Episode 431: Dope Versus the War Effort

[00:00:16] Speaker A: The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society podcast. [00:00:27] Speaker B: Welcome to the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society, a podcast dedicated to suspense, crime and horror stories from the golden age of radio. I'm Eric. I'm Tim. [00:00:36] Speaker C: And I'm Joshua. [00:00:37] Speaker B: We love mysterious old time radio stories, but do they Stand the test of time? That's what we're here to find out. [00:00:43] Speaker C: As part of our ongoing 10th anniversary celebrations, we are featuring 10 different series that we have never listened to before on this podcast. This week, our Patreon supporter chose an episode of our second new series, Dope versus the War Effort from the Green Hornet. Thanks, Jill. [00:01:04] Speaker D: The Green Hornet debuted in 1936 on WXYZ in Detroit and featured the exploits of Brit Reed, wealthy man about town who fought crime as the masked vigilante the Green Hornet, aided by his Japanese, later Filipino manservant Kato. One of the most unforgettable aspects of the series is the theme music, a version of Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee combined with buzzing noises created on a theremin. [00:01:29] Speaker B: Three years before the Green Hornet made his first appearance, WXYZ had created another iconic character, the Lone Ranger, and it was established in the programs that Reed's father, Dan Reed, had been the Lone Ranger's nephew. The Green Hornet was so popular he was spun off into a series of movie serials, a television show, and more than one full length film, including one as recent as 2011. [00:01:54] Speaker C: The radio series ran for almost 17 years, finally wrapping up in 1952. This one comes from right in the middle of the run. This is dope versus the war effort, first broadcast June 20, 1944. [00:02:10] Speaker D: It's late at night and a chill has set in. You're alone and the only light you see is coming from an antique radio. Listen to the sounds coming from the speaker, listen to the music and listen to the voices. [00:02:23] Speaker E: The Green Hornet. He hunts the biggest of all game public enemies who try to destroy our America. With his faithful Filipino valid, Cato Britt Reid, daring young publisher, matches wits with racketeers and saboteurs, risking his life that criminals and enemy spies will feel the weight of the law by the sting of the Green Hornet. Ride with Rick Reed in the thrilling adventure Dope versus The War Effort. The Green Hornet strikes again. [00:04:17] Speaker F: Sam. [00:04:59] Speaker E: It was during the night shift at the Buxton War plant that one of the war workers, turning suddenly to speak to the man beside him, accidentally knocked the man's arm, causing him to drop the small wrench he held in his hand. [00:05:12] Speaker F: Hey, gee, I'm sorry, Ned. I didn't mean to knock against you like that. Are you a dumb cluck? Why don't you look what you're doing? Ned, calm down. No need flying off the handle over a little thing like that. What's the matter with you lately anyway? I'll show you what's the matter with me. All right, get a hold of yourself. I don't want to fight with you. That's just too bad for you then. Hey, what's out for that machine? Ned, you've gone crazy. [00:05:35] Speaker A: Cut it out. I'll show you. [00:05:36] Speaker F: Take this. The machine. It cut my clothes. Help them. Machine. [00:05:42] Speaker A: Somebody. [00:05:43] Speaker F: He'll be killing. [00:05:59] Speaker E: Following morning, Brit Reed, young man about town and publisher of the Daily Sentinel, sat in his office talking to Ed Lowry, one of his reporters. [00:06:08] Speaker G: The Buxton war plan certainly seems to be having its troubles lately, Lowry. [00:06:11] Speaker F: Yeah, Chief. [00:06:12] Speaker E: That accident last night, the third one they've had in a week. The war worker was hurt pretty bad before they got that machine stopped. [00:06:18] Speaker G: Yes, and according to the story we have, it was the result of a fist fight with one of the other men. [00:06:22] Speaker F: Yeah, the guy was hurt. [00:06:24] Speaker E: Says the other worker jumped on him just because he accidentally knocked his arm. They got along well before that. [00:06:30] Speaker G: Things like that are not helping the war effort any. Perhaps the workers are jittery over the other two accidents that occurred there during the past week. [00:06:37] Speaker E: Well, according to witnesses who saw what happened last night, the war worker was hurt. Tried to calm the other one down, but the guy flew into a rage and smacked him. The cops took him down for questioning. Of course, he's being held on an [00:06:49] Speaker F: assault and battery charge. [00:06:51] Speaker G: Hello, Axford. [00:06:52] Speaker A: Hello, Reed. Hi, Lowry. [00:06:54] Speaker F: Well, Mike Axford, our would be ace reporter. [00:06:57] Speaker A: None of your wisecracks, Lowry. Say, Reed, I just come from cops headquarters. [00:07:01] Speaker E: I bet the cops are glad you left. [00:07:03] Speaker A: Oh, that's so now I'll have you know I'm the best liked reporter around the pressroom. That I am. Sergeant Burke and me are just like that. [00:07:10] Speaker F: You seem to have a little trouble [00:07:11] Speaker E: getting your fingers together, Axford. [00:07:13] Speaker A: Ah, now listen here, Lowry, I. [00:07:14] Speaker F: Let him alone, Lowy. [00:07:16] Speaker G: What's new at police headquarters, Axford? Anything? It'll make news. [00:07:19] Speaker A: Sure, that's what I come in to tell you, Reed. [00:07:21] Speaker G: Well, get to the point, Axford. [00:07:22] Speaker A: Okay, okay. Well, Sarge says the factory guy was smoking reefers, Reed. [00:07:27] Speaker E: Nope. [00:07:27] Speaker A: Yeah, when they searched him, they found a couple of marijuana cigarettes on him. And Reed. Sarge says he thinks them other two accidents was caused by the same thing. They can't get the guy to talk at all. But Sarge says he thinks he got him inside the factory. [00:07:41] Speaker G: They don't want us cigarettes, huh? What Sergeant Burke thinks is right. Then there must be a dope ring operating inside the plant itself. [00:07:47] Speaker A: Sure. All they have to do is find the ones who are selling the stuff. [00:07:51] Speaker F: You sure make it sound mighty simple. [00:07:53] Speaker G: Perhaps if they could get the man to talk, it would be simple. Larry, for the sake of the war effort, I hope he does give the police the information they seek. Otherwise, the demoralizing effect of that insidious drug will be felt throughout the entire plant. It might well be a studied plan of certain parties to hinder the war effort and at the same time bring profit to themselves. [00:08:12] Speaker A: Sure, and you took the very words out of me mouth, Reed, that you did. [00:08:15] Speaker G: Experts. Stick close to police headquarters today in case that man does talk. Be a good scoop for the Sentinel. I'd like to be able to disclose the names of those responsible for selling dope to the war workers of the Buxton plant. And I want to be sure we get that scoop. [00:08:37] Speaker E: Late that afternoon, the war worker known as Ned was released in custody of a lawyer who'd appeared at police headquarters to post bail. As the two men walked up the street, Ned heaved a sigh of relief. [00:08:52] Speaker F: Gee, it was nice of the boss to send you to get me out. It was throwing questions at me so fast and so long, I was afraid I couldn't hold out. [00:08:58] Speaker E: Yeah, the boss was afraid you might break under