Dog Bed Caper: The Adventures of Sam Spade (December 1, 1950)

“Dog Bed Caper” is an episode of The Adventures of Sam Spade, the old-time radio show, first broadcast December 1, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Sam Spade is hired by investment firm Cameron Incorporated to investigate I.J. Barco, a wealthy dog bed manufacturer, suspecting he may be channeling money to racketeers. The investigation leads Spade to discover that Barco has invested money in a fake television company fronting for a gambling syndicate, with young Gregory Cameron's involvement. When Spade arrives at Adela Cameron's house, he finds Barco shot dead on her living room floor.

San Francisco, including Cameron Incorporated offices, Barco's dog bed factory, Ridgewood Place, and various city locations including the railroad station.

Characters: Sam Spade, Effie Perrine, Major Briggs, Adela Cameron, Gregory Cameron, I.J. Barco, Celeste

Listen for: Sam's dry narration and exchanges with his secretary Effie; the reveal of Barco's connection to a gambling scheme; the discovery of who pulled the trigger and why.

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.