Cavalcade Of America and Voyage Of The Scarlet Queen

The Relic Radio Show (old time radio)

This episode of The Relic Radio Show presents two classic old-time radio dramas from the mid-20th century. The first segment, 'Algerian Adve

Key takeaways

• Mordecai Noah uses diplomatic gifts like music boxes to navigate tensions between the Bay of Algiers and Tunis.
• The DuPont Company sponsors Cavalcade of America, promoting their 'better things for better living through chemistry' slogan.

Main topics

• War of 1812 diplomacy
• Maritime adventure stories

Notable quotes

Every state pray freely on our ship.

Conclusion

A nostalgic collection of vintage radio storytelling that blends histo

Transcript preview

Speaker 6 (0:05) This Speaker 5 (0:11) is the Relic Radio Show, old-time radio entertainment still standing the test of time from relicradio.com. Speaker 5 (0:21) This is the Relic Radio Show, your weekly hour of old-time radio drama, every Tuesday at relicradio.com. If you'd like to help support this and all of the Relic Radio Shows, visit donate.relicradio.com or click on that support link in the show notes. It'll take you there. Thanks to those who have helped out. Thanks for joining me this week. We'll begin with the Cavalcade of America this time. We'll hear their story from June 17, 1946, titled Algerian Adventure. After that, it's The Voyage of the Scarlet Queen and Rocky III and the Dead Man's Chest. That story aired February 11, 1948. George Speaker 1 (1:04) Murphy in Algerian Adventure on the Cavalcade of America, sponsored by the DuPont Company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. But first, here is Ted Pearson. Good grooming consists of a lot of little things. It may be the way women apply their makeup, or the fastidious attention men give their necktie, or the shine on their shoes. The minor things, maybe, but important. Another important aid to good grooming is... These plastic combs are among the DuPont Company's better things for better living, through chemistry. DuPont Company presents Algerian Adventure. A story of high intrigue against the background of the War of 1812. Starring George Murthy as Mordecai Noah on the cavalcade of America. Every state pray freely on our ship. It is then that President Madison calls to the White House a young man named Mordecai Noah. Sit down, Mr. Noah. Speaker 3 (3:24) Thank you, Mr. President. Speaker 1 (3:26) I've called you because I understand from your colleagues in the statement that you know Arabic. Yes, Mr. President. Speaker 3 (3:30) Also, you know something of the Arab people. Speaker 1 (3:33) I've... Speaker 1 (3:37) Your country needs you. I'm sending you on a mission that will be very dangerous. Speaker 3 (3:42) What is it, sir? Go Speaker 1 (3:43) as a consul to Tunis. A consul? Mr. President, I don't... Just a moment, Mr. Noah. I don't need to tell you of our desperate plight in that part of the world. In Algiers, six American sailors lie in prison. They appoint a consul in Algiers because his life wouldn't be safe. And in Tunis? I don't know, Mr. Noah. The way of Tunis is unfriendly. How unfriendly, we don't know. But no American ship has dared dock there for many months. We have a consular office there, but I don't even know how you'll get to Tunis. But somehow you must reach there, and when you do, if you from Tunis can do anything in your power to bring about the release of those men imprisoned in nearby Algiers, your country will be eternally grateful. Is it dangerous and all... Speaker 3 (4:52) You finally arrived in Tunis. You're no gladder than I am, Mr. Farrell. It's taken me months. We'll reach the consulate in just a moment. We're just beyond that park here. You know, it's a very nice-looking town. I hardly think of that anymore. Really, you don't know what a terrifying feeling it is to be here in Tunis, completely cut off. Mr. Noah, do you realize that we're absolutely... Yes, I'm afraid I do. Now, Mr. Noah, when we come to a stop at the consulate, I'll take these two suitcases of yours, and if you'll take that box, then we can make a dash for it. Wait a minute, make a dash for it? Yes, sir. Outside the building, there's generally a small crowd collected, and