Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Grant. We're gonna get started with another great week
of old Time Radio featuring Alan Ladd in Box thirteen, and we're gonna get
to that in just a moment. I do want to let you know that
when when I first recorded the first at least the first sixteen episodes, UM,
it was my expectation where we're gonna use blogspot. The more I thought
about it, the more I decided to get um my own hosting for the
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Detectives dot net. So please go there for comments that will be uh from
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get the chance. And if you got any comments, feel free to email
me at Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net. UH. This wagon my
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one and one. Well, without any further ado, we're gonna get into
today's episode of Box thirteen Extra Extra. We'll go ahead and listen and then
come back Box thirteen with the star of Paramount Pictures Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday
Box thirteen, Box thirteen, Box thirteen, Box Box. He leaned over
the shining halo of her blonde hair reflected in the soft flow of the new
moon. Oh no, no, no, not that Holiday, my boy.
Why did you ever decide to write fiction for a living? You know
you could have gone into something interesting, like being a truck driver with the
open road in front of you in a motorcycle copping back. Hey, Susie,
where have you been? Don't you remember, mister Holiday? I went
down Star Time's office. Oh oh, so you did tell me? What's
new in Box thirteen, Box thirteen starring Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday. Now
for Box thirteen starring Allan Ladd as Dan Holiday. Well, what now,
mister Holiday? What's new in Box thirteen? Yesterday a man wanted to sell
me a horse for a thousand dollars and a ranch to go round the horse
for twenty five times that much. The day before, my ad for adventure
brought me a reply from a golf professional who simply wanted to drive golf balls
off the tip of my nose. Mister Holliday, I was at Susie.
When a nice young man like you runs an ad he should get a whole
box full of answers. Oh, well, thank you, Susie. He
should get bushel baskets for all well, thanks again. The press should be
loaded with letters, all right, all right? Now? What did I
get? One postcard? And from a kid? At that? A kid?
Do you mean a child? Sure? Let me see it. Postcard
from a youngster. It's probably a gag. Some small girl selling ten cent
packages of flower seeds for fifty cents, sell five thousand packages and she gets
absolutely free a Saint Bernard dog. Well, let's see what really is on
this post guard. M I wrote to you care of box thir team because
I thought you wanted it that way. I gotta see you right away on
a very important matter. I am still doing business at the old stand,
Signed Johnny Moran. Johnny Moran. Why he's a little boy, your sales
newspapers on the corner. Hey, Susie, you're Johnny Moran. Up,
you're right away? Oh I can't do that, mister Holiday. Why can't
you do it? Cause you here already? Well, mister Holiday, Oh
Johnny, how are you, my boy? Why didn't you just come up
and see me instead of riding a post guard first? Well, I'm like
to do things sort of businesslike. Besides, it was fun to answer in
anford event you wanted. Would you really do anything, mister Holliday sad on,
Johnny, tell me what your trouble is. Oh oh, I kind
of wanted to see you alone, sort of private light. Oh that man
the man stuff. Yeah, that's it. Well, how would you like
to talk? Well, I thought maybe you'd come down to the corner with
me. I'll buy you a drink, a drink. You entert me strangely,
Johnny, come on, let's go. Okay, Oh, Susan,
you'll excuse us, won't you. Well, I don't know. You better
be careful, mister Holiday. Careful. I don't want Johnny teaching you bad
habits. Johnny Moran is a very nice boy, can't be more than twelve,
but he certainly seems to noise way around. Yes, Holiday, if
you were ordering a small boy, this is just the model you would choose.
