ESCAPE Volume 2

Starring Frank Lovejoy, William Conrad, Jack Webb and others (12 half-hour episodes / 6 hours via digital download)

“Escape” was radio's leading anthology series of high-adventure, airing on CBS from July 7, 1947 to September 25, 1954. 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!" Many story premises, both originals and adaptations, involved a protagonist in dire life-or-death straits. Actors on the series included: Elvia Allman, Eleanor Audley, Parley Baer, Harry Bartell, William Conrad, Ted deCorsia, John Dehner, Sam Edwards, Virginia Gregg, Lou Merrill, Howard McNear, Jeanette Nolan, Alan Reed, Bill Johnstone, Marvin Miller, Frank Lovejoy, Berry Kroeger, Vic Perrin, Elliott Lewis, 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.

1/21/48 “Papa Benjamin” w/ Frank Lovejoy

1/28/48 “Three Good Witnesses” w/ Jack Webb

2/1/48 “The Vanishing Lady” w/ Joan Banks

2/8/48 “Snake Doctor” w/ Jeff Chandler (billed as “Ira Grossel”)

2/15/48 “Ancient Sorceries” w/ Paul Frees

3/14/48 “The Log of the Evening Star” w/ Jack Webb

3/28/48 “A Shipment of Mute Fate” w/ Harry Bartell

4/4/48 “Action” w/ Berry Kroeger

4/11/48 “The Brute” w/ Dan O’Herlihy

4/18/48 “The Drums of the Fore and Aft” w/ Gil Stratton

5/2/48 “John Jock Todd” w/ Wilms Herbert

5/16/48 “The Match” w/ Frank Lovejoy