John Lund stars in a Ross Murray script about a gambler who makes a deal with the owner of a casino to enrich himself and also increase the business of the establishment. Their “win-win” deal, which allows Lund’s character (Bob Richards) to claim to win large and unlikely amounts of money using a “roulette system” of betting that he developed, works for a while. The publicity generated brings in more players and more income. The owner keeps the majority of the winnings (skimming it for himself) and allows Richards to keep a quarter of it. Richards is supposed to get $50,000, which is $550,000 in US$2025. But that looks puny next to the $200,000 limit that the owner is allowing ($2.2 million in US$2025). That irks Richards, and as he starts inching toward the $200,000, he decides to keep it all for himself. When he tries to get away, the owner is understandably displeased, and punishes Richards in a manner that gamblers find devastating, and lets Richards know who’s boss.
Why is the name “Bob Richards” used in the script? It might be an inside joke. Robert L. Richards was the series editor and a writer under William Spier. Richards’ work as editor brought a consistency to the series productions that was very important for an anthology-based show where different writing styles could result in erratic storytelling quality.
Recorded Wednesday, April 16, 1958. Rehearsal began at 2:00pm and concluded at 5:00pm. Recording began at that time and with in-studio edits was complete at 7:00pm. Additional edits were completed on April 19.
There is no surviving network broadcast recording. Advertisers for the broadcast were Masland Carpets, O’Brien Paints, Rit clothing dye, and an allocated spot defined before broadcast.
The surviving Armed Forces Radio Service recording (AFRS#977) is in excellent sound and replaces an Armed Forces Radio station aircheck that was heavily edited and sup-par sound quality.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP580427
THE CAST
JOHN LUND (Bob Richards), Rita Lynn (Annie), Lou Merrill (Walter Carlin / Travel Agent / Bus Agent), Eddie Marr (Stoney / Cab Driver), Jack Kruschen (Al the Bookkeeper / Thug), Sam Pierce (Wally Campbell / Airline P. A. Voice), George Walsh (Narrator)
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