Podcast Summary: The Avenger – High Tide Murders

Podcast: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode Date: March 16, 2026
Original Air Date (Drama): Golden Age of Radio
Episode Title: The Avenger – High Tide Murders
Main Cast:

• Jim Brandon (The Avenger)
• Fern Collier
• Inspector White
• Scrawny / Joplin (Villain)
• Captain Peabody
• Other minor characters

Episode Overview

This episode presents a classic radio drama from the Golden Age, diving into a thrilling mystery with “The Avenger,” a crime-fighting biochemist with the power of telepathy and invisibility. In "High Tide Murders," Jim Brandon (The Avenger) investigates a series of mysterious deaths among jewelers, leading to a dangerous confrontation on the coast involving smugglers, secret codes, and a deadly tide-powered trap.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Progression

1. Mysterious Murders and the Smugglers’ Web

• [02:07] The story opens with mistrust and betrayal among a group of criminals after a jewel shipment. Scrawny ("Joplin") is revealed as a double-crosser, setting up a deadly trap for an associate.
  • Notable moment: Scrawny reveals he’s been the mastermind behind a running scheme, luring associates to their deaths:
    “Out with the tide. And you go with it, just like the others.” – Scrawny/Joplin [03:30]

2. The Avenger’s Laboratory and Scientific Tools

• [04:29] Jim Brandon (The Avenger) and his assistant Fern Collier discuss their groundbreaking inventions—particularly the telepathic indicator (reads thought flashes) and the secret diffusion capsule (renders the user invisible through a complex chemical/light process).
  • Notable quote: “The diffusion capsule knocked me for a loop every time I tried it for three years until finally I was able to hit just exactly the right formula.” – Jim Brandon [05:20]
  • Fern asks to use the invisibility tech; Jim refuses, citing the danger.

3. Psychic Impressions & Telepathic Detection

• [07:15] The telepathic indicator picks up the psychic echo of a murder—associated with water, a heavy door, and someone calling out “Scrawny.”
  • Notable quote: “It’s been proved through thousands of experiments that 85% of all psychic impressions received are relayed by those who are suffering violence.” – Jim Brandon [07:22]

4. The Investigation Begins

• [08:48] Inspector White calls in the Avenger to inspect a washed-up body at Cragmore dock, believed to be tied to the murders.
• [09:24] Discovery of a broken jeweler’s loupe on the victim points to a connection with the city’s jewelers.
  • Notable quote: “No, only a little piece of broken glass.” – Inspector White [09:21]
  • “Why, this is a piece of a jeweler’s loop. A very good one, too.” – Jim Brandon [09:27]

5. Pawn Shops and Missing Jewelers

• [11:26] Jim and Fern check all pawn/jewelry shops for missing owners. They discover most are explained, but identify three suspicious absences: Blake, Artemis, and Fenro—all previously investigated for shady jewelry dealing.
• [13:02] Jim hypothesizes that the missing jewelers were fencing smuggled goods, possibly from Europe.

6. Danger in the Jewelry Store

• [14:34] Jim identifies the final missing jeweler, Vickers, and confronts him—Vickers is defensive and pulls a gun, suggesting guilt or fear.
  • Notable exchange:
    “Put that gun away, Vickers. You’re in enough trouble already.” – Jim Brandon [15:13]
    “I’ll give you exactly five seconds to blow.” – Vickers [15:16]

7. The Avenger Goes In (Invisible)

• [15:39] Fern distracts Vickers so the Avenger can sneak into the back room.
• Scrawny (the killer) enters, confronting Vickers. Vickers is stabbed as Fern and the Avenger re-enter.

