Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Frank Race: The Adventure of the Big Top (EP0946)

Transcript

Frank Race: The Adventure of the Big Top (EP0946) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

0:29
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
0:36
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
0:39
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, Follow us on Twitter at
0:45
Radio Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com
0:52
Slash Radio Detectives. Today's episode is brought to you by the financial support of
0:57
our listeners. To support the show, go to portet dot Great Detectors dot
1:02
net. Well. Today is the final episode of the Adventures of Frank Rice.
1:07
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the Adventure of the Big Top.
1:12
The Adventures of Frank Race starring Paul Dubove with Tony Barrett as Mark Donovan.
1:26
The War changed many things, the face of the earth and the people
1:30
on it. Before the war, Frank Race worked as an attorney, but
1:34
he traded his law books for the cloak and Tagger of the Oss. And
1:38
when it was over, his former life was over too. Adventure had become
1:44
his business, the Adventures of Frank Race, and now we joined Frank Race
2:02
for the Adventure of the Big Top. The words Florida and winter never seem
2:13
to make sense when you put them together. But when circus people speak of
2:15
winter Quarters, they're usually talking about Florida in the off season. Yet even
2:21
in its off season, the circus is still a spread of bespangled excitement.
2:24
Even in winter quarters, it's sprawls and sweats and in spots mells to high
2:30
heaven. At the moment, Mark Donovan and I happened to be in one
2:34
of those spots. Oh, brother suddenly in a roamer around hill which don't
2:40
have nothing to do with them roses a picket in which they sing about.
2:44
It's probably those giraffes over there. Mark, Maybe it's get out of here
2:47
before I start staggering. Oh here in the five lengthage, cut it out.
2:53
I'm looking for mister McClune. We're supposed to meet him here. It
2:57
couldn't be the guy over there by the water and chalk, could be it
3:00
is. Come on, Mark, lork Grace, who is this guy?
3:05
Mccloon, multi millionaire, owns half the hotels down here. So you're an
3:08
insurance investigator and you come all away to Florida to meet a guide the circus.
3:14
That's fine, but I don't get it. Mister McClune is worried about
3:15
his wife's welfare. He wrote of his worry to the Madonna Life Insurance Company.
3:21
Seems they indemnify her life for a million dollars, and they saw fit
3:24
to send me down here. Won't a millionaire? You don't look at to
3:30
me, brother, you don't look at Mark was right. Phineas J.
3:36
McClune looked about as tycoonish as the second base of an off pitch caral group.
3:40
He was an aged little man with a pucket expression, and his hand
3:44
clasp had all the warmth of a blackjack dealer's smile. He suppose you're wondering
3:50
why I suggested this is a meeting placement to race, because I don't wish
3:53
my wife know about you. I since the circus seems to be so much
3:59
in the picture, there's only natural that we meet here, don't you think
4:02
I may think so, mister mcclun. In a minute, Yeah, do
4:05
you know my wife, mister Ring only through the newspapers. She's quite a
4:09
social leader, Oh, great social leader, one of the first ladies of
4:13
her adapted state. And that's just why I can't understand all this all,
4:19
what mister mcclun, where these circus ruffians threatening her is that your problem?
4:25
Of course it could, because by her attitude, she's not in favor of
4:29
circuses. She firmly believes they have a disturbing influence of the younger generation,
4:33
and very disturbing influence. Oh now, wait a minute, that's a lot
4:36
of malarkey psychists. Never white, No kid I ever know what a psychist
4:41
is important to a kid? Is Christmas or a fourth of July? Yes,
4:45
well, who may be right? Who are you, by the way,
4:47
my assistant, mister Dunavan, Oh yeah, oh of course, Well
4:51
you may be quite right, mister Landagin, No, d of course.
4:57
But my wife, well, a number of circus people have appeared at our
5:00
home of late, and missus McClune always seems to have to argue with them
5:04
to get them to leave. And I want you to look into it,
5:09
mister Race, Well then i'd better have a chance to talk to it.
