1 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:35,280 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This 2 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,600 is your host, Stadam Graham. If you have a comment, email it 3 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:46,159 to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, Follow us on Twitter at 4 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:52,119 Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com, 5 00:00:52,399 --> 00:00:58,759 slash Great Detectives. Today's program is brought him heart by the financial support of 6 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:03,359 our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis by using 7 00:01:03,399 --> 00:01:07,519 the Zell app to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net. If you're watching 8 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:14,239 on YouTube, you can use the super Thanks button to contribute directly from the 9 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:19,680 video, and you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as 10 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:25,799 little last two dollars per month by going to Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net. 11 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:30,120 Well, now it's time for another episode of Dangerous Assignment. The original 12 00:01:30,159 --> 00:01:37,599 air at eight December tenth, nineteen fifty two, and the title as Riot 13 00:01:51,400 --> 00:02:15,039 Dangerous Assignment transcribes Darring, Brian dun Laveez, Steve Mitchell. Yeah, danger 14 00:02:15,159 --> 00:02:17,439 is my assignment. I get sent to a lot of places I can't even 15 00:02:17,479 --> 00:02:21,599 pronounce. They all spell the same thing, though. Trouble but when I 16 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:23,759 walk into the Commissioner's office, I don't realize that this assignment's going to show 17 00:02:23,759 --> 00:02:27,719 me that sometimes the best thing that can happen to a guy is to get 18 00:02:27,719 --> 00:02:38,199 caught in the middle of a riot. A morning, Commissioner, you sent 19 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:39,400 for me, Steve, it looks like we're caught in the middle of another 20 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,919 first class frame up. Oh great, what and where is it? This 21 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,360 time? Last night a band of Austrian slipped across the border into Hungary at 22 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,360 at point I'm thirty miles southeast of Vienna. The attack gods at a strategic 23 00:02:50,479 --> 00:02:53,199 mind on the lease of the Hungarian government on commissioning. The attacking party went 24 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:58,400 on a rampage of looting and burning. Six Hungarian guards were killed. How 25 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,319 do we fit in the picture? The attacking lors reported will have been twenty 26 00:03:00,319 --> 00:03:05,120 in number, left three of its members at the scene dead. So the 27 00:03:05,159 --> 00:03:08,680 so called dead Austrians have been identified as American soldier. That's right, Gi 28 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:12,840 is attached to our forces in Vienna. The situation is tense, going worse 29 00:03:12,879 --> 00:03:15,879 every minute cooperating with the army in this matter. So when you get to 30 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,120 Vienna, check with intelligence. Right, Obviously we had nothing to do with 31 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,840 this raid, Steve. But we've got to prove that and do it quickly. 32 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:39,759 And I said, you've got your assignment. Good luck. The National 33 00:03:39,759 --> 00:03:45,360 Broadcasting Company is presenting Dangerous Assignment, starring Brian don Levy in the role of 34 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:50,199 Steve Mitchell, colorful two fisted government agent. At all those places of the 35 00:03:50,199 --> 00:03:53,159 world where danger and intrigue walk hand in hand, there you will find Steve 36 00:03:53,199 --> 00:04:00,520 Mitchell on another dangerous assignment. As Christmas draws near, the airway filled with 37 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,159 beautiful holiday music, and on this station of the NBC Radio Network, you'll 38 00:04:04,159 --> 00:04:08,719 hear some of the greatest music ever composed, played and sung for you by 39 00:04:08,719 --> 00:04:13,000 our nation's finest musicians. Our Monday Night of Music will continue to bring you 40 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,920 the most enjoyable musical memories on such stellar programs as The Telephone Hour, The 41 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:23,279 Voice of Firestone, and the Railroad Hour. Beginning this week and continuing until 42 00:04:23,319 --> 00:04:27,639 Christmas, NBC will present a series of fuel Tide programs by choirs from all 43 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,800 parts of the country. Saturday afternoons, the NBC Symphony Orchestra will bring you 44 00:04:30,879 --> 00:04:36,199 more great music. So when you think of musical entertainment, think of NBC 45 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:48,480 and set your dial to this station. Here, I get my sign and 46 00:04:48,519 --> 00:04:51,560 get over to Pienna. Find out who rigged up the plot to implicate us 47 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:56,199 in a border rate on a Hungarian mina free for all, resulting in the 48 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,360 deaths and half a dozen Hungarians and three American soldiers. It's early Wednesday evening 49 00:05:00,399 --> 00:05:03,720 when my plane sets down. Twenty minutes later, I'm in conference with Major 50 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:09,560 Laken, United States Intelligence. He're the service records of the three gi Steve. 