Broadway's My Beat: The Jane Arnold Murder Case (EP4673)

Summary

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio: Episode Summary

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Podcast Information:

• Title: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
• Host: Adam Graham
• Episode: Broadway's My Beat: The Jane Arnold Murder Case (EP4673)
• Release Date: April 9, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio, host Adam Graham presents "Broadway's My Beat: The Jane Arnold Murder Case," an enthralling audio drama from the Golden Age of Radio. Set against the vibrant backdrop of mid-20th century Broadway, the episode delves into a complex murder mystery involving entertainers, ventriloquists, and hidden motives.

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Episode Plot Summary

Setting the Scene: The story begins on May 19, 1950, amidst a bustling gala held by the International Order of Fuzzy Bears (IOOFB) at a venue adorned with glitter and suspense. The protagonist, Detective Danny Clover (voiced by Larry Thor), arrives at the scene where he is greeted by Bob Rover (Robert Rover), the head of entertainment for the IOOFB. The gala takes a dark turn when Jane Arnold, a performer in Marvin the Great's act, is found dead under suspicious circumstances.

The Murder Unfolds: As Detective Clover investigates, he learns that Jane Arnold's death appears to be poisoning, evidenced by the "faint color of death at her lips" ([02:38] Larry Thor). Initial clues suggest that the murder occurred during the gala when drinks were being served, leading Clover to suspect that poison was slipped into Jane's drink by someone present at the event.

Introducing Key Characters:

• Marvin the Great: A magician and entertainment manager who claims innocence, stating, "She works with me in my act. I put her in a trance, command her to perform the wishes of our audience. Then, like this, I release her" ([03:07] Robert Rover).
• Celia Stewart: Jane Arnold's close associate and Ernie Stewart's wife, who becomes a prime suspect as the investigation deepens.
• Joe Lilly: A comedian and fellow entertainer whose alibi is intertwined with the murder mystery.
• Ernie Stewart & Waldo: A ventriloquist duo whose personal turmoil adds layers to the plot, especially with Waldo—the dummy—playing a pivotal role in the climax.

Investigation and Clues: Detective Clover meticulously pieces together the events of the night. Key discoveries include:

• Baggage Check Discrepancy: A six-month-old baggage check from the Strand Hotel, stamped on Jane's purse, raises suspicions ([12:34] Larry Thor).
• Unclaimed Baggage Sold at Auction: The contents, including a mannequin with a missing hairpiece, are linked to Mr. Louis Granger, a local resident ([13:15] Robert Rover).
• Marvin the Great's Involvement: Marvin exhibits suspicious behavior and provides cryptic clues about the circumstances of Jane's death.
• The Ventriloquist's Descent: Ernie Stewart's inability to perform without Waldo leads to erratic behavior, ultimately revealing Celia Stewart's involvement in the murders.

Climax and Resolution: The investigation crescendos when Clover uncovers that Celia Stewart poisoned Jane Arnold to prevent her from discovering evidence of Ernie Stewart's crimes. The final confrontation reveals:

• Celia's Motive: Jealousy and the need to protect Ernie from professional and personal ruin.
• Ernie and Waldo's Tragic Downfall: Ernie, unable to cope without his dummy, commits further murders, driven by Celia's manipulations.
• Final Confrontation: Celia's attempt to silence Detective Clover leads to her undoing, ensuring justice is served.

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Key Characters

• Detective Danny Clover (Larry Thor): The sharp and methodical detective leading the investigation.
• Marvin the Great (Robert Rover): A magician whose enigmatic persona hides deeper connections to the murder.
• Celia Stewart (Celia Stewart): Ernie's wife, whose desperation to keep her husband grounded leads to deadly consequences.
• Joe Lilly (Joe Lilly): A comedian whose testimony provides critical insights into the case.
• Ernie Stewart & Waldo (Joe Lilly & Waldo): A ventriloquist duo whose personal struggles are central to the mystery.

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Investigation and Clues

Throughout the episode, Detective Clover navigates through a maze of deceit and hidden motives. Key investigative moments include:

• Poisoning as the Murder Method: The absence of physical marks and the blue tinge on Jane's lips point towards poisoning ([05:11] Larry Thor).

• Baggage Check Revelation: The discovery that Jane's baggage, flagged six months prior, was auctioned off, leading Clover to Mr. Louis Granger ([12:44] Larry Thor).

• Clues from the Dummy: The broken dummy, Waldo, symbolizes Ernie's fractured psyche and ties directly to Celia's manipulations ([13:45] Larry Thor).

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Climax and Resolution

The tension peaks when Ernie Stewart, driven mad by the loss of Waldo and Celia's influence, confronts Detective Clover, leading to a violent showdown. Key moments include:

• Ernie's Breakdown: Ernie's plea, "Somebody ripped me. Ernie. I hurt" ([18:37] Joe Lilly), showcases his fragmented mental state.

• Celia's Betrayal: Celia admits her role in the murders, revealing her deep-seated jealousy and desire to control Ernie ([27:25] Larry Thor).

