Old-Time Radio Essentials Episode 50

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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 up 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 to Season 5 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 50. Also known as our fourth episode of 2025, a.k.a. episode one, our season five premiere. Yay! My name is Pete. I'm Paul. And this is Pat.

Now, we are fans of old-time radio, and if you're tuning in, you probably are too. 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, for our Season 4 finale, we presented my pick, which was an episode of... dangerous assignment from 1950 called Investigate Flying Saucers, in case you missed it.

Today is Pete's choice, and what are we hoping the new season with, Sparky? Yes, knowingly. As you know, I like kicking off a new season with an episode that starred or guest starred my radio hero, Orson Welles. My pick for this installment is no exception, but actually it's not my pick. And that leads me to introduce our special.

guest, essential listener, Andy. Welcome to the show, Andy. Hi, Andy. Welcome to the board. I don't know what you're in for. I've heard the show. I know what I'm in for. Tell us a little bit about yourself, Andy. Well, I'm a voice actor. I host a podcast. You may have heard of it or not. If you haven't, you're about to. Bat Soup, and currently known as Condensed.

Batsoup, the old-time radio adventures of Superman, often with Batman and Robin. Former broadcaster. I am a family man and all around gadabout town. But enough about Pat. How's everybody? Anywho, we're opening with a particular episode of my favorite iteration of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Gielgud as Sherlock Holmes and Sir Ralph Richardson as Dr. Watson. And of course... Orson Welles in this episode plays Professor Moriarty, and this episode is known as The Final Problem.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes with Gielgud and Richardson was a British radio show produced by Harry Allen Towers. There's a joke in there somewhere, Harry. Yeah, I thought so too. Which aired on both the BBC and NBC between 1954 and 1955. The shows were directed by Val Gielgud and... John's brother. Ah, I thought it was going to be his wife. No, no, no. He didn't have a wife. Ah, oh. Funny he never married.

and Martin C. Webster, and written by John Keir Cross. The final problem was the second-to-last episode of the series and aired April 17, 1955. Now, many different actors have teamed up over the years to play Holmes and Watson on the radio, and we're not going to bore you by listing them now. However, aside from our featured team today, we cannot possibly forget the most famous pairing of the detective and the doctor.

That would be Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, who first played the characters on film and then on the air. Even Orson Welles played Holmes once in his radio adaptation of William Gillette's famous stage play as an episode of the Mercury Theatre on the air. So now, without further delay, we present The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and the episode entitled The Final Problem from NBC, broadcast on April 17th, 1955. Take it away, Andy!

And now, friends, adjust your radio dials to the proper frequency. Get comfortable and listen. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. We present the original stories of the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Dramatized anew with Sir John Gilgood as Sherlock Holmes, Sir Ralph Richardson as Dr. Watson, and today, Orson Welles as Professor Moriarty.

It is with a heavy heart that I come before you with the last adventure of my friend Sherlock Holmes that I shall be able to relate. I have tried in my humble way... to chronicle some of our exploits together, to demonstrate the singular gifts of that most remarkable of men. It lies with me now to tell you what occurred between Holmes...

and his archenemy, Professor Moriarty, when at last they came face to face. Mr. Sherlock Holmes, your efforts on the side of law and order have seriously inconvenienced me. The situation between us is becoming an impossible one, Mr. Holmes. It simply cannot go on. One or the other of us must die. Must die, Mr. Holmes.

It was in the spring of 1891. You will remember, perhaps, that after my marriage and return to private practice, Holmes and I had drifted apart a little. I followed the newspaper reports of his cases, of course. and called on him quite often at the old rooms in baker street even so however many weeks would sometimes elapse between our meetings and so it was with some surprise one april evening

that I looked up and saw him standing before me in my study. Good evening, Watson. Ah, good evening, Holmes. Have you a cigarette for me? Holmes, it... Great heavens, ma'am, how ill you look. Oh, I dare say I've been using myself up rather too freely of late, old friend. You've no objection if I close your window shutters? No. Of course not. You're not afraid of anything, are you?

Well, to tell you the truth, I am, rather. Well, it's not like you, Holmes. What is it? Air guns. Air guns? What on earth do you mean? There's a new and deadly type of air gun, Watson, which has been specially designed by... An old acquaintance of ours. What, Professor Moriarty? We can only be he from your tone. The same. A match. Give me a match, will you, my dear fellow? Yes, of course. Oh, thank you.

Is Mrs. Watson at home? Oh, no, she's on a visit to an aunt. I'm quite alone. Good, good. That makes it easier for me to propose that you should come away with me for a few days. Oh, delighted. But where? Oh, the continent. Somewhere abroad. Huh? Abroad? Yeah. Is that whiskey in the decanter there? Yeah. Now, look here, Holmes. What's all this about?

