The Pelicans Roost: The Adventures of Philip Marlowe (June 28, 1950)

“The Pelicans Roost” is an episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, the old-time radio show, first broadcast June 28, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Lynn Russell, a beautiful model, to protect her from Ward Erling, a man obsessed with her who was supposedly injured in a car accident three months ago. When Marlowe arrives at a nightclub called the Four Bell Jump to search for Erling, he discovers the body of Howdy Bub Freeman, the club's drummer, killed by an ice pick. As Marlowe investigates the connections between Freeman, Erling, Lynn, and others, the case leads him to a desolate fishing pier called the Pelican's Roost, where secrets of jealousy and planned revenge come to light.

Los Angeles, including Wilshire Boulevard, a beauty salon, a nightclub called the Four Bell Jump, a marina, and a fishing pier known as the Pelican's Roost in Santa Monica.

Characters: Philip Marlowe, Lynn Russell, Ward Erling, Palmer Sloan, Howdy Bub Freeman, Maxine Majest, Manny Leger, Scotty (Elvin Spoon)

Listen for: The unfolding mystery of who killed Howdy Bub Freeman and why; the revelation of Maxine's obsessive love for Ward Erling and her jealousy of Lynn Russell; Marlowe's discovery that appearances can be deceiving, particularly regarding the mascara case and hair color; the tragic confrontation on the foggy pier at the episode's climax.

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.