Latest / The Whistler | Old Time Radio / The Whistler - "Murder of Byron Blake" (Old Time Radio, 1947)

Transcript

The Whistler - "Murder of Byron Blake" (Old Time Radio, 1947) · The Whistler | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: On Broadway, aspiring actor Leo Sanders is looking for the
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: professional break he has waited for when he reconnects with
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: Julie Lane, a woman from his past. Their renewed relationship
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: draws in Julie's employer, Gus Hackett, and the rising stage performer,
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: Byron Blake, as jealousy, ambition, and misunderstandings begin to gather.
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: From the CBS Pacific Network, under Signal Oil sponsorship, this
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: is The Whistler, Murder of Byron Blake, episode 250, originally
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: broadcast March 10th, 1947, with Betty Lou Gerson and Tom Collins.
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: We now take you back to the original broadcast.
• 0:41
  Speaker 2: The Signal Oil program, The Whistler. Whistling That whistle is
• 0:58
  Speaker 2: your signal for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler.
• 1:21
  Speaker 3: I am The Whistler, and I know many things, for
• 1:25
  Speaker 3: I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden
• 1:29
  Speaker 3: in the hearts of men and women who have stepped
• 1:31
  Speaker 3: into the shadow. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of
• 1:36
  Speaker 3: which they dare not speak.
• 1:43
  Speaker 2: Yes, friends, it's time for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler.
• 1:47
  Speaker 2: Rated by Independent Research, the most popular West Coast program.
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: In gasoline, you know, it takes extra quality to go farther.
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: And signal is the famous go farther gasoline. So look
• 1:59
  Speaker 2: for the signal circle sign in yellow and black that
• 2:02
  Speaker 2: identifies signal service stations from Canada to Mexico. And now
• 2:08
  Speaker 2: the whistler's strange story. The murder of Byron Blake.
• 2:13
  Speaker 4: The murder of Byron Blake.
• 2:23
  Speaker 3: It was well past the lunch hour, and the little
• 2:26
  Speaker 3: restaurant on 56th Street was almost deserted, except for the
• 2:30
  Speaker 3: corner table near the window, where Julie Lane and Gus
• 2:33
  Speaker 3: Hackett sat over a pair of coffee cups.
• 2:38
  Speaker 2: Julie? Yes? How about some dessert?
• 2:42
  Speaker 5: No. No, thanks, Gus.
• 2:44
  Speaker 2: Oh, you better eat something. You didn't touch your lunch.
• 2:48
  Speaker 5: I don't feel like eating. Sorry, but I.
• 2:51
  Speaker 2: Extra fun, D-A-S-S, penalty for killer of Byron Blake.
• 2:56
  Speaker 5: Gus.
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, of course. Waiter. Yes, sir. The window, would
• 3:00
  Speaker 2: you mind? Oh, yes, sir, right away.
• 3:01
  Speaker 4: Extra fun, D-A-S-S, penalty for killer of Byron Blake.
• 3:04
  Speaker 5: Thanks, Gus, thanks.
• 3:06
  Speaker 2: How about some more coffee?
• 3:08
  Speaker 5: No, I'm sorry, I can't. I could use a cigarette.
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: Oh, sure, sure. Here you are.
• 3:18
  Speaker 3: Thanks.
• 3:20
  Speaker 2: You feel any better?
• 3:21
  Speaker 5: I guess so. You do understand, Gus. I'm sorry to be.
• 3:27
  Speaker 2: Oh, of course I understand, darling.
• 3:30
  Speaker 5: I don't feel much like talking. I just want to
• 3:33
  Speaker 5: be quiet and think a little.
• 3:36
  Speaker 4: I don't know.
• 3:50
  Speaker 3: And Julie Lane had a lot to think about. She
• 3:53
  Speaker 3: was grateful for the quiet of the little restaurant. But somehow,
• 3:57
  Speaker 3: even though the waiter had closed the window behind her,
• 3:59
  Speaker 3: those headlines still were howling through her brain. Yes, Julie
• 4:03
  Speaker 3: Lane had a lot to think about. For although it
• 4:14
  Speaker 3: was really Leo Sanders' story, Julie had been very near
• 4:18
  Speaker 3: the center of it from the moment Leo had come
• 4:20
  Speaker 3: back into her life. It had been at a New
• 4:26
  Speaker 3: York party with all the trimmings, the penthouse, the theater crowd,
• 4:30
  Speaker 3: the talented youngster from the New Review doing impersonations near
• 4:33
  Speaker 3: the piano. And the party had just started to warm
• 4:37
  Speaker 3: up when Leo got there. He stopped in the ante
• 4:40
  Speaker 3: room and adjusted his tie before he went in. and
• 4:44
  Speaker 3: glancing at himself appreciatively in the hall mirror, he decided
• 4:48
  Speaker 3: that no one can look more prosperous than an actor who's.
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: Out of work.
• 4:53
  Speaker 3: Then Leo opened the door, and the first person he
• 4:56
  Speaker 3: ran into was Julie.
• 4:58
  Speaker 2: Julie! Leo! Julie Langmeier! Let me look at you.
