SUSPENSE, Episode 55

Premiered May 10, 2024

Suspense is one of classic radio's most highly-regarded dramas -- with good reason. It sustained a remarkably high quality level of dramatic tension for 20 years, as the many surviving recordings attest. But a handful of episodes are lost - and Project Audion now recreates one of them. "The Life of Nellie James" was intended as Suspense's premiere, but circumstances pushed it back to the third episode. It was performed once, live, on July 1, 1942, but never heard again. Until now -- as Project Audion, kicking off its fifth season, brings together a transcontinental cast in a live transcription of "The Life of Nellie James" from the original 1942 script. A dreadful murder takes place in the Simon James home, and justice is done ...or is it? It's a tale well-calculated to keep you in ...Suspense!

Featured in our cast are –

Patte Rosebank in Canada

Tim Burns in Kansas

Andy Hartson-Bowyer in Virginia

Richard Huitema in Florida

Mel Rose in Pennsylvania

Pete Lutz in Texas

Art Brown in California

Denny Thompson in Colorado

Frank Guglielmelli in Pennsylvania

Sharon Grunwald in New Jersey

Larry Groebe produced and directed from Texas

Project Audion recreates an extraordinarily rare and early lost episode of the classic audio drama Suspense. When CBS premiered the the show in June 1942, it wasn't immediately evident that it would become one of the all-time great radio dramas, running for 20 years and nearly 1000 stories. Indeed, in this (just Suspense's fifth-ever episode, from July 15, 1942), while all the typical ingredients are in place (in this instance, a murder aboard a moving train) the show hadn't quite yet settled into the style that would soon define classics like 1943's "Sorry, Wrong Number." Heard for the first time in 80 years, our recreation of this lost Suspense episode -- "The Witness on the Westbound Train" -- is taken from the single known surviving script. It features the same transcontinental cast of vocal actors who appeared in Project Audion's very first episode, along with additional talented voices who have appeared in Project Audion shows during the past three years.

The Cast: 

MARK: Pete Lutz, TX

JOE: Doug Fain, KY

DORIS: Patte Rosebank, Canada

CONDUCTOR: Denny Thompson, CO

LAWRENCE / RANDOLPH: John Mauldin, TN

BILL / BAGGAGEMAN: Dick Huitema, FL

ANNOUNCER / WAITER: Robert Stevenson, IN

DIRECTION / PRODUCTION / SOUND: Larry Groebe, TX

SOLE TWIN AUDIOS: Old Time Radio Theatre, "Sorry, Wrong Number" by Lucille Fletcher

Sole Twin Audios presents a recreation of Suspense's "Sorry Wrong Number," an episode made famous by Agnes Moorehead who played the main role 7 times for Suspense, starting in 1942.

Directed and Produced by Rachel Pulliam

Cast:

Announcer - Dean T. Moody 

Mrs. Stevenson - Julie Hoverson 

Operator - Christina Roberts 

Man - Robin Robbins

George - Dean T. Moody

Chief Operator - Karen Corrado 

Sergeant Martin - Jerry Kokich

Western Union - Michael Hornstein 

Information - Madeleine Hamley 

Hotel Receptionist/Caller - Gina Moravec 

Music by Ross Bernhardt 

SFX by freesound.org

"We Offer You...Escape!" -- starting in 1947 for seven years, the CBS show delivered on that promise. Using some of the finest directors and voice actors, and drawing on the world's great adventure stories, Escape has legions of devoted fans seven decades on. Out of 240 episodes, 10 recordings have been lost to time. "The Run of the Yellow Mail", the show's 2nd nationally-broadcast episode, is one of those: not heard since its single live broadcast October 8, 1947. "Yellow Mail" is a fast-moving adventure yarn about the early days of the railroads out west.

