Mr. and Mrs. North: The Norths Get Wired for Sound (EP4554)

Summary

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode Summary: Mr. and Mrs. North: The Norths Get Wired for Sound (EP4554)

Release Date: November 21, 2024
Host: Adam Graham

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Introduction

In this captivating episode of Mr. and Mrs. North, listeners are transported to the sultry summer night of July 19, 1944, where the Norths find themselves entangled in a web of mystery and intrigue centered around a seemingly innocent voice recording venture. Hosted by Adam Graham, the episode skillfully blends suspense, humor, and classic radio drama elements to deliver an engaging story that both honors and revitalizes the Golden Age of Radio detective narratives.

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Plot Overview

A Night to Remember

The episode opens with Mr. and Mrs. North deciding to spend a quiet summer evening at home, enjoying lemonade and the soothing sounds of the radio. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when they venture out to record their voices at a nearby sound studio.

• Pamela North: “The sensible thing to do on a hot summer night is remain quietly at home with your shoes off...” (02:35)

The Recording Mishap

At the sound studio, a playful attempt to create a love record inadvertently leads to disaster. After recording, the Norths receive what they believe to be their own romantic recording. However, upon returning home, they discover that the record they unwittingly acquired is not theirs but instead contains incriminating content linking them to a criminal act.

• Jerry North: “All right, but somehow I got a feeling that it isn't going to turn out to be one of the recording gems of all time.” (07:33)

The Chase

As they drive home with the mysterious record, the Norths become aware that they are being followed. The situation escalates when gunfire erupts, revealing that their seemingly benign recording session has attracted dangerous attention from a record collector with sinister intentions.

• Pamela North: “We ain't alone. Of course we're not.” (08:40)
• Jerry North: “Jerry, somebody is shooting at me.” (08:51)

Unraveling the Mystery

Upon returning, the Norths try to retrieve the correct record but uncover a deeper conspiracy involving the murder of Jerhams, the owner of the sound studio. Their investigation leads them to Ma Cleney, the owner of a famed New York nightclub, who holds the key to unraveling the mystery.

• Pamela North: “I think we're going to put him on the record.” (15:20)

Showdown and Revelation

A tense confrontation ensues at Ma Cleney's Kitten Club, where Pamela cleverly exposes the true villain behind the plot. Jerry's suspicions are confirmed when it's revealed that the record contains evidence of narcotics-related crimes, leading to the apprehension of the perpetrator.

• Jerry North: “So what?” (24:10)
• Pamela North: “A hold over me? Snowballs. You and germs weren't talking about the weather.” (24:21)

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Key Characters

• Jerry North: The suave and level-headed husband, whose quick thinking aids in navigating the perilous situation.
• Pamela North: The witty and resourceful wife, whose intuition and courage drive the investigation forward.
• Ma Cleney: Owner of Ma Cleney's Kitten Club, whose involvement is pivotal in uncovering the truth.
• Sergeant Mullins: The law enforcement officer working to solve the murder case intertwined with the Norths' predicament.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Pamela North: “This world would be a happier place if more of them were off.” (03:05)
• Jerry North: “What about Jerry? They'd starve to death...” (03:15)
• Pamela North: “We want to record our voices, remember?” (05:12)
• Pamela North: “A friend of yours? Kind, Mrs. Claney? We rather thought he was a friend of yours.” (21:37)
• Jerry North: “That record will put Mrs. Pirate in the chair.” (25:16)

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Climax and Resolution

The episode reaches its climax as Pamela and Jerry confront the true antagonist, uncovering the use of the recording as leverage in narcotics trafficking. By cleverly navigating through the deceptive layers of the plot, the Norths manage to clear their names and ensure justice is served.

• Jerry North: “So you burgled our apartment, and therefore you killed Jerhams.” (24:12)
• Pamela North: “A hold over me? Snowballs. You and germs weren't talking about the weather.” (24:21)

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Insights and Analysis

Adam Graham provides insightful commentary post-episode, highlighting the innovative use of voice recording as a plot device—a rarity compared to other detective stories of the era. He draws parallels to historical practices during World War II, where similar recording techniques were utilized to boost morale through the USO. Graham also appreciates the episode's bold portrayal of narcotics, noting its audacity given the era's stringent censorship in other media, such as films.

