The Avenger 45-10-19 (20) The Subway Ghost - Harold's Old Time Radio

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: The Avenger 45-10-19 (20) The Subway Ghost
Release Date: October 29, 2025
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio

Episode Overview

This installment from Harold’s Old Time Radio features an episode of "The Avenger," a classic radio mystery series from the Golden Age. The featured story, "The Subway Ghost," revolves around a seemingly supernatural presence haunting a subway line, which soon becomes entangled with a rash of daring robberies. Through the scientific mind and investigative skills of Jim Brandon (The Avenger), listeners are led through a labyrinthine mystery blending uncanny ghostly phenomena with hard-boiled crime-solving.

Main Characters

Jim Brandon (The Avenger): Biochemist and crime-fighter with secret technological gadgets, including a diffusion capsule that grants invisibility.
Fern Collier: Brandon’s capable assistant and confidante.
Inspector White: Police inspector and friend of Brandon; hot-headed but determined.
Mike Leary: Subway motorman involved in the case.
Mr. Stevens: Subway line controller.
Freddy Barlow, Slick, Curly: Criminals behind the subway ghost and robberies.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Ghost Sightings on the Subway (00:42–04:36)

Jim and Inspector White investigate repeated reports of a ghostly figure seen in the subway by several motormen, always at the same spot—where a track walker died two years earlier.
The so-called ghost appears directly before the train, apparently getting struck, yet leaving no trace—heightening the mystery.
Notable Quote:
- Inspector White (04:22): “Whatever it was, it certainly disappeared into thin air.”

2. Crime Wave in Midtown (07:32–11:13)

While Jim focuses on the ghost, Inspector White is called away by a wave of high-profile robberies.
Fern encourages Jim to consider the broader crime pattern: “You've been so engrossed in your ghost, I wondered if you realized that.” (10:12)
Newspaper reports detail a series of successful heists—jewelry, armored trucks, banks—all in midtown.

3. Connecting the Dots: Ghost & Robberies (11:14–13:58)

Jim meticulously links the timings and locations of the ghost’s appearance with the robberies, noting that the ghost serves as a distraction or cover for the criminals' escape.
Notable quote:
- Jim (12:45): “There’s a definite connection between the Ghost and the robberies…the thieves used the subway to make their getaway.”

4. The Ghost’s Gadget: Unmasking the Trick (16:28–18:57)

Jim and White find cobwebs at the spot the ghost appears, deducing they are used as a screen for a projected image.
Hidden projection equipment is uncovered, confirming the ‘ghost’ is technologically manufactured to halt trains and enable criminal escape.
Notable quote:
- Jim (18:12): “Those cobwebs served as a screen on which the moving picture of a man was projected…when we find that, we have our ghost.”

5. The Real Culprits Revealed (19:19–25:39)

After Mike Leary is killed, Jim investigates and follows a slim clue—a matchbook from a tough local tavern.
Surveillance at the tavern confirms the gang is meeting for their payoff with stolen loot.
Jim identifies Freddy Barlow as the phony trainman and murderer, recognizing him despite his disguise.
Memorable Moment:
- Fern (24:28): “Patience is the deadliest weapon of the law. And the best detective in the world is a total loss without it.”

6. The Avenger’s Final Confrontation (25:40–28:45)

Jim/Avenger uses his invisibility to eavesdrop on the gang, then signals the police for a bust.
The criminals panic when they can’t find the source of Jim’s voice, and the police arrest them.

7. The Mastermind’s Method – Mystery Unraveled (28:45–29:50)

Jim explains to Fern how the gang gained access to the subway via a locked emergency exit, with Freddy Barlow making the preparations.
The projection and cobweb screen created a delay, allowing the robbers to board the train unseen and escape underground as police searched above.
Notable quote:
- Jim (29:43): “All the robbers had to do was hop aboard the end of the train and make their getaway underground while the police were combing the streets for them.”

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

“Whatever it was, it certainly disappeared into thin air.”
— Inspector White (04:22)
“There’s a definite connection between the Ghost and the robberies…”
— Jim Brandon (12:45)
“Those cobwebs served as a screen on which the moving picture of a man was projected.”
— Jim Brandon (18:12)
“Patience is the deadliest weapon of the law. And the best detective in the world is a total loss without it.”
— Fern Collier (24:28)
“All the robbers had to do was hop aboard the end of the train and make their getaway underground while the police were combing the streets for them.”
— Jim Brandon (29:43)

Important Segment Timestamps

Ghost sighting on the subway: 00:42–04:36
Inspector departs for robbery investigation: 07:32–09:58
Jim links ghost to robbery locations: 11:14–13:58
Discovery of the projection equipment: 16:28–18:57
Tavern stakeout and confrontation: 23:51–28:45
Final explanation of the criminals’ methods: 28:45–29:50

Episode Tone & Style

Fast-paced, suspenseful, and atmospheric, with sharp dialogue and clever deductive reasoning.
Jim Brandon is methodical, scientific, and calm; Inspector White is brash and determined; Fern is witty and steadfast.
The narrative is full of suspense and classic radio melodrama, including dramatic pauses and earnest exchanges.

