Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
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Now for Philip Marlowe. The original airdate on Today's program August the twenty fifth
of nineteen fifty one, and the title is Air for G Street. Most
Saturdays at this time we spend an exciting half hour adventure and action with America's
public here on number one hop Along Cassidy. Well, even two fisted cowboys
take some our vacations when they can, and Hoppy is no exception. But
hop Along and Topper, we'll be back with us riding the CBS air trails
again four weeks from tonight, September twenty second. Get this and get it
straight. Crime is a sucker's road. Those who travel had wind up in
the gut at the prism of the grave. There's no other end. They
never learn. From the pen of Raymond Chandler, outstanding author of crime fiction
comes his most famous character in the Adventures of Philip marlow Now, with Gerald
Moore starred as Philip Marlowe, we bring you tonight's transcribe story Air for G
String. There's nothing really wrong with a hot summer. But if some sadists
really wanted to bring out the worst in anybody, particularly me, after a
steaming day, all he has to do is expose me to air conditioning.
Take for instance, the broad View Hotel, which was on Olive Street in
downtown LA. It ground out alternating currents of cold air from what could laughingly
be called the lobby. I'd revolved through the usual doors and stood squinting into
the icy darkness. When my eyes leveled off again, I made my way
to the elevators, sinking into the deep piled carpeting up to my hot and
cold ankles. By the time I reached room nine to seven two, I
was in the first stages of a chill. Yeah, conditioning is a marvelous
invention. It guarantees the summer cold for life. Oh you're mister Marlowe's that
makes you, mister Alman? Huhan, come in sure, Yeah, you're
nothing like i'd pictured you. Mister Alman, sit down please, mister Marlow
pictured me. I don't understand. Well, all my life i'd heard about
Philadelphia lawyers. Somewhere along the line, I drew up a mental eight by
ten of a Yeah, well it doesn't matter. You just don't look the
prototype. Perhaps that's because I'm only a junior partner in the firm, mister
marlow Yeah, maybe that's it. You know, it's an odd thing about
prototype, mister Marlow. They'll trick you. Oh. For example, I've
always had the idea that men in your well, i'll call it a profession.
That's nice of you, that men in your profession always wore trench coats.
Yeah. Well, let's cause Bogad looks so good in them. Yes,
Well, about our business together. I'll be here in Los Angeles a
few days, representing the firm in a number of ways. But while I'm
here, I hope to locate a man by the name of Buff Ryan to
say that first name was Buff. Yes, odd name, isn't it.
Yeah, let's beside the point. This Buff Ryan, it seems, has
inherited a small amount of money from a maiden nap who passed away some time
ago in Philadelphia. According to our information, my firm's executor of her estate,
mister Ryan came west about a year ago, and until approximately six months
ago he could be reached at a Waring Street address in care of A.
C. A. Douglas. But our corresponds to him there has been returned
marked unknown at this address. That's the last record you have on him.
Yes, that's the last we've written to this Sir C. A. Douglas,
but received no answer from him. I've called him since I arrived in
town. There's been no answer. Well, maybe they've both left town moved
away. No, that's possible, of course, But but perhaps you'll find
that out when you get to checking on mister Ryan. I see, well,
I'm to find him if I can, and tell him about this inheritance.
Ah. By the way, how much is it? Five thousand dollars?
Just about Misleader's entire estate? Miss Leader sounds like a comment. Her
full name, you may want. That was Julie Leader, Julie Leading.
I'm sorry I can't show you a picture of mister Ryan. I'm expecting one
to be sent out to me while I'm here, expected at this morning as
a matter of fact. Yeah, well maybe a description of him will do.
Have you ever seen him? No? No, but we were able
to find out that he's slightly less than six feet tall, like brown hair,
straight blue eyes, weighed about one hundred and eighty pounds when he left
Philadelphia a year ago. No distinguishing marks about him, according to our description.
