Escape and Suspense!

Escape - The Notebook

Escape's "The Notebook" is set in the Dakota Terrritory during the Black Hills Gold Rush in the mid 1870's. It is a tale of two prospectors who are stalked by claim jumpers...and that's about all that happens until the end of the episode. "The Notebook" is a story about pursuit and, ultimately, escape, but does not include a happy ending. It isn't that kind of story.

"The Notebook" was transcribed under the direction of Antony Ellis from a story by William J. Radcliff. No short story under this title by that author can be found. So, it is possible that it was scripted for radio from an unpublished work.

As the episode opens, two prospectors, Robbie and Mac, have broken camp and are on their way to Deadwood to file their claim. Suddenly, a whiskered man in the distance shoots at them...and it isn't the first time. He wants their claim and he will kill to get it. 

Mac asks Robbie if he is ready to kill protect their claim, but Robbie can't give him an answer. Is the gold worth it? The whiskered man and his boss seem to think so. They are relentless in their pursuit.

"The Notebook" was produced and directed by Antony Ellis. John Dehner starred as Robbie, Joseph Kearns as Mac, and William Conrad as Jack Morris. This episode aired on July 26, 1953.

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Image of Deadwood, South Dakota from Wikipedia.

Suspense - Want Ad

In "Want Ad," a thief, who makes his living through the classified ads, discovers that he isn't as clever as he thinks. This is an episode that is supposedly based on true crime.

As the episode opens, Mr. Vernon and his wife are enjoying the morning paper. She wants the two of them to spend the day together, but Mr. Vernon has to work. 

So, he pulls out the want ads and peruses the day's offerings. He quickly notices a fur coat that is being sold by a private owner and makes a call. In this case, the fur coat is being sold by a woman, and he then  assumes that it will be easy to steal it from her.

Mr. Vernon heads off to the home of the seller, Mrs. Phelps, and runs through the routine of pretending to buy a coat. Everything happens just the way he planned... until Mr. Phelps arrives home unexpectedly. Then, the robbery takes a violent turn. Afterwards, Mr. Vernon is stuck with a fur coat he can't get rid of and murder charge that he has to run from.

"Want Ad" was written by E. Jack Neuman and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. Robert Cummings starred. Also appearing were Mary Jane Croft, Charles Calvert, Virginia Gregg, Larry Thor, and Paula Winslowe. This episode aired on January 25, 1954.

. Download Suspense_1954-01-25_Want Ad

This story was presented a second time on July 10, 1956. Stacy Harris starred. Antony Ellis produced and directed. Also appearing were Mary Jane Croft, Paula Winslowe, Joseph Kearns, Virginia Gregg, Jack Moyles, and Lou Krugman.

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(Image from Morguefile)

Suspense - The Tip

In "The Tip," a devoted wife is kept hostage in her home while a killer waits for her husband to arrive.

As the episode opens, Elaine Stratton is driving her husband, George, to catch his morning train. He doesn't like it that his wife goes to such trouble for him, but she insists. 

Elaine has a heart problem, and George doesn't want her to exert herself. She tells him not to worry, and that she would be happy to pick him up at the station that evening.

When Elaine returns home, she finds a stranger there! He has a gun and he wants revenge on Mr. Stratton for ruining his business. Elaine tries to plead, reason, and fight with him, but it is useless. If the stranger has to wait all day--he will. 

Sooner or later, Mr. Stratton will come home and the stranger will kill him. Can Elaine find a way to get help?

Suspense presented this radio play only twice. It originally aired on September 7, 1950, with Ida Lupino in the starring role. Sadly, no known recordings of that broadcast exist at this time. This radio play is classic Suspense.

"The Tip" was written by Carl Abrams and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. Lurene Tuttle starred as Elaine. Hy Averback played George and Herb Butterfield played the stranger. Also appearing were  Dick Beals, Eddie Fields, Jerry Hausner, Shepard Menken, and Howard McNear.  This episode aired on July 6, 1954.

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This story was also presented on the Suspense television Show on December 26, 1950.

(Image of Lurene Tuttle)

Escape - John Jack Todd

In Escape's "John Jack Todd," a longshoreman must stand his ground against a sadistic dock boss.

This episode was based on a short story by Robert Simpson but attempts to locate it have been unsuccessful.  

"John Jack Todd" is a story about cruelty and cowardice, not  Escape's typical adventure fare, but a good story about the destruction of a bully.

As the episode opens, John Todd arrives at a trading post in Africa where he is to work for the next four years. The dock boss, Captain Brock, is known as a difficult man, and he immediately appears hateful towards Todd.

John Todd makes it known that he is a peace-loving man, but because of that, Captain Brock is antagonistic towards him. He thinks that Todd won't put up a fight, but when a matter of justice is involved, Mr. Brock gets into a fight that exposes him for what he is.

"John Jack Todd" was adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. John Todd was played by Wilms Herbert, Captain Brock was played by Jack Kruschen, and Tony Barrett played Ganson. Also appearing were Don Diamond and Paul McVeigh. This episode aired on May 2, 1948.

.  Download Escape 480502 039 29m30s John Jock Todd 41498 192-44

This Escape HQ file comes from Tennessee Bill's OTR. It is a large file, so it may take longer to download. (Smaller files of this episode that are available, have terrible sound quality.)

(Image from Stock.xchng)

Suspense - Win, Place and Murder

In "Win, Place and Murder," a bookie is murdered and two detectives try to find the real killer.

Chris Draper and Laura Lee are competing private detectives who occupy offices across the hall from each other. Laura wants Chris to marry her, but he doesn't have the money.

As the episode opens, Chris calls his bookie, Joey Gault, to place a bet. When he is told that isn't possible, he leaves his office to place his bet down the street.

As Draper returns, Joey Gault's collection man, Mike Ferrago, arrives. He is looking for Frank Pilson, who, he claims, has just shot Gault.  

Draper doesn't know anything about it until he goes across the hall and finds Frank Pilson in the office of Laura Lee. What has Laura gotten herself into? She doesn't believe Pilson is Gault's killer.

Is Laura right? Or, is she in over her head?

"Win, Place and Murder" was adapted from a story by Emile C. Tepperman. William Spier produced and directed. Richard Conte starred. Also appearing were Hans Conried, Cathy Lewis, and Wally Maher. This episode aired on April 24, 1947.

. Download Suspense_1947.04.24_Win_Place_and_Murder

(Image from Wikipedia) 

Suspense - The Holdout

In "The Holdout," a decision hangs in the balance because of one stubborn and persuasive juror.

As the episode opens, a long murder trial has ended and the decision is now up to the jury. After their initial discussion, they take a vote. Everyone thinks that the defendant is guilty--except one.

That lone dissenter doesn't identify himself to the others, and the single, anonymous "not guilty" vote stirs doubt among them. That doubt then leads several to change their minds. On the next vote, and the next, the number of "not guilty" ballots goes up. Will the jury ever reach a decision? When they do, will it be the right one?

"The Holdout" was produced and directed by Antony Ellis. Featured in the cast were Harry Bartell and Parley Baer. Also appearing were Sam Edwards and Paula Winslowe. This episode aired on June 28, 1955.

. Download Suspense_1955-06-28_The_Holdout

(Image from Morguefile)