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. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your
favorite podcast software. Today's program, Graham is brought to you in part by
the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one
time basis by mailing a donation to Adam Graham pill box one five nine one
three. That's pill Box one five nine thirteen, Boise, Idaho eight three
seven one five. You can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for
as little last two dollars per month by going to Patreon dot Great Detectives dot
net. Well, now it's time for this week's episode of Dragnat to the
original air at eight December the twenty second, nineteen forty nine, and the
title is twenty two Rifle for Christmas Ladies and Gentlemen. The story you're about
to hear is true, only the names have and changed to protect the innocent.
Dragnet. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to homicide detail. A
small boy is reported missing from his home. His age nine years Foul play
is suspected. Your job find him. Dragnet the documented drama of an actual
crime. For the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police
Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through
an actual case from official police files, from beginning to end, from crime
to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. For
was Thursday, December twenty second, was cold in Los Angeles. We were
working the night watch out of homicide. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss
is Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives. My name is Friday. I was
on the way into work and it was three fifty five pm when I got
to Room forty two homicide. All right, Joe, Ben, what's doing?
Oh pretty boy? How's your mother? I went Cole still hanging on
bad cough docs. Is nothing serious. My kid's got the same thing.
Must be some kind of a virus going around. Yeah, is that a
new suit you got on? Oh? Yeah, My figured I needed once
let me see. Oh yeah, that's a nice shade of blue. Where'd
you get quinc east down south? Figure? Look? Okay, uh oh
yeah that's good fit. Did you get all the reports on the Webster chase?
Yeah, all taken care of. Let me get it. Homicide Friday
and this is Livingston. You don't win thirteen Jane got it? Yeah,
Harry, what's doing? Dirty? And I are out here in Colis Avenue
four six five six, kind of tracked down min year old boy. What's
the story? Cats? Missing, suspicion of bow play? How long has
he been gone? About two hours? It's like a Jaffrey homsite. How
do you figure Kidd was last scene playing in the backyard of his home.
Yeah. We checked over the yard, find anything bloodstains? Lets him he
look now, Ben and I left a message for Chief of Detective stad Brown.
Then we went over to the crime lab, picked up Lieutenant Lee Jones,
and drove out the Arroyo Seco Freeway to Collis Avenue. It was an
average neighborhood. Number forty six fifty six was a one story green stucco residence
situated on the corner of Collis Avenue and Harrison Drive. Beyond the backyard was
a tract of undeveloped land covered with scrub oak. Harry Levinson, from a
Highland park juvenile was waiting for us in front of the house back this way,
Fellas commonly, wait, I got my back, okay? Who notifies
that the boy was missing? Harry? The mother said she went out to
do some Christmas shopping about eleven this morning, left the boy home, came
back about two this afternoon. He was gone. What's his name? Johnstone?
Kids name is Stanley, nine years old? Was this gate open like
this when you got here? Oh? Yeah, I haven't touched the thing.
H Here are the stains over here, Lieutenant Jones, along the edge
of the walk. See yeah, let me see quite a few stains.
Uh, looks like it might be blood tie some benzeteine on these spots here
there. Yeah, see what Hambl's where's the kid's mother now in the house.
Darty's talking to her. Did you talk to any of the neighbors?
People next door? Ones on this side? They couldn't tell us anything.
It is, Fellas, Gelly. These spots are covered with benzetine. The're
turning blue blood stains, all right? Can't say definitely, whether it's human
or animal blood. You have to go back to the lab to run it
through. Yeah, biological precipitum test. Hand me one of those glass vials
from my back. Yeah, hey, here you are you thinks great?
Some of these flakes are for a test? Yeah? How soon can you
tap the blood? Force? Lee preciplion test won't run more than twenty minutes.
It'll take three or four hours to run a blood grouping. Go anything
else you want to check Levinson? Anything else? Oh? Right here,
my handkerchief, empty shell, that marker over there by the rose bush.
That's where I found it from A twenty two. Huh yeah, might tie
in, might not market and dump it in this end, blok with it?
