Retro Radio: Old Time Radio in the Dark Darren Marlar

#WeirdDarkness #RetroRadio Marathon: May 27, 2024 (PILOT EPISODE)

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TONIGHT’S RETRO RADIO SHOWS: ABC Mystery Time, ‘Four Fatal Jugglers” *** Appointment With Fear, “The Clock Strikes Eight” *** Chet Chetter’s Tales From The Morgue, “Return Of The Master Constipator” *** The Creaking Door, “Yesterday You Died” *** Creeps By Night, “Walking Dead” *** Crime Classics, “Hung in a Spanking Breeze” *** Dark Fantasy, “The Thing From The Sea” *** The Devil And Mr O, “Neanderthal”

TONIGHT’S WEIRD DARKNESS STORIES: Ghosts are spooky – but zombies are even worse. But what if you came across a ghost zombie? That’s exactly the terror Scandinavian Vikings had to deal with! (Ghost Zombie of the Vikings) *** Can you raise someone in a way to create a phobia within them? Sure, that would be cruel and inhumane to do – but is it possible? That’s what a couple of behaviorists wanted to find out… and so they went about studying on it by experimenting on a tiny child. (The Little Albert Experiment) *** Did a woman accidentally kill her husband because of a Bugs Bunny cartoon… or was it murder? It’s the bizarre case of Linda Duffey Gwozdz. (The Looney Tunes Murderess) *** "The voice sounded close, yet at the same time, so far away. It was the most pitiful and horrifying cry I had ever heard." That’s how a seasoned paranormal investigator described what they heard in an abandoned asylum. (A Ghost Encounter In a Forsaken Asylum) *** We’ll also take a look at a few asylums that are said to be so creepy, so haunted, that you would never want to be locked in there – day or night. (Five Haunted Asylums) *** If you’re a fan of the movie “Ferris Bueler’s Day Off” you might remember the “Sausage King of Chicago” scene. That person was fictional of course, and the title was played for laughs. But have you ever heard of the Sausage Ghost of Chicago? That too may sound like it was made-up for laughs – but no, the Sausage Ghost of Chicago is a story that is all too true. (The Sausage Ghost of Chicago) *** A man calling himself Roland T. Owen checked into room 1046 of the Hotel President in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 2, 1935. In just two days' time, he would be dead. But no one knows who killed him, and it has become one of history’s most popular mysteries – The Mystery of Room 1046. (The Mystery of Room 1046)

SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…
Get FREE radio shows, audiobooks, and more: WeirdDarkness@RadioArchives.com
Find Old Time Radio Show to download: http://RadioArchives.com
“Tasmania’s Haunted Separate Prison” by Orrin Grey for The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/6fru6th6
“Ghost Zombie of the Vikings” from The Scare Chamber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/rp5d8jnh,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/zd38jtbf
“The Little Albert Experiment” by Jacob Shelton for Unspeakable Times: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bzevawfz
“The Looney Tunes Murderess” by Patrick Thornton for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3bre8eaz
“A Ghost Encounter In a Forsaken Asylum” by John D. Mimms for The Line Up: a...