There's something more serious in your manner than... You never did quite believe in the iniquities of Moriarty, did you, Watson? You've said so more than once. i felt you exaggerated a bit after all professor moriarty's a respectable figure in public life just so and that's the very genius of the man

Even you, Watson, knowing me as you do, can't quite believe me when I tell you that he corrupts all London with his evil influence. Oh, I can't quite believe that. Oh, of course, to the world he's still the professor, the great mathematician. He's respectable. But what real proof have you that he's anything else? None. Well. At least, not until this last month. And even now, the chain isn't quite complete.

Three days more, and I shall have him, Watson. Three days more, if I live to see them. You can't seriously suppose that your life's in danger, Holmes? No. You always loved to be melodramatic. Melodramatic? Listen, Watson, this morning, this very morning, in those old rooms of ours in Baker Street, I saw him face to face. I spoke to him. Moriarty? Your distinguished professor. Within him a criminal strain of the most diabolical kind.

That great white dome of a forehead, those hooded eyes, and the white face pushed forward, oscillating from side to side like a snake. Oh, of course, if you believe the old heresy of physiognomy. It isn't only that, of course not. I've worked for you. years to follow a thousand different threads and every one of them has led to Moriarty. He's the Napoleon of crime.

Watson, the secret organizer of almost everything evil that goes undetected in this great city of ours. There he sits motionless like a spider in the center of its web, a web with a thousand strands, and he controls them, everyone. But slowly, very slowly, my own secret plans to expose him have borne fruit. Every day my net is drawing tighter, and he knows it, Watson. He knows the danger he's in, and that was why today he came to see me.

I was playing my violin, as you know I often do when I want to think, and suddenly there he was, standing in the doorway, with his white face swaying in that evil way, peering at me with his hooded eyes. Good morning. Professor Moriarty. Good morning to you. Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe. How very charmingly you play. How kind of you to say so. Won't you be seated, Professor Moriarty?

I can spare you just five minutes. Singularly good of you, thank you. I will sit down. May I say something personal, Mr Holmes? Certainly. I'm surprised to discover... that you have rather less cranial development than one might have expected. Well, as you, on the contrary, have rather more than I had imagined, Professor.

You will recollect, I am sure, however, that Beethoven's outdid us both. However, our personal characteristics are hardly relevant to the present situation. What have you really got to say to me? Well, perhaps I only suggest it, of course. Perhaps...

It is a dangerous habit to finger loaded firearms in the pocket of one's dressing gown, Mr. Holmes. Ah, evidently you share that dangerous habit, Professor. I see that you keep your hand in the pocket of your morning coat. Supposing we lay our pistols and our cards on the table? By all means. I was about to suggest it myself. Ah, I see you favor the Mauser type, Mr. Holmes, and without a silencer. You must permit me to present you sometime with one of these small devices of my own design.

they're quite convenient in avoiding unpleasant noise you know how very kind of you professor you must ask the hangman to deliver it to me as your last request you evidently don't know me mr on the contrary i think i know you better than you know yourself

I wouldn't take up your gun again, Professor. I've already got you covered with mine. So I perceive, but I assure you it was only to give a harmless demonstration. Of the silencer? Of my own small accomplishments as a marksman, Mr. Holmes. I've read in those accounts of Dr. Watson that somewhat bovine... but no doubt amiable friend of yours that those marks on the wall there.

Made from your indoor revolver practice. Quite so. The initials there, V.R. Victoria Regina. God save her majesty. Now that I see them, it seems perhaps they're not quite as symmetrical as they might be. One side of the V is a little short, I think. Permit me to correct the slip.

admirable professor Moriarty you were perfectly right of course that little mistake has now been rectified I would like however if I may to improve upon it your bullet mark is perhaps a shade smaller than my own permit me

Admirable, Mr. Holmes. Yes, precisely above your own mark, Professor. The exact spot, I think. No, no, pray don't look alarmed. My good landlady is quite accustomed to that noise. We shall not be disturbed. I'm very glad of it, for what I have to say is not without importance, Mr. Holmes.

Shall we stop our fencing and begin? By all means, if you will permit me first to correct one statement that you made just now. Why, sir? With reference to my friend, Dr. Watson. I am afraid I can hardly permit the adjective bovine.

In his accounts of my humble exploits, he's been good enough to exaggerate my own achievements and has always been unduly modest about his own. He is a most upright and honorable gentleman, Professor, and very close to my heart. You may say what you will about me, but I can allow no derogatory words about him. Very well, Mr. Holmes. I apologize. We who are about to die salute him. At least you do. You are very certain, aren't you, Professor Moriarty?

