Sunday Showcase, highlighting some of the best audio storytelling found anywhere. All right here on the Mutual Audio Network. The following audio drama is rated PG for parental guidance recommended. I'll skip ahead a bit. No, I can't skip ahead. All right, everybody, into the time machine. Take your hands off, Mark! Take your hands off, Mark! No, no, no, no! You don't understand how radio works! All I have to do to return us is fade my voice off!
like this and cue the organist. And you see? Here we are. Wait a minute. 63 Audio presents the Old Time Radio Essentials Podcast. Greetings all who gather here and welcome back to Season 4 of Old Time Radio Essentials. If this is your first time joining us, and even if it ain't, I must inform... you that this is episode 47, also known as our first episode of 2025, aka episode 10 of season 4. My name is Pete. I'm Pat.
And this is Paul. We are fans of old-time radio. And if you're tuning in, you probably are also. We gather together occasionally, like today, to present an episode from a particular old-time radio series. Is it indeed essential? That's what we hope to discover. Last time we presented my pick, which was an episode of the Mel Blanc show from 1946 called Mel Plays Santa Claus in case you missed it. Today is Pete's Choice, and what's ringing in the new year for us todays?
Sparky. Well, in accord with such glad tidings for 2025, we're celebrating an old-time radio new year with an episode of The Whistler, which first aired on New Year's Eve 1947 on CBS Radio. The Whistler is... an American radio mystery drama which ran from May 16, 1942 till September 22, 1955 on the West Coast Regional CBS Network. Now, the show was also broadcast in Chicago and over Armed Forces Radio.
On the West Coast, it was sponsored by the Signal Oil Company. That whistle is your signal for the Signal Oil Program. The Whistler. There were also two short-lived attempts to form East Coast broadcast spurs. Now, the first was July to September 1946, sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company. Good. And March 1947 to September 1948. sponsored by Household Finance, HFC for short. The program was also adapted into a film noir series by Columbia Pictures in 1944.
Each episode of The Whistler began with the sound of footsteps in a person whistling. This person... the whistler, was the host and narrator of the tales, which focused on crime and fate. He often commented directly upon the action in the manner of the omniscient Greek chorus. The stories followed a formula in which a person's criminal acts were typically revealed either by an overlooked but important detail or by the criminal's own carelessness. An ironic ending, often grim.
was a key feature of each episode. So now, without further delay, we present The Whistler and the episode entitled The First Year from CBS, broadcast on December 31st, 1947. And now, friends, adjust your radio dials to the proper frequency, get comfortable, and listen. The signal oil program, The Whistler. That whistle is your signal for the signal oil program, the Whistler.
And I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes. I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak. Yes, friends, it's time for the signal oil program, The Whistler. Rated tops in popularity for a longer period of time than any other West Coast program in radio history. And Signal Gasoline is tops, too. Tops in quality. It takes extra quality, you know, to give you extra mileage.
and signal is the famous go-farther gasoline. So look for the signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies friendly dealer-owned signal stations from Canada to Mexico. And now, the Whistler's strange story. The First Year. The story of Lydia Winters falls naturally into two parts, separated by exactly one year almost to the minute. Her marriage to Elliot Larkin ended, of course, on New Year's Eve.
somewhere around midnight at a place called Silver Lake Lodge. The circumstances surrounding its ending are a matter of record now in the files of the police department, Homicide Division. The beginning is another story, a personal one. Just a year before, early on New Year's morning, Lydia Winters had stood at the door of her uncle's apartment with Elliot. listening to the whistles ushering in the new year. Darling, listen. It's official now, a brand new year. Brand new life.
I'd better go in now, Elliot. Look, Lydia, let's go together. You can speak your piece and I'll back your office. I've already told you I want to talk to Uncle Philip alone, darling. Oh, but why waste New Year's Eve? Good Lord, woman, it'll only take a minute. I love you, dear, and I'm going to marry you. But you might as well learn right now when I make up my mind, I mean it. So Marty tells me. Poor Marty. Yeah, poor Marty.
Looked like you hit him with a pole axe when you told him tonight. He'll get over it. They all do. I wonder if we will. Maybe. But it'll be fun while it lasts. Lydia, why are you marrying me? Oh, you dance well, you're good-looking, you have charm of a sort, and of course... My money. Your money. I'm tired of depending on Uncle Philip. Ah, you're a worldly woman. But very practical. Kiss me, darling. Good night, Elliot. I'll pick you up tomorrow at noon. We can be married in Greenville.
And run up to Silver Lake Lodge for a couple of weeks, huh? You're so capable, darling. I'll think it out for me. Yeah, except Uncle Philip. Just leave Uncle Philip to me, dear. Good night. Good night. Happy New Year. You old darling waiting up for me? There's a very good reason, dear. I want to talk to you seriously for once. Oh, and I know just what it's about. You don't approve of Elliot, do you, dear?
You think he's a fortune hunter, irresponsible, unworthy of me. And I'm so hard and thoughtless and gullible. You through? Yes. Good. Then please understand this. If I have any concern about Elliot Larkin... It's on his account and not yours. Is that so? Exactly. In the proper hands, he might, just might understand you, grow up into a decent human being.
