Rory Malone: Pat Novak, for Hire (March 20, 1949)

“Rory Malone” is an episode of Pat Novak, for Hire, the old-time radio show, first broadcast March 20, 1949. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Pat Novak is hired by Hans Neumeier, manager of lightweight fighter Rory Malone, to watch over his boxer before a championship fight tonight against George Zarrick. But before the fight, someone smashes Rory's hand, and Hans is mysteriously murdered in the hospital, leaving Pat to untangle a web of gambling, fixed fights, and dangerous connections.

San Francisco waterfront and arena, 1949

Characters: Pat Novak, Hans Neumeier, Rory Malone, Con Regan, Joe Slagle, Inspector Helman, Kitty, Jocko Matigan

Listen for: The clever double-cross of a rigged fight, the surprising knockout despite a smashed hand, and the tangled romantic entanglements that complicate everyone's motives.

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.