• Final Confrontation: Celia's desperate attempt to eliminate Detective Clover fails, culminating in her arrest and the restoration of order on Broadway's tumultuous streets.

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Host's Commentary and Listener Feedback

After the dramatic conclusion, host Adam Graham returns to discuss the episode:

• Plot Complexity: Graham critiques Detective Clover's actions, questioning his effectiveness during critical moments. He remarks, "I do question what Danny was doing while this was happening because it was pretty well understood that the ventriloquist's sanity... was hanging by a thread" ([31:13] Adam Graham).

• Voice Acting: He muses about the possible voice actors for Waldo, noting the limitations and creative liberties of radio.

• Listener Engagement: Graham highlights listener comments, sharing diverse perspectives:

  • Daniel from X: Praises the high body count, noting, "I think that for a murder show of this era, one or two murders is kind of typical... when you get to four, that really is quite a lot" ([34:20] Adam Graham).
  • Paris B. from Philadelphia: Appreciates the suspense and drama conveyed solely through audio, stating, "It's fascinating to see how these series shaped entertainment back then" ([34:20] Adam Graham).

• Future Episodes: Graham teases upcoming episodes, including "Mr. And Mrs. North," encouraging listeners to stay tuned.

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Conclusion

"Broadway's My Beat: The Jane Arnold Murder Case" is a masterfully crafted episode that encapsulates the essence of old-time radio detective dramas. Through intricate plotting, nuanced character development, and immersive audio storytelling, the episode delivers a captivating mystery that keeps listeners engaged from start to finish. Adam Graham's insightful commentary further enhances the listening experience, providing context and fostering a deeper appreciation for the genre's rich history.

For fans of classic detective tales and those new to old-time radio, this episode offers a perfect blend of suspense, drama, and nostalgia. Subscribe to The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio to continue exploring riveting mysteries from the Golden Age of Radio.

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Notable Quotes:

• Detective Danny Clover: "I do question what Danny was doing while this was happening..." ([31:13] Adam Graham)
• Robert Rover: "The murderer is among us." ([05:03] Robert Rover)
• Celia Stewart: "Why did you do it? That girl and Lou. Why did you have to kill him?" ([27:05] Celia Stewart)

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Additional Resources:

• Podcast Website: www.greatdetectives.net
• Volume Archives:
  • Volume 1
  • Volume 2
  • Volume 3

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This summary aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the "Broadway's My Beat: The Jane Arnold Murder Case" episode, capturing its essence and key moments for both regular listeners and newcomers.

Transcript

[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 bring you this week's episode of Broadway's My Beat. But first I do want to encourage you if you are enjoying the podcast, to follow us using your favorite podcast software. Today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis using the zelle app to box [e-mail]. you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month at patreon.greatdetactives.net and I want to welcome Robin as our latest Patreon supporter at the shamus level of $4 or more per month. The thanks so much for your support, Robin. Now from May 19, 1950, here is the Jane Arnold murder case.

[Larry Thor]

Broadway's My Beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesome mile in the world. Broadway's My Beat. With Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. Broadway's fury shrieks through the chasms of the city. And finally the edge of fury washes against a doorway in a side street. The door opens and a voice asks a question.

[Robert Rover]

Police.

[Larry Thor]

You answer the voice and it leads you down a littered hallway, pulls aside a frayed curtain half torn from its wooden rings, escorts you to the center of a wooden platform circled with pale anonymous faces and says, there.

[Robert Rover]

There she is.

[Larry Thor]

Under the naked white glare of a single spotlight lies a girl in a glittering sequin covered suit of tights. She's like a piece of sculpture torn from its pedestal, but the faint color of death at her lips tells you it's a L. Then the voice once.

[Robert Rover]

More we would have preferred to welcome you to the IOOFB in another way, in other circumstances, but IOOF be the International order of Fuzzy Bears.

[Larry Thor]

Oh, and you're the head bear.

[Robert Rover]

Oh, no, no, no, no. I'm only the fuzzy bear in charge of entertainment.

[Larry Thor]

Robert Rover.

[Robert Rover]

Most people call me Bob. I sort of make a hobby of entertainment. That's why the fellows the other Fuzzies voted me.

[Larry Thor]

Just tell me what happened, Mr. Rover.

[Robert Rover]

Well, we were in the midst of our gala spring get together. We always get together at the end of the hibernation period.

[Larry Thor]

Tonight, Mr. Over. What happened tonight?

[Robert Rover]

Well, I'm trying to tell you. All of us Fuzzies were having a jolly good time. Very jolly. When. Well, I don't know what happened. I. I really don't know. Except that girl.

[Marvin the Great]

Perhaps I can assist you.

[Robert Rover]

Oh, he's not one of us, Mr. Clover. He's only one of the entertainers here.

[Marvin the Great]

Please, Mr. Rover. I am Marvin the Great. A magician, a clairvoyant, a hypnotist.

[Larry Thor]

And the girl?

