Two old Army buddies meet again after nine years. There is only one problem: one of them is dead.
Tonight, on The Mystery Theater Companion, we return to the opening week of CBS Radio Mystery Theater for Episode #3, “The Bullet,” originally broadcast January 8, 1974.
Written by Sam Dann and produced and directed by Himan Brown, “The Bullet” turns a reunion between wartime friends into a haunting story of memory, guilt, loyalty, and the unfinished business the dead sometimes leave behind.
We’ll explore the performances, atmosphere, sound, pacing, and storytelling techniques that make the drama work so effectively in the imagination. We’ll also consider what this third broadcast tells us about the identity CBS Radio Mystery Theater was already beginning to establish in its very first week on the air.
The first portion of our conversation is spoiler-free. We’ll give you a clear warning before discussing the story’s major revelations and ending.
The Mystery Theater Companion is a nightly journey through CBS Radio Mystery Theater, beginning with Episode #1 and continuing through the series in broadcast order—one story, one night, one conversation at a time.
Best experienced after listening to the original drama.
From Chesterton Radio — the little station on Commercial Street in Atchison, Kansas.
If you enjoy these programs, please consider supporting Chesterton Radio. Your support helps us keep the station streaming, preserve classic radio, and create new programs like The Mystery Theater Companion.
And you can listen anytime to Chesterton Radio Live — The Open Door, our 24-hour stream of classic radio, drama, conversation, and more.
