Little Orphan Annie - Looking For Bill Corwin

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Little Orphan Annie - Looking For Bill Corwin
Date: May 27, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio

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Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners to the golden age of radio, featuring a classic installment from the beloved serial, "Little Orphan Annie." The story centers on the mysterious disappearance of Bill Corwin, a young man entangled in recent town troubles, and Annie’s efforts to unravel the truth behind his vanishing. The episode weaves together community intrigue, loyalty, and suspense—hallmarks of the Orphan Annie adventures—inviting listeners to join Annie, Joe, and Walter as they search for clues beside the river.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Scene Setting and Recap (01:30 - 03:20)

• The narrator establishes the dramatic context in Simmons Corners: Tony Ronelli is in jail for a payroll robbery, mysterious events are unfolding at the new bridge, and now Bill Corwin is missing.
• The value of “Ovaltine pep” is enthusiastically promoted, connecting the sponsor to the show’s sense of wholesome vigor.

Notable Quote:
"They always get loads of fun out of everything they do. And that's usually the way it is with boys and girls who have plenty of Ovaltine pep." – Narrator (01:47)

The Mystery of Bill Corwin (03:21 - 05:19)

• Marshal Elmer Slamp responds skeptically to Mrs. Wigglesworth’s worry about Bill and jokes that Bill has simply gone fishing.
• Mrs. Wigglesworth is adamant that Bill wouldn't vanish without a word or go fishing unexpectedly.
• Annie is unconvinced by the fishing story, highlighting that Bill had too much weighing on his mind.

Notable Quotes:
"There couldn't anybody fish with what Bill Corwin had on his mind?" – Annie (03:46)
"You believed some other evidence once, that day you arrested Tony Ranelli for the payroll robbery." – Annie (04:47)

Emotional Tensions and Motivations (05:34 - 07:14)

• Mrs. Wigglesworth expresses motherly concern for Bill, explaining her sleeplessness and the attachment she's developed.
• Annie reassures her and commits to finding out what happened.

Memorable Moment:
Mrs. Wigglesworth’s heartfelt speech about her affection for Bill, whom she treats “sort of like a mother.” (06:07–06:21)

Annie's Partial Theory (07:24 - 09:16)

• Annie hints she suspects Bill’s disappearance is related to his knowledge of illicit activities at the bridge and recent threats he received.
• Joe and Walter are brought into Annie’s confidence, learning for the first time that Bill received warnings.

Notable Quote:
"Bill was threatened. He was told to leave town. And he was warned if he didn't, something would happen to him." – Annie (09:16)

The Search Along the River (09:36 - 10:59)

• The group searches the riverbank for the missing rowboat and fishing tackle, suspecting a link between Bill’s disappearance and the missing equipment.
• They strategize, splitting up to cover more ground.

Key Development:
Both the boat and Bill’s hat are missing—a critical clue that Bill was in the boat the previous night.

Discovery of the Rowboat (11:05 - 12:46)

• Annie and Walter spot the missing rowboat, empty save for a fishing pole and Bill’s distinctive gray hat.
• The group is left to wonder if Bill has drowned or suffered foul play, heightening the suspense.

Memorable Moment:
"Do you know whose hat that is? It's Bill Corwin's hat." – Annie (12:40)

Cliffhanger and Next Steps (12:59)

• The narrator ends with questions about Bill’s fate and a teaser about "strange new developments" in the next episode, urging listeners to return.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• "There couldn't anybody fish with what Bill Corwin had on his mind?"
  Annie doubts the fishing theory (03:46)

• "Once? What do you mean, once? I still believe it. And that evidence is gonna hold up in court next week..."
  Marshal Slamp doubles down on past arrests and evidence (04:53)

• "Never having any children of my own. Well, I felt sort of like a mother to him."
  Mrs. Wigglesworth’s emotional confession (06:07)

• "It's got something to do with him disappearing like this."
  Annie draws a direct link between the boat and Bill’s disappearance (09:54)

• "Bill was threatened. He was told to leave town..."
  Annie reveals the true stakes and suspicions behind Bill’s vanishing (09:16)

• "Do you know whose hat that is? It's Bill Corwin's hat."
  The pivotal clue (12:40)

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Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 01:30 | Narrator’s pep talk, Ovaltine pitch, plot overview | | 03:21 | Marshal and Mrs. Wigglesworth debate Bill’s absence | | 05:34 | Mrs. Wigglesworth’s heartfelt speech | | 07:24 | Annie shares suspicions of foul play | | 09:36 | The search along the river begins | | 11:05 | Discovery of the empty boat and Bill’s hat | | 12:59 | Narrator’s cliffhanger and teaser for next episode |

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Episode Flow & Tone

The show is earnest, wholesome, and full of old-fashioned charm—brisk dialogue, colloquial language, and the moral clarity characteristic of its era. Annie’s determination and Mrs. Wigglesworth’s warmth lend emotional weight, while humor from Elmer Slamp and the camaraderie among the children maintains a light, engaging tempo.

