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
Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram dot com, slash
Great Detectives, and if you're enjoying this podcast, please follow us using your
favorite podcasts software. Well, today we're starting our twice annual listener support Slash
Appreciation a campaign with our first special, and we're going to do something that
we haven't really done on this podcast before. Ye have featured episodes of the
program Guest Star on The Amazing World of Radio, and I'm sure that we're
going to end up doing something with them on Old Time Radio Snackwagon, but
we've never featured Guest Star episodes on The Great Detectives because Guest Star was really
not a detective program. It was a program designed to sell us savings bonds.
Each episode would feature a special guest star who could either be a musician,
a comedian, or an actor. If they were a musician, then
they would just play their music. Comedians and actors would do sketches or routines,
and the entirety of the program would run fifteen minutes, which would always
include some musical interludes from the Savings Bond Orchestra. It's a fun series to
listen to. You never quite know what you're going to get with it.
And I have actually found a couple of these that are detective themes, so
we will go ahead and play those for you. The first one is relatively
early in the Guest Star program's history. It's the eighteenth episode from July the
twenty fourth, nineteen forty seven, and stars Basil Rathbone. Let's go ahead
and take a listen. The United States Treasury Departments Get Star with Harry Toznick
and the Savings Bonds Orchestra, Yours Julie John Conty and starring Robert Preston.
How do you do? Ladies and gentlemen, missus John Catty your host for
Guests are a transcribed feature for Defense Bond, presented by this station as a
public service. May it serve as a reminder that your country's independence goes hand
in hand with financial independence. Invest in America and in your own future with
United States Defense Bonds, buy them automatically through the payroll savings plan where you
work, or the bond a month plan where you bank. Harry Sosnick leads
the savings Bonds orchestra in the curtain raiser for our show, a special Sosnick
arrangement of the Man I Love, Thank you Harry, and now it's my
place to introduced today's special guests. The popular motion picture star Robert Preston,
who appears in an original sketch titled The First of April for mister Preston's performance,
We Take You to Hollywood, and our narrator Rod O'Connell. That was
trouble in the air that night, John Train, distric attorney, had a
feeling of impending dangers. He sat in the living room with Helen, his
wife. John was doing quarter to the next morning, the Prosecute Bonds of
the Rackets King. As John mcu is notes in the case, trouble crept
across the forts and doorbell. That's Frankie Devo. Hellen, you better go
upstairs, John, because Frankie's bringing me information. We won't talk unless we're
alone. Say back, be out of this. They're after Frankie front on
my own doorstep. Franchie Frankie notes book, inside pocket notebook, April,
first of April. Go on, Frankie, there goes my funds. There's
nothing in this note book genre the list of date. The last thing Frenchie
said was notebook notebook, first of April. That's the first date in the
book. The first of April, the first of mark, June fourth,
February fourth, what could they be? First of April? Dates of certain
payments? Protection money? Probably how much? And who got it? I
won't have a case tomorrow unless I can figure this out. You have a
dozen witnesses, witnesses. After what happened tonight, they'll shut up like clams,
and I can't blame them. The answer is in this notebook, if
I can just be smart enough to see it. The first of Faith rol
the first of Faith Rols. Now, what tell him you better go upstairs?
Nonsense? This is America, Darling, the alert miss the train good
England. Well, it's Bonzo himself. You're a little late, Bonzo.
You should have been around here about three hours ago, or maybe you were.
You had a little trouble here, didn't Someone killed my star witness?
That's all? Oh yeah, if Francie devou he used to work for him,
Joe. He told me, well, come on, what do you
want? Well, miss the train. I was wondering if we could arrange
your little dear, your case has been shot full of hole Bonzo. The
only deal I make with Okay, Helen, I'm not coming. Hey,
what do you want in here? N Yeah, give me that big that's
for scaring my wife. And the rest are for Fritzie. And here's one
for me. Remind me to order a new window, same tomorrow. John,
he's gone. Did he get the notes? No? No, I
got it. Let him go. I can have him picked up later.
He's want of bund those gorillas, Bonzo. That reminds me gone all Bonzo
wanted us to keep me out here while his ments called the notebook. Now
we know that notebook means something, and I'm gonna stay up until I find
the answer. Oh for third, John, stay stay us April. No,
it's crazy, Helen, but we've got it. We've got Hey.
Maybe it's the first letter of the word ap Hey, we could tie it.