That it is I who am going to die. There is no other course. Unless you listen to reason. The situation between us, Mr. Holmes, is becoming an impossible one. It simply cannot go on. It won't, I assure you. For these past few months, I've been working to put an end to it all at the earliest possible moment. And you have very nearly undone the careful endeavor of a lifetime, sir. Or at least have seriously threatened it. No, no, no, don't move. Your pistol again.

only taking out my memorandum book. I beg your pardon. I find it recorded here that you crossed my path on the 4th of January. On the 23rd, you incommoded me. At the middle of February, I was seriously inconvenienced by you. At the end of March, I was absolutely hampered. And now at the close of April, I find myself placed in such a position...

through your continual persecution, that I'm in positive danger of losing my liberty. That was certainly the end I had in view. Then you must drop it, Mr Holmes. You really must, you know. Not till after Monday, Professor. You know as well as I do that you've made a slip. One single tiny slip. For years I've been aware of you, Moriarty, at the centre of your organisation. Forgeries, murder cases, robberies, a thousand crimes were planned by you.

A hundred agents carried them out. Your subordinates were caught sometimes, but you never were. And yet, you know, you made that slip, that single tiny slip. And you know as well as I do that it will destroy you. In three more days my evidence will be complete. I shall have you exposed, brought to trial, condemned and hanged.

And you can do nothing whatever to prevent it. My will is inflexible. And so is mine. Three days, do you say? And before they're out, the end will come. One or the other of us must die, sir. Quite so. The five minutes is up, Professor, and I must really ask you to excuse me. In the pleasure of our conversation, I'm afraid that I've neglected business of importance elsewhere. Very well, then. Seems a pity, Mr. Holmes, that I've done what I could.

I admit that it's been an intellectual pleasure, me, to see the way in which you grappled with this affair, but I tell you solemnly, Sherlock Holmes, that if you are clever enough to bring destruction on me, you may rest assured that I shall do as much to you.

You have paid me several compliments during this interview, Professor. Let me pay you one in return when I say that if I were assured of the former eventuality, I would most cheerfully accept the latter. I can promise you the one, but not the other. Good day, Mr. Holmes. Oh, your pistol, Professor. You may need it before Monday. Thank you. Good day, Professor. I think goodbye is the word, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Goodbye.

And so it was, you see, Watson, that singular interview with the greatest criminal of all time. And his with the greatest detective. Oh, thank you, my dear fellow. But what are you going to do, Holmes? I told you, we leave for the continent. Moriarty's not the man to let the grass go under his feet. Already one or two accidents have nearly befallen me today. Upon myself? Yes. The police are gathering all my evidence against him. Everything will be complete in three short days.

Meanwhile, I can only lie low. Are you able to leave your practice to come with me? I have an accommodating neighbour. Ah, dear Watson, I knew I could count on you. All right, then. Now, these are your instructions. Listen most carefully. Instructions, Holmes? I assure you they are most necessary. Tomorrow morning at 8.45 you will take a handsome cab. I'll arrange for one to call. No, no, you really must obey me to the letter, Watson. You'll leave the house alone tomorrow morning.

and take neither the first nor the second cab which presents itself at the rank. Very well, Holmes. Hand the address to the cabman written on a slip of paper and tell him not to throw it away. And I drive. I take it to Victoria Station. On the contrary, you drive to the Strand end of the Lowther Arcade. I see.

And then... Have your fare ready and the instant your cab stops, pay him and dash through the arcade, timing yourself to reach the other side at exactly a quarter past nine. Yes, but my dear Holmes, I... Listen carefully. It's vital. Our lives depend upon it. When you get there, you will find a brougham standing close to the curb, driven by a fellow with a black cloak tipped with red.

Say nothing. Simply jump in and he'll drive you to Victoria in time for the Continental Express. And where shall I meet you, Holmes? The second coach from the front of the train, a first-class carriage reserved for us. Good night, Watson. And as you value our lives, don't forget a single word of my instructions. No, no, no, of course not, Holmes. Until we meet tomorrow, then. Until we meet.

I was infected myself with something of his own inner excitement and sense of menace. I took the handsome and then the broom with its massive hooded driver. I said nothing to him as I was instructed and he never spoke to me. A moment later we were rattling to the station. There he left me and drove off without a further glance, his face still hidden.

There was no sign of Holmes, and my heart sank miserably. I found our reserved carriage, but through some confusion, a decrepit old Italian priest was sitting there. The moment came for departure. Still, I waited by the window in a chill of fear. Excuse, signor. I'm sorry, Padre. I don't speak Italian. Nor do I, Watson. That's Holmes. No, quiet, quiet, man. This is no laughing matter. Not yet, anyway. There. You see? Stop! Stop the train! It's Moriarty himself, the tall man.

He'll never do it. Up the train, I say! Let me go, you fool! Let me go! Even the great Moriarty himself is helpless against the British railway system, Watson. Well, well, it gives us an hour's respite, at least. But how did he know where we were? By watching you, I expect. But I did everything you told me. Wait.

