Escape and Suspense!

Support the Kickstarter Campaign for a Dr. Demento Documentary

If you are like me, you grew up listening to Dr. Demento on the radio...and some of those songs are probably still stuck in your head. For me, it was the "Cowpasture Polka".

Thanks to Dr. Demento, I've had this song stuck in my head for three decades.

 

Nevertheless, I encourage you to support the Kickstarter campaign for a feature-length documentary about radio legend, Dr. Demento. The deadline for funding the project is May 4th, so do it soon! There are many levels of pledges available and some interesting  and unique thank-you gifts.

The film is titled "Under the Smogberry Trees: The True Story of Dr. Demento". You can read more about this project and pledge your support on their Kickstarter page.  

Your donation will help preserve radio history and spread the joy of Dr. Demento to film audiences everywhere. What could be better?

Check out the project's Kickstarter video below:

 

Suspense - Murder by an Expert

In "Murder by an Expert," Lynn Bari stars as a dancer who tries to frame her brother-in-law for the murder of her husband.

As the episode opens, it is late and Edith is about to set her plan in motion. She wakes her husband, Bob, and tells him that they are expected at an audition. Though he didn't hear the phone, he believes that their agent called and agrees to go.

Then Edith phones her brother-in-law, Jimmy. She tells him that she and Bob have been fighting and that they are likely to break-up. Jimmy tells her not to worry, he will be right over to help!

Next, Edith and Bob prepare to leave for their audition. As Bob is packing their costumes, she attacks him, and sets her plan in motion to get rid of Bob and marry their agent...

But, is her agent so hot to marry her? 

"Murder by an Expert" was written by John Shaw and produced/directed by William Spier. Lynn Bari starred. Also appearing were Hans Conried, Jerry Hausner, Wally Maher, Jack Webb, and Sidney Miller. This episode aired on July 24, 1947.  

Download Suspense_1947-07-24_MurderByAnExpert_

(Image of Lynn Bari)

 

Suspense - Beware the Quiet Man

In "Beware the Quiet Man," Ann Sothern stars as a woman who decides to change her ways...unless it is already too late.

As the episode opens, Margie arrives at a bar to meet her boyfriend, but instead, she is informed that he will be an hour late. So, she calls her husband and tells him a lie that will buy her more time.

However, there is another man at the bar who wants to buy her a drink, and after a little pushing from the bartender, she agrees.

That is how she meets Lem, a private investigator. He is working on a case that involves a wife cheating on her mousy, bank teller husband. As Lem tries to impress her with the danger of his job and the violent nature of his client...Margie becomes more and more concerned about the similarities between the case he is describing and her own mousy, bank teller husband.

Did Margie's husband hire him, or is it all just coincidence?

"Beware the Quiet Man" was written by Toby Hall and produced/directed by Anton M. Leader. Ann Sothern and William Conrad starred. The names of the other actors aren't given. This episode aired on August 12, 1948. 

 . Download Suspense_1948-08-12_BewareTheQuietMan_

Suspense - The Fountain Plays

Suspense's "The Fountain Plays" was adapted from the 1933 short story by Dorothy L. Sayers. The original text can be found in Hangman's Holiday (1933) or Dorothy L. Sayers: The Complete Stories (2003). The radio adaptation added a few things to flesh out this short story for a half hour program. Nevertheless, the overall adaptation and dramatization are interesting.

As the episode opens, Mr. Archie Spiller is hosting a small party at his home. He stands in front of the new water fountain in his garden with Mr. Gooch, one of his guests. Mr. Spiller is enchanted with ornamental water, but Mr. Gooch thinks it is a waste of money. Mr. Gooch wants to discuss other things, but soon, the other guests arrive and interrupt their discussion.

As the evening progresses, Mr. Gooch drinks heavily and becomes even more disagreeable. Mr. Spiller's daughter can't understand why he puts up with being treated so badly by his own guest. No matter how unpleasant Mr. Gooch is, Mr. Spiller brushes it off.

At the end of the night, after everyone else has gone to bed, Mr. Gooch becomes even more unpleasant and demanding. This time, Mr. Spiller reacts differently, and the problem of Mr. Gooch...is suddenly gone.

He is, however, soon replaced by an entirely new problem.

