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The Whistler - "Dark Moon" (Old Time Radio, 1947) · The Whistler | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Frank Lovejoy stars in a Hollywood story of ambition and
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: a long-awaited chance before the cameras. On November 19, 1947,
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: CBS's Pacific Network, under Signal Oil sponsorship, presented episode 286
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: of the whistler Dark Moon. Russell Denton, a struggling actor,
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: is offered the leading role in a new picture. But
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: the prospect is complicated when his former wife, now connected
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: with the producer, favors another man for the part. John
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: Hart wrote this Hollywood-set drama where Denton finds the future
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: he has waited for suddenly uncertain. And now, the original broadcast.
• 0:41
  Speaker 2: The signal oil program, The Whistler. Whistling That whistle is
• 0:59
  Speaker 2: your signal for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler.
• 1:04
  Speaker 3: I am The Whistler.
• 1:26
  Speaker 4: And I know many things, for I walk by night.
• 1:29
  Speaker 4: I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of
• 1:33
  Speaker 4: men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes,
• 1:37
  Speaker 4: I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak.
• 1:44
  Speaker 2: Yes, friends, it's time for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler.
• 1:48
  Speaker 2: Rated by Independent Research, the most popular West Coast program
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: in radio history. And Signal gasoline is tops, too, tops
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: in quality. It takes extra quality, you know, to give
• 1:59
  Speaker 2: you extra mileage. And Signal is the famous go-farther gasoline.
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: So look for the Signal circle sign in yellow and
• 2:06
  Speaker 2: black that identifies friendly dealer-owned Signal stations from Canada to Mexico.
• 2:14
  Speaker 2: And now the Whistler's strange story, Dark Moons.
• 2:26
  Speaker 4: It was a miracle, the kind of miracle peculiar to
• 2:29
  Speaker 4: a piece of Southern California acreage, where only a few
• 2:33
  Speaker 4: years ago, a handful of men in puttees and riding
• 2:36
  Speaker 4: breeches put their caps on backwards, grabbed their megaphones firmly,
• 2:40
  Speaker 4: and set their cameras to grinding out an industry. Yes,
• 2:45
  Speaker 4: it was the kind of a miracle that happens to
• 2:47
  Speaker 4: someone almost every day in Hollywood. Russell Benton told himself
• 2:52
  Speaker 4: all this as he walked into the oak-paneled office of
• 2:55
  Speaker 4: Matthew Ellsworth, movie producer. Cast an eye on the artificially
• 2:59
  Speaker 4: young secretary behind the artificially old desk and introduced himself.
• 3:04
  Speaker 5: I have an appointment with Mr. Ellsworth. I'm Russell Benton.
• 3:07
  Speaker 6: Oh, yes, Mr.
• 3:08
  Speaker 7: Benton.
• 3:09
  Speaker 8: Mr.
• 3:09
  Speaker 6: Ellsworth is expecting you. This way, Mr.
• 3:12
  Speaker 5: Benton. Don't bother. I know the way.
• 3:13
  Speaker 9: Oh, thank you.
• 3:18
  Speaker 5: Am I on time, Matt?
• 3:19
  Speaker 8: You're early. Sit down.
• 3:20
  Speaker 5: Yeah, this is one appointment I didn't want to miss.
• 3:24
  Speaker 8: Nervous?
• 3:25
  Speaker 5: Yeah, a little.
• 3:26
  Speaker 8: Relax.
• 3:27
  Speaker 4: It's not going to hurt a bit.
• 3:28
  Speaker 8: You know, I've got a lot of confidence in you, Ross.
• 3:30
  Speaker 5: I hope you're right.
• 3:31
  Speaker 8: Funny, isn't it?
• 3:32
  Speaker 10: Only a week ago, you were just another name. A
• 3:35
  Speaker 10: face that dropped in once a week at the casting
• 3:36
  Speaker 10: offices around town. Now I've got every movie columnist in
• 3:39
  Speaker 10: the country on my back trying to get your life story.
• 3:42
  Speaker 5: A little premature, isn't it?
• 3:43
  Speaker 8: I don't know.
• 3:44
  Speaker 10: I think this screen test will be everything I want
• 3:46
  Speaker 10: it to be.
• 3:47
  Speaker 5: I hope so.
• 3:47
  Speaker 10: And if you make it, Russ, you'll be right at
• 3:49
  Speaker 10: the top. It's a smash vehicle, this one we're testing
• 3:52
  Speaker 10: you for.
• 3:52
  Speaker 8: I think you're right for it. It needs a leading
• 3:55
  Speaker 8: man with a touch of character. And in my opinion,
• 3:57
  Speaker 8: you can't miss.
• 3:58
  Speaker 5: Dark Moon.
• 3:59
  Speaker 10: Three years on Broadway and still going. We spent a
• 4:02
  Speaker 10: half a million for the picture rights of Dark Moon,
• 4:03
  Speaker 10: you know?
• 4:04
  Speaker 5: Tell me, Matt, there was another guy.
• 4:07
  Speaker 8: Don Bradford?
• 4:07
  Speaker 5: Yeah. He's up for the part, too, isn't he?
• 4:10
  Speaker 10: He made a great test, but I think you'll top him.
• 4:12
  Speaker 10: The New York people seem to think he's terrific. I'm
• 4:14
  Speaker 10: not so sure.
• 4:15
  Speaker 8: Uh-huh.
• 4:17
  Speaker 5: What about my test? When does it happen?
• 4:19
  Speaker 8: Soon as they're ready on the set.
• 4:21
  Speaker 5: It's a little like waiting to be hanged.
• 4:23
  Speaker 8: Relax, I said. By the way, what do you think
• 4:26
  Speaker 8: of the part?
