Podcast Summary:

Harold's Old Time Radio – The Avenger: The Crypt of Thoth
Aired March 16, 2026

Overview

This episode of "The Avenger," titled "The Crypt of Thoth," immerses listeners in a classic Golden Age radio whodunit, filled with intrigue, murder, and a mysterious ancient Egyptian crypt. Jim Brandon, the Avenger, and his assistant, Fern Collier, investigate the suspicious death of Professor Wilk, an Egyptologist who has spent years trying to unlock the crypt’s secrets. The story navigates betrayal, greed, and murder as each character’s motive is laid bare, and the true secret of the crypt is finally uncovered.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Highlights

1. The Premise and Setting

• [02:01] Introduction of Jim Brandon, aka The Avenger, and his secret scientific tools: a telepathic indicator and a diffusion capsule for invisibility.
• Professor Wilk has recently made headlines for acquiring the mysterious "Crypt of Thoth" for his museum and trying to decipher its hieroglyphics.

2. The Secret of the Crypt

• [03:39] Jim surmises from telepathic impressions that the writing on the crypt could be hieroglyphics, connected to violent intentions.
• Connection is made between current events and potentially dangerous knowledge surrounding the crypt (the hidden jewels).

3. The Conspiracy Unfolds

• [04:48] Amara Nakila and Joe Clark, Wilk’s colleagues, suspect Wilk intends to keep the jewels for himself.
• Tension builds as Clark threatens Wilk, leading to a confrontation in the soundproof crypt room.

"You have five minutes to think it over." — Joe Clark, threatening Professor Wilk [08:07]

• [08:42] The plan takes a dark turn as Clark locks Wilk in the crypt, leading to Wilk's death under mysterious circumstances.

4. The Murder Investigation

• [11:16] Inspector White arrives to investigate; Brandon and Fern are present for questioning.
• Joe Clark claims Wilk’s death was accidental (locked in the crypt by mistake), but cracks show under questioning.
• [13:19] Testimony from Sills, the museum guard, appears to cover for Clark and his account of Wilk’s last whereabouts is suspect.
• [14:50] Amara Nakila, Wilk's secretary, is questioned. Her responses plant the seeds of suspicion about her involvement.

"She said the professor tore up his notes before he went to the museum that morning... but the notes were on top of the newspaper." — Jim Brandon (The Avenger), on the key clue [30:46–31:16]

• [17:59] The investigation stalls as critical notes from the professor are reported destroyed.

5. Piecing Together the Clues

• [18:55] Jim and Fern search Wilk’s study for clues, discovering the torn notes atop a newspaper (contradicting Amara’s timeline).
• The notes are pieced together, indicating they may hold the "case history of a murder" [19:27].

6. Further Treachery and Violence

• [20:09] Sills, the guard, blackmails Clark over his knowledge of Wilk’s death. Clark, feeling pressured, murders Sills in the crypt.
• Despite suspicions, the evidence is too circumstantial to charge Clark immediately [21:02].

7. The Final Confrontations

• [22:16] Amara and Clark’s partnership collapses; Amara admits to using Clark to eliminate Wilk and then kills Clark as they argue over sharing the jewels.

"You used me to get rid of the professor. I know that now." — Joe Clark to Amara Nakila [22:50]

• [23:38] Amara guns down Clark, seeking the treasure for herself.

8. The Mystery of the Crypt Revealed

• [25:19] Jim and Fern decipher the secret mechanism of the crypt based on the notes: the statute’s base with embedded jewels is triggered via a particular sequence involving moving stones.

"As soon as you closed the door of the crypt, that stone began to move like a seesaw." — Jim Brandon (The Avenger) [25:56]

• Jim skillfully retrieves the ancient treasure without being harmed, explaining how the crypt was lethally booby-trapped.

9. The Avenger’s Trap and Justice

• [26:49] Jim orchestrates a trap for Amara, letting her believe she has outwitted the gods and can claim the treasure. He confronts her with her crimes as she tries to take the jewels.

"Rise up, Amara. There is blood upon your hands." — Jim Brandon (The Avenger), confronting Amara like the voice of the gods [28:09]

• Amara confesses, believing Jim to be the voice of Thoth, and flees, only to be informed by the inspector that justice awaits her.

Notable Quotes & Key Moments

• "The road to crime ends in a trap that justice sets. Crime does not pay."
  — Jim Brandon (The Avenger), at the episode’s opening [00:25]

• "There are ways to make you speak. This gun is one of them."
  — Joe Clark threatening Professor Wilk [07:25]

• "Justice awaits you, Amara."
  — The Avenger, as Amara flees [29:00]

• "So Amara must have torn up the notes herself after she read the paper. And that could only mean she knew the professor wasn’t coming back."
  — Jim Brandon, deducing Amara’s guilt [31:16]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:01] — Introduction of Jim Brandon's secret identity and tools
• [04:35–08:17] — Key confrontation that leads to Professor Wilk's death
• [11:16–15:00] — Questioning of suspects and seeds of suspicion
• [18:55] — Discovery of the torn notes and crucial clue
• [20:09–21:02] — Sills’s attempted blackmail and subsequent murder
• [22:16–23:38] — Amara and Clark's fatal argument
• [25:19–25:56] — The crypt’s deadly mechanism explained
• [26:49–29:00] — Amara caught red-handed and her confession
• [30:46–31:16] — The revealing clue: the order of the notes and the newspaper
• [31:36–End] — Resolution and aftermath

Tone and Style

The episode maintains a classic radio mystery tone: atmospheric, suspenseful, and theatrical, with sharply drawn characters and clever plot construction. The dialogue is brisk, often melodramatic, and filled with period-appropriate flourishes.

Summary for New Listeners:
This episode is a rich mystery imbued with the allure of ancient Egypt, where greed and double-cross lead to a series of murders around a booby-trapped crypt. The Avenger unravels the layered deception through science, observation, and shrewd deduction, bringing justice to those consumed by avarice. The storytelling style, full of suspense and period intrigue, is a perfect example of Golden Age radio drama.