Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Philip Marlowe 48-09-26 001 Red Wind
Original Broadcast Date: September 26, 1948
Podcast Release Date: December 26, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Starring: Gerald Moore as Philip Marlowe

Episode Overview

This episode resurrects a classic tale from the Golden Age of Radio: “Red Wind,” an adventure featuring Raymond Chandler’s hardboiled detective, Philip Marlowe. Set on a hot, wild Santa Ana night in Los Angeles, Marlowe gets pulled into a twisting web of murder, deceit, lost pearls, and dangerous love. He finds himself confronting killers, comforting a mysterious femme fatale, and sorting out blackmail and betrayal—all against the backdrop of Chandler's signature moody, poetic narration.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

The Santa Ana Wind and a Death at the Bar (01:00–03:47)

• The oppressive Santa Ana wind sets the stage for violence. Marlowe foreshadows trouble:

  “It was hot, boiling hot that night. I wanted to grab a beer and turn in early. So what happens? I get my beer, but with it comes a gunshot, a beautiful woman in trouble, and murder.” (Philip Marlowe, 01:00)

• At a bar, a mysterious drunk guns down a man named Waldo after Waldo asks about a woman in a bolero jacket and blue dress.
• Marlowe observes, helps the police, and notes Waldo had $700 on him.

Lola Barsley, the Woman in Trouble (03:47–07:45)

• Marlowe runs into Lola Barsley (the woman in question) outside his apartment. Tense, she briefly holds him at gunpoint.

  "Let's put that little thing away and have a nice cool drink, huh?" (Philip Marlowe, 05:48)

• Lola reveals: Waldo, formerly her chauffeur, stole a valuable necklace; she was to buy it back to keep it from her husband.
• The pearls' real value is sentimental—Johnny Dalmas, a lost love, gave them to her.

A Killer Pays a Visit (09:29–12:19)

• Marlowe is confronted at home by “Baldy,” the killer from the bar, holding a gun to his throat.
• Lola courageously distracts Baldy, enabling Marlowe to knock him out.

  "Thanks, sister. That buys me. Everything I have is yours now and forever." (Philip Marlowe, 11:58)

The Mystery Deepens: The Search for the Pearls (13:01–16:53)

• Lola, seeking closure, asks Marlowe to find the pearls.
• They search Waldo’s apartment, only to find another corpse: Leon Velasanos, apparently strangled.

The Clues Lead to Eugenie Kolchenko and Frank Barsley (18:55–22:21)

• Clues from a car key lead Marlowe to Eugenie Kolchenko.
• At her home, Marlowe meets Lola’s husband Frank and uncovers a blackmail scheme:
  • Frank’s bills (from Eugenie’s charges) and Lola’s pearls were being used for leverage by Waldo.
  • Frank admits hiring Leon to recover his bills. Waldo double-crossed Leon, killed him, but was then shot by his old partner.
• Marlowe negotiates to keep Frank’s scandal private—receiving $500 for his efforts:

  “Never do at once what can be profitably deferred. Pending negotiation.” (Philip Marlowe, 20:38)

Final Unraveling: The Pearls’ Truth and Personal Goodbyes (24:16–26:49)

• The pearls, recovered by police, are revealed as fakes save for the diamond clasp.

  "They're phony. All but the clasp, Marlowe. All but the clasp." (Lieutenant Ibarra, 24:44)

• Waldo had already sold the real necklace, substituting a glass imitation.
• Marlowe returns the clasp to Lola, who, though losing her pearls, retains the sentimental link to Johnny Dalmas.
• On a somber note:

  "You’ll never get over Johnny Dalmas. Goodbye, Lola. If anybody ever bothers you again, let me know. Name’s Marlowe. Philip Marlowe." (Philip Marlowe, 26:36)

Marlowe's Reflection and Noir Closure (27:08–28:43)

• Marlowe disposes of the fake pearls at the ocean, reflecting on deception and loss:

  “Phony pearls. They'd fooled Waldo and Lola Barsley. But they couldn't fool a seagull.” (Philip Marlowe, 27:56)

• The Santa Ana wind dies down, bringing a sense of release and cold clarity to Marlowe.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Opening Line on Fate:

  "Anything can happen when the Santa Ana blows in from the desert." (Marlowe, 01:47)

• Lola’s Love and Loss:

  “I love Johnny the way you love just one time. You understand that?” (Lola Barsley, 15:00)

• On Truth and Illusions:

  “Phony pearls. They'd fooled Waldo and Lola Barsley. But they couldn't fool a seagull.” (Marlowe, 27:56)

• Hardboiled Wit:

  “Never do at once what can be profitably deferred. Pending negotiation.” (Marlowe, 20:38)

• Bittersweet Parting:

  "You'll never get over Johnny Dalmas. Goodbye, Lola." (Marlowe, 26:36)

Important Timestamps

• Santa Ana and Opening Murder: 01:00–03:47
• Lola’s Backstory and Blackmail: 04:38–07:45, 13:01–16:53
• Confrontation with Baldy: 09:29–12:19
• Unraveling the Web (Frank & Eugenie): 19:43–22:21
• Resolution – The Pearls: 24:16–26:49
• Marlowe’s Noir Meditation: 27:08–28:43

Overall Tone & Style

“Red Wind” is steeped in classic noir style: smoky, poetic, darkly humorous, always a bit world-weary, yet shot through with deep feeling. Marlowe narrates poetically but unflinchingly about violence, longing, and deception in the margins of Los Angeles. The women are enigmatic, the villains dangerous yet oddly vulnerable, and the hero, though battered, remains deeply human and quietly compassionate.

This episode provides a complete, atmospheric dose of Golden Age radio drama, especially suited for newcomers and enthusiasts of classic noir and detective fiction.