This is the third Suspense production of the Irving Reis adaptation of the 1866 Charles Dickens story. It stars Ellen Drew. The script was first presented with Reis directing in 1937 on Columbia Workshop and was changed by Elliott Lewis for the 1953 production to have an actress play the lead role. In that case, it was for a highly publicized Agnes Moorehead appearance. William N. Robson maintained the Lewis revision with Sarah Churchill in 1956, and with Drew in this production. A reporter attempts to interview a hermit-like railroad signalman who lives in a shack huddled by railroad tracks. He has a recurring vision that has served as a warning of disaster before several train wrecks. He insists the visions are real, including one about her.
Details about the two earlier broadcasts can be accessed as noted:
1953-03-23 Agnes Moorehead has information about the changes made by Elliott Lewis and also the career of Irving Reis
https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2024/09/1953-03-23-signalman.html
https://archive.org/details/TSP530323 is also where the recordings can be downloaded or streamed.
1956-11-04 Sarah Churchill
https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2025/03/1956-11-04-signalman.html
https://archive.org/details/TSP561104 is also where the recordings can be downloaded or streamed.
No script cover with the dates and times of pre-recording is available at this time.
The only surviving recording is a network aircheck with commercials eliminated. It is in acceptable sound. It is hoped than an Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS) recording can be found in the future to improve the drama’s sound quality.
This is the second appearance of Ellen Drew in the series. The first was more fifteen years ago, in 1943-06-29 in Uncle Henry’s Rosebush in a supporting role to Agnes Moorehead.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP590215
THE CAST
ELLEN DREW (Amy Sears), Ben Wright (The Signalman), George Walsh (Narrator)
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