Broadway's My Beat: The Pablo Morari Murder (EP4868)

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast Title: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio | Daily Mystery Dramas
Episode: Broadway's My Beat: The Pablo Morari Murder (EP4868)
Release Date: December 17, 2025
Original Air Date: June 30, 1951
Host: Adam Graham
Featured Drama: Broadway's My Beat – “The Pablo Morari Murder”

Brief Overview

This episode features a classic installment from the radio crime drama "Broadway's My Beat," focusing on Detective Danny Clover as he unravels the murder of Pablo Morari and the mysterious death of Paula Chopak. The story delves into youth street clubs, peer pressure, drugs, and tragedy amid the neon-lit, restless energy of mid-century Broadway. Adam Graham provides his usual insightful commentary after the drama, including feedback on cast performances and listener comments.

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Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. Atmosphere and Setting

• Detective Danny Clover opens the episode, painting a moody, evocative picture of Broadway before dawn—a place filled with isolation and restless souls ([01:36–03:00]).
  • “Broadway is an island of silence, torn from the blazing neon... Through them move the rejects, the stragglers, the wanderers, the men without sleep.” (Danny Clover)
• The episode's tone is set as hardboiled, poetic, and distinctly urban.

2. The Case Unfolds: Pablo Morari Found Dead

• Discovery: Pablo Morari’s body is found near a club called the Hudson Club ([03:00]).
  • Minimal possessions: a $5 bill, a saint’s medallion, and an ID ([03:06]).
• Investigation Begins:
  • Residents questioned, little insight provided.
  • Initial theory suggests Pablo's death could be related to gang/club activities ([03:47]).

3. Interview with Club Figures

• Johnny Hammett, Hudson Club president, is introduced—plausibly a suspect or at least a pivotal character among the Hudson crowd ([04:54]).
  • Johnny tries to distance the club from the murder:
    "Pablo wasn't a member... he just hung around." ([05:49])
  • Club described as inclusive—sports, dances, and “the girls do most of the arranging” ([05:22–05:30]).
• Toby Nelson, club’s muscle, is next in line for interrogation ([07:02]).
  • Deflects with bravado, but mentions "Paula Chopak" as a new club member and a personal love interest ([07:45–08:09]).

4. The Paula Chopak Thread

• Detective Clover’s visit to Paula’s home introduces her grieving mother—another scene layered with immigrant struggles and motherly pride ([09:01–10:49]).
  • Paula herself is withdrawn, frightened, and ultimately unhelpful when questioned about the events ([10:49–12:03]).
  • "I got nothing to tell you. So go tell mom. I got nothing to say to a policeman." (Paula, [11:56])

5. A New Turn: Paula’s Tragic Death

• News arrives that Paula Chopak was found dead, washed up on the beach at Far Rockaway—potentially an accident or murder ([13:12]).
• Johnny Hammett admits to being present but insists it was simply an accident during a post-party swim ([14:09–14:53]).
  • "She hit her head on one of those rocks... I didn't know till I hit the beach she was dead." (Johnny, [14:15])
  • Overcome, Johnny admits: "I killed Paula." (Johnny, [14:53])
• The tragedy expands, echoing the dangers of unsupervised youth gatherings and impulsive actions.

6. Suspicions Rise, Alibis Fray

• Police questioning cycles through Johnny and Toby, both young men linked with Paula and the club ([16:10–20:03]).
  • Johnny clings to his story: an accident, not foul play.
  • Toby, jealous and bitter after having been rejected by Paula, offers his version—she left with Johnny after slapping him ([19:28]).
  • "She wanted Johnny." (Toby, [19:36–19:41])
• Paula’s mother recounts her daughter’s odd behavior and illness after a club function, hinting at substance use ([21:08–22:30]).
  • "She [was] sick. White. Sick. Like ghost." (Mrs. Chopak, [22:22])

7. Break in the Case: The Bathing Cap Clue

• Forensics reveal that Paula was not wearing her bathing cap when she entered the water, contradicting Johnny’s version of events ([24:40–25:08]).
  • “If she was wearing the cap when she hit the rock, it would have held some of the blood—which means it was put on her after she was carried to the beach.” (Forensic insight, relayed by Mugaman)

8. Confrontation and Confession (Climax)

• Back at the Hudson Club, tensions boil over as Detective Clover confronts Johnny and Toby ([25:34–28:50]).
  • The marijuana angle emerges: initiation into the club involves drug use; Paula had become ill after taking part. Johnny is exposed as a manipulative ringleader supplying drugs to make girls malleable ([27:31–27:47]).
  • When confronted, Johnny crumbles:
    • "She was so beautiful, Mr. Clover... She refused more of your cigarettes... Funny. Worked before." (Johnny, [28:34–28:47])
  • The final implication: he killed Paula when she rebuffed his advances and drugs.

