Broadway's My Beat: The Joe Blair Murder Case (EP4943)

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Episode: Broadway’s My Beat: The Joe Blair Murder Case (EP4943)
Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Adam Graham

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Overview

This episode features an atmospheric and emotionally layered investigation set in mid-century Manhattan, where Detective Danny Clover unravels the mysterious stabbing of a young hitchhiker, Joe Blair, in a swanky hotel. As the investigation unfolds amid the neon-lit glitz and loneliness of Broadway, it exposes desperate connections, blackmail, heartbreak, and the destructive allure of second chances.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

The Murder Scene (02:49–05:37)

• Setting: Danny Clover describes the electric but cold November night on Broadway and the drama centering around an expensive hotel.
• Discovery: Joe Blair, a young drifter in worn clothes, is found dead with a knife wound near his heart. There’s no murder weapon or evidence of visitors.
• Notable Details:
  • Blair registered with a $10 bill and little luggage; he had only some diamond dance tickets and a tennis racquet in his possession.
  • The hotel’s discretion and ongoing party next door form a sharp backdrop to the crime.

“All right, Muggleman, what else have you got?”
— Detective Danny Clover (04:17)

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Inquiry at Seventh Avenue Paradise Dance Hall (05:37–08:40)

• Vicki Harper:
  • A dance hall worker who met Joe the evening of his murder. She was touched by his earnestness and even lent him $10 for a hotel stay.
  • She recalls that he was broke and mentioned he had to meet “John Logan,” a Park Avenue type, in the morning.

“That’s how hard the boy struck me.”
— Vicki Harper (07:54)

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Leads and Park Avenue Connections (08:44–14:41)

• Gino’s Research:
  • Identifies John Logan, but he is currently in Europe. Mrs. Logan answers and dismissively acknowledges knowing Joe Blair, adding intrigue.
• Tommy Cap:
  • Confronts Danny for interrogating Vicki Harper, painting himself as her protector and suggesting he’s innocent, but his manner is suspicious.

“Take care of herself? She’s so stupid, she gives a vag $10 to sleep on silk. That’s my Vicki. Innocent, good hearted, generous with her cuts from dimes.”
— Tommy Cap (10:19)

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The Logans’ Story Unravels (12:06–14:41; 25:13–29:50)

• Mrs. Ruth Logan:
  • Initially says she gave Blair a ride from St. Louis to Indianapolis and left him there.
  • Detective Clover catches inconsistencies in her account. Hotel records don’t corroborate her story.
  • Clover theorizes she brought Blair all the way to New York and the relationship turned sour; Blair attempted to blackmail her.

“Curly headed company all the way from St. Louis.”
— Mrs. Ruth Logan (27:34)

• Confrontation:
  • Ultimately, Clover deduces Mrs. Logan met with Blair and, in a moment of panic or anger, stabbed him.
  • Her bodyguard, Albert, is implicated in the second murder (Tommy Cap), who had tried to extort her by researching the affair.

“If you want it this way, Albert. You ready, Mrs. Logan?”
— Detective Danny Clover (29:06)

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The Death of Tommy Cap (16:23–17:07)

• Tommy Cap is found dead, impaled through his hand on an old nail in an alley—implied to be the work of Albert.
• The scene is emblematic of the indifferent violence of Broadway and exposes further layers of the case.

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The Dance Hall Connection & Final Evidence (19:00–23:19)

• Musician Norm Persac (20:13):
  • Tommy Cap’s roommate; recounts Tommy’s agitation, his late-night gatherings, and his attempts to send multiple telegrams to hotels along the route from St. Louis to New York—likely in search of evidence or blackmail.

“You know, a kid latched on at convention people... Showed them bars, took them to the Village, Harlem.”
— Detective Mugavan about Tommy Cap’s history (19:03)

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Resolution and Detective Clover’s Closing (29:50–30:37)

• Clover formally accuses Mrs. Logan and Albert. The implication is clear: Mrs. Logan killed Blair when the relationship and attempted blackmail became too dangerous; Albert silenced Tommy Cap, the blackmailer.
• The episode closes with Clover's signature narration, reflecting on the heartbreak and detachment of Broadway streets.

