Box 13 - "Much Too Lucky" (Old Time Radio, 2012)
Box 13 presents “Much Too Lucky,” episode 37 of the classic radio mystery series, originally broadcast May 1, 1949. Alan Ladd stars as adventure-seeking writer Dan Holiday.
Holiday answers a plea from Bert Hendricks, an off-track betting operator plagued by a customer whose last-minute horse-race wagers keep winning. As losses mount and the streak defies explanation, Holiday investigates the world of race broadcasts and wagering to uncover the secret behind this extraordinary run of luck. Written by Robert Light, the episode also features Sylvia Picker as Suzy.
Box 13 presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.
Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:54 Original Broadcast
27:27 Closing
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/box-13-old-time-radio--7222653/support.
Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio
Speaker 1: Written by Robert Light and directed by Richard Sandville. This
is Box thirteen, episode thirty seven, Much Too Lucky, originally
heard May first, nineteen forty nine. Alan Ladd plays writer
adventurer Dan Holliday, with Sylvia Picker as Susy. Holiday's new
case begins with Bert Hendrix, an off track betting operator,
facing a customer whose late, unusually large horse race wagers
continue to win. The losses are mounting at betting shops,
and no one can account for the better's apparent knowledge
of each race's result. Against the live race broadcasts and
wagering counters of the period, Holiday sets out to uncover
the practical explanation. The program originated on Mutual and later
entered Mayfair Transcription syndication and now the original broadcast.
Speaker 2: Box thirteen with the Star of Paramount Pictures. Alan Ladd
as Dan Holliday Box eighteen cam of Star Times. I'm
a betting agent in my state where betting agents are legal.
I'm one of the many who are being taken for plenty.
I think there's something. Hey why but none of us
have been able to figure it out. Now, isn't you'd
be a stranger here?
Speaker 3: We figure you have a better than even chance of
nosing around and finding out how we're getting clipped. If
you do, we'll pay. If you don't, maybe you'll have
yourself an adventure. Anyway, my name is Bert Hendrix. Look
me up at six seven to nine CRAA and clothes.
Is enough money to take care of immediate expenses? Have
a look? Huh yeah? I had a look all right,
right into the muzzle of a nasty twenty five automatic.
Speaker 2: Now back to box thirteen and Dan Holliday's newest adventure,
Much too lucky?
Speaker 4: Are you going to be going along, mister Holliday?
Speaker 3: Well, I don't know, Susan. That all depends on what happens.
Speaker 5: Oh what could happen?
Speaker 3: Or I'm concerned anything?
Speaker 6: Oh yeah, sometimes i'd get worried about you, mister Holiday.
Sometimes most times it's just like a nomination.
Speaker 3: Oh what am I running for? Huh nothing? I just
had a promonition.
Speaker 4: What's that?
Speaker 3: But you didn't have?
Speaker 4: I don't get it.
Speaker 3: Will you work on until I get back, Suzzy, I'm
off to the races. Blaineship is quick and pleasant. And
eight hours after I said goodbye to Susie, I was
talking with Bert Hendrix a big, nice looking fellow, but
with a worried look on his face. After we had
introduced ourselves, Hendrix let me know what was putting the
wrinkles between his eyes. Oh it's got us roped and
tired like a Christmas package. Dam how much are you losing?
Plenty runs into four or five figures every week. Maybe
somebody's being lucky. To be that lucky, a guy had
had to be born with a silver horsehoe in his mouth. Look, yesterday,
I paid off on a long shot at forty to one.
The clip ran to the tune of twenty thousand, and that,
as I say in books, is sugar with a capital
lest he did buy a lot of coffee. Anyway, we
figure we're getting it the wrong way. Clip bamboozled. Oh
why don't you go to the police with what troubles?
That's not the answer if you tried to find are
you kidding? We ran ourselves into a ladder trying to
catch the angle, No dice, Dan, somebody in this town's
plenty smart, smart enough to know our boys, and that
brings me in. That's right, you're a stranger. They won't
take a second look at you. I caught you red
in the Star Times and played the bet. Here you are.
There's nothing to do. How much do you want? Well?
