Escape and Suspense!

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.

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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.

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Escape - A Diamond as Big as the Ritz

"The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" is a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald that was first published in The Smart Set magazine (June, 1922) and later in Fitzgerald's short story collection Tales of the Jazz Age (1922). The text of "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" is available online at Wikisource and it may help to read it first in order to appreciate Escape's adaptation of this unusual story.  

John Unger, a young man from Hades, Mississippi, is a student at St. Midas School, an exclusive and wealthy boarding school near Boston. He often spends his school vacations at his friend's homes, so when his school-mate, Percy Washington, invited him to his family's home "out west" for the summer, John agreed. On the train to Montana, Percy tells him that his father is "by far the richest man in the world" and that he owns "a diamond bigger than the Ritz-Carlton Hotel."

John assumes Percy is exaggerating, but when he arrives at the remote mountain home of the Washington family, he realizes that it is all true. He also discovers that the family will do anything necessary, no matter how ruthless, to keep their home and the diamond secret.

Escape presented this story three different times.

"A Diamond as Big as the Ritz" was adapted for radio by Les Crutchfield and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Jack Edwards, Jr., Denny Merrill, and Linda Mason appeared. This episode aired on July 21, 1947.

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This story was presented again on August 29, 1948. Sam Edwards, Peggy Webber, Dan Merrill, John Dehner, and Don Diamond appeared.

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This story was presented a third time on March 27, 1949. Sam Edwards starred. Also appearing were Nina Clowden, Hugh Thomas, John Dehner, and Jack Kruschen.

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Escape - Port Royal

"Port Royal" was written for Escape by Gil Doud.  The story was "suggested" to him by events in the book I Dive For Treasure  (1942) by Lt. Harry E. Rieseberg.  I Dive for Treasure is a romanticized retelling of Rieseberg's own adventures as a treasure hunter.  How far from reality does that take us? Far enough.

Lt. Harry E. Rieseberg was a prolific author who wrote a number of books about his underwater experiences with treasure, sunken ships, and sea creatures.

As the episode opens, a hoodlum named Danny Quinn explains how he obtained possession of a stolen chart belonging to the renowned treasure hunter, Fletcher Travis (Rieseberg).  When Danny returns the chart, Travis shows his gratitude by allowing Danny to join their expedition to Port Royal, Jamaica. The goal of their voyage is to recover millions in gold from the warehouses of the sunken city, and Danny wants it all!

Will Danny get his hands on Port Royal's lost treasure, or will he get what is really coming to him?

"Port Royal" was written by Gil Doud and produced/directed William N. Robson. Charles McGraw played Danny Quinn and John Dehner played Fletcher Travis. Also appearing were William Conrad, Dee Tatum, Paul Frees, and Ted de Corsia. This episode aired on March 10, 1950.

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(Image from the 1954 edition of I Dive For Treasure.)

Escape - Wild Oranges

Wild Oranges is a novella by Joseph Hergesheimer that was first published in 1918 and is best remembered as a 1924 silent film by King Vidor.  Escape, overall, did a good job of condensing this story for radio, but the tension of the novella is lost by the way in which the two main characters fall in love so quickly.

The story revolves around a man named John Woolfolk, who has spent twelve years aimlessly sailing his yacht around the world with his first mate, Halvard. He has chosen a life of wandering the seas to escape the memory of his young wife's untimely death.  

When they land the yacht in an isolated spot on the Georgia coast, Woolfolk becomes curious about the people who live in the run-down mansion nearby. He is cold at first, but slowly, Woolfolk becomes attracted to Millie, the daughter of an emotionally-broken recluse. The problem is that their house servant, Nicholas, who is a homicidal maniac wanted by the police, also loves Millie.

Escape presented their adaptation twice. The second presentation, starring Van Heflin as John Woolfolk, is better than the first.

"Wild Oranges" was adapted for radio by John Dunkel.  William N. Robson produced and Richard Sanville directed. Paul Frees played John Woolfolk and Jeannette Nolan played Millie Stope. Also appearing were William Conrad, Jack Kruschen, and Sherry Hall.  This episode aired on December 17, 1947.

