Charlie Chan-The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus

"The Incomparable Charlie Chan" is an old-time radio show that brings to life the adventures of the legendary detective Charlie Chan, a character created by author Earl Derr Biggers. First airing in the 1930s and running through the 1940s, the show features Chan, a Chinese-American detective from Honolulu, known for his wisdom, keen observation, and methodical approach to solving crimes. The series captures the essence of classic detective fiction, presenting intriguing mysteries, colorful characters, and suspenseful storylines. Listeners are drawn into a world of deduction and intrigue as Chan unravels complex cases with his signature calm demeanor and insightful reasoning. The show remains a beloved example of early 20th-century radio drama, reflecting the era's fascination with mystery and crime-solving tales.

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Episode Transcript

(00:13):
The inconquerable Charlie Khan. We probablypresent the Unconquerable Charlie Kan in a new
and exciting series, joined the famousdetective as he combines the wisdom of the

(00:35):
East with the sciands of the Westin a dramatic, complete story from the
Adventures of Charlie Kan Charitan Hundry,did you good evening and it sends warm
welcome. Honorable Santa Claus has beenmost time to this underserved in charge's day

(01:00):
with many presents, But tonight SantaClaus brought highly questionable gifts for Jarna Jan
gifts of murders. Recently Arson toNight's adventure. The man who murdered Santa

(01:23):
Claus on top of Cherry Hill,one of San Francisco's wealthier suburbs, sends
the mansion O Frider Stranger, famousart collector and plants Charlie Channon, his

(01:48):
number one son, the visiting grangerthat helps him arrange his annual Christmas party
given for the police offerings. Ohand stop the chain. Merry Christmas,
come on in Mary, Christmas isstranger to this person that where you were
attending duties of butler for your uncleUncle Guy's got chet and running one hundred

(02:12):
arrands for him organizing his party.The whole height is copy Chervy. That's
thee where the place of those campchevy a hey chain and no mery Christmas
and very Christmas, mister Granger.Mighty nice of the department. That then
you along to help me out.You've balance books incorrectly, mister Granger,
the lice department in debt to you. Nonsense. Now listen, we've got

(02:36):
a lot to do. And thensee I want you to add, did
you call mister green protectually? Whatabout those camp chairs I hired? And
Revenge has just arrived there? Heyat the service door, Well bring them,
mister door. I tell you ifthis place is a madhouse, I'll
take a check. Thank you,miss Nanty. I get those chairs infection
and then get back here. We'vegot the repertory. Yes yes, mister

(03:00):
Jerns pocket for solid dress and sailacross costume bringing and Nancy that will be
the actor I hired from the Toneagency. Mister Greene arrives you, I
am m how do you do this? Is inspected chan and his son and
Nandon one a room and my nieceNancy Granger. How do you do John,

(03:23):
I am sure, I s surelytrust this costume I'm wearing instead respects
I wounds. We did the leadin Wilwrim's Chrish kingled at the light yard.
We'll ruin two, Joe. It'sfine, supposedly go into the ballroom
now and talk over your patty girl. Nancy. You get to leave.

(03:45):
Run through the Christmas puddles to inspectedchef. All right, Uncle sat I
told you, inspector, it's amad house. I've got the music on
the piano. Inspector, why doyou think the children like to sing?
We'll leave it up to you.Granger. Well, it's something simple.
Good team went to flats. MissGreener, come on deck and you can

(04:38):
help. But miss Greener, ohand what's the trouble with even didn't bring

(05:15):
the cheers missing? It was intoWhen I went back to it and the
driver was gone, I couldn't findtoo well, it look like he found
himself, all right. I cansee the van going on the drive.
Now that's been a mistake. Ohgolly, uncle sall have kittenside that to
tell him? Excuse me a minute, I will cry that is it makes
a chance? So what is it? Holy smoke? What's happened to this

(05:41):
place? Let's then turned upside down? Where is mister Grainger? And just
take a chance just behind that overturncouch. I think it's it's head a
clause it can stay apart most thanhappy Christmas present clause very unkind person has
presented him with murder. What thepoor man Christmas? This is terrible.

(06:06):
I'd better I'm I just had onefear of this. If you would go
to own room and stay there ofus and this has been a great shock
to you, miss Meancy. Andthis person used to dealing with unclesan situations
of his nature. But please doas I asked with Nancy. This person
assures you will call this meeting himvery well. If you would say sure,

(06:26):
I'll go to my room. Isthere anything I can do? Sir?
That perhaps I could look for misterGreen should be obliged if you would
phone police department while sending selfic Germanbody of unfortunate actors very well, say
well, I don't get this part. Why was the room sail upside down?