the grilling. Where are you taking me now? Well, a couple of the boys are [00:09:04] Speaker F: right around the corner waiting in the car. Boss said you had to go with them. I suppose he wants me to hide out for a while, huh? Yeah, I guess he does. That lies a car. Here he is, boys. [00:09:15] Speaker G: You take over from here. [00:09:17] Speaker F: Come on, get in, buddy. Yeah, where we going? Ain't he the dope, huh? Hey, what's so funny, Wise guy? Yeah, don't mind him. Jitter's always laughs like that. Can't help it, see? I don't have to like it. Get going, boys. You got your orders? Yeah, we got our orders. Yeah, so long. [00:09:35] Speaker A: Sh. [00:09:36] Speaker F: Tell them off. We'll see him later. Boy, it's sure good to be away from them cops, believe me. Maybe you'll be wishing he was back with them cops. Us? What a dope. Hey, what do you mean by that crack? You laughing hyena? For two pins, I'd push you right. Cut it out, you hear? Lay off, I tell you. Okay. He better keep his trap shut. I ain't worried. Dopey I ain't a bit worried, see? Ah, shut up, Jitters. There's no use of rubbing it in. Shut up. Okay, okay. I hope I don't have to be around this goon very long. It's on my nerve, that crazy laughing. Yeah, you won't be around him long, so don't worry about that. Hey, what are you going up the river road for? Find out soon enough, bud. Sure. Sure he will. Hey, look, I don't like the way you two guys are talking. Ain't he the dope? Well, I've had enough of this. I'm getting out of this car right now, do you hear? Grab him. Sit up. I'll show you, you grinning baboon. Look again. See? Oh, wait, wait. I was only kidding, honest. Put that down. [00:10:38] Speaker A: He's scared. [00:10:38] Speaker F: Slick, the dope. Keep him covered till I stop the car. What are you stopping for, man? What for? Ah, look, buddy, maybe you didn't open your trap to the cops, but you did let him find some of them reapers in your pocket. Boss decided you ain't safe to have around. You get it? Oh, let me go. I won't talk, honest. I'll go away where they can't find me. Yeah, sure. That's the way we figure you'll do. Take a long trip. Even if they do find you, you won't talk. I get out. What for? What are you gonna do? Should we tell him? [00:11:06] Speaker A: Sick. [00:11:06] Speaker F: Oh, look, fellas, you can't get away with this. On. Get out. Listen, give me a chance, won't you? [00:11:10] Speaker A: Sure. [00:11:10] Speaker F: Sure, we'll give you a chance. Look, there's a river right over there. Start running. If you make it in 10 seconds, you won't stop one of Jitter's bullets. Now start running. Let me go. I won't talk. Don't shoot. Don't let him do it. Don't shoot. Look at him run. Jitter. Some speed, huh? Just like a rabbit, he runs some dope. Okay, Jitter, start shooting. [00:11:46] Speaker E: That evening, Britt Reed was in his office at the Sentinel Building talking to Ed Lowry when the phone rang. Hello? [00:11:55] Speaker A: Hello, Reed. [00:11:57] Speaker G: Yes, Axford, what is it? [00:11:58] Speaker A: Look, Reed, I'm down at cops headquarters. Remember the guy the cops brought down here from the Buxton plant? The one who had them dope cigarettes? [00:12:06] Speaker G: What about him? [00:12:06] Speaker A: Plenty. Read. Just wait till you hear. [00:12:09] Speaker G: Well, don't keep me waiting. Oxford. [00:12:10] Speaker A: Well, some lawyer got him out this afternoon. And what do you think? [00:12:13] Speaker G: I'm not very good at guessing. Expert. [00:12:15] Speaker F: Let's have it. [00:12:16] Speaker A: Well, get this. Now, he was found Floating in the river a while ago. That he was. And Sarge says he was shot before he was thrown into the water. [00:12:24] Speaker G: Murdered, huh? [00:12:24] Speaker A: Sure. Now, you don't think he shot himself and then jumped in, do ye? Jory was murdered. And Sarge says it was probably done by somebody who was afraid he'd spill the beans about where he got the dopey hat. [00:12:35] Speaker G: There's no doubt about that. I'll stick around there in case anything else breaks on the case. [00:12:39] Speaker A: Okay, Reed. So long. [00:12:40] Speaker G: Goodbye. My guess about a dope ring operating in that war plan seems to be correct, Larry. [00:12:46] Speaker F: Yeah, well, what expert have to say, Chief? [00:12:48] Speaker G: That factory worker who had those marijuana cigarettes was bailed out this afternoon. Since then, he's been murdered to keep him quiet. [00:12:54] Speaker F: Is that a fact? [00:12:56] Speaker E: Well, say, then there must be something going on over at the Buxton plant. [00:12:59] Speaker G: Yes, it looks that way. [00:13:00] Speaker E: Look, Chief, I got an idea. [00:13:02] Speaker G: What's on your mind? [00:13:03] Speaker F: Now, if I could get a job over there for a few days, maybe [00:13:06] Speaker E: I could find out something. [00:13:08] Speaker F: What do you think? [00:13:09] Speaker G: Well, it could be arranged for Mr. Buxton. It might be rather risky for you, Larry. [00:13:14] Speaker E: Oh, I can take care of myself, Chief. [00:13:17] Speaker F: It'd be a big scoop for the [00:13:18] Speaker E: Sentinel if we could help the cops break the case. A few days later, Lowry, who'd been installed in the Buxton plant as a war worker through the influence of Brit Reed, was working on the assembly line when he saw the foreman approaching. [00:13:43] Speaker F: Well, young fellow, how are you coming on here? Oh, gradually getting the hang of it, Mr. K. Well, Solomon, getting used to the machines? [00:13:50] Speaker G: Won't be long before you're as good [00:13:51] Speaker F: as an X man. [00:13:52] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:13:52] Speaker F: Yeah, I guess that's right. Well, there's a signal to knock off for lunch. I guess you're ready for a rest at that, huh? Yeah, being new at it, I. I do get a little tired. Well, go eat your lunch. We'll pep you up for the afternoon shift. [00:14:07] Speaker G: See you later. [00:14:07] Speaker F: Yeah, yeah, thanks. [00:14:15] Speaker E: A short time later, Lowry sat with a small group of workers who were eating their lunches. Deciding it was time to throw out a few feelers, he looked around at the group and then spoke. [00:14:26] Speaker F: Hey, this job sure wears a guy out. I'm tired already and the day's only half over. Ah, you'll get used to it, buddy. Stop your griping. Sure it's for the war, eh? Maybe he don't take the right vitamins. Oh, yeah? Well, a guy does need something to pick him up with this sort of work. Well, I guess it's time to get [00:14:46] Speaker E: Back to the grind. [00:14:48] Speaker F: What's the rush, bud? The gong ain't rung yet. [00:14:50] Speaker E: Yeah, but I don't want to have to sprint when it does. I'm tired enough already. [00:14:55] Speaker F: Anyway, the others are going in. Sure. They love their work. Maybe. And they're used to it with you. Now you get tired easy. [00:15:04] Speaker E: So what? There isn't anything I can do about it. [00:15:07] Speaker F: No. Maybe there is a thing. You know what to do. I'll get you fella. Listen, I can tell you something that'll really pick you up. Make you feel like a million. Oh yeah? [00:15:20] Speaker E: They don't allow drinking here. [00:15:22] Speaker F: Don't be dumb. If you want to find out what I'm talking about, meet me after hours and I'll put your wife to something, see. [00:15:29] Speaker E: Say, maybe you have got something at that. [00:15:31] Speaker F: I'll say I have. Meet me outside the gate at closing time. I'm going in. See you later maybe. [00:15:43] Speaker E: Last I got a bite. If that guy's