Vaphio Cup Caper: The Adventures of Sam Spade (August 22, 1948)

“Vaphio Cup Caper” is an episode of The Adventures of Sam Spade, the old-time radio show, first broadcast August 22, 1948. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Sam Spade is hired by Chester A. Brody, an importer and exporter, to deliver a priceless ancient Greek Vaphio Cup to a mysterious collector via train. The package is stolen during the journey by a tall, sandy-haired man who overpowers Spade with a sap. When Spade returns to report the theft, he discovers that Brody has been murdered, and a flattened golden cup is found in the waste basket.

San Francisco and a train between San Francisco and San Jose, 1948

Characters: Sam Spade, Chester A. Brody, Dimitri Theophilus, Mrs. Inid Awfulist Brody, The sandy-haired thief

Listen for: The vivid description of the ancient Vaphio Cup's artistry and historical significance; the clever discussion of how to outsmart a would-be thief by choosing transportation methods; the violent confrontation on the train.

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.