Suspense - Nightmare (#347)
Channel: Old Time Radio Researchers
Date: 21/02/2024

Suspense: 09/01/49, episode 347
Brought to you by the Old Time Radio Researchers, courtesy of The Suspense Project

The return of William Spier to Suspense begins with an adaptation of a Samuel Blas short story, “Revenge,” from Collier’s 1947-01-11 edition. Retitled “Nightmare,” the story was adapted by Herb Meadow. The broadcast stars Gregory Peck as a father intent on finding and murdering the drunk driver who killed his son in a hit-and-run incident. This is the second time this title was used on the series, and the plots are very different.

Auto-Lite blocked The Hand from being presented in the prior season because of its car accident and resultant death (and other reasons), but this episode is different because of its positive outcome. The title itself is a spoiler alert that it was all a bad dream and not an actual incident. Auto-Lite likely approved it because its happy ending turns the story into a wholesome message promoting car safety. In the closing announcements, Gregory Peck offers news about the award Auto-Lite received for promoting highway safety and how it should be a concern for everyone.

There is also a psychological aspect to the story about how the desire for vengeance can cascade into an all-consuming evil enterprise. Peck’s character kills one man, and then his wife identifies a different one as the perpetrator. This means the first man was innocent. He realizes it has spun out of control, and finally recognizes it as a terrible nightmare. Things are right again, his family is happily around him, but the dream has given him a serious and important lesson.

There are three different recordings of this episode, and the network one is the best.

Nightmare NETWORK: this is the complete network recording

Nightmare AFRS: this is the edited Armed Forces Radio Service recording issued in the 1940s; it has some background noise and mild audio defects

Nightmare AFRTS1980s LQ: This late 1970s or early 1980s release has the “strange” opening and closing segments compiled from various periods of the series; the recording has narrow range, is noisy, and many audio defects.

This is the second time this title was used on Suspense. The first was 1948-03-13 in a broadcast starring Eddie Bracken. That was a Cornell Woolrich story about a man who keeps dreaming of a murder that might be real. Details are at https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2023/11/1948-03-13-nightmare.html

The cast: GREGORY PECK (Ben), Lurene Tuttle (Elsa / Operator), Alan Reed (The Fat Man), Jeffrey Silver (Stevie), Howard McNear (Gas Station Attendant / Old Man), Ted Reid (Bartender / Sammy Crawford), Peggy Webber (Fat Man’s Girl / Old Woman), Paul Frees (Signature Voice)

COMMERCIAL: Harlow Wilcox (Announcer)

For more information visit https://suspenseproject.blogspot.com/2024/02/1949-09-01-nightmare.html