talking about what I think he is, I'll get that scoop for the Sentinel or my name won't be Ed Lowry. [00:16:08] Speaker F: Hey. [00:16:09] Speaker A: Hey you. [00:16:10] Speaker E: There's that guy with a funny laugh. [00:16:12] Speaker F: Now look at the guy. [00:16:14] Speaker E: You're sitting in the car with him. [00:16:17] Speaker F: I see you didn't forget me, fella. No, I didn't forget. I knew you wouldn't either. Get in. Okay, get going slick. Hey Slot, who's your friend? Oh yeah, you two ain't met yet. It's like this is the punk I was telling you about. Hey, what do you mean punk? So this is the guy the boss was talking about, eh? I don't get this. What do you think? Ah, take it easy stoolie. You know what you're after and you come to the right party for it. Well it ain't gonna do you any good, see. Hey, I'm getting out of this car, do you hear? Grab your jitter, let me show you. Hey, good sluggin jitters. What do we do with him? Slinker? Yeah. The boss wants this one brought back alive. Wants to find out if he got in touch with anybody before he lets us give him the works. So this sneakin punk thought he could put something over on the boss, eh? He'd get his just like that other guy but good. [00:17:23] Speaker E: We'll continue our Green Hornet adventure in just a moment. [00:17:48] Speaker F: Sam it. [00:18:41] Speaker E: And now back to our story that evening, a few hours after Lowry had walked into the trap set for him by the DOE peddlers, Britt Reed was in his office talking to his secretary, Lenore Case. [00:18:53] Speaker G: You tried to get lower at his home, Ms. Case? [00:18:55] Speaker F: Yes, Mr. Reed. His landlady said he hadn't been in. [00:18:57] Speaker G: And you're positive there's been no call from him? [00:18:59] Speaker F: That's right, Mr. Reed. [00:19:01] Speaker G: That's strange. Laura's been phoning me every evening after he left the war plant. It's been several hours now since he went off duty. [00:19:08] Speaker F: Maybe he has some sort of a lead. [00:19:10] Speaker G: He decided to trail somebody or something like that. In that case, he'd most certainly have gotten in touch with me. That was our understanding. [00:19:16] Speaker F: Perhaps he'll phone you later at your apartment. [00:19:18] Speaker G: He might at that. You might as well go along home, Ms. Case. I'll stay a while longer. Then I'm going to call the day, too. [00:19:25] Speaker F: All right, Mr. Reed. Good night. [00:19:26] Speaker G: Good night, Miss Case. I didn't want Ms. Case to nod, but I'm really getting worried about Larry. Wait just so long, and then if he doesn't call, I'll have to do what I can to locate him. Something tells me he's in trouble, and the sooner I find it out, the better. [00:19:52] Speaker E: Meantime, in their basement hideout on Water street, not far from the factory, Slick and Jitters were waiting for further word from their boss. Lowry, still unconscious from the blow he'd received, lay with his hands and feet tied on a cot. Jitters was nervously moving about the room. [00:20:09] Speaker F: Hey, Jitters, why don't you sit down and stop snooping around? I ain't tired. Slick. What are you looking in that drawer for? That's a boss of stuff, your nosy dope. Look what I found. A mask. [00:20:19] Speaker E: See? [00:20:20] Speaker F: Look it. I'm an outlaw. Put him up, bozo. It's a stick. Look, it's like nine. The Green Hornet. Listen, if you don't stop that. Wait a minute. You gave me an idea, Jitters. Yeah, what? Remember the boss said this jerk was a Sentinel reporter who was trying to get the goods on us at the plant? Yeah, but he ain't got nothing to report. Oh, wait. Listen, you laughing dope. The Sentinel's a paper what offers 25 grand for the capture of the Green Hornet. They do? Gee, all that dough for him. [00:20:51] Speaker A: Sure. [00:20:51] Speaker F: And the guy who owns a Sentinel is a swell by the moniker of Britt Reed, one of them playboy guys. So what? He don't want to play with us. Now, look, the boss has us do all the dirty work and all the peddling. But he keeps all the dough, don't he? Yeah, that's right, he does. Now, look, with that mask, we could pull a fast one on the boss. Get Ourselves a lot of dough and leave him to talk himself out of a mess he could. Ain't got no love for the boss. I'm listening. Okay, here's a setup. You go phone the Central newspaper office and tell them you know where the Green Horn has got one of their reporters tied up. Hey, are you crazy? I don't know nothing about the Green Hornet. For once I scared that silly laugh out of you, didn't I? Now listen, you lunkhead. We'll sock the boss in the head. When he comes in, stick that mask on him and tie him up. You get it? And you tell the guy who answers the phone at the Sentinel that if they make a good offer, we'll steer them to the Hornet and their punk reporter. But they might send the cops. [00:21:44] Speaker E: Think. [00:21:44] Speaker F: Look, I'll tell you what to say to them. Then I'll stay here and jump the boss while you go phone. Listen close and be sure you don't crab the deal. Here's what you do. Go to the nearest phone booth. City Room, Gunnigan speaking. [00:22:05] Speaker E: Hey, look, mister. [00:22:06] Speaker F: If I was to tell you where the Hornet got one of your reporters tied up, what would it be worth to you? Wait. Wait a minute. You say one of our reporters is being held somewhere? Yeah, you heard me right. He's being held by the Green Hornet. You know that buck that wears a mask? Sure, sure, I know. Get to the point, will ya? Don't yab at me like that, bud, or I'll hang up on you, See? Hold on, I'll listen. Go ahead. Look, this is on the level, see. If cops is brought in, then we're out. So no cops. Get a lot of dough together and send just one guy with it down to Second and Water streets. Have em walk along Water street in half an hour. Which I mean I can't pick him up if he's alone. Don't send no checks. We want cash, get it? Wait. Holy Moses. The one that's got Lowry. I better tell Reed right away. If you let me, I'll call the cops and I'll go down to Water. Speaking of cell phone, this person formed [00:23:04] Speaker G: and said Lowry is being held by the Green Hornet. [00:23:06] Speaker E: Huh? [00:23:07] Speaker F: Yeah, Chief. [00:23:08] Speaker E: I'll call the cops like you said and then I'll go down there and [00:23:10] Speaker F: meet them and see what happened. [00:23:11] Speaker G: All right, Gunnigan. But be careful. Be sure the police are nearby before you approach them. If they are waiting, as they said they would, let me know what happens. I'll be very anxious to know. [00:23:26] Speaker E: Britt Reed went to his apartment where Cato, his faithful Filipino valet and the only person knowing his identity as the Green Hornet was waiting. [00:23:33] Speaker G: The mask and gas gun. Kato, we have a job to do in a hurry. [00:23:35] Speaker F: Black Beauty. Ready, Mr. Brit. [00:23:36] Speaker G: Good. Ls in danger of some kind. It's up to the greenhorner to find out what the whole thing is all about. Let's go. Kato. [00:23:52] Speaker E: Get out here. [00:23:53] Speaker G: Cato. Gigan was going to call the police. But I want to get those men in the car before the police do. I'll be able to force them to lead me to Larry. [00:24:00] Speaker F: What you want me to do, Mr. Grit? [00:24:01] Speaker G: Drive out the river road about a quarter of a mile and wait there. [00:24:03] Speaker F: Yes, sir. [00:24:06] Speaker G: Things work out, I'll meet you there shortly. Get going, kido. [00:24:23] Speaker E: Meantime, Slick and Jitter sat waiting in their parked car. Second street, just