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The Whistler - "What Makes a Murderer" (Old Time Radio, 1948) · The Whistler | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: An unexpected windfall sends a weary stockbroker away from his
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: commuter routine and down to Florida, where he pursues a
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: new identity, romance and adventure. It is the central situation
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: in The Whistler, What Makes a Murderer, broadcast by CBS
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: on April 7, 1948, episode 306. The story traces its
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: roots to W. Somerset Maugham's 1919 novel, The Moon and Sixpence.
• 0:28
  Speaker 2: Everett T.
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: Tomlinson prepared the original story and script, with Harold Swanton.
• 0:33
  Speaker 3: Credited for the adaptation.
• 0:35
  Speaker 2: George W.
• 0:36
  Speaker 3: Allen produced this return of a script first heard on
• 0:39
  Speaker 3: The Whistler in 1945. Signal Oil brought the series to
• 0:44
  Speaker 3: CBS listeners. Now, back to the golden age of radio.
• 0:52
  Speaker 2: The Signal Oil program, The Whistler.
• 1:08
  Speaker 4: That whistle is your signal for the Signal Oil program,
• 1:13
  Speaker 4: The Whistler.
• 1:14
  Speaker 5: The Whistler.
• 1:34
  Speaker 6: I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for
• 1:38
  Speaker 6: I walk by night. I know many strange tales, hidden
• 1:42
  Speaker 6: in the hearts of men and women who have stepped
• 1:44
  Speaker 6: into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of
• 1:49
  Speaker 6: which they dare not speak.
• 1:54
  Speaker 4: Yes, friends, it's time for the signal oil program, the Whistler,
• 1:57
  Speaker 4: rated tops in popularity for a longer period of time
• 2:01
  Speaker 4: than any other West Coast program in radio history. And
• 2:04
  Speaker 4: signal gasoline is tops, too, tops in quality. It takes
• 2:08
  Speaker 4: extra quality, you know, to give you extra mileage. And
• 2:11
  Speaker 4: signal is the famous go-farther gasoline. So look for the
• 2:15
  Speaker 4: signal circle sign in yellow and black that identifies friendly
• 2:18
  Speaker 4: dealer-owned signal stations from Canada to Mexico. And now, the
• 2:24
  Speaker 4: Whistler's strange story. What makes a murderer? Murder is a
• 2:33
  Speaker 4: peculiar affair. It's the darkest, most despicable of all crimes.
• 2:38
  Speaker 4: Yet it strikes most frequently among the ranks of people
• 2:41
  Speaker 4: who have never transgressed before.
• 2:44
  Speaker 2: Yes, all it needs in many cases.
• 2:46
  Speaker 6: Is the right pressure, the right set of circumstances, the
• 2:49
  Speaker 6: right opportunity, and an otherwise respectable member of the community...
• 2:54
  Speaker 6: becomes a killer. If you tried to explain that to
• 2:58
  Speaker 6: Arthur Winslow, he wouldn't have understood. For Arthur was respectable, solid,
• 3:03
  Speaker 6: exactly like a hundred other respectable, solid Jersey commuters. His
• 3:07
  Speaker 6: life was a pretty drab affair. Yes, including the dull
• 3:11
  Speaker 6: days at the office, J.C. Wells and Company, investment brokers.
• 3:15
  Speaker 7: United wire, seven and an eighth, no change.
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: Seven and an eighth, no change.
• 3:19
  Speaker 7: Universal automatic, 39 and an eighth, off one eighth.
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: Universal automatic, 39 and an eighth, off one eighth.
• 3:24
  Speaker 7: Vulcan steel, 77, up one.
• 3:28
  Speaker 2: 77, up one. Oh, we'd better leave it there, Arthur.
• 3:31
  Speaker 2: Five o'clock. Got to make that 519. Why?
• 3:35
  Speaker 7: Why?
• 3:36
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah.
• 3:37
  Speaker 7: Why do we have to make the 519, Stanley?
• 3:40
  Speaker 2: Well, why, because we always do.
• 3:43
  Speaker 7: You think that's a good reason? What? I mean, do
• 3:46
  Speaker 7: you think because we've always made the 519, we ought
• 3:48
  Speaker 7: to keep on making it the rest of our lives?
• 3:50
  Speaker 2: Is something wrong, Arthur?
• 3:53
  Speaker 7: Oh, maybe. I don't know. I've been thinking, Stanley. For
• 3:58
  Speaker 7: ten years now, you and I have been analyzing investment
• 4:00
  Speaker 7: securities eight hours a day, catching the 519 every night,
• 4:04
  Speaker 7: arriving home in East Orange promptly at 6.22, kissing our
• 4:08
  Speaker 7: wives at approximately 6.50, eating dinner at exactly 7, reading
• 4:12
  Speaker 7: the evening paper and going to bed. It's a little
• 4:16
  Speaker 7: like death, isn't it, Stanley? What in the world has
• 4:19
  Speaker 7: gotten into you, Arthur? I've got a book here. Take
• 4:21
  Speaker 7: a look.
• 4:23
  Speaker 3: A novel?
• 4:23
  Speaker 2: It got me thinking. Moon and Sixpence.
• 4:26
  Speaker 7: Yes, it's about a man like us, Stanley. A man
• 4:29
  Speaker 7: who got fed up with the 519 and dished the
• 4:31
  Speaker 7: whole works.