But there's drinking business. I'm worried about you, mister Holiday. You
should that lemon coake is enough. Lemon cokes are always enough for me,
Johnny, especially when I spike him with an ice cube. Say how's your
banana split? Well, Listen's got a little too much chocolate. I like
the lasting. Better better finish it, my boy. You want to talk
business, remember, Yeah, Well I thought you might have read about it
in newspapers. Of course you could have missed it. It was way back
on page five. I was on page five here. I got a clip
into the story. Read it. Police announced that recovered a portion of the
jewelry stolen in last Tuesday's raid on Maury Jewelry Company held under suspicion of grand
theft as John Moran. John Moran, Johnny let your father. Yes,
and he didn't do it, mister Holiday. I know he didn't. Just
a second, a part of the loot was found in Moran's apartment. I
don't care what they put in the newspapers. Mister Holiday, he didn't do
it. That's why I came to see you. What about your mother,
Johnny, Oh, she died when I was a baby. Cop and I
lived together. But he didn't do it, mister Holiday. Only they won't
believe me. Oh you've been down to the police. Sure, I went
there right away. I even offered them my eighteen bucks for bail. What
quiet the old deal just patted me on the head and told me to go
home. I bet you could go down and talk to that district attorney in
making rip my father out. You can do anything, not quite anything,
Johnny. Yeah, but this would be easy for a guy like you.
So you're not afraid of anything, not even a policeman. Well that's very
flattering, Johnny. But I don't know what I can do. Well,
you'll think of something, mister Holliday. You're a writer, you're smart.
Let listen to my boy. Let you get my father out of jail,
time for dinner? Okay, Holiday, the boy says, you can get
his father out of jail and time but dinner. But what day story in
the paper makes it look like they caught John Moran cold. You don't find
stolen jewelry in a man's apartment if he didn't do the stealing. But there's
a small boy waiting, waiting with all the faith in the world. So
Holiday, do something, the attorney. You'll see you now as the holiday.
Oh thanks, Holiday, haven't seen you for a long time. Yeah,
I know, I've been pretty busy busy. Eh. Well, then
what brings a promising young author down to city hall? Because he's a promising
young author who made a promise, and I hope he didn't make a mistake.
What in the world are you talking about about a man named John Moran.
You've got him locked up in your nice new jail, yes, and
from what we've got on him, he's going to stay there for a while.
His son thinks Moran is innoc imply. I feel sorry for that boy.
He came down and talk to me, But what could I do for
him? You've got the goods on Moran, then, absolutely. The police
found some of the stolen stuff in his appointment. Oh what's Moran's story?
A woman who works in the same building with Moran asked him to stop in
at the jewelry store and pick up her watch. While he was there,
the stick up artist walked in and held up the place, and that makes
Moran guilty. Don't be in a hurry. The stick up artist used him
as a shield when he beat it. Rand claims a man forced him to
drive to get away card into the country. That still doesn't make him guilty.
I think you've got the wrong person. This is where Moran's story went
wrong. He walked in the police headquarters and told it, but it sounded
too good. To be true. They detained him wile the detective went over
and searched his apartment. The detective found part of the loot. Ran couldn't
explain where it came from. For the wire office, it looks like he
pulled a clever gang. We think he's in with a hold of men.
What about the woman, the one who sent Moran after the watch, Grace
Willard. We don't have a thing on her. She's in the clearing.
I see. So, holiday, you better forget about playing don Quixote.
Day of fighting Windmills is over. Go home, forget about Johnny Moran.
Sure, holiday, just forget all about John Moran right beneath of the story
and take it out of the typewriter. But how are you going to write
the dialogue from a man who has to tell a small boy that his father
hasn't got a chance? I described a look in that boy's eyes. I
don't care what that old district attorney said. My father isn't a crook.
And your father should have been able to explain the stolen jewelry they found at
your place. Oh, Betty could too. They just wouldn't listen to him.
Oh not, Johnny. If your father is innocent. They'll let him
go, so you won't help me either. But I'm trying, my boy.
What else can I do? I heard nothing? I guess see you,
lady, mister Holliday. Oh, Johnny, listened to me. I'm
kind of busy right now. I got to earn a lot of doe,
I guess, Johnny, because lawyers come pretty expensive. Oh look, you
better go home, mister Holiday. I should have handed it personally in the
first place. Small boys have that neck, don't they. They can just
vanish into thin air when they want to. It's quite a character. Holiday.
Go home and write this on your type rid right about the small boy
who wanted you to get his father out of jail, and you didn't quite
make the grade. Hello, mister Holiday, this is Johnny. I'm up
with the place where we live. Johnny. There's something funny going on.