around the corner from Water Street. From this point they could watch for the man they expected without being seen. [00:24:34] Speaker F: I sacked the boss, tied him up and slapped that mask on his mug. Now, after we get the dough, we'll take the guy from the Sentinel office up the river road a bit. Tell him where to find him two dopes and then throw them out. Yeah, by the time he gets to walk the phone, we will be miles away. You're smart, Slay. Hey, look. Look. Somebody walking alone on the other side of Water Street. Do you see him? We start the car and cruise over that way. Keep your rod handy, Jitters. You might try to pull a fast one. Now wait a minute. I got the radio turned to police. [00:25:00] Speaker G: Short wave. [00:25:01] Speaker F: Let's listen just in case. Attention all cars. Attention all cars. [00:25:06] Speaker G: Squad cars 132 and 133 have been dispatched to Second and Water streets. All other squad cars in vicinity proceed to that neighborhood. [00:25:15] Speaker F: Look for kidnappers. [00:25:16] Speaker G: Have sent the reporter. [00:25:18] Speaker F: Look for kidnappers of Central Report. [00:25:20] Speaker G: Porter said to be working with Green Hornet. That is all. [00:25:24] Speaker F: Hey, that guy the newspapers called the cops. It's a trap. Must have missed the first broadcast. Let's get out of here quick. Hey, what the. [00:25:29] Speaker G: Get they're going. [00:25:30] Speaker F: Quick. [00:25:30] Speaker G: The police are waiting out there on Water street for you. [00:25:32] Speaker F: Look, he's mad. Green Hornet himself. [00:25:34] Speaker G: Get going, I said. They're after me too. [00:25:35] Speaker F: Hey, let's go. Jitters. Hey, why are you so interested? [00:25:38] Speaker G: Can wait. [00:25:38] Speaker F: Get going. The cops. They spotted us. Slick. [00:25:43] Speaker G: Hurry. Speed up and run out over the river road. You've got to lose them. [00:25:45] Speaker F: Hey, why are you helping us? Get away, Hornet. [00:25:46] Speaker G: I heard the police broadcast. You must blame me for holding a Sentinel reporter. Might as well get in on the [00:25:51] Speaker F: deal so that's it, huh? Well, now that the cops are telling us it won't be no deal, we'll [00:25:55] Speaker G: make some sort of a deal at that. First of all, we've got to put distance between us and those police cars. Now step on it. [00:26:12] Speaker F: But why are we stopping here? Whose car is that on the side of the road? [00:26:15] Speaker G: My car. It's faster than yours. Hurry, get out and run to my car and we'll leave yours here. Get in, both of you. [00:26:24] Speaker F: Who's the guy with the goggles behind you working with me? [00:26:26] Speaker G: Come on, get in. All right, get going. [00:26:34] Speaker F: Hey, the cops are still trailing. [00:26:36] Speaker G: Never mind that. I Tell me where that reporter's being held. I want to meet the lug who's posing as me. [00:26:41] Speaker F: Hey, he's holding a gun on his stick. We better tell him. So you want to meet the guy who's posing as you, huh? That might not be a bad idea. But what about us? [00:26:49] Speaker G: You're working with him, aren't you? [00:26:50] Speaker F: Ah, so maybe you figure on double crossing us too. I'll look. Hornet, I ain't afraid of you. In fact, are you going to tell me my arm? I'll tell. Tell. He means business. Tell him. [00:27:02] Speaker G: Slay. [00:27:03] Speaker F: Come on, talk some water. [00:27:04] Speaker A: Sleep Street. [00:27:04] Speaker F: I'll show you the way out. I'll show you. Yeah, yeah, we'll show you on it, all right. [00:27:09] Speaker G: You better lead us to the right place or else step on it. Back to Water Street. [00:27:25] Speaker E: In the meantime, back in the hideout, the man known as the Boss, whom Slick it way lay and tied up, regained consciousness. After much struggling, he succeeded in loosening his bonds, getting to his feet. He was about to remove the mask when Slick had put over his face when he saw Lowry looking at him. [00:27:43] Speaker F: Maybe this mask isn't such a bad gag after all. Hey, who do you think you are, the Hornet? Maybe I am at that. But you won't know for sure. Those other two punks won't dare do any squealing. But if you got away, you might. So there's going to be a certain duty for me to perform. What do you mean? You, my friend, are in the way. [00:28:02] Speaker E: Gun, huh? Yeah. [00:28:04] Speaker F: What a man you are with me all tied up like this. Perhaps you'd rather die standing on your feet. All right, now loosen the cord. On your feet. There, there. Oh, so that's your trick, huh? Kick him to condom out of my hand. Now I'll get my gun. This time I'll use it. [00:28:29] Speaker G: Hold it, log. [00:28:30] Speaker F: The Green Hornet. [00:28:31] Speaker G: Got you covered, killer. Now come on in here, you two [00:28:33] Speaker F: so, Jitters and Slick, you've been dealing with this sneak and turned against me, huh? No, you got it wrong, boss. He's been dealing with that. Go on us, boss. We have to show you too. Oh, no, you don't. [00:28:44] Speaker G: Now you can take it. [00:28:45] Speaker A: No, no. [00:28:47] Speaker F: Yes. Watch out. Rush some titties before he gets up too. [00:28:50] Speaker G: This is for you, Slick. [00:28:53] Speaker F: Gee, I give up. I ain't wanting any of that stuff. [00:28:56] Speaker G: I can tell her the police, they heard the shot. Good thing they followed us here. Cato. [00:29:02] Speaker F: Yes, Mr. Brick. [00:29:02] Speaker G: There's Larry. Safe. They'll get him. All right, come on, let's get going. [00:29:11] Speaker A: What in heaven's name is all this? [00:29:13] Speaker F: Look, Lowry. Holy crow. Oh, what happened? [00:29:16] Speaker A: You tell us, Lowry. [00:29:17] Speaker F: What did happen? [00:29:17] Speaker A: Hey, here's Gabriel, the masculine, the Green Hornet sage preservers. And me standing near to him. That ain't the Hornet. He don't wear a mask like that. [00:29:25] Speaker F: Take it off, Cassidy. [00:29:26] Speaker A: I'm sure. [00:29:28] Speaker F: There, take a look. Hey, that's the foreman from the Buxton plant. [00:29:32] Speaker A: The foreman? [00:29:33] Speaker F: Yeah, and those other two are in with him. [00:29:35] Speaker G: In on what, George? [00:29:36] Speaker F: You're looking at the men who have been selling dope in the plant. That foreman Kane was the leader of the bunch. [00:29:41] Speaker A: Glory be, Lowry. You're a hero or something. Wait a Reed hears about this. How did you knock them all out [00:29:47] Speaker F: with your hands tied like that, you dimwit. Can't you see they've been gassed? The Green Hornet was one of them too. Say, he must have been at that. [00:29:55] Speaker A: Sure, listen to that. It's him all right. The head door peddled them all. The Green Hornet. Him. [00:30:23] Speaker F: That's the next street paper. Don't break it. One black broken Green Hornet ball. Read all about it. Green Hornets still advice. [00:30:53] Speaker B: That was dope versus the war effort from the Green Hornet here on the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society podcast once again. I'm Eric. [00:31:02] Speaker A: I'm Tim. [00:31:02] Speaker C: And I'm Joshua. [00:31:03] Speaker B: That was brought to us or recommended to us by our patreon, Jill. And this is part of our 10th anniversary celebration where we're featuring 10 different shows that we've never listened to before on this podcast. Starting with this one, right? No, no. We started with the strange doctor Weird [00:31:22] Speaker C: last week on our live podcast. [00:31:24] Speaker B: That's right. So this is number