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Escape

Escape was a long-running CBS Radio series hosted by and starring William Conrad. It ran on CBS from 1947 to 1954, broadcasting a wide range of adventure stories, including science fiction and horror. Over 200 half-hour episodes were broadcast, most of which still survive. The episodes below are the genre episodes. Please note that the episode numbers given below are merely the order in which the episodes are thought to have been broadcast — they are not the actual episode numbers.
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Episode 21: Conqueror's Isle

​​A World War 2 bomber crew crash land on an island of supermen.

​First broadcast: 5 March 1949.
Original Story by Nelson Bond.
​Cast: Theodore Von Eltz, David Light, William Johnstone, Gene Twombley, Richard Benedict, Sam Edwards, William Conrad, David Ellis.​
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Episode 22: The Adaptive Ultimate
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​A life-enhancing serum gives a dying woman incredible powers, and an insatiable lust for power.

First broadcast: 26 March 1949.
Original Story by Stanley G. Weinbaum (as John Jessel).
​Cast: Stacy Harris, Frank Gerstle, Elsie Holmes, Anne Morrison, Tom Charlesworth, Lawrence Dobkin, Edgar Barrier, William Conrad.
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Episode 23: Present Tense
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​Does an axe-murderer experience a time-warp and escape execution?

First broadcast: 31 January 1950.
Original Story by James Poe.
​Cast: Ben Wright, Paul Frees, William Lally, Charles McGraw, Tom Tully, Vincent Price, Joan Banks, Harry Bartell, Jeff Corey.
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Episode 24: The Outer Limit
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​A test pilot in an experimental high altitude aircraft disappears from radar, only to return safely ten hours after he should have run out of fuel, and he has a grim warning for all mankind!
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​First broadcast: 7 February 1950.
Original Story by Graham Doar.
​Cast: Stan Waxman, Ian Wolfe, Peter Leeds, Frank Lovejoy, Paul Frees, Charles McGraw, Harry Bartell, Jeff Corey.
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Episode 25: Green Splotches

A scientific expedition in South America is captured by super-intelligent plant-based aliens.
Note: this episode has poor audio quality.

​First broadcast: 31 March 1950.
Original Story by T. S. Stribling.
​Cast: Barton Yarborough, Paul Frees, Jay Novello, Ted de Corsia, William Conrad, Harry Bartell.
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Episode 26: The Golden Snake

Supernatural Mayan priests prevent the theft of an ancient religious artefact.

​First broadcast: 14 April 1950.
Original Story by
Paul Pierce.
​Cast: Tony Barrett, Jeanette Nolan, John Hoyt, Rick Vallin, Harry Bartell, Paul Frees.
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Episode 27: Mars Is Heaven

​The first astronauts to land on Mars discover... Earth — a planet where their long-dead loved ones are waiting for them in a small Midwest town just like home. Part of Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles series.
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​First broadcast: 2 June 1950.
Original Story by
Ray Bradbury.
​Cast: Ian Wolfe, Ben Wright, William Johnstone, Paul Frees, Elizabeth Root, Ruth Perrott, Stuart Novins, Walter Catlett, Florence Bates, Jeff Corey.
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Episode 28: Earth Abides (Part 1)

A global pandemic wipes out most of humanity.

​First broadcast: 5 November 1950.
Original Story by
George R. Stewart.
​Cast: Peggy Webber, Paul Frees, Lou Krugman, John Dehner, Parley Baer, Lawrence Dobkin, Ron Brogan, Michael Ann Barrett.
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Episode 29: Earth Abides (Part 2)

The survivors of the pandemic struggle to rebuild civilization.

​First broadcast: 12 November 1950.
Original Story by
George R. Stewart.
​Cast: Peggy Webber, Paul Frees, Lou Krugman, Jeffrey Silver, ohn Dehner, Parley Baer, Lawrence Dobkin, Michael Ann Barrett.
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Episode 30: The Cave
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​Christmas episode. Two boys discover a pirate fantasy land in a cave.


​First broadcast: 24 December 1950.
Original Story by
Antony Ellis.
​Cast: Peggy Webber, Charlie Lung, Wilms Herbert, Lou Krugman, Jay Novello, John Dehner, Antony Ellis, Georgia Ellis, Eileen Erskine.
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Episode 31: The Earthmen

​The first expedition to Mars doesn't get the warm welcome they were expecting. Part of Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles series.