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Escape presented this story again on September 28, 1949. Van Heflin starred. Gordon T. Hughes produced and directed. Also appearing were Betty Lou Gerson, William Conrad, Edmund MacDonald, and Wilms Herbert.

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(Image from the film Wild Oranges)

Escape - Violent Night

In "Violent Night," a plantation owner tries to escape from the revolutionary leader determined to kill him.

As the episode opens, Barry O'Grady, a plantation owner in the back country of the Carribbean, wakes in the night to discover that a revolution is taking place. One of his employee informs him that the leader of the revolution is Alacran, a man with a personal grudge against O'Grady.

Alacran soon arrives to raid the plantation, but O'Grady is already on the move. His chances to live through the night seem slim until he runs into Maria, Alacran's daughter. With her help, he may have a chance for survival.

"Violent Night" was written by Les Crutchfield and directed by Norman MacDonnell. William Conrad and Joyce McClusky starred. Also appearing were Ben Wright, Edgar Barrier , Michael Ann Barrett, Don Diamond, Byron Kane, and Richard Beals. This episode aired on March 18, 1954.

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Escape - The Follower

Escape's "The Follower" is an abridged version of a novel by Patrick Quentin that was first published in 1950.  Patrick Quentin is actually a pen name for four people who collaborated on works of detective fiction: Hugh Callingham Wheeler, Richard Wilson Webb, Martha Mott Kelly, and Mary Louise White Aswell. Their other pen names include Q Patrick, Jonathan Stagge, and Quentin Patrick. The Follower, like most of the work published under the Patrick Quentin name, was written by Wheeler and Webb.

The novel revolves around a man named Mark Liddon who goes to extremes to find his "missing" wife. Is she worth it? As he follows her trail from New York to Mexico City, we are given warning signs that his young wife, Ellie, is more than just a rich girl who likes to have fun. In the end, Mark finds her, but their reunion is not a happy one.

For radio, quite a bit had to be cut for time, and we are only given the basics of the story. The result is that Oscar, the hotel desk clerk in Mexico City, is only given a small role. This is unfortunate because Oscar, who wheedles money out of everyone, is the most entertaining character in the book.

"The Follower" was adapted for radio Les Crutchfield and directed by Norman MacDonnell. William Conrad starred as Mark Liddon. Also appearing were Georgia Ellis, Harry Bartell, Virginia Gregg, Lou Krugman, Sydney Miller, and Don Diamond. This episode aired on February 18, 1951.

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Escape - The Outer Limit

"The Outer Limit" by Graham Doar was first published in The Saturday Evening Post on December 24, 1949. It was first adapted for radio by Escape and later by Dimension X, Suspense, and X Minus 1. The story was also adapted for the pilot episode of the early science fiction television series Out There  in 1951.

As the episode opens, a test pilot named Major Bill Westfall is about to embark on a mission to take the experimental craft RJX-1 up to the outer limit of the Earth's atmosphere. At first, everything goes well, but a few minutes into the flight, the RJX-1 disappears. With only enough fuel for ten minutes of flight, the ground crew has to face the reality that the craft and its pilot have been lost.

Oh, but they aren't lost. While orbiting the Earth, Major Westfall is briefly captured by galactic representatives. They tell him that they have chosen him to relate a message to the inhabitants of Earth about their use of atomic weaponry. They explain that they have placed a force screen around the Earth, and if the people of Earth continue to create and use atomic weapons, they will be destroyed by the screen. The Earth's atomic bombs are a danger to the universe, and they must be contained. 

Westfall is then returned to Earth, but will anyone believe the warning he was sent to deliver?

"The Outer Limit" was adapted for radio by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. William N. Robson produced/directed. Frank Lovejoy starred as Major Westfall. Also appearing were Charles McGraw, Jeff Corey, Stan Waxman, and Ian Wolfe. This episode aired on February 7, 1950.

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Suspense presented this story, with a few modifications to Escape's script, on February 15, 1954. Elliott Lewis produced/directed. William Holden starred.

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Suspense presented "The Outer Limit" a second time on March 17, 1957. William N. Robson produced/directed. Frank Lovejoy starred as the colonel in this version.

