
Today's Mystery: Danny investigates the murder of a Texan in a borrowed hotel room. Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 3, 1950 Originated from Hollywood Starring: Larry Thor as Lieutenant Danny Clover; Charles Calvert as Sergeant Gino Tartaglia;...
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Danny Clover
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Adam Graham
Welcome to the great detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to get into this week's episode of Broadway's My Beat. But first, I do want to encourage you if you're enjoying the podcast, to follow us using your favorite part software. And I also want to let you know about FultonFishMarket.com when it comes to seafood, freshness makes all the difference. And there's something special about getting seafood straight from the experts@fultonfishmarket.com for over 200 years, Fulton Fish Market has been the most trusted name in seafood, top chefs, restaurants and now home kitchens across the country. Their expert fishmongers carefully select every order, ensuring you get seafood at peak freshness, whether it's wild caught salmon, succulent scallops or perfectly tender shrimp. And because you're a listener to this podcast, you can enjoy 17% off your entire order by using the code BOX13 at checkout. That's the best discount they offer and I do earn a commission when they use my code, so it's a win win for great seafood and supporting the show. Ready to bring restaurant quality seafood to your table? Visit fultonfishmarket.com use promo code box13 and taste the difference for yourself. Now, from July 3, 1950, here is the Frank Conway murder case.
Danny Clover
Broadway's My Beat From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world, Broadway's My Beat, the thrilling drama of murder and mystery and the people who walk the Great White Way, starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. In the morning, a kind of silence touches Broadway. The color has been squeezed from it, drained, spent by the wanton night. The neon is still in a spectacular sleep. The scavengers walk soft, grub furtively in the refuse of the night. And if you listen close, you can hear the wind. And it's the same wind that purrs through ruins. At headquarters. You welcome Broadway's silence, but you know it'll splinter in your face. And it does. Its shape is a slip of paper tossed carelessly on your desk. On it are written the words Homicide Olympian Hotel, room 312. And Broadway is awake now. It's starting a new day at the Olympian Hotel. You walk down a corridor that's been painted in a color that won't offend anybod. Then a door opens to you, and a voice designed not to frighten you welcomes you into a room lately furnished with death.
Matthew Porter
Come in.
Henry Sherwood
Come in, please. You're from headquarters, I presume.
Danny Clover
And you?
Henry Sherwood
Matthew Porter, Yale, 47. Head of the Crime Detection Bureau for the management. This is my first murder.
Danny Clover
Shot. 45, I'd say. Who was he? A guest? Not likely.
Henry Sherwood
Oh, I took the liberty of going through his pockets for identification. Of course, I find he is a Frank Conroy, obviously one of those people from Texas. The high heeled boots. That 10 gallon monstrosity over there on the bed they wear those things. Died with his boots on, eh? Classic.
Danny Clover
And this courtesy of the management.
Henry Sherwood
The roulette wheel. Of course not. Gambling in the rooms is positively forbidden at the Olympian.
Danny Clover
But this is a roulette wheel. I'd swear it, Mr. Potter.
Henry Sherwood
Maybe the Texan brought it with him. You know Texas millionaires. Oil steers, women, roulette. The black and the red.
Danny Clover
You say he wasn't a guest?
Henry Sherwood
Never saw him before. How he got in without my notice, I don't know.
Danny Clover
Whose room is this?
Henry Sherwood
Oh, Mr. Henry Sherwood. Stocks and bonds. Inoffensive chap. A moment, please. Yes? Oh, thank you. Strange. A telegram. Addressed to an Eddie Donald, care of this room.
Danny Clover
Open it.
Henry Sherwood
But.
Danny Clover
Open it. Read it aloud.
Henry Sherwood
Dear Eddie. Stop. Arrive flight 12 from Cleveland. Stop. 11:15 this morning. Stop. Hope you had good rest. Stop. Ha ha. Stop. Signed, Henry Sherwood.
Danny Clover
What time is it now?
Henry Sherwood
103 on the nose.
Danny Clover
That gives me an hour. You'll be courteous to the public servants when they come for the dead Texan, won't you, Yale? It took just about that hour to get to LaGuardia. Four engine plane from Cleveland made a storybook landing, and the people who walked through its door made storybook exits. Pause at the door, smile, wave, and walk down the ramp. The stewardess stood there checking off each performance. I asked her who was Henry Sherwood, and she pointed out a little man with a briefcase who was just going off the field. Sherwood. Henry Sherwood. Hey, is your name Sherwood?
Matthew Porter
Who are you?
