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Showcase Sundays today on the Mutual Audio Network. The following audio drama is rated PG for parental guidance recommended. This is Project Audion, timeless audio dramas for modern times created the classic one. Today's classic audio drama recreation features an international man of mystery. The Man Called X is a personal favorite radio series of mine. It's not one of the absolute classics, but there's something about it that I've always enjoyed.
The Swab Voice of Herbert Marshall and the title role, the contrast with his frenemy, Pagan Zoshmit, the exotic locations they turned up in, the dangerous plots they foiled, is just fun. So when I ran across the script of the premiere episode, which hadn't been seen since July 1944, I knew we had to recreate it for Project Audion.
So this first inaugural script is interesting. The first episodes of many long running series often have surprises. It takes a while for the characters and situations to find their eventual groove.
The lone ranger didn't have Tonto to start with. Fibramaghi and Molly didn't move into Wistful Vista right away. And the soap opera, the guiding light, was originally about a preacher. Well, the man called X was like that too. He originally had a frustrated girlfriend, and his larceness sidekick, Pagan, is, well, you'll just have to listen.
Premiering in 1944 as a summer replacement for Bob Hope, while the world was very much still at war, this first episode of a man called X quite proudly claims that the show is based on a novel by a fellow named Stephen Longstreet. Now, Stephen Longstreet is a bit of a man of mystery himself. He wrote maybe a hundred books of all kinds, even plagiarized a few, but there are no records of any book remotely resembling the man called X.
By 1947, a fellow named J. Richard Kennedy was claiming ownership of the show, saying he had created first as a Spanish language radio show called El Mistidio Saw. Good luck trying to find proof of that. International intrigue indeed. Now, on the radio, X ran for several hundred audio episodes until 1952. A few years later, it was revived as a television show with a very American, very Sullivan in the lead, sounding nothing like Herbert Marshall.
Our cast is as international as the audio original, with voice actors on East Coast, in Canada, and in England. When the show premiered in 1944, it was described as a comedy mystery, and 80 years later, I think you'll still find it highly entertaining. So now, complete with the original patriotic commercial for Lockheed Airplanes. Enjoy the man called X.
Look to Lockheed for leadership. The men and women of Lockheed Aircraft present Herbert Marshall in the first of a new series, The Man Called X. The man called X, based on the novel by Stephen Longstreet, directed by William N. Robeson and starring Herbert Marshall. As the first of this new series, Lockheed brings you, the Cage of Europe, which begins one rainy afternoon at a New York airport. And there he is, with the leading in six minutes, only diplomatic sports will be on it.
Please, from our three. Colin, Mr. X. Colin, Mr. X. Colin, Mr. X. I guess it's for you, all right. Colin, both two. Oh, thank you. Keep an eye on these bags. Hello? Hello? Yes, what is it? Oh, Jummerling, where are you? I'm afraid you have the wrong number, madam. Oh, can it's Nancy? Hello, dear. You mustn't use my name on the phone. Oh, stop sounding like a Warner Brothers spy picture. Oh darling, I'm not anything as romantic as a spy. I don't even own a swordcane.
Well, here I am, waiting for you on the corner of 45th Street Broadway. It's raining, and where are you at the end of some foolish number? Look, darling, don't wait in the rain. Your hat's warped so. I'll meet you at the bar at the 21th Club. Order some martinis. Is that all? Oh, tell Ed, I like little onions in them, not olives. And, oh, yes. I love you. Shit, good. That's the man number, madam. I'm late. That's a good girl.
As it turns from the shant and magic flipper, as it war their veins, that round three, this is an ass bomb. Oh, a porter. Yes, sir. A duty makes me a heel. Would you call this number and ask for Miss Nancy, to get a passing turn and say not to wait. Now? And no. Wurt until I'm on the clipper, bound for Lisbon. Oh, Stuart. Yes, sir. You'll find you'll have to remind me to turn my watch forward in time. Yes, sir. And I'm very fond of little pickled onions in all my martinis.
I'm sorry, but we are not serving drinks. A war on, you know. What about just the pickled onions? Always they must remind us there is a war. How right you are? My name is Econzert. Really? I'm Kenthust. As you've been eyeing my bags, you will notice it fits the letters engraved on them. Oh, that's a leash. Here first and I feel rather out of this war. I am Swiss. Ah, this correct, head Zed Smith. You carry a League of Nations passport and that bow, genuine hip pocket, is not a hard boiled egg.
