The Late Late Horror Show

BONUS: MURDER CASTLE 1938 H.G. WELLS LIGHTS OUT OTR

“Murder Castle” — An especially chilling episode, “Murder Castle” is unique because it’s based on the true story of H. H. Holmes — the mass murderer who haunted Chicago during the time of the 1893 world’s fair. The story was made famous more recently by Erik Larson’s book,The Devil in the White City. This particular dramatization features a young woman, Ella Malone, who’s been picked up by police, and is muttering the word “revenge” over and over and over again. We then cut to a gentleman, Henry Stewart, who is interviewing a series of prospective housemaids and nurses who are promised a job, but ultimately have gone missing…Ms. Malone has an idea of what might be going on, and tries to dig deeper into the mystery all on her own. The menace in Stewart’s voice is masterfully done over the airwaves, and hard to convey in mere words on the internet. Give it a listen for yourself, if you dare.

BONUS: SORRY WRONG NUMBER 1943 SUSPENCE OTR HORROR SHOW

“Sorry, Wrong Number” — This episode of Suspense was its most popular and successful, eventually being not just re-aired, but re-performed seven times after its original premiere in 1943. It’s a fairly simple tale of a woman trying to call her husband’s office at night to check in and find out when he’s coming home. The telephone switchboard wires get crossed somehow and she ends up listening in on a conversation she definitely should not be hearing. There are some unintended consequences, and this story has another ending that will leave you a little bit shocked.

BONUS: GHOST HUNT 1949 SUSPENCE OTR PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION

“Ghost Hunt” — This particular broadcast set the stage for the genre of “found footage” horror that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Airing in 1949, “Ghost Hunt” features the “found” recording of radio personality Smiley Smith’s night in a haunted house. Mr. Smith is recording the audio of his evening spent in the home with a paranormal investigator, and at one point even tells his audience to listen with the lights off. (I did no such thing.) You can guess what Mr. Smith encounters based on the title, but it has a twist ending that I guarantee you won’t see coming.

BONUS: TANGLEFOOT 1949 QUIET PLEASE OTR GIANT FLY INSECT

“Tanglefoot” — A tale that deals with the classic horror niche of giant insects. A plumber finds a way of growing a common fly to giant proportions. It’s cute at first, as a pet, but as you can imagine, things get out of hand quickly. Some of the sound effects are so realistic, I had to actually do a double take that they weren’t coming from my house. The eerie music also provides some extra goosebumps and shivers. Don’t worry though, you can blame it on the cool night air.

BONUS: THE THING ON THE FOURBLE BOARD 1948 QUIET PLEASE OTR

“The Thing On the Fourble Board” — This episode that aired in August of 1948 is widely regarded as the finest piece of radio horror to ever hit the airwaves. It starts fairly slowly, with a man, Porky, describing working on an oil derrick. His friend comes to join him for some pork chops, and they discover … something … that’s come up from a mile below the earth. I listened to this during the very middle of the day, and I still got goosebumps. It features perhaps the most chilling “voice” you’ll ever hear.

EPISODE 3: WE TALK ISLAND OF LOST SOULS 1932 BELA LUGOSI DOCTOR MOREAU

A twisted treasure from Hollywood’s pre-Code horror heyday, Island of Lost Souls is a cautionary tale of science run amok, adapted from H. G. Wells’s novel The Island of Dr. Moreau. In one of his first major movie roles, Charles Laughton is a mad doctor conducting ghastly genetic experiments on a remote island in the South Seas, much to the fear and disgust of the shipwrecked man (Richard Arlen) who finds himself trapped there. This touchstone of movie terror, directed by Erle C. Kenton, features expressionistic photography by Karl Struss, groundbreaking makeup effects that have inspired generations of monster-movie artists, and the legendary Bela Lugosi in one of his most gruesome roles.

BONUS: HOUSE IN CYPRESS CANYON 1946 SUSPENSE HORROR

A young couple is new to the LA area, and needs a house to rent. They stop by a realtor’s office, find a place they like, and move in. All seems well, until they find a locked closet that has no key. They write it off, but in the middle of the night they hear noises, seemingly emanating from this closet. After closer inspection… and that’s where I’ll stop and let you listen to this episode.

EPISODE 1: TALKING MONSTER MOVIES

TALKING MONSTER MOVIES. ENJOY.