Escape and Suspense!

Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection 2

Hello,

Just a reminder that Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection 2 was released on October 30th. (Click on the purple widget to the left for more information.)

It's been a busy Halloween here at Escape and Suspense! and I will be posting this weekend's new episodes soon. In the meantime, check out our television blog (www.suspensetelevision.com) which has already been updated.  This week, I examined the television version of the Suspense classic "On a Country Road."

Best,

Christine

Suspense Television

Come join us!

The time has come to explore the smoky, murky, kinescopic world of Suspense--on television. The companion site to Escape and Suspense! is now open.

The name? Suspense Television: Murder, Mystery and Spark Plugs.

Visit us at: www.suspensetelevision.com

While I work out the kinks and figure out the posting schedule, feel free to browse.

Cheers,

Christine

News from Escape and Suspense!

Thanks to those of you who have left comments and sent e-mails. We appreciate your support and of course, our imaginary Escape and Suspense! Communications Team, (pictured right) is always at your service. This week they have prompted me to put out a bulletin about current events.

First, the companion blog that I have been working on about the television show Suspense will soon be up and rolling. That project was delayed because it required more time than expected. For those interested in the television show, thirty more episodes will soon be available. The second volume of DVDs for Suspense: The Lost Episodes is scheduled to be released at the end of October. (Click on the purple widget to the left for more information.)

October will also bring Halloween and with it the opportunity to post scary episodes. It should be fun, and I hope that you enjoy them.

xoxo,

Christine

Suspense - After Dinner Story

"After-Dinner Story" was one of many works by Cornell Woolrich adapted for radio. Suspense presented twenty-two of his stories on their program, but his works were also performed on Molle Mystery Theater and other radio shows. Suspense's "After Dinner Story" was based on the 1938 short story of the same name which Woolrich wrote under his pseudonym, William Irish.

Suspense's version altered the structure of the story a little, but otherwise retold the tale as it was intended. What was left out was the Depression-era setting, and so it lost some of its depth and meaning. The original short story is very tense and the description of the elevator crash is more frightening than on radio. Read Woolrich's story if you get the chance.

"After-Dinner Story" was adapted for radio by Robert L. Richards. Otto Kruger appeared as Mr. Hardecker. Also featured were Hans Conried, William Johnstone, and Lou Merrill. This story aired once on October 26, 1943. Although it never aired again on the Suspense radio program, the television show Suspense aired this story on April 12, 1949. Otto Kruger starred in the same role he had played in the radio version.

. Download Suspense.1943.10.26_After_Dinner_Story.mp3

(Image of elevator shaft from Wikimedia Commons)

News from Escape and Suspense!

Hello,

Not everyone thought yesterday's sudden blackout was a hoot!

If you tried to access this blog yesterday and had difficulties, it was due to a large blackout that we had in downtown San Francisco. My blog host,TypePad.com, was one of the many companies affected by it.

The office building where I work had to be shut down for a while, too, just when I was expecting the UPS guy to drop off my new DVD set of Suspense: The Lost Episodes. Talk about suspense! Finally, after two hours, the building was re-opened and UPS delivered my package. Yay for UPS!

I have been on a bit of a Suspense binge since they have arrived. So far, "Dr. Violet" has won me over as the most entertaining, but I have many more episodes to watch.

If you are interested in purchasing the new set you can click on the orange widget to the left. If you would like to read a little more about it, here is a link that will take you to an article at iF Magazine with more information.

My new companion blog about the television show Suspense will be up soon. In the meantime, you can visit my new MySpace.com page for Escape and Suspense!

Best,

Christine

News from Escape and Suspense!

Escape and Suspense! will take a brief break between July 5th and July 8th for a vacation/research trip to Hollywood. While I am away my imaginery back-up staff (pictured below) will be monitoring my messages. Send us an e-mail! There will be much more to come in July.

Up until now I haven't written much about the television show Suspense, which aired 260 episodes from 1949 to 1954. The television show was broadcast live from New York and these episodes have long been considered "lost."

For the first time in over fifty years, some of these lost episodes will soon become available. The first DVD set of the lost television episodes of Suspense will be released on July 24th. Was the television version of Suspense as good as the radio show? We'll see! If you are interested in pre-ordering the Suspense DVD, I've added an orange widget for this item on the left hand side of this page.

I am currently creating a companion blog to Escape and Suspense! that will be devoted entirely to the television show Suspense. Hopefully, it will be up sometime in late July. Of course, I will continue to update Escape and Suspense! three times a week.

Thanks to everyone who has supported this blog in its first six months. For our American readers, have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Hugs,

Christine

Suspense - On a Country Road

"On a Country Road" is regarded as one of the classic tales of Suspense because it embodies all of the things at which the radio program excelled.

So now, ignore the traffic, the rain, the nearly empty gas tank, as well as those news bulletins about the escaped crazy woman on the loose, and come take a drive down a lonely side road with Cary Grant.

"On a Country Road" was first broadcast on November 16, 1950 and starred Cary Grant, Cathy Lewis, and Jeannette Nolan. It was repeated on January 4, 1954, December 9, 1954, and May 10, 1959, with a different cast each time. The radio-play was written for Suspense by Walter Bazzar. The television show Suspense presented this story once on March 13, 1951 with John Forsythe in the lead role.

Download Susp.1950.11.16_On_a_Country_Road.mp3

(Image of Cary Grant in North by Northwest from Wikimedia Commons)

Rev. 7/10/07