Death Behind the Scenes: Nick Carter, Master Detective (March 25, 1945)

“Death Behind the Scenes” is an episode of Nick Carter, Master Detective, the old-time radio show, first broadcast March 25, 1945. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

At the Republic Theatre, director Charles Forrest is rehearsing a new play about Lord Byron, starring imported French actor Paul Weimar. When a series of dangerous accidents plague Weimar—a collapsing chair, a falling sandbag, and now a real bullet fired instead of a blank during rehearsal—Nick Carter is called in to investigate. Weimar suspects someone is trying to kill him or drive him from the production, and suspicion falls on American actor Richard Rowland, who was passed over for the lead role.

The Republic Theatre backstage and stage, during rehearsals of a play about Lord Byron

Characters: Nick Carter, Charles Forrest, Paul Weimar, Richard Rowland, Betty, Rogers, Bradley

Listen for: The investigation into who switched the blank cartridge for a real bullet and whether the accidents are intentional sabotage or murder attempts.

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.