(Bonus Episode!) “PEN PAL” by STEPHEN MARLOWE (1951) #WeirdDarkness
2 November 2024 - 31 minsOriginally published in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine, July 1951, the story “Pen Pal” by Stephen Marlowe introduces us to Matilda, a young woman looking for love by submitting letters to a literary magazine. That’s something much more common when the story was published in 1951 and probably pretty close to using a dating app these days. When she thinks she’s found the love of her life, things get really strange.
SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…
“Pen Pal” by Stephen Marlowe: https://amzn.to/3AnH3m9
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(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If...
“THE BLACK CAT” by Edgar Alan Poe – Presented by Faces In The Window in 1952!
He killed the cat he once loved, but something with familiar eyes returned to make sure his guilt would never stay buried. | “The Black Cat” by Edgar Alan Poe, presented by Faces In The Window | #RetroRadio EP0563 CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Light That Failed” (February 28, 1977) 00:45:57.938 = Murder By Experts, “Two Coffins To Fill” (July 04, 1949) 01:17:43.926 = Exploring Tomorrow, “How Big Is a Man” (February 12, 1958) 01:35:07.674 = Faces In The Window, “The Black Cat” (November 22, 1952) ***WD 01:58:47.695 = Dark Fantasy, “Curse of Neanderthal” (January 09, 1942) (LQ) 02:22:52.841 = BBC Fear on 4, “Tapping” (September 25, 1997) 02:47:09.058 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Blood On My Hands” (1947-1950) 02:52:05.312 = Tales From The Tomb, “Do You Know Where The Children Are?” (1960s) 02:57:15.731 = BBC Ghosts From The Past, “Black Stockings” and “Broken Mirrors” (April 08, 1992) 03:40:55.979 = Big Town, “Fatal Joke” (March 01, 1949) ***WD 04:10:22.009 = Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, “The Inexperienced Ghost” (August 09, 1980) 04:36:19.009 = The Haunting Hour, “Unidentified Body” (July 28, 1945) 05:03:26.564 = Show Close (ADU) = Air Date Unknown (LQ) = Low Quality ***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing. Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy. = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness. = = = = =#ParanormalRadio #ScienceFiction #OldTimeRadio #OTR #OTRHorror #ClassicRadioShows #HorrorRadioShows #VintageRadioDramas #WeirdDarkness CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0563
5 hours 4 mins
1 December Finished
A Demon Was Buried Under This Temple! Here's What They Dug Up
A nine-foot skeleton with a skull nearly a foot wide, 28 interlocking teeth, and three-toed clawed feet was discovered buried under a Japanese temple — and men risked their lives to bring it to America. Did they dig up the skeleton of a demon, or the Devil himself? (Read the deep-dive article on the Weird Darkness website:https://weirddarkness.com/satan-skull/) IN THIS EPISODE: “The Devil Is Dead Now, And Here Is His Skeleton!” That’s the headline that ran in the Los Angeles Herald on October 6th, 1865. And this was no 19th century click-bait… they actually found real bones that fit the bill. (Satan’s Skeleton) *** There are a number of tragic cases where people lose all memory of who they are, and, for whatever reason, no one is able to help them recover their identities. However, few such stories are as complicated and uncanny as the long, long search for the real “Charles Jamison.” (The Man Without a Past) *** Imagine suddenly, without warning, finding yourself in a completely different life. A different place to live, different friends and family. Nothing is the same. This is what happened to author Caroline Leavitt – but that’s only half of her truly bizarre story! (My Unconscious Other Life) *** A secret aircraft reportedly crashed during takeoff at RAF Boscombe Down in 1994 sparking what has been an ongoing and fascinating mystery ever since. (The Boscombe Down Incident) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:02:03.385 = Satan’s Skeleton 00:09:59.626 = *** Man Without a Past 00:20:25.707 = My Unconscious Other Life 00:27:22.044 = *** The Boscombe Down Incident 00:46:51.803 = Show Close *** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break SOURCES and RESOURCES:"Satan’s Skeleton” posted at StrangeAgo.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y5rbrn6d “The Man Without a Past” from the website Strange Company: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ja63t9n “My Unconscious Other Life” by Rob Schwarz for Stranger Dimensions (https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/rm9vtwzf), and Caroline Leavitt for Psychology Today (https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/29ncdr4w) “The Boscombe Down Incident” by Brett Tingley for The Drive: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3m8xv44s=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: April 13, 2021 EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/DemonSkeleton ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this...
