Suspense - The Swift Rise of Eddie Albright (#238)
Channel: Old Time Radio Researchers
Date: 23/09/2023

Suspense: 04/03/47, episode 238
Brought to you by the Old Time Radio Researchers, courtesy of The Suspense Project

Phil Silvers stars in an amusing broadcast as a hotel elevator operator who has a crush on a manicurist who works there. Eddie does his best to puff himself up as an important person with a big job. She spurns his obvious interest when she learns he is just elevator operator #23. He goes about his day in the elevator when two thugs bring a rolled-up carpet into it… and it has feet sticking out of an end.... and he is ordered to go down to the hotel basement. He’s now mixed up in a gangster hit as they tell him to keep quiet! On another trip, an escaped gang leader (played by Frank Lovejoy) is in his elevator. He tries to bribe Eddie for $100 (almost $1400 today!) to look the other way as he goes up to the penthouse where a gangster resides, who turns out to be the man rolled in the carpet. Along the way. there is a touching moment that sets up the conclusion of the story as the gangster offers some romantic advice to Eddie. It seems his troubles started years ago when he tried to impress a girlfriend with his criminal ways. Lovejoy’s character has a shootout with the two thugs, killing them, but is shot himself. Eddie falls to the floor until the shooting is over. Eddie checks if it’s safe to get up and picks up a gun. When police arrive Eddie tells the police that he overpowered the gangster. In his last words, Lovejoy’s character tells police that Eddie was brave in the event. Those final words were a redeeming generous act to help Eddie win the heart of the manicurist. She’s impressed now that he has been appointed personal assistant of the hotel owner for acts in thwarting the gangsters. We learn at the end that Eddie fessed up to her about what happened… and now they’re married.

The script was by Roy Grandey and Robert L. Richards.

Dennis Day was the originally planned guest star. The original title of the script was “The Rapid Rise of Eddie Albright.”

This script was also produced on Philip Morris Playhouse under the title “Going Down, Please” and was broadcast on 1949-01-18. It starred Donald O’Connor. No recording of the program has been found.

East and west broadcasts have survived. The east broadcast includes the tease to stay tuned for The FBI in Peace and War. Both recordings have similar sound; the east coast one is slightly better.

This was Phil Silvers only appearance on Suspense.

The cast: PHIL SILVERS (Eddie Albright), Cathy Lewis (Millie O’Malley / Miss Wainwright), Frank Lovejoy (Frankie Maddox, alias Mason), Wally Maher (Police Lieutenant / Old man), Joe Kearns (Signature Voice / Mr. Garvey), Elliott Reid (Alex Henderson), Jerry Hausner (First hitman), Harry Lang (Second hitman)

For more information visit https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2023/09/1947-04-03-swift-rise-of-eddie-albright.html