1001 Ghost, Chiller & Lovecraft Stories

Jon R. Hagadorn
  • 4.7 (110)
  • FICTION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A spine-chilling collection of classic stories and tales from the other side featuring classics from a wide variety of writers that include H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, Algernon Blackwood, M.R. James, and many others. Radio dramas (suspense, horror, and gothic) will also be featured.

  1. THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES Chapter 16: Clifford's Chamber

    23H AGO

    THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES Chapter 16: Clifford's Chamber

    Clifford's Chamber This chapter is the point of no return for the novel. The tension that has been building since the Judge's arrival in the previous chapter finally snaps, leading to one of the most eerie and surreal sequences in all of Gothic literature. In this episode, we cover the chilling events of Chapter 16. As a literal and metaphorical storm rages, the power dynamics within the House of the Seven Gables are flipped upside down in a single, silent moment. Credits Producer Gizelle Erickson Executive Producer Jon Hagadorn Music: Thanks to Sound Gallery By Dmitry Taras "Scary Horror Music" LibriVox recording read by: Mark F. Smith Follow us on Social Media Instagram: 1001_ghost_stories Facebook: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories Reddit: 1001 Ghost, Chiller & Lovecraft Stories LinkedIn: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories

    30 min
  2. THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES Chapter 15: The Scowl and Smile

    FEB 14

    THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES Chapter 15: The Scowl and Smile

    This chapter is where the slow-burn tension of the novel finally catches fire. With Phoebe gone, the "protective sunshine" has vanished, leaving Hepzibah and Clifford vulnerable to the family's most dangerous predator. Show Notes Summary: The Scowl and Smile In this episode, we break down Chapter 15, a masterclass in psychological tension and the deconstruction of a villain. With a storm brewing outside, an even darker presence enters the House of the Seven Gables: Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon. Credits Producer Gizelle Erickson Executive Producer Jon Hagadorn LibriVox recording read by: Mark F. Smith Music: Thanks to Sound Gallery By Dmitry Taras "Scary Horror Music" Follow us on Social Media Instagram: 1001_ghost_stories Facebook: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories Reddit: 1001 Ghost, Chiller & Lovecraft Stories LinkedIn: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories

    41 min
  3. THE SHADOW Episode 11: The Poison Death

    FEB 13

    THE SHADOW Episode 11: The Poison Death

    This episode is a gripping high-stakes thriller that sees the Shadow racing against a ticking clock to save the entire city from a mass casualty event. Episode Overview Title: "The Poison Death" First Aired: January 30, 1938 Network: Mutual Broadcasting System Sponsor: Blue Coal Cast & Voice Actors The Shadow / Lamont Cranston: Orson Welles Margot Lane: Agnes Moorehead Commissioner Weston: Dwight Weist Announcer: Ken Roberts Supporting Cast: Featured various members of the Mercury Theatre troupe, who often provided the diverse voices of city officials and panicked citizens. Episode Summary The city is thrown into a state of absolute panic when a series of mysterious poisonings breaks out among the population. The terror escalates when the Mayor receives a threatening letter signed by none other than The Shadow. The letter claims that the vigilante is tired of being unappreciated and is now holding the city hostage for $100,000—or he will poison the entire water supply. Lamont Cranston knows he is being framed, but he has a double mission: he must clear his name while stopping the real culprit, a deranged chemist named Gerber. As the police hunt for the renegade Shadow, Cranston and Margot Lane track the chemist to his laboratory. The climax is a desperate race to the suburbs to intercept Gerber before he can dump his lethal toxins into the main reservoir, proving that even a hero's reputation is a weapon in the hands of a madman. Trivia & Fun Facts Early Terrorist Trope: Historians often note that this episode is one of the earliest examples in mass media of a modern terrorist plot, focusing on an attack on public utilities rather than a simple robbery or individual murder. Framing the Hero: This was one of the first times the radio show used the Imposter Shadow trope. It added a layer of tension because the Shadow had to evade the very police he usually helped. Welles's Workload: At the time of this broadcast, Orson Welles was so busy with his theater company that he famously did not attend rehearsals for The Shadow. He would show up minutes before airtime and perform the script "cold," which he claimed made his reactions to the plot twists more authentic. Surviving Audio: "The Poison Death" is one of the well-preserved episodes of the 1937–38 season, often included in "Best of Orson Welles" OTR (Old Time Radio) collections. Credits Research and Production Gizelle Erickson Executive Producer Jon Hagadorn The Shadow sourced by AcousticMonster on Internet Archive Follow us on Social Media Instagram: 1001_ghost_stories Facebook: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories Reddit: 1001 Ghost, Chiller & Lovecraft Stories LinkedIn: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories

