Escape and Suspense!

Escape - Night of the Guns

In "Night of the Guns," two tourists have an adventure in Haiti when they are mistaken for revolutionary gun runners.

Josh Ford and Ryan Dixon, two young haberdashers from Pennsylvania, have left their old lives behind and sailed to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Shortly after their arrival, they receive a strange offer for the contents of their boat from a poet named Mr. Renee. They ignore him and go about their business sight-seeing without any more thought about it.

Later that day, they are introduced to the beautiful and alluring Bebe. She, too, is interested in the merchandise on their boat. Bebe invites them into a back room of a cantina to negotiate for more money, but when they get there, they find her murdered.

Josh and Ryan finally realize that their boat is being mistaken for another. They run away, but Mr. Renee quickly finds them. Soon they discover that Mr. Renee is a revolutionary, and that, on his heels, are the patriots who want all three of them dead.

"Night of the Guns" was written/directed by David Friedkin and Morton Fine. Featured in the cast were Herb Ellis, Byron Kane, Jack Kruschen, and Jay Novello. Also heard were Lillian Buyeff, Shep Menken, John Dehner, and Paula Pascal. This episode aired on July 31, 1954.

. Download Escape_1954-07-31 Night Of The Guns

(Image of the Citadel Laferrie in Haiti by Remi Kaupp.)

Suspense - To None a Deadly Drug

In "To None a Deadly Drug," a prescription goes wrong and endangers the life of a young boy.

As the episode opens, Cal Foster is about to close his pharmacy for the evening. His wife, Marian, impatiently waits for him to finish. She is eager to get him to a dinner dance, the first she has been able to drag him to in two years.

Before they can leave, a mother comes in to fill a prescription for her son, Tippy. Her husband is in the service and they are on their way to meet his ship. Cal fills the prescription, but while he steps away to take a call, Tippy and his mother walk away with the wrong medicine.

After they have driven away, Cal realizes the mistake. Tippy and his mother are on the road somewhere in California's Central Valley, but they didn't say where they were headed. Can Cal find them before it is too late?

"To None a Deadly Drug" was written by Hank Searls and produced/directed by Antony Ellis. Harry Bartell starred. Also appearing were Charlotte Lawrence, Hy Averback, Barbara Eiler, Jack Kruschen, Eve McVeagh, Sam Ogg, and John Stevenson. This episode aired on October 25, 1955.

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Suspense - Bitter Grapes

In "Bitter Grapes" a dying wife gets revenge on her cheating husband by poisoning his food  Then she finds out she isn't dying right away.

Lorna Blake, a woman with a heart problem, is certain that she is going to die.  Nevetheless, she takes her prescription to the drug store to be filled. While Lorna waits, she records a message for her husband, Warren, using the drug store's record-making machine. On it, Lorna tells Warren that she knows he has been cheating on her and that she has poisoned his food.

When Lorna picks up her prescription, she notices that she has been given enough medication for a year. When she calls her doctor, she discovers that she isn't on death's door and could live to an old age.

Realizing that recording a confession was a mistake, Lorna now has to find a way to get it back.

"Bitter Grapes" was written by Milton Geiger and produced/directed by Paul Roberts. Rita Lloyd played Lorna and Phil Meader played Warren. Also appearing were Arthur Cole, Teri Keane, John Seymour, Edgar Stehli, and Edwin Wolfe. This episode aired on May 1, 1960.

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Escape - A Sleeping Draught

Escape's "A Sleeping Draught" is based on a short story by Weston Martyr that appeared in The Argosy (UK) in November of 1937 (v. 22 #138).

As the episode opens, Captain Godfrey is about to set sail from London for Australia with a cargo of four hundred prisoners. Mr. Finch is the man in charge of the prisoners, a human cargo that he sees as nothing more than "murdering devils."

Captain Godfrey dislikes Mr. Finch and does not approve of how he treats the prisoners. Mr Finch on the other hand, tries to make the captain understand that not one of those prisoners can be trusted. They are the dregs of the London prisons and they have no scruples. 

Mr. Finch soon discovers that some of the prisoners have acquired knives, and the captain realizes just how dangerous the men really are.

"A Sleeping Draught" was adapted for radio by Antony Ellis and produced/directed by Norman MacDonell. Ben Wright starred as the captain. Also appearing were John Dodsworth, Bruce Payne, Anthony Barrett, John Dehner, and Lou Krugman. This episode aired on October 1, 1950.

. Download Escape_1950.10.01_A Sleeping Draught

This story was presented again on April 5, 1953. Antony Ellis produced/directed and Ben Wright again starred as the captain. Also appearing were John Dodsworth, Richard Peel, Charles Lung, Alec Harford, and Eric Snowden.

.  Download Escape_1953.04.03_ A Sleeping Draught

Three years later Antony Ellis produced and directed this story for Suspense on June 19, 1956. Ben Wright and Abraham Sofaer starred. Also appearing were Hans Conried, Stan Jones, Raymond Lawrence, Charles Lung, Eric Snowden.