• 4:27
  Speaker 5: It's a natural for me.
• 4:29
  Speaker 8: Shame I didn't find you when I was casting the
• 4:31
  Speaker 8: play in New York.
• 4:32
  Speaker 5: It wouldn't have been hard. I was there at the time.
• 4:34
  Speaker 8: What made you leave?
• 4:36
  Speaker 5: Circumstances, Matt.
• 4:38
  Speaker 8: Theatrical?
• 4:39
  Speaker 5: Matrimonial.
• 4:40
  Speaker 8: Oh. I didn't know you were married.
• 4:42
  Speaker 5: I'm not. Been divorced for two years.
• 4:45
  Speaker 8: Couldn't make a go of it, huh? Or, uh... Am
• 4:47
  Speaker 8: I on a touchy subject?
• 4:48
  Speaker 5: No, no, no, no. It was simple. She liked mink.
• 4:52
  Speaker 5: My pocketbook didn't.
• 4:54
  Speaker 8: An actress?
• 4:55
  Speaker 5: Yeah, she's probably still back there. I haven't seen her
• 4:58
  Speaker 5: since we split.
• 4:59
  Speaker 8: Oh, that's too bad.
• 5:01
  Speaker 10: I've only been married for about a year now, but
• 5:03
  Speaker 10: I think I have a pretty wonderful girl.
• 5:04
  Speaker 8: An actress, too. I met... Excuse me. Ellsworth? Yes, he's
• 5:10
  Speaker 8: in my office. Good, we'll be right down. Let's go, boy.
• 5:13
  Speaker 4: They're ready to shoot.
• 5:14
  Speaker 8: We're due on the set in ten minutes.
• 5:26
  Speaker 4: And in ten minutes, the miracle begins to happen, Russ.
• 5:29
  Speaker 4: As soon as you face the camera, the second mat
• 5:32
  Speaker 4: gives you the cue to begin. You forget about everything
• 5:35
  Speaker 4: except the scene you're doing. Forget about Kathy and the
• 5:38
  Speaker 4: marriage that failed. Forget the struggle, the futile hopes, and
• 5:42
  Speaker 4: even the miracle that placed this opportunity in your lap.
• 5:45
  Speaker 4: As you get into the scene, all you know is
• 5:47
  Speaker 4: that you're giving the greatest performance of your life. And
• 5:50
  Speaker 4: when the cameras finally stop grinding, you can tell from
• 5:54
  Speaker 4: the look on Matt's face that you made it. That
• 5:56
  Speaker 4: the name of Russell Benton is as good as on
• 6:00
  Speaker 4: a thousand theater marquees over the magic title Dark Moon.
• 6:05
  Speaker 8: Cut? All right, Predator.
• 6:10
  Speaker 5: How was I, Matt? What do you think?
• 6:12
  Speaker 8: Terrific. As far as I'm concerned, it's settled.
• 6:14
  Speaker 5: Who else is there?
• 6:15
  Speaker 8: A handful of New York backers. I'm flying back there
• 6:17
  Speaker 8: tonight with the Prince.
• 6:18
  Speaker 10: Call you as soon as it's definite.
• 6:27
  Speaker 4: It's happening right before your eyes, Russ. The wonderful night
• 6:30
  Speaker 4: before Christmas feeling is real. Not a dream anymore. And
• 6:35
  Speaker 4: now with a big hurdle behind you, you know you
• 6:37
  Speaker 4: can't miss. It's too good to keep, Russ. And early
• 6:40
  Speaker 4: that evening, you drive over to Laura's home in Beverly Hills.
• 6:44
  Speaker 4: She'll be proud of you now, and that's important. You
• 6:47
  Speaker 4: want Laura to be proud.
• 6:49
  Speaker 9: Russ, darling, I heard I'm so happy for you.
• 6:52
  Speaker 5: Me too.
• 6:53
  Speaker 9: Have they said anything definite?
• 6:54
  Speaker 5: Matt's gone to New York with the prince.
• 6:56
  Speaker 9: Oh, you mean about Don Bradford?
• 6:58
  Speaker 5: Uh, yeah.
• 6:59
  Speaker 9: Well, the New York people have held out for him
• 7:01
  Speaker 9: all along. But don't worry, darling. Matt will make them
• 7:04
  Speaker 9: see the light. Come on now, the party's out by
• 7:06
  Speaker 9: the pool. Let's join them, shall we?
• 7:17
  Speaker 5: Wait a minute, Laura. I thought you said a small party.
• 7:19
  Speaker 9: Come on, they won't bite. I'll introduce you to some
• 7:22
  Speaker 9: of the nicer ones.
• 7:23
  Speaker 5: Well, if you say... Say, isn't that Frances Connors, the columnist?
• 7:27
  Speaker 7: Uh-huh.
• 7:28
  Speaker 9: Queen Frances herself. I want you to meet her.
• 7:31
  Speaker 5: How do you do it, Laura?
• 7:33
  Speaker 6: You'd be surprised.
• 7:34
  Speaker 9: Now, be nice to her, darling. She can make or
• 7:37
  Speaker 9: break any action in Hollywood.
• 7:39
  Speaker 5: Do I kneel down and kiss her hand?
• 7:43
  Speaker 4: No.
• 7:43
  Speaker 9: Just give her a captivating smile, A26, darling.
• 7:47
  Speaker 6: The impressive one.
• 7:48
  Speaker 9: Francis!
• 7:49
  Speaker 7: Excuse me.
• 7:50
  Speaker 10: Yes?
• 7:51
  Speaker 9: Oh, Laura! Francis, I'd like you to meet Russell Benton.
• 7:56
  Speaker 9: Francis Connors, Russ.