• Adam Graham: “These sort of stores and services were a thing. I'm kind of surprised they didn't figure in more radio detective stories.” (26:12)
• Adam Graham: “The record yourself record aspect is interesting and it's definitely a throwback...” (26:12)

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Conclusion

Mr. and Mrs. North: The Norths Get Wired for Sound delivers a masterful blend of suspense and classic radio charm, enriched by sharp dialogue and intricate plotting. Adam Graham's adept narration and post-episode analysis further enhance the listening experience, making this episode a standout in the series. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to old-time radio dramas, this episode promises an enthralling journey into the golden age of mystery storytelling.

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Timecodes Reference

• 02:35
• 03:05
• 03:15
• 05:12
• 07:33
• 08:40
• 08:51
• 15:20
• 21:37
• 24:10
• 24:12
• 24:21
• 25:16
• 26:12

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Further Listening

Stay tuned for more thrilling episodes of Mr. and Mrs. North every week on The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or visit greatdetectives.net to never miss an episode.

Transcript

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[Jerry North]

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[Advertiser]

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[Pamela North]

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[Advertiser]

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[Pamela North]

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to get into this Week's episode of Mr. And Mrs. North. I do want to encourage you, if you enjoy the podcast, to follow us using your favorite podcast software. Also, I want to encourage you to check out my wife's business, Ashira Eclipse. You can check it [e-mail] Ashira A S H I R A There she sells a wide variety of different hairpins, headbands and hair clips to suit a wide variety of different tastes and styles. That's lalarose.com Ashira now from July 19, 1944, here is the Norths Get Wired for Sound.

[Pamela North]

The Adventures of Mr. And Mrs. North the Sensible thing to do on a hot summer night is remain quietly at home with your shoes off, the radio on, the pitcher of lemonade cooling quietly in the refrigerator. That's why we find the north out strolling on this particular night with, of course, their shoes off.

[Adam Graham]

Shoes?

[Pamela North]

What about them, darling?

[Jerry North]

This world would be a happier place if more of them were off.

[Pamela North]

More feet, more of the time shoemakers.

[Jerry North]

What about Jerry?

[Pamela North]

They'd starve to death. Their little children would roam hungrily about the streets.

[Jerry North]

All right, the little children. Dust. Let's keep on walking. You hot?

[Pamela North]

Uh huh. And it isn't the humidity, it's the heat.

[Jerry North]

That ain't the way I heerd it. Oh, Jerry, over there.

[Pamela North]

No.

[Jerry North]

All right. Now we'll never know.

[Pamela North]

Never know what?

[Jerry North]

Whether your voice is really as romantic as Charles Goyer gets.

[Pamela North]

More romantic. Listen, Heddy. Heddy. Meet me in the Casper, Heddy.

[Jerry North]

No, no, you can't compare them. Then.

[Pamela North]

Well, how could you?

[Jerry North]

There's a studio across the street. A sound studio. You see?

[Pamela North]

Hmm. I begin to understand.

[Jerry North]

Only 75 cents to record your voice and take it home.

[Pamela North]

I can take my voice home for nothing.

[Jerry North]

We could both make a record a love scene.

[Pamela North]

It's too hot. Oh, Geoff, I meant to go into one of those sound booths.

[Jerry North]

Boy, eh, what a boy. What magnetism. What charm.

[Pamela North]

All right, all right, let's go. We'll record our voices for posterity. And will they be sorry? Yes.

[Jerry North]

Oh, we want to record our voices, Claire.

[Pamela North]

My friends call me Happy. Why?

[Jerry North]

Why do they call you Happy?

