Broadway's My Beat: The Kurt Bower Murder Case (EP4933)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Broadway's My Beat: The Kurt Bower Murder Case

Podcast: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Host: Adam Graham
Airdate: March 18, 2026 (original episode from October 20, 1951)
Episode: 4933

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Episode Overview

This episode features a classic Golden Age detective radio drama: Broadway’s My Beat starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. The story centers around the murder of Kurt Bauer, a charming young ski instructor entangled in the web of the wealthy and dysfunctional Hanson family. As Detective Clover investigates the murder, he navigates the passions, jealousies, and secrets among the Hansons and their circle, ultimately revealing a clever manipulation behind the crime.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

A. Setting the Scene on Broadway

• The episode opens with a poetic narration describing Broadway on an autumn morning:

  "In the sunlight of an October morning, Broadway stands on its street corner and breathes deep of the autumn..." (02:55)

B. The Hanson Family Drama

• Dale Hanson (the patriarch) calls police, hinting his wife Nola is in danger:

  “In this room full of dead antiquity, there is so much vibrant death, pulsating death. And you turn your back on it. Idiot man.” (04:31)

• Dale’s daughter, Connie, despises her stepmother Nola. Connie is an awkward, lonely figure with unrequited feelings for Kurt Bauer, the young ski instructor Nola brought from Europe.
• Nola is described as a fading beauty, manipulating and desperately trying to recapture youth and attention.

C. Detective Clover’s Investigation

• Clover visits the Hansons and learns of the complex relationships:

  • Dale’s animosity and emotional detachment
  • Connie’s painful self-awareness and bitterness
  • Nola’s flirtatiousness and fraught marriage
  • Kurt’s shadowy past as a coerced soldier in the Nazi Alpine corps

• Kurt’s Backstory is revealed:

  "What Mrs. Hansen is trying to say is that I served with the Nazi Alpine Corps against my will... That I deserted them." (11:04)

• Tensions among the Hansons and their guests bubble over, with everyone a possible suspect.

D. The Murder Discovery

• Clover receives an urgent call to visit Kurt's apartment, where Mugavin, his partner, discovers Kurt's body:

  “He stood there in the doorway... Pointing at Kurt Bauer lying there on the bed, arms outstretched...and beneath the white silk scarf around his throat was the shaft of a ski pole... The thing that had murdered Kurt Bauer.” (14:45)

E. The Web of Motives and Alibis

• Dale Hanson presents a seemingly airtight alibi but displays a disturbingly calm demeanor:

  “For the first time in my life, Mr. Clover, I feel... municipal, like a citizen. It has the shade of a sensation about it.” (16:58)

• Nola is conveniently out of town in Vermont at the time of the murder. However, a timeline error surfaces.

• Connie, devastated by Kurt's death, attempts suicide (19:27), reinforcing her emotional instability and possible motive:

  “You're thinking I could kill Kurt. That makes me something, doesn't it?... Something a girl a man could want. A man could want a girl like that.” (20:28)

F. The Truth Unravels

• Clover follows the money and timelines, interviewing Kurt’s mother for background (22:28) and confirming that Dale personally provided for Kurt upon his arrival in America.

• The breakthrough comes with the realization that Nola's train timeline doesn't match her alibi, and that Dale engineered the situation to provoke Nola into committing murder:

  Clover: “You planned it all, didn't you, Mr. Hanson?” (26:23)
  Dale: “Exceedingly well, don't you think?” (26:25) Clover: “Your husband said he had a murder committed. He had you commit the murder, Mrs. Hanson.” (27:16)

• Nola, desperate, begs Dale for help, claiming her intent was to help Connie, his daughter, not herself (28:16):

  “Listen, Dale. I was doing it for Connie. For your daughter. She's so unattractive. I was trying to convince Kurt to be kind to her, to love her. Don't you see? Don't you see, Dale?” (28:16)

• Dale remains unmoved, coolly remarking:

  “And when you do have an emotion for me, my dear, it’s so distasteful. Goodbye, Nola.” (28:39)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Broadway’s Atmosphere:

  “Broadway is my beat—from Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world.” (02:27)

• Dale Hanson’s Irony & Cynicism:

  “I had a man murdered and Mr. Clover can't touch me.” (26:30)

• Clover’s Reflection on the Case:

  "There’s something shrill about all of them, like they were waiting for something to happen. Like each was waiting for the other to make a move." (13:25)

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Host Adam Graham’s Post-Episode Commentary

(32:15+)

Legal and Moral Complications:

• Graham notes that while Dale Hanson manipulated his wife into committing murder, he cannot be legally prosecuted—a theme differing from other Broadway’s My Beat episodes, and a recurring moral dilemma in detective fiction:

  “Here it’s kind of acknowledged that husband manipulated events but can’t be held legally liable, which that’s legally correct, but different than what they’ve done before.” (32:15)

Character Analysis—Danny Clover vs. Philip Marlowe

• Listeners praise Danny Clover’s empathetic connection to the city and its people, comparing him favorably to Philip Marlowe:

  “With Danny, he approaches crime as someone who belongs to the same order overall world. He is part of Broadway, and he is connected to this community in many ways ... he feels the weight of the deaths of his fellow New Yorkers.” (34:15)

Listener Feedback

• Adriana prefers Danny's character to Marlowe, appreciating his deeper ties and empathy.
• Graham elaborates on the differences between the East and West coast detective archetypes.

