November 18, 2025 • 35 mins
Today's Mystery: Dorothy Kilgaren is called in to investigate the killing-by-hatchet of a woman; police suspect her seventeen-year-old daughter.
Original Radio Broadcast: October 15, 1947
Originating from New York
Starring: Janet Fox as Dorothy Kilgaren; Burt Brazier; Francis De Sales; Jerry Lewis; Mitzi Gould; Eleanor Audley
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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
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Give us a call at 208-991-4783
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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Original Radio Broadcast: October 15, 1947
Originating from New York
Starring: Janet Fox as Dorothy Kilgaren; Burt Brazier; Francis De Sales; Jerry Lewis; Mitzi Gould; Eleanor Audley
Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Doc, patreon supporter since February 2016.
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, I'm
going to bring you this week's episode of The Big Story.
But first I do want to encourage you, if you
are enjoying the podcast, to please follow us using your
(00:51):
favorite podcast software. And I want to go ahead and
highlight one of our other podcasts, and today I'm highlighting
The Adventurers of Old Time Radio. Now, of course we
are currently sharing Cloak and Naggar, but we are also
hosting Adventure Ahead, which is a fantastic series that brings
(01:14):
to life some great adventure stories that were popular back
in the nineteen forties. And of course, on the Great
Adventurers feed you can access all of the episodes of
our recent flash Gordon and Buck Rogers podcast, and there's
even more great adventure to come, so be sure to
(01:37):
follow the podcast at Great Adventures dot info or wherever
you get your podcasts from Now. From October fifteenth, nineteen
forty seven, here is the Bobby Sachs Kid from Bayonne,
(01:58):
The Big Story.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Look for the last time, Janet, did you.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Murder your mother?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
No, Lieutenant Morgan, I didn't.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Then who did?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
I don't know. Is that all you can say? I
don't know. Oh it beats me.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
I never did meet a stubborn kid like you before.
Oh well, I might as well sending the police matron.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Oh, Lieutenant Morgan. Yeah, well you asked the matron to
bring in some needlan.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Thread Neiland's thread.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Yeah, I've got a hole in one of my Bobby
socks and it looks like the Dickens.
Speaker 6 (02:40):
The Big Story another in a thrilling series based on
true experiences of newspaper reporters. Tonight to Dorothy Killgallan of
the New York Journal American goes the pell Mell Award
for the Big Story. Now the strange and authentic story
(03:07):
of the Bobby Socks kid from Bayonne.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
You are Dorothy Kilgallen, covering the police feet for the
New York Evening Journal before he became the Journal American
and before you became a big byeline with a Broadway column.
It's one of those sticky, saltry July evenings, just about
midnight when you finally get back to the office from Jersey.
(03:44):
You're so tired.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
You see spots.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Before your eyes, and so hot your clothes stick damply
to your skin. You make a beeline for the water
cooler and there you run into the night.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Editor.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Hey, Dorothy, to lease you on that ice water.
Speaker 7 (03:58):
You want to get a chill?
Speaker 8 (03:59):
I'll take at chill, l just as long as it's
good and cold. What a session I just had in
Jersey City?
Speaker 5 (04:06):
You sure look all in.
Speaker 8 (04:08):
I am two days and two nights without sleep, waiting
in a sizzling hot room for a jury to make
up its mind.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
L It was awful. Yeah, yeah, I bet it was.
Speaker 8 (04:20):
Look, Dorothy, Now, I've just got one big ambition in life.
I'm going home and stand under a cold shower for
about an hour and then fall into bed.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Dorothy, I hate to be a killed joy, but I've
got to send you out on another assignment.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
You mean, now right away?
Speaker 3 (04:37):
To be own New Jersey. Just gotta flash that a
woman was murdered out there, and the cops think the
woman's daughter and a boyfriend did the job. They're grilling
the kids at headquarters. Now I'll go out there and
see what you can pick up.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
It's all yours.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
How is this missus Graham? I heard her Sergeant Gillett
with a hatchet.
Speaker 7 (05:01):
Miss Kill Gallan.
Speaker 5 (05:02):
Oh, but that sounds like the work of a maniac.
You mean you suspect a couple of kids.
Speaker 7 (05:07):
Yeah, I know, it doesn't seem possible, especially kids like these.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
Where's missus Graham's daughter?
Speaker 7 (05:13):
Now she's with a Lieutenant Morgan in that room over there.
He's been grilling her for hours, but she won't talk either.
Well her boyfriend.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Where'd you pick up?
Speaker 5 (05:21):
The kid's sergeant?
Speaker 7 (05:22):
And a bar joint near the Summerville? Sirle Oh, here
comes Morgan. Now any luck, Lieutenant?
Speaker 9 (05:27):
Ah?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
No, no more questions, I ask her the tighter she
clambs up. You know, I've had some tough crooks on
the grill, but this kid beats them all. Oh hello,
miss kill Gallan.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
Hello, Lieutenant. Got anything I can use for a story?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Ah?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Not a thing, miss kill Gallant. And that's the truth. Frankly,
we're pretty well up against the stone wall. Now, what
can you do when a cute looking seventeen year old
kid just just sits there and swings her legs and
looks at you with her sweet face and says.
Speaker 10 (05:57):
I don't know, she won't say anything.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Right, everything talk to her like a Dutch uncle, like
a father, like a like a cop, like a mug
even but it's no.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
Go I don't know, she says, just like that.
Speaker 8 (06:10):
I don't know, Lieutenant Morgan. Yeah, mind if I go
into that room and talk to Janet Graham alone?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Oh what good'll that do?
Speaker 5 (06:20):
I don't know that it'll.
Speaker 8 (06:21):
Do any good, but I just might come up with something,
you know, just between us girls, how about it?
Speaker 4 (06:28):
Now?
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Look, miss Kirgallan, all the other reporters are going home.
Why don't you go to.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
She won't crack.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Believe me, I know all the tricks, and I've used
them all.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
She just won't crack.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
Would you let me talk to her? Oh it's too
hot time?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Oh go ahead, go ahead, But.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Believe me, you're wasting your time. We've had our best
men working on that kid, and she just won't talk.
Speaker 8 (07:05):
Hi, Janet, who are you? My name's Dorothy Kilgallan. I'm
a reporter, reporter, honest, honest. I thought i'd just dropped
in for a chat.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Oh, well, you're not going to find anything out for me.
I don't know anything.
Speaker 8 (07:20):
Oh maybe you don't, but I do you do?
Speaker 4 (07:24):
What?
Speaker 5 (07:25):
You look like a sight? Your hair's every which way
and your nose is shiny.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Well, gosh, miss kill Gallen, what can I do? I
love my compact in Charlie's gilappe when he picked us up.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Well, he wouldn't like you the way you look? Now?
Speaker 8 (07:38):
Gee?
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Is is that bad?
Speaker 8 (07:39):
Here?
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Take my compact?
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Oh? Thanks, Miss Kilgallen. Jeesus is just super? Is it
real gold?
Speaker 11 (07:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (07:48):
I got one in silver, shaped like a hot It's
got initials on it CM CM. Who's that Charlie Mason.
He gave it to me for my birthday. He's my boyfriend.
We've been going steady for a year.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
Is he nice?
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (08:00):
He's just super, Miss killed Gallon, tell me about him?
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Geez, you really want me to? Of course? Well? He
start athlete at Bay One High and he's a wizard tennis,
beat me six love every time, and I'm supposed to
be pretty good for a girl. Here's your contact?
