Suspense Upgrades

Suspense_1957-03-10_ThePeraltaMap_wRaymondBurr UPGRADE STILL LQ.mp3
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This is a pre-Perry Mason Burr, an established radio actor, of course, but also having a successful movie career, but not really as a headliner. He did a lot of film noir work and was also in Westerns. The most famous role up to this point was probably as the villain in Rear Window. (Should we really mention the 3-D Gorilla-at-Large or Godzilla as high points in his career? I think not). Perry Mason would start its broadcasts in September 1957. The filming of the first episodes began in April 1957. There was already positive buzz and anticipation in Hollywood about the series from its October 1956 pilot and its private showings to executives and advertisers. This Suspense episode was recorded about six weeks before he would start the role of his career. The Wikipedia entry about the series is quite good [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and this website is just marvelous for details about individual episodes [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and I'm on it constantly as I'll often have Perry Mason DVDs playing as I'm working in my home office. Many OTR fans I have known through the years are also big fans of this series.

The plot of the story is the search for a gold mine that actually existed, or may have existed. More details can be found at this Wikipedia page [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

This episode is another example of how programs that included bigger stars in this Suspense era would be the ones that got more public relations attention in the promotion of the show.

kdmarket wrote:greybelt do you have a copy of this show
suspense 1961-10-08 dreams  AFRTS
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found it at AFRTS archive

Thanks very much KD. Yes, I have the show and got that disc recording from Thom Whetston, who runs that blog a few years ago. It has been shared here before, perhaps one or two server crashes ago, and I believe made the last OTRR Suspense set.

For Cobaltians who are not aware of Thom W's broadcasting passion, it's at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]  Thom was assigned to AFRTS when he was in the service, and was in Korea and Panama. Over the years he has collected historical items about the networks and has befriended many of the radio professionals in a quest to document and remember the years he served as well as AFRTS history from its beginnings. Many of the radio personalities from those years have donated their recordings to him so they can be preserved and shared at his blog. He is not an OTR collector, but recognizes how important the recordings we love were to service personnel, even through the 1980s. Many places where they were stationed did not have television, so radio drama was a welcome diversion for them and their families who may have traveled with them on assignments. It was disc collector Randy Riddle who got me in touch with Thom many years ago.

Thom has been very helpful to me in my Suspense obsession, and I am pleased to note his generosity which extends to Cobaltia.

Thank you, KD, by your posting of that note reminded me that I had not mentioned Thom in a while. His site is worth a visit, Cobaltians, and if you can, worth making a contribution. Thom collects AFRTS discs, especially from the times of his service, and has accumulated airchecks of programs that service personnel recorded and does his best to restore them. He also tries to bring attention to former AFRTS personality Chris Noel, who in her retirement, runs a shelter for vets in Florida.

thanks for the information

Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

Thanks again Doc.

Francis Lederer (1958)

Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

Thanks again greybelt

Best regards

Art

Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

I will be traveling on Sunday, so here is a double-post.

Suspense_1957-10-13_Well_Dressed_Corpse_wMargaretWhiting  AFRTS #652 FROM DISC.mp3
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This is a "missing" AFRS version of the episode. So many of the network recordings at this time in the series are in low quality sound that it's very nice to get AFRS disc recordings of them.


Suspense_1957-10-20_SorryWrongNumber_wAgnesMoorehead (Network) UPGRADE-3.mp3
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Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

Suspense_1957-10-27_CountryOfTheBlind_wRaymondBurr AFRS#654 FROM DISC.mp3
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This was originally broadcast one month after the Perry Mason series started on CBS TV.

Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

Thanks Greybelt.

Thank you greybelt!

Suspense_1957-11-17_CityThatWas_wFrancisXBushman AFRS#657 FROM DISC.mp3
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Bushman was a huge star in early Hollywood, and his casting for this episode was very appropriate, if not inspired. This was Bushman's sole appearance on Suspense.
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Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

Suspense_1957-11-24_Star_Of_Thessaly_wRayNoble AFRS#658 FROM DISC.mp3
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Another case of inspired casting with bandleader Ray Noble.
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This is actually a reused script! It’s from the Mutual series, produced by Robson, The Modern Adventures of Casanova, which starred Erroll Flynn. Here’s some background on the series.
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This was the description of The Star of Thessaly from the series, broadcast on November 27, 1952
I can only find one episode of this series in circulation from May 22, 1952.
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Does anyone have a better copy?
In the intro of this Suspense episode, Robson says that this play was written for Ray Noble's appearance. Don't tell Ray that Bill was serving leftovers in the studio that day

Ray Noble