Escape and Suspense!

Escape - The Time Machine

Escape's adaptation of The Time Machine takes liberties with H.G. Wells' famous story, but it is still a good adventure tale.

Unlike the original story, which only had one time traveller, Escape's version has two, Dudley and Fowler. Dudley is the inventor of the time machine, and he invites the skeptical Fowler to take a trip with him. They travel from the year 1948 to the year 100,080.

When they arrive in the future they find themselves in an unfamiliar, pastoral world populated by a child-like race of humans called the Eloi. The travellers are welcomed, and everything seems pleasant until they realize that their time machine is missing.

Soon they discover that the Eloi are not the only race of humans in the future. The Morlocks, an underground race of humans who live in darkness, are the true masters of this world.

If you want to read the original text, The Time Machine (1895) by H.G. Wells, it is available online at Wikisource. The chapter that was excluded from the book and later published under the title "The Grey Man" is also available.

Escape first presented "The Time Machine" on May 9, 1948. The story was adapted for radio by Academy-award nominated screenwriter Irving Ravetch and was produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. Eric Rolf starred as Fowler, Jeff Corey played Dudley and Kay Brinker played Weena.

. Download Escape.1948.05.09_The_Time_Machine.mp3

Escape's second presentation of this radioplay is better than the first. John Dehner played the role of Fowler, Lawrence Dobkin played Dudley, and Georgia Ellis appeared as Weena. This episode aired on October 22, 1950.

.  Download Escape.1950.10.22_The_Time_Machine.mp3

(Image of the first edition cover of The Time Machine from Wikipedia)

Suspense - The Old Man

In "The Old Man," Suspense takes us to Times Square in New York City for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. The new year, 1962, is still six hours away, but the crowds are already out on the streets, ready to celebrate the passage of the old year to the new. We hear the sounds of the city as a CBS radio news reporter describes the scene around him.

Next, we are transported to the New Year's celebration in the heavenly realms of the Office of Time. "The Director" and his secretary are discussing the plans for that night's farewell ceremony for the old year. She thinks it is a shame that the Old Man has to be shoved out of the organization in favor of an infant, but "The Director" tells her that "when a man's job is done, he must step aside."

Old Man 1961 doesn't agree with his boss and refuses to retire. He wants to stay on the job and make a better name for himself.

"The Old Man" was written by Bob Corcoran. Leon Janney starred as the Old Man and "The Director" was played by Reynold Osborne. Also appearing were: Ralph Camargo, Ivor Francis, Larry Haines , Rita Lloyd, Guy Repp, and Lawson Zerbe. This episode aired on December 31, 1961.

.  Download Suspense_1961.12.31_OldMan.mp3

(Image from MorgueFile.com)

Suspense - The Too Perfect Alibi

Suspense's "The Too Perfect Alibi" stars Danny Kaye as man with an obsession for his friend's fiance.

Danny Kaye plays Sam, the sweetest friend a couple could ever have. Jack and Catherine think he is wonderful, but honestly, Jack thinks Sam is too wonderful. Sam gives them a house for a wedding present, he gives Catherine a high-paying job, and he always picks up the tab when they do things together. All of this annoys Jack because it makes him look cheap.

Sam doesn't care what Jack thinks. He is consumed with a fairy tale perception of love, and he is determined to get Catherine for himself. The first part of Sam's plan to win Catherine involves getting rid of Jack, but the first part of his plan goes too well. As a result, the second part doesn't work out the way it was supposed to.

"The Too Perfect Alibi" was written by Martin Stern and produced/directed by Anton M. Leader. This was the first of two appearances that Danny Kaye made on Suspense. Also appearing were Hy Averback, Wally Maher, John McIntire, and Paul Frees. This episode aired on January 13, 1949.

.  Download Suspense_1949.01.13_TheTooPerfectAlibi.mp3

(Image from Morguefile.com)

Merry Christmas!

Hope Santa brought you everything you wanted. Enjoy your holiday!

-Christine

Escape - The Cave

Escape's "The Cave" is a Christmas fantasy tale about two young boys on a strange adventure. One of the boys, Dan, has just received a flashlight for Christmas and is eager to try it out. He and his friend, George, decide to test it in the large cave down by the seashore. They know that it is dangerous in the cave and that they could get lost -- but they do it anyway.  Once inside, they decide to look for treasure left behind by pirates.

As Dan and George are exploring the tunnels inside the cave, they come across a stream. There is a delicate hankerchief floating along in the stream, and they decide to track where it came from. They follow the stream until the walls of the cave disappear and stars appear overhead. Yet, they know they are still in the cave because of the echo.

Soon they realize that there are other people in the cave as well,... pirates!

