On a snowy night, passengers aboard the fast mail train Old 97 are heading from Monroe, Virginia toward Danville. The train's engineer, Joe Brody, is determined to bring it in on time, and his fireman, Tom Cheater, and mail clerk, Mr. Clovis, each have their own reasons to want to reach Danville on schedule. Meanwhile, two escaped prisoners have hidden near the tracks in Monroe, planning to board the train. Frank Lovejoy stars in this Suspense episode, broadcast by CBS on March 17, 1952. The story is based on the historical wreck of the Old 97 and presented with song.
Characters: Joe Brody, Tom Cheater, Mr. Clovis, Mr. Elkins, Clint, Honey Boy
The transcript of “The Wreck of the Old 97”, an episode of Suspense first broadcast March 17, 1952. Press a time to play from that line (a 60-second preview; Potato Plus plays it all). Suspense plays Suspense free, live around the clock. Search inside this transcript.
Transcript
Auto-light and its 96,000 dealers bring you Mr. Frank Lovejoy in tonight's presentation of South Spence. Tonight you will take a trip on a train, a journey exact in time and place during which Auto-light will recreate an historical tassel by dramatizing with story and song The wreck of the old 97. Tonight star Mr. Frank Lovejoy.
Hello, Harlow. Hi, Mr. McSorley. Hey, you'd better be starting for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. We can't get started, Harlow. Macarlet batteries dry as an Irishman's witch. Why, you ought to have an auto-light stay-full battery.
A battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use? It is one and the same. The dependable battery that will start you swift and sweet is a Colleen's smile. And the auto-light stay-full gives longer life as proved by tests conducted according to accepted life cycle standards.
Where do we get an auto light stay for? From your auto light battery dealer, he services all makes of batteries and if a replacement is needed, he has an auto light stay full battery for your car.
So friends, just call Western Union by number... And ask for me, operator 25. I'll tell you where you can get an auto light stay full. The battery that needs water only three times a year in normal car use.
Remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with auto light. And now, with the wreck of the old 97, and the performance of Mr. Frank Lovejoy, Otto Leit hopes once again to keep you in Sal's spend.
On a track ahead, the snow was real heavy that night. Visibility less than zero, that's possible. Not snow is hard as now, but nearly. No war in mind, nothing. People sleeping, eating, drinking, just talking like we're doing, and Man, all of them finished.
…
And remember be with us next week for another thrilling auto-light suspense program on radio. Next week a murder is committed efficiently and safely and then our star Mr. Robert Young finds there was a witness to the murder. The problem? Who was the witness? The story is called Backfire and it will be presented next week on Souss Spence. Souss Spence is produced and directed by
Elliot Lewis with music composed by Lucian Morrowic and conducted by Lud The soloist was Harry Stanton. The wreck of the old 97 was written for suspense by mind-brit lord and Christopher Anthony. Featured in the cast were Herb Butterfield, Clayton Post, Eddie Firestone, Junius Matthews, Jack Crucien, Roy Glenn and Joseph Kearns.
Frank Lovejoy can be seen starring in the Milton Spirling production for Warner Brothers, Retreat Hell. And remember next week on suspense, Mr. Robert Young in Backfire. This is the CBS Radio Network.
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