 The F.W. Fitch Company makers of Fitch's saponified coconut oil shampoo and Fitch's shaving creams presents Dick Powell as private investigator Richard Rogue In Rogue's gallery Rogue speaking Don't look at me like that Just because my shirt is half torn off and my face is scratched and my neck ties under my ear. I Just walked into a store to buy a pair of socks Right in the middle of a sale of nylons Oh women long red fingernails staring eyes pushing clawing all elbows and high heels Yeah, anybody know where I can trade my pair of nylons for a white shirt. Oh well As I returned from this shopping expedition and was looking on the world at large with a jaundice eye I Walked into my office and found the soup sitting there Overflowing with the large and robust gentlemen with a toothy smile and the manner of a man who was just meeting an old school Show him after 40 years of separation My cringe is a little as he rushed happily toward me With a hand like the business end of a claw machine clutching at mine I've never seen him before mr. Rogue you are mr. Rogue. Are you not the celebrated investigator? Yes, that's right Mr. Rogue I'm very happy to make your acquaintance very happy. My name is price pop price. I'm called by those who know me We'll have a chair mr. Price. Thank you, sir. Thank you I have called on you mr. Rogue to retain your services mr. Price How about starting at the beginning now when you get through with your end of the story? I'll tell you mine It'll be a quick yes or no man a few words that I like when I'll be brief I realize that you were a busy man mr. Rogue and sure go on I am business manager for the Farrington Brothers Circus the world's greatest show You've seen the circus of course been running here for three weeks at the Coliseum No, I haven't but then you've missed something sir You've never seen Carlotta the magnificent the world's premier aerialist the only woman in the world Whoever tempted to swing through the air between two flying trapezius turning for complete somersaults in midair Defying death without even the security of a net beneath her. It's a breathtaking sight row Positively breathtaking now look mr. If you're selling tickets to the circus I came here to employ you rogue in your professional capacity to prevent a murder Somebody is going to attempt to murder one of the circus leading luminaries during tonight's performance Rogue somebody has threatened to murder Carlotta the Magnificent. No kidding It's a little unusual for murderers to issue invitations. Well here at his rogue the death threat Can't get much out of that Paste it on the back of a circus handbill that is cut from newspaper headlines You'll die during tonight's performance Pop isn't that a little romantic How is it all delivered? It was on her makeup table this morning. Huh? Hmm. Do you have any enemies in the show? Well, frankly rogue Carlotta is well, she's the kind of a personality that makes enemies She's a very sure of herself exceedingly conceded Matter of fact, she's what you would probably call an 18 carat died in the world. Oh, oh fine As strong as an ox as smart as a fox as mean as a snake and as brave as a lion She's 38, but she still considers herself a fatal beauty. As a matter of fact, she's Fine-looking woman wonderful figure big brown eyes. Sounds like a fascinating character Who'd well killer in stick confidence rogue almost anybody who's ever had anything to do with her Well that narrows it down little have you told the police about this threatening note? Yes, I told them and I've told the newspapers I knew you wouldn't want to leave them out. You know what? I think pop. I think this whole thing is a press agent's dream Lots of free publicity. Believe me. Mr. Rogue. You are wrong tonight only tonight only a special added attraction See the murder of Carlotta the Magnificent along with the great to show on earth all at the regular place Pop thanks for coming in but I just a minute mr. Obe I Have here something which I think might change your mind by way of a retainer. Oh, oh that stuff Well that does help to convince me you're on the level shall we say $500 that's a nice round figure There you are and here are two bastards with the circus tonight. I'll see you there rogue. You must prevent that murder Well, that's the beginning of our story We'll continue in just a moment, but now here's Jim Doyle. I'd like to say something to the ladies You know that one of the rules of modern life is perfect cleanliness For instance women years ago would be horrified at the thought of washing their hair every day as many of our Hollywood stars do But then they didn't have Fitch's saponified coconut oil shampoo in those days If they had I'll wager they would have used it frequently for Fitch's saponified shampoo always leaves the hair lustrous and easy to set Made from pure vegetable and mild coconut oils. It won't dry the hair or make it harsh feeling It