With you, he hasn't a chance. Now, wait a minute. If you think you can tell me... Well, let me finish. That's beside the point anyway. You're just like your mother was, Lydia. The same selfishness, the same abysmal ignorance of the true meaning of marriage. You're not in love with this man. He's not in love with you. You're pretty sure of yourself, aren't you? Of course I'm sure. To get to the point, Lydia, I will not approve your marriage to Elliot Larkin or any other man.
until you indicate some small understanding of what the word means. Until you're able to look upon it as a sacred contract instead of an adventure. I see. Now, I'd be grateful if you'd step off the soapbox while I tell you something. I don't care what you think. Listen to me, Lydia. I'm through listening to you. I'm of age, Uncle Philip. Tomorrow afternoon I'm marrying Elliot, whether you approve or not.
I don't care about you or your money or anything else. It's my life, and I intend to live it as I please. I'm leaving at noon tomorrow, Uncle Philip, and there's nothing you can do about it. Hmm. Nothing I can do about it, eh? Yeah. Hello? Ballinger? Phil Ridgely. I hate to get you up, old man. Oh, not at all. New Year's, you know. We're having a little party. I want to see you right away, Ballinger. About my will. Oh. How about tomorrow morning? I said right away. Now.
Good Lord, Phil. You can't do a thing like this now. Why not? Why, it's vicious. If there was any chance for success of Lydia's marriage, it's destroyed by this thing. You can't play with people's lives as if they were puppets. It's my money, Ballinger. I can do with it what I please. Now get this again. The new will is to provide that if Lydia and Elliot Larkin live together as man and wife...
Under the same roof, for a period of ten years, they are to receive the principal legacy of $500,000 jointly. All have to each other as they may choose. That failing, it goes to the Children's Relief Fund. Got that? That's clear enough. Now, if at any time during those ten years, either one of them die by any means, the entire sum is payable to the survivor immediately. Now look here, Philip.
I realize I'm in no position to question your moral code, but this thing is fiendish. Why, it'll set them at each other's throats. Perhaps it will, Ballinger. Perhaps it will. It's a sort of a test, you know. If I'm right, if the marriage means nothing to either of them, it will destroy them. On the other hand, if I'm wrong, it will be a real reward. Yes, but don't you see? It's not a will, Philip.
It's a weapon. Maybe. I know I won't live to see it work out. But you'll see it, Ballinger. You're to acquaint them with the provisions the moment I die. There's a comfortable retainer in there for you to see it's followed to the letter. You know, I envy you, Ballinger. It should prove very interesting. With the prologue of the first year, the Signal Oil Company is bringing you another strange story by the Whistler.
But now, a brief suggestion to help you enjoy new driving pleasure during the new year. To be sure of the tops in gasoline quality, there are just two things to remember. One... In gasoline, it takes extra quality to go farther. And two, signal is the famous go-farther gasoline. And now, back to the whistler. at a party with Elliot Larkin, when suddenly, impetuously, you decided that here was the answer to Uncle Philip's tyranny, an avenue to freedom. And it's worked out fairly well, hasn't it?
It's not a storybook marriage, of course, but you didn't expect that. Still, Elliot is fairly presentable, reasonable, and charming. And you're sure he's wealthy enough to keep you well-dressed and entertained. And until something better comes along, you're content. It was an evening in October that changed all that. The two of you had just arrived home from a football game.
Oh, Johnny Gates, can you imagine running into him that way? I felt like a lost sheep with the two of you huddled together all night. Well, I haven't seen him since college. Oh, here, let me take your coat. There. It was a lucky break running into him that way, you know. Where are the cigarettes? Oh, a minute. Oh, here you are.
Catch. Thanks. What do you mean, lucky break? You didn't pay any attention to the game. Well, he's leaving his job. He's going to the Orient. Oh? Yeah, he represents some cordial outfit, liqueurs, that sort of thing, you know. Well, I mean, that's the job he's leaving. It's a pretty good job. What's that got to do with you? He says he'll recommend me to replace him if I wanted. You... You mean you're going to work? Well, why not? I can't be a playboy all my life.
Elliot, what in the world got into your head? What's so funny, huh? Elliot, you working. Well, you better answer the phone. Yeah, excuse me. Hello? Mrs. Larkin? Yes? This is Mr. Ballinger, your uncle's lawyer. I'm not at home to my uncle, Mr. Ballinger. You can tell him that... Just a minute, Mrs. Larkin. I'm calling to tell you that your uncle passed away this afternoon. I see.
It's my duty as his executor to read to you the terms of his will. Who is it, honey? Just a minute, please. Uncle Philip's dead. Something about the will. Well, let me talk to him. I'll handle it. Mr. Ballinger, perhaps you don't quite understand my relationship with Uncle Philip. Wait a minute. Give me that phone now. Oh, thank you.
doing. It's time I knocked some sense into your head, Angel. You may as well know it now. We're broke. We're what? Oh, as close to it as you can get without selling the furniture. That's why I took Johnny up on the job. Hello? You had money. A lot of it just happened. Never mind that now. You just tell Mr. Ballinger we'll be glad to talk to him. You hear? Go on.
