The Saint: Marvin Hickerson, Private Eye (EP5071)

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas

In this episode of The Saint, Simon Templar is drawn into a web of deception involving a supposed murder and a high-stakes gambling scam. Af

Key takeaways

Marvin Hickerson claims to have killed Honest Jack Dorgan during a chaotic betting incident.
The Saint discovers the 'murder' scene at the Croydon hotel contains only fake blood and blank cartridges.
Colonel Costes uses fixed horse racing results to lure large-scale bettors into losing significant sums.
The gambling scheme relies on providing 'sure' information to entice victims like Simon Templar.
Host Adam Graham highlights how the episode utilizes classic 1950s crime tropes such as the 'fake shooting' racket.

Main topics

Fixed horse racing scams
The Saint radio adventures
Marvin Hickerson's disappearance

Notable quotes

I want you to hug me with your and eyes as if I was the only woman in the entire world.

Conclusion

A masterful example of how stylistic execution can elevate standard de

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:06) © BF-WATCH TV 2021 Speaker 1 (0:28) Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of The Saint. But first, I want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show. On a one-time basis, support.greatdetectives.net and become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetectives.net. Now, from December 3rd, 1950, here is Marvin Hickerson, Private Eye. Speaker 7 (1:38) The Adventures of the Saint, starring Vincent Price. Speaker 7 (1:52) The Saint, based on characters created by Leslie Charteris and known to millions from books, magazines, and motion pictures. The Robin Hood of modern crime now comes transcribed to radio, starring Hollywood's brilliant and talented actor Vincent Price as The Saint. Speaker 5 (2:10) Will there be anything for dessert, Mr. Templer? No, I think not. Carl, just some more coffee, please. Certainly, Mr. Templer. Thank you. Speaker 2 (2:18) Excuse me. Do you mind if I sit down here with you? Why, I'd Speaker 5 (2:21) be happy if you... Oh, thank you. Speaker 2 (2:23) I hope you realize I wouldn't approach a perfect stranger if it wasn't a matter of life or death. Speaker 5 (2:27) Oh, I'm sure you... And it is a Speaker 2 (2:28) matter of life or death. That's why I had to sit down with the handsomest man in the room. You. Well, Speaker 5 (2:34) I... But you Speaker 2 (2:34) certainly aren't much of a conversationalist. Speaker 5 (2:36) Well, happily, you fill the gap. Now, how may I be of service in this matter of life or death? Speaker 2 (2:42) Do you think you could gaze into my eyes as if I was the only woman in the entire world? But don't make it anything personal. Speaker 5 (2:48) Well, I consider it a thespic challenge. Speaker 2 (2:50) I want you to hug me with your eyes while I spurn you proudly. Speaker 5 (2:54) La belle dame sans merci. Well, now, how's this for an ardent yet humble gaze? Speaker 2 (3:01) Not now. He's not watching. Speaker 5 (3:02) Sorry, I didn't mean to be fresh. Who's he? Speaker 2 (3:06) Marvin. He's over there with that woman. He's looking out of the way I want you to look at me. Speaker 5 (3:12) This I shall have to see. Speaker 2 (3:14) Don't turn around. They're leaving. They'll see you. Speaker 5 (3:17) Well, shall I start hugging you now? I'm sure it will be good for the muscles in my eyes. Yes, Speaker 2 (3:22) hurry up. Speaker 5 (3:23) I'm hugging. Speaker 2 (3:24) Stop. Speaker 5 (3:25) Why? Speaker 2 (3:26) He never even noticed me. He walked right on out. Oh, man. Here Speaker 4 (3:31) you are, Mr. Templer. Speaker 5 (3:32) Oh, I'm sorry, Carl. Would you mind changing that coffee to a double brandy? Right away, sir. Speaker 2 (3:36) But I never drink. Speaker 5 (3:37) Not for you, dear. Me. Speaker 2 (3:39) Oh. Did he say Mr. Templer? Not Simon Templer. Speaker 5 (3:44) Simon Templer. Speaker 2 (3:44) The saint? Speaker 5 (3:45) The Speaker 2 (3:45) Robin Hood of modern crime? Speaker 5 (3:47) Mm-hmm. Speaker 2 (3:48) Fate has led you to me. Speaker 5 (3:50) I must have a word with fate. And before fate entangles us further, what's your name? Speaker 2 (3:55) Alice. Alice Parks. But you can call me Alice. Speaker 5 (3:59) Thank you, Alice. Could you give me an explanation of this in a few thousand well-chosen words? Speaker 2 (4:05) You mean to say you haven't figured it out? And you, a perfectly marvelous detective. Well, Speaker 5 (4:09) I'm a little slow, Alice. A heavy meal. Speaker 2 (4:12) Well, that was Marvin. Marvin Hickerson. We were engaged, practically. Speaker 5 (4:17) And? Speaker 2 (4:17) And then he came to the city. He's a scientific farmer, but he sold his farm. Speaker 5 (4:21) For how much, may I Speaker 2 (4:22) ask? Fifty thousand dollars. How Speaker 5 (4:24) scientific can you get? He Speaker 2 (4:26) said he had to come here to pursue his new vocation. To the city, I mean. Speaker 5 (4:29) And what is his new