BONUS - Remembering Peggy Webber

Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives) - Mean Streets Podcasts

This bonus episode of Down These Mean Streets pays tribute to legendary radio actress Peggy Webber, who passed away just shy of her 101st bi

Key takeaways

• Peggy Webber was a prolific and versatile performer whose career spanned decades across radio, film, and television.

Main topics

• Peggy Webber's career in old-time radio

Notable quotes

"Crime is a sucker's road, and those who travel it wind up in the gutter of the prison of the grave."

Conclusion

This heartfelt tribute celebrates Peggy Webber's enduring impact on ra

Transcript preview

Speaker 7 (0:00) Get this and get it straight. Crime is a sucker's road, and those who travel it wind up in the gutter of the prison of the grave. ...have been changed to protect the innocent. Speaker 8 (0:18) The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective. The Adventures of the Saint, starring Vincent Price. Bob Bailey, in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Speaker 5 (0:55) Hello and welcome to a bonus episode of Down These Mean Streets. Before we get into the show, I want to apologize for my absence. I've been out of commission for a bit due to a gum graft. And side note, if you've never had one, they're no fun and I really can't recommend it. But as I was getting ready for a new episode, I saw that actress Peggy Weber passed away on August 15th. Now, you may not know her name, but if you're an old-time radio fan, you've enjoyed many of Peggy Webber's performances. During the golden age of radio, she was heard on thousands of shows, ranging from Broadway Is My Beat to Escape, The Life of Riley, and This Is Your FBI, just to name a very few. And many times, she played multiple parts in the same half-hour episode. If you're a Dragnet fan, you may know her best as Joe Friday's mother in several episodes of the series. She worked on screen as well, reuniting with Jack Webb for episodes of the Dragnet TV show. And she played Lady Macduff in Orson Welles' 1948 film adaptation of Macbeth. In addition to her performances, she was a patron saint for the golden age of radio, continuing to produce and act in new radio dramas and sharing stories and memories of her career. She passed away just a month shy of her 101st birthday, which is not a bad run at all. Today, I've picked out three of Peggy Webber's radio performances. Shows that display her talent and her versatility. First up is an episode of The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, where she plays a young woman in need of help who Holmes and Watson meet during their sojourn in a country village. It's The Adventure of the Tolling Bell from April 7, 1947. Next, she plays two roles in The Saint opposite Vincent Price. She's a woman who needs the saint's help to find her missing brother and a landlady who hates the police almost as much as she loves money. This one is called No Hiding Place and it aired on November 19, 1950. Finally, we'll hear her as Joe Friday's mother in The Big Speech. a Dragnet episode from April 19, 1951. I'll be back soon with more new episodes, but for now, let's remember the great Peggy Weber. Speaker 4 (4:06) Now, Speaker 8 (4:14) once again, it's time to keep that weekly appointment with our good friend and host, Dr. Watson. Speaker 1 (4:18) Good evening, Dr. Watson. Good evening, Mr. Bell. As usual, you're punctual to the minute. Draw up your chair and make yourself comfortable. Thank Speaker 8 (4:24) you. Speaker 1 (4:25) That's Speaker 4 (4:25) it. Speaker 8 (4:26) I see that you have the old black tin dispatch box out again, Dr. Watson. I deduced that you were going over your notes on tonight's case. Speaker 1 (4:33) Elementary, my dear boy. And among the records, I came across some notes of cases that I'd almost forgotten. The shocking death of Crosby, the banker. The Adelton tragedy. and some data on the unusual contents of the ancient British Barrow. Speaker 8 (4:48) Those stories sound pretty intriguing, Dr. Watson. Speaker 1 (4:50) I shall tell them to you some other evening, Mr. Bell. Tonight, I'm going to recount an adventure that took place in the heart of the beautiful English countryside. I call it The Adventure of the Tolling Bell. Well, that story began in the small country village of Carnforth. Holmes