1950s
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Burden of Guilt
| Program | The Whistler |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 1.29.1950 |
| Length | 25.29 |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Award | Old Time Radio Downloads |
| Plot synopsis | Embezzler's desperate escape |
| Emotion | Good |
| Intellec | low |
| Transcend | low |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Low |
| Structure | Narrative sequence, with surprise ending |
| Perspective* | 1st & 2nd person |
| Adapt/author | Original script |
| Acoustic | Environemental acoustics |
| Music | Whistling, orchestra |
| Narration | Narrator speaks to you in 2nd person |
| Social Mean | |
| Surprise | Twist at end |
| Venue Vivid | Ordinary |
| Authentic | Basic |
| Link | Click |
Chinese Elephant Puzzle
| Program | Whistler |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 3.5.1950 |
| Length | 29.28 |
| Genre | Suspense |
| Award | Top rated in its day |
| Plot synopsis | Antiquities smuggler kills to retrieve good shipped from Hong Kong. |
| Emotion | Moderate |
| Intellec | Strong, with 100 piece interlocking elephant puzzle hiding diamonds; With historical tidbit about origins of word silhouette at about minute 9. |
| Transcend | |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Excellent |
| Structure | Three Acts, with host offering historical tidbits |
| Perspective* | 2nd person |
| Adapt/author | Original by Gordon Gray |
| Acoustic | Effective |
| Music | Whistling melody SIGNAL |
| Narration | The Whistler |
| Social Mean | Greed |
| Surprise | Surprise ending |
| Venue Vivid | From Hong Kong to San Francisco |
| Authentic | |
| Link | Click |
Three Skeleton Key
| Program | Escape! |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 3.17.1950 |
| Length | 29.38 |
| Genre | Adventure/Suspense |
| Award | Cronkite |
| Plot synopsis | Lighthouse keepers struggle to survive attack from rats on abandoned ship |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | high |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Vincent Price |
| Research | Excellent |
| Structure | Acts? |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from story by Toudouze |
| Acoustic | Scratching of rats |
| Music | |
| Narration | Host |
| Social Mean | Moderate |
| Surprise | Surprise of rats on ship |
| Venue Vivid | Lighthouse off coast of French Guiana |
| Authentic | Accurate descriptions by Toudouze |
| Link | Click |
S.O.S.
| Program | Mysterious traveler |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 5.2.1950 |
| Length | 29.44 |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Award | Old-time.com |
| Plot synopsis | Three men attempt diamon heist at sea |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | low |
| Transcend | low |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Informal Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person plus 3rd person narration |
| Adapt/author | Original script |
| Acoustic | Environmental acoustics with distinctive sounds of SOS radio |
| Music | |
| Narration | |
| Social Mean | Greed and its consequences including public fears of then newly understood uranium |
| Surprise | |
| Venue Vivid | Ship at sea in Atlantic |
| Authentic | |
| Link | Click |
The Corpse Said Ouch
| Program | The Saint |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 8.7.1950 |
| Length | 29.45 |
| Genre | Detective |
| Award | Cronkite |
| Plot synopsis | Dead woman needs help from The Saint |
| Emotion | Good |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | low |
| Writing | Excellent, witty |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | little |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from Leslie Charteris characters |
| Acoustic | Excellent footfalls |
| Music | Whisling theme |
| Narration | Vincent Price as Simon Templar |
| Social Mean | Limited, death, murder |
| Surprise | Detective unravels apparently premature obituary |
| Venue Vivid | Various locations such as morge |
| Authentic | Accurate |
| Link | Click |
The Martian Chronicles
| Program | Dimension X |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 8.18.1950 |
| Length | 30.19 |
| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Award | Cronkite |
| Plot synopsis | Humans colonize Mars |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | y |
| Transcend | Interplanetary exploration |
| Writing | Excellent |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Science well researcched |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 2nd person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from book by Ray Bradbury |
| Acoustic | Theremin |
| Music | Theremin |
| Narration | Host |
| Social Mean | Exploring frontier |
| Surprise | Ending twist |
| Venue Vivid | Martian world |
| Authentic | As much as possible for 1950 |
| Link | Click |
A Case of Butter
| Program | Night beat |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 9.25.1950 |
| Length | 29.5 |
| Genre | Crime |
| Award | OTRR, Digital Deli |
| Plot synopsis | Reporter chases nighttime story in Chicago |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | moderate |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Frank Lovejoy |
| Research | Detailed |