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: What did he do?
• 4:33
  Speaker 7: Took a chance, walked out, just picked up his hat
• 4:36
  Speaker 7: and went off to.
• 4:36
  Speaker 2: The South Seas. He just up and left his family?
• 4:39
  Speaker 7: They preferred the 519. Well, I certainly can't say that
• 4:44
  Speaker 7: I approve. Oh, I didn't think you would. Well, you'd
• 4:49
  Speaker 7: better hurry along, Stanley, or you'll miss your train.
• 4:52
  Speaker 2: What about you?
• 4:53
  Speaker 7: Tonight, just for a change, I believe I'll catch the 555.
• 5:06
  Speaker 6: Just for a change, Arthur, after ten years, you walk
• 5:09
  Speaker 6: slowly down Broad Street, deliberately casual, noticing the swarms of
• 5:14
  Speaker 6: hurrying commuters.
• 5:15
  Speaker 2: Objectively as if for the first time.
• 5:18
  Speaker 6: It's pleasant strolling along like this, taking your time, stopping
• 5:21
  Speaker 6: to look in a window now and then. And finally
• 5:24
  Speaker 6: you find yourself in front of Max Barr. It isn't
• 5:27
  Speaker 6: often you have the time to drop in for a
• 5:29
  Speaker 6: short one, is it, Arthur?
• 5:30
  Speaker 2: Why not? Why not? Indeed. Well, hello, Mr. Winslow. Oh, hello, uh... Benny. Oh,
• 5:39
  Speaker 2: of course.
• 5:39
  Speaker 7: You run the elevator in the.
• 5:40
  Speaker 2: That's right.
• 5:42
  Speaker 3: Here, Mr.
• 5:42
  Speaker 2: Winslow. Set yourself down right here. Buy your drink. Well, I... Ah,
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: come on, come on. Little Benny's in the chips. I'm fat, fat.
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: I finally knocked over Gus in the back room there.
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: I beg your pardon. Oh, sure. Sure, I guess you
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: ain't interested in bangtails or you'd know Gus. Bangtails? Oh! Oh, horses. Yeah.
• 6:02
  Speaker 7: Well, I don't really pay much attention. You mean that
• 6:07
  Speaker 7: Gus is a bookie?
• 6:08
  Speaker 6: Yeah.
• 6:09
  Speaker 2: You ain't never seen a spread back there, huh?
• 6:11
  Speaker 3: No.
• 6:11
  Speaker 2: Come on, I'll show you.
• 6:12
  Speaker 7: Sure it's all right?
• 6:13
  Speaker 2: Sure. It's okay, Harry. Friend of mine. Come on, Mr. Winslow. Well,
• 6:22
  Speaker 2: there it is, pal. There's the board. Tomorrow morning's line.
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: Take your pick. The current odds in that column there.
• 6:28
  Speaker 6: Oh.
• 6:29
  Speaker 7: Pink Lady, Mike II, Big Bonanza, Moon and Six.
• 6:37
  Speaker 7: Moon and Sixpence.
• 6:38
  Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a horse. I've been watching him.
• 6:40
  Speaker 8: Been thinking about playing him in a parlay.
• 6:42
  Speaker 2: Parlay? What's a parlay? You don't know what a parlay is?
• 6:44
  Speaker 3: No.
• 6:44
  Speaker 2: Ah, easy.
• 6:46
  Speaker 8: You pick three horses, see? For instance, maybe you put
• 6:49
  Speaker 8: your dough on Blue Bonnet in the first. If he
• 6:52
  Speaker 8: comes in, the dough goes on Glow Worm in a second.
• 6:54
  Speaker 2: If he comes in.
• 6:55
  Speaker 7: Oh, yes, yes, I see. Then all the money goes
• 6:58
  Speaker 7: on Moon and Sixpence in the third.
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I get it.
• 7:01
  Speaker 8: Plenty long shot, of course, but there's a big payoff
• 7:03
  Speaker 8: for the gent who's willing to take the chance.
• 7:05
  Speaker 7: Take a chance, huh?
• 7:06
  Speaker 2: Believe me, you never get nowhere if you don't take
• 7:08
  Speaker 2: a chance once in a while. I'll, uh.
• 7:11
  Speaker 7: I'll take $ 10 worth.
• 7:13
  Speaker 2: Look, I ain't the boogie, pal. He's over there. You gotta... Ah,
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: wait a minute. Give me your dough. I'll lay it
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: on for you. Ten bucks in the parlay, huh?
• 7:21
  Speaker 7: Yeah, uh, lay it on for me, pal. Ten bucks
• 7:25
  Speaker 7: on blue bonnet, glow worm, and moon and sixpence.
• 7:38
  Speaker 2: Well, Arthur, that was quite a decision for you, wasn't it?
• 7:41
  Speaker 6: You're more than a little pleased with yourself as you
• 7:44
  Speaker 6: saunter on to the 555. A complete change of scenery
• 7:48
  Speaker 6: from the 519. You're 26 minutes behind all that. And
• 7:53
  Speaker 6: 26 minutes later than usual when you open the door
• 7:55
  Speaker 6: and say.
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: Hello, dear.
• 7:56
  Speaker 9: Arthur, where in the world have you been? I've been
• 7:59
  Speaker 9: worried sick. Here, wipe your feet.
• 8:01
  Speaker 7: I'm sorry, Ethel.
