Escape and Suspense!

Escape - The Heart of Kali

In Escape's "The Heart of Kali," a man becomes obsessed with stealing a priceless ruby from an Indian temple.

The episode opens in a bar on the San Francisco waterfront in 1946. A former soldier named Danny tells the bartender, Whitey, about  a temple in India where there is a valuable ruby guarded only by an old man. He asks Whitey for the money to go back and get it, but Whitey tells him that he hears these kinds of stories all the time.

Danny leaves the bar dejected but soon discovers a boat leaving for India. He has no money, so he goes back to the bar. Whitey tells him to leave, but this time he asks the proprietor for help. When Danny is refused again, he gets angry and kills the proprietor. Then, he steals the money and sails away.

When Danny arrives in India, he hires a guide to take him to the place where his battalion camped during the war, ten miles northwest of Tinsukia. At that point, he kills the guide and makes his way on his own way to the Temple of Kali.

Once there, he quickly makes his move toward the statue of Kali and the old man who guards the temple. When he reaches for the ruby heart of the statue...

"The Heart of Kali" was written by Ross Murray and directed by David Friedkin and Morton Fine. Paul Richards and Edgar Barrier were featured. Also appearing were Jack Kruschen, Clayton Post, Lou Merrill, Herb Butterfield, Lou Krugman, and Paul Frees. This episode aired on September 25, 1954.

. Download Escape_1954-09-25 The Heart Of Kali

"The Heart of Kali" (episode #229) was Escape's last. At the end of the show, William Conrad says a few words about the series.

(Image from Wikipedia)

Escape - One Eighth Apache (re-creation)

Escape's "One Eighth Apache" is a lost episode that aired on June 28, 1953. No recordings of that broadcast are known to exist at this time. What we do have, however, is an excellent re-creation of the original script by the American Radio Theater.

 

 

"One Eighth Apache" was first re-recreated by SPERDVAC (The Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety, and Comedy) in 1995 with original cast members and sound effects artists from Escape. Based on that performance, the American Radio Theater later decided to perform the story, using their own actors, in 2005. Part of the mission of the ART is to preserve old time radio stories by giving lost episodes a new voice.

"One Eighth Apache" was adapted from a 1913 short story by American novelist Peter B. Kyne (1880-1957) and adapted for Escape by Larry Roman.

The American Radio Theater's version was directed by Paul Feavel. Christopher Conrad, son of William Conrad, appears as the Escape announcer. Cliff Carpenter played Joe Murdock. Ivan Curry played Sid and the announcer. Kevin O'Morrison played Ty Burgess. Dave Parker played Sandy and the Deputy. Bob Perks played the barkeep. Stef Carona played Ed. Live sound effects were created by Penny Swanberg and Pat McNally.

"You are alone with a murderer, a man who has killed your brother, and against whom you have sworn revenge. While unknown to you,  your enemy is plotting his own move. Which, if he succeeds, will mean defeat for you and an end, from which there is no escape...."

. Download Escape 1-8 Apache ART

Thanks to Joy Jackson, President of American Radio Theater for allowing us to post their re-creation. For more information, you can visit their website at www.americanradiotheater.org.

Escape - The Blue Hotel

Escape's "The Blue Hotel" (episode #185) aired on May 24, 1953, and it has since become a "lost" episode. No known recording of their broadcast exists. What we do have, however, is a re-creation of this episode using the original script.

Fortunately, "The Blue Hotel" was an episode based on a classic short story by Stephen Crane, so we know what is supposed to happen and we can tell if the episode is complete. "The Blue Hotel" was first published in Crane's 1898 book The Monster and Other Stories, and the full text is available online at Wikisource. Escape's radio adaptation was written by E. Jack Neuman, and it is excellent.

Escape's version of"The Blue Hotel" was re-created by the program Something's Happening on radio station KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles. (The date given is October 15, 1977.) If you listen to the introduction to this episode, the announcers explain (around the 1:33 mark) how that happened. Their version doesn't have the great acting talent of Escape, but they did an admirable job of presenting this show. While listening to their rendition of this radio drama, it is easy to imagine how William Conrad and the other Escape regulars would have acted out this script.

The story opens at the Palace Hotel in Fort Romper in rural Nebraska in the 1880's. The proprietor of the hotel, which is painted a distinct color of blue, has brought three guests up from the nearby train station. They are known as the Easterner, the Cowboy, and the Swede. The introduction to the story is given to us by the Easterner.