9. Aftermath & Reflection

• The narrative closes with a mournful comment on Broadway's streets—how life moves on but the scars of violence, loss, and predation remain beneath the surface ([29:29]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Opening Monologue on Broadway:
  • “Broadway is an island of silence... you hurry on, close your heart to it, because the whimper was yours.” (Danny Clover, [01:36])
• Johnny's Bitter Descent:
  • "It always worked, you know. It got so they'd come around here begging for the stuff... A young man like me, Connections is like a king. I'll tell you another funny thing. I wouldn't touch this stuff." (Johnny, [28:50–29:09])
• Mother's Lament:
  • "She is dead now. Paula is... They sit, they cry, they touch my shoulder. They don't know what words to say to me." (Mrs. Chopak, [22:31])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Atmospheric Opening / Crime Scene: [01:36–03:14]
• Danny questions Johnny Hammett: [04:54–06:14], [16:10–17:58]
• Toby Nelson Interview: [07:02–08:16], [18:29–20:03]
• Conversation with Paula & her mother: [09:01–12:03]
• Paula’s death—news coverage: [13:12]
• Post-mortem/forensic findings: [24:40–25:08]
• Final confession and arrest: [25:34–28:50]
• Adam Graham’s commentary begins: [32:20]

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Host Commentary & Listener Feedback

Adam Graham weighs in on:

• Richard Crenna’s Range:
  • “He is best known in old time radio circles as the voice of Walter Denton, but had such great range... You couldn’t get two characters further apart than that.” ([32:20–33:17])
• Listener Comments:
  • Feedback on previous episodes, insight into club structure, authenticity of plot details, and nostalgic reflection on how Tartaglia’s segments structure the show ([34:17–38:54]).

Notable Feedback Excerpt:

• Listener Eric:
  • “Tartaglia’s voice is different than anyone else’s on the show… more than a great character, he’s a useful structural device.” ([34:52–36:33])

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Conclusion

This episode offers a somber, gritty look at youth culture, peer pressure, and consequences in mid-century New York, laced with introspective narration and powerful performances. “Broadway’s My Beat” stands out not just for its suspense, but for the depth and tragedy at its core—expertly highlighted by Adam Graham’s commentary and the classic radio cast at their best.

Transcript

[Danny Clover]

Sam.

[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 can support the show using the Zell app to [e-mail]. you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month by going to patreon.greatdetectives.net now from June 30, 1951, here is the Pablo Mollari Mur.

[Johnny Hammett]

Broadway's My Beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway's my beat. With larry thor as detective danny clover. In the time before dawn, Broadway is an island of silence, torn from the blazing neon, the midnight sun of the spectaculars. The river mists mingle with the vapors rising from manhole covers. Through them move the rejects, the stragglers, the wanderers, the men without sleep. One detaches himself, scavenges in a trash bin choked with the remnants of night, Finds nothing, moves on to the next. It's the time of the endless search, the restlessness of an anguish you can't understand. On the street built for the purpose, you walk it and a shadow whimpers. And you hurry on, close your heart to it, because the whimper was yours. And finally you must put aside whatever it was you were looking for. Because on a side street, a man waits for you to give you the nighttime's departing gift. The boy lying dead against the iron gate of the tenement's basement court.

[Danny Clover]

Pablo Molari, Danny. From Uptown West 109th Street. Carried one of those handwritten identification cards.

[Johnny Hammett]

Find anything else on him?

[Danny Clover]

Not much. $5bill in his wallet. His saint's medallion he's wearing on a chain around his neck. That's about all.

[Johnny Hammett]

Now you question the people in.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, Danny. Every door no one ever heard of. The kid had nothing to do with him. Didn't want to talk about him. You know, Most of them were trying to sleep. The heat. The kid's squalling, you know.

[Johnny Hammett]

Yeah. Beaten, jawbroken. This bruise on his throat must be.

[Danny Clover]

The one that killed him. Here, come down here, Danny.

[Johnny Hammett]

What?

[Danny Clover]

Take a look at the sign on this door. Hudson Club. Johnny Hammett, President I guess it's one of those street clubs the kids make up for themselves. This neighborhood's loaded with them.

[Johnny Hammett]

You think what happened to this kid is part of it?

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, I think. What do you think?

[Johnny Hammett]

Maybe. Check it. Muggerman. I'll get back to you. And wait now for the decent hour. Give to someone a few more hours of sleep before breaking the news about the death of a young man. And at 8:30 to an address on West Hundred and Ninth Street. Climb four flights and be careful of the rotting steps and the three year olds at play. The door opens to your knock and the woman who pinches her shawl close to her throat doesn't understand what you're saying and calls a neighbor who understands, who explains to the woman the mother of a murdered young man explains what must be done. Accept the fact of death, identify the body, bury her son, then walk away from all of it. You've started a new day. Call headquarters. Detective Mugaman gives you an address. Looked for and found and checked by the night shift. Johnny Hammett, president of the Hudson Club. A tenement on West 43rd near the docks. Johnny's glad for the company.

[Danny Clover]

I dislike having my coffee alone, Mr. Clover.

[Johnny Hammett]

You work, Johnny?

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, here and there. Mostly on Broadway, sir. People always want things done.

[Johnny Hammett]

You mean you run errands?

[Danny Clover]

No, if you think all it is is running down to the corner drugstore. No, Broadway, Mr. Clover. It's full of tourists.

[Johnny Hammett]

Anybody else live here with you?

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, my father. I think he still does. Hardly ever see him.

[Johnny Hammett]

How's the Hudson Club coming along?

[Danny Clover]

Oh, fine, fine, thank you.

[Johnny Hammett]

What kind of club is it?