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For New Listeners

This episode captures classic radio suspense and community spirit, masterfully blending heartfelt character moments with investigative adventure. It ends on a tantalizing cliffhanger—will Annie find Bill safe, or is there deeper danger lurking in Simmons Corners? Tune in to the next episode for further revelations!

Transcript

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

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[Annie]

Hey, everyone. Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Annie]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Anyways, get a'@libertymutual.com or with your local agent.

[Elmer Slamp]

Liberty, Liberty.

[Annie]

Liberty. Liberty.

[Little Orphan Annie Narrator]

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 My size Always on the go if you want to know I'm so Sandy always wears a sunny smile now wouldn't it be worth the while if you could be like Little orphan Annie?

[Narrator/Announcer]

It's 5:45 now, Orphan Annie time and Ovaltine time again. And these are certainly busy days for Annie and Simmons Corners now, aren't they? Yes, sir. With poor Tony Ronelli in jail and so many mysterious things happening down at the new bridge, Annie and Joe certainly have their hands full. But you can bet they're having a mighty fine time through it all because they're bubbling over with so much pep and energy. They always get loads of fun out of everything they do. And that's usually the way it is with boys and girls who have plenty of Ovaltine pep. Because by drinking two or three big cupfuls of Ovaltine every day, they get lots of important minerals and vitamins and things to help nature make them husky and strong and as full of fun and pep as Orphan Annie herself. And so, if you've been missing out on your Ovaltine lately, you certainly want to ask your mother to get you another can at her drug or grocery store now. And it's especially important to do that right away. Because the quicker you get that can of Ovaltine, the quicker you can send in for that latest design Orphan Annie hot Ovaltine mug I've been telling you about. And here's something important if you haven't sent in yet, you'd better hurry because we'll be offering them over the radio for only a few more days. And so, if you haven't got one of these keen looking mugs now, don't miss this opportunity, but keep listening after tonight's adventure's over and I'll tell you exactly how to send in for yours right away. But now let's see what Annie's doing about the missing Bill Corwin. You remember, Mrs. Wigglesworth was so worried, she got the marshal out to her farm. And then Walter Broom reported that the Wigglesworth's rowboat and fishing tackle were missing. Do you suppose that Bill went fishing on the river last night? Neither Annie or Joe or Mrs. Wigglesworth think so, but the marshal does. Listen to him now.

[Elmer Slamp]

Gone fishing, eh? So that's what you get me out here for, Mrs. Wigglesworth, on a wild goose chase. Or I guess a wild fish chase, eh?

[Mrs. Wigglesworth]

My goodness, I never knew Bill to do a thing like this before.

[Annie]

You're sure about that, Bow Waters?

[Walter Broom]

Sure I'm sure, Ms. Wigglesworth. It's gone from the dock, just like I said. And so's all of Mr. Wigglesworth's fishing tackle.

[Joe Jogs]

Shush. You don't suppose he's really gone fishing, do you?

[Annie]

Of course not. Joe Leap and lizards. There couldn't anybody fish with what Bill Corwin had on his mind?

[Elmer Slamp]

What's that, Annie? His hat. You know, I really ought to be mad, Mrs. Wigglesworth. You get me way out here and just to tell me Bill Coin's gone fishing and is wearing his hat on his mind. But I ain't. It's a good joke. Just wait till the boys hear about it.

[Mrs. Wigglesworth]

Oh, you think you're smart, Elmer Slamp, don't you? Well, you're just so smart, I'm going to give you a piece of my mind.

[Elmer Slamp]

No, no, don't you do that. You might need it sometime, Mrs. Wigglesworth. Maybe to clean those fish Bill's gonna bring home. Well, I gotta be getting back to town.

[Annie]

Listen, Mr. Marshall, there's more in this thing than meets the eye.