“The wheel spins on Broadway and you bet against the dealers of the night... the wheel stops: the red pays off with heartbreak, the black with dust in your mouth. It’s Broadway. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway, My beat.”
— Detective Danny Clover (29:50)

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Host’s Commentary & Listener Feedback (32:51–38:31)

• Adam Graham notes the episode’s darker office dynamic:
  • Mugavan repeatedly gets cut off and “grieved at” by Clover, in contrast with Dragnet where officers are more uniformly professional.
  • Tartaglia is momentarily offended when Mugavan doubts his discretion, reinforcing his professionalism, “I’ve been on this job for 20 years. I know not to discuss ongoing investigations…” (approx. 33:30).
• Listener Feedback:
  • Mechanic66 critiques previous episode characters as unsympathetic but clever.
  • Joao from Portugal thanks the show for introducing him to new series.
• Patreon Sponsor Thanks — Regular support acknowledgements and brief notes toward future episodes.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Opening line sets the grim noir mood:

  “Broadway’s my beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world.”
  — Danny Clover (02:49)

• Key thematic insight:

  “Broadway reacts to clowns and death in nearly the same way…”
  — Danny Clover (17:53)

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Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |---|-----------------------------| | 02:49 | Body of Joe Blair discovered | | 05:37 | Interview with Vicki Harper at dance hall | | 08:44 | Gino uncovers lead on John Logan | | 12:06 | Encounter with Mrs. Ruth Logan and Albert | | 16:23 | Tommy Cap found dead | | 19:00 | Tommy Cap’s criminal background revealed | | 20:13 | Interview with Norm Persac | | 22:04–23:19 | Telegram leads and blackmail motive exposed | | 25:13–29:50 | Confrontation and confession from Mrs. Logan | | 29:50 | Danny Clover concludes with a poetic coda | | 32:51 | Host Adam Graham’s analysis and listener mail |

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Tone & Style

• Bleak, poetic noir: Clover’s narration is rich in metaphor and melancholy, emphasizing chance, disappointment, and urban loneliness.
• Characters: World-weary, often caustic, and shaded with ambiguity—the “good” aren’t pure, the “bad” aren’t flat villains.
• Investigative process: Dialogue-heavy, with misleads, emotional confrontations, and police procedural details.

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For Listeners: Why This Episode Stands Out

• Evokes the loneliness and danger beneath Broadway’s glamour.
• Complex relationships between working-class and wealthy characters, and the fatal collision of their worlds.
• Skillful use of red herrings, with emotional depth and a morally ambiguous resolution.

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[End of Summary]

Transcript

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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 bring you this week's episode of Broadway's My Beat. But first, I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You you can support the show on a one time basis using the Zell app to box [e-mail] thank you to Benjamin for supporting the podcast. That way you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetectives.net and I do want to thank our latest Patreon supporter. Thank you to William supporting the podcast at the psalmist level of $4 or more. Thanks so much for your support. Now from November 3, 1951, it's the Joe Blair murder case.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Broadway's my beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world.

[Narrator]

Broadway is my beat. With larry thor as detective danny clover.

[Detective Danny Clover]

The November night has a good hold on Broadway now. And Broadway purrs in its embrace, rubs its cheek against the cool touch, then stops fighting it and the glitter explodes. The neon rockets its scarlet into darkness, bursts into wishing stars, cascades down on the happy event. The laughter hoarded during the week is spent freely now. The budget of dreams. Have one kid, it's on me. It's the long night before Monday. Give into it. And walk a hotel corridor Past a room where gaiety is registered for the night hung the Please do not disturb sign on its door. And the room next to it, the one you're looking for.

[Detective Mugavan]

Hi, Danny.

[Detective Danny Clover]

And it's all there waiting for you. Detective Mugavan. And the boy in worn denims, a faded wool shirt. Sprawled in final exhaustion across the silk sheet of the hotel bed. The boy dead of a knife wound.

[Detective Mugavan]

Quite a party next door, you think? In a hotel this class, they thicken the wall.

[Detective Danny Clover]

All right, Muggleman, what else have you got?

[Detective Mugavan]

That kid there, stabbed under the heart. Couldn't find the knife, Danny. Couldn't even pry a visitor out of the hotel management. They're discreet, they tell me. Don't notice unannounced visitors like this kid must have had. That's why. Just tell me what I was going to say, Danny. They're so discreet in this hotel. That's why the party keeps going next door. Nobody knows there's someone dead except the manager or a couple of bellhops.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What made them sit up and take notice?

[Detective Mugavan]

Kid's phone was off the hook. Kept lighting a light on the switchboard. But nobody said they wanted anything. A bellhop came up to find out why.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who is he?

[Detective Mugavan]

Registered Joe Blair. Identification card in his wallet says Joe Blair. That's about all there was in it. A card, some loose change.

[Tommy Cap]

And these.

[Detective Mugavan]

Diamond dance tickets. That's his luggage on the chair knapsack with a tennis rd.

[Detective Danny Clover]

This is an expensive hotel. How come?

[Detective Mugavan]

I asked the same question of the discreet management. They say the kid came in. Told him he hitched here from St. Louis. Laid a ten dollar bill on the desk. Says, give me what that buys. Yeah, just goes to show you what I really. Fun time next door, huh, Danny?