Danny Clover
Police. Are you Henry Sherwood? Police?
Matthew Porter
Say, what is this?
Danny Clover
You're registered at the Olympian Hotel, room 312.
Matthew Porter
Yes, I am.
Danny Clover
Who's Eddie Donald?
Matthew Porter
Eddie Donald? What's he got to do with the police?
Danny Clover
We're looking for him. What's he got to do with you?
Matthew Porter
Why. Why? I lent him my suite while I was in Cleveland. I called him and told him he could live like a king in my suite for the week I was away.
Henry Sherwood
He acquiesced.
Danny Clover
All right. Where does Eddie Donald usually live?
Matthew Porter
In a hotel.
Henry Sherwood
Ha, ha.
Matthew Porter
On West 59th. Let me think up just where you.
Danny Clover
Do that, Mr. Sherwood on the way down to headquarters. It didn't take Mr. Sherwood all the way down to headquarters to think of it. He thought of Eddie Donald's address Just as I was lifting him into the squad car, he wriggled and said I could let him go now. I said they'd point a finger at me if I did. At headquarters, Mr. Sherwood said he'd take up police brutality with the stock exchange, the governor, the sheriff. When he got to Drew Pearson, I walked out. Eddie Donald's hotel was run by a sweet and charming lady. Everybody told her she was then, so she told me.
Mrs. Toby
Just call me mom, Mr. Clover. Everybody calls me that. It's because I treat my boys like as if they was my own.
Danny Clover
Mrs. Toby.
Mrs. Toby
What's the matter? You got monkeys in your ears? I told you to call me Mom.
Danny Clover
Okay. Okay, Mom. Eddie Donald, is he home? Eddie.
Mrs. Toby
Now, what do you want with dear, sweet Eddie?
Danny Clover
All I want is he home.
Mrs. Toby
Eddie brings me candy on Mother's Day. He brings me flowers. Go on, Mr. Clover. Talk to mom about Eddie.
Danny Clover
We want him for murder.
Mrs. Toby
Murder? Why, that dirty, low down no good. The flowers he brought me, they stunk. The candy he picked up off a subway seat. He's a week behind in his rent and he has the gall to commit murder.
Danny Clover
Take it easy, Ma. Where is he?
Mrs. Toby
Wherever he is, I hope it's crawling. The shame he brought to my hotel.
Danny Clover
He's not here. No.
Mrs. Toby
He didn't come home all week. Every night I waited for him to bring me a bop. He didn't come home to Mom.
Danny Clover
You mind if I take a look?
Mrs. Toby
He looked Eddie Green in the face. To Mom. This is his room as of now. It's got a sign on it. Room to let half price show that Eddie this picture. September's the only picture of a month in the altogether I ever seen. Now comes November, she don't even look cold.
Danny Clover
It's framed. The calendar part's been cut off. To Eddie, it says forever and ever. No signature. You ever seen the girl before?
Mrs. Toby
Only in shop windows and on counters and magazines all over the country. You like her?
Danny Clover
The artist? Magna A. Magna girl. Mind if I take the picture with me?
Mrs. Toby
You lonely boy?
Sergeant Tataglia
Take it.
Mrs. Toby
Mom says you can take it.
Danny Clover
Thanks, Mom.
Henry Sherwood
Ah.
Danny Clover
I beg your pardon.
Henry Sherwood
Ah.
Danny Clover
Whose name is Magna? Around Here.
Mark Oslo
But I am my studio, my artistry. My cocktail party for my one man show. But I am a joke. A joke?
Danny Clover
No, I was just asking.
Mark Oslo
You have taken the tour. Come, I will show you. Magna, here on this pedestal is the trunk of a small tree on which Magna first carved.
Danny Clover
I think you misspelled the word there.
Mark Oslo
Ah, you saw it.
Danny Clover
You saw it.
Mark Oslo
A Magda extracted the essence of the word and set it down for the world to applaud.
Danny Clover
Oh, you.
Mark Oslo
You primitive.
Danny Clover
You saw it. Stop jumping up and down, Mr. Magna. I want to ask you a couple of questions.
Mark Oslo
You don't understand my art.
Danny Clover
I understand your calendars.
Mark Oslo
You are not a primitive after all.
Danny Clover
Take a look at this one. I brought it along.
Mark Oslo
Magna does not autograph reproduction.
Danny Clover
Who is this girl who modeled for.
Mark Oslo
This painting as it is printed on top? November modeled for it.
Danny Clover
Yeah, but what's her name?
