Box 13 - "Death Is a Doll" (Old Time Radio, 2012)

Box 13 presents a restored broadcast of "Death Is a Doll," episode 30 of the classic mystery radio series from 1949, starring Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday, a mystery writer and adventurer. The episode follows Holiday as he travels to the remote Louisiana bayou community of Ballou to investigate the case of Bart LeFay, a young man who believes he is dying from a curse despite appearing physically healthy. The core mystery centers on whether LeFay's condition is genuinely supernatural or has a rational, tangible explanation rooted in the physical world. Written by Russell Hughes and directed by Vern Carstensen, the episode blends suspense with detective work as Holiday searches for evidence to either confirm or debunk the apparent curse. The production includes a newly recorded contextual introduction by Victor Sterling that frames the original 1949 broadcast, followed by the full episode and a brief closing announcement. The audio has been cleaned and mastered to improve consistency and listening quality while preserving the authentic character of the original broadcast. The episode runs approximately 27 minutes total, with the main broadcast occupying roughly 26 minutes after the introduction.

Verdict: A well-preserved classic radio mystery with solid production values and an intriguing premise, but limited by the constraints of 1949 broadcast standards and thin source material for deeper evaluation.

Fiction rubric

• Writing 3/5 20%

  Period mystery writing with competent dialogue and plot structure typical of 1949 radio drama; no evidence of exceptional originality but serviceable genre execution.

• Performance and production 3/5 20%

  Alan Ladd leads a professional cast in a restored broadcast; audio mastering improves clarity, though the original 1949 production quality limits immersion compared to modern standards.

• Plot momentum 3/5 15%

  Mystery setup with investigation into a curse provides forward movement, but source material gives no detail on pacing or whether the resolution lands with impact.

• Substance 3/5 15%

  Solid mystery premise with investigation and supernatural-versus-rational tension; limited detail available about depth of plot development or tangential material.

• Delivers on its title 4/5 15%

  Title promises a mystery involving death and a doll; episode clearly delivers a death-curse investigation, though the specific role of 'the doll' remains unclear from notes.

• Value for time 4/5 15%

  27-minute runtime is appropriate for a classic radio episode; restoration and introduction add context without padding, though exact pacing cannot be assessed from notes alone.

How we score Fiction

Worth it if you enjoy vintage radio drama, classic mystery storytelling, or want to experience Alan Ladd in an underrated medium.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.