5:12
Don't you think you believe that's necessary? Well, if you think you need
5:18
to. He's a very dominant woman, very dominant. But very well,
5:25
mister Race. If you'll come to my home this evening day about seven,
5:30
that's fine, fine, very well, that mister Race, I should be
5:32
expecting you. Oh and you too, mister Demi. John, you add
5:36
named that isn't it? Are them anymore? Are you? Yeah? I
5:41
tell me quite a fuel, mister McClune. Quite a few really late where
5:46
well let's think the numbers, isn't there? Good day, gentlemen, I
5:48
should see you this evening a race? Yes, Mark, Look, don't
5:56
DEMI have a mean in some kind? Yes? It means honestly ridiculous.
6:00
How could I behalf John? That old guy sounds cracked to me. He
6:04
seems rather eccentrical, all right? He could have been kidn me, couldn't.
6:09
I don't think he meant to Mark? I wish I was sure?
6:12
Why slight me? Wish I was sure? Mark? And I didn't leave
6:17
right away. There was nostalgia there for both of us, so we did
6:21
some more prowling around, going from the animal section into a tent where aerialists
6:26
worked aloft and clowns cavorted and the sawdust perfecting routines for the opening of the
6:31
tour only a week or so away. And it was while we watched that
6:35
Mark nudge me we are being given the big double, old John. Maybe
6:41
we ain't welcome around here? Where a tour over there? Clown. The
6:45
other guy did he come now? And they ain't all smiles. There's no
6:48
reason for trouble Mark, take it easy, yo, Yeah, what do
6:51
you have? What are you doing around here? Why you? Oh?
6:56
Just cup of tourists? Oh you get this dude, he wants you a
7:00
whole wee comic. You're at the question rule? What are you doing around
7:03
here? No harm, We've just been taking in the sights, taking in
7:08
the sights. Come on with us? What for? Just because we say
7:13
so? It's all you guys, call me a comment. You want on
7:17
something for us to back up that chatter. You're going to need reinforcements.
7:23
There is confluescent Ben, Yeah, especially the Gabby one, and school starts
7:29
with dish. That's called beating the guy to the punch. Ben. And
7:34
now you've got sawdust on the bank of your lap. Yeah, but we'll
7:38
see how on you last, Racy Come to reinforcements. Time to duck.
7:45
We ducked only to find at the lost cause there were too many of them
7:48
coming from too many directions. We gave up dodging, tried breaking through,
7:51
but I knew it was going to be like an off tackle smash, going
7:54
saw and it was. It was probably about twenty minutes later that I stopped
8:07
spinning sawdust and sat up. We were on a wooden floor. Now after
8:13
we'd been rendered helpless. Mark and I had been spreadigled across half a dozen
8:16
shoulders and carried to some sort of an office. I looked at the base
8:20
of a swivel chair and at the feet of some man who sat in it.
8:24
He spoke to us, don't you know it can't be done. What
8:28
can't be done winning a fight from circus hands in their home ground. Yeah,
8:31
we're just the same, just the same way, just the same.
8:35
We didn't do so bad. A couple of those creeps had their noses and
8:39
a dirt just as deep as we had eyes. Well, next time you
8:41
come by tickets were you? We can use the money. Something in that
8:46
voice made me look higher up till I stared into a face out of the
8:50
past, a face wearing a broad grin. I've been wondering when you were
8:56
going to recognize me race, Oh, Larry Ry Leclair. I got here,
9:01
I saw who the boys had dragged in here. I could highly believe
9:05
my eyes. Hey, Mark, Mark, you've heard me speak of this
9:07
fellow Larry Leclair served me always says with me. Yes, I recall you
9:13
giving me plenty of trouble on occasion. Hey, what are you doing here
9:16
forgetting something? Aren't your race? My full name Lawrence Lansing Leclair, and
9:22
this outfit happens to be the Lansing Brothers Circus. You mean you're running the
9:26
show? Yes, Race, I'm running it, and here I did a
9:30
lot of stock from my mother, got control about three years ago. Not
9:33
that I'm doing so well financially. The Lancing Brother's circus is limping badly.
9:39
I haven't never mind that. Come on down to the plat car with me.
