EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Wax Work" and "Man & The Snake" (Aired January 9, 1957)

Nelson Olmsted was a national treasure. Over a broadcasting career of thirty-five years, Olmsted's soothing, reassuring, and highly versatile narrations graced thousands of broadcast recordings. While also a prolific and highly successful actor in both Radio and Television, it's Olmsted's literature readings and narrations that are the focus of this series and this article. Sleep No More was Nelson's Olmsted's contribution to The Golden Age of Radio's rich tradition of broadcasting compelling and stirring supernatural and suspense dramas, predominantly from the finest supernatural literature throughout modern history. Sleep No More arrived during the waning years of the Golden Age of Radio--understandably risky Radio programming for the mid-1950s. On the plus side of the equation were Nelson Olmsted's extremely loyal following throughout the U.S. combined with the classic nature of the stories which comprised the series. These stories were many of the most popular and compelling supernatural stories and adventures in literary history.

THIS EPISODE:

January 9, 1957. NBC network. "The Waxwork" And "The Man & The Snake". Sustaining. An impoverished journalist accepts the assignment of spending a night in a wax museum. Also, a man is hypnotized by a deadly snake in his apartment. Nelson Olmsted, Ben Grauer (announcer), Ambrose Bierce (author of the second story), Al Kelly (promotional announcement), Kenneth MacGregor (director), A. M. Burrage (author). 28:48. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

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Burns and Allen – Convincing William Boyd To Retire. 490505.

Featuring Hopalong Cassidy, also called Bill Boyd. George laments about being on television, but Gracie encourages him. George doesn’t think he can compete with the youth and beauty on the tube. Gracie gets the idea of being more like a cowboy, like Hopalong. Maybe if Gracie can convince Hopalong to retire, George will be able to take his place.

George makes Gracie a little jealous over an old girlfriend before she goes to Hopalong Cassidy’s house. Gracie tries to lay on the Texas cowgirl act with their guest, but gets some of her ideas mixed up. Will she get Hoppy to decide to retire? Hoppy gets a kick out of Gracie, but isn’t falling for her request. Instead he has some ideas of his own for George to break into his upcoming movie.

Hopalong goes to talk to George about Gracie’s attempt, but there’s stil a few good topics of misunderstanding for the two gents to talk about. Hopalong thinks that George is talking about a hortse, but it’s his old girlfriend, Trixie, that Gracie had been jealous of. The surprising sounding act that George brags about is something that Hopalong wants to include in his next movie, and wants George to arrange to do it for him.

Gracie is thrilled to hear that George will be in Hopalongs next film, but not happy at all to know it will be with Trixie. Gracie goes to ask Bill Goodwin for help in taking Trixie out of the picture. When Hopalong stops over to talk to George about the film, Gracie tries to intervene, but Hoppy still thinks Trixie is a horse. Gracie has conspired with Bill Goodwin, but will it fool George? Or just lead into a comercial?

Hoppy discovers that Trixie isn’t a horse, so George proves that he can sing, and though Gtracie is charmed by him, Hopalong may be less so.