Believe it or not? But I do this for nothing? Yeah,
I hate you say that before, but I don't get
your dodge by what your gimmage? Dodge racket angle? Oh well,
I figure if the plot's good enough, I can use
it in the story. Okay, but no do I'll tell
you what, Bert, if I figure this, will you turn
over what you would give me to any charity I
named here, here's a blank check filling the amount. I'll
sign it. But try to catch the capers that are
putting the shallac on us. There's nothing to start on.
I've got a job. They're smart, plenty smart. What they
win is over and beyond the run of luck. A chance,
any ideas? Yeah? One? Now, what's that? They got a
guy with a crystal ball that the best you can do.
Come out in the wireroom with me, see if we
can catch anything up front this way And we're getting
ready now the third race today. We've got a radio
back here broadcasting direct from the track, comes off a
local station. Oh where are the bets? Places right here?
Or a fight phone? And I see and you take
bets up until the time the horses at the post,
and that's right. But once the race starts, no more bets. Uh,
listen to the race. Now he's in place, we're ready,
and they're all h a version, Billy, how's it going?
Somebody called up and got a century on party line
the twenty line shot. No, that's right, oh, Billy, this
is a friend of mine, Dan Holliday, Hello, Billy, party
line wins Bert. It's the fourth long shot this week.
Speaker 5: It's light off.
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I know each one was bet on. Is
that it? But heavy? I still say there's one of
them guys that's doing it by telepathy. Listen the help
that's mine owned by apple Lever. Rocket is third and
falling back with old Joe as party line still swings
why and moves up on the outside, coming into the
turn now with mine owned by a head over Cannilever
and moving up back line Bird, there he comes. Who
made that bet on? Party line? Mike the car? Okay,
get me to the name of the guy who made
the bet. Sure, listen to that party line. It's mine
home by a party line and it's a party finish
with mine own and fun by a party line, getting up,
the moving up across the finishers, party line, head of
it on home? Oh twenty to one, uh huh and
one hundred dollars or twenty one. Don't say it, don't
say it. Come on, let's go back to my office. Oh, Dan,
I don't get it. How can they pick long shots
like that? Is it only long shots? Oh? No, not always.
Sometimes it's the favorite, but it's always a winner. And
I say no, guy can pick a winner every race,
especially every long shot. Come in on a no, who
placed that one hundred on party line? Bird? Yeah, here's
the tab? Oh hurry again, off a lucky too, lucky?
Who isn't? Name's born Terry Vaughn singer at one of
the clubs here. She's done this before. Yeah, she's done
it before. Twenty grand to day five last week. Why
doesn't she retire and leave here if she can? Look, Dan,
we've got this betting narrowed down to about twenty people.
Twenty Yeah, the most consistent winners. They never lose a ring,
is that it? That's right? But not one of them
is ever at the track. You mean they just don't
go that's right. Never. I don't get it. Neither do
we or Billy. Yeah, this call from Terry Vaughan came
in just before the horses with the post. Huh, sure
we take bets up to the break. What are you
thinking about? Dan? I was just wondering if there was
any way of getting advanced information on a race. You kidding,
not a chance. This is a business with us, legitimate
on the level. We know every angle and dodge. There's
no way anyone could know before the race that a
long shot like party Line was going to nose a
cross fished. You've got yourself a proper all right. How
about taking a slice of it? Dan? What I said
about that blank check still goes Okay, you've got yourself
a boy good. I don't know where I'll start, but
as I say in books, everything has a beginning, So
why not start with Terry Vaughan waiter? Oh yes, sir,
I wonder if you deliver this note for me? Certainly, sir?
Where to mister Terry Vaughan. I'll see you about it, sir.
Well this make you see any better? Yes? Thank you? Oh,
and tell miss Vaughan I'm a journalist, newspaper man. Yes,
I guess that's it. You see I'd like an interview
my life. I'll see what I can do, sir. I'll
do my very best. I waited. I didn't know what
Miss Terry Vaughan could tell me, or I wouldn't tell what.
It was a chance she didn't know me, so she
wouldn't be suspicious. It was ten minutes later that the
waiter came back to my table. Missus Vaughan will see you,
mister Holliday. How did you know my name? It was
on the card you sent with a note? Simple, isn't it,
Doctor Watson. I beg your pardon.