Hello. Hello, Mr. Ballinger. Yes? We'll be over right away. How'd it taste, dear? What? Humble pie. I'm not in the mood for that sort of thing, Elliot. Why didn't you tell me you were broke? You didn't ask. You just went along with what everyone believed about the lock and fortune. You think that was fair to me? Well, it works two ways, Angel.
After all, I was under the impression your Uncle Philip's worldly goods were practically in your pocket. I see. Well, I guess I'd better make this clear, Elliot. I don't love you. I never did. Oh, now take it easy. And bright and early tomorrow morning, I'm leaving his house and I'm not coming back. Really?
Well, I'm going to miss you terribly. Where are you going? Does it matter very much? No, not really. Tomorrow's up to you, Lydia. Tonight, on the other hand... I'll see Mr. Ballinger alone. Uh-uh. We're going together, darling. Somehow I'm just a little curious about your uncle's will. You mean this thing forces us to love each other?
More or less. That is, if you want the money, you will live together under the same roof for ten years. Yes, I heard it the first time, Ballinger. Now, are you sure it'll hold up under probate? It's quite legal, if that's what you mean. Naturally. You didn't know Uncle Philip very well, Elliot. Most efficient man in the world. Well, that's it. Is there any questions with you? No. No, it's all very clear. Oh, come on, Elliot. Well, then, good night.
Good night, Lockett. Good night. Amusement, Elliot, or the beginning of a story? A little of each, I suppose. You know, you must admit the old boy had a sense of humor. Must I? Ten years, nine to go. Well, I guess there was a time when I'd be willing to do anything for a half million dollars. Right now, I don't know. It won't make any real difference, Elliot. I want that money. You live your life, I'll live mine. No questions, no answers. Except to the watchdog. Ballinger?
Yes, we can handle him. I suppose it's worth a try. All right, dear, what's the first move? Your friend, Johnny Gates. Johnny? You'll need that job now. You have a wife and home to support. Remember? At that moment, you're forced to admit something to yourself, aren't you, Lydia? That Uncle Philip was right. That your marriage to Elliot Larkin is a farce. A hollow, mocking thing that was never meant to be. And there's something else, Lydia.
The strange will. As the weeks pass, you know it for what it really is. An instrument of torture. A weapon striking back at you from the grave. Yes, Uncle Philip might as well be alive and laughing at you. telling you that you can't win. But through it all, you're determined that somehow, some way, you'll defeat Philip on his own ground. Then on New Year's Eve, the night marking your first year together, Elliot calls you at the apartment.
Yes? Lydia, I thought you might be interested. I've got that shot. Johnny's? Yeah, he's giving it up. Oh, about that. I won't be able to make dinner until later. I'm helping Johnny celebrate. Oh, don't worry about that. I meant to tell you we can skip the dinner plans. I'm meeting Marty Bell at the Zebra Club. Marty Bell, huh? Well...
True love never dies. Good old Marty. Don't tell me you object, darling. I'll see you tomorrow, Elliot. You'll see me tonight if you insist on going there with Bill. I'll come down to the zebra club and tell you... And what? Don't play the jealous husband, Elliot. That's really overdoing it. Goodbye. You're very amusing. But I mean it, Lydia. I love you. Does anyone really mean that? I want you to go away with me, Lydia. Leave Elliot. Please, Marty.
Trying to break up the perfectly matched adoring Larkin. It isn't breaking anything up until you know it. You're not fooling me, Lydia. Stop it, Marty. You don't care a hang for Elliot? I said stop it. There's someone coming over to our table, an old friend. Really?
I don't see anyone. Mr. Ballinger, what an unexpected surprise. Yes, I guess. I'd like you to meet Marty Bell, an old friend of Elliot. Oh. Marty, Mr. Ballinger. How do you do? Marty's keeping me company while I wait for Elliot, but he has an appointment. Maybe you'd sit in for a while, Mr. Ballinger.
Glad to, but... Then Marty won't have to waste any more time. I'm not wasting time, Lydia. It's all right. You've been a dear, Marty. I'll tell Elliot now. Run along. Nice to meet you, Bill. Yeah, same here. Goodbye, Lydia. Bye. Marty, and thanks so much. He's such a dear. Lydia, I've been intending to bring this up for some time. I've been disturbed about things that I've been hearing. Things? What things?
About you and Elliot. Oh? You know, when there's any sign of trouble between you, you're on dangerous ground. Why, Mr. Ballinger, I don't know what you're talking about. We're getting along beautifully. Where is Elliot, Lillian? It's New Year's Eve. You two should be together. Of course we should, but the night's only beginning, Mr. Ballinger. Why, I talked to Elliot only a little while ago. He's going to be here. Do you mind if I wait? I know.
I'd appreciate it if you would. He... Wait! There he is now. He just came in. Would you excuse me a minute? I'll tell him where we are. Excuse me? Well, surely. Would you let me through, please? Oh, sure. I'm sorry, lady. Pardon me. It's okay. Elliot. Elliot. Oh, there you are.
