James Mason stars in a new performance of Banquo’s Chair. A newly retired police officer just can’t let go of a case he could not solve. He brings the suspects together for a dinner party, and a ghostly incident occurs that helps expose the murderer.
The story was used on Suspense twice, and starred Donald Crisp and John Loder for each of those performances. These are the links to the 1943 performance which includes background about the author and the story:
https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2023/02/1943-06-01-banquos-chair.html
https://archive.org/details/TSP430601 is where the audio files may be downloaded or streamed.
The 1944 broadcast details can be accessed at these links:
https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2023/04/1944-08-03-banquos-chair.html
https://archive.org/details/TSP440803 is where the audio files may be downloaded or streamed.
There are two recordings of the broadcast. They each have flaws but are listenable. There is disc scratch on each. The network recording is the preferred of the two. The Armed Forces Radio Service Recording (#312) has Paul Frees announcing “Suspense!” This was edited in by AFRS production engineers. Joe Kearns was the signature voice of Suspense at this time.
Of the three times of broadcast, the 1944 broadcast may be the best production to listen to.
Hans Conried played the “John Bedford” character in all of the Suspense productions.
This was one of William Spier’s favorite scripts. This is the third time it was performed on Suspense, but he also used it for the 1949-03-25 broadcast of Philip Morris Playhouse. It starred Claude Rains. No other cast information is available.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP500309
THE CAST
JAMES MASON (Sir William Brent), Pamela Kellino (Roberta Stone), John Dehner (Arthur Grange / Officer), Colin Campbell (Lane), Norma Varden (Hilda), Gloria Gordon (Aunt Martha Ferguson), Hans Conried (John Bedford), Joe Kearns (Signature Voice)
COMMERCIAL: Ken Christy (Hap), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer), Sylvia Simms (Operator)
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