"The Cave" was written by Antony Ellis and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. John Dehner was the voice of Dan, the narrator of the story. Also featured were: Georgia Ellis, Peggy Webber, Jay Novello, Charlie Lung, Lou Krugman, Wilms Herbert, and Eileen Erskine. This episode aired on December 24, 1950.

. Download Escape.1950.12.24_The_Cave.mp3

Five years later, Antony Ellis produced/directed his radioplay for Suspense with improvements in the music, dialogue, and presentation. Richard Beals and Billy Chapin starred. Also appearing were Hans Conried, Lawrence Dobkin, Ben Wright, Raymond Lawrence, and Ellen Morgan. John Dehner again played Dan as an adult.  This episode aired on December 20, 1955.

.  Download Suspense_1955.12.20_TheCave.MP3

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Suspense - Beyond Good and Evil

Suspense's "Beyond Good and Evil" gives us Joseph Cotten in the story of an escaped prisoner, who murders a minister and assumes his identity.

The episode begins with church bells and a young reverend named Dr. Howard Pierce. He is visiting the home of his parish's previous minister, Dr. McKillip, who was paralyzed by a stroke. Dr. McKillip is unable to speak or to move, and Dr. Pierce has been making regular visits since the stroke occurred three months earlier.

Soon we realize that Dr. Pierce isn't what he pretends to be. His real name is Philip Gentry and he murdered Dr. Pierce after escaping from the state penitentiary. Dr. McKillip is the only person in town who knows the truth, but he is unable to communicate that information to anyone. Meanwhile, Philip Gentry torments the helpless man by flaunting his sins in front of him. On this night, Philip Gentry has come to say goodbye. He plans to leave town, but before he does, he has a few wicked things he wants to tell Dr. McKillip. 

"Beyond Good and Evil" was written by Academy-award winning screenwriter Ben Hecht and adapted for Suspense by Douglas Whitney. Joseph Cotten played the Reverend Pierce. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Joseph Kearns, Herbert Butterfield, Wally Maher, and Jane Morgan. This episode aired on October 11, 1945.

. Download Suspense_1945.10.11_BeyondGoodandEvil.mp3

This radioplay was presented again with Vincent Price in the role of the Reverend Pierce on July 17, 1947. Unfortunately, no recording of that episode is known to exist at this time.

(Image from Morguefile.com)

Suspense - Yuletide Miracle

Suspense's "Yuletide Miracle" is a tale about a Christmas ghost named Sir Benjamin and a parolee named Chris.

As the story opens, Chris attempts to dodge his parole officer by hiding in a mission hall for the poor. Inside the lonely shelter, he meets a young man named Tommy, who is ill and knows that he will be unable to get home for Christmas. He asks Chris to deliver the presents to his mother and sister, and then he dies.

Chris doesn't take the request too seriously until Sir Benjamin materializes. He explains to Chris that he has a responsibility to follow through on the young man's last wish.

"Yuletide Miracle" was written for Suspense by John Roberts and starred Santos Ortega and Larry Haines. Also appearing were Joe DiSantis, Bill Lipton, Rosemary Rice, and Katherine Rott.

This episode aired on December 17, 1961.

.  Download Suspense_1961.12.17_YuletideMiracle.mp3

(Image from Morguefile.com)

Escape - A Study in Wax

Escape's "A Study in Wax" takes place in a snowbound cabin in the northern Canadian wilderness. The story is set at Christmas-time, but it isn't a typical Christmas tale. This is a story about two coworkers, alone in the Arctic, who must endure each other's company for seven months.

As the story opens in late October, the two men watch a government supply boat depart. They have been left behind to work on a Canadian geodetic survey, and now, they are on their own until the spring. Adding to their isolation is the accidental loss of their radio transmitter. With no connection to the outside world, one of them slowly goes mad.

"A Study in Wax" was written/produced/directed by Antony Ellis. William Conrad, played Jack and Stacy Harris played Larry Kovel. This episode aired on February 1, 1953.

.  Download Escape_02.01.1953_AStudyinWax.mp3

Two years later, Antony Ellis presented this story again on Suspense. William Conrad and Stacy Harris again appeared as Jack and Larry. This episode aired on August 16, 1955.

.  Download Suspense_1955.08.16_AStudyInWax.mp3

(Image from Morguefile.com)

Suspense - Return Trip

Suspense's "Return Trip" is a vivid tale of three nervous passengers on a bus trip down a mountain road in a blizzard. The bus has just left an isolated mental asylum in the mountains and has to travel fifty miles to return to civilization. Why are the passengers so nervous?  Shortly after leaving the asylum, the bus was stopped by policemen looking for an escaped inmate. The police warned the bus driver not to go down the road, but the passengers wanted to keep going.