• 7:57
  Speaker 6: Aha!
• 7:58
  Speaker 7: Mr.
• 7:59
  Speaker 6: Lucky himself.
• 8:01
  Speaker 11: How do you do, Russ? I've been waiting to meet you.
• 8:03
  Speaker 5: How do you do?
• 8:04
  Speaker 11: I've heard the good news. Congratulations.
• 8:06
  Speaker 9: It's a great story and a great part, darling.
• 8:09
  Speaker 11: I'm all for you.
• 8:09
  Speaker 5: Thanks.
• 8:10
  Speaker 9: Don't let us spoil you, Russ.
• 8:12
  Speaker 5: You're on, Francis. I love it.
• 8:13
  Speaker 6: Well, let's have the story. What did you do up
• 8:16
  Speaker 6: to now, Russ?
• 8:17
  Speaker 5: Oh, the usual. Stock. Several years of theater work in
• 8:20
  Speaker 5: New York. That's about all.
• 8:22
  Speaker 9: Ever been married?
• 8:23
  Speaker 8: Divorced?
• 8:23
  Speaker 5: Kidnapped?
• 8:24
  Speaker 2: Shot at?
• 8:25
  Speaker 5: Married and divorced, yes.
• 8:26
  Speaker 9: Rush, you never told me.
• 8:27
  Speaker 5: You never asked, Angel. Why should I.
• 8:29
  Speaker 8: Mr.
• 8:29
  Speaker 4: Benton, excuse me, please. Yes. Your wanted on the phone, sir,
• 8:32
  Speaker 4: said it was important.
• 8:33
  Speaker 5: Oh, uh, you'll excuse me?
• 8:34
  Speaker 11: Of course, darling.
• 8:35
  Speaker 6: I'll think up some questions while you're gone.
• 8:37
  Speaker 5: Be right back.
• 8:43
  Speaker 8: Hello?
• 8:45
  Speaker 7: Hello, Rush. This is Kathy.
• 8:48
  Speaker 5: Kathy?
• 8:49
  Speaker 7: Well, don't sound so happy, darling.
• 8:52
  Speaker 5: Where are you?
• 8:53
  Speaker 7: In front of my fireplace in Hollywood.
• 8:55
  Speaker 5: But I thought you were in New York. How did
• 8:58
  Speaker 5: you know I.
• 9:00
  Speaker 5: What made you call here?
• 9:02
  Speaker 7: It wasn't too hard to find you, dear.
• 9:04
  Speaker 5: What do you want?
• 9:05
  Speaker 7: I just want to talk to you. If it isn't
• 9:07
  Speaker 7: asking too much.
• 9:09
  Speaker 5: Well, you better forget it. I told you once I
• 9:11
  Speaker 5: was through and I meant it.
• 9:12
  Speaker 7: You're being very foolish, you know. This is business.
• 9:16
  Speaker 5: Business?
• 9:17
  Speaker 7: Your part in Dark Moon.
• 9:20
  Speaker 5: Maybe I didn't make myself clear... I don't want to
• 9:23
  Speaker 5: talk to you about that or anything else.
• 9:25
  Speaker 7: I think you will, Russ. It's so nice. You're a
• 9:30
  Speaker 7: success now.
• 9:31
  Speaker 5: Matt Ellsworth seems to think so.
• 9:35
  Speaker 7: Does he?
• 9:36
  Speaker 5: Anything odd about that?
• 9:38
  Speaker 7: No, I just wonder sometimes whether Mr. Ellsworth knows you
• 9:41
  Speaker 7: as well as I do. Perhaps I ought to have
• 9:44
  Speaker 7: a talk with him.
• 9:45
  Speaker 5: What makes you think you could talk to Ellsworth?
• 9:48
  Speaker 7: Well, that shouldn't be hard, darling. You see... I'm his wife.
• 10:02
  Speaker 2: With the prologue of Dark Moon, the Signal Oil Company
• 10:05
  Speaker 2: is bringing you another strange story by the Whistler. But
• 10:11
  Speaker 2: now let's tune in on another strange story.
• 10:14
  Speaker 4: Listen.
• 10:20
  Speaker 11: Hmm, that's strange. I just bought that battery a short
• 10:23
  Speaker 11: time ago and it's dead already.
• 10:24
  Speaker 2: Nothing so strange about that, lady. Chill nights and mornings
• 10:28
  Speaker 2: put quite a strain on batteries. And some batteries hold
• 10:31
  Speaker 2: up better than others.
• 10:32
  Speaker 11: You mean all batteries are not alive?
• 10:34
  Speaker 4: Indeed, they're not.
• 10:35
  Speaker 2: That's why when you're investing money in a new battery,
• 10:38
  Speaker 2: it's not good business to take a chance on new
• 10:40
  Speaker 2: or unknown brands. Make sure that you're choosing a real
• 10:44
  Speaker 2: quality article, such as a genuine signal battery. Every rugged
• 10:49
  Speaker 2: signal battery is made from the very finest materials according
• 10:52
  Speaker 2: to exacting specifications laid down by Signal Oil Company. And
• 10:57
  Speaker 2: signal batteries are guaranteed for long, trouble-free service.
• 11:01
  Speaker 11: Who stands back of that guarantee?
• 11:03
  Speaker 2: Signal Oil Company, which supplies the products for almost 2,000
• 11:06
  Speaker 2: dealer-owned signal stations. is proud to stand back of every
• 11:10
  Speaker 2: signal battery.
• 11:11
  Speaker 11: One more question. Where can I get a signal battery?
• 11:14
  Speaker 2: From your neighborhood signal dealer, the same man who checks
• 11:17
  Speaker 2: your battery when you get gasoline and recharges it when
• 11:20
  Speaker 2: it's low. Just another good reason for making your next
• 11:24
  Speaker 2: battery a genuine, guaranteed signal battery.
