Eddie Cantor makes his only Suspense appearance in this second production of this Robert Minton script. It’s a lighthearted episode that involves illegal gambling, “bookies,” and some embezzling to fund it all. Background about the play, and author Robert Minton’s interesting career can be found at
https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2023/07/1945-12-20-double-entry.html
https://archive.org/details/TSP451220 which has links to the first broadcast’s recordings.
There is a character named “Fink” in the story. It is played by Jerry Hausner in both productions, but the last name is changed as an inside joke. In the 1945 broadcast, it’s “Fink Martin,” likely in reference to Frank Martin, one of the announcers in the Roma period. In this broadcast, it’s “Fink Frees,” a reference to actor and Suspense signature voice Paul Frees.
Two recordings have survived. The network broadcast recording is the better of the two. The other recording is from the Armed Forces Radio Service and is very low quality (VLQ).
Eddie Cantor was a multi-talented performer of stage, film, radio, and television. Some of the songs he performed became standards of the time are still well known today, such as Makin' Whoopee, If You Knew Susie, and many others. An overview of his career can be found at Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Cantor
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP491222
THE CAST
EDDIE CANTOR (Eddie Sullivan), Sidney Miller (Sam Crockett), Jerry Hausner (Fink Frees), Ted Von Eltz (Mr. Bartholomew), Wally Maher (Racetrack Announcer), Jack Kruschen (Jailer), David Light & Gus Bayz (Ad-Libs), Paul Frees (Signature Voice)
COMMERCIAL: Harlow Wilcox (Announcer), Betty Lou Gerson? (Reindeer), Sylvia Simms (Operator)
Joe Kearns was originally cast to double as Mr. Bartholomew and the Jailer, and replaced by Von Eltz and Kruschen. The reason for the change in cast is not known.
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