Project Audion has faithfully recreated it from a surviving script via live transcription using a transcontinental voice cast brought together via Zoom:

Scott R. McKinley, NJ

Paul Arbisi, IL

Greg McAfee, CA

Jacob Palka, IL

Douglas Herman, CA

Ken Raney, TX

Tom Konkle, CA

With Larry Groebe in Texas helming the production

FINDING HIS VOICE (Suspense/Thriller) The voice-over business intensifies into a deadly game of cat and mouse between three people. The hunter and the hunted crisscross through the worlds of film, radio, and television – until everything ultimately depends on the sound of a single voice. Features a full cast, engaging sound effects, and original music. Voices in the Wind Audio Theatre.

Cast

 John Bell as Steven Peters
Laura Van Veen as Gloria Peters
David Ault as Zach

Also featured were: Danny Bowman, Keith Burnett, Bill Craven, Joe Curt, Noelle Dupuis, Kenya Dworkin, Eva Eig, David Farquhar, Niko Gerentes, James Hebblethwaite, Hayden Peter Lee, Dash Lucas, Marssie Mencotti, Nicholas Stroud, Rob Tymec, and Judith Norton Wasik.

Written and directed by George Zarr

Runtime: 66 minutes

Performance ©2018 Design Sound Productions / Voices in the Wind Audio Theatre

CAST:

ENJOY THIS REMAKE OF A CLASSIC OTR SHOW BY SOLE TWIN AUDIOS! 

Synopsis: Radio DJ Smiley Smith is known for pulling elaborate stunts for his listeners, but when he ventures into the house known as the "Death Trap," he may just get more than he is bargaining for. 

Featuring the voice talents of:

Alexa Chipman as the Announcer 

John Bell as Smiley Smith 

Dean T Moody - as the OTRT Ad/Charles MacDonald  

Pete Lutz as Mr. Thorpe 

Jerry Kokich as Mr. Reed 

CREW:

Directed and produced by Rachel Pulliam 

Cover artist: Rylir 

Music: Dr. Ross Bernhardt 

Suspense theme: by Bernard Herrman (re-imagined by David Krause)

Sound Effects were provided by www.freesound.org

Today is a good day to listen to Bad Day at Black Rock, Project Audion's latest radio drama recreation. We're going far afield with this 1959 show, because by this time in America, television had killed off the great radio movie adaptation series like "Lux Radio Theatre." In other countries like Australia, radio drama still thrived through shows like Caltex Theatre. They adapted Bad Day at Black Rock from the gritty, Oscar-nominated 1955 drama with Spencer Tracy, where one man takes on a dying town that harbors a dirty secret. Now Project Audion recreates it with a transcribed-live coast-to-coast cast which includes:

MACREEDY: Les Marsden (CA)

SMITH/JENKINSON: Pete Lutz (TX)

COLEY/ANNOUNCER: Tom Konkle (CA)

DOC: Dana Gonsalves (TX)

SHERIFF/CONDUCTOR 2: John Bell (AL)

PETE: Austin Hanna (TX)

HASTINGS: Gino Vianelli (CA)

LIZ: Jesirae Kesler (TX)

VOICE/SAM/CONDUCTOR 1: Larry Groebe (TX)

Pete Lutz directed, & Larry Groebe produced

PROJECT AUDION #30, Season 3 Premiere!

Out of more than 900 episodes that the classic radio thriller Suspense produced between 1942 and 1962, there are 13 shows that are missing, and OTR researchers have tried for years to track them down. One of the missing 13 is "The Eavesdropper," which aired just once - January 3, 1956. No recording has ever been found. Thanks to Suspense historian Dr. Joe Webb, Project Audion is able to recreate "The Eavesdropper" so you can hear it for the first time in more than 65 years - a story of a high-rise murder plot that was discovered and which leads to a double execution.

Our transcribed-live recreation features a cast that reaches from Hollywood, California to Toronto, Canada. Watch and listen as we hope to keep you in...Suspense!