[Danny Clover]

Oh, a little bit of everything. Sports, dances, beach parties. The girls do most of the arranging.

[Johnny Hammett]

Girls?

[Danny Clover]

Isn't that funny? About a month ago I mentioned girls to my father. He had the same expression on his face as you do. Yeah, girls. I'm 19. I don't chalk walls anymore.

[Johnny Hammett]

Johnny, a member of your club was murdered last night. A boy by the name of Pablo Molari.

[Danny Clover]

Oh, Is he dead? Nah, he wasn't a member of the club, sir. He just hung around.

[Johnny Hammett]

What about him, Johnny? Who killed him?

[Danny Clover]

I didn't. And no one's come up to me since last night and said he did it either.

[Johnny Hammett]

Where were you last night?

[Danny Clover]

We had a meeting at the club. A special one. Initiations. Plans for the summer. Broke up about 2. I came right home.

[Johnny Hammett]

I want a list of your members, Johnny. Names, addresses.

[Danny Clover]

No. Sure. Before you go, look. Where was Pablo found?

[Johnny Hammett]

Outside your club, in the vestibule.

[Danny Clover]

Nelson might know Nelson. Toby Nelson. We had him in front of the door last night to keep away undesirables.

[Johnny Hammett]

Where can I find him?

[Danny Clover]

Works at a cigar and magazine counter in the Flick Building lobby. I wish there was more I could tell you. I really do. Sir. Hey sis, don't forget your change. Here you are, baby. Good luck at the track. What's yours, buster?

[Johnny Hammett]

Your name? Toby Nelson.

[Danny Clover]

Someone send you to ask an important question?

[Johnny Hammett]

Police.

[Danny Clover]

That buzzer could stand a little metal polish, mister.

[Johnny Hammett]

Don't worry about it.

[Danny Clover]

Oh, sure not. Tell me what I should worry about.

[Johnny Hammett]

About a boy named Pablo Molarity.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah, I've been reading him in the newspapers. What's he to me?

[Johnny Hammett]

He was found beaten to death in.

[Danny Clover]

Front of Hudson Club. I know, I know. It says so in the papers.

[Johnny Hammett]

What went on there last night?

[Danny Clover]

I'll have to read the minutes of the meeting. I was outside making these two big muscles. The tots who wanted in and couldn't get in.

[Johnny Hammett]

What happens at these initiations, Toby?

[Danny Clover]

Ah, kid stuff. You swear to do this and that and be a nice Hudson. To tell you the truth, I was embarrassed for the kid.

[Johnny Hammett]

Who are you talking about?

[Danny Clover]

Paula. Paula got taken into us last night. Johnny Hammett wanted it, so I arranged it. Paula Chopec. Which makes us fellow members. Which makes me happy. Happy?

[Johnny Hammett]

This Paula's your girl.

[Danny Clover]

Manicures. My pinkies look pretty job, huh? Gives me locks of hair. Knits me argyles. Oh, it's a nice thing we got tender.

[Johnny Hammett]

Paula Chopak.

[Danny Clover]

Uh huh.

[Johnny Hammett]

I've got her name on my list.

[Danny Clover]

She was on top of the grocery store corner 11th Avenue and 46.

[Johnny Hammett]

Yeah, thanks a lot, Toby.

[Danny Clover]

Anytime. Oh, here. Take a scratch sheet, mister. For free. Go ahead, take it. It's last Monday's.

[Johnny Hammett]

And bring to the top of the list Paula Chopak. Climb the stairs, knock on a door with the curtain panels of glass and hear the furtive scurrying behind it and the slam of another door inside. Then hear a woman's steps approaching and an instant of silence. Then the fumbling with the catch. And the door opens. The woman had not finished making herself presentable to the caller. The wrinkled cotton house dress needed another smoothing. The graying hair needed to be pressed back again from the forehead. The tired voice. There was nothing to be done about that.

[Mrs. Chopak]

Yes? Something.

[Johnny Hammett]

I'm from the police. Danny Clover.

[Mrs. Chopak]

It's good you're here. We not think police come so soon. Please to come in. Please. That chair. I sit by window in it by evening. It's comfortable, clean. You be cool Please, mister.

[Johnny Hammett]

Thank you. But I'd like to by my daughter.

[Mrs. Chopak]

To speak by Paula.

[Johnny Hammett]

Paula? Is she here?

[Mrs. Chopak]

Yes, by room, listening to records. But first, please, mister.

[Johnny Hammett]

First you want to tell me something, Mrs. Chobak.

[Mrs. Chopak]

About Paula. You. You see what I am, mister. But Paula by Horace, great beauty. By the face, by the rich black hair like crown she wears. At my Paula, my baby. I comb for her brush, wash, put in braids. By night for sleep. My Paula is good, clean, respectful to me, to such as you. Never trouble, never bring me tears.

[Johnny Hammett]

Will you call her, please?

[Mrs. Chopak]

Go to her. She wait for you. She say me policeman come this afternoon. I have much thing to tell him. My Paula say this to me. What my Paula got to say to policeman, mister? What?

[Johnny Hammett]

In that room?

[Mrs. Chopak]

Yes. You see, my Paula tell you her thing. Then you policeman go away from us, huh? Mr.

