October 27, 2025 • 17 mins
This week’s Old Time Radio Snack Wagon features a chilling episode of Guest Star, a U.S. Treasury Department program promoting savings bonds. In this 15-minute broadcast, acclaimed actress Ida Lupino stars in Fear, a taut psychological drama about a woman convinced that someone is following her—though no one believes her story. As her terror mounts, listeners are drawn into a suspenseful world where reality and delusion blur until the truth is revealed in one unforgettable moment.
Produced as part of the Defense Bonds campaign, Guest Star often spotlighted top film and radio talent in short dramas or light comedies. This episode stands out for its dark tone and Lupino’s commanding performance, demonstrating why she became one of the era’s most respected and versatile actresses.
Original Air Date: August 2, 1953
Subscribe to the Old Time Radio Snack Wagon at https://www.snackwagon.net
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/old-time-radio-snack-wagon-rare-historic-radio-programs--5919985/support.
Produced as part of the Defense Bonds campaign, Guest Star often spotlighted top film and radio talent in short dramas or light comedies. This episode stands out for its dark tone and Lupino’s commanding performance, demonstrating why she became one of the era’s most respected and versatile actresses.
Original Air Date: August 2, 1953
Subscribe to the Old Time Radio Snack Wagon at https://www.snackwagon.net
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/old-time-radio-snack-wagon-rare-historic-radio-programs--5919985/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Excuse me, are you Adam Graham?
Speaker 2 (00:02):
The very same? And this is my old time radio
snack wagon.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Welcome to the old time Radio snack Wagon where we
serve up a bite sized portion of old time radio.
And now here's your snack wagon host Adam Graham.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Today we're serving up another episode of guest Star, that
fifteen minute program selling United States savings bonds and guest
starring the legendary Ida Lupino. The original air date is
August second, nineteen fifty three, and the play is entitled Fear.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
The United States Treasury Department presents Guest Star with Harry
Soosnik and the Defense Bonds Orchestra Yours Trulie, John Conty
and starring Ida Lupino. Audio Do, ladies and gentlemen, this
is John Conty, your host for guest Star, a transcribed
(01:15):
feature for Defense Bonds, presented by this station as a
public service. There's a convenient way for you to save
regularly with defense bonds. Sign up for automatic systematic saving
on the Payroll Savings Plan where you work or the
bond Amon's Plan where you bank. Let your savings earn
good interest in defense bonds. The Thrift Program for all
(01:35):
America in a moment Our Star, But Now Let's listen
as Harry Sosnik leads the defense Bond's orchestra in his
own special arrangement of Jerome Kerns.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
They didn't believe me.
Speaker 6 (02:37):
Thank you, Harry and our friends.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
A great star of Motion Pictures, Lovely Miss Idolapino appearing
in a suspense packed episode entitled Fear for the performance
of Idol Lupino. We take you to Hollywood and our
narrator Ned Lefevre.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
There he is down there by the street light watching
Why does he follow me everywhere? Why does he stand
there in the middle of the night watching my window? Bill? Bill,
wake up, Get up, Bill. I can't stand this any longer.
(04:36):
What is it, Helen. He's down there again, standing by
the street light. Come over to the window, please quick.
Speaker 7 (04:43):
There won't be anybody down there, Helen. It'll be just
like the other time.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
But he is done there. I tell you. Okay, Honey, Okay,
I love you. Scene.
Speaker 7 (04:52):
There's nobody there, but.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
It was done there. Bill. Please believe me. I'm telling
you the truth.
Speaker 7 (05:05):
Ah Swell dinner, Honey. Sorry, I can't help you with
the dishes. Gotta work at the office again tonight.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
All right, go on, leave me all alone. You don't
get paid extra for doing Frank's work.
Speaker 7 (05:17):
I know, honey, but Frank would do my work if
I were sick, and I'll only be.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
Never mind.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.
Speaker 7 (05:26):
I thought moving here, living close to people would help you, Helen.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
It hasn't helped, because he's still following on. Honey, Look,
you don't believe me. The doctor doesn't believe me. Nobody does.
I'm afraid to go to the store alone. I'm afraid
to go out of this apartment. All of you think
I'm losing my mind.
