Crime Classics - Madeline Smith Maid Or Murderess (01-20-54)

Crime Classics was a U. S. radio docudrama which aired over CBS from June 15, 1953 to June 30, 1954. Created, produced, and directed by radio actor/director Elliott Lewis, the program was basically a historical true crime series, examining crimes, and especially murders, from the past. It grew out of Lewis's personal interest in famous murder cases, and took a documentary-like approach to the subject, carefully recreating the facts, personages, and feel of the time period. Comparatively little dramatic license was taken with the facts and events, but the tragedy was leavened with humor, expressed largely through the narration. THIS EPISODE: January 20, 1954. CBS network origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "Madeline Smith, Maid Or Murderess...Which?". A lovely lady is also a liberal user of arsenic. Lou Merrill (host), Betty Harford, William Johnstone, John Dehner, Bernard Herrmann (composer), Wilbur Hatch (conductor), Florence Wolcott, Morton Fine (writer), David Friedkin (writer), Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Gil Warren (announcer). 1/2 hour.