they amuse themselves thinking up new insults. Oh. Oh, yes, I can see them. There are quite a few people there now. Yes, they shout threats and sometimes they throw things. Why? Because they know we're losing the war. Why, Mr. Noah, if we get one more report of an American naval reverse, our lives won't be safe. Oh. Their contempt grows with every defeat. Speaker 7 (5:49) All right. Speaker 3 (5:50) Here we are. Now, get ready, Mr. Noah. Mr. Farrell, really, I'm sure it would be better to... I've Speaker 7 (5:55) got Speaker 3 (5:55) the releases. Are you ready? Speaker 7 (6:00) Oh, my goodness. Speaker 3 (6:04) Just a minute, Mr. Farrell. You know, that's a very interesting tree there. Very interesting specimen. How beautifully it grows here. Mr. North, please, this way. Come, hurry. Vale de la Jaya. Speaker 8 (6:18) Come, American. Speaker 3 (6:24) Mr. Knopf, please, come inside. Just a moment, Mr. Farrell, just a moment. Get ready to move fast when I tell you. This is really a wonderful specimen of a type of tree that is particularly esteemed by the Arabs. I've just been discussing it with this gentleman. Very glad to find it growing in front of the consulate. Shall we go in now? All right, quick, inside. Gracious. You took an awful chance. Yes, I know. That man had a knife on his hands. I know he did. I saw it. But good heavens, Ben, weren't you scared? Of course I was. Where do you think I am? We have to adopt a basic policy about things like this. What do you mean? I'm trembling all over. I'm a little shaky myself. Sit down. Yes, sir. By the way, this will be your office. This is our policy. I as consul and you as consular secretary must never show fear in front of these people. Always seem confident. Our attitude must be that we expect confirmation any minute of an important naval victory. Speaker 3 (7:31) to bait such a folk? No, no, unfortunately. But confidence may get us some victory. Besides, as the Arab would put it, the dog with no teeth cannot join the hunt. The dog with no... Speaker 1 (7:41) That's Speaker 3 (7:41) an old Arab proverb. So remember, confidence. I hope you know what you're doing, sir. Now, have we any news of those American seamen in Algiers? No, sir, we don't even know if they're still alive. Speaker 3 (7:53) Well, the president has given me $12,000 to try to ransom these men. Such a pitiful sum that I haven't much hope, but it's all we can get. So our first try will be a letter to the Bay of Algiers. Shall we start right now, sir? Why not? Take this down, Farrell. Yes. Most illustrious prince. Speaker 8 (8:21) Defender of the week. Answer this young up. Speaker 3 (9:06) Illustrious Seed Noah from his humble servant, the Bay of Algiers. If you should place at my feet, it would not be enough. I shall keep these prisoners as my slaves. Villain. I suppose he's bargaining for a big... Speaker 3 (9:24) bargaining manner. Besides, there can be no bigger offer. Oh, my blood boils. Well, what can we do next? Hand me that police, please. Yes, sir. What can we do? We don't know what's going on. We have no money, no power. No threat that we can make is worth anything. What are you putting on those clothes for? This is the jalaba of an Arab merchant I got at the bazaar the other day. Here, help me. What's that make? A gird, they call it. There you are. It's Speaker 7 (9:57) a Speaker 3 (9:57) hide-and-might for a gun. This is all very interesting. Speaker 3 (10:01) Well, I'm not sure yet myself, but we need more information. We can't get it here in Tunis, so I'm going to Algiers to do some research. Now, they say if you rub it into the skin, yes, by golly, look at that, you see? My word. I wouldn't believe it. Now, look, Farrell, while I'm away, do the best you can. And remember, we have intimations of an important naval victory. I wish I could feel that, but I'll... Here, now, see how this... Very good, sir. I hope you know how dangerous it is. Speaker 3 (10:39) American citizens in the dungeons of the Bay of Algiers tonight. Mr. Noah, Speaker 1 (10:43) I Speaker 3 (10:43) only pray there won't be seven by tomorrow. Speaker 7 (10:57) Protector of the weak, defender of the poor. What is it? Our spies from Tunis report that the