Oh, you understand each other. I am a man of all nations. Swiss or mother? You are going to Lisbon? The plane is. May I say, he has Zed Smith. I hate quiz games. Oh, I can be of service. You can always find me in Lisbon and the hotel Europa. You want to buy a Picasso painting, stolen in Paris, no? No. What you need passports for two relatives in Poland, no? No. I'm beginning to think you're the Gallup Pole with an accent. I have, I have it. Your girl never got out of Paris, no?
No. But whatever it is, Econzert Smith can get it for you. No, Dice. But the truth is I'm looking for bad people with good business ideas. Radiogram for you, Mr. Thirstein. Thank you. As you've already noticed, Herr Zelsmith, it's from my accountant, Mr. Wilkins. I did not see anything. The sun was in my eyes. I was just bending to keep it out. But since you show interest, I will read it to you. It says, Please file again, report on your 1936 income tax with department 808R.
1936, that was a fine year. I was running perfume through some smuggler friends into Scotland in 1936. But the war ruined all honest initiative. 1936, I was at a Yale Harvard game with a red-headed girl who later married a Pasadena Polo player. How sad. Yes, Harvard lost by a field goal. But about these business ideas. Oh, tell me. How honest must these business ideas be? The world has a great interest for downtown Brisbane, East four, all passengers. Here you have a good experience. Excellent.
But those did not. Mr. Thirstein. Mr. Thirstein. Here I am. You must be Mr. Comet. That's right. JJ Condon of the Lisbon Branch of the International Bank at your service. We've already cleared you through customs. Glad to meet you. A good view Condon to cut me out red tape. I hope I haven't overdrawn my account. Not at all. I have a taxi waiting. 1936 income tax. I mean anything to you. To be filed with our department 808R, I'm 808R.
Well, now that the mumbo jumbo is over, what about this money smuggling business I'm to investigate? Well, American money in large denominations, money confiscated by the Nazis in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, is leaking out of Lisbon to America. Who collected in America? Don't know. But serial numbers we knew were in our European banks, or turning up all over the states. I don't like this Hitchcock melodrama you guys run.
You'll find it all a little different than a movie plot. It's dirtier, more sinister, and lots of people get their throats cut and stink up the Lisbon harbor. This is for real. Mm-hmm. They told me you know everything about Lisbon. Can you tell me who took the most plane trips between Lisbon and the states last year? Hmm. Let me see. General Jeb Martin, United States Army. He's unlikely. Who's next on the list? Well, I should say next comes Dez and Selene, granddaughter of the famous actress.
Ah, Paris in the spring drenched in Chanel number five. You're right, she's French. Two trips via Bermuda, one via Dakar, three via Scotland and Newfoundland. But she's collecting funds for war, of course. Dez and Selene. A little too pat. I'll sleep on the idea. MUSIC Shut up and sleepy. Shut up. Oh, right Hello, hello Yeah, give us Bonyme Mr. First Yes, what time is it your friend Contour as a message for you. Yes, he says go home Condon, where is he? We just dropped him in Delisbent harbor
What what is this rib? Hey, hey condon dead Hello, hello, I'll tell Europa. Yeah, I want to speak to Mr. Egon Zelsmith Well, will you call him? Thanks. He wasn't kidding about Condon Hello, Egon I've got to talk to you. Yes, breakfast as soon as possible Oh We can talk safely here. This is a fine side-vert cafe. But they do what was safe too, huh? My cousin smuggles it in
Egon, I'm not very hungry. Maybe I'm scared. They killed Condon last night. They did Then you'd like a drink perhaps later later a condon spoke of her does Angelina is she is she in Lisbon? If it could be that I would never appearance this matter, I might be able to find her for you all right I'll see you get no billing a
Thousand dollars for you if does Angelina and I become good friends. Oh, let me feel it One hundred two three four five and the other five hundred when I get what I want from her So I am out five hundred and if you do not live to pay off what makes you think she'd be of any use to I happen to remember the great actress Celine had no children so she couldn't have any grandchildren You've been
Go tonight to the gambling house called the Rock of the World. It's on the terrace overlooking the harbor the most beautiful woman in the world would be the San Saline that's enough of my money at the moment You may get killed and Let's have a drink They have martinis with spiced onions here. Oh to be sure oh Oh, Garza miss Celine is so very beautiful, but please it's not spiced onions. It should be a romantic meeting I have a guest card to the casino from Egon Zelsmith
Even with that we let you in. Oh, thank you Red why can't I ever learn not to play red? Oh We son the black Pardon me Certainly is this place taken party to All that's down 26 again You have one as usual The glibby tall it must be nice to win all that gold Madame was held as a or is it only chocolate wrapped in guilt foil It is gold why?