[Johnny Hammett]

Paula, I'm from the police.

[Mrs. Chopak]

I know. I heard.

[Johnny Hammett]

Your mother said you had something you want to tell me.

[Mrs. Chopak]

Mom's wrong.

[Johnny Hammett]

I don't think so. Tell me, Paula.

[Mrs. Chopak]

Mom can hardly speak English.

[Johnny Hammett]

Sometimes she doesn't understand the things I say to her.

[Mrs. Chopak]

I've got nothing for you.

[Johnny Hammett]

Besides, I'm busy brushing your hair. Let it alone for a while. Paula, talk to me. A boy was murdered last night in front of a club where you were initiated. Pablo Molari. Is that what you wanted to tell me about? What's the matter, Paul? You scared?

[Mrs. Chopak]

Look at me. You think you could scare me?

[Johnny Hammett]

Toby Nelson talked to me.

[Mrs. Chopak]

He said he told you I was sweet to him. Maybe told you I joined the Hudson's.

[Danny Clover]

Because he asked me. Because I used to jump when he asked that.

[Johnny Hammett]

He told you that too?

[Danny Clover]

Well, next time you see him, explain to him.

[Mrs. Chopak]

It's finished through.

[Johnny Hammett]

Wiped off my memory book.

[Mrs. Chopak]

Was it last night?

[Johnny Hammett]

What happened last night?

[Mrs. Chopak]

I got initiated in the club.

[Danny Clover]

What else can happen to a girl?

[Johnny Hammett]

Murder maybe. A murder she saw being committed. Maybe something she's afraid of.

[Danny Clover]

I said it once.

[Mrs. Chopak]

I got nothing to tell you.

[Danny Clover]

So go tell mom. I got nothing to say to a policeman.

[Mrs. Chopak]

It'll cheer her up.

[Johnny Hammett]

I hope you're right, Paula. For you, for your mother. I hope you're right.

[Danny Clover]

Danny. I give you the evening's greetings.

[Johnny Hammett]

Thanks a lot. Gino.

[Danny Clover]

You're here so late tonight. Why didn't you go home after you saw the Chopak girl?

[Johnny Hammett]

I had some work to do.

[Danny Clover]

Uh huh. Danny, would you mind very much if I regaled you with a tidbit that happened early this evening at the house of Tartaglia? Please do, Cousin Stanley. From gay Paris showed up after 10 these many years.

[Johnny Hammett]

Not him.

[Danny Clover]

Oh, him it was. And with arms akimbo with goodies. Nicks for Mrs. Tartaglia, knacks for the kiddies. And for me a great big bottle.

[Johnny Hammett]

Champagne, huh?

[Danny Clover]

Had a call, Danny.

[Johnny Hammett]

51 from Paris. Ha ha.

[Danny Clover]

Those continentals know how to live.

[Johnny Hammett]

Gino, did you have that list of the Hudson Club checked?

[Danny Clover]

Indeed I did. And each and every member swears under bylaws of the club that they know nothing of the murder of Pablo Malari.

[Johnny Hammett]

Danny Clover speaking.

[Danny Clover]

Squad cars downstairs for you. Danny. Paula Chopec was washed up on the beach at Far Rockaway a little while ago. Maybe an accident, Maybe homicide. You going, Danny?

[Johnny Hammett]

Right away. The night wind off the sea was soft warmed. It sighed against the flames of the beach. Fire strung along the coast riffled the sand across driftwood, across the litter. It brought close the far off sounds of a summer beach at night. The laughter from behind screen porches, the siren call of the ukulele gently strummed, the distant screeching of gulls. And closer, the other sounds. The lash and wash of the surf, the opening and setting up and adjusting of the mechanical device that attend the dead. And then the trembling voice of the boy who tries to tell you about the girl lying there. How it was, why it was.

[Danny Clover]

We were swimming, sir. Lost her. Someplace out there in the dark. I heard her kind of scream.

[Johnny Hammett]

Just you and Paula, Johnny?

[Danny Clover]

It was a beach party, like the ones I told you about. The other members left. Paula wanted to stay. Asked me to stay with her.

[Johnny Hammett]

You said she screamed. Why?

[Danny Clover]

She hit her head on one of those rocks out there. The high tide covers him up. I didn't know till I hit the beach. She was dead. I tried to. Dead? She is, isn't she? Look at me. I killed Paul.

[Johnny Hammett]

You are listening to Broadway's My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin, with Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. Tonight's the night. Yes. Beginning this evening, there'll be a new host on Songs for Sale. He's affable. Steve Allen, a young comedian whose likable personality you're really going to enjoy. Steve Allen becomes head salesman on Songs for Sale, introducing new songwriters and their tunes tonight over most of these same CBS stations. On an early summer's night, Broadway stands in a corner, leans against the orange juice stand and sums up the day. Some days are better than others. Some days you break even. You only had one end of the daily double. But the new blonde in the office looked over a shoulder etched and Smiled. And later, when she dabbed on her lipstick with a finger, she smiled again. It was quite a day today. The Dodgers passed. A miracle. You forgot to pay the check at the cafeteria and got away with it. And a girl, a song of a girl Was washed up on the beach at Far Rockaway. Here is maybe a tragic day, but here is a day. It was 11:30 toward the end of it when we got Johnny Hammett back to headquarters.