Mark Oslo
November.
Danny Clover
I forgot to tell you. I'm from the police, Mr. Magna.
Mark Oslo
November 1st for the painting. A touch of gold, a sniff of sorrow, Dead dying days, all embodied in a woman. I found one. You're a cop? I found November one day at a model agency.
Danny Clover
Who is she?
Mark Oslo
Nelson. Liz Nelson. A pedestrian name for November? Yes.
Matthew Porter
No.
Danny Clover
Where do I find her?
Mark Oslo
L. Nelson. Her address.
Danny Clover
Her address.
Mark Oslo
I will write it down for you.
Danny Clover
Don't extract the essence for me, Mr. Magna. Just the number in the street. What else?
Liz Nelson
Go away. If you're the Fuller Brush man, go away. If you want me to sign a petition, go away. Whatever's eating you, go away.
Danny Clover
I'm from the police, Ms. Nelson.
Liz Nelson
Oh, yeah. Now I can tell. And tell by the way you put your foot in the door. Police. Or a mature college boy working his way through a mature college.
Danny Clover
Let's go inside, Ms. Nelson.
Liz Nelson
All right, let's go inside. The bed. It looks like that because I live in it. When I'm not working, that is. Every minute. That way I stay bewitched. The police want me to pose to improve their public relations. That's why you're here.
Danny Clover
Eddie. Donald. You know him, Ms. Nelson?
Liz Nelson
Uh huh.
Danny Clover
And maybe you can tell me where he is, huh? You can tell me about him.
Liz Nelson
Uh huh.
Danny Clover
Tell me.
Liz Nelson
You first. You tell me why murder? Uh huh. Well, let's see now. I know Eddie for, oh, let's see, four years now. Two years of that he was in Dannemora Prison.
Danny Clover
Why?
Liz Nelson
I never followed his career, so I don't know why. After that he called me lots of times. Left a number where I could reach him. Sometimes I call back. Depended on my schedule. And my mood.
Danny Clover
When was the last time the schedule permitted?
Liz Nelson
About three months ago. I got it penciled in in my little black book.
Danny Clover
Frank Conroy, a man from Texas. He in the book?
Liz Nelson
He's dead, isn't he? I read about it.
Danny Clover
Is he in the book?
Liz Nelson
First I heard of him. He was dead.
Danny Clover
And Eddie Donald. When was the last time you saw him?
Liz Nelson
I told you. Three months ago.
Danny Clover
You inscribed a picture to him. Forever and ever. It said. A calendar picture.
Liz Nelson
The cost of my beauty. Men look at my picture and they want me to belong to them forever and ever. Sometimes it's for always. I put down what they tell me.
Danny Clover
Oh.
Liz Nelson
Let'S not answer it, huh?
Danny Clover
Uhuh. Oh, Eddie. Eddie. I figure you'd be there. This is Jack Perry.
Henry Sherwood
I'll make it easy for you.
Danny Clover
Try room B.
Henry Sherwood
1829 was 47.
Liz Nelson
Who was it?
Danny Clover
Uhuh. Ms. Nelson. There.
Henry Sherwood
You came realer. Who are you?
Danny Clover
Police. Danny Clover.
Henry Sherwood
I did what?
Danny Clover
Can I come in?
Henry Sherwood
No.
Danny Clover
Your name? Jack Perry.
Henry Sherwood
State your business. Right from there.
Danny Clover
All right.
Henry Sherwood
So your muscle got you in my real important thing.
Danny Clover
Look, Perry. I'm trying to find out who killed a man from Texas.
Henry Sherwood
What voice whispered My name is Perry.
Danny Clover
You did?
Henry Sherwood
What else did I do?
Danny Clover
Over the phone when you called.
Henry Sherwood
Liz, spare me the method police. I got it figured already. Your muscle lifted the phone, said it was Eddie Donald.
Danny Clover
You're real anxious to talk to Eddie, aren't you?
Henry Sherwood
Real, real. Why in that way? Mind if I sit down?
Danny Clover
Let's go. Perry. I got a squad car outside.
Henry Sherwood
Oil for me?
Danny Clover
The police are looking for Eddie. Maybe you'll help. Let's go.
Henry Sherwood
Yeah, sure, I'll help. I'll help you from here.
Danny Clover
All right.
Henry Sherwood
Eddie's got a lot of money. That's mine. It's a reason for a man wanting to see a man.
Danny Clover
How much money?
Henry Sherwood
What's the difference? A lot. You know what? Police. Someone's in backup.