[Pamela North]

Why do you want to record your voices? My wife thinks I sound better than Boyer. Oh, well, maybe to her women is funny like that. Especially wives. Why do they call you Happy? Happy? On account of I'm always bubbling with good, cheerful Happy. Lead us to the slaughter. Who's getting killed?

[Jerry North]

Happy, we want to record our voices, remember?

[Pamela North]

Oh, yeah. You're the couple who want to record their voices. This way, please. In there. Thanks. What do you do, throw a switch or something? A friend of mine once had a switch thrown on him. He was never the same afterwards.

[Jerry North]

He wasn't.

[Pamela North]

The guy who threw the switch was a fellow up at Sing Sing. Oh, Jerry, Happy is just joking. When do we start, Happy? When the bell rings over there, see? But ain't you going to rejoice? I guess.

[Jerry North]

God, I don't know. We've never done this before, but I.

[Pamela North]

Yeah, let me know when you're ready. Oh, by the way. Yeah? Over there on the table, there's a book all about love poems.

[Jerry North]

Poems about love.

[Pamela North]

But ain't you two gonna make like you was in love? For the record, As a matter of fact, we were. But how did you know, Mister, they always do a second. Go ahead, folks. My love is like a red. A red rose. You know, Pam, as a matter of fact, you're not like a rose at all.

[Jerry North]

You were being recorded.

[Pamela North]

Oh, okay. My love, you have a red, red nose. No, no, that's not right. Where were we? Oh, that's sweetly played and tuned. I never could carry a tune. Back in school, my music teacher used to ask me for a command performance in reverse. You know, to keep still. I used to mislead the other kids.

[Jerry North]

North, at this moment you're supposed to be making violent love to me.

[Pamela North]

Oh, sure.

[Jerry North]

Come here.

[Pamela North]

Who can be violent in verse? All right, let's see. How do I love thee? Boy, that was a snappy answer. The bells.

[Jerry North]

I'm afraid, darling, that's all posterity is going to get.

[Pamela North]

I'm afraid that's all posterity may want. Well, let's go out and collect our disc.

[Jerry North]

All right. But somehow I got a feeling that it isn't going to turn out to be one of the recording gems of all time.

[Pamela North]

I never heckle a set of odd beauties. Is today or not? Oh, happy? Here it is. All wrapped up for the record. The Name of address? Mr. And Mrs. Gerald North, 24St. Anne's Place. Electors of rare recordings heard on appointment only. Yeah, this I hate to do, but if Mr. Jerram wants us to get 75 cents from all the customers. Oh, your boss and he what? Thanks. You don't care how you spend your money, huh? Well, you know the old saying, you can't take it with you. Yeah. In that case, don't go, Mr. Na, don't go.

[Jerry North]

Oh, I can hardly wait till we get home, darling. Ah, that's love to hear our record.

[Pamela North]

Oh, I can wait 20 years or so. Hey, our driver. Yes, Maybe you ain't gonna get home.

[Jerry North]

What do you mean?

[Pamela North]

We ain't alone. Of course we're not. Pam's with us. I meant in a sense, a car is following us. Ah, record collector perhaps. Although he heard of the new masterpiece rather quickly.

[Jerry North]

Jerry, somebody is shooting at me.

[Pamela North]

Don't be selfish. At us? Not a record collector. Maybe a collector of old automatics. Driver I hired.

[Jerry North]

And they ain't mosquitoes.

[Pamela North]

Well, can't you speed up a bit? I can, but this hack can't. I'll take a look. They got the back window. Pam, get down the floor.

[Jerry North]

I will not. Then I'll never know what happened if.

[Pamela North]

One of these bullets hit you.

[Jerry North]

Oh, don't be so gruesome.

[Pamela North]

Don't look now, folks, but I think. What? We're gonna hit a lamppost.

[Jerry North]

Jerry, you're dead.

[Pamela North]

I am not. Yeah, we did get that lamppost. I call him pal. Uh huh. Has anybody been hurt? The post.

[Jerry North]

Oh, don't look now, darling, but we are not alone.

[Pamela North]

The Cloud, they saved our lives.

[Jerry North]

They have?