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Escape - Snake Doctor

Escape's "Snake Doctor" was based on a short story by American author Irvin S. Cobb about jealousy, superstition, and water moccasins. "Snake Doctor" was published in 1923 and can be found in The Works of Irvin S. Cobb: Snake Doctor and Other Stories. It is also available online at Horrormasters.com.

The story is set in Cashier Creek, somewhere in the backwoods of the American South. It centers on a reclusive man known as the "Snake Doctor," who makes his living selling snake oil and capturing the local cottonmouth water moccasins for collectors. He appears to live among the snakes without fear or injury, and for that, most people in the community eye him with suspicion. (He is also said to be a miser who hides a great stash of money in his home.) The only person who is kind to him is Kizzie Morner, the wife of his neighbor. When she risks the wrath of her abusive husband to help the "Snake Doctor" when he is ill, her husband's jealousy becomes murderous.

Escape chose not to adapt the story exactly, but mostly. They added in the character of the son, Finnie.

"Snake Doctor" was adapted for radio by Fred Howard, who also appeared in this episode. William N. Robson produced and directed. William Conrad played Jafe Morner. Paul Frees played Finnie. Also appearing were Ruth Barret, Barton Yarborough, and Louis Van Rooten. This episode aired on February 8, 1948.

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Escape aired this story again on August 18, 1949. Norman MacDonnell produced and directed. William Conrad and Paul Frees again played Jafe and Finnie. Also appearing were: Ira Grossell, Bill Lalli, Ruth Barrett, Wilms Herbert, and Edgar Barrier.

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Escape - Yellow Wake

In "Yellow Wake," a ruthless first mate takes over a whaling vessel and sails toward a lost gold treasure in Panama.

Jonas Love was in a San Francisco saloon when he met Sanford, the first mate of a whaling vessel. In a drunken boast, Sanford had told Love about a buried treasure trove of gold, and how he intended to retrieve it. Love didn't believe him, but when Sanford showed him proof, he decided to go after it himself.

Now, after murdering Sanford, Love has taken over his position as first mate on the whaling vessel, and the course he has charted for their ship takes them where he wants to go.

"Yellow Wake" was written by Bud Nelson. William N. Robson produced and directed. William Conrad, in one of his better performances on Escape, played Jonas Love.  Also appearing were John Hoyt, John Dehner, Will Geer, Paul Frees, Stacy Harris, Harry Bartell, and George Offerman, Jr.

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Escape - Macao

In "Macao," a power-hungry gal learns that there are limits to how far you can push people.

Mrs. Connie Rawls is the head a number of operations in Macao's underworld, and yet, she wants even more power. Everyone fears her and with good reason.  She is tough, and at a times, downright cruel.  

Her downfall begins with the arrival of Johnny Hook, a man who had come to Macao because of a job offer from Connie's late husband. Johnny quickly becomes interested in Connie, but then realizes that her lack of human compassion is a problem for him.  Connie thinks that he is a sap, but she soon discovers that Johnny may be right. 

"Macao" was written by Herb Purdom and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. Michael Ann Barrett played Connie.  Also appearing were Stacy Harris, Raymond Burr, Lou Krugman, Charlie Lung, Paul Dubov, and Frank Gerstle. This episode aired on July 18, 1951.

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Escape - The Power of Hammer

In "The Power of Hammer," a jungle guide is hired to take a government official into the remote kingdom of a cruel bully. 

Sam Kerrigan is an American working as a guide/hunter in the Belgian Congo.  As the episode opens, he drinking too much and muttering to himself even more. As Kerrigan is leaving his favorite bar, he is taken into custody by government officials. The local inspector has been given orders by the Belgian government to take Benjamin Hammer, an embezzler and murderer, into custody. The problem is that Hammer has set himself up as a king, deep in the jungle, and the inspector needs a guide to help find him. Kerrigan warns the inspector to stay away, but in the end, he is forced to lead them into Hammer's kingdom.

"The Power of Hammer" was written by Antony Ellis and Gil Doud. Norman MacDonnell produced and directed. Harry Bartell starred as Sam. Also appearing were Edgar Barrier, Vivi Janiss, Stan Waxman, Ann Morrison, Jack Kruschen, Lou Krugman, and Don Diamond. This episode aired on October 15, 1950.

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Escape - Pass to Berlin

In Escape's "Pass to Berlin," an American G.I. in occupied Germany is blackmailed by a mind-reading act.