CAST:

Duane Noch, New Jersey

Patte Rosebank, Canada

Tim Burns, Kansas

Trevor Rines, Canada

Bob Beamont, California

Directed by Ms. Rosebank and produced by Larry Groebe

(Orig. launch date 5/7/21) Project Audion's 2nd season begins like our first season, with an episode of the classic radio drama Suspense. "Pearls are a Nuisance", aired on CBS 4/20/50, is a satirical detective drama based on a story by Raymond Chandler, which starred Ray Milland. Walter Gage is trying to track down some stolen pearls, and must call upon a gentleman of dubious morals to help him.

Our transcribed-live drama includes voice actors from California all the way to England:

Joe Mendell (UK) – Announcer

Pete Lutz (TX) - Harlow Wilcox, Henry

Doug Fain (TX) - Walter

Rhiannon McAfee (CA) - Ellen

Angela Young (FL) - Dora, Teller

Greg McAfee (CA) - Mr. Gallemore, Voice

Dana Gonsalves (TX) - Manager, Scandesi

Mr. Lutz directed, while Larry Groebe handled production and sound.

(Orig. rel. date: 6/20/20) It's Season Two of Old-Time Radio Essentials! And to kick off our new round of classic dramas, Pete, Paul and Dave bring you this episode of SUSPENSE from 1945, "Donovan's Brain", starring Orson Welles! Come for the radio drama, stay for the scintillating (OK, "scintillating" is a bit much, but at least we hope you find it interesting) discussion afterward! 

And since we're on the subject of discussion, we hope to determine whether this entry meets the following criteria:

Your feedback means a lot to us! A review at iTunes or at your usual podcatcher would be appreciated.

Sole Twin Audios presents the premiere of our first episode of Old-Time Radio Theater, Season 1: "Short Order" a re-creation of the classic SUSPENSE episode.

Featuring the voice talents of: 

Sharon Grünwald as the Announcer 

Dean T Moody - the OTRT Ad  

Joe Stofko - as Bailey  

Skyeman/Caller - as Johnson 

Robin Robbins - as The Stranger 

Nick Dunlap - as Officer Ryan 

Greg Gidney - as the First Customer

Brad Colbroock - as the Second Customer 

CREW: 

Cover artist: Rylir  

Music: Dr. Ross Bernhardt 

Suspense theme: by Bernard Herrman (re-imagined by David Krause) 

Sound Effects were provided by www.freesound.org

In a Dystopian society where poets, artists, and other members of the creative community have been declared obsolete, a young poet faces a trial for his life.

Sole Twin Audios presents another Suspense recreation! This one is set in a Dystopian society and was chosen because of its Twilight Zone vibe! "2462" was produced and directed by Rachel Pulliam with sound design and effects by J. S. Farrington.

Incidental music was by Ross Bernhardt, with the Suspense theme composed by Bernard Herrmann and re-imagined and performed by David Krause.

Featured in the cast were:

Geri Elliff as Announcer

Robin Robbins as 108303715

Jake McAskill as the Young Guard

Jonathan Lee Taylor as the Lieutenant

Dean T. Moody as the Old Guard 

Another thrilling entry from Sonic Summerstock 2021! Rachel Pulliam and Dream Realm Enterprises bring you an exciting double-feature from the classic SUSPENSE radio series and renowned radio writer Louise Fletcher. “Dark Journey” tells of Alice, who ventures to New York with her friend, Anne, to try and win back her beau, but Alice becomes increasingly frightened by Anne’s ability to make things happen simply by wishing for them. In “That Thing in the Window,” a man is disturbed when he cannot stop seeing the figure of a man in his neighbor’s apartment. SOLE TWIN AUDIO

CAST:

Regular contributor Rachel Pulliam (Jane Eyre, Rebecca, etc.) has created a new audio drama company that will be devoting itself to re-enacting classic OTR favorites, plus other original programming with a vintage vibe. Sole Twin Audios will kick off its Old-Time Radio Theatre series with that tense drama from Suspense, "Short Order", which takes place in a roadside diner shortly after the end of World War II. Get a little "taste" of that now, with this trailer, and watch for the launch at https://anchor.fm/soletwinaudios

1101 Wellington Way: Written by Vivian Lermond. A young man moves into a neighborhood full of pensioners, expecting a peaceful co-existence, but discovers that his choice of residence delivers just the opposite.