[Marvin the Great]

She works with me in my act. I put her in a trance, command her to perform the wishes of our audience. Then, like this, I release her.

[Robert Rover]

See? He did it again, Mr. Clover. He's been doing that for an hour or so and she won't come out of it. Some of the bears who've been studying hypnotism tried it too. But still she won't come out of.

[Marvin the Great]

It because she is not hypnotized. She is dead. Any fool can see that. Did you not see it too? You from the police?

[Larry Thor]

Yeah. Yeah. I'd say poisoned. The color of her lips, the blue tinge. Wait. Her eyes. I'd say poisoned. Wasn't you, Marvin?

[Marvin the Great]

How the girl dies is beyond my realm.

[Larry Thor]

Who is she? Huh?

[Robert Rover]

Oh, I have her name here on my list. Just a moment, please. Here it is. This one is Jane Arnold. Check. And Jane Arnold. The other entertainers were.

[Larry Thor]

Give me that list, Mr. Over. Of course, of course. How long have you been working with a girl, Marvin? Two years, maybe three. You knew her well, then?

[Marvin the Great]

Only as a girl I hired to give femininity to my actual. I only knew her well enough to call her on the telephone and tell her I had a job for her.

[Larry Thor]

Someone wanted her dead. Who would that be?

[Marvin the Great]

Beyond my realm?

[Robert Rover]

One moment, please. I'm thinking.

[Larry Thor]

Huh?

[Robert Rover]

I'm thinking. I. I've got it.

[Larry Thor]

What?

[Robert Rover]

The murderer.

[Larry Thor]

Tell me too, Mr. Oh, you say she was poisoned. Well, maybe.

[Robert Rover]

Absolutely, she was poisoned. Why else would she die without a mark on her? She was murdered by one of us. Either a fuzzy bear or one of the entertainers. The murderer is among us.

[Larry Thor]

Go on, Mr. O.

[Robert Rover]

Well, I knew if I put my mind to it, I could solve it. Before the show, we were all being jolly. Very jolly. Liquids were flowing out of paper cups into our mouths and some into the entertainer's mouths too. Someone. Someone slipped poison into a cup and murdered this Jane Arnold. But who have that? And we've got it solved.

[Larry Thor]

Brilliant, Mr. Rover. For a fuzzy bear, that's brilliant. The glow wore off. The boys from Technical arrived. Photographs and prints and questions and the thousand details that attend violence at 4 o'clock in the morning. An addition was made. Anyone or everyone in the hall could have slipped poison into Jane Arnold's drink. I told the bears to Go home. And so did I. About nine, the routine started again. The questioning of the performance who had left the hall. Stop number one. The pull the bed down from the wall. Apartment of Celia Stewart, dancer.

[Celia Stewart]

Say, you're from the police.

[Larry Thor]

That's right.

[Celia Stewart]

Please come in. Sit down, please.

[Larry Thor]

Thanks.

[Celia Stewart]

Ernie. Ernie, we got a visitor. ERNIE'S My husband, Mr. Clover.

[Larry Thor]

Ernie, you calling me, Sylvia? You calling.

[Celia Stewart]

Pardon me, Mr. Clover. Oh, Ernie, come on. Come on, get up now. Ernie, stop it. Come on. We've got a visitor. There we are. This is my husband, Mr. Clover. Ernie. Mr. Clover.

[Larry Thor]

Hello, Ernie. I fell down. Would you like a drink, Mr. Clover? Do you think it's too early to have a drink? Thanks. Not now. Waldo would never join me either. He was a good boy. Did you know Waldo, Mr. Clover? No. He was a good boy.

[Celia Stewart]

He was a fine boy, Ernie, but he ran away.

[Larry Thor]

He ran away. Celia, why did he go? You. You, Mr. Clove, tell me why he ran away. I don't know, Mrs. Stewart.

[Celia Stewart]

Waldo and Ernie were a team of ventriloquist teams.

[Larry Thor]

The best.

[Celia Stewart]

The best, Ernie.

[Larry Thor]

Waldo was. Oh, Ernie is a ventriloquist. And Waldo. Waldo sat on my lap and talked to me. No one talks to me anymore.

[Celia Stewart]

I do, Ernie.

[Larry Thor]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, you do.

[Celia Stewart]

You don't understand, do you, Mr. Clover? Ernie had a dummy, Waldo. That was the act. Somehow Waldo got lost. You see what it's done to Ernie?

[Larry Thor]

Why doesn't he get another one, then make one?

[Celia Stewart]

Oh, you laugh. He's done that. He can't get another dummy to talk to him.

[Larry Thor]

Oh, about last night, Mrs. Stewart.

[Celia Stewart]

I read about it. I'm sorry about it.

[Larry Thor]

Why did you leave before the entertainment was over?

[Celia Stewart]

If you've seen my act, you know why. Besides, I had Ernie to take care of.

[Larry Thor]

Ernie was there.

[Celia Stewart]

I don't leave Ernie alone.

[Larry Thor]

Mr. Clover, did you know Jane Arnold?