• 5:02
  Speaker 5: I'm a nightclub singer now. I left the Langmeier back
• 5:05
  Speaker 5: in St.
• 5:06
  Speaker 2: Louis.
• 5:06
  Speaker 3: Well, what is it?
• 5:07
  Speaker 5: Lane, Julie Lane. What are you doing in New York?
• 5:11
  Speaker 2: Oh, beating the pavement, looking for a job.
• 5:12
  Speaker 5: Theater?
• 5:13
  Speaker 2: What else?
• 5:14
  Speaker 5: Any luck?
• 5:15
  Speaker 2: Had to get me a secretary. Keeps her busy day
• 5:17
  Speaker 2: and night just turning down the offers. You couldn't leave
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: me half two bits for coffee and sinkers.
• 5:22
  Speaker 5: Could you? Leo, you haven't changed a bit. Not since...
• 5:27
  Speaker 5: Not since St.
• 5:28
  Speaker 2: Louis. Yeah. St. Louis.
• 5:31
  Speaker 3: Uh, who.
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: Are you here with?
• 5:35
  Speaker 5: Gus Hackett.
• 5:36
  Speaker 2: Who?
• 5:37
  Speaker 5: Gus Hackett, the agent.
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: You mean THE Gus Hackett?
• 5:40
  Speaker 5: Why not?
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: Julie, darling, you have become suddenly the most glamorous woman
• 5:44
  Speaker 2: I ever met in my life. Uh, shall we adjourn
• 5:47
  Speaker 2: to the terrace?
• 5:48
  Speaker 5: Please, Leo, not... not right now.
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: Come on, I just want to talk over old times.
• 5:52
  Speaker 5: That's just it, that... That's all behind us now, Leo.
• 5:55
  Speaker 5: I'd rather we left.
• 5:55
  Speaker 2: I'm afraid I'll have to carry you out there bodily then.
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: No other answer.
• 5:59
  Speaker 5: All right, Leo. But just for a minute.
• 6:04
  Speaker 4: Huh?
• 6:18
  Speaker 5: Really, Leo, I'd better go back now. Gus is probably
• 6:20
  Speaker 5: wondering where I am.
• 6:21
  Speaker 2: Well, that's no reason at all... You're afraid of me,
• 6:24
  Speaker 2: aren't you, Julie?
• 6:26
  Speaker 5: Yes, I suppose I am.
• 6:28
  Speaker 2: Why?
• 6:29
  Speaker 5: Is it important?
• 6:31
  Speaker 2: Very important. I.
• 6:34
  Speaker 5: I don't want it to happen again, Leo.
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: St. Louis?
• 6:38
  Speaker 5: Yeah.
• 6:39
  Speaker 2: St. Louis.
• 6:41
  Speaker 5: I found a new life for myself, new friends.
• 6:44
  Speaker 2: You still love me, Julie. Why won't you admit it?
• 6:46
  Speaker 5: I don't know, Leo. I... It's so confusing you're coming
• 6:49
  Speaker 5: back this way.
• 6:50
  Speaker 2: It can be just the way it was. I'm different now, darling.
• 6:53
  Speaker 2: I've learned a lot. You can help me, you know.
• 6:55
  Speaker 2: Hackett's the biggest agent in the business. If you could
• 6:58
  Speaker 2: get him behind me, I... Well, there's no end to
• 7:01
  Speaker 2: what we could do together. We could go right to
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: the top.
• 7:03
  Speaker 5: It's not just that. There's something else, Leo. I don't
• 7:06
  Speaker 5: want to talk about it now.
• 7:11
  Speaker 6: Julie.
• 7:12
  Speaker 5: Oh, oh, Gus. Gus, I want you to meet an
• 7:15
  Speaker 5: old friend. This is Leo Sanders.
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: Glad to know you.
• 7:17
  Speaker 5: We knew each other in St. Louis.
• 7:18
  Speaker 2: I see. Julie, Pat Hoffman's downstairs. You better run out
• 7:21
  Speaker 2: and say the right thing. Pat, but he told me...
• 7:24
  Speaker 2: He's on his way up. Go on now, hurry.
• 7:25
  Speaker 5: Excuse me, Leo.
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: I'm sorry, Mr. Sanders. I suppose she told you about Hoffman.
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: She started to say something. Queer guy. He runs the
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: nightclub where she works. Decided he's going to marry her.
• 7:41
  Speaker 2: I see. I'm afraid you don't. You've known her a
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: long time, huh? Went to high school with her. We
• 7:49
  Speaker 2: went around together when I first started out on the stage. Oh,
• 7:53
  Speaker 2: you're an actor? Yes. Matter of fact, I've been trying
• 7:56
  Speaker 2: to make an appointment with you for over a month.
• 7:59
  Speaker 2: Finished up a nice run with Fallen Star on the road. Sanders,
• 8:02
  Speaker 2: do you mind if we don't talk business tonight? I
• 8:03
  Speaker 2: guess I got the jitters or something. Oh, I'm sorry.
