Missing-Harold Ascort: Nick Carter, Master Detective (February 12, 1944)

“Missing-Harold Ascort” is an episode of Nick Carter, Master Detective, the old-time radio show, first broadcast February 12, 1944. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Detective Nick Carter is called to the home of Mrs. Ascort, whose son Harold has been kidnapped. A ransom note demands they not call the police. Carter examines the note and traces the paper to a hotel, where he finds a suspicious signature in the register belonging to a man named James Scannott. The description matches Jack Vincent, a forger and con man whom Carter sent to prison three years ago—and who was recently released.

A hotel and Grady's Bar in the city

Characters: Nick Carter, Patsy Boone, Mrs. Ascort, Cubby, Clerk, Jack Vincent, Bill

Listen for: The investigation of a kidnapping through clues hidden in the ransom note's paper and handwriting, leading to the identification of a dangerous criminal.

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.