Relic Radio Thrillers: “House Of Greed” by The Whistler

Podcast: Relic Radio Thrillers
Episode Date: October 31, 2025
Featured Drama: The Whistler – “House of Greed” (Originally aired September 5, 1942)
Summary by: RelicRadio.com

Episode Overview

This episode features the classic 1942 radio thriller "House of Greed" from The Whistler series. It tells the suspenseful and twist-filled tale of John Talbot, a prosperous yet unlucky man whose life is upended by betrayal, loss, and the corrosive effects of greed within his own household. Over the course of many years, secrets emerge and deadly plots unfurl as new and old family members jockey for inheritance, bringing the house to the brink of murder and exposing the true nature of those within.

Key Discussion Points and Story Beats

1. Introduction and Setting the Scene (00:11–04:44)

• The Whistler introduces today's story, invoking the allure of dark secrets:

  "I, the Whistler, know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows..." (01:35, Narrator)

• John Talbot returns home to news his wife, Mary, has left him, seeking a more “considerate” man.
• Tense exchange with his brother Frank, who requests money to invest in a South American cattle business.
• John’s grief and confusion upon reading Mary’s farewell note.

2. John’s Search and Time Skip (04:45–06:18)

• John searches fruitlessly across Europe for Mary; ultimately, he abandons his business and retires to a country estate.
• 14 years later: John remarries Helga, a widow with an adult son, Paul. The new marriage brings hope, but also underlying tension.

  "Rice and honeymoons at our age... I'm 36 and you're 45, and I certainly don't feel old." – Helga (05:19)

3. The Dysfunctional Blended Family (06:19–09:56)

• Paul, Helga's son, is lazy, refuses to work, and has a strained relationship with both Helga and John.
• Helga and Paul plot to secure their future inheritance, revealing both their motivations and mutual manipulation.
• The arrival of a mysterious visitor through the library window: Mary, John’s first wife, returns destitute, sick, and seeking help for her daughter.

4. Revelation of a Secret Daughter (09:57–13:13)

• Mary reveals Joan, her 17-year-old daughter, is actually John’s child.

  "Because she's your daughter, John." – Mary (11:52)

• Mary begs John to care for Joan, promising Joan is his and providing evidence.
• John agrees and decides to introduce Joan into his home, inciting new tensions.

5. Plotting and Poisoned Inheritance (13:14–16:28)

• Paul and Helga fear losing their share of the inheritance now that Joan is acknowledged.

  "If he falls for her, if he likes her, he'll change his will and split the estate." – Paul (13:16)

• Paul proposes schemes to drive Joan away or worse.
• Joan confides in John about her deep sense of unease and mysterious fear in the house.

6. Rising Menace and Familial Danger (16:29–18:38)

• Paul’s disturbing, predatory confrontation with Joan, hinting at past violence:

  "I don't remember what happened to her. But her throat was slender and white, like yours." – Paul (17:52)

• Helga warns Joan to flee, confiding that the house is full of evil and even suggesting John seeks revenge through her.
• Tense atmosphere, dark portents, and growing paranoia dominate the household.

7. The Fatal Night: Murder at 3am (19:24–23:33)

• The narrative shifts: John’s brother Frank returns after many years, seeking help.
• Frank is mistaken by Paul and Helga for John and is murdered in his bedroom at 3am.
• The perpetrators (Paul and Helga) unknowingly kill Frank, believing they are securing the inheritance for themselves.

8. Unraveling and the Final Confrontation (23:34–27:55)

• Three days after the murder, John is missing. Joan, Helga, and Paul grow anxious.
• A mysterious caller demands Joan wait in the library for a midnight visitor.
• The truth emerges as the visitor (John, revealed alive) confronts his would-be murderers with both a confession note and the police.
• Paul and Helga are caught in their crime, forced to admit their guilt under duress.
• The stunning twist: Frank, not John, was murdered.

9. The Whistler’s Epilogue and True Revenge (27:56–29:22)

• The Whistler explains John’s ultimate, cold-blooded revenge: Marrying Helga for peace, but allowing Frank (who years ago ran off with Mary) to become the murder victim intended for John.
• Neither Helga nor Paul inherits, justice is done, and Joan’s place in the family is secured by fate’s dark irony.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Someone who's more considerate of her. Why, I have given Mary everything her heart desired. She must be out of her mind." – John (03:37)

• "Because she's your daughter, John." – Mary, revealing Joan’s true parentage (11:52)

• "If he falls for her, if he likes her, he'll change his will and split the estate." – Paul (13:16)

• "You're very, very beautiful. Your eyes. Your hair. Just like gold. Golden beams in your throat. Your throat is slender. I..." – Paul, menacing Joan (16:58)

• "No one is safe in this house. You must leave at once. What do you mean? What's wrong? The house is wrong. It's filled with evil and hate." – Helga, warning Joan (18:16)

• "On the night of August 5th, we, the undersigned, murdered John Talbot in his bedroom and buried his body on the estate." – The forced confession (26:46)

• "You killed my brother Frank instead. Come on in, Sergeant. You heard it all." – John, revealing the outcome to the police (27:08)

• The Whistler’s parting words:

  "John's revenge was satisfied and he didn't have to turn a hand. That's all." (28:53)

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | Brief Description | |------------|---------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:11 | Series intro & episode background | Host introduces The Whistler and today's drama. | | 01:35 | The Whistler opens the story | Narrator sets mystery tone. | | 03:17 | Mary’s note and John’s heartbreak | Marital strife and sudden loss. | | 05:15 | John marries Helga, a second chance | New family dynamics emerge. | | 06:42 | Paul's rebellion and Helga's ambition | Inheritance becomes a key source of tension. | | 09:07 | Mary returns to seek help | Family secrets and Joan’s existence revealed. | | 13:13 | Paul and Helga plot against Joan | Rising threat to Joan’s inheritance. | | 16:50 | Paul's disturbing encounter with Joan | Sinister intentions surface. | | 18:16 | Helga’s warning | Joan urged to flee the house of evil. | | 19:24 | Frank’s return | The plot sets up mistaken identity. | | 23:09 | Murder at 3am | Paul and Helga kill Frank by mistake. | | 25:02 | Joan receives mysterious midnight summons | The crime is about to be exposed. | | 26:46 | Confession is forced | Paul and Helga caught in their web. | | 27:08 | John reveals all | The true victim and plot twist. | | 28:53 | The Whistler’s epilogue | John’s revenge and closure. |

Audience Takeaways

• Classic structure of suspense and surprise: The story exemplifies the psychological suspense and noir atmosphere that made The Whistler famous.
• Themes: Greed, the corrosive effect of secrets, betrayal, and poetic justice are explored through tangled family dynamics.
• Atmosphere: The episode is charged with dread, mood, and moral ambiguity, delivered with the archetypal flair of old-time radio, including chilling music cues and shadowy narration.
• Twist ending: In true Whistler fashion, no crime goes unpunished—even if justice takes a winding path, and revenge comes with a bitter edge.

For those new to The Whistler or classic radio drama, this episode offers a prime example of the genre’s penchant for irony, complex plotting, and voice-acted melodrama—all staged with minimal but highly evocative sound design.