[Danny Clover]

Sit down there, Johnny. Cigarette kit? No. No, thank you. Maybe you'd rather have one at Danny's.

[Johnny Hammett]

Yeah. Here. Here, have one, Johnny.

[Danny Clover]

I don't want one. Guess Johnny doesn't like the brands we smoke. Danny, I just don't want to smoke, that's all. Can a man not want to smoke?

[Johnny Hammett]

Take it easy.

[Danny Clover]

Sure, sure. Relax, kid. Am I under arrest?

[Johnny Hammett]

You said you killed Paula.

[Danny Clover]

It was my fault. I shouldn't have let her swim out that far. Did you kill her or didn't you kill her? It was my fault. Who killed Pablo Mollari? You think I did?

[Johnny Hammett]

Did you, Johnny?

[Danny Clover]

You think I killed him, don't you, Mr. Clover? There you go again, Johnny. Look. Look, kid. Couple of your friends were killed. We're police. We're asking. I didn't kill anybody.

[Johnny Hammett]

You don't have to explain to Johnny Muggerman. He knows why he's here. He knows we need his help.

[Danny Clover]

Help, Johnny, that's what we want. We're not asking for a confession. Who's kidding?

[Johnny Hammett]

Who were you in love with?

[Danny Clover]

Paula. She wasn't around long enough.

[Johnny Hammett]

She was around tonight. What happened tonight?

[Danny Clover]

You know what happened. What's the matter with you? Look, Johnny, I'm gonna tell you something. You're not talking to your little hoodlum friends. You're talking to a policeman. Nobody's trying to intimidate you. Nobody's trying to make you say things you don't want to say. You're talking to a policeman that's trying to do his job. What happened tonight? We had a beach party.

[Johnny Hammett]

The Hudson School?

[Danny Clover]

Yes, sir. That's Brad. Paula and I came late. The others were already there.

[Johnny Hammett]

Toby Nelson?

[Danny Clover]

Yes, sir. Toby wanted to take Paula home. Paula wanted to stay, so we stayed. Paula and I. We were the last ones there.

[Johnny Hammett]

What made Paula want to stay?

[Danny Clover]

She'd never been swimming at night.

[Johnny Hammett]

And she swam up past the breakers and a wave washed her against a rock. Is that what happened?

[Danny Clover]

Yes, sir.

[Johnny Hammett]

All right, Johnny.

[Danny Clover]

Can I go now?

[Johnny Hammett]

Good night, Johnny. Thanks. What do you think, my good.

[Danny Clover]

You believe him?

[Johnny Hammett]

I don't know. I'm Going to check. I'm going to talk to Toby. Toby? Toby.

[Danny Clover]

Who wants me? You got a long nose, mister.

[Johnny Hammett]

Your landlady told me you were up here on the roof.

[Danny Clover]

Hers is even longer than yours. What's a guy have to do to get a square foot of bear to himself?

[Johnny Hammett]

Your girl's dead, Toby. Paula's dead.

[Danny Clover]

You're stale, mister. The smooth voices on the ready have been telling me Paula's dead for an hour now. Up here I thought I couldn't hear him. I hear him.

[Johnny Hammett]

Johnny Hammett says it was an accident.

[Danny Clover]

That makes it an accident.

[Johnny Hammett]

You were at the beach party, Toby.

[Danny Clover]

Never missing. Gives me a chance to show off my muscles to the members.

[Johnny Hammett]

You did that. Then what happened?

[Danny Clover]

Let me think now. Yeah, after that, I roasted the hot dogs for the group. We all ate hearty. Then it broke up.

[Johnny Hammett]

I came home and left Paula alone with Johnny.

[Danny Clover]

Yeah. That's the other thing I did.

[Johnny Hammett]

Paula was your girl. How come Johnny took her to the.

[Danny Clover]

Party if she was alive? You could ask her. I wouldn't know.

[Johnny Hammett]

Johnny says you wanted to take her home. Why didn't you?

[Danny Clover]

Because she slapped me across the mouth when I asked her. They all laughed. Johnny too. Then she laughed harder than anybody. That's how I got the message. She didn't want me to take her home. She wanted Johnny.

[Johnny Hammett]

Up to the night of the initiation at the Hudson Club, she was your girl. What happened there to make her turn on you? Toby, she's dead.

[Danny Clover]

Paula's dead. What else do you want from me? What else do I have to give you? How much can you. She's dead, mister. That's all I got.

[Johnny Hammett]

All right, Toby. And leave the boy alone. Give him the time and place of his grieving and the quality of it that's bled out of a tenement rooftop in a city stretching into the hours after midnight. Go away. Resign yourself that another day is over. The next morning and the legwork. Go now to a corner of the city where the sign says 11th Avenue and 46th. Climb the steps and stop at a door. Intrude upon two rooms newly filled with grieving.

[Mrs. Chopak]

Please. Please come in. Of my daughter, Mrs. Topak.

[Johnny Hammett]

The police are not satisfied that Paula.

[Mrs. Chopak]

Of my daughter Paula.

[Johnny Hammett]

There's a possibility that it wasn't an accident.

[Mrs. Chopak]

Paula is another room. The others neighbors by me. We have only boxes to sit on.