• 8:03
  Speaker 2: Where have you been? I was tied up.
• 8:05
  Speaker 9: What do you mean, tied up? You've never been late
• 8:07
  Speaker 9: to dinner in your life. I don't know why in
• 8:09
  Speaker 9: the world you couldn't have phoned. You know, it's Monday
• 8:12
  Speaker 9: night and Mr. Dinwiddie expects me at the agency at 7.30 sharp.
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: Did you get your check?
• 8:17
  Speaker 7: What?
• 8:17
  Speaker 9: Your paycheck, dear.
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: It's payday. Oh, yeah. Yes, I cashed it. Here.
• 8:22
  Speaker 5: Oh, 25, 30, 50.
• 8:24
  Speaker 2: Well, you're $ 10 short.
• 8:27
  Speaker 7: Yes, Employees Association annual dues.
• 8:30
  Speaker 2: Is that something new?
• 8:31
  Speaker 7: Yes, Ethel, that's something new.
• 8:33
  Speaker 9: $ 10. I don't know how in the world they expect
• 8:36
  Speaker 9: you to exist on the salary they pay you.
• 8:38
  Speaker 2: If you had enough gumption, you'd do as I say.
• 8:47
  Speaker 2: You forgot Mr. Dinwiddie, Arthur.
• 8:49
  Speaker 6: That's an important part of the weekly schedule. Ethel hasn't
• 8:53
  Speaker 6: missed a Monday evening at the Children's Agency for years.
• 8:56
  Speaker 6: You should have picked another night to miss the 519.
• 9:00
  Speaker 2: You're used to Ethel now.
• 9:02
  Speaker 6: You've become an artist at appearing attentive while she prattles
• 9:05
  Speaker 6: on and on, nodding at the.
• 9:06
  Speaker 2: Proper moments, never hearing a word.
• 9:10
  Speaker 6: You're relieved when the door finally closes and she's safely
• 9:13
  Speaker 6: off to Mr.
• 9:13
  Speaker 2: Dinwiddie.
• 9:15
  Speaker 6: You can return to Moon and Sixpence. The South sees
• 9:18
  Speaker 6: an escape. The next day at the office, Stanley wonders
• 9:22
  Speaker 6: why you're nervous, impatient. Why you dodge him at five o'clock.
• 9:26
  Speaker 6: It only takes a minute to hurry over to Mac's bar.
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: Oh, hello, Benny.
• 9:31
  Speaker 6: Huh?
• 9:32
  Speaker 2: Oh, it's you. Hey, guys, here he is.
• 9:35
  Speaker 7: What do you mean?
• 9:36
  Speaker 2: Don't tell me you ain't heard. What is it? The parlay, pal.
• 9:41
  Speaker 2: It came in. Blue bonnet, glow worm, moon, and sixpence.
• 9:44
  Speaker 8: You got yourself 1,800 bucks.
• 9:54
  Speaker 6: 1,800 dollars, Arthur. You can't quite grasp it. That's almost
• 9:58
  Speaker 6: a year's salary, and you're... you're holding it right in
• 10:01
  Speaker 6: your hand. You know what's going to happen, don't you?
• 10:05
  Speaker 6: You walk the streets for an hour or two thinking.
• 10:08
  Speaker 6: But you can't help yourself. So you make a beeline
• 10:11
  Speaker 6: for the nearest phone booth. The South Seas. No more figures.
• 10:15
  Speaker 2: No more 519.
• 10:16
  Speaker 6: Brighton Travel Agency.
• 10:20
  Speaker 3: Oh, hello.
• 10:20
  Speaker 2: I'd like to inquire about a reservation.
• 10:22
  Speaker 3: Yes, sir.
• 10:23
  Speaker 2: Where to? Let's see. Florida.
• 10:28
  Speaker 9: Very well. And the name, sir?
• 10:30
  Speaker 7: Oh, yes, the name.
• 10:33
  Speaker 2: The name is Charles White.
• 10:44
  Speaker 4: With the prologue of What Makes a Murderer, the Signal
• 10:47
  Speaker 4: Oil Company brings you another strange story by The Whistler.
• 10:53
  Speaker 4: But now may I have a word with you about
• 10:55
  Speaker 4: the prevention of cruelty? Back in the horse and buggy days,
• 10:58
  Speaker 4: you know, there were laws to keep drivers from beating
• 11:00
  Speaker 4: their horses.
• 11:02
  Speaker 2: Too bad there isn't a law today.
• 11:03
  Speaker 4: To keep drivers from beating their motors with old-fashioned motor
• 11:06
  Speaker 4: oils that cause excessive carbon wear and corrosion. After all,
• 11:11
  Speaker 4: it's unnecessary today to put up with those old bugaboos
• 11:14
  Speaker 4: that up repair bills and cut down performance. thanks to
• 11:17
  Speaker 4: the improved Signal Oil, which combines pure paraffin base with
• 11:22
  Speaker 4: protective compounds. Signal Premium Compounded Motor Oil. In comparative tests
• 11:28
  Speaker 4: with today's finest regular oils, Signal Premium actually keeps motors
• 11:32
  Speaker 4: six times cleaner, reduces cylinder wear one-third. And what does
• 11:37
  Speaker 4: this mean to you? Well, less carbon means that your
• 11:40
  Speaker 4: motor runs quieter, smoother. And less cylinder wear means more power.