[Celia Stewart]

Of course. Dozens of us, Mr. Clover, in New York entertain, as we call ourselves. We work club dates and conventions, socials. We bump into each other sometimes.

[Larry Thor]

I see.

[Celia Stewart]

I didn't kill her, if that's what you're trying to ask me. Everybody liked her.

[Larry Thor]

I liked her. She liked Waldo. I liked her. Mr. Clover. Uhhuh. Have you seen Waldo?

[Joe Lilly]

No.

[Larry Thor]

No one has seen Waldo. Where is he, Celia? Where is he? His body, his hands, his eyes pleaded in a beggar's whimper. Then he gave up. Ernie crumpled to the floor again. The agony inside him took hold and shook him. His wife watched him for a moment, went over and spoke quietly to him.

[Celia Stewart]

Ernie, get up. Ernie sees. Get up. Ernie.

[Larry Thor]

And I got out. The second on the list of entertainers was Joe Lill, described as a comedian. Sight or talk can be reached through Rialto agency on West 45th. At the agency, a scrub woman told me no one was in. They were never in. I wanted Joe Lily. Try Charlie's Bar and Grill. That's where the clients hung out. Waiting for a call, moaning it up and waiting for a call. At Charlie's Bar and Grill. They pointed out the comedian to me. They knew that because he was the only one in the joint laughing. I want to kill you. Don't kill you where it hurts. What a dame says to him. But sheep. What do we do with the feathers? Kills you. Close your eyes because I got another one. Yeah? Who else? Friend Amber. Go away because I'm entertaining a group of friends. A point killer. The thoroughfares are lousy with point killers. A word, Joe. That's all I'll need. A word to a policeman. Hey, don't go away. Friends, let's catch the man's routine. Could be a lot of rich material in it. That's right. Don't go away. You're my friends. Last night, Joe, you had a. Had a call. Yeah, I had a call at the ioofb. Ask me what the initials stand for. Go on, somebody ask me. A girl was murdered there. Gene Arnold. Yeah, I read about it. The Mirror had an item about it. You didn't get a chance to go on, did you, Joe? No, I didn't. All those fuzzy bears were deprived of a finale of shock entertainment. I see Bears. Why did you leave? Well, I saw something was amiss with a girl, so I left. I figured a murder was a tough act. The top. How did you know it was murder? How did you know it right off like that? I read in the Mirror how you knew right off. You got a good notice, friend. You knew Jane well. We've worked benefits, parties, street corners. I've teased her. That's how much I know her. Not well enough to kill her. You drank with her before the show. Everybody drank with Jane. Everybody drank with everybody. Maybe you forgot. Maybe you were alone with her in her dressing room and you gave her a drink. I didn't forget. I wasn't alone with her in a dressing room. Because there was no dressing room. There never is. We dressed in the men's library. You went right home. I came here, my friends will be pleased to tell you. Because I bought him a drink on a cup. Or were you before the show, here every day, all day? I don't Make a move. There isn't Someone knows it. My home away from home. Don't leave it, Joe. We may give you a call to entertain down at headquarters.

[Joe Lilly]

Hi, Danny.

[Larry Thor]

Hello, Titaglia. What have you got?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Among other things, Danny, a theory. A theory as to the decease of Jane Arnold.

[Larry Thor]

Okay, okay. Let's have it.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Got you on tenderhooks, huh? Now, this theory that I got is not my own, but belongs to the casebook of my favorite magazine, Detective Frisbee Nowotny.

[Larry Thor]

Him again, huh?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Yeah. Frisbee Novotny had a similar case of a girl being found dead under similar circumstances. However, in the last paragraph, he revealed that the girl was not dead at all.

[Larry Thor]

That's interesting. Yeah.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Turns out this girl could hold her breath for days. Her daddy used to be a pearl diver.

[Larry Thor]

And what have you got Jon Jane Arnold, Dr. Sinski?

[Gino Tartaglia]

The coroner says she is indeed dead from a deadly type poison. And all this. The personal effects of Jane Arnold as revealed by the contents of her purse.

[Larry Thor]

What's this, Grinder? Baggage check. Cigarettes, compact.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Danny, did you notice the baggage check was six months old?

[Larry Thor]

Huh? Yeah.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Yeah. Look at it. A baggage check from the Strand Hotel. The date stamped on it says it's six months old.

[Larry Thor]

You did good, Tartaglia. You did fine, Frisbee. Be proud of you. Sorry.

[Robert Rover]

The baggage for this trick, C154, it's not here.

[Larry Thor]

Where is it?

[Robert Rover]

Unclaimed baggage held for longer than six months has opened and its content sold in auction to defray storage charges.

[Larry Thor]

Oh, that's what happened to it.

[Robert Rover]

Yes, it was sold in auction yesterday.

[Larry Thor]

Yesterday? To whom?

[Robert Rover]

I can tell you that I keep find records.

[Larry Thor]

The manager, Mr. Fonda, always tells me that.

[Robert Rover]

Here. Right here. The contents of M154 were sold to Mr. Louis Granger, 1312 14th Street.

