I heard this one as a 13-year-old boy, in my bed after dark. It was one of those ones that really unnerved me. Loved it then. Love it now. For 35 years, I have not been able to look at decreative egg shaped things in rock shops without thinking of this episode. I played it for the family the other day. They loved it too!

I too heard this as a young girl. We were driving an hour from our home in Philly to my grandparents house in Bucks County. We got to Grandmom and Pops house and the story wasn't over. All six of us sat in the car listening until it was over. I heard it only once - but I have never forgotten the story. We all still gather at my parents house (Which is Grandmom and Pops homestead) for Thanksgiving each year. I am going to surprise everyone by having us all listen to the story again...35 years later. I can't wait. (I am not listening to it until then!)

The Onyx Eye was good and bad luck. Every tome something good happened then something bad would happen. The suspense was if Jack was going to be able to get rid of it. I give this episode 4 stars.

I agree with J. Wald; this one is definitely unnerving and definitely sticks with you. You know what is coming, but cannot help but hope it turns out differently.

A man who is down on his luck and looking for work enters an old curio shop to buy an inexpensive present for his wife's birthday. THe mysterious shopowner sells him a small piece of onyx that looks like a human eye, telling him it will bring him good luck. It does, but for every piece of good luck it brings...it also brings horrible consequences. This is a classic tale in the tradition of the old story "The Monkey's Paw." This episode is an example of what CBSRMT does best--a great story executed well with excellent actors (including the fantastic Frances Sternhagen who plays the man's wife and the only one in the episode who realizes that the onyx eye is not a thing to fool around with. Sternhagen has been in everything from a regular spot on "ER" to a voice on the "Simpsons.") Genre: Occult

A man purchases a good luck charm in a quaint curio shop. Early on, he and his wife have good luck, getting a good job and winning the lottery. but after their baby dies, the wife is convinced the charm is the source of great evil.

Story of a young couple who come into posession of a curious stone which brings good fortune at the price of greater ill fortune. Probably the best thing about the episode is the reaction of one character who is touched by the ill fortune but perceives it as positive.

The Monkey’s Paw with a twist… A man convinces a shop owner to sell him, against his better judgment and advise, an onyx eye purported to bring unlimited good luck to the possessor, but, of course, with consequences. The twist is the ongoing nature of the charm, and the owner’s inability to rid himself of it.

This episode reminded me of "The Thing Inside". Whereas that show did not involve the supernatural, "The Onyx Eye" did. I preferred the latter but they are both fun episodes that deal with the popular theme of objects that seem to grant wishes for the owner with unpredictable consequences.

I also really enjoy shows where our subject is granted a wish but the outcome is something other than what was anticipated, and usually the person ends up regretting their wish.

I am not a big fan of these type of supernatural shows.

Quote: This episode reminded me of "The Thing Inside". Whereas that show did not involve the supernatural, "The Onyx Eye" did. I preferred the latter but they are both fun episodes that deal with the popular theme of objects that seem to grant wishes for the owner with unpredictable consequences. I would agree that this is very simular to "the thing inside". This one worked better for me. the jury is still out for me regarding the "supernatural" aspect of shows. I think it depends how the story is written.

Anyone know how many Genie shows RMT produced? I can think of a couple. This show was not, strictly speaking, a Genie show but it utilized the same concept. I seem to recall a show in which a Genie impregnated a woman and the husband ran his car off the road in an effort to kill both his wife and himself. Or I am crazy.

That sounds a lot like the episode "The Ghostly Rival" from 1975. A genie enables a young "beach bum" to take over the body of a rich rival in order to marry the woman of his dreams-- only when she becomes pregnant-- does he realize he's made a pact with the devil and tries to kill his wife, unborn child and himself in a car crash. Antoher couple of "Genie" tales that come to mind are-- the "Imp in the Bottle" and (in it's own way) "The Dice of Doom". Until next time.

That sounds exactly like the episode I am referring to. If memory serves, it was good show. Thanks for the recommendations. The more TV I watch, the more I want to listen to radio shows.

Likewise. Very few people understand my obsession with OTR & podcasts vs tv

I wonder how the reporter's luck fared.

Aug 1, 1975 The Onyx Eye Starring Frances Sternhagen A man who is down on his luck and looking for work enters an old curio shop to buy an inexpensive present for his wife's birthday. THe mysterious shopowner sells him a small piece of onyx that looks like a human eye, telling him it will bring him good luck. It does, but for every piece of good luck it brings...it also bring horrible consequences. This is a classic tale in the tradition of the old story "The Monkey's Paw." This episode is an example of what CBSRMT does best--a great story executed well with excellent actors (including the fantastic Frances Sternhagen who plays the man's wife and the only one in the episode who realizes that the onyx eye is not a thing to fool around with. Sternhagen has been in everything from a regular spot on "ER" to a voice on the "Simpsons.")