[Detective Danny Clover]

The moment gathered together and held an instant composed of drifting laughter that seeped through a wall and added itself to the nice things furnished by the management. Then silence. The moment of requiem for a dead boy. And later, when the room has been emptied, consider the few things neatly stacked on a chair. The paraphernalia for living of a hitchhiker named Joe Blair. Knapsack, wallet. Diamond dance tickets. 7th Avenue Paradise. The tickets read. Dance hall. No refunds. So walk down two blocks, turn left. Go up a flight of steps into a place that sells its paradise for a dime a minute. And heaven is 20 girls. 20 in a four piece band and pink lights. Walk over to the very large guardian angel in a dinner jacket. Talk to him. Watch him as he moves away from you and whispers to the lesser angels in evening Gowns. Finally, as he walks back with one of them in tow, leaves her with you.

[Vicki Harper]

Hi.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Hello. I'm Danny Clover.

[Vicki Harper]

The boss told me it was something special. He wasn't kidding. Mostly I tell everybody I don't get off till 3.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Police.

[Vicki Harper]

Hey, are you snapping? No, you're not, are you? The boss just said you were a friend of Joe Blair. You gotta understand, when I said I was off with three to most parties when I met him.

[Detective Danny Clover]

All I want you to do is tell me about Joe Blair.

[Vicki Harper]

Oh. Oh, he's in trouble, huh? Well, if this bail goes over 50 bucks, I'm not gonna be any help at all.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Joe Blair's dead. Stabbed to death.

[Detective Mugavan]

Dead?

[Vicki Harper]

Joe.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Aw, he was here tonight, wasn't he?

[Vicki Harper]

Yeah. Yeah, he was early. Almost opening time. Bought five tickets. Wait, he was standing where you were and I was standing over there? We looked at each other and both started running. Till we met him.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Did you know him before?

[Vicki Harper]

No, just. Just dango. Like in Strange Romance's magazine. I didn't take a ticket from him either. As a matter of fact, I. Well, I threw $10 in the pot so he could have a downy place to put his curly head to sleep tonight. That's how hard the boy struck me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Did he tell you anything about himself?

[Vicki Harper]

Just that he hitchhiked across the country. He was broke and he had a guy to see in the morning. A guy named John Logan. A bitch Park Avenue type Logan. Other than that, we just looked flaming fire at each other.

[Detective Danny Clover]

And that's all you can tell me?

[Vicki Harper]

Except my name's Vicki and he didn't ask. Joe's dead. What do you know? My name's Vicki.

[Officer or Colleague]

Hi.

[Gino]

Excuse it, Danny, but you know, I.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I get the message. You know, it's late, you're tired, give me what you got, then you can go home.

[Gino]

Those words, like a good night kiss. What I've got to wit, having checked the Logan's who breathed Park Avenue's air, I have come up with a Logan who fits our bill. A John Logan to whose household over the phone, the name of Joel Blair, deceased of a knife is not unknown.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You talked to him?

[Gino]

How could I? Danny said John Logan is now in Europe, where he has been for six weeks. Where he is partaking.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who did you talk to?

[Gino]

To a wife, I think. She said she was a wife. She said. Yeah, I know it. Joey Blair. But don't bother me no more with it. She said, as I am on my way to a ball in the morning, bother me, honey, she said. Honey, she said, you Were stranger.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You did good, Gino.

[Officer or Colleague]

Go home.

[Gino]

You honest think I did good, Danny? So's I can relay to Mrs. T. Did you honestly?

[Tommy Cap]

I gave you Danny Clover.

[Gino]

Look, you Danny Clover's closed for the night.

[Officer or Colleague]

Sorry to keep you, Danny boy, but

[Tommy Cap]

tonight you loaded me with a big sorrow. This big? Maybe bigger.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who are you?

[Tommy Cap]

You walk by me maybe 812 times a day and I don't register with you, huh, kid?

[Detective Danny Clover]

No.

[Tommy Cap]

No, you don't warm your hand in Tommy cap. Stanley boy. Tommy cap. Address? Broadway. Broadway?

[Detective Danny Clover]

You said I made you sad.

[Tommy Cap]

Why you come to my girl and you don't dance with her?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Vicki Harper.

[Tommy Cap]

You don't dance with her and all it costs is dimes. You talked to her about a hitchhiker. What's stabbed in a class hotel? This kind of schmooze upsets an innocent thing like Vicky. Gives her migraines up here. I come to protect her from.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Can't she take care of herself, Tommy?

[Tommy Cap]

Take care of herself? She's so stupid, she gives a vag 10 bucks to sleep on silk. That's my Vicky. Innocent, good hearted, generous with her cuts from dimes. For this she has to suffer from policemen who come bearing only murdered hitchhikers.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Why stick around, Tommy? We can make you suffer, too. Because maybe you reach Joe Blair.

[Tommy Cap]

Because maybe Roger Man's a comic. He's a comic. Because I got an alibi 10 blocks long. I'll give you dresses, kid. They'll treat you like a baby while you check.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'll check. Good night, Gino.

