“X MINUS ONE” Multi-Episode Marathon 10 #WeirdDarkness #RetroRadio
26 April - 5 hours 1 minGet full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp eBooks, and old-time radio shows ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD by emailing WeirdDarkness@RadioArchives.com!
By the mid 1950s, science fiction had largely fallen into a familiar pattern, regardless of medium. When fans tuned into the radio or caught the latest science fiction movie, they either encountered space opera adventures or fare aimed largely at a juvenile audience. Only in magazines such as Astounding Science Fiction and Galaxy were stories grounded firmly in science fiction being told with mature themes aimed at character development, true literature taking off to the stars. The debut of X Minus One in April 1955 changed that on radio,...
Series Episodes
“THE GHOST OF SUPERMAN” and More Terrifying True Stories! #WeirdDarkness #Darkives
IN THIS EPISODE: Superman died at 1:59 am on June 16, 1959. Not the comic book character, of course, but the man who personified the “real” Superman for an entire generation of television fans. George Reeves, it was discovered, was not faster than a speeding bullet after all. Even though the initial coroner’s report listed Reeves’ death as an “indicated suicide,” after nearly five decades there are many who do not believe that he killed himself. The death of George Reeves remains one of Hollywood’s most compelling unsolved mysteries, combining rumors of murder, conspiracy, cover-ups – and a lingering ghost. (Not Faster Than a Speeding Bullet) *** Few things are more unsettling than an unsolved missing persons case. What happened to Virginia Carpenter? She’s been missing for 69 years and investigators are still as stumped as they were in 1948. (The Virginia Carpenter Disappearance) *** An elderly woman, an old man, and a young ten-year-old girl reside in the same house. I say reside – because they were not alive. (The House With The Purple Porch) *** Did a man really see an army of dead Medieval soldiers – or was he witnessing something from a parallel world? (Strange Encounter With a Dead Medieval Army) SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “The Virginia Carpenter Disappearance” by Stephanie Weber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2mtbv8m7 “Not Faster Than a Speeding Bullet” by Troy Taylor from his book “Bloody Hollywood”: https://amzn.to/2FsTv1s “The Strange Encounter With a Dead Medieval Army” by Peter Konieczny for Medievalists.net: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/tz2pbt2y “The House With The Purple Porch” written by Hannah Grace: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/x6n9jwdt Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Weird Darkness “DARKIVES” theme by Manuel Marino. = = = = = (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 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 ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: April, 2018 CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/ghost-of-superman/
51 mins
20 May Finished
“THE DELIVERER OF SOULS TO THE UNDERWORLD” and More True Terrors! #WeirdDarkness #Darkives
IN THIS EPISODE: Welcome to a WEEKEND DARKIVES episode with stories from April 2016! SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “The Legend of Lakeview: The Story of Hartford Castle” by Troy Taylor: http://ow.ly/4mLmys “Haunted Shops and Stores” by Alan Toner (from the book “100 True Ghost Stories”): http://amzn.com/B00DW64J8S “The Black Hound of the Crosses” by Mournful Magnus: http://assanevel.deviantart.com/ “The Staring Child” was submitted anonymously: http://bit.ly/2VR1o8U “Pulling One’s Legs” was submitted by CR: http://bit.ly/2VUeYII “The Light of the Virgin” was submitted by Katka: http://bit.ly/2VUeYII “The Haunted House that Jack Built” was submitted anonymously: http://bit.ly/2ELkIz5 “Two Weeks Before My Grandma Passed Away” written by Ursula: http://bit.ly/2ELkIz5 “Domovik In The House” (link no longer available) “The Maids of Eternal Hades” (link no longer available) “The Deliverer of Souls to the Underworld” (link no longer available) ”Chicago and Lincoln’s Phantom Funeral Train” by Troy Taylor: http://bit.ly/2HTin5K “Mortuary Affairs”: http://bit.ly/2W7GgjS “Is A Time Machine Hidden In a London Graveyard?” by Ellen Lloyd (link no longer available) “Chalk It Up to a Ghost”, “Aged Cries”, and “Bump in the Night” (link no longer available) “Who Was Bobby Dunbar” by Doug MacGowan: http://bit.ly/2K7HeFQ “Did The U-28 See a Sea Monster?”: http://bit.ly/2XfpIDj Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Weird Darkness “DARKIVES” theme by Manuel Marino. = = = = = (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 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 ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: April, 2016 CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/deliverer-of-souls-to-the-underworld/
1 hour 36 mins
20 May Finished
“CBS Radio Mystery Theater” 5-HOUR MARATHON 18 #WeirdDarkness #RetroRadio
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...