Speaker 5 (08:18):
Oh thanks? Feel better?
Speaker 12 (08:20):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Yes, lots, here's the same color powder.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
I do, Janet. I suppose you and Charlie you know
that you're in a mess of trouble.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Yeah, I guess we are.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
Why don't you tell them what they want to know?
Speaker 4 (08:37):
I won't. I won't tell him a thing.
Speaker 8 (08:39):
I hate them, then maybe you'd tell me you yes,
you know, it's different when you tell everything to a woman.
A woman sort of understands.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Who gee, you're nice, miss kill Gallon.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
But but what, Janet? You love Charlie?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Don't you?
Speaker 8 (09:00):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (09:00):
That? Of course?
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Why shouldn't you?
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Golly, you do understand, don't you?
Speaker 5 (09:07):
Yes? I think so.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
That's the trouble with him. The police, I mean, they
don't know how it was with Charlie and me. Mother
didn't either.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
She she what, Janet?
Speaker 11 (09:20):
Nothing?
Speaker 10 (09:22):
All right?
Speaker 5 (09:22):
If you don't want to tell me anything, Janet, I
guess I'll have to go.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
Please stay.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
Then what about your mother?
Speaker 4 (09:31):
She hated Charlie. She wouldn't even let him come into
the house.
Speaker 5 (09:35):
Did she know you loved him?
Speaker 4 (09:36):
I kept telling her that, honest, Miss Kilke, and I
kept telling her That's why we argue.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
I argued about what it was.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
This afternoon. Mother wanted me to do some work around
the house, but I skipped out to meet Charlie.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Where'd you meet him, Janet?
Speaker 9 (09:49):
The church?
Speaker 4 (09:50):
He's an a choir you know, and they were having
choir practice. The door was open, and I went in.
Charlie was singing a solo and I listened. It was wonderful,
miss kill Gallon. Listening to Charlie was well, it was
like going to heaven. I was just thrilled. I wanted
to reach up and touch him, but I didn't. I
(10:12):
just sat there and listened.
Speaker 12 (10:13):
After that, I guess I kind of walked on air.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
I met Charlie outside the church. We had a tennis
date at six o'clock, but before that I had to
go to the delicatests and buy some coal cuts for supper.
On the way to the delicatesta and I kind of
took Charlie's hand and held it. Just holding his hand
like that thrilled me. But oh, Charlie, you know how
boys are miss killed gallons. He was kind of bashful. Yes, Charlie,
(11:01):
holding my hand.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Everybody on the street's looking at us.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Don't you love me?
Speaker 9 (11:05):
Well?
Speaker 4 (11:06):
Sure I do, Cookie, you know that. But how about
coming to my house of a supper tonight.
Speaker 7 (11:12):
I can't do that, Janet, What would your mother say?
Speaker 4 (11:15):
I don't care what mother says. She's not gonna boss
me around anymore. We'll just tell her we're in love
and that we're gonna get married. Just as soon as
you can get a job singing on the radio.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Well, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Don't you love me, Charlie?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Sure?
Speaker 10 (11:26):
Cookie, I told you I did well and we.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Don't have to be afraid of mother or anyone else. Oh,
here's the delicatessen.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Well, good afternoon, Jannet.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Oh, mister Schmid, what'll it be today? I'll have a
quarter of a pound of ham, quarter a pound of liver,
worst twenty tents with the potato salad, Jada salad. And oh,
mister Schmid, Yeah, mother will kill me for this, but
I don't care. I want to drive mayonnaise.
Speaker 7 (11:53):
Mayonnaise.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Yeah, I'm just wacky about mayonnaise. And this time I
don't give a darn what my mother says.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
So you left the delicates in store and went right home?
Is that it, Janet?
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Well, no, not exactly, miss kill Gallen. You know how
hot it was today? Well, anyways, Charlie and I stopped
in the tavern and we had two glasses of beer
each and some breadful beer. Was super being so hot outside,
and all after.
Speaker 12 (12:29):
That we went to my house.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Funny how I felt then?
Speaker 5 (12:34):
How did you feel?
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Well? Gee, I don't know why I'm telling you all this.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
How did you feel, Janet?
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Well, it was so hot, and I was kind of
dizzy and thrilled because Charlie was going with me and
we were going to stand up to mother. You know,
miss kill Gallon, how it is when you're all thrilled
and excited.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Oh sure, I know. Well what happened when you got home?
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Well? Mother was out?
Speaker 5 (13:02):
I see what did you and Charlie do? Then?
Speaker 4 (13:06):
Oh, Charlie read a magazine and I kind of did
a little housework.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
Janet, Yes, Miss Kirgallen.
Speaker 8 (13:16):
You're not telling me the truth. What's the use of
talking to me if you don't tell me the truth? Now,
what really happened when you and Charlie came home and
found that your mother was out. Don't be afraid, Janet,
I'll understand, but you've got to tell me the truth,
all right, all.
Speaker 11 (13:34):
Right, I will.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
We were both a little dizzy, I guess, you know.
We kept saying things to each other. Then all of
a sudden, I felt like dancing. So I put on
a record of our song, your song, yes, Temptation, it's
my favorite. Charlie's too, We well we call it our song. Anyway,
I felt like dancing. So I put the record on
the victrola and then Charlie, Yeah, let's dance, dance, yes,
(14:10):
take me in your arms, Charley.
Speaker 7 (14:11):
But what if your mother comes in on caesars?
Speaker 4 (14:14):
I don't care, do you?
Speaker 8 (14:17):
No?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
No, I guess not, Charlie, Charlie, let's stop dancing now,
let's sit down, sit down, Yes, kiss me, Charlie.
Speaker 9 (14:40):
Please chaff shade.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Charlie again, China Quail.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
We'll be back in just a moment with tonight's big story.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Now we return you to our narrator, Barry Kroger and
Tonight's big story. Bobby's tucks kid from Bayonne and keeps
talking there in that sweltering, dingy police room. The words
spilled from her faster and faster. You can see that
she wants to talk.
Speaker 11 (15:39):
Now.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
She's glad to get it off her chest. It's been
simmering and boiling inside. Finally she stops to catch her breath.
Speaker 8 (15:48):
You ask her, now, when your mother walked into the
parlor and found you and Charlie there, what.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Did she say, Janet?
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Mother just stood there, miss kill. She stood there, looking
as though she liked to kill the boat. The Victorlla
kept on playing temptation. I don't remember who was most.
Speaker 10 (16:07):
I think it was Charlie, miss Graham eye turn off
the victorla Janet live it? Mother, we were I said,
turn off to Victrolla. Yes, mother, Now Janet, go into
the kitchen. I want to talk to you alone. But
missus Graham, she didn't do anything. Thank you to keep still.
You just sit right here. I'll have something to say
to you later, Janet, too much. Right into the kitchen.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
And what happened after you got into the kitchen? Janet, Janet?
What happened?
Speaker 4 (16:48):
Well, Miss Kilgallan. Mother didn't say anything for a long time.
She just started to get the dishes out for supper.
I was nervous and scared.
Speaker 12 (16:57):
Well, there was a heat too.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
It was so hot it funny things to me. I thought,
maybe if I did something something with my hands instead
of just standing there waiting for mother to say something,
to be better, I think better. Then I saw the
hatchet on the window sill.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
What was the hatchet doing there?
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I'd brought it up from the cellar.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
Why did you bring it up?
