Escape!

FORMAT: (2) MP3 DVD / (8) MP3 CDS Escape was radio's leading anthology series of high-adventure radio dramas, airing on CBS from July 7, 1947 to September 25, 1954. Since the program did not have a regular sponsor like Suspense, it was subjected to frequent schedule shifts and lower production budgets, although Richfield Oil signed on as a sponsor for five months in 1950.Despite these problems, Escape enthralled many listeners during its seven-year run. The series' well-remembered opening combined Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain with this introduction, as intoned by Paul Frees and William Conrad:"Tired of the everyday grind? Ever dream of a life of romantic adventure? Want to get away from it all? We offer you... Escape!" Following the opening theme, a second announcer (usually Roy Rowan) would add: "Escape! Designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half-hour of high adventure!"Of the more than 230 Escape episodes, most have survived in good condition. Many story premises, both originals and adaptations, involved a protagonist in dire life-or-death straits, and the series featured more science fiction and supernatural tales than Suspense. Some of the memorable adaptations include Daphne du Maurier's "The Birds", Carl Stephenson's "Leiningen Versus the Ants" (filmed in 1954 as "The Naked Jungle", Algernon Blackwood's "Confession", Ray Bradbury's oft-reprinted "Mars Is Heaven", George R. Stewart's Earth Abides (the program's only two-parter), Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game" and F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz".John Collier's "Evening Primrose", about people who live inside a department store, was later adapted to TV as a Stephen Sondheim musical starring Anthony Perkins. Vincent Price, Harry Bartell and Jeff Corey were heard in the chilling "Three Skeleton Key" (broadcast on 17 March 1950), the tale of three men trapped in an isolated lighthouse by thousands of rats; the half-hour was adapted from an Esquire short story by the French writer George Toudouze and later remade for the 9 August 1953 broadcast starring William Conrad, Ben Wright and Jay Novello.Actors on the series included Elvia Allman, Eleanor Audley, Parley Baer, Michael Ann Barrett, Tony Barrett, Harry Bartell, Ted Bliss, Lillian Buyeff, Ken Christy, William Conrad, Ted deCorsia, John Dehner, Don Diamond, Paul Dubov, Sam Edwards, Virginia Gregg, Lou Merrill, Howard McNear, Jess Kirkpatrick, B.J. Thompson, Shep Menken, Frank Gerstle, George Neece, Jeanette Nolan, Dan O'Herlihy, Barney Phillips, Forrest Lewis, Robert Griffin, Alan Reed, Bill Johnstone, Sandra Gould, Junius Matthews, Carleton G. Young, Frank Gerstle, Marvin Miller, Frank Lovejoy, Berry Kroeger, Vic Perrin, Elliott Lewis, Eleanore Tanin, Herb Vigran, Jack Webb, Peggy Webber and Will Wright. Music was supplied by Del Castillo, organist Ivan Ditmars, Cy Feuer, Wilbur Hatch and Leith Stevens. The announcers were Paul Frees and Roy Rowan. The program's opening announcement—"Tired of the everyday grind?"—was employed as a slogan for the counterculture magazine, New Escapologist. During the run of this program there were several shows that were produced more than once with different actors. These were left in for completeness. Episode List A Bullet for Mr SmithA Good ThingA Matter of ConscienceA Passenger to BaliA Shipment of Mute Fate (David Ellis)A Shipment of Mute Fate (Jack Webb)A Shipment of Mute Fate (John Lund)A Sleeping Draft (Alec Harford)A Sleeping Draft (John Dodsworth)A Source of IrritationA Study in WaxA Tooth for Paul RevereAction (Berry Kroeger)Action (Joseph Kearns)An Occurrence at Owl Creek BridgeAn Ordinary ManAncient Sorceries (national broadcast)Ancient Sorceries (national broadcast, different production)Back for ChristmasBeau GesteBenscelina and the FishermanBlood BathBloodwatersBorder TownCarnival in ViennaCasting the RunesClassified SecretClear for ActionCommand (Elliott Reed)Command (Harry Bartell)ConfessionConfidential AgentConqueror's Isle (David Ellis)Conqueror's Isle (Harry Bartell)ConquestCountry of the Blind (Paul Frees, William Conrad)Crossing ParisDanger at MatecumbeDead of Night (Audition)Diary of a MadmanDream of ArmageddonEarth Abides Part 1Earth Abides Part 2El GuitarreroEvening Primrose (Elliott Lewis)Evening Primrose (Harry