The Parcel

The first collection of Suspense: The Lost Episodes contained several episodes starring actor/jazz trombone player Conrad Janis. Clearly, he was one of the hot-young-things of early 1950's television. For those of us who grew up in the 1970's, it was a surprise to find out that the actor who played Mindy's dad on Mork & Mindy was once...a hot-young-thing of early 1950's television. His resemblance to Leonardo DiCaprio or, more currently, Zac Efron from High School Musical, is uncanny. It seems that when it comes to young heart-throbs, things haven't changed much over the years.

Conrad Janis made seven appearances as a hottie on Suspense, the first of which was an episode called, "The Parcel."  Set in New York City, the story opens at a hot dog stand. The lady behind the counter, Sally, serves hot dogs and pineapple juice. Most of the action in the episode centers around this hot dog stand, and the more you see it, the more you will crave a hot dog and pineapple juice.

The story begins when a messenger boy named Tommy, who has just returned from a dreary errand, stops at the hot dog stand. He tells Sally that if he could only put a little money away, he could start his own business.

Tommy leaves to go back to work and then Sally receives a phone call. We soon learn that she does more than just sling juice drinks and keep the hot dogs rolling. The phone call is from Mac, the boss, and he leaves instructions for two of his goons. (One of them is played by Lee Marvin.) She relates his message to them and they leave. The boss wants them to find the guy in room 403 of the Craven Hotel. Coincidentally, that is where Tommy was just sent to pick up a package!

The guy in room 403 is nervous. He gives Tommy the package and instructs him to deliver it at 5:00. Tommy doesn't understand why he has to hold onto the package all afternoon, but when the man gives him a ten buck tip, he agrees to make the delivery. Tommy takes the package and leaves. Shortly afterwards, the two goons show up and knife the man in room 403. We don't see this, we hear it in the background while one of the goons stands in front of the camera and smiles.

Back at the hot dog stand, there are two pick-pockets lamenting their slim pickings for the day. Tommy ends up back at the hot dog stand, too, because he has nothing to do until his 5:00 delivery. So, he eats more hot dogs. The two pickpockets ask Sally to go with them to a Dodgers game, but they end up taking Tommy instead. As soon as they leave, the two goons return to the hot dog stand and realize that Tommy is carrying the package they want. They tell Sally that soon those three guys are going to look like three of her jumbo frankfurters. The camera then pans to three shriveled frankfurters next to a jar of French's mustard.

At Ebbetts Field, the two pickpockets realize that there is something valuable inside of the package that Tommy is carrying. The rest of the story plays out at the game as everyone tries to get the package. The studio scenes are noticeably interspersed with film footage of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

"The Parcel" (episode #44) was written by Alvin Sapinsley, based on an idea by Robert Stevens. Conrad Janis starred as Tommy, the messenger boy with a the fancy vocabulary, and Ann Thomas played Sally. Ray Walston was Herbie the Hook and Royal Dano played Marvin the Push. Lee Marvin played Barrow and Harold J. Stone played Eagle Moran. This episode was broadcast on March 14, 1950. It is available on Disc #2 of the first collection of Suspense: The Lost Episodes.