Oh yes, and he's about thirty five years old. Oh that's pretty
complete. Oh you better let me have the last address you have on Ryan,
So, of course, yeah, I've written it down for you with
the phone number I've been calling. I'll be handling most of my business affairs
right here at the hotel, mister Morlew. I'll appreciate it if you'll check
in occasionally, let me know your progress. Oh, sure, be glad
to stay around three o'clock this afternoon. Okay, tell you everything I know.
But then yeah, but then it might not be a thing. I
know your reputation, mister Marlow. You'll find him, I'm sure. I
don't get me wrong. It needs to be fun. I'll probably find him,
but I have missed you know. That's why I should want to rock
the confidence of a Philadelphia lawyer. I don't know. Maybe it was because
Martin Alman, for all his conservative Brooks Brothers attire, looked too much or
not enough like what he was supposed to be. Maybe it was because the
East Los Angeles address he had handed me for Buff Ryan was essential to be
thirty degrees hotter. It was too wearing. Street was lined with gray little
houses, surrounded by small gray lawns dotted with straggling gray trees, a color
scheme was the direct result of long years of constant neglect. I knocked a
long time on the door of the Cia Douglas residence. A porch was livid
with old papers, an assortment of throwaways and leaves. The only response I
got was muscrawny cat, also gray, who leaped up on the porch rail
as spit and yowl at me. I yowled back and walked off the porch
in the general direction of my car. That's when I noticed a smaller gray
house behind this one, the same lot, and I thought I saw a
curtain at the front window. Moves slightly. I can't dog my steps back
to scene. Yeah, oh, pardon me, but I'm trying to locate
Sea Douglas. Does he still live in the house in front of you?
I don't know. I haven't seen mister Douglas in quite a while. You
you think he moved away? Maybe? I don't know. How would I
know? I don't know. Well, Look, I'm in kind of a
hurry. I'm getting dressed to go to work. How long have you lived
here? What difference does it make? Did you ever know a guy named
buff Ryan? Of course not? Why? Of course not? Why not?
Just know. Listen, I don't know hardly anybody, and I don't
know you now it's the phone. Go away, where do you please?
Mister? No? No, I don't think I will. Honey. She
was told, very blond, very good to look at, a fresh blue
housecoat wrapped around just the way it shouldn't. And even after I entered the
spotless little living room, the faint aura of her cologne lingered on. I
couldn't tell anything about the phone conversation she was having the next room, but
I could tell a lot about her by the several scantily clad pictures of her
that greeted me from various points of the room. Yeah, I could tell
a lot about her. Hey, what's the idea? You just can't walk
in here? Do you want me to call the police? And especially,
I was just admiring your pictures, so yeah, you have exceptional handwriting.
You're pretty nosy, aren't you. I particularly like this sample, where it
says for buff darling my love blossom. Listen, mister, I got things
to do, so run along allong? Have you known? Buff? Honey?
You think I'm kidding about calling the cops? Well, I do it
all right, Only only one, Only I'm due downtown at work. I
Oh, honest, mister, I'm not going to talk to you anymore.
You've got no right to ask me questions about anything. Nothing says I got
to answer. That's right, that's right. How do you sure don't now?
Where's buff? I don't know. Drive it downtown and you can tell
me all about it. Huh, you're driving me nowhere but out of my
mind. I look like a good news for your boy. You'd want to
see me get out? Okay, Blossom, Okay, what time's your first
show? How did you know? Yeah? I read the papers, and
occasionally I've been known to contribute to the cultural progress of Los Angeles, you
know, save the burlesque houses. The pictures sheet autographed the buff have been
propped up between my sugar bowl and the Soul Shake of the Sunday Morning Before
in the theatrical section of the Sunday Paper. Yeah, I didn't recognize it.
With a house code on, and all the way back downtown, I
reflected on the advantages of being well read well. I parked in a lot
on a side street at the north end of skid Row and stopped for lunch
at a newspaperman's hangout nearby. It was almost time for blossoms first show.
