Suspense Sundays (44) Lord of the Witch Doctors

"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}

"Lord of the Witch Doctors"

Air date: October 27, 1942
Starring Nicholas Joy

>>Episodes here<<

In Zanzibar, English diplomats are nervous about the Witch Doctor who is stirring up the Natives.  And they are nervous about the Germans too I suppose.  When the Caliph of Zanzibar is attacked and the Witch Doctor comes to visit the diplomats, they realize there is a big conspiracy at work.

The unfolding of this story took it's time, and the prejudice of the time toward the Natives is a little annoying, so that I don't regard this as one of the best Suspense stories I ever heard. It's interesting to hear the politics of the time, which play a role in the story but is a bit over my head because I'm not familiar with those policies.   There's a twist of course, actually two, and the irony or poetic justice of the ending is a tad brilliant, but overall the story is a bit tedious and not one that I would highly recommend.