The CBS Radio Mystery theater Presents:â€ Hickory, Dickory, Doomâ€ , written by Bob Juhren.

This is a delightful episode. It begins with an interesting story and maintains the drama and involvement throughout. The ending is a home run! There are elements and sustained confirmations to the story THAT MAKE THE STORY WHAT IT ULTIMITLY IS-DOOM. Doom exists in the real world, it is undesirable and avoided. Still, in reality it is a possible outcome: an ending that is undesired or dreaded. If doom is to have any meaning, to carry any weight, it must be substantial. If a story of doom always has a happy ending, then doom is nothing to be feared. That is not life. Things certainly don’t always work out. We are not in control of everything! Sometimes life has doom-ful elements that occur despite our best efforts. Doom is an inevitable progress towards an ending that favors the antagonist. What stature should the antagonist have if he never succeeds? What impact if doom does succeed! The success of doom substantiates its existence as an entity. Uniquely, this story lives up to a title involving doom. Our clock in this story may not know what time it is in the “realâ€ world the story takes place in, but its chime is ominous and prevalent. It is calling as a declaration of its eminence, its place in the story.( the role of doom in life?) Here, it is never silenced. Unlike so many other forms of entertainment, the CBSRMT allows a story to reach its inevitable conclusion that is supported throughout the episode. Or it surprises you! Who Knows. It doesn’t always turn out to be a happy ending. The unpredictability mirrors the reality and irony of life. This is one of the aspects that make this series great. I’m not looking for unhappy endings, per se. I am looking for a story that carries substance. The “substance “ is felt in its impact. The substance reveals itself when one considers and thinks of the story long after the CD has finished spinning. It leaves me as the listener that I’ve not only heard entertainment that is unique, but it is unique because it is relevancy. “Such things don’t happen, do theyâ€, asks E.G. We are left wondering. If every story ends up positive for the protagonist, or at least essentially positive with the antagonist popping his head up at the end to provide for a sequel (such as Freddy Kruger, Friday the 13th and the countless other rip-offs) then because we know it won’t end in doom, it is less suspenseful and therefore really a rip off! I love CBSRMT because the producer allows for multiple possible endings...thus we really don’t know how it will end till it does. In this episode, even though we like the characters, the course of the story goes on.
Kudos to CBSRMT.

Besides the fulfillment of the title, the technical aspects of the story are good. The clock chimes ominously in the background at appropriate times. The chimes are nicely ominous. Himan Brown has an enjoyable appearance (enjoyable mostly because we know it is he who is acting) as Mr. Lum. The characters are likable. I thought Robert Dryden’s performance as the weird spirit lurking about the house and ultimately knocking on the door terrific. On a less than positive side, I am left wondering why a religious fellow, the clerical uncle who died and had possession of the clock, would leave it open to attainment without warning, A minor point to be sure, in a very entertaining episode. 10- Supernatural.....UNTIL NEXT TIME.