Escape and Suspense!

Suspense - St. James Infirmary Blues

"St. James Infirmary Blues" is one of a number of Suspense episodes that were based on popular songs. In it, Rosemary Clooney appears as a gal looking for excitement in 1920's New York.

The song has an anonymous origin but it was derived from an 18th century English song called "The Unfortunate Rake." "St. James Infirmary Blues" was first made popular in 1928 by Louis Armstrong and it has since been recorded by many. While most renditions of this song appear to have been performed by men, Suspense wrote their episode around a female character. For more information about the song, there is a website devoted to "St. James Infirmary Blues" at NO Notes.

Rosemary Clooney, in her only appearance on Suspense, both sings the narration and plays the role of Sheila, a girl who falls for a handsome gangster named Nicky. It is a short-lived romance and Sheila ultimately ends up singing the blues when Nicky double-crosses his boss.

"St James Infirmary Blues" was written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. Elliott Lewis produced and directed. William Conrad played Brock Garvey and Tony Barrett played Nick Volpe. Also appearing were Billy Halop, Vivi Janiss, Joseph Kearns, Shepard Menken, and Clayton Post. This episode aired on February 23, 1953.

. Download suspense_1953.02.23_St James Infirmary Blues.mp3

Below is an excellent version of "St. James Infirmary Blues" performed by Cab Calloway. This surreal clip is taken from Max Fleischer"s Snow White cartoon featuring Betty Boop (1933). Cab Calloway appeared as Koko the Clown.

Video from Youtube.com

Suspense - To Find Help

Suspense's "To Find Help"  is so plausible that it is genuinely scary. 

The casting of this episode is what makes it intriguing. The role of a menacing young man who has "something wrong with his mind" was originally performed by Frank Sinatra, and later by Gene Kelly. Appearing in "To Find Help" is an unexpected choice for a musical star, but that is the hook. Both actors gave the performance their own flair but played it differently. The same year that this episode first aired, Sinatra starred with Kelly in the movie Anchors Away.

This is a World War II era cautionary tale about an older woman who hires a young man to do some handywork around her house. She doesn't know the man well, but help is hard to find because of the war. She doesn't see any reason to worry because he seems so meek. The female role, Mrs. Gillis, was first played by Suspense's favorite actress, Agnes Moorehead. Ethel Barrymore played the role opposite Kelly in 1949. This episode was written for Suspense by Mel Dinelli.

The episode starring Frank Sinatra and Agnes Moorehead aired on January 18, 1945.

Download Suspense.1945-01-18_To_Find_Help.mp3

The episode starring Gene Kelly, Ethel Barrymore and William Conrad aired on January 6, 1949.

Download Suspense.01.06.1949.To_Find_Help.mp3     

(Image of Gene Kelly from www.classicsavers.com)

Suspense-Drive In

If you need a reminder as to why it is you should never accept a ride from a stranger - then "Drive-In" is for you! This episode belongs to a sub-genre of Suspense stories that are also cautionary tales. These dramas are still convincing because their warnings are still valid.

Judy Garland stars in this episode but do not expect to hear singing. Here she demonstrates that she was just as compelling a performer on radio as she was in movies. In 1946, the year this show aired, she also appeared in the films: The Harvey Girls, Ziegfield Follies, and Till the Clouds Roll By.

"Drive-In" was written for Suspense by Mel Dinelli and Muriel Ray Bolton.  It was broadcast three times but Garland only appeared in the lead role once. Raymond Lewis stars as the driver. This version was heard on November 21, 1946.

Download 461121_drive_in_w_judy_garland.mp3

Suspense-You Were Wonderful

In honor of Black History month, here is the Suspense episode "You Were Wonderful" with Lena Horne.

True to the title, Lena's singing is wonderful despite the bad sound quality of this recording. She sings "Embraceable You", a little bit of "One Dozen Roses" and "America" (My Country 'Tis of Thee). This is a very patriotic WWII era episode that touches on the racial issues of the time. The story is set in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

According to her biography on the Kennedy Center's website, Lena Horne often performed for the troops in Europe during WWII but on the condition that the audience would be desegregated. She was also the most popular pin-up girl of African-American soldiers!

"You Were Wonderful" aired on November 9, 1944. According to Martin Grams in Suspense: Twenty Years of Thrills and Chills, she was the first professional singer to appear on Suspense.

Download Suspense.1944.11.09_You_Were_Wonderful.mp3

Image of Lena Horne from (www.classicsavers.com)

Suspense-Never Follow a Banjo Act

As I watched the Grammy Awards show this past weekend my mind drifted to the Suspense episode "Never Follow a Banjo Act".

The star of this episode is Ethel Merman and even if you aren't a big Ethel fan you will probably enjoy this.  She plays Rosie Jones, a singing star of "mature talents" who is asked to work with a heart-throb boy singer named Terry Dane. She accepts but quickly finds out that the deal she made isn't all it is cracked up to be.

This episode is surprisingly creepy and dark but makes memorable statements about greed, the pop music industry and "tousled hair". Why hasn't this episode ever been turned into a movie?

Suspense aired this episode twice. The first time with Ethel Merman on February 4, 1954 and the second time with Margaret Whiting on March 2, 1958.  Ethel's is the better version. "Never Follow a Banjo Act" was written for Suspense by James Poe.

Download 540201_never_follow_a_banjo_act.mp3