[Pamela North]

Sure. Because they made it impossible for whoever was chasing us to finish the job.

[Jerry North]

What lovely people. Jerry, what now? Our voices.

[Pamela North]

Oh, we've still got them. Oh, you mean the. Oh, here it is.

[Jerry North]

Is it broken?

[Pamela North]

Let's see. Nope, not a dent in the disc.

[Jerry North]

Oh, I'm so glad. Let's go home, darling.

[Pamela North]

Right. Driver, do you think you can divorce the cab from the lamppost? Sure. Like you might say, it was only a marriage of convenience. Your old apartment 60.

[Jerry North]

Home is where the heart is. Where the she standing. Outside of our children.

[Pamela North]

Home is where Happy is.

[Jerry North]

Hello?

[Pamela North]

Hello? I'll get the door open. Sorry we kept you waiting. Happy, what do we do for you? I am sure you still got the record. I did? Yes. Our voice. Well, I'm awfully sorry, but it ain't your voice. I made a mistake. I wrapped up the wrong record. Seems a strange thing to do. Yeah, I'm always doing strange things.

[Jerry North]

Why don't we just unwrap the record and he does.

[Pamela North]

Sounds reasonable. Here's the wrapping paper. And here's the record.

[Jerry North]

The label, Jerry. Animal imitation us?

[Pamela North]

No, Mrs. North. That's my punch. That there record is devoted to guys making like animals. I wonder. The Jarum studio doesn't seem to be run very efficiently. Maybe this is the right record and the wrong label. Mr. Knott, I give you my word of honor. I'm not sure I care to take it. We were shot at on our way home. Not by me. I am a voice to fire on. Maybe. But I still think we ought to make sure this is really the wrong record.

[Jerry North]

I'm a feeling you're right, darling. I'll turn the photograph on.

[Pamela North]

Thanks, Pam. And now the record deal. Unreasonable. Ma, if we're alone, you can still.

[Jerry North]

What?

[Pamela North]

I got word there's been a heavy snowfall lately.

[Jerry North]

Yeah. Did you also find out I had Hank taken off the snow farm herself? Personally? Because I did. And what's more.

[Pamela North]

That seems to be all.

[Jerry North]

Nothing very mysterious, darling. Just a discussion about the weather.

[Pamela North]

I wonder. Happy. Happy here.

[Jerry North]

He's gone.

[Pamela North]

Must have sneaked out while we were listening to the record. But shut the phonograph off. That's strange.

[Jerry North]

That record very definitely doesn't belong to us.

[Pamela North]

And Happy beat it as soon as we began to listen to it. Which means that.

[Jerry North]

Suppose you could say there's more in that discussion of the weather than meets the ear.

[Pamela North]

The doorbell rings. I'll see who it is.

[Jerry North]

All right, darling.

[Pamela North]

Yes, what can I do for you?

[Jerry North]

Won't mind if I Sit down, will you? I'm not as young as I used to be.

[Pamela North]

Of course not. Please. Oh, Pam, this is Mrs. Claney.

[Jerry North]

How do you do, Mrs. Claney? Oh, you must be. That's right, my dear. People call me Ma Clenney. You're the owner of Ma Clenney's Kitten Club. Jerry, that's one of the most famous nightclubs in New York.

[Pamela North]

I've heard of it. Have you come to invite us to appear there? Aha. You must have heard our record. Not exactly, Mr. North.

[Jerry North]

Although anytime, Mrs. North. And you'd like to come, there'll be a ringside table waiting for you and no, Ted. Very sweet. Well, you're a very sweet child. But the fact of the matter is Mr. Durham told me you'd received by mistake a record belonging to me. I hate to bother you, but. Oh, then it must be.

[Pamela North]

Oh, Sir Pamela. Bit of tongue. She's always doing that. Aren't you, darling? Yes.

[Jerry North]

You were saying, Mrs. Laney? Well, just thought I'd stop and pick up my record myself and save you the trouble.

[Pamela North]

Oh, that's very nice of you, but we don't have your record. The only one we have is our own.