I'll tell you my name. Oh no one. If someone said look for the most beautiful woman in the place Perhaps I have made a mistake It's your bets metable me Smascaré dame févogie The wait perhaps you have not perhaps we should talk the last batch of money did not get to New York The fact is untrue I myself bought it. That's all I wanted to know Who are you a friend of yours and all you stand for?
I believe you Let's go somewhere we can talk let's go into the garden What a dismal place this least one is see escape wealth from the cage are you all I remember your grandmother in Camille She would have been proud of my work for France Before a million dollars. I have smuggled to our people in New York Before we use to help France It is a wonderful night. Let's save shop talk until the morning. I leave on the clip of a new York tomorrow How nice the music sounds inside
Doesn't seem like a war out here. Don't talk of it Smells or snight blooming flowers So oh the flower I've loved If you want to hurt my hand Do you are kind it is good to steal a few moments from the struggle Seven falls Not time to rest to think to relax yes Just to be a human being for a night
Only sand I too have led a terrible life these last few months Desc it fever hunger thirst and snakes and for it only one hand Oh my poor boy snakes Yeah so much we give up I lost my head a pleasant loss I mean you are kind you are understanding Well not about everything But I do understand this
I think I better go The order of those roses is how about like me Me too My rose fever You would not be wise for us to be seen together I go to the taxi and toss alone you have to sideway Oh the things I have to do for this war Potted me Oh hello you gone Where it was worth 500 bucks no
Not even in the black market this is business Now you'll need a body card I am a vehicle No thanks good night egon I'll walk to my hotel alone Are you following me I will play close man following you And who's that back there that is a man following me How does a Lisbon cop know about playing clothes talk Since years I sell peanuts in Chicago loop I don't like peanuts no offense I hope Who are a man called X What do you think I think yes And you are under arrest no offense I hope I
Exalinsia this is the man who admit the crime I'll admit something if you do you first This senior is the morgue of Lisbon Those shapes under those sheets are the dead fans here tonight Philips those sheets are not clean Exalinsia so many men get killed in Lisbon every night I try to be neat
But always excuses table one pull off the sheet Yes Exalinsia Hey that's condom Wood you admit knowing him Look could I see a lawyer preferably a New York Here is a letter is this condom's handwriting It looks like it I've only had a few letters from him This letter reads if I am found dead I have been murdered by the police I have been murdered by an agent calling himself Mr. X What?
I regret I arrest you Mr. X For the murder of Richard Condon In a minute Lockheed brings you act two of the man called X Starring Herbert Marshall Ladies and gentlemen today the men and women of Lockheed are on the job building planes for the war The P-38 Lightning The F-V-1 Ventura bomber
And the largest fast-paced The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 The P-38 And the largest fastest highest flying land transport ever built the new Lockheed Constellation The Constellation
Remember the name for while today it serves the Army air forces tomorrow it will serve all America Flying the sky highways of the nation and of the world The Constellation will make your local airport It convenient gateway to all the cities of America and to the lands beyond the horizon
Yes remember the name The Lockheed Constellation Another example of Lockheed leadership We return you now to act two of the man called X Starring Herbert Marshall Tonight Mr. X is an alizarin on the trail of a gang of international crux who are smuggling confiscated American money out of Nazi Europe into the United States Mr. X at this moment is trying to talk his way out of a somewhat macabre situation at the Lisbon Morg Look I'm admitting nothing except that I knew Condon is that a crime?
I don't know the local law Why should anyone kill? And yet in Lisbon people get bored of waiting So they cut a throat That's one way of not getting bored Excellenza! Excellenza! The El Smith don't you ever sleep Excellenza I was following my friend here to his hotel You know our streets at night and I saw the police pick him up I always said you had bad friends I have heard you think he murdered Condon But there is always foolish, isn't he Mr. X? He is Ken Thurston He is the man called X?