• 11:29
  Speaker 4: And now, back to the whistler. Yes, Russ, Kathy is
• 11:55
  Speaker 4: Matt Ellsworth's wife. You stand dumbly at the telephone, her
• 11:59
  Speaker 4: words still reverberating in your ears. Putting it together now,
• 12:04
  Speaker 4: Matt's remark this morning about marrying some actress, the most
• 12:07
  Speaker 4: wonderful girl in the world, he'd said. Yes, Russ, it's true.
• 12:12
  Speaker 4: Kathy is Mrs. Matt Ellsworth. She can ruin you with
• 12:15
  Speaker 4: a word. You make a hurried excuse to Laura, hasten
• 12:24
  Speaker 4: down to your car, drive to the number Kathy gave
• 12:27
  Speaker 4: you high in the hills overlooking Hollywood. And as you
• 12:30
  Speaker 4: walk up the steep stairs to her front door, you
• 12:33
  Speaker 4: make a decision, Russ, that if Kathy tries in any
• 12:36
  Speaker 4: way to keep you from getting that part, you'll do
• 12:39
  Speaker 4: anything to stop her.
• 12:41
  Speaker 8: Even.
• 12:42
  Speaker 4: killer.
• 12:50
  Speaker 6: Sit down, darling.
• 12:51
  Speaker 8: Thanks.
• 12:52
  Speaker 6: Nice of you to come. I thought you'd change your mind.
• 12:55
  Speaker 5: I simply wanted to find out what was on yours.
• 12:58
  Speaker 6: Well, aren't you even going to say you're happy to
• 13:00
  Speaker 6: see me?
• 13:01
  Speaker 5: I'm not a hypocrite, Kathy.
• 13:04
  Speaker 6: Just as sweet as ever, aren't you?
• 13:06
  Speaker 5: Suppose you get to the point.
• 13:08
  Speaker 8: Point?
• 13:09
  Speaker 5: I don't want to stay here any longer than I
• 13:10
  Speaker 5: have to.
• 13:12
  Speaker 6: Well, as I told you, it's about Dark Moon.
• 13:17
  Speaker 5: Naturally.
• 13:18
  Speaker 6: My husband doesn't often make mistakes for us. However, I
• 13:22
  Speaker 6: think he's making one on this picture. And I've told
• 13:25
  Speaker 6: him so.
• 13:26
  Speaker 5: What kind of a mistake?
• 13:28
  Speaker 6: There's a charming young actor I've come to know very
• 13:30
  Speaker 6: well in the past year. I think he's made to
• 13:32
  Speaker 6: order for the lead. And the New York backers seem
• 13:35
  Speaker 6: to agree with me.
• 13:36
  Speaker 5: Don Bradford? Yes.
• 13:40
  Speaker 6: I want him to have that part.
• 13:42
  Speaker 5: Why?
• 13:43
  Speaker 6: I told you, he's charming. He's competent. I like him.
• 13:47
  Speaker 5: I see. I might mention that Matt doesn't seem to
• 13:50
  Speaker 5: agree with you. At least not after my screen test
• 13:53
  Speaker 5: this morning.
• 13:53
  Speaker 6: Yes, that's right. So, I'm afraid there's only one way
• 13:57
  Speaker 6: to convince him.
• 13:58
  Speaker 7: Oh?
• 14:00
  Speaker 6: You're going to tell him you don't want the part, Russ.
• 14:02
  Speaker 6: You've decided not to take it.
• 14:04
  Speaker 8: What?
• 14:05
  Speaker 5: You think I'm crazy?
• 14:06
  Speaker 6: No, that's why I'm talking to you. I've put some
• 14:10
  Speaker 6: high cards in front of Matt Russ. But I haven't
• 14:14
  Speaker 6: played the ace.
• 14:15
  Speaker 5: What do you mean?
• 14:15
  Speaker 6: He doesn't know we were married. There are some things
• 14:18
  Speaker 6: I could tell him.
• 14:20
  Speaker 5: You wouldn't do that.
• 14:21
  Speaker 6: I don't think I'll have to. Because you're going to
• 14:24
  Speaker 6: gracefully decline in favor of Don Bradford.
• 14:28
  Speaker 5: I think I know why you're doing this.
• 14:30
  Speaker 6: I told you I like Don Bradford.
• 14:32
  Speaker 5: No, no, it isn't that. You know as well as
• 14:35
  Speaker 5: Matt that I'm right for this one, and this part
• 14:36
  Speaker 5: will make me overnight. And you resent that, don't you, Kathy?
• 14:40
  Speaker 5: Nothing could hurt you more than seeing me successful. It's
• 14:42
  Speaker 5: not a boost for Bradford. It's a kick at me.
• 14:44
  Speaker 6: All right, call it anything you want. But Matt gets
• 14:48
  Speaker 6: back from New York tomorrow night at 9.30. I'll give
• 14:52
  Speaker 6: you until 9 to make up your mind.
• 14:55
  Speaker 5: Where can I get in touch with you?
• 14:56
  Speaker 6: Right here. I'll be waiting. You won't disappoint me.
• 15:05
  Speaker 5: Now, will you, darling? No, Kathy.
• 15:08
  Speaker 8: Kathy.
• 15:09
  Speaker 5: I won't disappoint you.
• 15:16
  Speaker 4: You know she's deadly serious as you leave the house.
• 15:19
  Speaker 4: Know that this woman will stop at nothing to ruin you.
• 15:22
  Speaker 4: And calmly, without emotion now, as you guide the car
• 15:25
  Speaker 4: through the dark streets back to your house, you decide
• 15:28
  Speaker 4: to kill her. It will involve a risk, a terrible risk.
