Listen to this episode with the lights off.
In this story about a stunt that goes wrong, radio personality Smiley Smith and paranormal investigator, Dr. Reed tour a haunted house in Malibu, California. Their experiences are recorded for playback on Smith's show. The house, known as "The Death Trap," has a bad reputation because four of its residents have committed suicide.
"Ghost Hunt" was adapted for Suspense by Walter Newman from an original story by the renowned ghost story writer Herbert Russell Wakefield. Newman later went on to have three of his screenplays nominated for Academy Awards. Ralph Edwards, who starred as Smiley Smith, was the creator of Truth or Consequences,This is Your Life, Name That Tune and The People''s Court. According to the website of Ralph Edwards Productions, "At least one Ralph Edwards’ show has been on radio or television every year for the past 65 - a feat unmatched in Hollywood." Joseph Kearns starred as Dr. Reed and Paul Frees, the voice of the "Ghost Host" at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, was the Suspense announcer.
Suspense aired this episode on June 23, 1949.
Download Suspense.6.23.1949.GhostHunt.mp3
Image from Haunted America Tours.
It's fun to listen to Ralph Edwards in top form as he slowly goes gaga. ; ) Great episode!
Posted by: Rich | October 06, 2007 at 12:03 AM
Hey there, I damn well LOVE this site! Kudos!
I've heard quite a few of the Escape episodes (my favourite radio series), but was also delighted to see this Suspense episode based on a short story by H.R. Wakefield, one of my favourite writers of ghost stories and horror tales. However, this radio episode has a few elements of two of his short stories, I think: one is "Blind Man's Buff" (being in a pitch dark room, with something brushing the character's face...maybe, um, a bat. and yes, "buff" is the right spelling), and the second is "The Red Lodge" (a number of menacing figures/ghosts looking at oneself, and a history of people killing themselves by running into water - though it was a river in this tale, not over the edge of a cliff and into the ocean). The former short story is a great little tale with a great ending. But I should note that "The Red Lodge" is probably one of the most goddamned creepy ghost stories ever. Just thinking about it truly gives me chills, it has so many memorable moments. The atmosphere of menace that Wakefield creates for that one is great. Seek it out!
Anyway, just a little curious notation. Thanks!
Posted by: Armand S. | February 19, 2008 at 11:43 PM
First of all, Ralph Edwards is absolutely fantastic here.
This a great, spooky story. Yes, I listened with the lights off! :-)
Posted by: Grigs | March 01, 2008 at 10:40 PM