• 11:46
  Speaker 4: So to keep your car's performance young, make your next
• 11:49
  Speaker 4: oil change a change for the better. Switch to Signal
• 11:52
  Speaker 4: Premium Compounded Motor Oil, your guarantee of a sweeter running motor.
• 11:58
  Speaker 4: And now, back to the whistler.
• 12:20
  Speaker 6: Yes, murder can strike anywhere, even among quiet, drab little
• 12:24
  Speaker 6: people like Arthur Winslow. He has no way of knowing it,
• 12:28
  Speaker 6: of course, as he buys a first-class reservation on the
• 12:31
  Speaker 6: train to Florida.
• 12:32
  Speaker 2: His only thought now is that this will be escape
• 12:35
  Speaker 2: at last. New clothes, new luggage, a new name. You're
• 12:39
  Speaker 2: Charles White now, and a new life.
• 12:42
  Speaker 6: No more trading your chance at happiness for a stack
• 12:45
  Speaker 6: of security reports and a bungalow in East Orange. You
• 12:49
  Speaker 6: can see her now, poor, frustrated, stupid Ethel, confiding to Mr.
• 12:53
  Speaker 2: Dinwiddie that you've walked out. No 519 tonight, Arthur.
• 12:58
  Speaker 6: It's the 622 to Florida.
• 13:03
  Speaker 2: Last call for dinner. Last call for dinner.
• 13:07
  Speaker 7: Which way is the dining car, waiter?
• 13:08
  Speaker 2: Three cars back, sir. You better hurry along. Oh, thank you.
• 13:11
  Speaker 2: Last call for dinner.
• 13:13
  Speaker 9: Oh, I'm sorry.
• 13:14
  Speaker 2: Oh, that's quite all right. Oh, it isn't either.
• 13:16
  Speaker 9: I wasn't looking.
• 13:16
  Speaker 2: Oh, neither was I. Where is it? The what?
• 13:19
  Speaker 9: The book.
• 13:20
  Speaker 2: Oh, the book, yes.
• 13:21
  Speaker 9: I knocked it out of your hand. It must be
• 13:22
  Speaker 9: down here.
• 13:23
  Speaker 2: On the floor. Oh, no, here, let me. It's probably
• 13:25
  Speaker 2: under the seat. Now, let me see.
• 13:27
  Speaker 3: Oh.
• 13:27
  Speaker 2: Have you got it?
• 13:28
  Speaker 9: Last year's timetable. Wanted one for ages. Oh, here it is.
• 13:33
  Speaker 7: Oh, let me help you. Oh, it's a fine thing
• 13:36
  Speaker 7: getting yourself all dusty that way. Turn around.
• 13:38
  Speaker 3: Thanks.
• 13:39
  Speaker 6: Hmm.
• 13:40
  Speaker 9: Moon and Sixpence, huh?
• 13:41
  Speaker 7: Yeah, that's a little better, anyway.
• 13:43
  Speaker 9: It's wonderful, isn't it?
• 13:44
  Speaker 2: What?
• 13:44
  Speaker 9: Moon and Sixpence. I loved it.
• 13:46
  Speaker 7: Oh, yes. I haven't quite finished it, of course.
• 13:48
  Speaker 9: Do you believe it?
• 13:49
  Speaker 7: I mean, do you think it's right? Oh, you mean
• 13:51
  Speaker 7: to toss everything over and take off at the South Sea?
• 13:54
  Speaker 5: Uh-huh.
• 13:54
  Speaker 2: If you don't mind, pal, while you're going to the
• 13:56
  Speaker 2: South Seas, I'll go to dinner.
• 13:58
  Speaker 7: Oh, I'm very sorry.
• 13:59
  Speaker 2: Excuse me. Come on, Louise. We seem to be holding
• 14:02
  Speaker 2: up traffic.
• 14:02
  Speaker 6: Yeah.
• 14:03
  Speaker 7: As a matter of fact, I was just going into
• 14:05
  Speaker 7: dinner myself.
• 14:06
  Speaker 9: So was I.
• 14:08
  Speaker 2: Oh, would you, uh... Would you consider.
• 14:10
  Speaker 9: Why not?
• 14:12
  Speaker 7: Yes, why not? You know, I'm glad that you liked
• 14:24
  Speaker 7: Moon and Sixpence.
• 14:25
  Speaker 9: Oh, it was a wonderful story. Of course, I can't
• 14:27
  Speaker 9: say it was very realistic.
• 14:29
  Speaker 3: What do you mean?
• 14:29
  Speaker 9: Well, I admit it was convincing, but when you start
• 14:32
  Speaker 9: to think about it, this running away business.
• 14:35
  Speaker 2: You don't believe in it?
• 14:36
  Speaker 7: Well, after all, running away is no solution. Sometimes there's
• 14:40
  Speaker 7: nothing else to do.
• 14:42
  Speaker 9: He could have stuck it out.
• 14:44
  Speaker 2: Licked it if it took the rest.
• 14:45
  Speaker 7: Of his life, hmm?
• 14:46
  Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. Well, all right. He licks it.
• 14:49
  Speaker 7: He's found happiness at last, and he's 70. I think
• 14:52
  Speaker 7: running away is better than that, don't you?
• 14:56
  Speaker 9: I did once.
• 14:57
  Speaker 2: Oh, I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to.