• 8:06
  Speaker 2: I didn't mean to. Oh, sure, sure. I've told her
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: again and again about that Hoffman character. I don't know
• 8:12
  Speaker 2: where it's going to end up. That bad, huh? Oh, worse. Look,
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: I'll talk to Julie about you. If she says you're okay,
• 8:19
  Speaker 2: it's great with me. Maybe we can work out something.
• 8:22
  Speaker 2: That's all I can say right now.
• 8:34
  Speaker 3: But that's enough, isn't it, Leo? A word to Hackett
• 8:37
  Speaker 3: from Julie and the door is open. Wide open for
• 8:40
  Speaker 3: you to walk in and take what you've wanted for
• 8:44
  Speaker 3: so long. Broadway, Leo. And your name up there in
• 8:48
  Speaker 3: the brightest lights of all. And all your dear old
• 8:52
  Speaker 3: friends who said you'd never make the big time looking
• 8:55
  Speaker 3: on with envy. Of course, it all depends on Julie.
• 9:00
  Speaker 3: So to keep her memory of those days back in St.
• 9:02
  Speaker 3: Louis alive, you drop into the florist shop next evening. Yes, sir?
• 9:07
  Speaker 2: I'll take a dozen of those American Beauty roses, the
• 9:09
  Speaker 2: ones in the window. All right, sir. Send them to
• 9:12
  Speaker 2: Dooley Lane at the Parakeet Club on West 58th Street.
• 9:15
  Speaker 2: Do you wish to include a card? No, I'll deliver
• 9:19
  Speaker 2: the message myself.
• 9:20
  Speaker 4: The End.
• 9:37
  Speaker 2: Hello, Julie.
• 9:38
  Speaker 5: Leo, what are you.
• 9:38
  Speaker 2: Oh, didn't you get my flowers?
• 9:39
  Speaker 5: I didn't know they were yours. They're lovely, Leo. But
• 9:42
  Speaker 5: you shouldn't have.
• 9:42
  Speaker 2: Oh, what's the matter, darling? Something wrong?
• 9:44
  Speaker 5: You shouldn't have come here, Leo.
• 9:46
  Speaker 2: Why not? The show's over. Had a guy come backstage
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: to see his girl once in a while.
• 9:49
  Speaker 5: I can't explain. Now, please go, Leo. I can see
• 9:51
  Speaker 5: you after.
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: No, that's no way to act. Come here.
• 9:56
  Speaker 5: Leo.
• 9:56
  Speaker 2: Don't lie to me, Julie. It's still the same. isn't it?
• 10:01
  Speaker 2: Just like it used to be. I.
• 10:04
  Speaker 5: I don't know, Leo.
• 10:05
  Speaker 2: Julie. Julie, darling.
• 10:11
  Speaker 5: Please go now. I'll meet you somewhere afterwards. You've got
• 10:15
  Speaker 5: to understand.
• 10:15
  Speaker 2: Julie! Who's that?
• 10:18
  Speaker 5: I'm not quite ready, Pat. Just a minute.
• 10:20
  Speaker 7: Hurry it up.
• 10:21
  Speaker 5: Get behind that screen over there.
• 10:22
  Speaker 2: Oh, what kind of.
• 10:23
  Speaker 5: Please, darling.
• 10:23
  Speaker 2: But this is stupid. You're of age.
• 10:25
  Speaker 5: You do as I say.
• 10:26
  Speaker 2: All right, Julie.
• 10:30
  Speaker 5: Yes, Pat? What is it?
• 10:35
  Speaker 2: I just wanted to tell you it's all set.
• 10:37
  Speaker 5: What's all this? Tomorrow night.
• 10:38
  Speaker 2: I arranged for Lorraine to do your spot so you
• 10:40
  Speaker 2: and I can take the night off and... Wait a minute.
• 10:46
  Speaker 2: What's this? Hmm?
• 10:48
  Speaker 5: Oh, the flowers. I meant to tell you.
• 10:50
  Speaker 2: Who's sending you flowers?
• 10:52
  Speaker 5: He's just a friend, Pat.
• 10:53
  Speaker 2: You didn't answer my question, Julie. Who is he?
• 10:56
  Speaker 5: I don't think it's any of your business.
• 10:57
  Speaker 2: If I want to have.
• 10:57
  Speaker 6: Don't give me that! I'm tired of it, Julie. I
• 11:00
  Speaker 6: told you before I wasn't going to take any more.
• 11:02
  Speaker 5: All right, Pat, you don't have to take any more.
• 11:04
  Speaker 3: I don't need this job.
• 11:05
  Speaker 2: I don't need you.
• 11:06
  Speaker 5: I'm not a child.
• 11:07
  Speaker 3: Pat, you've no right.
• 11:07
  Speaker 2: Shut up! Get this, Julie.
• 11:09
  Speaker 6: You're staying here with me whether you want it or not.
• 11:11
  Speaker 6: And you can tell your friend if he makes another
• 11:12
  Speaker 6: pass at you, I'll kill him.
• 11:15
  Speaker 3: That's all.
• 11:15
  Speaker 6: Now get into your things. I have the car ready
• 11:18
  Speaker 6: for you in 15 minutes.
• 11:24
  Speaker 5: Leo.
