No wonder, with all this rain and.

[F]

On top of it, that cloudburst the sheriff said they had to the south. Yep.

[H]

He said on the phone the river was getting to flood stage. Said it was up 8ft and rising every minute.

[F]

Then there will be a flood. From the sound of it, it's tearing the banks apart.

[G]

I remember the last flood we had here back in 1919. There was nothing could stand against it. Nothing that wasn't solid and anchored down to a bedrock.

[H]

But this ain't getting us nowhere towards catching Flint.

[I]

And I've got my duty to do.

[H]

Annie.

[D]

Yeah, Marshall?

[H]

That old Carson house, where is it from here?

[D]

It's just ahead there behind those trees. You can't see it very well cause it's so dark.

[F]

I see it. Yep, that's the Carson house, Marshall.

[H]

Well, let's get to it. We've wasted enough time. And I want to see this fella Flint get the justice he deserves.

[G]

We all do, Elmer. Let's go.

[E]

Shucks, the place looks awful quiet.

[I]

It would, Joe.

[D]

Jumping grasshoppers. Mr. Flint wouldn't dare show a light tonight.

[H]

No, but we would. Let's see a gleam from that flashlight of yours, Joe. Show it right on those steps.

[E]

How's that?

[H]

Fine. Come on, folks. We're going in here and they flints around, we'll bag him.

[F]

We're with you, Marshall.

[H]

Throw that light inside there, Joe.

[E]

There she is.

[H]

I don't see nothing. Let's get further in here.

[G]

Right.

[F]

Still don't see anything.

[H]

Well, they Wouldn't be staying out here. Right in plain sight in the hall. What's this door here?

[E]

It goes into a room, Marshall. Into that room where the old moving fireplace is.

[H]

Oh, it does, does it? Well, let's have a look.

[D]

Wait a minute, Marshall. Wait.

[H]

Wait for what?

[D]

I thought I heard a noise in there. I thought.

[E]

Listen.

[D]

Suffering sunfish. Did you hear that?

[H]

I sure did.

[G]

What was it, Annie?

[D]

It was the fireplace moving in there. The sliding fireplace that leads down to the tunnel under the house.

[H]

Look out of the way till I get that door open. They've gone. Gone?

[F]

Shucks, yes, they've gone down the stairs behind that fireplace.

[H]

All right.

[G]

Well, let's go down after them.

[D]

We can't. We know how to open the fireplace from the other side, but we never did find out how to move it from this one.

[G]

You mean we're going to let them get away?

[D]

No. Leaping lizards. I got an idea.

[F]

Pardon, Ernie.

[D]

If they've gone down behind that fireplace, they're intending to get away through the tunnel to the riverbank. Maybe if we go straight down to the bank, we can head them off.

[H]

Well, that sounds like business to me. Come on.

[F]

Keep that light showing, Joe.

[E]

I will.

[H]

Say, it stopped raining anyhow.

[D]

Be careful on the steps. They're kind of mean.

[F]

Here we are. It's this way, Marshall. Right down the river.

[I]

I'm coming.

[E]

Boy, oh boy, listen to that river.

[G]

Sure ripping out the banks all right.

[F]

Don't noise. I ever heard it run like that.

[D]

See? There's a moon coming out through those clouds up there.

[F]

Good.

[H]

With that moon we'd be able to see something.

[F]

You said it, Marsha. I see something right now. There on the bank.

[D]

It's three men. They beat us out of the tunnel.

[I]

One of them splits.

[H]

All right.

[E]

Yeah, and there's Red.

[I]

Hogan. Stop.

[H]

Stop, Flint.

[I]

Right where you are. Stop in the name of the law.

[E]

Shucks, they're not stopping.

[D]

They're running faster than ever.

[I]

Come on, man. After they're with you, Marshall, you bet. I'm gonna get justice done if I have to chase them from here to the edge of the county. Stop, Flint. Stop in the name of the law. They're heading toward the bridge. I don't care where they're heading. I'm gonna get em.

[E]

With that moon we can see anyhow.

[D]

Yeah, it's getting brighter.

[I]

Captain Flint. Stop. I call on your st. Stop where you are.

[G]

There they are, on the end of the bridge.

[I]

They're heading for the other side of the river. And we're heading right after them. Come On. If they can cross that bridge, we can.

[D]

Wait, Marshall, wait.

[I]

Let go of my arm, Annie. I gotta get those fellows.

[D]

Stop, Marshall. Wait. Mr. Silo, don't go out on that bridge.

[I]

What's the matter?

[H]

A blitz crossing the bridge.

[I]

I passed.

[H]

We can.

[D]

No, please.

[I]

Stand still.

[D]

You've got to.

[I]

Oh, right there.

[F]

Me? But why?

[D]

Look at the bridge. Look at it there in the moonlight. Look at the center of it, just ahead of Flint. On those men.

[I]

Great GE. Hush of it. The cement's crimson.

[D]

It is.

[I]

It is.

[D]

It's all falling apart.

[I]

Snakes. That. That bridge is going to fall. His blood is washing out that rotten cement.

[H]

Flint.

[I]

Flint, come back. Come back. The bridge is crumbling. He wants to up. They think they're getting away.

[D]

Look at that center pier right under them.

[I]

It's all cring a bit. There it goes. The whole bridge.

[F]

Gone.

[I]

Gone the whole.

[G]

And with it its builders, Flint, Hogan and Wright. I guess you don't have to do any arresting now, Marshall.

[C]

Mr. Silo is right. There is justice in the world. And as Mr. Flynn sowed, so did he reap. And now there'll be no more robberies or cheating in Simmons Corners. But, say, don't think there isn't going to be plenty of fun and adventure for Annie. There is. Because right at this minute, although Annie doesn't know it, there's a telegram coming over the wires to the Silo farm. It's a mighty mysterious telegram, too. And it's going to start Annie on the greatest adventure she's ever had. So don't miss being here when it comes. And say, you don't want to miss drinking your Ovaltine regularly either. Ask your mother to fix a big delicious cupful for you to have with your dinner right away. Remember, the boys and girls who are drinking their Ovaltine every day are the very ones who help to keep Annie's adventures going on the radio. And besides, doing a big favor for Annie that she'll appreciate more than ever in her big new adventures just ahead. Remember, you'll be doing yourself a big favor, too by drinking your Ovaltine every day. Because every single cupful brings you important, nourishing food elements to help make you husky and healthy and strong and keep you bubbling over with good old orphan Auntie Pep. And so, if you've run all of Ovaltine at your house, be sure and ask your mother to get you another can when she goes to the drug or grocery store tomorrow. And be sure to be here on time next Monday. Because we're going to start off on a brand new series of adventures with Annie, and you want to be in on all the fun that's coming. Until next Monday, then goodbye.

[J]

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