51 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:13,000 We're convinced they were kidnapped, murdered, and left the scene of the 52 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,839 skirmish. When were they first reported missing? They weren't, you see, 53 00:05:15,879 --> 00:05:18,600 they were out on a three day pass due to report back to their company 54 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:26,680 tomorrow. Excuse me, ah, good, good sentiment, Corporal. Well 55 00:05:26,879 --> 00:05:30,120 that's relief, and it may be the break we've been waiting for. Steve 56 00:05:30,319 --> 00:05:33,040 or Sergeant Monahan's turned up. I'm alive. He went out on pass with 57 00:05:33,079 --> 00:05:43,079 the others yesterday. Sergeant Monahan reporting, Sir, Edi, Sergeant, this 58 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,000 is mister Mitchell. Mister Mitchell, Sergeant, you heard what happened? Oh 59 00:05:46,079 --> 00:05:49,600 yes, sir. You've known Polson Killer and Whitlow a long time, haven't 60 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:54,480 you? Since? Uh Palermo the four of you went out on passed yesterday, 61 00:05:54,519 --> 00:05:58,800 right, Yes, sir, where our place called Flankles regular hang out? 62 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,800 Another place? Steve? Then what, Sergeant Well, I had a 63 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:05,079 bruin left at the last you saw of the others. Yes, sir, 64 00:06:05,439 --> 00:06:08,600 I planned to the half of the rest of the evening. Do you know. 65 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,560 Yeah, they were figuring on going over to a nightclub called a Blue 66 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,600 Flame. Who wanted me to come along? But I had a date the 67 00:06:14,639 --> 00:06:17,600 Blue Flame? Huh any special attraction? Yeah, I got a band that 68 00:06:17,639 --> 00:06:23,040 plays some pretty good box stuff. And well, Sergeant Well, post knew 69 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:26,160 a girl there. She's a singer Polish. I think her name's Anna. 70 00:06:26,439 --> 00:06:30,800 I thought she was pretty great, didn't you. She was playing him for 71 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:32,439 a sucker. If he asked me, the last name wouldn't be Cranko. 72 00:06:32,519 --> 00:06:36,000 What is sergeant? Something like that, Sir, couldn't be sure mean anything 73 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:40,079 to you. Major. Yeah, if it's the same girl, bad customer 74 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,759 Steve clip out his first class and mixed up in black market deals too, 75 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,439 And I see, I think we better have a little chat with us on 76 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:57,519 a A quarter of an hour later, the Major parks his car in a 77 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,959 dimly lighted side street. I leave him sitting behind the wheel and walk into 78 00:07:00,959 --> 00:07:05,480 the Blue Claim nightclub alone. Joint is really jumping and the cash customers are 79 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:10,040 living it up. But crazy. I spot her standing over by the bar, 80 00:07:10,079 --> 00:07:13,800 and I pushed my way through the crowd to order. I opened my 81 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,639 wallet, take out the largest bill and slide it across the bar. Oh 82 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,040 careful, my dream. Oh I'm sorry. Yes, I'm very sorry. 83 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:25,720 We are quite alive. No handa tanzie me here up? Let me buy 84 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:31,040 you another? Yes? Why not? My money here seems to have become 85 00:07:31,079 --> 00:07:36,319 a little soggy. I'm certain the manager will not mind. I'm too coniac 86 00:07:36,399 --> 00:07:41,600 place. You are an American, you know? Yeah? And down I 87 00:07:41,759 --> 00:07:45,480 visit a little pleasure too. I never thought i'd run into a place like 88 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:50,519 this deepop in Vienna. Female. Well, back home, they don't call 89 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:55,199 me crazy for nothing. Oh, my name's Mitchell, and Steve Mitchell. 90 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:59,319 I am I work here? Do you? What do you know? Say? 91 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,360 Maybe you gonna help me. I'm looking for a buddy of mine served 92 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:05,959 in the army together during the war. I understand he drops in here quite 93 00:08:05,959 --> 00:08:09,319 often, a soldier. Yeah, his name is Paulson, Dick Paulson. 94 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,959 Maybe you know no, I do not believe I know you. Now you 95 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:16,920 must excuse me, please, I have to prepare for my next number. 96 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:22,240 How about your drugs will be? You will be? I wait, Anna, 97 00:08:33,279 --> 00:08:37,039 I watch it. She disappears through a curtain doorway at the far end 98 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:39,519 of the room. A few minutes later, she's back, wearing a different 99 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:41,440 evening gown. The lights go down, the band goes into its intro, 100 00:08:41,639 --> 00:08:46,679 and Anna begins to put her into the microphone. I slips through the doorway 101 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:48,600 and down a long hall where dressing room. I spend the next few minutes 102 00:08:48,639 --> 00:08:52,879 giving the place of fast frisk can come up with nothing except a snapshot of 103 00:08:52,919 --> 00:08:56,519 Anna and another girl, which I slip into my pocket for future reference. 104 00:08:56,879 --> 00:09:01,879 Then I hear someone coming down the hall. I back into a small closet. 105 00:09:03,759 --> 00:09:07,159 You are, my dear. You'll find the money in this envelope county 106 00:09:07,159 --> 00:09:13,559 if you wish. Thank you, darling, Thank you. Anna have been 107 00:09:13,639 --> 00:09:18,000 most helpful. Everything went according to plan, really perfectly. Still a few 108 00:09:18,039 --> 00:09:22,000 matters to be attended to, however, you are going back to Bernaggy. 109 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:26,159 Yes, demonstation is planned. I must see the certain name for them detailed. 110 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:31,240 I had a few moments to spare me by drink. Thank you. 111 00:09:31,279 --> 00:09:35,279 I have a drink waiting for me at the bat and an American. I 112 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:39,679 think you will be interested in him. He came in looking for Sergeant Coson. 