| Structure | Narrative sequence |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original script |
| Acoustic | Environmental acoustics |
| Music | Dramatic |
| Narration | Protagonist's narration |
| Social Mean | Danger of plague, role of press in reporting, preventing |
| Surprise | Plague revealed |
| Venue Vivid | Chicago |
| Authentic | Newspaper journalism |
| Link | Click |
| Program Intro | Click |
Earth Abides
| Program | Escape & Suspense |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 11.5.1950 |
| Length | 59.45 |
| Genre | SciFi/Adventure |
| Award | Tangent magazine acclaim |
| Plot synopsis | Man survives post-apocalyptic virus |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | Strong survival |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Dehner |
| Research | Thorough |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from book by G. Stewart |
| Acoustic | |
| Music | |
| Narration | Host |
| Social Mean | Cautionary tale, Powerful warning to care for earth and society |
| Surprise | |
| Venue Vivid | Vivid locales SF |
| Authentic | SF, Golden Gate bridge |
| Link | Click |
The Oblong Box
| Program | NBC Short Story never airede |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 1.1.1951 |
| Length | 23.32 |
| Genre | Mystery, Horror |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Captain must transport Mysterious oblong box cargo found in drifting boat |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | Fear of unknown vessel found adrift at sea |
| Writing | Brilliant |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from EAP classic tale |
| Acoustic | Environmental acoustics of sounds of ship at sea |
| Music | |
| Narration | |
| Social Mean | Jealousy, murder, immortality collide |
| Surprise | |
| Venue Vivid | Takes place at sea |
| Authentic | Accurate specialized sailing terminology lends authenticity |
| Link | Click |
The Lottery
| Program | NBC Short Story |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 3.21.1951 |
| Length | 28.13 |
| Genre | Mystery, Horror |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Strange lottery grips New England town |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Good |
| Transcend | Tradition and progress collide |
| Writing | Brilliant |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from acclaimed Shirley Jackson short story |
| Acoustic | Environmmental acousitcs in New England village |
| Music | |
| Narration | |
| Social Mean | Violent tradition to preserve village against change |
| Surprise | True nature of lottery |
| Venue Vivid | New England village |
| Authentic | Accurate |
| Link | Click |
Seattle, Take Three
| Program | Whistler |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 5.27.1951 |
| Length | 25.48 |
| Genre | Suspense |
| Award | Top rated in its day, 13 years 42 to 55 |
| Plot synopsis | Thief tries to escape with stolen $30k |
| Emotion | Moderate |
| Intellec | low |
| Transcend | low |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Acts, informal |
| Perspective* | !st, 3rd, 2nd |
| Adapt/author | Apparently original |
| Acoustic | Effective |
| Music | Whistling melody |
| Narration | The Whistler |
| Social Mean | Greed |
| Surprise | Surprise ending |
| Venue Vivid | On the road |
| Authentic | Authentic |
| Link | Click |
A Ticket to Tangier
| Program | Lives of Harry Lime |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 8.24.1951 |
| Length | 27m |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Award | Selected by BBC for broadcast |
| Plot synopsis | Suspense tale of spy in post-war Vienna , traveled to Paris |
| Emotion | Moderate |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | Moderate greed, self-sacrifice? |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | O Welles |
| Research | thorough |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from book, film |
| Acoustic | gun shot cuts off opening narration |
| Music | distinct melody third Man Theme featuring vibrating strings of the zither |
| Narration | Harry Lime |
| Social Mean | Moderate |
| Surprise | Opening states that's the gun shot |
| Venue Vivid | Vienna, Austria, Paris, Tangier |
| Authentic | Mozart café |
| Link | Click |
Marionettes Inc
| Program | Dimension X |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 8.30.1951 |
| Length | 28.03 |
| Genre | SciFi |
| Award | OTR |
| Plot synopsis | Husband purchases robot to replace himself |
| Emotion | Moderate |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | moderate |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 2nd person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from Ray Bradbury short story in The Illustrated Man from 1949 |
| Acoustic | Theremin |
| Music | Theremin music |
| Narration | Host |
| Social Mean | Human vs machine |
| Surprise | Husband's unexpected lesson from robot and wife |
| Venue Vivid | 1990 world |
| Authentic | Only about 3 decades ahead of its time |
| Link | Click |
The Diary of Captain Scott
| Program | Suspense |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 4.21.1952 |
| Length | 29.54 |
| Genre | History |
| Award | OTR |
| Plot synopsis | Traces events in the true-life diary of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, who led the ill-fated 1912 Terra Nova expedtion to be first to reach South Pole |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | History, achievement |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Herbert Marshall |