Patreon Thanks

• Shout-out to Patreon supporter Peter for Master Detective-level support. (35:45)

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Critical Timestamps

• [02:27] Opening poetic narration; scene set on Broadway
• [04:31] Dale Hanson’s mysterious warning and introduction
• [08:10] Connie Hanson’s self-doubt and jealousy
• [11:04] Kurt’s Nazi past and innocent claims
• [14:45] Discovery of Kurt Bauer’s murder
• [16:58] Dale Hanson’s cynical detachment
• [20:28] Connie’s breakdown following Kurt's death
• [26:23] Confrontation—Clover accuses Dale Hanson of orchestrating the murder
• [28:16] Nola’s desperate plea to Dale
• [32:15] Adam Graham’s analysis on legal vs. moral guilt
• [34:15] Comparison of Danny Clover and Philip Marlowe
• [35:45] Patreon support acknowledgement

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Conclusion

Broadway’s My Beat: The Kurt Bower Murder Case stands out for its layered characters, psychological manipulation, and the procedural unraveling of a murder rooted in jealousy and boredom. The story’s climax—where legal culpability is outwitted by social and emotional manipulation—provides an especially sharp critique of motives vs. legal definitions of guilt.

Adam Graham concludes with thoughtful reflections on the show’s moral ambiguity, character depth, and historical context, offering both nostalgia and insights for mystery lovers and newcomers alike.

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Transcript

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[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

N D.

[Dale Hanson]

Foreign

[Podcast Host 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. Our listener support and appreciation campaign continues. You can become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month at patreon.greatdetactives.net but now, from October 20, 1951, here is the Kurt Bowers murder.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Broadway's My Beat From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world,

[Commercial Voice]

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

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

In the sunlight of an October morning, Broadway stands on its street corner and breathes deep of the autumn. Filtered air presses out of its lungs the taste of the night past. This is the time of day when neon is silent spectaculars doze. The shadows have not yet found their final shapes and the pavement is flecked with glints of sun fragments. Doorways are opened on the October day and the night dreams are swept into the gutters. It's the time of the coffee and cakes and break from the starting gate and the odds even up you never come in. And where I was the sunlight filtered through Italian damask swiftly caressed Grecian fragments, a torso in black marble, a head in stone pocked with antiquity, a glass case with golden coins. Hermetically sealed against and impervious to it all. The man who leaned fastidiously against a Grecian column, then lifted his glass of champagne, silently toasted the bust of Plato, then let the realization flow over him that a policeman was there among his treasures.

[Dale Hanson]

You respond well, you people, and quickly. Bravo.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

At headquarters they said your call sounded urgent.

[Dale Hanson]

Did they say that? How perceptive of you people. The extraordinary qualities one finds in the most unimaginative of delicious.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

That's right, Mr. Hanson. No imagination. That's why you'll have to tell me the reason I'm here.

[Dale Hanson]

It's exquisite. You'll be ravished by it. Shall we set it off with champagne?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Look, I don't reject the bubbly.

[Dale Hanson]

It's going to be such a grisly day, Ms. Clover. I promise you.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

It's off to a Good start. Goodbye, Mr. Hanson.

[Dale Hanson]

Come back, idiot man. Come back. In this room full of dead antiquity, there is so much vibrant death, pulsating death. And you turn your back on it. Idiot man.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Someone's dead.

[Dale Hanson]

There will be. Does the statement chafe up an emotion in you? Who? Nola, my wife. Once of such beauty. Such beauty that would put all these my Grecian delicacies to shame. That torso, for instance. It would blush to its tippy toes at the beauty that once was Nola's, but no more.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

And she's going to die because there

[Dale Hanson]

will be violence of one sort or another.

[Nola Hanson]

Death.

[Dale Hanson]

It is almost too much to hope for, is it not? Though Nola deserves it how that old girl deserves it.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

She's done something.

[Dale Hanson]

Mm. Yes. She convinced a boy to come here all the way from Europe. Not done as of a boy. Kurt could turn on the old girl. Young gods turn on old beauty sometimes. Destroy it because it offends their sense of the aesthetic.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Kurt.

