Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
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addresses at support doc Greatdetactives dot net. Well, now it's time for today's
episode of the Adventures of Philip Marlow. The original air date February seventh of
nineteen fifty and the title is The Long Arm, Get This and Get It
Straight. Crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in
the gut of the prison of the Grave. Happened in a place called Bay
City, whereas unwelcome to a fat fry cook with a secret at at depa
gambler, but to the long Arm of the Law, I was poisoned.
It happened like this on the pen of Raymond Chandler. I'm standing author of
crime. Pick comes his most famous character in the Adventures of Philip Marlowe.
Now with Gerald Moore starred as Philip Marlowe. We bring you tonight's exciting story
The Long Arm. I got my Sunday best time go and strutting with It's
Laura Belle. Oh fine, every time I take a shower. Noticin it?
All right? Okay, hello speaking one moment City is calling. I
have your party. Go ahead, Oh that you Mordow. Yeah, this
is Ernie partch phil at Bay City Part Yeah. You remember me, don't
you? No, I can't see Oh yeah yeah, Ernie Pott, you're
the guy who saved my life when the Bay City Law left me beat up
and bleeding all over the city dump right, yeah, yeah, yeah,
that's it. Oh yeah, Marllow. Please listen what I'm in an awful
jam, like what I just got out of jail yesterday. You were in
a day jail, Ernie, Yes, yeah, a very neat spring Silver.
Oh not half as neat as the one that's trying to hang on me.
Now, this one's worse. You remember my wife, don't you,
Grace Paul? Yeah, yeah, what about it? She's dead model,
she was murdered. I'm gonna try to pin it on me. You'll come
right away. Look, Ernie, I'm poisoned in Bay City, you know,
man, Please, Rake's Terman would give a year's page just to watch
me break an on five if I drowned to Marlow. You don't know which
terminal had your messed up from sticking your nose in the Bay City politics.
No, no, but I can show a second guess that it was tough
cop tactics all the way. You mean you won't help me? Yeah,
well, Ernie, really, I'm sorry, kid, but you better get
yourself an honest lawyer. And you know better than that phil who have the
guts to knock heads with a police in this town, especially when they got
a custom Taylor's pigeon like me standing by with one wing already clipped. I
feel like, kind of it looks like I'm murdered. Grace. Now,
look, kid, I saved your life once Okay, what's your right?
Resident thirty eight four Land of Life A City was a snug seacoast town some
twenty miles southwest of la In about twice that distance from being on the up
and up. The string of gambling houses were politely winked at by some elements
of the law and it's gamblers and turned politely winked back while the pulling money
passed from sucker to slick at a crooked cup. But Bay City also was
home to a lot of honest fishermen retired real estate brokers. Had another element
of the law, good cops. Which side the technical Lieutenant Rake's terman was
on. I'd never been able to figure it. He only added one way
all cop, morning, noon and night. I kind of made any private
detective feel a little less welcome than a leopard. Ell. An hour after
Doc, I pulled up and parked well away from thirty eight Orlando Street.
Five minutes later, I was watching a nervous ernie parts where out the cop
in a chabby living room. It was at art Manelli's place, Phil about
a year ago. The little casino. It's out north on the edge of
town. I've had a few drinks with some of the guys who worked at
my gas station. One thing led to another, and so finally we were
out there trying a pyramid fifty bucks into fifty thousand. That's when the cops
came in. Huh yeah, yeah, you know, one of those pre
election raids that looked good in the papers. Do you want to drink?
No? No, look, that raid couldn't have gotten you a year and
a day, Ernie. Oh no, but the gun they found on my
top coat pocket could have Yeah, thirty eight I'd never seen before in my
life. Plant. Huh yeah, plant that. I could only figure two
ways, Philip. Either someone at Art Mavanelli's place just happened to choose my
pocket to drop his gun and tour someone just happened to drop it in on
purpose. Someone who was sweet on Grace and wanted me out of the way.
