This Week’s Radio Drama: Looking Into the World of Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Charlotte Perkins Gilman, as photographed in 1900.

New England born and raised, author Charlotte Perkins Gilman was among the first to shatter myths about women’s health and raise awareness of postpartum psychosis.

Agnes Moorehead, “the first lady of Suspense.” (CBS publicity photograph.)

Her semi-autobiographical short story, “The Yellow Wall-paper,” is dramatized Thursday night on 97.9 WHAV FM’s broadcast of “Suspense.” Agnes Moorehead (later seen on the television series “Bewitched”), billed as “the first lady of Suspense,” tells the story in first person.

An early feminist, Gilman (1860-1935) addressed serious topics including divorce, sexuality, voting rights and even the right to die. She committed suicide rather than endure an agonizing death from breast cancer. Her papers have been preserved at the (Arthur M.) Schlesinger Library at Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University.

“The Yellow Wall-paper” airs at 10:30 p.m., Thursday, with a repeat at 1:30 a.m.

Radio Drama This Week

Saturday, Dec. 29

Gunsmoke: The Soldier; Haunting Hour: “Murder Wears a Strange Mask,” Saturday, 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Sunday

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: “Fatal Switch Matter;” Box 13: “The Haunted Artist,” Sunday, 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Mysterious Traveler: “New Year’s Nightmare;” Suspense (classic): “The Green and Gold String,” starring Vincent Price10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Tuesday

Dimension X: “The Outer Limit;” Suspense (classic): “Trial by Jury,” 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Wednesday

Great Gildersleeve: Leila Comes Back to Town; Suspense (classic): “A Load of Dynamite,” 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Thursday

Our Miss Brooks: School on Saturday; Suspense (classic): “The Yellow Wall-paper,” 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Friday

Couple Next Door: Chosen for Man of the Week; Suspense (classic): “Alibi,” 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Saturday

Gunsmoke: Tacetta; Haunting Hour: “Bird of Death,” Saturday, 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Sunday, Jan. 6

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: “Phony Phone Matter;” Box 13: “The Sad Night,” Sunday, 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.