As the episode opens, Sargeant Ed Sawyer and his German girlfriend, Greta, get into a fight. In her drunken stupor, the fight becomes violent, and Sawyer accidentally kills her. He then runs from her boarding house and takes refuge inside a theater.

The headline act of the evening is a pair of mind-readers, The Great Stanley and his lovely assistant Mona. As The Great Stanley works his way through the audience, Mona tells all that she sees. Suddenly, their show comes to an abrupt end when Mona annouces that there is a murderer in the audience!

Sawyer goes backstage to ask The Great Stanley about the unusual ending to their show. He claims it was just a bit of sensationalism, but the next morning, Sawyer finds a reminder of his crime on his door. How do they know what Sawyer did?

"Pass to Berlin" was written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. William N. Robson produced and directed. Stacy Harris played Sgt. Sawyer. Also appearing were Peggy Webber and Ben Wright. This episode aired on May 19, 1950.

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Escape - Affair at Mandrake

In "Affair at Mandrake," an army officer must decide whether or not his childhood friend is a German spy.

The story is set in wartime in 1940, and a British colonel named Guy Baker is convinced that one of the Germans captured by his unit in Dunkirk is a childhood friend. He is startled by the similarity at first but then accepts that it must be a different man.

Weeks later, back in England, Baker is given a new command to carry out field tests of rockets in the Mandrake forest. The assignment is dangerous and it means that they will be a target for German agents. Shortly afterwards, Baker is also told that one of the German prisoners captured in Dunkirk has escaped. The P.O.W. that he thought may have been his old friend, is now on the loose near Mandrake.

"Affair at Mandrake" was written by actor Ben Wright, who also performed in this episode. Norman MacDonnell directed and John Dehner starred as Guy Baker. Also appearing were Richard Peel, Parley Baer, Joseph Kearns, Gary Montgomery, and Lawrence Dobkin. This episode aired on April 15, 1954.

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Escape - The Ring of Thoth

In "The Ring of Thoth," an Egyptologist visits the Louvre and accidentally witnesses a strange event.

Based on the short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Escape's adaptation is an interesting one with an unexpected ending. "The Ring of Thoth" was first published in 1890 and the short story is available online at Wikisource.

Mr. John Vansittart Smith, a British student of Egyptology, has come to the Egyptian Room of the Louvre to study. There he meets a curious looking attendant but otherwise, he is alone in the great hall. Not long afterwards, the quiet surroundings and his inability to concentrate cause him to drift off to sleep. 

When Smith wakes, it is the middle of the night and he is locked inside the darkened museum. Soon, he becomes aware that someone else is there, too. A mysterious figure holding a light has come into the hall and opened the case of one of the mummies. Smith realizes that it is the attendant that he saw earlier in the day, and as he watches from the shadows, he becomes involved in the extraordinary story of the ring of Thoth.

"The Ring of Thoth" was adapted for Escape by Les Crutchfield and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Jack Webb, Thomas Freebairn-Smith, and Joan Banks starred. This episode aired on August 11, 1947.  

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Escape - The Scarlet Plague

"The Scarlet Plague" is a loose adaptation of a grim story by Jack London in which civilization collapses after the outbreak of a mysterious illness.

London's story is set in San Francisco in the year 2073, sixty years after the Scarlet Death broke out and destroyed civilization. The main character is an old man named James Howard Smith, who had once been a university professor. While he and his grandsons are sitting by a campfire on Cliff House Beach (Ocean Beach), he recounts to them the story of how the Scarlet Death came. His grandsons, however, are unable to grasp much of what he tries to describe to them because San Francisco has long since turned into a wilderness. In the end, there is hope and the professor is certain that the knowledge that was lost will be rediscovered. If you are interested in reading "The Scarlet Plague" (1912), it is available online here.

Escape's adaptation places the story in 1950's San Francisco and changes the tone into that of a tense disaster epic. The focus is primarily on the professor as he and other frenzied survivors try to escape the chaos of a civilization that is crumbling. The other parts of the original story weren't incorporated and Escape doesn't end the episode on a happy note. Still, their adaptation is an interesting one.