vocation? Speaker 2 (4:32) He's a private eye. Well, Speaker 5 (4:34) I guess there's always room for one more. Speaker 2 (4:36) You do see, don't you? Speaker 5 (4:37) Yes, of course. See what? Speaker 2 (4:38) How horrible the whole thing is. Marvin has met this woman. And I found out he's drawn out his whole $50,000 out of the bank this morning. And, well, he's carrying it around with him. Now, nobody will help me. I don't know what to do. Speaker 5 (4:52) Alice, tell me, are you worried about Marvin or are you worried about the money? Speaker 2 (4:56) Oh, I'm only worried about Marvin, Mr. Templer. He's an awful dope. But I love him. Speaker 5 (5:01) I see. Speaker 2 (5:02) If you would go to him and tell him, well, the facts. Speaker 5 (5:05) The facts? Speaker 2 (5:06) You know, about life. Speaker 5 (5:08) Well, frankly, I'm not feeling very fatherly at the moment, but I'll try. Speaker 2 (5:13) You will? You really will? You swear it by something sacred? I Speaker 5 (5:17) swear it by something sacred. Speaker 2 (5:18) Oh, Mr. Templer, you're the nicest detective a girl ever had for a detective. Come Speaker 4 (5:35) in. Speaker 5 (5:37) Mr. Hickerson? Speaker 4 (5:38) Marvin Hickerson, private eye. Come in, come in. Oh, Speaker 5 (5:40) thank you. Speaker 4 (5:42) Now, what's your problem, Mr... Speaker 5 (5:43) Templer. I wanted to talk to you about a girl, Marvin. A girl? You were in your apartment alone, and then she walked in. Well, not exactly. It was more in Speaker 2 (5:54) the Speaker 5 (5:54) nature Speaker 2 (5:54) of... Speaker 5 (5:54) The mink around Speaker 4 (5:55) her shoulders meant money, and her smoldering eyes meant trouble. Marvin, Speaker 2 (5:59) I... Speaker 4 (5:59) A tiny pulse started to beat in your temple as she swayed closer. And it became a tom-tom as she threw herself into your arms, murmuring words of passion, of fear, of... Marvin, get a grip on yourself. No girl? Yes, there is Speaker 5 (6:14) a girl, Marvin, but you are not Sam Spade. Speaker 4 (6:16) I noticed, huh? Speaker 5 (6:17) Well, Speaker 4 (6:18) we've all got to start somewhere. Speaker 5 (6:19) True. Speaker 4 (6:20) And I can't take your case anyway. I'm involved in a big deal. Marvin, Speaker 5 (6:25) Alice is worried about you. Speaker 4 (6:27) Alice? Speaker 5 (6:28) Mr. Speaker 4 (6:29) Templer, Alice Parks has got to learn that I am not a child. I'm a... A man? I'll accept that. And the sooner she stops interfering in my affairs, the better it'll be for everybody. Just because I now happen to be going around with a... A woman? Definitely. A woman who is going to put me in way of making a great deal of money and... Speaker 7 (6:50) Hello, Marvin. How are you? Speaker 4 (6:52) Oh, uh, hello, Mr. Dorgan. Who's your friend, Marvin? Uh, this is Mr. Templer. Mr. Templer, this is Mr. Dorgan. Honest Jack Dorgan. He trains horses. He's from Kentucky. Speaker 7 (7:04) Kentucky, yeah. Speaker 5 (7:04) Glad to meet you, Mr. Dorgan. So you're from the bluegrass country. Speaker 4 (7:08) Huh? Speaker 5 (7:09) The bluegrass country, the home of fast horses and beautiful women. Speaker 7 (7:13) Where's that? Speaker 5 (7:14) Kentucky. Speaker 6 (7:15) Oh, Speaker 7 (7:15) oh, yeah, yeah, sure. Come on, Marvin. Sure, Mr. Dorgan. Would you excuse us? We've Speaker 5 (7:20) got a very important appointment. And Marvin has also got $50,000. Who is this guy, Marvin? He's got nose Speaker 7 (7:27) trouble. Speaker 4 (7:28) Mr. Templer, if Alice Parks thinks I need someone to protect me, she's mistaken. My experience as a private investigator has made me a pretty shrewd judge of character. And my faith in the integrity of Honest Jack Dorgan is unfounded. Thank you, Marvin Hickerson. Right. Come on, Marvin. The Colonel and Carly are waiting. Speaker 7 (7:47) So long, friend. Speaker 5 (7:48) So long, Honest Jack. See you Speaker 7 (7:50) at Churchill Down Speaker 5 (7:51) sometime. Speaker 7 (7:51) Where's that? Speaker 5 (7:52) Why, in your old home state, Kentucky. Oh, Kentucky. Kentucky. Speaker 2 (8:06) I'm worried about Marvin. Why doesn't he come? I'm Speaker 5 (8:09) a little worried about him myself, Alice. I didn't have quite the same faith in Honest Jack as Marvin did. And Speaker 2 (8:15) this penthouse. Marvin never had expensive taste, never in his life. And her picture on the piano. Speaker 5 (8:22) All my love, Marvie, honey. You're Coralie. She's rather sultry-looking, isn't she? Speaker 2 (8:30) Oh, I suppose she's pretty. If you happen to care for that type. Speaker 5 (8:33) Who doesn't? Speaker 2 (8:34) Oh, you men are all alike. Speaker 5 (8:35) It's a convenient arrangement. Speaker 2 (8:37) Oh, he's just an absolute... an absolute... Speaker 5 (8:40) Beast. Speaker 2 (8:41) Don't you dare call Marvin a beast. Why doesn't he come, Mr. Templer? Speaker 5 (8:45) I think I heard the elevator, Alice. That may be... Speaker 2 (8:49) Marvin! Speaker 4 (8:49) Hello, Speaker 2 (8:50) Alice. Speaker 5 (8:50) You better let me have Speaker 4