1949-1-02 Death and the Crown of Odalph

Broadcast January 2nd 1949 on Mutual at 5:00 p.m. EST sponsored by D.L. & W. Coal Company "Blue Coal"

This episode is included in Radio Spirits CD set The Shadow: Hearts of Evil

Written by: Peter Barry

Announcer: Andre Baruch

Cast: Bret Morrison (Lamont Cranston/The Shadow) Grace Matthews (Margot Lane) Robert Dryden, Cathleen Cordell, George Petrie, William Zuckert, Larry Haines

Music: Elsie Thompson

Synopsis:

Professor Mark Drumgold, an expert on Viking history, is employed by the firm of Rojet-Fairchild to appraise the value of a crown encrusted with diamonds and jewels once owned by a seventh century Norse king. In the coming days, through masterful mechanical illusion, two thieves named Max and Hoffner steal The Crown of Halubar. Each of the three rightful owners receives a tip-off to the location and each meets an untimely death by the thieves. After all three are shot dead, Max and Hoffner start to suspect the crown is cursed so when Drumgold turns up alive and well they hand him the crown and flee. Having examined the clues left behind at the crime scenes, Lamont discovers that the professor was never killed when the crown was first stolen, and Drumgold masterminded the anonymous tips intending to let the thieves bloody their hands with murder so he could gain sole possession. Discovering the truth, Margot is about to become another victim when The Shadow arrives to announce the arrest of Max and Hoffner by the local police. Attempting a daring escape, Drumgold jumps out the window to his death along the seaside cliff — and the Viking crown vanishes.

Listen to this episode

Note:

This script would later be repeated as “Death and the Viking Crown” broadcast on November 29th 1953.