If they had stayed, they might have been snowbound at the asylum for days, but now they run the risk of meeting the escaped lunatic on the road.

"Return Trip" was written for Suspense by Maurice Zimm and was produced/directed by William Spier. Elliott Reid, in one of his six appearances on Suspense, starred as the bus driver. Also featured were Cathy Lewis, Wally Maher, and Raymond E. Lawrence. This episode aired on June 27, 1946.

.  Download Suspense_1946.06.27_Return_Trip.mp3

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Suspense - A Present for Benny

Suspense's "A Present for Benny" is yet another story about a time-bomb that goes missing, but it is also an endearing Christmas story about making friends with your enemies.

This is a tale of two neighborhood gangsters who want each other out of the way. As the story opens, Ricky McQueen reads aloud from a letter of holiday greetings that he has received from Machine-Gun Benny.  In it, Benny explains that he and his boys plan to bump Ricky off the next time they see him. Ricky, in response, decides to send Benny a Christmas present -- the kind that goes "BOOM!"

While this is going on, Ricky's wife is steadily campaiging for the Christmas present she wants the most, an ermine coat. When Ricky does buy her the coat, he asks the salesman at the department store for an extra box. His plan is to put the bomb in the extra box and have the store deliver it the next day. So now, he has two presents wrapped in identical boxes. One box contains the gift for his wife, and one contains the present for Benny. Do the two boxes get mixed up? Of course they do.

"A Present for Benny" was written, produced and directed by Antony Ellis.  Jack Kruschen starred as Ricky. Also appearing were Eve McVeagh, Stacy Harris, Joseph Kearns, Junius Matthews, and Benny Rubin. This episode aired on December 13, 1955.

.  Download Suspense_1955.12.13_APresentforBenny.mp3

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Escape - Back for Christmas

Escape's "Back for Christmas" was adapted from the short story of the same name by John Collier. Both Escape and Suspense presented this tale but without the gruesome elements of the original work. The radio dramatizations also added extra scenes to fill the half-hour format.

The story begins in England, inside the house of a professor of botany named Herbert Carpenter. He and his wife, Hermione, are soon to leave for an extended trip to America, where he will be lecturing.

Hermione is a shrew who keeps her husband under her constant control. She has planned every detail of their trip with precision and, to her annoyance, Herbert is not conforming with her plan. Instead, he is wasting time on a botanical project in their cellar. He is also lingering too long at the bookshop to chat with the bookseller, Miss Markham.

Hermione has promised all of their friends that they will be back for Christmas, but if Herbert has his way -- she won't be.

"Back for Christmas" was adapted for radio by Robert Tallman. Paul Frees played Herbert and Hermione was played by Eleanor Audley. As a matter of trivia, both Frees and Audley provided voices for Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. Frees was the voice of the "Ghost Host" and Audley was the voice of Madame Leota. Eleanor Audley also provided the voices for two of Disney's most famous villainesses, the wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine, in Cinderella and the evil fairy, Maleficent, in Sleeping Beauty. This episode aired on December 24, 1947.

.  Download Escape_1947.12.24_BackforChristmas.mp3

The radioplay performed on Escape had originally aired on Suspense on December 23, 1943. Peter Lorre played the role of the professor and his rendition of the hen-pecked husband gone mad is classic. The name of the actress who played Hermione is not given, but it was probably Jeanette Nolan.

. Download Suspense_1943.12.23_BackForChristmas.mp3

Suspense presented this story for the second time on December 23, 1948. Herbert Marshall starred as the professor. Again, the name of the actress playing Hermione isn't given, but it was probably Jeanette Nolan. Betty Lou Gerson, who played the bookseller in this episode, provided the voice for another famous Disney villainess. She was the original Cruella Da Ville in One Hundred and One Dalmations.

. Download Suspense_1948.12.23_BackForChristmas.mp3

Suspense presented "Back for Christmas" for the third time on December 23, 1956. For this presentation, the script was reworked. Herbert Marshall  again starred as the professor. Also appearing were Ellen Morgan, Jack Moyles, Irene Tedrow, Paula Winslowe and Ben Wright.

.  Download Suspense_1956.12.23_BackforChristmas.mp3

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Suspense - Pink Camellias

"Pink Camellias" begins with weepy violin music, and the woeful story of a woman named Martha. Orphaned at a young age, she has spent her life in servitude to her invalid aunt, Abby. Martha's joyless life has turned her into a drab spinster, but she has become accustomed to it.

Into this situation, appears Neil, the nephew of Aunt Abby's second husband. Things brighten up for Martha, and she immediately falls in love with this handsome stranger. Martha knows that Neil is only after her aunt's money, but she doesn't mind.