• 15:37
  Speaker 4: But you're ready to take any kind of a chance now,
• 15:40
  Speaker 4: with destruction 24 hours away. Yes, all you can do
• 15:44
  Speaker 4: now is improvise. Prepare in advance for the questions that
• 15:47
  Speaker 4: are bound to come. The next morning, you call Laura.
• 15:53
  Speaker 5: Hello? Hello, Laura, this is Russ. I wonder if you
• 15:56
  Speaker 5: could give me a hand.
• 15:57
  Speaker 9: Why not?
• 15:58
  Speaker 5: Anything planned for tonight?
• 15:59
  Speaker 7: Free as a bird. Good.
• 16:01
  Speaker 5: Uh, this, uh, this may sound a little premature, Angel,
• 16:04
  Speaker 5: but I, uh, I thought I'd drum up a little
• 16:05
  Speaker 5: thing at my place. You know, for 10 or 20
• 16:07
  Speaker 5: or so. A celebration.
• 16:09
  Speaker 9: Oh, sounds like fun.
• 16:10
  Speaker 5: I'll be busy all day, though. I have to get
• 16:12
  Speaker 5: a few things for the party. I might not get
• 16:14
  Speaker 5: there until around, uh, uh, around 9. Could you, uh,
• 16:18
  Speaker 5: be a pal? Sort of get things started for me? Well,
• 16:21
  Speaker 5: what time? 8.30 or so. I'll leave the place open,
• 16:24
  Speaker 5: have everything ready for you. I suppose you could round
• 16:27
  Speaker 5: up enough people to make it interesting?
• 16:29
  Speaker 7: Free party, darling. They'll be standing in line at the door.
• 16:33
  Speaker 5: Then I can count on you.
• 16:34
  Speaker 7: Of course, dear. You won't be long, though.
• 16:37
  Speaker 8: No, Laura.
• 16:38
  Speaker 5: I won't be long.
• 16:40
  Speaker 12: But, Russ, you mind if I admit I'm a little confused?
• 16:51
  Speaker 5: It's very simple, Jeff.
• 16:53
  Speaker 8: Is it?
• 16:54
  Speaker 5: You're not the biggest agent in the world, you know.
• 16:56
  Speaker 5: You were saying the other day you'd give anything to
• 16:58
  Speaker 5: handle me. After all, 10% of my salary after this
• 17:01
  Speaker 5: picture is shot. I know, Russ.
• 17:04
  Speaker 10: I just don't understand why you'll sign up with me
• 17:07
  Speaker 10: now after you turn me down.
• 17:08
  Speaker 5: I can trust you, Jeff. That's why. I want you
• 17:12
  Speaker 5: to do a favor for me.
• 17:13
  Speaker 7: Oh.
• 17:14
  Speaker 5: I'm having a little party tonight. I can't get there
• 17:16
  Speaker 5: until after 9, and I want to tell them I
• 17:18
  Speaker 5: was tied up with my agent, say, from 8.30 until
• 17:20
  Speaker 5: 9 o'clock.
• 17:21
  Speaker 8: You want me to say.
• 17:22
  Speaker 5: Yeah, uh-huh. Oh, look, Russ, I... That's all you know.
• 17:27
  Speaker 5: That's all you have to say no matter what comes up.
• 17:29
  Speaker 5: And tomorrow, I give you a seven-year contract as my manager. Now,
• 17:34
  Speaker 5: what about it? What can I lose?
• 17:37
  Speaker 8: It's a deal.
• 17:45
  Speaker 4: Yes, Russ, it'll be a straight story and you can
• 17:48
  Speaker 4: stick with it. A conference with your new agent, Jeff Harris,
• 17:51
  Speaker 4: until nine. A room full of witnesses ready to testify...
• 17:55
  Speaker 4: you arrived at the party a few minutes afterwards... with
• 17:58
  Speaker 4: your arms full of groceries. That it's simply impossible that
• 18:02
  Speaker 4: only a few minutes before... you made the fatal visit
• 18:05
  Speaker 4: to Kathy Ellsworth's house... high on the hill.
• 18:08
  Speaker 8: Yes.
• 18:09
  Speaker 4: It's foolproof, isn't it? At five minutes to nine, you
• 18:16
  Speaker 4: step out of your car... Walk up the steep stone
• 18:19
  Speaker 4: steps to Kathy's door and press the bell.
• 18:33
  Speaker 6: Sorry I kept you waiting, darling. I was on the phone.
• 18:36
  Speaker 6: Come on in.
• 18:37
  Speaker 5: No hurry, Kathy.
• 18:39
  Speaker 6: Let's go into the living room, shall we?
• 18:41
  Speaker 5: Anywhere you like.
• 18:44
  Speaker 6: Sit down.
• 18:45
  Speaker 5: I'll stand.
• 18:47
  Speaker 6: All right. Now, what about it?
• 18:52
  Speaker 5: I want to make very sure of one thing, Kathy.
• 18:56
  Speaker 5: You are going through with this?
• 18:57
  Speaker 6: Well, of course I am. Matt will be here in
• 19:00
  Speaker 6: half an hour, Russ.
• 19:02
  Speaker 5: There's no way I can change your mind?
• 19:03
  Speaker 4: I told you the way.
• 19:04
  Speaker 5: It's too bad, Kathy.
• 19:07
  Speaker 6: Too bad.
• 19:07
  Speaker 11: Russ, no.
• 19:09
  Speaker 7: Russ!
• 19:20
  Speaker 8: Ah, Mr.
• 19:21
  Speaker 2: Benton.
• 19:22
  Speaker 5: Good evening, Angelo. Open a little late, aren't you? Every night, Mr.
