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
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net. Follow us on Twitter at
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Great Detective. Well, I have a Easter to you. If you want
to hear some Easter old time radio, you can head over to the Amazing
World of radio at Amazing dot Great Detectives dot net. Today, We've got
something that's not Easter related, and that's our four thousand, three hundred and
fiftieth episode special. And this is something I've wanted to do for the last
several months, but I just haven't had the time to do it properly.
So I'm really glad that last for our four thousand, three hundred and fiftieth
episode, we can do what I wanted to do for the last two specials,
and that is bring you an episode of Hollywood's Star Time. This was
a series sponsored by Frigid Air and began with an exclusive partnership with twentieth Century
Fox, who adapt Fox films to radio that had not ever been adapted before
this partnership ended after thirteen weeks, leaving Hollywood's Star Time as another radio show
among quite a few that were adapting movies to radio, And we actually did
play an episode of Hollywood Star Time. About eight years ago. We did
a half hour adaptation of Murder My Suite with Dick Powell, which was really
different from the film. Today, we are bringing you an episode entitled Hotspot.
Now. Hotspot is an adaptation of the film I Wake Up Screaming.
We'll talk a little bit more about the history of the title and the various
changes after we get back from listening to the episode, but here from July
twenty seventh, nineteen forty six is Hotspot. Your twice is Yere with two
great names, Frigidaire and General Moultrietz. Frigidaire presents Hollywood Star Time direct from
Hollywood radio versions of the finest motion pictures with Hollywood's greatest stars. Today we
bring you the radio production of the twentieth century box picture hot Spot, starring
Brian don Levy and Vincent Price. Your twice is Sure with two great names,
Frigidaire and General Motors. Frigidaire, the greatest name in refrigeration is made
only by a General Motors. And it is this association of experience with experience,
of skill with skill that makes Frigidaire America's favorite refrigerator today. The seven
million Frigidaires built and sold are the best proof of Frigidaire's outstanding record of dependability,
of lasting satisfaction. For back of every great refrigeration principle pioneered by Frigidaire,
back of every exciting new Frigidaire feature, back of every exclusive Frigidaire advantage,
is one all important purpose to keep food good to eat. Remember this
when you choose your new refrigerator. Remember the record of millions of Frigidaires in
millions of American kitchens, And remember you're twice is sure where two great names
for Frigidaire is made only by General Motors. Now Hotspot starring Brian don Levy
and Vincent Price, with a musical score composed and conducted by Frank Duval.
In the basement at police headquarters, a man sits in the heat and glare
of two blazing white lights. His eyes bleary from lack of sleep, he
is still defiant as the two men in the shadows fire questions at him relentlessly.
Talk, Frankie, I've told you all I know. I said,
talk. When did you find the body? Frankie? Look McDonald, why
didn't do it? I told you I didn't do it. You said that
before. I'm saying it again, Christopher, I'll tell you something about me.
They don't get away from me. Sure I know you would. Killer
Cornell, bloodhound of the homicide squad, keeper of the hotspot. It's right.
He gets his man guilty or not guilty. Now, when did you
first meet Vicky Lynn? All right, I'll take it from the beginning again,
but I'm doing it for McDonald here, he's human, Thanks, Frankie.
Almost The first time I saw Vicky Lynn was in a restaurant on Lexington
Avenue. Lane Evans, the Broadway columnist, was with me when we began
taking particular notice of this girl. She was slim, attractive, vital,
and with that certain quality that we press agents and promoters call personality. You
know something, Evan, That little blonde waitress of ours had something. She
has my mushroom, omelet, nice coffee somewhere. I could take that girl.
Inside of six months, I'd put her on top of the ladder.
Suppose she didn't want to be a lady fireman, then what introduce her to
the right people. Give her the right clothes and some smart hatter teach of
the ropes and the Oh miss miss yes, sir, may I help you?
How would you like to go to the Club El Chico tomorrow night?
How would you like more ice water or cold shoulder? I'm serious, You're
wasting your time. I'm being a waitress. I was meant for fame,
success, the bright light. Shall I put it on one check or too?
