Episode Transcript
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(00:28):
Welcome to the Great Detectives of OldTime Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham,as we get ready to kick off another
week. Send your emails to Boxthirteen at Great Detectives dot net, cast
your vote for the show on podcastAlliat's podcast Ali dot Great Detectives dot net,
and you can become a fan onFacebook, Facebook dot Great Detectives dot
(00:50):
net. All right, well,we're gonna get into today's show in just
a second. Before we do,I want to remind you to try out
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(01:14):
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(01:37):
make your own choice. You cansign up for a two week free trial,
which also includes audio subscription to TheWall Street Journal. Go to audible
podcast dot com, Slash old timeradio. Well, let's get into today's
episode of Box thirteen, Much TooLucky. Box thirteen with the star of
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Paramount Pictures, Alan Ladd as DanHoliday, Box stighteen cav Star Times.
I'm a betting agent my state.We're betting agents are legal. I'm one
of the many who are being takenfor plenty. I think there's something heywhile,
but none of us have been ableto figure it out. Now,
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since you'd be a stranger here,we figure you'd have a better than even
chance of losing around and finding outhow we're getting clipped. If you do,
we'll pay. If you don't,maybe you'll have yourself in adventure.
Anyway, my name is Bert Hendrix. Looked me up at six seven two
(02:51):
nine, cry and clothes. Isenough money to take care of immediate expenses?
Have a look? Huh? Yeah? I had a look all right,
right into the muzzle of a nastytwenty five automatic. Now back to
(03:15):
Bucks thirteen and Dan Holiday's newest adventure, Much Too Lucky? Are you going
to be gone long? Mister Holiday? Well, I don't know, Susie.
That all depends on what happens,Oh what could happen? Or I'm
concerned anything. Oh yeah, sometimesI get worried about you, mister Holiday.
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Sometimes most times it's just like anomination. Oh what am I running
for nothing? I just had apremonition. What's that? What you didn't
have? I don't get him?Will you work on until I get back
Susie. I'm off to the racistthe planetlip was quick and pleasant, and
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eight hours after I said goodbye toSusie, I was talking with Bert Hendrix,
a big, nice looking fellow witha worried look on his face.
After we had introduced ourselves, Hendrixlet me know what was putting the wrinkles
between his eyes. Oh, it'sgot us roped and tired like a Christmas
package, Dan, how much areyou losing? Plenty runs into four or
five figures every week. Maybe somebody'sbeing lucky. There'll be that lucky.
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A guy had had to be bornwith a silver horse shoe in his mouth.
Look yesterday, I paid off ona long shot at forty to one.
The clip ran to the tune oftwenty thousand and that, as they
say in books, is sugar witha capital less hit it by a lot
of coffee. Anyway, we figurewe're getting it. The wrong way,
Cliff bamboozled. Oh why don't yougo to the police with what troubles?
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That's not the answer. Have youtried to find a Are you kidding?
We ran ourselves into a ladder tryingto catch the angle. No dice,
Dan, somebody in this town's plentysmart, smart enough to know our boys,
and that brings me. That's right, you're a stranger. They won't
take a second look at you.I caught you rat in the start times
and play the bet man. Hereyou are, there's nothing to do.
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How much do you want? Well, believe it or not, Bert,
I do this for nothing. Yeah, I hate you say that before,
but I don't get your dodge bywhat your gimmicke dodge racket angle? Oh
well, I figure if the plot'sgood enough, I can use it in
the story. Okay, but butno, doll. I'll tell you what,
Bert, if I figure this,will you turn over what you'd give
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me to any charity I name here? It's a blank check filling the amount.
I'll sign it. But try tocatch the capers that are putting the
shellack on us. There's nothing tostart on. I've got a job.
They're smart, plenty smart. Whatthey win is over and beyond the run
of luck. A chance, anyideas? Yeah, one, what's that?
They got a guy with a crystalball at the best you're gonna do.
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Come on in the wire room withme, see if we can catch
anything upfront this way, and we'regetting ready now for the third race.