Oh yeah, show here you go. Did you get out a missing
broadcast and the boy Darty did about half hour ago? Oh, here's a
description here, Rank Joe. Mother know about the blood stains. No,
we didn't tell her. She's worried enough already and she has no idea what
might have happened to her boy. No more than we do if she checked
all our friends relatives. We're covering the neighborhood. No trace so far,
much to go on bloodstains, empty cartridge could mean a hundred things, any
ideas, Friddy, Yeah, just one, and I don't like it.
No. Four point thirty Thursday December twenty second, the neighborhood searched for nine
year old Stanley Johnstone continued, Lee Jones went back to the crime lab to
start the precipitate test in the blood. Gooding. Levinson and his partner Dougherty
from Highland Juvenile stood by. We called Chief a Detectives, Dad Brown,
and he ordered up a special detail to aid in the search for the missing
boy. Ben and I questioned the boy's mother, Missus Ruth Johnstone, a
woman in her early forties. She seemed fairly calm under the circumstances, Missus
Johnstone, is your boy's stand in the habit of wandering off withoutdaring you where
he's going? No, he's not in the habit of wandering off, but
he has done it before. When was the last time, Miss Johnstone?
You don't have any children, do you, Sergeant Friday, No, I'm
not married. Well, that comes that time in every young boy's life when
he feels it it's time to leave home to go out on his own.
Usually happens somewhere around eight to ten. I think I know what you mean.
I've got a boy. Well, then you know how it is.
My husband and I scolded Stanley one day after school. He was quite put
out about it. Thought George and I run fits, were packed a few
of these things and left. How long was he gone? Oh, no
time at all, about two hours. I was worried about him, but
my husband said to leave him alone, said every boy, I had to
go through that stage. Well, when you think he's run away from home
again this time? Yes, I think so. He's been gone about four
hours now, and I have a funny feeling about it. Did you and
his father have some misunderstanding with the boy recently? Well, that's just it.
We haven't. I don't mind telling you now that we're talking about it.
I'm I am getting worried. Any place around that he might like to
visit, hobby shop, playground where he might be, Yeah, there's some
Jensen's Model shop and Little Shanna Burrows. But I've already called him and he
hasn't been seen all day. I called all his friends. They have no
idea where he is either. We'd like a list of all his friends and
the places that he was known to frequent Oh you a all right, I'll
get him to you. What do you suppose he is? Where's your husband
now, Miss Johnstone? Oh, he's at work. George works for the
city. Is a farman. What house is he stationing there? Engine Company
twelve? You it's working the eight platoon. He'll be home tomorrow morning.
I haven't told him that Stanley's gone. Was there any chance that the boy
might be down at the firehouse with his father? No? No, he
seldom goes down there anymore. No, I don't think he's there. I'm
awfully worried. May I call my husband certainly right ahead. I know George
would be worried. Stanley's been gone too long. Hello. May I speak
with Georgia Johnstone. This is missus Johnstone. Thank you. I hate to
call George at his work. Yes, ma'am. Does your husband known again?
Yes? He does. What caliber do you know? Well, it's
a forty five automatic? He got it? George. This is Ruth.
George is standing down there with you? By any chance? Oh? No,
I can't find him anywhere. He hasn't been here when I came home
from my shopping. The two policemen here no, there are two policemen here.
Oh no, dear, I'll call you if we don't find him soon.
All right, dear, yes you too, goodbye. I didn't think
he'd be with George. I had forty five? Is not the only gun
in the household? Wait? Yes, why are you asking about guns?
Is? Does anything happen that you're not telling me about? No, ma'am,
just routine checking. We'll have to take a look at that forty five
or if you don't mind, maybe I should tell you we we do have
another gun in the house. But it it's all wrapped up. George Butifer
Stanley's Christmas present? May we see it? Please? Oh? Yes?
Well? Will you have to unwrap it? Yes, I'm afraid so I
think I can reach it. We we had to hide it. Now let
me see. Good, here's the paper it was wrapped in. Stanley must
have found it. It's gone. See. Here's the gift card and the
box of the gun came in rifle. Can I look at that box?