• 19:25
  Speaker 8: Benton.
• 19:26
  Speaker 5: Take my advice, my friend.
• 19:28
  Speaker 8: Never go into the delicatessen store business. Work all day.
• 19:31
  Speaker 8: Work all night, too.
• 19:32
  Speaker 5: I thought you closed at nine. It's ten after, isn't it?
• 19:35
  Speaker 5: Ten o'clock we close. Oh, well, that's a break for me.
• 19:37
  Speaker 5: I got a bunch of hungry friends on my hands tonight.
• 19:39
  Speaker 5: What do you suggest?
• 19:41
  Speaker 8: Or maybe some salami, Swiss cheese, beer.
• 19:43
  Speaker 5: Great, great. A pound of each of those. Some kosher
• 19:45
  Speaker 5: dills if you have any. A couple of loaves of
• 19:47
  Speaker 5: rye bread.
• 19:47
  Speaker 8: Take it easy.
• 19:49
  Speaker 5: And some champagne. Angelo.
• 19:50
  Speaker 8: Champagne?
• 19:51
  Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, half a case. After all, Angelo, this is
• 19:55
  Speaker 5: a celebration.
• 20:03
  Speaker 4: You try and shake the picture of her out of
• 20:06
  Speaker 4: your mind as you leave the delicatessen and drive toward
• 20:09
  Speaker 4: your house and the waiting guests. It's a grim picture, Russ.
• 20:13
  Speaker 4: Kathy slumped limply against the overstuffed chair near the fireplace,
• 20:17
  Speaker 4: awaiting the arrival of her husband in a matter of
• 20:19
  Speaker 4: minutes now. A cold dread creeps over you, Russ, and
• 20:24
  Speaker 4: the awful finality of what you've done makes you realize
• 20:26
  Speaker 4: only now that, important as it seemed a few minutes ago,
• 20:31
  Speaker 4: Dark Moon and the new career wasn't worth this No, Russ.
• 20:36
  Speaker 4: It wasn't worth murder. But there's no changing it now.
• 20:43
  Speaker 4: You steady yourself. Take a firm grip on your nerves
• 20:46
  Speaker 4: and the bundle of groceries and open the heavy front
• 20:49
  Speaker 4: door of your house.
• 20:51
  Speaker 8: Hello, Russell.
• 20:52
  Speaker 4: Dave, here he is, gang.
• 20:54
  Speaker 9: Hail the conquering hero.
• 20:56
  Speaker 4: Look, reinforcements.
• 20:57
  Speaker 9: Oh, manna from heaven.
• 20:58
  Speaker 7: Oh, what is it?
• 20:59
  Speaker 5: I'm starved. Hey, hey, hey, take it easy. Ah, that's
• 21:02
  Speaker 5: my boy. Give me a hand, will you, Dave?
• 21:03
  Speaker 6: Oh, what is it?
• 21:04
  Speaker 4: Champagne.
• 21:05
  Speaker 7: Woo!
• 21:06
  Speaker 5: Will, I give you a hand.
• 21:07
  Speaker 8: Here, let Uncle Dave take.
• 21:08
  Speaker 5: Care of it. Oh, be gentle, old man. I don't
• 21:10
  Speaker 5: want to christen the floor. Always, always get this way
• 21:12
  Speaker 5: when I hear that magic word. Where's Laura?
• 21:14
  Speaker 8: Out there in the wilderness somewhere.
• 21:16
  Speaker 4: Laura!
• 21:17
  Speaker 5: Here you are, Dave. Take care of the champagne, will you?
• 21:19
  Speaker 8: You bet I will.
• 21:23
  Speaker 4: Laura?
• 21:24
  Speaker 8: Oh, Russ.
• 21:25
  Speaker 5: You did a great job on the party.
• 21:26
  Speaker 8: Thanks.
• 21:27
  Speaker 9: When you're a great man, I'll be your secretary. Did
• 21:30
  Speaker 9: you take care of everything, darling?
• 21:31
  Speaker 5: Huh?
• 21:32
  Speaker 9: Your business. The thing that tied you up.
• 21:34
  Speaker 8: Oh.
• 21:35
  Speaker 5: Oh, yes, yes. Everything is fine. Did Matt call yet?
• 21:39
  Speaker 8: No, not yet.
• 21:40
  Speaker 9: When did he get in?
• 21:41
  Speaker 5: He ought to be in now. Nervous? Yeah, a little.
• 21:46
  Speaker 9: I don't blame you.
• 21:47
  Speaker 5: Well, he'll be over in an hour or so. It
• 21:50
  Speaker 5: was nice of Frances Connors to accept tonight. Is she
• 21:52
  Speaker 5: here yet?
• 21:53
  Speaker 8: No.
• 21:55
  Speaker 6: Let's see, there was something I.
• 21:57
  Speaker 9: Oh, yes, I knew there was something I had to
• 21:59
  Speaker 9: tell you.
• 22:00
  Speaker 7: Russ!
• 22:00
  Speaker 4: Telephone!
• 22:01
  Speaker 5: Okay, I'll take it in the den. Excuse me a minute, Laura.
• 22:04
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 22:09
  Speaker 8: Yeah?
• 22:10
  Speaker 5: Russ?
• 22:10
  Speaker 8: Yes?
• 22:11
  Speaker 5: This is Matt.
• 22:12
  Speaker 8: I'm calling from the airport.
• 22:13
  Speaker 5: What did they say, Matt?
• 22:14
  Speaker 10: Brother, did I have a fight on my hands? We
• 22:16
  Speaker 10: went round and round for six straight hours, with me
• 22:19
  Speaker 10: talking Russ Benton while they talked Don Bradford.
