Radio Actor/Actress Performances

[happyfilmluvguy]

I was listening to Orson Welles and the Campbell House (originally the Mercury Theatre) rendition of "The Count of Monte Cristo. The story is a classic tale of a innocent man sentenced to prison during the years 1815 to 1838. In prison, thinking he is alone, discovers another prisoner, located just in the next cell. After years of not speaking to any living soul, the discovery leads them to speaking to each other as much as possible. Eventually they create a passageway leading from one others cells and they meet. There's much more to the story, but I am not entirely familar with it.

In this radio adaption, Orson Welles plays Edmond Dant?®s, the innocent man, and after listening to this broadcast many times, I've found the performances of the actors and actresses to be inspiring.

As far as radio drama goes, what are some great performances you have heard over the tubes?

 

[LizzieMaine]

Probably the classic tour-de-force performance for radio was Agnes Moorehead's role as an invalid woman who overhears the plotting of a murder over a crossed phone line, in "Sorry Wrong Number," first heard on "Suspense" in 1943. She is, by turns, haughty, petulant, furious, and terrified, in what is very close to being a one-woman show. It's one of the most famous performances to emerge from the radio era, and for good reason.

 

[The Wolf]

William Powell played Uncle Charlie in a radio adaptation of "Shadow of a Doubt". He did a fine job and it was a nice change of type for him.

Sincerely,
the Wolf

 

[Sunny]

Probably the classic tour-de-force performance for radio was Agnes Moorehead's role as an invalid woman who overhears the plotting of a murder over a crossed phone line, in "Sorry Wrong Number," first heard on "Suspense" in 1943. She is, by turns, haughty, petulant, furious, and terrified, in what is very close to being a one-woman show. It's one of the most famous performances to emerge from the radio era, and for good reason.

Lizzie, I hated that one so much! I could not stand that woman. Of course it's because Agnes Moorehead did such a darned good job.

Just about anything that Vincent Price did was amazing. His "Three Skeleton Key" left me shaking.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

And here's what paid for it all! The 'commercial break'!
Click on the link and the red dash to hear a portion of the first ever radio commercial from 1922.

http://www.old-time.com/commercials/1920's/Hawthorne%20Court.html

-dixon cannon

 

[Dixon Cannon]

"How do you do,ladies and gentlemen, how DO you do?”

-Norman Brokenshire-

 

[mingoslim]

William Conrad . . .

Just pick any episode of "Escape" with William Conrad . . . A highly under-rated actor.

And while we are at it, I will give props to Orson Welles for his performance in "The Hitchhiker" on Suspense . . .

But my highest vote has to go to Agnes Moorehead for "Sorry, Wrong Number".

 

[Brian Sheridan]

Any performance by Gerald Mohr fits the bill for outstanding radio drama actor. He played Phillip Marlowe after Van Heflin, as well as being one of the many (and the best) Archie Goodwin on radio.

 

[Sarge]

Just pick any episode of "Escape" with William Conrad . . . A highly under-rated actor.

If you like Bill Conrad then you gotta give Gunsmoke a listen. In my opinion one of the best dramas ever on radio, albeit a Western Drama.

 

[dahliaoleander]

The Thin Man (Whichever ones they did.)
The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer
Now Voyager (with Gregory Peck as Jerry Durrance.
*Note: Does not sound like Peck.*)

 

[ScionPI2005]

And while we are at it, I will give props to Orson Welles for his performance in "The Hitchhiker" on Suspense . . .

But my highest vote has to go to Agnes Moorehead for "Sorry, Wrong Number".

Like a few others here, I too cast a vote for Agnes Moorehead in "Sorry, Wrong Number". I agree that part of the reason her performance was so great is due to the fact that her character was somewhat annoyed, more than likely a byproduct of being terrified by her situation. I do, however, sometimes find it comedic when I listen to that particular episode. Moorehead's continuous calling of many of the other characters "stupid" does become somewhat entertaining.

Orson Welles in "The Hitchhiker" remains to this day one of my all time favorite Suspense episodes.

strangely enough, and maybe this is because many radio show historians view these two before-mentioned episodes of Suspense to be among the best, "The Hitchhiker" and "Sorry, Wrong Number" were the first two Suspense shows I ever heard. They came together on an audio cassette that my parents got me for Christmas many years ago.

 

[Sunny]

Any performance by Gerald Mohr fits the bill for outstanding radio drama actor. He played Phillip Marlowe after Van Heflin, as well as being one of the many (and the best) Archie Goodwin on radio.

Just pick any episode of "Escape" with William Conrad . . . A highly under-rated actor.

Yes and Yes! Gerald Mohr was in a whole lot of other things as well; I recently found even a Johnny Dollar edition, done right before Bob Bailey signed on. And Bill Conrad is on the Top 5 list for "Mr. Everywhere." It's a never-ending delight to run against him in the countless appearances he made on a whole slew of shows. A personal favorite is his recurring role as the Chinese gentleman Ah Sin on The Voyage of the Scarlet Queen.

 

[blacklagoon]

Chester Morris

Chester Morris in the boston blackie radio series is good.Chester was brilliant in the film the she creature,with his eyes and that stare.it's great to know he took the boston blackie movie into radio aswell.

And he'll tease you
he'll unease you
All the better just to please you
he's precocious and he knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
he got Greta Garbo stand off sighs
he's got Chester Morris eyes

he'll let you take her home
It whets his appetite
he'll lay you on her throne
he got Chester Morris eyes
he'll take a tumble on you
Roll you like you were dice
Until you come out blue
he's got Chester Morris eyes

he'll expose you, when he snows you
Off your feet with the crumbs he throws you
he's ferocious and he knows just
What it takes to make a pro blush
All the boys think he's a spy
he's got Chester Morris eyes

 

[mrshanno]

If you like Bill Conrad then you gotta give Gunsmoke a listen. In my opinion one of the best dramas ever on radio, albeit a Western Drama.

Bill Conrad in gunsmoke has lots of good moments in my opinion...

 

[dhermann1]

Yes, that's the great thing about radio. Little rolly polly 5 foot 6 William Conrad playing Matt Dillon on the radio. That's why they called it the theater of the imagination.

 

[Paisley]

I usually don't like radio programs, but I happened to catch one in the car. Peter Laurie was on. It was so creepy that I actually listened to it.

 

[Sunny]

Do you remember what it was about, Paisley? He did some really excellent radio work.

 

[Paisley]

It was years ago. I wonder if it was something like "The Telltale Heart" or "The Cask of Amantillado."

 

[Bluebird]

Chester Morris-Boston Blackie

I will admit I haven't heard too many radio serials, but after seeing some Boston Blackie movies on TCM I had to check out the radio shows. I was so excited to find some of the shows and listened to almost all of them, but they changed the actor (can't remember who now). I was very disappointed. There is something in the voice of Chester Morris where you can hear the amusement, the smile, the wink. Not so with his replacement...I'll stick with Chester Morris thanks!

 

[Ace Fedora]

I will admit I haven't heard too many radio serials, but after seeing some Boston Blackie movies on TCM I had to check out the radio shows. I was so excited to find some of the shows and listened to almost all of them, but they changed the actor (can't remember who now). I was very disappointed. There is something in the voice of Chester Morris where you can hear the amusement, the smile, the wink. Not so with his replacement...I'll stick with Chester Morris thanks!

Agree completely. The only reason I've listened to any of the Boston Blackie episodes was to listen to Morris -- it's not a show that you listen to for in-depth characterization or richly detailed plots!