But X is not Thurston, isn't that so? Utility, I'll just nod yes and no Mr. X is called himself Thurston but this is the real Thurston Ask where is the Mr. X we want? Aren't he's way too pervade by now? I'm confused I'm confused Ex? Thurston? Ex? Confused? You're always confused Our friend eagle knows what goes on I am sorry Mr. Thurston Come on you are free Enjoy Lisbon Mr. Thurston They say it's a great town I'm too old myself to be quite certain Well is Egon all he claims to be?
What a cock and bull story His excelence I think so too I have to sleep him $100 If your money of course Who killed Condon and framed me? A money gang You should have let me handle it for you I still can Next trip maybe I'm going back with Madame Wazelle Selene in the morning If I were your agent Let us say at about 10% I would advise you to separate pleasure from business This is business
She admits she's smuggling money into the states She claims she's doing it for the free French For not true She's working for Baron Correll Who's running France for the Germans He's ahead of the money ring That's what I suspect it Our trip home should be interesting I would not miss it for anything You? Yes, I am going along I've had to collect my fee We will take the money from her in New York How do you manage to come and go so easily?
I too am well connected A ounce of mine has a tungsten mine in Spain I am picking the thinning side And sitting up a company in America to run it I bet you could even sell white elephants Last month I had two elephants White sacred ones For sale from the Berlin Zoo But I've waited too long for a buyer What happened?
At the Adelaun in Berlin now The pierced to the resistance is elephant cutlets Hello Hello Yes, I am calling a New York number This is the sense of speaking Yes You are speaking from a neutral country I will be listening Both belligerents will be listening You are not to speak of anything
Relating to the war or giving information That will not be in keeping With a neutral country And that's what I'm going to say I will be talking about the war or giving information That will not be in keeping With a neutral country's rights I understand When you get your party you will repeat
What I have just told you Very well And if you do not follow orders I will cut you off from your call You may proceed now Hello Hello This is Ed the barman at the 21 Club A central country, a censor is listening in You sure are you a colored and New York public library You are not to speak of anything relating to the war Or give information not in keeping With a neutral country's rights Oh me! It keeps me nose clean! What kind of rib is this? Hello Ed, this is Ken Mr. Durstern! Where you been?
Places? None as classy as yours I think she sleeps in the ice box that'll be the... I'll speak to her And by the way fix up a promo for her It's your neck brother Hello Hello darling, how sweet you sound Ken you don't I've been waiting here for two days Not two days Well I did go home for a bath But where are you?
Lisbon honey The club Lisbon has been closed for months Lisbon Europe Darling somebody invented the airplane Oh come now Europe Look I'll hold the phone outside the booth and let Europe say something to prove it Morning darling Flanger Oh my aunts pump handle A crust wise darling Who called you darling?
That was Europe Penterspin I've had just skip out enough It's my duty darling See you tomorrow night for sure Have Ed mix me a rum cola while you're waiting If you think I'm going to keep on waiting here you're crazy Order the dinner And honey no onions in the martinis They tell me they're bad for romance A good bye darling Are you crazy?
A lady I know An old lady I am used to by silly sayings In a booth mark transatlantic cause It's my mother She grew up with me and she misses me I have decided I come from a street family After losing her Ed's last night We will be unguashed as you say I didn't say anything Come is a plane is ready I hate to break our romantic mood but Business is business You have the wad the folding lettuce What?
Code words for a money Right 200,000 well-discubigent Oh new it looks good Thank you darling Now you go get on the plane I want to buy a toothbrush Ah you sonnestary Americans love comes and you want to watch us wash Message coming in code from exenlisban Working with 808R Break it down
Got the opening 809R murdered last night Nazi bank money ring murderer Baron Correll working out of Paris 200,000 on Clipper Dune New York tonight Good We won't make any arrests until they meet their American contact How long does it take a French spy to pat her nose How long has she been gone? Long enough Anyways you can't get off the plane She may have a parachute someplace Where would she hide a shoot?
Perhaps under her dress Now look I've spent enough time on street corners to know if a girl is wearing a parachute under her clothing I will take your word for that Well we'll be in in half an hour Now you're sure she passes the money to only one man?
I swear it's on my honor There is only one man I know he has the key to the gate back of the hangar Then we just stick with her But of course you have her complete confidence and I have yours It will be very simple I hope It's dark back of this hangar Shh, we must reach the gate quickly I suppose the guy doesn't show up Oh are you a joke Here is the gate And here is the key to the gate That's all of this Wait, miss? What's this? Where is the man who picks up the money?