Okay, one check and give it to him. The big Broadway promoter
is out attending the press today. Oh so you're a promoter. My intention
strictly business, believe me. The El Chico Club tomorrow. Maybe you're right.
Maybe I am wasting my time being a waitress. So this is home,
sweet home for vicar. Excuse me, boys, I've got to pick
up my key at the desk here. Uh, Harry my key, please,
Harry, Harry. Hey, Hey, you, miss Lynne asked for
a key. She'll get it, mister relax, get that key and be
quick about it. What's the idea? Let go me, letko give her
the key. You don't have to get so hard about it. There's a
key. Thank you, Harry. Well, this is the elevator. I've
had a grand time, fellows. Thanks and million, VICKI this is only
the beginning. Yeah, you had the local peasants drooling in their martiniz.
I'll call for your first thing in the morning. I got lots of plans
for you. I'll be waiting for you. Frankie. Good night, oh
Ma, thank you both so much. Good night, night night. Well,
she's on her way, Evans. I told you so. Yeah,
the el Chico fairly stood on a Hey fellow, you what now, beetle
bro what'd you get so sore at me? For? She ain't nobody?
Oh see you will be and don't you forget it? Well? Oh it's
miss Lynn? In which Miss Lynn? They come in pairs. Let's book
in. Oh you're a sister, you're quick. I'm also Frankie Christopher on
weekdays. Come in. Hey, you don't like me. I don't like
that line you're handing Vicky about being a big shot. It's no line.
Discovering talent and putting it across is my business, Jill. Is that Frankie?
Yes, Sicky, it's Frankie, I'll be out in a minute.
Jill. Huh, that's Sony. Half a pint. Frankie is half a
Frankenstein. All ready to go, Frankie. Oh, my sister Jill,
Hello Sis, my agent, frank Christopher Hello age. Well, well sorry,
Frankie, I'm sorry I'm a little late. Huh oh yeah, yeah,
Well good night, half pint, Good night, mister Christopher. Okay,
go on, Frankie. Well, inspector. Vicky went places, all
right, She was asked everywhere. I got offers everywhere, posed for magazine
covers, swamming water carnivals, even sang with a couple of big name bands.
Did all right too. All right, so you're a brilliant promoter.
Tell us how you promoted Vicky Lynn into a broken skull. I'll take it
easy, car now, Frankie, tell her now, thanks man. Well,
well, one day it was all off, that's all. What do
you mean it was all off? Dicky got an offer from Hollywood and that
made you sore. Sure it made me so, I'd invested a small fortune
building Vicky up. She walks out. What about that auto ride you took
with Vicky Lynn and her sister There wasn't any auto ride. Sorry, Frankie,
we know better. Who told you? Jill told us herself. She's
in the next room. You took a ride with her and Vicky the night
before Vicky was to go to Hollywood. Vicky told you that she ought to
be glad she was going away. And what does that prove? If anything?
I have her exact words here in my notebook. You'll be glad to
get rid of me. Jill's in love with you, Frankie, haven't you
noticed? Vicky didn't mean what you'll think, Cornell. What she meant,
we'll never know. It's what she said that counts. And she said you'd
be glad to be rid of her. You were in love with Jill Lynn.
I don't know about that. Jill was in love with you. Don't
ask me that, ask Jillie asked Jill. Yeah, Yeah, she lied
to us. She said she didn't love you well, and she doesn't.
One of you murdered Vicky Lynn to get her out of the way. Oh
you're not so sure now, before it was just me, maybe it was
both of you. You're crazy, Cornell, crazy for the kill. Maybe
you'll both wind up on the hotspot. Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't
you. You'd like that, You'll bet When did you find Vicky's body?
It was five thirty in the afternoon. I came to take her bags to
the station. The door was unlocked and he was lying on the floor.
She'd been slugged behind the ear. And then it later Jill came in from
work, who called the police? Jill did that's your story? Is it?
