Podcast Summary: The Avenger - Thoroughbred Murders

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: March 16, 2026

Overview

This episode of The Avenger, part of the Golden Age of Radio, features a gripping murder mystery set against the backdrop of a country estate and a weekend of thoroughbred riding. The main characters—Jim Brandon (aka The Avenger), his assistant Fern Collier, and a cast of theatrical and horse-loving guests—find themselves thrust into a web of jealousy, ambition, and murder after an apparent accident reveals far deeper motives. Classic radio storytelling, witty banter, and a clever unraveling of clues lead to a dramatic finale.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Weekend at Feldon's Estate: Setup and Tensions

• Setting the Scene (03:01 – 05:11)
  The group, including Jim Brandon, Fern Collier, Rosalind Burke, William Burke, Eddie Woods, Harold Lansbury, and host George Feldon, gathers for a weekend of riding and a planned stagecoach race featuring women drivers—a novelty for its time.

  • Rosalind’s skills impress the crowd:

    "She drives them like that tomorrow, she's a sure winner." — Eddie Woods (05:09)

  • Rosalind’s background as a retired actress and her husband's distaste for the theater are quickly established.

• Personal Dynamics (06:30 – 08:10)

  • Rosalind demonstrates her skill at handwriting analysis, further showing her intelligence and charisma.
  • Romantic and professional tensions emerge. Rosalind contemplates returning to the stage, but her husband, Burke, opposes it:

    "A great actress never retires, Fern. And Rosalind is a great actress." — Jim Brandon (03:48)

Ambitions, Plots, and Conflicts

• The Theatrical Investment Request (08:25 – 12:23)
  • Rosalind conspires with friends to persuade her husband to finance Harold Lansbury's new play, using the weekend as her chance.
    • Burke refuses, sparking a heated marital confrontation:

      "You agreed when we were married to give up the theater. I'm holding you to that agreement." — William Burke (10:52) "I'm giving you your grease paint, Rosalind, but that's all I'm giving you." — William Burke (12:23)

The "Accident": Death at the Stables

• Tragedy Strikes (14:16 – 15:46)
  • William Burke is found dead in the stable, apparently trampled by Feldon’s dangerous stallion, Demon.
  • Suspense builds with panicked reactions and a growing sense that all is not as it seems:

    "It's Burke Brandon. The stallion trampled him... I'll call the doctor." — George Feldon (17:35) "Burke's dead, George." — Eddie Woods (17:43)

Investigation and Strategy

• Suspicion and Clues

  • Sheriff calls for everyone to be available for questioning, and Jim Brandon suspects murder rather than accident.

    "The sheriff hasn't listed the death of William Burke as accidental." — Jim Brandon/Avenger (19:29)

  • Brandon searches for clues, finding nothing incriminating in the rooms but changing tactics to force the killer's hand:

    "We'll have to force our murderer into a tight position. Make him do something he hadn't counted on." — Jim Brandon/Avenger (21:00)

• The False Confession (21:50 – 23:00)

  • A reversed desk blotter reveals a forged confession incriminating George Feldon. Jim and Fern discuss inconsistencies, such as repeated writing of Feldon's name and a found piece of red lacquered fingernail, raising their suspicions of Rosalind.

    "She was the logical one to suspect of writing that false confession." — Jim Brandon/Avenger (28:43)

Climax: Unmasking the Murderer

• Attempted Framing and Poison Plot (23:31 – 27:00)
  • Jim realizes George Feldon's life is also in danger from poison planted in his nightly drink.

    "Tonight somebody dropped some poison in your drink, George... Offhand, I'd say it's been dosed with a goodly portion of some sort of Mercuric compound." — Jim Brandon/Avenger (24:16)

  • With the sheriff's help, Jim sets a trap by pretending George is to be arrested for Burke's murder.
  • Rosalind, seeking to frame George and cover her tracks, is confronted by The Avenger's voice:

    "I know you plan to poison George Feldon tonight and make it look like guilty suicide." — The Avenger (25:53) "The sheriff is awaiting you, Rosalind, open the door. It's time for your last curtain call." — The Avenger (26:27)

Resolution: The Motive and Method Revealed

• Final Explanations & Closure (28:31 – 30:33)
  • Jim reveals the murder method: Rosalind faked a horse trampling using a horseshoe nailed to a board—mistakenly with the open end down:

    "A horse always kicks up. But the marks... were down. Rosalind nailed a horseshoe on a board and waited for Burke... The open end of it should have been toward the top... She nailed it with the open end down, and that told me it was murder." — Jim Brandon/Avenger (29:45)

  • Motive: Rosalind killed her husband after he refused to back her play; she tried to pin the murder on Feldon when her plot unraveled.

Epilogue

• Light Moment and Return to Routine
  • Fern and Jim share a final moment riding together, with Fern refusing to drive the coach—a nod to the story’s beginning.

    "Here, Fern, take the reins." — Eddie Woods (30:30)
    "Oh, no." — Fern Collier (30:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Crime does not pay.” — Eddie Woods (00:41)
• “There are a few points on that murder you've got to clear up for me.” — Fern Collier (28:31)
• “She was a strong woman... she hit him quickly and repeatedly. But her mistake was in the position of the horseshoe.” — Jim Brandon/Avenger (29:45)
• “It's time for your last curtain call.” — The Avenger, to Rosalind (26:27)

Important Timestamps

• [03:01] – Weekend at the estate, introductions, and exposition
• [05:09] – Rosalind’s racing skills demonstrated
• [08:25] – Theatrical ambition and plot to request investment
• [12:23] – Marital confrontation and refusal
• [15:46] – The deadly "accident" in the stables
• [19:29] – Announcement the death was not accidental, all are suspects
• [22:07] – Discovery of the reversed desk blotter
• [24:16] – Discovery of the poisoned drink
• [25:53 – 26:34] – The Avenger’s final confrontation with Rosalind
• [29:45] – Explanation of the murder method
• [30:30-30:48] – Closing banter and return to normalcy

Final Thoughts

A classic radio drama combining clever plotting and colorful characters. Thoroughbred Murders draws on theatrical rivalries, romantic jealousy, and just the right touch of forensic deduction to deliver an engaging mystery. The interplay between Fern, Jim, and the rest brings warmth and wit, exemplifying the era’s radio storytelling.

For newcomers: This summary captures the major plot points and the stylish deduction that makes “The Avenger” a staple of old-time radio mystery. If you love whodunits with flair, this episode is a must-listen!