| Research | Thorough |
| Structure | chronological sequence of acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from diary |
| Acoustic | Winds, creaking of frozen wood of ship |
| Music | |
| Narration | Narratiion of Captain Scott |
| Social Mean | Endurance |
| Surprise | Scott and entire team dies en route |
| Venue Vivid | South Pole |
| Authentic | Accurate description of -60 degrees F |
| Link | Click |
Scuttlebutt
| Program | NBC Short Story |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 5.16.1952 |
| Length | 29.21 |
| Genre | History |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Tale from the South Pacific, auto-biographical |
| Emotion | Good |
| Intellec | Good |
| Transcend | moderate |
| Writing | Brilliant, James Michener |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Narrative recollection |
| Perspective* | 1st person, 3rd person |
| Adapt/author | Story by James Michenor |
| Acoustic | Environmental acoustics |
| Music | Original orchestrations |
| Narration | James Michener |
| Social Mean | WWII in the South Pacific |
| Surprise | |
| Venue Vivid | South Pacific at sea |
| Authentic | Accurate |
| Link | Click |
The Price of the Head
| Program | Escape |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 10.19.1952 |
| Length | 28.4 |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Award | Escape and Suspense Vintage Broadcasts |
| Plot synopsis | Greedy red-headed alcoholic struggles in South Pacific |
| Emotion | Good |
| Intellec | moderate |
| Transcend | moderate |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Narrative sequence |
| Perspective* | 3rd person & 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original script by John Russell |
| Acoustic | Environmental acoustics |
| Music | Suspenseful |
| Narration | Female narrator |
| Social Mean | Greed, justice |
| Surprise | Twist at end brings justice |
| Venue Vivid | South Seas |
| Authentic | Accurate |
| Link | Click |
The Return
| Program | Escape |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 11.9.1952 |
| Length | 28 |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Award | Best of Escape-Suspense |
| Plot synopsis | Man seeks life without struggle |
| Emotion | Good |
| Intellec | high |
| Transcend | high |
| Writing | Excellent |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Two acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person, opening narration in 2nd person |
| Adapt/author | Kathleen Hite's original radio play |
| Acoustic | Effective |
| Music | Suspenseful |
| Narration | Host introduces, protangonist narrates in past tense, then story present tense continues |
| Social Mean | |
| Surprise | |
| Venue Vivid | |
| Authentic | |
| Link | Click |
The Loup-Garou
| Program | Escape |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 11.16.1952 |
| Length | 29.1 |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Werewolf tale in Louisiana bayou |
| Emotion | Moderate |
| Intellec | Moderate |
| Transcend | Moderate |
| Writing | Fair |
| Acting | Fair, over the top |
| Research | Little |
| Structure | Narrative sequence |
| Perspective* | 2nd person |
| Adapt/author | Original script by William Froug |
| Acoustic | Effective |
| Music | Suspenseful |
| Narration | Host, narrator introduces |
| Social Mean | Fear of unknown |
| Surprise | Twist at end |
| Venue Vivid | Louisiana bayou |
| Authentic | Flawed dialects |
| Link | Click |
The Crime of Bathsheba Spooner
| Program | Crime Classics |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 12.2.1952 |
| Length | 28.58 |
| Genre | History |
| Award | OTR |
| Plot synopsis | Chronicles true events in the first execution of a woman by the U.S. government. |
| Emotion | Moderate |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | History, criminal justice |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Thorough |
| Structure | Chronological |
| Perspective* | 3rd person |
| Adapt/author | Original from historical facts |
| Acoustic | Pebbles tossed in well |
| Music | Spell binding harp |
| Narration | Brilliant humor of "Thomas Hyland" |
| Social Mean | Criminal justice |
| Surprise | Colonial America |
| Venue Vivid | New England of 1778 |
| Authentic | Accurate |
| Link | Click |
Britt Ponsett's Christmas Carol
| Program | The Six Shooter |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 1.1.1953 |
| Length | 28.58 |
| Genre | Fantasy, Western |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Western ghost story |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | low |
| Transcend | moderate |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | James Stewart |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original, western adaptation of Dickens |
| Acoustic | Effective |
| Music | Dramatic music sets tone |
| Narration | Protagonist's narration |
| Social Mean | Compassion, spiritual beliefs |
| Surprise | Twist |
| Venue Vivid | Old West |
| Authentic | Believable |
| Link | Click |
El Guitarrero
| Program | Escape |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 4.19.1953 |
| Length | 29.33 |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Award | OTRcat |
