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Best of CBS Radio Mystery Theater

There were 1,399 original episodes of CBSRMT recorded, and this collection is of fifty of the very best.

Best of CBSRMT

50 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 36 hours, 53 min)
available in the following formats:

2 MP3 CDs
or
50 Audio CDs


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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Himan Brown Directing

CBSRMT Cat Logo

This collection contains the "best of" episodes from the extensive CBSRMT Collection.

The CBS Radio Mystery Theater would have been an ambitious project even during the Golden Age of Radio. The fact that it was broadcast, beginning more than a decade after TV had almost completely displaced commercial radio in importance.

The great variety programs, situation comedies, and dramas of Radio's Golden Age were now gone, or in some cases moved to the small screen. Radio had been relegated to little more than background noise. Disc jockey's played Rock and Roll music for young people, there were discussion and news programs for people to listen to in their cars during rush hour traffic, and sporting events, mostly those not important enough to be covered by the TV networks, were about all you could hear on the radio. Producers felt there was still an audience who had grown up listening during Radio's Golden Age who would be very happy to listen to an updated version of the same sort of programming.

CBSRMT studio

Although creators had directed and produced thousands of episodes in every genre of Old Time Radio, perhaps his greatest achievement was The Inner Sanctum Mysteries. Of all the things that Radio had done so well, from comedy to news to sports to music to drama, perhaps no genre was as successful as horror. Monsters were just plain scarier when the only place you could see them was in your mind, shows like The Whistler, Suspense, Mysterious Traveler, Lights Out, and Inner Sanctum inspired generations of listeners to pull the sheets over their heads while the voices coming from their bedside radios were implanting the seeds of that evening's nightmares.

CBSRMT stretched into an hour timeslot (although new bulletins and commercials would cut into the program, leaving about 45 minutes of content). CBSRMT could also take advantage of the technical innovations since the end of Radio's Golden Age to make production as efficient as possible. Rather than being a weekly half-hour broadcast, CBSRMT was a nightly one-hour program. Sccriptwriters were paid a flat $380 for each recorded script and actors were paid the union scale rate of $73.92 per episode. Everyone would meet in the morning for a script read-through, the producer would assign parts and the actors would go into the studio. By noon, they were ready to hand out paychecks and the afternoon would be spent editing the tape-recorded show for broadcast. There were 1,399 original episodes of CBSRMT recorded, and this collection is of fifty of the very best. Some of our favorites include:

  • Mason AdamsThe Phantom of the Opera, for years the managers of the Paris Opera House have signed a contract with the "Ghost of the Opera". Things have worked out pretty well for them, as long as they live up to the Ghost's conditions. At least, it seems that way until the Ghost falls in love with the soprano understudy. Of course, the soprano is loved by another, is there any way he can compete with a Ghost?
  • Murder Will Out, starring Mason Adams, this contemporary (in 1975) story about a New York City detective is a tale of obsession. The detective's father was gunned down years before when he was a beat cop, and the detective is determined to find the man who did it.
  • Rendezvous With Death, a story written for CBSRMT by Ian Martin about a star quarterback who is bound for the Rose Bowl, except that he has incurable cancer which will kill him within six months. He is determined to squeeze everything he can out of the time he has left by spending the summer on a New Mexico ranch. Still, the story is not about death, but actually about love, but the girl he falls in love with is a mystery.
  • Trilby is based on the 1895 novel by George du Maurier. A half-Irish girl is working in Paris as an artist's model. She is, of course, most beautiful and men regularly fall in love with her, but she is tone deaf. When she comes under the influence of Svengali she becomes a famous singer, but she cannot remember the experience of being on stage, she can only perform under Svengali's influence.
  • Arnold MossLand of the Living Dead was written for CBSRMT by actor Arnold Moss (he also appears in the episode). A pair of New England adventurers charter an airplane to fly into the Brazilian rainforest but they are not seeking treasure, they are determined to find a tribe of white Indians and their colleague who disappeared in the area years before.
  • The Guilt of the Innocent was adapted from a story by Bolshevik writer Maxim Gorky. Ivan Ivanovich travels from the farm he grew up on to a seaport city where he meets and comes under the influence of Grishka, a well-known and ruthless thief in the town who takes an unnatural interest in the lad.
  • Raptures of the Deep was written especially for CBSRMT by Ian Martin. People dream of conquering the skies and the expanses of outer space, but this planet is 4/5 covered by water and the only ones who really know it as scuba divers. Mr. Hunter hires a pair of experienced divers to find a Spanish treasure galleon, but he is hiding more of a secret.

This is just a small sample of the many great stories told on CBSRMT. There are many, many more, and this "Best of" collection is a great way to get to know them.