That's my story? You're a rotten liar. Oh, maybe you're a
better liar. Here's the truth of what happened. You resented Vicky's walking out
on you. You got drunk, Your mind became more and more inflamed,
until you were insane with resentment and jealousy and hurt pride. I say you
went up there and killed her in cold blood? You win? Yeah?
I thought, so, you are a better liar, and I got a
good mind to kill you myself. Right now? You can go over them
in all right, all right? Oh, I now you're the craziest cop
in America. Bar none. You'll burn, Christopher, Remember what I say,
You'll burn? Okay, Frankie, that's all for today. You may
I can go Mac. Do you talk to the dam minute? Oh?
I'll take you to his office. You'll still in with him. I think
great. Well, so long big ed Cornell. You'll burned, Frankie,
Miss Lynn. Frankie, I'm sorry to of course you w all this distress
for nothing, but I think we know the killer now. Oh well,
hooray for law and order. Harry Williams. What a switchboard boy at your
apartment house, Miss Lynn. That's sad character. Oh no, yes,
I'm afraid. So he's been missing since the moment of the crime, and
he has keys to every apartment in the building. He's gone, but we'll
find him, all right, Thank you both, and good day. Yeah,
so long as your district attorney, come on, Sill, May I
take you home? Jill. No, Frankie, I don't think I ever
want to see you again. Good bye. No. Oh, I didn't
do it. I didn't do it. Huh huh. Wake up? Who's
there? Who's there? Come screaming when I'm after them? Cornell, get
out of this apartment. Just keeping your posted on the progress of the case.
I don't like rats in my bedroom. Get out. I found this
cigarette crushed out in Vicki's clothes closet. Your brand, Yeah, one of
her slippers was crushed as if someone had been standing on it. Waiting in
that closet to murder headquarters, says Harry Williams did it? I say heads
quarters is wrong, and I say beat it Cornell get out. Sure,
but you'll wake up screaming many a night before I get through with you.
Howd on it? Good night, Christopher May. I had the key to
my apartment. Please it's number, Harry. Oh, miss Lynn. I
guess you didn't expect to see me back at the old switchboard. Well,
I thought you'd gone away. I just went over to see my folks in
Brooklyn. I explained everything to the cops. G Miss Lynn. You didn't
think i'd do anything like like they thought I did, did you. I
liked your sister. I liked her a lot. Yes, Well, it's
good to see you back again. Thanks for the key, oh miss Lynn.
A guy by the name of Frankie Christopher called about you. I said
you weren't in. That's right, Harry. I'm never in the mister Christopher,
remember that. I sure will remember. Not ever, how do you
do, mister Lynn. Oh, Harry Williams, let me in. I'm
ed Cornell Police Headquarters. Wait I've been waiting. I know you. Of
course I questioned you at headquarters. I couldn't see your face in his life,
but I know you. I know. I once saw you staring at
the window of the restaurant where Dickie worked. Yeah, I get around.
You were watching Vicky. I looked pretty closely at every one I meet.
What do you want, simply an honest admission to a simple fact. You're
in love with Frankie Christopher admitted. That's ridiculous. You love him. Your
sister knew it. I know it, you know it. Stop covering up
for him. It won't work. That man is guilty and I'm going to
get him. Why don't you leave us alone? I will for the time
being mean, think it over, think it over. Hello, Hello,
given Columbus four six seven eight. I want to speak to their frank Christopher.
Oppressed by mounting and multiplying fears, Jill Lynn finally telephoned Frankie Christopher after
avoiding him for days because he is linked with the murder of her sisters.
All evening, Frankie and Jill have been nightclubbing, seeing the prize fights,
dancing, and Jill has almost forgotten her many fears and her fear of the
sinister at Cornell, the police headquarters was sworn to prove Frankie's guilt, But
now as they enter her apartment late at night, all her fears returned.
Hi, I had a perfectly marvelous time, Frankie as well. I'm glad.
