Suspense: The Golden Years (WROW) (

Suspense: 09/16/62, episode 941
Brought to you by the Old Time Radio Researchers, courtesy of The Suspense Project

This William N. Robson story has an odd title, implying that the story might be about people who are retirees or senior citizens. It is not. It is actually about the teenage years, and how important they can be in building relationships and character that young people can take into independent and responsible adulthood.

“Sue,” played by Rosemary Rice, a teenager who is head over heels with her new boyfriend, “Buddy,” played by Peter Fernandez. Buddy wants to take the car for their date, but his stepfather turns him down because he has had some driving issues. Their relationship is tense, and Buddy lashes out, saying that his stepfather is not his “real” father, and he has no right to turn him down. Sue and Buddy meet during the day, and he says their date that evening has to be cancelled. Buddy is so miffed he says that he intends to murder his stepfather, and knows exactly when. The man falls asleep every evening while watching television, waking only to catch a news report. Buddy will sneak in just before the news. Sue dismisses the comments, thinking Buddy is just angry and it will pass, but she starts to think differently. Buddy tries to buy ammunition for his rifle, but the store owner refuses him, noting that the stepfather had prohibited after an earlier transaction. Buddy gets a hunting knife instead. It’s clear this could get vicious and brutal, and Sue brings her worries to a woman for whom she is babysitting. The woman is active in crime prevention in the town, and decides something must be done. There was some confusion about tracking down Buddy’s name because his last name changed when the stepfather adopted him. Sue and the woman figure it out. The woman calls, and Buddy actually answers the phone! The ringing of the phone wakes up the stepfather just in time. He sees Buddy has the knife, and did not have a chance to act. She never revealed her name, but advised the father that he and the son need to come improve their communication and their relationship, saying “That son of yours needs you. He needs your understanding and maybe your help. Try to give it to him, will you? For your own good.”

The program was originally planned to air on September 9, 1962.

The program was recorded on Wednesday, September 12, 1962. The session start and finish time is not known.

The cast: Peter Fernandez (Buddy Birdwell), Rosemary Rice (Sue), Ivor Francis (Buddy's Stepfather [Ralph Karsten]), Elspeth Eric (Buddy's Mother [Mrs. Karsten]), Mary Jane Higby (Mrs. Foster), Ronald Dawson (Mr. Schmidt the storekeeper), Bret Morrison (Sgt. Kenny / Dr. Devins)

NOTE: Pat Hosley is announced in the closing credits, but does not appear in the drama. The original script had a role for a telephone operator. It is likely that Hosley is announced in the credits because she was in the recording sessions for the episode, but her role was eliminated in final editing to meet the allotted time for the network broadcast.

The storekeeper’s name was changed from “Larsen” to “Mr. Schmidt” prior to broadcast. It was likely because “Larsen” may have sounded too close to “Karsten.”

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