Myron McCormick stars in the second broadcast of The Escape of Lacey Abbott, this time under the title Madman of Manhattan. It is a curious play about a man who escapes from the psychiatric wing of a Manhattan hospital to expose the truth behind his wife’s murder. He believes his ex-business partner, Martin Avery, is responsible. He sneaks into Avery’s apartment and holds him prisoner throughout a terror-filled night. Some of the plot elements and sequences seem implausible, but stick with the story and accept them, and enjoy the overall production.
The 1950 production starred William Powell. Details about the production and its recordings can be found at
https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2024/03/1950-01-19-escape-of-lacey-abbott.html
https://archive.org/details/TSP500119 is where recordings can be downloaded and streamed.
The program was recorded on Wednesday, February 25, 1959. Rehearsal began at 1:00pm, with recording commencing at 4:00pm, and included in-studio edits. Production edits were done between 5:00 and 7:00pm. Music was added on Thursday, February 26.
The only surviving recording is the network broadcast, and is likely an aircheck. It has a somewhat narrow range, but is listenable.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP590308
THE CAST
MYRON McCORMICK (Lacey), Doris Singleton (Fay the Waitress / Ann), Karl Swenson (Martin Avery), Barney Phillips (Admissions clerk voice / Lieutenant Creekmore), Norm Alden (West), George Walsh (Narrator)
Sandra Gould was originally cast for the program but was replaced by Doris Singleton.
###