Well, i'll say good night. Wait huh, Frankie, you're wondering
why I changed my mind and caught you. Been wondering all evening. Harry
Williams is back. The police found him innocent, so I heard who could
have done it? Oh? Is that why you broke down and called me
to put the quiz on me? Ed? Cornell was here today. Oh,
if you'd looked around, you'd have found this note. Read it,
dear Vicky, after what you did last night. The sooner you're gone,
the better I'll like it. Frankie, Hey, did I write that the
day after she dropped you for that Hollywood off? It sound awfully incriminating.
Course, yes, goodnck Well, aren't you the quiet little mouse or rat?
I'll have that note if you please Here doesn't mean it's saying thank you.
I ever see these brass knuckles before? Nope, that's odd I found
them in your room. If you did, you planted them there. Vicky
was killed with a weapon, probably very much like this. This is a
frame and you know it. Murphy saw me find these brass knuckles in your
drawer? Who saw you put them there? Anybody I know? Come along,
Frankie. I think I have all the evidence I need. Oh no,
you haven't, Frankie. You shouldn't have Come on. Now, let's
get out of here. Fraggie, how many more times do we have to
sit through this awful, silent movie one of the best ways I know of
hiding out in the big city? Seven times? Do you realize this morning
already? I know, but we had to lie lower a few hours.
And now, look, I've got to get some money so we can get
out of town. You go home, be casual, attack a few things,
and meet me here again in two hours. You got it. I
got it. We leave separately. I'll go first and see if it's all
clear. Yeah, So long, darling ranky. Yeah, I guess thinky
was right about it right from the stark honey, So long, stockings,
slips, enough handkerchiefs, blouse, a couple of blouses maybe, Yeah,
And what's this now these cards because I remember, because I remembered, because
oh sure no, because I remember, Frankie, Jill, I knew you'd
make it. I've only been waiting through one more of those pictures. B
brother, come on, let's go. I found these little cards in a
dress of drawings, m because I remembered, because I Hey, they all
say the same thing. They were attached to. The flowers was sent to
Vicky's funeral. Who sent them? I don't know. I thought it might
be some kind of clue. I don't know. The flowers came from Keating
with florist. Hey, Jill, we're going to see this florist. I
want to know who sent those flowers, Reggie, I asked this the Keating
the question you told me to ask him. You know what. A newspaper
man bought those flowers. He sends fresh ones every day. Newspaper man Lane
Evans, Frank, he's a columnist. He liked Vicky Lane Evans, sure,
sure sure? How did we happen to leave him out of this?
Evans? What do you know about the death of Vicky Lynn? You're a
fine When I asked that, why have you been sending flowers to her grave?
Every day. Oh, so you found out, I said, why,
I promised her I would What day of the murder, I'd driven VICKI
to the station to pick up her train reservations. We got back to her
apartment and she'd forgotten a key. I volunteered to crawl in through the fire
escape. One. Why that kid, Harry Williams down in the lobby has
pass keys? All right? I was showing off a little well with the
moment of parting at hand. She came a little tearful. She asked me
not to forget. I promised her that the two weeks I'd send her flowers
wherever she was, so she knows someone was thinking of her. Sorry,
kid, I hope she likes my flowers wherever she is. Besides, it'll
make a great Sunday column. What do you think of it? It smells?
What did you do after that? Went back to the office. Oh
and by the way, you, clever fellow, the kid in the lobby
couldn't a let us in anyhow, He wasn't there when I went down the
elevator. He wasn't there, or was he? Why don't you ask Kim
Wait Cornell found a cigarette. But in Vicki's closet, my brand. But
I saw the same brand on the kid's switchboards. Evans. Don't you see
it was him? He was in the closet waiting for her. Oh now
wait, now let's see all right, I'll meet Jill, I'll leave McDonald's
from headquarters, and luck a lot of luck. And I hope Harry Williams
is on the switchboard, and I hope he's half asleep. Mm hmm noah,
shucks, yeah, Hello, Hello, Who is it? Don't you
know Hanna? Mm hmm No, I don't know. It's Vi Vicky.
