Sinister Siren Caper: The Adventures of Sam Spade (March 16, 1951)

“Sinister Siren Caper” is an episode of The Adventures of Sam Spade, the old-time radio show, first broadcast March 16, 1951. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

When a mysterious man warns wealthy gentleman Donald Stryker that a red-haired woman poses a mortal threat, Stryker hires Sam Spade to investigate. As Spade begins to look into the matter, he discovers a series of murders connected to a phone book and the names of six men, all with similar surnames. The detective uncovers a scheme involving escaped convict Arty the actor, hidden money in safe deposit boxes, and a dangerous woman at its center.

San Francisco, including various apartments, offices, hotels, streets, and a bar

Characters: Sam Spade, Donald Stryker, George P. Strutt, The red-haired woman, Ardi the actor, Harvey J. Strudgerton, Mrs. Strudgerton, Joe Stromm

Listen for: Spade's investigation unfolding through interviews and tailing suspects; the discovery of multiple murders connected to six names in a phone book; the revelation of a scheme involving hidden money and an escaped convict; the twist that the red-haired woman is actually Mrs. Strudgerton in disguise.

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.