. Download Suspense_1956.06.19_ A Sleeping Draught

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Suspense - The Face is Familiar

In "The Face is Familiar," Jack Benny stars as a man so common, so forgettable, that no one can remember his face or his name.

As the episode opens, Tom Jones is milling around the train station when he suddenly recognizes Harry Edmonds, an old friend from childhood. Harry has no memory of Tom and thinks he is a nuisance, but then Harry realizes that his forgettable friend just may be the perfect person to help him pull off a bank job.

"The Face is Familiar" was written for Suspense by Arthur Ross and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. Jack Benny, in his fourth and last appearance on Suspense, played Tom Jones. Sheldon Leonard played Harry and Clayton Post played Joe. Also appearing were Hy Averback, Herb Butterfield, Stanely Farrar, Joseph Kearns, and Jeane Wood. This episode aired on January 18, 1954.

. Download Suspense_1954.01.18_ The Face Is Familiar

This story was also presented on the television on General Electric Theater later that same year, and the results were much better. The radio version of this story is a bit flat, but the comedy is played up in the television version. (The gangsters get most of the laughs.) One of the highlights is the appearance of Joseph Kearns, who plays the bank teller that Jack Benny robs. Despite the annoying laugh track, this television version is fun to watch.

Here is a clip of scene that includes Joseph Kearns. If you want to watch this episode in its entirety, you will find it at the Internet Archive.

Suspense - Spoils for Victor

In "Spoils for Victor," a handsome actor is obligated to murder his rich wife to pay off his unscrupulous agent. 

Victor is an out-of-work Hollywood actor who accidentally meets Madeleine, a wealthy sugar heiress. When Victor learns that she is one of the wealthiest women in the world, he doesn't think he has a chance, but his agent, Barney, thinks otherwise. 

Barney advances Victor the money so that he can impress his new girlfriend, but he also expects Victor to make the most of this opportunity. If the two of them were to get married, then Victor would get half of her estate. If Madeleine were to then have an accident, Victor would get it all. Barney wants Victor to get it all-- so that he can take his ten percent.

Can Victor make it happen. Does he want to?

"Spoils for Victor" was written by Robert L. Richards. Suspense first presented this story with Dane Clark in the lead role on May 23, 1956, but there are no known recordings of that broadcast at this time.

Suspense presented this story again on May 24, 1959.  Robert Horton played Victor and Berry Kroeger played Barney. Also appearing were Joan Banks and Georgia Ellis. William N. Robson produced and directed.

.  Download Suspense_1959.05.24_Spoils for Victor

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Technical Difficulties

Hi Folks,

We are having some technical problems, and it iooks like we won't be able to post this week's new material as planned.

Yesterday, we most of the evening setting up our new computer, and today we aren't quite finished with all of the technical bits yet.

So, be patient with us this weekend, and we will be back in action early next week. In the meantime, you can browse our previously posted episodes, or take a moment to pre-order Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection 3, which is due out this week.

Thanks!

Christine

When Radio Was

Here is a segment from a television program about the history of radio. Not sure of the name of the television program (perhaps it was  Remember When...?), but the episode appears to be titled "When Radio Was." Dick Cavett was the host. 

The segment included below covers radio entertainment at night, and Suspense is the first show mentioned. Unfortunately, they don't go into much detail about the show, but there is a little bit of film footage of Peter Lorre performing part of his monologue from "Nobody Loves Me." 

If you are interested in watching the whole documentary you can find it in segments on YouTube.

Escape - When The Man Comes, Follow Him

"When the Man Comes, Follow Him" is the story of what happens when gangsters from the city decide to search for the legendary Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine in the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix, Arizona.

Mr. Heineman is a blind man who controls a syndicate. Pascal is his right-hand man... and his eyes. As the episode opens, Mr. Heineman recieves an unexpected visit from his brother, Mark. Most of the year, Mark prospects in the Arizona desert, but now, suddenly, he has arrived at his brother's apartment in San Francisco.

When Pascal opens the door, Mark stumbles in dazed, wounded, and mumbling about a "treasure of kings." He also has a map that he wants his brother to have. His only words of guidance to his brother about what it all means are "When the man comes, follow him..."

"When the Man Comes, Follow Him" was written by Ralph Bates and adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield.  Norman MacDonnell produced/directed. Paul Dubov starred as Pascal. Herb Butterfield played Mr. Heineman. Also appearing were Harry Bartell, Jeff Corey, Junius Matthews, and Barney Phillips. This episode aired on April 9, 1949.

. Download Escape_1949-04-09_WhentheManComesFollowHim

(This file may take longer to download) This recording of Escape is from Tennessee Bills OTR, where these incredible high quality recordings of Escape are available for free download. 

(Image from Wikipedia)

Suspense - See How He Runs

In "See How He Runs," Jim Backus plays a blind man who tries to escape from a syndicate that is out to kill him.