When I felt fortified enough to walk along the street, past the blank stairs
of the Winos, the dank air of the Muscatel Missions, Blossoms flag flew
above the Marquee Blossom a flower of burlesque. How many please? One?
Huh? Thanks? So anything I can get in to see Blossom. I
don't see how you can miss the buying the ticket or all. No,
no, no, I mean I'd like to see her personally in addressing room.
I'd like to talk to her. Well, I'm sure you have my
permission. Whether or not to get Blossoms is strict me between her and her
moral fiber. You know something, You're not much help. You know something
I don't try to be I'll miss you. I'm about to pass among you
with these boxes of beating. Don't forget what eak I beg your yeah,
thank you very much, with the practice of every box. So let dealshes
chocolate candy with the nuts, pick im very special break? Can you like
go back? It wasn't gonna make a killing exactly. There weren't more than
six guys in the place I wanted down the side aisle, the border one
side of the stage and pushed the road. I found myself on a dark,
narrow catwalk of the hallway. The show is gonna be out front.
Back guys can't come back here. Let's guy, dude, where can I
find Blossom out front? About ten minutes? I'll wait for it back here.
Thanks. Look, I can make myself clear if that guy wish you
would. Your lighting system's very bad back here? Lights out front where a
counchmack, Come on, get get easy, fellow, this is business.
I don't like being questioned. That can happen. You won't like you if
you don't get out of here. Your cousm too much commotion. I'll get
out front where you belong. Yeah, yeah, Look, I don't know
who you are, and I can clear that up for your quick friend.
I'm the manager of this theater and I'll run along like he Where can we
talk in your office? Why should I talk to you? Because I'm a
booking agent. I want to talk to you about Blossom. She's okay,
we'll talk about something else. Where's your office? Look, the show starting.
We can't stay back here. Follow me. You sure have a bunch
of art lovers in the audience. George, Sure, it's a class show.
Come on through the store now. Then you're no booking agents. So
what's on your mind? Blossom? And what's your name? Blue? George
Blue? Would it mean anything to you if I told you that Buff Ryan's
aunt Julie died in Philadelphia and left him five thousand bucks. Wouldn't mean a
thing, wouldn't That's funny because you're the first one to fit the picture.
One picture, slightly under six feet tall, light brown hair, straight blue
eyes, about thirty five years old, way about one eating And what are
you trying to prove that you can see me? Maybe? So? My
Philadelphia message doesn't interest you. Nothing about you interest me except how you got
in here in the first place. Bought a ticket. Then go on out
and see the show. I think I will. I also think I'll stick
around and see Blossom after her performance. I wouldn't do that if I were
you, I'd see the show and get out. I don't want any trouble
around here. I don't either. And if you see Buff before the show's
over, tell him I'm out front. Would you? I said, I
don't want any trouble. You're in a rut I walked down me I would
let backstage. Of course, I'd already charted it. Blossom's costume was less
than ure than her blue House good. It was a school of thoughts surrounding
me that this was more affective. Near the door, I stopped a moment
in silent appreciation. Don't look at her like that. I didn't know.
I want. Don't get any more ideas, but come back to your dressing
room. I ain't gonna like that. I look, look, go back
to your seat. Live it up. Blue said it was okay. You
wouldn't say that, you know, it's better all I'd go telling me that
it was better. Yeah, well you stay here. And there's the same
voice I met backstage the first time, the same pungent odor of Muscatel.
Before he'd lurched back up the eyele, I'd had a good look at a
twisted face and a pair of watery blue eyes. Backstage. I waited for
Blossoms act to conclude. It did in just a moment. We'll return to
the second act of Philip Marlow, but first love that Monday through Friday night
session of Smiles, Beulah is back with Hattie McDaniel, again starring as an
over generous, over anxious to be wed, overweight damsel holding forth over CBS
Radio. Starting this Monday Night, listen for Beulah and the Henderson Family in
a new season of delightful day to day doings. Beulah joins the fall parade
of stars back to CBS Radio on most of these stations, beginning Monday Night
Now with our star Gerald Moore. The second act of Philip Marlow and Tonight's
story Here for g Strait, I couldn't have been out long about eight bars
of imagination unless I'd missed the full chorus. At some point I was fuzzily
aware of being carried sextile somewhere, then being dropped not too gently out of
what set of the noisiest springs I'd ever heard. This music lowed me for
a while, and then I heard a door slam. My head rolled off
on the floor and broke. Come on, Marlow, you're not dead?
