Sabotage, Jan. 16, 1938

This is a show that is at least somewhat related to the increasing tensions over what is going on in the world at the time, and is about attempts to sabotage Navy ships even though the war has not yet started.

Another Blue Coal-sponsored episode. The commercial this time stresses keeping the family healthy so use Blue Coal for even heat.

You could get a trial ton of the coal from a dealer as a sample.

The episode opens on a ship that has just gone to full speed. The boiler explodes and three have died. The captain thinks it's a case of sabotage.

Submarine L-29 is calling a submarine base. The sub is in trouble, near Diamondhead, and it is another case of sabotage.

A cruiser is returning to base with an explosion in a gun turrent, and yet another case of sabotage is expected.

An explosion and fire in a drydock is the next example of sabotage.

Reporters are talking to an admiral about a sabotage ring. All the ships sabotaged have been built in one particular yard.

Margo asks Lamont where's he's been for five days. Lamont had been at Sag (?) Island, the site of the sabotage. He says he has the ability to read other men's minds.

He thinks he knows which man is behind the sabotage. He again has her set up their radio unit.

(In the next part I'm not too sure about the names.)

Lamont plans to go into a nearby bar to try and find the guy. It's near closing time for the bar, and Lamont is pretending to be drunk. He talks to a guy named Buckler (I think, although the name might be Butler), about some guy named Arnheim (?)

Suddenly Buckler hears the voice of the Shadow. He says Buckler is a traitor to his country. The Shadow tells him to stop taking orders from Arnheim.

Then it's time for another commercial for Blue Coal.

The Shadow calls Margo on the radio.

Some guy visits Buckler, a guy named Regal. Buckler tells him that someone knows who is behind the sabotage, and that it's the Shadow. Apparently there's another job that Buckler is expected to do. He's working for $50,000. He is to sabotage a battle cruiser. He is to plant a tube in a piece of machinery, the tube containing nitroglycerin.

Buckler is an inspector so it's been easy for him to sabotage the ships. Buckler takes the tube despite the Shadow's earlier warning to him.

The Shadow calls Margo on the radio again and tells her to drive to the shipyard and she's supposed to find a black sedan.

Buckler gets into the ship and plants the tube. The Shadow is there, though, and he removes the tube of nitroglycerin.

Lamont joins Margo in the car and they follow the sedan. He's still carrying the tube of nitroglycerin.

They get to a big estate, a sanitarium. Arnheim is the doctor who works at the sanitarium. He tells Margo to call the police after the Shadow gets into the house.

Regal and Buckler meet Arnheim. Buckler wants to be paid off so he can escape, but Arnheim says they have to wait until the know the explosion has happened. Buckler may have some nitro of his own.

Regal shoots Buckler and apparently dies. He mentions before he dies the name of the Shadow, and Arnheim says the Shadow interests him. Arnheim knows how the Shadow uses mesmerism in hypnotizing others. Regal removes the body.

Arnheim expects the Shadow to show up, apparently. He knows that the Shadow is in the room. Arnheim is not afraid of the Shadow. Arnheim wants the Shadow to work for him. Arnheim turns a wheel and gas pours into the room; the gas is to numb the Shadow's power to remain invisible and when he becomes visible Arnheim will shoot him.

Police sirens can be heard approaching. Arnheim plans to escape after he kills the Shadow. The Shadow tells him that he's sabotaged the speedboat he plans to escape him. Regal and Arnheim flee the building and get into the boat.

Police rush in and they hear an explosion. The speedboat has blown up and Arnheim and Regal have been killed. The Shadow tells the police what has happened.

Return to main index page

Return to Shadow index page