Early to Death: Suspense (April 12, 1951)

“Early to Death” is an episode of Suspense, the old-time radio show, first broadcast April 12, 1951. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Two men, Ben Tabor and Rico, survive a plane crash in the Mexican mountains after stealing a company payroll of $300,000 and planning to hide it. Ben's partner, a woman named Evie Webster, watches as the two men bury the money and wait to return for it. Rico soon appears in a dirty suit with a friendly manner, claiming to know what happened on the flight. As the pair's suspicions of one another grow, Evie begins to wonder how far Rico will go to get the money. This is the Suspense series, first broadcast on April 12, 1951, with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in the leading roles.

Mexico, including the mountains near Acayuca, the port of Biloxi, Mississippi, and Mexico City, with a short scene in New Orleans

Characters: Evie Webster, Ben Tabor, Rico

Listen for: Rico's first appearance at the Veracruz hospital, when he describes having witnessed the crash from the mountains

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.