Oh look, you're sure you know what you're saying? Or positive three
hundred and sixty six days in prison with only one miserable letter from her convince
me that in the word I got at Gumbo's Place like the safternoon Gumbo's Place,
Yeah yeah, Gumbos shabby and the chickens joint run by a fat fry
cook named Lou Gomborski. M Grace worked there. I stopped and just before
I ran into Lieutenant Rakesterno. Wait a minute, Wait a minute, what
do you mean ran into termine? What happened, well, Pili, I
was on the street getting into icy dann You see, I picked it up
from a guy who was using it. What it was away? When Steerman
pulled up alongside of me in a squad colony, he started to tell me
how much he likes seeing ex cons back in Bay City. What interrupted him?
Oh, call on a police radio. But before he left the promise
to drop around here sometimes a night and chat awhile. And before that,
at Gumbo's place, I found Grace. A minute, wait a minute,
I had enough for Anie. You found Grace and what we had? A
fight, she admitted, running around. Said I wasn't worth waiting for,
but she wouldn't say who was. I slapped it hard, all right,
take it easy. Grace is dead now murdered. Remember, Yeah, she's
dead here and they're gonnattack me for it. Now, tell me what happened
after you left Gumbos, I ran into Stirman, like I said, and
I drove around for a couple of hours to come off, and I got
hold of myself. I came back here and found it strangled at bit in
that chair. Phil. It was horrible. What did you do about it?
I'm not sure exactly. I changed my mind, Thanks Phil. No,
I decided to get her out of here. It was just getting dark,
so I waited a little and I carried her down the roar stairs and
I put her in my car in the back seat, put a blanket over
it. She's still there, Phil. I was gonna drive the car away,
but I guess I lost my nerve. Well, I gotta do Phil,
Sterman might be here any minute. Then you gotta help me do it.
Sorry, all right, but key's in the car. No, what
are you gonna do? I don't know what you get out of here?
Do something? But what anything? Go to a movie? Actors relaxed that
you can't do anything except come back here for the at least two hours.
Now, go on, all right, Phil, whatever you say, I'll
go to a movie. Yeah, right now, by the way, Thanks,
hil I know you'll get me out of this, and he. Parcha's
vote of confidence made comfortable listening for both of us. When he was gone,
and I was down the rear stairs and out to his car and the
alley, keys in hand, I realized that it stopped right there in the
back seat. Then in the light that spilled a nearby unshaded window, I
saw I was might have company. Sharp pointed elevated shoes, careful blue flannel,
and patted with the hair over a pasty face, all of it no
more than five and a half feet and held together by a hand painted tie
that sported a dapper knot the size of a catalog. I wonder if you
could help me. I'm looking for any park thirty six Orlando Drive. I
couldn't find any number on this house. Yeah, but part isn't it?
He just left? No where he went? No, no, all right,
Patas, I only want to talk to him. My name is add
Manela, a friend of his, and the queen the same. He went
to a movie, mister Manila. I saw the pictures. So I'm going
home, back to San Diego. I live there. Good San Diego means
you as one oh one to the south, right past my next stop.
I came in a cab or run. Those keys in your hand there said
that you're leaving I mean I don't want to work. Oh, wait for
a taxi or wait for it? Shall I get in? Or do you
want to slide over to the driver's seat. I want to slide, if
that's all right with you? Tell me, mister cruse shutters, you have
business with personal business, you, mister Manelli, Yes, I want to
see only about a good location. I haven't mind for a new gas station.
You know about such things? No, no, and I don't think
you're do either, Menelli. Less, of course, the pumps can be
converted in the roulette wheels. Oh you know who I am. Yeah,
I also know. It's a little strange for you to show up at Ernie's
place the day after he gets out of the state ten for a frame that
took place that you a little casino. What are you getting at, mister?
An outside chance that you yourself were responsible for that frame, But you're
anxious to see what, if anything, only intends to do about it?