Speaker 4 (17:16):
Because Mother had asked me to nail down some lucinolium
on the kitchen floor, so I got some tacks and
started to hammer it down. Then mother started to talk.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
I don't know.
Speaker 10 (17:27):
I just don't know. What did I ever do to
deserve it?
Speaker 8 (17:30):
All?
Speaker 10 (17:31):
Like you, a common shape, little flir mother, don't.
Speaker 12 (17:33):
Say things guy said. All Charlie did was kiss me.
Speaker 10 (17:36):
I don't want to hear another word from you, Janith Willham,
not another single solitary word. When your father comes home,
I'll see that he takes a strap to you, a
little good for nothing mother. Please, I'm seventeen years old,
a baby and sitting on the couch hugging and kissing
a nasty boy like Charlie Mace.
Speaker 12 (17:50):
I'm no baby, do you hear mother?
Speaker 4 (17:51):
I'm seventeen, I'm grown up and I love Charlie Mason.
Speaker 10 (17:54):
Ha you what do you know about love? You're just
boy crazy? That's all. Bye Chris, Oh, don't say things
like that. Bye crazy, Bye crazy, Bye crazy.
Speaker 11 (18:03):
Mother.
Speaker 10 (18:03):
Don't I forbid you to ever see him again? I
positively forbid you to see him again?
Speaker 8 (18:07):
Do you hear me?
Speaker 11 (18:07):
Janet?
Speaker 10 (18:08):
You're not just see him again.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
You can't stop me. You can't stop me. You'll see Charlie.
Speaker 10 (18:11):
Oh, I please, I love him, I love him, I
love him. Don't you dare talk back to me?
Speaker 12 (18:14):
Don't you dare?
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Mother? Please not quarrel anymore? So hot now I've got
such a terrible headache, and I I'm so mixed up.
Speaker 8 (18:24):
I warn you, Janet, if I ever catch that awful
boy around here again, I'll have your father horse.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
But don't say things like said, please die.
Speaker 10 (18:30):
I don't like him and I never did. He's no
good and he'll never be any good.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Stop.
Speaker 10 (18:34):
Don't you yell at me. You're younger for nothing. Tell
you talk back to your own mother like that house?
Speaker 8 (18:38):
Dare you?
Speaker 12 (18:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (18:45):
I asked you to stop. I asked you to stop nagging.
Speaker 10 (18:51):
Shanada, Yeah, put down my ass. Just put down, Charlie.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
You're not say to stand betwe Charlie and me. You're
not going, is she? Charlie?
Speaker 8 (19:05):
Shut?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
An I know, Oh mother, You listened in horror as
Janet Graham tells you what happened. Then you listen and listen,
(19:29):
all gone, feeling in the pit of your stomach as
you watched this sweet faced kid in the bobby socks
dangling her tanned legs under the bench and calmly telling.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
You I hit mother. Then miss Jill down she screamed
and fell down.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
That's all I see. What did you do then, Janet?
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Well, and we thought we'd better talk things over. You
and Charlie. Yes, Charlie's Gilopie was outside, and we decided
we better drive to Canada because they be looking for
us pretty soon. We didn't have much money, so we
started to make up sandwiches in the kitchen for our trip,
and then all of a sudden the doorbell rang. Janney, Jannet,
someone's at the front door. You keep making up those
(20:14):
chicken and ham sandwiches here in the kitchen, Charlie, I'll
see who it is.
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Yeah, I hope it isn't the police or someone.
Speaker 10 (20:24):
Oh, John, that's anything wrong?
Speaker 8 (20:26):
Wrong?
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I know, Missus Wallace. What makes you think so well?
Speaker 10 (20:31):
I was sitting on my front part next door, and
I thought I heard your mother scream.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Oh oh that well, mother just cut her finger, that's all,
Missus Wallace.
Speaker 10 (20:39):
Oh for a moment to hop it?
Speaker 5 (20:42):
Nothing serious, is it, Janet?
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Oh no, Missus Wallace, just a nick nothing to worry about.
Speaker 5 (20:48):
Thanks Heaven for that.
Speaker 10 (20:49):
That's scream certainly to give me a fright. Well, I'll
be getting back, Janet.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Well, thanks for looking in missus Wallace O nobody just
a neighbor. Oh, Charlie, what you forgot? Something? Got something? Yes?
On those chicken sandwiches you're making the mayonnaise. You know,
(21:16):
I just love mayonnaise?
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Is that all, Janets?
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Well, miss Killgowen, I guess so, except that we started.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Out for Canada and you got as far as the
Summerville Circle.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Yes, it was awful hot driving this evening. Well, we
stopped at a tavern for a couple of glasses of beer,
and by that time Charlie was pretty worried.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Gosh, Jennets, we're in an awful jam now.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
I don't care. I don't care about anything else. I
love you, Charlie.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
We ever be able to make Canada, but all I've
got is a dollar and forty cents.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
You're awful cute, Charlie. Awful cute, Janet.
Speaker 5 (22:08):
Maybe we ought to give ourselves up.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
I love your hair, Charlie.
Speaker 9 (22:11):
It's so sick and nice.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
I always feel like running my fingers through it.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Janet, we got to decide what to do, Charlie.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Yeah, playing number seven on the juice box, Look Cookie
laying number seven. It's our song, Charlie, Temptations. Okay, oh, Charlie,
(22:42):
our song, isn't it wonderful?
Speaker 2 (22:46):
It is just super Yeah, listen, Janet, about your mother, about.
Speaker 9 (22:51):
What we did.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Oh, don't talk about that now, don't let's talk about anything.
Speaker 9 (22:57):
Now. Let's just sit here and listen.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
And Jeff, he just came in.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
He's seen us, Jack, he's coming over to our boards.
Uh at your Ted Cob outside? John?
Speaker 4 (23:18):
Yes, sir? Your name Charlie Mason, Yes, sir.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
And you're Kenned Graham.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Yes, sir, okay, you're kids.
Speaker 10 (23:27):
You better come along with me.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
All right, officer, we'll go with Yoni.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Do you mind if we wait till the music's over?
Speaker 5 (23:46):
And that's the whole story, Jack.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
Yes, miss kill Gallon, that's all there is now. You
know everything's funny. I didn't mind telling you. I knew
you'd have understand you do, don't you?
Speaker 5 (24:03):
Yes, I understand, Janet? But now will you tell the
others what you told me?
Speaker 4 (24:10):
I don't want to, I.
Speaker 8 (24:12):
Know, but I think you'd better.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
All right, miss kill Gallen, you say so, I'll tell him.
Speaker 5 (24:22):
Well, I have to go now.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
You can't stay with me any loone, No, no, I can't.
Oh well.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
Goodbye, miss Kill Gallen, goodbye Janet.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Our full house beats too parent any day?
Speaker 5 (24:43):
Oh hello, miss kill Gallen.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
How'd you make out?
Speaker 7 (24:45):
Didn't get anything out of the kid?
Speaker 5 (24:46):
I'll bet yes I did?
Speaker 3 (24:48):
You did?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Hey?
Speaker 3 (24:50):
That really puts me in my place, all of us
trying and not get in the glimmer.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
What's the lead? She told me everything everything?
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Are you serious?
Speaker 8 (24:58):
You mean you've got that kid that she told me everything?
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Who did it?
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Sheer?
Speaker 4 (25:02):
The boy?
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Did?