(06:46):
Picture switched around, furniture turn over? How can we didn't hear it?
Then? Noise of singing covered soundas mister Granger, you think he
kills Santa Claus? Is that whyit's hit Nancy a wife? Oh no,
it's so for another reason. Observehow ugly costume rests on dead man's
body, all gathered up a backer, as though he held in sitting position

(07:08):
when costume put on. Now,now let us remove full speared and the
flesh hard. It's mister Granger.Oh golly, yes, obvious that costume
hastily placed on Boddy after death bythat actor Rodney Tampers. But why why
did he stare? Mister Granger?Why did he turn this room upside?

(07:28):
Let us answer questions by a mentallyrearranging room. Let us imagine furniture back
in proper position. All right,Uh, those pictures hang on the curtain,
go back on the walls. Ican see the hook with a blow
overturn touch the door goes against four. There can see four marks in rug
left by legs for those two chairsare in the way. Let us look

(07:49):
for smaller indentations and rugs cut uson into theirs. H Ah, I
hear on either style of the screenagainst the opposite wall the way does a
scream girl scream belong? Hey?This rolls dark body hip hop Look behind
screen. Macropiece has gone from badplace. White invited you on plaster CROs

(08:13):
was recently the move gardy? That'sright, pop the moving van. Yes,
father's do too. I to checkto make sure criminals turn drew him
around for just this purpose to delayus take a drive off with a macropace.
But why why murder a man andsteal a maple pace? Your father's
faces with unhappy task of answering thewildering questions, must first get description of

(08:37):
them from Butler, then go topolice headquarters and then out call for same
only hope my stupidity has not delayedus too long. Attention or patrols signaled
Big three urgents be on lookout forheavy covered vans made it either black or

(09:03):
navy blue, name Hackney on sizeand white block letters. Commercial license one
oh for a Bleakue six thirty nineor six thirty nine ruffine licensed one oh
for O Blaque six thirty nine orsix thirty nine roport on site. Oh

(09:26):
your call, Johan, I hopeit gets resolved. I have great faith
in radio patrol. Captain Munon sowwhat about that mantle piece? Uten?
I can figure it out and justbeen consulting old record capty have astonishing used
for you, but have been repeatedcases of mantipiece robbery, both in England
and Americas. You kitten pop Further, liveries or robbery is limited to only

(09:48):
one kind of menities Adam mentupiz Whatin blazes is that Adam brothers were famous
designers in England during eighteenth century.Many beautiful pieces of cinisy? Are they
valuable to that? Oh? Avaluable SNT? But this was not murder
in general? Fifth otherwise why steelmental piece alone? Them leaves behind many

(10:09):
other valuable ente You mean that Grangerwas killed because uh somebody would after a
particular man will be he own' yes, UH may use your telephone piece erh
N, I thank you. Whilethe police trace missing bandon German mentities valage
hand mus tace sitting actor, NationalTalent Agency listen spake of Channel Police Department.

(10:33):
Uh A requests home address of atthe high through Stor agency by mister
Cyder's stranger. That name is RodneyTemples linked to Tampas one Mormon free Yeah
here was Sir Holland's boarding house onetwo four three Wingott Avenue. Mister Holland's
aultorac to take all calls, andmister Tampa does odo anything. I'm sunny.

(10:58):
Let's leave now at the munons itany information about looking down comes in
gon staying at once to Hollam's buddinghouse. If this person enough number one,
some organize the taste or messages,there's a twelve forty free pop.

(11:20):
Yeah, they be goes. Theyhave to go body her. Hey,
I'll bet that old guy in asuit must be Holland. H I only
hope that Rodney Temples, let's leftclothes behind his room to make sense.
Iver take for it, mister Holland, please thanks, Why speak up of
the police shield? Please? Imean speak of ten mm? What ye

(11:41):
shoving? That badgered me for?I ain't done nothing on the papers or
look here, room in the house, ices, water, texture sheets,
driving license, got stuff looking formister Rodney temperacy own whisper confounded and he's
pretty death pop that they try.Mister Holland asked my name, Rodney Temper,

(12:07):
who ain't gin him all day?Where's his room? Sure? I
can read your room, raisy emptyjippers jempers and where is Temper's room?
Oh him, Jake, the flawyou are banks Come on, Pop number

(12:31):
one can get burning performance the wisdomof singing teacher who said, if you
come up to good be loved mDarli its lassy on They say yeah,
say Pap, what do you thinkwe'll find in temper room? Hope to
find which this is something I don'tbuster upstairs? Pop, someone else must
be trying to get him a temperroom person doesn't pressing back in most persistently.

