Charles Walsh and Bob Wells: Richard Diamond, Private Detective (July 9, 1949)

“Charles Walsh and Bob Wells” is an episode of Richard Diamond, Private Detective, the old-time radio show, first broadcast July 9, 1949. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

Listen to Richard Diamond, Private Detective free, live around the clock: every episode, in the order it first aired. No sign-up.

What happens

Two escaped convicts from Sing Sing—Charles Walsh and Bob Wells—break out of prison with murderous intentions. Walsh has sworn to kill Richard Diamond, the detective who sent him up for life, and Wells has his own vendetta. The fugitives kidnap Helen Asher to use as bait to lure Diamond into a trap where they can exact their revenge.

New York City, including Diamond's office on Broadway, police precinct, a delicatessen on 24th Street, and various locations around the city.

Characters: Richard Diamond, Charles Walsh, Bob Wells, Lieutenant Levinson, Helen Asher, Francis, Otis, Wilbur Troy

Listen for: The clever fire alarm scheme to rescue Helen without alerting the escaped convicts, and the tense confrontation between Diamond and the fugitives.

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.