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“I am the Whistler and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak!”
Haunting stories of fate, dramas of crime, deception, and manipulation building to a sudden and shocking denouement...and, through it all, the sardonic, mocking laughter of — The Whistler!
One of radio’s most memorable thriller anthologies, The Whistler was a west-coast favorite for over a decade but, despite two attempts to go nationwide, never was able to achieve the same success as a coast to coast feature. But for listeners across the western states served by the Signal Oil Company, the program’s eerie theme music opened a weekly window into the very darkest corners of the human soul. It was so popular, in fact, that Columbia Pictures produced eight second-feature films based on the concept, all but one of which starred Richard Dix.
The Whistler himself was an omniscient narrator -- the voice of Fate itself, one might suggest, or perhaps of conscience. And his stories revolved around ordinary people, pushed by the pressures of daily life into taking drastic actions. Or perhaps a sudden circumstance, an unexpected twist of life’s path, suddenly placed these protagonists on a road leading inexorably to their own destruction. Greed, lust, and perfidy of every kind figure in the plots -- and when Fate inevitably catches up with these unfortunate, driven souls, The Whistler is always ready, at the very end, to see that the knife is properly twisted.
Produced by George W. Allen, with hauntingly evocative musical scores by Wilbur Hatch, The Whistler was a prime outlet for the cream of Hollywood’s top radio performers - actors such as Wally Maher, Cathy and Elliott Lewis, Gerald Mohr, Lurene Tuttle, and Betty Lou Gerson, who emphasized skill over star power - as well as announcer Bill Forman in the title role, with Marvin Miller voicing the commercials.
YOUTUBE CHAPTERS GUIDE...
00:00:00.000 = Introduction
00:01:54.231 = Two Year Plan (November 25, 1946)
00:32:57.784 = Next Year Is Mine (December 23, 1946)
01:03:11.928 = Murder On Rourke Island (December 30, 1946)
01:33:17.532 = Dear Roger (January 06, 1947)
02:03:49.286 = The Choice (January 13, 1947)
02:33:57.650 = Eight To Twelve (February 24, 1947)
03:04:34.682 = The Blue Legend (March 03, 1947)
03:34:43.029 = The Sheriff’s Assistant (April 07, 1947)
04:05:52.705 = Maid of Honor (April 14, 1947)
04:36:21.437 = Windfall (May 05, 1947)

SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…
This episode is sponsored by http://RadioArchives.com
Weird Darkness Retro Radio theme by Storyblocks.
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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
Find out how to escape eternal darkness at https://weirddarkness.com/eternaldarkness
WeirdDarkness® - is a registered trademark. Copyright, Weird Darkness, 2024.
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CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/whistler-marathon-014

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One of the most popular radio shows in history, “The Shadow” went on the air in August of 1930. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" The opening lines of the "Detective Story" program captivated listeners and are instantly recognizable even today. Originally the narrator of the series of macabre tales, the eerie voice known as The Shadow became so popular to listeners that "Detective Story" was soon renamed "The Shadow," and the narrator became the star of the old-time mystery radio series, which ran until 1954. A figure never seen, only heard, the Shadow was an invincible crime fighter. He possessed many gifts which enabled him to overcome any enemy. Besides his tremendous strength, he could defy gravity, speak any language, unravel any code, and become invisible with his famous ability to "cloud men's minds." Along with his team of operatives, the Shadow battled adversaries with chilling names like The Black Master, Kings of Crime, The Five Chameleons, and, of course, The Red Menace. The Shadow's exploits were also avidly followed by readers in The Shadow magazine, which began in 1931 following the huge success of the old-time mystery radio program. The magazine was published by Street & Smith, who had also sponsored the old-time mystery radio program. Over the course of 18 years, Street & Smith published 325 issues of The Shadow, each one containing a novel about the sinister crime fighter. These stories were written by Maxwell Grant, a fictional name created by the publishing company. Although several different people wrote under the pseudonym, Walter B. Gibson wrote most of the stories, 282 in all. Most of the novels published have been reprinted in paperback and The Shadow adventures remain popular today, with Shadow comic books, magazines, toys, games, cds and cassettes of old-time radio shows, and books bringing top dollar among collectors the world over.
YOUTUBE CHAPTERS GUIDE...
00:00:00.000 = Introduction
00:01:54.735 = The Wig Makers of Doom Street (November 28, 1948)
00:32:02.306 = Death And The Crown Odalph (January 02, 1949)
00:59:51.393 = Trail of the Knifer (February 20, 1949)
01:29:55.434 = Collectors of Death (February 27, 1949)
01:59:37.365 = Unto Death Do Us Part (March 06, 1949)
02:29:56.952 = The Ring of Mahlalaylee (March 13, 1949)
02:55:44.114 = Monkey Woman (May 29, 1949)
03:21:46.493 = The Bridge of Tragedy – Australian Episode (March 22, 1951)
03:49:37.714 = Return To Life – Australian Episode (September 23, 1951)
04:16:14.876 = The Vengeance of Angela Nolan (June 27, 1954)
04:42:52.794 = Death House Rescue (September 26, 1937)

SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…
This episode is sponsored by http://RadioArchives.com
Weird Darkness Retro Radio theme by Storyblocks.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
Find out how to escape eternal darkness at https://weirddarkness.com/eternaldarkness
WeirdDarkness® - is a registered trademark. Copyright, Weird Darkness, 2024.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
CUSTOM WEBPAGE:...

Get full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp eBooks, and old-time radio shows ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD by emailing WeirdDarkness@RadioArchives.com!
00:00:00.000 = INTRODUCTION
00:03:49.400 = Caliber Pistol (AKA Little Blue 22)
00:30:04.638 = .32 Calibre Bullet
00:54:13.612 = Bath Tub
01:18:08.600 = The Black Gladstone Bag
01:48:45.115 = The Brick
02:12:03.741 = The Brass Button
02:36:57.859 = Can Of Weed Killer
03:02:13.049 = Canvas Bag
03:28:27.300 = The Car Tire
03:52:47.800 = The Champagne Glass
04:19:38.442 = A Claw Hammer
04:45:44.689 = Door Key

SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…
This episode is sponsored by http://RadioArchives.com
Weird Darkness Retro Radio theme by Storyblocks.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
Find out how to escape eternal darkness at https://weirddarkness.com/eternaldarkness
WeirdDarkness® - is a registered trademark. Copyright, Weird Darkness, 2024.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/blackmuseum-marathon-001

Get full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp eBooks, and old-time radio shows ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD by emailing WeirdDarkness@RadioArchives.com! Get the commercial-free version by joining the Darkness Syndicate at https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate!
After September 30, 1962, commercial radio drama was as dead as the doornail described in the opening pages of Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843), and everyone understood that television killed it. People who worked in both mediums realized that working in radio was a much better overall experience than television could ever be. Sure, TV had pictures to go along with the stories, but putting those pictures on the air involved a highly technical and expensive technology, and by the time those images reached the audience they were grainy, blurry, and sometimes nearly impossible to see. One actor could play different parts on several different radio programs, even in a single episode, but once they were seen in a TV show their face was recognizable enough that they had a hard time working on another show, and even a twenty-second appearance meant hours in makeup and wardrobe. Appearing in a radio drama required just a couple rehearsals and then remaining as quiet as possible in the studio, following along in the script until time to perform your lines, which you also read from the script. There was one important thing that television could offer over radio work; money. The accounting in TV and radio was fundamentally different. A radio program was usually paid for by a single sponsor while commercial time on TV shows was sold piecemeal, but there was still a phenomenal amount of money involved in TV production and the networks and sponsors were happy to pay it. Unable to compete with the huge amount of money being spread around by TV, after the final broadcasts of Suspense and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar on September 30, 1960, the Golden Age of Radio came to an end. Or did it? In the decade after the end of the Golden Age of Radio, TV matured artistically and technically. There had been a rejection by the networks of "rural" programming which helped launch a nostalgia craze. This craze began with the release of George Lucas's American Graffiti (1973), and suddenly everything old seemed new again. One of the genres which were best suited to radio was the horror shows which made listeners sit up in bed and pull the sheets over their heads. This sort of program had been pioneered Wyliss Cooper and Arch Oboler on Lights Out as well as The Whistler, Suspense, and Inner Sanctum Mysteries. This was the type of show creators decided upon for his radio nostalgia project, which became The CBS Radio Mystery Theater. They were convinced that there was enough interest from those who had heard similar shows growing up during the Golden Age, but the show built a following of younger fans for whom radio drama was a new and exciting experience. In many ways, CBSRMT was more like a TV program on the radio than a typical Old Time Radio show. The shows were taped rather than broadcast live, which allowed for greater post-production editing and creative control. The scripts generally ran 45 minutes, and the action was broken at points to allow for separately produced commercials and news bulletins to be inserted. The opening featured the "creaking door" effect which had been part of The Inner Sanctum. Host E.G. Marshall was never as campily creepy earlier horror hosts, but his closing, "Until next time, pleasant… dreams?" was sure to inspire nightmares. Production of CBSRMT was efficient almost to the point of cheapness. Creators drew upon radio row veterans working in New York as well as up-and-coming television personalities. The show used original stories from a wide variety of...