[Dale Hanson]

Kurt Bower. A young thing with a pair of skis. I fear Nola is playing with her own demise in that boy. And she's not aware of it. No more than she's aware that.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

That what?

[Dale Hanson]

That my daughter Connie, by a former, less colorful marriage, also has no love. Nola, you must talk to Connie at her place. Unsutton. Ask her why she loathes Nola so helplessly. It'll amuse you.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

And you, Mr. Hanson? What about you?

[Dale Hanson]

Why? I, too, am a creature of violence. Delicious, isn't it? I don't know, one day to the next, how I'll react when something's taken away from me. I fear for Nola, Mr. Blober. Such an exquisite fear.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

That's why? You called us.

[Dale Hanson]

Not exactly. Nola's a lovely old girl. I'd fret if there was so much as a scratch on her. You'll prevent that, you people, won't you? If you can. If you can.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

And saying it, Mr. Hanson poured himself a drink, moved over to the slender Grecian column, faced me and took his stance next to Plato. He fingered his mustache, cocked his head and used a half of his mouth for a smile. That's the way I left Mr. Hanson. Then call his daughter. Be told that Miss Hansen was not at home momentarily. Momentarily? She had an appointment elsewhere. At Rockefeller Plaza. The ice skating rink. So go there. Have her paged.

[Dale Hanson]

Miss Hansen.

[Commercial Voice]

Miss Connie Hansen, please.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

And watch the skaters briefly. The young thing who catches your eye and pirouettes. And Swifty, the rapid boy on racing blades. And the lady who gets up again, brave and intent, and skates close to the rail. And a very tall young woman who skims out of the crowd and talks to the announcer.

[Nola Hanson]

Hi, Ms. Hanson.

[Dale Hanson]

That man escalated.

[Connie Hanson]

Do you want to see me?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Yes. My name's Clover. Can we sit down?

[Connie Hanson]

Sure, if you want.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I'm from the police, Miss Hansom.

[Connie Hanson]

Go on, go on. I'm not panicking.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I had a talk with your father a little while ago.

[Connie Hanson]

What's his current burden?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I'm not sure, Miss Hanson. He seems to be worried about your stepmother.

[Connie Hanson]

He should have started to worry about her 15 years ago. The day he married her. If I were here, I'd give up by now. You know, come philosophical about her. What did he say about stepmother Nola?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

He said something would happen to her. Somebody.

[Nola Hanson]

Kurt.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

He mentioned a name. Kurt Bauer.

[Connie Hanson]

Kurt Bauer. You know something? I've been waiting for Kurt for two hours. Just to cross hands with him and dance a blue Danube with him. He won't show up. Would you show up for me, Mr. Clover? For a girl who's six feet tall, I wonder. My complexion's not so bad, but look at this hair. Ever see hair like this on a girl? I chuckled to myself when I put lipstick on my face.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Tell me about Kurt Bauer.

[Connie Hanson]

See me gush. Don't make me do that, Mr. Clover. I'd titter and poke you with an elbow.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Just tell me who he is, young man.

[Connie Hanson]

We found him in the Italian Elks.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

We?

[Connie Hanson]

Stepmother Nola and I. We were skiing. Something came out of the blue and plopped down beside us and made nasty little slaloms. And that was Kurt.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

What's he doing here?

[Connie Hanson]

Stepmother Nola stopped waxing his skis long enough to Tell him she could get him a job come winter at Lake Placid.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Then why would he want to do anything to harm her?

[Connie Hanson]

My daddy tell you he would? Dad was ribbing. He's a river. Great sense of humor. He reads Play D'oh. And hits passersby over the head with folded newspapers.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

How about you? You don't like Mrs. Hanson, dear?

[Connie Hanson]

I don't like any woman who's lovely.

[Nola Hanson]

You blame me.

[Connie Hanson]

Now, pardon me, Mr. Clover. There's a tall man skating over there. He's alone. I never saw him before, but maybe he's looking for me. I'll give him something to look at.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

And watch the girl skate away with a surprising grace, glide to the center of the rink and begin an endless whirling. A whirling whose fuel was disappointment and frustration. The frenetic spinning, turning, cutting of numerals into ice. The magic symbols to draw beauty to her. And it doesn't happen until the awkward crash against the spectators railing. The clumsy fall that sparked only a laugh. And no one helps her to her feet. Check now with the proper authorities for an address on Kurt Bauer, ski instructor. Be given it. Go there to an apartment whose odors are of wax, of oiled wood and steel, and blended with it, the perfume of the woman who runs her fingers across the boy's mouth as he speaks.

[Dale Hanson]

Please, Nola, please.

