The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society

Jimmy Stewart stars in “Mission Completed,” an episode of Suspense about a veteran whose experiences in a Japanese POW camp left him paralyzed. When he sees the face of his former captor working across the street, his strength begins to return. Will he get the revenge he has longed for? Can he keep his newfound health a secret? What does Admiral Ackbar think of Colt 45? Listen for yourself and fin...

We’re listening to another episode of Mystery Playhouse , a series which repurposed other shows (in this case Inner Sanctum Mystery ) for the Armed Forces Network ! This story, “Murder Comes at Midnight,” depicts a woman at home alone with her child when when a dangerous stranger shows up at her door, nursing a broken arm. Why is her husband so late getting home? Who will prevail in their battle o...

We’ve been listening to a lot of Lucille Fletcher -penned stories lately, and this week we check out an episode she wrote for The Clock , “Bad Dreams!” A Hungarian husband who has just immigrated to America with his wife begins suffering from terrible dreams of imprisonment and death. Why is he suddenly tormented by these nightmares? Will they ruin his ability to work and support himself and his w...

UPDATE: The date we give for the episode’s initial broadcast is incorrect! The actual date was March 9, 1953 and was rebroadcast on November 23, 1953. This week’s visit to our Listener Library features an episode of Hall of Fantasy , “The Masks of Ashor,” recommended to us by Clarence! Thanks, Clarence! A couple receives two gold masks as a gift from a relative traveling through Istanbul. They soo...

Horror icon Boris Karloff made a handful of appearances on Lights Out and this week, we’re listening to a peculiar example, “The Dream!” Templeton Fox joined Karloff for this story of a man who never dreams suddenly experiencing strange visions both in his sleep and while awake! What is the source of these horrific imaginings? What end are these dreams driving him toward? Is this a story written b...

We pulled this episode of The Shadow from our Listener Library, recommended to us by Chris. Thanks, Chris! In “The Circle of Death,” the Shadow plays a dangerous game, manipulating the police in his hunt for a madman who is terrorizing the city! Will the Shadow’s plan lead to disaster? Is the Shadow really just a voice in someone else’s head? Who are the enigmatic powerful theater moguls presiding...

We follow up last week with another episode written by Lucille Fletcher ! This time we are listening to “Remodeled Brownstone” from Columbia Workshop . While her husband renovates their newly purchased Victorian home, a woman fears that their brownstone is haunted by a ghostly child. Is she simply imagining this spirit? How much renovation does it take to completely change a home? How on earth did...

Our thanks to Scott for this week’s visit to the Listener Library! Scott recommended an episode of Suspense entitled, “Fugue in C Minor!” Vincent Price and Ida Lupino star in this story written by Lucille Fletcher about a woman whose widowed suitor lives in a home built around an enormous pipe organ. She soon discovers that his children believe their mother haunts the house after their father murd...

Can you solve the mystery in this episode of The Adventures of Ellery Queen ? This week, we’re listening to “The Adventure of the World Series Crime,” a story of baseball sabotage and the disappearance of a very special bat! This time, famed detective Ellery Queen only has three hours to find the culprit! Will he find the lost bat in time to restore the Eagles’ chances in the World Series? Wait, t...

It’s time for another visit to the Listener Library! “Til Death Do Us Part” is an episode of Inner Sanctum recommended to us by Marc. Thanks, Marc! In this tale, a couple’s honeymoon is cut short when they witness a murder! Soon the newlyweds are on the run and making desperate decisions. Just how bad can their honeymoon get? How long can Mr. Host continue to say things that sound like jokes, with...

Happy Father’s Day! We’re celebrating with a paternally themed episode of Quiet Please , entitled, “My Son John.” A doting father aches for the return of his son who has been lost overseas. In his desperation, he turns to the occult, but soon discovers, “there’s always a catch.” Will what he finds truly be his son? Will his love for his child carry him past the point of no return? Do we have any a...

This week, we listen to an episode of Obsession entitled “The Silver Cord,” in which a young woman longs to leave home. But an overbearing matriarch is determined to keep her near. Soon, a dark secret forever changes the bond that connects the two of them. Will the young woman ever escape to begin a new life? Why does the older woman find lightning storms so entertaining? Would this have been impr...