Speaker 7: Don't ever mind. Now where's mss Vaughan. Oh, she'll be
here in a month. Okay, I'll wait, Yes, sir, you're
glad to have been a service.
Speaker 3: I waited. I'll admit the waipers worthwhile. Miss Terry Vaughan
glided across the floor of my taile and smiled five
thousand dollars worth of tea, passed a million dollars in
red hair over her shoulder, and put ten million dollars
of the rest of her in the chair across from her.
Speaker 5: You're, mister Holliday, you're miss vonn Your note said you
wanted to interview with me.
Speaker 3: That's why.
Speaker 5: Well I'm flatter.
Speaker 3: I imagine that's a fairly common situation with you.
Speaker 5: What paper you with, mister Holliday?
Speaker 3: I have a connection with the Star Time.
Speaker 5: Oh you're a big city bulne.
Speaker 3: I didn't know what showed.
Speaker 5: Why do you want to interview me?
Speaker 3: Lots of reasons, misson name one. Well, i've heard you
were very lucky today.
Speaker 5: Lucky?
Speaker 3: How or do you win twenty thousand every day?
Speaker 5: What does this have to do with an interview?
Speaker 3: Well, it's human interest stuff. This far very human and very.
Speaker 5: Interesting I see. But why pick on my lucky streak?
Speaker 3: Because well, because it was so lucky?
Speaker 5: Oh, I've always been lucky.
Speaker 3: I understand that. Oh how did you happen to pick
a party line today?
Speaker 5: I like long shot always when I feel lucky?
Speaker 3: Do you ever lose sometimes? Why? Oh?
Speaker 5: I'm just asking, mister Holliday, this is a peculiar interview.
Speaker 3: Well I don't think so, just pleasant.
Speaker 5: What paper did you say you were with?
Speaker 3: The Star Times?
Speaker 5: And what are you doing here?
Speaker 3: Heay casey?
Speaker 5: When is it over a couple of weeks? I see, Well,
mister Holiday, as far as I'm concerned, it's over now.
Have a nice time.
Speaker 3: Oh wait time, I'm sorry, Please stay here. Why I
feel that I owe you an apology for what? For
being so curious?
Speaker 5: All right, we'll forget it.
Speaker 3: Let's do let's forget all about twenty thousand dollars long
shots and lucky.
Speaker 5: Streaks and what shall we substitute Terry Vaughn.
Speaker 3: Do you mind?
Speaker 5: Hmmm, I don't mind if I do, mister Holiday.
Speaker 3: Well, it was a pleasant way to spend an evening.
But when it was over, I was just as smart
as at the beginning, which was zero. Maybe Terry Vaughn
was lucky, and how lucky can you be? The next
day I met Bert Henrix and he had more trouble. Well,
somebody did it again today, Dan not quite as big
as Terry's play yesterday, but enough enough. One of the
same twenty people you've tad had one of the twenty.
If it weren't for the fact that it's those same
twenty people all the time, it could be just luck.
Could be you saw Terry last night? Yeah, oh yeah,
I saw Terry and a very lovely girl. I wish
I had her money. It's mine, that's funny. I'm sorry, Bert,
I don't have to ask a few boutch those twenty people. Oh,
sure we have. They don't talk to anyone connected with
the track as far as I know, though, you don't
even know anyone there. There's got to be a gimmick. Yeah,
that's what I keep telling myself on the head. Look, Bert,
let's try to figure it out logically. You say, every
one of those bets is placed just before the races run.
And that's right, and each of those twenty people takes
a winner. Yeah, not only with me, but with all
the other agents who have the same setup I've got.
But how could they get advanced information? They can't. They've
got to But Dan, we've been all over that. Yeah,
maybe there's an angle you've overlooked. Okay, name it now?
By it? Is there any particular race or races they
always bet? What races do you lose the most heavily on?
Wait a minute, that is an angle you think of somebody?
Maybe second, I'm going to check. I think I'm right,
but I'll make sure. Hello, hello, Billy, this is bad.
What race is being run? Now? Do you have any
big bets? Were there any of the twenty on this one?