[Jerry North]

How do you know it's your own?

[Pamela North]

Because we played it on our phonograph. Quite a thrill hearing your own voice coming back at you.

[Jerry North]

Playing it for me, just to be sure. And Ms. Slaney, you don't doubt Jerry's play?

[Pamela North]

Oh, oh, of course. And it is so late, isn't it?

[Jerry North]

So why not drop in some other time earlier?

[Pamela North]

And we'd be glad to let you.

[Jerry North]

Listen to our record for hours on end. But right now. Good night, Mrs. Cheyne.

[Pamela North]

Yes, good night, Mrs. Chanel.

[Jerry North]

Now wait.

[Pamela North]

Having trouble with your bag?

[Jerry North]

I'll take it.

[Pamela North]

Heavy, isn't it? An inside? Why not?

[Jerry North]

Give me that?

[Pamela North]

You have a license for it?

[Jerry North]

Of course I have.

[Pamela North]

Good. Then you won't have any trouble reclaiming it from the police. Your bag, Mrs. Claney, and the door.

[Jerry North]

You two are either very smart or very dumb. I'm not sure yet. When I find out, come back and tell us, won't you? Good night, Jerry.

[Pamela North]

Shut the door. You like it, darling?

[Jerry North]

Wasn't very happy, Jerry. Was that downloaded?

[Pamela North]

To the brim, darling?

[Jerry North]

Get your shoes on again.

[Pamela North]

Uh huh. I think we should pay a visit.

[Jerry North]

Oh, goody. To whom?

[Pamela North]

Mr. Jerhams of Jerham Sound Studio.

[Jerry North]

Are we going to return the record to him?

[Pamela North]

Why no, darling. As a matter of fact, I think we're going to put him on the record.

[Jerry North]

Streets are almost deserted.

[Pamela North]

It's late enough. I have a feeling Mr. Jerhams may be annoyed when we burst in on him.

[Jerry North]

Then let's not burst, huh? Or we have to.

[Pamela North]

I think so, darling. Well, here's the studio.

[Jerry North]

It's dark.

[Pamela North]

I mean, I hadn't expected that. The door locked home? Not yet. There was a back room to the place.

[Jerry North]

That alley, darling.

[Pamela North]

Come on, Jerry.

[Jerry North]

How long can you go to jail for burglary?

[Pamela North]

Oh, not very. And you meet such charming people. I wouldn't know Bill Dart, except Jerry, I know smoke.

[Jerry North]

It's coming from the studio window.

[Pamela North]

I can't see. Hey, Pam, there's a man lying on a cop in the room.

[Jerry North]

I thought you couldn't see.

[Pamela North]

I can now because flames are creeping into the room.

[Jerry North]

Jerry, we better turn in and alarm.

[Pamela North]

Stand back.

[Jerry North]

That isn't the way.

[Pamela North]

Sure it is if you want to break a window.

[Jerry North]

What are you going to do?

[Pamela North]

That man on the car isn't moving. I'm going in after.

[Jerry North]

Oh, you can't, darling. You wouldn't look nice, Toasty.

[Pamela North]

I've got to. He's unconscious. Darling. Call the fire department while I go in there. What are you doing?

[Jerry North]

I'm going with you. I'm too young to be a widow, so I've got to make sure that you don't die anyway. Not before I do, Jerry. That smoke.

[Pamela North]

It's all over now, darling.

[Jerry North]

Is he still unconscious?

[Pamela North]

As a matter of fact, I think he's given up consciousness for good, Jerry. Yes, very much so.

[Jerry North]

The smoke.

[Pamela North]

I don't think the smoke had much of a chance with him. You see, somebody had presented him with a revolver full of bullets first. Collins. Yep, Mullins. We've identified that corpse you rescued. The name is Jerhams.

[Jerry North]

The man who owned the studio. The same you were trying to wasted.