cleanses thoroughly too for it makes loads of fluffy lather even in hard water This lather whisks away every bit of dust and dirt leaves your hair fragrant and sparkling clean Ask for a professional application of Fitch's saponified coconut oil shampoo at your beauty or barbershop Or buy an economical bottle at your drug or toilet goods counter Look for the bottle with the bright yellow label And now we return to Dick Powell as private investigator Richard Rogue in Rogue's gallery Ordinarily I wouldn't go to the circus even if the elephants carried water for me But when pop price the business manager of the Farrington Brothers circus paid me five bills to prevent the murder of Carlotta the Magnificent I Called Betty Callahan at her newspaper and asked her to attend the performance with me that evening We went early We wanted to interview the great Carlotta before the big show started Circus passage it was in today with a story on that threatening note. Mr. Addison had him thrown out of the office Don't walk so fast Richard. Wait a minute He said no circus press agent was going to chisel any free space from our people with a morphic and gag like that Yeah, well, he's probably right. Excuse me, honey I tell you we'll take him some pink lemonade and some cotton candy when we go back That'll make him happy. I Better go back with a murder story if I have to commit it myself. Oh, hey buddy. Yeah, where do I find a lot of the Magnificent? What do you want with her? We're from a newspaper. We want to interview her about that death threat. She got today Yeah, how did you know about it? Who doesn't everybody in the show is hoping mean they're hoping she'll be killed We can dream can't we? Carlotta's the worst nuisance that ever hit the circus business. I've been in this rack of 20 years I never knew a dame who could make so many pay people hate her so much. She's a genius. Thank you. Thank you You stutter a little bit there, don't you? Sorry, why don't we find this? Nobody sweetheart. You're on the right track last dressing room in this row The circus must think a lot of hot stuff look at the size of that star on her door. Yeah Now Betty, I'm gonna tell her I'm a reporter might be able to get more out of it All right What do you want? Oh, we're from the evening bulletin. Oh, are you from the press? I love the press Did you bring a photographer with you come in the photographer will be along later? Please make yourselves comfortable This young man is my manager Frank Davis. Hello, Mr. Davis. How are you here? Take this chair miss. Oh, thank you Mr.. Davis and now you want to ask me some questions. No, right? Yes Carlotta if it isn't too much trouble, uh, Tony What is your last name? I am Carlotta Do we have to have this young lady here? I would like to talk to you alone. Oh, I'm sorry. This is Miss Betty Callahan She's also on the paper. My name is Richard Rowe. We are very handsome and mr. Rowe You are strong, no No, I managed to drag myself around But uh, let's uh Let's talk about you color. Could we put this interview off until after the performance tonight, mr. Rowe Perhaps we could have dinner you and I you're not very worried about the death threat. I am me No, why should I worry it's professional jealousy that is all somebody is jealous of Carlotta the magnificent Someone who is less beautiful less talented That could be almost anybody. They're all jealous aren't they Frank? Why shouldn't they be believe me? Mr. Rowe Carlotta is the queen of mall. I've seen all of them in the last five years and Carlotta hears the payoff There's never been anyone within a mile of it. Oh Frank Frank is such a sweet boy. He loves me But I am tired. I am weary tonight. I leave the circus Well, when did you decide that I decided two weeks ago? This is my last night as a performer the circus world loses its greatest attraction after tonight's performance Isn't that tragic? Uh Uh, uh, Carlotta does pop price and all of your decision price. Oh, of course. He knows He saw it's breaking. What will he show me without Carlotta magnificent? What will it be answer me? I don't know it will be nothing. Oh, yeah Well now now look, uh, what did you do when you found that threatening note? I turned the note of the price He turned it over to the police Have you seen my act mr. Rowe? No, no We're going to see it tonight Carlotta. I am sensational Well, uh, Carlotta that note you received was lying here on your makeup table when you came in the day, right? Yes, young man. Have you ever tried to do four somersaults a hundred feet in the air me without a net? Oh, now look Carlotta. I I want to know about that note You don't want to get killed. Do you look I take a big swing Then four somersaults then I grab the trapeze on the other side It is impossible unless you are me this I have to see you Carlotta feel that buster mr. Rowe sure Wow Hey, that's something Yes, you're as strong as and well, you're very