113 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:46,879 Well said he was a bour friend. I see, well, perhaps 114 00:09:46,919 --> 00:09:50,519 he's an a banana, and then again he might not be. I think 115 00:09:50,519 --> 00:10:03,720 I best point this American out to Minna. Come along. I wait till 116 00:10:03,759 --> 00:10:07,159 I hear their footsteps, pade down the hallway, and then I slip outside. 117 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,360 There's a door at the far end of the corridor and it's open. 118 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,799 I ease out into the alley, circle around to the front of the cafe 119 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:18,720 and watch from the shadows. I don't have long to wait. The gent 120 00:10:18,879 --> 00:10:24,279 called Rudy comes out, steps into a long black limousine. It's this show 121 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:28,000 for the NOD the car roarers away. I go down the block to where 122 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:33,519 the major is waiting. What's up, Steve. I just had a peek 123 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:37,600 at a payoff and a crenco. Yeah, for services rendered. It's got 124 00:10:37,639 --> 00:10:41,879 something to do with Sergeant Polsen, that's for sure. I heard Rudy tell 125 00:10:41,919 --> 00:10:46,879 on her he was going to a place called Bernagi. Bernagi. Well, 126 00:10:46,879 --> 00:10:48,600 that's a town just over the border. In Hungary. It's only a few 127 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:52,519 miles from the mine. He said something about a big demonstration shore short figures, 128 00:10:52,519 --> 00:10:54,919 the big build up, beating of the drums, torchlight parade, the 129 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,519 works. All very anti United States. Of course, Buck Major, I'd 130 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,679 like to take in that little sarre across the border. Can you arrange it? 131 00:11:01,759 --> 00:11:05,639 Sure? I can put you in contact with someone. Meanwhile, what 132 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:07,639 about Anna keep an eye on her so we can close in fast. We 133 00:11:07,799 --> 00:11:11,039 know she's the contact on this end of the line. I've got to nail 134 00:11:11,039 --> 00:11:22,600 a big boy at the other end. It's almost ten o'clock when I wheeled 135 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:28,519 the Major's car into a small hillside village overlooking the Austro Hungarian border. A 136 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,759 few minutes later, I pull up at a small shop and start massaging the 137 00:11:31,799 --> 00:11:37,120 front door with my knuckles. Please, my shop is closed. Did is 138 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,720 late? My name is Mitchell, Steve Mitchell. So your good stuff? 139 00:11:41,039 --> 00:11:43,879 So Major Lake and get in touch with you, so come in quickly. 140 00:11:46,159 --> 00:11:50,480 Yeah, Mitchell, this which you proposed to do is suicide. The border 141 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:54,039 is heavily patrolled since the affair of the mine. When can I start? 142 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:01,279 Major warned me it would be impossible to convince you all right, we must 143 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:03,799 lead at once. It will be best if we are not seen together in 144 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:05,720 the village. Okay, where do we meet? You will walk down the 145 00:12:05,759 --> 00:12:09,600 street two blocks turn let I mean you reach the railroad tracks, turn right 146 00:12:09,919 --> 00:12:26,639 and follow the river until you reach a barn. We will meet there ten 147 00:12:26,639 --> 00:12:28,639 minutes later. I pull up in the shadows of the barn, look out 148 00:12:28,639 --> 00:12:31,840 over the river, where on the other side is Hungry and just over the 149 00:12:31,919 --> 00:12:35,600 hill on my left, as a red glow in the sky, that would 150 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:39,559 be the town where the big demonstration is being staged. I glance at my 151 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:41,799 watch. Then I hear a twig snap behind me. I start to turn 152 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,600 around, but I'm not fast enough. Something hard catches me on the side 153 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:56,279 of the head. I pitch forward, fall face down into the weeds. 154 00:13:03,759 --> 00:13:09,159 Steve Mitchell will continue his dangerous assignment in just a moment. You remember that 155 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:13,759 old saying A stitch in time saves nine Well, Unlike a lot of old 156 00:13:13,799 --> 00:13:16,879 proverbs, this one really works whether you are applied to a chair with loose 157 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:20,320 rungs or your health. Suppose you learned that a few dollars spent now could 158 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:24,679 be that stitch in time that might save your health or the health of your 159 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:28,639 family in the year to come. Sound like a good proposition, Well, 160 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,840 here's how it's done, just by Christmas Seals. This Christmas Yes, the 161 00:13:31,879 --> 00:13:37,080 money we spend for Christmas Seals now goes for case finding, health education, 162 00:13:37,519 --> 00:13:43,919 medical research and rehabilitation to help fight tuberculosis during the next year. Christmas Seal 163 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:48,039 money spent now helps protect us all from the number one killer among infectious diseases, 164 00:13:48,399 --> 00:13:52,960 TB. It's the stitch in time that saves human lives and health, 165 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:56,440 prevents economic chaos and broken homes which often follow in the wake of TV. 166 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:01,360 Don't say it couldn't happen to you, but you take out little insurance against 167 00:14:01,399 --> 00:14:07,240 it. Save lives and prevent misery your own and your neighbors when you buy 168 00:14:07,759 --> 00:14:22,320 Christmas Seals. Now back to Dangerous Assignment and Brian don leave as Steve Mitchell 169 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,559 he met it good stuff. Say what am I doing in the river? 