Diamond in the Rough: Richard Diamond, Private Detective (May 1, 1949)

“Diamond in the Rough” is an episode of Richard Diamond, Private Detective, the old-time radio show, first broadcast May 1, 1949. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Richard Diamond, a private detective, is beaten up by two thugs and offered $1,000 to investigate whether a man was actually killed. The chairman of the parole board claims his son Roger may have been framed into committing murder by associates of a convict named John Alter, who wants early release. Diamond must determine if the killing was real or staged to blackmail the parole board chairman into freeing Alter.

New York City, including Diamond's office, a police precinct, and various city locations; references to a prior incident in Florida.

Characters: Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Blevinson (Walt), Otis, The parole board chairman, Roger (the chairman's son), Lenore Brown, John Alter, Ziggy

Listen for: The humorous banter between Diamond and the police detectives; the explanation of the blackmail scheme involving the parole board; Diamond's investigation into whether the murder was real or faked.

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.