• 14:58
  Speaker 9: Oh, that's all right. You see, I did run away.
• 15:02
  Speaker 9: It was just, as you said, a routine, a deadly routine,
• 15:05
  Speaker 9: and when I couldn't stand it any longer, I ran away.
• 15:07
  Speaker 2: What kind of a routine.
• 15:09
  Speaker 9: Keeping up with my father. Perhaps you've heard of him.
• 15:13
  Speaker 9: Edgar Brewster.
• 15:15
  Speaker 7: The Edgar Brewster?
• 15:16
  Speaker 9: Yes, the Wall Street Edgar Brewster. He's in Miami now,
• 15:20
  Speaker 9: waiting for me.
• 15:21
  Speaker 2: Oh, I see.
• 15:22
  Speaker 9: I'd finally decided to go back and face it, but
• 15:25
  Speaker 9: now you've got me confused.
• 15:26
  Speaker 7: Oh, I'm sorry.
• 15:27
  Speaker 9: Oh, no, don't misunderstand. You've really helped a lot. How
• 15:30
  Speaker 9: do you mean? You seem to know why I did it.
• 15:34
  Speaker 9: It's kind of moral support.
• 15:36
  Speaker 2: Oh.
• 15:37
  Speaker 9: You're, um... You're going to Miami?
• 15:40
  Speaker 2: Yes. By the way, I'm Charles White.
• 15:46
  Speaker 9: I'm Vivian Brewster.
• 15:48
  Speaker 7: Perhaps I'll see you in Miami.
• 15:50
  Speaker 9: I hope so.
• 15:51
  Speaker 2: So do I.
• 15:52
  Speaker 6: The daughter of Edgar Brewster. Edgar Brewster the Millionaire. A
• 16:08
  Speaker 6: big name on Wall Street, isn't it, Arthur? And you
• 16:11
  Speaker 6: talked with his daughter, had dinner with her. She even
• 16:14
  Speaker 6: said she'd hoped you'd meet in Miami. You wait for
• 16:18
  Speaker 6: her call. And then finally it comes, Arthur. You're invited
• 16:22
  Speaker 6: to the Brewster home. You can hardly believe it, can you?
• 16:25
  Speaker 6: A few days ago, an obscure clerk. Tonight, you're sitting
• 16:28
  Speaker 6: with Edgar Brewster drinking his bourbon.
• 16:31
  Speaker 2: That about right, Mr. White?
• 16:33
  Speaker 9: Father's a tightwad with his soda.
• 16:35
  Speaker 2: That's an outrageous way to treat good bourbon. What about it, White?
• 16:38
  Speaker 7: That looks about right, Mr.
• 16:39
  Speaker 2: Brewster. There you are. Oh, thank you. What are you
• 16:43
  Speaker 2: doing in Miami, White? Oh, I got a little tired
• 16:47
  Speaker 2: of New York. You've got the right idea. I did
• 16:48
  Speaker 2: the same thing myself 20 years ago, and I never
• 16:50
  Speaker 2: went back. What's your line?
• 16:53
  Speaker 7: Oh, I was in the market, more or less.
• 16:56
  Speaker 2: The less, the better these days. Nobody knows where it's going.
• 17:00
  Speaker 2: A broker and I were talking today about consolidated plastics.
• 17:04
  Speaker 2: Do you know anything about it? Oh, a little. What
• 17:06
  Speaker 2: do you think of it?
• 17:08
  Speaker 7: Well, I don't know whether I should say... What's the
• 17:10
  Speaker 7: matter with it? Well, after all, it's your business, Mr.
• 17:13
  Speaker 2: Brewster.
• 17:14
  Speaker 7: I wouldn't want to offer an opinion.
• 17:15
  Speaker 2: All right, I'll put it this way. What would you
• 17:18
  Speaker 2: do if you were into it pretty heavily right now? Well,
• 17:23
  Speaker 2: I'd sell out. When? Right now. Any particular reason?
• 17:26
  Speaker 7: Well, only that I happen to know it's a bad investment. I...
• 17:29
  Speaker 7: I can't tell you why.
• 17:30
  Speaker 2: Why, that's unbelievable. My broker told me.
• 17:33
  Speaker 7: Yes, I know. It's only my opinion, Mr. Brewster, but
• 17:36
  Speaker 7: I happen to know that company's financial position. You asked
• 17:40
  Speaker 7: me what I'd do, and I told you. You seem
• 17:43
  Speaker 7: to know what you're talking about. Well, investments are my hobby,
• 17:47
  Speaker 7: you might say.
• 17:47
  Speaker 2: I see. Go on, my boy. You interest me.
• 17:58
  Speaker 6: And so, for the next half hour or so, you
• 18:00
  Speaker 6: go on chatting with Edgar Brewster. And he's impressed with
• 18:03
  Speaker 6: what you have to say. You can see that clearly enough,
• 18:06
  Speaker 6: can't you, Arthur? Hints, tiny scraps of information, tips.
• 18:11
  Speaker 2: You know the market so well, Arthur. And Mr. Brewster
• 18:14
  Speaker 2: listens eagerly. Yes, and that was the beginning, wasn't it, Arthur?
• 18:20
  Speaker 6: That $ 1, 800 was a magic door opening up a thrilling
• 18:23
  Speaker 6: new life for you.
• 18:25
  Speaker 2: And incidentally, bringing you closer to murder.