[Larry Thor]

All right, all right. You want a room, mister?

[Joe Lilly]

Hey, wait a minute.

[Larry Thor]

Where's your bags? Police. What's the room number of Lou Granger? Granger? That's. Let's see. Yeah. Room four.

[Joe Lilly]

Right down there near the elevator.

[Larry Thor]

Thanks.

[Joe Lilly]

Hey, don't go busting in there.

[Larry Thor]

Cause you can't do it. No? Why not? He's got a sign on his door says don't disturb. Anyhow, I rapped on his door just.

[Joe Lilly]

15 minutes ago so the cleaning lady could get in.

[Larry Thor]

No answer. We'll disturb him. You got your keys? Sure. What's he done? Not a thing. Oh, why you police come around? This Granger's room? Yeah. Why you police Open it. Okay, okay.

[Joe Lilly]

Hey, Granger.

[Larry Thor]

It was bottled. My My, such a thirst. Come on, Granger, wake up. Granger, drink it. Dead to the world, ain't he? Poison. This drink is poison. Yeah, that stuff is poison. Dead. Dead. Wow. Well, did this man have any visitors recently? Well, I don't know. Maybe could have, but I don't know. What about him? What do you know about him? A show business guy had an act with dummies through his voice. Ventriloquist.

[Joe Lilly]

Yeah, yeah, that's a word with one of them.

[Marvin the Great]

Dumb.

[Larry Thor]

Hey. Hey, look. Yeah, I guess Granger did have visitors. Yeah, yeah. Strange, ain't it? Real strange. He said it about right. Strange. The thing that stared at both of us was 2ft high, dressed in red check muslin, a doll, a dummy. And there was pain on its face as if it had something to do with a rip in its side. Its hand was thrust into the tear and the doll stared at us. And there was pain on its face. You are listening to Broadway's My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. How well do you know the history of your army? For example, do you know when the first Engineer Corps was established? Although there was a separate engineering department in the Continental army during the Revolution, it wasn't until 1802 that an act of Congress authorized and established an engineer corps in the United States Army. The first Corps consisted of two assistant engineers, two other assistants, and ten cadets, all under the command of Chief Engineer Major Jonathan Williams. Thus, another page was added to the history of your United States Army. Broadway is beside itself when it feels the warm breath of summer at its cheek. Its fancy is lightly turned to thoughts of sleeping in the park, night ball games. And it stands on street corners considering the girls in their summer dresses. And until there's a favorable breeze, there's always the headlines to look at. Magician's Assistant Murdered, the early edition screamed. And later, Ventriloquist Murdered. Terrifying, sensational, grotesque. Or, as Sergeant Dattaglia broke it to me the next day at headquarters, it's refreshing, Danny. What is?

[Gino Tartaglia]

These mints. Go ahead, go ahead, take one.

[Larry Thor]

All right. Anything else? Do you know?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Well, now that you ask, Danny. Yes, yes, indeed.

[Larry Thor]

You'll tell, huh?

[Gino Tartaglia]

A man is waiting to see you. A man who gives his name as Ernie Stewart.

[Larry Thor]

Uh huh. I thought he might drop in here long.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Yeah. Danny? Yeah? Why?

[Larry Thor]

Nothing. Sure, Ma'am.

[Gino Tartaglia]

This way. You in to see Danny Corville, Mr. Stewart. Sit down, sit down. Right over there.

[Larry Thor]

Thank you. You found him, didn't you, Mr. Clover? You found Waldo. Why do you Say that. Don't play with me. Don't play. People have been for all this time. Take it easy. I saw his picture in the paper. You found Walter with that man in the room. Give him to me. All right. Is this Waldo? Oh, Walter. Waldo, boy. How are you fellas? You missed me.

[Joe Lilly]

Hi, Ernie. I. I hurt, Ernie.

[Larry Thor]

Danny. Some.

[Joe Lilly]

Somebody ripped me. Ernie. I hurt.

[Larry Thor]

You'll be all right. I'll fix you so you'll be all right. Look, look, Mr. Clover. Waldo talks to me. I'm all right again. Everything's all right again. Uh huh. We're going home, Waldo. You going to like that.

[Joe Lilly]

You fix me so I won't hurt. Won't you?

[Gino Tartaglia]

Hey, Danny, this guy's great. Throwing his voice like that and making that dummy talk.

[Joe Lilly]

Hey, Ernie, who's a baldy?

[Larry Thor]

That Sergeant Intaglio, Waldo.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Likewise to you, Ernie.

[Larry Thor]

Ernie, tell me about Jane Arnold. So pretty.

[Joe Lilly]

She's dead.

[Larry Thor]

I knew it was going to happen, the way Marvin treated her.

[Joe Lilly]

That Marvin, a magician all he was good for always being mean to Jane. Isn't that right, Ernie?

[Larry Thor]

You're so right, Waldo. You're always right.

[Joe Lilly]

Oh, you know it, Ernie.

[Celia Stewart]

Why did you let him take me away from you?

