The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society

Our Listener Library series is being put on hold this week because the Society is celebrating the birthday of H.P. Lovecraft by listening to his story “The Dunwich Horror” as adapted by Suspense ! (If you are a fan of the man, might we suggest checking out the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival ?) Dark sorcery is underway in the wild hills of rural New England! Can Professor Armitage thwart this profane...

We continue with our Listener Library series, catching up on recommendations from our listeners! This week, we check out “The Wardrobe Trunk” from NBC’s Radio City Playhouse , suggested to us by Jake! A small-time criminal finds himself in over his head and scrutinized by a threatening traveling companion. Can this desperate criminal elude the law? Does anything draw attention to yourself like not...

Our thanks to Keara who recommended this story from the series, Escape ! This unusual tale is based on a short story by Robert Smythe Hichens and the production features the singular talents of the Man of a Thousand Voices, Paul Frees as the parrot. After a psychologist strikes up an unlikely friendship with a priest, the doctor finds himself being tormented by a strange invisible creature, which...

This week the Society listens to a suggestion from Abby, who told us about an episode of Crime Classics ! This series blends dark comedy and historical tales of true crime. In this episode, a German ne’er-do-well finds himself accused of four murders and he may not want to prove himself innocent. During the discussion afterwards, Tim makes a ridiculous claim that he found a link to the actual stor...

Our Summer Serial concludes with the shocking resolution to “The Thing That Cries in the Night” from I Love a Mystery ! (Coming late to the series? Listen to Parts 1–3 , Parts 4–6 , Parts 7–9 , and then Parts 10–12 !) Jack claims to know who is responsible for terrorizing the Martin family, but he won’t reveal what he suspects until he has undeniable proof. Can you figure out the solution before t...

Things are looking dire for the Martin Family as the Society races toward the climax of “The Thing That Cries in the Night” from I Love a Mystery ! Join us for the penultimate episode of our Summer Serial! (Coming late to the series? Listen to Parts 1–3 , Parts 4–6 , and then Parts 7–9 !) After a second murder Jack, Reggie, and Doc continue their investigation into the inexplicable deaths! Who was...

It’s time for the next installment of our Summer Serial! Join us as we follow Jack, Reggie, and Doc into the heart of “The Thing That Cries in the Night” from I Love a Mystery ! (Coming late to the series? Listen to Parts 1–3 and then Parts 4–6 !) ! The Martin family are under siege by seemingly supernatural forces, and Jack gathers everyone for a shocking revelation! Why does grandma insist on ar...

“The Thing That Cries in the Night” continues! The Society’s Summer Serial is underway with these episodes from I Love a Mystery ! (Coming late to the series? Listen to Parts 1–3 !) Jack, Reggie, and Doc meet the rest of the Martin family and soon they again hear the strange cry of an infant, even though there is no baby in the house! Why would anyone think the burning personal letters in the midd...

The Society returns from our break to launch our Summer Serial, as we investigate all 15 episode of “The Thing That Cries in the Night” from Carleton E. Morse’s I Love a Mystery ! Jack, Reggie, and Doc fly into Burbank only to be swept up into another mystery involving an aristocratic family plagued by a creeping, unhealthy menace. What threat lurks in the home of the Martin family? Who is slashin...

Put your seats in the upright and locked position because the Society is ready to take off with this week’s installment, an episode of Dark Fantasy entitle “Spawn of the Sub Human!” A famed singer finds her flight haunted by memories of the past. Her ultimate destination will prove to be completely unexpected. Is her journey a powerful metaphor for anxiety? Is this episode more bizarre than Northe...

This week, the Society discovers the original found footage horror story, “Ghost Hunt,” recommended to us in an iTunes review! Our thanks to Filmbuf104! This episode of Suspense  features  Ralph Edwards , the creator of such classic shows as “Truth or Consequences” and “This is Your Life.” In the story, DJ Smiley Smith dares to record a night spent in a house known as the Deathtrap. Will he find a...

The Society pays a visit to Cabin B13 to hear one of Dr. Fabian’s dark mysteries! John Dickson Carr created the series and provided its ingenious scripts. In this story, entitled “The Sleep of Death,” a young suitor dares to spend the night in the deadly Tapestry Room to win the hand of his beloved. What horror kills those who dare to sleep in this room? Do all eccentric Hungarian counts play the...