• 18:30
  Speaker 6: The next three weeks pass like a dream. Like the
• 18:33
  Speaker 6: nights at the beach club dancing in the open under
• 18:35
  Speaker 6: the stars with Vivian in your arms.
• 18:40
  Speaker 7: Vivian?
• 18:40
  Speaker 5: Yes?
• 18:42
  Speaker 7: Why is it you've never asked me about myself, my background,
• 18:46
  Speaker 7: where I came from?
• 18:49
  Speaker 9: I don't know. Maybe because it doesn't matter.
• 18:53
  Speaker 7: I wasn't going to tell you, but I think perhaps
• 18:55
  Speaker 7: I'd better.
• 18:57
  Speaker 9: Will it make any difference?
• 18:58
  Speaker 2: About us? Mm-hmm. Yes, it will make a difference. A
• 19:02
  Speaker 2: lot of difference.
• 19:03
  Speaker 9: Then don't tell me. I don't want to know.
• 19:06
  Speaker 2: But, Vivian, I... Please.
• 19:10
  Speaker 7: Darling, did I ever tell you that I like you
• 19:14
  Speaker 7: very much?
• 19:15
  Speaker 9: I'm glad, Charles. I'm so glad.
• 19:19
  Speaker 2: Oh. You're in love, Arthur. And for the first time
• 19:30
  Speaker 2: in your life, you know what love really is.
• 19:33
  Speaker 8: Mr.
• 19:33
  Speaker 6: Brewster begins to concern you. He'll never approve in a
• 19:37
  Speaker 6: million years. Or you think so until that evening he
• 19:40
  Speaker 6: drops up to your hotel room with a copy of
• 19:43
  Speaker 6: the financial journal in his hand.
• 19:45
  Speaker 2: Look at that, Charles. What is it? Don't ask silly questions.
• 19:48
  Speaker 2: Look at it, man. Oh, I thought so. Consolidated plastic
• 19:53
  Speaker 2: snowed under in selling rush.
• 19:55
  Speaker 7: I'm sorry, Mr.
• 19:56
  Speaker 2: Brewster. I'm not.
• 19:57
  Speaker 7: What do you mean?
• 19:58
  Speaker 2: I took your advice, sold out three weeks ago. Saved
• 20:01
  Speaker 2: myself $ 100, 000. Well, congratulations. Well, don't congratulate me. You're the
• 20:06
  Speaker 2: one who deserves it. Do you mind if I sit down? Oh,
• 20:09
  Speaker 2: I'm sorry. Here you are. Oh, thanks. Would you be
• 20:14
  Speaker 2: open to a proposition, wife? What kind of a proposition? Oh,
• 20:17
  Speaker 2: I realize you probably have other interests, but I could
• 20:21
  Speaker 2: make this worth your while, I think. There are two considerations. Yes?
• 20:25
  Speaker 2: The first is the plain fact that my affairs are
• 20:28
  Speaker 2: getting a little beyond me. As you know, I'm retired,
• 20:31
  Speaker 2: having time to look after them properly. I think you're
• 20:35
  Speaker 2: the man to take over. But, Mr. Brewster, I... Now,
• 20:38
  Speaker 2: don't wait till I'm finished. I've watched you pretty closely
• 20:41
  Speaker 2: during the past month or so. I can tell you
• 20:43
  Speaker 2: no investments. You're sure of yourself. And I'm not just
• 20:46
  Speaker 2: being generous, White. I'm a businessman. If it weren't a
• 20:50
  Speaker 2: profitable deal for me, I wouldn't think of it. I see.
• 20:54
  Speaker 7: What is the other consideration?
• 20:56
  Speaker 2: I believe you're aware of that already. Vivian. You, uh...
• 21:02
  Speaker 2: You approve? I do. Oh, well.
• 21:05
  Speaker 7: Can I, uh.
• 21:07
  Speaker 2: Can I think this over? Oh, of course. Just let
• 21:09
  Speaker 2: me know in a day or so. There it is, Arthur.
• 21:21
  Speaker 6: Brief and to the point. Everything you ever wanted right
• 21:24
  Speaker 6: in the palm of your hand. Open sesame, he said,
• 21:27
  Speaker 6: and there it was. You go into the bar downstairs
• 21:31
  Speaker 6: to think. There's only one thing in your way now.
• 21:35
  Speaker 2: Your wife, Ethel. You can't run away from that. You've
• 21:39
  Speaker 2: got to make her see your side of it.
• 21:41
  Speaker 6: You've got to go back to New Jersey and face her,
• 21:43
  Speaker 6: make her give you a divorce. You walk out of
• 21:46
  Speaker 6: the bar, through the door into the hotel lobby, and
• 21:50
  Speaker 6: just as you're rounding the corner by the desk, something
• 21:52
  Speaker 6: stops you in your tracks.
• 21:54
  Speaker 3: Mrs.
• 21:54
  Speaker 9: Ethel Winslow, 5769 Laurel Road, East Orange, New Jersey.
• 21:58
  Speaker 2: Is that all you want? Yes, thank you, madam.
• 22:01
  Speaker 9: Could I see the register, please?
• 22:02
  Speaker 2: Oh, I'm sorry, madam. We don't... I understand there's.
• 22:04
  Speaker 9: A Charles White registered here.