[Johnny Hammett]

I want you to try to understand what I'm saying.

[Mrs. Chopak]

Nothing. Nothing. I understand only up to yesterday. To yesterday when Paula said to me, mama, I'm going to swim with this Boy, this Johnny.

[Johnny Hammett]

Johnny Hammett.

[Mrs. Chopak]

Johnny. He called for her at first, my Paula. She said she would want to stay home rather. Then the boy said something to her. Then down low, over her ear. Paula took her suit for swimming, her cap, not to get her hair wet. Then she said what I said to you.

[Johnny Hammett]

I see. Just one more thing, Mrs. Chopak. The night before last, your daughter went out. Do you know where she went to?

[Mrs. Chopak]

Someplace to party. The clubhouse party.

[Johnny Hammett]

What time did she come home?

[Mrs. Chopak]

Late. I don't know.

[Johnny Hammett]

What time did you talk to her when she came home?

[Mrs. Chopak]

Only when I tried to give her help.

[Johnny Hammett]

Help.

[Mrs. Chopak]

Quite like ghost. I'm sick. I hear this. I get out of my bed. I come to her, I say, paula, you're sick. Mama get something.

[Danny Clover]

She.

[Mrs. Chopak]

She tell me, go away. Like I'm someone she never see before.

[Johnny Hammett]

Was she drunk?

[Mrs. Chopak]

Sick, has no whiskey? I smell sick. White. Sick. Like ghost.

[Johnny Hammett]

I see.

[Mrs. Chopak]

She's dead now. Paula is. And the neighbors? By me. They're in next room. They sit, they cry, they touch my shoulder. They don't talk. They don't know what words to say to me.

[Johnny Hammett]

Then walk the tenement street and have your passage greeted by the sudden silences of the yelling kids, the turning of backs after the furtive gesture of insult. Because somehow you were guilty of that anguish over the corner grocery store. Once you had been welcomed by a mother. For that you had left her a dead child. And on that street, the guilt was yours. So I got away from it. At headquarters. Read, reread the file on Malari. Dead of a beating on Paula Chopak, dead of a head wound while swimming at Rockaway. And finally read away the daylight and sit in darkness till a man comes in, looks at you for a moment, turns on a light.

[Danny Clover]

You don't mind the light, huh, Danny?

[Johnny Hammett]

It's all right, Gino. Thanks.

[Danny Clover]

I agree with you that this killing, this dying of kids makes one wish to sit alone in the dark. However.

[Johnny Hammett]

You got something for me, Gino?

[Danny Clover]

Danny, all I can give you is a comment upon the children of today. The clubs they must make for themselves. The things they do in said clubs. The hurt they bring upon themselves for so doing.

[Johnny Hammett]

Go on, Gino.

[Danny Clover]

It's in all the papers, Danny. How they go out of the way for new thrills, new sensations, new emotions. Only this morning, while shaving, I was bending an ear to the comment from the radio. I called in the Tartaglia.

[Johnny Hammett]

You got something, Magomen?

[Danny Clover]

I don't know, Danny. Maybe yes, maybe no.

[Johnny Hammett]

What?

[Danny Clover]

Gordon and Technical gave it to Me to give to you. See if the big man can figure it. He says to me, I got news about Gordon I actively dislike.

[Johnny Hammett]

What did he give you?

[Danny Clover]

He's been studying the bathing cap Paula Chopak wore to the beach party. He says it's curious why. He says the girl didn't have the cap on when she went into the water.

[Johnny Hammett]

Paula was proud of her hair. She'd have worn the cap. Why does he say she wasn't wearing it?

[Danny Clover]

Because there was no blood stain inside it. Gordon says if she was wearing the cap when she hit the rock, it would have held some of the blood. Which means? He says that the cap was put on her after she was carried to the beach.

[Johnny Hammett]

It means another thing. Mugman.

[Danny Clover]

What?

[Johnny Hammett]

Baller was murdered. Get me a squad car. Go away.

[Danny Clover]

We're not open.

[Johnny Hammett]

It's the police.

[Danny Clover]

What do you want?

[Johnny Hammett]

Let's go inside. I'll tell you inside. Toby. Are you the only Hudson here?

[Danny Clover]

Hey, Johnny, look what's here. We got a caller, Johnny. Good evening, Mr. Clover.

[Johnny Hammett]

Nice clubhouse you've got here.

[Danny Clover]

Can I show you around?

[Johnny Hammett]

Where's everybody? I thought you had quite an organization.

[Danny Clover]

They'll be around when you leave. People will start swarming in here. I'm glad you came, Mr. Clover.

[Johnny Hammett]

Thanks.

[Danny Clover]

Hey, what's with you, Johnny? You buy a cop for a friend? Don't pay any attention to him, sir. He doesn't know about policemen. He doesn't know they have a job to do.

[Johnny Hammett]

You understand all about that though, don't you?

[Danny Clover]

Hey, what's going on? Too bad about you, Toby. Huh? I said too bad about you. Your muscles, your temper. The mad you had on the other night. Hey, Johnny, what's eating you? Never saw Toby work over a guy, did you, Mr. Clover?

[Johnny Hammett]

No. Tell me about it.

[Danny Clover]

Once a boy tried to get in here. Tried real hard. Toby was in front of the door. The boy never made it.