Mercedes McCambridge

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

    13
    9     4


    COMMENTS

    I just want to thank you. I am far too young to remember any of these shows, I was born in the late 1970's. I do believe that these shows need to be preserved and shared with the world. I started out listening to CBSRMT. My small purchase does not do much for the overall need, but it's nice to help. Thank you all for sharing this with us. I will be sure to share with everyone I know, and encourage them to order what they can to preserve this part of Americana.

    Bryan Verified Purchase

    I just wanted to say thank you for continuing your wonderful radio show business. Receiving your email of offers regularly that I always peruse simply leaves me with a good feeling. And reading how you support this country's service men and women, and elderly by sending CDs makes me appreciative all the more. Thanks for being there.

    John Verified Purchase

    I have loved OTRCAT for close to ten years. I have NEVE

    Greg Verified Purchase

    If you want to introduce someone to the wonderful world of old time radio programs, the CBS Radio Mystery Theater is definitely the way to go.There are so many episodes, covering all sorts of topics, that you will easily find one that will appeal to someone who has never heard them before.

    Joanne Verified Purchase

    Have listened to CBSMT since '74. Quality of the MP3 CDs from OTRCAT is best I have ever received and listened to. Recommend slowly listening to series and checking out the book which details each episode. Hard to find. R-

    Robert Verified Purchase

    already ordered and just got the email confirming shipment , thanks alot , going off grid next yr and needed something to keep me entertained when not working on the cabin , these give me hours upon hours of entertainment and takes me back to the 70s when i listened to the CBS Radio Mystery Theater series as a kid ..... even been turning some friends on to the availability on facebook ........ Ill order more next month, thanks

    Dan Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    50 recordings on 2 MP3 CDs for just $10.00. Total playtime 36 hours, 53 min
    50 recordings on 2 MP3 CDs for just $10.00
    total playtime 36 hours, 53 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. Volume 1 - 25 shows - total playtime 18 hours 12 minutes
      MP3 CD
      Volume 1: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Cbsrmt 750428 0264 Phantom Of Opera.mp3
    3. Cbsrmt 750703 0302 Murder Will Out.mp3
    4. Cbsrmt 770712 0681 Colonel Chabert.mp3
    5. Cbsrmt 770714 0682 Matterof Conscience.mp3
    6. Cbsrmt 770721 0686 Rendezvous With Death.mp3
    7. Cbsrmt 770824 0699 Adv Of Don Quixote.mp3
    8. Cbsrmt 770831 0702 Reunion.mp3
    9. Cbsrmt 770929 0717 Solitary.mp3
    10. Cbsrmt 770930 0718 Trilby.mp3
    11. Cbsrmt 771021 0727 Sorry To Let You Go.mp3
    12. Cbsrmt 771027 0730 Housebythe Seine.mp3
    13. Cbsrmt 771031 0732 Trial By Fire.mp3
    14. Cbsrmt 771103 0734 Land Of Living Dead.mp3
    15. Cbsrmt 771128 0747 Man Is Missing.mp3
    16. Cbsrmt 771226 0759 Ghosts Of Yesterday.mp3
    17. Cbsrmt 780511 0831 Guilt Of Innocent.mp3
    18. Cbsrmt 780606 0846 Miracle In Sharon City.mp3
    19. Cbsrmt 780703 0858 King Bank Robber.mp3
    20. Cbsrmt 780816 0880 Raptures Of Deep.mp3
    21. Cbsrmt 780913 0892 High Caqueta.mp3
    22. Cbsrmt 780927 0898 Head Hunters.mp3
    23. Cbsrmt 780929 0899 Thousand Year Old Story.mp3
    24. Cbsrmt 781009 0903 Triple Crown.mp3
    25. Cbsrmt 781016 0906 Winds Of Time.mp3
    26. Cbsrmt 781108 0915 Second Sight.mp3