Memorable Moments

The group being startled by the sudden appearance and disappearance of the “ghost.”
Jim revealing that cobwebs and projection are behind the supernatural appearances.
Fern's dry wit at having to “diet” during the tavern stakeout.
The Avenger’s use of invisibility to scare and trap the gang during their payoff meeting.

This episode exemplifies classic radio detective storytelling, merging spooky urban legend with clever criminal schemes, all wrapped up by the scientific rationality and heroics of The Avenger. Fans of vintage mysteries and audio dramas will find both entertainment and an exciting lesson in observation and deduction.

Transcript

A (0:00)

Mr. Monopoly here. Monopoly is back at McDonald's. Register in the McDonald's app so you're ready to get your bag. Two ways to peel for a chance to get your bag Physical peels with select items and digital peels with others. To get your bag, play Monopoly at McDonald's. No purchase necessary. C rolls@playmcd.com for full details and amoe.play@mcd.com to play without purchase ends November 23rd, but bonus play ends November 2nd. Monopoly is a registered trademark of Hasbro. Copyright McDonald's. The Avenger. The road to crime ends in a trap that just as sets crime does not pay. The Avengers sworn enemy of evil is actually Jim Brandon, a famous biochemist. Through his numerous scientific experiments, Brandon has perfected several inventions to aid him in his crusade against crime as the Avenger. Most remarkable of these inventions is the highly secret diffusion capsule which cloaks him in the black light of invisibility. Brandon's assistant, the beautiful Fern Collier, is the only one who shares his secrets and knows that he is the man the underworld fears as the Avenger. And now the Avenger and the Subway Ghost. Jim and Inspector White are standing on the subway platform waiting for an express as the train pulls into the station. Come on, Jim, let's hop aboard this front car. Right, Inspector. Now, we'll let the train pull out before we go into the motorman's booth. Yeah, I want this little visit to come as a surprise. Okay? Come on, I'll open the door and you can take care of the introductions. Hi, Cleary? That's me. Neymar and Yard at its booth. No passengers. Police. Cleary, police. Yes, I'm Inspector White and this is Jim Brandon. We're riding with you on this trip. I get it. After the ghost. That's right. Did you ever see the ghost, Larry? No, I never did. There's very little stock I put in the story they tell of it. Well, three Mortimer on this line swear they saw it. And their story's checked on the place where it appeared. Oh, I didn't know it appeared in the same place all the time. Well, it did, approximately. Anyway, this particular run is five minutes between stops. Each of those men claims he was two and a half minutes out when he saw the ghost. They say it's right around the spot where that track walker was killed two years ago. Red light just ahead there. Yeah, it's a track, Inspector. Most likely. Yeah. He's swinging his lantern. That's a signal they use to show they're off the tracks. It's Almost time, Inspector. Keep your eye peeled for the ghost. You know, I always figured I was as superstitious as the next man, but this subway ghost business is a little too thick for me to swallow. Larry, there's a man in the middle of the track. Stop there. You hit him.

B (4:38)

Come on.

A (4:39)

Watch out for that third rail. He won't go far. He should have landed right along here. Flash the lights around. Well, I'll take this side. Larry, you go with Jim. Okay. He must be under the train. Not under this fast car. Come on, we'll work our way back. He's got to be here someplace. Don't sign up on this side of the tracks. Jim, what's going to happen to that man? Well, one thing is certain. He's not here. But the train ran over him. We saw that with our own eyes. There's no use holding the train up any longer. What do you make of it, Jim? Well, Inspector, my guess is that we've had our first encounter with a subway ghost. Well, whatever it was, it certainly disappeared into thin air. Okay, Larry, close the door and let's get going. I'm glad all three of us saw it. I swear I wouldn't cast my own eyes if I'd been by myself. We're up against something here, Jim. I don't happen to believe in ghosts. I don't either, Inspector, but this one promises to be rather difficult to explain. That ghost couldn't have been anything with dimension because there was no place for it to hide and no time for it to run away. Well, what are we going to do? We'll get off for the next stop. Now that we've seen the ghost, we'll have to figure out some way to trap him. Ah, this is a fine mess, Jim. While you and I spend the afternoon in the subway chasing after our ghost, the biggest bank in town is robbed. That's tough luck, Inspector. But the commissioner himself assigned you to investigate that subway affair. Well, ghost or no ghost, I'm not wasting any more time in the subway. I'm going to work on this bank job. Oh, leaving me flat, huh? No, no, I want you to help me out on this bank robbery, Jim. There's a slick professional job we've got to get those two men who pulled it. Well, I think I'll leave that to you, Inspector. I'm going to stick with a ghost for a while at least. Oh, that can wait, Jim. But this robbery. Those bank robbers will be duck soup for you, Inspector. Regular routine stuff. You won't need me on that. But this Ghost, you would walk out on me just to satisfy your curiosity about some silly trick that somebody's playing in the subway? Now, Inspector, there's no reason to lose your temper. We just have different opinions about the important. Don't bother me anymore about that ghost. I've got more important things to think about. All right. I'll send in my report when I close the case. Ah, Ghost Jim Brannon, you prove you're no friend of mine. Now get out of here and let me work.