Holmes, the driver of the Rome. What about him? He was muffled. I didn't see his face. It must have been one of Moriarty's men. My dear Watson, it was nothing of the sort. It was my brother Mycroft, shaken for once out of his armchair at the Diogenes Club. Good heavens! The thing is serious then? Of course. But at least we have an hour.

And I can use it to take off this disguise and think things over. But we've escaped him altogether, surely, since the train connects with the boat. My dear fellow, you evidently don't realize even now that Moriarty is an opponent on practically the same intellectual plane as myself.

Do you really imagine that if I were the pursuer, I would permit myself to be baffled by so slight an obstacle as an express train? What will he do then? What I should do, engage a special. But it'll be too late, even then. By no means. We stop at Canterbury, don't forget.

And then there's always a delay of a quarter of an hour when the train gets to Dover. Oh, so you'd almost think we were the criminals to be chased like this? You mean that he'll catch us after all, then? I hope not. We shan't be there, Watson. Look, look here, Holmes, I... I hate to grumble after all this time, but really, I do think you ought to tell me what you mean. Heaven bless you for a stout and faithful friend, Watson. I'm sorry. It's only that...

Well? Well, I don't want to expose you to danger, too. That's why I'm being so mysterious. It's very simple, really. We shall just get out at Canterbury. Indeed. And not go on the consciousness after all, I suppose. Oh, yes, we must do that. We've no choice but to hide away until after Monday.

when the evidence will have been completed. You've not seen the papers this morning, I suppose. Oh, really, Holmes. What time do you think I've had for that? One must try to make time for everything, Watson. You really should have read about Baker Street. Hmm? What?

Baker Street? Yes, they set fire to our rooms last night. Mrs. Hudson was away from home, fortunately, and no one was hurt, I'm glad to say. They thought I was there, of course. Oh, my soul, the thing's intolerable, Holmes. Yes, only till Monday, Watson, and by then we'll be in Switzerland.

We'll make a cross-country journey from Canterbury and take the other boat from New Haven to Dieppe. Unless, of course. What? Our friend the Professor deduces what I would deduce and gets off at Canterbury himself. Ah. That would truly be a coup de matre. He surely never would. Well, I rather doubt it. There are limits, even to his intelligence. No, no, I think we are safe enough, old friend. And now there's time for a pipe, I fancy. Won't you join me, Watson?

And thus it befell. As we hid behind a pile of luggage at Canterbury, we saw the single carriage of the special go thundering past us. And so we made our way across country, and at last... reached Switzerland. It seemed we had eluded him. To fill in every detail of the final scene is hardly possible.

since there was no witness to it. Yet, from a certain source that I cannot yet divulge, I do know something of that last encounter. We wandered at our will through the lovely valley of the Rhone, and made our way by way of interlaken to the little township of mirigan among the alps the fatal monday came and went and yet i was still aware of a strange febrile excitement in my companion

He was at times feverishly on the alert, then sinking into reverie, and would smile strangely to himself. I went with him on that last day of all. on a visit to the falls of reichenbach forever hallowed and yet cursed in my memory it's a fearful place indeed with a torrent plunging far below into a tremendous abyss

A chasm lined by coal, black, glistening rock. High above, a pathway's been cut in the cliff face to afford a better view. But it ends abruptly in mid-air, and the traveller has to return as he came. We stood there giddily marveling at the great spectacle. And on the instant came a message for me by a village lad to say that an English lady back at the hotel was seriously ill and needed my immediate attention.

I turned to go. I looked back and I saw Holmes leaning against a rock with his arms folded, gazing down at the rush of the waters. It was the last I saw. Is that you, Watson? Back already? Well, Moriarty. Well, Sherlock Holmes. You see, I found you after all. And alone. Alone, as indeed you must be too. Now that your Confederates are all under lock and key, I've heard from Scotland Yard. I escaped. I was too clever for them, Holmes. I don't doubt it.

But I'm afraid your occupation's gone, Professor, with your organization destroyed, unless you care to return to your mathematics. It was not my intention. I have another and more immediate intention, Sherlock Holmes. Are you prepared? Before we discuss that, perhaps you extend me one small courtesy, Professor. No, certainly. What is it? My friend Watson, Professor.

No doubt he will be somewhat concerned. May I just take a moment to scribble a note to him? Certainly. We can fix the paper beneath my help and stuff there. As long as it does not blow away. Pray take as long as you wish. That's very good of you. Please don't stop talking, Professor. I mastered long ago the art of writing and conversing at the same time. Thank you. You know, of course, that the message that you write for Dr. Watson is a false one. Oh, yes, of course. I knew it at once.

and that it could only come from one source. And yet you let him go? Yes, Professor, I let him go. I am not without some affection for him. I do not wish to put his life in danger, too. Besides... Besides? I've looked forward for a long time to this final duel between us. I believe it, Holmes. You're a very remarkable man. In many ways. Many, many ways, sir.