We've got a radio back here broadcastingdirect from the track, comes over the
local station. Oh where are thebets? Places right here or by phone?
Man? I see, and youtake bets up until the time the
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horses at the post. I meanthat's right. Once the race starts,
no more bets. Uh, listento the race. Now he's in place,
we're ready, and they're all Ihave my belly. How's it gone?
Somebody called up and got a centuryon potty line the twenty to one
shot, and what's right? Oh, Billy, this is a friend of
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mine, Dan Holiday h Hello,Billy, party line wins burd it's the
fourth long shot this week that's playedoff. Yeah, yeah, I know
each one was bet on is thatisn't but heavy? I still say there's
one of them guys that's doing itby telepathy. Listen, it's mine own
by Alplan Glover Gandili We're rocket isthird and falling back with old Joe as
party line still swings wide up onthe outside, coming into the turn don
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with mine on by a head overkennily and moving up fast on the outside
of his partyline, and Bird,there he comes. Who made that bet
on party line? Okay, getme do the name of the guy who
made the bet? Sure, listento that party line. It's fine home
by a half hold a party line, and it's a driving finish with mine
on in front by a hose partyline, getting up the living moving on,
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I am across the finishes party lineby oh, twenty to one,
hue hundred dollars twenty one. Don'tsay it, don't say it. Come
on, let's go back to myoffice. Oh damn, I don't get
it. How can they pick longshots like that? Is it only long
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shots? Oh no, not always. Sometimes it's the favorite, but it's
always a winner. And I sayno, guy can pick a winner every
race, especially every long shot.Come in on a place that a hundred
on party line? Bird, Yeah, here's the tab. Oh hurry again,
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she's awful lucky too, lucky whoisn't names Vaughn. Terry Vaughn singer
at one of the clubs here.She's done this before her and she's done
it before twenty grand today, fivelast week. Why doesn't she retire and
leave here if she can? Look, Dan, we've got this betting narrowed
down to about twenty people. TwentyYeah, the most consistent winners. They
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never lose a ring, is thatit? That's right? But not one
of them is ever at the track. You mean they just don't go that's
right. Never. I don't getit neither do we or Billy. Yeah,
let's call from Terry Vaughn. Camein just before the horses with the
post on. Sure we take betsup to the break. What are you
thinking about, Dan? M Iwas just wondering if there was any way
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of getting advanced information on a race. You kidding, not a chance.
This is a business with us legitimateon the level. We know every angle
and dodge. There's no way anyonecould know before the race that a long
shot like party Line was going tonose a cross fished. You've got yourself
a problem, all right? Howabout taking a slice of a Dan?
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What I said about that blank checkstill goes Okay, you've got yourself a
boy good. I don't know whereI'll start, but as they say in
books, everything has a beginning,So why not start with Terry Vaughn?
Waiter A waiter? Oh, yes, sir, I wonder if you deliver
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this note? Falling? Certainly,sir, we're too Miss Terry Vaughn.
I'll see about it, sir.Will this make you see any better?
Yes, sir, thank you.Oh, and tell miss Vaughan I'm a
journalist, newspaperman. Yes, Iguess that's it. You see, I'd
like an interview. I'll see whatI can do, sir, I'll do
my very bit. I waited.I didn't know what Miss Terry Vaughn could
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tell me or wouldn't tell. Therewas a chance she didn't know me,
so she wouldn't be suspicious. Itwas ten minutes later that the waiter came
back to my table. Missus Vaughanwill see you, mister Holliday. Oh
how did you know my name onthe cards you sent with a note?
Simple, isn't it, Doctor Watson? I beg your pardon? Oh never
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mind, I was Miss Vaughne.Oh, she'll be here in a moment,
Okay, I'll wait, Yes,sir, I'm glad to have been
a service I waited. I'll admitthe wafers worthwhile Miss Terry Vaughan glided across
the floor of my table smile,five thousand dollars worth of tea, tost
a million dollars in red hair overher shoulder, and put ten million dollars
of the rest of her in thechair across from me. You're mister Holliday,
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your miss varn Your note said youwanted to interview me. That's why.
