Stuart Foster, a baritone singing star, makes his radio acting debut as prize fighter “Joe Trenton” who desires to be an opera singer. Trenton becomes the protege of a famous opera star who persuades the manager of her opera company to have her handsome discovery sing the role of “Rhadames” in Aida, the famous Giuseppe Verdi opera. His boxing manager, however, still holds a life-long contract for half of the young man’s earnings, and claims his commission through intimidation and the threat of violence. He corners Trenton and his protege, to a strange ending, where he believes his singing range and skill caused enough sound vibration to cause a chandelier to fall and kill his pursuer. Or did it?
The script is by veteran radio writer Milton Geiger, one of radio’s most prolific and highly regarded writers.
This was singer Stuart Foster's acting debut. Foster was born Tamer Aswad and sang with Tommy Dorsey's band at the same time trumpeter Ziggy Elman was there; both appeared on Suspense. Elman’s appearance was on Blood on the Trumpet, but not in an acting role. Frank Sinatra was a third prominent member of Dorsey's band to appear on Suspense. Foster was a staff vocalist for CBS, likely the connection that led producer Paul Roberts to cast him in this role. Foster unfortunately passed away in 1968 from a heart attack while being treated for cardiac issues. He was 49.
The program was recorded on Tuesday, March 15, 1960. Rehearsal began at 3:00pm and ended at 6:30pm. Recording was done from 6:30pm to 7:00pm.
Two recordings have survived. The network recording is a WROW aircheck and is very listenable. The Armed Forces Radio Service recording (AFRS#778) has cleaner, richer sound, and is the preferred one of the two.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP600320
THE CAST
Mason Adams (Gault), Stuart Foster (Joe Trenton), Arlene Walker (Francesca), Robert Dryden (Arrigo), Sam Raskyn (Referee)
There was a major change in the cast before the recording session. The original casting was Danny Ocko as Joe Trenton, Ralph Camargo as Arrigo, and Santos Ortega as Gault.
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