Frank Lovejoy returns for his second and final performance of one of the most riveting Suspense productions. Air traffic controllers attempt to help an inexperienced private pilot who has lost his way, and is running out of fuel. The original story appeared in Atlantic Monthly and was authored by a pilot and experienced air traffic controller, Lowell D. Blanton.
[NOTE: This is the second and final time this script was used on Suspense. The title, however, was used again on 1960-01-10 for a Walter Black story about a home invasion].
Details about the original broadcast, the original Blanton story, and reaction to the original story, and misconceptions about the Suspense production held by some Suspense enthusiasts can be found at:
https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2025/03/1956-11-18-long-night.html
https://archive.org/details/TSP561118 is where recordings can be downloaded and streamed.
This episode was recorded on Wednesday, July 2, 1958. Rehearsal began at 2:00pm with recording commencing at 4:30pm. That finished at 6:00pm including some in-studio edits. Final production editing was done from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
The only surviving recording is from the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS#988). It is in excellent sound and replaces a wide range of sub-par recordings from full disc transfers to heavily edited airchecks from Armed Forces Radio.
Ads on the network broadcast were for GMC Trucks and Sterling Drug. Two ad spots were allocated before broadcast.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP580713
THE CAST
FRANK LOVEJOY (Ken), Barney Phillips (Beechcraft 457), Peter Leeds (Delta Pilot Voice), Sam Pierce (Charlie, the operator of Rockford Radio), Eddie Firestone (Mike / TWA 701), George Walsh (Narrator)
Besides Lovejoy, the only member of the cast who was in the first broadcast was Sam Pierce, in the same role.
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