strong. Yeah, and I've got the skies to prove it haven't I Carlotta? Yes, Frank and I were scoffing this morning. Look open your mouth sweetheart There the front tooth I knocked it out He is scoffing with Carlotta who could tear him to pieces. She didn't mean to do it. Mr. Rowe. We were just kidding around But I'm very feminine. I have a lovely figure. I dress very quietly on the street You will be proud of me when we go to dinner tonight Oh, I'm sure I will look Carlotta. I hate to be practical, but aren't you a little worried about the note I mean pop price is worried. Of course he's worried. He's afraid. I'm leaving his show You're on in 10 minutes Think pig Don't pay any attention to him Carlotta. I'll take care of him for you Well, we'll have to hurry to our seats. We don't want to miss your performance. We'll be watching you Carlotta You will hurry. There will be a tremendous crowd tonight. This is Carlotta the magnificent's last performance Oh kind of hard on the public, isn't it? Of course I will see you after the performance Hanson Thanks for coming back to see us rogue and you too miss Callahan. Uh-huh. Well, uh, we'll see you later tonight Carlotta She should live so long You know Betty, I sometimes wonder if she really wants to talk to me after the show You know richard, I feel that if I knew Carlotta the magnificent just a little better I'd kill her myself She was absolutely brazen the way she flirted with you And that davis was young enough to be a son she's a She's a brazen flirt. Well, you could take some lessons from her baby. What? That's a girl who knows what she was On second thought the two of you should make a wonderful couple You could just sit around and talk to each other about each other and lead a life of great bliss Well, I'll say one thing for pop price He figured us in for some good seats. We're practically part of the show. Oh, I love circuses. I think they're exciting Won't you richard sure sure the first honest work I ever did was carrying hay for the horses when the circus came to town Come to think of it. I guess it was the last honest work. I ever did too Well, you can be an animal fan if you want to Personally, I like the clouds. Oh, I like clowns too Look Richard. Look at that clown with the camera coming around here. See him see him Me the one dressed like a woman Look at that hat Is there ridiculous? You've got one just like it. Haven't you? Oh, that's just like a man The hat that clown has on has real fruit on it apples annoying just some grapefruit At least that has practical did you see mario grab that apple often take a bite out? Yes mario Is that the famous mario? Why don't you look at your program? I paid two bits for it That clown in the red white and blue outfit with the putty nose the big shoes and mario The highest paid clown in the world Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please Your attention, please The Farrington Brothers Circus the greatest show on earth proudly presents the most sensational attraction ever to be seen on any stage in any circus or any theater America's premier circus proudly presents The greatest deliillist of all time. Carlotta must have written that himself. Quiet jealous I remember moments of earth Text this interpret artist from certain death in case of a mishap Good ladies and gentlemen the feature attraction of this great show Just climbing up to a trapeze. Oh beautiful figure hasn't seen lovely for her age Now Huh Carlotta the magnificent is ready to go you'll soon find out whether you're covering a hoax or not You don't think there's any doubt about being a hoax. Do you maybe I'm not sure of anything Well, I wish this were over so do I Oh, there she goes out on the trapeze. Oh, she thinks a big swing Looks like a tough way to make a buck, doesn't it? Well, why doesn't she jump? She's gathering momentum Here come the summer sauce Betty Rich business Betty. Come on. We've just witnessed a murder Turn to our story in just a moment But now here's Jim Doyle the man from the Fitch company who wants to say something about one of his favorite subjects That's right, dick Fitch is no brush shaving cream is a favorite subject with me because men are always so pleased with it after they've tried it Fitch is no brush combines three different shaving ingredients into one easy to use cream One of the ingredients a special skin conditioner helps prepare even a tender sensitive face for a solid comfort shave Fitch is no brush also has a creamy non greasy texture It helps the razor do the job in a hurry even if your beard is tough When you finish your shave your face feels cool and refreshed and smooth as can be For men who prefer lather, there's Fitch's brush cream It gives lots of rich dense lather that stays moist all during the shave Rinses off easily too leaving your face feeling smooth and pleasantly cool Join the thousands who have found shaving pleasure through their switch to Fitch Both