[Larry Thor]

Then Waldo suggested to Ernie that they had taken enough of my precious time. Besides, Waldo was tired and drained. After all he'd been through, Waldo wanted to go home. Ernie apologized to the doll, lifted it to his chest and carrying Waldo like a babe, walked out of the office. Sergeant Gino Tortaglia and I sat looking at each other. That didn't get us anywhere. So I put a call through to Detective Mugavin. I told him to find the magician, Marvin the Great, in an hour. Mugavan had found him. Marvin had a week's booking in a tired vaudeville house on upper Broadway. The double feature Western was on, so probably Marvin was in his dressing room. Marvin was.

[Marvin the Great]

Do you mind, please, just to hand me my hairpiece, Mr. Clover.

[Larry Thor]

Huh?

[Marvin the Great]

The hairpiece. The toupee there on the severed mannequin's head.

[Larry Thor]

Oh, yeah. Here you are.

[Marvin the Great]

You're welcome. Ah, tragic days for magic.

[Larry Thor]

Jane Arnold's death, That's tragic too. Her mother.

[Marvin the Great]

So, so tragic. It looks all right, huh? The hairpiece, Mr. Clover. The glue, it does not show. The line where the glue takes the hair to my face, that does not show.

[Larry Thor]

We're talking about Jane Arnold.

[Marvin the Great]

Why do you bother me with his dead girl? Why do you come before performance and bother me?

[Larry Thor]

I plead for you. You didn't like Jane, huh? Marvin, I told you the other time.

[Marvin the Great]

Jane to me is nothing like or to dislike. I paid her for being the girl in my acts, that's all.

[Larry Thor]

I heard you mistreated her. That's a lie.

[Marvin the Great]

An evil lie. Do not mistreat even an animal. I have animals in my acts. Go ask them. Who told you such a lie?

[Larry Thor]

It doesn't matter. I heard it.

[Marvin the Great]

You see? Even you admit it's a lie.

[Larry Thor]

Wait a minute.

[Marvin the Great]

Ernie told you, huh? Ernie Stewart, that miserable alcoholic? That apology for a man who has no dignity or pride without a rag doll in his arms. I think Waldo is the man and Ernie the dummy.

[Larry Thor]

Tell me more about Ernie Marvin.

[Marvin the Great]

Gladly. You do not know about ventriloquists, Mr. Clover. They are a strange group of men. A dummy is their soul, their witness.

[Larry Thor]

They're big.

[Marvin the Great]

Ernie tried to be a man without Waldo.

[Larry Thor]

Explain it to me.

[Marvin the Great]

He tried to make time, as you say, with Jane. Jane would have no part of the shell of a man. Perhaps this infuriated Ernie, huh, Mr. Clover?

[Larry Thor]

Marvin, you're right.

[Marvin the Great]

Yes. Excuse me, please. I am wanted for my performance.

[Larry Thor]

The great Marvin walked through the door with a flourish, carrying his props behind him. The only thing left of him in the dressing room was a surplus rabbit who seemed impressed with what Marvin had pulled out of his hat. Ernie had been friendly with Jane. Jane was uninterested. Lou Granger turned up dead with Ernie's pride and joy. A dummy named Waldo. Ernie was a man with a lot of motives. Back at headquarters, Sergeant at Taglia had a dandy routine that also ended in a flourish. A transcript of a phone conversation to Lieutenant Danny Clover from Joe Lilly. Subject Ernie Stewart remarks. Please meet Joe Lilly at the bar. Not the grill of Charlie's Bar and Grill. Important I went there. Can you stand me? This way, Mr. Clover. What way, Joe? In a blue and pensive mood. A comic beating back the tears. How do you make a joke about a murderer? A nimble boy like you. A nimble boy like me? Suddenly I become a guy with a burden. A friend of mine turns out to be a killer. Ernie Stewart? Yeah, I'm informing him. You had your chance. When I talked to you the last time, what happened to your conscience since then? Nothing. Nothing. I leveled then. Just that the circumstances have changed. Now Lou Granger's dead too. That's the Circumstance. Go on, Mr. Clover. In the bottom of a shot glass lies the answer to all the questions. All the great. Yesterday I went visiting Mr. Clover to the flat of Ernie and Celia Stewart. Social call for laughs at household needs. Laughs in my grade B way. I try. Ernie didn't listen to me. Couldn't. He was out like a light. And. And? And the phone call came. Celia answered it. She talked with Lou Granger. Lou wanted Ernie to come down and pick something up. Celia seemed happy. She said she'd send Ernie as soon as he woke up. You know what happened? Yeah. Yeah, I guess so. Ernie went down to Lou's. Lou had Waldo the dummy. Ernie killed him. Yeah. Ernie would do that for Waldo. Yeah. Ernie Wood.

[Celia Stewart]

What? Oh, it's Mr. Clover, isn't it? You're the one.

[Larry Thor]

Yes, Ms. Stewart. Is Ernie in?

[Celia Stewart]

No, he's out making the rounds for a job.