Man? Thank you? How about it? Jim twenty two caliber. Thursday
December twenty second, five point fifteen pm was getting dark. The search for
the missing boy continued. We checked the list of Stanley Johnstone's friends. None
of them or their parents had any idea of his whereabouts. We talked with
Levinson again. He had been in touch with the detail combing the neighborhood.
They had found nothing. We went down to Collis Avenue and Kent Street service
station on the corner one nicklad Joe, No, I got one. You
watched with that? Huh? Yeah? Two six sixty seven please Jones,
high Ley, Joe Friday, Joanie Sennel, Johnson Kidd, No, not
yet. How are you coming? Finished? Preciment? The tested human blood?
Yeah, working in the blood group. Now do you know what type
Johnson boy had? No, we didn't want to upset his mother. I
thought we'd wait a little last thing. We're still in the neighborhood. Checked
with the family physician. That way you won't disturb. Yeah, we figured
on the just a minutely. Yeah, Ben Mors just pulled. Okay,
uh, fat browns out here now I'll check youlatedly hunter, goodbye, gentlemen.
Howt's going? Just checked with Lee Jones. Yeah, I know it's
human blood. What do you think We talked with the boy's mother, Missus
Johnston found a gun masson Yeah, caliber is the same as the empty casement
Levinson found twenty two. You said the gun was missing. Yeah, the
Johnstons were gonna give it to the boy as a Christmas present. They had
it, hid him and it's gone now. Any idea who took it?
We left the Christmas wrapping behind. I think it was the kid twenty two
rifle. Huh, nine year old boy? When are they gonna learn first?
It's carboyd Cannons. On the fourth of July, he said, is
should ordinance after ordinance with a few thousand kids around the country had to lose
their eyes, fingers, hands for the parents. Gives us their full cooperation
to outlaw them. I know what you mean, Sure you do. You
and every other cop in the country became the heaviest trying to clamp down on
them. It's always the same story. This time it's guns for Christmas.
I know what you're thinking, but we're not sure yet unlesson Friday there's a
city ordinance against giving a gun to a kid. You know that. Yes,
I know that there's a missing boy and a missing gun. There's blood
on the ground and an empty shell. That's enough for me. I'm going
to stay with it. Something's got to break. Yeah, I hope it's
not the hearts of that kid's parents. Oh, hi, Chief, I've
been looking for you Friday. What do you got? Harry found the gun,
new twenty two rifle. Strong smell of cordite. I'd say it's been
recently fired. Would you find it? Livinson? Back up there in that
square boat up behind the Johnston house. Missus Johnstone identified it. Buckley took
it down the crime lab. Thanks, Herry, it's miss Johnston. Okay,
I'm pretty sick now. Kilby came up with something else. What's that?
There's another one missing, an eight year old boy. Six thirty pm,
we talked with Officer Killoby the other missing boy. He told us that
his name was Stephen Moreheim, eight years old. His family had just moved
into the neighborhood, and it seemed that no one besides the Morheim family knew
that the boys played together. Missus Moreheim told us that Stephen told her that
he was going out to play and that he'd be home by six o'clock for
dinner. She told us that he was an unusually prompt boy and almost never
overstayed his playtime. We got a description of the Morheim boy and put out
a missing broadcast. We called the Johnstones family doctor. He told us that
Stanley's blood was type old. At seven pm, we talked again with Missus
john Moreheim. Are you sure, Missus Johnstone doesn't know where the boys are?
He has no ide, Miss Moreheim. It's terrible, it's just awful.
I feel there's more to this thing, something you're not telling me.
There was no use to upset you until we know a few things for sure,
and you are holding back something. I'll please try not to worry Ms
Moreheim. There are certain questions we'll have to ask routine questions in any kind
of investigation. Is there anything else you want to know? Yes, ma'am.
What is your boy's blood type? That's a funny question. Do you
think anything's happened to him? Have you found him and you're not telling him?
Oh? Man, we haven't found him. We don't think anything's happened
to him. It's blood type. You think I haven't written down Stevie's baby
book? Yes, here it is, thank you. What if I might
use your phone? Please? Yes, of course it's in the hall.