I'm proud to have known you. Oh, and I you, Professor. There. My letter's done, then. Perhaps you'll be kind enough to place it as you suggested. Now. How shall it be, Moriarty? I did not bring a pistol, Holmes. Thank you. Your courtesy puts me to shame, Professor. Here is my pistol. It goes into the forms. Hand to hand? Yes. Goodbye, Professor Moriarty. Goodbye, Sherlock Holmes.

The end, the end. When I returned to that broken pathway, it was only too clear what had happened. It needed no great application of Holmes' own methods of deduction. Two sets of footsteps to the verge and none returning. Locked in each other's arms as they fought, they had gone down to the abyss. Only the latter... The last greeting from my friend and comrade. My dear, dear Watson, he wrote. My dear, dear Watson. I scribble this through the courtesy of Professor Moriarty.

who awaits my convenience for the final discussion of those eternal questions which lie before us. There can be but one outcome, although I fear that it is at a cost which will give pain to my friends.

and especially, my dear Watson, to you. I think, however, that I may go so far as to say that I have not lived entirely in vain. Pray tell Inspector Patterson that the papers which he needs for a full conviction of the Moriarty gang... are in pigeonhole m before leaving england i made every disposition of my property and handed it over to my brother mycroft pray give my affectionate greetings to mrs watson and remember me

as I used to be in our old days at Baker Street, pacing to and fro with my violin and driving you to a point of sad distraction with that theme you still were good enough to say you loved. Believe me to be my very dear good fellow. Yours most sincerely, Sherlock Holmes. Yours most sincerely, Sherlock Holmes. And so he perished, whom I shall ever regard as the best and wisest man that I have ever known.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, based on the original stories of the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dramatized anew by John Keir Cross, stars Sir John Gilgood as Sherlock Holmes, Sir Ralph Richardson as Dr. Watson, and today... Orson Welles as Professor Moriarty. Produced by Harry Allen Towers.

We're back with Old Time Radio Essentials. This is Paul with Pat and Pete. and essential listener Andy. And that was an episode of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, originally broadcast on NBC Radio on April 17th, 1955. And now... Andy, since this was your pick. Please tell us why you chose this particular episode. And if you feel like including the part where he bribed you $10 to pick it because of Orson Welles, feel free to say that. Other people get $10?

Huh. Pete, we got to talk. I want to talk to my agent. I have nothing to say. Payola. Probably best that way. Let's move on. Let's move on. Yes, indeed. So this episode comes from my actually favorite iteration of the Holmes and Watson radio broadcast duos. I like the writing. I like the production value. you i like the fact that they don't go off into Those bizarre adaptations where they go after a vampire. And that is based on the story, The Speckled Band. No.

No, we're not going to take any liberties. No, these stories stick to canon, and they do it quite well, in fact. And I just love it. I think Gielgud has... an immaculate voice for Holmes and Richardson does the older more we will say mature sounding Dr. Watson without being kind of doddering or goofy or scattered. I like the whole approach, top to bottom. Pat, what do you think? Well, it was interesting listening to it.

I noticed things just in the acting style. I could really tell that Richardson and Gielgud, they're trained in Shakespeare. There is that larger presence. And then you listen to Wells and his is much smaller, more intimate because he came up largely through radio. And it is a different acting technique versus, you know, being on.

on stage playing to a big crowd versus you're playing into a microphone so that was really something i thought the relationship between holmes and moriarty there was actually pathos in there Like both of them, they've spent their whole lives as antagonists, you know, their whole careers. I almost got the feeling that in their dialogue, you know, when Moriarty actually comes to visit him.

And Holmes doesn't just immediately arrest him or anything like that or doesn't try to destroy him because they both realize, I need this other guy. You know, each one has a purpose. Each one is equally a genius. at thinking like a criminal. One's using his powers for good, one's using his powers for evil. And the fact that they treat this almost like the formality of a duel. We're going through this because this is just the way things are done. These are the rules.

You know, they even go into your standard thing where the villain or the antagonist tells the other one exactly what he is working on, his plot. You know, in this case, each is kind of telling the other. You know, I'm going to be destroying you and shortly three days and I'll have all the information I need to bring you down. But there's almost a world weariness, especially in Moriarty. You figure this is the Napoleon of crime. This is the great mastermind.

They both are armed. They could each just blow each other away right then and there. But they don't. So maybe it is almost like a game to them. And each realizes his life is going to be a lot emptier. without the other and this is a really big step that they are coming to you know one says i'm going to destroy you the other says i'm going to destroy you this is just the way it's got to be it's almost like

you know those warner brothers card the warner brothers cartoons morning sam morning ralph they go through this is what their job is my job is to try to steal the sheep your job is try and stop me from stealing the sheep And they go through and still, you know, they clock in in the morning, they do their stuff. And then end of the day, they clock out. They eat lunch together. Yeah. Like it's, you know, this is, I almost got a bit of that feeling. I must mention the closing announcer, Moriety.

