This is the second performance of this Dorothy L. Sayers adapted by Robert L. Richards. Details about the plotline and the original broadcast are at https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2023/02/1943-08-10-fountain-plays.html The story has some standards for good mysteries, like murder, blackmail, and a cover-up.
There are two recordings and it is not known which is east or west. The broadcast with 2 seconds to network ID. The broadcast with 30 seconds to ID sounds like an aircheck recording; it has a lot of background noise. The “(2s)” recording is the obvious better of the two, though it has some minor blemishes. There is a content difference in the recordings: “(2s)” has a PSA about recruiting nurses in the war effort. The “(30s)” recording does not have it.
Of the two times this script was used, this 1944 one is better than the 1943 broadcast. The Roma era’s lusher budgets for music and effects, enthusiasm of the regular cast, and Charles Laughton’s performance, all add up to more engaging production.
This is the first of 29 weeks of Roma commercials featuring society figure and entertaining expert Elsa Maxwell. She offers her hard-earned wisdom about wine and other beverage selections. Maxwell was a gossip columnist and writer with occasional movie appearances, but known for her elaborate parties. She is credited with adding games to parties, such as scavenger hunts, to make them more interesting beyond the idle chatter of who was seen with whom or who was invited and who wasn’t. Maxwell rose from a lower middle class life in San Francisco to being the host of parties that included big stars and royalty.
For the Roma commercials, Elsa was not in the studio, but was portrayed by Lucille Meredith. She had a long radio career, with many uncredited roles through the 1930s and through the 1950s. She can be heard on Lux Radio Theatre, Suspense, Escape, Command Performance, Columbia Workshop, Johnny Dollar, and many other programs. She acted in bit parts in movies and television through the 1990s.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP44-11-23
THE CAST
CHARLES LAUGHTON (Archibald Spiller), Dennis Hoey (Sam Gooch), Ian Wolfe (Masters), Raymond Lawrence (Inspector Branson), Joe Kearns (Man in Black), unknown (Mrs. Digby), unknown (Becky Spiller), unknown (Ronald Proudfoot)
Mel Dinelli’s play, “The Man,” was originally planned for this date. It was going to be a big deal, publicity-wise, with Frank Sinatra starring in the program. He eventually appeared in the performance, six weeks later, in the renamed play To Find Help.
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