Danny Clover
Yeah, I know. Let's go.
Henry Sherwood
Someone is.
Danny Clover
Let's. His laughter mixed well with pain. It came in time tight and swelled and rolled over me. The thing that pounded at my brain was the thing that exploded and showered down like a million nickels. Bright colored red and green and black. Then everything stopped. It came back again later. And I opened my eyes. The color, the pain of the room was the same. The pattern fade. Furniture and dust. And Jack Perry was still there. Only he was different. Wasn't laughing anymore. He couldn't. He'd been shot to death. Though the our months fade and the oysters forsake Broadway, life still Goes on. They're the box scores to consider. The hot dogs with everything. And for exercise, you can now dial Nassau. As if this weren't enough, Broadway offers another diversion. Double killing this time. Backdrop to the roulette wheel and a police officer who got slugged at the scene of the crime. Broadway tucks the protesting wiener back into the role, takes another bite and chews appreciatively. Later, at police headquarters, Sergeant Tataglia summed it all up.
Sergeant Tataglia
This is something you can stick your teeth into. Danny.
Danny Clover
What is?
Sergeant Tataglia
It's this sticky apple, Mrs. Tataglia, packed with my lunch.
Matthew Porter
Mmm.
Sergeant Tataglia
It's tasty and good.
Danny Clover
I'm sure it is, Gino, but I got a headache. I've just come from the infirmary and Dr. Sinski said I'd feel a lot better if I didn't have any emotional disturbances for a while. So let's all pitch in and help Dr. Sinski.
Sergeant Tataglia
Roger, we'll go.
Danny Clover
Thank you.
Sergeant Tataglia
Well, to work we go.
Mark Oslo
To wit.
Sergeant Tataglia
In the matter of Frank Conroy. From Texas. He is indeed from Texas. Police authorities in Texas sent a 500 word telegram to us to that effect.
Danny Clover
500 words indeed.
Sergeant Tataglia
It states that Frank Conroy is an esteemed owner of oil wells and well known in Galveston. The rest of the telegram is about Texas.
Danny Clover
Go on.
Sergeant Tataglia
In the matter of Jack Perry, the man who was killed under your very nose was a man known to all and sundry as a man who delighted in floating games of chance. That's what on him.
Danny Clover
All right. Tell me about the man we're looking for. Eddie Donald.
Sergeant Tataglia
An all points bulletin is out on him at this very moment.
Danny Clover
What else?
Sergeant Tataglia
Eddie Donald was released in Dannemora, Nyanka six months ago after serving a two year stretch for assault and battery.
Danny Clover
Before he went to jail for that.
Sergeant Tataglia
Hearsay has it that this same Eddie Donald was a stirrer for the gambling industry. Precisely speaking for Mark Oslo.
Danny Clover
Yeah. And hearsay has it that Mark Oslo isn't operating anymore.
Sergeant Tataglia
You believe that, Benny?
Danny Clover
No, we've never been able to get anything on him. The Taglia.
Sergeant Tataglia
Yeah.
Danny Clover
Does Oswald still live at the same address?
Sergeant Tataglia
I checked that already, Danny. And yeah, he does. In that tumble down shack on Park Avenue. Hey, Danny. I brought you one, too. I was hiding the sticky apple behind my back.
Danny Clover
The shack of Mark Oslo occupied five floors of a gilt edge apartment house where dogs were walked by student psychiatrists. On the first floor of his hovel, something in silk knee britches and epaulettes held a candelabra to your badge, sighed profoundly, adjusted its wig and ushered you into a private elevator. On the second floor, you caught a glimpse of a library with real books, thousands of them. On the third floor, a girl with ashen hair and leg slits in her Mandarin robe waved joy to you as you floated up. On the fourth floor, a chef sniffing a chafing dish took time to consider you as a potential sauce. Rejected you. Then you were on the fifth floor. The mate of the thing in silk knee britches led you through a lustre of elegant men and women in silent prayer at a roulette table. Then Mark Oslo extended a glittering hand to you. You didn't take it.
Matthew Porter
No, Danny. You don't shake my hand and it sets up a melody of sorrow in my heart.
Danny Clover
Cry a tear, Mark. I'd like to see it.
Matthew Porter
You'd be the first. You want a tear, Danny? I could arrange it.
Danny Clover
You could. Having a party, Mark?
Matthew Porter
You mean my friends at the table. They're playing for matchsticks, Danny. Literally. Matchsticks. Come along, Danny. I'll show you.
