Kidnapped for Sale, Part 1: Nick Carter, Master Detective (April 17, 1944)

“Kidnapped for Sale, Part 1” is an episode of Nick Carter, Master Detective, the old-time radio show, first broadcast April 17, 1944. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

When Mary Anders leaves her eight-month-old baby with a seemingly respectable couple recommended by a doctor while she travels to Texas to care for her ill husband, she returns to find the doctor denies ever knowing her and the couple has disappeared. Nick Carter discovers that Mrs. Anders has fallen victim to a criminal ring that steals babies from desperate mothers and sells them to eager adoptive parents.

A city with nursing homes, office buildings, and the Stanley Building; the story begins in Nick Carter's office and moves to various locations around town.

Characters: Nick Carter, Patsy Bower, Mary Anders, Dr. Arnold, Mr. Gilbert, Mrs. Gilbert

Listen for: The chilling details of how criminals pose as respectable medical professionals to gain the trust of vulnerable mothers, and Nick Carter's growing suspicion that he recognizes the criminal mastermind from somewhere in his past.

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.