9:41
Maybe some coffee will soothe those bruises. He told us more about it
9:48
as we sat at the food corner of the show's pet lounging spot. Circus
9:52
was running in a bad luck, had been for some time. There had
9:54
been recent sabotage, which was why Mark and I had been jumped as strangers
9:58
who might be able to do some more damage. We figure it could be
10:01
coming from some of the smaller carnivals, probably trying to chop us down to
10:05
their size, and they might do it before long. But Lancing Brothers,
10:11
it's one of the biggest shows in a business. We were hurt badly about
10:15
eighteen months ago. Donovan had a big blowdown in the Middle West, lost
10:20
a lot of equipment, even animals. Hurt us badly, and we've been
10:22
taking it on the chin. Here. Two fires in the last few weeks.
10:26
First one took twenty thousand dollars worth of food supplies. Second one burned
10:31
a dozen trucks and a lot of canvas. Now you'll hardly believe it,
10:35
Race, but I don't have the funds to get the show to Atlanta,
10:37
our first date for the new season. Oh but, Larry, can't you
10:41
borrow some money. I'm already up to my neck to the tune of a
10:43
quarter of a million that has to be paid out in the next four months.
10:46
That some people think they got troubles, I'll I've got one possible out
10:52
the Amalgamated Women's Clubs of Florida. I'm dickering with him to put on a
10:56
couple of charity performances in Miami. All I'm asking is a to cover expenses
11:01
and move the show to Atlanta. That's one deal I simply have to make
11:03
or I'm through. At seven o'clock that evening, Mark and I presented ourselves
11:15
at the door to the mcclun mansion, a facade that could have straddled the
11:20
twentieth century limited and Missus McClune matched her home wearing a hat like an inverted
11:24
kettle drum. She swept in just after we got there, eyeing us with
11:28
the gaze of a jaundice macaw. She took over at once, backing her
11:33
husband into a nearby corner. What's going on, yah, Have you been
11:37
making some more of your peculiar friendships finish? No, no, my dear,
11:41
It's just that I've been worrying about those stuffs You've been looking around the
11:45
house. Safety, so I called in an investigator, Phineas. I had
11:48
never heard of anything so ject you, nan, my dear, I resume
11:52
the thinking of your safety. Or safety says that Dave goodhand a platoon of
11:58
marines. What's that he's just passing the time of day, lady, I
12:03
don't care for whispering in my own home, young man. Did you say
12:07
these were investigators? Phineas? And you'll talk about thugs infesting the place.
12:13
Well, this whispering fellow has one of the most unprepossessing faces. I have
12:18
ever take it easy, lady, would have puss like yours. You've got
12:22
no call to grand dispossessed one of people's faces. Missus mccloone, your husband
12:26
seems to think you're threatened with some sort of danger on earth. Would threaten
12:31
me? Yeah, I think you made a point. Don't be impudent,
12:35
young man. Mister mccloone. This afternoon you said you felt Missus McLoone was
12:39
in danger of being harassed by circus people. Do you mind telling us why
12:43
you believe that? I don't mind a term, mister read. The other
12:48
day, when I came home, I saw men performing some assaults on the
12:52
lawn, and when I asked him what he was doing, he said he
12:56
was an acrobat with a circuits logical Abad we were talking, another man came
13:01
from around the other side of the house joined him. When I asked him
13:05
what they wanted, they said they were here to see my wife. Now,
13:09
I asked, a gentleman, and you just because of that, Oh,
13:15
well, finish, you're an idiot. Yes, my dear, My
13:18
husband, you see, is very imaginative. I won't hear any more about
13:22
it. I am accepting the presidency of the Amalgamated Women's Club tomorrow, and
13:26
I intend to be fresh and ready for the inaugural speech. Good evening,
13:33
very way way away. And now what do you look? Look, lady,
13:37
do you say you was going to be president of all the Dame's clubs
13:39
in mistake? Oh that's a thoroughly crude way of putting it. But the
13:41
answer is yes, I hear it right. Listen, lady, look we
13:45
got a pal in trouble and you could do him an awful good fame.
