Elusive Cats in the CBS Mystery Theater

Authors: Katarzyna Logozna Wypych

Abstract:

Being present in the world’s literature for centuries, cats are one of the most underappreciated and misunderstood species. The affluence of topics and taboos portrayed by cats in literature as well as in other means of art is noteworthy. Not only would the reality without the presence of a cat be less unpredictable, but also certain plot changes could not take place, as only the animal seems to have a causative activity. In radio drama, cats, just like in the real world, modify, bend, and adjust reality to their liking, regardless of human characters. Having only the soundscape at hand, radio drama provides a fascinating insight into the symbolic and disturbing world of the most ambiguous and volatile relationships the animal world and humankind have ever known, that is of cats and people. Compliant with the assumed mysterious ambiance of the show, a vast number of the 1399 episodes of The CBS Radio Mystery Theater starred cats, most of which are not portrayed in a favorable manner. Cats become the beginning, the main body, and the ending of the radio drama in one cat person.

Keywords: cats, felines, horror, mystery, radio drama