Three Skeleton Key (ESCP)

Three men working in a lighthouse in French Guiana witness a ship crash into the reef and disgorge an army of rats. Moments later this tidal wave of voracious rodents washes up against the lighthouse itself!

If you were to name ten shows that represented the best of vintage radio drama, this would, without question, be in that top ten. Some things to appreciate in the show as you listen to it:

• The introduction is a master piece in itself. The narrator deftly erects the site in the listener's imagination one element at a time, so that the whole scene comes to life in moments.
• The three personalities in the lighthouse are unique and varied. They form an interesting chemistry that evolves as the stress level increases. 
• The prize winning sound effects really sell the horror. The incessant chittering of the rats in particular drives the tension. And the lonely coronet ... well, you'll see what I mean.
• The writing is spectacular. Pacing, word choices, dialogue ... they sweep the reader through the story without a single wasted moment.

Escape #102

Three Skeleton Key 

17 March 1950

19500317(102)_ESCP_ThreeSkeletonKey(VincentPrice).mp3

Radio and Television Life Magazine awarded the sound effects on the show, "Best Of The Year." Harry Bartell, Jeff Corey, Vincent Price, George Toudouze (author), James Poe (adaptor), Cliff Thorsness (sound effects creator, executioner), Jack Sixsmith (sound effects executioner), Gus Bayz (sound effects executioner), Harry Esman (control engineer), William N. Robson (producer, director).

If the voices in episode 102 are a bit overdone for your tastes, a different cast with a more straightforward presentation was used for the inagural appearance of this script.

Escape #85

Three Skeleton Key 

15 November 1949

19491115(085)_ESCP_ThreeSkeletonKey(WilliamConrad).mp3
Del Castillo (organ), Elliott Reid, George Toudouze (author), Harry Bartell, James Poe (writer), William Conrad, William N. Robson (director).

Three Skeleton Key by George Grosz