Is that official? How'd you get in here? Anyway? You wouldn't believe
me if I told you. I hardly believe it myself. You're not supposed
to be I know, I know, I know, I've had that pointed
out to me several times. Now, yeah, and I didn't think I
told you my name. Your wallet was on the floor. I can read.
Oh good for you? Who hit me? And with what size sandbag?
I don't know? You never know anything? Do you listen, mister
Marlow? You've been barging in all day where you're not wanted. Why didn't
you tell me Buff was a whino? Oh? Hey, look look that's
what's left of my head. Huh. I hope it hurts. I hope
it hurt awful? How do you get your hope it did? I listen?
You want? Pretty fed up with you? I'll just how you feel
below what you told me. You don't want any trouble. Okay, okay,
I'm going I'll blossom. What about Buff? I don't know? Never
mind, Now, don't tell me you want another ticket. I'll make kid.
I've taken the cure. How is there moral fiber like Gibraltar? You
know a guy named Buff Ryan for free? I don't know my own mother?
You don't see your point? Yeah? Is mine memory getting any better?
It's um clearing up a little well when he ain't here, which you
ain't right now, He's um usually mother Morris's. That's for one, Mother
Marris's flop house three doors down, or for two, try Tillies four doors
down a saloon. Thank you. Mother Mars couldn't help me, lovable old
lush that she was. And a penetrating search of the twenty five cent bed
she so revealed a lot of things, but no Buff Ryan Tillies downstairs next
door didn't look very promising at first, but that was before I saw the
twisted face with the watery blue eyes at the far end of the bar.
Beside him, the unofficial dean and philosopher of skid Roll, Jay Fenton Prentice.
I started taught them, but a cordon of winos surrounded me before I
could reach him. Him. Yeah, Prentice, I'm the one you call
her brothers here off, make him breathe in another direction and let me talk
the buff. We're a close association here, mister mannow outsiders, twill doc
come on, Pratish. You know me well enough, perhaps wish to Marllow,
but we know each other better my associates and I. My young friend
Buff here quite obviously does not wish to talk with you. We are merely
respecting his wishes in our the own way. Oh come on, look,
this is cockad. Maybe this isn't the place to say it, but you've
inherited money. Buff, That's all I came to tell you. Yeah,
you're right, Julie. Well i'll say anymore. Apprentis, don't let him
get to me. I gotta get out of here. If you gentlemen will
restain, mister Marlow are crazy fool Listen to me. There's a lawyer here,
Philip to see it. He's like a broad view. Well, if
I haven't said it, will Son day will The lawyer's name is Martin Norman,
rdiot cosa stupid adults. Yeah, thanks Prentis and nothing. Buff was
nowhere to be seen. When I hit the street. It didn't matter.
It was three o'clock. I delivered my message from Martin Norman. Buff could
take it from there. No, I may be wrong, but most guys
liked when herod dough Still, you can never tell with a wino. Buff
was, as they say, bona fide. Martin Orman was glad to see
me. That was a nice change of pace. I told him all I
knew. Didn't take long. I'm afraid you've had quite a bad experience,
mister Marlow, I'm sorry. I'm sorry too. Oh. By the way,
this picture arrived special delivery from Philadelphia about an hour ago. This the
reluctant chap you tracked down. Let me see that. Oh yeah, yeah,
that's Buff before Muscatel. You've done a fine job, mister Morrow.
I made your checkout for you. Thanks. So he's going to try to
get in touch with Buff yourself and perhaps not personally. Of course, you're
certain that wearing street or dressed the little house and back should reach him.