"The Scarlett Plague" was adapted for Escape by Les Crutchfield and directed by Norman MacDonnell. Vic Perrin starred. Also appearing were Parley Baer, Greg Dehner, John Dehner , Eleanor Tanin, John Larch, Barney Phillips, and Sam Edwards. This episode aired on April 8, 1954.

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Escape - The Fall of the House of Usher

Escape's "The Fall of the House of Usher" was closely adapted from the classic tale of horror by Edgar Allan Poe. If you want to read Poe's story, which was first published in 1839, it is available online at Wikisource.

As the episode opens, the narrator receives a letter from his childhood friend, Roderick Usher, that requests he come for a visit. Roderick is the last male descendant of the ancient House of Usher, and he is in ill health. Roderick asks his old friend to come immediately to the Usher family estate.

When the narrator arrives at the gloomy home, he finds an oppressive scene. Roderick is tormented by his nervous ailment and his twin sister, Madeline, is dying from the same mysterious affliction. As events unfold, the narrator soon witnesses the terrifying end of the House of Usher.

"The Fall of the House of Usher" was adapted for Escape by Les Crutchfield and produced/directed by William N. Robson.  Paul Frees played the narrator and Ramsay Hill played Roderick Usher. This episode aired on October 22, 1947.

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Escape - The Man Who Liked Dickens

"The Man Who Liked Dickens" is a classic tale of jungle terror that was written by Evelyn Waugh and first published as a chapter in the novel A Handful of Dust  (1934). The story was adapted for radio by Suspense and then later by Escape. Of the two, Escape's version is better because it stayed true to the original work.

Tony Last was on an expedition in Brazil, but after it ran into difficulties, he ended up alone and sick in the jungle.  While in a fever-ridden stupor, Tony was found by Mr. Todd and taken to his home in a remote jungle village.

When Tony recovered from his illness, he was grateful to Mr. Todd for his help. He was also happy to comply with Mr. Todd's request to read aloud to him for a couple of hours each day. However, as the days went by, Tony realized that Mr. Todd had no intention of allowing him to leave...ever.

"The Man Who Liked Dickens" was adapted for Escape by John Meston and directed by Norman MacDonnell . Terry Kilburn, who played Tiny Tim in the 1938 MGM film A Christmas Carol, starred as Tony. Joseph Kearns played Mr. Todd, a role he had played previously on Suspense. Also appearing were Ramsay Hill and Joe Cranston. This episode aired on December 21, 1952.

. Download Escape.1952.12.21_The_Man_Who_Liked_Dickens.mp3

Suspense had presented their version of this story five years earlier. Although dangerous jungle adventure wasn't what they were best at, Suspense's adaptation seems to be just as good as Escape's...until you get to the happy ending. 

"The Man Who Liked Dickens" was adapted for Suspense by Academy Award winning screenwriter Richard Breen and produced/directed by William Spier. Richard Ney played Tony and Joseph Kearns played Mr. Todd. This episode aired on October 9, 1947.

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(Image of Charles Dickens from Wikipedia )

Escape - The Shanghai Document

"The Shanghai Document" was written for Escape by the husband and wife writing team of John and Gwen Bagni. In total, they wrote seven witty and adventuresome episodes of Escape, including the brilliant "Treasure Incorporated." (The other episodes written by the Bagnis were The Sure Thing, Maracas, Border Town, Danger at Matecumbe, and The Man Who Stole the Bible. )

As the episode opens, an American newspaper correspondent named Tony Dehner is stuck in Chongqing, China. He wants to buy passage to Shanghai on a river steamer, but he can't get a ticket. His attempt to rent a boat lands him in a local hospital where he meets an American lady doctor named Jane Roma. She bandages up his wounds and promises to help him get to Shanghai.

True to her word, the following day Jane provides him with a ticket to Shanghai on a river steamer. Why would someone he just met be so helpful?  Could it be that the "Shanghai Document" that everyone is looking for has something to do with it?

"The Shanghai Document" was produced and directed by William N. Robson. John Dehner played Tony and Joan Banks played Dr. Jane Roma. Also appearing were Ben Wright, William Conrad, Benson Fong, and Charles Lung. This episode aired on April 21, 1950. 