The stage is set for this week’s episode, “Broadway, Here I Come!” Our thanks to Ryan who suggested that we feature another story written by Robert A. Arthur (we’ve already heard his work with The Good Die Young and his adaptation of Return Trip ). We’re happy to oblige with this creepy episode of The Sealed Book . Will the young lovers successfully get to New York? Will their crimes catch up with...

Have your ticket ready for a bus ride with madness! The Society has discovered Murder by Experts , in which an author recommends a story by a different different author which is then hosted by John Dickson Carr , yet another author! This episode, “Return Trip,” tells the story of four people on a bus, one of whom may be an insane killer! Can you guess who is not what they appear to be? Who will su...

Thank you to Keara who suggested that we listen to this episode of Suspense entitled “To Find Help,” featuring Ethel Barrymore and Gene Kelly. A woman hires a young man to clean her house, but soon discovers something strange and threatening about his behavior. Will she be able to survive his visit to her home? Did anyone mention how strong Gene Kelly’s hands are? Is there more to the ending than...

This week, the Society is listening to the nightmarish sound of “The Screaming Skull” from the enigmatic series, Theatre 10:30 . This adaptation of Francis Marion Crawford’s short story tells the tale of a husband and wife whose deaths leave behind a mysterious skull and a blood-chilling legend. Is that screaming sound just the wind? Can a dinner conversation go so badly that it leads to a lifetim...

Once again the Society strolls down the Hall of Fantasy for this adaptation of E. Nesbit’s “ Man Size in Marble .” A young couple moves into a small village and encounters two ominous statues in the local church. Is there any truth to the grim legend surrounding these sculptures? Do two people really need a maid so badly? What does it sound like when Minnesotans disagree with each other? Listen fo...

Thank you to Lionel for recommending “The Man Who Sold His Soul” from the South African series Beyond Midnight ! This story explains the strange stain eight feet off the ground on the wall of an abandoned ruin in an Irish countryside. It is the tale of Sir Dominic, a wastrel nobleman who strikes a diabolical bargain. Is there any hope for his redemption? Will your pants fly off at midnight? Do you...

Lucille Ball is keeping the Society in Suspense ! Before her career as the zany Queen of Comedy, she played a cold, ambitious manipulator in “A Shroud for Sarah.” Will her plotting backfire? How simple does a crime have to be before the police are willing to investigate it? How many times does a husband need to be shot by his wife before considering couples counseling? Listen for yourself and find...

The society attends a masquerade with this episode of The Haunting Hour entitled “Murder Wears a Strange Mask”! A costume party turns into a murder mystery and everyone is a suspect. At midnight the masks come off and the culprit will be discovered! Can you figure out who the killer is before the police arrive? Why does everyone insist on poking at all the evidence and trying to solve the crime be...

According to the Society’s clock, it’s time for CBS Radio Mystery Theater ! Host E. G. Marshall presents “Hickory Dickory Doom,” the disturbing tale of an antique timepiece that holds a monstrous secret! Why is the air inside the clock always cold? How many psychics and occult specialists can this family fit in their house? What should you do if a random stranger barges into your home and climbs i...

This week, The Mysterious Traveler left the Society squirming with a disturbing tale entitled “The Good Die Young.” A malevolent child takes her jealous attempts to sabotage her new mother to dangerous extremes. Will the girl’s father see what’s happening before it’s too late? How old does a person have to be to use the word “shan’t”? Why would anyone keep carbolic acid in their medicine cabinet?...

Macabre wasn’t one of the best known series from the golden age of radio, but its odd origins contribute to some remarkable results. This week the Society has a chance to reflect on “The Man in the Mirror,” in which a man strikes a supernatural deal to escape death. Just how the heck are you supposed to pronounce “macabre”? What can an amateur show accomplish that professionals wouldn’t even think...

The Society returns to the Inner Sanctum for an episode requested by one of our listeners! Song of the Slasher features a hard-boiled detective hunting for a killer who whistles a unique tune. How many twist can they cram into this story? Do creepy threats of violence put you in the mood for some Lipton Tea? Are there any actual puns in this episode? Listen for yourself and find out!

Happy Valentine’s Day! If you’re feeling a little tingle running through your skin, it could be love. Or it could be ants. This week we are happy to welcome Joshua’s wife, Adrienne English Scrimshaw, as our special guest. She’s brought us an episode of Escape entitled “Leiningen Versus the Ants,” based on the short story by Carl Stephenson . Can the power of William Conrad’s voice withstand an uns...