Moriarty. Have you ever heard any of this stuff? Professor Moriarty. Who told you this? Moriarty. Moriarty. venture into other episodes, and I encourage you to do so if you're listening, you will find a very different announcer on every other episode. It's almost jarring. Pete, I'm really curious. What are your thoughts? We could do a two-minute silence. I'm so glad you asked. I've read nearly all of the Sherlock Holmes stories. And whereas...

Moriarty makes several appearances in the movies and the TV shows in the other radio series. He was only in The Final Problem and was never mentioned before. Which is why when Watson says that old bugaboo or something like that, he doesn't believe he even really exists and so on. But in this case... I didn't sense the weariness that you did, Pat. I sensed more of the frustration that Moriarty was having his, I'll put it bluntly, his dick stepped on at every turn.

by sherlock holmes and and he felt everything closing in so he finally arrives and and says something to him and they're armed yes and they have a temporary truce so they can each hear what the other one has to say. Now, when on a tangent here, when Watson kept getting called away, it was through some subterfuge of Moriarty. And I was afraid, you know. Holmes treated that kind of nonchalantly like he didn't think, he was fairly certain that Watson wouldn't be harmed by Moriarty's men.

But even though I knew what the story was, I didn't feel that same way. I felt a little trepidation for poor old Watson. Now, let me say, to agree with Andy, this is a wonderful iteration. of the detective and the doctor. It's just terrific. I first heard the Speckled Band with Gilgood. That was the very first one I ever heard. I received a collection of old-time radio.

tapes in 1982 for Christmas from my girlfriend at the time. She sent it to me and I got it when I was on my first ship overseas. I opened it on Christmas morning. I thought, wow. And I played all these tapes for like 20 years. And so it is wonderful. So The Speckled Band is the first one I heard. And I had never even heard that Gielgud and Richardson had been. Holmes and Watson. For me, it was only Rathbone and Bruce because...

I grew up with WGN TV, which showed all of the old Sherlock Holmes movies. And let's get into a little bit about the different... iterations where if you think Moriarty is pronounced wrong, what about the series for Petri Wine when the announcer says that Dr. Watson's first name is James? They do that in this too. When it's actually John. Yeah, they do that in the series.

They do. And our storyteller, Dr. James Watson. But that's not in this episode. Okay. I was confused. I thought it was a different series where they did that. It could be. The acting is so great. It's just wonderful.

all of the characters, you know, and it's a small cast. You know, it's basically Holmes Watson and Moriarty and the announcer. But the announcer doesn't have anything to do. He doesn't sit and drink Petri wine with Dr. Watson at the beginning, which is just... annoying as heck in the other series. Dr. Watson, how are you still alive in 1950-something? And this all happened in 1950. Oh, my boy. It's the wonderful restorative properties of Petri wine, don't you know? It's the wine.

Now, here's the thing. Here's the thing. That particular trope, if you can call it that, was not new. I was... looking for previous episodes of the different Sherlock Holmes stories, and there was one that was done in the 30s. The final problem was done in the 30s, and it was sponsored by G. Washington Coffee. And so the announcer went to Dr. Watson's home and Dr. Watson offered him some G. Washington coffee. Oh, geez. Yeah. Then I started listening to the episode and it was.

I don't know what I was hearing. I have no idea what I was hearing because it went, it started off in some weird location and Holmes and Watson are walking and talking about, I don't know what. So I just, I turned that off because it was like, this is not, this is going to spoil my enjoyment. Sponsor interference? Then he was attacked by a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Yeah. So.

For me, I'll sum it up. I really enjoyed it. I'm glad that you brought this to us, Andy, and that's all I have to say about that. Paul? We're not going to start talking about boiled shrimp, are we? Now I'm hungry. They liked it. Shrimp at two-five. I thought it was very well done, very professional actors and everything. I don't know. I guess maybe it was a little bit highbrow for me because I'm used to the...

other pairing of, you know, Nigel Bruce and, uh, you know, the other guy with a big nose. Yeah. Basil Rathbone. Or was that Basil? According to that announcer. Maybe a little wraithy bony, but I thought it was very good, you know, and just the kind of tit for tat between the guys and everything. And yeah, I do feel more like cat and mouse where Moriarty thought he was the cat. You know, and he was just...