[Nola Hanson]

The man frightened you, Kurt. You've met his type before. Don't be frightened, darling.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

You will understand, Mr. Clover, that. Mrs. Hanson.

[Nola Hanson]

Nola, darling, please take your hand from me.

[Dale Hanson]

In the presence of this gentleman. It is not.

[Nola Hanson]

Do you realize what you're doing to this boy, Mr. Clover? You frighten him. Because he's been harassed by men like you before.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

By police.

[Nola Hanson]

You're all alike, whatever they call you. Police authority, men on horseback, men in uniform. Only you're not, are you, Mr. Clover? On horseback, I mean, or in uniform. But Kurt has met you before.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

What Mrs. Hansen is trying to say for me, and I would wish he did not.

[Nola Hanson]

Kurt, I was only trying to.

[Dale Hanson]

What Mrs. Hansen is trying to say

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

is that I served with the Nazi Alpine Corps against my will.

[Dale Hanson]

That I deserted them.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

That my innocence has been proven by

[Dale Hanson]

your occupation forces in my native Germany.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

That my relationship with Mrs. Hanson is only.

[Dale Hanson]

Only that.

[Nola Hanson]

Mr. Clover, I'm a sort of fading employment agency for young men who fly beautifully through the air.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Your husband said he was afraid for you, Mrs. Hanson. That something was going to happen to you.

[Nola Hanson]

Something bad. By whose hand?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Your stepdaughter's? Maybe Kurt's. Maybe your husband's maybe.

[Nola Hanson]

Shall I give you my reaction, Mrs. Hanson? I'll give it to you. My reaction. Connie, my stepdaughter. Pathetic girl. She's so in love with Kurt. She might hurt me, even try to kill me. Yes, she might. And I could understand it, believe me, I could. And my husband, You've met him. He's vicious.

[Connie Hanson]

No.

[Nola Hanson]

But if he stooped to soil his hands that much, it would astonish me. And Kurt, my Kurt. Could you hurt me? Why?

[Dale Hanson]

I want you to go away from here, Nola.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Someplace where you will be safe. Where you.

[Nola Hanson]

You're frightened for me, Kurt. You don't want anything to happen to me, your nice American friend.

[Dale Hanson]

That inn in Vermont. There is snow there now. You will enjoy it, Nola.

[Nola Hanson]

We'll talk about it, okay? When this gentleman leaves, we'll talk about it.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I wish to assure you, sir, he's leaving now.

[Nola Hanson]

Good. See, I'm helping him with his coat, and then we'll discuss it here. A tug on your jacket, Mr. Clover, and you're ready for the street. Goodbye, Mr. Clover.

[Dale Hanson]

Danny.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Come on in, Mugavin. What's on your mind?

[Dale Hanson]

Nothing. Just going home, Danny. How about you?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, a few minutes.

[Dale Hanson]

You bowling tonight?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah. Yeah, I guess so.

[Dale Hanson]

Don't do me any favors. You don't feel like bowling? Say you don't feel like bowling.

[Nola Hanson]

Yeah.

[Dale Hanson]

What's the matter with you?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I'm bewildered, Mugavin. You ever get bewildered?

[Dale Hanson]

That's why I bowl so much. It takes my mind off the many times I'm bewildered.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I can't figure those people. Each one of them. Dale Hansen, his wife, his daughter. That Kurt Bauer.

[Dale Hanson]

What about him?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I don't know. If I said they were strange, would you know what I meant? Uh, me either. There's something shrill about all of them, like they were waiting for something to happen. Like each was waiting for the other to make a move. One of them. Danny Clover Speaking.

[Dale Hanson]

Dale Hanson. Mr. Clover.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Yes, what is it, Mr. Hansen?

[Dale Hanson]

Have you been inside Kurt's apartment recently?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

About three hours ago. Why?

[Dale Hanson]

I suggest a revisit. I strongly suggest it, Mr. Clover. Goodbye. Who was it, Danny?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I'll tell you on the way. Come on.

[Dale Hanson]

Door's wide open, Danny.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Thank you very much for the information. Margovan. Go on in.

[Dale Hanson]

Right. All right. What's supposed to be here in Kurt's apartment?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I don't know. Look in that. That room,

[Dale Hanson]

Danny. Look. Look, Danny.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

He stood there in the doorway. Mugavin did, pointing. Pointing at Kurt Bauer lying there on the bed, arms outstretched like the beginning of an Embrace like the end of one. And beneath the white silk scarf around his throat was the shaft of a ski pole, steel tipped, impaling him. It was the thing that killed him. The thing that had murdered Kurt Bauer.