[Tommy Cap]

Hey, Danny. Kid. How about I give you a lift home? My car's outside. We can go anytime.

[Detective Danny Clover]

No, thanks.

[Tommy Cap]

How about you, Sarge? I'll ride you home to wherever you live. Brooklyn, the Bronx, Canarsi, wherever you want to go.

[Gino]

Well, if you're sure it's not out of your way.

[Tommy Cap]

What's out of my way? It's late and I ain't had man talk for days. Come on, let's go. Sarge.

[Gino]

Danny.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, Gino?

[Gino]

Just so you won't forget, I left a memo on your calendar to go see the Park Avenue loca next AM now, is it okay if I. Yeah, go ahead, Gino.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It's all right.

[Tommy Cap]

Your man said it was all right, Gino. Throw him a kiss. Good night. Where do you live, Gino? Where do you want?

[Detective Danny Clover]

And go home, back to the room and wonder idly at the fact that there were no unfinished chess problems to solve or stamps to paste in albums, things that a man in the profession was supposed to be good at. Before going to bed, just go to bed and try again for the dream you had so long ago you've forgotten what it is and not find it again. Just sleep. Sleep and wake up to morning and dress again and coffee again and to work again. To the park avenue address of Mrs. John Logan. Stop at the desk of the apartment hotel and be given a floor number. Three flights up and down a hall and stop because a man and woman are standing in front of the door. Start to turn away because they're embracing. Hey, you not quite make it.

[Officer or Colleague]

You come here.

[Albert]

See what you were looking for?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm looking for.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

I believe him now. I never saw him before in my life.

[Albert]

Sure, baby. You say something real fine to me, buster. Like why you run up and down this hallway at practically dawn. Else, poor you, big and all, you'll bleed a lot.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Oh, yes, you will.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Police, huh?

[Albert]

Show me. That's right, Mrs. Logan. The badge says please.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Oh, yes, you will. Yes, you will.

[Albert]

How did.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Got company. Albert, you call me Mrs. Logan, the way we said because I'm your employer and I can hire you and fire you and hire you and fire you.

[Albert]

You mind her.

[Officer or Colleague]

I don't mind her.

[Albert]

You know, you're lucky, mister, Being a cop at a time like this. I really would have. Right through that wall there. I'd have knocked you and I could have barbell muscles I lifted.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, it's a fine form of exercise. I approve of it very much. Who are you?

[Albert]

Hers? Mrs. Logan's bodyguard, like she said. Hired to guard the body and the home and the welfare while Mr. Logan's in Europe.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

And I miss him, too. Don't you forget that, Albert. I don't want anybody to forget that. You or you or any of you. Say yes, ma' am to me, Albert.

[Albert]

Yes, ma'.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Am.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Boy named Joe Blair mentioned your husband's name.

[Officer or Colleague]

Mrs. Logan.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

How is old Joe? How's old Josie today, I ask you.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Dead. Murdered.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Old Josie's dead and murdered. Al.

[Albert]

You better get some sleep, Mrs. Logan. Look, mister, I was bringing from a party. It's my job.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Mrs. Logan. How do you know Joe Blair, huh?

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Picked the lad up in St. Louis and dumped him in Indianapolis. Hitchhike. Hitchhiked with me. Hitchhiked, I told you. Alvin.

[Officer or Colleague]

Yes, ma'.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Am. On my way back from sunny California. Driving along, there was he in St. Louis, mountain knapsack on shoulder, thumb in the air, wind on his cheek. In Indianapolis, he moved over an inch toward me. I pulled up near a cop, smiled at Joe and told him goodbye. My life, Joe Blair.

[Albert]

You want anything else with her, mister?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, I do. When she's sober. See that she gets that way.

[Albert]

That's my job.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Do it. I'll get around to you later.

[Officer or Colleague]

Both of you.

[Detective Mugavan]

What do you think, Danny?

[Detective Danny Clover]

What do you mean, Mugavin?

[Detective Mugavan]

I mean, what do you think? Well, I only asked because I gave you the reports. Watch you spend 15 minutes looking at them. Now, all I want is a reaction.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You want me to stand on my head?

[Officer or Colleague]

Okay.

[Detective Mugavan]

Okay. I just thought all this data I gave you might.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You know what's in it as well as I do. Joe Blair has a record of vagrancy and a half dozen towns. That just doesn't happen to solve a murder for me. I'm sorry, but it doesn't.

[Officer or Colleague]

Okay.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Okay.

[Detective Mugavan]

I. I just thought there was something you might know that I don't know. And whatever was in these reports. You gonna bite my head off if I answer?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Answer it.

[Detective Mugavan]

Lieutenant Clover's office. Detective Mugman. Speak.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who?