Where's Marty? I want to talk to him. He's not here, Elliot. Come over to the table with me. He ran out, huh? I sent him away. Ballinger's here. Ballinger? Smile, darling. He's looking right at us. What? Oh. Would you let us through, please? Excuse us. Thank you. We're sorry. Right here.
Here, darling, right here. Welcome. Here he is, Mr. Ballinger, my stray lamb. Dear, you remember Mr. Ballinger. Hello, Locken. Yes, how are you, Ballinger? Sit down, my boy. I just ordered a round of drinks. Why, how nice. If you'll permit me, I'd like to offer a toast on your anniversary. One year, isn't it? That's right. Ah, one beautiful year. Yes. Well, we can drink to that and, of course, to your future. May you remain as happy as you are tonight.
Right now, Lydia, as you lift your glass and touch it to the others, listen to Ballinger's hollow toast, you realize that this can't go on, that nine more years seem impossible. But it's impossible, too, Lydia, to sacrifice the money, isn't it? The money. The defeat of Uncle Philip on his own ground is uppermost in your mind. All you can think of an hour later as you sit beside Elliot in the car. I...
Hope Mr. Ballinger doesn't think it odd our leaving so early. I explained to him. I have to drive a friend to the airport. Oh? Johnny Gates? Yeah, he's flying to Seattle on the midnight plane. What I didn't tell Ballinger is that I'm going too.
Your what? Got my ticket suitcase in the back. Elliot, you can't do this. Why not? Because of what it might mean, Ballinger's suspicious now. What'll he think when he hears you've gone flying off somewhere on our anniversary? Does that matter? Of course it matters. He's got the power to cancel everything.
You can't do it, Elliot. Wait a few days at least. I'm sorry. It's my first assignment on the new job. Company expects me to wire them from Seattle in the morning. Why did you agree to such a thing? Maybe I've had all I can stand, Lydia. For half a million dollars, don't be a fool, Elliot. Look, look, I'll do anything you say. I'll stay away from Marty. Anything, Elliot, just give me a chance. Well, another helping, huh? What? Same humble pie. Oh, Elliot, please, please be reasonable.
Oh, Johnny's expecting me. Lydia, I don't see how I can change things now. I'm supposed to be there. There must be a way, Elliot. You'll regret this yourself. I know you will. Well, I wonder. What? What are you thinking? Maybe Johnny can help us. Come on up with me. We'll talk to him. Maybe I'm a little dumb tonight, Elliot. Give me another rundown on that, will you? Well, now, look, Johnny, it's simple.
I'd just like an extra day here, that's all. You're flying north anyway. Couldn't you send that wire for me? To cover you with a compass. That's right. Now, you see, that way Lydia and I can be together on our anniversary, and I'll be up there in a day or two. Well, I don't suppose there'll be much doing over the holiday anyway. Oh, not a thing. It's just that I don't want to beg off on my first assignment No, that wouldn't be so good
Okay, pal, I'll handle it. Oh, I swear. Johnny, I appreciate this, too. Ah, forget it. Elliot's done plenty for me. Oh, Johnny, there's one more thing. I don't like the idea of turning in my plane ticket. You know, just in case the company should check. Oh, I don't think they will. Well, I'd rather not take a chance.
Look, if it doesn't matter to you, you're leaving the company anyway. Couldn't you turn yours back and go in my place all the way through? Well, you'll feel safer. Johnny, I really would. Okay, let's have it. Say, I'll even check into your hotel for you. Oh, fine. We better get going. Yeah, right away. Well, I'll finish packing. Be with you in a minute. Satisfied, Lydia? Perfectly. Look, as long as we're going to...
Make it look good to Ballinger. Maybe we can go the whole heart. How do you mean? Well, after we drop Johnny at the airport, how about driving up to Silver Lake Lodge? Wonderful. Remember the first time we were there? A brand new year, a brand new life. I remember it perfectly, Elliot. I'd love to go. I think it's exactly what Mr. Ballinger would like. Well, Lydia, for the moment, you've won.
But the worry of the future is on your mind, driving down to the airport and watching Johnny Gates off on Flight 27. And all the way up to Silver Lake Lodge, you wonder about those nine long years ahead. It isn't going to be easy, Lydia, but somehow you're determined to make Elliot continue to see it your way. A few miles below the lodge, you ask him to stop at a roadside store.
Sounds like they're having quite a time down in New Orleans. Yeah? I just want to get some cigarettes, Ellie. I'll be right back. Take your time. A pack of cigarettes, please. Take your pick. Oh, these will do. Here you are. Yeah, thanks. A brief announcement, then back to the New Year's round-the-town celebration. Flight 27 of Fearless Airlines... crashed and burned in an unexplained accident one hour ago. All on board were killed. That news comes suddenly, doesn't it, Lydia?
The answer to everything. To Elliot, the money, everything. Yes, Lydia, Elliot was on that plane, even if it was in name only. At this very moment, as he waits for you in the car outside, he's officially dead. Certainly unidentifiable. And the words of Uncle Philip's will keep running through your mind. If at any time either Lydia or Elliot Larkin die, the entire sum is payable immediately to the survivor.