[Commercial Voice]

You are listening to Broadway Is My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. Robert Q. Lewis is in the Waxworks for a solid hour of pop tunes every Saturday night on CBS Radio. If you go in for 10 Pan Alley favorites, come in for Robert Q's Waxworks. Just a little bit later tonight on most of these same stations. Robert C's name guests who know their music and sometimes sing it. America's discs, America currently selled on. Enjoy them all on Robert Q's Waxworks. Later tonight on CBS Radio.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

It's the time that was saved up for Saturday night on Broadway. The time when the great explosion flings itself out over the city and the lights climb in columns against the wall of night. Like licking serpents, crowd gathers to give it voice. The hawkers, the gawkers, the hurry up boys, the take it easy girls, the laughers, the weepers, the footsteps, the sigh of silk, the whispers. And inside a thin sheet of glass away the cockpit on the varnished bar and the piano and the secret sounds from a corner table. This is it, kid. Broadway in the blaze of the moon. Saturday night time. And the night had an hour in it to find a man murdered, to consider him, to watch the police technical department attend him, talk to the medical examiner. The hour to officiate, then to leave and to make a call to Dale Hanson, summon him to headquarters.

[Dale Hanson]

For the first time in my life, Mr. Glover, I feel. Well, municipal, like a citizen. It has the shade of a sensation about it.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

You knew we'd find Kurt Bauer, dad, didn't you?

[Dale Hanson]

Of course. I called you from the phone next to his deathbed. I've been complimented before on my presence of mind, so you needn't bother. Did you kill him, Mr. Hanson? You are Mr. Clover's, I suppose you people would say, sidekick. Did you kill him? Certainly not. I went to give him his fee for making my dear ones proficient on ice.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Let's see that medical examiner's report, Mugavin. Thanks. Kurt Baumer died at about 7 o', clock, according to this.

[Dale Hanson]

And I called you at 9. From 6 to 8:30 I was being sweated and massaged. You may check my club, the Hermitage Club.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Check it.

[Dale Hanson]

Muggle, Gramercy. 5, 11, 10.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Let me ask you something, Mr. Hanson.

[Dale Hanson]

Certainly.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

You tried to throw us off the track didn't. You told me your wife was in danger. While it was.

[Dale Hanson]

Believe me, this whole turn of events is merely a pleasant surprise.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Who killed him, Mr. Handsome?

[Dale Hanson]

I suppose someone who's 40 is pleasant surprises. I caused you to frown. Forgive me.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Did you know your daughter was in love with him?

[Dale Hanson]

She'll grieve.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

And your wife?

[Dale Hanson]

My wife is a foolish woman and harmless. Her attempts to recapture a lost youth is saddening, but I bear with it.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I just spoke to a man surnamed Bill.

[Dale Hanson]

Danny. Yeah, yeah. He baked him and massaged him from 6 to 8. Give him a half hour to get dressed.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

You're in the clear, Mr. Hanson. You can get out of. Then the phone call to the Hanson apartment. Be plugged into the chauffeur's quarters. Be told in a crescendo of yawns that Mrs. Nola Hansen had been taken to Grand Central at about 4 o' clock for a jaunt to Vermont. That she packed three custom made bags, stopped off at Brooks Brothers for an under suit of woolies, then to your room to watch the October night die out of your H. Then the morning and the quick searing coffee against the. Caldwell made the call on Connie Hansen, stepdaughter of Nola. Hater of Nola, Unloved by Kurt. Miss Hansen, please.

[Nola Hanson]

Who are you?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Police.

[Nola Hanson]

Now, you mustn't trouble Miss Constance with why she tried to do away with herself.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

She tried to commit suicide. When?

[Nola Hanson]

Last night.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Can I see her?

[Nola Hanson]

Well, Dr. Left things like you to my discretion.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Can I see her?

[Nola Hanson]

Well, I don't see what harm it'll do.

[Dale Hanson]

Come along,

[Nola Hanson]

Miss Constance.

[Connie Hanson]

It didn't make me any more attractive, did it?

[Nola Hanson]

I thought maybe.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Why, Ms.

[Dale Hanson]

Handsome?

[Nola Hanson]

Why? Kurt's dead. Haven't you heard? I ever tell you about Kurt? Beautiful Kurt? Handsome Kurt.

[Connie Hanson]

You're not a woman. So you don't know what it was

[Nola Hanson]

when he touched you. Even by mistake, he never drew his

[Connie Hanson]

hand away from you.

[Nola Hanson]

The minute he did, I could gush like this forever.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

You could have killed him, tried suicide, knowing it wouldn't work.

[Connie Hanson]

To make us think you're a ray of sunshine, Mr. Colbert.

[Nola Hanson]

You really are a big help.

[Connie Hanson]

You're thinking I could kill Kurt. That makes me something, doesn't it?

[Nola Hanson]

Really?

[Connie Hanson]

Something a girl a man could want. A man could want a girl like that.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I'm sorry, Ms. Hanson.

