Suspense Sundays (85) The Waxwork

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}

"The Waxwork"

Air date: May 1, 1956
Starring William Conrad

>>Episodes here<<

A down on his luck freelance reporter intends to stay overnight in a wax museum so he can write an exciting and macabre article on the experience.  The owner gives his blessings but warns him that it can get pretty creepy in the museum at night and to not let his nerves get to him.  Of course that is exactly what the reporter lets happen.  But maybe there is more to the museum than lifeless wax effigies?

This episode for the most part is predictable - atmospheric and intense, but it was hard for me to feel fear of these wax figures when the reporter so intelligently says that it's hard to believe the ghosts of the people portrayed would haunt images of themselves instead of someplace they knew in life.  But the twist in this episode is that there is someone in the museum with the reporter and that last part of the episode was really creepy and definitely delivered on the suspense!  I thought it was a great twist and really lifted what was shaping up to be a mediocre episode.