| Plot synopsis | American poet's fits wife's kidnappers in Mexico |
| Emotion | Good |
| Intellec | moderate |
| Transcend | Good |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Narrative sequence |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original script by E. Jack Newman |
| Acoustic | Environmental acoustics in café |
| Music | Suspenseful |
| Narration | Protagonist's narration |
| Social Mean | Purpose of poetry, patriotism, love |
| Surprise | Limited, character revealed |
| Venue Vivid | Mexican settings |
| Authentic | Accurate |
| Link | Click |
A scandal in Bohemia
| Program | Sherlock Holmes |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 1.1.1954 |
| Length | 26.35 |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Holmes investigates mystery that may affect European politics |
| Emotion | Good |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | Moderate |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 3rd person, 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story |
| Acoustic | Environmental acoutstics |
| Music | Holmes violin |
| Narration | Dr. Watson narrates |
| Social Mean | Wealth, monarchy and crime |
| Surprise | Twist solves crime |
| Venue Vivid | London |
| Authentic | Accurate |
| Link | Click |
The Dark Wall
| Program | Escape |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 1.1.1954 |
| Length | 29.28 |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Award | Best of Escape |
| Plot synopsis | Honeymooning couple face dark secret in Andorrah |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Moderate |
| Transcend | Moderate |
| Writing | Excellent |
| Acting | John Dehner |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original by Kathleen Hite |
| Acoustic | Natural Sounds |
| Music | Yes |
| Narration | No |
| Social Mean | schizophrenia |
| Surprise | Powerful |
| Venue Vivid | Andorrah |
| Authentic | Convincing |
| Link | Click |
Bird of Paradise
| Program | Escape |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 3.11.1954 |
| Length | 28.32 |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Award | Old Time Radio Downloads |
| Plot synopsis | Fortune seeker finds trouble on south seas isle |
| Emotion | Good |
| Intellec | moderate |
| Transcend | moderate |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Two Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person, opening narration in 2nd person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from John Russell story |
| Acoustic | Effective |
| Music | Suspenseful |
| Narration | Host introduces |
| Social Mean | Dangers of greed |
| Surprise | Surprise ending |
| Venue Vivid | South seas |
| Authentic | Authentic |
| Link | Click |
The Scarlet Plague
| Program | Escape |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 4.8.1954 |
| Length | 24.09 |
| Genre | Adventure/suspense |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Earth decimated by scarlet plague |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | Compelling |
| Writing | Brilliant |
| Acting | John Dehner, Walley Baer, Victoria Gregg |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from Jack London story published in 1912 |
| Acoustic | Excellent sound patterns, suggesting normalcy early with clatter of a cafeteria, then rising to fevered pitch with gun shots and more as plague and consequences spread |
| Music | Suspenseful |
| Narration | Protagonist's narration |
| Social Mean | Parable of post-apocalyptic world |
| Surprise | Final twist brings no Hollywood happy ending |
| Venue Vivid | San Francisco |
| Authentic | Authentic descriptions, specific places, great university establishes credibility, as with radio vehicle similar to War of the Worlds broadcast. |
| Link | Click |
Dorothea Lynde Dix
| Program | Inheritance |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 4.11.1954 |
| Length | 29.48 |
| Genre | Historical Dramatization |
| Award | OTRcat |
| Plot synopsis | Biography of Dorothea Dix who reformed treatment of mentally ill and more |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | High |
| Transcend | Good |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Excellent |
| Structure | Narrative sequence, chronological |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original script |
| Acoustic | Environmental acoustics of insane asylum |
| Music | Dramatic |
| Narration | Narrator |
| Social Mean | Compassion for mentally ill |
| Surprise | |
| Venue Vivid | Prisons where poor mentally ill were housed |
| Authentic | Accurate history |
| Link | Click |
The Heart of Kali
| Program | Escape |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 9.25.1954 |
| Length | 29.46 |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Award | Best of Escape from Escape-Suspense |
| Plot synopsis | Fortune hunter kills to obtain priceless ruby from Indian temple |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | Strong, greed |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Good, convincing |
| Research | Thorough |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 2nd person |
| Adapt/author | Original script |
| Acoustic | Acoustic sounds |
| Music | Suspenseful |
| Narration | Host |
| Social Mean | Greed |