You know how simple it can be now, Lydia. Yes, as you close the door behind you, walk through the bracing mountain air to the car, you realize that here is the opportunity of a lifetime. Freedom from Elliot. and all of the $500,000 for yourself. And looking at Elliot, relaxed, waiting for you, you know you're going to kill him tonight. Sorry to keep you waiting. Oh, it's all right.
Just as I went to the store, there was some sort of newsflash on the radio. You hear it? Newsflash? No, some other station probably. Yes, I suppose so. Hey! Hey, I was enjoying that. New Year's Eve and New Orleans. Please, I'd like it quiet. We'll be up at the cabin in a few minutes. Right now, I want to think.
Of course you want to think, Lydia, of the loaded target pistol in the gun case at the cabin. Of how lonely it is there. Of how easy it'll be to dispose of Elliot's body in that wilderness. Less than an hour later, you're at the cabin, ready to put your plan in operation. The pistol is just beneath your hand, stuck between the sofa cushions as you sit before the fire Elliot has built for the occasion. You steady your nerves and...
Elliot! Just a minute, dear. I'm fixing the drink. Hurry it up, will you? You're tense now, bracing yourself. You'll wait until he's moved around and is standing right in front of you, holding the drinks on the tray. That way it can't go wrong. Around this way, darling. Right near the fire. The Whistler will return in just a moment with the strange ending to tonight's story. Meantime, for Signal Oil Company and the almost 2,000 signal dealers throughout the states of California, Oregon...
Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. I want to wish you a very happy 1948. May your new year be filled with peace, prosperity, and the good health. with which to enjoy these blessings. And now back to The Whistler. the marriage of Lydia Winters Larkin ended in murder on a New Year's Eve at a place called Silver Lake Lodge where she and her husband Elliot had spent their honeymoon just a year before.
There's a complete record now in the files of the Homicide Division. A record of a detective's curiosity over the crash of a northbound airplane and the supposed death of a passenger named Elliot Larkin. of an investigation that led to a quick arrest and a complete confession. At police headquarters, Mr. Ballinger, the attorney, was remarkably philosophical.
As the lieutenant read the whole amazing story from a hurriedly prepared transcript of the confession. I can't say that I'm surprised, lieutenant. I was afraid from the beginning that Philip's will would lead to something like that. Yes, the will, of course, gives us a solid motive.
Oh, well, we already figured we'd find something like that. Oh, there's one more paragraph to the confession. Do you want to hear it? Yes, read on, please. Well, it goes on to say, once I knew that Johnny Gates was on that northbound plane traveling as Elliot Larkin...
The way seemed perfectly clear. As soon as we got to the cabin, I got hold of a gun and waited for my opportunity. The first chance I had, I pulled the trigger twice without any warning, and it was all over. And then there's the signature, of course.
The only thing I don't understand, Lieutenant, is how you were able to make the arrest so quickly. A good hunch on the part of one of the boys. You see, when he found out that Larkin was due up in Seattle on that new job, he flew up there as a matter of routine. Well, after that, of course, the arrest was... Oh, they're bringing in the prisoner now. Do you want to... Yes, I'll stay. All right, Sergeant. In here. I, uh...
I don't know how you ever expected to give by with this, Larkin. Does that matter now? Johnny Gates traveling in my name, I thought I had a perfect alibi. So I killed him. And until our man walked in on you in Seattle... You still didn't know that your alibi had blown up on that plane. Yeah. Funny thing, too. That night in the car, Lydia asked me if I'd heard a newsflash. It must have been about that plane. I wonder why she didn't tell me.
Let that whistle be your signal for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler. Each Wednesday night at the same time, brought to you by the Signal Oil Company, marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and fine quality automotive accessories. We're back with Old Time Radio Essentials. This is Paul with Pete and Pat, and that was an episode of...
The Whistler, originally broadcast on CBS Radio on New Year's Eve, 1947. And now, Pete, since this was your pick, tell us why you chose this particular episode. Well, I'm... fan of the whistler i think when i first heard it in the 90s i bought a collection of cassette tapes through the old wireless catalog that they had for public radio
back in the day, and listened to them over and over again. I thought they were terrific. Now, I'm not a fan of modern radio having a third-person narrator, but... This was perfect. The whistler was there. He saw what was going on. He would be talking to you, the audience at home, but also mentioning, like, so, John Smith. You didn't think that was going to go your way, did it? That sort of thing. So it really worked well. And when I first heard it...
I thought that that was Raymond Massey. I think he sounds so much like the actor Raymond Massey. It's not, and I can't remember his name, whoever plays him. Well, there were a number of people who played them. Bill Foreman was one. him than in the initial episodes, sounding like Raymond Massey. And if...
Raymond Massey had been brought in, he would have done it even better, I think. So it's like... Yay for us Canadian folk. Yeah, kind of a nice treat, really, to hear that. But because it's New Year's, I wanted to find a show that is going to... reflect the new year. And this popped up when I did a search of old-time radio New Year's. And it was perfect because we haven't... discussed The Whistler yet, and it's a favorite series of mine. I've listened to many, many episodes over the years.