Poppy is the owner of a friendly neighborhood newspaper stand. He seems like a harmless blind man, but his past record tells a different story. He runs numbers on the side, but he doesn't have any trouble with the police until one of his customers is murdered by gunman after leaving his stand. Was Poppy involved in setting up the hit?

The police pull Poppy in to question him, but he won't talk. He wants no part of it, but the word on the street is that Poppy was involved. Now, "the syndicate" has put out a hit on him. The police tell Poppy that he is on his own; they have no reason to help him.

Without eyes to see who is after him, can Poppy navigate his way to safety?

"See How He Runs" was written by George Bamber and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Jim Backus starred as Poppy. Also appearing were Norm Alden, Dick Beals, Barney Phillips, Sam Pierce, Gail Bonney, and Lou Krugman. This episode aired on April 19, 1959.

. Download Suspense_1959.04.19_See How He Runs

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Suspense - The Big Shot

In "The Big Shot," a baby-faced engineer takes a job with an illegal mining operation in Mexico.

As the episode opens, Charlie Morton arrives by bus in a remote Mexican village. Morton is happily greeted by Quinn, the boss of the mining operation that hired him. 

Quinn soon discovers that his new engineer is qualified for the job but touchy about his youthful appearance. Very touchy.

Quinn already has his crew mining a rich vein of gold quartz up in the mountains, and Morton's job is to set up a stamping mill. Their objective is to quickly mine the gold and then quietly smuggle it of Mexico. The trick is, that they have to do this without the locals, the bandits, or the government discovering their operation. 

"The Big Shot" was based on a story by Brett Halliday and adapted for radio by Lawrence Goldman. Burt Lancaster, in the first of his two appearances on Suspense, starred as Charlie Morton. Also appearing were Gerald Mohr and Cathy Lewis. This episode aired on September 9, 1948.

.  Download Suspense_1948.09.09_The Big Shot

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Escape - Sundown

"Sundown" is a tale set in the Old West about a young man who loses his horse to an outlaw and vows revenge.

As the episode opens, two men come upon a family that has met with disaster while crossing the desert. The only survivor is a five year old boy named Ben Ford. One of the men, Dan, then decides to care for him as his own.

When Ben is older, Dan lets him have has own horse. Ben loves his horse more than anything, but one day, an outlaw named Kirby Hunsinger steals the animal. Ben goes after him, and later finds his beloved horse has been abandoned with a broken leg. Ben then asks Dan for a gun.

Young Ben dreams of his revenge on Hunsinger and waits for his chance. Years later, when word finally comes that Hunsinger is in Flagstaff, Ben rides off to have a showdown. Dan trails him, but he can't talk Ben out of a his long-awaited duel at sundown.

"Sundown" was written by Joel Murcott and producted/directed by William N. Robson. Sam Edwards played Ben and Barton Yarborough played Dan. Also appearing were Will Geer, Ted Osborne, John Ramsey Hill, Paul Frees, and John Dehner. This episode aired on June 23, 1950.

.  Download Escape_1950.06.23_Sundown

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Suspense - America's Boyfriend

In "America's Boyfriend," the wife of a former Hollywood star tries to find the "pretty lady" their two year old son keeps mentioning to her.

Dickie Keith is a former child-star who is now a washed-up actor. His wife works and pays all of the bills, while Dickie takes care of their son during the day. She is resentful, but her thirty-three year old husband continues to believe that he is convincing as a teenage actor.

During an unpleasant meeting with his agent, Dickie is finally told that he has become unemployable. Dickie then assaults his agent, Harry Landman, but not very effectively. 

Later, when Landman's murdered body is discovered, the police quickly suspect Dickie. He seems to have disappeared, but perhaps the "pretty lady" their son talks about can help.

"America's Boyfriend" was written by Sydney Renthal and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Mercedes McCambridge starred.  This episode aired on July 21, 1957.

. Download Suspense_1957.07.21_AmericasBoyfriend

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Suspense - Waiting

In "Waiting," a wife spends an evening with her religious mother and her suspicious sister-in-law while waiting for her husband's impending execution.

Eileen is the wife of Norman Landon, a man sentenced to death for murder. Norman's marriage to Eileen was unhappy, so he turned to another woman. When his girlfriend was found murdered, Norman was convicted of the crime although several witnesses said they saw another person at the scene.

As the clock ticks towards the hour of his execution, Norman's wife, mother-in-law, and sister argue over his guilt and his faults. Did he really do it?

"Waiting" was written, produced, and directed by Antony Ellis. Vivi Janiss, Helen Kleeb, and Charlotte Lawrence starred. This episode aired on February 22, 1955.

.  Download Suspense_1955.02.22_Waiting

This story was aired again on October 2, 1956. Vivi Janiss, Paula Winslowe, and Charlotte Lawrence starred.

.  Download Suspense_1956.10.02_Waiting

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