The Relic Radio Show: "John Steele and Frank Race"

Episode Date: October 7, 2025
Podcast: Relic Radio Show (hosted by RelicRadio.com)
Theme: A double feature of classic radio drama: "John Steele, Adventurer" — "The Unsuspected" (1950) and "The Adventures of Frank Race" — "The Six-Week Cure" (1949). Both stories delve into the shadows of human nature against romantic and exotic backdrops: the treacherous Amazon jungle and the world of Reno's divorce ranches.

Overview

This episode of The Relic Radio Show, "John Steele and Frank Race," transports listeners to two dramatically different, yet equally atmospheric, adventures from radio's golden age. "The Unsuspected," a John Steele tale, takes us deep into the Amazon jungle, exploring the cost of honesty, loyalty, and personal codes. "The Six-Week Cure," featuring Frank Race, delivers a twist-laden murder mystery amid Reno's notorious divorce culture, complete with colorful characters and classic hard-boiled repartee.

Segment 1: "John Steele, Adventurer" – "The Unsuspected"

Airdate: Originally aired May 9, 1950
Timestamps: 01:00–30:26

Key Story Summary

• Setting: Amazon Basin, mid-century South America, in the midst of constructing airfields.
• Main Characters:
  • Charles Maloney – Honest to a fault, the protagonist and narrator.
  • Alicia – The empathetic daughter of Jose.
  • Jose – Alicia’s father, obsessed with finding his lost friend Bill Harris.
  • Supporting cast: Tony, Hans, John Steele (foreman).

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Burden of Truth

• Charles is defined by his inability to tell a lie, often at the expense of his own standing and relationships.
• Charles’ refusal to indulge in harmless group banter isolates him:
  Charles: "Why should I lie for anyone? It does not matter if they asked for the truth." (04:54)

The Quest for Bill Harris

• Jose is haunted by his friend Bill Harris's disappearance; despite widespread belief that Bill is dead, Jose is determined to search the jungle.
• Alicia intercedes, persuading Charles to help her father, not for the likelihood of success, but for closure and camaraderie:
  Alicia: "Even if Papa do not find Bill, at least he will be happier knowing he tried to." (05:40)

Jungle Hardships and Clashing Motives

• The expedition quickly faces setbacks: loss of essential medical supplies, harsh terrain, and the ever-present threat of disease and animals.
• The relationship between Charles and Jose frays, with each questioning the other's resolve and motives.

Increasing Desperation and Tragedy

• Jose’s health deteriorates due to malaria and exhaustion. Malaria-induced delirium leads him to mistake Charles for Bill and confess to a murder back at camp.
• As Jose grows sicker, paranoia peaks, and a confrontation nearly turns deadly.

Resolution with No Closure

• Charles returns to camp, weak and heartbroken, forced to tell Alicia that her father has died of malaria—while withholding the darker truth.
• Heartbreaking choice: Charles lies for the first time, sacrificing honesty to spare Alicia pain:
  Charles: "Your father, Jose, he died on the way back. Sorry, Alicia... He died of malaria." (26:38–27:07)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Alicia about Charles's honesty:
  "That is why I most want you to go with Papa. You are honest, no matter what happens." (05:21)
• Jose’s confession and delirium:
  "You only want to know. I killed him, Bill. Everyone else think he died like natural, but, you know not." (Approx. 29:00)
• Alicia’s heartbreak:
  "I don't never want to hear you again." (28:09)
• Charles's resigned reflection:
  "The story of a man who told a lie and lost the only person he really cared for. But one peace of mind." (28:21)

Memorable Moment

• The moral twist: Charles, having lost everything to his unbending truthfulness, lies to Alicia to spare her, recognizing that sometimes, a lie can be kinder than the truth.

Segment 2: "The Adventures of Frank Race" – "The Six Week Cure"

Airdate: November 6, 1949
Timestamps: 30:26–56:33

Key Story Summary

• Setting: Reno, Nevada — the notorious locale for American divorcees; a dude ranch for the rich, bored, and broken-hearted.
• Main Characters:
  • Frank Race – Ex-OSS attorney turned detective.
  • Mark Donovan – Frank's loyal sidekick.
  • Olga Petrov – Celebrated ballerina, seeking divorce.
  • Boris Petrov – Olga's husband, ambitious and unfaithful.
  • Big Rocky (Joe Rocklin) – Shady financier and would-be gangster.
  • Fran Maitland – Glamorous, dangerous, and ultimately murderous divorcee.
  • Ma Westcott – No-nonsense ranch owner, sharp and colorful.