[Larry Thor]

Oh? Yeah.

[Celia Stewart]

He should be back soon, though. You want to wait for him?

[Larry Thor]

Yes.

[Celia Stewart]

Oh, please come in. I was going to call you, Mr. Clover, to thank you.

[Larry Thor]

Thank me?

[Celia Stewart]

For what you've done for Ernie.

[Larry Thor]

What'd I do?

[Celia Stewart]

You found Waldo. When you did that, you wiped out six months of pain. Six months of how it tore me apart. What it was doing to Ernie, not having Waldo. But you fixed that. You gave Waldo back to him.

[Larry Thor]

And now Ernie doesn't need you.

[Celia Stewart]

What are you talking about?

[Larry Thor]

You told me you never let Ernie out of your sight. He's out of your sight now. He was out of your sight when he came to my office to pick up Waldo.

[Celia Stewart]

I told you. I told you I let him go to you because I knew what it meant to him. Now he's looking for a job, but he still needs them. Don't ever make a mistake about that, Mr. Clover.

[Larry Thor]

Ernie needed Jane Arnold, too.

[Celia Stewart]

Oh, you know about that? Poor Ernie. He was so lost without Walter. He reached for anything. Even Jane Arnold. I think all that time he didn't even know I was around. Someone to pick him up, to put him to bed, to whisper sleep into his ears.

[Larry Thor]

Jane. How did Jane feel about Ernie?

[Celia Stewart]

She laughed at him. Everyone laughed at Ernie, then laughed, walked away from him, not laughing.

[Larry Thor]

Mrs. Stewart, there was another time you let Ernie get away from you.

[Celia Stewart]

Oh. Oh, you mean the time when we got the call from Lou Granger?

[Larry Thor]

That time.

[Celia Stewart]

Why shouldn't I have let Ernie go? Lou said he had Walter bought him at a baggage auction at some hotel. Why shouldn't I have? Mr. Clover. Ernie. Lou.

[Larry Thor]

Hi, everybody.

[Joe Lilly]

Hey, look who's here. Ernie. The Lost and Fire Department from the police. Maybe he came to get a reward for finding me.

[Larry Thor]

Waldo, you know, you're so right. We completely forgot about it. What shall we give him?

[Joe Lilly]

We could give him Celia.

[Celia Stewart]

Ernie, put him down. Ernie, put him down.

[Larry Thor]

Yeah, put him away. Ernie. You're coming with me.

[Joe Lilly]

Hey, you lost your marbles. You can't part Ernie and me again. He's lost his marbles. Ernie.

[Larry Thor]

What do you Want with me, Mr. Clover? Murder.

[Celia Stewart]

Oh, Arnie. Arnie.

[Joe Lilly]

Why?

[Celia Stewart]

Why did you do it? That girl and Lou. Why did you have to kill him?

[Joe Lilly]

Ernie, get her, will you? Get the ass.

[Celia Stewart]

You could have come to me, Ernie. I would have helped you. I've always helped. Shut up. Shut up, Waldo. Ernie threw him away. Get rid of him. We were happy without him, Ernie. I took good care of you. We were happy.

[Larry Thor]

Get away from me, Celia. Get away.

[Joe Lilly]

Take it easy, Ernie boy. You've been through enough. I'll talk for you.

[Larry Thor]

Yeah. What does he want to say?

[Celia Stewart]

Ernie? Ernie. Throw him away. Kill him.

[Larry Thor]

What does he want to say, Walter?

[Joe Lilly]

Celia says she was happy without me. That's why she put me in the trunk, because she was jealous of me. She checked me in the baggage room in a hotel and forgot about me.

[Larry Thor]

Did you do that, Celia?

[Celia Stewart]

Now, listen to him.

[Joe Lilly]

But Jane Arnold suspected it was Celia who had gotten rid of me. And because she liked Ernie and was worried about what happened to me, she kept looking through Celia's things.

[Larry Thor]

So she found the baggage check in Celia's purse.

[Joe Lilly]

Oh, that must have made you angry, Celia. O Angry enough to poison her.

[Larry Thor]

What about Lou, Waldo?

[Joe Lilly]

Oh, that was tricky. Lou called Ernie to say he had me, but Celia went down there instead. When Lou saw it was Celia who came after me instead of Ernie, he knew what Celia had been doing. So Celia had to kill him and tried to kill me, too.

[Larry Thor]

Yeah, that bothered me, Waldo, if Ernie went to Lou to pick you up, why did. Why did he leave you there?

[Joe Lilly]

I'm telling you, it was Celia.

[Larry Thor]

Why didn't Ernie tell me all this.

[Joe Lilly]

Before, Waldo, he was sick without me. He can't think you wanted a murderer, Mr. Clover. Well, there she is. Kill him.

[Celia Stewart]

I'll kill him. He won't take you away from me, Ernie. Give it to me. Give it to me. Ernie. Ernie, you monster. I'll bear you off three. You like the guy like. Get him.

[Larry Thor]

Get him.