What are you talking about. I'm afraid to go into our place. There's
a man in there. Do you annoy him? He's going through the place,
so he's looking for something. Johnny. Listen, run outside, find
a policeman. I'll be right over. I gotta get out of here,
Johnny. Do what I said. Just walked out of the door. He
saw me get over to Moran's place fast, Holiday, You've got no time
for fooling. He's not outside, Maybe he's upstairs. Oh, Johnny,
Johnny, where could that boy have gone to? Grace Willard a woman who
sent Moran up to the watch because she knows Moran, she knows his boy.
Yes, oh, miss Willard, Yes, Oh, I'm Dan Holiday.
Would you know where little Johnny Morann is come in? Now? What's
this about? Johnny? Well, he phoned me a few minutes ago from
his place. There was a man going through it. He saw Johnny making
the call. Johnny's disappeared. Yes, you phoned the police. Do you
think he's been hurt? The police knew nothing about it. I don't know
what happened to the boy. That's why I came over here. I figured
that if you know his father, you knew Johnny. You're not poor mister
Morann. I feel so badly about him. You know, if I hadn't
asked him to get my watch, this never would have happened. But that
doesn't make it your fault, Miss Willard. No, I feel terrible about
it, just the same. And not Johnny disappearing. He hasn't been here
at all. No, let me think of it. Oh, by the
way, I was just having some coffee. Would you care to join me?
Miss Willard is a very nice person, really worried about the boy.
Perhaps you'll come back with an idea. Here's your coffee, mister Holiday.
Now we're at all. Oh thanks. Oh did Johnny recognize the man?
No, he didn't have time to say. Well, perhaps he found a
policeman on the street. He might have gone back to the house. Oh
my god, A called back. Johnny's cute little fellow. Johnny has a
father who's in jail. Johnny is quite concerned about his father and would like
to set him free. Grace Wallowed is stalling Holiday, waiting for something.
I don't know if Johnny will get his wish or not. You see,
his father looks very guilty to the police. Holiday, you idiot. That
coffee was doped, the oldest gag in the world, and you swallowed it.
You look sleepy, mister Holiday. Are you feeling all right? She
looks like a reflection than one of those mosman park Yes, she's she's long
and skinny. No, no, she's shot short and fat. Holiday Holiday,
get up on you feel, mister Holiday, Are you all right?
And get on your feet? I said, walk Holiday, walk, Walk
this thing off before it's too late. You look very tired, mister Holiday.
Let me get you a pillow. Come on, Holiday one. How
do you feel, mister Holiday? I can't can't make it. You are
listening to Box thirteen, darring Ellen lad As Dan Holiday Walks thirteen starring Alan
Ladd as Dan Holiday. Oh take it easy, Holiday, Take it easy.
Turn slowly now. Maybe your head still is connected to the top of
your neck. That's better. Better? H What am I saying? Where
am i an alley? Oh? Fine, Dan Holiday, author found lying
in an alley between yesterday's newspapers and tomorrow's trash. What you need write this
minute is a quick change of fast path, a little chat with a district
attorney. I've got a man going up to the Willard woman's place right this
minute, Holiday, Thanks o' clock. This ties her up with a Moraine
case. Sure else? Why would she give me knockout drops and have me
dumped in an alley? I'll bet anything she's disappeared. But why just knock
you out? Why not dispose of you permanently? I don't know unless she
was trying to kill time, enough time to get something done. Well,
he can't do anything now. If she's disappeared, she won't stay lost for
long. My men will bring her in. Don't let her give him any
coffee. She'd be out again. Puddenly, District Attorney's always clark S figging,
yesh, where when how is he? I'll see a later o'clock.
I want to go over and see Johnny Moran. I don't think you'll find
him at home? Holiday? Why not? That was a hospital who just
called Johnny Moran was brought in a while ago, the victim of a hit
and run driver. And on top of that phone call about Johnny Moran is
another one. Grace Weller checked out of the Wharton Hotel an hour ago,
saw mister Holiday. They got you out of the way long enough to get
the little Johnny. A small boy in a hospital, me with an aching
head and an aching feeling that something is very very wrong. I think this
is it. Room. You don't know Johnny ohmstualday. How do you feel?