[Elmer Slamp]

I'm glad of that, Annie. For as there ain't nothing meets my eye in it except that young Carwin's gone fishing.

[Annie]

But he hasn't, Mr. Slamp. He couldn't.

[Walter Broom]

He.

[Elmer Slamp]

I'm sorry, Annie, I. But all the evidence says that he has. The fishing tackle's gone, the boat's gone and Corwin's gone. Till I see something different, I gotta believe that evidence.

[Annie]

Yeah, well, listen, you believed some other evidence once that day you arrested Tony Ranelli for the payroll robbery.

[Elmer Slamp]

Once? What do you mean, once? I still believe it. And that evidence is gonna hold up in court next week and send Renelli to prison for a good many years. I've been marshalled long enough to Know evidence when I see it. And this time I see it. Bill Corwin's gone fishing. And if he brings home a big mess of fish, Mrs. Wigglesworth, you might send a few of them over to me and have Walter clean them for me first.

[Walter Broom]

Say, I got other things to do sides cleaning fish for you.

[Annie]

Wait a minute, Mr. Marshall. Wait a minute. I got something to tell you.

[Elmer Slamp]

Well, if it's any more of your fish stories, Auntie, you better tell it to the Marines.

[Joe Jogs]

Shucks, he's gone.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Oh, gone.

[Walter Broom]

If he thinks I'm going to clean any fish for him.

[Mrs. Wigglesworth]

The idea. He thinks he's too smart. Elmer Slimp does fishing indeed. Bill's never gone fishing since he come to board with us. And he certainly wouldn't start out in the middle of the night without even going to bed.

[Annie]

He didn't go to bed at all, Mrs. Wigglesworth.

[Mrs. Wigglesworth]

Of course he didn't, Annie. His bed wasn't slept in. He didn't come home. Mr. Wigglesworth says I worry too much. Well, maybe I do. But ever since that boy come to stay with us, I haven't closed my eyes nights till he come in.

[Annie]

No, sir.

[Mrs. Wigglesworth]

I laid awake in bed listening for the door to open and close and for Bill to come upstairs. Never having any children of my own. Well, I felt sort of like a mother to him. And all as until last night.

[Annie]

He's come in early.

[Mrs. Wigglesworth]

Even when he had a date in town to go to the movies with Eleanor Bartlett, he was allus back before midnight. Oh, I. I can't understand it. To think Bill would go off like this without saying a word to me. Who was so good to him.

[Annie]

Dear Mrs. Wigglesworth, don't you be feeling too bad. Something's happened to Bill, so he couldn't come home.

[Mrs. Wigglesworth]

Land sakes, but what?

[Annie]

Annie, I've got an idea. At least a part of an idea. So you go inside and rest a while, Mrs. Wigglesworth, and we'll see what we can do about it.

[Mrs. Wigglesworth]

All right. Annie, I do feel kind of low not sleeping last night and worrying so much.

[Annie]

You go right in and lie down a while. Just you leave this to us, Mrs. Wigglesworth.

[Mrs. Wigglesworth]

You let me know as soon as you find out anything, won't you?

[Annie]

Sure, you bet we will.

[Walter Broom]

Go.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Go.

[Walter Broom]

I never seed Ms. Wigglesworth feel so bad before.

[Joe Jogs]

Shucks, neither did I.

[Walter Broom]

She acts just like Bill was her own son. Couldn't feel no worse, I guess, if

[Annie]

he was like she says. I guess never having had any children of her own made her love Bill an awful lot.

[Joe Jogs]

Yeah, but you said you had an idea, Annie. What is it?

[Annie]

Well, it's only part of an idea, Joe Jogs.

[Joe Jogs]

A part of an idea is a lot better than none at all. I haven't got any dog gone.

[Walter Broom]

I never seem to get any ideas.

[Annie]

It's like this. If Bills disappear, Joe, you and I know why.

[Joe Jogs]

Sure we do. It's because of the cement and the bridge and that man who warned him to get out of town.

[Walter Broom]

Uh, what is all this?

[Annie]

We haven't time to tell you now, Walter. It's something Joe and I found out from Bill. I was going to tell the marshal just as he was driving away, but

[Joe Jogs]

shucks, he said to tell it to the Marines.

[Annie]

Well, I'm kind of glad he didn't listen, Joe. I don't suppose it'll make any difference to him anyhow. And it may be awful useful to Tony and his trial.

