
“HALLOWEEN GHOST STORIES BY CAMPFIRE” #WeirdDarkness
1 November 2024 - 1 hour 19 minsDonate to our October 2024 OVERCOMING THE DARKNESS campaign at https://weirddarkness.com/overcoming. Weird Darkness is narrated by professional full-time voice actor Darren Marlar. No A.I. voices are ever used in the show.
IN THIS EPISODE: As we step into the Halloween weekend, I thought it might be fun to share some Halloween-themed creepypastas. Four fictional stories, in fact. And to add to the “Halloweenishness” of this episode, rather than spooky music in the background, as you can already tell, I’m back at the campfire to tell you these spooky stories – because it just feels more like Halloween that way.
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and...

“PAZUZU, THE DEMON ‘THE EXORCIST’ MADE FAMOUS” and More True Stories! #WeirdDarkness
Long before Pazuzu terrorized audiences in *The Exorcist*, this ancient Mesopotamian demon struck fear into the hearts of the Assyrians and Babylonians—both as a harbinger of destruction and an unlikely protector against even greater evils. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Info on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScream Info on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV IN THIS EPISODE: The Exorcist is widely regarded as one of the most influential horror movies of all time. Even now, half a century after its release, it continues to terrify audiences, in large part due to its horrifying practical effects and iconic antagonist: Pazuzu. (Pazuzu, The Demon ‘The Exorcist’ Made Famous) *** Latoya Ammons and her family claim to have experienced demonic possession that began when they moved into what became known as the “house of 200 demons” in 2011. (The Haunting on Carolina Street) *** In the eerie depths of 1920s Los Angeles, a sinister tale unfolded, shrouded in secrets and steeped in darkness. It all began with May Otis Blackburn and her daughter, Ruth, who claimed to receive divine revelations from the angels Gabriel and Michael. Thus emerged the enigmatic Blackburn Cult, a group entangled in a web of prophecies, tributes, and whispered mysteries. (The Blackburn Cult) *** 19th-century freak shows brought both the extraordinary and the macabre to captivated audiences far and wide. Among the peculiar spectacles of these exhibitions stood a man whose skeletal frame defied all norms of human anatomy… as his skeleton and skin appeared to be the only parts of his anatomy intact. (Seurat, The Living Skeleton) *** In the heat of summer in 2008, a mysterious creature washed ashore on a beach in Montauk, Long Island, sending shockwaves through the community. What began as a simple sighting by local resident soon exploded into a media frenzy, with wild theories and speculation running rampant. (Hot Montauk Summer) *** While epic Hollywood films often depict gladiators as men, the truth is far more captivating. We’ll step into the arena with the women who dared to defy convention and enter the gladiatorial games. (Gladiators Of The Fairer Sex) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Lead-In 00:01:22.707 = Show Open 00:04:14.288 = Pazuzu, The Demon ‘The Exorcist’ Made Famous 00:13:50.830 = The Blackburn Cult 00:19:20.920 = Haunting on Carolina Street 00:25:23.931 = Seurat, The Living Skeleton 00:31:41.566 = Gladiators of the Fairer Sex 00:46:43.838 = Hot Montauk Summer 00:55:36.671 = Show Close 00:56:20.781 = Final Thought and Bloopers SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… Episode Page at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/pazuzu “Pazuzu, The Demon ‘The Exorcist” Made Famous” by Austin Harvey for All That’s Interesting: https://tinyurl.com/3myts9h4 “The Blackburn Cult” by Troy Taylor from the book “Taking Up Serpents: American Cults, Messiahs and Madmen”: https://amzn.to/4ak7SUG “The Haunting on Carolina Street” sources: https://tinyurl.com/2cvyfu46,
59 mins
13 February Finished