had recently brought to a successful conclusion the affair of the Barrow and Furnace. wheelchair murders. And we decided that a few days rest in nearby Carnforth would do us both good before returning to our arduous life in Baker Street. We were staying at a small but comfortable inn. Early in the morning of the third day, I remember, Holmes and I were in our bedroom waiting for those two essentials without which an English country gentleman could not start his day. The early morning cup of tea and a jug of hot water for shaving. As we sat there at the open window, a nearby church bell was tolling a funeral knell. Speaker 1 (5:48) There must be a funeral in the village, Holmes. An astonishing deduction, Speaker 6 (5:52) Watson. Speaker 1 (5:52) There's no need to make fun of her. Impressing sound, isn't it? Speaker 6 (5:55) I suppose so. Has it ever occurred to you, Watson, that the history of bells is full of romantic interest? Speaker 1 (6:01) I can't say it. Speaker 6 (6:02) I haven't thought much about it. Almost every historical event has been accompanied by the sound of bells. They summoned soldiers to arms as well as Christians to church. They sounded the alarm in fire to molten invasion. and many a bloody chapter in history has been rung in and out by doors. Speaker 1 (6:16) You seem to be a mind of information on the Speaker 6 (6:18) subject. Yes, Watson. It's a fascinating subject. Speaker 1 (6:21) Come in, come in. Good morning, my dear. Speaker 3 (6:25) Morning, gentlemen. I brought you tea and a shaving water. Mrs. Sickles said to sell you breakfast to be ready in half an hour. Speaker 6 (6:33) Splendid, Mary Ann. Oh, uh, Mary, the church bell is tolling a funeral mill. Do you know who's being buried? Speaker 3 (6:40) I do, sir. Speaker 1 (6:47) Little thing, I wonder what's the matter with her. I have no idea. Father or mother just died. Or a young man, yes, I bet that's it. She's a pretty girl. She'd obviously have been crying when she came in. Perhaps that's her fiancée they're burying now. Speaker 6 (7:03) Watson, you have the sentimental imagination of the true storyteller. But we've come here for a holiday. You must give your imagination a rest, too. So drink your tea, remove your whiskers, and we'll go downstairs and investigate those kippers. Speaker 3 (7:28) You like your kippers, gentlemen? Excellent, Speaker 6 (7:30) Mrs. Nichol. Excellent. They're eating better. Yes, indeed. By the way, Mrs. Nichol, we heard the funeral bell tolling earlier on. Do you know who was being buried? Speaker 3 (7:38) Yes, I do. Two souls were being buried. And one of them was a murderer. A Speaker 1 (7:43) murderer? Good Lord. In this peaceful village? What happened, Mrs. Nichol? Speaker 3 (7:48) The old Treadgold, the corn merchant, found out his wife had been gallivanting around with a young fellow from Bolton. Put her throat in and aligned himself. More tea. Speaker 1 (7:59) Thank you. Oh, jolly. A peaceful countryside is not as peaceful as it's made out to be, Holmes. Speaker 6 (8:05) A fact that I've frequently had occasion to point out to you, Watson. Has the morning post arrived yet, Mrs. Mickle? Speaker 3 (8:11) Here comes old Gilly up the path. In it now. I'll see if he's got anything for you. Speaker 6 (8:17) A murder? What are you making of it, Holmes? What is there to make of it, Watson? A jealous husband murders a faithless wife and then commits suicide. A tragic story, but a simple one. Speaker 1 (8:28) Top of the morning to you, gentlemen. Speaker 6 (8:30) Good morning, Gillian. Any letters for me today? Aye, Mr. Holmes. Two letters. One of them's got some newspaper clippings in it, I think. And you've got a postcard from a Mr. Lestrade. He wants you back in London bad, Speaker 1 (8:42) Mr. Holmes. Here you are. Pardon my soul, Gilly. You've been reading Mr. Holmes' private correspondence. Bless your heart, Dr. Watson. If I didn't read other people's correspondence, how would I know what's going on in the village? Speaker 6 (8:53) You were right, Gilly. It is newspaper clippings. By the way, you heard about the murder of Mrs. Treadgold, I suppose? Speaker 1 (8:59) Heard about it. I told the bell this morning at the funeral. Speaker 6 (9:03) You Speaker 1 (9:03) mean to say that you're the bell ringer as well as the postman? Bless your heart, yes, doctor. President of the Coral