13:48
Now, I am not interested in doing favors for anyone, but look this
13:50
boy is a president too, President of the Lancing brought a psychist, and
13:54
all he wants is to do a benefit for your frails. None, am
13:58
I, young man. I detest circuses. There are a disturbing influence on
14:03
the younger generation. A thoroughly disturbing influence. It's all Adam lack either psychist,
14:09
never height nor kid, I young man. If you're trying to argue
14:13
with me, you may as well say your breath and you can tell your
14:16
circus president that the Amalgamated Women's Club have no intention of patronizing any circus in
14:22
any way or for any reason, good night. We'll return to the adventures
14:37
of Frank Race in just about one minute. Now back to the Adventures of
14:50
Frank Race. Delivering bad news to people is not one of my favorite pastimes,
15:01
but leaving Larry Leclair in the dark as to his deal with the women's
15:03
clubs wouldn't have been helpful, so Mark and I went to see him about
15:07
it the next morning. The information froze the smile on his face and dropped
15:11
him limply into his desk chair. Well, ad rips it now, anyone,
15:18
will I give me a job? Race? Oh, it can't be
15:20
as bad as all that. You have no idea. It's we got trouble,
15:26
troubles moving in a lot, picked up figure out direct the main tent
15:31
over my dead body. Come on, do you have enough men to handle
15:37
this? Larry? A lot looks deserted. More on my luck except for
15:39
the cage boys and a few others. I'll let the rest leave for the
15:41
weekend. A coun on us, Canny Race, He sure, Now you
15:45
fellows stay on it. These things get pretty bad, you kid, What
15:48
do you think we are? Violence? Mccloon, what are you doing here?
15:52
Okay, they said you're gone. Have to the circus ground. Why
15:58
what what's going on? Yeah, mister McClune, you'd better Claire out of
16:03
here. Mark, Mark your friend ducked Dodd Race. Yeah, I guess
16:06
he don't want no pot of no free par If Mark Donovan ducked out he
16:08
had something in mine, i'd hold it. We'll make our stand right here.
16:14
Yo, man, what are you trying to do here? Your old
16:17
wash noblic cram. We're closing you are as off now? Yeah? I
16:22
know that guy, mister LaClair, he used to be with call Mark's connival.
16:26
Don't Louisiana, No, you're gonna meet him against How we can stop
16:30
them? Three to one? Hey, race, move back? Move back?
16:37
It was Mark a top an elephant and behind him with three other men
16:41
on more elephants. We skipped aside to let them pass, and they really
16:45
broke it up. Well, I'd feel a lot happier about winning that skirmish
16:59
if it weren't for old man mccloon getting hurt. How is he Race still
17:03
unconscious? Do you mind if I use this phone? Larry? Go ahead?
17:07
That gang off the lot, every last one of them. Donovan,
17:11
you really turned the trick with those elephants. It's like Hoyden a bulldozer,
17:15
even better. Cloon residence. Missus McClune. Please, Frank Race calling Race.
17:23
How was your old man Hoyd? I imagine he fell trying to get
17:26
out of the way. Must have hit his head on something there, Missus
17:32
mccloone, this is Frank Race. I'm calling from the Lansing Brothers circus lot.
17:37
And you brought me to the phone to tell me that this is a
17:38
thing that never stops slugging. I brought you to the phone to tell you
17:42
there's been a brawl here, that your husband's been hurt. My husband,
17:48
as mccloon, you have only one I trust. What do you mean he's
17:52
hurt? How bad? He was hit on the head, he's unconscious.
17:56
Where is he? Where do you have it? We're on the circus lot,
18:00
understand that, But where on the lock? We have him in the
18:03
pie car? We don't him, don't let anyone else move him. I
18:06
should be right there. Well, right, Larry, that Canov is the
18:11
one called Slim. He said he knew one of those fellows made the attack.
18:15
That's right. Slim did say that, your publicity man. Does he
18:18
happen to be on the Loch. That's Charlie Rowland, no noise in New
18:21
York. I've got his assistant, sir Gil Prentis good. I'd like to
18:23
see him right now, and then I'd like to talk to Slim about the
18:26
fellow he recognized. Maybe I can give you a helping hand with your troubles.
