Escape and Suspense!

Escape - Zero Hour

Escape's "Zero Hour" is an adaptation of a Ray Bradbury story about a peculiar game played by young children.

It is a typical day in the New York home of the Morris family, and Mrs. Morris is busy with her usual routine. Her daughter, Mink, as well as all of the other young children, are intensely occupied by new, mysterious game called "Invasion." Mrs. Morris isn't bothered by the game until she gets a call from her friend in Connecticut and finds out that all of the kids are playing it there as well. When she learns that the game's "zero hour" is to be at 5:00 p.m. that day, she does begin to wonder what the kids are really up to. None of the other parents are worried about it, but they should be. The children have learned the game from the Martians that are planning to take over the Earth.

Escape's "Zero Hour" was adapted for radio and directed by Anthony Ellis. Paula Winslowe played Mrs. Morris and Isa Ashdown played Mink. John Dehner narrated. This episode aired on October 4, 1953.

. Download Escape_1953.10.04_Zero Hour.mp3

According to Martin Grams in Suspense: Twenty Years of Thrills and Chills, "Zero Hour" disturbed many listeners when it aired on Escape and CBS received thousands of letters and phone calls in response. Suspense brought the story back to the airwaves two years later on April 5, 1955. Isha Ashdown and Paula Winslowe returned to play the same roles. John Dehner again appeared as the narrator. Antony Ellis again produced/directed.

.  Download Suspense_1955.04.05_Zero Hour.mp3

Suspense aired the story again on May 18, 1958. William N. Robson produced/directed. Evelyn Rudie played Mink and Lillian Buyeff played Mrs. Morris.

. Download Suspense_1958.05.18_ZeroHour.mp3

Suspense aired this story for the last time on January 3, 1960. Francie Meyers played Mink and Ginger Jones played Mrs. Morris. Stuart Metz was the narrator and Paul Roberts produced/directed.

. Download Suspense_1960.01.03_Zero Hour.mp3   

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Suspense - Don't Call Me Mother

"Dont' Call Me Mother" is the story of a woman grasping to keep her son in her life--and her daughter-in-law out.

Agnes Moorehead plays Lori, a domineering single mom with a 25 year-old son named Larry. Lori thinks that the life that she and her son share is wonderful, but then Larry ruins it by getting a girlfriend. When he brings Roberta home to meet his mother, the meeting doesn't go well. Lori immediately begins a campaign of emotional blackmail to break them up, but it doesn't work. Larry and Roberta marry over his mother's objections, but when Larry has doubts about his new bride, he makes the mistake of going back to mother for advice.

"Don't Call Me Mother" was written/produced/directed by William N. Robson. Agnes Moorehead starred as Lori. Also featured were James McCallion and Cathy Lewis. This episode aired on January 4, 1959.

. Download suspense_1959.01.04_Don'tCallMeMother.mp3

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Suspense - Song of the Heart

"Song of the Heart" is the story of a stifled man and the suffocating, passive-aggressive aunt who raised him.

Van Heflin plays Neil Wilson, a young guy with an overburdened life. Neil was raised by Aunt Alice and as the episode opens, he is turning himself into the police. Neil tells them he has just killed his aunt.

The trouble started when Neil met Muriel Jones at the company picnic. Neil and Muriel fell in love instantly and wanted to marry, but his aunt refused to accept what was really happening. She didn't like Muriel, and she tried in a not-too-subtle way to communicate those feelings to Neil. Did he understand what his Aunt Alice was trying to tell him?

"Song of the Heart" was written for Suspense by Elliott Lewis and produced/directed by Anton Leader. Van Heflin starred as Neil and Betty Lou Gerson played Muriel. Lurene Tuttle played Aunt Alice.

. Download Suspense_1948.08.26_SongoftheHeart.mp3

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Escape - Present Tense

Escape's "Present Tense" has similarities to "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" but takes the story in a more nightmarish direction. In the introduction to this episode, the story is billed as James Poe's "seething tale of violent death." That it is.

Vincent Price plays a poet turned ax murderer named Roger who escapes while being transported to prison. When he returns to his home, Roger finds his wife Mary and her lover. He thought he had murdered them, but clearly they had just tricked him into believing that he did! So, Roger grabs a cleaver and gets his revenge. Then, he is convicted again, sent to prison again, sentenced to death again, escapes again, returns home again...

"Present Tense" was written for Escape by screenwriter James Poe and was produced/directed by William N. Robson.  Vincent Price starred as Roger, the cleaver-wheeling poet. Also appearing were: Charles McGraw, Joan Banks, Harry Bartell, and Ben Wright. This episode aired on January 31, 1950.

. Download escape_1950.01.31_ PresentTense.mp3   

Seven years later, William N. Robson presented this radio-play again on Suspense. The peppy music that accompanies this episode is distracting and the pace of the story is much faster. Vincent Price again played the role of Roger. Also appearing were Daws Butler, Jack Kruschen, Peg La Centra, Ellen Morgan, Sam Pierce, Charles Lavalack, and Joe DiSantis. This episode aired on March 3, 1957.

. Download Suspense_1957.03.03_PresentTense.mp3

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Suspense - Muddy Track

"The Muddy Track" is a radio noir about a bookie who is framed for the murder of a model.

Harry Clark is new in town and down on his luck. He is alone in a bar sipping a Coke when he is descended upon by Brandy. She takes a liking to him, buys him a bourbon, and soon his luck begins to change. Her "friend," Mr. Persian, arrives shortly afterwards and offers Harry a job as a bookie. Mr. Persian buys Harry another round, but this time Harry asks for a brandy. Mr. Persian warns Harry that, "Brandy lovers often die young."

Harry goes to work the next day, but when he finds Brandy murdered, he realizes he was set-up. Now Harry is on the run for a murder he didn't commit, but he can't get out of town without some help.

"The Muddy Track" was written by Buckley Angell and Bob Shelly. Anton M. Leader produced and directed. Academy-award winner Edmond O'Brien, in one of his four appearances on Suspense, starred as Harry. Ann Blyth starred as Eleanor Grayson. This episode aired on November 11, 1948.

.  Download Suspense_1948.11.11_Muddy_Track.mp3

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Suspense - The One Millionth Joe

In "The One Millionth Joe," a publicity stunt turns deadly when things don't go off as planned.

Al is a public relations man in Los Angeles. He came up with a promotional stunt for his client, the Bureau of Better Business Promotion, wherein the one millionth passenger through the airport would win an all-expenses paid whirl through the city.

As everyone gathers at the airport for the one millionth visitor to step through Gate 5, the surprise is on Al when two passengers arrive through the gate at the same moment. Then an argument ensues over who actually deserves the prize, and Al has to come up with an arrangement that will keep both of the prize-winners happy. As he gets to know the two winners, Al finds he has to negotiate a much more complicated deal than he expected.

"The One Millionth Joe" was written for radio by Sylvia Richards, produced by William Spier, and directed by Norman Macdonnell. Jack Carson, in one his five appearances on Suspense, starred as Al. This episode aired on June 22, 1950.

. Download Suspense_1950.06.22_TheOneMillionthJoe.mp3

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