[Dale Hanson]

I know.

[Nola Hanson]

You better leave, don't you think?

[Dale Hanson]

Danny.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Oh, hello, Gino.

[Dale Hanson]

Happy holiday.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Oh, thanks, Gino, I. Holiday? What holiday?

[Dale Hanson]

You kidding?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

No. No, I'm not. What holiday?

[Dale Hanson]

Why, Danny, on this date in 1774, Samuel Adams did call together the Continental Congress.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Oh, I. I guess it slipped my mind.

[Dale Hanson]

Don't let it bother you. Last year I forgot too. And, Danny, to celebrate this auspicious occasion, I gave my oldest, Emilio, a new Columbia bicycle. Why, what a happy laughing lad he was upon receiving it.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I'm sure he was.

[Dale Hanson]

Well, Danny, let us not twaddle to work.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

If you insist.

[Dale Hanson]

As indeed I do. However, the news I have to give you is pause.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

It's what?

[Dale Hanson]

Pause. Not much of it. I put in a phone call to Vermont and The inn where Mrs. Hanson is staying. She was out walking the hill, so I left a message to get down here post haste.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Now, what else do you know?

[Dale Hanson]

Well, I already told you, Danny, that the news would. Hello, Muggleman. Hi, Gino. Danny. Yeah, I've been over the immigration department most of the morning, checking on Kurt Bauer.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

What'd you find out?

[Dale Hanson]

Not much we don't know already. He was in the German army, deserted. You know what Kurt told you? Just one thing, though. Yeah? Bauer came over here with his mother. Set her up in a little house out in Flushing. Here's the address.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Oh, thanks. Margavan.

[Nola Hanson]

Court was something fine, Herr Clover. Something beyond your understanding.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I met him. Mrs. Bauer talked to him. He told me he was a deserter.

[Nola Hanson]

My court was a man of intelligence. When promises, dreams were not what they pretended to be. Cort fled from them as he fled from your authorities in our country.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

He said he'd been an unwilling Nazi. That he was cleared.

[Nola Hanson]

He was. But it was still flight. Because Mrs. Hanson beckoned.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

She loved him.

[Nola Hanson]

Many have loved court. Many Mrs. Hansons younger, richer, less greedy for youth. And many husbands have wished my court dead for this.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Dale Hanson.

[Nola Hanson]

A curious man. This house. It was his gift to court. Court's clothes, his apartment, money to spend.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

You mean they were a gift through Mrs. Hanson?

[Nola Hanson]

No, not from him. From him personally. Because my court went to him when we came to your country. Explained to him his interest in Mrs. Hanson was only professional. She had talent for skiing. Explained to him his gratitude for the opportunities of your country? My court was an intelligent man.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

You could call it that.

[Nola Hanson]

Was it not intelligent of him to go to Mr. Hanson immediately when you found him with Mrs. Hanson? When you told them of her husband's fear for her? Kurt did that immediately to ask of Mr. Hanson's favour of money for our return to our home. Kurt had no wish to be present when.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

What did Hanson do?

[Nola Hanson]

He promised Kurt the money. He told Kurt to come here to me. He would bring the money to us. You wish more from me, Mr. Clover?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

No, nothing. And leave there. Get back to Manhattan and back to headquarters. Check in and make another phone call. Call Vermont and talk to a desk clerk and be given answers. Then to a Park Avenue apartment where you'd been once before.

[Dale Hanson]

Ms. Clover, come in.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Watch Mr. Hanson as he took up his post again next to Plato. And then noticed that to the room another treasure had been added. His wife, Nola Hanson.

[Dale Hanson]

This is a delight.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

I'm glad you're back in town, Mrs. Hanson.

[Dale Hanson]

We're all glad.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

You've heard about Kurt, haven't you?

[Nola Hanson]

I cried for him on the train all the way to Boston.

[Dale Hanson]

Then she met a Harvard professor. He took a clinical interest in her.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

How did you find out about Kurt? While you were in Vermont, Mrs. Hanson.

[Nola Hanson]

Your sergeant left word about what happened. The desk clerk at the end gave me quite a detailed report.

[Dale Hanson]

I forgot to tell you something, Nolan.

[Nola Hanson]

What?

[Dale Hanson]

I saw Kurt a little before the police. I went to his chambers to speak with him about you. There he was, that tool of his trade. Right through his chest.

[Nola Hanson]

I cried. I really did.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Have either one of you heard about your daughter? About Connie?

[Dale Hanson]

Yes. She tried to commit suicide.

[Nola Hanson]

She does that frequently, Mr. Clover. However, she's very careful not to succeed. By now she knows precisely to the pill. Her limit, she never exceeds it.

[Dale Hanson]

Poor, desperate girl. I wish I could feel more fatherly about her.