5 hours 23 mins
19 May Finished
“How Can I Know If I’m In The Book Of Life?” #ChurchOfTheUndead
IN THIS EPISODE: The Bible teaches that the Book of Life is the register of everyone who is going to heaven. Very simply, if your name is not in the Book of Life then you’re not going to heaven. So… how do you know if your name is written in the book? Hear previous messages and find our social media at https://WeirdDarkness.com/Church! Please share this podcast with your friends, family, and co-workers, and post a link to this episode in your own social media! Thank you, and God bless! MENTIONS, SOURCES, AND LINKS… Original article by Roger Barrier: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckmfnt5 (Over time links can and may become invalid, disappear, or have different content.) === Darren Marlar is a licensed minister through the Universal Life Church: https://www.themonastery.org. Find his other podcast, Weird Darkness, in your favorite podcast app at https://weirddarkness.com/listen. “Church Of The Undead” theme music by Epidemic Sound. === "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 === Weird Darkness® and Church Of The Undead™ are trademarked. Copyright © 2024. CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/how-can-i-know-if-im-in-the-book-of-life/
10 mins
19 May Finished
“THE CROGLIN GRANGE VAMPIRE” and More Scary True Horror Stories! #WeirdDarkness #Darkives
IN THIS EPISODE: A "DARKIVES" episode from April 2018! *** A man in the 1800s writes his autobiography, and it includes the true story of a centuries-old vampire! *** Best friends from high school reunite many years later – but the personality of one of them grows darker and darker by the day! *** What was supposed to be a day of joy and merriment at the circus turns into horror and death for those in attendance! *** An aspiring Hollywood actress kisser her 5-year-old daughter goodbye, and walks out the door never to be seen again! *** A girls night at a cabin becomes spooky for one of them when she wakes in the middle of the night! *** A family moves into a vacant home only to find out it’s not vacant! *** A peaceful breakfast at a hotel is interrupted by four gunshots, the death of a guest, and the unusual confession of the woman found holding the gun! *** A centuries-old curse was placed upon a small Connecticut town, turning it into a horrible place where people committed suicide or went insane! *** A fisherman experiences a very odd creature that defies explanation! *** Anjette Lyles - a mother, widow, sought-after lover and companion, restaurant owner, and mass murderer! SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “She Hates Men” by ValkriCry for Your Ghost Stories: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4hdbczm8 “Horror Under The Big Top” by Troy Taylor from the book “And Hell Followed With It”: https://amzn.to/2qRfFGa “The Chilling Disappearance of Jean Spangler” by Jessica Ferri for The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5fma4v77 “Specter in Blue Jeans” submitted anonymously “Echoes of a Home Invasion” submitted by Chuck James to My Haunted Life Too: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ytz7a24h “I Have Shot My Husband” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder By Gaslight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/6uz9a5kk “Restaurateur of Death” by Ciarin Conliffe for Head Stuff: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4pz7d9tt “Croglin Grange Vampire of Cumberland” by Les Hewitt for Historic Mysteries: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yex2hpwb “Something Wicked In The Woods” from Ghosts N Ghouls (link no longer valid) “Cursed Dudleytown” by Ellen Lloyd for Ancient Pages: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bf3668np Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Weird Darkness “DARKIVES” theme by Manuel Marino. = = = = = (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 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 ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: April, 2018 CUSTOM WEBPAGE:
1 hour 29 mins
19 May Finished
“SUSPENSE!” 5-HOUR MARATHON 013 #WeirdDarkness #RetroRadio
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)
5 hours 1 min
19 May Finished