Society, too, as well as being on the Perry's Council. Speaker 6 (9:12) You're a busy man, Gillian. Speaker 1 (9:14) Yes, I am, sir. Take this afternoon now. I'm to ring those Speaker 6 (9:17) bells again. Speaker 1 (9:18) Not another funeral, surely? No, Speaker 6 (9:20) sir. A wedding this time. Oh, I'd be out of here. Young St. Perrin is marrying the Slater girl. Speaker 8 (9:24) And you might say I'm responsible for bringing them Speaker 6 (9:27) together. Got some of their letters mixed up, I did. They hooked each other up to exchange them, and they pressed over. Before you know what's happening, they're getting married. Speaker 1 (9:37) Regular Cupid, you might say, I am. Speaker 3 (9:39) Be off with you, Gilly. Other people want their letters. Mr. Holmes doesn't want his kippers spoiled with your idle chatter. Speaker 1 (9:45) All right, Mrs. Crabapples Speaker 8 (9:47) and Vinegar. One of these fine days you'll smile, and the world will Speaker 3 (9:52) come Speaker 1 (9:52) to an end. Speaker 3 (9:53) Good Speaker 8 (9:53) day, gentlemen. Speaker 3 (9:56) Talkative old busybody he is. Oh, Mr. Holmes. Mrs. Lackland's in the old. The poor old lady's most anxious to talk to you. Speaker 6 (10:06) Mrs. Lackland? Speaker 3 (10:07) She has the semester shop in the I street. Her only son ran away from home a few months back. I think that's what she wants to speak to you about. Oh, Speaker 1 (10:15) but my friend's here for a rest, Mrs. Mickle. Speaker 3 (10:18) I told her that, Doctor, that she won't go away without seeing Mr. Holmes. Speaker 6 (10:22) Oh, very well. Ask her to come in, please, Mrs. Mickle. Speaker 3 (10:25) Yes, Mr. Holmes. Speaker 6 (10:26) Oh, I do bother to see her, Holmes. Sounds like a trivial matter. The disappearance of an only son can never be a trivial matter. Well, Speaker 1 (10:33) I Speaker 6 (10:33) meant Speaker 1 (10:33) to Speaker 6 (10:33) rule for you, not for her. Speaker 3 (10:35) This is Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson. Thank you, Ellie. Good morning, Seth. Good Speaker 6 (10:41) morning. Good morning. Please sit down, Mrs. Latham. That's it. Now, what's the trouble? Speaker 3 (10:48) It's Tom, sir. My only son. He left me four months ago and I've not seen a hair in the right of him since. Speaker 6 (10:55) You've had no message from him since he left? Speaker 3 (10:58) Not one word I'm fair out of Speaker 1 (11:00) my mind, sir. Have you any idea of his reason for leaving the village, Mrs. Acton? None, sir. Speaker 3 (11:05) He was a good boy and he worked hard and he didn't fool around with those flippity-jip girls in the village. I think he's met with foul play, gentlemen. And I want you to find out about him for me, Mr. Holmes. Others say in the village that you're the greatest detective in England. Speaker 6 (11:25) Mrs. Latham, I'd be glad to help you, but you give me no clues to work with. I'm afraid that I can't... Speaker 1 (11:31) If it's Speaker 6 (11:31) money Speaker 3 (11:31) you want, I've got 20 pounds in me postal savings. It's all yours if you can bring my Tommy home to me. But at least tell me he's safe. Speaker 6 (11:39) Mrs. Lackland, I wouldn't dream of accepting a fee. However, I shall give your problem some thought. If I arrive at any conclusions, I'll get in touch with you at once. Speaker 3 (11:49) God bless you, Mr. Holmes. Good morning to you, sir. Speaker 6 (11:54) Good day. Good Speaker 3 (11:54) morning, Mrs. Speaker 1 (11:55) Lackland. Poor old Speaker 3 (11:57) thing. I don't Speaker 6 (11:59) see how you can help her, Holmes. Nor do I, at the moment. But a young man who has grown up in a small village like this may have led a life that his mother is totally unaware of. You said that you had to work on one of your stories today, wasn't you? Yes, I had a Speaker 1 (12:12) letter from the editor of the Strand magazine yesterday requesting a manuscript as soon as possible. Speaker 6 (12:17) Splendid. Then you stay at the inn and work on your latest masterpiece while I scour the village to see what may be found out about the missing young man. Speaker 1 (12:41) I was beginning Speaker 6 (12:42) to think you'd got lost. Hello, Watson. I trust you had a profitable session with pen and paper. Well, I've done about half Speaker 1 (12:48) a chapter. I would have Speaker 6 (12:49) done more Speaker 1 (12:50) if it