Danny Clover
Don't bother.
Matthew Porter
No. Your pleasure, Danny. I should get back to my guest. State your pleasure.
Danny Clover
Eddie Donald.
Matthew Porter
Eddie Donald. Mark Oslo knows such a man.
Danny Clover
Yeah, Mark, Oslo does. Shall I freshen it up for you, Mark?
Matthew Porter
No need, Danny. Thank you. It'll come back. Eddie. Donald. Oh, yes. You want him for murder and you.
Danny Clover
Come to me for help for Eddie Donald. Not for what you said. Mark even said what? Good boy.
Matthew Porter
Came to work on time, conscientious. Stuffed the suggestion box with suggestions. I read a few. Not bad. I sent word down for him to keep trying.
Danny Clover
Where is he, Mark?
Matthew Porter
My chef baked some delicacies for him. I had them sent to Eddie at Dannemara. After that, we lost touch. Not even a thank you note from Eddie?
Danny Clover
It calls. It calls a man named Frank Conroy. What does that do to you, Mark the dead Texan?
Matthew Porter
Nothing at all. Someone pointed it out to me while I was having a rub and it didn't do anything at all.
Danny Clover
Jack Perry. Try him.
Matthew Porter
Some of my friends sent a wreath. I paid for it. Should I have done more? Oh, of course. You were hurt in that one, weren't you, Danny? Name your favorite charity.
Danny Clover
Eddie, Donald, Mark. That's all I want. Send the word around. Get him to me.
Matthew Porter
You're ordering me, Danny?
Danny Clover
Yeah.
Henry Sherwood
Surprise you?
Matthew Porter
No, I find it rather delightful. I'll tell you what, Danny. Mark Goslow will see what he can do, and the footman will show you out. Goodbye, Danny.
Danny Clover
On the way back down on the elevator, I caught a glimpse of the girl in the Mandarin robe again. This time she was eating a hamburger. I was disenchanted about the whole thing. I called headquarters. Nothing on Eddie Donald. Phoned cab garages. Nothing. Spent a few more hours dropping in on back rooms and dropping the name of Eddie Donald. Blank stairs. Then I went home and slept on it. The way it happened was simple. The next morning, I walked out of the door. There was a hand on my sleeve by the time I stepped onto the pavement.
Mark Oslo
Hi, Danny.
Danny Clover
Benny Fain. You're looking good, Benny.
Mark Oslo
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I am. I. I'm. I'm on my way to work. How do you like that?
Danny Clover
I like it. What happened?
Mark Oslo
I kicked it Danny off the stub. Got a job. Look at me. Fifty dollar suit, suede shoes, watched by Long Jean. Beautiful, huh? On credit, Danny, but I'm gonna pay for it. Legitimate job.
Danny Clover
Publishing, huh? Publishing what?
Mark Oslo
Well. Well, anyhow, Danny, the reason I've been waiting for you on my way to work is because I never let my old friends down. So you never let them down. Still working for you. Now, don't call it stooling, Danny. I can't stand that word.
Danny Clover
Nobody called it anything, Benny.
Sergeant Tataglia
Okay, okay.
Mark Oslo
Now, look, try the Bronx, Danny, if you want to find Eddie Dolan, you know where those guys build them shacks by the river? Those guys? Those guys out of work? Or try the one with a Bull Durham sign for a front door.
Henry Sherwood
Come on in, pal. Oh, it's not a pal?
Danny Clover
No.
Henry Sherwood
Eddie, I'd appreciate it if you tell me your name. It slips the memory.
Danny Clover
Danny Clover. Police.
Henry Sherwood
That's right. Danny Clover. You are the Slough who wants me for the murder of. Let me think now. Frank Conroy from Texas and Jack Perry from Stinkville, right?
Danny Clover
Huh? Let's go, Eddie.
Henry Sherwood
Gladly.
Danny Clover
Huh?
Henry Sherwood
I said I will go with you. Gladly. However, if you should care to listen to my side for a minute, I think this courtesy will not go unrewarded.
Danny Clover
You haven't got much time, Eddie.
Henry Sherwood
Not even enough to give you the for real murder of those two.
Danny Clover
The real murderer, Eddie.
Henry Sherwood
For real. Interesting. Maybe a story goes with it, Mr. Clover. That Texan, he shouldn't have died. It wasn't planned that way.
Danny Clover
No?
Henry Sherwood
No, mister. Mind if I call you Danny?
Danny Clover
Go ahead.
