Podcast Summary: The Relic Radio Show

Episode: Suspense and Screen Directors Playhouse
Date: January 14, 2026
Source: RelicRadio.com
Theme: Exploring iconic dramas from the “Golden Age” of American radio, spotlighting Suspense (“The Peralta Map”) and Screen Directors Playhouse (“Pitfall”).

Episode Overview

Relic Radio unearths two radio drama gems, both brimming with tension, moral tests, and classic performances. First, Suspense delivers a haunting tale of greed and danger deep in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains, starring Raymond Burr. Next, the Screen Directors Playhouse adaptation of “Pitfall” stars Dick Powell and Jane Wyatt, presenting a noir saga of suburban malaise, temptation, secrets, and consequences.

Key Segment 1: Suspense – “The Peralta Map” (00:11 – 29:00)

Premise

Raymond Burr leads as a fortune seeker obsessed with finding the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine. Navigating both treacherous terrain and shifting loyalties, two partners—Willis and Cracker—enlist local loner Ol’ Lonnie as their reluctant guide by dangling the “Peralta Map.”

Key Discussion Points & Plot Moments

• Setting the Scene: The forbidding Superstition Mountain background and local legends gripping the American Southwest. (00:11)
• The Confrontation: Willis and Cracker debate showing Lonnie their precious map, highlighting trust and suspicion.
• Meeting Ol’ Lonnie: They find Lonnie at his isolated gas station; he’s lured with money, stories, and ultimately, the promise of a share in the mine. (04:41)
• Desert Lore: Lonnie recounts tales of Peraltas, Apaches, and previous deadly attempts to find the mine—including real-life Adolph Ruth, whose fate becomes an omen for the group. (06:43–13:01)
• Mounting Tension: The three men traverse the wilderness. The atmosphere grows increasingly suspicious and ominous with tales of mysterious killings and a legendary “guardian” of the mine.
• Greed & Betrayal: Injuries and infighting break out as they near their prize. The partners leave the injured Willis behind. (21:00)
• Climax: The mine is found, but violence and betrayal erupt. Lonnie vows to cover the mine rather than let more blood be spilled. The mountain’s curse claims yet more victims—or perhaps mere human nature does.

Notable Quotes

• “You ever read how many men have been killed hunting for the lost Dutchman?” – Lonnie (09:20)
• “Being partners ain’t got nothing to do with it. Well, what has for a couple of fellows after the lost Dutchman? You sure don’t know much about it, do you?” – Lonnie (10:18)
• “They were shot through the back. Then their heads were chopped off.” – Chilling account of previous seekers’ fates, Lonnie (15:31)
• “I may be a desert rat, but I’m a live one.” – Lonnie’s philosophy on survival (09:16)
• “We found it. Listen, old man—we’re billionaires. You hear me?” – Cracker’s greed triumphs (24:01)

Memorable Moment

• The “Ghost” of the Mine (23:23–24:13): At the climax, the act of literally unearthing the mine triggers hysteria and violence instead of triumph, showing the price of human obsession.

Key Segment 2: Screen Directors Playhouse – “Pitfall” (29:43 – End)

Premise

Insurance man John Forbes (Dick Powell) is mired in routine suburbia. When a claim investigation leads him to the alluring Mona Stevens, his quiet life unravels, drawing his family and himself into a web of temptation, deceit, and violence.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Moments

• Domestic Ennui: Introduces John’s family and his restless dissatisfaction. (30:25)
• The Case: John is assigned to recover gifts purchased with embezzled money for Mona. Initial interactions bristle with wry banter and mutual sizing up. (33:32)
• Flirtation and Guilt: Sparks fly between John and Mona—meals, confessions, and a dangerous attachment blossom.
• Threatening Outsider: McDonald (Raymond Burr), a private detective smitten with Mona, becomes both rival and menace. His presence escalates, foreshadowing disaster. (37:09)
• Family Fractures: John’s inner turmoil spills into his marriage, as secrets boil over. (44:36–45:03)
• Stalking and Violence: With Smiley (Mona’s ex), fresh out of jail and egged on by McDonald, the threat becomes real. John is forced to shoot Smiley in self-defense—but everything unravels. (47:10–49:20)
• Moral Reckoning: Guilt drives John to confess to his wife and the police, testing love, truth, and the cost of a single lapse. (51:23–55:27)
• Bitter Aftermath and Hope: With the family broken but not destroyed, John and Sue contemplate their future. (55:45)

Notable Quotes

• “You're a little man with a briefcase. You go to work every morning and do what you're told…” – Mona to John, dissecting his suburban persona (34:28)
• “That's the trouble with your generation. You don't appreciate the things you have.” – John to his son, irony-laden (40:33)
• “Conscience? You make it sound like a dirty word. You worry about your filthy little conscience. But I’ve got our son to think about.” – Sue to John after his confession (52:06)
• “If a man has been a good husband except for 24 hours, how long should he be expected to pay for it?” – Sue, weighing forgiveness (55:16)

Memorable Moments

• The Confrontation (48:42–49:20): Smiley arrives armed; John’s desperate defense ends in death and shatters all facades.
• Sue’s Ultimatum (52:06–52:23): A raw, emotional confrontation encapsulating the series’ focus on consequence and marital loyalty.
• Resolution (55:45): A scene of resilience—portraying the hardship of rebuilding trust and moving forward despite a broken past.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Suspense – "The Peralta Map"

  • The Legend & Journey Begins: 00:11
  • Meeting Lonnie: 04:41
  • The Map & Negotiation: 06:00–09:04
  • Desert Lore & Danger: 12:03–15:31
  • Reaching the Canyon: 18:07–20:56
  • Betrayal & Consequences: 21:00–24:47
  • Aftermath: 27:00

• Screen Directors Playhouse – "Pitfall"

  • Domestic Routine: 30:25–31:32
  • First Meeting with Mona: 33:32–36:13
  • Love Affair: 36:46–40:41
  • Guilt & Family Turmoil: 44:36–45:44
  • Climax (Shooting): 47:10–49:20
  • John’s Confession: 51:23–52:23
  • Aftermath & Themes of Forgiveness: 55:02–55:47

Tone & Style

• Suspense: Draws on classic Western and horror motifs, featuring hard-bitten dialogue, atmospheric menace, and cautionary storytelling. Stories are told with laconic dryness and an undercurrent of dread.
• Pitfall: Noir-inspired, alternating between biting banter, world-weariness, and emotional intensity. Modern themes (for the era) of alienation, integrity, and the cost of moral compromise come to the fore.

Conclusion

This episode exemplifies Relic Radio’s mission—resurrecting not merely stories, but a style of storytelling where every voice, silence, and shiver in the night matters. “The Peralta Map” is a taut morality play about greed and survival; “Pitfall” is a cautionary tale of the destructive power of temptation, told with sharp wit and resilient humanity.

For fans of classic radio, suspense, or timeless drama, this installment is a masterclass in atmospheric, character-driven storytelling.