Well he gone of course He gone is the man I turned the money over to Put up your hands Mr. X Oh he gone What are you doing? Don't be silly, he gone You can't kill me here in New York There's a law against it It's the only law we Nazis know Nazi You, you gone I'm not see You're such a gullible idiot this time No, no, you said for the free farm, for the free farm I came into the crimes, I lied I called myself the sounds of the into the passports But I did all this for farms What's a pair of hams?
Sounds like a bad Vordvill act No, no, this is no act, I have been tricked He will kill us All right, Egon, enough cops and robbers, give me the get I will give you its contents What's this last?
This verdammet's pistol Oh, Egon, no ammunition I wonder who could have been tampering with your gun Do, do, do, the fruit americanest find them Okay Chief, come and get them Nice work ex I don't know why you needed this out here at all Well, you never know And it's nice to have the lore on your side Slap the cuffs on him, Eddie Okay Chief What's that damn doing?
Taking off her clothes Hey, Desan, wait a minute I'm just getting some money for you Well, take it easy The matron will relieve you of the money down at the station House You are letting some rest me? There's nothing else I can do, shurry What we are, our gorge? That was strictly your idea What's that mean?
Well, they'll go easy on you, as easy as they can Now, look, Chief, this character here, Egon He's the man you want, he's the head of the money ring But our little French princess, she didn't know what she was doing I can assure you, she never knew what you were doing Go easy on her, will you? Sure Sure Okay, take him away, boys Now, come along with me, X I've got a new assignment for you Okay, come on, you two But darling, darling When will I see you again?
Just a minute, Chief Look, Desan When they let you out of the jailhouse I'll tell you what to do Get into a cab and go to 21 west 52nd Street There's a nice bar there Tell Ed the bartender you're waiting for a friend And will you be there? You just wait I'll wait for you forever Ed's place It isn't Ed's, it's Jack and Johnix Hello Ed the bartender speaking Hello Ed, my girl's still there, my Sunday girl Is she here?
Boy are you in touch Put her on Hello Oh, you sound fine, Nancy, are you having fun? Oh, Ken, you double headed monster, where are you? At the airport Lisbon? Darling, come right over I'm keeping the martinis warm for you With a hair in each How thoughtful, Nancy See you soon How soon, honey? I've just got new orders from the Chief Got to leave right now on the clipper for Berazaville, French Africa But I'll be back What? Ed's an order, what could I do?
Oh, I'll tell you Just wait for me, 21's full of nice people Make friends You have just heard the first of a new series of programs The Man Called X Starring Herbert Marshall and brought to you Each week at this time by the men and women of Lockheed The Man Called X based upon a novel
By Steven Longstreet and directed by William and Robeson In just a moment, our star Mr. Marshall will tell you about next week's exploit of Mr. X But first, a word from our sponsors, the men and women of Lockheed Today, Lockheed has a message especially for the women of America
It's about the great airlines of America The airlines that link your hometown through the skies with the rest of the nation And the rest of the world These airlines are staunch friends of yours Do you have a sweetheart in some far off camp? A son or brother overseas The airlines of America speed airmail between you and him Bringing him close and keeping him close to you Do you work in a busy office or a war plant?
Airmail and air transportation expedite your job And speed war vital production Production that will bring us quicker victory Is your husband a busy war official? Always on the go? Living with suitcase pet And the airline schedule's cut travel time Give him extra days to be here with you And so Lockheed salutes the airlines of America Airlines didn't are not only speeding the war effort But helping the people they serve Next week, the cost and I bring you in new adventure
The man called X, the diamond tree The curious story of those precious gems that never appear on the lovely fingers of gracious ladies But help win wars, the industrial diamond I hope you'll be with us then when I drop this informal attitude And become the man called X
This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System That's Project Audien for this time Herd in this episode were David Alt in England Jack Ward in Canada Laura Murzky in New Jersey George Taylor in Tennessee Jane Beverly in New Jersey Jeff Belard in Massachusetts Caleb Fisher in Virginia
Joe Mandel in England Ann Robert Stevenson in Indiana Larry Groby produced and directed from Texas We hope you enjoyed it If so, leave us a comment and let us know But actually, let your friends know Share the link wherever you can So these classic audio dramas gain the wider audience they deserve Until next time, thanks for listening