[Joe Jogs]

Huh? What's it got to do with Tony?

[Annie]

Lawyer Jones may be able to hook it up with Tony's case and help him. Don't you see? And coming as a surprise in court, it may do a lot of good with the jury.

[Joe Jogs]

Boy, oh, boy, I never thought of that. Was that why you stopped me when I started to tell the marshal, Annie?

[Mrs. Wigglesworth]

Yeah.

[Annie]

I didn't see that he had a note if he was going to look for Bill anyhow. But when he got that fishing stuff in his head, I was gonna tell him as a last resort to get him to do something. But instead he drove away. Now it's up to us to do it.

[Joe Jogs]

Do what?

[Annie]

Find Bill. Will you help us, Walter?

[Walter Broom]

Oh, sure will. I ain't got much to do today. And anyhow, looking for Bill will be easier than starting a plow. Feels too wet to plow anyhow, like I told Mo.

[Annie]

Let's get started then.

[Joe Jogs]

Where are we gonna start?

[Annie]

Down at the river. Down where the Wigglesworth's boat's missing. Come on.

[Joe Jogs]

But Shuck Santi, why start there? We all know, and we've all been saying, that Bill didn't go fishing.

[Annie]

I know that. Well, where else is there to start? All we know, Joe, is that Bill left the Silas house last night intending to come home. He didn't come. Leastwise he didn't go in the Wigglesworth's house.

[Joe Jogs]

Sure, but he might have disappeared anywhere along the road. Here, Auntie. That might have got him.

[Walter Broom]

Doggone, I wish I knew what you two was talking about.

[Annie]

It's like this, Walter. Bill was threatened. He was told to leave town. And he was warned if he didn't, something would happen to him.

[Walter Broom]

Well, I'm a sad Sammy. What do you know about that? Bill was threatened. Why didn't he call me? Anybody threatened a friend of mine, I'd twist right around in my hand.

[Annie]

You weren't there, warrior.

[Walter Broom]

Well, doggone, I wish I had been there.

[Joe Jogs]

Here we are at the river.

[Walter Broom]

There, see? There's the dock in it, just like I told you. And the rowboat's gone. Mr. Wigglesworth's fishing tackle that he keeps on the side of the shed here, that's gone too. I know. Cause he always had a big bamboo pole there.

[Annie]

Yeah, I can see it's going, Walter.

[Joe Jogs]

Shucks. You don't suppose Bill really did take the boat, do you, Annie?

[Annie]

No, but I think it's got something to do with him disappearing like this.

[Joe Jogs]

Why? I don't see it.

[Annie]

Because that boat's never been missing before. It's been tied up there for years, and nobody's ever taken it. Why should they take it now? Don't you see, Joe? The two of them missing together. Bill Corwin and the Wigglesworths rowboat. They got some connection, and we gotta find out what it is.

[Joe Jogs]

I wish we knew how.

[Annie]

There's only one way to find out.

[Walter Broom]

How?

[Annie]

Well, there's only one place a boat's any good.

[Walter Broom]

Oh, sure, I can figure that out. On the water.

[Annie]

Yeah. Rowboat's no good on land. So wherever that boat is, it's gotta be someplace on the river. And we're gonna find it right now.

[Joe Jogs]

Shucks. Good for you, Annie. Let's go.

[Annie]

We're gonna. We're gonna follow right along this riverbank until we find that boat.

[Joe Jogs]

Come on.

[Walter Broom]

I'm with you.

[Joe Jogs]

Shh. Say, Annie.

[Annie]

What's the matter, Joe?

[Joe Jogs]

We ought to search in the other direction too. Suppose somebody took the boat up the river?

[Annie]

That's right, Joe. Maybe you better search upstream, and Walter and I will go down the river.

[Walter Broom]

Sure.

[Annie]

Keep good watch on both sides of the river, Joe.

[Joe Jogs]

All right, Annie. So long.

[Annie]

There goes Joe. Walter, you better watch the other side as we go down the river.

[Walter Broom]

You bet.

[Annie]

Annie and I'll keep watch on this bank. Sooner or later, we're bound to find it. Come on, Walter. Let's move right along.

[Walter Broom]

Yeah. There's some bushes ahead there. I'll push them down so you can get through.

[Annie]

Here we are.

[Walter Broom]

Gosh. Annie.

[Annie]

What?

[Walter Broom]

Walter, you don't suppose.