Henry Sherwood
It was like this, Danny. I took a rap in Dannemora.
Danny Clover
I know.
Henry Sherwood
Yeah. Then Perry puts salt in the wound. While I am in the crib, he purloins my girl.
Danny Clover
Go on.
Henry Sherwood
Well, look at me, Danny. How little I am. Can't knock over Mosquito, but one night in a bar, I meet a Texan. He wants to Fight. I figure who better he should beat up than Jack Perry from Stinkville. This can be so easy.
Danny Clover
Arranged by that roulette game in the Olympian.
Henry Sherwood
Exactly. Exactly. This is a game rigged by Perry. The same night he tells me, go get a sucker for old times sake. No hard feelings. I got a hotel room, courtesy of a friend. So get a sucker. The sucker I bring him is the Texan.
Danny Clover
And?
Henry Sherwood
And I play Perry for the sucker. While the Texan loses, I bet against him and keep winning. Then when I got it all, I tell the Texan he's been taken by a rigged wheel. I figure this will make him mad at Perry.
Danny Clover
It didn't.
Henry Sherwood
No. The Texan turns yellow just because Perry pulls a gun on him. I quick turn out the lights, there's a shot and I flee with the DOE. 50 grand. So? For the murder of the Texan, you should have talked to Perry.
Danny Clover
I was talking to Perry and somebody killed him.
Henry Sherwood
You. That's what I've been trying to tell you. Not me. Look, all you gotta do is let me go for a little bit and I'll lead you to the for real murderer.
Danny Clover
Sorry. Let's go.
Henry Sherwood
You got it. Danny, you gotta. I'll get the murderer for you.
Danny Clover
Let me go. I'll make you let me go. The little man took a swing at me, flicked my chin and I pretended he'd knocked me cold. How I kept from laughing out loud at his surprised, bewildered, then proud face, I'll never know. But I did. I let Eddie go because I believed him. To follow him, to get a for real murderer, or maybe to make an idiot out of Danny Clover, it was the chance I took. I watched him while he made a phone call. I watched him while he had some coffee. Then I watched him while he hailed a cab. And I hailed one, too. He stopped at an address I'd been to once before. I let him go in and I waited five minutes. Then I went to the apartment where I knew he'd be.
Liz Nelson
I'm telling you to get out of here, Eddie. You don't get the money, you don't get anything.
Henry Sherwood
You know, I figured different, Liz.
Danny Clover
How do you figure it? Eddie, the policeman.
Liz Nelson
Look, Eddie, they caught up with you.
Henry Sherwood
Oh, Danny, you recovered. There's your murderer. Danny, I told you, give me a chance.
Danny Clover
Ms. Nelson here murdered Perry. Is that how you figured?
Liz Nelson
Take him out of here.
Danny Clover
I'm repeating myself, Eddie. Let's go.
Henry Sherwood
No, no, listen to me. You gotta listen. She wants me to get electrocuted. That's why she did the whole thing. And you know something? I love her.
Liz Nelson
My kicks for just now. Take him away.
Henry Sherwood
Don't laugh at me, Liz. You could have had the money. Don't you understand? You could have had it.
Liz Nelson
Now you two play patty cake down on the pavement. I'm busy.
Danny Clover
What about now, Eddie?
Henry Sherwood
Don't you see, Danny? Don't you see what she's done? She kills Perry so I can sit in the electric chair for it.
Danny Clover
Why would she want to do a thing like that?
Henry Sherwood
Because she's greedy. She wanted all the dough for herself.
Liz Nelson
Shut up, Eddie. Make him shut up.
Henry Sherwood
I gave her the money I won, and she said she loved me all over again. And I believed her. But when she heard the cops were looking for me for that rhubarb in the Olympian Hotel, she got cagey as all get out. Kills Perry and books me solid with the executioner.
Danny Clover
You're an accomplished girl, Ms. Nelson. You model. You pistol whip me in Perry's room, you kill Perry. Accomplished.
Henry Sherwood
Uh?
Liz Nelson
Try again.
Henry Sherwood
Don't be like that, Liz. Show him the money. All that money. Give it to him, Eddie. You fool. Go ahead, Liz. The man's waiting. Give it to him.
Danny Clover
Shut up.
Henry Sherwood
Shut up now, Liz.
Liz Nelson
I told you to shut up. I told you want you to.
Danny Clover
Oh. Oh. Drop that gun. Drop. It's a lot better.
Liz Nelson
All that money. That money.
Danny Clover
He ruined it, Eddie. Bad, Eddie.