Speaker 7 (05:44):
Oh, honey, not you, the other daughter of Judge Irving Gates,
the most brilliant jurist who ever sat on a bench.
Think of how he'd feel if you saw you let
go like this.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Yes, you're right, you're right.
Speaker 7 (05:55):
Oh God, Look, let's go with Frank and Alice after
the lake next week.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
Huh.
Speaker 7 (06:01):
Some fishing would be good for both of us. Oh,
that's Alice, now about it?
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Hello, Alice, Bill just leaving. How's Frank? Oh a lot better.
He's going to the office in the morning. I'll stay
here with you while Bill works did you put Johnny
to bed? Yes? And I hope the little dynamo sleeps.
Speaker 7 (06:19):
Oh, it's swell of you to come over, Alice, scram Bill.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
And let us women folks talk.
Speaker 7 (06:24):
Okay, so long, Honey, I'll be back in note time.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Goodbye, Bill, Helen. I bought the cutest red hat today.
Speaker 8 (06:33):
I thought it would dress up my old blue suit,
you know, the one I bought three years ago.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Helen, you haven't heard a word I said. Huh Oh,
I'm sorry, Alice. I guess my nerves are all shot
to pieces.
Speaker 8 (06:46):
Bill says, your trouble started just a little while after
your father died.
Speaker 6 (06:50):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I know they think that the shock of my father's
death has done something to my mind. But that isn't true, Alice.
Speaker 8 (06:57):
No, no, I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Lie there, yes you do. You're too polite to say so.
Aren't you going to answer the phone? There won't be
anyone there. Hello, Hello, Hello, This happened several times a day.
Bill won't believe me when I tell him it's that man, Alice.
(07:23):
He follows me everywhere, to the movies when I'm shopping, everywhere,
but nobody else has seen him, and nobody believes me.
Why don't you go to the police. I went to
the police, suggested I take a vacation. In other words, lady,
we think you're a little nuts. Well, Helen, after all,
it does Alice, you answer at this time? Hello, Oh, yes,
(07:44):
it's Frank. Well what's he crying about? He was all
right when I put him to bed. Oh, all right,
I'll run over in a minute. Bye.
Speaker 8 (07:54):
When Johnny's hollering his head off, he's got a Tommy ache.
Lock the door after me, Honey, I'll be back in
ten fifteen minutes. Hurry back, Alice, please, she said, fifteen minutes.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
It's been longer than that. I gotta get hold of myself.
I can't think anymore. I'm afraid to go to sleep.
Maybe the doctor is right. I should go to a
rest home. Gotta see if he's out's sighed. No, now
(08:35):
he's not there. Maybe he has gone away. No that
it'd be too good to be true. Thank goodness, Alice, Alice,
I have you along.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
You.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
I'm glad you're here. Glad. I can't stand this nightmare
any longer. No matter what happens to me, this will ended, Yes,
this will end, they said. I was losing my mind.
Because no one saw you but me. No, I know
you're real. You are real, aren't you? You'll never never know? Well,
(09:20):
I'll know this gun is real. It made me take
out a permit for me.
Speaker 9 (09:25):
If you're not real, No, Helen, Helen, Bill, We'll hurry.
Speaker 7 (09:32):
Oh good loye.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
He came to the door, the man that's been following me.
I thought it was real. I shot at him. He's
not really lying, there is he?
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Sure?
Speaker 7 (09:45):
He is as Red Barkley, a killing your father sent
to prison ten years ago.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
He's real, all right, you're just saying that, Bill to
make me feel.
Speaker 7 (09:53):
No, I'm not. I'm not really, I'm not.
Speaker 9 (09:58):
Oh Bill, Why some play and some performance.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
I looked, you know, thanks ned, But you know, the
trouble with the play is that it's just a play.
What do you mean, well, I mean, no, matter what
happens in a play, everything turns out all right in
the head, I get it. The trouble is that real
life isn't like that exactly. We have to look ahead
and plan for.
Speaker 6 (10:37):
The future, and the good way to do that is through.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
The regular purchase of United States Defense. They knew we'd
get her out of that. But it's true regular saving
is the best way I know to make sure that
your future will be financially secure. And there's no better
way to save than through defense. That's right.