[Detective Mugavan]

Oh, yeah. Wait till I write it down.

[Officer or Colleague]

West 68th, huh?

[Detective Mugavan]

Okay, I got it. Thanks. Danny.

[Officer or Colleague]

Yeah?

[Detective Mugavan]

Kid named Tommy Cap. The boy that took Tartaglia home. Call was about him.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What about him?

[Detective Mugavan]

He's in an alley. Better go get him. Oh, now, come on. Come on. Police officers. Now let us through. Break it. Why don't you go home, lady? It's supper time. There he is, Danny.

[Officer or Colleague]

We've got him all right. Yeah, got him.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It wasn't that way at all. We didn't have him. The thing that had Tommy capped, the thing that had fixed his hands in half open fist was something else. The heavy nail driven through a fence a long time ago, its point bared through a rotting two by four. That was it. Tommy Cap had been pushed against it and it held him. Killed him.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Broadway Is My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. The Sunday afternoon edition of CBS Radio World News Roundup, broadcast on most of these same stations, keeps you up to date at all times. There's hard hitting news and analysis by noted CBS Radio reporters Bill Chidell, Howard K. Smith from London, Charles Collingwood covering the nation's capital, and UN correspondent Larry Ler. Every Sunday, CBS Radio's great team of correspondents and reporters give you their weekend of observations as well as the news that will shape history in the days and weeks to come.

[Detective Danny Clover]

The sound of you hear on Broadway are fragments, words broken off and windblown that drift your way. The swift dart of subway noises and a horn and a whistle and footsteps. The brief Wild sob of the faraway river. You've got to listen close or you'll know if that sound began with laughter or despair. The difference it makes, not much. Broadway reacts to clowns and death in nearly the same way. The blonde who had a little accident on a street corner, or the dead man you saw propped against a fence in an alley. Something to tell your family about how the policeman pushed you back so you couldn't see how it all ended. But I saw I had to stay to the end until Tommy Cap was lifted down and shrouded and taken away. Until Tommy Cap was made a matter of official concern. Then I left. Go to a place, back to headquarters, write it down to be transcribed later by a stenographer. To be dated by a dater, stamped by a stamper, to be put in a file by a clerk.

[Officer or Colleague]

I just came from records, Danny, just about through.

[Detective Mugavan]

Running Tommy Capp's card through the IBM.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Anything.

[Detective Mugavan]

Just about what we figured.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Petty stuff.

[Detective Mugavan]

Yeah, he was a steerer, Danny. You know, a kid latched on at convention people. Showed them bars, took them to the Village, Harlem.

[Detective Danny Clover]

How come he had a record.

[Detective Mugavan]

Little trouble conning the ladies a couple of times.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Oh, how?

[Detective Mugavan]

He'd promote them for neckties, maybe a sport jacket, meals. The couple times we know about, he tried to put the bite on him for dough.

[Officer or Colleague]

2, 300 bucks, twice the lady squawk.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Uh huh. Did you get his address?

[Albert]

Sure.

[Detective Mugavan]

Rooming house off of West 49th. Might be something interesting there. I don't know.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You mean it's an interesting rooming house, Mugavan? A landmark or something?

[Detective Mugavan]

Why don't you ever let me finish anything, Danny?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm sorry. What about it?

[Detective Mugavan]

Not the rooming house. The roommate, musician, a piano player named Norm Persac. What's interesting is he plays piano at the 7th Avenue paradise at Diamond Dance joint. You think that's interesting, Danny?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, I think that's interesting. Thanks, Mugman. Thanks a lot.

[Officer or Colleague]

Man, I thought you'd never come.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You Norm Persac?

[Officer or Colleague]

The one, the only. North Per. Don't stand that open doorway. That way lies madness. First you listen to this, man. You close your eyes and listen to this.

[Detective Danny Clover]

All right?

[Officer or Colleague]

It dispounded me. I reached out and there it was, waiting for me. You hear that? Hear the melody? Hear the song? It's different. You got a real taste for a policeman, man.

[Detective Danny Clover]

How did you know I was.

[Officer or Colleague]

No, you kidding, man, you made a stir at the 7th Avenue paradise last night. Norm Persac never forgets why I'm here.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You know that Too sure, man.

[Officer or Colleague]

Because I feel it. You can ask me why my roomie is dead. Why Tommy Cap died like that.

[Detective Danny Clover]

On a nail. That's right.

[Officer or Colleague]

I don't know if I could figure those things, man.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You see Tommy last night?

[Gino]

Twice.

[Officer or Colleague]

Once in the night, the next time around, dawn. That's the crazy time.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Tell me about him.

[Officer or Colleague]

Night, Tommy walks in here, dons a Brooks Brothers suit with a bench in the back.

[Albert]

Yeah.

