If you got a chance to listen to "Christmas for Carole," the "Suspense" broadcast from December 21, 1950, I'm sure you'll agree that it's a solid holiday episode of the long-running radio show.
The title is just a play on words, as it's not an adaptation of "A Christmas Carol," but naturally one's mind does go there.
As I mentioned last time, there are a few tie-ins with some actual adaptations, however.
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| Dennis Day on far left with his co-stars from the Jack Benny program. |
The star of the show, Dennis Day, provided the voice of Fred in the 1978 Rankin/Bass animated version of "The Stingiest Man in Town." When reviewing that show earlier, I mentioned that it did not make the best use of Dennis Day's many talents. (See here)
This "Suspense" episode gives Dennis a rare dramatic role, in contrast to his usual scatterbrained persona from the Jack Benny show and his own "A Day in the Life of Dennis Day." He does get to sing, though!
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| Elliot Lewis goes over a "Suspense" script with William Holden! |
One of the fun things that "Suspense" would often do is use comedians in dramatic roles, especially when Elliot Lewis was in charge. Dennis's boss Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Fibber McGee & Molly, Red Skelton, all made appearances on the show.
Speaking of Elliot Lewis, the actor/producer/director of "Suspense," he was also was featured in an adaptation of "A Christmas Carol." He also voiced Fred, but this was on Basil Rathbone's famous recording for Columbia Records in 1942.
And, of course, the narrator on that recording was Harlow Wilcox, who's the announcer of this "Suspense" episode!
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| Harlow Wilcox (right) puts up with another groaner from Fibber McGee! |
I know Harlow's voice very well from listening to so many episodes of "Suspense" and Fibber McGee and Molly and I think he was one of the top radio announcers.
It seems in the world of Old-Time Radio, we're never too many degrees of separation from "A Christmas Carol!"
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