Speaker 5 (25:03):
She guess she did it? But it didn't have to happen.
It shouldn't have happened if her mother had only shown.
Speaker 10 (25:08):
A little more understanding, just a little more sympathy and love.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
Oh what's the useful difference to it?
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I know, I know, I'm not take it easy, mis
Kill Gallant pretty well used up.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
You did a big job in there and kind of
gets you done, I guess.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
So look at the exclusive you got it.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
It's a big story if there ever was one, And
I'll do to you.
Speaker 5 (25:33):
It's a big story, lieutenant. But do you want to
know something. I wish i'd never heard of it. I
wish I never had to write it. I wish it
had never happened.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
In just a moment, We'll read you a telegram from
Dorothy Kilgallen with a final outcome of tonight's big Story.
Now we read you that telegram from Dorothy Kilgallen of
the New York Journal.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
American boy and girl in Tonight's Big Story were found
guilty of murder, but received relatively light sentences on account
of their youth. Boy was later paroled from state prison
on condition that he joined some branch of armed forces.
Girl was paroled from reformatory after serving six and a
half years. Many thanks for tonight's Pellmell Awards.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
Thank you, miss Killgallon. The makers of pell Mell Famous
Cigarettes are proud to have named you the winner of
the pell Mell five hundred dollars Award for notable service
in the field of journalism.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Listen again next week, same time, same station, when pell
Mell Famous Cigarettes will present another big Story. A Big
Story from the pages of the Buffalo Evening News Byelon
Eddie de Castro, A big story that began when a
woman was told that her husband had been murdered and left.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
The Big Story is produced by Bernard J. Procter and
directed by Harry Ingram, with music by Vladimis Lensky. Tonight's
program was written by Max Erlich. Your narrator was Barry Kroger,
and Janet Fox play the part of Dorothy Kilgallen. All
names of the Night's story, except that of miss kill
Gallen were fictitious, but the dramatization was based on a
true and authentic case. This is Ernest Chapels, this is NBC,
(27:41):
the National Broadcasting Company.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Welcome back. Now, I do want to go ahead and
first of all let you know about the cast which
for this one, Dorothy Kilgallen was played by Janet Fox
and the rest of the cast was Francis de Sales,
Jerry Lewis not the one you're thinking of, Mitzi Gould,
Bert Brazier, and Eleanor Audley. Now, I will say that
(28:14):
the real life case is somewhat less sympathetic to the killer,
and it was based on the case of Gladys McKnight,
who committed the hatchet murder while her sweetheart cheered hit
her again. News reports at the time emphasized both McKnight's
(28:38):
casual attitude, which I think the episode captured rather well,
but they also said that McKnight's ungovernable temper was the
cause of frequent arguments between them, and the whole thing
started in this case where that led to the murder
because she was upset with her mother for not having
(29:02):
dinner on time. And this story was big news back
in nineteen thirty six. It was covered by newspapers as
far as way as Australia. Now, in terms of the
big difference between the way the story was told on
the radio and how it happened in real life, there
(29:25):
are two big possibilities. The first is that there was
more to the story than made it into most popular
press accounts, and the way the story is told reflects that.
The second is that the story might have been reframed
to fit the cultural narratives of nineteen forty seven. In
(29:51):
the era immediately after World War II, juvenile crime became
a huge concern, and one thought was that crime happened
because society and parents didn't try to understand kids, and
that if we made more of an effort to understand kids,
(30:12):
it would prevent juvenile crime. In addition to this, the
sponsors were really bigue on not being sued, so sometimes
details were changed for that purpose. Now, last week I
highlighted an example of double ling up that actually worked,
Let's go ahead and talk about one that didn't. Eleanor
(30:33):
Audley appeared as Missus Graham. She is probably best remembered
for her work in animation as the voice of Maleficent
in Sleeping Beauty and Lady Tremaine in Cinderella, and she's
also remembered for her TV work in Hollywood, constantly playing
(30:56):
snooty rich ladies and mother and mother in law's was
mother Douglas on Green Acres. So a very talented actress,
and of course I've heard her in a lot of
radio programs, mostly after she moved to Hollywood. It's very
different from any other performance I've heard her in because
(31:19):
she also plays their neighbor, Missus Wallace. I have never
heard Eleanor Audley being asked to play a dialect role
until now, and I know why. That is kind of
a weak spot for her. And in fact, she sounded
(31:39):
really the same as her mother character. And when the
daughter was acting confused, I was confused as well, because
I was like, well, wait, didn't she just kill her?
Like what is she doing at the door now? A
little bit about Dorothy Killgallen. Most of the reporters were
(32:02):
going to hear from in this series, are very, very
very obscure. She certainly was not. Not only did she
have her Broadway newspaper column, but she co hosted a
very popular morning radio talk show her husband, Dick Comer
(32:29):
aka Boston Blackie, and would go on to be a
huge presence on television as one of the panelists on
What's My Line. In nineteen thirty six, Kilgallon would have
been twenty three years old. However, she had been working
(32:49):
since she was eighteen, so she was a young woman
who had proved herself and established herself in the field,
which probably helped with the killer opening up to her.
Kill Gallen was experienced and accomplished, so she could look
(33:10):
up to her, but kill Gallen was still young enough
that they could relate and she could understand her experience.
A listener on Instagram sends a note, Hey, they're a
big fan of yours and a daily listener. Appreciate what
you do well, thank you so much and appreciate you
taking the time to send that note along over on Instagram. Well,
(33:32):
now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day,
and I want to thank doc Patreon supporter since February
twenty sixteen, currently supporting the podcast at the Shamas level
of four dollars or more per month. Thanks so much
for your support, Doc, and that will do it for today.
If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your
(33:53):
favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review
the podcast wherever you download it from. Be back next
Tuesday with another episode of the Big Story, but join
us back here tomorrow for broadways my bait? Where?
Speaker 6 (34:09):
How long have you been working here?
Speaker 4 (34:10):
Tonight?
Speaker 11 (34:11):
Came on at seven last night? I'm off at seven
this morning.
Speaker 12 (34:13):
Pretty long hours.
Speaker 11 (34:16):
Want a counter convention at the Hotel Canan Nail Club
something like that. Boys of the Canes been coming in
here like flies. That's why I'm working overtime.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Did you know a waitress named Francesca Brown lucky here?
Speaker 11 (34:28):
She got off a little over an hour ago, refused
to work over time. I should have done it.
Speaker 9 (34:31):
If she's dead?
Speaker 4 (34:34):
What dead?
Speaker 5 (34:35):
Strangled?
Speaker 2 (34:36):
Knife?
Speaker 8 (34:38):
You know?
Speaker 11 (34:38):
Wait a minute, I got something, Take it easy?
Speaker 8 (34:41):
Do you mean it?
Speaker 2 (34:44):
She's dead?
Speaker 11 (34:46):
Bird?
Speaker 4 (34:48):
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (34:50):
What about him?
Speaker 11 (34:51):
You said she was strangled, didn't you? Guy hung around
and asked her dates? Got nasty, you know, winks with
the replace. He wasn't kidding both of you. I'm sure
he was waited for Francesca when she got off. He's
a cana too, a book canna. I call him Kaner'
the Voice and the Canaan Air Club. This week they
got a penalty if they don't carry a cane. This
(35:12):
week they come from all over with canes grown. Then
border us fine bird. I don't know he lives close.
That's all I know.
Speaker 10 (35:19):
Thanks Ros, thanks a lot.
