The Flapper Detective Story

1 Time to Read!
It was a warm summer's night in Chicago on 22 June, 1928. The streets were full of noise and
music as people celebrated the end of Prohibition. But then the sound of a gunshot suddenly
broke the party atmosphere. A young woman lay dead on the sidewalk. Her name was Ruthie,
and she was just 17 years old.
The police arrived at the scene and began their investigation. They questioned witnesses and
collected evidence, but the case quickly went cold. It seemed like Ruthie's murder would
never be solved.
That's when two detectives named Joe and Sam took on the case. These two were not your
typical detectives. They were actually cartoon characters created by the Fleischer Brothers
Studios. Joe and Sam were part of a popular series called 'The Inkwell Imps', and they were
known for their comedic antics.
But in 'Finding His Voice', a special episode released in 1929, Joe and Sam put their comedy
routine aside and got serious about solving Ruthie's murder. The episode introduced viewers
to the world of crime-solving through forensic science, a relatively new field at the time. Joe
and Sam used fingerprint analysis and ballistics testing to identify the criminal, leading to a
dramatic courtroom confession.
'Finding His Voice' was a groundbreaking episode that captured the public's attention. It was
one of the first times a cartoon dealt with such a serious subject matter, and it helped pave the
way for future crime-solving shows like CSI and Law & Order. So the next time you're watching
a murder mystery, remember the flapper detectives who started it all.

2 Let's Answer the Following Questions!

1 What was the setting of the story in terms of time and place?

2 How did Ruthie die, and what was her age?

3 Why did the police initially struggle to solve Ruthie's murder case?

4 Who were the two detectives that eventually took on the case?
5 How did Joe and Sam Adams approach solving Ruthie's murder?

6 Who was the main suspect in Ruthie's murder, and why?

7 What methods did Joe and Sam use to identify the criminal?
Correct Answers
2 Correct Answers:
1 The story takes place in Chicago on 22 June, 1928.
2 Ruthie died from a gunshot wound at the age of 21.
3 The police struggled to solve Ruthie's murder because the case quickly went cold.
4 The two detectives who took on the case were identical twins named Joe and Sam
Adams.
5 Joe and Sam approached solving Ruthie's murder by questioning witnesses,
collecting evidence, and using fingerprint analysis and ballistics testing.
6 Miss Velma Kelly was the main suspect in Ruthie's murder because she was jealous
of Ruthie and wanted to be the main star of the musical show.
7 Joe and Sam used fingerprint analysis and ballistics testing to identify the criminal in
Ruthie's murder case.