RUSC MAILING

Written by Ned Norris

Every so often, an old time radio story comes along that is well worth hearing more than once — especially when the same script is brought to life by two very different casts.

This week’s recommendation is a terrific two-for-one from Suspense: “Too Little To Live On.”

One Story, Two Very Different Performances

The original broadcast aired on February 7th, 1946, starring George Murphy and Nancy Coleman. It is classic Suspense through and through — tense, psychological, and rooted in the sort of everyday fears that can become truly unsettling.

There are no ghosts or monsters here. The fear comes from something much closer to home: frustration, manipulation, murder, and the awful pressure of circumstances closing in.

Murphy and Coleman give the story a painfully believable domestic tension, making the drama feel all the more uncomfortable and effective.

Ozzie and Harriet… in Suspense?

What makes this recommendation especially interesting is the rebroadcast from December 26th, 1947, which stars none other than Ozzie and Harriet Nelson.

For many listeners, Ozzie and Harriet bring to mind warmth, family comedy, and gentle domestic humor. But in this episode, there is not a single bit of light-hearted comedy. No wink to the audience. No comic relief.

Instead, they play the story completely straight — and that is what makes it so memorable.

Hearing performers so strongly associated with comedy step into such a grim and unsettling tale gives the 1947 version a very different kind of creepiness.

Friend of RUSC, Chet, recommended listening to both versions and comparing them. He says:

“Compare this to the ‘rebroadcast’ with the re-casted version of December 1947 with Ozzie and Harriet. Casting these two against type makes the story even more horrifying to any listener who remembers any of the Ozzie and Harriet shows. Not counting their years with Red Skelton. It’s not better, nor worse — each version evokes a different creepiness. Try each, they’re each a five star but a different experience.”

I think Chet has it exactly right. The 1946 version is a strong, serious psychological thriller. The 1947 version is equally powerful, but the casting of Ozzie and Harriet adds an unexpected chill for anyone familiar with their usual radio personalities.

Listen to Both and Let Us Know

So, your listening recommendation is a double helping of Suspense:

- “Too Little To Live On” — February 7th, 1946

Starring George Murphy and Nancy Coleman
- “Too Little To Live On” — December 26th, 1947

Starring Ozzie and Harriet Nelson

Try them both and see which one affects you most. Are they equally chilling? Does the Nelson version feel more disturbing because of the casting? Or do you prefer the original?

Once you’ve listened, please do post your comments under the show. I’d love to hear what you think.

Happy listening, my friends,

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