170 00:14:37,679 --> 00:14:52,039 We are almost a curse? Yeah, yeah, I kill catch bottom. 171 00:14:52,159 --> 00:14:56,960 I arrived in time to see two men shove you into the river. I 172 00:14:56,000 --> 00:15:00,720 waited until they had gone, Then I came in after you help you across. 173 00:15:00,879 --> 00:15:03,399 Thanks. One of them was wearing a Showfar's uniform, Rudy and this 174 00:15:03,519 --> 00:15:09,080 driver probably there. We go from here, Gustaf, Bernaggi's but if you're 175 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:16,080 killing it from here come We climb this bank across the road which runs along 176 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,840 the top down the other side of the incline. Then we still stick to 177 00:15:18,919 --> 00:15:24,480 the fields and wooded places. As we look up on the road over there 178 00:15:24,639 --> 00:15:28,320 left a patrol. Yeah, come on, we've got to get across that 179 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:45,320 rowing. We make it the cover. Okay. We walk our way through 180 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:48,159 the weeds and underbrush to a nearby forest and shake the patrol off our trail. 181 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,320 Twenty minutes later, where i'm outskirts of Bernagie. Gustav takes me to 182 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:56,360 an underground station and we get dry clothes. Then we head for the square 183 00:15:56,399 --> 00:16:00,559 in the center of town. A demonstration is going forward. The seven Eye 184 00:16:00,559 --> 00:16:03,879 blend in with the milling crowd. There's a speaker's platform in the center and 185 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:08,080 on its six people the wives of the dead, mind guards. My eyes 186 00:16:08,159 --> 00:16:11,480 run along the road and then suddenly I do it. Take what is it? 187 00:16:11,799 --> 00:16:15,600 That woman on the end, all right, exact it? Yeah, 188 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:21,360 she takes good pictures too. Look this photo Anna and that girl, where 189 00:16:21,399 --> 00:16:23,320 did you get this? And Anna's dressing room. See in this, babe, 190 00:16:23,399 --> 00:16:27,279 must be pals. We've got ourselves another lead. Good stuff. Look 191 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,399 she's leaving the platform. Yeah, quite an act. She's putting on a 192 00:16:30,519 --> 00:16:34,559 grief stricken the widow. Hey the guy who's leading her away, Yes, 193 00:16:34,639 --> 00:16:48,279 he's wearing a schopper's uniform. Yeah, Rudy's driver. We work our way 194 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:52,080 through the crowd after them. The driver takes the girl over to Rudy's car 195 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:56,080 park at one corner of the square. Rudy's inside. We managed to get 196 00:16:56,159 --> 00:16:59,960 close enough to hear him give an address to the driver. It's not far 197 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,759 so we leg it over there. The widow seems to have made a fast 198 00:17:03,759 --> 00:17:07,319 recovery from her sorrow. She and Rudy are drinking champagne. After a couple 199 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,880 of minutes, he leaves and the chauffeur drives them away. I pull open 200 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:15,000 the French windows and we go in. Who are you? Never mind? 201 00:17:15,079 --> 00:17:17,920 Right now? I want you to start talking about your friends, Rudy and 202 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,119 Anna. I don't know what you're talking about. Save it. You're up 203 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,240 to your ears in a very nasty frame up, and you'd better start spilling 204 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:30,240 fast. Don't prove any of you. Oh are you. I realize the 205 00:17:30,319 --> 00:17:38,599 questions your identification quickly. Hey you are Busty, the United States agent. 206 00:17:38,839 --> 00:17:44,720 What were you expecting? Oh? Please? I am sorry, mister Mitchell. 207 00:17:44,839 --> 00:17:48,559 Hey, what is this? I am Jan Tresina, brother of the 208 00:17:48,599 --> 00:17:52,079 dead men who are supposed to be married to this woman. Oh he wasn't 209 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:55,400 really eh no, And he also was not a guard at the mine. 210 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:59,640 He was actually a prisoner from a check concentration game. Keep talking. This 211 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,599 is good, more interesting by the moment. And he was brought here to 212 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:06,319 Benagi to work in the mine with some other prisoners. I followed, hoping 213 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:08,799 to help them escape. I had a plan worked out, but the night 214 00:18:08,839 --> 00:18:12,880 before last, six of them were taken secretly from the mine. Sure they 215 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:17,519 were the six guys who were killed and later passed off as Hungarian guards. 216 00:18:17,599 --> 00:18:19,559 It's the oldest trick in the world. Hitter used it to create one of 217 00:18:19,599 --> 00:18:23,680 the incidents that touched off the last war. Right, it's beginning to add 218 00:18:23,759 --> 00:18:27,440 up fast. The dead Check prisoners were passed off as Hungarian guards and the 219 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:32,880 dead American soldiers as Austrian raiders. Nice little deal you're wrapped up in, 220 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:34,880 sister. Please, I only did what I was told to I did not 221 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:38,240 know what was happening. You were hired to pose as a dead guard's wife. 222 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:42,559 Yes, who hired you? He also had my sister Anna to take 223 00:18:42,599 --> 00:18:45,759 one of the American soldiers to her place, but neither of us knew they 224 00:18:45,759 --> 00:18:49,880 would be killed. Please you must believe me. Is this rudy? He 225 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,039 operates the mind on at least from the government, and he's the gent behind 226 00:18:53,079 --> 00:18:56,480 the deal. Uh yes, Please get me across the border and I would 227 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:00,000 be a witness. I think we're going to arrange that second at the underground 228 00:19:00,039 --> 00:19:08,119 station and wait for me. Go stuff all right, come, yeah, 229 00:19:08,799 --> 00:19:12,000 we'd be sitting pretty if we had any proof of all this, But without 230 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,559 it, we've got nothing. I know. It beats me how those prisoners 231 00:19:15,559 --> 00:19:19,240 can be a race like that with no questions asked. Who used to ask 232 00:19:19,319 --> 00:19:23,839 the questions? The prisoners are very expendable. The records are sent back to 233 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,960 they came from which they came simply marked deceased. That is the end of 234 00:19:29,039 --> 00:19:33,079 it. No questions asked. No one asks questions because everyone is a three. 