two of the ten. Before we talk about this episode, this is a big deal to me. So, first of all, the TV show that was supposed to rival the Batman thing, that show is phenomenal. It never was. Tongue in cheek like Batman. It never was. Okay, this is obviously Either a kid show or just supposed to be a parody or whatever and hilarious. It's really good. I love that show. I really wish 20 years of that had existed. And it was like, oh, I kept waiting for it to be spoofy, you know, like. Like the Batman one. When I first started watching it, when [00:32:01] Speaker D: I was looking into it, I thought this was a popular show. This must have gone on and on. [00:32:04] Speaker B: But it was one year. [00:32:05] Speaker D: I was kind of surprised it didn't have more life in it. [00:32:07] Speaker B: It was cool. I really love that show. Next. You should know that the Green Hornet radio show is one of my go tos for time now to go sleepy. It doesn't require a lot of brain power. It doesn't require me going, wait, I got to stay up and hear how this ends. It's not bad, but it is what it is. Right? There's nothing spectacular about any of the episodes. The Shadow is similar, but much better in a lot of ways. Because of what? He can just show up and change a situation because he's invisible? You know what I mean? So it makes for better plot lines than the Green Hornet in some ways. [00:32:51] Speaker C: Well, the Shadow leans heavier into the pulp origin. Correct. The stories are far more over the top and they are far more varied. I think you could make a case that the Green Hornet is more consistent. Then it doesn't fall below a certain [00:33:09] Speaker B: level or rise above that level. [00:33:12] Speaker G: No. [00:33:12] Speaker C: Yeah. It delivers the same thing in slight variations over and over again. And so if you like that thing, it's amazing. [00:33:24] Speaker B: I've listened to probably hundreds of them. I don't know how many I actually finished because sleepy time. [00:33:29] Speaker D: But it'd be delightful to discover that. Wow. The endings are so radically, frankly, unexpected. [00:33:34] Speaker B: They're all twists. What are you talking about? [00:33:37] Speaker D: Suddenly super violent, [00:33:40] Speaker B: it seems to me sometimes. Are they all about trucks being hijacked? I can see like, wait, I've heard this before. But I haven't. There's just a lot of that very middle of the road crime stuff. A very basic crime thing. [00:33:55] Speaker C: A lot of rackets. A lot of rackets all the time. [00:33:59] Speaker B: Yes. And so rings and rackets. [00:34:02] Speaker C: Those are the two words, right? [00:34:04] Speaker B: This is the Green Hornet, in other words. What I'm saying is, if you're going to say, hey, you should listen to an episode of the Green Hornet and we have to pick one to see if you like it. Let's find a good one. You can put your hand into the wishing well and pull out any Green Hornet and you're going to be fine. This One included this one. [00:34:22] Speaker C: Well, I think what makes this one [00:34:24] Speaker B: special is the marijuana. [00:34:25] Speaker C: Yeah. It's just the deliriously incoherent portrayal of marijuana. [00:34:33] Speaker B: Yeah. It's got that reefer madness feel to. [00:34:37] Speaker C: Causes a rage in people which. No, when you're tired, it's a good pick me up. [00:34:46] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:34:46] Speaker C: When marijuana does everything to people in this episode except what marijuana actually does to people. [00:34:52] Speaker B: It should have been 30 minutes of hearing people E chips. [00:34:57] Speaker D: The most high tension moment for me was at the very top when you have employee number one absentmindedly bump the other one at a Wrench Falls and trying to figure out which one of these two guys is the problem here. [00:35:13] Speaker A: Right. [00:35:14] Speaker D: Which one of these two guys is the marijuana guy? [00:35:16] Speaker B: Also, there's a little bit of issue with voice differentiation in this episode with certain characters like, oh, I know. Who is that? Oh, it's that guy. Like there was not enough delineation. Sometimes I didn't know what was going on. [00:35:32] Speaker D: The variation of an Irish reporter who reports in the police. How exotic. [00:35:40] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:35:41] Speaker C: Oh, so this is a good question, Tim. Have you ever heard an entire episode of the Green Hornet? [00:35:46] Speaker D: No, I had not. [00:35:47] Speaker C: Oh, okay. The Green Hornet was a big part of my childhood love of old time radio. I listened to it in elementary school. It was played every Sunday night along with the Shadow. [00:35:58] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:35:59] Speaker C: And it was the Shadow and the Green Hornet that I listened to. [00:36:01] Speaker B: And one of the things about this serial, the series. That's fantastic. First of all, the tie in to me if we're going to go back to. I listen to a lot of Lone Ranger as I show my tattoo but [00:36:15] Speaker D: put your pants on. [00:36:18] Speaker B: And so listened to that a lot and read. Yes. [00:36:24] Speaker C: With your eyes. [00:36:25] Speaker B: With my eyes. I read five or six Fran Stryker novels including the Mystery Ranch and some others that when I was younger. Anyway, I love the. How do I put this? The sleuthing, the detective work that was done. His name is never mentioned. The Lone Ranger's real name. [00:36:44] Speaker C: Right. [00:36:45] Speaker B: You have to go to all the Franz Stryker books and piece together all this little information. When you come up with John Reed is his name. But it's not all of a sudden in a, oh, my name's John Reed. [00:36:58] Speaker D: Like it's ah, didn't get my name tag off. [00:37:02] Speaker B: Hello, my name is. And so I love that they figured that out. And then he does have his nephew in those episodes whose name Reed, which is how you get to the last name of Reed. And there's a mention of John. Anyway, it doesn't. I like the connection. I Like the whole thing that he is the nephew. [00:37:21] Speaker C: It's made explicit in a single episode. I think of the Green Hornet and I forget the name of the episode so. But that people listening are having a seizure right now. [00:37:31] Speaker B: That explicit episode was based on to take this moment. [00:37:36] Speaker G: Yeah. [00:37:37] Speaker C: Nerd. [00:37:40] Speaker D: Ah, feels good. [00:37:43] Speaker B: Yeah, they've. The people who wrote the Green Hornet are the ones that figured out his name is John Reed by reading the books. Anyway, that being said, the other thing I wanted to say is the other really nice thing about this that makes it a nice show to listen to, the music is exquisite. Not only the theme song, but I realized they don't have a live orchestra and they're playing record or whatever. But I love the action of the full orchestral music of this show instead of just an organ. [00:38:15] Speaker C: The one thing I want to say listening to this with adult ears instead of my childhood ones is that it is really action packed. It's eventful. A lot happens in this episode. I listened to it a couple weeks ago when Jill first recommended it and then re listening to it. I was like, oh, wow. Yeah, that's a lot like, oh, wait, that's this episode. I thought that was a different episode that I listened to. We have the whole reveal of the marijuana ring and the violence at the top. And then we go straight into an undercover reporter who has been kidnapped. And then we have this whole sort of strange