(12:56):
For Pop, there's temper stow noone very often. But how can
about a be founding? Ah observedhim has been thrust into side a button
holding shame down that who why?What's it mean? May find answer inside
room hoop on the bed there's aman come hy. Case has taken most

(13:24):
unfortunate turn for West. This manhas been clarifymed to death. In a
few moments we will reveal the manwho murdered Santa Claus. Meanwhile, here
is are enough and now back tothe inconquerable Charlie Chan investigation of the strange

(13:58):
murder cried a screater, coupled withthe best of the mental piece from the
dead Man's Homes brings Charlie Chan andhis number one son to the room of
Rodney Tempest in Holland's boarding house.There they find a man chloroform to death.
Who is he? Pop? Itis of his correspond with many photographs
and moon dead. Man is RodneyTempests Rodney Campess. But I thought he

(14:20):
was the murderer evidently was not.How he kill Pop? Was struck unconscious
and see bruise on head then laidon bed. What if cotton placed on
face Kenneth clariform tied to head ofbed so the same would drip on cotton?
Oh? Why take such a railabout way of killing him? Gun
forgets pin sticking in dazzerboddy. Whatindicates murder appears to be accidental? How

(14:45):
evidence says attacker did not wish tokill Tempest only makes fame unconscious chloroform victim
then departed jamming buzzer. Those constantsounds would cause inquiries and out at risk
if Gary he didn't know Hollan wasthe early the man of the house and
hollers there. Yes, what arethey to do in Alpop? We can't
just sit around in the house ofthat vans like I didn't. We'll first

(15:07):
notify Captain Letting for a second crediblehomicide, then proceed to Townsend Antique Gallery.
When mister Townsend tells something else besidesfurniture, perhaps gentlemen sells letter.

(15:31):
Sorry gentlemen forgot to lock the outsidedoor and close for the day. Is
this person who spect the chart toten outside his number one son? Oh?
Well come in? Uh why areyou here? We still question?
Knew about mental peace you sell,mister Granger. Uh when in boldom?
Oh yeah, uh, that's theAdam hop Adam mantal piece. That's the

(15:54):
same climate don And what do youknow about mantel peace, mister Thompson,
Well, it's an authentic Adam.Of course. I've got a series of
sale receipts dating right back to seventeeneighty. Most of the history on this
particular mantelpiece can be found in abook I published just a few years ago.
Oh, most interesting, it's funnyyou should ask about it, inspector.

(16:18):
Someone came in asking the same questionsjust a few weeks ago. Oh
yes, and an old actor calledhimself Richard Tempest or something. Well,
yeah, Robbie Temps was can Itell him? How hold it a moment
too. Hello, yeah, yeah, here it's you, inspector. Oh

(16:41):
thank you, yes, please,this is Mullen's. I got a report
on that missing van was funded abouttwo hours ago by a patrolment up on
the main intersection on Vineyard Terrace.Didn't know about the alarm until he reported
back to the piecing main intersection onVanyard test. There's old dirt road up
there under repair. Hivy van couldn'tgo far. There ought to be somewhere

(17:03):
around there. Now, what doyou think we slowly detected this very possible
to find them on find out raisonly hope when we open saying they're not
find it contains murder. When CaptainMallin said these roads we were a pair,

(17:26):
he should have set on the waterat on ground police. Oh half
a dozen tide tracks here, pop, you'll never know which is which number
one. I'm wrong as usual,signs of identifying time out almost exactly,
signs for fingerprints and this this isonly heavy tired on road Manhattan heavy duty
patten A five over four point twomust be missing. Then let us TRDA

(17:51):
say come keep light on treadmarks.Then oh does help you father? Look
they turn off the road. Runout of that storage warehouse back there.
Ah oh yes, no doubt.Then hidden in tried same quick now,
but remember it is written always balanceone portion of speed with three of cources.
Uh. Should we get to thedouble doors where the vand went in?