• 11:26
  Speaker 2: Well, I see what you mean. Nice guy, isn't he?
• 11:31
  Speaker 2: Why did you walk out?
• 11:33
  Speaker 5: I'm afraid of him, Leo. He'd do anything.
• 11:34
  Speaker 2: What about us?
• 11:35
  Speaker 5: I don't know, I don't know.
• 11:36
  Speaker 2: You've got to fix me up with Gus Hackett.
• 11:38
  Speaker 5: Leo, I tell you.
• 11:38
  Speaker 2: You love me, Julie. It's going to mean everything to...
• 11:41
  Speaker 2: to both of us.
• 11:44
  Speaker 3: All right, Leo.
• 11:46
  Speaker 5: I'll call Gus. I'll make an appointment for you.
• 11:59
  Speaker 2: With the prologue of the murder of Byron Blake, the
• 12:03
  Speaker 2: Signal Oil Company brings you another strange story by the Whistler.
• 12:09
  Speaker 2: But now for just a moment. Suppose this were a
• 12:12
  Speaker 2: quiz program and you were asked the question, what gasoline
• 12:15
  Speaker 2: is famous as the go farther gasoline? What would the
• 12:19
  Speaker 2: winning answer be? Well, if you've lived out west any
• 12:23
  Speaker 2: length of time, you know that from Canada to Mexico,
• 12:26
  Speaker 2: Signal is the famous go-farther gasoline. Now, naturally, we're mighty
• 12:30
  Speaker 2: proud of that reputation. But even more so, we're proud
• 12:34
  Speaker 2: of what makes Signal's mileage possible. You see, you get
• 12:37
  Speaker 2: those quick signal starts, that fast signal pickup and smooth,
• 12:41
  Speaker 2: knock-free signal power, because Signal helps your engine run more efficiently.
• 12:46
  Speaker 2: And naturally, the more efficiently your motor runs, the more
• 12:49
  Speaker 2: mileage you get. That's why Signal says your speedometer is
• 12:54
  Speaker 2: the best yardstick of gasoline quality. Check yours, and you'll
• 12:58
  Speaker 2: find it's true. In gasoline, it does take extra quality
• 13:03
  Speaker 2: to go farther. And of course, Signal is the famous
• 13:07
  Speaker 2: go-farther gasoline. And now, back to the whistlers.
• 13:33
  Speaker 3: A nice girl, Julie Lane, isn't she, Leo? You're busy now,
• 13:38
  Speaker 3: thinking of the good things that can come out of
• 13:40
  Speaker 3: running into her again at that New York party. Of course,
• 13:44
  Speaker 3: you'll have to be careful of her boss, Pat Hoffman.
• 13:47
  Speaker 3: When he said he'd kill anyone he caught hanging around, Julie,
• 13:50
  Speaker 3: he meant every word of it. But first things first, Leo.
• 13:55
  Speaker 3: Before anything else, you've got to take advantage of the
• 13:58
  Speaker 3: opportunity Julie gave you with her good friend, Gus Hackett,
• 14:02
  Speaker 3: the actor's agent. A few days later, you enter his
• 14:06
  Speaker 3: office to keep the appointment she arranged.
• 14:09
  Speaker 2: It was certainly nice of you to see me, Mr. Hackett.
• 14:11
  Speaker 2: Not at all, Sanders. Sit down. Thanks. Tell me about yourself. Well,
• 14:15
  Speaker 2: I started in stock in St. Louis. Went on the
• 14:18
  Speaker 2: road with the second company of Pretty Boy. Had 16
• 14:20
  Speaker 2: weeks of that. Then, of course, there was the usual
• 14:23
  Speaker 2: summer theater work. I brought along some clippings. Oh, good, good.
• 14:28
  Speaker 2: There's one review there I'm rather proud of. The guy
• 14:30
  Speaker 2: in Seattle thought I did all right with the lead
• 14:32
  Speaker 2: in Primrose. It's that one right there. A standout performance
• 14:38
  Speaker 2: by a bright young newcomer, Leo Sanders, was well received
• 14:41
  Speaker 2: by an otherwise restless audience. Sanders showed strong presence and
• 14:45
  Speaker 2: a genuine understanding of Mr. Carter's principal character. Ah, that's okay.
• 14:50
  Speaker 2: Of course, that's all Bush League stuff to you, Mr. Hackett. Ah,
• 14:53
  Speaker 2: they all have to start someplace, Sanders. Don't let it
• 14:55
  Speaker 2: worry you. As a matter of fact, the thing I
• 14:58
  Speaker 2: have in mind calls for an unknown. Oh? It's Mel
• 15:01
  Speaker 2: Franklin's new play. He'll be casting in about a week.
• 15:03
  Speaker 2: Mel Franklin? Well, that'll be quite a break. From what
• 15:05
  Speaker 2: he told me about it, there's a good chance you
• 15:07
  Speaker 2: might be what he's looking for. Well, of course, Mr. Hackett,
• 15:11
  Speaker 2: you know I've only done leads. I'm talking about the lead. Well,
• 15:17
  Speaker 2: it's a little hard to believe... Franklin would take a
• 15:19
  Speaker 2: chance on an unknown. Mel has quite a few ideas
• 15:22
  Speaker 2: about this part. Above all, he wants someone who isn't
• 15:24
  Speaker 2: identified with any other characterization. I see. It's that kind
• 15:28
  Speaker 2: of a part. The play might suffer if the audience
• 15:31
  Speaker 2: associated the actor with the wrong kind of things. Which
• 15:36
  Speaker 2: brings up something else, Sanders. What do you mean? Your background.