Speaker 10 (10:54):
And the surest way to save money is to do
it regularly every month, And the easiest way to do
that is through one of the simple automatic plans for
buying defense bonds, the Payrull Savings plan where you work,
or the Bond a month plan where you.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Bank right ned And remember, ladies and gentlemen, that either
way you'll be putting your savings into one of the
world's finest investments, United States Defense Bonds.
Speaker 10 (11:16):
Right, and thanks for being with us.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Back in New York, Harry Sarsnik and the Defense Bonds
Orchestra ring down the curtain with a special Sarsnick arrangement
of Deep Night During the past quarter Are you've been
(14:26):
listening to Guest Star, a transcribed feature for Defense Bonds
presented by this station every week as a public service.
May I express our thanks to miss Idelopino for a
fine performance and to the members of her supporting cast,
Gerald Moore and Virginia greg and to her director, Lewis Grath.
Next week we'll have another favorite Star and more fine
music by Harry Sosnik and the Defense Bonds Orchestra, so
(14:47):
we hope you'll be listening. Meanwhile, this is John Conty
saying so long and reminding you that United States Defense Bonds.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
Offer you a perfect thrift program.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
Sign up for Defense Bonds on the Payroll Savings Plan
where you work or the Bondamans Plan where you bang.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Welcome back. I enjoyed this episode. Obviously, we got some
great music, which you always get from Guest Star, but
the centerpiece is miss Lupino, and even though it's not
a complex story, it's still an effective one. The idea
of someone trying to drive you insane before killing you
(15:54):
and everyone believing that your exaggerating is terrifying. She managed
to really capture that in a performance that only lasted
a few minutes. Now, this is a bit of an
unusual episode for Guest Star. Certainly in this era, the tendency,
even when you were featuring more serious actors, was to
(16:17):
lean into either light dramas or comedies and maybe a
little bit of simple action. But the production team knew
Ida Lupino's strengths and she had no problem rising to
the occasion. It's time for me to close up the
Old Snackwagon, but don't worry. We'll be back with another
(16:37):
serving of old time radio goodness before you know it.
If you want to enjoy some of our longer form podcasts,
you can feast away at my website at Great Detectives
dot net. Your emails are also welcome at Adam at
snackwagon dot net.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
The Old Time Radio Snackwagon comes to you from Boise, Idaho.
Your host is Adam Grat. Sound production is by Rind's
Media LLC. You can listen to past episodes of the
Old Time Radio Snackwagon, as well as connect on social
media at our website at snackwagon dot net. Email suggestions
(17:14):
for episodes to Adam at snackwagon dot net. This has
been the Old Time Radio Snackwagon.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Until next time. Goodbye,
Excuse me, are you Adam Graham?
Speaker 2 (00:02):
The very same? And this is my old time radio
snack wagon.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Welcome to the old time Radio snack Wagon where we
serve up a bite sized portion of old time radio.
And now here's your snack wagon host Adam Graham.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Today we're serving up another episode of guest Star, that
fifteen minute program selling United States savings bonds and guest
starring the legendary Ida Lupino. The original air date is
August second, nineteen fifty three, and the play is entitled Fear.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
The United States Treasury Department presents Guest Star with Harry
Soosnik and the Defense Bonds Orchestra Yours Trulie, John Conty
and starring Ida Lupino. Audio Do, ladies and gentlemen, this
is John Conty, your host for guest Star, a transcribed
(01:15):
feature for Defense Bonds, presented by this station as a
public service. There's a convenient way for you to save
regularly with defense bonds. Sign up for automatic systematic saving
on the Payroll Savings Plan where you work or the
bond Amon's Plan where you bank. Let your savings earn
good interest in defense bonds. The Thrift Program for all
(01:35):
America in a moment Our Star, But Now Let's listen
as Harry Sosnik leads the defense Bond's orchestra in his
own special arrangement of Jerome Kerns.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
They didn't believe me.