235 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:37,359 Wait a minute, there are records record, sure, if we could 236 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:40,759 get our hands on them, we could bust this thing wide open. Those 237 00:19:40,799 --> 00:19:42,920 records must have finger prints, photos, and the works. That would be 238 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,920 proof that these dead guys weren't as advertised. Wait, you think the records 239 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:52,039 could still be in the mine office. It's possible. Could be. They'd 240 00:19:52,079 --> 00:19:55,920 hold them for a while until this thing blows over before they send them back. 241 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,240 You said you had a plan worked out to get your brother out of 242 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:04,000 the mind compoun Could we use it to get in? Yes, yes, 243 00:20:04,039 --> 00:20:08,680 I believe we could. You see the shift changes at midnight. At that 244 00:20:08,799 --> 00:20:12,319 moment, two grenades were to demolish the south fence. The prisoners were to 245 00:20:12,319 --> 00:20:15,839 make a break for it. Yeah, during the confusion, we could probably 246 00:20:15,839 --> 00:20:18,599 sneak in. All right, there's just one hit stuff. Where do we 247 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:26,160 get the grenades? Will these nothing like being prepared? Jan, Yeah, 248 00:20:26,279 --> 00:20:38,319 he'll do fine. We climb the hills outside of town until we get to 249 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:42,880 a spout overlooking the mine. There's a barguire fence, search lights guards the 250 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:47,960 works. In the center of the compound is a small office building. At 251 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:53,000 midnight, the shift changes. Now Michu Canon forks both grenades and lobs them 252 00:20:53,039 --> 00:21:02,839 down beside the fence. A hole in the pit. Come on, the 253 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:06,279 prisoners are milling around fighting with the guards. We slipped through the hole and 254 00:21:06,319 --> 00:21:14,160 defense unnoticed and heads for the office. Then a reception committee steps out from 255 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:18,440 behind the door. All this both of you. Well, my old friend 256 00:21:18,519 --> 00:21:21,920 Rudy, judging from those records in your hands, you must have had the 257 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:25,559 same idea we did. When I realized you were still alive, that curt 258 00:21:25,599 --> 00:21:26,960 to me. You might try to get the records of the sixth prisoners. 259 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:32,799 I thought I had better removed in You had six prisoners and three US soldiers 260 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,519 killed in cold blood, the stage this little incident of yours. Oh, 261 00:21:36,519 --> 00:21:38,720 he did not start out as an incident. You see my record, shields 262 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:44,960 of mine with not stand inspect You mean you had your payroll padded quite their 263 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,839 bit, unafraid, I think I get it. You stage a raid which 264 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,279 results in killing a few guards, and that clears up the padded payroll. 265 00:21:52,799 --> 00:21:56,359 And then it occurred to me I had created something of greater value than I 266 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:00,119 imagine. Yeah, you manufacture an incident, sell it to your government. 267 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:04,519 Got all the angles figured huh ruddy, Yes, including what I will do 268 00:22:04,599 --> 00:22:10,160 with you two. Oh you are trespassers. Need I say more? No? 269 00:22:10,559 --> 00:22:15,640 I get the message. The window it out yeah, get back, 270 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:19,759 Mitchill the gun the goat. Thanks, Ruddy, you took your eyes off 271 00:22:19,759 --> 00:22:23,480 me just long enough, and thanks for these records, fair enough to blow 272 00:22:23,519 --> 00:22:27,359 this frame sky high. You've heard my gods outside it mapping up. You 273 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:32,160 will never leave this place alive your own, Rudy. Look out the window. 274 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:37,039 Ah, it looks like the prisoners have the upper hand. They've overpowered 275 00:22:37,039 --> 00:22:42,079 the guards. Before any reinforcements arrive, Mitchell will have ample opportunity to get 276 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:47,440 back to gustav and across the border. Those Christmas out there, they're not 277 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:51,240 trying to escape, they're just standing there, standing at the window. Could 278 00:22:51,279 --> 00:22:53,799 be they'd like to have a little talk with you about the six you killed. 279 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,440 Rudy. No, no, Mitchell, you you must protect me me. 280 00:22:57,799 --> 00:23:03,279 You kidding, I'm just a trespasser, remember then, take me with 281 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:07,319 you now now, okay, I'm going to the underground headquarters. I'm sure 282 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:11,400 they'd be happy to see you, Hunchacount. Looks like you lose either way, 283 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:14,480 Rudy. You tried to play both sides against each other and you wound 284 00:23:14,559 --> 00:23:17,920 up right smack in the middle. Come on, jan let's get out of 285 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:33,680 here. Our star Brian Don Levy will return in just a moment. Thursday 286 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:38,920 evening on NBC always brings you enjoyable radio entertainment by some of America's favorite performers. 