Fitch's brush and Fitch's no brush shaving creams contain the special skin conditioner for sensitive faces And both come in handy 25 and 50 cent sizes And now Dick Powell as private investigator Richard Rogue in Rogue's gallery I get invited to a lot of things But this was the first time I was ever invited to watch a murder As I sat there in my box seat at the circus And watched my self-elected dinner date call out of the magnificent tumble to her death I felt a great emptiness I would probably have shown how I felt with much more gusto if Betty Callahan hadn't been practically tearing my arm off The whole place was in a turmoil And it took Betty and me quite a while to get down to where lieutenant urban was standing not far from the body Please clear the arena the upper exits in leaving Use the upper exits, please. I've got to call my city desk. Go ahead, Betty You can find a phone someplace down around the business offices. I'm going to talk to urban He looks a little upset. I'll be right back. Right. Take it easy now. Yes. I'll hurry What are you doing here? Well, I'm working for the corpse. What do you mean working for their corpse? It's simple. I was hired to keep this from happening. Who paid you? Pop price the head man of this outfit. How did it happen? Well, there are two 38 caliber bullets in the body Somebody did some nice shooting. Oh While the drums were rolling to cover up the noise and the arena was dark and except for the spotlight on the victim Wow, that's a very nice planning. Now stay right here rogue and they want to talk with you later Okay, I'm not going into place. Hello price. Mr. Rogue. May I speak with you a moment? Are you price business manager of this layout? Yes, this is horrible. Where were you when it happened? I was standing in the entry back there. I was worried Oh, you were of course you was he'd been warned that kalada was going to be killed at this performance I can handle this road. You don't think I had anything to do with it. Do you she was leaving the show This was to be her last performance, wasn't it? Yes, at least she intended to quit. She was always threatening to quit And this time it looked like she meant it, eh? What would happen to your show of kalada left it? She was the star, wasn't she? Yes, she was the stellar traction So you'd have been in trouble. She was spotting you, wasn't she and you took this way of getting even That's a good theory urban. Thanks. Who was with you when it happened price? I was alone Careless of you somebody punched a hole in your meal ticket Now don't leave the premises. I want to talk with you later Where's the dead woman's manager? I want to talk with him. He's in her dressing room. His name is davis Oh, he is eh? Well, we'll call on him there. Come on rogue Well, hurry up, Eddie. Urban marches on All right, davis. We just want to ask some questions You have been associated with kalada for five years Who would have wanted to kill her? Believe me, lieutenant urban, if I knew I'd murder them You don't know what kalada meant to me I loved her She had a lot of enemies, but just uh name off a few of them, will you Well, she had a run-in with the animal trainer cliff steward the other day And a big fight with mario the clown last week and She and pop price weren't getting along very well She threatened to choke him to death a few nights ago and she was threatened to quit and taunting him about it Well, it must have been one of them They didn't understand kalada. They didn't know how to handle her one of them killed her davis Uh, did she leave a will who gets her money? She had no money. Mr. Rogue. She spent it as fast as she got it Sometimes a little faster I tried to get her to save some money for the future But she was too big hearted if she didn't have any dough How come she was quitting a thousand dollar a week job? Her doctor ordered to take it easy for a while. Her heart was acting up I had it all fixed for a three month rest in mexico city That's what she wanted. We found the guy lieutenant urban Where? Right by the third ring the gunner's a smith in western 38 and there were two ejected shells laying right by it Well, I must have been dropped as soon as it was fired that that gun belongs to mario the clown How do you know? I have seen it in this trunk a thousand times though as everybody else in the circus It's his all right. It's got his initials on the butt mario. Eh murdering skunk. I'm going to kill him for this He did it. He shot kalada mario was standing in the ring Right about where the shot was fired just a few minutes before the murder That's right, richard. We were watching him when the house lights dimmed for kalada's entrance. Yeah, that's his routine I'm going to find them Davis. Take it easy. I think the police can handle this. This is a personal thing. Give me that gun Cut it off. Davis. I'll sit on. Take it easy. Davis Where's mario's dressing room? Right next to her