[Officer or Colleague]

Flips the vents at me, walks out.

[Detective Danny Clover]

The other time, dawn, Tommy walks in on me.

[Officer or Colleague]

Gathers up his silk shirts, the ties, glow in the dark, throws a kiss. Says, see you around, kid. This is farewell to nothing. His party goes.

[Detective Danny Clover]

He tell you where he'd been, where he was going.

[Officer or Colleague]

He said where he was going stands. Because he hit me for 50 bucks before he left. 50 bucks for wires. Wires, telegrams. They sell them down the Corner Hotel, you know.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, I know.

[Officer or Colleague]

You're lucky, man. Here I give you a song to exit on.

[Detective Danny Clover]

And go to the Corner Hotel. Show a badge, ask a. Let the whispers make the rounds of the palm decked lobby. Finally, let them come back to you in the shape of a man who pokes his pince nez at your lapel. Now look, anything you say.

[Tommy Cap]

You could have come in the back door. This is a family hotel. Some of our people even have children.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'll try to set a good example, Mr.

[Tommy Cap]

Rocket. Francis Rocket. Now just what is it you want of us?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Man? Came here last night, Mr. Rocket, late to send some telegrams.

[Tommy Cap]

Sometimes wanderers come in off the street and do that in here.

[Detective Danny Clover]

This man was different. He sent them, walked out of here, then was found in an alley, murdered.

[Tommy Cap]

That'd be Tommy Capp. The Times mentioned it today. I often told that boy it end that way in an alley if he persisted in.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Did you tell me, Mr. Rocket, who he sent them to? You could keep a record or something that would.

[Tommy Cap]

To hotels. To every major hotel between here.

[Detective Danny Clover]

And he sent them to what?

[Tommy Cap]

Pay attention, please. To hotels. The exclusive ones between here and St. Louis, the Mayberry in Indianapolis, the region in Columbus, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. I call the list for him from our own.

[Detective Danny Clover]

As hotel guide, remember what he said in them?

[Tommy Cap]

I only counted the words, sir. I didn't stoop to explore their meaning. I could tell you this, however, if you tell me he requested an answer to his query. In each a care of this hotel. Collect. None have come in as yet. However, when they do, I'm afraid to collect. I'm afraid.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Don't be afraid anymore, Mr. Rocket. When they come, just phone them into us. We've got a fund for collect telegrams.

[Tommy Cap]

Good for you. You're finished with me, I presume. Of course you are.

[Officer or Colleague]

Yes, Mr. Rocket. Yeah, I have that. Huh? Yeah.

[Detective Mugavan]

Indianapolis, Columbus.

[Officer or Colleague]

Yeah, yeah, Springfield too. Thanks for calling again, Mr. Rocket. You heard, Danny.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Nothing from any of those places either, huh?

[Detective Mugavan]

Same answers is from Wheeling in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. No one registered by the name of Ruth Logan in any of the big cities on the route. It's not positive, Danny, but. Hi, Gino.

[Gino]

You summoned me to your presence, Danny.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, I did, Gino. Last night, Tommy Cap drove you home, Danny.

[Gino]

Oh, no, he did not, Danny. He remembered after we drove for a little while, a most pressing engagement to phrase him. So he dropped me at a subway station and waved me a cheery farewell.

[Detective Danny Clover]

While you were driving, Gino, did you talk about anything?

[Gino]

A most refreshing conversation, Danny. About his work. About my work. Man to man, straight from the shoulder.

[Detective Mugavan]

You didn't mention anything about the Logan's, did you, Gino?

[Gino]

You know I know better than that, Mugaman. I've been in this business 20 years. You should behave outside of the shop as good as me.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Gino. Gino. Did he try to talk to you about the Logan's?

[Gino]

Indeed. He made mention of saying. But I definitely sidestepped the issue. That's when he dropped me. What else is on your gentleman's mind?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Nothing, Gino. Nothing at all.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Hello. Hey. Hello.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm Danny Clover, Mrs. Logan.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

I met you in a haze once, didn't I?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Right here, Mrs. Logan. This morning.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Come in. There's nobody here but Albert. Hey, Albert. We know him, don't we?

[Albert]

You back again, buster?

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm interrupting something.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

I'm teaching the ape a waltz. Watch us. Come on, Albert.

[Albert]

Now look, baby.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Say yes, ma', am, Albert.

[Albert]

Yes, ma'. Am. But I ain't waltzing.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

We didn't before anyhow. Didn't we? Did we? Turn off the record, Albert.

[Albert]

We ran it down this morning, mister.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Did I have fun, Mister. Hi, mister.

[Detective Danny Clover]

This morning we talked about Joe Blair. You remember that?

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Every word of it.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I'm glad you do, Mrs. Logan. Because now it's got another murder in it.