287 00:23:40,559 --> 00:23:45,319 Robert Young stars as Jim Anderson in the family comedy entitled Father Knows Best. 288 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:48,400 Roy Rogers and Dale Evan's team up to present Western songs and adventure. 289 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:52,720 On the Roy Rogers Show, Eddie Canter takes the top off his memory box 290 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:57,400 and presents his show business show with stories and music to relive the many wonderful 291 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:03,319 years he has spent entertaining young and from coast to coast. And then Judy 292 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:08,000 Canova sends radio listening your Way from Cactus Junction for thirty funfilled minutes, and 293 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:14,200 Ralph Edwards plays host to contestants from the studio audience on Truth or Consequences. 294 00:24:14,799 --> 00:24:18,599 So for the very best listening each and every Thursday night, be sure to 295 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:22,519 set your radio dial to this NBC station where you will hear these pleasurable programs. 296 00:24:22,799 --> 00:24:27,279 Remember Thursday brings the Roy Rogers Show, Father Knows Best, Truth or 297 00:24:27,319 --> 00:24:33,359 Consequences, Eddie Canter's show Business Show, and the Judy Canova Show over most 298 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:49,400 NBC stations next week Turkey a booby trap and I'm the booby and that will 299 00:24:49,400 --> 00:25:06,559 be Steve Mitchell's dangerous assignment next week. Included in tonight's cast were Paul Dubov, 300 00:25:06,759 --> 00:25:11,160 Bob O'Connor, bvb Janis, Paul Freese, and Geny Tatum. This 301 00:25:11,319 --> 00:25:32,200 is John Storm Speaking Dangerous Assignments, starring Brian don Levy as Steve Mitchell, 302 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:36,519 with Herb Butterfield as the Commissioner. Is written by Bob Bryce and Adrian John 303 00:25:36,599 --> 00:25:41,559 Doe and is directed by Bill carn Be with us again next week at this 304 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,039 time when Brian don Levy, starring in the role of Steve Mitchell, will 305 00:25:45,079 --> 00:26:04,759 embark on another transcribed dangerous assignment. Always listen for the familiar three NBC chimes, 306 00:26:06,319 --> 00:26:12,079 your invitation to find radio entertainment Tomorrow Here both Father Knows Best and Truth 307 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:33,279 or Consequences on NBC Welcome Back. We've talked before about why Vienna is such 308 00:26:33,319 --> 00:26:37,960 an inviting place for these stories to be set in the nineteen fifties, but 309 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:45,960 it's worth mentioning again because it's a combination of both Vienna's status being unsettled for 310 00:26:45,039 --> 00:26:52,599 so long after the war, with a continuing occupation by the Great Powers, 311 00:26:52,799 --> 00:26:59,480 as well as its proximity to contraries behind the iron curtains such as Hungary. 312 00:27:00,559 --> 00:27:04,640 Overall, I thought this was an exciting adventure, although having one character continuing 313 00:27:04,799 --> 00:27:11,480 to wear a chauffeur's uniform everywhere, it's kind of an odd choice as out 314 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:17,559 of its contacts, that clothing choice really does stand to stick out well. 315 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:21,720 Listener comments and feedback. Now, and we start with an email from Derek, 316 00:27:21,759 --> 00:27:26,480 who writes, Adam, I made the mistake of watching an episode of 317 00:27:26,759 --> 00:27:32,279 Dangerous Assignment the TV show. I'd had my mind made up as to what 318 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:37,359 Steve Mitchell looked like, his age and his strange and dangerous places he visited. 319 00:27:37,799 --> 00:27:41,440 The radio can make the mind conjure up images that put on screen would 320 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:45,559 cost millions of dollars. I know the TV show did as well as they 321 00:27:45,559 --> 00:27:49,799 could with the budget but that they had, But some things are better left 322 00:27:49,799 --> 00:27:55,680 to the imagination. Love the show and happy Thanksgiving and upcoming Christmas. Well, 323 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:57,880 thank you so much appreciate the comment, Derek. Now, as to 324 00:27:59,279 --> 00:28:03,960 Dangerous Assign the TV show, I will say that budget was such a big 325 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:11,799 part of the problem with that TV show with the Dangerous Assignment, as a 326 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:22,079 radio program. It evoked the idea of exotic foreign locales and perilous situations requiring 327 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:30,880 dangerous, daring new and the TV series was one that was actually produced by 328 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:36,920 Brian Dawn Levy and on a limited budget in nineteen fifty one. In the 329 00:28:37,039 --> 00:28:42,079 very early days of television, so often things were not well realized. Like 330 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:48,160 there was a TV episode that I saw where the scene was supposed to be 331 00:28:48,839 --> 00:28:56,000 a street in Egypt, but honestly, it looked like they were borrowing a 332 00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:03,599 set from the Adventures of Super television series. It had that exact same, 333 00:29:03,799 --> 00:29:07,039 very generic look and feel to it, although they did have some sets that 334 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:15,160 were better than that. But there were a lot of very American looking exotic 335 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:19,519 locales, and there were stunts that they just couldn't afford to do. My 336 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:25,599 favorite example of this is that in the radio version of a script, Steve 337 00:29:26,319 --> 00:29:32,240 is held at gunpoint while he's driving a car by a woman who is going 338 00:29:32,319 --> 00:29:37,920 to kill him, and so he forces the car off the road and they 339 00:29:37,039 --> 00:29:42,279 crash and he survives and is able to disarm her because he is willing to 340 00:29:42,319 --> 00:29:48,240 crash the car. On the television version, they really didn't have the budget 341 00:29:48,319 --> 00:29:52,480 for that. And to be fair, they had sent a car off the 342 00:29:52,559 --> 00:29:57,599 road in another episode, so it's not like they couldn't afford any car crashes, 343 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:03,400 but they couldn't afford all the car crashes. Oh, Instead, they 344 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:07,839 are in a room and Steve disarms her by throwing a throw pillow at the 345 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:12,720 gun hand. And there are some odd casting choices that I would not imagine. 