• 22:07
  Speaker 2: Yes, madam. Room 132. Oh, he's a friend? Yes. Well,
• 22:13
  Speaker 2: in that case, I could give you room 134 next door.
• 22:17
  Speaker 2: The windows open under the same balcony.
• 22:19
  Speaker 9: Very well. 134.
• 22:22
  Speaker 5: 134.
• 22:29
  Speaker 2: It was too good to last, Arthur. Just a beautiful dream,
• 22:33
  Speaker 2: and you're just waking up.
• 22:35
  Speaker 6: It's all over. You go back in the bar and think. Ethel,
• 22:39
  Speaker 6: your wife, here in Miami, she's found you. And she'll
• 22:42
  Speaker 6: never let you go.
• 22:43
  Speaker 2: Will she?
• 22:44
  Speaker 6: You know her too well, Arthur. You're beginning to see
• 22:48
  Speaker 6: now what makes a murderer. There's no other way out,
• 22:53
  Speaker 6: is there, Arthur? You sit in the friendly darkness of
• 22:55
  Speaker 6: the bar all afternoon. Late into the evening, thinking, thinking.
• 23:00
  Speaker 6: It's almost eleven when you make up your mind. There's
• 23:03
  Speaker 6: a phone booth near the door.
• 23:09
  Speaker 2: Hello? Vivian, I have to talk to you. It's important.
• 23:12
  Speaker 9: Charles, what's the matter?
• 23:14
  Speaker 2: Vivian, I love you more than I dreamed I could
• 23:18
  Speaker 2: ever love anyone. Now listen.
• 23:21
  Speaker 7: I'm a phony.
• 23:21
  Speaker 2: My name is not White. I was running away when
• 23:24
  Speaker 2: you met me. I'm just an investment clerk. No money.
• 23:26
  Speaker 7: Darling, it doesn't make.
• 23:26
  Speaker 2: I have a wife.
• 23:27
  Speaker 7: I've hated her for ten years, and I'd rather be
• 23:29
  Speaker 7: dead than go back to her, and I'm not going
• 23:31
  Speaker 7: back to her.
• 23:32
  Speaker 2: And now I... I probably won't ever see you again.
• 23:35
  Speaker 9: Oh, wait.
• 23:36
  Speaker 2: Goodbye, Vivienne.
• 23:43
  Speaker 6: Eleven o'clock, Arthur. You've got it all planned. Ethel is
• 23:48
  Speaker 6: asleep in a room. Room 134. A balcony connects it
• 23:52
  Speaker 6: with yours. It's a hot night and the window is
• 23:55
  Speaker 6: probably open.
• 23:56
  Speaker 2: Yes. There she is. And she's asleep.
• 24:01
  Speaker 6: As you slip into the room, you take a firm
• 24:03
  Speaker 6: hold on the heavy brass candlestick you picked up from
• 24:06
  Speaker 6: the mantle in your room.
• 24:07
  Speaker 2: A blunt instrument, the police will say. You can hardly breathe, Arthur.
• 24:12
  Speaker 2: Your stomach is full of ice water. You feel your
• 24:15
  Speaker 2: heart's going to burst. Careful, Arthur. Careful.
• 24:20
  Speaker 3: Careful.
• 24:25
  Speaker 7: I'm sorry, Ethel.
• 24:28
  Speaker 2: I'm sorry, but I've got to kill you.
• 24:32
  Speaker 3: I've got to do it.
• 24:42
  Speaker 4: The Whistler will return in just a moment with the
• 24:44
  Speaker 4: strange ending to tonight's story. Meantime, I thought you drivers
• 24:49
  Speaker 4: might like to compare your buying habits with those of
• 24:51
  Speaker 4: other automobile owners. Surveys show that more and more motorists
• 24:55
  Speaker 4: today prefer to trade with service stations that are privately owned,
• 24:59
  Speaker 4: but also they want top-quality products. These two reasons, no doubt,
• 25:04
  Speaker 4: account for the amazing growth of Signal Oil Company, from
• 25:07
  Speaker 4: a mere handful of stations in Southern California into a
• 25:10
  Speaker 4: coast-wide organization serving six western states. You see, since the
• 25:15
  Speaker 4: very beginning, over 16 years ago, Signal Oil products have
• 25:18
  Speaker 4: been sold only through dealer-owned service stations. But each independent
• 25:23
  Speaker 4: signal dealer is backed by the facilities of the entire
• 25:25
  Speaker 4: Signal Oil organization, which supplies almost 2,000 signal service stations
• 25:31
  Speaker 4: from Canada to Mexico. As a result, you're assured always
• 25:35
  Speaker 4: the very tops in gasoline, lubricants, and automotive accessories at
• 25:38
  Speaker 4: signal stations. Plus, more conscientious service by men who own
• 25:43
  Speaker 4: their own business and have a personal interest in pleasing you.
• 25:48
  Speaker 4: Because this combination of finer products and personalized service naturally
• 25:53
  Speaker 4: means smoother performance and longer life for your car, it's
• 25:56
  Speaker 4: no wonder that year after year, more and more drivers
• 26:00
  Speaker 4: switch to Signal.
• 26:03
  Speaker 2: And now, back to the Whistler.
• 26:04
  Speaker 6: Whistler So you stand there, Arthur, by your wife's bedside,
• 26:23
  Speaker 6: holding the candlestick high over your head, ready to bring
• 26:26
  Speaker 6: it down. Now you know what makes a murderer. But
• 26:30
  Speaker 6: you can't do it, can you? A wife you've hated
• 26:32
  Speaker 6: for ten years at your mercy. You can't do it.