hadn't been for those little fertile Speaker 6 (12:51) bells. The wedding ceremony that the word of Gilly told us about this morning. Speaker 1 (12:56) Oh, I'm tired. Well, what did you find out Speaker 6 (12:58) about Mrs. Lector and his son? Among other things, that he had a secret love life unknown to his mother. And the object of his affections was none other than the maid who brought us our tea this morning. Mary? Did you talk to Speaker 1 (13:10) her? Speaker 6 (13:10) No, it's a half day off and I was unable to find her. However, I shall question her when she brings our tea tomorrow morning. Speaker 1 (13:30) Come in, Mary. Oh, Mrs. Mickle. Speaker 3 (13:33) Good morning, gentlemen. Here's your tea and shaving water. Speaker 6 (13:37) Where's Mary this morning? Speaker 3 (13:39) She didn't come to work. Must be elegant. Unreliable girl. And no better than she ought to be, if you ask me. It's no job for me to be carrying tea and hot water upstairs. I Speaker 6 (13:49) hear the village bell tolling for another funeral. Does Carnforth have a burial every morning? I really don't see how the population can run to it. Speaker 3 (13:58) It's another suicide, sir. Speaker 1 (14:00) Another suicide? Good Lord. Speaker 3 (14:03) Old John Larrabee, the baker. He was expecting some money from his son in Australia. It never came. And they foreclosed on his shop. And he hanged himself. Will you be wanting a couple of boiled eggs to your breakfast, gentlemen? No, no, Speaker 1 (14:15) I haven't much of an appetite, thank you very much. Speaker 3 (14:17) Yes, sir. Speaker 1 (14:20) That woman seems absolutely heartless. She almost smacks her lips when she tells us about these tragedies. Yes, Watson, I noticed it. Speaker 6 (14:28) This peaceful village is beginning to seem strangely sinister to me. And since you have no appetite for breakfast, perhaps you'll join me in a little excursion as soon as you're dressed. Of course. Where are we going? To see the maid, Mary. I'm anxious to talk to her before another funeral bell begins to toll. Speaker 1 (14:57) This must be the cottage home. I said it was the one with Hatsako over the gate. Yes, and there's Mary Speaker 6 (15:02) sitting on the porch. She's gone up. She's coming up the path to meet us. Good morning, Mary. I'm sorry you are not feeling well. Speaker 3 (15:09) Mr. Holmes, Dr. Watson. Why have you come here? Don't ask about my health. What's your servant girl matter to gentlemen, not you? Oh, Speaker 1 (15:19) you misjudge Speaker 6 (15:20) us, my dear. I assure you that we... No, Watson. Let's be honest and admit we didn't come here because of our concern for Mary's health. Speaker 3 (15:26) Then why did you come here, sir? Speaker 6 (15:28) Mrs. Lackland asked me to try and find her son, Tom. Speaker 3 (15:32) Yes, Speaker 6 (15:33) Tom Lackland. I thought you might be able to help me, Mary. I Speaker 3 (15:37) could help you, Mr. Holmes. I'd be helping myself. Speaker 3 (15:41) Here, come and get it. I'll take care of it for you. Speaker 3 (15:45) Kenny, is there a letter for me today? Speaker 1 (15:47) No, lass. There's nothing for you again. Speaker 3 (15:49) There must be, Kenny. There must be there. Speaker 8 (15:51) No, lass. If the letter would come, I'd bring it to you as Speaker 6 (15:54) fast as my legs would carry me. No, lass. Morning, Mr. Holmes. Dr. Watson. Left some letters at the inn for you, Doctor. You had a letter from a Speaker 8 (16:04) lady. Speaker 1 (16:05) Oh, how did I know it was from a lady? Speaker 8 (16:07) Reeked with the smell of violets, it did. And it was written in green ink on grey paper, sir. Speaker 6 (16:12) Amazing deduction. That sounds like your young friend from Daly's, Watson. Oh, how did you know? Speaker 1 (16:16) Well, I mean, I Speaker 6 (16:17) don't have a young friend from Daly's, Watson, quite. Gilly, you told another funeral bell to date in June. Speaker 8 (16:23) Aye, sir. And the tragic thing it was. Fiat, you might call it, hanged himself because he didn't get money from his son in Australia. Found him, I tell you. Right in the post. The letter he was waiting for. The letter that had saved his life. Speaker 1 (16:45) Great. God, what a ghastly piece of iron. Speaker 8 (16:47) That it was, sir. That it was. Speaker 1 (16:50) Well, gentlemen, I'll be on my way. Good day. Oh, Speaker 3 (16:59) never, Ethan. Tom, never. He's a shame. That's why he deserted me. Speaker 6 (17:07) Deserted you, Mary? You speak almost as if you were his wife. Speaker 3 (17:11) I am his wife. Speaker 6 (17:13) What? Speaker 3 (17:14) We were married secretly and lodged a deal five months ago come Tuesday. Speaker 6 (17:18) And he never told his mother? Speaker 3 (17:20) He Speaker 6 (17:20) was Speaker 3 (17:20) afraid to. She thought I was beneath him. Tom said he'd go away and get a good job and then return here and fetch me back with him. He went away all right, but he never came back or sent me away. Speaker 6 (17:35) When he left, did he give no clues to his destination? No hint of any kind, Mary? Speaker 3 (17:41) Well... He did once say, Mary, I'm going to clear out to this puddle and make my fortune, even if I have to bury it. And then he said, bury me fortune? That's a joke, isn't it? I don't know what he meant, Bart. Speaker 6 (17:57) I think I do, Mary. Watson, we're taking a short train journey as soon as possible. Oh, where are we going, may I ask? We're going to the town of Berry in search of this young lady's husband. Speaker 3 (18:07) What makes you think Tom might be in Berry, Mr. Holmes? Speaker 6 (18:09) Because the famous fortune cotton mills are in Berry. It would seem possible that when your husband joked of burying his fortune, he was talking of going to the mills there. Speaker 3 (18:19) Whatever it is, God, he won't be coming back to me. I know that. Speaker 1 (18:25) Now, now, now, now. Don't talk like that, my dear. Remember, you have friends. Mrs. Lackland. Much longer term's going to be. Leaves me standing outside the factory gates if I were blasted coaching. Ah, there he is. There he is. Holmes! Holmes! Speaker 6 (18:54) Hello, Watson. Permit me to introduce you to Mr. Tom Lackland. Tom, this is Dr. Watson. How do you do, Dr. Watson? How Speaker 1 (19:02) do you do? Never mind how I do, young fellow, my lad. How do you do? Your behavior's been absolutely shocking. Shocking? Now, what are you talking Speaker 6 (19:13) about? Speaker 1 (19:13) Leaving your dear old mother and deserting your pretty little bride because you're ashamed of her. You're a scoundrel, sir. You deserve a good horse whipping, and I have a good mind to give it to you. Speaker 6 (19:20) I don't know what you're talking about, Dr. Watson, but I don't like the words you use. And if it's violence you want, I don't mind telling you I'm amateur heavyweight champion of the county. You are? Oh, well, there's no need to come against your boss. No, let's waste time on being acrimonious, Watson. Let's get back to the station as fast as we can. The return of the particle is long overdue. We must give them every opportunity to kill the fatted calf. Hi, there's Mary's house. I'm dying to see her. And after this reunion, Tom, I suggest that you both go over and see your mother. I'm sure she'll forgive you. Yes, Mr. Holmes, I'll do that. Perhaps Speaker 1 (20:02) we should warn her. Your sudden appearance may be something of a shock. Speaker 6 (20:05) I think it's a shock that Mary can handle. The Speaker 4 (20:13) door's locked. Speaker 1 (20:14) Knock again. If you don't mind, she's asleep. Speaker 1 (20:19) Great heavens! That was a revolver shot. Come on, Watson. Help me Speaker 6 (20:22) break in the door. Speaker 4 (20:36) place to break off your story. You left me right on the edge of a cliff. Had the young girl shot herself? She'd Speaker 1 (20:42) shot at herself, Mr. Bell, but fortunately a last-minute lack of courage had made her shot go wild. Holmes and I and the young bridegroom burst into the house and wrested the smoking revolver from her hand. I must confess that the union between the two young lovers was a touching sight. In fact, I felt considerably older than I was as Holmes and I stood there resting to... Tom reassured her. Speaker 8 (21:07) Mary, darling, it's all right. I'm here. Speaker 1 (21:11) Oh, Tom, Speaker 3 (21:12) you are. You did come to never want myself. Oh, Speaker 7 (21:19) there, there, Mary. Speaker 6 (21:21) Everything's going to be all right now. It Speaker 3 (21:23) will be, Tom. It's so tough. Speaker 6 (21:27) And now, Tom, I think the time has come to reassure Mary that you did write to her. Of course I did, Mary, darling. And I sent you money and told you that I'd be back here to take you