8. The Coastal Connection and Tide Charts

• [18:43] Jim and Fern visit Captain Peabody, an old sailor acquainted with local tides and waterways.
• [20:24] Captain Peabody explains the permanence and accuracy of local water channels, inspiring Jim to use tide charts to trace where bodies entered the water.
  • Notable quote: “You notice how the currents hereabouts surge into narrow channels?...those channels along this stretch of coast are as accurate and permanent as a paved road on dry land.” – Captain Peabody [20:30]

9. Fern’s Kidnapping and Narrow Escape

• [21:38] While waiting, Fern is kidnapped by Scrawny, who reveals his plan to drown her and dispose of her with the tide, just as with the other victims.
  • Notable quote: “Out with the tide. That’s the way it must be.” – Scrawny [22:34]
  • “You mean I’m going to be drowned?” – Fern [22:38]

10. Climactic Confrontation

• [24:19] The Avenger arrives, invisible, and taunts Scrawny, who fires blindly. The Avenger subdues him, saving Fern.
  • Notable exchange:
    “Here I am. Scrawny.” – Jim Brandon [24:19]
    “Where are you? I can’t see you, Avenger.” – Scrawny [24:26]
    “No, you can’t see me, Scrawny. No one can see me. But I’m here.” – Jim Brandon [24:29]

11. Resolution and Explanation

• [25:22] Jim explains to Inspector White how he solved the case with the help of Captain Peabody and the tide charts.

  • The smuggling operations used the tide and a custom-built pier with nets to retrieve floating cargo (jewels, then currency).
  • When fences became unnecessary, Scrawny killed them using a trapdoor and a bag of salt (which would dissolve in water, detaching the weight after the body had been carried out to sea).
  • Notable quote: “You can thank Captain Peabody for showing me the beginning of that narrow channel that led me to old Scrawny’s place in time to save you.” – Jim Brandon [27:35]

• [28:00] Fern, traumatized but safe, jokes: “Fine. Only let’s not have seafood.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Avenger’s Inventions:
  “The diffusion capsule knocked me for a loop every time I tried it for three years until finally I was able to hit just exactly the right formula.” – Jim Brandon [05:20]

• On Telepathy and Violence:
  “It’s been proved through thousands of experiments that 85% of all psychic impressions received are relayed by those who are suffering violence.” – Jim Brandon [07:22]

• On Criminal Motive:
  “No, no, I kill for gold. For gold and jewels.” – Scrawny/Joplin [23:53]

• Fern’s Humor Afterward:
  “Fine. Only let’s not have seafood.” – Fern Collier [28:00]

Important Timestamps

• [03:30] Scrawny details his tide-based killing method.
• [04:29–07:05] Jim and Fern discuss the Avenger’s scientific tools.
• [07:15–07:53] Telepathic detection of victim’s last moments.
• [11:26–13:12] Jewelers’ disappearances and introduction of the jewel smuggling plot.
• [14:34–15:24] Confrontation with Vickers.
• [18:43–20:36] Visit to Captain Peabody and discussion of tide charts.
• [21:38–23:53] Fern’s kidnapping and the use of the deadly tide trap.
• [24:19–24:54] Showdown with invisible Avenger and Scrawny’s defeat.
• [25:22–27:56] Mystery solved and method explained.
• [28:00] Fern’s post-adventure quip.

Tone & Style Notes

The show is true to its 1940s radio drama roots:

• Crisp, fast-paced, with clipped, suspenseful dialogue.
• Jim Brandon (The Avenger) is authoritative yet thoughtful, scientific, logical, and compassionate.
• Fern Collier is witty, brave, and smart, often prompting exposition and humor.
• Inspector White is the stereotypical skeptical cop—gruff but competent.
• Scrawny/Joplin is menacing, greedy, with chilling lines about his deadly ingenuity.
• Atmospheric sound design, plot twists, and classic “whodunnit” storytelling.

Summary

The Avenger – High Tide Murders offers a taut, classic radio mystery featuring inventive crime-solving driven by science and psychology. The episode cleverly blends supernatural elements (telepathy, invisibility) with hardboiled detective tropes (murders, smuggling, double-crosses), bringing suspense to a satisfying conclusion. Fans of Golden Age radio will relish the tight plotting, dramatic confrontations, and timeless rapport between the Avenger and his loyal assistant Fern.