Kids kind of bang up? Yeah? I know. The nurse said
you want to do too much talking, So just let me ask a couple
of questions. It wasn't an accident, mister Holiday. He did it on
purpose. You're sure about that, Johnny. Yeah, I was walking down
a side street. He had just swing way over to the wrong side to
hit me. Johnny, Did he look like the same man who was in
your place? I didn't get a good look at him. He was bent
down way behind the wheel. Well, could you give me just a hint?
Was he tall? Short? Thin? Fat? Oh? I knows,
yes, Johnny. Johnny, Johnny passed out, won't be permitted to
talk for a while. That puts it up to you, Holiday. Come
on, you are an author. You're right. Hundreds of situations like this
one. Thank the boarding hospital Johnny lives. Maybe the landlady saw them.
I certainly hope so. Johnny Moran, Yes, I saw him come home,
but it was quite some time ago. Did you see him leave?
Yes, he went upstairs. I heard him on the telephone. Then he
came running down. Who was the man chasing him? Chasing him? There
was no one chasing him? Are you sure of that? Of course,
I've been here all the time. Poor little fella. I don't know what's
going to happen to him, what with his father in law? This doesn't
make sense. I beg your pardon. Oh nothing you say. Johnny called
me, told me there was a strange man in his place. The man
saw him, He hung up the phone and disappeared. But I saw no
man. Are you sure? Only Joe coldly? But he's one of my
rumors? That is he was? Was he moved today just after Johnny left?
Was he upstairs while Johnny was? Yes, yes he was. Was
he a friend of John Moran's. Oh no, no, he never spoke
to anyone, stayed in his room all day and went out at night.
Oh, one of those night flies. Could I see the room he occupied?
This is Cokeley's room, but it's empty. Well, holiday, it
looks like you're on the wrong track track or are you stubbed from a dance
hall ticket? I'd better talk to Johnny about this, Johnny. The man
who came out of your room? Was he about my height? Did he
have grace here? Did he wear a bronze suit? Yeah? Yeah,
that's the man, mister Hardy. I'll come. You never saw him before?
Did it right across the hall from him? That guy? He only
went out at night after I was in bed. Oh, I'll see you
later. Johnny, Hey, where are you going tonight? I'm going dancing.
This is a very nice place. Holiday admission sixty cents, which includes
an evening of dancing, and from the looks of the customers, they're trying
to get their money's worth, like to dance? Fella, Whomi and a
twins? Are you? I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm a very bad dancing
Are you? Let me be the judge of that? Come on, shit,
you look good to me. I wait a second, say, isn't
that Joe Cockley over there? Ah? You know Joe? Yeah? And
the girl with him that his girlfriend, Chriece Willard. Oh, thanks,
I'll see you later. Hey, where are you going? This is that
holiday only? What are you going to do? They're leaving and if you
stop to make a phone call, you lose them. And I wouldn't like
to lose that man. He's the one who hits small boys. But they
automobiles. They're going into the apartment house. This begins to look like the
final chapter. Now to make a fast telephone call from an old friend,
and better to get to the payoff. That's a very nice door. You
can hear quite distinctly throw it. Well. Holiday here's where you ceased to
be a wallflower and become the life of the party. Holiday up your hands,
fellow, sure sure, closet door, Grace. Well here we are,
aren't we finds? Joe? What are we gonna do? You finished
packing that junk? We'll figure out something. We can't let him steal a
lot. Finish the packing, I said, too bad. I didn't use
poison in that coffee. I gave it quiet. Noticed you were packing going
away someplace? What do you think and get away from it? Bag Holliday.
Oh that's the stuff that was stolen from the start. Huh any of
your business or going away together? You and miss Willard? Maybe you pull
that go down and pick up my watch routine in a lot of cities on
Joe making me quad? Joe? Hey, Joe, who was a girl
who worked with you before you met Grace? You know, the one who
lived in Cleveland or was it Chicago? I always forget, Come on,
Joe, what happened? What happened to her? Joe or the girl before?
How do you know there was another girl? Holiday? Well, missus
Willard, you don't think you're the only one, do you? You're crazy?