• 22:21
  Speaker 5: How'd they like my test?
• 22:22
  Speaker 8: Great.
• 22:23
  Speaker 4: They thought you did a great job.
• 22:24
  Speaker 5: It's all set, then?
• 22:25
  Speaker 8: Now, that's why I called you, Russ. I didn't want
• 22:27
  Speaker 8: to keep you in suspense any longer. That's nice of you, Matt. I, uh,
• 22:30
  Speaker 8: just wanted you to know I tried my best.
• 22:32
  Speaker 5: Tried your best?
• 22:36
  Speaker 10: They were too much for me, kid. I'm afraid it's
• 22:38
  Speaker 10: going to be Bradford.
• 22:39
  Speaker 5: Bradford?
• 22:40
  Speaker 7: As I said, they love to.
• 22:41
  Speaker 10: Test and all that. But they were set on Bradford
• 22:43
  Speaker 10: from the.
• 22:43
  Speaker 5: Bradford?
• 22:44
  Speaker 8: And after all, they're putting up most of the dough.
• 22:46
  Speaker 7: Oh, no. Russ? Hello?
• 22:49
  Speaker 4: Hello, Russ? He couldn't have done it better with a sledgehammer, Russ.
• 22:57
  Speaker 4: The room swims before your eyes. There's a buzzing in
• 23:00
  Speaker 4: your ears, wiping out the sounds of the party in
• 23:02
  Speaker 4: the next room. Did you hang up? And you realize
• 23:05
  Speaker 4: Matt's voice is still coming out of the receiver on
• 23:07
  Speaker 4: the table.
• 23:08
  Speaker 8: What's going on there?
• 23:08
  Speaker 4: You pick it up, lay it in the cradle. Hello, Russ.
• 23:11
  Speaker 5: Hello.
• 23:13
  Speaker 4: You've committed a murder, Russ. You've killed Kathy. And for what?
• 23:22
  Speaker 4: You stumble up to your room where you can be
• 23:24
  Speaker 4: alone and sit smoking cigarette after cigarette. while the party
• 23:28
  Speaker 4: downstairs goes on without you. You can almost see Matt
• 23:31
  Speaker 4: on his way now, on his way to find Kathy.
• 23:34
  Speaker 4: You picture his car cutting through the night, winding along
• 23:38
  Speaker 4: the tree-lined streets high over Hollywood. You can hear his
• 23:41
  Speaker 4: steps as he walks up the brick path to the door,
• 23:44
  Speaker 4: the key in the lock. You can see him as
• 23:45
  Speaker 4: he walks into the living room, calling for her, puzzled.
• 23:48
  Speaker 4: And you can see the sudden stroke of terror in
• 23:51
  Speaker 4: his eyes as he finds the answer. You don't know
• 23:55
  Speaker 4: how much later it is that the sound of your
• 23:57
  Speaker 4: own doorbell downstairs snaps you out of it. And as
• 24:00
  Speaker 4: you hurry back down, Dave is letting two men in.
• 24:04
  Speaker 4: One of them is Matt. The other, a grim-faced man
• 24:07
  Speaker 4: in a gray suit, is unquestionably a police officer.
• 24:11
  Speaker 5: Well, Matt, welcome home.
• 24:13
  Speaker 4: Hello, Dave.
• 24:14
  Speaker 5: Hello, Matt.
• 24:15
  Speaker 8: Russ, can I see you a minute? Sure.
• 24:18
  Speaker 5: Let's go in here. You made it here in a hurry.
• 24:24
  Speaker 5: Come straight from the airport?
• 24:25
  Speaker 8: No, I didn't.
• 24:27
  Speaker 5: I thought you were sore the way you hung up
• 24:28
  Speaker 5: on me. Hung up on you?
• 24:29
  Speaker 8: Yeah.
• 24:30
  Speaker 5: Right after you gave me the jolt about Bradford. And
• 24:33
  Speaker 5: it was a jolt, too, you know. There's no reason
• 24:35
  Speaker 5: to hang up on a guy.
• 24:36
  Speaker 8: I guess we were disconnected.
• 24:38
  Speaker 5: Oh, I'm sorry.
• 24:38
  Speaker 8: This is Inspector Hardin, Russ. Homicide detail.
• 24:43
  Speaker 5: Homicide?
• 24:44
  Speaker 8: That's right. I'd like to ask you a few questions,
• 24:46
  Speaker 8: if you don't mind.
• 24:47
  Speaker 5: Of course. But I don't understand.
• 24:49
  Speaker 8: I'd like to know where you were tonight, Mr.
• 24:51
  Speaker 5: Benton. Why? Is something wrong?
• 24:53
  Speaker 8: It's my wife, Russ. Kathy was murdered tonight.
• 24:57
  Speaker 5: Murdered? Why are you asking me?
• 25:02
  Speaker 8: You didn't answer my question, Mr. Benton. Where were you
• 25:05
  Speaker 8: all evening?
• 25:06
  Speaker 5: Here? Why, practically. Practically? Yeah, I was tied up with
• 25:11
  Speaker 5: Jeff Harris, my agent, until pretty late. You can check
• 25:13
  Speaker 5: on that. Then I stopped on my way here and
• 25:16
  Speaker 5: bought some things for the party. Look, why are you
• 25:19
  Speaker 5: asking me?
• 25:20
  Speaker 8: We had to ask a few questions, Russ.
• 25:22
  Speaker 10: My wife had written the name Russell on a memo pad.
• 25:26
  Speaker 8: After at nine o'clock.
• 25:28
  Speaker 5: Good Lord, Matt, I don't even know your wife. Until
• 25:31
  Speaker 5: this moment, I didn't even know her name.
