Re: Suspense Upgrades

by greybelt 11/10/2020, 6:52 am

This recording is the only one we have. I have found no portion of it that indicates east or west. There is no AFRS recording. There is sadness in the C3DS department with no project today and they need to find ways to look busy. There's only so many times you can clean microscope lenses or dissection tools or tabletops. (Someone... PLEASE!... clean out the break room fridge! Someone may be calling archaeologists to carbon-14 date some of the stuff that's in there!) They'll be okay... we're still in the 1946 broadcasts... there will be things to do soon...

Suspense_1946-09-26_StatementOfEmployeeHenryWilson_wGeneLockhart (26s to ID) UPGRADE-2.mp3
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Newspaper clippings posted previously.

by artatoldotr 11/10/2020, 9:58 am

Thanks greybelt
Best regards
Art

by greybelt 11/11/2020, 5:42 am

Mark Stevens was the originally planned star for this episode... and John Lund mentions that at 28:14. This is the only surviving recording and it is not known for which coast it was broadcast. There is no AFRS recording.
Suspense_1946-10-10_APlaneCaseOfMurder_wJohnLund (13sec to ID) UPGRADE-4.mp3
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Newspaper clippings were posted earlier.

by artatoldotr 11/11/2020, 1:11 pm

Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

by greybelt 11/12/2020, 8:14 am

This is a Suspense "one hit wonder" script. It was written by Lesley Raddatz, his only radio script. He became a well known media writer for TV Guide and Variety.

This first broadcast has the title "The Man Who Thought He Was..."
It was performed again in September 1948 and the title became "The Man Who Wanted to be..."

Suspense_1946-10-17_ManWhoThoughtHeWas_wEGRobinson (4sec to ID) UPGRADE-4.mp3
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The AFRS version was posted in 2013 [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

This is a job for the C3DS! Does the AFRS version match this network version, or are there differences that identify it as derived from the missing network performance? Now that the desks are cleaned and the fridge has been fumigated (next is the breakroom microwave... please!... the folks in accounting are complaining and they're two floors up!), the C3DS is ready to charge ahead as the arbiters of dissimilarities!

Google Translate ruled today that the official motto of the C3DS has been designated as
Et identify docere ... "to identify and teach" ... what a marvelous contribution to Cobaltia
First will be a coat of arms, then comes t-shirts, coffee mugs, frisbees,...

Newspaper clippings posted earlier.

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The Hehn project is gaining steam. The first disc transfers have been posted to the work group and head to one of the volunteers for processing. There are now 30 pages at archive.org, meaning we are 60% of the way to being certified as a special collection. The volunteers have been so very generous with their time and their talents...

Suspense upgrades are still being identified for daily posting here. The number of upgrades will easily take us into March 2021! It's been quite an interesting time.

by chasedad 11/12/2020, 10:05 am

These seem to be two distinct broadcasts:

Network at 24:04:
"I-I don't think we'll have to, uh, go through with it."

AFRS at 20:14:
"I-I don't think we'll have to go-go through with it."

by greybelt 11/12/2020, 10:47 am

Chasedad!! Thanks!!
Now we know that the AFRS was derived from the other broadcast.
That's spectacular!

by kdmarket 11/12/2020, 3:06 pm

can i get a copy of
Suspense_1946-10-17_ManWhoThoughtHeWas_AFRS

that site is not working for me thanks

by lasombra 11/12/2020, 3:33 pm

kdmarket wrote:can i get a copy of
Suspense_1946-10-17_ManWhoThoughtHeWas_AFRS

that site is not working for me thanks

Here ya go, kdmarket: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

by greybelt 11/13/2020, 4:11 am

For today's posting we have all three of the recordings available (EC/WC/AFRS). I can find nothing in the recordings to assign to which coast each belongs.

When Susan Hayward's character sings “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” it is actually the then-Mrs.-Spier, performer Kay Thompson, uncredited. She was musical performance coach at MGM at he time.

Suspense_1946-10-24_DameFortune_wSusanHayward (direct to ID) UPGRADE.mp3
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Suspense_1946-10-24_DameFortune_wSusanHayward (AFRS) UPGRADE STILL LQ.mp3
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The network version that is 2 seconds to network ID (in really nice sound) was posted last year. This is an IceDrive link to the file [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Two seconds is not a big difference compared to "direct" but it is certainly there.