Oh, he's getting fed up with this damn Sherlock Holmes the mouse who keeps getting in his way. So it's like, now I got to finally clean my claws on him. Well, the way Moriarty insulted the size of Holmes' head was... way holmes did it right back that was yeah that's where it's like oh i and yours is so much bigger than i expected yes but but uh beethoven has us both beat yes yes

Yeah, so I liked it a lot. It was very good, but it was a little bit too serious for me. I always thought the Nigel Bruce ones and the Basil Rathbone ones were... A little bit more upbeat. A little bit more fun than this. These were fairly too serious with their... There was a lot of weight behind what they were saying to each other and everything. So I was just like, okay. I mean, I'll listen to the other ones also because it was very well done.

But given the choice, I think I'd go with the Rathbone Bruce ones myself. Okay, well, that's certainly a choice. That's because I'm the lowbrow one of the group.

Oh, you have no idea. Whatever. I will say that in this iteration, some of the, because this episode, it is more serious. It is a little darker. And as Pete pointed out, the casting is more intimate. So everything has this feeling of almost urgency about it because you know something's going to happen. You just don't know when or how.

But if you check out the episode, The Six Napoleons, that one's an awful lot of fun. The Norwood Builder is a good time. And The Red-Headed League, also highly recommend. Yeah, that one is... From this pairing. The original story, The Red-Headed League, was fairly comical as well. So yeah, it was kind of a farce, really, with that. And that was a good story. It struck me that I could compare...

Comparing to James Bond, say, the movies, Gielgud and Richardson are the Sean Connery of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Roger Moore. Rather, Rathbone. And Bruce are the Roger Moore of Holmes and Watson. I might be pushing a little too far. If you follow my drift. Anybody else have anything to add? Pat, no? Okay, good. Okay, let's vote.

What are we voting on, dear listener? As a reminder, we are voting on A, whether this particular episode is a true representative installment of the overall series, and two, whether or not it is a true essential, a standalone show that belongs in... every radio aficionado's collection. And again, Andy, since this was your selection, please go first. I think it absolutely belongs as a standalone.

especially if you are the kind of an OTR listener that likes to get a sense of how things were done across different formats. And so in that regard, yeah, it's... perfectly representative, stands alone. And I also think it's a representative sample of the overall series because even though, as Paul pointed out, it is more serious. it does have that sense of urgency and perhaps darkness to it. That's part of the thing with that whole era and that genre. So I feel like it's a strong gateway.

to a bigger world. And I think this series maybe had, what, 13, maybe 14 episodes total? And it's not a big ask to listen to the whole thing, which you really ought to do. Are all of them available? Absolutely. They are, as far as I know. As a matter of fact, I have them all. I didn't know that the next episode happened because the collection that I originally had didn't include it, which is The Adventure of the Empty House.

Which is, you know, the next story after Conan Doyle was finally pressured in the, what I like to think of as the original Star Trek letter writing campaign. you know this this series that that story when it appeared in the strand almost bankrupt this the strand because of cancelled subscriptions wow yeah and it was public pressure that caused conan doyle to bring Holmes back. Well, he did a good job because the empty house is a terrific story. Yeah. How he reveals himself, how he...

explains what happened and so on. It's really terrific. And then you have Colonel Sebastian Moran introduced for the first time as well in that one. And that again is a great adaptation. As Moriarty's lieutenant, yeah. So yes and yes. Great. Pat?

yeah it is really something to listen to even though each story is only half an hour long and you know there have been dramatizations of it that are at least twice that long it doesn't feel rushed it's got a good pacing to it You know, listening to it, so many of these really tense situations in it, the little voice in the back of my mind is saying, OK, that's got to be Holmes in disguise or.

Okay, I know what's going to happen. And I did, even though I hadn't read the original story before listening to these. So I'm kind of going in fresh. Yeah, this is something I listened to it in bed at night. Nice thing to drift off to just let my mind wander into it. It worked. There is one more episode that I found was even heavier than this one. And was it the missing detective? The dying detective. The dying detective. Yeah. You know, you honestly think Holmes.

is dying. It is so convincing. And then you find out the reasoning for it. And the little device that was used in that, you know, or the little thing, you know, with the infected needle springs out. It is amazing. But yes. this is one to have in your collection great great okay well i agree with the two of you um it's definitely a true representative installment of this particular This is, for me, a standalone show because it's got Holmes, it's got Watson, and it's got...

Orson Welles' Moriarty. And it's just very wonderful drama. I think the sound effects are terrific. I get the feeling that they were... Without being overwhelming. They're not overly complex. I got the feeling that they were close to the falls.

without the Falls interrupting what they were saying or making them talk too loud over it. That was just a nice, subtle thing. I think the acting overall, for me, I didn't see it as... uh stagey i felt it felt natural to me and when wells came in of course he's not english he's american but he put on enough of a posh voice that you could believe him as English, for sure. So, Paul, what do you think? How do you vote?

It was a very good standalone, and it's also very indicative of the series itself. Thank you. Economy of Words, brought to you by... Yeah. That's it? Really? I think you guys covered it well enough. Okay.

