Creepy Old Time Radio for Spooky Day
For a huge part of my childhood, I only had an AM radio, so I grew up listening to tons of old time radio as a kid. I loved being able to use my imagination to bring the stories to life. My brother and I would use our old tape recorder to make our own recordings. Now, with the internet, it’s easier than ever to find the best of the best. And there’s no better time than Halloween for spooky, spine chilling stories by the masters, adapted into the theater of the mind. I’m going to focus on straight horror here, but there are abundant comedy, western, and procedural shows that all had their share of scary season episodes.
Show: Suspense
The House in Cypress Canyon
A realtor finds an odd manuscript in an unfinished house in Cypress Canyon. He reads the yarn to a coworker and it tells the tale of a couple moving into their dream house to find its not all it’s cracked up to be.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1QofXCRXBSDZuEva7E3z7T
Ghost Hunt
Kind of an OG “found footage” tale with your typical “radio host in a haunted house” tale. The title might give you an indication of what he finds. Great foley work here and a well written twist.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hKjjEIwzxC0PGlz0ak9er?si=63qHyxUpSSipepcMYFGSCg
The Hitchhiker
Orson Welles tells the story of a man’s journey across country by car and his inability to escape the mysterious hitchhiker he keeps seeing along the way.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2svjwsglvD6Uks9u5UOpjq?si=Q9jfQKyeTi-yHVkG6fcZBQ
Show: Lights Out!
Murder Castle
One of the first adaptations of the true story of prolific killer H.H. Holmes. Clearly takes some liberties, but nonetheless terrifying if for no reason other reason than it’s based in fact.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4fnQM5TnjzfIU1n7G6sESR?si=Efxjje6yRmK21n59jNt9FA
Knock at the Door
When Ella’s wonderful husband brings his wretched mother to live with them unannounced, it’s enough to drive her insane… to murder. But even the peace she feels after taking care of the old lady is interrupted by a knock at the door during dinner….
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3R8Tk5067MxXifSVsWsgC4?si=hlNyuD8VQJi8eDWAU1xZWg
Show: Escape!
Three Skeleton Key
Three men are manning a lighthouse in South America when a derelict ship crashes on the rocks releasing tens of thousands of ravenous rats upon the shore. What will take them first, hungry rats or madness?
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hDCUxd6YjAV3p0zCxEhsx
Abominable Snowman
Men go searching for the yeti and unfortunately for them, it finds them. The sounds for the yeti are fantastic.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3dYMx27IegMpvEuurQfoml?si=1eU5-IiiRke8yWLLYWT4iA
Show: The Whistler
Death Comes at Midnight
A man has a nightmare that he will die tomorrow at midnight. He sets out to keep that dream from becoming a reality.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/110hkPMc507wM1HbqWdjxe?si=riGU26IkTS6h8zISguXuHw
Show: Mercury Theater On the Air
War of the Worlds
Perhaps the most famous old time radio broadcast of all time, mostly due to the alleged panic it caused for late comers who believed it was authentic. Still holds up as a genius presentation of a classic science fiction tale. Oh yeah… Mars invades… blah, blah, blah…
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3rLnmPqWtFxxgLbu0jotve?si=zz3XwJlVRxOO63sWgApxrw