game where the henchmen double cross the boss. And then, you know, we're feel like 20 minutes in before the Green Hornet even shows up. But you don't really miss him because there's so much going on. [00:39:11] Speaker B: It's one of the things I like about this show. The plots are straightforward, they're not convoluted. We already know what the bad guy is and where they are. [00:39:19] Speaker A: Right. [00:39:20] Speaker B: It's just, how is he gonna get them? And they get to the castle like champs. This whole series just like, here we go, this guy did this and here we go. Now we're going to go get him. I like it a lot for that reason. [00:39:34] Speaker C: One last thing, and I'm going to let Tim jump in as the Green Beat. I was also impressed by just how many characters this script juggled. I mean, just the cast of the Sentinel magazine alone is pretty impressive. You have, you know, Britt Reed, you have I'm blanking on Undercover Guy. Then you have Lowery the editor. And then you have Mike Axford the reporter. You're like just five regular, like Sentinel workers, Jimmy Olsen plus the criminals, right? Slick and Jitters Yeah, their payroll must have been high. [00:40:11] Speaker B: Yeah, we're talking about literally, just for this one, paying at least 12 actors. [00:40:17] Speaker D: Yeah, that's our Detroit actors. [00:40:19] Speaker B: So, you know, well, Irish guy, Mike Axford. Yeah, Mike. He's in pretty much every episode, Tim, just so you know. He's your comedy relief, see. [00:40:29] Speaker C: Oh, he's the one. [00:40:30] Speaker B: Ah, he's that. That's what he's there for. [00:40:33] Speaker A: Tim. Hi. [00:40:34] Speaker B: What'd you think of this? [00:40:35] Speaker D: I had many mixed feelings going through all the way. One of them that came up was like, you're gonna dress this up in the war effort. Aw, guys, come on. That's 1944. That's kind of a real thing happening right now. But the strongest thing was to specifically invoke the, like, the man about wealthy man about town. I can't remember if that's the exact phrase, but, like, you're calling the shadow out. And as you said, I don't know the full spread of shadow quality, but I know it gets pretty good. [00:41:09] Speaker B: Quite good. [00:41:10] Speaker D: That part of what was going through. Like, you're not the shadow. These villains are fun, but they're not like fun shadow villains. Right. [00:41:16] Speaker C: Jitters and jitters stands out. Yes. For most Green Hornets bad guys, he's more exaggerated. And my assumption is he is meant to represent the end point of marijuana abuse. The guy who can't stop laughing and he's an idiot, which is the closest [00:41:34] Speaker B: they came to how marijuana works. [00:41:38] Speaker C: He's the only one who's stoned in his attack. [00:41:43] Speaker D: So all the things you said that you enjoy about it, I enjoyed, but I also had some disappointments in it. Like, the ultimate Mary Wanna content was quite disappointing. I was kind hoping for, you know, like a Cheech and Chong kind of. It was the thing of, like, everything that happened, as much as it's, like, consistent and consequent. That's not what I expected to happen. Like, that's not how I thought the story was going to go. I don't know that I was excited about how it turned out, but. [00:42:11] Speaker A: Okay, I'll go on. [00:42:12] Speaker B: Right. [00:42:13] Speaker C: I really enjoyed the back half of this. I enjoyed the ridiculous marijuana propaganda in an ironic way. But I think it's a great showcase for the strongest conceit in the program, which is that everyone, reporters, cops, people on the street, everyone thinks the Green Hornet is a criminal mastermind. [00:42:39] Speaker D: Right. Yes, I enjoyed that. I also liked the little twist of, oh, these criminals, they're smart enough to have a police radio. [00:42:47] Speaker C: And I really love the double cross that comes out of nowhere where they just. They find a mask and they go, hey, wait, we could just totally sell out our boss. And it gives this convoluted structure that gets us to the point in which the Green Hornet just drives by and picks the bad guys up in his car. [00:43:05] Speaker B: Right, right. Was it a $25,000 reward that they said? I can't remember if it was 25,000. I remember thinking, that seems like an ungodly amount of money for 1944. It's. I thought that's a. [00:43:22] Speaker C: They said 25,000 at some point. But also on my second listen, I don't remember hearing a number, just that they knew there would be a reward. [00:43:32] Speaker D: They might have assumed he could offer [00:43:33] Speaker B: a billion dollars because. Right, he's the guy giving out the money, and he's the guy. They're just. [00:43:40] Speaker D: If they get it right, I'm not paying because I'm going to jail. [00:43:44] Speaker B: Or. [00:43:46] Speaker C: When you listen to the Green Hornet, you have to stop and think that. If Brit Reed wanted to be a diabolical master villain, he is positioned so well. He has all this power and control in the actual criminal elements of society. And as the owner of this major news outlet, he has control in the content, law and order side of the. [00:44:18] Speaker B: And what. [00:44:19] Speaker C: And messaging. [00:44:20] Speaker B: And messaging. [00:44:20] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:44:21] Speaker C: Controls the narrative. [00:44:22] Speaker E: Right. [00:44:23] Speaker C: Like, from a contemporary point of view, [00:44:25] Speaker B: you're like, dude, this seems familiar. [00:44:30] Speaker C: There's a lot of evil you could be doing. [00:44:34] Speaker D: I also. It twisted my mind a little bit to compare, like how weed dealers are depicted in this episode. Weed dealers. I have known, like, I don't know that I've ever encountered a dealer who you would go up to them and vaguely, mildly inquire that you might like some drugs. And they're like, well, I better put this guy in a car, drive him out of the nowhere, and kill him. [00:45:00] Speaker B: No weed dealers. Back in our day was that guy that lived in a hovel of a studio apartment. You had to go there and usually asked you to stay and hang out with them for a while, and it [00:45:17] Speaker D: cost you 15 bucks and do my dishes. [00:45:21] Speaker B: You had to buddy up with them. [00:45:23] Speaker C: Yeah, Those guys are still a thing. Because despite the fact that marijuana is, at least for now, mostly legal in Austin. [00:45:32] Speaker B: What do you mean, at least for now? What do you know? [00:45:34] Speaker D: It's still federally illegal. State legalizations of it are in conflict with that. That's hasn't been resolved, but might be someday. [00:45:41] Speaker C: But our state has taxed it to such a degree that I don't know anyone who actually buys no from a licensed legal dealer. They're still incentivizing crime. [00:45:55] Speaker D: That would take me by surprise. Episode where you go and inquire about drugs and we're going to get you some gummies, but you got to be my friend. [00:46:07] Speaker C: So I wondered if they grabbed Lowery and we're going to do him in because he clearly signaled to them that he had no idea what marijuana like. I didn't know if that was intentional in the script where he's like, oh, I'm just really tired. I could really use a pick me up. I hear this marijuana does that for you. But also, he was just one of the world's worst undercover reporters. [00:46:32] Speaker D: Full Stephen Buscemi in high school clothes from 30 Rock. Yes. Yes. [00:46:39] Speaker B: When he does it. [00:46:40] Speaker A: Hi. [00:46:40] Speaker B: I'm just a