“THE TRUE STORY OF A PRIEST AND A FLYING SAUCER” + More Terrifying True Stories! #WeirdDarkness
In 1959, a quiet missionary village in Papua New Guinea became the site of one of history’s most astonishing UFO encounters—where a priest and his flock not only witnessed a hovering craft but exchanged waves with the humanoid figures aboard. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Info on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScream Info on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV IN THIS EPISODE: The English and Americans aren’t the only ones with vampire problems – in China they have a nasty vampire that is also a master of disguise. (Jiangshi, The Vampire) *** Papua New Guinea had an avalanche of UFO sightings in the late 1950s – and one of the most infamous involved a priest and his parish. (Father William and the Flying Saucer) *** “It looked like a baby’s body with long arms and legs. It had a big head about the same size as the body, it was sort of melon shaped.” That’s how Bill Bartlet described the strange create he saw in 1977. (The Dover Demon Returns) *** Murdered in Montana in 1983, Marie Philbrick was killed in the days before DNA analysis. Bernard Pease Jr. was convicted of her murder, but was he really her killer? (The Murder Case of Marie Philbrick) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Show Open 00:01:54.305 = Father William and the Flying Saucer 00:10:10.647 = The Murder Case of Marie Philbrick 00:22:47.250 = The Dover Demon Returns 00:42:24.449 = Jiangshi, The Vampire 00:46:39.935 = Show Close 00:47:22.405 = Final Thought & Bloopers SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… Episode Page at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/PriestAndUFO “Jiangshi, The Vampire” by A. Sutherland for Ancient Pages: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2tvsk3n7 “Father William and the Flying Saucer” from Anomalien: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2cycfdnp “The Murder Case of Marie Philbrick” from CrimeTraveller.org: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/aez456w “The Dover Demon Returns” by Mark Sullivan for Boston.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/tbuu3vcw and Strange New England: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/jztfkrsn ===== (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 ©2025, Weird Darkness. ===== Originally aired: March 05, 2023
48 mins
13 February Finished

A Man Offers a Ride To a Woman Only to Learn She Was a GHOST!: #RetroRadio EP0324 #WeirdDarkness
A man en route to a Christmas dinner offers a young woman a ride home. While waiting at a train crossing, he encounters an unexpected train. Later, he's informed that no train has traversed those tracks for years and that the girl he assisted is part of local folklore! Hear the tale in this Old Time Radio marathon’s episode of Strange in the story “The Ghost Train” from 1955! Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Info on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScream Info on the next WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:02:00.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Solid Gold Soldiers” (September 22, 1975) ***WD 00:47:51.699 = Richard Diamond, “The 200,000 Dollar Bundle” (September 24, 1949) 01:17:23.591 = Ripley’s Believe it Or Not, “Witch Doctor” – Part 1 (1930) ***WD 01:18:39.389 = Ripley’s Believe it Or Not, “Witch Doctor” – Part 2 (1930) ***WD 01:19:21.279 = The Saint, “Music Murder” (June 18, 1050) ***WD 01:48:37.359 = Sam Spade, “The Vafio Cup Caper” (August 22, 1948) 02:18:37.289 = The Sealed Book, “I’ll Die Laughing” (May 27, 1945) 02:48:35.969 = The Shadow, “Island of the Devil” (January 08, 1939) ***WD (LQ) 03:18:30.499 = BBC Spine Chillers, “Figures” (February 14, 1984) 03:57:45.069 = Strange, “The Ghost Train” (1955) 04:11:56.629 = Suspense, “Dead Sleep Lightly” (March 30, 1943) 04:42:27.329 = Tales of the Frightened, “Voice From The Grave” (1963) 04:48:27.599 = Tales From The Tomb, “Spirit Calling” (ADU) 04:53:33.169 = Theater Five, “Decoration” (September 09, 1964) 05:13:34.544 = Show Close (ADU) = Air Date Unknown (LQ) = Low Quality ***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode 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 = = = = = "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. = = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0324
5 hours 14 mins
13 February Finished

How Would You Feel If You Inherited a HAUNTED MANSION?: #RetroRadio EP0323 #WeirdDarkness
Two spinster cousins become the new owners of their ancestral manor. But the estate is haunted by the spirit of their late uncle! Hear the tale in tonight’s Old Time Radio marathon with CBS Radio Mystery Theater’s presentation of “The Third Person” from September 19, 1975! Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Info on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScream Info on the next WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:02:00.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Third Person” (September 19, 1975) ***WD 00:48:01.109 = CBC Nightfall, “A Shortwave Goodbye” (January 09, 1981) ***WD 01:17:54.059 = Mr and Mrs North, “The Norths Buy a Letter” (October 06, 1943) 01:48:28.379 = Obsession, “Faith Is The Evidence” (May 12, 1952) ***WD 02:18:22.269 = Origin of Superstition, “Bubbles in a Tea Cup” (1935) ***WD 02:33:25.199 = Mystery Playhouse, “Turnabout” (May 20, 1946) ***WD 02:56:39.169 = The Philip Morris Playhouse, “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” (August 19, 1953) 03:21:14.499 = The Price of Fear, “Out of the Mouths” (June 20, 1983) 03:49:16.289 = Adventures of Ellery Queen, “Mischief Maker” (January 15, 1944) ***WD 04:15:40.109 = Quiet Please, “Pathetic Fallacy” (February 02, 1948) ***WD 04:46:22.439 = Radio City Playhouse, “Fanny” (August 21, 1948) ***WD 05:15:25.439 = Show Close (ADU) = Air Date Unknown (LQ) = Low Quality ***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode 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 = = = = = "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. = = = = =CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0323
5 hours 16 mins
12 February Finished