[Pamela North]

That rescue act, Mr. Noah. No, we didn't, Mullens. You see, that fire was set for one purpose. Which was? It's hard to find bullet holes in a skeleton. Cherum's were supposed to be burnt completely, darling. So that it would look like accident instead of murder. Well, I guess you're right at that.

[Jerry North]

Have you got any ideas on the.

[Pamela North]

Subject of who killed him? I don't know. It may have been someone we heard him talking to.

[Jerry North]

But darling, we never heard gerunds or kidneys.

[Pamela North]

I rather think we did, ma'am, but it's not much help.

[Jerry North]

We almost have it, except no proof.

[Pamela North]

No real understanding of the motive or what part Happy played or I don't know.

[Jerry North]

We better Go home and go to bed, darling. All there?

[Pamela North]

Sure it's all there. Where?

[Jerry North]

Why, Sergeant Mullen in the groove. Of course. Jerry.

[Pamela North]

No, I'm getting right up. Getting up?

[Jerry North]

Wake up, Jerry.

[Pamela North]

It's too dark. I prefer my mornings with a touch of sun.

[Jerry North]

Jerry, I heard something in the living room.

[Pamela North]

Mice. Big mice.

[Jerry North]

Are you going?

[Pamela North]

I suppose so. When I start moving furniture up. Stay there and get ready to scream. Doctor. Just stick my head in like this.

[Jerry North]

Jerry. Jerry. Jerry, Darling, you.

[Pamela North]

You've got an echo.

[Jerry North]

Have I got a live husband?

[Pamela North]

I think so.

[Jerry North]

Oh.

[Pamela North]

Anything missing?

[Jerry North]

I don't know.

[Pamela North]

Try the record, Captain.

[Jerry North]

The record was. It isn't. Carrie. The burglar took that animal imitations record. The one that Mark Laney and Jerome's on it. You mean he thought he did, but he is gone.

[Pamela North]

What the burglar took was a little item called the way you look tonight. Exactly. You look all right.

[Jerry North]

Exactly, darling. But the way you look tonight is right here. The laser. You switchy.

[Pamela North]

I switchy. And doesn't baby talk. Repulsive. I guess Mullins is indicated. Indicated.

[Jerry North]

He'll be apoplectic.

[Pamela North]

My goodness. Even when you not go to sleep, you stay asleep. No, you go around getting hit by strangers.

[Jerry North]

It was in our own living room, Sergeant.

[Pamela North]

And it may not have been a stranger. Mullins was happy? Who knows? Steve Patman has been looking for him. But I guess he took a powder under the circumstances. What did you say? He said he took a powder. That's a slang expression meaning he sprang blue, took it on the lamb. But, Mullen, suppose it isn't a slang expression. Suppose happy really took a powder. They don't get it.

[Jerry North]

Know what Jerry means? And I sort of think Ma claimy got it.

[Pamela North]

Mullins. We came to see Ma, not her daughters.

[Jerry North]

Nice. Handy she's got. Little short on clothes, though.

[Pamela North]

Jerry, we're on our way. Officer's back here. Shall we knock or we go in?

[Jerry North]

Who the. Oh, the door. Did you find my record?

[Pamela North]

Not exactly. Mrs. Claney, this is Sergeant Muller.

[Jerry North]

No, Sergeant. Rest your arches.

[Pamela North]

No, ma'am. I'm from Homer City.

[Jerry North]

Who's been killed lately?

[Pamela North]

A man named Jerhams.

[Jerry North]

Well, it's too bad. Friend of yours? Kind, Mrs. Claney? We rather thought he was a friend of yours.

[Pamela North]

You do no sense in wasting time. Mrs. Claney wears happy. What makes you think this is the only place in town where he could be hiding out?

[Jerry North]

Why should he hide out?

[Pamela North]

The police want him.

[Jerry North]

Murder?

[Pamela North]

You could say that. The penalty for accessory before or after the crime is the chair. Mrs. Laney.

[Jerry North]

Oh, sorry. I realized. I mean.

[Pamela North]

You mean you hadn't realized? All right, take us to him. I would like to let a friend.