[Johnny Hammett]

Pablo.

[Danny Clover]

Johnny. It wasn't premeditated, Mr. Clover. Toby didn't mean it. He was just angry about something.

[Johnny Hammett]

You're under arrest, Toby. Put out your hands.

[Danny Clover]

Gotta do something first.

[Johnny Hammett]

Don't be a fool.

[Danny Clover]

Take him off me. Yeah, take him off. Thanks. Thanks, Mr. Clover. That's just the way he went after that boy. He would have killed me.

[Johnny Hammett]

Toby will rest a while.

[Danny Clover]

What are you doing, Mr. Clover?

[Johnny Hammett]

Frisking him. Nice cigarette case. Cigarette, Johnny?

[Danny Clover]

Are you kidding? I don't smoke those.

[Johnny Hammett]

Don't blame you. Marijuana brings you grief. That's what it brought. Paula.

[Danny Clover]

Paula?

[Johnny Hammett]

Uh huh. Paula was a sick girl. After she got home from her Initiation. You have to smoke this stuff to become a member of your club.

[Danny Clover]

Oh, now, look.

[Johnny Hammett]

You look, Johnny. Paula was Toby's girl. You wanted her. That's why you insisted she become a member. Put her on this stuff, she'd lose her sense of values.

[Danny Clover]

You think I'd do anything like that?

[Johnny Hammett]

Yes, I do.

[Danny Clover]

You know me better than that.

[Johnny Hammett]

I know you killed her.

[Danny Clover]

I told you what happened out there on the beach.

[Johnny Hammett]

You forgot to tell me why she went there with you. What were you gonna do, Johnny? Tell her mother she was smoking marijuana? Is that why she went with you? Stayed at the beach after the others left?

[Danny Clover]

I don't know what to say to you, Mr. Clover. You're wrong. And I think you ought to take care of Toby here.

[Johnny Hammett]

Paula had beautiful hair, Johnny.

[Danny Clover]

I go along with that.

[Johnny Hammett]

She'd have worn her cap into the water. You killed her before she went into the water. How, Johnny? The rock, Mr. Clover. Then you threw her in the surf. Saw her suitably wet, pulled her back, remembered about the cap, put it on her. Why did you murder her?

[Danny Clover]

She was so beautiful. She was so beautiful, Mr. Clover.

[Johnny Hammett]

She refused more of your cigarettes.

[Danny Clover]

Funny. Worked before.

[Johnny Hammett]

Let's go, Johnny.

[Danny Clover]

It always worked, you know. It got so they'd come around here begging for the stuff. A young man like me, Connections is like a king. I'll tell you another funny thing. I wouldn't touch this stuff.

[Johnny Hammett]

Come on.

[Danny Clover]

Yes, sir.

[Johnny Hammett]

Broadway looks clean. The winds of the evening have swept away the litter. Everything looks sharp. Sharp like a knife at your heart. You walk against it and it plunges deeper, deeper until there's no pain at all. 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 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, Dick Crenna was heard as Johnny Hammett, Bill Tracy as Toby Nelson, Peggy Weber as Mrs. Chopat and Michael Ann Barrett as Paula Chopak. On July 8th next week, Broadway, Broadway Is My Beat will be heard on a new day, Sunday, beginning a week from tomorrow. Be sure to listen to Broadway Is My Beat and the Adventures of Danny Clover, starring Larry Thor. Bill Anders speaking. This is cbs, where Phil Regan brings you the serviceman's own show every Sunday on the Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Adam Graham]

I've got Dan Morgan here on the pod.

[Johnny Hammett]

Say hi, Dan. Hey, how's it going today?

[Danny Clover]

It's going good, man. Tell us who you are and what you do.

[Johnny Hammett]

I'm Dan Morgan. I'm an attorney and a managing partner at Morgan and Morgan, which is America's largest injury law firm. That's pretty awesome. I think I saw a billboard of.

[Danny Clover]

Yours recently that said 20 billion one. 20 billion is an insane number.

[Johnny Hammett]

Yeah, 20 billion recovered. It's actually, I think somewhere north, probably closer to 22, 23 after this year. And each year we get bigger and better and our army grows. So the number will hopefully keep getting bigger and bigger as time goes on. Awesome. So how does someone get in contact.

[Danny Clover]

With Morgan and Morgan? What would I do if I got into an accident?

[Johnny Hammett]

Probably the easiest way is dialing pound law. That's £529 from your cell phone. We are always open. Our call center is always waiting to take your call. 247 365.

[Danny Clover]

Wow. Dan Morgan from Morgan and Morgan, America's.

[Johnny Hammett]

Large injury law firm. Thanks for coming by the show. Thanks for having me. Visit forthepeople.com for an office near you.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. A good episode and I appreciated Richard Crenna who I didn't recognize in this, which is often the case for his sort of non sitcom, non comedy roles. And I have to give him credit, of course, he is best known in old time radio circles as the voice of Walter Denton on Armis Brooks. And there are some actors whose take on this character in this episode would be like the evil Walter Denton. And there are some similarities in terms of the character being young and the character kissing up to authority. But Corinna had such great range and could really make the characters all sound distinct. And of course Corinna's career had so many turns in it. And of course his biggest role. If you don't even think about old time radio, you think about Colonel Trautman in the Rambo films. I don't know how you could get two characters who were further apart than that. Although it is worth noting that Crenna played a parody of his character in the film Hot Shots Part Deux and the name of his character was Denton Walters. Now we turn to listener comments and feedback and we have some comments we're going to start out over on Spotify regarding the Frank Dunn murder case. Dr. Whodunit sums it up well. So Frank Dunn was done in for doing something Frank Dunn didn't do.