Of the three of them, the Swede is the most uncomfortable in his new surroundings. Having read about the "Wild West," he envisions the hotel as a dangerous place where he could be killed at any moment. The proprietor and the others try to assure him that everything is fine, but as the night goes on, the tension surrounding the off-key behaviour of the Swede escalates...

. Download Escape 771015 The Blue Hotel (re-creation)

"The Blue Hotel" was directed by David L. Krebs. Larry Moss played Scully, Steven Baitsell played Johnny, Dave Krebs played the cowboy, Ed Thomas played the Swede, and Dudly Knight was the narrator, Mr. Blank.

There is also "The Blue Hotel-Swedish version." This presentation has all but one of the actors speaking  with fake Swedish accents. The "Swede" in this version is portrayed as an Asian. It is the same Escape script, and it was also done by the Something's Happening players. The same actors played the same roles in both versions.

Download Esc-BlueHotel-SwedishVersion

See also Escape's adaptation of Stephen Crane's short story "The Open Boat"

(Image of Stephen Crane (1871-1900) from Wikipedia)

 

Romance and Escape - Pagosa

Escape's "Pagosa" is a "lost" episode. It aired on November 30, 1952, but no known recordings of that broadcast have survived.

What we do have, is a recording of "Pagosa" that aired on the CBS program Romance on August 5, 1951. This episode was written by John Meston and produced by Norman MacDonnell, and it, along with the Escape episode "Wild Jack Rhett" were precursers to the Meston/MacDonnell series Gunsmoke (1952-1961).

In John Dunning's book The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio, he quotes an interview that Norman MacDonnell gave in 1967 about the creation of Gunsmoke (in 1952): 

"We got Walter Brown Newman to come in--one of the better writers in town--we gave him an acetate recording of "Pagosa", and I believe, Wild Jack Rhett", and said, this is the style, this is the color, this is the feel."

Both episodes focused on dialogue and simple sound effects that kept the audiences involved in the action, and that style was brought to Gunsmoke.

In the above quote, MacDonnell is definitely referring to Romance's version of "Pagosa" since Escape's version was broadcast months after Gunsmoke went on the air.

So, what about Escape's version? Unless a script or a recording turns up, we can't know if Norman MacDonnell made any changes when he brought the story over to Escape. Romance's version has William Conrad in the lead role and a supporting cast of Escape regulars. It probably wasn't that different.

Still, we know that Escape's version would probably have had Ben Wright in the cast, it probably wasn't as focused on the romantic feelings of the characters, and that they probably tossed in a deadly snake somewhere, just to call it their own. (That's just a guess.)

Listen to it and decide for yourself.

"Pagosa" starred William Conrad as Jeff Spain. Also appearing were Georgia Ellis, William Wright, Tony Barrett, Lamont Johnson, Tom Holland, Herb Ellis, and Junius Matthews.  William Johnstone was the narrator.

. Download Romance-Pagosa 510806 0006

(Image of the cast from CBS Radio's Gunsmoke from Wikipedia)

Escape - A Good Thing

In "A Good Thing," two brothers go off into the Philippine jungle to study the native tribe, but only one comes back.

As the episode opens, Dan is living in a flea bag hotel in Manila, drinking, living off the family funds, and doing nothing of any value. He sends for more money from home, but his brother, Matthew, arrives instead. He tells  Dan to get off the bottle and take control of his life. 

Matthew is going into the back country of Luzon to do research for a book on the Igorot, and he wants Dan to go with him. He thinks the experience will be good for him. Dan hates his brother, but reluctantly agrees to go along because he needs money.

On their way, they visit an old friend, Cass Bledsoe. Matthew tries to explain to Cass and Dan what makes the Igorot so interesting, but they don't get it. They see them only as uncivilized headhunters.

Matthew tells Dan that he thinks their trip will be good for them. Dan agrees, but not for the same reason. He has his own plans worked out.

"A Good Thing" was written by Kathleen Hite and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. Antony Barrett starred as Dan and John Dehner as Matthew. Also appearing were Herb Butterfield and Jack Kruschen. This episode aired on May 31, 1953.

. Download Escape_1953.05.31_ A Good Thing

(Map of the Cordillera region of Luzon, Philippines from Wikipedia)

Escape - The Second Shot

Escape's "The Second Shot" was "based on a classic story" by Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870). They don't tell us  which one, but it appears to be based on the short story "Zodmirsky's Duel." Escape's version is so loosely based on this story that it is more "in the spirit" of Dumas, but it is a well written episode. The Suspense television show presented an episode called "The Duel" in 1953 and it too, appears to be loosely based on the same short story. If you want to read "Zodmirsky's Duel" it is available online at The Daily Pulp.