Get full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp eBooks, and old-time radio shows ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD by emailing WeirdDarkness@RadioArchives.com! Get the commercial-free version by joining the Darkness Syndicate at https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate!
When the dramatic anthology series "Suspense" premiered over CBS Radio on June 17, 1942, it did so as both a summer series and as a sustaining program. The network had no idea how well the series would perform - its only previous showcase was as an hour-long audition on the 1940 series "Forecast" - so running out and getting a sponsor didn’t seem to be important at that particular stage. Besides, in the show’s salad days, the guest stars that did appear were of considerably low wattage. But as "Suspense" grew in popularity and began to attract a more upscale acting clientele anxious to participate in “radio’s outstanding theater of thrills,” finding someone to pick up the weekly tab became a top priority for CBS. Luckily, in December 2, 1943, the series found its 'angel' in the sponsorship of Roma Wines. "Suspense’s" long association with Roma (and co-branded Cresta Blanca) was good for both the series and the company; a bigger budget attracted bigger guest stars and, as the program began to climb in the ratings, the company began to enjoy substantial profits. This fruitful arrangement came to an end on November 20, 1947. Roma had been admittedly seeing other programs behind "Suspense’s" back and the bright array of top Hollywood talent began to dim a bit as many of the stars began to tire of the program. CBS rolled the dice and took one heck of a chance in keeping "Suspense" on the air; the network still felt that the series was popular with audiences and they agreed to sustain the program until another sponsor could be found. How serious was CBS about keeping its prestige show? Beginning January 3, 1948, "Suspense" was moved to Saturday nights and was broadcast from 8:00 to 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. That’s right: a full hour of “Suspense.” Hour-long dramatic shows were a gamble at best; many stars tended to shun these programs - a half-hour show was grueling enough to get through - and only a few, "The Lux Radio Theater" being the best example, managed to continue on the air for very long. But Lux had a sponsor all too willing to write checks on a weekly basis...while CBS, without a sponsor to back them up, was still the sole support of "Suspense." What's more, the network learned soon enough that by doubling the show from half-hour to hour-long status, they had to double the pay of the individuals working on the show as well. (Networks, as a rule, cringe at the thought of giving money away.) To jazz up "Suspense," CBS hired actor Robert Montgomery to be the host and occasional performer, figuring that on the weeks when they had to resort to a less-than "A" list of guest stars, at least Montgomery would be around to provide a certain degree of glitter. Montgomery, at it turned out, made appearances in quite a few of the hour-long shows, including both the premiere, “The Black Curtain”, and most notably in “Night Must Fall”, which allowed him to reprise the role he had created in the 1937 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture of the same name. "Suspense’s" hour-long experiment closed up shop on May 15, 1948 and the show moved back to Thursday night in its familiar half-hour form through September 1962.
00:00:00.000 = INTRODUCTION
00:01:54.350 = The Lucky Lady (February 14, 1946)
00:32:10.863 = Consequences (February 21, 1946)
01:02:27.676 = Black Path of Fear (March 07, 1946)
01:28:53.720 = No More Alice (March 14, 1946)
01:59:25.121 = The Lonely Road (March 21, 1946)
02:30:10.968 = Out Of Control (March 28, 1946)br...