Yeah, yeah, or I suppose you could get in touch with him through
awesome of the Burlos did. Well, We've done all we can for now.
Unfortunately I've been called back to Philadelphia. I'm taking a plane out in
an hour. Or what about buffing the inheritance? Well, now that I
know he can be reached, will mail it to him. After all,
we can force it, I'm now, can we, mister Marlow? Oh
it doesn't look like we can. Yeah, well, he's all yours,
mister Almany what Norman seems satisfied that we've done our job. So I left
wishing someone would come up to me and tell me at what's a name?
And left me five thousand clams. When I got back to my car,
I had it all figured how I'd go home and forget what Martin had called
quite a bad experience. One look inside my card told me it wasn't going
to work out that way at all. You weren't as long as I thought
you would be, mister Marlow. And you get here from skid Row Prentis
fly I always taxi. How nice for you? After you left Tillies,
I fell to thinking, mister Marlow, a fall. It occurred to me
that perhaps you are telling Buff the truth. All the time. I was
It's not important now, isn't? Oh? Yes, I should say,
it's quite important. Really, you mustn't be too hard on Buff, mister
Marlow. He's like most men on the road. He probably has his reasons
for running, running from life, perhaps running from himself or others. Are
you trying to tell me something pernice? Now? That would be presumptuous of
me, mister Marlow, temper justice with mercy that much I say to you.
I tell you Buff Ryan is running and with reason. If his reason
interests you, then I suggest you set about finding out what it is.
I was there any reason why I should no, No, there isn't,
but this much I do know. He has left the role and he is
running. I saved Jay Fenton Prentiss taxi fair back to what he affectionately referred
to was the role. Yeah, he wouldn't have followed me if he hadn't
wanted me to know something peculiar about Buff And yet his odd code kept him
from telling me himself. And I knew that code well enough to know that
it had something to do with the police. Yeah. Well, like I
say, I'm a curious fellow. Oh no, Phil, is this a
big time or small time crook? This Ryan? He's pretty small sergeant money
if he is one, elish No, not that I know him. Well,
we'll try Ryan just for size. H Buff's a crazy name. He's
a crazy guy. You will have to look for it in the Moniker file.
Here a hole of here, this is your guy. Oh yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, that's it. Let's see that when you take
it out of that. Yeah, I've seen that much of a record.
Suspect um robbery chudges, dropped suspect extortion chudges. Why they bothered to take
his picture? I don't know. Elias ISAs buff Raglan Bob Rutlan to see
a dog, see a Douglas. Hello, takes care of one question mine?
Yeah, I take my word for it, kid, it does.
And see last question in connection with the slang of Julie Leeder Philadelphia. Wait
a minute, Aunt, Julie. Holy smoke. I knew I didn't like
this Martin Norman. I didn't bother to check his record. I got the
picture, no wonder. Buff ran for me like the plague. Martin has
suck at me into setting buff up for the kill Mallow the finger man.
That's great, I like, get back to the theater and played me nothing.
Yank Blossom plied the playoff stage, shoved her into my control like mad
at the Little Gray House. Behind the Little Gray House, Prentice said,
Buffett left skid Row. If he wasn't on Wearing Street, he might be
anywhere, including dead. Martin was paying off a cab driver in front of
the house. Blossom killed me to the alley entrance in back. Please God,
please don't let anything happen to him. Oh right now, honey,
we'll make it in time if you just let us say. He's got to
mister Morrow. He's my husband. Okay, okay, take it easy,
baby, stand away from a blossom roll kill you not listen, Buff,
Martin's coming in the front. You can't waste time with us. Don't believe
you. You're part of the dealer. Hey, what is this? You
should have listened to me, Buff. I'm sorry, Blossom my head too.
He's all right, he's just out. Listen. You've got to answer
that front door. No answer it. I'll be right behind the door.
He won't do anything too. You're just letting come in. I'm afraid.