[Danny Clover]

Dang.

[Adam Graham]

And Then another listener, mechanic66 detected something fishy in that bar scene. I lived on Maui for 16 years when I first moved there I worked on tour boats. One of the things I learned was the state fish for the spiel we'd give the tourists. Therefore, I can tell you that not only did Milt and Danny pronounce it wrong, it's not authentic cuisine. It's not.

[Danny Clover]

It is.

[Adam Graham]

It's not considered edible, let alone served in restaurants, especially on the mainland. And he typed out the correct pronunciation. If I tried to read it, though, I would be sounding it out phonetically. It would sound worse and probably more inaccurate. But I appreciate this sort of local knowledge. I guess I can see two possibilities for how it would have worked in the episode. First is that the writers are having some private joke that themselves and maybe a limited number of other people might get. Or just writing an obscure joke like, hey, we're gonna have this club owner boast about serving a fish that's not edible and it's funny because you can't serve the fish. Well, it's not funny if you don't know it. The other option, though, is that the writers wrote something and didn't get their facts right. So those are the two or three possibilities I see, and I'll leave it to the discretion and imagination of listeners to decide which they would believe. Over on YouTube on the Earl Lawson murder case, have a comment from a listener who writes six hour developing. That was amazing, especially back then, of course, when. And I appreciate the comment. Of course, when I was growing up, the big thing was one hour developing. And I remember, I think we were. I was about six and we met a lady who ended up becoming a big friend of the family, and she had a Polaroid camera and took a picture and it came out instantly and I was utterly amazed. Now, one of these days I'm going to have to talk to my son and explain that pictures didn't always just become available immediately as soon as you take them. Definitely some changes in photographic technology over the years, Eric writes. I'm lukewarm on Broadway's My Beat as a whole, but Tartaglia has become one of my favorite secondary sidekick characters that has been featured on your show. After listening to your discussion about advertising during the Casey Crime Photographer Thanksgiving special, I started to think maybe a little too much about his segment's placement in the show. We don't have the ad breaks in these recordings, but it seems clear to me that the Tartaglia segments must come after the major commercial break. Tartaglia's voice is different than anyone else's on the show. Nasal, sharply accented, upbeat, with a slightly runyenesque speech pattern. This distinct voice would be an audio clue to people to start paying attention to the radio. The scenes themselves offer a little dialogue that is disconnected with the action and sum up important parts of the story, giving people a chance to settle back in. They then point Danny towards the second half action. He's more than a great character, he's a useful structural device. Well, Eric, I appreciate those thoughts on Tartaglia. Now, I will say that the network recordings we have aren't missing commercial breaks. I do believe we've had a couple that have been sponsored, but for the most part these were aired as sustaining episodes on CBS with the only commercials being CBS promos and PSAs. But I do think that there is something to what you said. Now, I don't think they had some sort of inflexible rule because I believe you'll find episodes. You'll certainly find episodes where Tartaglia appears in the first half and there may be some where just something extraordinary in the plot. He doesn't lead off the second half. But I do think that a lot of episodes that's certainly the case and it does work well, which would make it a very odd thing if nobody actually gave any thought to it. So there's probably something to that. Eric, I appreciate your comment. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Tom, patreon supporter since January 2021, currently supporting the podcast at the Psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Tom. That will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast 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 Bait. But join us back here tomorrow for for Dragnet wear.

[Danny Clover]

For what? Statue of the child Jesus. Do you have one we could look at? Sure. No, sir, a larger one. You don't want a larger one unless it's for a church. That's why you want a larger one. Could we see it, please? It's not my due to butt in, but unless you live in a big place, this will make your living room all the kilter. Yes, sir. Do most of the people who go to the mission church trade here? Good. Many of them special to kids. Why Kids more religious? Check on yourself. See if kids aren't more religious than you might be. So that's what's wrong with the world. Oh, I don't mean you're wrong with it. Everybody. Yes, sir. What? If we could stick to the point, Mr. Flavin? Sure. A lot of people from the mission church come in here. Do people ever come in and sell back a religious article, like a prayer book or rosaries? Yes, sir. Secondhand, you mean? Yes, sir. Not since I ever been around. It's silly.

[Johnny Hammett]

Why?

[Danny Clover]

People don't have religious articles so they can get rid of them. They have them so they can have them. But if a man had a statue and wanted to sell it, he'd come to a place like this. Sure, but he wouldn't want to sell it. He would if it was stolen. No, sir. If a man was to steal a statue, he'd be crazy or something like that. The only place he'd want to go is where crazy people are. You may be right, Mr. Flayman. I don't know what you fellas are looking for, but if it's somebody who stole a statue, he's crazy. And you won't find him. You won't find him as long as you live, or in a million years. That should cover it.

[Adam Graham]

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