Suspense: Tom Dooley (

Suspense: 03/30/53, episode 505
Brought to you by the Old Time Radio Researchers, courtesy of The Suspense Project
Joseph Cotten stars in another Suspense musical based on Morton Fine and David Friedkin. Cotten plays Tom Dooley who is back home in North Carolina after fighting with the Confederate army in the Civil War. He is greatly disappointed to find his sweetheart engaged to a Yankee schoolmaster. His first reaction is to beat up his Yankee rival, but that only serves to antagonize his estranged sweetheart. Later, he apologizes and even volunteers to play the fiddle at a betrothal party for the girl and her schoolmaster. His bitterness remained, and he killed her. His attempt to get away was thwarted, he was captured, and sentenced to death. The line “hang down your head, Tom Dooley” is an instruction to him so the hangman’s noose can be placed around his neck. It’s not a compelling episode, but it is always good to hear another Cotten performance.
This song is considered an example of a genre of music called “Appalachian murder ballad.”
A traditional version of the song was released in 1953 and can be heard at The Internet Archive archive.org/de...
Harry Stanton returns to sing the folk song for a “musical.” He was the singer for the episode Wreck of the Old 97. That song showed much more of his range and ability.
The script was used again in 1958 when the Kingston Trio version became popular and became the top song on the Billboard Hot 100. The Trio’s version was used in that broadcast.
The cast: JOSEPH COTTEN (Tom Dooley), Sammie Hill (Laura Foster), William Conrad (Cousin Noah), Joseph Kearns (Jess / Jailer), Bill Bissell (Paul Cabot / Aaron the Yankee), Larry Thor (Doctor / Narrator), Harry Stanton (Singer)
COMMERCIAL: Ken Christy (Sheriff), Harlow Wilcox (Announcer)
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