• 15:41
  Speaker 2: There were a few clippings you didn't save, right? Well, now,
• 15:44
  Speaker 2: wait a minute. Look, has Julie been telling you about...
• 15:47
  Speaker 2: Julie hasn't been telling me anything. Except how competent you are. No, Sanders,
• 15:52
  Speaker 2: I found these things out on my own hook. It's
• 15:54
  Speaker 2: a practice of mine in taking on any new client.
• 15:57
  Speaker 2: And just what have you found out? Well, let's say
• 16:01
  Speaker 2: it wasn't entirely breaks that have held you back. I
• 16:05
  Speaker 2: understand you got out of hand a few times. It
• 16:07
  Speaker 2: was never anything serious, Mr. Hackett. That hit-and-run charge in
• 16:10
  Speaker 2: Duluth was serious enough. You served time for it. Well, yes, but...
• 16:14
  Speaker 2: And there were at least half a dozen towns in
• 16:15
  Speaker 2: the Midwest where you've been in one kind of trouble
• 16:17
  Speaker 2: or another. That temperament routine doesn't go anymore, you know.
• 16:22
  Speaker 2: All right, Mr.
• 16:23
  Speaker 5: Hackett.
• 16:24
  Speaker 2: But I don't see what it has to do with...
• 16:25
  Speaker 2: In this case, everything. I just want us to understand
• 16:29
  Speaker 2: one another. That's all. Now, in dealing with Franklin, I'll
• 16:33
  Speaker 2: do the talking... I understand, Mr.
• 16:35
  Speaker 7: Hackett.
• 16:37
  Speaker 2: Well, I appreciate this even more. Don't thank me. Thank
• 16:40
  Speaker 2: Julie Lane. I intend to. She's a wonderful girl, Sanders. I...
• 16:46
  Speaker 2: I guess I'd do almost anything for her. I understand, Mr. Hackett.
• 16:49
  Speaker 2: I hope you do. She's very fond of you, you know.
• 16:53
  Speaker 2: I wouldn't want to see her hurt. Of course not.
• 16:57
  Speaker 2: All right, Sanders, I'll arrange that tryout. Be at the
• 16:59
  Speaker 2: 56th Street Theater at 10 tomorrow morning.
• 17:11
  Speaker 3: And that's all there is to it, Leo. It took
• 17:14
  Speaker 3: Julie five minutes to do what you failed to accomplish
• 17:17
  Speaker 3: in three months. You know how important she is now.
• 17:21
  Speaker 3: That as long as she believes you're in love with her,
• 17:23
  Speaker 3: anything is possible. You arrive at the theater early the
• 17:27
  Speaker 3: next morning... Sit by yourself in the wing, studying the
• 17:30
  Speaker 3: play script that Franklin placed in your hand. An hour
• 17:34
  Speaker 3: or two later, you're going through it with the leading lady.
• 17:37
  Speaker 3: And as you read, you can see Franklin and Hackett
• 17:40
  Speaker 3: alone in that sea of empty seats beyond the glare
• 17:43
  Speaker 3: of the footlights.
• 17:45
  Speaker 2: Think for a minute, Marion. I don't want to hurt you.
• 17:48
  Speaker 2: I don't want to hurt your father. But please consider
• 17:51
  Speaker 2: my position.
• 17:52
  Speaker 5: You're taking it too seriously.
• 17:53
  Speaker 2: Too seriously? Marion, those people are counting on me. They
• 17:57
  Speaker 2: believed in me when they voted me into office.
• 17:59
  Speaker 5: Politics makes certain things necessary, David.
• 18:02
  Speaker 2: If they make it necessary for me to turn into
• 18:04
  Speaker 2: a cheat and a liar, then I want no part
• 18:08
  Speaker 2: of it.
• 18:14
  Speaker 3: As you read the lines, you're aware of the two
• 18:16
  Speaker 3: of them sitting out there watching and listening. You try
• 18:20
  Speaker 3: to concentrate on the part, but can't help wondering what
• 18:23
  Speaker 3: they're thinking. What sort of impression you're making on Mel Franklin?
• 18:28
  Speaker 3: And then, as you finish a scene, Hackett waves for
• 18:31
  Speaker 3: you to stop. The two of them put their heads together,
• 18:34
  Speaker 3: talking earnestly. And you sit on the stage, waiting, wishing
• 18:39
  Speaker 3: you could hear.
• 18:39
  Speaker 2: Well, what do you think, Mel? Well, the guy's good, Gus.
• 18:43
  Speaker 2: Is he in? No, I don't know. I had another
• 18:46
  Speaker 2: actor in mind, and I'd still like to listen to him.