[Nola Hanson]

How could you, dear? Connie's so tall and you know.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Let me ask you something, Mrs. Hanson.

[Nola Hanson]

Yes?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

When I first met you, you were with Kurt Bauer. You were a different person.

[Dale Hanson]

Nola has that talent.

[Nola Hanson]

Thank you, Dave.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

When I first met you, Mrs. Hanson you seemed so concerned about Kurt, so warm toward him.

[Nola Hanson]

He was alive then.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

That's your talent, huh?

[Nola Hanson]

Precisely. Alive. Kurt was something shining, vibrant. Dead, at least. Dead?

[Dale Hanson]

He sure, sure is. Well, Nola.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Mr. Hanson.

[Dale Hanson]

Don't be embarrassed, Mr. Clover. Nola and I will say our goodbyes right in front of you.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

You planned it all, didn't you, Mr. Hanson?

[Dale Hanson]

Exceedingly well, don't you think?

[Nola Hanson]

Let a girl in on it, will you, boys? What are you two talking about?

[Dale Hanson]

About something exquisite, Nola. I had a man murdered and Mr. Clover can't touch me.

[Nola Hanson]

You murdered Kurt?

[Dale Hanson]

I didn't say that, my dear.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

What time did you catch the train for Vermont, Mrs. Hansen?

[Nola Hanson]

Oh, let me see now. Chauffeur drove me to the station a little before four and the train left soon after that.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

The train left? But you didn't.

[Nola Hanson]

What do you mean?

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

There was a train at 4 and another one at 8. You took the one at 8. I called the Inn at Vermont. You arrived too late to have taken the 4 o' clock train.

[Nola Hanson]

You mean I stayed around that dismal station all that time?

[Dale Hanson]

You don't pay attention, Nola. He didn't say that either.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

That's right. I didn't. You didn't stay at the station. You used that time to murder Kurt Bauer.

[Nola Hanson]

Me?

[Dale Hanson]

This is very important, Nola. You really should make an effort to concentrate. He said you.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Your husband said he had a murder committed. He was right. He had you commit the murder, Mrs. Hanson.

[Nola Hanson]

Dale, do you expect me to listen to that?

[Dale Hanson]

I do. Indeed I do.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Your husband's a clever man. He understands people. He knows how people close to him will react.

[Dale Hanson]

Right.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Right. He set something in motion, Mrs. Hanson, through me. He used me to frighten Kurt away from you. I told Kurt that something might happen to you. Kurt didn't want to be mixed up in it, so he ran. Like he always ran from everything whenever there was trouble.

[Nola Hanson]

Kurt didn't run. I ran.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Kurt told you to go. While you were away, he planned to leave the country. I found that out, too.

[Dale Hanson]

I drew a diagram about what was going to happen. It has. So congratulate me, Nola.

[Nola Hanson]

Dale. Dale, help me.

[Dale Hanson]

That's more emotion than you've shown to me for years. Truly, Nola, I've missed it. That's why I did what I did. I grew bored about being embarrassed among my friends about you.

[Nola Hanson]

Dale, help me.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

So you killed Kurt, Mrs. Hanson, because he was walking out on you. He told you that when you were waiting for the train, when you went to see him.

[Nola Hanson]

Listen to me, Dale. You've got to help me. I was foolish. I was foolish before you. You stopped me before. All you had to do this time was to tell me to stop. And it was innocent, Dale. You know that. Listen, Dale. I was doing it for Connie. For your daughter. She's so unattractive. I was trying to convince Kurt to be kind to her, to love her. Don't you see? Don't you see, Dale?

[Dale Hanson]

And when you do have an emotion for me, my dear, it's so distasteful. Goodbye, Nola.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Nighttime blares down Broadway, the canyon streets Gather it in like some passion and the night is a backdrop for a million fragments Neon and roar and melting shapes and shock clots of crowd. It's a fury that sweeps you up and holds you close and throws you into the gutter of your choice. It's Broadway, the gaudiest the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway My Beat.

[Commercial Voice]

Broadway's My Beat stars Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover with Charles Calvert 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, Betty Lou Gerson was heard as Nola Hansen and Ted Osborne as Dale Hanson. Featured in the cast were Mary Shipp, Irene Tedro and Robert Boone. When squire Jack Benny invites the whole gang to a swank Hollywood nightclub, the natural question arises in everybody's mind. Who's picking up the check? They'll find out, and so will you. Tomorrow night when CBS radio brings you Jack Benny time. Bill Anders speaking. And remember, the Frankie Lane show is your date. With slick syncopation every Sunday afternoon on the CBS radio.