[Celia Stewart]

Get him.

[Larry Thor]

Fingers ripped at the cheap claw Scattered it tore away the laughing mouth. There was nothing left of Walter Wood shapings the broken face and rags. And standing there reserved, receiving it as if Waldo's death were his own death. Ernie. Then the woman, the murderous, fell to her knees and her voice.

[Celia Stewart]

We can be together now, Ernie.

[Larry Thor]

See?

[Celia Stewart]

We can be together now.

[Larry Thor]

Broadway leaps into the night. The sound it makes is the rasp of life Deep inside the Earth, the hiss of neon and the gaudy laugh. They melt together. And the sound you get is shock. But there's another. The teardrop and the sigh. No one listens because no one hears. It's Broadway. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway. My Beat. Broadway's My Beat stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover, with Charles Calvert as Tartaglia. The program was produced and directed by Elliot Lewis. The musical score was composed and conducted by Alexander Courage. Included in tonight's cast were Stan Waxman, Elliot Reed, Mary Lansing, Herb Butterfield, Jerry Hausner, and hi Averbach. This is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. More than 4,600 episodes in and we finally got our first on air, Puppet Murder. I do question what Danny was doing while this was happening because it was pretty well understood that the ventriloquist, sanity, such as it was, was hanging by a thread and tied to the dummy. So in letting his wife, who should be under arrest, go after her husband and the dummy, he kind of let this happen. Was he, like, never a cop around when you need one? Oh, wait. On a positive note, I'm glad that Danny had been thinking that it didn't make sense for the dummy to be left behind if the ventriloquist was the murder, which I think was always the big problem. Problem with that theory. I do wonder who voiced the dummy because it was radio. It didn't have to be Herb Butterfield who voiced the ventriloquist. And I wouldn't swear that it was Butterfield either. Listener comments and feedback. And we start out over on the site called X regarding the Thelma Harper murder case where Daniel writes, wow, what a body count. And I definitely agree. I. I think that for a murder show of this era, one or two murders is kind of typical. And there are shows that have episodes that can get higher than that. Pat Novak for Higher stands out. And I think once you get to four, that really is quite a lot of homicide, particularly if there were some memorable features to how some of the killings were done, which was certainly the case, particularly in the final killing, even though it was more of an accident than anything else. Then on YouTube we have a comment regarding the Max Wendell murder case. Mechanic 6682 rights. Good one. Where's the narcotics? Nobody talks like that in real life. Well, to be fair, nobody talks like Danny Clover in real life. So I think the show's okay on that point. And then we have a comment from, from our listener survey Paris B. In Philadelphia writes, I love how they captured the suspense and drama without any visuals, just pure imagination. It's fascinating to see how these series shaped entertainment back then. If you're into mysteries or just want to learn something new, definitely give this podcast a listen. I learned a lot and had a blast. Well, thank you so much. All right, well, that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software software. And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and mark the notification bell. We'll be back next Wednesday with another episode of Broadway's My Beat, but join us back here tomorrow for Mr. And Mrs. North.

[Larry Thor]

Where there's policeman outside.

[Gino Tartaglia]

Keep moving, please.

[Larry Thor]

Move right along. Somebody must have been hurt.

[Celia Stewart]

Excuse me, please.

[Larry Thor]

Excuse me. Just a minute, lady. You can't go in there.

[Celia Stewart]

Oh, but we have to. My husband has a watch in there, and Mr. Hayden's a very special friend of ours. I'll ask you, Officer. We won't be in the way.

[Larry Thor]

Come on, Jerry. All right, dear, all right. Give me a chance. We shouldn't have come in here anyway. Mr. Hayden's been hurt.

[Celia Stewart]

Ask the doctor what happened to him. Go ahead, Jerry. They're just standing there.

[Larry Thor]

Darling, will you stop pushing? I'll ask Mr. Hayden's son in law. What happened, Mr. Anson? Huh? What happened? Oh, I. I didn't recognize you, Mr. North. We. We. We had a robbery in here, and I'm still kind of shaky about it. The old man was almost shot. Good heavens.

[Celia Stewart]

How?

[Larry Thor]

Oh, he. He got rattled. Tried to set off the burglar alarm. So stick up man hit him with a gun? Yeah, he knocked him cold.

[Celia Stewart]

Shame.

[Larry Thor]

Yeah. I may have to take him to hospital. I don't think that will be necessary. Arnold Hayden, Are you all right? I am now. The doctor says I can go home if I want to. I'll. Maybe. Maybe you better. Maybe you better get right into bed. You stay here, Pop. I'll. I'll get the car and we'll both go home together. No, no, it won't take a minute. I'll be right back. Mr. North, don't let him take me home. I don't want to be alone with him. Why?

[Celia Stewart]

What's the matter? Mr. Hayden?

[Larry Thor]

I'm afraid. Afraid of what he might do to me. He's tried to kill me already. What do you mean? My head. This blow I got, it wasn't from the stick up man. It was Arnold who hit me.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box 13, greatdetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com greatdetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.