"The Fountain Plays" was adapted for radio by Robert L. Richards, directed by Ted Bliss, and produced by William Spier. Edmund Gwenn starred. Also appearing were Dennis Hoey, Wendy Barrie, and Ian Wolfe. This episode aired on August 10, 1943. 

. Download Suspense_1943-08-10_The_Fountain_Plays_wEdmundGwenn UPGRADE-2-OTRR 2

Suspense presented this story a second time on November 23, 1944. Charles Laughton starred as Mr. Spiller. Dennis Hoey again played Mr. Gooch. Also appearing were Norma Varden and Ian Wolfe.  William Spier produced and directed.

. Download Suspense_1944-11-23_TheFountainPlays_wCharlesLaughton UPGRADE-OTRR 2

(Image of first edition of Hangman's Holiday from Wikipedia)

Suspense - The Cave of Ali Baba

Suspense's "The Cave of Ali Baba," was closely adapted from the short story of the same name by Dorothy L. Sayers. You can find the original text in the book, Dorothy L. Sayers-The Complete Stories (2002), or Lord Peter: The Complete Lord Peter Wimsey Stories (1986).

This episode relates one adventure in the life of Lord Peter Wimsey, the fictional crime-solving character of Sayers'  novels and short stories. The time of this particular case, in which Lord Peter comes back from the dead to infiltrate a secret organization, is December, 1927. 

As the episode opens, Joseph Rogers is eating kippers and reading the paper on a Saturday afternoon. Suddenly, a noise at the door gets his attention. When he investigates, he finds that an envelope has been left on the hatstand of his hallway. It contains an invitation and a password to a general meeting that evening--one that he must attend... 

Mr. Rogers then begins meticulous preparations for his evening out. Why would he need to go to so much trouble?

"The Cave of Ali Baba" was adapted for radio by Peter Lyon, directed by Robert Lewis Shayon, and produced by William Spier. Bernard Herrmann did the score. Berry Kroeger was the announcer.

Stage actor/director/writer/producer Romney Brent starred as Peter Wimsey, and also appearing, was an unusual group of actors that did not normally appear on Suspense. Perhaps they were chosen by Brent for this performance. They are a collection of Broadway stage actors and silent/early film performers: William Malten, Ara Gerald, Cathleen Cordell, Victor Beecroft, Roland Bottomley, J.W. Austin, William Podmoor, and Ian Martin. This episode aired August 19, 1942.

. Download Suspense_1942-08-19_The_Cave_of_Ali_Baba_Suspense-OTRR 2

Romney Brent later appeared in a couple of episodes of the Suspense television series, The Cask of Amontillado (1949) and All Hallows Eve (1952). Like Brent, some of the other actors in this episode went on to work in early television:

Suspense - The Burning Court

Suspense's "The Burning Court" was the second episode of the series. It aired on June 17, 1942, two years after the pilot episode of the series began with "The Lodger."

"The Burning Court" was adapted from the controversial 1937 novel of the same name by John Dickson Carr, master of the "locked room mystery." What made the book controversial was the inclusion of supernatural elements. 

By picking this particular story and author, the producers of Suspense set the tone for the series. In the introduction to this episode, the announcer, Berry Kroeger, gives an overview of what could be expected from Suspense in the coming weeks. (Little did they know the show would go on for another twenty years.)

Their radio adaptation does not follow the book exactly, but it left in the supernatural element at the end.

As the episode opens,  the writer, Gaudan Cross, is a guest in the home of Mr. Despas. He finishes a glass of sherry and addresses the people assembled there. He claims that he knows who murdered the uncle of Mr. Despas!

What is he saying? How does he know? Mr. Cross tells them that it all began after he finished his book about famous poisoners. The manuscript was then given to Mr. Ted Stevens, who works for his publisher. Mr. Stevens began reading the manuscript and opened to the section about a 17th poisoner named Marie D'Aubray, and there he saw a picture...of his wife!

How could that be? Mr. Cross will explain...

"The Burning Court" was adapted for radio Harold Medford and produced directed by Charles Vanda. Charles Ruggles and Julie Haydon.  

. Download Suspense_1942-06-17_The_Burning_Court_

Suspense presented this story a second time on June 14, 1945, but with a number of changes to the details and story. The two versions are quite different. William Spier produced and directed. Clifton Webb starred.

. Download Suspense_1945-06-14_The_Burning_Court_wCliftonWebb