50 mins
1 December Finished
The TV Reporter Who Got The Strangest Bigfoot Footage Ever
On a quiet Indianapolis night, a seasoned reporter follows a police tip into the dark woods, uncovering footprints, eerie growls, and a mystery that may be bigger than he ever imagined. IN THIS EPISODE: “Hairy Situation at the Forest Preserve” by Keith Conrad MORE Stories Like This: https://www.auditoryanthology.com =====Originally aired: November 30, 2025 EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/hairysituation ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. #WeirdDarkness, #BigfootSighting, #IndianaBigfoot, #CryptidEncounter, #Sasquatch, #SomethingInTheWoods, #Cryptozoology, #ScaryStories, #HorrorPodcast, #TalesFromTheBlueLine
16 mins
30 November Finished
INFILTRATION: The Beings Who Created Us Are Still Inside Us, Waiting
For half a million years, he slept in secret, hiding among humanity. But when the Watchers come for him at sunset, it ignites a war not just of survival—but of ancient betrayal, identity, and a truth too terrifying for the world to know. He confesses to everything the FBI accuses him of — but the real reason he's in that interrogation room is something they'd never believe. | “Infiltration” by Algis Budrys (Originally published in Infinity Magazine, October 1958) MORE Stories Like This: https://www.auditoryanthology.com =====Originally aired: November 30, 2025 EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/infiltration ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. #WeirdDarkness, #ColdWarSpy, #ClassicSciFi, #ExistentialHorror, #AlgisBudrys, #VintageScienceFiction, #ParanormalThriller, #NoirThriller, #HorrorPodcast, #PulpFiction
24 mins
30 November Finished
Scientists Can't Explain Why Transplant Patients Inherit Their Donor's Personalities
Hollywood has made horror movies about transplant recipients inheriting the personalities of their donors for decades — but real transplant patients are reporting the same thing, and scientists can't explain why. SERMON TRANSCRIPT… https://weirddarkness.com/cotu-organtransplantmemories Weird Darkness® and Church Of The Undead™ are trademarked. Copyright © 2025. #WeirdDarkness, #HeartTransplant, #CellularMemory, #MedicalMystery, #UnexplainedPhenomena, #TrueStories, #Paranormal, #ScienceCantExplain, #OrganTransplant, #CreepyButTrue
26 mins
30 November Finished
The Mexican Mine Starchild Skull: Too Many Abnormalities to Be Human?
A skull found in a Mexican mine 90 years ago has features that no single known medical condition can fully explain. Doctors and scientists have studied this misshapen skull for decades, but no one can agree on what it actually is. IN THIS EPISODE: If you are into aliens or conspiracies, you’ve likely heard of the StarChild skull – a strange skull that appears either misshapen, or – as many believe – is the skull of a hybrid between extraterrestrials and human beings. What is the truth behind the StarChild? (What Is The StarChild?) *** In the 1700s life-saving techniques were obviously not as advanced as those we have today. Case in point – one doctor wanted to know if and how a drowned person might be brought back to life. The solution? Go to a hanging and try to revive the executed man. How do you think that went? (The Hanged Man) *** We’ve spoken often here on Weird Darkness about shadow people – what their purpose is, where they come from, whether they are malevolent or not… but are they ghosts, or something else entirely? (Are Shadow People Considered Ghosts?) *** A Reddit user shares his true story of hiking in the wilderness and suddenly being tracked and hunted over several days by a stranger with unknown intentions. (A Strange Man Hunted Me Through The Park) *** Within the walls of one of England’s most picturesque castles, a queen gave birth to her only child and set in motion a chain of events that would become one of Tudor England’s most intriguing mysteries. (The Unexplained Disappearance of the Queen’s Daughter) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:01:28.939 = Show Open 00:03:41.187 = What Is The Starchild? 00:22:20.388 = *** The Hanged Man 00:30:05.929 = A Strange Man Hunted Me Through The Dark 00:35:03.546 = *** The Unexplainable Disappearance of the Queen’s Daughter 00:47:09.487 = *** Are Shadow People Considered Ghosts? 00:56:43.391 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break SOURCES and RESOURCES...“The Hanged Man” by Romeo Vitelli for Providentia: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/32j6zyb7 “Are Shadow People Considered Ghosts?” by Jacob Shelton for Ranker’s Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/uej2nyca “A Strange Man Hunted Me Through The Park” by Redditor u/ValyrianJedi: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/436p34t7 “The Unexplained Disappearance of the Queen’s Daughter” by Lydia Starbuck for Royal Central:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bfhkxthc “What Is The Starchild?” by Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell, posted at Anomalien: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ewccfd5c, and from StarChildProject.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/wb8daydd=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: April 12, 2021 EPISODE PAGE (includes sources):...
58 mins
30 November Finished