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Escape - The Rim of Terror

"The Rim of Terror" was adapted from the 1949 novel by Hildegarde Tolman Teilhet. Escape's version of this story is a good one, but only for the first half of the book. There wasn't enough time to cover this novel's many details in just half an hour.

In the book, Elizabeth Whitehill is a prim young woman who is driving across country with her dog to meet her fiance in Seattle. On her way through northern Nevada, she picks up a hitchhiker named Alex Peck and becomes involved, against all sense, in helping him escape from the spies who are chasing him.

Most of the book follows their road journey and their many screw-ups from Nevada to Idaho, but it also covers, in painstaking detail, the complicated relationship that develops between Elizabeth and Alex. In the end, the U.S. government saves the day, and Elizabeth chooses Alex over her fiance.

Escape didn't have time for all of that.

"The Rim of Terror" was adapted for radio, produced, and directed by William N. Robson. Nancy Kelly starred as Elizabeth Whitehill. Hans Conried played Alex Peck. This episode aired on May 12, 1950.

. Download Escape_1950.05.12_Rim Of Terror.mp3

Suspense also presented this episode with Barbara Whiting in the lead role. Ben Wright played Alex. William N. Robson produced/directed. This episode aired on December 6, 1956.

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Escape - Blood Waters

"Blood Waters" is the story of a diver who makes a deal to retrieve a fortune in gold from the bottom of an Argentinean River. He knows that he can't trust the man who hired him, but he doesn't appear to know anything about the native fish...until it is too late.

Paul Trent is an American who has been working as a diver in Argentina for three years. One day, he receives an unexpected visit by an old acquaintance, Vincent Murdoch. The two of them have a bad history, but Murdoch wants to hire him.

He tells Paul the story of a fortune in gold that was lost on the Paraguay River forty years earlier. The government was never able to find the wreck, but Murdoch believes that he can. He has found the shipwreck's sole survivor.

Paul doesn't want the job, but a local girl named Maria convinces him to accept. Her father is the shipwreck survivor, and she is scared that Murdoch will harm him. When Paul meets her father, he finds a drunken, incoherent old man with arms scarred by many small bites...

"Blood Waters" was written by Tony Barrett and directed by Norman MacDonnell. Vic Perrin starred. Also appearing were Jack Kruschen, Lillian Buyeff, Tony Barrett, and Barney Phillips. This episode aired on June 17, 1954.

The sound quality dips around 5 minutes into this episode but then gets better around the 12 minute mark.

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Escape - Gringo/The Coward

Escape's "Gringo" is the story of an American captain in Mexico, who hires out his boat to retrieve a fortune from a crashed plane on a deserted island. Escape's "The Coward" is the story of an American pilot in Mexico, who hires a boat to retrieve a fortune from a crashed plane on a deserted island.

The only difference is that "Gringo" is the better of the two. Both episodes were written by E. Jack Neuman, who wrote a number of radio plays for Escape.

"Gringo" begins on an island off the coast of Mexico where an American named Jim Canovan has just arrived on his schooner. Canovan soon meets Ramon Chavez, another recent arrival, who wants to make a deal. Chavez wants to use Canovan's schooner to sail to a remote island and retrieve a fortune in payroll money from the inside of a wrecked plane. Canovan agrees, but when Chavez brings the beautiful Maria along for the trip, their deal doesn't work out the way they had agreed.

"Gringo" directed by Norman MacDonnell. William Conrad starred. Also appearing were Edgar Barrier, Lillian Buyeff, and Parley Baer. This episode aired on October 12, 1952.

.  Download Escape.1952.10.12_Gringo.mp3

Frank Dorian was a pilot for an oil company in Mexico, but a plane crash put him in the hospital for 18 months. On board with him were four passengers and $80,000, but the wrecked plane was never recovered. As the episode opens, Frank visits the office of the oil company in order to rent one of their power boats. The company refuses, but a secretary named Maria agrees to help him. She thinks that he wants a boat to retrieve the money from the deserted island where the plane went down. So, she strikes a deal with him.

"The Coward" was produced/directed by David Friedkin and Morton Fine. Featured in the cast were Barney Phillips, Virginia Gregg, Lou Merrill, and Herb Butterfield. This episode aired on August 14, 1954.

