Podcast Summary: "The Avenger - Rendezvous with Murder"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Episode Air Date: March 16, 2026
Classic Radio Drama

Overview

This episode features an exciting adventure from "The Avenger," a radio series emblematic of the Golden Age of Radio. In "Rendezvous with Murder," Jim Brandon—secretly the crime-fighting Avenger—uncovers a years-old murder masquerading as an accident, thwarts a daring bank heist, and rescues innocent victims in a suspenseful race against time.

The story blends vintage noir atmosphere with smart plotting, exploring themes of justice, guilt, and the dangers of underestimating vigilant heroes.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The Criminals’ Secret Past and Their Scheme (02:51–10:12)

• Tapper and Bates, recently out of prison, return to the scene of their old crime, filled with unease and superstition.
  • The pair reminisce about how they killed a contractor, Peter Moultrie, in what the police believed to be an accident, six years earlier.

    "Say, is this the spot where we planted that contractor on the track six years ago?" — Bates [03:52]

• They plot a new crime, using their insider knowledge from when they helped construct the local bank.
  • Tapper reveals his possession of the bank's blueprints and plans to exploit a weakness they built into the wall.
  • Bates worries about being discovered, especially about fingerprints.
• Tapper identifies a potential risk: old photographs taken by contractor Peter Moultrie’s daughter, Janice, which could implicate them if the police investigate and match their faces to existing criminal records.

  "That girl would turn them in and the police would match them up with two guys in the Rogues gallery by the name of Tapper and Bates." — Tapper [09:08]

2. Janice Moultrie’s Suspicion and Social Gathering (10:12–13:16)

• Janice Moultrie voices ongoing doubts about her father's "accidental" death to Jim Brandon and Fern Collier, while they prepare for a local charity rally.

  "Janice still isn't convinced that it was an accident, Jim." — Fern Collier [11:09]

• Jim offers to review the old case as reassurance.
  • Lighthearted banter about the group’s friendship softens the episode’s tension.

3. Tapper and Bates Threaten Janice (13:16–16:28)

• Tapper and Bates break into Janice's home demanding the incriminating photo album.
• The tension escalates as they threaten Janice and Fern at gunpoint:

  "Maybe this gun will make you change your mind." — Tapper [13:26]

• After retrieving the album, the criminals plan to eliminate Janice and Fern to protect their secret.

  "I've learned that the only good witness is a dead witness." — Tapper [14:39]

4. Kidnapping and Imprisonment in the Freight Yard (17:45–19:53)

• Tapper and Bates lock Janice and Fern inside a refrigerator car at the freight yards, dooming them to freeze or disappear as the train pulls out.
  • Janice and Fern desperately pound on the walls, calling for help, as Janice’s loyal dog Bosco searches for aid.

  "We might as well face Janice. Don't give up. Please." — Fern [19:04] "Bosco, get help. Bosco, we're moving." — Janice [19:13]

5. The Heist and The Avenger's Intervention (19:53–23:00)

• The criminals’ break-in at the bank progresses as planned—until Jim Brandon, investigating the scene, uncovers their actions.
  • Brandon is transformed into The Avenger using his inventions: the telepathic indicator and black light diffusion capsule for invisibility.
• He confronts Tapper and Bates unseen, using their fear and confusion against them in a classic radio drama showdown:

  "It's the Avenger, Tapper. I'm here to settle an old score for Peter Moultrie." — Jim Brandon (The Avenger) [22:20]

  • The Avenger triggers the alarm and chases after them as they flee in their getaway car.

6. High-Speed Chase & Poetic Justice (23:21–24:39)

• Tapper and Bates are pursued by The Avenger in a tense car chase in pitch darkness.
  • Under Avenger’s tactical sabotage, their car runs out of gas and stalls on a train crossing as a freight train approaches—echoing their original crime.

  "Hey, we're still on the track!" — Bates [24:19]

• Their fate is sealed as the inevitable collision fulfills poetic justice for their past misdeeds.

7. Rescue and Resolution (24:39–29:40)

• The Avenger (Jim Brandon) calls for aid and, with Bosco’s help, finds Janice and Fern locked in the freezing car and rescues them just in time.

  "Somebody's inside that car. Brakeman, I heard a pounding on the door." — Jim Brandon (The Avenger) [25:15]

• In a closing conversation, the group wraps up lingering questions:
  • Bill, the local attorney, explains how he was ambushed by the criminals.
  • Jim reveals how he sabotaged the criminals’ escape and brought them to justice.

  "They were boasting about how they'd planned the robbery six years ago. Evidently, Janice's father discovered what they were doing, so they killed him and made it look like an accident." — Jim Brandon (The Avenger) [28:44]

  • Janice and Bill’s budding romance is hinted at, wrapping the story with hope and warmth.

  "One doesn't have to be a detective to figure out that we'll be coming to Glenhurst for a wedding very soon." — Fern [29:36]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Echoes of Guilt:

  "Well, I'm getting out of here." — Bates [06:05]
  Bates’s nerves foreshadow the doom awaiting criminals haunted by their crimes.

• Villainous Coldness:

  "I've learned that the only good witness is a dead witness." — Tapper [14:39]

• The Avenger’s Dramatic Entrance:

  "It's the Avenger, Tapper. I'm here to settle an old score for Peter Moultrie." — Jim Brandon (The Avenger) [22:20]

• Poetic Justice:

  "It really seems as though those two men had a rendezvous with justice at that crossing, doesn't it?" — Janice [29:08]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment Description | Timestamp | | ------------------------------------------- | --------- | | Tapper & Bates plan, revisiting past crime | 02:51–10:12 | | Janice expresses suspicion to Jim & Fern | 10:12–13:16 | | Tapper/Bates threaten Janice & Fern | 13:16–16:28 | | Janice & Fern locked in refrigerated car | 17:45–19:53 | | Break-in, Avenger’s confrontation | 19:53–23:00 | | Car chase and train crossing | 23:21–24:39 | | Bosco helps save Janice & Fern | 24:39–25:47 | | Denouement and summary discussion | 27:34–29:40 |

Tone & Style

The episode is rich in suspense, darkly atmospheric, and full of hallmark Golden Age radio drama language—quick-witted, snappy dialogue, villainous sneering, and the Avenger’s calm heroism. There’s a thread of warmth through the supporting friendships and the hopeful romantic conclusion.

For New Listeners

Whether you're a Golden Age radio aficionado or a new listener, this episode delivers a compact whodunit enriched with clever twists, theatrical performances, and nostalgic storytelling. The Avenger emerges as a compelling, science-powered sleuth, ensuring listeners get a satisfying blend of chills, action, and justice.