Which ones did they hit? Third? Fifth, so yeah, why nothing,
see you later. Well, third, fourth, and fifth, that's what
I thought. Never the first, second, or the sixth, seventh
or eighth. Always the third, fourth or fifth. That's right.
But where's the gimmick? I don't know, but hand me
the phone here, thanks, Oh what's the phone number of
the club where Terry Vaughan works? No, I don't know
what's in the directory. But why what's that going to
do with this bird? I don't know yet, but I'm
going to ask the lovely Terry Vaughan if she'll go
out with me tomorrow afternoon after noon? What are you
getting at your money? I hope? Hand me the director.
Speaker 2: And now back to Much Too Lucky, another Box thirteen
adventure with Alan Ladd as Dan Holliday.
Speaker 3: Well, I had an idea, not a big one and
not one that made sense yet, but I was going
to play it. So the next afternoon I met miss
Terry Vaughn for lunch. I arranged the time so we'd
be together just about the same time the horses went
to the post for the third race. We sat on
a little cafet.
Speaker 5: I was really surprised that you call me Dan.
Speaker 3: Why Terry? Oh?
Speaker 5: I don't know. Maybe because you seem more interested in
my luck than in me.
Speaker 3: The two go together.
Speaker 5: I suppose do you ever play the races?
Speaker 3: No? I never had. But there's always the first time.
Speaker 5: That's what they all say.
Speaker 3: Why do you ask? Got something? As I say in
the an.
Speaker 5: Aculate, Oh, I never get to it.
Speaker 3: Ah, but you win occasionally. What's your secret?
Speaker 5: What makes you think it's a secret.
Speaker 3: That was just a figure of speech. Let's talk about
something else.
Speaker 5: What time is it?
Speaker 3: Oh? Two twenty y thinking of leaving me so soon?
Speaker 5: No, but I have something to do around three important
to me.
Speaker 3: Yes, and let me see. Well, shall we take a walk?
Speaker 5: Yes, I'd like to.
Speaker 3: Okay, that's it. So we walked. Arry was very charming.
I was beginning to wonder about my hunch. Maybe it
was luck after all. Then a few minutes after three.
Speaker 5: Dan, will you excuse me for a few minutes?
Speaker 3: Oh, your importance, three o'clock.
Speaker 5: That's it. I have to make a phone call. Pl
me the way, Yes, if you want to, Oh, I do,
I'll make it from this drug store.
Speaker 3: All right, I'll wait right here.
Speaker 5: I want it more than a few minutes.
Speaker 3: She went into the drug store and started to a
phone booth. I slipped inside. I went to a counter.
The clerk came up to me. May I help you, sir? Oh, yes, yes,
let me see a pair of those binoculars. Will you these?
They're not very good? Might except for children, just toys.
I like to play with toys. Now I see a pair. Certainly,
here you are. Thanks. If you point them outside, you
get a better idea of what they'll do. Oh, getting
a good idea right here. Excuse me, I'll be right back.
I watched miss Terry Vaughan in that phone booth. The
binoculars weren't very good, but I saw the numbers she
dialed and remembered them. She spoke for a few seconds,
drop another coin and dialed another number. I got that
one too. Then the clerk came back. They work all right.
Oh they're marvelous, just marvelous. How much eli? Here you are?
Shall I wrap them? Got any kids? Huh? I mean why, yes,
here's a present for them. But you just bought them. Well,
you see, I like your kids. You take these, but
but sorry, I can't take these. I walked back outside
and got to the pavement before Terry Vaughan finished her
second phone call. I was standing there when she came out.
All set, make a call? All right, yes, Now, how'd
you like to see the town? I'd love it. Come on,
let's go. We spent a pleasant afternoon, but my mind
was on my work. I was trying to keep those
phone numbers straight in my head. Then Terry had to
go to the club for rehearsal. As soon as she
left me, I headed for a phone booth and dialed
the first number she'd called, Hello, Hello, Bell, what number
do you want his bill? There's here? I'm sorry, you're
sure there's no bill there? You got a wrong number, Bud,
wrong number? Maybe? Maybe not? I dialed the second number
she'd called, Hello, Hello, who's this Hendrix? Who's that Hendrix?
This is holiday? Listen that Terry Vaughn plays about this afternoon.