The first of mine is M. The fourth of June is seen a
M R. I see am Americans. Honey, we're getting it. I'll
make another pot of coffee, strong coffee, because we're gonna stay up all
night. Why are the carckrown players us? Say, mister Train. And
now, mister Bonzo, I show you Exhibit thirteen, a small black notebook.
Have you ever seen it before? Why? No, no, I
never had. Will you read the first few entries in the book first of
April, the first of March, fourth of June, And it doesn't make
any sense. When you know how to read it. It makes a great
feel of things, as I shall prove later. Those dates refer to the
American Safe Deposit Company of Home Sale and to box one nine one nine rented
by a mister Henry R. Joan. What does that have to do with
me, mister Bonzo. I'll be happy to show you your honest I offer
an evidence the content of buck one nine one nine. All right, gentlemen,
place it on this table, your honor. Here are Len Bonzo's books
and records, his canceled checks, the complete proof of all his gambling activities.
Mister Bonzo, I suggest that you change your fleet of guilty and throw
yourself on the murphy of the court. All right, mister Train, All
right, I know what I'm like, your honor. I change my play
too guilty. Oh it's good to get back home, Sally. You will
wonderful, fool, I was wonderful. Good night, honey, wake me
up? Oh years when do you want me to wake you? Of course
is baseful. That's this Saul next saful bond. That was a very convincing
performers. Indeed, thanks Rod, it was a believable part. So it
was easy to be convincing, and I'd like to be equally convincing when I
talk about savings bonds. It just isn't a better investment. Anywhere you're going,
you're doing as well. Here's the way I see it, Rod,
there isn't a man, woman, or child throughout this country of ours that
hasn't some special dream for the future. For one, it might be the
hope of owning his own business some day, or his own home. Another
has plans for his youngster, wants to give him the best possible education,
and maybe another just wants to take a few months off for a trip,
or perhaps to go off to some quiet mountain stream and do a little fishes.
That's for me, Well, thanks for savings bonds. Every one of
those dreams can come true. All you need to do is to buy them
on a regular basis and let them pile up almost before you know it,
the money's there for that down payment or the college tuition or that railroad ticket
to Euspia. All right, you are so friends. Take Bob Preston's tip.
Buy bonds regularly automatically through the payroll savings plan where you work, or
if you're your own boss, to your banks, bond a month plan.
And don't forget, folks, that when you start that dream fund with savings
bonds, you're becoming a shareholder in the greatest country on Earth. So on,
and thanks for listening. Thank you, Robert prest Now here again are
Harry Sasnick and the savings Bonds orthicer to wind up the show with Harry's own
arrangement of September Song. During the past quarter hour you've been listening to guest
start a transcribed feature for a defense bund presented by this stake in Every week
is a public service. May I express I thanks to Robert Preston, our
star for an outstanding performance. The supporting task included Barbara Fuller and Peter Leeds,
and Lewis Draft directed the play. Next week we'll have another famous guest
and more music by the Savings bomb Ross, so we hope you'll join Meanwhile,
this is John Tatty reminding you that your country's strength is in your hands,
saved for defense with the regular purchase of United States Defense barb. There
is no finer investment in the world. Welcome back. That was a cute
sketch that Rathbone definitely has some good comedic timing, and I love the way
he said something like that whole line where Delmar asked where he could get someone
like he described and Rathbone said, oh boy, don't be so modest.
Just a great line, good read. And of course Rathbone had not just
played Sherlock Holmes on the air. He had actually gone on to do another
detective role in the series Scotland Yard, and then he had a more lighthearted
series where he played Basil Rathbone, who would solve crimes in Tales of Fatima.
So he definitely knew a thing or two about the detective genre over radio.
But our next episode of Guest Star comes quite a bit further down the
road, and it's a slightly more serious sketch, although it would kind of
have to be. It stars Robert Preston. The original air date is March
the eighteenth, note fifty one, and the tunnel is the first of April.