    28 min
  4. THE SHADOW Episode 10: The Society of the Living Dead

    FEB 11

    THE SHADOW Episode 10: The Society of the Living Dead

    This episode is widely considered one of the most chilling and macabre entries in the Orson Welles era, diving deep into the realms of horror and medical suspense. Episode Overview Title: "The Society of the Living Dead" First Aired: January 23, 1938 Network: Mutual Broadcasting System Sponsor: Blue Coal Cast & Voice Actors The Shadow / Lamont Cranston: Orson Welles Margot Lane: Agnes Moorehead Commissioner Weston: Dwight Weist Announcer: Ken Roberts The Villain: Often voiced by a guest actor from the Mercury Theatre, playing the role of a mad scientist/cult leader. Episode Summary The story plunges the listener into a nightmare of biological horror. A series of prominent citizens are falling into a state of suspended animation, a death-like trance that defies medical explanation. These victims are not truly dead, yet they are being entombed in a secret, underground sanctuary. The Shadow discovers that a brilliant but deranged scientist has formed The Society of the Living Dead.  By using a secret drug, he is collecting people to serve as his slaves in a subterranean empire, or perhaps to wait out a perceived coming apocalypse. Lamont Cranston must infiltrate this living tomb, risking the drug's effects himself, to pull the living dead back from the brink of the grave. The episode is famous for its claustrophobic atmosphere and the genuinely unsettling idea of being buried alive. Trivia & Fun Facts Horror Roots: This episode draws heavy inspiration from the "Gothic Horror" and "Mad Scientist" tropes that were popular in Universal Monsters films of the 1930s. Soundscapes of the Grave: The sound department had to work overtime to create the muffled, echoing acoustics of an underground tomb, adding to the listener's sense of unease. A Welles Favorite: Fans of Orson Welles often point to this episode as one of his best vocal performances, as he balances the cool logic of Cranston with the terrifying, otherworldly whispers of the Shadow. Suspended Animation: The concept of suspended animation was a popular pseudoscience topic in 1930s pulp magazines, often used to bridge the gap between crime fiction and early science fiction. Credits Research and Production Gizelle Erickson Executive Producer Jon Hagadorn The Shadow sourced by AcousticMonster on Internet Archive Follow us on Social Media Instagram: 1001_ghost_stories Facebook: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories Reddit: 1001 Ghost, Chiller & Lovecraft Stories LinkedIn: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories

