Suspense Sundays (43) Mr. Markham, Antique Dealer

"Now let's see... Suspect... Suspectant... Suspend... Ah here we are, Suspense.  The condition of mental uncertainty usually accompanied by apprehension or anxiety.  Fear of something that is about to occur, as 'Do not keep me any longer in SUSPENSE.'"

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962, claiming to be "radio's outstanding theater of thrills."  I have a fondness for "Old Time Radio" as we call it now, and Suspense is my favorite show.  It sets up weird, dark, scary, or intriguing stories with a plot twist in the end, and all in half an hour.  I love the old-fashion story-telling and I thought it would be fun to give a short review of an episode every Sunday.  

{My archive list of episodes}

"Mr. Markham, Antique Dealer"

Air date: May 11, 1943
Starring Paul Lukas and Heather Angel

>>Episodes here<<

This is the story of a man who got away with murder.  Judith Ray comes to Mr. Markham's antique shop in the middle of the night to settle his blackmail fee.  For she is in love with the respectable Ronald Gilbert, but she has an unsavory past.  She can't raise the money and is pretty desperate until Ronald Gilbert comes into the shop to pay the blackmailer as well, because Mr. Markham went to him as well.  When Mr. Markham is unwilling to accept payment because of Ronald's insults, he decides to call the police and Ronald pulls a gun on him.  But Mr. Markham says he can not die.

This is an interesting three person story, with a very simple set-up.  The suspense is set up in the beginning because someone says they will get away with murder.  And there is a twist in the end of who actually commits the murder.  Although it was difficult to keep my mind focused on this dialogue-heavy story in the beginning because I wasn't sure where it was going, it definitely has a fine twist in the end.