​First broadcast: 25 July 1951.
Original Story by
Ray Bradbury.
​Cast: Byron Kane, Lou Krugman, Jack Kruschen, Sidney Miller, John Dehner, Parley Baer, Lawrence Dobkin, Hans Conried, Harry Bartell, Georgia Ellis.
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Episode 32: The Running Man

​A gambler is cursed by a voodoo priestess to never lose a bet.

First broadcast: 2 November 1952.
Original Story by
Herb Purdum.
​Cast: Byron Kane, Vic Perrin, Barney Phillips, Ralph Moody, Don Diamond, Michael Ann Barrett, William Conrad, Jeanne Bates.
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Episode 33: The Return

A blind beggar introduces a world-weary man to the perfect world.

​First broadcast: 9 November 1952.
Original Story by
Kathleen Hite.
​Cast: Tom McKee, Paul Frees, Norman MacDonald, Lawrence Dobkin, Paul Dubov, Edgar Barrier, Jeanne Bates.
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Episode 34: Conqueror's Isle

A WW2 bomber crew crash land on a remote island and discover a race of supermen intent on taking over the world.

​First broadcast: 11 January 1953.
Original Story by
Nelson S. Bond.
​Cast: Theodore Von Eltz, David Light, William Johnstone, Gene Twombley, Richard Benedict, Sam Edwards, William Conrad, David Ellis.
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Episode 35: I Saw Myself Running

A woman meets an alternate version of herself in a recurring nightmare.

​First broadcast: 22 February 1953.
Original Story by
Antony Ellis.
​Cast: Sammie Hill, John Stephenson, Edgar Barrier, William Conrad, Georgia Ellis.
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Episode 36: The Invader

A small town schoolteacher makes contact with an alien flying saucer via his ham radio set.

​First broadcast: 29 March 1953.
Original Story by
Michael Gray.
​Cast: 
Peter Leeds, Paul Frees, Howard McNear, Bill Bissell, Fay Baker, Edgar Barrier, William Conrad, Leroy Lennert.
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Episode 37: North of Polaris
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​Astronauts land on a desolate planet plagued by mutant rats.


​First broadcast: 17 May 1953.
Original Story by
Charles Smith.
​Cast: Vivi Janis, Eddie Firestone, Frank Gerstle, Ralph Moody, Hy Averback, William Conrad.
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Episode 38: The Voyages of Sinbad

A tale from the Arabian Nights. Sinbad the sailor attempts to escape from the 'Cave of the Dead'.

​First broadcast: 7 June 1953.
Original Story by
Unknown (traditional Islamic fantasy).
​Cast: Ben Wright, Joseph Kearns, Kurt Martell, Larry Thor, Herb Butterfield, Amanda Blake, Ted de Corsia, Parley Baer, Whitfield Connor, William Conrad, Georgia Ellis.
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Episode 39: The Man From Tomorrow
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​Scientists train an ex fighter pilot to develop super senses.


​First broadcast: 23 August 1953.
Original Story by
Irving Reis.
​Cast: Vivi Janis, Kurt Martell, Barney Phillips, Lawrence Dobkin, Edgar Barrier, William Conrad, Jack Carol.
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Episode 40: The Abominable Snowman

An expedition searches for the legendary Himalayan Yeti.
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​First broadcast: 13 September 1953.
Original Story by
Antony Ellis.
​Cast: 
Jack Kruschen, Hy Averback, Tony Barrett, Edgar Barrier, William Conrad.
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Episode 41: Zero Hour

Suddenly, children from all over the country are playing a new game called Invasion, with Zero Hour set for 5:00 PM, today. But is it really just a game?
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​First broadcast: 4 October 1953.
Original Story by
Ray Bradbury.
​Cast: 
Paula Winslowe, William Johnstone, Mary McGovern, Eve McVeagh, Isa Ashdown, John Dehner, William Conrad.
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Episode 42: The Scarlet Plague

A deadly virus spreads rapidly around the world.
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​First broadcast: 8 April 1954.
Original Story by
Jack London.
​Cast: 
Virginia Gregg, John Larch, Vic Perrin, Barney Phillips, Eleanor Tanin, John Dehner, Parley Baer, Sam Edwards, William Conrad.
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Episode 43: The Birds

Birds start inexplicably attacking humans.
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​First broadcast: 10 July 1954.
Original Story by
Daphne du Maurier.
​Cast: 
Anne Whitfield, Ben Wright, Virginia Gregg, Paul Frees, Anne Morrison, John Dehner, John Dodsworth.


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