Speaker 11 (35:21):
Wait a minute, she's really dad.
Speaker 6 (35:27):
Dan.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Hope you'll be with us then in the meantime, send
your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,
follow us on Twitter and Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, slash Great Detectives from Boise, Adaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham, Sogn and all
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, I'm
going to bring you this week's episode of The Big Story.
But first I do want to encourage you, if you
are enjoying the podcast, to please follow us using your
(00:51):
favorite podcast software. And I want to go ahead and
highlight one of our other podcasts, and today I'm highlighting
The Adventurers of Old Time Radio. Now, of course we
are currently sharing Cloak and Naggar, but we are also
hosting Adventure Ahead, which is a fantastic series that brings
(01:14):
to life some great adventure stories that were popular back
in the nineteen forties. And of course, on the Great
Adventurers feed you can access all of the episodes of
our recent flash Gordon and Buck Rogers podcast, and there's
even more great adventure to come, so be sure to
(01:37):
follow the podcast at Great Adventures dot info or wherever
you get your podcasts from Now. From October fifteenth, nineteen
forty seven, here is the Bobby Sachs Kid from Bayonne,
(01:58):
The Big Story.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Look for the last time, Janet, did you.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Murder your mother?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
No, Lieutenant Morgan, I didn't.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Then who did?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
I don't know. Is that all you can say? I
don't know. Oh it beats me.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
I never did meet a stubborn kid like you before.
Oh well, I might as well sending the police matron.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Oh, Lieutenant Morgan. Yeah, well you asked the matron to
bring in some needlan.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Thread Neiland's thread.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Yeah, I've got a hole in one of my Bobby
socks and it looks like the Dickens.
Speaker 6 (02:40):
The Big Story another in a thrilling series based on
true experiences of newspaper reporters. Tonight to Dorothy Killgallan of
the New York Journal American goes the pell Mell Award
for the Big Story. Now the strange and authentic story
(03:07):
of the Bobby Socks kid from Bayonne.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
You are Dorothy Kilgallen, covering the police feet for the
New York Evening Journal before he became the Journal American
and before you became a big byeline with a Broadway column.
It's one of those sticky, saltry July evenings, just about
midnight when you finally get back to the office from Jersey.
(03:44):
You're so tired.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
You see spots.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Before your eyes, and so hot your clothes stick damply
to your skin. You make a beeline for the water
cooler and there you run into the night.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Editor.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Hey, Dorothy, to lease you on that ice water.
Speaker 7 (03:58):
You want to get a chill?
Speaker 8 (03:59):
I'll take at chill, l just as long as it's
good and cold. What a session I just had in
Jersey City?
Speaker 5 (04:06):
You sure look all in.
Speaker 8 (04:08):
I am two days and two nights without sleep, waiting
in a sizzling hot room for a jury to make
up its mind.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
L It was awful. Yeah, yeah, I bet it was.
Speaker 8 (04:20):
Look, Dorothy, Now, I've just got one big ambition in life.
I'm going home and stand under a cold shower for
about an hour and then fall into bed.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Dorothy, I hate to be a killed joy, but I've
got to send you out on another assignment.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
You mean, now right away?
Speaker 3 (04:37):
To be own New Jersey. Just gotta flash that a
woman was murdered out there, and the cops think the
woman's daughter and a boyfriend did the job. They're grilling
the kids at headquarters. Now I'll go out there and
see what you can pick up.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
It's all yours.
Speaker 5 (04:58):
How is this missus Graham? I heard her Sergeant Gillett
with a hatchet.
Speaker 7 (05:01):
Miss Kill Gallan.
Speaker 5 (05:02):
Oh, but that sounds like the work of a maniac.
You mean you suspect a couple of kids.
Speaker 7 (05:07):
Yeah, I know, it doesn't seem possible, especially kids like these.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
Where's missus Graham's daughter?
Speaker 7 (05:13):
Now she's with a Lieutenant Morgan in that room over there.
He's been grilling her for hours, but she won't talk either.
Well her boyfriend.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Where'd you pick up?
Speaker 5 (05:21):
The kid's sergeant?
Speaker 7 (05:22):
And a bar joint near the Summerville? Sirle Oh, here
comes Morgan. Now any luck, Lieutenant?
Speaker 9 (05:27):
Ah?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
No, no more questions, I ask her the tighter she
clambs up. You know, I've had some tough crooks on
the grill, but this kid beats them all. Oh hello,
miss kill Gallan.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
Hello, Lieutenant. Got anything I can use for a story?
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Ah?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Not a thing, miss kill Gallant. And that's the truth. Frankly,
we're pretty well up against the stone wall. Now, what
can you do when a cute looking seventeen year old
kid just just sits there and swings her legs and
looks at you with her sweet face and says.
Speaker 10 (05:57):
I don't know, she won't say anything.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Right, everything talk to her like a Dutch uncle, like
a father, like a like a cop, like a mug
even but it's no.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
Go I don't know, she says, just like that.
Speaker 8 (06:10):
I don't know, Lieutenant Morgan. Yeah, mind if I go
into that room and talk to Janet Graham alone?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Oh what good'll that do?
Speaker 5 (06:20):
I don't know that it'll.
Speaker 8 (06:21):
Do any good, but I just might come up with something,
you know, just between us girls, how about it?
Speaker 4 (06:28):
Now?
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Look, miss Kirgallan, all the other reporters are going home.
Why don't you go to.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
She won't crack.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Believe me, I know all the tricks, and I've used
them all.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
She just won't crack.
Speaker 5 (06:39):
Would you let me talk to her? Oh it's too
hot time?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Oh go ahead, go ahead, But.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Believe me, you're wasting your time. We've had our best
men working on that kid, and she just won't talk.
Speaker 8 (07:05):
Hi, Janet, who are you? My name's Dorothy Kilgallan. I'm
a reporter, reporter, honest, honest. I thought i'd just dropped
in for a chat.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Oh, well, you're not going to find anything out for me.
I don't know anything.
Speaker 8 (07:20):
Oh maybe you don't, but I do you do?
Speaker 4 (07:24):
What?
Speaker 5 (07:25):
You look like a sight? Your hair's every which way
and your nose is shiny.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Well, gosh, miss kill Gallen, what can I do? I
love my compact in Charlie's gilappe when he picked us up.
Speaker 5 (07:35):
Well, he wouldn't like you the way you look? Now?
Speaker 8 (07:38):
Gee?
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Is is that bad?
Speaker 8 (07:39):
Here?
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Take my compact?
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Oh? Thanks, Miss Kilgallen. Jeesus is just super? Is it
real gold?
Speaker 11 (07:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (07:48):
I got one in silver, shaped like a hot It's
got initials on it CM CM. Who's that Charlie Mason.
He gave it to me for my birthday. He's my boyfriend.
We've been going steady for a year.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
Is he nice?
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (08:00):
He's just super, Miss killed Gallon, tell me about him?
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Geez, you really want me to? Of course? Well? He
start athlete at Bay One High and he's a wizard tennis,
beat me six love every time, and I'm supposed to
be pretty good for a girl. Here's your contact?
Speaker 5 (08:18):
Oh thanks? Feel better?
Speaker 12 (08:20):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Yes, lots, here's the same color powder.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
I do, Janet. I suppose you and Charlie you know
that you're in a mess of trouble.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Yeah, I guess we are.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
Why don't you tell them what they want to know?