| Surprise | Mortal twist at end |
| Venue Vivid | Tinsukia, India, temple |
| Authentic | Accurate depiction |
| Link | Click |
Perigi's Wonderful Dolls
| Program | X Minus One/Dimension X |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 6.5.1955 |
| Length | 28.2 |
| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Award | Best of OTRCat |
| Plot synopsis | Mysterious doll and possible invasion of Earth. |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | moderate |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Narrative sequence |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original story by George Lefferts |
| Acoustic | Effective |
| Music | Suspenseful |
| Narration | Narrator sets scene |
| Social Mean | Alien dangers |
| Surprise | Twist at end |
| Venue Vivid | Unusual ordinary |
| Authentic | Authentic |
| Link | Click |
The Veldt
| Program | Dimension X |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 8.4.1955 |
| Length | 30.11 |
| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Parents purchase smart home with virtual reality nursery that goes awry |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | Envisions virtual reality and its potential harm |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Acts informal |
| Perspective* | 1st & 3rd person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from Ray Bradbury short story |
| Acoustic | Environmental acoustics, sounds of veldt |
| Music | Theremin |
| Narration | Host |
| Social Mean | Parable of technological dependence |
| Surprise | Virtual nursery's impact |
| Venue Vivid | Vivid description of veldt |
| Authentic | |
| Link | Click |
Nightfall
| Program | X Minus One |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 12.7.1955 |
| Length | 28.51 |
| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | As an eclipse approaches, fear and panic grip a four-sun world that has never known darkness |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | Fear of the unknown causes panic |
| Writing | Excellent |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Thorough |
| Structure | Acts informal |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from short story by Isaac Asimov in collaoboration with Street and Smith publishers |
| Acoustic | Theremin |
| Music | Suspenseful, dramatic |
| Narration | Host |
| Social Mean | Fear of unknown |
| Surprise | Twist at end |
| Venue Vivid | Imagined extraterrestial location |
| Authentic | |
| Link | Click |
The Prophecy of Bertha Abbott
| Program | Suspense |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 1.1.1956 |
| Length | 28.47 |
| Genre | Crime, mystery |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Troubled youth grow into desperate adult killers |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | moderate |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Narrative sequence |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original |
| Acoustic | Effective |
| Music | Dramatic |
| Narration | Host |
| Social Mean | Greed |
| Surprise | Twist |
| Venue Vivid | Port in southern CA |
| Authentic | Believable |
| Link | Click |
Brave New World pts 1 & 2
| Program | CBS Radio Workshop |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 1.27.1956 |
| Length | 59.42 |
| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Award | Cronkite |
| Plot synopsis | Forecasts many of 21st century's crises from reproductive technology to biological engineering |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | Strong societal ethics |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Thorough |
| Structure | Dramatic |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from novel |
| Acoustic | Effective |
| Music | Dramatic music |
| Narration | Aldous Huxley |
| Social Mean | Parable of dehumanization of human beings, freedom of choice vs. conformity, technological determinism |
| Surprise | |
| Venue Vivid | New Mexico colony |
| Authentic | Accurate, detailed |
| Link - Part 1 | Click |
| Link - Part 2 | Click |
A Gun for a Dinosaur
| Program | X Minus One |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 3.7.1956 |
| Length | 29.36 |
| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Award | Verge |
| Plot synopsis | Time travel leads to paradox and violent death in Jurassic age. |
| Emotion | Good |
| Intellec | Good |
| Transcend | high |
| Writing | Excellent |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Narrative sequence |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from book by L. Sprague de Camp |
| Acoustic | Effective |
| Music | Suspenseful |
| Narration | Protagonist's narration |
| Social Mean | Time travel paradox |
| Surprise | Twist at end |
| Venue Vivid | Sounds of Jurassic |
| Authentic | Authentic apparently |
| Link | Click |
Gallardo
| Program | Suspense |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 3.20.1956 |
| Length | 29.4 |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Award | Old Time Radio Downloads |
| Plot synopsis | Trapeze artists fight over woman |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | moderate |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Good, Victor Perrin |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Narrative sequence |
