Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Episode: The Line Up: The Topaz Earring Murder (Encore) (EP4884)
Host: Adam Graham
Date: January 8, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam Graham presents an encore audio drama from the classic detective series "The Line Up," titled “The Topaz Earring Murder.” Set behind the tense walls of a major city’s police headquarters, the story revolves around the murder of Larry Zimmerman. Lieutenant Ben Guthrie and Sergeant Matt Greb navigate a lineup of suspects, untangle personal motives, and follow a trail centered around a missing topaz earring and $25,000 in vanished funds. After the broadcast, Adam Graham provides insightful commentary on the portrayal of women in the series and shares listener feedback.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Highlights

[02:32] – The Lineup Process and Introduction of Suspects

• The episode opens with the classic "lineup" scene in police headquarters, narrated by Sergeant Matt Greb, as witnesses and law enforcement try to identify suspects connected to the murder case.
  • Notable for its procedural realism: “Each of the suspects you will see will be numbered. I'll call off a number, then name and charge…” (Sergeant Greb, 03:08)
• Three women are introduced: Georgina Kelso (theft), Colleen Hodges (assault), and Margaret Kenline (open charge).

[05:50] – The Interrogation of Margaret Kenline

• Lieutenant Guthrie questions Margaret Kenline, Zimmerman's fiancée, who found the body.
• Margaret reveals she was angry at Zimmerman after learning about his affair, but denies the murder.
• She runs a dress shop with partner Lloyd Spees, and seemed genuinely distraught upon discovering the body.
• Key quote:
  • “I... I explained that once. Well, explain it to me, please.” (Guthrie, 07:10)
• Suspicion is raised due to a 45-minute gap unaccounted for after she discovered the crime.

[09:30] – Crime Scene Investigation

• Guthrie and Greb search Zimmerman's apartment.
• Discovery: A topaz earring found entangled in the rug under the body, and an empty envelope with "Rifkin" written on it, suggesting missing money.

[11:45] – Meeting Walter Rifkin

• Rifkin alleges Zimmerman owed him $25,000, describes himself as an investor.
• Police find his behavior suspicious; his connection to the crime intensifies as his alibi and address don’t check out.

[14:00] – Linking to Edith DeRoka

• Attention shifts to Edith DeRoka, Zimmerman's new girlfriend and a possible accomplice to Rifkin.
• Edith is defensive when questioned by Guthrie, noting she took off her earrings because “they pinch.”
• She provides a brittle alibi and is key to the investigation’s love-triangle aspect.

[16:30] – Focus on Lloyd Spees & Motives

• Guthrie and Greb question Lloyd Spees at the dress shop.
• Spees is anxious; reveals Margaret called him frightened, believing she’s being followed.
• He admits introducing Margaret to Zimmerman and explains the connection between the dress shop and the ongoing fashion show, where topaz earrings are rented for models.
• Attempt to reach Margaret fails; she is missing, and her trailing officer was attacked.

[20:10] – Rifkin and Edith: The Secondary Scheme

• Investigation reveals Rifkin and Edith teamed up to retrieve Zimmerman's client info and the missing money; Margaret’s involvement is still unclear.
• Margaret fled from Rifkin, who attempted to search her for the stolen cash.

[22:55] – The Break in the Case: The Receipt

• A receipt for the pair of topaz earrings, made out to Margaret, is found in her purse at Rifkin's apartment—the earrings were rented for the fashion show, not owned.
• Key quote:
  • "A receipt made out to Miss Margaret Kenline for one pair of topaz earrings." (Lt. Guthrie, 23:54)

[25:00] – The Real Murderer Revealed

• Guthrie returns to Lloyd Spees’ home, suspects he is sheltering Margaret.
• Spees confesses to killing Zimmerman, motivated by financial ruin when his investment of $2,000 was lost.
• The topaz earring was dropped by Spees, not Margaret, during the struggle.
• Spees also possesses Rifkin’s missing $25,000.
• Dramatic confrontation:
  • "I had to kill Zimmerman... I just went out of my mind. You know the rest." (Spees, 28:30)

[30:00] – Conclusion of the Case

• Guthrie’s insight solves the case, exonerating Margaret and tying together the false leads, financial motives, and romantic entanglements.
• The lineup motif bookends the story, with a return to the ritual of suspect identification.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Soft face, soft voice. My mistake." – Guthrie, realizing Margaret’s innocence (24:49)
• “But the earrings. Aren’t they important? Don’t they cash?” – Spees, fixated on the evidence (26:48)
• “I wasn’t going to do anything until later. I had to kill Zimmerman. Why, Spees?” – Guthrie presses for a confession (28:20)
• “Could you have done that, Spees? Well, of course, I suppose so… Why not? For one good reason. Your life, Spees.” – Guthrie works through motive and guilt (28:00)

[31:42] – Host Commentary: Gender Roles in The Lineup

• Adam Graham discusses differences in the portrayal of female suspects and notes the role of police matrons in history.
  • “The lineup script for female suspects [was] pretty much the same as for males except for... use of matrons.” (32:00)
• He offers a brief historical aside about efforts to abolish the title/payscale differences for female officers, referencing Mary Sullivan.

Listener Feedback

• Joel (via Facebook): "I like this program. It has the [crispness] of Dragnet, but a bit more drama and human interaction. It is well acted and the plots are interesting."
• Karen: "I love this program."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:32 – Start of “The Line Up: The Topaz Earring Murder” drama
• 05:50 – Interrogation of Margaret Kenline
• 09:30 – Crime scene investigation, discovery of earring
• 11:45 – Introduction of Walter Rifkin
• 14:00 – Edith DeRoka questioned
• 16:30 – Lloyd Spees and fashion show scene
• 20:10 – Rifkin–Edith subplot revealed
• 22:55 – Discovery of earring receipt
• 25:00 – Confrontation and confession from Lloyd Spees
• 30:00 – Case resolution
• 31:42 – Adam Graham’s commentary and listener feedback

Tone and Style

The episode echoes the suspenseful, deliberate style of classic radio detective stories, blending hard-boiled dialogue with subtle social observations. Adam Graham’s wrap-up is thoughtful and lightly humorous, designed to both inform and engage fans of nostalgic audio drama.

Summary for New Listeners

If you’ve never heard "The Line Up," this episode is emblematic of its best features: a procedural whodunit driven by sharp characterization, a complex web of motives, and a satisfying twist ending. With a focus on both the mechanics of police work and the psychology of guilt, “The Topaz Earring Murder” provides a classic mystery experience, elevated by Graham’s knowledgeable post-show commentary and appreciation for old-time radio legacy.