Speaker 4 (08:37):
I won't. I won't tell him a thing.
Speaker 8 (08:39):
I hate them, then maybe you'd tell me you yes,
you know, it's different when you tell everything to a woman.
A woman sort of understands.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
Who gee, you're nice, miss kill Gallon.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
But but what, Janet? You love Charlie?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Don't you?
Speaker 8 (09:00):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (09:00):
That? Of course?
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Why shouldn't you?
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Golly, you do understand, don't you?
Speaker 5 (09:07):
Yes? I think so.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
That's the trouble with him. The police, I mean, they
don't know how it was with Charlie and me. Mother
didn't either.
Speaker 5 (09:16):
She she what, Janet?
Speaker 11 (09:20):
Nothing?
Speaker 10 (09:22):
All right?
Speaker 5 (09:22):
If you don't want to tell me anything, Janet, I
guess I'll have to go.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
Please stay.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
Then what about your mother?
Speaker 4 (09:31):
She hated Charlie. She wouldn't even let him come into
the house.
Speaker 5 (09:35):
Did she know you loved him?
Speaker 4 (09:36):
I kept telling her that, honest, Miss Kilke, and I
kept telling her That's why we argue.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
I argued about what it was.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
This afternoon. Mother wanted me to do some work around
the house, but I skipped out to meet Charlie.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Where'd you meet him, Janet?
Speaker 9 (09:49):
The church?
Speaker 4 (09:50):
He's an a choir you know, and they were having
choir practice. The door was open, and I went in.
Charlie was singing a solo and I listened. It was wonderful,
miss kill Gallon. Listening to Charlie was well, it was
like going to heaven. I was just thrilled. I wanted
to reach up and touch him, but I didn't. I
(10:12):
just sat there and listened.
Speaker 12 (10:13):
After that, I guess I kind of walked on air.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
I met Charlie outside the church. We had a tennis
date at six o'clock, but before that I had to
go to the delicatests and buy some coal cuts for supper.
On the way to the delicatesta and I kind of
took Charlie's hand and held it. Just holding his hand
like that thrilled me. But oh, Charlie, you know how
boys are miss killed gallons. He was kind of bashful. Yes, Charlie,
(11:01):
holding my hand.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Everybody on the street's looking at us.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Don't you love me?
Speaker 9 (11:05):
Well?
Speaker 4 (11:06):
Sure I do, Cookie, you know that. But how about
coming to my house of a supper tonight.
Speaker 7 (11:12):
I can't do that, Janet, What would your mother say?
Speaker 4 (11:15):
I don't care what mother says. She's not gonna boss
me around anymore. We'll just tell her we're in love
and that we're gonna get married. Just as soon as
you can get a job singing on the radio.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Well, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Don't you love me, Charlie?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Sure?
Speaker 10 (11:26):
Cookie, I told you I did well and we.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
Don't have to be afraid of mother or anyone else. Oh,
here's the delicatessen.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Well, good afternoon, Jannet.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Oh, mister Schmid, what'll it be today? I'll have a
quarter of a pound of ham, quarter a pound of liver,
worst twenty tents with the potato salad, Jada salad. And oh,
mister Schmid, Yeah, mother will kill me for this, but
I don't care. I want to drive mayonnaise.
Speaker 7 (11:53):
Mayonnaise.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Yeah, I'm just wacky about mayonnaise. And this time I
don't give a darn what my mother says.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
So you left the delicates in store and went right home?
Is that it, Janet?
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Well, no, not exactly, miss kill Gallen. You know how
hot it was today? Well, anyways, Charlie and I stopped
in the tavern and we had two glasses of beer
each and some breadful beer. Was super being so hot outside,
and all after.
Speaker 12 (12:29):
That we went to my house.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Funny how I felt then?
Speaker 5 (12:34):
How did you feel?
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Well? Gee, I don't know why I'm telling you all this.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
How did you feel, Janet?
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Well, it was so hot, and I was kind of
dizzy and thrilled because Charlie was going with me and
we were going to stand up to mother. You know,
miss kill Gallon, how it is when you're all thrilled
and excited.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
Oh sure, I know. Well what happened when you got home?
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Well? Mother was out?
Speaker 5 (13:02):
I see what did you and Charlie do? Then?
Speaker 4 (13:06):
Oh, Charlie read a magazine and I kind of did
a little housework.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
Janet, Yes, Miss Kirgallen.
Speaker 8 (13:16):
You're not telling me the truth. What's the use of
talking to me if you don't tell me the truth? Now,
what really happened when you and Charlie came home and
found that your mother was out. Don't be afraid, Janet,
I'll understand, but you've got to tell me the truth,
all right, all.
Speaker 11 (13:34):
Right, I will.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
We were both a little dizzy, I guess, you know.
We kept saying things to each other. Then all of
a sudden, I felt like dancing. So I put on
a record of our song, your song, yes, Temptation, it's
my favorite. Charlie's too, We well we call it our song. Anyway,
I felt like dancing. So I put the record on
the victrola and then Charlie, Yeah, let's dance, dance, yes,
(14:10):
take me in your arms, Charley.
Speaker 7 (14:11):
But what if your mother comes in on caesars?
Speaker 4 (14:14):
I don't care, do you?
Speaker 8 (14:17):
No?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
No, I guess not, Charlie, Charlie, let's stop dancing now,
let's sit down, sit down, Yes, kiss me, Charlie.
Speaker 9 (14:40):
Please chaff shade.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Charlie again, China Quail.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
We'll be back in just a moment with tonight's big story.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Now we return you to our narrator, Barry Kroger and
Tonight's big story. Bobby's tucks kid from Bayonne and keeps
talking there in that sweltering, dingy police room. The words
spilled from her faster and faster. You can see that
she wants to talk.
Speaker 11 (15:39):
Now.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
She's glad to get it off her chest. It's been
simmering and boiling inside. Finally she stops to catch her breath.
Speaker 8 (15:48):
You ask her, now, when your mother walked into the
parlor and found you and Charlie there, what.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Did she say, Janet?
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Mother just stood there, miss kill. She stood there, looking
as though she liked to kill the boat. The Victorlla
kept on playing temptation. I don't remember who was most.
Speaker 10 (16:07):
I think it was Charlie, miss Graham eye turn off
the victorla Janet live it? Mother, we were I said,
turn off to Victrolla. Yes, mother, Now Janet, go into
the kitchen. I want to talk to you alone. But
missus Graham, she didn't do anything. Thank you to keep still.
You just sit right here. I'll have something to say
to you later, Janet, too much. Right into the kitchen.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
And what happened after you got into the kitchen? Janet, Janet?
What happened?
Speaker 4 (16:48):
Well, Miss Kilgallan. Mother didn't say anything for a long time.
She just started to get the dishes out for supper.
I was nervous and scared.
Speaker 12 (16:57):
Well, there was a heat too.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
It was so hot it funny things to me. I thought,
maybe if I did something something with my hands instead
of just standing there waiting for mother to say something,
to be better, I think better. Then I saw the
hatchet on the window sill.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
What was the hatchet doing there?
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I'd brought it up from the cellar.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
Why did you bring it up?
Speaker 4 (17:16):
Because Mother had asked me to nail down some lucinolium
on the kitchen floor, so I got some tacks and
started to hammer it down. Then mother started to talk.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
I don't know.
Speaker 10 (17:27):
I just don't know. What did I ever do to
deserve it?
Speaker 8 (17:30):
All?