Henry Sherwood
I. I got a bad shoulder now, Danny.
Danny Clover
You're a fool, Eddie. She could have killed you.
Henry Sherwood
Yeah, I know. I didn't know whether she did it or not, what I said. But I had to find out. I loved her. I really did.
Danny Clover
Broadway. It's an eight beat revival meeting and the lost souls wail to a hot trumpet and sax. It's a hunger complete with syncopation and spinning neon. Grab your dream and dance a while, then try to look it in the face. You can't. It's a mask of terror. It's Broadway. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway, My Beat. We invite you to join us next week at the same time when Detective Danny Clover returns again with Broadway's My Beat. Broadway's My Beat is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis, with music composed and conducted by Alexander Courage. The program is written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover, with Charles Calvert as Tartaglia. Included in tonight's cast were Peggy Weber, Frances Robinson, Eddie Quillen, Herb Butterfield, Jay Novello and Anthony Barrett. Bob Stevenson speaking. This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting. Make crispy strips. Listos paraventurace in la mescla de Mayo ketchup, La barbecue Que quetton, el fondo de la cajita, hot fudge sundae and La Nueva Creamy Chili McCrispy Strip Dip Los Nuevos McCrispy strips out in McDonald's.
Adam Graham
Welcome back. The humor on Broadway's My Beat doesn't always hit, but I have to admit, they really got me with that telegram from the Texas police because it came out of nowhere. A 500 word telegram in 1950 would have cost the sender $61.65 to send, and that's not adjusted for inflation. So that hit me. Why would you send a telegram that long? And then the punchline was that it was 95% of them talking about how great Texas was. And that is one of those tropes about Tex being the most proud people of their state. It's not always true, but the way they did it was hilarious. So well done. Now, the gentleman who was taken away at the airport threatened to call Drew Pearson, and that's when Danny walked out. Now, you may not understand why, because most of us don't know who he is, but at the time, he was a very prominent journalist whose career began right after World War I and continued until his death 50 years later. He exposed corruption, upset powerful people, and even criticized FDR's prosecution of World War II. He would end up going after McCarthy. He was a very controversial character, whatever you think of him. It suffices to say that Mr. Pearson had more pressing matters to deal with than someone annoyed at being taken downtown for questioning about a murder that happened in his apartment. So when this guy brought up Drew Pearson, Danny walking away was like him saying, oh, please, come on. Listener comments and feedback. Now we turn to YouTube art rights. I just noticed there's a very famous person listed in the final credits. He was not an actor or director, but he created one of the most famous themes in television history. His name, Alexander Courage. And aside from writing and conducting the music for Broadway's My Beat, he went on to score a little television show called Star Trek. Well, thanks so much, Art. I have mentioned this in the past, but does not hurt to mention it again. And then we also have a simple thank you from Laurie. And then regarding the Morris Bernstein murder case, Betsy Rot's excellent episode. Also enjoyed the commentary. Well, thank you so much. Well, now it is time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Jim and Rachel patreon supporters since March 2016. Currently supporting the podcast at the shamus level of $4 or more per month. Thank you to both for your support. We will be back next Wednesday with another episode of Broadway's My Beat. But join us back here tomorrow as we begin to play an adaptation of the Moonstone, where wherever you'll find a.
Danny Clover
Committee of good ladies in council. There you'll find Mr. Godfrey keeping the temper of the committee and leading the dear creatures along the thorny ways of business.
Mrs. Toby
Well, that sounds like Gabriel again. Anyhow, you must admit, Godfrey is a very handsome man.
Danny Clover
Oh, no.
Liz Nelson
Better than 6ft tall, a beautiful complexion.
Mrs. Toby
And a head of love flaxen hair.
Danny Clover
Which falls languidly around his neck.
Liz Nelson
Oh, Franklin, I think you'll just be.
Danny Clover
Yes, Rosanna, what is it?
Mrs. Toby
Well, now, girl, don't just stand there.
Liz Nelson
Staring with your mouth open.
Mrs. Toby
Speak up.
Adam Graham
Oh.
Mrs. Toby
Oh, your pardon, Ms. Rachel, but your mother, I mean, I mean, Lady Verinder.
Danny Clover
Would like to see you. Thank you, Rosanna.
Mrs. Toby
Will you tell her I'll be up directly? Rosanna, did you hear me?
Danny Clover
Oh.
Liz Nelson
Why are you staring like that?
Mrs. Toby
Oh, yes, Ms. Rachel.