Be right back then, you know, okay to six six seven? Please
m h Hell, alright, this is Friday Lee there just a minute,
Joe Man j speaking checking backley. Did you get the blood types and the
two missing boys? Yeah? Both boys type O sell the stands Joe Type.
You are listening to Dragnet for the solution to an actual case from official
police files. Eight pm, Thursday, December twenty second, still no sign
of either of the missing boys. Chief of Detective's Thad Brown went back to
headquarters to direct the search. From there, he dispatched another detail of fifty
men to aid in the hunt for the missing youngsters. Eight point thirty PM
was getting colder. The citrus growers were warned to expect to freeze. We
went up the block to see missus Johnstone. Her husband had quit work early
and returned home. We talked with him. He could tell us nothing more
than we already knew. We still had not informed either of the families about
the bloodstains and the empty cartridge casing which had been discovered in the backyard of
the Johnstone home. Was more than possible that they had a right to know
about our findings, but Ben and I felt that there was no cause to
add to the distress of the two families at this time. If the two
missing boys were found alive and well, then the bloodstains and the cartridge case
would be of no concern to the relieved parents. At eight forty pm,
Ben and I left the Johnstone house and went to the home of mister and
missus John Moreheim. Miss Moreheim, you said your husband worked at a market.
Yes, he telephoned about fifteen minutes ago and said he was closing up
right away. He'll be here any minute. I wonder wish Steved would call
her come home. So cold out tonight, well I had on was a
thin cotton jacket. Please try not to worry. We're doing everything we can.
It's going to be all right, stevee. It's father's such a sensitive
man, and the boy are so close. I know he's terribly upset.
You're sure there's no place you might have forgotten, some place where the boy
might be. No, no place, no copped to the boy that just
killed him. No, you sit still, I'll get it, Miss more
Joe. Hi, Harry a john Stone kid. He's been fought. Oh
he's home, Sergeant, he's come home. Thank God, he's all right.
Where's he? No, No, he didn't his clothes were all dirty,
and he's acting strange. I've never seen him like this. Well,
he just came in the front door and said hello, mom, and then
he sat down a chair and stared at the floor. Oh, talk to
his father? Me. I talked to him. I asked him about the
little Moreheim boy. He wouldn't tell me a thing. Where is he now
in the living room? Looks all right? Yes, son, Son,
this is a police officer. He wants to talk to you. Don't be
afraid, dear. He only wants to ask us some questions. Son,
you see sergeant Stanley. Come on, look at me, Son, get
your head up, youngster. Come on, now, that's better. I
had your mother pretty worried. You know that you want to tell us where
you've been. I wish you'd try to get him to eat a little something.
Do you hear that? Son? Want something? Indeed, Stanley,
there's another little boy up this Tete who hasn't come home. Do you know
where he is? His father and mother worried about him too, just like
your folks were. You've got to help us find him. Son. I
I killed him. I killed to you with the twenty two. We were
only plain, but I killed him. How do you know you killed him?
Maybe he's only hurt. Why isn't that it? No, he's dead.
I know he was dead. The gun went off. We forgot we
put bullets in there. Where is he? Stanley? I shouldn't. I
was scared. I didn't want anybody to find him. Where did you hide
him? Son? In a chief upon the hill? I didn't mean it.
It was my pal. Do you want to show us where? Yes,
I'll show you. Please don't send me to jail. Nine fifteen pm,
Thursday December twenty second. Nine year old Stanley Johnstone led the way up
the hill behind the backyard of his home. He showed us the wagon,
he moved the body, and his father came along with us. About fifty
feet from the crest of the hill, a boy pointed to a thicket of
scrub oak. There we found a small cave holding a body of Stephen Moreheimen.
There was a single bullet wound in his chest, just below his heart.
He was dead. We covered the body. Stanley, Stanley, how
did it happen? I knew my folks were going to give me the gun
for Christmas. I knew where it was, and I got it there was
a box of bullets with it. Were you pointing the gun at Stephen?