Speaker 10 (17:31):
Like you, a common shape, little flir mother, don't.
Speaker 12 (17:33):
Say things guy said. All Charlie did was kiss me.
Speaker 10 (17:36):
I don't want to hear another word from you, Janith Willham,
not another single solitary word. When your father comes home,
I'll see that he takes a strap to you, a
little good for nothing mother. Please, I'm seventeen years old,
a baby and sitting on the couch hugging and kissing
a nasty boy like Charlie Mace.
Speaker 12 (17:50):
I'm no baby, do you hear mother?
Speaker 4 (17:51):
I'm seventeen, I'm grown up and I love Charlie Mason.
Speaker 10 (17:54):
Ha you what do you know about love? You're just
boy crazy? That's all. Bye Chris, Oh, don't say things
like that. Bye crazy, Bye crazy, Bye crazy.
Speaker 11 (18:03):
Mother.
Speaker 10 (18:03):
Don't I forbid you to ever see him again? I
positively forbid you to see him again?
Speaker 8 (18:07):
Do you hear me?
Speaker 11 (18:07):
Janet?
Speaker 10 (18:08):
You're not just see him again.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
You can't stop me. You can't stop me. You'll see Charlie.
Speaker 10 (18:11):
Oh, I please, I love him, I love him, I
love him. Don't you dare talk back to me?
Speaker 12 (18:14):
Don't you dare?
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Mother? Please not quarrel anymore? So hot now I've got
such a terrible headache, and I I'm so mixed up.
Speaker 8 (18:24):
I warn you, Janet, if I ever catch that awful
boy around here again, I'll have your father horse.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
But don't say things like said, please die.
Speaker 10 (18:30):
I don't like him and I never did. He's no
good and he'll never be any good.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Stop.
Speaker 10 (18:34):
Don't you yell at me. You're younger for nothing. Tell
you talk back to your own mother like that house?
Speaker 8 (18:38):
Dare you?
Speaker 12 (18:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (18:45):
I asked you to stop. I asked you to stop nagging.
Speaker 10 (18:51):
Shanada, Yeah, put down my ass. Just put down, Charlie.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
You're not say to stand betwe Charlie and me. You're
not going, is she? Charlie?
Speaker 8 (19:05):
Shut?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
An I know, Oh mother, You listened in horror as
Janet Graham tells you what happened. Then you listen and listen,
(19:29):
all gone, feeling in the pit of your stomach as
you watched this sweet faced kid in the bobby socks
dangling her tanned legs under the bench and calmly telling.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
You I hit mother. Then miss Jill down she screamed
and fell down.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
That's all I see. What did you do then, Janet?
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Well, and we thought we'd better talk things over. You
and Charlie. Yes, Charlie's Gilopie was outside, and we decided
we better drive to Canada because they be looking for
us pretty soon. We didn't have much money, so we
started to make up sandwiches in the kitchen for our trip,
and then all of a sudden the doorbell rang. Janney, Jannet,
someone's at the front door. You keep making up those
(20:14):
chicken and ham sandwiches here in the kitchen, Charlie, I'll
see who it is.
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Yeah, I hope it isn't the police or someone.
Speaker 10 (20:24):
Oh, John, that's anything wrong?
Speaker 8 (20:26):
Wrong?
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I know, Missus Wallace. What makes you think so well?
Speaker 10 (20:31):
I was sitting on my front part next door, and
I thought I heard your mother scream.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Oh oh that well, mother just cut her finger, that's all,
Missus Wallace.
Speaker 10 (20:39):
Oh for a moment to hop it?
Speaker 5 (20:42):
Nothing serious, is it, Janet?
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Oh no, Missus Wallace, just a nick nothing to worry about.
Speaker 5 (20:48):
Thanks Heaven for that.
Speaker 10 (20:49):
That's scream certainly to give me a fright. Well, I'll
be getting back, Janet.
Speaker 4 (20:54):
Well, thanks for looking in missus Wallace O nobody just
a neighbor. Oh, Charlie, what you forgot? Something? Got something? Yes?
On those chicken sandwiches you're making the mayonnaise. You know,
(21:16):
I just love mayonnaise?
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Is that all, Janets?
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Well, miss Killgowen, I guess so, except that we started.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Out for Canada and you got as far as the
Summerville Circle.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
Yes, it was awful hot driving this evening. Well, we
stopped at a tavern for a couple of glasses of beer,
and by that time Charlie was pretty worried.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Gosh, Jennets, we're in an awful jam now.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
I don't care. I don't care about anything else. I
love you, Charlie.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
We ever be able to make Canada, but all I've
got is a dollar and forty cents.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
You're awful cute, Charlie. Awful cute, Janet.
Speaker 5 (22:08):
Maybe we ought to give ourselves up.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
I love your hair, Charlie.
Speaker 9 (22:11):
It's so sick and nice.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
I always feel like running my fingers through it.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Janet, we got to decide what to do, Charlie.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Yeah, playing number seven on the juice box, Look Cookie
laying number seven. It's our song, Charlie, Temptations. Okay, oh, Charlie,
(22:42):
our song, isn't it wonderful?
Speaker 2 (22:46):
It is just super Yeah, listen, Janet, about your mother, about.
Speaker 9 (22:51):
What we did.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Oh, don't talk about that now, don't let's talk about anything.
Speaker 9 (22:57):
Now. Let's just sit here and listen.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
And Jeff, he just came in.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
He's seen us, Jack, he's coming over to our boards.
Uh at your Ted Cob outside? John?
Speaker 4 (23:18):
Yes, sir? Your name Charlie Mason, Yes, sir.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
And you're Kenned Graham.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Yes, sir, okay, you're kids.
Speaker 10 (23:27):
You better come along with me.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
All right, officer, we'll go with Yoni.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Do you mind if we wait till the music's over?
Speaker 5 (23:46):
And that's the whole story, Jack.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
Yes, miss kill Gallon, that's all there is now. You
know everything's funny. I didn't mind telling you. I knew
you'd have understand you do, don't you?
Speaker 5 (24:03):
Yes, I understand, Janet? But now will you tell the
others what you told me?
Speaker 4 (24:10):
I don't want to, I.
Speaker 8 (24:12):
Know, but I think you'd better.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
All right, miss kill Gallen, you say so, I'll tell him.
Speaker 5 (24:22):
Well, I have to go now.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
You can't stay with me any loone, No, no, I can't.
Oh well.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
Goodbye, miss Kill Gallen, goodbye Janet.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Our full house beats too parent any day?
Speaker 5 (24:43):
Oh hello, miss kill Gallen.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
How'd you make out?
Speaker 7 (24:45):
Didn't get anything out of the kid?
Speaker 5 (24:46):
I'll bet yes I did?
Speaker 3 (24:48):
You did?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Hey?
Speaker 3 (24:50):
That really puts me in my place, all of us
trying and not get in the glimmer.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
What's the lead? She told me everything everything?
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Are you serious?
Speaker 8 (24:58):
You mean you've got that kid that she told me everything?
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Who did it?
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Sheer?
Speaker 4 (25:02):
The boy?
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Did?
Speaker 5 (25:03):
She guess she did it? But it didn't have to happen.
It shouldn't have happened if her mother had only shown.
Speaker 10 (25:08):
A little more understanding, just a little more sympathy and love.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
Oh what's the useful difference to it?