• 25:34
  Speaker 8: What about it, Mr. Ellsworth? I'm surer now than I
• 25:37
  Speaker 8: was before.
• 25:38
  Speaker 5: What are you talking about, Matt? How could I?
• 25:41
  Speaker 8: I had to do it, Russ.
• 25:43
  Speaker 10: The inspector insisted we talk to you as a matter
• 25:44
  Speaker 10: of routine.
• 25:46
  Speaker 5: Even though I knew it was ridiculous.
• 25:49
  Speaker 8: It wasn't Russ here, Inspector. Yeah.
• 25:52
  Speaker 5: I think I can vouch for that.
• 25:54
  Speaker 4: Okay.
• 25:55
  Speaker 8: Sorry we bothered you, Mr.
• 25:57
  Speaker 4: Benton.
• 25:58
  Speaker 5: Matt, you don't know how this makes me feel. I know, Russ.
• 26:02
  Speaker 8: Thanks.
• 26:04
  Speaker 5: Come on, Hardin.
• 26:05
  Speaker 8: We'd better get down to headquarters.
• 26:16
  Speaker 2: The Whistler will return in just a moment with a
• 26:18
  Speaker 2: strange ending to tonight's story. Meantime, see if you can
• 26:23
  Speaker 2: pick the winner in this discussion.
• 26:28
  Speaker 8: That's a smooth running motor you have there, Mary. What
• 26:31
  Speaker 8: kind of gasoline do you use?
• 26:32
  Speaker 6: Signal, Jim.
• 26:33
  Speaker 11: I like the go it puts into the old buggy.
• 26:35
  Speaker 8: Hey, that's interesting. I use Signal, too, because I like
• 26:39
  Speaker 8: its good mileage.
• 26:42
  Speaker 2: Mileage or performance, which is the better yardstick of gasoline quality? Well,
• 26:48
  Speaker 2: fact of the matter is, it takes superior performance to
• 26:51
  Speaker 2: give you extra mileage. You see, the only way any
• 26:54
  Speaker 2: gasoline can give you quicker starting, faster pickup, and smoother
• 26:58
  Speaker 2: knock-free power is by helping your motor run more efficiently.
• 27:02
  Speaker 2: And when your motor runs more efficiently, naturally you enjoy
• 27:06
  Speaker 2: extra mileage, a thing Signal Gasoline is famous for. That's
• 27:10
  Speaker 2: why we say, to be sure of the tops in
• 27:12
  Speaker 2: gasoline quality, there are just two things to remember... One.
• 27:16
  Speaker 4: In gasoline, it takes extra quality to go farther. And two...
• 27:21
  Speaker 4: Signal is the famous go-farther gasoline. And now, back to
• 27:25
  Speaker 4: the whistler. Well, Russ, you've brought it on. Somehow, somewhere,
• 27:37
  Speaker 4: you've found the strength to face Matt and the inspector.
• 27:40
  Speaker 4: And as you guide them back to the front door,
• 27:42
  Speaker 4: you know the worst is over. That in spite of
• 27:45
  Speaker 4: that damning piece of paper with your name on it,
• 27:48
  Speaker 4: there's still no reason for them to suspect you. Still
• 27:51
  Speaker 4: no known connection between you and Kathy. Still no discovered motive.
• 27:57
  Speaker 4: And even though it was futile, Russ, even though the
• 27:59
  Speaker 4: reason for the whole terrible night vanished into thin air
• 28:02
  Speaker 4: with Matt's telephone call, you're safe. And with Matt still
• 28:07
  Speaker 4: on your side, there'll be a future for you somewheres.
• 28:11
  Speaker 4: As you open the door for them, Laura comes up
• 28:13
  Speaker 4: to you looking a little worried. What is it, Russ?
• 28:16
  Speaker 5: It's nothing, Laura.
• 28:18
  Speaker 9: Matt, aren't you going to stay?
• 28:20
  Speaker 5: No, Laura.
• 28:22
  Speaker 6: What is this?
• 28:23
  Speaker 5: What's the matter? It's nothing, Laura. There was just some
• 28:25
  Speaker 5: question about where I was tonight at nine o'clock.
• 28:28
  Speaker 6: Oh, well, you told him, of course.
• 28:31
  Speaker 7: Yes.
• 28:31
  Speaker 8: You know where he was, miss?
• 28:33
  Speaker 9: Of course. He was at Kathy Ellsworth's front door. She
• 28:36
  Speaker 9: told me so when I called to ask her why
• 28:38
  Speaker 9: she hadn't arrived.
• 28:39
  Speaker 2: At Russ's party. Let that whistle be your signal for
• 29:02
  Speaker 2: the signal oil program, The Whistler, each Wednesday night at
• 29:04
  Speaker 2: this same time, brought to you by the Signal Oil Company,
• 29:07
  Speaker 2: marketers of signal gasoline and motor oil and fine quality
• 29:11
  Speaker 2: automotive accessories. Signal has asked me to remind you to
• 29:14
  Speaker 2: get the most driving pleasure, drive at sensible speeds, be courteous,
• 29:18
  Speaker 2: and obey traffic regulations. It may save a life, possibly
• 29:22
  Speaker 2: your own. Featured in tonight's story was Frank Lovejoy. The
• 29:30
  Speaker 2: Whistler was produced by George W. Allen with story by
• 29:33
  Speaker 2: John W. Hart, music by Wilbur Hatch, and was transmitted
• 29:36
  Speaker 2: to our troops overseas by the Armed Forces Radio Service.
• 29:39
  Speaker 2: © BF-WATCH TV 2021.
• 30:02
  Speaker 1: That was The Whistler, Dark Moon. Until our next visit
• 30:06
  Speaker 1: with radios past, good evening.