Speaker 6 (02:37):
Thank you, Harry and our friends.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
A great star of Motion Pictures, Lovely Miss Idolapino appearing
in a suspense packed episode entitled Fear for the performance
of Idol Lupino. We take you to Hollywood and our
narrator Ned Lefevre.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
There he is down there by the street light watching
Why does he follow me everywhere? Why does he stand
there in the middle of the night watching my window? Bill? Bill,
wake up, Get up, Bill. I can't stand this any longer.
(04:36):
What is it, Helen. He's down there again, standing by
the street light. Come over to the window, please quick.
Speaker 7 (04:43):
There won't be anybody down there, Helen. It'll be just
like the other time.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
But he is done there. I tell you. Okay, Honey, Okay,
I love you. Scene.
Speaker 7 (04:52):
There's nobody there, but.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
It was done there. Bill. Please believe me. I'm telling
you the truth.
Speaker 7 (05:05):
Ah Swell dinner, Honey. Sorry, I can't help you with
the dishes. Gotta work at the office again tonight.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
All right, go on, leave me all alone. You don't
get paid extra for doing Frank's work.
Speaker 7 (05:17):
I know, honey, but Frank would do my work if
I were sick, and I'll only be.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
Never mind.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.
Speaker 7 (05:26):
I thought moving here, living close to people would help you, Helen.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
It hasn't helped, because he's still following on. Honey, Look,
you don't believe me. The doctor doesn't believe me. Nobody does.
I'm afraid to go to the store alone. I'm afraid
to go out of this apartment. All of you think
I'm losing my mind.
Speaker 7 (05:44):
Oh, honey, not you, the other daughter of Judge Irving Gates,
the most brilliant jurist who ever sat on a bench.
Think of how he'd feel if you saw you let
go like this.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Yes, you're right, you're right.
Speaker 7 (05:55):
Oh God, Look, let's go with Frank and Alice after
the lake next week.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
Huh.
Speaker 7 (06:01):
Some fishing would be good for both of us. Oh,
that's Alice, now about it?
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Hello, Alice, Bill just leaving. How's Frank? Oh a lot better.
He's going to the office in the morning. I'll stay
here with you while Bill works did you put Johnny
to bed? Yes? And I hope the little dynamo sleeps.
Speaker 7 (06:19):
Oh, it's swell of you to come over, Alice, scram Bill.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
And let us women folks talk.
Speaker 7 (06:24):
Okay, so long, Honey, I'll be back in note time.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Goodbye, Bill, Helen. I bought the cutest red hat today.
Speaker 8 (06:33):
I thought it would dress up my old blue suit,
you know, the one I bought three years ago.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Helen, you haven't heard a word I said. Huh Oh,
I'm sorry, Alice. I guess my nerves are all shot
to pieces.
Speaker 8 (06:46):
Bill says, your trouble started just a little while after
your father died.
Speaker 6 (06:50):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I know they think that the shock of my father's
death has done something to my mind. But that isn't true, Alice.
Speaker 8 (06:57):
No, no, I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Lie there, yes you do. You're too polite to say so.
Aren't you going to answer the phone? There won't be
anyone there. Hello, Hello, Hello, This happened several times a day.
Bill won't believe me when I tell him it's that man, Alice.
(07:23):
He follows me everywhere, to the movies when I'm shopping, everywhere,
but nobody else has seen him, and nobody believes me.
Why don't you go to the police. I went to
the police, suggested I take a vacation. In other words, lady,
we think you're a little nuts. Well, Helen, after all,
it does Alice, you answer at this time? Hello, Oh, yes,
(07:44):
it's Frank. Well what's he crying about? He was all
right when I put him to bed. Oh, all right,
I'll run over in a minute. Bye.
Speaker 8 (07:54):
When Johnny's hollering his head off, he's got a Tommy ache.
Lock the door after me, Honey, I'll be back in
ten fifteen minutes. Hurry back, Alice, please, she said, fifteen minutes.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
It's been longer than that. I gotta get hold of myself.
I can't think anymore. I'm afraid to go to sleep.
Maybe the doctor is right. I should go to a
rest home. Gotta see if he's out's sighed. No, now
(08:35):
he's not there. Maybe he has gone away. No that
it'd be too good to be true. Thank goodness, Alice, Alice,
I have you along.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
You.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
I'm glad you're here. Glad. I can't stand this nightmare
any longer. No matter what happens to me, this will ended, Yes,
this will end, they said. I was losing my mind.