Well, folks, this brings us to the end of episode 50, or if you live in a parallel universe, episode one of season five with Paul RBC, Pat Rosebank, and me, Pete Lutz. We want to give major props and huge thanks to essential listeners. and my good pal, Andy, for joining us today. Thanks, Andy. Thanks, Andy. Glad to see you, man. Next go around, it'll be Pat's pick. And what show will you be bringing us, Pat? I want to sort of stay with the Shakespearean thing and yet drag in Canadian stuff.

I want to do an episode of Wayne and Schuster, who started out in radio, and they were actually, when they moved into TV, they were... on the Ed Sullivan Show more than any other guests. 67 times. And yet they still refused to settle in the States. They wanted to stay in Canada. So Canadian OTR there. Okay. What year is that from, you think? Oh, they started out in the 40s, and then they continued into the 50s and such. Then they got into TV, like on the CBC, in the 50s.

You know, most of us of my age remember watching their super specials, it was called, on CBC TV in the 70s and 80s. Okay. Sounds like a good one, Pat. Yeah. Now, Pat, Paul and Andy, 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 podcaster you may use by searching under Mutual Audio Network, Narada Radio Company, and Moonlight Audio.

theater and Andy I understand that you and Pete now co-own moonlight audio theater right that is correct and we've actually got quite a compliment of really creative content creators who are allowing to give their previously released production, our productions, a new audience at Moonlight. And for example, in July, we had 16 shows. Cool. That's a lot. Over the course of four Sundays. It is. Wow.

Pete does a great job curating that. And two of those were actually brand new shows from our friends at Project... audion and um it's a really cool place to hang out you should check it out i always love project audio i'm always a blast to do that everyone's great over there yep yep absolutely and we should all know Yeah. Yeah. So you've got room for old and new shows.

Yes, original material. Welcome. The more the merrier. In fact, the episode we're doing right now was released on Moonlight on July 27th. Andy, of course, is currently speaking in future tense. I'll be tense tomorrow. I'll be tense tomorrow. I'll be tense tomorrow. My script says we love hearing from listeners. Well, don't we? Sure. I guess so. Yeah. Yeah.

So if you're a listener and if you have feedback or suggestion or a future episode and you're in the future tense, write to us at F6.3 at Gmail. Back to my announcer voice. If we take your suggestion, we'll give you some nifty Narada swag. Look, we don't have a Patreon. We don't ask for any money. Just your time and your shell-like ears.

Anyway, feedback is one of the only ways we can tell if you're listening. So please be sure to drop us a line. And thank you. Before we close, do either of you have any projects coming up that you'd like to plug? Andy, you can jump in too with anything you've got going. uh just bat soup condensed bat soup featuring two episodes of the adventures of superman and uh what we like to call uh condensed bat soup extra helping which is a seemingly random

episode of another old time radio show unrelated to the Superman or the Batman. I say seemingly unrelated. I work really hard to pick those until I don't. until it's Thursday evening and I drop at midnight and I'm like, oh my God, I need one. What are we going to do? All right, Miss Brooks, fine. Oh, jeez. Yeah. Procrastinate? What? Who? Me? I'll tell you later. Anybody else got anything?

Nothing else going on? Okay. Well, I'm involved with one show that's going to be coming out for the last week of... Sonic Summerstock over on Mutual and that's my adaptation of The Stranger, the Orson Welles movie. Okay. Well, Andy, you know, we're putting up bad soup at Moonlight and we're catching up on your back catalog there. And so that's good. I hope we get some feedback on that because I think it's a lot of fun.

the way you're putting it together with your prologue, your lead-in is new, and then you play the entire episode, and then you have special features that are added to it, which is just... A heck of a lot of fun. I appreciate that. I encourage people to listen to Bat Soup. It's there. We've got...

38 of your episodes up so far i think yeah so condensed bat soup i think i'm getting ready to cross the 130 episode threshold one good question with the condensed bat soup does that mean i have to add a can of water to it also to get the full flavor It couldn't hurt. No, the joke, by the way, so Bat Soup episodes were clocking in right about 20 minutes. Condensed Bat Soup is two episodes of The Adventures of Superman plus an OTR episode. They clock in generally around an hour. So...

That's the joke. It's not condensed at all. It's 66% fewer superheroes than our regular podcast, which makes condensed bat soup even less nutritious, but still. just as delicious that's how it works yeah so yeah so thanks for asking i appreciate that sure sure i'm looking forward to hearing them but now let's wrap things up and vamonos hey

Thanks, Paulie. Thanks, Pat. And, of course, thanks for joining us, Andy. And please, dear listener, join us next time, won't you, for another fun installment of Old Time Radio Essentials. Bye-bye for now. Bye. Summer. Wait a minute. 63 audio.