Well, I'm flatter I imagine that'sa fairly common situation with you.
What paper you wit, mister Holiday, I have a connection with the Star
time. Oh you're a big cityboy. I didn't know it showed.
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Why do you want to interview me? That's a racistist name one. Well,
i've heard you were very lucky today. Lucky? How or do you
win twenty thousand every day? Whatdoes this have to do with an interview?
Well, it's human interest stuff,miss farm, very human and very
interesting. I see. But whypick on my lucky streak? Because well,
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because it was so lucky. I'vealways been lucky. I can understand
that. Oh, how did youhappen to pick party line today? I
like long shots always when I feellucky? Do you ever lose sometimes?
Why? Oh, I'm just asking, mister Holiday. This is a peculiar
interview. Why I don't think so? Just pleasant? What paper did you
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say you were with? The StarTimes? And what are you doing here?
Vacation? When is it over acouple of weeks? I see,
Well, mister Holiday, as faras I'm concerned, it's over. Now
have a nice time. Oh waittime, I'm sorry, please stay here.
Why I feel that I owe youan apology for being so curious?
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All right, we'll forget it.Let's do Let's forget all about twenty thousand
dollars long shots and lucky streaks?And what shall we substitute? Terry Vaughn?
Do you mind? I don't mindif I do, mister Holiday.
Well, it was a pleasant wayto spend an evening, But when it
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was over, I was just assmart as at the beginning, which was
zero. Maybe Terry Vaughan was lucky, but how lucky can you be?
The next day I met Bert Henry'sand he had more trouble. Somebody did
it again? Today? Dan notquite as big as Terry's play yesterday.
But enough enough, one of thesame twenty people. You've tapped one of
the twenty. If it weren't forthe fact that it's those same twenty people
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all the time, could be justluck. Could be you saw Terry last
night? Yeah, oh yeah,I saw Terry and a very lovely girl.
I wish I had her money.It's mine, that's funny. I'm
sorry, Bert, I don't haveto ask a few watch those twenty people.
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Oh sure we have. They don'ttalk to anyone connected with the track
as far as I know, though, you don't even know anyone there.
There's got to be a gimmick.Yeah, that's what I keep telling myself
on the head. Look, Bert, let's try to figure it out logically.
You say every one of those betsis placed just before the races run,
and that's right at each of thosetwenty people picks a winner. Yeah,
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not only with me, but withall the other agents who have the
same setup I've got. But howcould they get advanced information? They can't.
They've got to Bert, Dan,We've been all over that. Maybe
there's an angle you've overlooked. Okay, name it and I'll buy it.
There is there any particular race orraces they always bet? What races do
you lose the most heavily on?Wait a minute, that is in the
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angle. Do you think of something? Maybe? Wait a second, I'm
going to check. I think I'mright, but I'll make sure. Hello,
Hello, Billy, this is big? What race is being run now?
For the sixth? Jemany big bets? Were there? Any of the
twenty as one? Which ones didthey hit? That's all? Yeah?
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Why nothing? See you later?Well, third, fourth, and fifth,
that's what I thought. Never thefirst, second, or the sixth,
seventh or eighth. Always the third, fourth or fifth. That's right.
But where's the gimmick? I don'tknow, but hand me the phone
here? Thanks? Ah? What'sthe phone number of the club where Terry
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Vaughn works? No, I don'tknow what's in the directory. But why
what's that going to do with thisbird? I don't know yet, but
I'm going to ask the lovely TerryVaughan if she'll go out with me tomorrow
afternoon afternoon? What are you gettingat your mone I hope? Hand me
the directory and now back to muchToo Lucky. Another Botch thirteen adventure with
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Allen ladd as damn Holliday. Well, I had an eye, and not
a big one, and not onethat made sense yet, But I was
going to play it. So thenext afternoon I met Miss Terry Vaughan for
lunch. I arranged the time sowe'd be together just about the same time
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the horses went to the post forthe third race. We sat on a
little cafet. I was really surprisedthat you call me Dan Oh why Terry?