Lights Red, No fool, I'll tell me. Why would I want to
frame? Or any time? I don't know, could be Menelli, that
you did it accidentally. You know, a little gun hidden in a big
hurry. It could be had a title reason huh like like Grace Pratt,
very pretty girl, you're out of your mind? Yeah, sure, I
am just plain nuts. Why don't you get out here, take up a
nice saying taxicab. It'll be safer, all right, he will tell you
way. Sure, we're right, and no I got stuff in that close
that torped okay, happy like so what the crew coup? What kind of
h from menella? I'm a bootlegger who never got the word Believe me,
I do like Green fell Off. I went three short blocks and I got
out of traffic and drove as far back towar Tolando Street as a vacant lot
that was only a block away. Morning there after, I wiped the wheel
a gearship everything else i'd touched the plain Prince. I left this stand as
is and walk back to where it originally talked my own car behind the wheel
of my coop. I spent the next twenty minutes finding gumbo shatty where Grace
part wouldn't ddy long leg standing knee deep in the Pacific Ocean and circled at
the waist by an imitation ship's deck for summer time outdoor reading a gang plank
let up from the street level, and when I'd gone about half a length
of it, I saw something at the door ahead, shaped like a bowling
pin, topped by a chef hat, encompassed by a yard and a half
a piccox belt that said it's had to be fat fry cook Lou Gumborski,
returning the reversible sign from open the clothes. Sorry, mister, I'm closing
early tonight. Food's talk going all right? How about a drink? I
only want a quick shot? Gumbo Gumbo. They're stranger here. You know
the name, it's written off ahead and four foot letters. I keep my
eyes open, Okay, take it fast. I want to hit the Yeah
you live here? Yeah? What do you want? Scott Any didn't word?
Little information? Oh but what girl who works for you? Grace parts.
I don't know anything, not even for five number it's ten, okay
ten? And the drinks on the house huh yeah, okay, face punch
is five foot two, eyes of blue. Also, she quld work at
six tonight like she does every night period. Huh. Here's do yet?
I tell me where she's been going? Where I learned he's been in stir
Another ten? Yeah for another on one condition, no more lousy poems.
Gambo, just do straight backs, no drink, no no, no,
thanks for it. Well, you've been hanging around little Casito, Manelli's,
Giant Yeah's place, were a lot of people hang around. What is it?
What are you standing at? Gambo window? I saw someone not doing
a tick looking in probably see guys. Forget it now. Look, I
don't sure it is someone getting away in the car. Any idea who it
was? I said, any? I heard you going home, mister,
get out of here. Make it easy, big guy. You got twenty
bucks, give it, yeah, I think you're lovesy. Twenty bucks and
the drinks on the house and good night. After one question, guy in
that car that just took off with it, I'll repeat myself, good night,
mister. Okay, let it go at good night, Gambo. But
just for now getting more out of Gumbo. So I went back to my
car, pointed at northward the edge of town in the little casino, where
I figured I might get lead. I'm an Elia's whereabouts. Thirty minutes later,
when I was there out of my car, standing in front of it,
looked like an oversized concrete blockhouse Salona and a parking lot. The sides
of the coliseum. I think it different. A huge tign out front.
Red clothes cooderations were reopened soon, bigger and better than ever. Gambling in
Bay City was obviously on the QT like an artillery barade. By the time
I got back to thirty eight around those street, nearly three hours of gone
by since I'd last seen on it, I started up start the light in
his living room. Wasn't happy over the lack of information I had for him,
But when I opened the door and saw it was waiting for me,
I didn't manage one a huge beefy freckled hand. There was the usual Police
Department thirty eight revolvement. Hello kid, nice cool gray eye. He's gonna
thick, broken nose, the nasty curl of the lips all belong to Bay
City's toughest homicide detected Lieutenant Rape Hello Marlow. I've been waiting for you too
long, kid. I would have baked a little cake if I knew I
was going to have this much time. There's any pride coming. He's under
arrest, kid, He's found his wife's body. He's under arrest for murder.
You know what else, kidd? Now what else? Kid? So
are you in just a moment the second act of Philip Marlowe, but first
Bred Allen's crack that it's no wonder comedians can't find work when singers go comical.