Yeah, come on urban Let's go see how funny this clown really is Open up This is the law. You know, he just may not be in there. Well, we'll see He's dead No, I don't think so. He's been chloroformed smell it. Look here's the bottle He's still got the saturated cloth in his hand. Well, don't stand there waiting at my face Why would he chloroform himself? What makes you think he did murderers do funny things? Come on Let's get him out of here. Help me lift him rogue. Oh, wait a minute urban Why don't you wait until he comes out of it? The way you're going at it, he'll be in the electric chair before he wakes up You saw him right there at the edge of ring number three just before carlotta was shot. Didn't you rogue? Yes, anybody else around him? No, and carlotta was shot with mario's gun That's all I need I'm taking him down and booking him for murder Betty, I belly bet a few paper prints that story the way you see it You're going to live the regret the day the printing press was invented Urban's jumping the gun Nobody ever went to that much trouble to frame themselves to the chair Look, richard. I'm your greatest admirer and all that You're just being bullheaded Nobody but mario was near the spot where the gun and the spent cartridges were found Pure logic proves that he's the guilty man. Well, somebody might have been impersonating mario. Oh, that's ridiculous Hey What are you doing? I'm going back to the circus. There's one piece of evidence that everybody forgot to check I'm not at all sure. I like being alone in the menagerie at midnight No, well hang on to my hand. We'll be in the main arena just a minute Thank goodness. There are some lights in the arena. Yeah Awesome looking place in here, isn't it? I don't imagine we're improving it much. Oh Okay, all right now Here's the third ring when we were watching mario He was right about here. Wasn't he? Yeah Over this way a little I think and it's it's bound to be here someplace Richard, what are you doing down on your hands and knees? I'm looking for a clue, baby A clue that's going to send somebody up for murder I'll show that urban guy how a really sharp investigator works. Oh Let's get out of here, Richard. Well, it's it's got to be here someplace. Well someplace I've got it. I've got it betty. Rock it rogue. Huh? Rock it, huh Oh, okay Okay, davis I always do as I'm told when I'm talking past to 45 You kill kalata, didn't you? Yes, but I'm not going to be arrested for it Nobody I can prove I did it, but you rogue And you're not going to live to tell it and neither is miss callahan here All right, miss callahan get over here over by rogue. Do you think you can get away with killing us here? It's worth trying, isn't it? um Okay Look out betty I didn't have anything to lose So I rushed him I may not be as strong as kalata was but I was stronger than frank davis And I had the advantage of some judo I'd picked up during a date with a hatchet girl I got the gun away from him and turned him over to urban. He admitted killing kalata She was quitting the business and demanding an accounting of her cash davis had gavel most of the way He knew mario's routine. So he slept him a mickey Borrowed his costume and his gun and took his place in the arena that evening And you know when he was impersonating mario and betty and I watched him take a bite out of an apple He got up another clown's hat remember Well, I found the apple and that's what convicted him That front tooth kalata knocked out of his mouth gave him a Kind of an uh individualistic bite It showed up as plain as the nose under his face in the part of the apple was left Smart work, huh? Well, they executed frank davis for the murder of kalata the magnificent She was uh, uh, she was quite a girl quite a girl Betty didn't seem to like it, but Well, after all women are all alike Everyone you meet is different. You know what I mean This is dick pal again ladies and gentlemen Hope you enjoyed our story tonight ray buffham wrote it Leith stevens composed and conducted the music and d englebach produced and directed But don't forget you've all got a date with us next thursday night. We have a story for you about uh Oh about a girl a boy And a gun So make a date with us. Will you? Thanks for listening and now here's gem Doyle be with us again at the same time next week Oh, and by the way, be sure to see dick paul in his latest rko picture cornered at your local theater soon Remember tune in again next thursday same time same station when you will again hear dick paul as private investigator richard rogue in rogues gallery Remember if dandruff is your problem ask for fitters dandruff remover shampoo It's the only shampoo made who's guaranteed to remove dandruff Is backed by one of the world's largest insurance firms No other shampoo can make this statement Ask for fitters dandruff remover shampoo at your drug or toilet goods counter beauty or barbershop Fitch is spelled f i t c h