ESCAPE Volume 1

Starring Vincent Price, 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.

8/18/47 “The Fourth Man” starring William Johnstone

10/1/47 “The Most Dangerous Game” starring Hans Conried

10/22/47 “The Fall of the House of Usher” starring Paul Frees

10/29/47 “Pollack and the Porrah Man” starring Barton Yarborough

11/5/47 “Evening Primrose” starring Elliott Lewis

11/12/47 “The Young Man with the Cream Tarts” starring Paul Frees

11/26/47 “The Country of the Blind” starring William Conrad

12/10/47 “An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge” starring Harry Bartell

12/17/47 “Wild Oranges” starring William Conrad

12/24/47 “Back For Christmas” starring Paul Frees

1/14/48 “Leinengen Vs. the Ants” starring William Conrad

3/17/50 “Three Skeleton Key” starring Vincent Price