Key Plot Points and Insights

Reno’s Underbelly

• Frank observes that Reno's reputation for "gay divorcees" is a myth—there is little joy beneath the surface:
  Frank: "There's nothing gay about a marriage that doesn't work, Mark. For most of them, this is the bitter end of a sweet dream." (31:59)

Olga’s Predicament

• Olga seeks Frank's help: she's caught between her estranged husband Boris, her gangster patron Rocky, and the enigmatic, wealthy Fran Maitland.
• Frank is drawn into complex romantic and criminal entanglements.

Ma Westcott’s Realm

• The tough-as-nails ranch owner, her wayward son, and helicopter rides create a Wild West meets noir atmosphere.
• Ma Westcott provides both comic relief and a credible red herring as a suspect.

Two Murders, Multiple Suspects

• Sylvia Towner, another desperate divorcee, is found murdered (brandishing iron through the throat), followed soon after by Rocky, shot dead.
• Suspicion sweeps across the entire cast, including Boris, Fran Maitland, Ma Westcott, and even Frank himself.
• Frank’s classic hard-boiled exchanges, quick wits, and layered narration drive the investigation:
  Frank: "You think you're pretty good, don't you, huh? Big man, tough guy. Just like my husband." (39:07, spoken to Frank by Sylvia)

The Showdown and Solution

• Frank deduces two murderers: Rocky kills Sylvia to prevent her from disrupting his plans; Fran Maitland kills Rocky with a rifle shot from above, expertly, due to her skeet shooting skills.
• The setup for Fran’s capture is pure detective theater—Frank waits in the dark, exposes her, and Mark Donovan foils her attempted escape with a timely, non-lethal gunshot.
• The story ends on a bittersweet note; Olga is momentarily safe but still trapped in her unhappy world.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Ma Westcott (on riding her own helicopter):
  "You're something of a flyer, too, Mr. Race. Most ranchers think I'm crazy, though." (36:43)
• Rocky’s threat disguised as advice:
  "You’re smart, Race... I sort of feel there ain’t no reason for you to be in Reno." (38:16)
• Mark Donovan’s world-weary humor:
  "Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean. Me." (55:14)
• Frank’s classic closer:
  "Why do nice dames always marry heels?" (55:21)

Memorable Moments

• Helicopter spotlight search (42:44): Ma Westcott’s unique night ride leads to the discovery of Sylvia’s body—a striking piece of radio atmosphere.
• Final confrontation (53:29–54:55): The denouement in Rocky's cottage where Frank and Mark catch Fran in the act, tying together all the narrative threads.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps

• John Steele Introduction & Setup (01:00–04:45)
• Alicia Convinces Charles (04:45–06:23)
• Journey into the Jungle & Loss of Supplies (06:47–10:44)
• Jungle Suffering and Jose’s Delirium (13:00–24:00)
• Jose’s Death and Charles’s White Lie (26:25–28:21)
• Frank Race Introduction: Reno Divorce Culture (30:26–32:13)
• Olga’s Dilemma and Entry of the Villains (32:43–38:38)
• Ma Westcott, Helicopter Sequence & Murder Discovery (42:44–44:39)
• Frank Race’s Investigation & Solution Unfold (47:07–54:55)
• Episode Closer & Reflections (55:00–56:33)

Tone and Style

• Atmospheric & Hard-Boiled: Both stories are rich in descriptive language and period dialogue, with a focus on human frailty, moral ambiguity, and poignant choices.
• Cinematic Storytelling: Sound effects, character-driven narration, and sharp exchanges pull listeners deep into the heart of each drama.

For New Listeners

This episode offers a prime example of classic radio drama's power: suspenseful, character-driven, and often morally complex. "The Unsuspected" unspools a meditation on honesty, sacrifice, and the weight of truth. "The Six-Week Cure" pairs sharp detective work with the soap opera world of Reno divorcees, capped with witty banter and a double-murder plot. Both segments showcase the enduring appeal of old-time radio’s storytelling craft.