No, sir, No, sir, I wasn't. It was Steve's turing
to play with it. I was chasing him. He tripped over the stump
there in our backyard and fell. The gun hit him in the stomach and
it went off. Why do you think you killed him? If you're telling
us the truth, I'm telling the truth, honest. That's the truth,
all right, I believe, he said, But why do you think you
killed him? It was my gun? Steve would still be alive if I
didn't go and get it. I should have waited till Christmas. It's all
my fault. Where have you been all this time in the cave with Steve?
What were you doing in there? Son? I was praying. I
was praying for God to make him alive again. After a thorough investigation,
Ben and I were convinced that the shooting of Stephen Moreheim was accidental. Lieutenant
Lee Jones finding substantiated the Johnstone Boy's story even to the smallest detail. We
put in a call to the coroner's office and acquainted him with the facts.
He designated a local mortuary to handle the body pending on autopsy and Grantidus's permission
to remove the body to the Morheim home. Missus Moreheim collapsed. The family
doctor was called Ben and I sat in the living room to wait for John
Moreheim, the dead boy's father, Edith Edith, mister Moreheim, Yes,
you the police? Yes, sir? Where's Edith? Where's my wife?
How's my boy come home? Have you found him? Yes, sir?
Where is he? Steve? Stevie? Where Steve? He's hurt? Isn't
me? Yes, sir? Oh? Where is he? I want to
see him. He's hurt, bad, mister Morhim. Where is he?
I want to see him. He's in his room? How bad? Pretty
bad? Yes, he's dead? All right? If I going? If
you want to, will you go with me? Sure? Don't make it
any harder on yourself, mister Morhim. I want to see my boopet.
Listen to me, sir. We've got you a lot of less thanks but
Christmas, but I got you a three new car for the train with the
search really works. Yeah, so you you guess that twitch you wanted to
do it? That boy track. You can have a big up. You
know that a new baseball, But yourself but I didn't want the cowboy act
you wanted to get to. Come on, Joe, it was an accident.
He was playing with Johnstone boy upstreet, playing with a gun. He
went off. I like to see the other boys name Stanley Johnstone. It
was an accident. Tomorrow him. Where are you going? I want to
see that. We had no idea what the dead boy's father had in mind.
We didn't feel that we should try to restrain him. We went along
with him up the street to the Johnstone home. Stevie's father. Where's your
boy? I'm sorry, where's your boy? He's right here. Won't you
come in? That's all right, missus Chanston. You you're the boy that
was with Stevie. Yes, sir, what's your name? Stanley? Stanley?
I know it wasn't your fault, Stanley. I wouldn't if you'd do
something for me, Yes, sir. I've got a lot of nice presents
for Stevieah. I know it wants you to have them. I want to
give them to you Christmas, ma'am. I think that would be a fine
idea. Son. Come on, Ben, what does it all prove?
Jo know you don't give a hit a gun for Christmas. The story you
have just heard was true, only the names were changed to protect the innocent.
On December twenty fourth, nineteen forty eight, a coroner's inquest was held
in the County Morgue City and County of Los Angeles, State of California.
In a moment the results of that inquest. At the coroner's inquest, it
was officially recorded that Stephen Morheim's death was the result of an accident. Stanley
Johnstone, age nine, was absolved of any legal responsibility for his friend's death.
You have just heard Dragnets, a new series of authentic cases from official
files. Technical advice for Dragnet comes from the Office of Acting Chief of Police
W. A. Wharton, Los Angeles Police Department. Dragnet honors Hennepin County,
Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, and the men of the Hennepin County Sheriff's
Office, another of America's great law enforcement agencies. One of these men Sheriff
Ed Ryan, veteran police officer and department administrator who dedicates his life to making
yours more secure. A Fatima Cigarettes, the best of all along cigarettes,
has brought you Dragnet. Portion transcribed from Los Angeles. Be sure to hear
songs by Martin Downey tonight don NBC Welcome Back. This is one of my
least favorite episodes. Now. It is not a judgment on the quality at
all. It is wonderfully written and produced, and really the series had hit
its stride in terms of the quality of its storytelling. But it is such
a heavy episode. Between times I've watched the TV version and times I've listened
to the radio version, I think I've experienced this about half a dozen times,
but this is my first time experiencing it as a parent, and this
hits so much harder. And also to give it proper historical contacts, it
requires that I discuss a controversial issue that was a bit controversial then and now
is very controversial. And I will try to talk about this late forties early
fifties contra without getting into where the whole debate on this issue has evolved now.