He has had a fast reply from Bing Crosby. Bing has invited Fred
to be his guest on the CBS Show this Wednesday Night. You can get
right into the very middle of the argument on most of these Sames CBS stations
where Bing Crosby shows. Hey Wednesday Night, be sure to hear Fred Allen's
visit The Bing Show this Wednesday. Following Groucho Marx and You Bet Your Life
Now with our star Gerald Moore, we returned to the second act of Philip
Marlowe and tonight's story The Long Arm Lieutenant's terman moved, taught me curl the
thick fingers of his left handed to a fist. Braced myself with the blow
never came stead. He shut his face up close to mine, and his
mouth twisted into a one sided grin that was as full of fun as a
set of thumbscrews. Well, you finally came true from me, didn't you,
kid? I don't know what you're talking about. I've been waiting a
long long time for you to put something in my town, mallow where you
can't run back across the line and hide behind the skirt your cup friend over
in La having yourself a pipe dreams. M don't forget it real, sorry,
I sir, do you might explaining what this is all about. It's
one of my rights as a citizen. You know, even in Bay City
or as I'm concerned, killers ain't got any rights. How Come you had
nothing to do with grass murders? So I can tell you why you're a
stinking liar private detective. I suppose private detectives have no rights either, huh
none. We found the girl's body in a car parked a vacant lot,
and somebody overlooked a couple of fingerprints which I'm gonna match up with your tomorrow.
How come you're so sure because we pulled any punch out of the movies
five minutes after we found his wife jailbirds singing Bay City model. We don't
harsh around with him. Let's go wait a minute. Oh, you pushed
too far on the wrong track. That's an angle here, you want to
know about it? There is always an angle with you. Ain't the right
boy. Yeah, but you're gonna like this one first, and that Kay
is so proud of. You're gonna find prints from one, not Manella.
That's right. One of those days in operation when everybody else in Bay City
is closed up, you better find out who told you're stepping on down the
city hall before you got out. You've got problems, and that's not one
of them. You got some intelligence office philling without wise cracks, all right.
I think Patch was framed a year ago and Minnelli's joint, No god
on Minelly's orders. Why Because Grace Potch was a pretty girl with the end
for gamblers. That's why. All the time Ernie was in the cooler,
she was running down a Mannelly's place, and I got a witness to prove
it. Also makes it the kind of little cheap tramp that gets out of
hand. Ally should have me tonight. No satisfactory reasons for him. What's
more, you warned Ernie Potch just this afternoon that you were keeping an eye
on him if you wanted to kill his wife. He's not stupid old not
to have done it tonight. Menelly's standpoint, it was a perfect time,
you see, because you guys would go for it just exactly as you have.
I know you got no use from this time. Sure a cop,
after all, as long as somebody's got to take a rap, it might
as well be the right guy. You know what, sweetheart, what your
fairy story makes the average just air, which not the mass. Now get
down too tired to take what I know it'd be given once for exterman got
me inside the Bay City headquarters. I made my decision fast. There were
three steps in the front watch of the wall, and he was right behind
me. I took the first two, then turn and grabbed sailed over my
shoulder, and I heard him land, flying on his back on the sidewalk.
As I rounded the corner of the house, I crossed the backyard,
bolted the fence, and put one hundred yards the valley between us. Before
I even stopped to think, and I went back to my car, drove
down to the water again. In Gomboski's chicken shanty place was dark and locked
up tight. Went around at the back was his living quarters were, and
listened. Crocodile slithering over the floor inside would have made the same sound.
I pushed the door open and went in. Wasnmbowski all right, but you
couldn't tell it from his face that had been worked over long and had by
an expert. He didn't know I was there until I touched the good one.
Oh girl, I gave you the beating gumbo. Please already alight,
I get up. I love gumbo. You told me one thing about at
Manelly, The great part went was joined a lot, and you spotted somebody
outside the window, and you're clammed up. I come back now, and
I find you like this isn't the obvious. You're wasting your time trying to
protect them. Shut off and get out of Listen to me, your poor
sap, And just so you're gonna be living with this from now on.