The United States Treasury Department presents Guest Star with Harry Sosnick and the Savings
Bond's Orchestra, Yours Truly, John Tanty and starring Robert Preston. How do
you do, Ladies and gentlemen, missus John Tatty, your host for Guest
Star, A transcribed feature for Defense Bard, presented by this station as a
public service. May it serve as a reminder that your country's independence goes hand
in hand with financial indefense. Invest in America and in your own future with
United States Defense bonds. Buy them automatically through payroll Savings plan where you work
or the bondamnth Plan where you bank. Harry Sarsnick leads the Savings Bond Orchestra
in the curtain raiser for our shows, a special Tosnic arrangement of the Man
I Love, Thank you Harry Now it's my pleasure to introduced today is Special
Guests. The popular motion picture star Robert Preston, who appears in an original
sketch titled the First of April or mister President's performance, we take you to
Hollywood and our narrator Rod O'Connor. That was stubble in the air. That
night, John Train, distric attorney, had a feeling of impending dangers.
He sat in the living room with Helen, his wife. John was doing
quarter to the next morning, the prosecute bonds of the rackets came. As
John was to his notes in the cave. Troubble crept across the forts and
lying the doorbell. That's Frankie. D vote. Hellen, you better go
upstairs because Frankie's bringing the information. He won't talk unless we're alone. Stay
back, stay out of this. There after, Frankie friend on my own
doorstep, Frankie, Frankie's inside pocket notebook. All right, yes, first
of ap we'll go on, Frankie, there goes my bonds. Will skate.
There's nothing in this note book, the list of dates. The last
thing Frenchie said was notebook notebook, first of April. That's the first date
in the book. The first of April, the first of mark, June,
fourth February. For what could they be? First of April dates of
certain payments protection money probably how much and who got it. I won't have
a tape tomorrow unless I can figure this out. You have a dozen witnesses.
After what happens tonight, they'll shut up like clams, and I can't
blame them. The answer is in this notebook, if I can just be
smart enough to see it. The first of April. The first of April.
Now what telling you better go upstairs? Nonsense? This is America,
Darling, the alert mixed train soot Eve, Well, it's Bonzo himself.
You're a little late, bonso you should have been around here about three hours
ago or your word. Oh you had a little trouble here, didn't.
Someone killed my star witness, that's all? Oh? Yeah, a frenchie
devout. He used to work for him, Joe. He told me,
well, come on, what do you want? Well? Makes the train.
I was wondering if we could arrange your little dear, your case has
been shot full of whole Bonzo. The only deal I make with Okay,
Ellen, I'm I'm coming. Hey, what do you want in here?
Yeah? Give me that, you big. That's for scaring my wife and
the rest of for Frenchie, And here's one for me. Remind me to
order a new window. Came tomorrow, John, he's going to get the
news. No, no, I got it. Let him go. I
can have him picked up later. He's one of Bunzo gorillas. Fonzo.
That reminds me gone all Bonzo, one of to keep me out here while
it's meant called the notebook. Now we know that notebook means something, and
I'm going to stay up until I find the answer. Oh four third,
John, stay stay first of April, mister mine. No, it's crazy,
Helen, but we've got it. We've got hey. Maybe it's the
first letter of the worthy. Ay, we could try it. The search
of mine is m The fourth of June is sea a m E R.
I see a m American. Honey, we're getting it. I'll make another
pot of coffee, strong coffey, because we're gonna stay up all night.
Why are the car room plays us? Nay, mister train And now,
mister Bonzo, I show you Exhibit thirteen, a small black notebook. Have
you ever seen it before? Why? No, no, I never had.
Will you read the first few entries in the book. First of April,
the first of March, fourth of June. As this doesn't make any
say when you know how to read it. It makes a great feel of
as I shall prove later. Those dates refer to the American Safe Deposit Company
of Homedale and to box one nine one nine, rented by a mister Henry
R. June. What does that have to do with me, mister Bonzo.
I'll be happy to show you, your honor. I offer an evidence,
the contents of box one nine one nine. All right, gentlemen,
place it on this table, your honor. Here are Len Bonzo's books and
records, just canceled checks, the complete proof of all his gambling activities.
Mister Bonzo, I suggest that you change your fleet to guilty and throw yourself
on the murphy of the court. All right, mister Train, all right,
I know what I'm like, your honor, I change my platal guilty.