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I know, I know, I'm not take it easy, mis
Kill Gallant pretty well used up.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
You did a big job in there and kind of
gets you done, I guess.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
So look at the exclusive you got it.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
It's a big story if there ever was one, And
I'll do to you.
Speaker 5 (25:33):
It's a big story, lieutenant. But do you want to
know something. I wish i'd never heard of it. I
wish I never had to write it. I wish it
had never happened.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
In just a moment, We'll read you a telegram from
Dorothy Kilgallen with a final outcome of tonight's big Story.
Now we read you that telegram from Dorothy Kilgallen of
the New York Journal.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
American boy and girl in Tonight's Big Story were found
guilty of murder, but received relatively light sentences on account
of their youth. Boy was later paroled from state prison
on condition that he joined some branch of armed forces.
Girl was paroled from reformatory after serving six and a
half years. Many thanks for tonight's Pellmell Awards.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
Thank you, miss Killgallon. The makers of pell Mell Famous
Cigarettes are proud to have named you the winner of
the pell Mell five hundred dollars Award for notable service
in the field of journalism.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Listen again next week, same time, same station, when pell
Mell Famous Cigarettes will present another big Story. A Big
Story from the pages of the Buffalo Evening News Byelon
Eddie de Castro, A big story that began when a
woman was told that her husband had been murdered and left.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
The Big Story is produced by Bernard J. Procter and
directed by Harry Ingram, with music by Vladimis Lensky. Tonight's
program was written by Max Erlich. Your narrator was Barry Kroger,
and Janet Fox play the part of Dorothy Kilgallen. All
names of the Night's story, except that of miss kill
Gallen were fictitious, but the dramatization was based on a
true and authentic case. This is Ernest Chapels, this is NBC,
(27:41):
the National Broadcasting Company.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Welcome back. Now, I do want to go ahead and
first of all let you know about the cast which
for this one, Dorothy Kilgallen was played by Janet Fox
and the rest of the cast was Francis de Sales,
Jerry Lewis not the one you're thinking of, Mitzi Gould,
Bert Brazier, and Eleanor Audley. Now, I will say that
(28:14):
the real life case is somewhat less sympathetic to the killer,
and it was based on the case of Gladys McKnight,
who committed the hatchet murder while her sweetheart cheered hit
her again. News reports at the time emphasized both McKnight's
(28:38):
casual attitude, which I think the episode captured rather well,
but they also said that McKnight's ungovernable temper was the
cause of frequent arguments between them, and the whole thing
started in this case where that led to the murder
because she was upset with her mother for not having
(29:02):
dinner on time. And this story was big news back
in nineteen thirty six. It was covered by newspapers as
far as way as Australia. Now, in terms of the
big difference between the way the story was told on
the radio and how it happened in real life, there
(29:25):
are two big possibilities. The first is that there was
more to the story than made it into most popular
press accounts, and the way the story is told reflects that.
The second is that the story might have been reframed
to fit the cultural narratives of nineteen forty seven. In
(29:51):
the era immediately after World War II, juvenile crime became
a huge concern, and one thought was that crime happened
because society and parents didn't try to understand kids, and
that if we made more of an effort to understand kids,
(30:12):
it would prevent juvenile crime. In addition to this, the
sponsors were really bigue on not being sued, so sometimes
details were changed for that purpose. Now, last week I
highlighted an example of double ling up that actually worked,
Let's go ahead and talk about one that didn't. Eleanor
(30:33):
Audley appeared as Missus Graham. She is probably best remembered
for her work in animation as the voice of Maleficent
in Sleeping Beauty and Lady Tremaine in Cinderella, and she's
also remembered for her TV work in Hollywood, constantly playing
(30:56):
snooty rich ladies and mother and mother in law's was
mother Douglas on Green Acres. So a very talented actress,
and of course I've heard her in a lot of
radio programs, mostly after she moved to Hollywood. It's very
different from any other performance I've heard her in because
(31:19):
she also plays their neighbor, Missus Wallace. I have never
heard Eleanor Audley being asked to play a dialect role
until now, and I know why. That is kind of
a weak spot for her. And in fact, she sounded
(31:39):
really the same as her mother character. And when the
daughter was acting confused, I was confused as well, because
I was like, well, wait, didn't she just kill her?
Like what is she doing at the door now? A
little bit about Dorothy Killgallen. Most of the reporters were
(32:02):
going to hear from in this series, are very, very
very obscure. She certainly was not. Not only did she
have her Broadway newspaper column, but she co hosted a
very popular morning radio talk show her husband, Dick Comer
(32:29):
aka Boston Blackie, and would go on to be a
huge presence on television as one of the panelists on
What's My Line. In nineteen thirty six, Kilgallon would have
been twenty three years old. However, she had been working
(32:49):
since she was eighteen, so she was a young woman
who had proved herself and established herself in the field,
which probably helped with the killer opening up to her.
Kill Gallen was experienced and accomplished, so she could look
(33:10):
up to her, but kill Gallen was still young enough
that they could relate and she could understand her experience.
A listener on Instagram sends a note, Hey, they're a
big fan of yours and a daily listener. Appreciate what
you do well, thank you so much and appreciate you
taking the time to send that note along over on Instagram. Well,
(33:32):
now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day,
and I want to thank doc Patreon supporter since February
twenty sixteen, currently supporting the podcast at the Shamas level
of four dollars or more per month. Thanks so much
for your support, Doc, and that will do it for today.
If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your
(33:53):
favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review
the podcast wherever you download it from. Be back next
Tuesday with another episode of the Big Story, but join
us back here tomorrow for broadways my bait? Where?
Speaker 6 (34:09):
How long have you been working here?
Speaker 4 (34:10):
Tonight?
Speaker 11 (34:11):
Came on at seven last night? I'm off at seven
this morning.
Speaker 12 (34:13):
Pretty long hours.
Speaker 11 (34:16):
Want a counter convention at the Hotel Canan Nail Club
something like that. Boys of the Canes been coming in
here like flies. That's why I'm working overtime.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Did you know a waitress named Francesca Brown lucky here?
Speaker 11 (34:28):
She got off a little over an hour ago, refused
to work over time. I should have done it.
Speaker 9 (34:31):
If she's dead?
Speaker 4 (34:34):
What dead?
Speaker 5 (34:35):
Strangled?
Speaker 2 (34:36):
Knife?
Speaker 8 (34:38):
You know?
Speaker 11 (34:38):
Wait a minute, I got something, Take it easy?
Speaker 8 (34:41):
Do you mean it?
Speaker 2 (34:44):
She's dead?
Speaker 11 (34:46):
Bird?
Speaker 4 (34:48):
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (34:50):
What about him?
Speaker 11 (34:51):
You said she was strangled, didn't you? Guy hung around
and asked her dates? Got nasty, you know, winks with
the replace. He wasn't kidding both of you. I'm sure
he was waited for Francesca when she got off. He's
a cana too, a book canna. I call him Kaner'
the Voice and the Canaan Air Club. This week they
got a penalty if they don't carry a cane. This
(35:12):
week they come from all over with canes grown. Then
border us fine bird. I don't know he lives close.
That's all I know.
Speaker 10 (35:19):
Thanks Ros, thanks a lot.
Speaker 11 (35:21):
Wait a minute, she's really dad.
Speaker 6 (35:27):
Dan.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Hope you'll be with us then in the meantime, send
your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net,
follow us on Twitter and Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, slash Great Detectives from Boise, Adaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham, Sogn and all
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