As the episode opens, two men are taking their places in a pistol duel. They count off their paces and bang! Lt. Daumier wins the duel. His opponent, one of his own comrades, lies dead.

Afterwards, Daumier is called into the colonel's office for an official interview. He is told that his record is impressive, but his habit of getting into constant duels and killing his fellow soldiers is a problem. All Lt. Daumier seems to care about is defending his honor, and the colonel warns him not to start any more duels. Lt. Daumier then starts a challenge to the colonel, but backs down when he is told that threatening an officer is a crime. Lt. Daumier then asks if it is a crime to issue a challenge to an officer for personal reasons. The answer is no.

The colonel wishes that Lt. Daumier would grow up and hopes that the coming campaign against the Austrians will calm him down.

Later, the colonel is invited to a dinner by a fellow officer and meets the beautiful Marian. He quickly falls for her, and Marian accepts his attention, but seems hesitant.

What she hasn't told him is that she once exchanged rings with someone else! As it turns out, the man with whom she was previously involved was Lt. Daumier.

When Lt. Daumier finds out that Marian is now involved with the colonel, he calls for a duel!

"The Second Shot" was written by Les Crutchfield and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnnell. John Dehner starred. Also appearing were Vic Perrin, Ellen Morgan, Ben Wright, Harry Bartell, Jack Kruschen, and Lou Krugman. This episode aired on March 25, 1954.

. Download Escape_1954.03.25_The Second Shot

Below is a clip from the Suspense television show's version, which aired a year earlier on April 21, 1953.

(Image of Alexandre Dumas (pere) from Wikipedia)

Escape - Earth Abides

Escape's "Earth Abides" was adapted from the 1949 novel by George R. Stewart, and it was their only two-part episode. Earth Abides is a novel that is an experience of its own, and you can't fully understand the book from the radio adaptation. Still, Escape deserves credit for attempting to present this complex story. The book is a classic that everyone should read.

The first part of Escape's version doesn't drift too far from the novel, but the second part is quite different. Escape's version shortens the story considerably and leaves out a number of characters. It also omits subjects like sex, bigamy, religion, spirituality, illiteracy, etc. The focus is on the horror of a "man-dead" world.

Most of the book takes place on the east side of San Francisco Bay, but not in Escape's version. The primary location was changed from Oakland to San Francisco. The most important monument in the book is the Bay Bridge, but Escape, changed that to the Golden Gate Bridge.

As the episode opens, Isherwood Williams is in a forest in Northern California. He is an ecologist who has been up in the woods collecting samples. As he is climbing a ridge, he is bitten by a snake.  He treats the wound himself, but falls ill. Two men find him at the cabin, but when they see he is sick, they leave quickly.

When Ish feels well enough, he drives into the nearest town, there he finds...no one. What he does find are old newspapers that tell of a great epidemic virus that has struck and killed millions. Ish drives on in seach of people, but he finds none. The water still runs, the electricity works, but there are no people.

Civilization has been brought down by the virus, but there are other survivors. One by one, they find each other and band together in the lonely world they now inhabit.

"Earth Abides" was adapted for Escape by David Ellis and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. John Dehner starred. Also appearing were Lawrence Dobkin, Peggy Webber, Michael Ann Barrett, Parley Baer, Ron Brogan, Paul Frees, and Lou Krugman.

Part one aired on November 5, 1950, and part two aired on November 12th, 1950.

Download Escape_1950-11-05_Earth Abides Part 1

Download Escape_1950-11-12_Earth Abides Part 2

(Image of the 1949 first edition of Earth Abides --Wikipedia)

See also:

The Scarlet Plague

 

Escape - The Island

Escape's "The Island" tells the story of two American soldiers trapped behind enemy lines, one wants to get back to his unit, and the other wants to follow his dream.

The episode opens during the Battle of Okinawa in May of 1945. Two U.S. Marines have been caught behind Japanese lines at night. One of them, a soldier called only "Deboret," is tense, but Corp. Robert Lacey settles down for some rest. To pass the time, Lacey starts telling his companion about his dream island. Deboret has already heard about this "dream island" too many times, but Lacey babbles on...

Suddenly, they hear a rustling in the woods and when they investigate,  they see four people, three men and a woman. They catch up to one of the group, the woman Taki. She tells them that she wants to return to her island.  Lacey, in his battle-weary mind, believe she is really from the island of his dreams. He then decides that he must follow her back there--no matter what.

"The Island" was written by screenwriter Millard Kaufman and directed by Norman MacDonnell. Harry Bartell and William Conrad starred. Also appearing were Michael Ann Barrett and Edgar Barrier. This episode aired on July 11, 1951. (This is the best recording of this episode.)