Oh it's good to get back home. You were wonderful. I was
wonderful. Good night, honey, wake me up? Oh who would you
want me to wake you? First? April? That's this April next,
Bob. That was a very convincing performance. Indeed, thanks Rod, it
was a believable part. So it was easy to be convincing, and I'd
like to be equally convincing when I talk about savings bobs, it just isn't
a better investment. Anywhere you're going, you're doing well. Here's the way
I see it, Rod, there isn't a man, woman, or child
throughout this country of ours that hasn't some special dream for the future. For
one, it might be the hope of owning his own business some day or
his own home. Another has plans for his youngster, wants to give him
the best possible education. And maybe another just wants to take a few months
off for a trip, or perhaps to go off to some quiet mountain stream
and do a little fishes. That's for me, Well, thanks for savings
bonds. Every one of those dreams can come true. All you need to
do is to buy them on a regular basis and let them pile up.
Almost before you know it, the money's there for that down payment or the
college tuition, or that railroad tickets to Utopia. All right, you are
so, friends. Take Bob Preston's tips. Buy bonds regularly, automatically to
the payroll savings plan where you work, or if you're your own boss,
to your banks. Bond a month's plan. And don't forget, folks,
that when you start that dream fund with Savings Bond, You're becoming a shareholder
in the greatest country on Earth. So on, and thanks for listening.
Thank you, Robert Press now here again a Harry Tosnick and the Savings Von
Dawkinster to wind up the show with Harry's own arrangement of September Song. During
the past quarter hour, you've been listening to Guest Star, a transcribed feature
for Defense Bomb, presented by this station every week is a public service.
May I express our thanks to Robert Preston our star for an outstanding performance.
The supporting task included Barbara Fuller and Peter Leads and Lewis Draft directed the play.
Next week we'll have another famous guest and more music by the Savings Bomb
Rostiss, so we hope you'll join Meanwhile, this is John Taty reminding you
that your country's strength is in your hands save for Defense. With the regular
purchase of United States Defense barb, there is no finer investment in the world.
Welcome back. Well an interesting story. Now, obviously there are problems
with it, particularly from the courtroom procedure standpoint. But that said, who
have to make allowances for the fact that this was a story that they probably
only had nine minutes to tell, and I think they did a pretty well
with that, with an interesting puzzle to work out and even a plot to
West thrown in. It's also nice to hear Robert Preston over radio, and
probably Robert Preston's most famous role was in The Music Man, which would be
released in nineteen sixty two. Now, I have to admit that I didn't
actually see that film until I was in my thirties. As a child of
the eighties. What I knew Robert Preston from was The Last Starfighter, which
obviously was towards the latter end of his life, but it gave me a
connection to the actor. His performance in that movie is the thing that I'm
most liked about it, and I watched that film so many times when I
was a kid that it really is a delight whenever I come across his older
work, and I was really happy to share some of it that he did
over radio. All right, Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon
supporter of the day, and you can become one of our Patreon supporters for
as little as two dollars per month, and I want to go ahead and
thank David. David has been one of our Patreon supporters since March of twenty
twenty one, currently supporting the program at the Chief of Detectives level of thirty
dollars or more per month. Thank you so much for your support, David,
and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying this podcast,
please follow us using your favorite podcast software. We'll be back next Sunday with
another listener support Slash Appreciation special. Join us back here tomorrow for the Adventures
of Sam Spade, where our boy Sammy walked into the beautifully appointed office of
Young Doctor Hawks at four or fifty Center to find his nurse pretty young Norah's
should Rake, a new character working at her desk in the reception room.
In response to a question from Sammy, we hear Noah saying, I have
no idea where Martin is gone, mister Spade, but I can tell you
why tell me Naura, Please feel free to tell me. Everyone is that
that woman? Yes, yes, she never understood Martin. She doesn't understand
Martin. She never has tried to understand Martin. Do you hear me?
She never is tried. I take it you don't care for Agatha hil I
hate it, No do I hate it. She thinks her money can buy
everything, even Martin. Well it won't. She knows that. Now.
Well, calm yourself, Nora, try and think back now to the last
time you saw Martin hawks it. It was Monday, four days ago.
Yes, the call came and some legal firm named Bennett and Hatch I switched
the call into Martin. I was worried for him. I was concerned.
I have to admit, No, I did a terrible thing. Ah,
you listened in I did. They told him his sister was in town,
that she was working at some a nightclub and wanted to see him. What
nightclub was this? Let me see it, totuga, what else? That's
all. They hung up them and Martin came out. I watched the blood
drain from his handsome features. His hand climbled his jaw. I'm going out,
Nora, he said. If I'm not sack, don't worry. That's
all. It was so nice. I hope you'll be with us then.
In the meantime, do send your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives 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.