    32 min
  5. THE SHADOW Episode 9: Sabotage

    FEB 9

    THE SHADOW Episode 9: Sabotage

    This episode is a pulse-pounding thriller that tapped into the pre-war anxieties of the late 1930s, focusing on industrial destruction and the vulnerability of the nation's infrastructure. Episode Overview Title: "Sabotage" First Aired: January 16, 1938 Network: Mutual Broadcasting System Sponsor: Blue Coal Cast & Voice Actors The Shadow / Lamont Cranston: Orson Welles Margot Lane: Agnes Moorehead Commissioner Weston: Dwight Weist Announcer: Ken Roberts Supporting Players: Members of the Mercury Theatre on the Air troupe. Episode Summary A series of accidents at major industrial plants across the country suggests a coordinated effort to cripple American production. Bridges are collapsing, and factories are exploding with terrifying frequency. The authorities are baffled, as the perpetrators leave no trace and no clear demands. At least, not at first. Lamont Cranston suspects that a brilliant, hidden mastermind is pulling the strings of a sabotage ring. As the destruction hits closer to home, The Shadow must navigate a world of crooked foremen and hidden explosives. The tension peaks when The Shadow confronts the lead saboteur in a race against the clock to prevent a disaster that could claim hundreds of lives. It is an episode that showcases the Shadow not just as a detective, but as a defender of national security. Trivia & Fun Facts Pre-War Paranoia: Aired in early 1938, this episode reflected the real-world tension regarding foreign agents and industrial espionage that was beginning to grip the United States prior to World War II. Sound Effect Innovations: The sabotage sequences required the foley artists to create massive, grinding mechanical sounds and explosions that felt industrial, pushing the technical limits of live radio broadcasting at the time. Orson Welles' Busy Schedule: During this period, Welles was famously juggling his work on The Shadow, his stage productions with the Mercury Theatre, and various other radio appearances, sometimes arriving at the studio just minutes before airtime. The "Vocal" Shadow: In this episode, the Shadow's voice is used with a particularly echoing, hollow quality during the confrontation scenes to emphasize his invisibility within the cavernous factory settings. Credits Research and Production Gizelle Erickson Executive Producer Jon Hagadorn The Shadow sourced by AcousticMonster on Internet Archive Follow us on Social Media Instagram: 1001_ghost_stories Facebook: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories Reddit: 1001 Ghost, Chiller & Lovecraft Stories LinkedIn: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories

    28 min
  6. THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES Chapter 14: Phoebe's Goodbye

    FEB 7

    THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES Chapter 14: Phoebe's Goodbye

    This chapter marks a major turning point in the emotional landscape of the house. While Chapter 13 was about the ghosts of the past, Chapter 14 is very much about the changing hearts of the living. Phoebe's Good-bye In this episode, we explore the aftermath of Holgrave's storytelling and the quiet transformation of our protagonist. As Phoebe prepares to leave the House of the Seven Gables for a brief return to her country home, we witness a shift from the sunny girl who arrived to a woman who has been touched by the shadows of the Pyncheon legacy. Credits Host and Producer Gizelle Erickson Executive Producer Jon Hagadorn Music: Thanks to Sound Gallery By Dmitry Taras "Scary Horror Music" LibriVox recording read by: Mark F. Smith Follow us on Social Media Instagram: 1001_ghost_stories Facebook: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories Reddit: 1001 Ghost, Chiller & Lovecraft Stories LinkedIn: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories

    29 min
  7. THE SHADOW Episode 8: The League of Terror

    FEB 6

    THE SHADOW Episode 8: The League of Terror

    This episode is a masterclass in suspense, featuring a high-stakes conspiracy that threatens the very infrastructure of the city. It remains one of the most action-oriented scripts of the Welles era. Episode Overview Title: "The League of Terror" First Aired: January 9, 1938 Network: Mutual Broadcasting System Sponsor: Blue Coal Cast & Voice Actors The Shadow / Lamont Cranston: Orson Welles Margot Lane: Agnes Moorehead Commissioner Weston: Traditionally played by Dwight Weist or Ray Collins. Announcer: Ken Roberts Supporting Cast: Featured members of the Mercury Theatre troupe, often used to play the various members of the "League." Episode Summary A shadow hangs over the city—but it isn't Lamont Cranston's. A ruthless and highly organized criminal syndicate known as the League of Terror has begun a campaign of systematic extortion and sabotage. They aren't just petty thieves; they are targeting the city's elite and critical utilities, promising destruction to anyone who refuses to pay their protection fees. When the police find themselves outmatched by the League's military-grade precision, The Shadow steps in. The plot intensifies as Margot Lane finds herself in personal danger, forcing Cranston to balance his cold, vigilante justice with the need to protect his closest confidante. The episode culminates in a daring infiltration of the League's secret headquarters, where The Shadow uses his hypnotic powers to turn the syndicate's own fear against them. Trivia & Fun Facts Ensemble Acting: Because Orson Welles was simultaneously running the Mercury Theatre, this episode features a particularly tight ensemble performance. The League members are voiced with distinct, gritty personalities that make the threat feel much larger than a single villain. Action Pacing: "The League of Terror" is noted by fans for its faster-than-usual pacing. While many episodes focus on a slow-burn mystery, this one moves quickly through multiple locations, utilizing complex sound effects for car chases and explosions. The Blue Coal Commercials: This episode aired during the height of a particularly cold winter in 1938, making the "Blue Coal" advertisements, which promised a warmer home for less money, extremely effective and nostalgic for listeners of the time. The Shadow Silhouette: The concept of a league of villains was a common trope in the pulp magazines, but this radio adaptation simplified the concept to focus on the psychological terror they inflicted on the public. Credits Research and Production Gizelle Erickson Executive Producer Jon Hagadorn The Shadow sourced by AcousticMonster on Internet Archive Follow us on Social Media Instagram: 1001_ghost_stories Facebook: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories Reddit: 1001 Ghost, Chiller & Lovecraft Stories LinkedIn: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories

    28 min
  8. THE SHADOW Episode 7: The Voice of Death

    FEB 4

    THE SHADOW Episode 7: The Voice of Death

    This episode is a fascinating psychological thriller that centers on a unique premise: a man's own voice becoming his greatest enemy. It is a standout example of the "radio-noir" style Orson Welles helped pioneer. Episode Overview Title: "The Voice of Death" First Aired: December 26, 1937 Network: Mutual Broadcasting System Sponsor: Blue Coal Cast & Voice Actors The Shadow / Lamont Cranston: Orson Welles Margot Lane: Agnes Moorehead Commissioner Weston: Traditionally played by Dwight Weist or Ray Collins. Announcer: Ken Roberts Episode Summary The plot centers on a clever and ruthless murderer who utilizes a recording of a dead man's voice to commit a perfect crime. By using early 1930s recording technology, the killer creates an alibi that seems airtight. After all, how can a man be a murderer if he was heard speaking to witnesses miles away at the exact time of the crime? As the police find themselves baffled by the auditory evidence, Lamont Cranston realizes that the ear can be deceived just as easily as the eye. The Shadow must engage in a high-stakes game of sonic cat-and-mouse, using his own vocal mastery to trap the killer. The climax features a haunting sequence where the Shadow uses his invisible voice to drive the murderer into a confession by making him believe his victims are speaking from beyond the grave. Trivia & Fun Facts The "Double Voice" Irony: There is a meta-textual irony in this episode; it stars Orson Welles, one of the greatest voices in history, in a story about how a voice can be faked or used as a weapon. Early Tech-Noir: While we think of deepfakes as a modern problem, this 1937 script explored the anxiety of voice recording technology being used to subvert the law, a very forward-thinking concept for the era. The Day After Christmas: Aired on December 26, this episode provided a dark, noir contrast to the festive holiday season, proving that The Shadow fans had a year-round appetite for the macabre. Credits Research and Production Gizelle Erickson Executive Producer Jon Hagadorn The Shadow sourced by AcousticMonster on Internet Archive Follow us on Social Media Instagram: 1001_ghost_stories Facebook: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories Reddit: 1001 Ghost, Chiller & Lovecraft Stories LinkedIn: 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft Stories

    23 min
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4.7
out of 5
110 Ratings

About

A spine-chilling collection of classic stories and tales from the other side featuring classics from a wide variety of writers that include H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, Algernon Blackwood, M.R. James, and many others. Radio dramas (suspense, horror, and gothic) will also be featured.

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