There was controversy surrounding the ending, but I think it has to be
said that the public reception of the episode was overall quite strong and it was
viewed quite favorably. The main objection came from the National Rifle Association that didn't
like Friday's conclusion. Jack Webb actually handed their complaint over to the LAPD,
which defended the episode and promised ten more episodes on what they called the folly
of giving rifles to children. Dragonett did not actually do that. I don't
know to what degree the LAPD actually pushed Web on that, particularly in the
nineteen fifties. Web wasn't trying to make Dragnet monolithically about some particular issue.
However, the episode was re aired every Christmas, and according to Claudiac Calhoun's
book, only the names have been changed. This was due to popular demand.
When it was adapted to television, the NRA actually asked for a copy
of the film to use for educational purposes, and according to Michael Hayes's book
My Name Is Friday, Web happily complied with their request. That doesn't mean
that the NRA still didn't disagree with Friday's conclusion, and Claudia Calhoun actually tracked
down a editorial in The American Riffleman addressing this episode. It praised Dragnet for
a dramatic and effectively presented program, but disagreed with the lesson, pointing out
that a lot of young people hunt safely, and when they're drafted, they're
handed a gun. The American Rifleman wrote, instead of denying the boy the
rifle he wants for Christmas, the wise father will give it to him.
At the same time he will see to it the boy is properly taught to
respect it. And even if you do look at the incident from a gun
safety standpoint, there was a lot that was lacking. A gun is not
just any old Christmas present that you can hide like any other present, and
putting the gun near the bullets really was the key to the whole strategy.
At the same time, the Johnstone boy was treating it essentially lack a toy,
even though it was a loaded weapon, and those sort of approaches are
the things that any good gun safety course is going to push back. Again
on the other side, this episode is a reminder that Dragnet reflects the feelings
and sentiments of the LAPD, and not just because the LAPD as an institution,
favored gun control. One thing that I've found reading about Jack Webb is
that he spent a lot of time with police officers, and his way of
thinking was influenced very strongly by their view of the world and what their life
experiences were, and you can hear that reflected in Thad Brown's conversation, the
sort of frustration and heartbreak that police officers have to deal with, and how
much utterly needless, pointless tragedy end up witnessing because people ignore laws and ignore
common sense, and there is something that is so affecting at being that close
to these sort of tragedies. And we hear a little of that reflected in
this episode in a few subtle ways, but that does tend to color and
form the opinion of the officer on the street. So both reached conclusions that
things have gone wrong here, but they disagree on what the exact problem is
or the exact solution, And I think that's a situation we can very much
relate to today. Beyond the controversy, the episode had a slow burn build
up as we got hints as to the shape of the tragedy and realized the
sheer scope of sadness and horrid what happened. Stanley is brilliantly portrayed, capturing
the sadness and terror of a boy who's sorry for what he did and scared
of what the consequences will be. That he'll face. While Dragonet is often
considered stiff or unemotional, William Johnstone's performance as the Dead Boy's father is beautiful
and probably one of the most intense roles I've heard him, given this was
not the typical William Johnstone role. The roles I most tend to associate William
Johnstone with are The Shadow and of course Ben Guthrie on The Lineup, which
was a police procedural show that would be launched by CBS in nineteen fifty and
then he played a lot of heroes from American history on the Cavalcade of America
program and also did quite a few character guest performances during the Jimi del vi
era on Johnny Dawler, and the roles I associated with him are these sort
of very strong, authoritative characters, and so Johnstone is not the first person
you would think of for this sort of role, but web had a talent.