Danny Clover
I'm going.
Adam Graham
I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box13eightdetectives.net follow us on Twitter radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.
Podcast Summary: Broadway's My Beat: The Frank Conway Murder Case (EP4721)
Released: June 4, 2025
Hosted by Adam Graham, The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
In this gripping episode of Broadway's My Beat, listeners are transported to the heart of 1950s Broadway, where Detective Danny Clover, portrayed by Larry Thor, unravels a complex murder case involving Frank Conway, a Texas oilman, and the enigmatic Eddie Donald. Hosted by Adam Graham, the episode masterfully blends suspense, sharp dialogue, and period-authentic soundscapes to recreate the golden age of radio detective dramas.
The episode opens with Detective Danny Clover receiving a mysterious telegram (00:43) summoning him to investigate a murder at the Olympian Hotel (02:31). Upon arrival, he discovers the victim, Frank Conway, a wealthy Texan, dead in room 312 under suspicious circumstances involving a roulette wheel—a nod to the prohibition of gambling in the hotel (04:45).
As Danny delves deeper, he learns from Henry Sherwood (Matthew Porter), the head of the Crime Detection Bureau, that Frank Conway was not a guest but somehow infiltrated the hotel without raising alarms. The investigation takes a turn when Danny tracks down Eddie Donald, a man recently released from Dannemora Prison for assault and battery (17:38), who is believed to be connected to the murder.
Danny's pursuit leads him to Mark Oslo (Matthew Porter), a figure intertwined with both Eddie and the deceased Conway. Oslo’s refusal to cooperate and eventual confrontation reveals a tangled web of deceit, manipulation, and hidden motives. The climax unfolds with a dramatic face-off between Danny, Eddie, and Liz Nelson, culminating in a revelation about the true murderer and the intricate relationships that led to Conway's demise.
Detective Danny Clover (Larry Thor): The astute and determined protagonist whose relentless pursuit of truth drives the narrative forward. Danny's interactions are marked by his keen observational skills and unwavering commitment to justice.
Henry Sherwood (Matthew Porter): As the head of the Crime Detection Bureau, Sherwood provides both assistance and obstacles to Danny, revealing layers of bureaucratic frustration and personal stakes in the case.
Mark Oslo (Matthew Porter): A mysterious and charismatic figure associated with the gambling underworld. His interactions with Danny and Eddie add depth to the investigation, showcasing his dual nature.
Liz Nelson (Frances Robinson): A model intertwined with Eddie and the murder case. Her confrontations reveal critical insights into the motivations behind the murder, highlighting themes of love, greed, and betrayal.
Discovery of Frank Conway's Body (04:45):
Eddie Donald's Alibi (12:18):
Mark Oslo's Deception (19:16):
Revelation of the True Murderer (25:33):
Climactic Confrontation (26:05):
Corruption and Greed: The episode delves into the destructive power of greed, as seen in Liz Nelson's motives to secure financial gain by eliminating threats to her interests.
Betrayal and Deception: Characters like Mark Oslo exemplify the themes of betrayal, manipulating situations to their advantage while concealing their true intentions.
Justice and Morality: Detective Danny Clover embodies the pursuit of justice, navigating moral ambiguities and institutional challenges to uncover the truth.
The Glamour and Darkness of Broadway: The setting serves as a backdrop that contrasts the glitz of Broadway with the dark undercurrents of crime and deceit, reflecting the duality of human nature.
"Broadway's My Beat: The Frank Conway Murder Case" masterfully captures the essence of old-time radio detective dramas, weaving a tale rich with intrigue, complex characters, and unexpected twists. Adam Graham's insightful commentary post-episode highlights the meticulous attention to detail, from period-specific elements like the costly telegram to the nuanced performances that bring the story to life. This episode stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of mystery and the platforms that preserve these classic narratives for new audiences.
Notable Quote from Host Adam Graham (32:16):
"I just noticed there's a very famous person listed in the final credits. He was not an actor or director, but he created one of the most famous themes in television history. His name, Alexander Courage. And aside from writing and conducting the music for Broadway's My Beat, he went on to score a little television show called Star Trek. Well, thanks so much, Art."
This acknowledgment underscores the episode's connection to broader cultural touchstones, enriching the listener's appreciation of the show's production values.
Stay Tuned:
Join us next week for another thrilling episode of Broadway's My Beat, where Detective Danny Clover tackles new mysteries from the golden age of radio. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit Great Detectives of Old Time Radio to never miss an episode.
Summary prepared by The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio team.