Oh? I don't know. Maybebecause you seem more interested in my
luck than in me. The twogo together, I suppose. So do
you ever play the races? No? I never had, But there's always
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first time. That's what they allsay. Why do you ask? Got
something good? As the saying thevernaculum? Oh, I never get to,
but you're willing occasional. What's yoursecret? What makes you think it's
a secret. That was just afigure of speech. Let's talk about something
else. What time is it,oh to twenty? Why thinking of leaving
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me so soon? No, Ihave something to do around three important to
me. Yes, let's see.Well shall we take a walk? Yes?
I'd like to. Okay, that'sit. So we walked. Harry
was very charming. I was beginningto wonder about my hunch. Maybe it
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was luck after all. Then afew minutes after three, Dan, will
you excuse me for a few minutes. Oh, you're important. Three o'clock.
That's it. I have to makea phone callow me away, Yes,
if you want to, Oh,I do. I'll make it from
this drug store. All right,I'll wait right here. I won't be
more than a few minutes. Shewent into the drug store and straight to
a phone booth. I slipped inside, went to a counter. The clerk
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came up to me. May Ihelp you, sir? Oh, yes,
yes, Let me see a pairof those binoculars, will you these
They're not very good except for children, just toys. I like to play
with toys. Now I see apair. Certainly, there you are.
Thanks. If you point them outside, you'll get a better idea of what
they'll do. Oh, getting agood idea right here? Excuse me,
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I'll be right back. I watchedmiss Terry Vaughan on that phone booth.
The binoculars weren't very good, butI saw the numbers she dialed and remembered
them. She spoke for a fewseconds, hung up, dropped another coin,
and dialed another number. I gotthat one too, Then the clerk
came back. They work all right. Oh they're marvelous, just marvelous.
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How much there you are? Wrapthem? Got any kids? Huh?
I mean why, yes, here'sa present for them. But but you
just bought them. Well, yousee, I like your kids. You
take these, but what's all right? I can't take these. I walked
back outside and got to the pavementbefore Terry Vaughan finished her second phone call.
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I was standing there when she cameout. Make a call. All
right, yes, no, how'dyou like to see the town? I'd
love it. Come on, let'sgo. We spent a pleasant afternoon,
but my mind wasn't on my work. I was trying to keep those phone
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numbers straight in my head. ThenTerry had to go to the club for
rehearsal. As soon as she leftme, I headed for a phone booth
and dial the first number she'd called, Hello, Bill numbered two one.
There's Bill there. There's no Billhere. I'm sorry, you're sure there's
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no Bill there? You got awrong number? But but wrong number?
Huh? Maybe maybe not. Idialed the second number she'd called Hello,
Hello, who's this Hendrix. Who'sthat Hendris? This holiday? Watch up?
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Listen to Terry Vaughan place about thisafternoon? Did she win nose?
Look? She was with me whenshe made the bet. Now she was
in a phone booth. Was thatthe only bet she made? How many
winners did you have in that raced? The winner? How about the other
races winners among the twenty people?Maybe, but I've got to prove it.
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Listen, just sit tight, bird, don't open your mouth and let
out a pep, And above all, don't try to see me anything.
I don't know whether I know anythingor not, but I'll find out tomorrow
at the track. Later that evening, I made a purchase, a very
important Then I called Terry Vaughan andasked her to go to the track with
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me the next day. It tooka little persuasion, but she finally said
yes. So the next afternoon,with my purchase in the pocket of my
top coat, Miss Vaughan and Iwent to the track and up in the
stands. Do you know, Dan, this is the first time I've been
here this season. Why I thoughtyou light racing? Oh? I do,
but well, being at the trackmakes me nervous. Nervous. Why,
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oh, no reason at all?Which horse do you like in this
race? Oh? I'm not goingto bed or no with your luck.
I don't want to force it.Nice see, I don't blame you.