. Download Escape 1951-07-11_The Island (Harry Bartell)

Escape presented this story a second time on March 8, 1953. Antony Ellis directed. Stacy Harris and William Conrad starred. Also appearing were Michael Ann Barrett, Jack Kruschen, and Steve Roberts. (The sound quality of this recording is pretty bad.)

. Download Escape_1953-03-08_The Island

Suspense recycled this script for the show on January 12, 1958. William N. Robson produced and directed. John Lund starred. Also appearing were Lillian Buyeff, Joe DiSantis, and Hans Conried. (The sound quality of this recording isn't too good either.)

. Download Suspense_1958-01-12_The Island

(Image of the Ryuku Islands from Wikipedia)

Escape - Bird of Paradise

Escape's "Bird of Paradise" was adapted from the short story of the same name by John Russell, which was first published in Colliers, August 19, 1916. We've previously covered the other five tales by Russell that Escape adapted for radio, all of which came from the book The Red Mark: And Other Stories (1919). 

"Bird of Paradise" can be found in the book In Dark Places (1923). This was the last Russell story that Escape presented, and while it is typical of all of them, it is somewhat weaker than the others; however, Escape's radio adaptation was excellent.

As the episode opens, Andrew Harben, "with his heart full of greed and 100 pounds in his pocket," has come to the Indonesian Spice Islands looking for opportunity. On the island of Ternate, he finds the chance to make a quick fortune in the form of a dazzling species of the bird-of-paradise. The rare birds reside on one of the many hundreds of local islands, but no one knows exactly where. Andrew is determined to find them and bring back as many bird skins as he can.

Despite the warnings the locals give him about the dangers, he sails off in his boat in search of the birds. Not long afterwards, he ends up shipwrecked and lost on an unknown island. There he finds a man named Jim O'Ryan and an innocent native girl named N'goma. He also finds exactly what he has been looking for...

"Bird of Paradise' was adapted for radio by John Meston and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. John Dehner starred Andrew Harbin. Lawrence Dobkin played O'Ryan. Also appearing were Jeanne Bates and Ben Wright. Edgar Barrier was the narrator. This episode aired on March 11, 1954.

. Download Escape_1954.03.11_Bird of Paradise

(Image of astrapia stephaniae from Wikipedia)

See also:

The Fourth Man

The Red Mark  

Jetsam

The Price of the Head

The Adversary

Escape - The Drums of the Fore and Aft

Escape's "The Drums of the Fore and Aft" was adapted from the 1888 short story by Rudyard Kipling. Some minor changes were made, but overall their adaptation and radio presentation of this tale is one of their best. Kipling's story is available online at The Internet Archive.

The episode begins with a narration by an English newspaper correspondent (Kipling) assigned to the north of India, and explains how he first came to know of Regiment 329A, the "Fore and Fit." He goes on to say that, behind their backs, the regiment was known by the more shameful term of the "Fore and Aft."

How did they tarnish their reputation? The story begins with two beastly fourteen year old boys, Piggy Lew and Jaken. Both were cherubic-faced orphans taken in by the regimental band at an early age but known by all for getting into perpetual trouble.

When their regiment is called to duty, Piggy Lew and Jaken are dismayed to learn that, because of their age, they will be left behind at camp. They ask the colonel to let them go to the front, and because of their brave attitude, the colonel agrees to let them go.

As the ill-prepared and inexperienced regiment makes its way to the front to face the Afghan soldiers, nothing goes well.  After a disastrous battle, Piggy Lew and Jaken are trapped on the front line but bravely pick up their drum and fife to help the regiment...

"The Drums of Fore and Aft" was adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. Gil Stratton played Piggy Lew and Jimmy Ogg played Jaken.  Eric Rolf played Rudyard Kipling. Also appearing were Jeff Corey as the Colonel, Alec Harford as the seargent, Eric Snowden as the general, Peggy Webber as Cris, and Paul McVeigh as the highlander.

. Download Escape_1948-04-18_The Drums of the Fore and Aft

Escape presented this story a second time on July 14, 1949. Norman MacDonnell produced and directed. Ben Wright played Rudyard Kipling. Hugh Thomas played Piggy Lew and Terry Kilburn played Jaken. Also appearing were Colleen Collins, Ramsay Hill, Alec Harford, Wilms Herbert, and Tudor Owen.

. Download Escape_1949-07-14_The Drums of the Fore and Aft

(This is a large audio file, so it may take longer to download.)

(Image of Rudyard Kipling from Wikipedia)