Suspense Sundays (51) Zero Hour

Suspense was a radio series from 1942 to 1962.  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.  For Suspense Sundays I'll give a short review of an episode.   {My archive list of episodes}

"Zero Hour"

Air date: April 5, 1955
Starring Isa Ashdown and Paula Winslowe

>>Episodes here<<

Mrs. Morris isn't too concerned when her daughter Mink is so involved playing a game called Invasion.  She says she's helping Martians who want to invade Earth and are using the more imaginative and open-minded children to help them.  And when they take over they will get rid of all the adults.  Zero hour is at 5 p.m.  Mrs. Morris isn't too concerned until she gets a phone call from her friend from out of state who tells her the exact same game is being played by her children, and the children of another person she knows.  What's going to happen at 5 o'clock??

Holy flying Tardis!  What an awesome episode!  This episode is based on a short story by Ray Bradbury and apparently was quite controversial when it aired.  And no wonder, it's pretty disturbing.  I was wondering how far the story would go, and it went way farther than I thought it would.  For a story for the fifties.  This has an excellent plot, and great building of suspense.  It's so believable, and the performance by the child actress is chilling!