"Do you dare to go down into...THE CELLAR?"

Welcome to the twelfth number in our continuing horror/suspense anthology series! Our stories are either original, or inspired by, or adapted from pulp fiction and classic literature, but they're guaranteed all-new productions, and no repeats from other series.  

And now, we proudly present our Season 1 Finale, "ILE", adapted by our director Pete Lutz, from stage play by celebrated American playwright Eugene O'Neill -- a story that asks the question, "Is it a good idea to bring your fragile wife along on a two-year whaling voyage?" Listen and find out, and ENJOY, my friends!

NARADA RADIO COMPANY (SUSPENSE)

CADAVERA QUIVRY: Angela Young

ANNOUNCER: Graham Rowat

THE STEWARD and CAPT. KEENEY: Pete Lutz

BEN: George Hatfield

THE MATE: Mark Kalita

MRS. KEENEY: Ebony Rose

JOE: Gareth Severn 

with CREWMEN'S VOICES by John Bell, Paul Arbisi & Pete Lutz

Music for this episode was performed by Ross Bernhardt

"The Cellar" theme composed and performed by Tom Rory Parsons

With Season One complete, "The Cellar" goes on a short hiatus as we prepare episodes for Season Two, plus a number of special productions for the 2021 Sonic Summerstock Playhouse. We thank you for listening and we hope you enjoyed the first dozen episodes of..."The Cellar"!

Jane Eyre is a classic coming-of-age story where a young orphan girl fights against poverty, persecution, and abuse in the 19th century. The once ill-spirited child is now transformed into a kind, empathetic governess who finds herself paired with the brooding, mysterious Edward Rochester who has a haunting past of his own. Based on the gothic novel by Charlotte Bronte, Rachel Pulliam brings you an adaptation fit for audio with an all-star cast and original music by Ross Bernhardt. 

Rated U - Universal Audiences!

Cast (in order of appearance):

Bruce Busby as Announcer

Lexi DeSollar as Bessie/Housekeeper

Marisha Tapera as Martha Abbot

Colette Feehan as Young Jane/Jane Eyre

John Lingard as Uncle Reed

Margaret Ashley as Mrs. Reed/Hannah

Jerry Kokich as Mr. Lloyd/Carter

Gabe Harris as John Reed/Child

Emily Smith as Eliza Reed/School Girl

Rory L as Georgiana Reed/School Girl

Glenn Hascall as Mr. Brocklehurst

Pete Lutz as Robert Leaven/Party Guest

Alexa Chipman as Miss Temple/Diana Rivers

Rhiannon McAfee as Miss Miller/Cook

Dewby as School Girl

Melissa Fry as Mary Jane

Karl Werner as Mr. Scatcherd

Delaney Brittingham as Helen Burns/Rosamund Oliver

Becca Marcus as Barbara

Frank Guiglielmelli as Dr. Bates

Lisa Michaud as Nurse

Abbie Brown as Marci/Woman

Eleiece Krawiec as Mrs. Fairfax

Alexxandra Macedo as Leah/School Girl

Oceane Lanteigne as Adele

Peter Heimsoth as Mr. Rochester

Jarman Day as John

Mindy Rast-Keenan as Blanche Ingram/Mary Rivers

Andrea Richardson as Lady Ingram

 Karim Kronfli as Richard Mason

 Heath Martin as Clergyman

 Paul Arbisi as Mr. Briggs

Cary Michael Ayers as Shopkeeper

 Shane Harris as Father

 Joshua Spector as St. John Rivers

Party Guests; John Bell, Naomi Parks, Evelyn Castro, Trent

Trachtenberg, RikujoMarame, and Callum Garner

Crew:

Post Production Editor, Sound Designer, Producer & Director: Rachel Pulliam

Composers: Ross Bernhardt (original incidental music),

and Tom Rory Parsons (Showcase Classics Theme Tune)

Executive Producer for Dream Realm Enterprises:  Jonithan Patrick Russell

"The Woman at Loon Point", adapted from a story by August W. Derleth and Mark Schorer

"Do you dare to go down into...THE CELLAR?"

