0676 - Boomerang (7/4/1977)

CBS Radio Mystery Theater's 'Boomerang' is a supernatural drama from 1977 featuring a young witch who becomes obsessed with a man who repeatedly rejects her romantic advances. Frustrated by his indifference, she makes a Faustian bargain, enlisting the Devil's assistance to cast spells designed to win his affection or punish his resistance. The episode explores themes of obsession, the corrupting influence of dark magic, and the consequences of seeking supernatural solutions to romantic rejection. Written by Elspeth Eric and directed by Himan Brown, the 45-minute episode features a cast including Corrine Orr, Ann Sheppard, Norman Rose, and Michael Wager. The title 'Boomerang' suggests the central irony: that the witch's schemes may ultimately backfire or return to haunt her. As a restoration of a classic radio drama from the golden age of the medium, the episode represents the theatrical storytelling style of CBS Radio Mystery Theater, relying on voice acting, sound design, and dialogue to create atmosphere and tension. The show notes indicate notable production details—specifically that Himan Brown himself reads the closing cast credits rather than the usual narrator E.G. Marshall, suggesting this episode may have held special significance or faced unusual production circumstances. The episode is presented as part of a restoration project, which typically aims to preserve and make accessible classic radio content for modern audiences.

Verdict: A classically-structured supernatural drama with thematic promise undermined by poor audio restoration quality and limited information about execution.

Fiction rubric

• Writing n/a

  No script excerpts or dialogue samples provided; cannot assess dialogue quality or narrative structure from title and premise alone.

• Performance and production 2/5 31%

  Show notes explicitly flag 'poor audio quality' as a defect, which undermines the immersive experience central to radio drama.

• Plot momentum n/a

  Premise suggests a clear dramatic arc (obsession leading to supernatural intervention), but actual pacing and narrative execution cannot be judged from description alone.

• Substance 3/5 23%

  The premise—witch seeking demonic aid for romantic revenge—offers thematic depth around obsession and moral compromise, though the show notes provide no detail on how substantively these themes are explored.

• Delivers on its title 4/5 23%

  Title 'Boomerang' strongly implies consequences or ironic reversal of the witch's schemes; the premise of spells backfiring or returning to haunt her aligns well with this promise.

• Value for time 2/5 23%

  At 45 minutes, a radio drama of this era typically earns its length, but poor audio quality significantly diminishes the value proposition for listeners seeking immersive storytelling.

How we score Fiction

Worth it if you're a devoted fan of vintage radio drama willing to tolerate audio defects, or a completist exploring CBS Radio Mystery Theater's catalog despite technical limitations.

Content flags

• Ad-heavy CBS Radio Mystery Theater episodes typically included sponsor reads and station breaks; while not explicitly noted here, this was standard for the format and era.

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