[Jerry North]

Down, but it's murder. And I suppose friendship goes just so far, don't it?

[Pamela North]

It's in the next room. Thank you, ma'am.

[Jerry North]

No.

[Pamela North]

Let's get him in there and see.

[Jerry North]

Jerry.

[Pamela North]

I hide. I hide. No copper is gonna take me, you hear? No. Now, look here, young fellow. I've got a big gun. See? A big gun.

[Jerry North]

Careful.

[Pamela North]

Hey, hey. Don't get so sorry, Happy, but I'll take that gun. No.

[Jerry North]

No.

[Pamela North]

Let go of me. I don't want to. Lovely stocking, Mr. Doan. He's out cold. I want to take a look at his eyes.

[Jerry North]

Why?

[Pamela North]

Because you said Happy took a powder, shook those like pinpoints.

[Jerry North]

Then his nickname wasn't because he was sad all the time.

[Pamela North]

That's right. Happy was only half of it. The other half was Dust. Happy Dust.

[Jerry North]

I certainly appreciate your asking me to come to your home with you, Mrs. North, and offering to return my record. Jerry and I just wanted to clean up all the loose ends. Right, Jerry?

[Pamela North]

Mm. Mm. Happy's in jail, and old Mrs. Clay. You'll find your record in the cabin there. Excuse me while I fix a few drinks.

[Jerry North]

Sure. I'll just get the record and. Are you sure it's here, Ms. North? Oh, poor Jerry.

[Pamela North]

Here we are, darling. Oh, Mrs. Claney, you find it?

[Jerry North]

No, Jerry. Maybe Happy stole it last night when he burgled the place.

[Pamela North]

Maybe he did because whoever burgled us last night killed Jerrems for that record. Mrs. Clay, you know how the record was labeled, don't you? Animal imitations.

[Jerry North]

That so? Jerry, look. Another gun. And Mrs. Claney is pointing it at us.

[Pamela North]

Very inconsiderate. If it went off.

[Jerry North]

I know that animal imitations record isn't the one with my voice on it.

[Pamela North]

How do you know? Because you stole it last night and tried it on a phonograph and found out I switched labels. Wouldn't that be how, Mrs. Clinton? Maybe it would be not.

[Jerry North]

So what?

[Pamela North]

So you burgled our apartment, and therefore you killed Jarones.

[Jerry North]

Oh, that's ridiculous. Why would I kill him?

[Pamela North]

He was blackmailing you with that record.

[Jerry North]

It must be in this open. Shut up, you. North. What's in that record to give anybody.

[Pamela North]

A hold over me? Snowballs. You and germs weren't talking about the weather. Heroin, cocaine. Snow is quite a common expression in Iconics. And you admitted getting rid of Hank from off the snow plow. Or should I Say, the truck delivering narcotics.

[Jerry North]

Nice picture.

[Pamela North]

Very nice. Happy with stew for you. You bribed him to steal the record. But dope fiends aren't very reliable, are they?

[Jerry North]

All right, they're not. But I don't take this stuff. I just sell it so you'll find my aim is reliable. Let you hand over that record.

[Pamela North]

Where is it?

[Jerry North]

Why, Mrs. Plainy, it's right here in this album. Here, take it. Album and all.

[Pamela North]

Darling, you knocked a cold.

[Jerry North]

Oh, not me. J. Tchaikovsky.

[Pamela North]

Uh huh. Okay, Mullen. So long. She's confessed. Police were looking for the murderer of a guy known as Hothead Hank to the narcotics ward. That record will put Mrs. Plenty in the chair.

[Jerry North]

Jerry H. Do you realize that when Jerem's studio was burned, our recording was put in with it?

[Pamela North]

I hadn't realized. Oh, well.

[Jerry North]

Oh well, nothing. Now I'll never know whether you're as romantic as Charles boy.

[Pamela North]

Darling, there are other ways of finding that out besides having my voice recorded. For example, as for example.

[Jerry North]

Again.

[Pamela North]

Again.