    1. Volume 2 - 25 shows - total playtime 18 hours 41 minutes
      MP3 CD
      Volume 2: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Cbsrmt 781206 0927 Devils Bargain.mp3
    3. Cbsrmt 781215 0931 Searchfor Myra.mp3
    4. Cbsrmt 791024 1024 Dangerous Memory.mp3
    5. Cbsrmt 791107 1028 Davey Jerrolds Jacket.mp3
    6. Cbsrmt 791112 1029 House Without Mirrors.mp3
    7. Cbsrmt 791119 1031 God That Failed.mp3
    8. Cbsrmt 791128 1034 Philosophers Stone.mp3
    9. Cbsrmt 791203 1035 Spectre Bridegroom.mp3
    10. Cbsrmt 800326 1071 Conspiracy.mp3
    11. Cbsrmt 800514 1085 On Side Of Angels.mp3
    12. Cbsrmt 800915 1118 Number One.mp3
    13. Cbsrmt 801119 1137 Iron Horse.mp3
    14. Cbsrmt 810515 1198 Cold Comfort.mp3
    15. Cbsrmt 810603 1206 Cats Paw.mp3
    16. Cbsrmt 810612 1210 Whenin Rome.mp3
    17. Cbsrmt 810615 1211 Twos Crowd.mp3
    18. Cbsrmt 810715 1221 Alice.mp3
    19. Cbsrmt 810717 1222 Pie In Sky.mp3
    20. Cbsrmt 810720 1223 Eye Of Idol.mp3
    21. Cbsrmt 810722 1224 Toy Death.mp3
    22. Cbsrmt 811109 1258 Golden Time.mp3
    23. Cbsrmt 811214 1268 Harrys Taxi And Tmachine.mp3
    24. Cbsrmt 811231 1272 Too Early Too Late.mp3
    25. Cbsrmt 820909 1368 Riddle.mp3
    26. Cbsrmt 821109 1391 Portrait Of Past.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    50 recordings on 2 MP3 Collection Downloads for just $10.00. Total playtime 36 hours, 53 min
    50 recordings on 2 MP3 Collection Downloads for just $10.00
    total playtime 36 hours, 53 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. Volume 1 - 25 shows - total playtime 18 hours 12 minutes
      Instant Download
      Volume 1: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Cbsrmt 750428 0264 Phantom Of Opera.mp3
    3. Cbsrmt 750703 0302 Murder Will Out.mp3
    4. Cbsrmt 770712 0681 Colonel Chabert.mp3
    5. Cbsrmt 770714 0682 Matterof Conscience.mp3
    6. Cbsrmt 770721 0686 Rendezvous With Death.mp3
    7. Cbsrmt 770824 0699 Adv Of Don Quixote.mp3
    8. Cbsrmt 770831 0702 Reunion.mp3
    9. Cbsrmt 770929 0717 Solitary.mp3
    10. Cbsrmt 770930 0718 Trilby.mp3
    11. Cbsrmt 771021 0727 Sorry To Let You Go.mp3
    12. Cbsrmt 771027 0730 Housebythe Seine.mp3
    13. Cbsrmt 771031 0732 Trial By Fire.mp3
    14. Cbsrmt 771103 0734 Land Of Living Dead.mp3
    15. Cbsrmt 771128 0747 Man Is Missing.mp3
    16. Cbsrmt 771226 0759 Ghosts Of Yesterday.mp3
    17. Cbsrmt 780511 0831 Guilt Of Innocent.mp3
    18. Cbsrmt 780606 0846 Miracle In Sharon City.mp3
    19. Cbsrmt 780703 0858 King Bank Robber.mp3
    20. Cbsrmt 780816 0880 Raptures Of Deep.mp3
    21. Cbsrmt 780913 0892 High Caqueta.mp3
    22. Cbsrmt 780927 0898 Head Hunters.mp3
    23. Cbsrmt 780929 0899 Thousand Year Old Story.mp3
    24. Cbsrmt 781009 0903 Triple Crown.mp3
    25. Cbsrmt 781016 0906 Winds Of Time.mp3
    26. Cbsrmt 781108 0915 Second Sight.mp3

    1. Volume 2 - 25 shows - total playtime 18 hours 41 minutes
      Instant Download
      Volume 2: $5.00
      Add To Cart
    2. Cbsrmt 781206 0927 Devils Bargain.mp3
    3. Cbsrmt 781215 0931 Searchfor Myra.mp3
    4. Cbsrmt 791024 1024 Dangerous Memory.mp3
    5. Cbsrmt 791107 1028 Davey Jerrolds Jacket.mp3
    6. Cbsrmt 791112 1029 House Without Mirrors.mp3
    7. Cbsrmt 791119 1031 God That Failed.mp3
    8. Cbsrmt 791128 1034 Philosophers Stone.mp3
    9. Cbsrmt 791203 1035 Spectre Bridegroom.mp3
    10. Cbsrmt 800326 1071 Conspiracy.mp3
    11. Cbsrmt 800514 1085 On Side Of Angels.mp3
    12. Cbsrmt 800915 1118 Number One.mp3
    13. Cbsrmt 801119 1137 Iron Horse.mp3
    14. Cbsrmt 810515 1198 Cold Comfort.mp3
    15. Cbsrmt 810603 1206 Cats Paw.mp3
    16. Cbsrmt 810612 1210 Whenin Rome.mp3
    17. Cbsrmt 810615 1211 Twos Crowd.mp3
    18. Cbsrmt 810715 1221 Alice.mp3
    19. Cbsrmt 810717 1222 Pie In Sky.mp3
    20. Cbsrmt 810720 1223 Eye Of Idol.mp3
    21. Cbsrmt 810722 1224 Toy Death.mp3
    22. Cbsrmt 811109 1258 Golden Time.mp3
    23. Cbsrmt 811214 1268 Harrys Taxi And Tmachine.mp3
    24. Cbsrmt 811231 1272 Too Early Too Late.mp3
    25. Cbsrmt 820909 1368 Riddle.mp3
    26. Cbsrmt 821109 1391 Portrait Of Past.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    50 recordings on 50 Audio CDs. Total playtime 36 hours, 53 min
    50 recordings on 50 Audio CDs
    total playtime 36 hours, 53 min