We’re paying another visit to our Listener Library! This time we’re checking out “The Golem,” an episode of CBS Radio Mystery Theater recommended to us by our mysterious listener, Clare! (Thanks, Clare!) This World War II-era tale features a married couple who must choose between protecting their own family and sheltering a young Jewish woman and her grandfather. As the story unfolds, the grandfat...

This week, we listen to an episode of X Minus One , “The Cave of Night,” which tells the story of messages sent from an astronaut trapped in orbit. Presented as an unfinished news report, this unique tale depicts the world’s desperate attempt to rescue the man before his oxygen runs out! Can they reach this brave explorer’s ship in time? How does the story compare to genuine historic events that f...

This week’s installment features another visit to our listener library with an episode of Favorite Story , recommended to us by our mysterious listener, Tim (author of numerous books including Radio by the Book: Adaptations of Literature and Fiction on the Airwaves )! In this case, the series is presenting Fred Allen’s “favorite story,” an adaptation of “Frankenstein.” How will this version of the...

The Society is finally paying another visit to The Hermit’s Cave ! This episode, entitled “The House on Lost Man’s Bluff,” tells the story of a husband, wife, and her brother on a road trip. But when the weather turns stormy, the trio is forced to take shelter in an abandoned house. Once inside, a sinister plan begins to unfold! Why would the husband return to this house a second time? Why has he...

This visit to the Listener Library features an episode recommended to us by two listeners! Both Moses and Ethan suggested we check out “The Outsider” from the 1960s-era series, The Black Mass ! Erik Bauersfeld (who provided the voices for both Admiral Ackbar and Bib Fortuna ) adapted, performed, and produced this version of H.P. Lovecraft’s classic short story in which an unnamed protagonist strug...

For this episode we return to The Weird Circle for a tale entitled “The Red Hand,” in which a young French woman discovers her husband hides a terrible secret that could lead to her death! Will she and her maid successfully disguise themselves and escape the peril they face? Doesn’t The Weird Circle usually do adaptations of literary works? What is dark secret behind Tim’s decision to bring this p...

This week features another episode of Suspense from our Listener Library! Mark recommended we check out “Pigeon in the Cage,” starring Lloyd Bridges as a wallpaper hanger who finds himself trapped in a house where a murder plot is underway. Will the killers find him before he can escape? Can he keep his wits about him in the worst of situations? How did he memorize all those different wallpapers?...

In honor of the recent April Fool’s Day, we’re indulging in a more comedic episode of The Mysterious Traveler ! The story features a young man traveling to join his fiancée. En route, he discovers the ghost of a hobo lurking inside his trailer. As this spirit makes himself at home, happily revealing all the tricks of hauntings, his presence begins to threaten his host’s plans for the future. Can t...

Hot on the heels of last week’s episode of The Shadow , we’re listening to another episode of The Shadow ! This time we’ve drawn an episode from our Listener Library, “Out of this World,” written by Alfred Bester and recommended to us by David. Thanks David! This particular production was recorded in Australia and the story features Lamont and Margot investigating a string of murders that may have...

We’re listening to the very first episode of The Shadow to celebrate our 125th tale of crime, suspense, and horror! “The Death House Rescue” stars Orson Welles and features the first appearance of Margot Lane ! An innocent man get swept up with a robbery that puts him on death row, but the Shadow intends to see that the real criminals are punished. What forgotten clue will trip up the culprits? Do...

We’re listening to another installment from our Listener Library, a story recommended to us by you, our Mysterious Listeners! Kate suggested this episode of The Whistler entitled “Death Wears a White Robe!”A nasty feud between two women comes to a head when they share a cabin for their winter vacation. Soon accusations of scandal become threats of murder. Which woman has the sharper insults? What...

We’re listening to “ The Lottery ,” an adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s famous tale of a village’s distinctive annual tradition presented by NBC Presents: Short Story . In this classic parable, all the families in town gather together to draw lots as part of a time-honored celebration to guarantee a bountiful harvest. Which family will draw the paper with the black spot? How does this adaptation co...

This week’s episode was based on a suggestion by Matt, who inspired us to listen to “The Long Night” from Suspense . Frank Lovejoy stars in this tense tale of an air traffic controller trying to guide a lost and inexperienced pilot to a safe landing. Can he steel his own nerves enough to not panic the man in the plane? When your engine is dying, could you trust your plane to fly itself? Do you rec...