• 18:49
  Speaker 2: But it's between him and Sanders, huh? Yes, I think
• 18:52
  Speaker 2: I can promise you that much. Oh, good enough. Except
• 18:55
  Speaker 2: that I think Sanders is right. Sure, sure. Did a
• 18:57
  Speaker 2: good job for the first reading.
• 18:58
  Speaker 3: Only....
• 19:01
  Speaker 2: Well, Gus, I've heard things about him. I understand that he...
• 19:04
  Speaker 2: That's all in the past, Mel. I can promise you that.
• 19:07
  Speaker 3: Yes, but this part.
• 19:08
  Speaker 2: There has to be a clean-cut guy or the thing
• 19:11
  Speaker 2: will fall flat on its face. I wouldn't worry. You
• 19:13
  Speaker 2: heard him, Mel. He's really an actor. Well, you may
• 19:17
  Speaker 2: have something, Gus. Let me think it over. Okay. But
• 19:21
  Speaker 2: you got a chance to hit on this one, Mel.
• 19:23
  Speaker 2: Don't let a few rumors spoil it for you. Well,
• 19:35
  Speaker 2: how did it go, Mr. Hackett? Did Franklin say anything?
• 19:38
  Speaker 2: Looks good, Leo. But what did he say? I hope
• 19:41
  Speaker 2: you told him I wasn't at my best after all
• 19:42
  Speaker 2: first reading. Relax. I told him just enough. And I
• 19:46
  Speaker 2: still want you to stay away from him. Give him
• 19:48
  Speaker 2: time to make up his mind. Make up his mind?
• 19:50
  Speaker 2: up his mind? You mean he's... He mentioned having somebody
• 19:52
  Speaker 2: else he wanted to hear, but you just do as
• 19:54
  Speaker 2: I say and it's going to work out. I'm sure
• 19:56
  Speaker 2: of it. I hope you're right, Mr. Haggin. I couldn't
• 19:58
  Speaker 2: mess with a part like that. I know. But all
• 20:01
  Speaker 2: we can do now is just wait and see. Look,
• 20:04
  Speaker 2: I gotta make a quick trip out to Hollywood. Oh,
• 20:06
  Speaker 2: but what about... Just sit tight. I'll be in touch
• 20:08
  Speaker 2: with Mel, and if anything breaks, I'll call Julie. Okay.
• 20:12
  Speaker 2: And another thing, Leo. Be a good boy, will you?
• 20:26
  Speaker 3: You never dreamed it could happen so fast, did you, Leo?
• 20:30
  Speaker 7: Yes.
• 20:31
  Speaker 3: In a matter of days now, you'll know one way
• 20:33
  Speaker 3: or the other. The waiting isn't easy, but Gus Hackett
• 20:37
  Speaker 3: seems so confident, so sure. It's three nights later that
• 20:42
  Speaker 3: you pick up a rumor in the bar and hurry
• 20:44
  Speaker 3: directly to Julie's apartment.
• 20:46
  Speaker 2: Well, Leo. Good, you've got your radio on. What time
• 20:49
  Speaker 2: is it?
• 20:49
  Speaker 5: Five after seven.
• 20:51
  Speaker 2: It might not be too late. Craig Wallace is on
• 20:53
  Speaker 2: the air now. I just heard he might have a
• 20:54
  Speaker 2: tip on the cast of Franklin's play.
• 20:55
  Speaker 5: How would he know before we did?
• 20:56
  Speaker 2: Well, he's supposed to be an old pal of Mel Franklin's.
• 20:59
  Speaker 6: Oh.
• 21:02
  Speaker 2: Your New York reporter, Craig Wallace, bringing you bits of
• 21:05
  Speaker 2: show news picked.
• 21:05
  Speaker 7: Up along Broadway.
• 21:06
  Speaker 5: Might be just like Gus, but it's just good news
• 21:07
  Speaker 5: over the radio. First of all, I can.
• 21:09
  Speaker 7: Confirm those rumors that have been flying concerning the split
• 21:11
  Speaker 7: up between actress Sandra Laverne.
• 21:13
  Speaker 2: Well, nothing but the usual junk about people breaking up.
• 21:16
  Speaker 2: That isn't always show time.
• 21:18
  Speaker 7: And on the subject of new shows, I promised to
• 21:21
  Speaker 7: have something about the stars of Mel Franklin's latest open.
• 21:24
  Speaker 2: That's it?
• 21:25
  Speaker 7: Mel has picked a newcomer this time for the leading
• 21:27
  Speaker 7: role opposite Broadway's own Vivian Marks. Needless to say, he'll
• 21:32
  Speaker 7: probably be.
• 21:32
  Speaker 3: Around for a long time.
• 21:35
  Speaker 7: When Mel Franklin picks them, they're usually nothing short of sensational.
• 21:40
  Speaker 7: And so, Mr.
• 21:41
  Speaker 3: And Mrs.
• 21:41
  Speaker 7: Manhattan, here it is. The man who will play the
• 21:43
  Speaker 7: lead in Mel Franklin's new play is... Byron Blake.
• 21:47
  Speaker 5: What? Wait, Leo, don't turn it off.