Did you win? She had no? Look she was with
me when she made the bet? You had a Megan? No,
she was in a phone booth. Was that the only
bet she made? How many winners did you have in
that race?
Speaker 2: Six of the other twenty people had the winner?
Speaker 3: How about the other races? All winners among the twenty people? Maybe,
but I've got to prove it. Listen, just sit tide bird,
don't open your mouth, don't let out a pap and
above all, don't try to see me. Damn if you
know anything. I don't know whether I know anything or not,
but I'll find out tomorrow. At the track. Later that evening,
I made a purchase, a very important one. Then I
called Terry Vaughan and asked her to go to the
track with me. Then I day. It took a little persuasion,
but she finally said yes. So the next afternoon, with
my purchase in the pocket of my top code, Miss
Vaughn and I went to the track and up in
the stands.
Speaker 5: Do you know, Dan, this is the first time I've
been here this season.
Speaker 3: I thought you liked racing.
Speaker 5: Oh I do, But well, being at the track makes
me nervous.
Speaker 3: Nervous.
Speaker 5: Why, oh, no reason at all?
Speaker 3: Which horse do you like in this race?
Speaker 5: I'm not going to bed or no with your luck.
I don't want to force it.
Speaker 3: I see, well, I don't blame you.
Speaker 5: Why don't you go ahead and bed for me?
Speaker 3: Ah? Right to pick a horse for me?
Speaker 5: I think my luck will rub off on you.
Speaker 3: It could be go ahead, pick one.
Speaker 5: Well, let's see, how does this one sound, Bright.
Speaker 3: Angel, Bright Angel. It is in the third.
Speaker 5: It's almost post time.
Speaker 3: Huh, there's a good seats, Yes they are. I reached
through my pocket and took out the important purchases I
had made the previous evening and started to unwrap it.
What's that, n oh? I just bought this affordable radio.
I wonder if I can hear the race on her?
Speaker 5: Don't turn that on?
Speaker 3: But why not?
Speaker 5: Put down that radio? Mister Holiday?
Speaker 3: Put it? Why don't you want me to turn it on?
Speaker 5: You're just a little too smart, mister Holiday. This is
a gun in my purse. You're getting out of here.
Go on, I.
Speaker 3: Carry radios, you carry guns. You're well equipped.
Speaker 5: Go on, lead the way.
Speaker 3: Okay. She was as cool as an attic winter, and
she handled the gun nicely, kept it in the small
of my back under her hand bag. Somehow I knew
she had used it if she had to. We got
to her car, and a half hour later she marched
me into a room where a man sat wearing a
pair of headphones. He looked up as we came in.
Speaker 8: A HULLO, Terry, who's.
Speaker 5: This a smart boy? Tim? I'm leaving him with you?
Speaker 3: Smart?
Speaker 5: He's wise? How he got that way. I don't know.
But after the fifth race clean up, we're leaving town.
Speaker 3: Oh it's about time. We couldn't run this racket forever.
Speaker 5: You know, mister Holliday, you are lucky you didn't come
along sooner.
Speaker 3: Yes, I know, before you made your take.
Speaker 5: That's right. How did you figure it through?
Speaker 3: A two ninety five pair of binoculars? I saw the
numbers you dialed yesterday.
Speaker 5: Oh you should be with us.
Speaker 3: Let's see that thing. There is a wire recorder. You
tap into the broadcast line that runs from the track
to the radio station. Without the station's knowledge. You record
the broadcast, then play it back into the broadcast line
two minutes after the regular airtime. You are spotted, and
those two minutes give you enough time to place bets
on sure things. You already know the winners, but the
book makers don't correct. But you only pull this on
the middle three races of the card, so that late
commerce and those who lead the track early catch wise
by listening to their radios.
Speaker 5: Right again, the broadcast is delayed two minutes. The race
is already over before the book makers even think it started.
Sit down, mister Holiday, watch him him? Yeah, okay, I'm
going to clean up a few odds and ends. Goodbye,
mister Holliday.
Speaker 3: Oh we'll see each other again.
Speaker 5: Oh I doubt that very much. Goodbye, and be very
happy that some of my luck did luve off on you.
Speaker 8: Smart dame, smart dame nose angles.