Yeah? Asking where he was last night. Don't pay any attention to
him, Grace, he wasn't with you know where he was? How do
you know he wasn't with me? The stub of a dance hall ticket I
found in the other room. It calls for only one an issue? Shut
up by saydst a minute. Joe, were you down there last night?
Were you dancing with that blonde again? So you've got a lot you have
me set up his whole deal. Have me find John Miranda, pay Sucker
for us? Help me frame the business of picking up my watch? I
time it out perfect for you. What do you do? You've got dancing?
Grace? Be quiet. This fellow's up to something. Me now,
what would I be up to? What about that other girl? He talked
about? What happened? I heard you? Why don't you tell her?
Joe? Cut it out? Will here? Did she plant stolen Joey in
a Sucker's room like I did to morand Grace? Listen? Yeah, I'm
listening. Go on, explain, Holliday, where are you going? Just
opening the door? You see? I'd like the district attorney to hear the
rest of your explanation too. This is the last chapter to a story I
was afraid it might have an unhappy ending. But Johnny Moran's father is free,
the district attorney has Grace Willard, Joe Cockley and the stolen jewelry,
and Johnny m Johnny is out of the hospital. Mister Holliday, What did
you say, Johnny? I said you might have been killed going up to
the department like that. No, I was safe for the DA just outside
the door. Gosh, and you figured it all out by yourself. No,
you helped too when you telephoned me. And I hate to mention this
kid, but did you bring the eighteen dollars with you? Sure? I
did? I pay off you know here? Oh? Thanks get. I
was just a little worried. I was going to paid before mister Holiday.
But I didn't think he needed money that man. Oh yeah, needed it
to put with this check. Yeah. There was a five hundred dollars reward
for recovering the jewelry, and it's going to a bank account for you.
Five hundred dollars. Gee, gosh, I guess I'm rich. Johnny.
What are you gonna do with all that money? Well, the first thing
I'm gonna do is take you out and buy your drink. How about an
idiot's delight? Oh, oh, what idiots delight? It's got a pint
of ice cream, three bananas, some oranges and seven flavors. Oh,
Johnny, I I don't know, mister Holliday. I just tried that,
Johnny. Get out of the Oh there yard, Johnny. How do you
feel? Feels swell? Sussie? I just invited mister Holiday out to have
a drink. He can't go out, Johnny, He's got some very important
work to do. Gee whiz, Thanks a lot, Sussie. Thanks?
What are you thanking me for? You don't know it, but you've just
saved me from a horrible fate. Next week, same time. Alan Ladd
stars as Dan Holiday and Box thirteen. Alan Ladd appears through the courtesy if
Paramount Pictures and may currently be seen in Wild Harvest. Box thirteen has written
and directed by Ted Hediger. A part of Susie is played by Sylvia Pickard.
Original music was composed and conducted by Rudy Schrager. This is a Mayfair
production. Welcome back, um, you know, and as you listen to
Alan Ladd here, what really comes out is how Alan Ladd may not have
been as Dan Holiday may not have been the the tough detective on Old Time
Radio. There were quite a few that could have that could have left him.
He may not have been the smartest, but Alan Ladd simply may have
been one of the finest actors to take the role. I really like what
he's got going on with Lad. This this kind of sense of questioning uh
and almost uh uh almost brooding. Uh. It's it's kind of reminiscent when
you hear Lad doing it. It's kind of reminiscent of the inner monologue of
Spider Man in a way. Um. You listen to this, he's questioning
himself, struggling with himself and what he ought to do. Um. And
it really makes for great drama in the midst of this detective story. Uh.
And I think it makes us feel like he's a real person and to
connect with him. Um. And you usually don't see that in a lot
of these detective shows. Uh. Really, Allen Land may have done it
better than anybody up until Bob Bailey took the role of Johnny Dollers. So
all right, Well that's it for this episode of the Great Detectives of Old
Time Radio. Join us tomorrow for a hard boiled hero action Pat Novac for
higher and next week we'll be back with another episode of the Great Detectives of
Old Time Radio with Box thirteen. Got any comments for email them to Box
thirteen at Great Detectives dot net. Check out the website Great Detectives dot net,
and please cast your vote for us on podcast Alley from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.