The Thrilling Adventures of "Escape" - Radio's Anthology of High Drama

Enjoys some shows

Man Who Could Work Miracles (Escape) - 19th September 1948

The Diamond As Big As The Ritz (Escape) - 21st July 1947

Adaptive Ultimate (Escape) - 26th March 1949

In the golden age of American radio, when the airwaves crackled with the voices of countless storytellers, one series stood out as the epitome of high-stakes adventure and suspense. Escape was a radio drama anthology that captivated listeners from 1947 to 1954, transporting them to exotic locales and perilous situations through its well-crafted tales of survival and escape.

Produced by the CBS Radio Network, Escape was the leading anthology series of its kind, offering a half-hour of thrilling escapism each week. With its iconic opening line - "Tired of the everyday grind? Ever dream of a life of romantic adventure? Want to get away from it all? We offer you... Escape!" - the show promised to whisk its audience away from the mundane and into the realm of the extraordinary.

Series Overview and Creation

Escape made its debut on July 7, 1947, quickly establishing itself as a must-listen program for radio drama enthusiasts. The series was the brainchild of producer Norman MacDonnell and writers Les Crutchfield and John Dunkel, who set out to create a radio anthology that would captivate listeners with tales of high adventure and suspense.

Unlike its sister program, the long-running Suspense, Escape did not have a regular sponsor, which meant the series was subjected to frequent schedule shifts and lower production budgets. Despite these challenges, the program managed to enthrall audiences throughout its seven-year run, thanks in large part to its well-crafted scripts and talented cast of performers.

The series' opening theme, a combination of Modest Mussorgsky's haunting "Night on Bald Mountain" and the dramatic introduction voiced by either William Conrad or Paul Frees, set the tone for the thrilling adventures to come. As the opening announcer, Roy Rowan, would declare: "Escape! Designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half-hour of high adventure!"

Notable Episodes and Storylines

Over the course of its 228 episodes, Escape featured a wide range of stories, from classic works of literature to original tales of suspense and horror. Many of the episodes centered around protagonists facing life-or-death situations, with the series often delving into the realms of science fiction and the supernatural.

One of the most memorable adaptations was the 1949 broadcast of "Three Skeleton Key," a tale of three men trapped in an isolated lighthouse by a horde of ravenous rats. The half-hour drama, adapted from a short story by French writer George Toudouze, was later remade for the series in 1950 and 1953, each time with a different cast that included notable actors such as Vincent Price, Harry Bartell, and Paul Frees.

Other memorable adaptations included Daphne du Maurier's "The Birds," Carl Stephenson's "Leiningen Versus the Ants," and Ray Bradbury's "Mars Is Heaven." The series also featured original stories, such as William Froug's "The Loup-Garou" and Antony Ellis' "Four Went Home."

In addition to these standout episodes, Escape also adapted works by renowned authors like Edgar Allan Poe, H.G. Wells, Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad, and Evelyn Waugh, showcasing the series' commitment to bringing classic literature to life on the radio.

Cast and Crew

Escape boasted an impressive roster of talented actors, directors, and writers who helped bring the series' thrilling tales to life. The program's primary narrator and "voice of Escape" was often provided by either William Conrad or Paul Frees, two prolific voice actors who lent their distinctive tones to the series' opening and closing segments.

In addition to the narrators, Escape featured a rotating cast of skilled performers, including Elvia Allman, Eleanor Audley, Parley Baer, Michael Ann Barrett, Tony Barrett, Harry Bartell, Ted Bliss, Lillian Buyeff, and many others.

The series was directed by industry veterans Norman MacDonnell and William N. Robson, while the writing was primarily handled by Les Crutchfield and John Dunkel. The program's musical score was provided by a talented team of composers, including Del Castillo, Ivan Ditmars, Cy Feuer, Wilbur Hatch, and Leith Stevens.

Impact and Reception

Despite the challenges of frequent schedule changes and limited budgets, Escape managed to captivate audiences throughout its seven-year run on CBS Radio. The series' well-crafted scripts, talented cast, and thrilling subject matter made it a standout in the crowded world of old-time radio drama.

While Escape may not have enjoyed the same level of popularity as its sister program, Suspense, the series nonetheless left a lasting impact on the genre of radio drama. Its willingness to explore darker, more suspenseful themes and its embrace of science fiction and the supernatural set it apart from many of its contemporaries.

The series' opening announcement, with its promise of "a life of romantic adventure" and the invitation to "Escape!" from the everyday, became a cultural touchstone, even inspiring the name of the counterculture magazine "New Escapologist."

Legacy and Influence

Though Escape may have faded from the airwaves in 1954, its legacy as a pioneering radio drama anthology lives on. The series' innovative storytelling, diverse range of adaptations, and talented cast and crew have cemented its place in the annals of old-time radio history.

The program's influence can be seen in the many modern audio dramas and podcasts that have sought to recapture the thrilling, immersive experience of Escape. Series like "The Truth" and "Welcome to Night Vale" have drawn inspiration from the series' ability to transport listeners to fantastical and perilous realms.

Moreover, Escape's adaptations of classic literature and its embrace of science fiction and the supernatural have helped to shape the broader genre of audio drama, inspiring subsequent generations of writers, directors, and producers to push the boundaries of what is possible in the medium.

As the golden age of radio fades further into history, the enduring appeal of Escape serves as a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring allure of the human desire to "get away from it all" and explore the unknown.

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