CBS Radio Mystery Theater


(4.8 stars; 116 reviews)

CBS Radio Mystery Theater (aka Radio Mystery Theater and Mystery Theater, sometimes abbreviated as CBSRMT) was a radio drama series created by Himan Brown that was broadcast on CBS Radio Network affiliates from 1974 to 1982, and later in the early 2000s was briefly carried by WVXU in Cincinnati.

The format was similar to that of classic old time radio shows such as The Mysterious Traveler and The Whistler, in that the episodes were introduced by a host (E. G. Marshall) who provided pithy wisdom and commentary throughout. Unlike the hosts of those earlier programs, Marshall is fully mortal, merely someone whose heightened insight and erudition plunge the listener into the world of the macabre (in a manner similar to that of "The Man in Black" on yet another old time radio program, Suspense). (Summary from Wikipedia)

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

Reviews

Favorite 5 Episodes


(5 stars)

I can listen to these episodes every single day while falling asleep. Just something about them, nostalgic but not TOO outdated...bridge that divide between the then and now and George Bell is just top notch: Death on Skiis: I love the way that Kay Wiley and Tony Shaw are supposed to be 20 somethings yet sound like they are in their 60s, while the husband, Dan Wiley, is supposed to be 41, and sounds about that, if not a bit younger. Otto reminds me of Klaus from American Dad. And, Tony Shaw emphasizes how he is this fun loving ski bum by talking about practical jokes he has pulled in the driest most humorless fashion! But, all the so-bad-its-good comments aside, it is well acted and extremely enjoyable. Great episode. Having a Horrible Time: All the male voices sound similar, from the phone call to Fred Russell, Ralph Cook and George Smith. Not sure if they are doubled up, though the ending credits suggest otherwise. Lois Wilson has a Carol Burnett type voice and Amy Hasting's voice is difficult to describe. Great great episode. The Woman in Red: Love any television or radio program that references modern art. Emmett Porcelain is a great character. Almost sounds like he is voiced by Brother Theodore, but it is someone else. The seedy bar, bickering cops..great stuff. The Case of MJH: I try to model myself after Jimmy French, a down on his luck hustler trying to make a big score to pay off his debt and land the girl. Well, personality wise. More like an acted version, without the actual hustling, since I am not cut out for that. Sign of the Beast: Crazy episode. She just screams she is hungry and doesn't go Lycan on everyone, like she would in an episode of True Blood, where everyone in her camp would be dead the first night. But, she finally goes off to hunt and kill later on, so it's not like she screams like an enraged infant waiting for someone to help for too long. Powerful episode.

Time capsule gems


(5 stars)

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to these radio dramas, which are the perfect length to listen to during a gym workout (45 to 60 minutes). Thank you very much for sharing these. Not only did I enjoy the well-acted dramas, but as a historian I also loved the snippets of news contained in some files, as well as the advertisements. It stuck me how the stories themselves and their narration are little time capsules of 1970s America: compared to the 2010s, for example, the language is often gendered, and many shows reflect the Cold War anxieties of the time.

750109, Berenice


(5 stars)

This episode, loosely based on an obscure Poe story, has a particularly creepy ending. I went back and found the Poe story and, while CBSRMT greatly altered the plot, they successfully captured Poe's horrific climax and use of a unreliably psychotic narrator.

The Old Ones Are Hard To Kill


(5 stars)

Agnes Moorehead had an amazing way of sounding natural while she read her lines. What an amazing performance she gave here! I am particularly impressed by her giving dignity to the elderly by not going for the quivery voiced stereotype that so many did at that time. She knew how to convey age without being over the top and in fact I didn't recognize it was her until i recalled E.G.Marshall crediting her as the performer! Thank you for this wonderful website! It brings back such great memories of this classic program!

Will the Next Time ever be here?


(4 stars)

Most of the recordings here are in poor shape, bootlegs from various bedside cassette recorders from various cities. That is a shame, as this was radio drama's Last Big Broadcast and they fully merit a modern audience. Still, as you cannot yet buy decent recordings of them anywhere, at any price, this detritus is a welcome treasure. Blessings upon Mr. Himan Brown for producing them in the first place, and may he not leave us until he secures their rightful place as part of American radio's heritage!

The entire series....wow! Needs an upgrade!


(3 stars)

While having the entire series available for download is certainly admirable, I have to agree with others before me about the varying sound quality. Most of it is, admittedly, not very good. I found 257 remastered episodes here: http://cbsrmt.thelongtrek.com/cinci/cinci.html I tried uploading them here recently, but ran into difficulty with my computer. These episodes are free of commercials and period news, and the sound quality is as close to pristine as they most likely have ever been. Wish we could get the entire like that.

Memory Lane


(5 stars)

Even though OTR was dead by the time I was growing up, the local AM stations would play shows like this in the middle of the night, and I stayed up wide-eyed every Friday and Saturday to hear it. Great stuff, and this show is wonderful in particular. There's a bit of bleeding of other radio stations in some of the recordings, but the show it's self is perfect.

Thanks uploader!


(5 stars)

Resident Killer is one of the all-time toppermost science fiction classics, and it's hilarious too. Audio quality is decent enough. Tammy Grimes' voice is perfect. Great cast & performances. Great story. This is a rare find. Look out Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It's Resident Killer!