• 21:50
  Speaker 2: Why not, Julie?
• 21:51
  Speaker 5: Byron Blake, I... I don't understand it.
• 21:54
  Speaker 2: Are you sure, Julie? Are you sure you don't understand it?
• 21:58
  Speaker 5: What do you mean?
• 21:59
  Speaker 2: It must be nice, darling. I had no idea you
• 22:02
  Speaker 2: were so clever.
• 22:03
  Speaker 5: What are you talking about?
• 22:04
  Speaker 2: I seem to remember something you said once in St. Louis.
• 22:07
  Speaker 2: Something about evening the score sooner or later.
• 22:09
  Speaker 5: We were just kids. This has nothing to do with that.
• 22:11
  Speaker 5: Anything I might have said is just what you don't understand.
• 22:14
  Speaker 2: Go ahead. Watch me squirm. Isn't that what you wanted?
• 22:17
  Speaker 2: Too bad Gus Hackett isn't here to laugh with you.
• 22:18
  Speaker 5: Leo, stop it. You don't know what you're saying. Why,
• 22:21
  Speaker 5: I never heard of this, this Byron Blake. Leo, you've
• 22:25
  Speaker 5: got to believe me.
• 22:26
  Speaker 2: You've got to, Leo.
• 22:27
  Speaker 5: What? Darling, it's just the same. Just the way it
• 22:31
  Speaker 5: was in St.
• 22:31
  Speaker 2: Louis. All right, Julie. I believe him. It only isn't
• 22:40
  Speaker 2: the same. It's gone now. Everything. Everything? I dreamed a
• 22:47
  Speaker 2: lot of dreams, Julie. It isn't much fun waking up
• 22:51
  Speaker 2: like this. So long, kid. Will you please? Where are
• 22:55
  Speaker 2: you going? Do me a favor, will you? Just pretend
• 22:59
  Speaker 2: I never walked into the party that night. It's all over.
• 23:12
  Speaker 3: Yes, Leo, it's all over. You tell that to yourself
• 23:15
  Speaker 3: again and again as you leave Julie and aimlessly walk
• 23:18
  Speaker 3: the street. It's even worse now than before you ran
• 23:21
  Speaker 3: into her at that party. Coming so close, having a
• 23:24
  Speaker 3: dream in the palm of your hand, then watching it
• 23:27
  Speaker 3: vanish in a casual remark from a radio commentator. Yes,
• 23:31
  Speaker 3: there are only two of you, Leo. And tomorrow they'll
• 23:34
  Speaker 3: all tell you it was close. That it was a
• 23:36
  Speaker 3: hard choice between you and this Byron Blake. And you'll
• 23:40
  Speaker 3: smile politely and say, thanks anyway. And step back to
• 23:44
  Speaker 3: where you were three months ago when you first came
• 23:47
  Speaker 3: to New York. An hour later, you find yourself standing
• 23:57
  Speaker 3: in front of a florist shop, looking at a basket
• 23:59
  Speaker 3: of American Beauty roses in the window. Vaguely remember it's
• 24:03
  Speaker 3: the place you stopped a week ago and bought the
• 24:06
  Speaker 3: roses for Julie. The night Pat Hoffman said he'd kill
• 24:11
  Speaker 3: the man who sent them. Suddenly, you find yourself tense,
• 24:15
  Speaker 3: your mind going a mile a minute.
• 24:21
  Speaker 2: Uh, just a minute.
• 24:22
  Speaker 3: Sorry, mister, closing up.
• 24:23
  Speaker 2: But I want some flowers. Too late, buddy. She'll have
• 24:26
  Speaker 2: to wait till tomorrow. Look, I've got to have them.
• 24:28
  Speaker 2: Those roses, I want two dozen. Two dozen, American beauties. Well,
• 24:33
  Speaker 2: never too late to make a sale like that. Come
• 24:36
  Speaker 2: on inside. You've got two dozen? Sure. What about delivery?
• 24:39
  Speaker 2: There's ten bucks in it if you can deliver them tonight. Oh,
• 24:42
  Speaker 2: I guess I could take care of it on my
• 24:43
  Speaker 2: way home. I want you to take them to the
• 24:47
  Speaker 2: parakeet club. I know the spot. See that Pat Hoffman,
• 24:52
  Speaker 2: the manager, gets them. He'll know who they're for.
• 24:56
  Speaker 5: Okay.
• 24:56
  Speaker 2: What about a card? Yes. Yes, I want a card
• 25:00
  Speaker 2: in them. Just put, to Julie, with all my love. Uh-huh.
• 25:06
  Speaker 2: And sign it, Byron Blake. The Whistler will return in
• 25:18
  Speaker 2: just a moment with a strange ending to tonight's story. Meantime,
• 25:23
  Speaker 2: a word about the extra something you get when you
• 25:25
  Speaker 2: have your car lubricated at a dealer-owned Signal gasoline station.
• 25:30
  Speaker 2: You see, Signal dealers, being in business for themselves, do
• 25:33
  Speaker 2: go out of their way to give you the kind
• 25:35
  Speaker 2: of job they're proud to stand back of. It's why,
• 25:37
  Speaker 2: for instance, they take no chances on memory when they
• 25:40
  Speaker 2: lubricate your car. Instead, they check against Signal's factory-recommended lubrication charts.
