CBSRMT Episode Information Next Episode

Title

A Cage for Augie Karo

Plot

A seasoned thief discovers a way to pull off the perfect crime while in jail. A fellow prisoner hands him a special chemical that will allow him to sleep for centuries. But has he calculated how the world around him will change with the passage of time?

Episode

0165

Air Dates

  • First Run - October 24, 1974
  • Repeat - December 17, 1974

Actors

Writer

Listen

Rating

137
105     32


9 Responses to Episode 0165

Excellent first two acts. The ending is good - kind of both what I expected and a surprise too. Interesting commercials.

Pandora

Auggie means gold, a bit transparent, eh?

Wilhelm

"A Cage for Augie Karo" was just an alright listen. Nothing too dynamic to mention--3 stars.

Davy Joe

A hardened criminal comes into possession of magic dust that places the user into a centuries-long sleep, allowing the individual to escape the trials and tribulations of their current life and start fresh in a new era. The old man who bequeaths the dust says that over many centuries of use, he too has merely repeated the mistakes of the past and seems doomed to an eternity in jail. As I am listening more critically to these episodes, I'm finding several with weak endings. When I started listening to this episode, I thought that we would hear about this character in several ages. Rather, the entire episode was a build up to the use of this magic dust, and a brief, and unsatisfying description of the consequences. I think this script would have been much better had the character used the magic powder, and we could see the power of fate as the character, despite trying to reform, slips into, or is fated to repetition of life patterns.

Bryce J.

Not a bad episode. Sorta Twilight Zone-ish. Hard to believe he stayed near a rock and slept for 800 years but I've suspended reality plenty for CBSMT. I'm used to it.

1nicolem

Not a great episode, but not a bad one either. I was wondering at the end about the clothes and car as well, but it sounded like the alien woman created them for him. If she didn't take his powder, I suppose he could've slept more time. It does seem like an odd gift "from the gods". Sort of reminds me (in a way) of the ending to the movie AI.

Alec

I rate this episode ★★★★☆ for GOOD. The plot sounded interesting, felt like it was going to be similar to “The Rip Van Winkle Caper”; the 60th episode of THE TWILGHT ZONE series where the characters would go into deep sleep and wake up in the future with their loot. Sam Dann is a terrific mystery writer for the CBSRMT series, but his story didn’t get exciting until the final Act. Another way to title this would be “The Wages Of Sin” or “Prisoner's Powder.” In our Host’s Prologue, E.G. Marshall’s topic is on immortality & eternity. In ACT-1, introduce our main character who’s been a thief his whole life. In ACT-2, after the many ups & downs of our main character’s actions, out Host quotes the Latin phrase: “The Die is cast” meaning these events have passed a point of no return. In ACT-3, after discovering what the main character shall go through in the end, E.G. Marshall quoted a line from James Shirley’s “The Glories Of Our Blood And State” poem saying “There is no armor against fate.” In his Epilogue, our main character’s fate won’t be a pretty one. The sound effects of prisoners talking in the exercise yard, birds chirping, whistles, doors, footsteps, body thud, sirens, car engine, breaks, firing of the .32 revolver, crickets, doorbells, telephone, leaves, and doll sprung were very effective in this. The music with its suspenseful and perplexing tunes were very useful in the dramatic scenes. Finally, our cast: Leon Janney (as Augie Karo), Evie Juster (as Gennie and Helena the School Mistress), Robert Maxwell (as Pop and Jerry Karo), and Earl Hammond (as Castle and Radio Announcer) The 3 cast members that played 2 roles were wonderful. As for Leon Janney, he has done a lot of great roles for the series including #0053-THE CREATURE FROM THE SWAMP, #0276-THE DIAMOND NECKLACE, and #0367-THE SUMMER PEOPLE, but he kind of mumbled in his scenes. Listen to the way he gulped the word “Good” at the 41:43 mark. How strange is that to hear? But anyway, this story with its surprising ending is cool to check out. Plus, classic commercials of Budweiser, RHN Health Plan, American Lung Association, Buick LeSabre, the I.R.S., Contac Sinus Medicine, Chevrolet RVs, and Adverting Council Campaign about drugs. Until next time…pleasant dreams. =0)

Russell

The episode was good, different from others i have heard so far. Characters were interesting and the sound effects and music went well with the story. Enjoyed E. G. Marshall and the "to sleep perchance to dream", always enjoy his comments. Loved hearing the old commercials which bring back memories of growing up in those simpler times. Thanks CBSRMT!

Nancy

This plot is suspiciously close to the “Rip Van Winkle” episode of Twilight Zone. It’s not the first time CBS Radio Mystery Theater has “repurposed“ Twilight Zone scripts.

Michael Meyers


Leave a comment