Edmond O’Brien stars in an Arthur Ross script about one of the most disturbing and regrettable events in American history: the tragedy of the Donner party in the Winter of 1847 to 1848. It was one of the most the terrible ordeals ever endured. Trapped in the High Sierra mountains of California, only 45 or so persons of an expedition that started with almost 90, survived. The drama begins with a vote among the weary pioneers on whether to try to push across the Sierras, despite snowstorms and freezing weather, or to make camp for the winter. They vote for the latter. That begins their vigil which, it becomes increasingly apparent, can end only in death.
It may seem that Edmond O'Brien is “underacting” at the beginning of the production. It may seem confusing to hear it. He's saving up all of his acting range for the terrible horrors at the end.
The number in the party and the number of survivors varies depending how and when the persons are counted. In round numbers, 90 for the expedition party and 45 for the survivors of the Winter's horrible events is a useful generality. Neither number can show the terror of living through it all.
Wikipedia has a lengthy summary of the sad history of the event , from beginning to the aftermath https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Party
History.com has a 10-point overview of the event https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-donner-party
A working title for the broadcast was “Ordeal at Donner Pass.”
Classic radio enthusiast, researcher, and voice entertainer Keith Scott noted that "This was the one Suspense show above all others that really stuck vividly in Elliott Lewis's mind. He was still referencing Donner Pass when he was interviewed for SPERDVAC and by film documentarian John Scheinfeld in the 1970s and early 80s. I think I heard him mention this show on four occasions in all, and he may have brought it up in magazine interviews, too."
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP531102
THE CAST
EDMOND O’BRIEN (Patrick Breen), Paula Winslowe (Mrs. Breen), Mary Lansing (Mrs. Graves / Baby), Charlotte Lawrence (Mrs. Reed), Joseph Kearns (Mr. Graves), John Dehner (Rhoades), Harry Bartell (Mr. Eddy), Parley Baer (Donner), Larry Thor (Narrator)
COMMERCIAL: Ken Christy (Senator), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer), Sylvia Simms (Operator)
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