Speaker 3: I can see that.
Speaker 8: And we make a take here and then move on.
Now you just sit still, Bob. I got some work
to do, but I can still watch it.
Speaker 3: I watched him too. The wire recorder was spinning. He
flipped a switch and I knew what happened the third race.
The track was over, but the broadcast of it was
going over the air. Now two minutes later. Then eh ah,
Now we sit tank for a while. Say that wire recorder.
I've never seen one before.
Speaker 8: Great gadgets great. I make recordings of my own voice
all the time.
Speaker 3: Oh do you mean all you do is talking to
that little microphone and your voice is recorded right away?
M Hey, you you want to say something? Hey, you're obliging? Oh?
Speaker 8: Sure, anything to pass the time gets dull in here,
go on, say something and we'll play it back for you.
Speaker 3: Go on, Well, what'll I say? Oh? Anything? First thing
comes to your mind? Well, my name is Dan Holliday.
I'm being held prisoner at seven five eight Condos Street
at the point of a gun. Please help? Oh great,
just great. Don't you wish someone on the outside could
really hear that? Yeah, I guess I do. Now you
mean that thing, I'll play it right back. Huh.
Speaker 8: Sure, I just got to switch from a record to
play back, that's all.
Speaker 3: He turned his back for a second. Flip the switch.
I flipped the switch too, and waited. Well, my name
is Dan Holliday. I'm being held prisoner at seven five
eight Condos Street at the point of the gun. Please help.
See teller is doing well? Well, what do you know
about that? Isn't science wonderful? Yeah?
Speaker 8: Sure is too bad you had to come along and
spoil this. Raged mister, but I guess we made a
big enough taken.
Speaker 3: Keep your hands up, mister.
Speaker 8: I can shoot and answer the phone at the same time.
Speaker 5: Eh, Tim, what happened?
Speaker 3: Happened? Nothing?
Speaker 8: Why the guys get out of.
Speaker 5: There fast and take him with you. We'll take care
of him later, but get out of their past.
Speaker 3: Terry, Terry, something wrong? I don't know, Get up and
move on. Go on. I did, but I did something
else first, we walked out of the place, a gun
in my ribs. I hope what I'd done would work.
Walk up the street of peace, and then.
Speaker 7: That's cons all right, duck in here, go on in
this hallway. Ah, just keep quiet and let them go past.
I guess they won't find nobody there, will they?
Speaker 2: No?
Speaker 3: I guess not? Well?
Speaker 4: What?
Speaker 6: No?
Speaker 3: I wait for a minute, then we go. All right,
I get in front of me and stay there. Go on,
drop up? Who gotta drop it to a lot of cops. Okay, okay,
don't shoot?
Speaker 4: Yeah, damn Holliday.
Speaker 3: You all right, sir Hendrix? Did you have my broadcast? Yeah?
Your voice cut in right in the middle of the
regular broad I don't get it. I don't get it.
How they find us, how they trailers? Oh look on
your coattail, Tim, you didn't know it. When we left
that room, I hooked the end of the wire from
the recorder on your coat. You see, Tim, you were
wired for sound.
Speaker 4: That's sure was a clever idea they had, mister Holliday.
Speaker 3: Uh huh.
Speaker 4: And you were clever too that while left the trail
right to you and that.
Speaker 3: Man he was wired for sound, susy uh huh.
Speaker 6: And I'll bet you got a racy story out of it.
Uh No, don't you get it, mister Holliday. I made
a joke, racy story, get it?
Speaker 3: Yeah? Yeah, I got it. Good Night, Sissy.
Speaker 2: Next week, same time, through the courtesy Paramount Pictures. Alan
Land stars as Damn Holliday and Box thirteen. Box thirteen
is directed by Richard Sandville. This week's original story by
Robert m Light and mister Sandville. Original music is composed
and conducted by Rudy Schraker. Part of Susie is played
by Sylvia Picker, and production is supervised by Berne Carstensen.
Box thirteen is a Mayfair production from Hollywood. Watch for
Alan Ladd and his latest Paramount picture.
Speaker 1: Our visit with Box thirteen. Episode thirty seven, Much Too
Lucky concludes here. Follow Box thirteen for more classic mystery broadcasts.