Why don't you go ahead and bedon me? All right? You pick
a horse for me? I thinkmy luck will rub off on you could
be go ahead, pick one.Well, let's see. How does this
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one sound? Bright angel? Brightangel? It is in a third.
It's almost post time. There's agood seats, Yes they are. I
reached through my pocket and took outthe important purchase I had made the previous
evening and started to unwrap it.What's that game? Oh? I just
bought this affordable radio. I wonderif I can hear the race on it.
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Don't turn that on? Why notput down that radio, mister Holiday?
Put it down? Why don't youwant me to turn it on?
You're just a little too smart,mister Holiday. This is a gun in
my purse. You're getting out ofhere. Go on, I carry radios,
you carry guns. You're well equipped. Go on, lead the way.
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Okay. She was as cool asan autic winter, and she handled
the gun nicely, kept it inthe small of my back under her hand
bag. Somehow I knew she hadused it. If she had, we
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got to her car, and ahalf hour later she marched me into a
room where a man sat wearing apair of headphones. He looked up as
we came in, Old Terry.Who's this? A smart boy him?
I'm leaving him with you, smartboy, he's wise. How he got
that way, I don't know.But after the fifth race clean up,
we're leaving town. Oh it's abouttime. We couldn't run this ragget forever.
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You know, mister Holiday, youare lucky you didn't come along sooner.
Yes, I know, before youmade your take, that's right.
How did you figure it through atwo ninety five pair of binoculars? I
saw the numbers you dialed yesterday.Oh you should be with us. Let's
see that thing. There is awire recorder. You tap into the broadcast
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line that runs from the track tothe radio station. Without the station's knowledge.
You record the broadcast, then playedback into the broadcast line two minutes
after the regular airtime. You arespot and those two minutes give you enough
time to place bets on sure things. You already know the winners, but
the bookmakers don't correct. But youonly pull this on the middle three races
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of the card, so the latecomersand those who will eat the track early
won't catch wise by listening to theirradios. Right again, the broadcast is
delayed two minutes. The race isalready over before the bookmakers even think it
started. Saddam Aster Holiday, watchhim, Tim, Yeah, okay,
I'm going to clean up a fewodds and ends. Goodbye, mister Holiday.
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Oh we'll see each other again.Oh, I doubt that very much.
Goodbye, and be very happy thatsome of my luck did drub off
on you. Smart dame smart damenose angles. Yes, I can see
that, and we make it.Take here and move on. Now you
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just sit still, Bob. Igot some work to do, but I
can still watch you. I watchedhim too. The wire recorder was spinning.
He flipped a switch, and Iknew what happened the third race,
that the track was over, butthe broadcast of it was going over the
air now two minutes later. Then, Ah, we sit tight for a
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while. Say that wire recorder,I've never seen one before. Great gadgets
great. I make recordings of myown voice all the time. Oh,
do you mean all you do istalking to that little microphone and your voice
is recorded right away. Hey youwant to say something? Hey, you're
obliging. Oh sure, anything topass the time gets dull in here,
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go on, say something and we'llplay it back for you. Go on,
Well, what'll I say? Oh? Anything? First thing comes to
your mind? Well, my nameis Dan Holiday. I'm being held prisoner
at seven five eight Condos Street,at the point of a gun. Please
help? Oh great, just great. Don't you wish someone on the outside
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could really hear that? Yeah,I guess I do. Now you mean
that thing, I'll play it rightback. Huh sure, I just gotta
switch from the record of playback,that's all. He turned his back a
second, flip the switch. Iflipped a switch too, and waited.
Well, my name is Dan Holiday. I'm being held prisoner at seven five
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A Condos Street at the point ofa gun. Please help. See Zeller
is doing well? Well? Wellwhat do you know about that? Isn't
science wonderful? Sure is too badyou had to come along and spoil this
rank and mistery, But I guesswe made a big enough taking. Keep
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your hands up, mistery. Ican shoot and answer the phone at the
same time. Tim, what happened? Happened? Nothing? Why the guys,
get out of there fast and takehim with you. We'll take care
of him later. But get outof there fast, Terry, Terry,
something wrong, I don't know,Get up, move on, go on.