Every time you guess that it is, he'll get you another going over to
match this one. It really gets jumpy buster, and then it'll do worse
than that, don't you get it? And I know what will happen if
I open my up again. I'm just not gonna take that chant. I
don't realize we'll never lick Manelly if we don't fight a little. I'm not
saying nothing. You understand nothing, not one word I get out, all
right. I am miserable second through talking to you. Don't think the other
guy gave you a light massage by the time I'm through with you here,
not stay where you are. I don't what to kid you missed it,
but I will unless you beat it. I'd rather face that than talk getting
into deep marching gumbo. There's nothing else I can do. Nothing to me.
I know which side my friends butt it on. Yeah, but it
made one big mistake already. But what do you mean let yourself wide open
for this coffee? I'm sorry that much time, prob Come on better.
Just tell me one thing and I'll leave you alone. All I want to
know is where I can locate up in Lly right now. This club,
but the little casina Lion I was down there as closed as being remarked.
Not I'm not lying, all right, you need some more rubbing, Okay,
okay, he got a sweeter room, dance stairs under the club.
They're not being done over. That's where he lives. I gotta be there
now, but you gotta protect me. He's storm in the mononia. I'll
kill me. That's all I want to know. It's all on gumbo.
The first phone booth I came to, I stopped, looked up a base
city number and made a call, which took five minutes. I went onto
the little casino. I parked on a side straight and went down the ramp
to the underground garage. No rear. There was a door between two or
eight bronzeer and Sally Barba size and I started talking and Hunt. I stopped
and studied the decoration on one of the herons, a small hole in the
side. I took my handkerchief knot and stuffed into the hole. Somewhere inside
the apartment. I heard a chime ring, Oh my God, out and
tried the door and opened to a long, lush haul way baked the far
end with a heavy gold kit. I waited through a green carpet deep enough
to more after the curtain and pulled it aside. And Ellie sat at a
wide, glossy desk, fletatically climbing his names, his eyes staring straight at
me. You got this far? About it? Don't tell me you're all
alone here, Melly? No, I got five hundred? What do you
act like you were expecting me? I knew somebody was coming, wasn't elect
the guy and those bass jugs out of the door. Anybody passes it rings
that chime, they're satisfying. I w's with a gun. Put it away
in a minute. Maybe Saint Lieutenant's terming tonight. Good, I you've been
rubbing elbows with homicide. I didn't kill anybody. No, I guess you
didn't. I've got a good idea. Who didn't earny parts of course?
No chance. It's your business partner, Lieutenant Reike's terming himself and five will
get your tennis. Got big news for you. Hey, right, steam,
don't move well, look what crawl out of the woodwork. I'll get
his gun, ray Manelli, I'll take it myself. I don't budget,
don't want to wait a minute. What is it? Shut up? If
you killed Gray's park you were in love with her, but used to meet
her right here in this room. That was before she found out a couple
of things and began to put the pressure on me. I got in imprieved.
Then I lost my head and I shut up. Let's and Bosky took
a beating and night just because he mentioned Manella here a little more pressure he
mentioned someone else. You. Why would you shut Bosky up about Monella unless
you and Mennelle were connected. That connection was all I needed right on the
pleasant sweetheart. We're all the good it'll do, and I don't get it.
I don't understand anymore. You're through what you're saying. Ray, you
know too much about me, you know what all? You can't do this?
Yes, I can back Marlow. He gave me the idea, even
worked out all the motives, so it's easy. I'm here to arrest you
for Grace Parcher's murder. You resisted. I had to shoot you, ashame.
But about this turning part, I intended to hang it on him,
Manelli. But he's nothing to me. I don't care if he lives or
dies. But you, you're you're getting too big for your bridges anyway,
So this is better, and I get three birds with one stone. Grace
Manelli, you mollow before you start pulling the triggers there, Man, you
better ask your boy A couple of my waiting for you behind a gold curtain
there. How, you're a liar, Mallow. The elected guy would have
kept this off if anybody else came in. I blinded that eye with my
handkerchief on my way in. Right. How long you've been there? Long
enough, Lieutenant, I don't take all this from you, shad to do
tonight himself. Yeah, I took the liberty of going over your head,
lieutenant, just before I came in. Under the circumstances, you'll understand.
