Old-Time Radio Theme Month, Day 31: "The Demon Tree"

Happy Halloween!

Today I close my theme month with another episode of Scott Bishop's Dark Fantasy, this time "the Demon Tree" from December 5, 1941. This program features a tree which is not simply a living thing, but a moving, vengeful, killing thing as well!

You can download a copy of this radio show from archive.org here.

Thank you for indulging my interest in old-time radio; I hope I've exposed you to some quality shows over the course of this month; perhaps I'll feature more programs in the future.

Old-Time Radio Theme Month, Day 30: "The Headless Dead"

With Halloween almost upon us, I've saved the last two days for an unusual program: Dark Fantasy. This odd series featured no major talents in any sense (every episode written by Scott Bishop and usually cast with the same players) and ranged in tone from gentle fables (ie, a man possessed by a ghost solves the problem of an inheritance), to all-out horror (werewolves and mad scientists)!

What have I selected for you today? All-out horror, naturally! I give you "the Headless Dead," from January 23, 1942. A visitor to an old cathedral accidentally happens upon a choir of headless men. There's only way they'll allow him to live... if you can call it living...

You can download a copy of this radio show from archive.org here.

Old-Time Radio Theme Month, Day 29: "Tanglefoot"

Having visited an obscene spider, why not an obscene fly? The Quiet Please episode "Tanglefoot" from June 4, 1949 concerns a man with a pet fly. Harmless as a fly, you may suppose? Not when your fly has grown to a ludicrous size.

You can download a copy of this radio show from archive.org here.

Old-Time Radio Theme Month, Day 28: "Mars is Heaven"

I think Ray Bradbury's "Mars is Heaven" is one of his best short stories, it's a terrific thriller. However, this is a rare case where the adaptation outdoes the original, in my opinion; when the tale was adapted to Dimension X on January 7, 1951. This version includes an extra character, a doctor who was in Dachau as a child and has tried to bury his past. When the rest of the explorers on Mars discover their deceased loved ones now live on the red planet, the doctor is the one man who has no one to meet him.

You can download a copy of this radio show from archive.org here.

Old-Time Radio Theme Month, Day 27: "Evening Primrose"

John Collier wrote many sly tales with occasional diversions into the realm of fantasy, but less frequently ventured into the weird. Such a weird tale is "Evening Primrose," a somewhat notorious tale beloved by some, derided by others. I feel the Escape adaptation from November 5, 1947 is top drawer entertainment.

A frustrated poet decides to live inside a department store to allow himself the freedom to explore his art. However, the store turns out to be populated by many refugees who can't handle the outside world; to live amongst them, the poet must adapt to their rules. Matters are complicated when he falls in love with a fellow outcast.

You can download a copy of this radio show from archive.org here.

Old-Time Radio Theme Month, Day 26: "My Son John"

Resuming a look at the great monsters of horror stories, we come to vampires as Dracula himself is referenced in this episode of Quiet Please. "My Son John" (broadcast November 28, 1948) studies a lonely man who wishes to bring his dead son back to life. By turning to the occult, his wish is granted, but he soon has reason to regret it; his son isn't the same person he remembered, especially as he's now a vampire. It's a macabre story which doesn't play by the vampire "rules" you might be familiar with; it's even a little funny.

You can download a copy of this radio show from archive.org here.

Old-Time Radio Theme Month, Day 25: "Spider"

Arch Oboler's Lights Out often demonstrated how one could be economical with actors, yet effective at building terror. "Spider," from June 8, 1938, casts just two men, but their dialogue carries all the horror required. In this tale, these men have ventured into the jungle to capture butterflies for money when they find a spider "as big as a dog." This could be a valuable discovery, they assume; however, while it's possible to capture the spider, holding it is another matter.

You can download a copy of this radio show from archive.org here.