And I thought that this one was pretty good with Gerald Moore and Betty Lou Gerson as his wife. Yep. Betty Lou, the voice of Cruella de Vil in the original cartoon. Okay. Both of them sneaky and... conniving and out to get whatever they can get. What charming people. What charming people. The uncle played by old standby Joseph Kearns, who was in so many. Funny, it didn't sound like him. It...
I thought for sure it was Joseph Kearns. No, it didn't. No, because, yeah, it sounds sort of like him. Okay. I could be wrong about that. And, of course, the beautiful dulcet tones of Marvin Miller as the announcer. Oh. man yeah he's the guy him paul freeze william conrad you can listen to them reading the phone book and just have a hell of a good time oh yeah so much good stuff so i thought that the story itself
Was pretty good. The characters were well-rounded. I thought that they were given free reign. They were like horses. They were given their head to go and do. This role to the utmost of their ability, I thought. Well, still playing it believably. That's the key thing. Very believably. I did find that it was a believable story. The stars doing their utmost to present themselves.
As conniving and despicable as possible. You just love that kind of thing. And just a wonderful story with, oh my God, a twist ending. I wasn't expecting the whole time. I'm thinking. that they killed each other at the end, I thought. You know it's not going to end well for them.
Whatever happens. But I thought it was a situation where maybe the drink that the husband gave the wife was poisoned and she was going to drink it and then shoot him and then die. I thought it was going to be a thing like that. I didn't expect. that the husband would also have a gun and shoot her before she had a chance to shoot him. That was pretty good. And you do hear two gunshots, though. You hear two gunshots, so it really does.
Well, I thought, didn't she end up with two bullets in her? I think so, yeah. But, you know, you hear two shots, and it could very well have been they each shot at the same time, so they killed each other that way. And then... It's tricky. And then the hidden fact that she knew something about the man whose identity he stole and that he didn't know that. And that's how he was captured. That was really clever. That was something that I've never seen before or heard in.
time radio play so that was really good you know the the stolen identity bit is Time-worn. Suspense did. Oh, yeah. A couple of handfuls of the stolen identity. How many original plots are there? I put my ring on his finger and everybody thought it was me. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So it's been done a lot. Even the Whistler did one called Impulse. Yep. I wrote one that was an homage to Impulse called Miami Impulse.
So that's all I have. Paul, you're next. Tell us what you thought. I've never really listened to The Whistler. I don't know why. I know it was kind of like one of the bigger names in the stories, but I never really did listen to The Whistler. So this was kind of like my first attempt at it, which afterwards I'm like, don't ask.
kind of surprising why why haven't i because i usually tried when i started getting into it listening to the bigger shows you know and the ones that ran the longest and stuff and so i don't know why i haven't listened to the list but but i i think I think the issues I had with the show were it seemed a little, I guess, formulaic maybe, and... Maybe it's just my inner self that I prefer dealing with people who are more nice.
And so I just kind of had an aversion maybe a bit to the show because the people were a couple of douche canoes, you know? That's a new word I've never heard before. So I just... I didn't gravitate to it as much. Pauly probably heard that in the Navy. Anyhow. I think maybe I'm just too nice of a person to listen to people who are that evil, you know, and even though I swear a lot, but that's just...
It's that or I'll have an aneurysm and die right now. It's kind of like a pressure relief valve. It is. It absolutely is. I'm going to have to go back and listen to more. of The Whistler, because I have a strange feeling it's going to grow on me. Yeah, there are some amazing episodes, like Death Carries a Lunch Kit, and it's a World War II episode about a saboteur.
and a factory and it is like Elliot Lewis plays it and just the tension ratchets up and up and up and fate keeps throwing roadblocks in his way. And of course he gets his in the end by a quirk of fate, but it is so brilliantly played. See, now I'll take your review on that. That's one of the best episodes. That might be the next episode I listen to. So, um...
I mean, it was well done. It was a well-crafted episode. Because we've had some that really sound like two people with tin cans with strings and stuff like that. This sounded like it was a well-put-together show.
Mind you, I think the whistling at the beginning was a little bit strong. There was a woman who did that. That was a woman who did it live every episode. It was kind of like... you know like it was blowing out my earphones i'm like holy yeah shut that down a bit but uh other than that i said it was From a technical aspect, it was very well done and everything. I think it'll grow on me. So I will give it kind of a thumb in the middle. We're not voting yet.
I know, but when we do, I think that's kind of where I'll be shooting. It's just thumb in the middle. Yeah, there's another good episode called The Cistern. So there's two on your list now. Death carries a lunch kit. What about the brethren? The cistern. Brethren and cistern. The cistern, yeah. Pet? Yeah, okay. My turn. Well... As a radio actress.
I love characters like this. They are thoroughly detestable, horrible people. Even the uncle, like, okay, he dies. I was hoping he'd get something worse than that, like a painful screaming death or something like that. You know, his electric blanket shorts. out he's a bedwetter and his electric blanket shorts out and zap something like that you know
But he kind of got off easy. For me, the big logical fallacy is a will that requires people to get married or to get divorced or to live together, stuff like that. That is not enforceable. It is not enforceable. That will could not stand. But most people don't know that. Most people then certainly didn't know that. You just have to suspend your disbelief and accept that point.
