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Immerse yourself in the thrilling world of "Thrills Unveiled," a captivating radio drama series that aired on CBS Radio from 1940 through 1962. Known as "radio's outstanding theater of thrills," this premier show took audiences on suspenseful journeys with its gripping thriller-type scripts, often featuring the leading Hollywood actors of its era. Over the course of its long run, approximately 945 episodes were broadcast, and fortunately, more than 900 of these intriguing tales have been preserved for generations to come.
"Thrills Unveiled" underwent several significant phases throughout its existence, marked by changes in hosts, sponsors, and director/producers. The show adhered to a formulaic structure for most of its episodes, drawing the listeners into the world of a protagonist who was typically an ordinary individual thrust into a menacing or surreal circumstance. The thrill and excitement were heightened as solutions to these suspenseful dilemmas were withheld until the very last moment. In classic fashion, the evildoers usually faced their well-deserved consequences by the story's end.
In its early years, "Thrills Unveiled" ventured only occasionally into the realms of science fiction and fantasy. Notable exceptions included adaptations of works such as Curt Siodmak's "Donovan's Brain" and H. P. Lovecraft's "The Dunwich Horror." However, as the late 1950s approached, such captivating material became a regular feature of the show. Notably, the audition show for "Thrills Unveiled" was masterfully directed by the renowned Alfred Hitchcock himself. This inaugural episode was an adaptation of "The Lodger," a beloved story that Hitchcock had previously filmed in 1926 with the talented Ivor Novello.
The creation of this special episode came about in collaboration with producer Walter Wanger, and CBS gave Hitchcock the esteemed opportunity to direct his first radio show for the American public. As an intriguing incentive, CBS promoted Hitchcock and Wanger's latest film, "Foreign Correspondent," to the listening audience. Adding more allure to the deal, Edmund Gwenn and Herbert Marshall were included in the cast, both of whom would also appear in the upcoming film.
In this captivating episode, Herbert Marshall skillfully portrayed the enigmatic lodger, while Edmund Gwenn and the talented character actress Lurene Tuttle played the inquisitive rooming-house keepers who began to suspect the true identity of their new boarder—could he be the notorious Jack-the-Ripper? Notably, Joseph Kearns and Wilbur Hatch, the head musician for CBS Radio at the time, also played significant roles in bringing this gripping drama to life.
Hitchcock's masterful adaptation ingeniously held back the story's conclusion from the audience, leaving them in suspense themselves. As the weeks passed, hundreds of letters poured in from devoted listeners, anxiously seeking answers to the mystery. Some even went so far as to express their astonishment at the production, considering it "indecent" and "immoral" to leave the story unresolved. The anticipation and intrigue surrounding "The Lodger" episode cemented "Thrills Unveiled" as a hallmark of suspenseful entertainment.
"Thrills Unveiled" continued to thrill audiences for over two decades, captivating minds with its brilliant storytelling, talented performances, and the element of surprise that kept listeners on the edge of their seats. Relive the heart-pounding moments of this extraordinary radio drama, and join us on an unforgettable journey into the world of mystery and suspense with "Thrills Unveiled."
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