The C3DS question today is whether there are other internal differences in the broadcasts, which then determines which one was used to create the AFRS version. Thanks again for your help and insight! Et identify docere!

by lasombra 11/13/2020, 10:22 am

At 2:05 the direct to ID version has someone saying encore, encore after she sings I've Got You under My Skin. The 2 second version does not.

The AFRS version is from the direct to ID version. Someone says encore, encore.

by artatoldotr 11/13/2020, 11:20 am

Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

by greybelt 11/13/2020, 2:35 pm

lasombra U R D best!!

The skeptical among us say they were rowdy and said "encore! encore!" after "refreshing" themselves and "rehydrating" in the break between the east and west broadcasts Smile

But I suspect that's not a reliable way to assign a recording to a particular coast 70+ years after the fact Smile

by greybelt 11/14/2020, 7:05 am

This recording is the only one that we have been able to locate. This is the east coast version because it includes the tease for FBIiP&W.
Suspense_1946-10-31_LazurusWalks_wBrianDonlevy EC (mentions FBIiP&W at end) UPGRADE-4.mp3
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1946-10-27 Shreveport LA Times

1946-10-31 Indianapolis IN Star

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1946-10 Radio Mirror
Radio had its specialists... need a screamer? Meet Miss Johnson...

1946-10-27 Radio Life
The importance of music in Suspense is quite clear, and Spier's own musical
knowledge and abilities were among the reasons why it could play such an effective role.
His experience allowed a closer working relationship with the composers and musicians,
enabling him to describe what he envisioned, and specify what was needed in a clear
and precise manner, and for them to work in a more collegial way.

1946-1947 Winter CBS Program Book
The sales book for advertisers, agencies, and the CBS sales department shows
the four-hour difference in the starting times of the east and west broadcasts.
Suspense was heard at 8pm on the east coast, but 9pm on the west
(midnight eastern time). The separate broadcasts would end with the Roma Wines
cancellation a year later. "Biow Company" was the ad agency. The structure was
that Biow had the relationship with CBS and paid for the broadcast slot and time.
Schenley was the client of Biow and paid for the entire production, including the
agency commission. Spier was hired by Biow, not by CBS. Spier was an employee
of CBS only for the 1942 Summer series. This is why the programs always made
a point of stating "produced by William Spier."

by artatoldotr 11/14/2020, 12:04 pm

Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

by greybelt 11/15/2020, 8:47 am

Today's post is the east version of Easy Money. It teases FBIiP&W at the close.
Suspense_1946-11-07_Easy_Money_wJackCarson EC (mentions FBIiP&W at end) UPGRADE.mp3
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The west version was posted two and a half years ago. There is a change in sound at about the 10 minute mark; I have not been able to find a replacement. I am not aware of any differences beyond the FBIiP&W tease. There is no AFRS version available; it would likely be number 180.
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Newspaper clippings were posted earlier.

This episode was originally planned for Dane Clark two months prior. Till the Day I Die was used instead on that date.

1946-09-15 Lincoln NB Star

by artatoldotr 11/16/2020, 9:42 am

Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

by greybelt 11/16/2020, 3:45 pm

Delayed post today... LOTS of stuff going on...

This recording is intact and is an upgrade of the fully intact recording. We don't know if this is east or west. Important note follows the links...
Suspense_1946-11-14_The_One_Who_Got_Away_wHughCronyn (direct to ID) UPGRADE-2.mp3
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There is a better sounding recording but it has a clipped opening. I have patched the opening onto the better sounding file. You know that I do not like this, but if I find a situation where it makes sense, I will do it... AND I will document it. Here are the two files...

Suspense_1946-11-14_The_One_Who_Got_Away_wHughCronyn (direct to ID) CLIPPED OPEN EXCELLENT SOUND.mp3
Clipped opening [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Suspense_1946-11-14_The_One_Who_Got_Away (direct to ID) REPAIRED OPEN.mp3
Hybrid repaired file [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

by greybelt 11/17/2020, 8:38 am

Today's post is straightforward... an upgrade of Judy Garland's appearance on the show. We do not know if this is east or west; there is no AFRS recording available.
Suspense_1946-11-21_Drive_In_wJudyGarland (direct to ID) UPGRADE-3.mp3
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by artatoldotr 11/17/2020, 11:51 am

Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

by greybelt 11/18/2020, 7:00 am

This recording is the only one we have, with no indications of east or west that I have discerned. There is no AFRS recording.

