Few radio dramas have ever created terror with such simplicity as “Sorry, Wrong Number.”
In this episode, we explore the remarkable story behind one of the greatest thrillers ever broadcast — and the many ways it echoed across the Golden Age of Radio.
First came the 1943 broadcast on Suspense starring Agnes Moorehead, delivering what many consider one of the most powerful performances in the entire history of radio drama. Nearly alone behind the microphone, Moorehead builds unbearable tension as a bedridden woman overhears two men planning a murder… and slowly realizes she may be the intended victim.
The story became so famous it soon crossed into Hollywood, appearing on Lux Radio Theatre with Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster, bringing the chilling tale to a star-studded audience.
And then — in one of the most surprising turns in radio history — the legendary thriller was even adapted for The Jack Benny Program, where Benny and his cast transformed the terrifying premise into brilliant comedy.
In this podcast we explore:
• Why Lucille Fletcher’s script became one of the greatest radio thrillers ever written
• The unforgettable performance of Agnes Moorehead on Suspense
• How the story transitioned from radio terror to Hollywood noir
• Why Jack Benny’s comedic take proves just how famous the story had become
• The storytelling craft that makes this drama still work more than 80 years later
From pure suspense… to Hollywood drama… to comedy — one wrong number created a legend.