18:37
According as Slim, the attacker he'd recognized was called Pete Banister, and
18:42
three boarding houses and two bars later we caught up with him to find him
18:47
half gone from the contents of a dozen ale cans that literally his room.
18:51
This was a break since he didn't remember us as being participants in the morning's
18:55
free for all. Yeah, I'm Pete Banister. What you're want tell a
18:59
Mark? Sure it was with Goldmark's Connival down Louisiana Way. It used to
19:04
be one of the gang. Oh, I certainly did. Also you men
19:08
will Goldmark boy. Yeah, that's a great outfit, A great outfit.
19:14
Let's sit down here, Sit down, any gold Mark boys or friends of
19:18
mine. You know, I wish I had something off of you fellas in
19:21
the way of a drinking I don't worry about that. I took a deep
19:23
breath when I voiced, come in and I picked up a glow that should
19:26
last me for hours. Oh you fell, all right? You know when
19:34
y'all blow? Yeah, just now, and we hide it. You could
19:37
put us next to something good, something with lots of though, you know,
19:41
not much labor. Well, nah, can you handle yourself in the
19:47
fight at me? Would we have been with gold Mark if we couldn't handle
19:49
ourselves? I ain't at it? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
19:55
look look how about the deal? Oh the deal? Sure, sure,
20:00
I'll tell you're working. We'll let you on something real. Huh, little
20:04
excitement, a little nice money for it is addressed and name with a party
20:11
you go? Ah, hi boy, just time, I'm gonna drop over
20:15
it. Hey, hey, when did you take up with these guys?
20:18
He was a couple of boys used to be with gold Mark, like fat
20:21
that used to be with gold Mike. These turkeys with a lancing outfit this
20:25
morning, fighting on their side. Come on, Mark, I believe we
20:26
can wait a minute. Your rooms ain't going nowheres man, it's got a
20:30
gun race, Yes he has, hasn't he, which means we'll probably have
20:34
to resort to violence. You wait, resorting nothing? Back up? Both
20:37
of your sakes that's all for you. Land. Come on the story mind
20:53
if we come in, Larry, Oh, come on and race find out
20:57
anything? Say news again, Larry, that gang is reforming to come back.
21:02
They pick up more men, and this time they're out to wreck your
21:04
whole outfit and to be shown up any minute. Well then why on earth
21:07
don't you call the police, you idiot? Missus mcclun Yeah, she's still
21:11
here a race and mister mcclun too. Doctor said he shouldn't be disturbed for
21:15
a while. Yeah, I'm all right now I want to go where you
21:18
can't go home, Phineas, not for another hour, and you need your
21:22
rest and you're going to get it. Ain't going to get much rest staying
21:26
here, so I have you to contend with again, young man. Look,
21:30
I'm just telling you, lady, this ain't going to be no spot
21:33
for no rescue. I repeat, why not call the police? Take them
21:37
too long to get here, and you can't expect them to station half the
21:41
force. And this one spot what's trouble with him? And this time it
21:45
won't do no good to use no elephants they brought along bullhooks. How close
21:51
are this one coming across the marshall be here in about three minutes. All
21:55
right, we'll get out. Believe it to him. I can't and hold
22:00
it anyway, So why take a chance and more people getting hurt. It
22:03
can be stopped quite simply if one person will go out there and say,
22:07
if you work well, then, for Heaven's sakes, let us see that
22:10
it's done. Now, who is this person, mister mcclown, my husband?
22:17
What on earth are you talking about? Your husband who's been hiring those
22:19
men erect this circus? I found that out this afternoon. How about it,
22:25
mister McLoone. You're quite right, I am having a guilty party.