Tree of Life with Morris was the originally scheduled script. That was held for the first broadcast of 1947 with Mark Stevens. There's a story behind the script that will be told once more when that upgrade is posted in a few days.

Suspense_1946-11-28_StrangeDeathOfGordonFitzroy_wChesterMorris (direct to ID) UPGRADE-3.mp3
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1946-11-28 Indianapolis IN News

1946-11-28 N Hollywood CA Valley Times

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An important milestone was reached with the Hehn collection yesterday: 50 unique pages at archive.org. They can be seen at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] where there are many upgrades and some new recordings. There's no Suspense there yet, but I've found 100+ upgrades that will be posted here as I work through them, and find a permanent home there as well.

I've filed the official request for them to recommend it as a special collection there, which can only be done when you hit the 50 mark. There will probably be over 300 pages when the project is done. Some of the disc work that I have sampled as it goes through the volunteers who record and who process has been outstanding. It's worth getting involved if you can.

This project, and a new one that OTRR has gotten involved in, that involves an even bigger collection, needs reel transfer volunteers. Contact me offline if you have interest.

by artatoldotr 11/18/2020, 10:19 am

Thanks greybelt

Best regards

Art

by greybelt 11/19/2020, 10:51 am

There is only one complete broadcast recording of this in circulation. There are no identifiers that we have been able to find regarding the targeted coast. Is there another recording out there?

There is an abridged recording of this episode that was likely edited to fit on an LP record.

The episode has some interesting history. Cary Grant was intended guest star. A repeat of Black Curtain with Grant may have been originally planned according to Radio Life magazine, so it is a little unclear in this regard.The original title was "The House in Cypress Gardens"; the use of "Canyon" likely made it seem more remote and spooky rather than have it sound like the name of an apartment complex.

The script has "guest appearance" by detective named "Sam" played by Howard Duff, of course, a reference to Sam Spade, also produced by Spier and starring Duff. Calling him by only the first name meant that they avoided the requirement to make a payment to Dashiell Hammett for use of the character.

Suspense_1946-12-05_House_On_Cypress_Canyon_wHansConreid (direct to ID) (has full 'Yes Roma Wines' open) UPGRADE-2.mp3
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1946-12-01 Radio Life

1946-12-05 Decatur IL Daily Review

1946-12-05 Miami FL News

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When Spier took over The Clock starting in March 1948, he used House in Cypress Canyon as his third broadcast (1948-03-18). There are no newspaper clippings about the episode, but it likely starred Cathy and Elliott Lewis, as did many of those broadcasts. ABC's promotion of the series was not very good in those early weeks. As a cynical message to "the suits" at CBS, the closing credits of The Clock included "produced and directed by William Spier, the master of suspense"!

Other Suspense scripts Spier used in his 13 weeks producing the series were John Barbey and Son, Can't We Be Friends, and Bank Holiday.

Unless there was a name change for some of the others, the only The Clock script that would be used on Suspense was Search for Isabel

You can always tell which scripts Spier, Robson, and Lewis felt were superior by counting the number of times they were performed on the various series they were involved in, such as Escape, On Stage, Romance, and Philip Morris Playhouse. The latter was produced by Spier beginning with the Fall 1948 season when Anton Leader had the helm at Suspense.

by artatoldotr 11/19/2020, 11:06 am

Thanks greybelt
Best regards

Art

by greybelt 11/20/2020, 6:12 am

Today we know we have the east coast version of this script. It teases the FBIiP&W episode for those listeners. This is a Lucille Fletcher script.

From which broadcast is the AFRS version derived? Perhaps the C3DS can help us!

Suspense_1946-12-19_ThingInThe_Window_wJosephCotten EC (mentions FBIiP&W at end) UPGRADE-3.mp3
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The AFRS version was posted six years ago and is at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

1946-12-18 Pasadena CA Independent

1946-12-19 Cincinnati OH Enquirer

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The Internet Archive has now officially designated The Joe Hehn Memorial Collection with a special page that links to all of the recordings. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Check back often as there is about to be a flood of recordings there in the next weeks.

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