Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Sam Spade 50-11-24 #223 "The Terrified Turkey Caper"

Air Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Original Broadcast Date: November 24, 1950 (Sam Spade Detective)

Episode Overview

This episode features “The Terrified Turkey Caper,” a classic entry in the Adventures of Sam Spade, Private Detective—a radio mystery drama from the Golden Age. With a Thanksgiving twist, Sam Spade navigates a comedic but deadly mystery involving a man named Tom Turkey—who claims someone wants to kill him for Thanksgiving. As Spade investigates, he uncovers insurance fraud, attempted murder, and a web of deceit closely tied to Turkey’s own past and disappearance.

Key Discussion Points & Storyline Breakdown

The Case Arrives: Tom Turkey's Plea for Help

• Sam’s Office Chaos (00:47):
  • Effie, Sam's secretary, worries about the destruction in the office.
• Tom Turkey's Arrival (03:38):
  • Tom Turkey, a nervous, middle-aged man with a strawberry birthmark, pleads for Sam’s help, claiming:

    "My name is Tom Turkey and they're going to kill me for Thanksgiving." – Tom Turkey (05:32)

• Initial Skepticism and Investigation:
  • Sam dismisses it as a joke, but after a near-miss with a truck (possibly intentional), he checks Tom’s story.
  • Sam confirms Tom Turkey’s identity via an old phone book and a call to Henrietta Black, who confirms the description but insists Tom has been dead for years.

Tom Turkey’s Backstory (09:40)

• Turkey’s Explanation:
  • Tom faked his suicide in 1943, leaving his business and wife Henrietta due to unhappiness.
  • He’s returned years later, feeling “wiser” and wanting to reconcile.
• Contact Attempts and Dangers:
  • Since his return and letter to Henrietta, multiple “accidents” have happened—he’s certain someone wants him dead.

Confrontation at Henrietta Black's Home (11:46)

• Meeting Henrietta and Leander Luce:
  • Henrietta acts unaware of Tom’s letter and claims he’s dead, while Luce, her business manager, is defensive and dismissive.
  • Sam suspects they’re lying:

    "There was falsehood in this someplace, Lieutenant, and it stuck out like a fat girl in slacks." – Sam Spade (12:59)

Twist: A Murder in Sam’s Apartment (13:27)

• Police and a medical examiner find a body in Sam’s apartment, but it’s not Tom—it's Al Kuchel, a shady private detective.
• Sam and police Lieutenant Kelsey try to figure out who killed Kuchel and where Tom went.

The “John Smith” Pursuit and Attempts on Sam’s Life (16:02)

• Sam chases the lead from the truck company: "John Smith" is a fake identity for the heavyset, rough ex-longshoreman who almost killed Tom.
• "John Smith" tries to kill Sam in his office, shooting up the place (19:46).

The Insurance Motive Emerges (21:23)

• Sam deduces the critical clue:

  "Tom Turkey disappeared on Thanksgiving of 1943. A person has to be missing seven years before he can be legally dead and his insurance collected." – Sam Spade (21:36)

  • It’s been exactly seven years—an insurance payout is now possible.
  • Sam suspects Henrietta or Luce stands to gain.

The Pilgrim, The Mission, & The Final Showdown (22:32)

• Sam is visited by a comical “Pilgrim” (dressed for a mission’s holiday dinner) who brings him to the Helping Hand Mission, where Tom Turkey is hiding.
• Tom recounts fleeing when Kuchel and Smith argued, resulting in Kuchel’s shooting (24:24).
• Sam pushes Tom to call Henrietta; a man arrives to fetch Tom—it's Smith.
• A scuffle ensues; Sam (with a boost from the pilgrim and his blunderbuss) subdues Smith.
• The villainous Leander Luce is confronted:

  "It means, Leander Luce, that you're not going to carve Tom Turkey up for your Thanksgiving insurance policy." – Sam Spade (26:54)

The Wrap-up: Motives Explained (27:16)

• Luce, holding Henrietta’s power of attorney, was secretly paying Turkey’s insurance so they could collect after seven years of declared death.
• Effie summarizes:

  "Oh, and then he'd collect for Henrietta and keep the money himself." – Effie (27:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Thanksgiving Theming and Puns:

  "They tried to pluck my feathers and cook my goose." – Sam Spade (01:00)

• Classic Noir Banter:

  "Falsehood in this someplace... stuck out like a fat girl in slacks." – Sam Spade (12:59)

  "You find it hard to think, period." – Sam Spade to Lt. Kelsey (21:09)

• Turkey-related Wordplay:

  "If you don't by midnight, you might be a cold turkey." – Sam Spade to Tom Turkey (25:42)

• Comical Wrap-up:

  "Hallelujah. Drumstick, anyone?" – Pilgrim (Lieutenant Kelsey) (27:00)

• Meta Humor about Character Names:

  "We could we have a Thanksgiving caper. Without a Captain John Smith, it wouldn't be right." – Sam Spade (28:31)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:47] Effie concerned about office chaos; Sam’s breezy attitude.
• [03:38] Introduction of Tom Turkey and his plea.
• [05:32] Tom’s panicked confession about being targeted for murder.
• [09:00-10:30] Tom explains his disappearance and return.
• [11:46] Sam’s confrontation with Henrietta and Luce.
• [13:27] Discovery of a dead body in Sam’s apartment.
• [16:02-17:26] Sam tracks clues at truck rental; learns about “John Smith.”
• [19:46] Attempted murder of Sam by "John Smith."
• [21:23-21:57] Sam realizes insurance timing is motive for attempted murder.
• [24:24-26:00] Climax at the Helping Hand Mission, with Tom, Luce, and Smith.
• [26:53] Sam exposes Luce’s scheme.
• [27:16-29:18] Case resolution, witty banter, and Thanksgiving wrap-up with Effie.

Episode Tone & Style

• Playful and sardonic: Sam’s narration is rich with dry humor, quick wit, and holiday-themed puns.
• Classic noir atmosphere: Even with a Thanksgiving motif, the stakes are life and death, and Sam remains unflappable, wisecracking, and resourceful.

Conclusion

This episode blends the spirit of Thanksgiving with classic detective tropes—a bumbling turkey with a price on his head, insurance fraud, mistaken identity, and Sam Spade’s characteristic wit. Through banter, suspense, and a holiday-themed caper, the show stands as a prime example of mid-century-serial storytelling. The resolution is neat, justice is served, and even the sidekicks get their moments to shine.
Recommended for fans of old-time mysteries, offbeat noir, and nostalgia.