[Albert]

Look, mister, I'm paid.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I know you're employed. You get hired and fired, then hired again.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

You waltz. Come on, waltz. Don't stand there, mister.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Waltz would leave him alone.

[Albert]

Stop making a jerk out of yourself.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Say please.

[Albert]

A man walks in here and talks about two murders and I'm going to say please. You're a jerk, Ruth. J E R K Jerk.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

The Ape spell. Give him a penny, mister.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You people want to perform, go right ahead. I'm still going to talk about murder.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

All right, we'll listen, won't we? Listen, Albert.

[Detective Danny Clover]

A question, Mrs. Logan.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

All right.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You left Joe Blair off in Indianapolis and you kept right on going. That right?

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Right, right, right, right.

[Detective Danny Clover]

From Indianapolis, where did you go?

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Columbus. I stayed there overnight.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Where'd you stay? What hotel?

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

The region where I always stay. I think it was a region. Maybe it wasn't.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It wasn't. It wasn't at any other first rate hotel in Columbus.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

I always stay at first rate hotels. I was at the region.

[Detective Danny Clover]

We've checked every good Hotel between St. Louis and New York. And most of the motels. You didn't stay at any of them.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Isn't he clever, Albert? You should be like him.

[Albert]

Buster's getting interesting.

[Officer or Colleague]

Let's listen.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You drove right through, didn't you, Mrs. Logan?

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

I'm a frail little girl. That's a long, long ride for a frail little girl.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Not if Joe Blair helped you drive. He must have been pretty good company.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Curly headed company all the way from St. Louis.

[Detective Danny Clover]

He must have been interesting. Curly headed and you must have interested him. He got to New York and he didn't want to let you go.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

He gets cleverer all the time, doesn't he, Albert?

[Detective Danny Clover]

On the trip cross country, he found out you were wealthy, you were married. He figured he had a good thing called you, made you meet him at his hotel.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

When this is over, Albert will waltz.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You met him, Mrs. Luck, and decided you were a fool to have ever picked him up in the first place. A knife got mixed up in it. And when you walked out of his room, Joe was dead.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

What you say is true. Then I'm a murderess. Did you hear that, Albert?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Someone else figured all this before the police did. Tommy Capp. He found out about a hitchhiker mixed up with a wealthy married woman. So he checked all the hotels between here and St. Louis for blackmail purposes.

[Albert]

You're right, baby. The mystery is clever.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

We're going to waltz, Albert. Don't forget.

[Detective Danny Clover]

So Ruth sent you, Albert, to have a little talk with him.

[Albert]

Nanali where you're going.

[Detective Danny Clover]

You killed him.

[Albert]

An accident. He backed into a nail. Maybe I'll find one for you.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

There's a lot about this dancing I haven't taught you, Albert. Our song. Heep, chill. You second.

[Gino]

Okay.

[Detective Danny Clover]

If you want it this way, Albert. You ready, Mrs. Logan?

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

Or you'll make me go.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Or I'll make you go.

[Mrs. Ruth Logan]

I wouldn't give you the Pleasure. Anytime you say miss.

[Detective Danny Clover]

The wheel spins on Broadway and you bet against the dealers of the night on the blood red of neon on the black of the searching wind Pick a color and make a prayer the wheel stops the red pays off with heartbreak the black with dust in your mouth. It's Broadway. The gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway, My beat.

[Narrator]

Broadway's my Beat stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover with Charles Calvin as Tartaglia and Jack Crucian as Mugavan. The program was produced and directed by Elliot Lewis with musical score composed and conducted by Alexander Courage. In tonight's story, Kathy Lewis was heard as Ruth Logan, Ed Max as Al Mundo. Hi Efrabach as Norm Persac, Paula Victor as Vicki, and Billy Happett as Tommy Capp. Lovers of fine music are already familiar with the strong, melodious voices of the choral AERs on CBS radio. This is to remind our many Sunday night Coralaires listeners that this excellent choral group will be heard at a new, earlier time on most of these stations starting tomorrow. Bill Anders speaking. This is the CBS Radio Network.

[Officer or Colleague]

Sa.

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[Liberty Mutual Partner]

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[Liberty Mutual Partner]