Oh my, come on, how do you do I I was looking for
a gentleman by the name of Buff Ryan. I'm an old friend of his.
I understood he lived here. Yes, yes he does. Is he
at home? Now? Yes? Won't you come in? Thank you?
Thank me? I got his gun? Are you all right? Never felt
better? Go throw some water on your boy and get him in here.
Maybe you'll talk now, Maybe I will. No, Buff, darling,
you're not hurt any more, Honey, I don't figure you. I guess
Marlow. I thought you were on Martin's teen. I was at first when
I thought the business about you inheriting the five thousand bucks was legitimate. Les
he got against you. I saw it too, much. Once, about
a year ago, I saw Martin killed Julie Leader. I was the only
one who saw it. I knew he'd give me the same thing if he
ever got the chance into that. Now, Kenny, not if you'll talk
when we get the law here, Buff, why didn't you tell me?
Silly question? Honey, sure, ma, law call the law. It'll
be almost a pleasure to talk so much for that. Buff and Blossom are
doing fine. Every once in a while we sit in the third row and
yelled down in front. Yeah, he's got a good job now, and
soon they'll have enough for the traditional vine covered respectability. Or by the way,
he's taken a wearing Brooks Brothers type suits. You know what, he
looks just like a Philadelphia lawyer. How do you like that? The Adventures
of Philip Marlowe, Bringing you Raymond Chandler's most famous character, starring Gerald Moore,
are produced and transcribed by Norman McDonnell and written for radio by Kathleen Hite.
Featured in the cast where Jack Moyles is Buff, Ryan, Michael lan
Barrett has Blossom, and John Stephenson as Martin Allman, with Sidney Miller as
mister Bullo Norman Field as j Fenton Prentiss, Grace Leonard as Gloria B.
Sergeant Mooney is played by Jack Crucian Gerald Moore may currently be seen in the
Santana production Sirocco. The special music for Philip Marlowe is composed by Pierre Garagang
and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Be sure to listen next week at the same
time when Philip marlow says, It's time. She was lovely and I was
engaged. Engaged to help a beautiful shepherd who had a flock of trouble.
We found a lost sheep and something else she didn't know she lost. This
coming Monday night, keep the evening free because the great Fall parade of stars
and shows back to CBS Radio will begin in Earnest and Joy Suspense moving in
the Monday Evening, raising the curtain with William Holden in the leading role of
a brand new spine Tingler and Joy Lux Radio theaters The mud Lark starring Irene
Dunn and Sir Cedric Hardwick Enjoy The Bob Hawk Show back in business with three
thousand dollars to start the season's quiz bang fun. Yes They're all coming back
to CBS Radio this Monday night, yours on most of these same CBS stations
today. With the country rising to meet the challenge of aggression, the Red
Cross has been asked by the government to undertake tremendous tasks. By giving generously
to the Red Cross, you will help mobilize for the defense of your families,
your community, and the nation. Give as much as you can today,
Clarence Casselle speaking, This is the CBS Radio Network. Hi, this
is Andrew from OTR Westerns dot com. I want to invite you to come
take a look at our sight. We stream live OTR Westerns twenty Thursday,
seventies week along with putting out podcasts of old time radio Westerns. Check us
out at otire Westerns dot com. You're listening to the great detectives of all
time radio with Adam Graham. Now let's get back into the show. Welcome
back. I have to say that the whole Philadelphia lawyer set up screamed phony
from the start, and Marlow is kind of suspicious, But then not about
it, because I think he's had similar things happen and he should require more
documentation than just us say so. But at any rate, I will say
that I also did like the Philosopher of skid Row. Well they're pretty interesting,
Pritter wish they would had used more of them. All right, well,
I should let you know that we are actually running out of Philip Marlow
and then we'll have one more Philip Marlow special before we began moving towards defense
attorney. So a lot to look forward to in the weeks ahead. In
the meantime, if you do have a comment, send it to me 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. But from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam graham
Son and Off