22:30
I'm not in Heaven's name. Why all for the love of you, lady,
22:34
And if that ain't some sweet mystery of life, I'll put in which
22:38
is. I was afraid they were going to hurt you, my dear circus
22:44
people, so I decided to eliminate the root of it, the circus itself,
22:48
phineas of all the insane idiot Look, you people must understand that my
22:55
husband is very eccentric, be true, but this was actually your fault,
23:03
my fault. You've been so ashamed of once being a bareback rider that you
23:07
turned it into a hatred for the circus. When old time circus friends came
23:11
to see you, you turn them away harshly. Your husband got the idea
23:15
you were fighting with him, and of course he thought you were in danger.
23:19
Mister. I don't know whatever led you to believe that I have ever
23:23
been connected with the second you led me to believe it, Missus mcclun,
23:27
when you didn't bother to ask me for directions when I told you to come
23:30
to the pie car. The average person doesn't know what a pie car is.
23:36
Neither did I not until I got here and asked a pair of Joys.
23:38
How I, Oh, well, that's a very interesting thing. So
23:45
you asked a pair of Joeys, did you and tell me what are Joey's,
23:51
Missus mcclun. They're clowns, aren't they? But only someone familiar with
23:56
the circus would know that, wouldn't they? Oh? Here am I?
24:00
Now look here you you can't prove anything from all this silly I have a
24:03
look at this photograph, Missus mcloon. It's from the files of this very
24:07
circus. It was taken, uh I would say, thirty years ago,
24:14
and it's the likeness of one any foulard equestrian. And since your name happens
24:19
to be Anastasia Fullard McClune, the newspapers can make quite a splash out of
24:25
that, don't you say? Now, are you gonna ask your husband to
24:29
get rid of that mob out there? I should take care of her,
24:32
I should take care of it. Is one oh just in science. Well,
24:41
if you people have said all that, you have to say, oh,
24:45
no, no, no, no, not quite, missus McClune,
24:48
Anastasia Fullard McClune. There's there's still a little matter of the Amalgamated Women's Clubs
24:56
of Florida commissioning mister Leclair to take this circus to Miami. Well, very
25:04
well, I shall see to it that the necessary arrangements are made in the
25:08
next few days. Hey, that's wonderful, missus mccloon. Now what the
25:14
next time those old circus friends visit you, I wouldn't run them off with
25:17
harsh words. You might find a lot of happiness and getting together with them.
25:21
And I think you could do yourself another psychological good turn if you organized
25:25
a social equestrian group to appear for those charity shows in Miami with you with
25:29
star me again would be a good idea, don't you think, Oh well,
25:37
perhaps you are right, yes, perhaps you are right. Yeah.
25:41
And lady, look, if you really want to get the crowds in,
25:45
do me your favor, do your act and kit, sir, in that
25:48
shape, you're essentied to fill every seat in attend The Adventures of Frank Race,
26:03
starring Paul Dubalve with Tony Barrett as Mark Donovan comes to you from Hollywood.
26:08
Others heard in tonight's cast were Bert Holland, Larry Dobkin, Wilms Herbert,
26:14
and Michael Anne Barrett. Our story was written and directed by Buckley Angel.
26:18
The music is composed and played by Ivan Ditmars. Be sure to be
26:22
with us again this time next week for another dramatic chapter in the Adventures of
26:26
Frank Race. Art Gilmore speaking. This is a Brucel's production. Welcome back,
27:10
a great finale and nobody died. Always a positive, So I'll lighter
27:18
into the Frank Ray series. Kind of an odd number for syndication, only
27:25
forty three episodes. Usually the standard length of these syndicated series will be divisible
27:33
by thirteen, thirteen, twenty six, fifty two, thirty nine and a
27:38
couple of cases, but what we end up with here is just forty three,
27:44
So I hope you enjoyed it. For my part, I tended to
27:48
enjoy the The Tom Collins Podcast more, but this one I thought was a
27:59
nice wrap up here. So next week we'll bring you The Big Guy starring
28:07
Henry Calvin, and then three weeks after that it'll be time for mister Motto,
28:15
Mister I a Moto. In the meantime, send your comments to Box
28:19
thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives,
28:26
and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com, slash Radio
28:33
Detectives, and I'll be sure and fill out our survey. Survey do at
28:38
Great Detectives dot net. But from Boise, Idaho, this is your host,
28:42
Adam Grahamson and off