Bartell)Evening Primrose (William Conrad)Eye of EvilFigure a DameFinger of DoomFlood on the Goodwins (Jack Edwards)Flood on the Goodwins (Vic Perrin)Four Went HomeFuneral FiresGreen SplotchesGringoHabitHe Who Rides the TigerHow Love Came to Professor Guildea (national broadcast)How Love Came To Professor Guildea (national broadcast, different production)I Saw Myself RunningIncident in QuitoJetsamJimmy Goggles, the God (national broadcast)John Jock ToddJourney into FearJudgment Day at Crippled DeerLeiningen Versus the Ants (Tudor Owen)Leiningen Versus the Ants (William Conrad, Jay Novello)Leiningen vs the Ants (national broadcast)Leiningen vs the Ants (national broadcast, different production)Letter from JasonLili and the ColonelMacaoMaracasMars Is HeavenMisfortune's Isle (national broadcast)Misfortune's Isle (national broadcast)Night in HavanaNight of the GunsNorth of PolarisOperation Fleur De LysOrient ExpressOut Of This World (Audition)Papa Benjamin (national broadcast)Papa Benjamin (national broadcast)Papa Benjamin (national broadcast, different production)Pass to BerlinPlunder of the SunPoisonPollack and the Porroh ManPort RoyalPresent TensePressureRed Wine (Jeff Chandler)Red Wine (Willard Waterman)Ring of ThothRobert of HuntingdonRough ShootRouletteSecond Class Passenger (Parley Baer)Second Class Passenger (Parley Baer)Seeds of GreedSerenade for a CobraSeven Hours to FreedomShark BaitSheShipment of Mute Fate (Harry Bartell)Sire De Maletroit's DoorSnake Doctor (Ira Grossel)Snake Doctor (national broadcast)Snake Doctor (national broadcast, different production)Something for NothingSS San PedroSundownTabooThe Adaptive UltimateThe Ambassador of PokerThe BirdsThe Boiling SeaThe BruteThe CaveThe Country of the BlindThe Country of the Blind (Edmond O'Brien)The CowardThe Dark WallThe DerelictThe Diamond as Big as the Ritz (Jack Edwards, Jr)The Diamond as Big as the Ritz (Sam Edwards, Helen Thomas)The Diamond as Big as the Ritz (William Conrad)The Drums of the Fore and Aft (Ben Wright))The Drums of the Fore and Aft (Gil Stratton, Jr)The EarthmanThe Fall of the House of UsherThe Far-Away IslandThe FollowerThe FootprintThe Fortune of VargasThe Fourth Man (Berry Kroeger)The Fourth Man (Paul Frees)The Fourth Man (Wilms Herbert)The FugitiveThe General Died at DawnThe GladiatorThe Golden SnakeThe Great ImpersonationThe Grove Of Ashtaroth (national broadcast, different production)The Heart of Kali (last show)The InvaderThe Island (Harry Bartell)The Island (Stacy Harris)The Island (Stacy Harris)The Killer MineThe King of OwanatuThe Log of the Evening Star (national broadcast)The Lost SpecialThe Loup-GarouThe Man Who Could Work MiraclesThe Man Who Could Work MiraclesThe Man Who Could Work MiraclesThe Man Who Liked DickensThe Man Who Stole the Bible (Ben Wright)The Man Who Stole the Bible (Sam Pierce)The Man Who Won the WarThe Man Who Won the WarThe Man Who Would Be King (Ben Wright)The Man Who Would Be King (Ben Wright)The Man Who Would Be King (Raymond Lawrence)The Man with the Steel TeethThe MatchThe Most Dangerous GameThe Open BoatThe Out StationThe Outer LimitThe PistolThe Power of HammerThe Price of the Head (Hans Conreid)The Price of the Head (William Conrad)The Red Forest (Ben Wright)The Red MarkThe ReturnThe Rim of TerrorThe Running ManThe Second Class Passenger (national broadcast)The Second Class Passenger (national broadcast, different production)The Shanghai DocumentThe Silent HorrorThe Sure Thing (Anthony Ross)The Sure Thing (Anthony Ross)The Sure Thing (William Conrad)The TargetThe Time Machine (Jeff Corey)The Time Machine (John Dehner)The Time Machine (John Dehner)The TrampThe Vanishing Lady (national broadcast)The Vanishing Lady (national broadcast, different production)The Vessel of WrathThe Voyages of SinbadThe Young Man with the Cream TartsThis Side of NowhereThree Good Witnesses (national broadcast)Three Good Witnesses (national broadcast, different production)Three Skeleton Key (Vincent Price)Three Skeleton Key (William Conrad)Three Skeleton Key (William Conrad)Treasure IncorporatedTreasure IncorporatedTwo and Two Make FourTwo Came BackTwo If by SeaTyphoonUp PeriscopeVanishing Lady (Del Castillo)When the Man Comes, Follow HimWild Jack Rhett (Harry Bartell)Wild Jack Rhett (John Dehner)Wild Jack Rhett (John Dehner)Wild Oranges (Van Heflin)Wild Oranges (William Conrad)Yellow Wake