• 25:46
  Speaker 2: which shows every lubrication point on your car. And they
• 25:50
  Speaker 2: use nine specialized signal oils and greases, so each part
• 25:54
  Speaker 2: will have the exact type of protection it needs. But
• 25:57
  Speaker 2: do they stop there? No, sir. Just to make doubly
• 26:00
  Speaker 2: sure not a single part has been overlooked, they check
• 26:02
  Speaker 2: each point again, which is why it's called signal double-check lubrication. Now,
• 26:08
  Speaker 2: that's the kind of lube service you want if your
• 26:11
  Speaker 2: car is to give you the long, trouble-free service that
• 26:13
  Speaker 2: was built into it. And that's the kind of lubrication
• 26:16
  Speaker 2: you get from your friendly dealer-owned signal service station. And now,
• 26:22
  Speaker 2: back to the whistler.
• 26:33
  Speaker 3: Yes, Julie Lane had a lot to think about on
• 26:36
  Speaker 3: that afternoon she and Gus Hackett sat in the little
• 26:39
  Speaker 3: restaurant on 56th Street. with the newsboys outside shouting of
• 26:43
  Speaker 3: the murder of a New York actor named Byron Blake.
• 26:47
  Speaker 3: It had been a terrible two days, and she'd told
• 26:49
  Speaker 3: the story so many times to so many police officials
• 26:53
  Speaker 3: that it didn't seem to make sense anymore. But the
• 26:56
  Speaker 3: worst was over now. At least the killer had had
• 26:59
  Speaker 3: the kindness to plead guilty and there'd be no trial.
• 27:03
  Speaker 3: It was natural, though, that as she and Gus sat there,
• 27:06
  Speaker 3: her mind kept going back to Leo. For although the headlines,
• 27:10
  Speaker 3: the gossips, even the police record might say something else.
• 27:14
  Speaker 3: To Julie, it would always be Leo's story.
• 27:18
  Speaker 2: Josh. Yes, Julie. Josh, I'm sorry I had to drag
• 27:23
  Speaker 2: you through.
• 27:23
  Speaker 5: All this before I could come to my senses.
• 27:26
  Speaker 2: I think it was worth it.
• 27:28
  Speaker 5: I do love you, Kirk. I guess it's been that
• 27:32
  Speaker 5: way all along.
• 27:33
  Speaker 2: It's kind of hard to believe, Julie. You know, I
• 27:38
  Speaker 2: thought it was all over that night Leo came back.
• 27:40
  Speaker 5: I guess I should have known.
• 27:43
  Speaker 2: Strange, isn't it? The guy signs his own death warrant
• 27:47
  Speaker 2: and the papers call it a tragedy. Leo was a heel, Julie.
• 27:52
  Speaker 2: Worse than that, he was a murderer. He knew when
• 27:54
  Speaker 2: he sent those roses exactly what Hoffman would do. That's
• 27:58
  Speaker 2: what's so wrong about it. Hoffman wasn't the murderer, he
• 28:01
  Speaker 2: was the weapon. Maybe we.
• 28:02
  Speaker 5: we better forget it.
• 28:03
  Speaker 7: I'm sorry.
• 28:05
  Speaker 2: I'm sorry. Guess I just got to get it off
• 28:08
  Speaker 2: my chest. Somehow I feel responsible.
• 28:11
  Speaker 5: Well, it's not your fault, God.
• 28:12
  Speaker 2: Oh, I know, but... But Leo would still be alive
• 28:16
  Speaker 2: right now if I hadn't dreamed up that way of
• 28:19
  Speaker 2: covering his past by giving him the stage name of
• 28:24
  Speaker 2: Byron Blake. Let that whistle be your signal for the
• 28:50
  Speaker 2: Signal Oil program, The Whistler, each Monday at 9, brought
• 28:55
  Speaker 2: to you by the Signal Oil Company, marketers of Signal
• 28:58
  Speaker 2: gasoline and motor oil, and fine quality automotive accessories. Signal
• 29:03
  Speaker 2: has asked me to remind you to get the most
• 29:05
  Speaker 2: driving pleasure, drive at sensible speeds, be courteous, and obey
• 29:09
  Speaker 2: traffic regulations. It may save a life, possibly your own.
• 29:27
  Speaker 2: Featured in tonight's story were Betty Lou Gerson and Tom Collins.
• 29:31
  Speaker 2: The Whistler was produced by George W. Allen, based on
• 29:34
  Speaker 2: a story by Gene Fromhers. Music by Wilbur Hatch. It
• 29:38
  Speaker 2: was transmitted to our troops overseas by the Armed Forces
• 29:41
  Speaker 2: Radio Service. This is Marvin Miller speaking for the Signal
• 29:46
  Speaker 2: Oil Company. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.
• 30:09
  Speaker 1: The Whistler's March, 1947 story, Murder of Byron Blake, now
• 30:14
  Speaker 1: comes to a close. Follow The Whistler for more classic broadcasts.