As it turns out, Neil does take a liking to Martha, but in an insincere sort of way. Together, the two of them decide that the fastest route to a happy future means clearing their path of the crabby aunt upstairs. We know that Aunt Abby is in trouble, but does she? It seems that all she cares about is complaining and eating cream cakes.

"Pink Camellias" was written by Charmine McGurk and starred film and television actress Marsha Hunt as Martha. Verna Felton played Aunt Abby and Wendell Holmes played Neil. This episode aired on December 27, 1945.

.  Download Suspense.1945.12.27_PinkCamillias.mp3

(Image of Marsha Hunt in Cry Havoc (1943) from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - Christmas for Carol

Suspense's "Christmas for Carol" is a Christmas tear-jerker, but a smart one. This is an episode about listening to your conscience and acting upon your better instincts.

Paul is a bank teller with a pregnant wife who needs a home-nurse. He doesn't have enough money to hire one, but he is determined to find a way. His childhood friend, Eddie, offers him a job, but Paul refuses. Eddie is a bookie who is always in trouble with the law. Paul doesn't want a life of crime, but he would consider doing one clean and quick job to get the money he needs.

That opportunity comes when one of Paul's customers at the bank, Mr. Forbes, withdraws all of his funds. Mr. Forbes is going to surprise his wife on Christmas with the news that he is retiring and that they are moving to the country. Foolishly, he is keeping the money hidden inside of his house, and Paul knows where Mr. Forbes lives. Paul asks Eddie to put him in touch with Rocky, a local hoodlum with an excellent track record for not getting caught. He wants Rocky to join him on what he thinks will be an easy and foolproof burglary.

The two of them successfully break into the house, but Paul has a change of heart. He goes back to set things right, but the older couple is smarter than he realizes.

"Christmas for Carol" starred actor/singer Dennis Day as Paul. (At the end of the episode he sings "Noel.") Also appearing were Elliott Lewis, Ed Max, Sidney Miller, Joseph Kearns, and Jeannette Nolan. This episode aired on December 21, 1950.

.  Download Suspense_1950.12.21_ChristmasForCarol.mp3

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Escape - The Voyages of Sinbad

Escape's "The Voyages of Sinbad" is an abbreviated version of the tales of "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor" taken from The Book of One Thousand and One Nights. More specifically, it is taken from the 1885 English translation, The Book of Thousand Nights and a Night: A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights Entertainments by Sir Richard F. Burton. Volume 6 of Burton's 10 volume work covers the Sinbad stories. If you are interested, the text is available online at www.wollamshram.ca.

Escape's version retains most of the original introduction to the story, although the woman narrating isn't identified as Scheherazade. The story is set in Baghdad, where a poor man named Sinbad the Porter stops to admire the stately home of Sinbad the Sailor. He is invited inside, and Sinbad the Sailor then tells his guest of his adventures at sea. Escape's version dramatizes Sinbad's fourth voyage, wherein he is buried alive, and adds part of of his fifth voyage, wherein he is enslaved by the Old Man of the Sea.

The end differs from the original in that Sinbad the Sailor generously gives the less fortunate Sinbad a place in his home and relieves his burden of poverty.

"The Voyages of Sinbad" was adapted and directed by Antony Ellis. Ben Wright starred as Sinbad the Sailor and Parley Baer played Sinbad the Porter. This episode aired on June 7, 1953.

. Download Escape.1953.06.07_TheVoyagesofSinbad.mp3 

The sound quality of this recording makes it difficult to hear some of the dialogue.

(Image of Scheherazade from Wikimedia Commons)

Suspense - Bells

"Bells" is the story of a young couple and their hope of finding the perfect place to live. The wife, Lucy, believes that through the help of her guardian angel she has been guided to an advertisement for a country cottage with an affordable monthly rent. Her husband, Henry, doesn't believe that she is psychic or that she has a guardian angel, but he desperately wants to get out of their lousy apartment. So, he agrees to follow up on the ad.

When they meet the rental agent, everything about the country cottage seems perfect. The rental agent seems a bit nervous when the subject of the previous renters comes up and mutters his way out of that discussion.

The night they move into the new house, there is a terrible storm. Their phone starts to ring over and over again, but the operator swears that she isn't sending any calls through to their phone. When they receive another call and the voice on the other end tells them to go, Henry rips the phone out the wall. Yet, the phone continues to ring. Next, the doorbell starts to ring. Perhaps the rent was so low because the cottage is haunted?

"Bells" was written by Jack Bundy and starred Rosemary Rice and Bill Lipton. This episode aired on August 6, 1961.

.  Download Suspense_1961.08.06_ Bells.mp3

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