Welcome to the eleventh number in our continuing horror/suspense anthology series! Our stories are either original, or inspired by, or adapted from pulp fiction and classic literature, but they're guaranteed all-new productions, and no repeats from other series.  

We proudly present "The Woman at Loon Point", adapted by our director Pete Lutz, from a pulp-fiction story that ran in Weird Tales magazine -- a story that asks the question, "Is it safe to date a werewolf's sister?" Listen and find out, and ENJOY, my friends!

CADAVERA QUIVRY: Angela Young

ANNOUNCER: Graham Rowat

JACK: Pete Lutz 

CELESTE: Ele Matelan 

LARAMIE: Kendra Murray

JIM: Dana Gonsalves 

LETELLIER: Jason D. Johnson 

VILLAGE WOMEN: Debby Leal-Ramirez, Lisa Espinoza, Lisa Ayala 

VILLAGE MEN: Dave Feldmann, Pete Lutz, Jeff Billard

Music for this episode from Kevin MacLeod of incompetech dot com; Tom Rory Parsons; Ross Bernhardt

"The Cellar" theme composed and performed by Tom Rory Parsons

NARADA RADIO COMPANY

"The Dead Man", adapted from a story by Ray Bradbury

"Do you dare to go down into...THE CELLAR?"

We proudly present "The Dead Man", adapted by our director Pete Lutz, from a pulp-fiction story by Ray Bradbury -- a young man in a small town is ridiculed by his fellow denizens because he claims he's dead. But is he? ENJOY, my friends! NARADA RADIO COMPANY

CADAVERA QUIVRY: Angela Young

ANNOUNCER: Graham Rowat

MRS. RIBMOLL: Geri Elliff

ARTHUR/CHARLIE: Rachel Rauch

SIMPSON: Jason D. Johnson

GILPATRICK: Paul Arbisi

MISS WELDON: Jessica Rainville

BARBERSHOP LOAFERS: Alan Clower, Kevin Schuster, Leo Longoria, Russ Walker, Ross Bernhardt

SHERIFF: Cary Michael Ayers

ODD MARTIN: Rich Wentworth

TEENAGERS: Curt Johnson, Nick Wommack, Becca Tribble, Rita Tribble

CHARLIE'S MOM: Lisa Espinoza

CHARLIE'S DAD: Austin Beach

"The Cellar" theme composed and performed by Tom Rory Parsons

Do you dare to go down into...THE CELLAR?"

Welcome to the eighth number in our continuing horror/suspense anthology series! We proudly present "Skulls in the Stars", adapted by our director Pete Lutz, from a pulp-fiction story by Robert E. Howard -- Solomon Kane wanders the swamps and moors of old England and meets up with an evil entity -- but can he defeat it before it defeats him? ENJOY, my friends!

Co-producer: JOHN BELL

Music by Dr. ROSS BERNHARDT

Cast in Order of Appearance:

CADAVERA QUIVRY: Angela Young

DOCTOR: Carl Yowell

WOMAN: Tanja Milojevic

BOY: Zoe Jenkins

SOLOMON KANE: Owen McCuen

THE GHOST: Jason D. Johnson

GHOST'S VICTIM: Russ Walker

EZRA THE MISER: Sarah Golding

VILLAGERS 1, 2, 3, 4: Jason D. Johnson, Russ Walker, Geri Elliff, Pete Lutz

CROWD: All Cast including John Bell

ANNOUNCER: Graham Rowat

PULP-POURRI THEATRE S3 E2 "Right Number, Wrong Party" (Suspense)

"Right Number, Wrong Party" is the story of a hero cop with feet of clay, and a phone call that never should have been answered. Music by Kevin MacLeod of incompetech dot com. Starring the Narada Radio Company. Adapted by Pete Lutz from an audio play script by Jack J. Ward. Pulp-Pourri Theatre theme composed and performed by Rich Wentworth. Special features between-the-acts were written by Pete Lutz.

