Comedy Stars on Suspense, Day 21: Jack Carson!

Today's Suspense episode is "The One Millionth Joe" (June 22, 1950) starring Jack Carson! This was the 2nd of 5 Suspense episodes starring Carson. Carson's career was full of bit parts in comedy films, including Arsenic and Old Lace (1944). He also starred in his own CBS radio comedy show, the Jack Carson Show (1943-1950).

Al Jazant (Carson) is a public relations man who awards the 1,00,000th passenger at an airport an assortment of goods; the winner doesn't seem very interested in the prizes until he hears it includes a plane ticket out of the country. Al becomes interested in the unusual behaviour of the prize winner and starts to think he's running from the law.

This was originally a story told on the Philip Morris Playhouse, another series produced by William Spier. I find Jack Carson had a pretty broad performance style, even in drama, but the brash, big-mouthed publicity agent he plays here suited him.

Tomorrow: Ed Gardner!