Why did you do it? Hanny? No? No, didn't you love
me? Vicky? I I didn't mean to do it. I didn't all
right, in Spector McDonald there's your prisoner. Okay, Williams, what's that,
sorry, fellow, you're under arrest? Arrest? Why did you kill
her? I didn't mean to. I liked her. I liked her a
lot. I just wanted to kiss her goodbye. And she started yelling and
I got scared and hit her with my block of keys. But I didn't
mean to. Sure, sir, when Evans left, you came out and
grabbed her. I lost my head that's all you understand, don't you.
I told the dick who traced me to Brooklyn, and he understood. What
Dick, the big guy you know, Cornell, Ed Cornell. Yeah,
that's him, Cornell, that guy. He knew I was innocent all the
time. Wait a minute, Frankie, Mac look, do me one favor,
Give me just five minutes with Ed Cornell. Hello Cornell, Hello,
Frankie, come to give yourself up. Put down the cards, Cornell,
the game is over. Yeah. I've just had a chat with Harry Williams.
Learned anything you knew he killed Vicky Lynn all the time? Sure I
did. I'm not a fool. Then why did you want me to fry
for it? Why? Because I loved her? What? Yeah, now
go ahead and laugh. Look around you. You haven't looked around you.
Pictures, magazine photos, newspaper pictures of her. That oil painting over there,
I spent half my savings getting one of the best artists in town to
paint it from a photograph of her. When she died, I had lit
candles for her under that port. Well laugh, Why don't you laugh?
Because a big mug like me loved her. I'm not laughing, Cornell sorry,
Phulia, you're not well, you're crazy. You're sick. Yeah,
I am sick, Christopher, A bundle of nerves, I go on it.
I used to watch her through the window of the restaurant where she worked.
I began to get up enough courage to ask her to marry me some
day. I've read of this apartment, furnished it for her. I ha,
excuse me, I gotta take my medicine at I've got to take something
for my nerves, my nerves. There. Do you like going on,
Cornell? If you like telling me why you hated me? What did I
do? You had to come along, didn't you. You had to change
it from an ordinary girl who could have cared about me into a glamor girl.
Why didn't you leave her alone? Why didn't you leave her be?
Cornell? I'm turning you in for letting Williams go when you knew he was
the killer. I don't think so think again. You see this is my
last hand of Salah tear. It looks as if, oh now, as
if I go to make what was that powder you took? Tell me,
sir, I've made it. I finally bick Oh no, right then McDonald
said you'd be. Oh, he was a very sick man, Jill,
but he took his medicine. He was in love with Vicky. Oh,
I'm kind of sorry, Frankie. Sorry, I don't know. I kind
of think he and Vicky will hit it off all right together. Wherever they
are goes for us too. Half Time goes for us too. Thanks to
you, Brian don Levy and Vincent Price for your great performances on Hollywood Star
Time. We'll hear from you again shortly. This radio production came to you
direct from Hollywood and was written by Milton Geiger, with a musical score composed
and conducted by Frank Duvall. The entire production was directed by Jack Johnstone.
Hotspot was presented by Frigidaire through the cooperation of twentieth Century Fox producers of Anna
and The King of Siam. Hollywood Star Time is presented each week with the
best wishes of your Frigidaire dealer. We invite you to come in and learn
about the famous line of Frigidaire home appliances. Electric refrigerators, electric ranges,
electric water heaters, home freezers, and a wide variety of refrigerating and air
conditioning equipment for homes, farms, stores, offices and factories. Here again
are Brian don Levy and Vincent Price. Wendell, since you've done nothing about
it, Vincent and I would like to put in a really sincere word of
thanks to our top flight supporting Caz Loreen Tuttler played Jill, Gloria Blundell,
Ted bonn Els, Harry Dartel, David Ellis, and the Elliott Reid who
played Harry Williams. Well, that's minda nights, Brian, and I'm sure
they all need to thank you. And speaking of plugs, are here,
Vincent? You mind? Oh? I should say, I don't Grendall.
What is it, Vince, but a bill for next week's Hollywood Start time.