high school kid. That's such a great scene. [00:46:46] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:46:46] Speaker D: Or they made it like, we don't deal drugs, but this guy's clearly a hazard to the war effort. We got to get him out of this factory. [00:46:54] Speaker C: The best moment in the entire episode is when Jitters finds the mask and he's like, look at me. I'm the green horny [00:47:04] Speaker D: like you are stone dude. [00:47:06] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:47:08] Speaker D: In getting some background on this episode, as I was preparing for. I sometimes prepare. The music is part of the show. There was a 10 of definitive part of what they wanted to do, I guess of they wanted this to be distinctive music for the show. [00:47:24] Speaker B: Yes. [00:47:25] Speaker C: With all the classic works to jump back to Lowery's need for a pick me up because the work is so exhausting at the war plant. There was part of me that thought this series was trying to tell us about the evils of marijuana. But from a contemporary point of view, I was like, are you really just telling us about the terrible working conditions of this war factory in which everyone just needs some sort of chemical escape from the non stop drudgery of this work? [00:48:01] Speaker A: Well, I was. [00:48:02] Speaker D: It is often argued that the war on drugs has roots in attacking specific ethnicities. But I was wondering, like, is okay, so they're not doing as much of the warfare. Is this anti drug because it's secretly racist? Like, no. No, this is not secretly racist. And then slipped in a shyster. Dang it. A little racist. [00:48:20] Speaker B: A little racist. [00:48:23] Speaker C: Speaking of racism, I think we didn't cover in the opening about Cato. You touched on it, which I thought was fascinating about. Cato's becomes this barometer of the United States geopolitical attitudes toward Asia. He. He is mostly Filipino. [00:48:44] Speaker D: One stand. He started Japanese and then somewhere I guess mid-30s, earlier than you might Think they said Filipino by way of Japan. [00:48:55] Speaker C: Yeah. There is this story online that it's happened right after Pearl harbor and that's not true. It was a little earlier than that. But there were a lot of tensions between the US and Japan long before they attacked Pearl harbor because they were upset, I think, with their invasion of China. And then in some publicity they made him Korean. Yeah. And really in the radio show, he's a non character. He's an instrument. I think people remember Bruce Lee from the TV show who became a fully fledged character and outshined the Green Hornet. But here he just acquiesces to all the commands. [00:49:41] Speaker B: Yes, the Bruce Lee character was much different than the servant esque quality of him. Yes. [00:49:48] Speaker C: He shares the secret of the Green Hornet with Britt Reed. So you get the idea that he trusts him. But there isn't this sense of friendship that you have between the Lone Ranger and Tanto. [00:50:00] Speaker A: No. [00:50:00] Speaker C: You know, whatever racist stereotypes aside with Tonto, there is a sense even in the original radio show, long before they built on that in other forms of media. [00:50:10] Speaker B: That's right there in the name. [00:50:12] Speaker C: Yeah. That they are close to one another. But here I always struggle in the Green Hornet to feel that he is a man servant. [00:50:21] Speaker B: Right. [00:50:22] Speaker C: And he's barely in this one. [00:50:24] Speaker D: Again, the unfair judgment of. So far in time, part of listening is like, you're not Cato. [00:50:30] Speaker C: Yeah, Cato has really evolved. And like I said, most people are excited about Cato more excited than they are about the Greenhorn. [00:50:40] Speaker B: Well, Bruce Lee's Cato. [00:50:42] Speaker C: Yeah, exactly. But the comic books and movies that have been created post the 60s TV show have expanded even more on that character due to, as you say, their excitement over Bruce Lee's interpretation of Cato. [00:50:59] Speaker D: Hey, you Green Hornet aficionados. No, he's a gas gun. Is that true? That's. [00:51:04] Speaker C: Yes. [00:51:05] Speaker D: So all the extensive research I did, the Wikipedia page didn't mention it. And it's not mentioned except for when, afterwards, when the guys are knocked out and they smell the gas. Preharnic. Right. Presumably then it's a trait that comes up often enough that you don't have to pre inform the audience of what that means. [00:51:24] Speaker B: Correct. The gas gun is used frequently throughout episodes. I believe it makes this distinct sound too. [00:51:32] Speaker D: Is it? [00:51:33] Speaker B: Yes, it is. A fart noise. [00:51:35] Speaker C: Awesome. [00:51:36] Speaker D: Now, I love this series. [00:51:39] Speaker C: I did love that chaotic encounter when they all end up in the same room together. The foreman from the war plant. We have Lau story tied up. We have Slick and we have Jitters. And the Green Hornet Runs in and it's just chaos. They're gunshots and gas guns and people making wild accusations to one another. And then the green horn is just like, eh, they'll be fine, let's go. [00:52:03] Speaker D: Right. [00:52:04] Speaker C: And that to Eric's earlier point, is that that is pretty much how every Green Hornet. Correct. [00:52:13] Speaker D: It is an appealing. [00:52:14] Speaker C: There's sort of chaos, some Hornet gas and let's go home. [00:52:18] Speaker F: Yes. [00:52:18] Speaker D: Huge melee, gas em all. Problem solved. [00:52:24] Speaker C: So I'm curious to ask both of you, why did it take us 10 years to listen to an episode of the Green Hornet? [00:52:32] Speaker B: Well, I can tell you because it will also tie into my vote, okay. Not to push to go to the vote. I'm just saying that answer is in my vote and that is this. The Green Hornet doesn't offer any suspense. It's not terrifying or horror. It's not scary. It's not riveting in a lot of ways. We on this podcast tend to whore crime that has a little bit of a what's happening? What's going on? How did that happen? Something that needs to be solved. This is, we know the crime, we know the criminals and he goes and gets them. So for our podcast, this is a hard one to fit in because it's not that interesting in that sense. It's great. I like it. I like listening to it again. It's more Pablo esque, right? It's more, it's more warm blanket of something to listen to. But I think the reason we've never done it, there's not any episode I've come across where I went, oh, that's really an interesting take. Or that's, oh, it's that guy. Or a twist or oh, I'm on the edge of my seat. Nothing drives it really to any kind of emotion. [00:53:54] Speaker D: Yes. [00:53:54] Speaker C: But here's what I will add to that. I was taken by the performances. And while, yes, it's not an emotional story, there's a really authentic, authentic quality to the performances. Especially between all the co workers at the Sentinel. [00:54:14] Speaker B: Agree. [00:54:15] Speaker C: And that is something that I did not queue into as a young person listening to this. But there's a warmth and a genuine camaraderie that as an adult I now recognize as, hey, that seems like a great place to work. I'd like to work at the center. [00:54:32] Speaker A: Right. [00:54:32] Speaker C: These guys don't hate each other and themselves. And I actually really enjoyed that about this episode. [00:54:39] Speaker B: I think the acting is always really good for what genre this is what they're doing. I always find the performances and in this one Good and jitters. I