(18:11):
No, No, same heavily chainedand paddler. Try small side.
You believe your father has skeleton keywhich will open? Say you wait,
got an open poppings and come nownecessary to balance actions with five portions of

(18:32):
caution. Dollar hat, what aprice for a furt You're in All kinds
of jams observed van behind out thedoors over there for one half. Let's
see if that mantel piece is inside. Done, must insist on greater care.
White man does not run across icebefore testing safe. It's empty,

(18:53):
The mantle piece has been alighted.Must be some place in their health.
Let just look around for say,right, let's say pop this door here,
Maybe it leads to a special room. Maybe the metal pieces in there,
The sunny kind of door opened infelt like a refrigerator. Pap looking

(19:17):
here, Come on in? Ahoh yes, this is closed storage room.
Where thurs that door? No metal? Peace in here for nothing but
waiver oh, Pop, for allit squires. Some try to put it
open. It cous on the outside, which roping here unfortunate did not realize

(19:37):
murderer would follow us here. Listen, what's that refrigeration motor turned up to
high speeds? Isn't so good forus? Pop? And Sun, master
of understatement. I hear anything,Pap, what's hold? Any means?
I hear a fire? And Sunhear his phone? Same hangs on roll
alongside door or communication with other partsof warehouse. HiT's the murderer? Yes,

(19:59):
shy to hello, Chan, you'llbe froze and stiff and half And
now you and your right Pop,you're so anxious to find out why I
wanted that mand piece. Chan,I'll tell you and help you pass away

(20:23):
the time while you're kicking off.In seventeen seventy nine, Jennings Cartan was
one of the greatest book collectors andliterary experts of England. He owned the
rarest thing in the world, amanuscript copy of Shakespeare's play Richard the Third
Good mentuscript was stolen from Carton byanother collector, a madman named Richard Wells.

(20:48):
Welles seals a treasure up and he'smendru Piece, afraid to let anyone
know he'd stolen it. But whenWills died, he admitted his fift in
his will and direct heir to sendthe manuscript back to Carton. Go on,
bequick. By the time the willwas read, all the dead man's
furniture and positions had been sold.The mental peace too, gone without a

(21:14):
tree for one hundred and fifty years. Connected. I've been searching for that
mental piece and I found it.Cham, I've found it. Think there
were while you die? You arewrong, my friend. This person will
not remain inside to die quick getby the fresh life who refrigerated door opens

(21:37):
inter Remember I don't understand par foolishone means winches are on inside. Simple
to knock thins out of inches withfresh lighting. Fose door open quick now
wit pop? Here goes now?Pull o? Come on, pap watch
out from metal? Maybe here?Yes? And how did you get out
of there? Oh no, youdon't. You don't get two chances of

(22:00):
murder stop from don't worry about me, pap o? Your would would you
just worry about this guy? Isaw mister Condery's gunpap Son, Why does
you thrown headlong? Into danger,has not aged Father's trials taught you lessons
have done now and may let murderus. You know who is pat Yes,

(22:22):
I've known for some time that murdereris very clever proprietor of Brodingham,
mister holland every general sudden a strangerto get Christmas party despite unfortunate sat Uncle,

(23:03):
they sent the airpot. Listen callof the next room at Willie Papa,
I see you come on this way, Come on, Why has Sun
abducted father? Well, you haven'texplained a mad case to me yet.
So remember when son understood efects,Allan was excepted, already acquainted with Shakespeare,
got effects about tream and came acrossodd item about lost manuscripy if I

(23:26):
understand there, he tried to flameTempus for all that. Ut when Tempers
got job with late Cyrus Stranger,Allan thought this was good, an opportunity
to steal mental peace, which hebelieved contained missing manuscripts same worth millions of
dollars, easily worth murder. Sohe killed Tempus and tried to divert attention
from himself by playing that basa routineand playing there. Yes, then drove

(23:49):
down up to house and met Butleras driver. When Butler left him alone,
quickly changed to Santa Cross's guy,ran around to front of house and
into this rough tempest. This doyou understand? Yes, except one thing,
Pop, When did you get onto him? Became suspicious because talent
agency girls said Holland authorized to acceptcalls for tempists. But but how I

(24:14):
accept the same if he could nothear them? Suspicions concerned when he displayed
driver's license in this state, thisman cannot obtain driver's license. Charlie,
that's right. And what about theShakespeare manuscript? Pop? Did the police
fighter in the metal place? I'mafraid not then, and very much afraid

(24:36):
that this some mental pieces will continuefor another one hundred and fifty years until
manuscript is found or legend disproved.Before this person has further words within,

(25:00):
here is a answer with words ofwisdom. Before's staying good night, Charlie.

(25:25):
Chan wishes to leave with your wordsof great philosopher who said Christmas is
the time forgiving, and the morewe give to others, the more we
are increased. Be sure to joinus next week at the same time for

(25:52):
the adventures of Charlie Chan, basedon the famous character created by Earl Derbegger.
This is a great Gifton radio productiondirected by Lawrence H. Cecil