The Case of the Chemical Chickens: Nick Carter, Master Detective (April 13, 1947)

“The Case of the Chemical Chickens” is an episode of Nick Carter, Master Detective, the old-time radio show, first broadcast April 13, 1947. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Poisoned eggs arrive at a New York grocery store, containing traces of nitroglycerin. Nick Carter traces the tainted eggs to a farm near Brickton, where he discovers criminals are operating an illegal explosives factory. The crooks have been using the area to manufacture dynamite and counterfeit money, and the nitroglycerin accidentally seeped into the chicken's water supply. When Nick's assistant Waldo is captured, Nick must navigate a deadly trap set by the criminals while also dealing with a hostile local sheriff.

New York City and the town of Brickton, including a grocery store, detective office, and an illegal explosives factory on a farm

Characters: Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Waldo McGlinn, Sheriff Moss Stickney, Janet Steele, Eddie Tyler, Bindel, Farmer Wilson

Listen for: The clever deduction about dust particles revealing Tyler's location, Nick's exposure of the fake health inspector, and the final confrontation at the white building where the criminals set a trap

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.