"The Whole Town's Sleeping" was closely adapted from the Ray Bradbury short story of the same name, and it will make you think twice about walking home alone at night.
As the episode opens, Lavinia Nebbs is sitting on her porch waiting for her friend, Francine, so that they can go to a movie. When Francine arrives, they start walking towards the movie theater downtown. To get there, they must cross a dark and steep ravine that cuts through the middle of their town.
It would seem that crossing the ravine would be the most dangerous aspect of their trip, but it isn't. Their small Illinois town has been traumatized by a series of murders, each one a month apart, by a strangler called "The Lonely One." Lavinia isn't afraid of "The Lonely One," but Francine is. Lavinia says "Bosh!" to all of it and insists that it will be safe for her to walk home alone after the movie. Will it?
"The Whole Town's Sleeping" was produced, directed, and adapted for radio by Antony Ellis. William Conrad narrated and Jeannette Nolan played Lavinia. Also featured were Eve McVeagh and Paula Winslowe. This episode June 14, 1955.
. Download Suspense_1955.06.14_TheWholeTownsSleeping.mp3
This story was presented again on August 31, 1958. William Conrad narrated and Agnes Moorehead played Lavinia. (The sound quality of this episode isn't the best.)
. Download Suspense_1958.08.31_WholeTown's Sleeping.MP3
(Image from Stock.xchng)
I seem to recall this story was featured under the title "The Ravine" on the radio show BRADBURY 13 that was broadcast on National Public Radio in 1984.
Quite a good version too if memory serves.
Posted by: Mike Hobart | April 27, 2008 at 02:44 AM
Wow...William Conrad practicing for his future gig as narrator of "The Town That Dreaded Sundown". Conrad had one of the greatest radio voices ever and he makes an excellent script even better.
This was an excellent program. Ray Bradbury wrote a really good story and the lead and supporting actresses were perfect (I listened to the 1955 version). Thank you for sharing this.
Almost forgot to comment on the the ending. It was beautiful......
Posted by: Grigs | May 05, 2008 at 10:56 PM
i think Lavinia can be scared sometime but not all the time but Francine is more scared then Lavinia and they are both scared of the lonely one
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As for this Suspense episode "The Whole Town is Sleeping", I didn't know it was a Bradbury story. I also didn't remember the title often thinking it was either "The Ravine" or "113 Steps"
It made an impression many years ago when I first heard it, late at night in the dark.
Posted by: Kevin | September 26, 2009 at 02:17 AM
Lavinia in the ravinia.
Posted by: Alan O'Brien | August 05, 2013 at 06:25 PM
Is there something I am missing here? Is the whole point of the story that Lavinia really did get it in the end? I thought maybe it was going to be her imagination in overdrive until the story abruptly ended.
I played this on my podcast today and I must admit I am still scratching my head.
Bradbury was an outstanding writer (and a HUGE OTR fan. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was 14 and he would hang out in front of the studios during radio shows and often was invited in to watch the proceedings.
Still, this story has me a bit perplexed.
Posted by: Bob Bro | March 31, 2021 at 05:57 AM
Who did actor will wright portay in the 1955 version?
Posted by: Carol Evans | August 22, 2021 at 01:06 PM