Why are you better drop it? Lieutenant? Okay, Now come on,
these two guys, come along quiet. Sure, Sure, I always glad
to ride with old Rake's term at anytime at all, just as long as
there's a couple of policemen in the same car. Cora was all over in
the Bay City Police headquarters. Everybody from the mayor of the dog catcher put
his two cents in, and I'd given the same answers to the same questions
at least fifty times, all about crooked cops and Rakes sermon in particular.
But finally, hours later I was freeting it all. As I drove through
the quiet streets, I was still thinking about the cops this time the other
car, the underpaid, over work cups. How on the city sidewalks day
and night. You know, the guys who do everything from telling kids the
way to the grocery store to untangling the rush hour traffic. Yeah, I
thought about each one of the cops who someday chases a hopped up gunman down
a blind alley and doesn't get home that night or any night ever again.
Then I forgot all about Rakestown, because after all, he was just one
bad one in a multitude of goodness, an insignificant sore on a long arm.
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe Bringing You Raymond Chandler's most famous characters, star
Jerald Moore, are produced and directed by Norman McDonald's and are written for radio
by Robert Mitchell and Gene Levits. Featured in the cast where Barney Phillips ed
Osbourne, Sidney Miller, Tom Tully and Britt Holland. Special music is composed
and conducted by Richard Urunt. Bessured me with us again next week when Philip
Marlowe says it could have been perfect snowbound in a mountain lodge with a girl
was falling in love, but also present were a widow sick with rage,
a bitter old woman, a jealous man, all with reason. They hate
me more than anyone else in the world. Two all star bouts are promised
on seb as This Wednesday Night, Bing Cross faces Fred Allen across the CBS
mike to battle it out on Who's funnier singers or comedians, and in the
second attraction, Gracy Allen and a smashed fender team up against not so gorgeous
George Burns and a guilty conscience. This Wednesday also brings you Braucho Marx,
his Dad Lives and his teams of opposites on You Bet Your Life And to
Doctor Christian story about two redheads in love fun action variety. They're all Yours
with Doctor Christian Brautcho, Mark Bing, Crosby and Fred Allen and George and
Gracie on most of the same CBS stations This Wednesday Night, this is Roy
Rowan speaking. Now stay tuned for pursuit, which follows immediately. On most
of these same CBS stations. This is CBS where Wednesday Night is Bing Crosby
Night Columbia Broadcastings that this is Andrew J. Graham, author of the web
surface series Oh and a Man and His Wife. You're listening to the Great
Detectives of Old Time Radio. Welcome back. Well, this is an interesting
episode, if for no reason, then it takes us to one of the
fictional cities that Raymond Chandler invented. There were many places outside of Los Angeles
that Chandler is careful, for what reason, not to reference directly, instead
giving alternative names. The last book which he started but didn't finish, was
called Poodle Springs, which was, of course his take on Palm Springs.
Bay City was actually a fictional version of Santa Monica, and I did find
a website where they researched why he might have done this, and they found
a city directory from the nineteen thirties where it referenced Santa Monica, among some
other places as the Bay Cities. Bay City was the pivotal location for The
Lady in the Lake, and in terms of corrupt cops, it was the
worst in a Chandler story, and Lady in the Lake is actually my favorite
of the Philip Marlowe novel so it's fitting that we do get a return to
Bay City when we're dealing with a corrupt cop. The closing monologue, I
think is very socially responsible, it's very fair, and it certainly does reflect
the feelings of the times. And I would say that it's probably not something
that the book version of Philip marlow would agree with, and certainly not Chandler
himself, just based on the overall tenor of his works, particularly when you
get into the long Goodbye a few years later. But then again, that
is also one of the charms and advantages of the radio version, as played
by Gerald Moore. At any rate, that will do it for today.
We'll be back tomorrow with Nick Carter, and join us again next Wednesday for
another episode of the Adventures of Philip Marlowe. In the meantime, sender comments
to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at Radio
Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com Slash
Radio Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Grahamson and off