“THE CUNNING CRIMES OF MARY BATEMAN, THE YORKSHIRE WITCH” | 6 Freaky True Stories! #WeirdDarkness
A self-proclaimed witch in 1800s England used fake magic and poison to con her victims - until one murder too many brought her deadly schemes crashing down. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Info on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScream Info on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV IN THIS EPISODE: What if we just discovered we're sharing Earth with another intelligent species? Scientists have found something mind-blowing, and if they are right, nothing is ever going to be the same. (When They Arrive – Earth’s First Contact Playbook) *** When a young boy stumbled upon a cave ritual in rural Mexico, he uncovered a terrifying cult led by a self-proclaimed goddess who had turned village farmers into willing executioners. (Blood Priestess of Yerba Buena) *** In the case of an 1816 murder, an old security guard recognized the attacker just by voice - but when the suspect ended up on death row, he swore they got the wrong guy. (Murder At The Pottery) *** When strange noises in an old farmhouse turned out to be a mongoose who could sing, spy on neighbors, and speak multiple languages, the Irving family's quiet life on the Isle of Man would never be the same. (The Strange True Tale of Gef The Talking Mongoose) *** There's something seriously strange about Saturn - a giant hexagon storm at its north pole that's got both NASA scientists and conspiracy theorists buzzing about what it could mean, strange radio signals that are unexplainable, and the odd history of how it was seen and interpreted by humans through the years. (The Science, Secrets, Strangeness, and Songs of Saturn) *** In 1800s England, Mary Bateman posed as a powerful witch to con desperate people out of their money - until her "magical cures" turned to murder. (The Cunning Crimes of The Yorkshire Witch) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Lead-In 00:01:57.547 = Show Open 00:04:21.122 = The Cunning Crimes of the Yorkshire Witch 00:15:23.897 = When They Arrive: Earth’s First Contact Playbook 00:34:06.713 = Blood Priestess of Yerba Buena 00:45:08.160 = Murder At The Pottery 00:48:15.347 = The Science, Secrets, Strangeness, and Songs of Saturn 00:56:07.352 = The Strange True Tale of Gef the Talking Mongoose 01:02:03.352 = Show Close 01:02:51.944 = Final Thought 01:03:21.589 = Bloopers = = = = = (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 ©2025, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: February 11, 2025 SOURCES PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/YorkshireWitch TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ycxky6pz
1 hour 4 mins
12 February Finished

“REAL COWBOY ENCOUNTERS WITH UFOS AND ALIENS”: More True Extraterrestrial Stories! #WeirdDarkness
Long before the modern UFO craze, cowboys, trappers, and even future U.S. presidents reported eerie lights, sky-borne serpents, and crashed crafts with mysterious hieroglyphs—suggesting that the Wild West may have had more than just outlaws lurking in the night. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Info on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScream Info on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV IN THIS EPISODE: If you have seen the film, Cowboys and Aliens then the idea of spacecraft in the Wild West will not be so, well, alien to you. Although the film, as enjoyable as it is, is one-hundred percent fiction, there are numerous accounts of UFO and alien encounters in the tentative years of the United States. (Real Encounters of Cowboys And Aliens) *** Michael and Janet wouldn’t report their UFO abduction for ten years out of fear of not being believed. But once they told the story, it would set the Ufology community on fire. (The Buff Ledge Abduction) (The Buff Ledge Abduction) *** What is the Bermuda Triangle? What’s going on in this mysterious patch of the Atlantic Ocean where dozens of ships, planes, and people have disappeared without explanation? (Inside the Bermuda Triangle) *** From the "little green men" of rural Kentucky to a string of lights over Arizona spotted by thousands of people, there are several convincing, real UFO sightings that not only remain unexplained, but might even suggest we’re not alone in the universe. (UFO Sightings That Remain Unexplained) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Lead-In 00:01:59.354 = Show Open 00:03:53.620 = Real Encounters of Cowboys and Aliens 00:17:14.611 = Inside The Bermuda Triangle 00:27:23.087 = The Buff Ledge Abduction 00:38:24.246 = UFO Sightings That Remain Unexplained 01:03:47.065 = Show Close 01:04:39.706 = Final Thought & Bloopers SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… Episode Page at WeirdDarkness.com: https://weirddarkness.com/CowboysAndAliens “Real Encounters of Cowboys And Aliens” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9b3f2s “Inside The Bermuda Triangle” by Kaleena Fraga for All That’s Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8shfn7 “The Buff Ledge Abduction” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9bwuhf “UFO Sightings That Remain Unexplained” by Austin Harvey for All That’s Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8wn67f ===== (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®...
1 hour 6 mins
12 February Finished