Because no one saw you but me. No, I know
you're real. You are real, aren't you? You'll never never know? Well,
(09:20):
I'll know this gun is real. It made me take
out a permit for me.
Speaker 9 (09:25):
If you're not real, No, Helen, Helen, Bill, We'll hurry.
Speaker 7 (09:32):
Oh good loye.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
He came to the door, the man that's been following me.
I thought it was real. I shot at him. He's
not really lying, there is he?
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Sure?
Speaker 7 (09:45):
He is as Red Barkley, a killing your father sent
to prison ten years ago.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
He's real, all right, you're just saying that, Bill to
make me feel.
Speaker 7 (09:53):
No, I'm not. I'm not really, I'm not.
Speaker 9 (09:58):
Oh Bill, Why some play and some performance.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
I looked, you know, thanks ned, But you know, the
trouble with the play is that it's just a play.
What do you mean, well, I mean, no, matter what
happens in a play, everything turns out all right in
the head, I get it. The trouble is that real
life isn't like that exactly. We have to look ahead
and plan for.
Speaker 6 (10:37):
The future, and the good way to do that is through.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
The regular purchase of United States Defense. They knew we'd
get her out of that. But it's true regular saving
is the best way I know to make sure that
your future will be financially secure. And there's no better
way to save than through defense. That's right.
Speaker 10 (10:54):
And the surest way to save money is to do
it regularly every month, And the easiest way to do
that is through one of the simple automatic plans for
buying defense bonds, the Payrull Savings plan where you work,
or the Bond a month plan where you.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Bank right ned And remember, ladies and gentlemen, that either
way you'll be putting your savings into one of the
world's finest investments, United States Defense Bonds.
Speaker 10 (11:16):
Right, and thanks for being with us.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Back in New York, Harry Sarsnik and the Defense Bonds
Orchestra ring down the curtain with a special Sarsnick arrangement
of Deep Night During the past quarter Are you've been
(14:26):
listening to Guest Star, a transcribed feature for Defense Bonds
presented by this station every week as a public service.
May I express our thanks to miss Idelopino for a
fine performance and to the members of her supporting cast,
Gerald Moore and Virginia greg and to her director, Lewis Grath.
Next week we'll have another favorite Star and more fine
music by Harry Sosnik and the Defense Bonds Orchestra, so
(14:47):
we hope you'll be listening. Meanwhile, this is John Conty
saying so long and reminding you that United States Defense Bonds.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
Offer you a perfect thrift program.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
Sign up for Defense Bonds on the Payroll Savings Plan
where you work or the Bondamans Plan where you bang.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Welcome back. I enjoyed this episode. Obviously, we got some
great music, which you always get from Guest Star, but
the centerpiece is miss Lupino, and even though it's not
a complex story, it's still an effective one. The idea
of someone trying to drive you insane before killing you
(15:54):
and everyone believing that your exaggerating is terrifying. She managed
to really capture that in a performance that only lasted
a few minutes. Now, this is a bit of an
unusual episode for Guest Star. Certainly in this era, the tendency,
even when you were featuring more serious actors, was to
(16:17):
lean into either light dramas or comedies and maybe a
little bit of simple action. But the production team knew
Ida Lupino's strengths and she had no problem rising to
the occasion. It's time for me to close up the
Old Snackwagon, but don't worry. We'll be back with another
(16:37):
serving of old time radio goodness before you know it.
If you want to enjoy some of our longer form podcasts,
you can feast away at my website at Great Detectives
dot net. Your emails are also welcome at Adam at
snackwagon dot net.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
The Old Time Radio Snackwagon comes to you from Boise, Idaho.
Your host is Adam Grat. Sound production is by Rind's
Media LLC. You can listen to past episodes of the
Old Time Radio Snackwagon, as well as connect on social
media at our website at snackwagon dot net. Email suggestions
(17:14):
for episodes to Adam at snackwagon dot net. This has
been the Old Time Radio Snackwagon.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Until next time. Goodbye,
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