.  Download Escape_1954.08.14_The Coward.mp3

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Escape - Carnival in Vienna

Escape's "Carnival in Vienna" is a story about forgery, deception, murder, and a mechanical laughing clown.

John Ashcroft Allison works as the front gate superintendant for a carnival in Austria. As the episode opens, he is admiring himself in a mirror, and his girlfriend, Lilly, tells him that he is vain... and that she knows he was once a thief. She also knows that he came to Europe to hide from forgery charges in the United States. John doesn't deny his background, but he is sorry that she heard about it from someone else.

The other carnival folk mock John's vanity, but Lilly loves and believes him. She has faith that he won't go back to his old ways, but as it turns out, John returns to his old ways that same afternoon.

With a little forgery, luck, and a broken ferris wheel, John steals a fortune, but will Lilly still want him?

"Carnival in Vienna" was written/directed by David Friedkin and Morton Fine. Jack Moyles, Lillian Buyeff, Jack Kruschen, and Hans Conried appeared. This episode aired on September 11, 1954.

. Download escape_1954.09.11_ Carnival In Vienna.mp3

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Escape - Red Wine

In Escape's "Red Wine," a detective travels to a rubber plantation on the coast of Borneo to find a killer. This episode is based on the 1930 short story by Lawrence G. Blochman, but Escape threw in a seductive island girl and, of course, a deadly snake to fill some time. Otherwise, they kept the main elements of the story intact.

Detective Paul Vernier has traveled from San Francisco to Borneo to extradite Jerome Steeks, a man wanted for the murder of his wealthy wife. Vernier arrives in the jungle outpost of Tamjong Samor on a tip that Steeks is hiding there, but he soon realizes that arresting him won't be easy. There are 3 Americans working on the local rubber plantation, but none of them fit the description of the man he is looking for.

Vernier knows that one of them is the killer. So, he leads the three men into a trap to reveal which one is really Jerome Steeks, a man of sophisticated taste and culture.

"Red Wine" was adapted for radio by Morton Lewis and Les Crutchfield. Norman MacDonnell  produced/directed. Jeff Chandler played Vernier and Berry Kroeger played Herr Koert. Also appearing were David Ellis, Lou Krugman, Jack Kruschen, and Lorette Filbrandt. This episode aired on February 26, 1949.

. Download Escape.1949.02.26_Redwine.mp3

"Red Wine" was presented again on August 11, 1949. Richard Sanville directed. Willard Waterman played Paul Vernier. Also appearing were Robert Boon, Marian Richman, Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, Wilms Herbert, and Clarke Gordon.

.  Download Escape.1949.08.11_Red_Wine.mp3

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Escape - The Country of the Blind

In Escape's "The Country of the Blind," a mountaineer, lost in the snowy Ecuadorian mountains, finds a valley, cut-off from the rest of civilization and inhabited only by the blind. The radio play was based on the famous short story by H.G. Wells, which was first published in 1904 and then later given a revised ending in 1939. The short story is available online from Wikisource but not the later revised version. Escape's version has a different ending altogether, as well as a modified introduction, but otherwise their radio play stayed true to the original work.

As the episode opens, a mining engineer named Ibarra tells the tale of an expedition into the Andes Mountains that ended in tragedy when one of the guides, Juan Nunez, slipped and fell over a precipice. Ibarra then explains that he was stunned when, a year afterwards, Nunez suddenly reappeared! When Ibarra asked him where he had been, Nunez told him the incredible story of his journey into a fabled land inhabited only by the blind.

"The Country of the Blind" was adapted for Escape by John Dunkel and produced/directed by William N. Robson. William Conrad played Ibarra and Paul Frees played Nunez. This episode aired on November 26, 1947.

. Download Escape_1947.11.26_ Country of the Blind.mp3

It was presented again on June 20, 1948. Norman MacDonnell produced/directed and Paul Frees again played Nunez. Berry Kroeger played Ibarra.

. Download Escape_1948.06.20_Country of the Blind.mp3

Escape presented this radio play for the last time on March 20, 1949. Norman MacDonnell produced/directed. Edmund O'Brien starred and Berry Kroeger again played Ibarra.