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, a bit of a rough episode for Mugavin. He kept having Danny, and this happened multiple times where Danny would interrupt while he was trying to relay his information before he could explain the import of it. In a way, it felt like the sort of negative feelings that Danny had expressed earlier in the series towards those who process crime scenes is kind of falling on Mugavin for some reason this week. And then there's that little really brief bit where he offends Tartaglia with what was really a sort of legitimate and necessary question about whether he had discussed the case when he got that right and it touched a nerve with Tartaglia and offended his sense of professionalism. His response is, look, Mugavan, I've been on this job for 20 years. I know not to discuss ongoing investigations with young guys who give me a ride somewhere. And I know how to handle myself. Both on the job and off the job, and it was a lot. And like I said, it was a necessary question. But Mugavin slightly got his head bit off there. And I do wonder if that was the intent of Fein or Friedkin or if that was a decision made, because even the words don't necessarily have to be delivered that harshly. But perhaps Charles Calvert or the director went that direction and this makes this a bit different than Dragnet. On Dragnet, for the most part, the police officers remained, at least during the 50s cities, pretty unfailingly professional. There was no real office drama going on. The only thing you have is the captains occasionally taking things out on our heroes. And that was not considered abusive at the time. You kind of imagine that on the Dragnet police captain's manual, there's procedures. When you. When there's a case, it is unsolved and you have no constructive suggestions on how the investigation can move forward. Tell the officers that they need to get them and how frustrated you are. And even that didn't happen all the time. The way that Broadway's my bait shows, I guess with Mugavin, is that sometimes you're not doing anything particularly wrong, but people are going to give you grief for no good reason just because it's your day to have that happen. And sometimes that happens in the office. Listener comments and feedback now. And we start over on Spotify where mechanic66 writes regarding the Kurt Bauer murder case. I wish I could feel more fatherly towards her. How could you? She's so tall. None of the non police characters in this story were sympathetic in the least. However, I did admire how clever the husband father was. Good one. Well, yeah, I guess clever. He is clever. Fair enough on that. I also didn't find any of the non police characters in this episode all that compelling. I mean, you had blackmailer would be blackmailed mean drunk. I think Broadway's My Beat is a series that doesn't really rely on these characters being likable at all, but in some way interesting. And so yeah, with a character like the father in that episode, I think they made it. And then we have a comment from a listener and I hope I pronounce his name correctly. I watched a YouTube video and if I pick this up right, this comment comes from Joao, who writes from Portugal. This show made me discover awesome series that were never broadcast in Portugal. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. Well, thank you so much for listening in Portugal. I really appreciate it. Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the Day And I want to thank Sarah, Patreon supporter, since March of 2017, currently supporting the podcast at the Shalmis level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Sarah. Now, I just realized that I forgot to recognize our new Platinum Patreon supporters. But since we've gotten this far in the recording, I'm going to go ahead and. And we also recognize some other supporters. I'm going to go ahead and do that tomorrow. So I forgot, but I remembered. Be sure to listen to that then. But that will do it for today. If you are enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Wednesday with another episode of Broadway's My Beat. But join us back here tomorrow for Dragnet, where.

[Detective Danny Clover]

All right, all right. Relax, will you? Take it easy. I'll work out something.

[Red]

Take it easy?

[Gino]

Nothing.

[Red]

You do enough of that for the both of us. You sit there and listen to that radio. Why don't you get out and hustle up those two mooches of yours and get my dough back?

[Detective Danny Clover]

All right, all right. You don't have to scream. I said I'd work something out.

[Red]

All right, then start working. Get it? The dough or the white stuff? I got to have it by the end of the week.

[Detective Danny Clover]

What do you want to do, have it all over the hotel? Keep it down, will you?

[Tommy Cap]

Why?

[Red]

You take me for six GS and I'm supposed to play it nice? Now, come off it, mister.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I didn't take you for six GS.

[Red]

Those two mules did, and you own them. Either you square this up or everybody in the business is going to know about this.

[Detective Danny Clover]

It's got into you anyway. You've been boozing it up today.

[Red]

Don't you worry about me. I'll take care of my end. Real big operator, huh, Red? You had all the eights. You handled everything. A real big shot, aren't you?

[Detective Danny Clover]

All right, forget it. Red, the big wheel.

[Red]

He handles all kinds of deals. 50 cents to $5 after the. They get too big for.

[Detective Danny Clover]

I said forget it.

[Red]

Lindsay, when this one gets around, they're gonna laugh you right out of the business. You can go back to selling razor blades and knock that radio off. I'm sick of hearing it.

[Officer or Colleague]

You got.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Quiet down.

[Red]

You think you're ready to handle it?

[Detective Danny Clover]

Do you? I told you I'd try and work out something for you. Now playing tough's gonna get you nothing. You ought to know that. What's that?

[Red]

What's it sound like?

[Tommy Cap]

Yeah.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Who is it?

[Detective Mugavan]

Police officers. Open up.

[Red]

What is this? What do you got? Me? Shut up.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Will you take it easy? Can't tell.

[Detective Mugavan]

All right, open up.

[Red]

Well, I'm getting out of here. I'm not going through any shakedown.

[Detective Danny Clover]

Out of your mind.

[Officer or Colleague]

Hold it.

[Adam Graham]

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

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

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[Liberty Mutual Partner]

Hey, everyone. Check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Liberty Mutual Partner]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Anyways, only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[Liberty Mutual Partner]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

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[Adam Graham]

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