And 10 years is a long time. That's an incredibly long time. Yeah. So it's, you know, that to me is the big fallacy. Now, what is cool is the money at stake, the inheritance would have been half a million dollars. Half a million dollars in 1947 works out to $7,042,530.80 in 2024. So that is a great deal of money. I wasn't really buying it until you threw in that 80 cents. Yeah. 80 cents. What are you going to do with that 80 cents?
Like a lot of shows then, I noticed they will use sums of money that are just insanely big. Yeah, half a million doesn't sound like that much to us. I mean, it's still a lot of money. But when you figure, yeah, that's worth more than seven million bucks, you can see why these people would do anything to get their hands on it.
Soon as I heard about the plot device of the guy, you know, oh, you take my place on the plane and use my ticket and stuff like that, that I figured, OK, that is going to end really badly. Fate being fate. that's going to go haywire. That is going to go south. And, you know, for me, I was even thinking when I heard about the plane crash, did this guy set up the other guy? Did he do something to bring down the plane? I was wondering that too.
How far in advance had he come up with his plan of getting her out of the way? You know, it's and I think the two characters came across as even more repulsive because remember back when this was done, marriage was still very, very much a sacred thing. You know, here we get. crappy reality shows like married at first sight and literally two people meet for the first time and you know the cameras follow how they get along and stuff like that and
Yeah, and even, you know, 1969, the Tiny Tim and Miss Vicky wedding on The Tonight Show. That is just marriage. There was still sanctity of marriage back in 1947. So the fact that these two characters were going into it like, oh, well, I don't really love you much. You don't really love me much. Let's just get married and see what happens. That's just... That would have made the characters even more despicable to listeners at the time.
You know, for me, I've heard a lot of episodes of The Whistler, as you can tell. Not so much heard as listened to, because that's how I hone my radioacting technique. I listen to this stuff, figure out what they're doing, how they're doing it, etc. And I'm a really good mimic. So that's what I do. That's how I practice it, etc. And listen to it multiple times and just pick it apart that way. So it was fun for me to do that.
Listening to all these episodes of The Whistler, I'm amazed at how many thoroughly despicable people there are in this world. Until I remember... In ancient Greek philosophy, Plato came up with the concept of a ring that gives the wearer complete anonymity. They're invisible. Nobody can hear them, see them, nothing. You can do whatever you want now.
would you do good or would you do evil well obviously an evil man is immediately going to do evil but even a good man is going to eventually realize hey i've got this incredible power why don't i use it and they will become corrupted and we still have that today it's called the internet you see the same thing the greater internet wad theory where people turn into complete jerks lose all empathy etc because
They're on the Internet and they can get away with this. It's the power of the anonymity. You know, so human nature has not changed much since ancient Greece. That's only one of the ways it hasn't changed much. all kinds of others uh greed is a huge motivator there are people who will do anything for money anything commit murder commit who knows what and the vicious uncle philip there coming up with this
will of, no, you're going to stay together. If you get married, you're going to stay together. And they don't even find out about this until after the old fart is dead. And they're already married. So he's just determined, I'm going to... I'm going to twist the knife. I'm going to get them. I'm going to show them marriage should be a sacred thing. You don't go into it just for the heck of it, knowing you can divorce, et cetera.
You know, so listening to that, like, yeah, that whole family is screwy. We can see where Lillian inherited this. Her whole family is mental illness and... Psychopathy does not merely run in her family. It practically gallops, to quote arsenic and old lace. Yeah, and the fact in Whistler episodes, there's always going to be a twist of fate. Sometimes I can figure it out well ahead of time. But more often than not, it does take me by surprise.
I was wondering, you mentioned, did the husband set up his friend to die in the plane crash? I was wondering the whole time if the wife might have had a hand in that. It could have gone that way.
I think that's... that's why it was written that way to always keep you wondering whom can i trust here and how soon did the wife come up with this plan how soon did the husband come up with this plan and you know the poor guy who swaps tickets with him his friend you know like the sacrificial lamb here going to slaughter and um the thing about the um you know when he was in the car and he didn't hear the news broadcast i kept thinking no he must have heard it and he's pretending he didn't
And it turns out, no, he did not hear it. She heard it in there. And it is fascinating. And I find so often things happen in life and. You hate them. You cannot figure out why this happened. But then eventually, sometimes often fairly soon after, you find out there was a darn good reason for that happening. All these things in The Whistler.
these things that you think are unimportant, they happen for a reason. It's fascinating that way. It really moves. There's nothing wasted in terms of what happened, the plot points. Yeah. Now, what is cool is... You know, the character keeps talking about humble pie. Well, how does that taste, dear? Humble pie, I found out looking at historical reenactment videos and such. Humble pie was actually a dish made of the humbles or the guts of deer.