• 26:35
  Speaker 2: No. No, I can't.
• 26:38
  Speaker 3: What?
• 26:39
  Speaker 6: Arthur.
• 26:40
  Speaker 2: Arthur. I'm sorry, Ethel. I'm sorry I waited.
• 26:45
  Speaker 9: Turn the light on. Don't stand there.
• 26:46
  Speaker 2: Yes, Ethel.
• 26:49
  Speaker 9: So you thought you could get by with it, didn't you?
• 26:52
  Speaker 2: No, Ethel, I didn't.
• 26:53
  Speaker 9: Don't deny it. I know what's been going on, and
• 26:55
  Speaker 9: I can prove it, you philanderer.
• 26:58
  Speaker 2: Ethel, I tell you... What did you say?
• 27:01
  Speaker 9: I have a complete report on your activities for the
• 27:03
  Speaker 9: past month. You weren't very clever, Arthur. The detectives say
• 27:07
  Speaker 9: you left a trail a child could follow.
• 27:09
  Speaker 2: What are you getting at, Ethel?
• 27:11
  Speaker 6: Charles?
• 27:12
  Speaker 7: Charles?
• 27:13
  Speaker 9: Listen, there's someone knocking on your door.
• 27:16
  Speaker 3: A woman.
• 27:17
  Speaker 5: Vivian.
• 27:18
  Speaker 3: Vivian?
• 27:18
  Speaker 2: Yes, Vivian.
• 27:20
  Speaker 9: I've already had a talk with her, Arthur. Well, she
• 27:23
  Speaker 9: might as well come in. This way, Miss Brewster.
• 27:27
  Speaker 7: Charles.
• 27:28
  Speaker 2: Oh, Charles, darling. Vivian.
• 27:32
  Speaker 9: A pretty picture indeed. And you have the nerve to
• 27:36
  Speaker 9: ask me what I'm getting at. Well, for your information, Arthur,
• 27:39
  Speaker 9: I'm leaving for Reno in the morning. In view of
• 27:41
  Speaker 9: what's happened, I don't think you'll feel it wise to
• 27:44
  Speaker 9: contest the case.
• 27:45
  Speaker 2: Contest it?
• 27:46
  Speaker 9: We've waited five years for a chance like this.
• 27:49
  Speaker 3: We?
• 27:50
  Speaker 2: Mr.
• 27:50
  Speaker 9: Dinwiddie and I.
• 27:52
  Speaker 2: Dinwiddie? Oh, no.
• 27:55
  Speaker 9: He's a wonderful man. Goodness, I don't know how I
• 27:57
  Speaker 9: could have put up with you all these years if
• 27:59
  Speaker 9: it hadn't been for Mr.
• 28:00
  Speaker 3: Dinwiddie.
• 28:02
  Speaker 9: He's so understanding.
• 28:03
  Speaker 7: Dinwiddie.
• 28:05
  Speaker 2: Artie, you look so ridiculous.
• 28:07
  Speaker 9: What are you doing holding that silly candlestick in your hand?
• 28:10
  Speaker 2: Boo!
• 28:28
  Speaker 10: Let that whistle be your signal for the Signal Oil program,
• 28:38
  Speaker 10: The Whistler, each Wednesday night at this same time. Brought
• 28:41
  Speaker 10: to you by the Signal Oil Company, marketers of Signal
• 28:44
  Speaker 10: gasoline and motor oil, and fine quality automotive accessories. Signal
• 28:50
  Speaker 10: has asked me to remind you to get the most
• 28:52
  Speaker 10: driving pleasure, drive at sensible speeds, be courteous, and obey
• 28:57
  Speaker 10: traffic regulations.
• 28:59
  Speaker 2: It may save a life, possibly your own.
• 29:17
  Speaker 4: Featured in tonight's story were Frank Lovejoy and Joan Banks.
• 29:21
  Speaker 2: The Whistler was produced by George W.
• 29:23
  Speaker 4: Allen, with story by Harold Swanton and music by Wilbur Hatch,
• 29:27
  Speaker 4: and was transmitted to our troops overseas by the Armed
• 29:30
  Speaker 4: Forces Radio Service. Next Wednesday, for a full hour of
• 29:34
  Speaker 4: mystery over most of these stations, tune in a half
• 29:36
  Speaker 4: hour earlier. Enjoy the Saint as well as The Whistler.
• 29:41
  Speaker 4: This is Marvin Miller speaking. This is CBS, the Columbia
• 29:50
  Speaker 4: Broadcasting System. This is KNX Los Angeles, the voice of Hollywood.
• 29:56
  Speaker 6: 25 seconds until 9 p.m. B-U-L-O-V-A, Boulevard Watch Time. For
• 30:03
  Speaker 6: a truly lovely timepiece, a truly great watch value, see
• 30:07
  Speaker 6: the 17-jewel Boulevard Elizabeth. Only $ 24. 75, federal tax included. Next
• 30:15
  Speaker 6: on KNX, Laurel Thomas and the news.
• 30:22
  Speaker 1: The Whistler has concluded with What Makes a Murderer? Follow
• 30:26
  Speaker 1: The Whistler for more classic broadcasts.