The Relic Radio Show – "The Falcon and The Whistler"
Released: December 2, 2025
Podcast Host: RelicRadio.com

Episode Overview

This week’s hour-long episode of The Relic Radio Show dives into two classic radio dramas from the golden age of radio: The Adventures of the Falcon: The Case of the Widow's Gorilla (originally aired November 12, 1950) and The Whistler: The First Year (originally aired December 31, 1947). Both plays offer suspenseful mysteries driven by greed, betrayal, and the complexities of human motivation, featuring iconic performances and twist-filled storytelling.

Segment 1: The Adventures of the Falcon: The Case of the Widow's Gorilla

[Starts at 00:11]

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

• Crisis at the Orsatti Home:

  • Raymond Orsatti, a novelty manufacturer, faces business ruin and contemplates suicide. His wife, Lois, tries unsuccessfully to dissuade him.
    • [03:40] Lois: “Raymond, what are you doing?”
    • [03:50] Raymond: “Business is ruined. Kendrick's got the best of me. There's nothing left.”

• A Desperate Plan:

  • Orsatti considers a risky plan to solve his financial woes, perhaps involving business rival Kendrick.

• Business Proposition Rejected:

  • Kendrick, his business competitor, rejects Orsatti’s proposed merger, further deepening Raymond’s despair.

• The Falcon Gets Involved:

  • Kendrick hires detective Michael Waring (the Falcon) when police suspect him of murdering Orsatti.
    • [06:42] Kendrick: “I guess you wonder what a man like me wants with a detective…”
    • Falcon: “Happens in the best of families.”

• The Suicide Note Plot:

  • There’s a potential suicide note left by Orsatti, but Stribling, a bookie, is now suspected of holding onto it for extortion.
    • [08:30] Stribling: “Well, I suppose there was a note…a note like that ought to be worth a lot to Kendrick.”

• The Widow’s Stake:

  • The insurance policy’s suicide clause means Lois Orsatti stands to lose $30,000 if Raymond’s death is ruled a suicide. The note becomes an asset everyone wants.
    • [09:09] Stribling: “If Orsatti killed himself, the insurance is void, meaning that Mrs. O is out a cool 30 grand.”

• The Falcon Faces Danger:

  • Lois sets her thug, Marbury, to tail Waring and prevent him from reaching Stribling.
    • [11:49] Lois: “A man just left—Michael Waring. ...I want you to see that he doesn't get to Stribling.”

• Stribling’s Murder:

  • Stribling is found murdered. The note surfaces with Kendrick, who claims to have purchased it.

• Revelations and Confrontations:

  • Waring deduces that the person who sold Kendrick the suicide note wasn’t Stribling but someone impersonating him—likely Marbury, Lois’ “gorilla.”
    • [24:35] Falcon: “So when he bought the note, how do we know he bought it from Stribling?”

• The True Killer Unmasked:

  • Under pressure, Lois confesses Marbury’s involvement, but in the final confrontation, Waring realizes that he was with Marbury during the murder, and it was actually Lois who killed Stribling to retrieve the note and protect her claim.
    • [26:40] Falcon: “Looks like I did [catch the killer]. Yes. Who? Kendrick. It’s obvious...”

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• [11:26] Falcon (sarcastic): “Well, it could save me a lot of trouble if you buy it. You're just going to wind up in a jam with the insurance company.”
• [17:59] Falcon (to Lois): “I’ve just been slugged by the poor widow’s gorilla. And a thing like that doesn’t put me on my best behavior.”

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:11 – Show intro and the set-up for this week’s stories.
• 03:40 – 06:42 – Orsatti’s despair and Kendrick’s involvement.
• 08:30 – 10:54 – Stribling and the note’s value.
• 11:49 – Lois orders Marbury to tail Waring.
• 17:57 – 19:01 – Stribling’s death and Kendrick’s acquisition of the note.
• 23:22 – 26:49 – The confrontation and resolution.

Segment 2: The Whistler: The First Year

[Begins at approx. 31:30]

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

• Marriage with Terms:

  • Lydia Winters and Elliot Larkin marry impulsively, each with selfish motives. Lydia’s wealthy Uncle Philip disapproves.
    • [34:14] Uncle Philip: “If I have any concern about Elliot Larkin, it’s on his account and not yours… With you, he hasn’t a chance.”

• The Testament of Doom:

  • Uncle Philip’s will forces Lydia and Elliot to live together ten years for a $500,000 legacy, but if either dies, the entire sum goes to the survivor.
    • [35:24] Uncle Philip (dictating will): “If at any time during those ten years, either one of them die by any means, the entire sum is payable to the survivor immediately.”
    • Ballinger, family lawyer: “It’s not a will, Philip. It’s a weapon.” [35:33]

• A Hollow Marriage:

  • The couple’s relationship quickly sours when Lydia learns Elliot is broke, and both are trapped by the will’s conditions.

• Schemes and Sacrifices:

  • As the first year draws to a close, both plot to find workarounds. Lydia is courted by an old flame, Marty, while Elliot seeks employment and contemplates leaving.

• Deadly Opportunity:

  • Fate intervenes: Elliot arranges for his friend Johnny Gates to travel under his name—Johnny perishes in a plane crash, seemingly giving Lydia the financial opportunity she sought.

• Murder for the Inheritance:

  • At the Silver Lake Lodge, Lydia considers murder. She plans to kill Elliot and collect the inheritance, convinced there will be no repercussions.

• Twist Ending:

  • The confession reveals Lydia killed Elliot, believing her alibi was flawless. However, Elliot is caught because he faked his death, and her plot unravels after a police investigation reveals the deception.
    • [55:16] Ballinger: “I can’t say I’m surprised, Lieutenant. I was afraid from the beginning that Philip’s will would lead to something like that.”

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• [35:16] Uncle Philip: “You’re just like your mother—same selfishness, the same abysmal ignorance of the true meaning of marriage.”
• [41:23] Lydia: “I don’t love you, I never did.”
• [42:49] Elliot: “Ten years, nine to go. Well, I guess there was a time I’d be willing to do anything for a half million dollars. Right now, I don’t know.”
• [55:56] Detective: “Johnny Gates traveling in my name. I thought I had a perfect alibi… until our man walked in on you in Seattle.”

Important Segment Timestamps

• 31:30–35:35 – Lydia and Elliot’s backstory and Uncle Philip’s condemnation.
• 35:36–40:00 – The will’s conditions revealed; the couple’s finances exposed.
• 44:11–48:08 – Anniversary plans and schemes for escape.
• 51:25–53:05 – Fate offers Lydia the chance to kill Elliot and collect the fortune.
• 54:46–end – The Whistler’s ending; the murder is revealed, the confession read, and Lydia’s plan collapses.

Final Thoughts

Both segments are gripping explorations of desperation and duplicity, classic hallmarks of old-time radio mystery. The Falcon’s wry detachment, exemplified by his banter and persistent sleuthing, and The Whistler’s bleak fatalism, punctuated by its omniscient narrator, set the tone for two dark tales of human weakness and fatal ambition.

Memorable Quotes Recap

• The Adventures of the Falcon

  • Falcon (to Kendrick): “I work for my $50 a day, plus expenses. And if I can’t clear you that way, you better have cash on hand for a good lawyer.” [22:10]

• The Whistler

  • Uncle Philip: “It’s not a will, Philip. It’s a weapon.” [35:33]
  • Elliot: “You must admit the old boy had a sense of humor.” [42:45]