Michael Hayde mentioned a couple of other instances I believe in his book My
Name Is Friday, where he saw someone and basically decided he wanted to cast
them in something that was completely against top and it worked brilliantly, and it
certainly does here, and I think Johnstone finds the right tone because the lines
themselves are a lot and it would be easy for it to become too much,
but Johnstone just brings so much believability. He's sitting there weeping and rambling
to his son, struggling to deal with the fact that his world has broken
and he has no idea how he's going to go on and what is next
for him, or any conception of what his world looks like anymore. And
I know that people like to say that Dragnet it was just totally stiff if
you think that you haven't heard this episode, because it's a lot and it's
quite raw. There's also a really subtle bit right after he breaks down that
I hadn't noticed before, but it was really interesting to me because it's one
of only a couple of moments I've recognized where Friday being the younger, less
experienced partner is emphasized. Because Friday starts to interrupt and Romero just says,
come on, Joe, and I think as a younger man, Friday is
trying to do something or say something, or find some way to mitigate this
sort of breakdown. It's painful, it's uncomfortable. But Romero is a father.
He doesn't most likely know what it was like to lose a child,
but he has at least an idea of the sort of grief that this father
is feeling, and he knows you can't just wave it away. You can't
make it better or make it less awkward. There's nothing you can say.
You've got to let the man grieve. And that sort of realization takes maturity
again, a really great subtle touch. Now, as great as it is
as an APIs, I am in full sympathy with Richard Breen, who back
when we did the Christmas episode, I mentioned that he thought this episode was
not appropriate for the festive Christmas season. It's such a hard episode to listen
to, but it definitely has its point, and I was reflecting a little
bit on why it would be so popular that people would want it back.
I mean, if I go another ten years without listening to this one again,
I think I would be good. And I got a little bit of
insight into maybe why the episode was popular and also why some certain seemingly depressing
films or even educational films or TV programs would be shown Because people of my
generation and definitely younger look at that and say, what was up with you
guys watching this stuff, producing this stuff that is such a downer? And
I came across it in one article where a columnist said that he believed that
the episode would save lives. And I think that that belief may have been
quite wide spread. And I think that there was a material produced that was
very downbeat, but it was viewed positively because it was viewed as cautionary.
By showing something sad and horrible happening as a result of a mistake, as
a result of an action, as a result of carelessness, the people who
watched the films would be forewarned, and that sad feeling would lead to happier
lives because they would not have horrific things happen to them in real life.
I think that in the twenty first century, we tend to avoid things that
are unpleasant that might have a pleasant effect on our futures, And ironically,
the stuff that gets so sought out as downers are things that are very friends
or unlikely to happen. Like you had that whole youth dystopian trend a few
years ago, where this whole depressing scenario was set up, but it was
the most incredibly unlikely thing to happen, like May's Runner is not going to
happen. But we somehow seek out these sad but very improbable things. While
I think that fire generations tended to venerate things that were sad but would ultimately
lead to positive outcomes if we heeded the advice in all right, Well,
now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day, and I want
to go ahead and thank Paul. Paul has been one of our Patreon supporters
since March of twenty sixteen, currently supporting the podcast at the rookie level of
two dollars or more per month. Thank you so much for your support,
Paul, And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast,
please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Be sure to rate and
review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Saturday with
another episode of Dragonet, but join us back here on Monday for the Adventures
of the Falcon where I'm looking for Michael Waring. Well, you've come to
the right place, are you? The one they call the Falcon when they
can't think of anything worse? Come on and miss Davis. Ruth Davis,
so down? Thanks? No, what can I do for you? I'm
not quite sure. Did you happen to notice an item in this morning's paper
about a man being killed in a hit and run accident last night? Yeah?
That man was my father. Oh, I'm sorry. I want you
to find the driver of that car. Why isn't it obvious that man murdered
my daddy? Murdered him just as surely as if he used a gun.
I don't care what it costs, Angel, I'd be lying if I didn't
tell you that anything you invest in a case like this is to be money
thrown down the sewer. As I recall, the police don't have a single
lead. We yes, they do. There was a man named Arthur Crane
who witnessed the accident. He might know more than these tools. I hope
you'll be with us then. In the meantime, do send your comments to
Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot nat, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives,
and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com slash Great Detectives
from Boise Aldohol. This is your host, Adam Grahamson and all