| Perspective* | 3rd person past tense, 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original script |
| Acoustic | Environmental acoustics |
| Music | Suspenseful, dramatic |
| Narration | Protagonist's narration |
| Social Mean | Jealousy, regret, passion |
| Surprise | Surprise ending |
| Venue Vivid | Circus |
| Authentic | Accurate language |
| Link | Click |
The Photographer
| Program | Gunsmoke |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 5.6.1956 |
| Length | 24.4 |
| Genre | Western |
| Award | Cronkite |
| Plot synopsis | Marshal Dillon confronts photographer who will do anything for a dramatic photo |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Moderate |
| Transcend | Justice against freedom of speech |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Robert Conrad |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Acts informal |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original |
| Acoustic | Acoustical environment |
| Music | Theme song |
| Narration | Host |
| Social Mean | Violence of old west |
| Surprise | |
| Venue Vivid | 1870s US Western frontier town |
| Authentic | |
| Link | Click |
Treasure Chest of Don Jose
| Program | Suspense |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 6.26.1956 |
| Length | 29.43 |
| Genre | Suspense/Adventure |
| Award | Old Time Radio Downloads |
| Plot synopsis | Heir seeks family's buried treasure |
| Emotion | Good |
| Intellec | low |
| Transcend | low |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Raymond Burr |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Narrative sequence |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original |
| Acoustic | Subtle, effective |
| Music | Suspenseful |
| Narration | Narration by producer William N. Robson, recollection by protagonist |
| Social Mean | Greed, desire |
| Surprise | Twist at end |
| Venue Vivid | Wind blown beach |
| Authentic | Authentic |
| Link | Click |
The Todd Matter (5pts)
| Program | Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 9.1.1956 |
| Length | 71.1 |
| Genre | Detective |
| Award | Cronkite |
| Plot synopsis | Dollar investigates murder for insurance scheme |
| Emotion | Moderate |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | Moderate |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Bob Bailey |
| Research | Moderate |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original |
| Acoustic | Effective |
| Music | Dramatic music sets tone |
| Narration | Dollar narrates based on his expense account |
| Social Mean | Insurance fraud |
| Surprise | Unexpected ending |
| Venue Vivid | Ordinary |
| Authentic | Basic |
| Link | Click |
Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
| Program | Suspense, Escape first |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 12.9.1956 |
| Length | 57.54 |
| Genre | Mystery, historical |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Southern rebel spy escapes Yankee captors; or does he? |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Strong |
| Transcend | Strong |
| Writing | Good |
| Acting | Good |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Narrative recollection |
| Perspective* | 2nd person, 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Adapted from Ambrose Bierce short story |
| Acoustic | Environmental acoustics including sounds of war, forest, noose, water |
| Music | |
| Narration | |
| Social Mean | War crime, justice and human psychology |
| Surprise | Does rebel spy escape? |
| Venue Vivid | Vivid 1862 setting in south |
| Authentic | Accurate |
| Link | Click |
Ballad of the iron horse
| Program | CBS Radio Workshop |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 3.3.1957 |
| Length | 25.23 |
| Genre | Poetry, history |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Historical musings on the 19th century railroad |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Good |
| Transcend | Appreciating the steam-powered train |
| Writing | Brilliant poetry |
| Acting | Robert Conrad |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Acts |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original poem for radio |
| Acoustic | Environemntal acoustics of train sounds, outdoors |
| Music | Wide ranging score |
| Narration | 3rd person poetry narration |
| Social Mean | Role of transportation innovation in settling west, racist stereotypes of Indians |
| Surprise | |
| Venue Vivid | Old West settings |
| Authentic | Sometimes accurate, sometimes stereotyped romancing |
| Link | Click |
Remittance Man
| Program | Frontier Gentleman |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 1.29.1958 |
| Length | 26.27 |
| Genre | Western |
| Award | OTRR |
| Plot synopsis | Reporter JB Kendall visits frontier town where guns are outlawed |
| Emotion | Strong |
| Intellec | Moderate |
| Transcend | Gun rights |
| Writing | Compelling |
| Acting | Ben Wright |
| Research | Good |
| Structure | Acts informal |
| Perspective* | 1st person |
| Adapt/author | Original |
| Acoustic | Acoustical environment |
| Music | Theme song |
| Narration | Narrated by JB Kendall |
| Social Mean | Violence of old west, intersection of freedom of press and gun righhts |
| Surprise | Civil liberties in old west |
| Venue Vivid | 1870s frontier town |
| Authentic | Accurate |
| Link | Click |