young American consul has disappeared. He's believed to have come here to Algiers, but then our men lost track of him. They do not know where he is now. You Speaker 8 (11:10) will tell the secret police to spread a wide network for him. Search through all the marketplace. He must be made prisoner and brought to me. We shall find a place for him in our most handsome dungeon. Speaker 3 (11:42) You Speaker 7 (11:43) have Speaker 3 (11:47) such beautiful rugs. And this tobacco box, very fine. Speaker 7 (11:52) A musical tobacco box. Speaker 3 (11:54) The Speaker 7 (11:56) newest Speaker 3 (11:56) thing. Where is it from? Speaker 7 (11:58) From France. Speaker 3 (11:59) Look, Speaker 7 (12:00) first it is a tobacco box. Then we open it and... Music play. It's marvelous. Speaker 3 (12:07) I've never seen one of these before. Speaker 7 (12:09) I just bought it from a friend's ship in the harbor. A consignment. Very Speaker 3 (12:14) interesting. I Speaker 7 (12:19) hear secret police. Speaker 3 (12:37) Well, then, why do you tell me? Speaker 7 (12:38) Because though I serve the Bay of Algiers, I'm also a secret agent of his great rival, of Tunis. It Speaker 3 (12:48) must keep you very busy serving two masters. Speaker 7 (12:50) And it pays better. That the mayor of Tunis is a much kinder man, and I would not want to see any friend of his come to Greece. A friend Speaker 3 (13:00) of his? Speaker 7 (13:00) Would you be allowed to continue your work over in Tunis if you were not his friend? Speaker 3 (13:06) I see. You seem to know a great deal. Speaker 7 (13:09) Come into the back of my shop, where we shall not be seen. Boxes for American consul. Packing boxes. Put them all outside. Speaker 3 (13:34) Dressed here, all right, but let's see what's inside. could be. What? Here's a jewel Speaker 1 (13:41) box. Speaker 4 (13:45) It Speaker 3 (13:45) makes music. Speaker 4 (13:46) A Speaker 3 (13:47) music jewel box. Ah, nice. Speaker 7 (13:49) Oh, Speaker 3 (13:50) but this is ridiculous. We haven't any use for this sort of thing. Speaker 7 (13:52) All the nice jewels to be sent here. Speaker 3 (13:55) El Giro? Well, I guess you'd better leave them. Speaker 7 (14:00) I'll put them out here. Who are you? Oh, you frighten me. Speaker 3 (14:11) I slept in just now while you were talking to the French sailor. I didn't want to show myself while he was here. Oh, Mr. Noir. Speaker 3 (14:19) I've been terrified while you were away. I was sure you'd be caught. And then these crates arrived, and it seemed so strange. I didn't know what to think. Well, I bought all this from a French ship. Cargo of novelies on their way to the Orient. Music boxes, watches, brocades, fancy pistols. I arranged for the boat to drop them off here in Tunis. But, Mr. Noah, you must have spent a fortune on these things. I did. I spent the ransom money. The ransom money? $12,000? That's right. All of it. What great scoff, Mr. Noah. That money, that was for... Freeing those men. Yes, I know. Why, you could be impeached for this. You could be recalled. It's disgraceful. No, no, I don't think so, Mr. Farrell. You see, the money was for buying off the Bay of Algiers, but it didn't succeed. So we must try other means. You mean... The strategy? I think so. The bay refuses to accept money in ransom, but flatter him with gifts, and he'll begin to show respect. Speaker 7 (15:12) The Speaker 3 (15:13) bay of Algiers is a vain man. Twelve thousand dollars in gifts should certainly tickle his vanity. Speaker 7 (15:19) Yes, Speaker 3 (15:20) sir. Speaker 7 (15:21) We'll fool Speaker 3 (15:22) him. Mr. Farrell, the gifts are not for the bay of Algiers. I beg your pardon? They're for his enemy, the bay of Tuna. Speaker 1 (15:40) You are listening to Algerian Adventure, starring George Murphy as Mordecai Noah on the Cavalcade of America, sponsored by the DuPont Company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. The second act opens during the War of 1812 in the Palace of the Bay of Tunis, where Mordecai Noah, American consul, sits silently in an anteroom awaiting an audience. His colleague, Farrell, sits nervously beside him, trying to fathom the reason for his presence here, when their great problem is