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. The record yourself record aspect is interesting and it's definitely a throwback in a time such as today where we can all record ourselves from anywhere with very little effort. But these sort of stores and services were a thing. I'm kind of surprised they didn't figure in more radio detective stories. The only one where a store recorded record figured in a story was in Pat Novak for Hire. There were a few more with home recorded records. I know for sure there was a Let Driver George do it. And probably one of my favorite episodes of Nick Carter where a man came to Nick having received home recorded records by a woman who had been about to be murdered. But they had no idea who she was or where she sent them from. And Nick had to piece them together and find who the woman was, where she was and who killed her. That sort of home recording was not ubiquitous. It was more of a kind of high end hobby, particularly when you were dealing with records. It became a little more economical when you got into reel to reels, but the episodes would generally explain a bit more about them and how they worked to a general public that didn't really know a lot about it. I was also curious about this episode because it aired during World War II, and I found out that these sort of voiceograph records were actually used to boost morale. The USO would set up the boost and people would come and record the records, and the USO would help them get them sent to their loved ones overseas. And I should say that if you do enough searching online, you can actually find requests, recordings of these sort of vintage home recordings or the voiceographs. Quite a few of them end up on YouTube, where a lot of people who find rare records, they just go ahead and take a video of their record player playing the record and post it onto YouTube. I was also kind of surprised by how much depth they went into the narcotics aspect, which I don't think was that much for today. But if this had been a film in 1944, I suspect that the Hays Office would have had issues with it. But it does illustrate a difference between radio sensors and movie sensors. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Jim. Jim's been one of our patreon supporters since April 2021, currently supporting the podcast at the level of $4 or more per month. Thank you so much for your support, Jim, and that will actually 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. All those great things that help YouTube channels to grow. We will be back next Thursday with another episode of Mr. And Mrs. North. But join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollar, where I don't.

[Jerry North]

Know why you registered at a hotel, Johnny. May I call you Johnny?

[Pamela North]

Why, sure.

[Jerry North]

Please call me Mona. May I pour you another drink?

[Pamela North]

No. No, thanks.

[Jerry North]

As I started to say, you could have stayed here. There's plenty of room, as you can see.

[Pamela North]

Yes. Yes, this is a very beautiful house, Mona.

[Jerry North]

Yes, but so, so empty now. I get terribly lonely, Johnny.

[Pamela North]

Well, I. Of course, I don't blame you, but. Now, suppose we talk, if you don't mind, about the.

[Jerry North]

Johnny, if you have to be around for a few days, why don't you move out of that hotel and. Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't say that. I guess I'm just. I'm sorry.

[Pamela North]

It's all right.

[Jerry North]

But I am lonely.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then in the meantime, send your comments to Box13greatdetives.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.

[Geico Advertiser]

How do you feel when you switch to GEICO and save on your car insurance? It's like going to work on one Thursday morning and thinking to yourself, just one more day until Friday. But then somebody in the elevator says Happy Friday. Then you check your phone quickly and discover today is actually Friday. So yes, Happy Friday. Random stranger in the elevator. Happy Friday indeed. Yep, switching and saving with Geico feels just like that. Get more with Geico coming up this.

[Adam Graham]

Week on the Old Time Radio Snack Wagon.

[Pamela North]

Well, boy. Yes, Mr. Finley. Where are you boy? What about my house? Well, I'll tell you Mr. Finley. Where's your word? You said you'd be over with a down payment. What are you made of boy? Rock, maple or pine? Well, something has come up, Mr. Finley. I got 15 people after this house.

[Adam Graham]

Listen to the Old Time radio snack wagon, snackwagon.net or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Geico Advertiser]

How do you feel when you switch to GEICO and save on your car insurance? It's like going to work on one Thursday morning and thinking to yourself, just one more day until Friday. But then somebody in the elevator says Happy Friday. Then you check your phone quickly and discover today is actually Friday. So yes, Happy Friday. Random stranger in the elevator. Happy Friday indeed. Yep, switching and saving with Geico feels just like that. Get more with Geico.