To be honest, I didn't enjoy this episode as much as some of the others. I guess it was a little too predictable. The acting was high quality of course, but I couldn't buy the reporter deciding at the end that he had to have the Eye. But then that is the beauty of the series ... no matter the individual preference as to shows, they were always excellent in the presentation. Having said that, I will enjoy reading the subsequent posts, to get other opinions on this show.

I reviewed this one earlier in my listening log. A couple months ago, I gave it a 7.5. After another listen, I've not changed my mind. I enjoyed this episode both times. It is a standard morality tale, and even if the story is not "A" material (and this was probably "B"), Mr. Marshall usually delivers a stand up performance that rescues the show. I gave it a 4, but a lower 4. While there are certainly a number of better episodes out there, this one did not disappoint. Thanks for a good selection.

Ok, so perhaps I was overly gracious in my praise of this episode. Just for some reason it's one of those I've always enjoyed listening to. It has fun elements: strange little owner of a strange little shop, cryptic warnings, mystical object of mysterious origin, a "is something supernatural really happening" plot, and characters who slowly come to realize that having everything you ever wanted isn't always the best thing in life. As a side note, it's always interesting to see how differently we all react to various episodes--just goes to show what an eclectic web community we are.

I enjoyed this episode and give it a six. I agree that it was a bit predictable at times but itdid not lose my interest. I am an antique hunter and have seen many strange objects in the shops. You never know what you might find.

I liked this episode, it was an interesting story, Simialar theme to the Imp In The Bottle. I give this a 4 because this is one of those typical CBSRMT episodes that would have kept me on the edge of the radio speaker as a kid. I try to reflect back when I originally listened to these episodes and how I felt, not so much as an adult. I will leave the adult listening to my wife (I know that sounded bad for me). She never heard these as a kid being a few years younger than me. My father in-law loves these shows I make him normal audio CD's of them. This will be included in the next batch of shows he gets.

I am new to this website, but I am looking forward to listening to these shows and reading what others think about the programs. I remember hearing this story when it was on the radio in 1998. I liked it then and liked it again this time.

fun episode - as already pointed out, it's another in a series of Monkey's Paw clones. What made this one unique was the inability to be rid of the totem, the randomness of the luck, and the unrelatedness of the consequences. Those qualities made the object more incidious. good pick cheers

Somewhat predictable since it's the formula of the evil talisman being passed from person to person. I did wonder why he was apparently sold on it by a ghost, as opposed to a previous owner desperate to be rid of it. What's the history of the thing and why did it seemingly appear out of nowhere along with the ghostly curio shop proprietor? That question was kind of hanging over the story for me but I still thought it a good story. You knew bad things were going to happen but not what exactly.

I do remember listening to it a couple of years ago, and I enjoy it for what it is- not great, but a pretty good engaging listen with some nastiness tossed in. Not bad.

A good story with engaging performances. Why do all the husbands on CBSRMT always buy such lousy gifts? Not the best sound quality.

Harlan, I am guessing that the curio shop owner died owning the item and its hold on him continued in the after life. Good story. Nice twist ending.

I found this to be an interesting listen. The wife knows from the start that the curio item is bad but finds out getting rid of it isn't as easy as she thought. Perhaps the shop owner had the same problem and had to return from the grave to be rid of it.

This RMT play duz sound a little like the Monkey's Paw but it also reminds me of the Devil's Boutique(RMT#320) where the customer's in a boutique & happens upon a piece of appealing merchandise, as did the lady celebrity fashion designer did in the Devil's Boutique &, like the people in the Onyx Eye episode, find that prosperity comes with consequences. The curio shop where the Onyx was purchased was like the boutique in Devil's Boutique has been closed for ages or mysteriously disappeared or the owner died many years ago. Those 2 RMT plays r very similar as far as the plots go. I noticed some similarities between KUNG FU, with David Carradine, & the INCREDIBLE HULK, with Bill Bixby, where Kwai Chang Caine & David Banner'd drift from 1 location 2 another. Whenever either 1 of them came up against adversities which backed them up against a wall, in a manner of speaking, Caine'd use his martial arts skills & Banner'd morph in2 the green troll. Anyway.....I liked this play. A mystery thriller 2 say the least with an occult twist. Be careful of the agreements u make & look b4 u leap. U just may get what u wish 4. Until next time.....pleasant dreams.....

I just wanted to say that there's another story which RMT's THE ONYX EYE(RMT play# 319) made me think of, which is about a merchant seaman who pulls in2 this foreign port & a stranger of the locale which he renders assistance 2 rewards him with a gold coin that always keeps showing up. He throws the gold coin in2 the ocean & the coin falls from the ceiling making a "reappearance" as that of the onyx eye. I can remember hearing that episode when I was about 14YO. If any1 happens 2 know the episode I'm writing about, plz share with us all the title. Thanks in advance & until next time.....pleasant...dreams(LOL).

Excellent episode..sad they aren't still making these!

Great episode. Eerily creepy and will stay with you for life. One of the shows that makes this such a great series.