The Black Shawl: Suspense (July 27, 1944)

Suspense, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“The Black Shawl” is an episode of Suspense, the old-time radio show, first broadcast July 27, 1944. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Susan Applebee, a young woman seeking work, accepts a well-paid position as companion to an elderly widow, Mrs. Masters, who lives in a remote house on the edge of town. Susan soon begins to feel like a prisoner in the home, where the windows are barred and doors are locked from outside. Her fiance, Rob, is worried about her when she sends him a letter asking him to come. The episode is part of the Suspense series, first broadcast on July 27, 1944, and the cast includes Dame May Whitty and Maureen O'Sullivan.

Hollywood radio studio presentation of a story set in a town and a remote house on its edge

Characters: Susan Applebee, Mrs. Masters, Rob, John Masters

Listen for: The growing unease in Susan's conversations with Mrs. Masters and the strange household behaviour she notices

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.