346 00:30:14,119 --> 00:30:19,119 For example, in one episode, a guy sends a guard back with 347 00:30:19,519 --> 00:30:25,799 Steve to escort him to a neutral location to keep him safe. The guard 348 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:32,559 doesn't have a line so is unseen and then is killed. I imagine the 349 00:30:32,599 --> 00:30:37,359 guard as like this big, beefy, husky guy. In the television version 350 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:42,119 of that script, they cast a guy who was probably only in his early 351 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:48,079 fifties but looked really feeble. He looked like about seventy. And I'm like, 352 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:55,160 what was the thought process behind this casting? Now, in terms of 353 00:30:55,240 --> 00:30:59,839 Steve Mitchell himself to me, and again, your mileage may vary, but 354 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,200 actually I think Steve Mitchell is fine. He's as I imagined him. Now 355 00:31:04,519 --> 00:31:11,319 I have to admit that I had seen TV episodes of Dangerous Assignment. I 356 00:31:11,359 --> 00:31:15,799 think I might have actually seen a full television episode before I ever listened to 357 00:31:15,839 --> 00:31:22,119 a radio episode by some coincidence, but certainly people who were the original listeners 358 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:26,200 to the radio program do what Brian don Levy looked like, because he was 359 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:33,440 a fairly famous movie star, and that seemed to be the tactic of NBC 360 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:38,680 in the late forties and early fifties as they began their private detective mystery programs 361 00:31:38,799 --> 00:31:45,640 with leeds who were known to listeners from film, whether it was Frank Lovejoy 362 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:49,759 or Dick Powell. So most of the original radio listeners would have a pretty 363 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:55,839 darn accurate image of Brian don Levy in their heads. Now, is it 364 00:31:56,119 --> 00:32:00,720 a mistake to watch the Dangerous Assignment TV show? I don't think so, 365 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:06,759 but I do think it is a choice. There are two approaches and it 366 00:32:06,839 --> 00:32:14,920 comes to radio programs and enjoying them. The first is I want to imagine 367 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:21,000 things how I want to imagine them. I want to create the images in 368 00:32:21,079 --> 00:32:27,839 my own mind without any influences. And then there's the approach of I want 369 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:31,400 to put a face to the name, and I think both are valid. 370 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:38,000 You just have to recognize if you're putting a face to the name, it's 371 00:32:38,079 --> 00:32:45,920 going to influence in most likely how you're able to imagine things. I've even 372 00:32:45,079 --> 00:32:51,559 had that happen. On those few occasions where I've made videos or I've met 373 00:32:51,599 --> 00:32:54,359 someone in person, I've had people say that I'm not as they imagine, 374 00:32:54,359 --> 00:33:00,480 and I kind of feel a little bit like I'm disillusioning them. But I 375 00:33:00,519 --> 00:33:07,799 think it's a situation where if you just want to own imagination paint the picture, 376 00:33:07,119 --> 00:33:12,160 then don't think out the visual element. I will also say that I 377 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:19,400 do find TV episodes based on old time radio programs to be really interesting viewing, 378 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:25,519 as I think the adaptation choices are interesting, even if they sometimes go 379 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:30,119 sideways, And despite the issues I have with the budget, I do think 380 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:37,039 that there are some of the Dangerous Assignment episodes on television that are at least 381 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:42,200 as good as the radio version. The only one that I can think of 382 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:49,799 that was better was the TV episode The Salami Story. The radio version of 383 00:33:49,839 --> 00:33:55,720 that episode began with Steve getting a briefing from the commissioner and then going up 384 00:33:55,759 --> 00:34:01,759 to Canada, and then something happens in Canada and he gets sent over to 385 00:34:01,839 --> 00:34:08,159 Europe and the body of the adventure occurs on a train. TV version actually 386 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:15,119 begins with the train and with Steve writing in a car to catch the train. 387 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:21,519 The reason for that was that they couldn't afford all of that hopping around 388 00:34:21,599 --> 00:34:23,360 and they needed to get to the point. And they got to the point, 389 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:30,599 and I think the story was actually better for it. Adaptations from radio 390 00:34:30,679 --> 00:34:36,840 to television really are a bit of a mixed bag in terms of quality. 