Like venison, because venison was the rich person's meat. Only the landlord, and it was always a lord, was able. to um hunt this if you were caught poaching it you would be you'd be hanged for it it was that serious so the rich man you know that the deer would be caught and
roasted and that. But the humbles, the innards, were given to the lowly servants and to the poor in a well-seasoned dish called humble pie. So they'd eat the humbles. That is so cool. And it goes back centuries, you know, to the medieval era. So, okay, and let's vote. Now, what are we voting on, dear listener? Well, as a reminder, we are voting on one, whether this particular episode is a true representative installment of the overall series, and B,
whether or not it's a true essential, you know, a standalone show that belongs in every radio aficionado's collection. And again, Pete, since this was your selection, you go first. Thank you. I believe that this is definitely a representative episode of The Whistler. You've got the opening, the whistle, you've got the scene set, you've got the... conflict, you've got the whistler taunting them, you've got all kinds of things being thrown at them, and then you've got the twist. So it's all there.
Paul is not as familiar with that, but I believe that it is definitely, it hits all the bases and punches all the buttons. So yes, it's definitely a representative installment. And I'm a little torn on whether or not it is a true essential. It's good. It's very good. But I think there are other episodes of The Whistler that are better. So I would have to say yes to one and no to be, because there are other episodes of The Whistler that would qualify more as a true essential.
So that's how I feel about that. Paul, what do you say? Yes. Now, I feel like I almost feel like I shouldn't vote. this time but just because i feel like i really need to listen to more of the whistler i kind of started off on the wrong foot with the thing and then like the second time i'm listening to it i was enjoying it more
But I still, like I said, I was still finding myself just a bit kind of turned off to the whole thing just because of the kind of douche canoes that the two people were, you know? And... I think if I listen to more episodes, it'll make me more of a believer. Okay. but uh it's perfectly okay for you to abstain from oh i know i know we've done that plenty of times but um and i can't really comment then on how it is with the rest of this series
I'll have to default to you guys for that one. Whether it's a good episode on its own, I'm going to give it a half thumb up, half thumb down. Okay. Okay. The thumb in the middle. And whether it's an essential, I'll have to get back to you on that one. I feel like I've been a real cop out this month because I just wasn't.
strongly one way or the other with the show. It was just kind of, it's all right. There's an awful lot of stuff out there that is just meh, all right, and then every so often you find something really brilliant. And then you find something really terrible. Thank God we haven't had any of that terrible stuff. Oh, I know. I didn't say a word. And echoing footsteps that sound like...
Gastrointestinal distress. Loud farts. Loud wet farts. Or is it gastrointestinal stuff that sounds like footprints or footsteps? Foot stops, foot stops. It's your vote, Pat. Well, as I said, it is a really cool series. There is fantastic stuff in it. some people who are even worse than these two main characters and some who are a lot better and more sympathetic. There's even an episode that does have a happy ending. It's a Christmas episode. And that's a real twist.
It really is. This one, yeah, this is one episode where it is fun to listen to, but I have heard way better episodes of this series. Way better. So completists would want to have it. But I wouldn't really use this to represent the series. So we're pretty much in agreement, I think, you know? I think so, too. Apart from the guy sitting on the fence, yeah. The guy with half a thumb up. No, no, that's not what he said. Okay. All right.
And that's it. Okay. Well, folks, this brings us to the end of episode 47. Or if you live in a parallel universe, episode 10 of season four with Pat Rosebank, Paul Arbisi, and me, Pete Lutz. Next go around, it'll be Pat's pick and what... show will you be bringing us, Pat? Well, with a thoroughly hateful main character named Elliot, of course, let's deal with a nice one. Next time, let's do On Stage with Kathy and Elliot Lewis, which is a brilliant anthology series.
from 1953 to 1954, but it never ever had a sponsor. Because this was at the end of the golden age of radio and sponsors were sending all their money to TV. But that meant sponsors couldn't interfere with radio because they weren't there. Ah, yes. So they could take all kinds of risks, and they did. They were the first person on radio to actually use the term douche canoe. Will we hear Kathy call Elliot the douche canoe? Tune in and find out.
I have to say, my next line says, sounds like a good one, Pat. And now, Paul, Pat, tell the masses what they need to know. Old Time Radio Essentials is a production of 63 Audio, a proud member of the Mutual Audio Network. Subscribe on any podcatcher you may use by searching under Mutual Audio Network. Radio Company, and Moonlight Audio Theater.
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They're striking. They're striking. No, no, no. They was ordered back. They'll strike again in May. We don't have a Patreon. You don't ask for any money. Just your time. And those beautiful, delicate, shell-like ears of yours. What does that mean? Anyway, feedback is one of the only ways we can tell if you're listening, aside from the echo. So be sure to drop us a line, and thanks.
I was actually describing your ears, Paul. They're so beautiful. Get a room. We're going out with new exit music. I'm all flushed now. Get out of that toilet. I'm reclaimed. But anyways, let's wrap things up and vamonos, hey. Thanks, Pat. Thanks, Pauly. And please, dear listener, join us next time, won't you, for another fun installment of Old Time Radio Essentials. Happy New Year and bye-bye for now. Thank you.
Wait a minute. I wrote one that was an homage to Impulse called Miami Impulse. If a man gives you flowers. Remember those commercials? Impulse body spray. If a man you don't know gives you flowers and I'm thinking, yeah, run! That is, I'm reminded of it now. I'd forgotten about those. That's very funny. Hi, I work at the cemetery. I had some left. They seem to fit you, they're lilies. 63 audio. This is mutual.
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