[Annie]

Suppose what?

[Walter Broom]

That Bill got scared and left town. Annie, you and Joe said he was threatened. He might have got Real scared and got in the boat and rode across to the other side of the river. And run away?

[Annie]

No, Bill's not that kind. He wouldn't run away from anything.

[Walter Broom]

I wouldn't run away from a swell job like he had on the bridge. But some awful funny things have happened to Bill around here. And he might have run away.

[Annie]

Annie.

[Little Orphan Annie Narrator]

No.

[Annie]

Bill had a special reason for staying. He was going to report today to the authorities. And Mr. Flint. You can just bet he didn't run away. You can just bet.

[Walter Broom]

Say, there's the boat.

[Annie]

Where?

[Walter Broom]

Right ahead there. Right close to the bank. That's the Wigglesworth boat.

[Annie]

I see it. But leap and lizards. There's no one in it.

[Walter Broom]

Nope, not a soul.

[Annie]

We gotta call Joe. He can't be very far yet. Joe. Oh, Joe.

[Walter Broom]

Oh, Joe.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Come on back. We found the boat.

[Joe Jogs]

Okay, I'm coming.

[Annie]

Come on, Walter. Let's get closer to the boat.

[Walter Broom]

Guess Bill did go fishing after all. Annie, there's the fish pole. I can see it hanging out over one side.

[Annie]

Yeah, the line's in the water, too. But that doesn't prove Bill went fishing.

[Walter Broom]

Looks awful lonesome, don't it? That empty boat.

[Annie]

Did you find it, Annie?

[Joe Jogs]

Where is it?

[Annie]

Right there. Close to the bank. Joe.

[Walter Broom]

It's drifting there. Just sort of moving. Lazy with the current.

[Annie]

Gosh.

[Joe Jogs]

And no sign of Bill.

[Annie]

Suffering sunfish.

[Joe Jogs]

What? Annie?

[Elmer Slamp]

Look.

[Annie]

Joe, look on the seat of the boat there. What do you see?

[Joe Jogs]

Why, I see. I see a hat.

[Walter Broom]

A hat? Yeah, it's a gray hat with a black band. It's brim sort of turned up on one side.

[Annie]

Do you know whose hat that is? It's Bill Corwin's hat.

[Joe Jogs]

Gosh, then he was in that boat.

[Annie]

It looks like it, Annie.

[Walter Broom]

Doggone if he was in that boat and only his hat. There. Now, you don't suppose. You don't suppose he's been drowned. Well.

[Narrator/Announcer]

So Bill Corbin was in that rowboat last night after all. Because there's his hat lying there in that boat. What could have happened to Bill? I have a hunch we're going to be finding out soon. So be sure and keep listening from now on. And, oh, if you're one of those boys and girls who haven't got one of the latest hot Ovaltine mugs yet, listen carefully and I'll tell you exactly how to get one. Lots of Orphan Annie's friends have these mugs, you know. And if you've been missing out on it all along, you certainly want to get one now because it's great. To use for rigging your hot Ovaltine. It's all made out of genuine beetlewear and right on the front there's a beautifully colored picture of Annie and Sandy. And it's a good sized mug with a big comfortable handle on it. And so it makes the best kind of a mug to have for your very own personal use. You know, this mug is our regular 50 cent value and it's not for sale in the stores anywhere. But if you're a friend of Orphan Annie's and are drinking your Ovaltine regularly every day now, you can get one for only 10 cents in coin and just one Ovaltine aluminum seal. So if you haven't got your mug yet, or if you've lost yours or anything has happened to it, you certainly want to send in and get one right away. Now you just print your name and address plainly on a piece of paper and say, send me the hot Ovaltine mug. And then send your letter in together with all of the thin round aluminum seal from underneath the lid of a can of ovaltine and also 10 cents in coin. Mail the whole thing in to Little Orphan Annie, Chicago, Illinois. Or if you live in Canada, mail it to Ovaltine, Peterborough, Ontario. That's all there is to it. But before you mail your letter, be sure you put in the Ovaltine seal and also 10 cents in coin and say you want a hot mug. And then Annie will send you your new hot Ovaltine mug just as fast as she can. And don't forget, be right here at Orphan anytime tomorrow because I have a feeling we're going to see some strange new developments in the mysterious disappearance of Bill Corwin. We'll be hearing more about that tomorrow at this same time and until then, goodbye.

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