391 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:44,360 I think Dragnet might do the best job of transitioning scripts from radio to television, 392 00:34:44,679 --> 00:34:51,480 although by nineteen fifty fifty one, Jack Webb had in mind bringing Dragnet 393 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:53,440 to television, and I think a lot of the scripts were written in with 394 00:34:53,519 --> 00:35:00,599 that in mind. The scripts that tended to have more trouble making the transition 395 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:07,800 from radio to television tended to be those scripts that had an element that worked 396 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:15,760 really fine for radio but made for poor television viewing. I think about episodes 397 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:19,800 like The Big Bar, the Big Producer, and the Big Phone Call. 398 00:35:20,119 --> 00:35:23,440 I find it really interesting, but it also gives me kind of a different 399 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:29,400 perspective because there are people who think that it would have been great if their 400 00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:36,920 favorite radio programs were turned into TV shows, and those radio programs that made 401 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:43,039 the transition show that it wasn't always that easy. It's a very different medium. 402 00:35:43,079 --> 00:35:45,599 I know there are folks who wish that, like yours truly, Johnny 403 00:35:45,639 --> 00:35:51,679 Doller, had made it to TV, but I don't think that television in 404 00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:59,480 the nineteen fifties could have done that series justice. What made Dragnets transition relatively 405 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:07,119 is that I think that while it was very well executed, it was a 406 00:36:07,159 --> 00:36:13,679 pretty simple show. Concept wise, was set in Los Angeles and filmed in 407 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:17,320 Los Angeles. Much of it could just easily be done on sets or shot 408 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:23,079 on location depending on what was called for dangerous assignment, yours truly, Johnny 409 00:36:23,119 --> 00:36:30,719 Doller, These were much more complicated ideas, requiring much more complicated location work. 410 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:38,639 Plus the standard expectation for television series were to turn out thirty nine episodes 411 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:44,880 per year, and that's a tough ask when you are doing all of this 412 00:36:45,039 --> 00:36:50,000 location work. And whatever critiques we have of dangerous assignment, they did the 413 00:36:50,039 --> 00:36:55,960 best they could with the limitations that were placed in trying to produce thirty nine 414 00:36:57,039 --> 00:37:01,159 episodes. Thanks so much for the comment. Now we turn to a couple 415 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:09,320 of comments from our listener survey and we have two separate unsigned comments. First 416 00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:15,559 up, this show is a welcome retreat from the Vicissitudes of Life Excelsior, 417 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:20,480 and another saying thanks Adam, well, thank you so much. Appreciate your 418 00:37:21,159 --> 00:37:24,480 taking the time to come plead our listener survey. Now it's time to thank 419 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:31,239 our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you to Delilah, Patreon supporter since 420 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:37,039 December twenty nineteen, currently supporting the podcast at the shamous level of four dollars 421 00:37:37,079 --> 00:37:42,280 or more per month. Thank you so much for your support, Delilah. 422 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:45,360 And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please 423 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:51,559 follow us using your favorite podcast software, and please be sure to rate and 424 00:37:51,599 --> 00:37:55,760 review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Wednesday with 425 00:37:55,840 --> 00:38:01,000 another episode of Dangerous Assignment. But join us back here tomorrow for mister Camellion. 426 00:38:01,079 --> 00:38:05,719 Where understand that mister Willoughby, a shot was heard from this room by 427 00:38:05,719 --> 00:38:07,840 nearly everybody at this party here, that's right, mister Camelion. And then 428 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:12,119 you rushed out of the room with this gun in your hand. Whose gun 429 00:38:12,159 --> 00:38:13,880 is it? Where did you get it? And why did you have it 430 00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:16,400 in your hand? All right? I just tat it there, I suppose 431 00:38:16,679 --> 00:38:20,840 Why did you kill this man? And who is it? He's count Edward 432 00:38:21,039 --> 00:38:25,760 Lano, count Edward Leno, Larry, how terrible Edward. Just get out 433 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:28,960 of this room, Barbara. I'll take care of this. I'd rather have 434 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:31,320 you stay, Miss Barbara. You are lad. Yes, he's my sister. 435 00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:35,480 Mister Camelion, Barbara, please leave. What was your connection with Count 436 00:38:35,599 --> 00:38:38,119 Lena, Miss Barbara? I thought I was going to marry him, but 437 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:42,320 something came up. What came up? He was a no good rutterer, 438 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:45,880 mister Chamelion. I warned Barbara against him. I'm questioning Barbara, mister Willoughby. 439 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:49,360 Now I asked you, Miss Barbara, and what was the something you 440 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:52,719 say came up between you and the dead man? Mister Comelion. You can 441 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:55,840 accuse me of murder, arrest me, have me convicted of murder, but 442 00:38:55,920 --> 00:39:00,000 I won't tell you what came up between Coad Lawn and me. Rather, 443 00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:02,559 I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, do send your 444 00:39:02,599 --> 00:39:08,960 comments to Box thirteen at Greatdetectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at Radio 445 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:14,920 Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great 446 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:20,159 Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham signing off.