    Best of CBSRMT Disc A001

    1. Cbsrmt 750428 0264 Phantom Of Opera

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Best of CBSRMT Disc A002

    1. Cbsrmt 750703 0302 Murder Will Out

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A003

    1. Cbsrmt 770712 0681 Colonel Chabert

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A004

    1. Cbsrmt 770714 0682 Matterof Conscience

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A005

    1. Cbsrmt 770721 0686 Rendezvous With Death

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A006

    1. Cbsrmt 770824 0699 Adv Of Don Quixote

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A007

    1. Cbsrmt 770831 0702 Reunion

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A008

    1. Cbsrmt 770929 0717 Solitary

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A009

    1. Cbsrmt 770930 0718 Trilby

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A010

    1. Cbsrmt 771021 0727 Sorry To Let You Go

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A011

    1. Cbsrmt 771027 0730 Housebythe Seine

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A012

    1. Cbsrmt 771031 0732 Trial By Fire

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A013

    1. Cbsrmt 771103 0734 Land Of Living Dead

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A014

    1. Cbsrmt 771128 0747 Man Is Missing

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A015

    1. Cbsrmt 771226 0759 Ghosts Of Yesterday

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A016

    1. Cbsrmt 780511 0831 Guilt Of Innocent

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A017

    1. Cbsrmt 780606 0846 Miracle In Sharon City

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Best of CBSRMT Disc A018

    1. Cbsrmt 780703 0858 King Bank Robber

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A019

    1. Cbsrmt 780816 0880 Raptures Of Deep

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A020

    1. Cbsrmt 780913 0892 High Caqueta

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A021

    1. Cbsrmt 780927 0898 Head Hunters

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A022

    1. Cbsrmt 780929 0899 Thousand Year Old Story

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A023

    1. Cbsrmt 781009 0903 Triple Crown

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Best of CBSRMT Disc A024

    1. Cbsrmt 781016 0906 Winds Of Time

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A025

    1. Cbsrmt 781108 0915 Second Sight

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A026

    1. Cbsrmt 781206 0927 Devils Bargain

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A027

    1. Cbsrmt 781215 0931 Searchfor Myra

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Best of CBSRMT Disc A028

    1. Cbsrmt 791024 1024 Dangerous Memory

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Best of CBSRMT Disc A029

    1. Cbsrmt 791107 1028 Davey Jerrolds Jacket

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Best of CBSRMT Disc A030

    1. Cbsrmt 791112 1029 House Without Mirrors

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A031

    1. Cbsrmt 791119 1031 God That Failed

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A032

    1. Cbsrmt 791128 1034 Philosophers Stone

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A033

    1. Cbsrmt 791203 1035 Spectre Bridegroom

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A034

    1. Cbsrmt 800326 1071 Conspiracy

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A035

    1. Cbsrmt 800514 1085 On Side Of Angels

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A036

    1. Cbsrmt 800915 1118 Number One

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A037

    1. Cbsrmt 801119 1137 Iron Horse

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A038

    1. Cbsrmt 810515 1198 Cold Comfort

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A039

    1. Cbsrmt 810603 1206 Cats Paw

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A040

    1. Cbsrmt 810612 1210 Whenin Rome

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A041

    1. Cbsrmt 810615 1211 Twos Crowd

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A042

    1. Cbsrmt 810715 1221 Alice

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A043

    1. Cbsrmt 810717 1222 Pie In Sky

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A044

    1. Cbsrmt 810720 1223 Eye Of Idol

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A045

    1. Cbsrmt 810722 1224 Toy Death

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A046

    1. Cbsrmt 811109 1258 Golden Time

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A047

    1. Cbsrmt 811214 1268 Harrys Taxi And Tmachine

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A048

    1. Cbsrmt 811231 1272 Too Early Too Late

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A049

    1. Cbsrmt 820909 1368 Riddle

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    Best of CBSRMT Disc A050

    1. Cbsrmt 821109 1391 Portrait Of Past

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