liked his performance. I thought it was subtle and fun. As subtle in the. I liked it. It's not a classic. It only Stand the test of time. To those that like this kind of thing. Do you know what I mean? Like, if you like this genre or this specific field of radio drama, it does Stand the test of time. But to someone outside of this, I don't think it does. I think it's a little dated as far as that goes. And as far as particular episodes of this go, there are better episodes that have more Green Hornet stuff than this one did. So my vote is it was fine. Yeah, I was. No, I'll say it's historically significant. Just because we discussed who the Green Hornet is. No, I don't think it Stand the test of time. I don't. [00:55:41] Speaker D: One your earlier question. It's very simple. I've not run an episode of the Green Hornet before. And we brushed on a little bit earlier conversation. Some time ago for Patreon, we did an episode of the Green Llama. [00:55:53] Speaker C: Oh, yes. [00:55:54] Speaker D: And I just had it in my head like, we've done Green Hornet. [00:55:56] Speaker B: Oh, we did a green dude than a green dude. [00:56:00] Speaker D: I forgot that we have not. [00:56:02] Speaker C: As a comic book fan, I feel like you should know there are very subtle distinctions between the various green dudes. [00:56:09] Speaker D: There are. Yes. Sloppy at me. And I apologize to all appropriate Lanterns, llamas and hornets. [00:56:15] Speaker C: And arrows. [00:56:16] Speaker D: And arrows. [00:56:17] Speaker B: And arrows, yes. [00:56:18] Speaker D: And hooves. Giants. [00:56:23] Speaker B: For my vote. [00:56:25] Speaker D: I think it's gonna be similar of. I think this is, as you say, a fun, consistent series overall. I think this one in particular, Jill, might have been setting us up a little bit for a little bit of shenanigans with dope versus the war effort. Maybe Jill maybe right that, you know, I don't know the full range of shadow. I don't know the full range of Green Hornet. But I think subject matter wise, this does not Stand the test of time, of thinly veiled war effort efforts and the dangers of getting hopped up on goofballs. So I wouldn't say classic. Doesn't have the test time. Super fun. And would listen to more, which is not, you know, historically significant as the official vote now that we're keeping track of them. Geez. But that is not to damn with faint praise. I enjoyed it. [00:57:17] Speaker C: Yeah, I. I think Eric is being a little harsh on the Green Hornet and maybe even you are too. And I think I've been harsh on it because he's a guy in a mask. And so we have an expectation of superhero programs that I don't think this meets. Like you said, you were comparing it to the Shadow. [00:57:39] Speaker D: Yeah. Which I know is unfair. [00:57:40] Speaker C: Upon revisiting this, I was struck that it is a far more propulsive. It has a really colorful cast of characters. It's much more interesting than so many run of the mill detective shows we've listened to on this, and I think that's a better comparison. [00:58:00] Speaker B: I would agree with that. [00:58:01] Speaker C: That being said, I'm being nitpicky now. I enjoyed the first half of this, ironically, as a piece of Reefer Madness fan fiction. I was totally on board for its incoherent portrayal of marijuana. But I also enjoyed once it, you know, steered clear of the pulpit, the criminal double cross, the counterfeit Hornet, all that. It was just really a lot of fun. No, it is not my favorite radio show by any means. And it has its weaknesses. And that weakness is that it is repetitive from episode to episode. But looking at this by itself as a standalone episode, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm with Tim. Half of it absolutely does not Stand the test of time. It just reeks of marijuana, but of dated notions of this relatively harmless drug. But I think the second half really showcases what is original and interesting about the Green Hornet, and that is Brett Reed's sort of complete control over the entire. I'm gonna use my powerful pedestal here to tell you the Green Hornet is a villain, and I'm gonna use that cover to do basically whatever I want. So I think it is. The Green Hornet in general in terms of radio is a classic, but I'm not sure that it's a classic that Stand the test of time, if that's a fair vote. [00:59:37] Speaker B: Sure, that is a fair vote. [00:59:39] Speaker D: Tim Tellemstuff, Please go visit ghoulishdelights.com it's the home of this podcast. You'll find all kinds of other episodes there. You can look and see, like, hey, how does this compare to episodes of Shadow you've listened to? You can find all the episodes of Shadow we've done and listen to them and go, oh, that's different. You can also find links there. You can find information about our swag, our T shirts and whatnot. See if you want some merchandise. Yeah, I almost went, what? Non hoo ha. But I stopped this time because you can't get hoo ha on the website, but you can get, like a coffee cup. That's instead of hoo ha. [01:00:14] Speaker C: I kept thinking you were saying hee haw. [01:00:16] Speaker D: No. [01:00:16] Speaker C: Are we selling hats with price tags? [01:00:18] Speaker F: On them. [01:00:19] Speaker C: Oh. [01:00:20] Speaker D: Oh, no. I want to do a Hee Haw podcast. I searched the world over and thought, okay, we're wrapping up. [01:00:27] Speaker B: Here's Hoyt Axton. [01:00:29] Speaker D: You can also find a link to our Patreon page. [01:00:32] Speaker C: Yes, go to patreon.com themorals and support this podcast as Jill does. And I want to again thank Jill for recommending a Green Hornet after all this time, we were negligent not to discuss the Green Hornet in a effing decade of doing this podcast. So thank you, Jill and just thank you to all the patrons. We are just coming off our 10th anniversary weekend and celebration and it was such a blast to meet so many local Patreon supporters, but also a number of Patreon supporters like Jill, who flew in to see the show and to hang out with everybody. My wife and I went to lunch with Jill and it was a fabulous time. [01:01:19] Speaker D: Nice. [01:01:20] Speaker C: And so you too can join Patreon and go to lunch with you. [01:01:24] Speaker E: My wife. [01:01:25] Speaker B: One day there's a couple and their name's eluding me and I'm so sorry. That drove from Florida. Yeah, yeah. [01:01:32] Speaker D: Where were they headed to see us? [01:01:35] Speaker C: Oh, they had a flat. [01:01:39] Speaker B: What's going on here? [01:01:41] Speaker C: Let's go see some jazz radio. [01:01:47] Speaker B: The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society Theater Company also performs live on stage recreations of classic old time radio shows and a lot of our own original work. You can find out where we're performing, what we're performing, and how to get tickets by going to ghoulishdelights.com and there you'll get the whole rundown and come see us. And if you don't come see us or can't and you're a Patreon, you're in trouble. We record the audio of those performances and post the audio of our performances for our Patreons. Hey, what's coming up next? [01:02:21] Speaker D: Next is my choice for a new series we have listened. Well, not new, but a series new to us we haven't listened to before. And that series is have Gun Will Travel. The episode titled Maggie o'. [01:02:31] Speaker C: Banion. [01:02:32] Speaker B: Until then, Jingles, Jiggles, Twitchy. What's his name? [01:02:38] Speaker D: Oh, I thought you were trying to figure out my name. [01:02:40] Speaker B: No, no, that guy's name Chitters.