Listen Robert Young and Joan Caulfield in that charming comedy The Major and the
Minor. To me, that sounds good, and so help me, it'll
sound good on the air. Thanks Brian don Levy and Vincent Price. Good
night, good night. Elliott Reed appeared to the courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
This is Wendell Niles speaking for Frigid Air made only by General Motors. Ye
be asked for whom you casting? Said? Welcome back? I saw an
adaptation into Half an Hour. Vincent Price's role in this is interesting. It's
truly an example of someone being given a role on radio that they would never
have been given on screen. Price would become known for playing heavies in Hollywood,
but not quite like Ed Cornell, who was a very large man.
He was originally played by Lard Kreegar. However, you can become anything that
you've got the talent to portray over radio, and I think Price did a
very solid job portraying the sinister nature of of Ed Cornell, and Vincent Price
could definitely do sinister now. It should be noted that Kreegar had actually passed
away in nineteen forty four at the age of thirty one, and Price delivered
the eulogy at his funeral, and one biographer noted that Price had taken on
multiple roles over radio that had originally been played by Kregar. The main plot
points of the story were well done, although in an abbreviated fashion. The
film version gave these events more time and allowed the story to breathe. It
established atmosphere and really allowed Kregar to flesh out how sinister Cornell was one of
my favorite scenes is when Frankie Christopher is giving Cornell a ride home and Cornell's
in the passenger seat happily describing how Yankee Christopher is going to be executed.
I Wake Up Screaming was also a very visual film, and that explained some
of the more awkward spoken exposition we get in the radio version. Also,
Cornell's suicide at the end was a little less explicit on film than in the
radio version, perhaps due to the production code. The film version starred Victor
Mature, Betty Grabel, and Carol Landis in addition to Kreegar. It was
initially titled I Wake Up Screaming, which was the top title of the novel
the film was based upon, and then it was changed to Hotspot. But
this was a film which was really new territory for Betty Grabel, who was
best known for playing in musicals and lot comedies, and so when they did
test screening it had audiences walking out because they expected it to be a musical.
So to make it clear what type of film this was, they re
retitled it I Wake Up Screaming, as well as making some other changes to
the film. The film is an underrated, more classic and worth tracking down
for Kreegar's performance alone. In addition, you get to see how this played
out on the silver screen with a solid Hollywood cast in the character roles,
including Alan Mowbray, Alan Jocelyn, and of course Elisha Cook Junior. One
fun piece of trivia I found out while researching this is that this film was
released in October of nineteen forty one, which was the same month that The
Maltese Falcon was released in theaters. So technically this was the second best film
that Elisha Cook Junior made that month. But given how good The Maltese Falcon
was, that's no knock on this One's all right. Well, now it's
time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want to go
ahead and thank Susan. Susan has been one of our Patreon supporters since October
twenty eighteen, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of seven dollars
and fourteen cents or more per month. Thank you so much for your support,
Susan, and that will do it for today. On Tuesday, be
sure to listen for the Return of Ellery Queen, but join us back here
tomorrow for the Adventures of the Falcon where this party will pay off plenty.
Wearing, I know I've already seen them. We've got all the angles coming.
We got a partner. Of course, that means we'll have to spit
three ways, but it's worth it now. This partner of mine has a
swell end. See what we need is someone to handle a detail with.
Tried another guy, but he couldn't see it. What made you come to
me with a swindle like this? Look you don't have to take that tone
with me. We eh Oh, I don't all right? Now get up?
Hey, what's going on here? Mister? I was pinning the hole
and I heard of fuss. Oh it was nothing serious, George, Will
you get rid of this for me? Character on the floor, throw them
out? Oh, come on, buddy, get up, Come on,
hell, I have mister Wearing. Yeah, I think there's something matter with
him. I know you ran into my fast No, no, I mean
I can't feel his heartbeat. I hope you'll be with us then. In
the meantime, do send your comments to Box thirteen at Greatdetectives dot net,
follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram,
Instagram, dot com, slash Great detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is
your host, Adam Graham signing off.