. Download Escape_1949.03.20_Country_of_the_Blind.mp3

Years after Escape went off the air, William N. Robson recycled Dunkel's script, with a few modifications, on Suspense on October 27, 1957. Raymond Burr starred.

. Download Suspense_1957.10.27_County Of The Blind.mp3

The second presentation of "The Country of the Blind" on Suspense was on December 13, 1959. Paul Roberts produced/directed and Bernard Grant played Nunez.

. Download Suspense_1959.12.13_Country of the Blind.mp3

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Escape - Action

Escape's "Action" was adapted from the 1928 short story by Charles Edward Montague about a suicidal mountain climber.

Christopher Bell, a man with a creeping numbness on one side of his body, believes that the only future ahead of him is one as an invalid. With nothing left to gain by living, he travels to Zinal, Switzerland, where he plans to end his troubles on a mountain cliff.

As he begins his ascent up the Schallijoch Glacier, a pick axe suddenly comes tumbling down from above. Annoyed at first, he soon realizes there are two people above him who need help. He springs into action, and in doing so, changes his life.

"Action" was adapted for Escape by Les Crutchfield and produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. To their credit, this is one of those instances where Escape's adaptation could be considered more enjoyable than the original story. Joseph Kearns played Christopher Bell, Louis Van Rooten played Dr. Gollen, and Joan Banks played Mrs. Gollen. Also appearing were Erik Rolf, Marta Mitrovich, Jeff Corey, Ray Lawrence, and Berry Kroeger. This episode aired on April 4, 1948.

. Download Escape_1948.04.04_ Action.mp3

Escape presented this story a second time on July 21, 1949 with the same cast.

. Download Escape.1949.07.21_Action.mp3

*As pointed out in the comments, Suspense also presented "Action." Here is their version, which is quite different from the original story. Suspense's adaptation was written by Antony Ellis and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. Herbert Marshall starred. Also appearing were Ellen Morgan, Parley Baer, Herbert Buttefield, Richard Peel, and Ben Wright. This episode aired on October 5, 1953.

. Download Suspense_1953.10.05_Action.mp3

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Rev. 8/11/08

Escape - Shark Bait

In "Shark Bait," a charter boat captain in Nicaragua is forced to cooperate with a deadly gun-running scheme.

Captain Jonathan Hook is an American who operates a small charter boat service in Nicaragua. One night, he stops at Joe's Cocktail Bar and hears that there is talk of a rebel uprising across the border. The rumour is that rebels are bringing guns into Honduras via a fishing troller off the coast. Hook isn't concerned, but warns the proprieter not to spread the news around.

The next morning, Captain Hook expects to take a father and daughter out for an all day fishing trip, but when he arrives at his boat, he finds two unexpected guests there as well. All four passengers claim that they want to go fishing, but when they demonstrate little or no ability to catch fish, Hook becomes suspicious. Soon, it becomes obvious that the two strangers have joined their boat trip for another reason, but who is being double-crossed?

"Shark Bait" was written by Antony Ellis and produced/directed by William N. Robson. William Conrad appeared as Captain Jonathan Hook. Also appearing were Mary Shipp, Will Geer, John Dehner, Steve Roberts, Harry Bartell, and Paul Frees. This episode aired on July 14, 1950.

. Download Escape.1950.07.14_Shark_Bait.mp3

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Escape - Four Went Home

In "Four Went Home," a small group of American soldiers plan a risky escape from a Nazi prison camp.

As the episode opens, it is a Saturday night and five prisoners of war are playing poker to pass the hours. They have little sense of time in their prison and no idea of how much longer they will be there.

Later that night, while the others are sleeping, one of the men lets his sergeant in on a secret. He shows him a key he has made out of a piece of wire and how he is able to use it to unlock the door. The next day, they tell the others about the key, and the five men begin preparations to escape from their Nazi captors. The men have heard a rumor that American forces are close by, and if it is true, help isn't too far away. The problem is that the terror of escaping just may be their undoing.

"Four Went Home" was written and directed by Antony Ellis. William Conrad starred as the sergeant. Also appearing were John Dehner, Peter Leeds, Bob Sweeney, and Jack Kruschen. This episode aired on December 14, 1952.

.  Download Escape_1952.12.14_Four Went Home.mp3

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