[Nola Hanson]

Sam,

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

One point I do want to acknowledge here is that Danny seems to have moved forward a little bit and his conclusion that people can be prosecuted for manipulating others into committing murder even though they had nothing to do with it. Here it's kind of acknowledged that husband manipulated events but can't be held legally liable, which that's legally correct, but different than what they've done before. It'll be interesting to see if we have other cases where, where they try to have Danny arrest someone for manipulation. Now, that's not to say that it's not wrong and immoral, but not everything immoral is illegal, which can often be a dilemma for fictional detectives. In fact, one fictional detective, and I won't reveal who, for those who have not read the book, actually committed murder in order to stop someone who manipulated others into committing murder to prevent more murders from occurring. But Danny faces no such dilemma here. I did have to kind of question the idea of making quitting the Nazi army as part of the case that Bauer quit everything. Perseverance is important, don't get me wrong, but there's a limit. I mean, what Barry's gonna say to the kid, you know, if you're going to quit on a genocidal lunatic destroying his own country. Can you really be expected to follow through on anything? I mean, that's an absurd situation to set up, and there had to be a better way to make the point. And the thing is that they made this guy Ger and gave him this background just to make that point, rather than having this point that Kurt left the German army because he couldn't stick with anything. Well, listener comments and feedback now. And we go to Spotify, where Adriana comments regarding the Mario Lavecchia murder case. Deeply moving. The more episodes I hear, the more I prefer Danny's character to Philip Marlowe. Well, that's high praise indeed. I guess that if there's a difference, that might work in Danny's favor. In that sort of comparison, it's the way in which he and Marlo relate to the world. It's not just a matter of Marlo being a private detective and Danny being a cop. With Marlo, particularly in the radio version, the characters that inhabit his world are all in their own little private space, separate from one another and disconnected from the rest of the world and from Marlow. And he comes into their situation as the ultimate outsider. With Danny, he approaches crime as someone who belongs to the same order overall world. He is part of Broadway, and he is connected to this community in many ways. And in many cases, he is maybe one or two degrees of separation removed from the murder victim. So while Marlow solves crimes and comes into situations as the knight in tarnished armor, Danny does so as someone who is part of this community and feels the weight of the deaths of his fellow New Yorkers. And in some ways, that reflects some of the differences between New York City and Los Angeles of the era. Los Angeles was this growing city that was changing and reinventing itself all the time with so many people coming into LA from other places around the country. While New York was much more established, many more people having been in places for multiple generations with deeper roots and deeper connections. Now, certainly both cities have evolved over time, but I think the rootedness of of Danny is a bit of a strength in this comparison. All right, well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Peter Patreon supporter Since March of 2025, currently supporting the podcast at the Master detective level of $15 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Peter. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us. You 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 Dragnetware.

[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

The newspapers weren't too specific. How did he manage to escape the way he did? I always thought state penitentiaries were well guarded. Apparently, Blair was one of the trusted prisoners. A minimum security prison to begin with, Father. I see. I suppose Blair and the man he escaped with thought about it a good deal. According to the paper, it was well planned. When did they get away? Last night? It was this morning. Prison officials figured about 2am slugged a guard and went over the wall. Somehow the two of them got hold of a gun, held up a motorist on the highway and stole his car. That's the last report they had. Terrible. Do the police consider them dangerous? Well, they're armed, Father. Both of them were doing time for robbery. They've both used guns before. How about possible contacts he might have out of town? Father, can you help us there at all? I'm afraid not, Sergeant. I think Stan knew some people in San Francisco. I don't know their names or addresses, though. I haven't any idea. And there's no special person or place that you know of that he'd be likely to go if he heads back for Los Angeles? No, none I can think of. You imagine he'd be likely to come back here? We're not sure. Last report we had seemed to indicate Blair and his partner were heading this way. Prison's only about 40 miles away. Could be there in the city now. I don't understand. I mean, with all the police looking for them, why would they come back here? They probably figure they can find cover a lot easier than they could in some of the small towns. Sergeant? Yeah, Father? Do you think they'll have trouble taking Stan? I mean, can they take him alive? Well, we'll try our best to make it that way. It's like I told you, Father. He's got a gun. If he's cornered this, there's a good chance he might try to shoot his way out.

[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box thirteendetectives.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.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

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[Narrator / Detective Danny Clover]

Yeah, it's more than a treat.

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[Nola Hanson]

it's time for Trash Day Nose yoga with Hefti. Let's transform stinky scenarios with a joyful scent of fabuloso. Inhale you forgot to empty your kid's lunchbox.

[Connie Hanson]

Exhale a field of lavender. Inhale stinky leftovers.

[Nola Hanson]

Exhale watermelon in the summer.

[Connie Hanson]

That's the power of hefty. Ultra strong trash bags with Fabuloso.

[Podcast Host Adam Graham]

Hefty Hefty Hefty.