I did, but I did somethingelse. First. We walk out
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of the place, A gun inmy ribs. What I've done with work?
They walk up the street of peace, and then that's cops. All
right, duck in here, goon in this hallway. Ah, just
keep quiet and let him go past. I guess they won't find nobody there,
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will they? No? I guessnot. Well, no, wait
for a minute, and we go. All right, I get in front
of me and stay there. Goon, rop that what I got drop
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into a lot of cops. Okay, okay, don't shoot? Yeah,
damn holiday you all right, sirHendricks. Did you hear my broadcast?
Yeah? Your voice cut in rightin the middle of the regular broad I
don't get it. I don't getit. How they find us, how
they trailers? Oh, look onyour coattail, Tim, you didn't know
it. But when we left thatroom, I hooked the end of the
(27:00):
wire from the recorder on your coat. You see, Tim, you were
wired for Sounddee. That's sure wasa clever idea they had, mister Holiday.
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Huh and you were clever too.That wire left the trail right to
you and that man he was wiredfor sound. Susie. Oh, and
I'll get you got a racy storyout of it? What's Susie? No,
dude, you get it, misterHoliday, I made a joke,
racy story, get it? Yeah? Yeah, I got it. Good
(27:48):
Night, Sussie. Next week thesame time, through the courtesy at Paramount
Pictures, Alan lad stars is DanHoliday and Buck's thirteens thirteen is directed by
Richard Sandville, but this week's originalstory by Robert m Light and mister Sandville.
Original music is composed and conducted byRudy Schrager. Part of Suz is
(28:11):
played by Sylvia Picker, and productionis supervised by Verne Carstens. Bat's thirteen
is a Mainfair production from Hollywood.Watch for Alan Ladd in his latest Paramount
picture, Welcome Back. It's alwaysnotice to see cutting edge nineteen forties technology
(28:33):
and action. It's just it's afascinating perspective as to what was considered a
high tech back then. Overall,I think they did a pretty clever job
with it. All right, Wehave a few listener comments to get into.
George Rotsion that Alan Ladder was greatin this otherwise so so old time
(28:53):
our radio series. Well lyons George, though I don't know if there was
an other wise other than Alan Land. This really was his bee kickle and
this is one show where the supportingcharacters couldn't even carry on for an episode
without him. Now and let Georgedo it. I think you could have
(29:15):
George tech a vacation and Lieutenant Rileyand Brooksie be able to full a handle
a plot, but not so muchwith Susie and Lieutenant Kling. It's not
happening. And thanks so much toGeorge. Also to voting for us on
podcast Allay. I got another commenton podcast Alias thought was kind of interesting.
(29:37):
Thank you for all your hard workfor the show, Adam. I
love to listen to your shows whileI am cleaning. My favorite show has
Boxed thirteen. Thanks for the behindthe scenes commentary as well. Boys history
repeat itself. All shows on TVtoday are all copies of each other,
just like in the nineteen forties.On radio. You know, I think
that that's an interesting point. Today. It's almost it's getting to a point,
(30:03):
I think, where a lot ofpeople are not happy about the replication.
There have been several parodies in recentmonths I've noticed as a kind of
trend, parodying the way that everybodyis copying everyone else. The first one
I saw was a parody called AcademyAward Winning Pictures and none. There have
(30:25):
been other ones a parodying the samenessof political pain ads, etc. So
it does seem like we may beready for a burst of originality which we
will all then endlessly copy. Butyou're right that there's always I think in
the entertainment business, you find whatworks and you just continue to do it.
(30:49):
I'm allowed to wrap it up fromBoise, Idaho. If you've got
this is Adam Graham. Got anycomments, email me Box thirteen at Great
Detectives dot net, castor vote forthe show on podcast now podcast Ali dot
Great Detectives dot net, and youcan always give us a call. Two
O eight nine nine one four seveneight three. That's two O eight nine
nine one Great d from Boise,Idaho. This is your host, Adam
(31:12):
Graham's son and off