CAST OF RIGHT NUMBER, WRONG PARTY:
HOST: Pete Lutz
ANNOUNCER: Lisa Ayala
BENNETT HADLEY: Julio Herrera
KITTERSTEIN: Maurice Curran
TELEPHONE OPERATOR/911 OPERATOR: Kristy Glick
SHARON HADLEY: Ophelia McBride
WAITER: Jim Baldridge Garst
COLIN PARRISH: George Hatfield
LOUDSPEAKER VOICE: Nancy Gaugler

SPECIAL FEATURES CAST:
"Extreme Laundry Folding Competition" Segments:
ANNOUNCER: Darren Rockhold
PHILBOYD STUDGE: Pete Lutz
POLLY COTTEN: Aileen Corpos
SGT MAJOR TIM PLAIT WHISTLE: HMCM Mark Hacala, USN (Ret)

SUNSET BOULEVARD (Suspense)

In this special live presentation, recorded in 2019, the Narada Radio Company brings you their audio interpretation of Billy Wilder's classic film, SUNSET BOULEVARD. This production included live music and more than 90 sound effects, 60 of them live, performed and created in front of a live audience. Produced and directed by Pete Lutz.

CAST:

ANNOUNCERS... Rick Nielsen, Aileen Corpos

PETUNIA DOVETONSILS (Your Host) ... Geri Elliff

HANDSOME MAN, ARTIE, and CECIL B. DEMILLE... Joe Martinez

JOE GILLIS... Chris Starnes

NORMA DESMOND... Becky Nielsen

BETTY... Dawn Robertson

MAX... Pete Lutz

SHELDRAKE, OLD STUDIO GUARD and POLICE LIEUTENANT... Jason D. Johnson

LANA, SKOLSKY, and DeMille's ASSISTANT... Narice Hopp

FINANCE COMPANY MAN #1 and YOUNG STUDIO GUARD... Geneva Aubrey

FINANCE COMPANY MAN #2 and MORINO... Aileen Corpos

POLICE CAPTAIN... Rick Nielsen

DETECTIVE... Jessica Mathews

MUSIC... Dr Ross Bernhardt.

SOUND EFFECTS... Kathie Ricketts, Jessica Mathews

THE THEORY OF MUTUAL REPULSION (SCI-FI/SUSPENSE)

"Do you dare to go down into...THE CELLAR?"

Welcome to the seventh number in our continuing horror/suspense anthology series! We proudly present "The Theory of Mutual Repulsion", adapted by our director/producer Pete Lutz, from a sci-fi pulp-fiction story by Margaret St Clair. Dr. Rebecca Colley is a scientist whose device was intended to end war, but the world soon learns that its effects may well end mankind!

CAST:

ANGELA YOUNG as CADAVERA QUIVRY

GRAHAM ROWAT as YOUR ANNOUNCER

Sarah Golding as REBECCA COLLEY

Jessica Mathews as THE SOCIAL MEDIA POD VOICE

Ashley Kristeen Vega as VINNIE JOHNSON

Owen McCuen, Alan Clower & Pete Lutz as THE PENTAGON MEN

Jackie Ayers as TANYA SHAPIRO

Lisa Michaud as THE FRENCH SOCIAL MEDIA POD VOICE

Pete Lutz as FRANCOIS RENAUD

Jason D. Johnson as SERGEANT MA

Mark Rigsby as THE GUNMAN

'THE CELLAR' theme by Tom Rory Parsons

MUSIC FOR THIS EPISODE by Kevin MacLeod of incompetech.com

"Curse of the Scarab"; "On the Shore"; "Trio for Piano, Cello & Clarinet"

Sound effects from the Public Domain and freesound.org