Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, Supernatural, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved

“The Bitter Lake” by Alara Ullah, age 11 “The Stone Hill” by Harrison Van Middelem, Age 10 Tell your friends about Micro Terrors – and find more family-friendly frights and creepy games to play on our website - http://MicroTerrors.com! And be sure to subscribe to the podcast at https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrors! Visit our website: https://MicroTerrors.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/microterrors Other stories, novels, and more from author Scott Donnelly: https://amzn.to/3LymHaU Other narrations, podcasts, and audiobooks from voice artist Darren Marlar: https://WeirdDarkness.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Weird Darkness®, 2023. Weird Darkness©, 2024 “Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids”™ 2024 https://weirddarkness.com/the-bitter-lake-and-the-stone-hill-microterrors/

This is a Fireside Frights episode where all of the stories are sent in by you, the listeners of Weird Darkness. Plus, in these episodes I strip away all of the music, sound effects, and other fancy audio production… it’s just you, me, this campfire, and your stories. Send in your own true stories at https://weirddarkness.com/submit“Strange Superstitions of the Stage” episode I referred to: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2py62wmu= = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = =https://weirddarkness.com/firesidefrights-volume-31 Originally aired: May 03, 2024

Get full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp eBooks, and old-time radio shows ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD by emailing WeirdDarkness@RadioArchives.com! By the mid 1950s, science fiction had largely fallen into a familiar pattern, regardless of medium. When fans tuned into the radio or caught the latest science fiction movie, they either encountered space opera adventures or fare aimed largely at a juvenile audience. Only in magazines such as Astounding Science Fiction and Galaxy were stories grounded firmly in science fiction being told with mature themes aimed at character development, true literature taking off to the stars. The debut of X Minus One in April 1955 changed that on radio, making this program not only the best of its type, but in many ways one of the only shows from Radio’s Golden Age to present science fiction for a well-rounded adult audience. It is an often debated point among experts and fans as to whether or not X Minus One was simply a new season of Dimension X, a program that ran on NBC in 1950-51, or a revival of sorts of this previous show. The latter is probably more accurate since the first 15 episodes of X Minus One were new productions of Dimension X episodes. What makes X Minus One stand out, however, is the fact that the remaining programs were actually adaptations of works from two of the best science fiction magazines of the period. NBC staff writers, primarily Ernest Kinoy and George Lefferts, scoured the pages of Astounding Science Fiction and then later Galaxy Magazine for tales that would thrill and chill their listeners, aiming most assuredly at the more sophisticated science fiction fans. Stories penned by noted science fiction and genre authors such as Philip K. Dick, Robert Heinlein, Frederik Pohl, and Isaac Asimov, and many others found themselves expertly adapted for radio over the program’s nearly three-year run. Listen to X Minus One and rocket to new heights of top-notch science fiction old time radio! 00:00:00.000 = INTRODUCTION 00:01:54.470 = The Embassy (July 28, 1955) 00:25:49.998 = The Veldt (August 04, 1955) 00:49:44.039 = Almost Human (August 11, 1955) 01:13:13.099 = Courtesy (August 18, 1955) 01:36:44.580 = Cold Equation (August 25, 1955) 02:00:18.990 = Shanghaied (September 01, 1955) 02:23:11.605 = The Martian Death March (September 08, 1955) 02:46:33.950 = The Castaways (September 15, 1955) 03:08:36.379 = The Moon Be Still As Bright (September 22, 1955) 03:32:25.135 = First Contact (October 06, 1955) 03:55:03.177 = Child’s Play (October 20, 1955) 04:18:08.170 = Requiem (October 27, 1055) 04:41:50.103 = Hello, Tomorrow (November 03, 1955) SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS… This episode is sponsored by http://RadioArchives.com Weird Darkness Retro Radio theme by Storyblocks. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 Find out how to escape eternal darkness at https://weirddarkness.com/eternaldarkness WeirdDarkness® - is a registered trademark. Copyright, Weird Darkness, 2024. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/xminusone-marathon-011

IN THIS EPISODE: When you hear the words “UFO crash” you likely think of Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. And while that is the most famous of supposed extraterrestrial spaceship crashes, it is by no means the first. In fact, there were several taking place before Roswell became a household name. (UFO Crashes Before Roswell) *** But first – we’ll take a look at Roswell itself… and what might have been behind the crash, the UFOs, and the aliens! (Behind Roswell’s Aliens) *** Numerous travelers have gone missing in Nahanni Valley… and many whose bodies have been found, have been decapitated. It’s no wonder it has been nicknamed “The Valley of Headless Men”. (The Valley of Headless Men) *** In 2016, construction in a San Francisco family’s backyard unearthed a terrifying find… a glass coffin. And the history behind it tells a morbid history of the city. (The Karner’s Backyard Glass Coffin) *** Former Green Beret Jeffrey MacDonald claimed that a gang of acid-crazed Manson Family copycats brutally murdered his pregnant wife and two daughters in 1970, but then he was found guilty. Did he commit the crime, or did the law convict the wrong man? (The Evil Deeds of Jeffrey MacDonald) *** It’s understood that scientifically, alchemy – attempting to turn a substance or element into gold – is impossible. But then, there is that one incident that took place in the early seventeenth century that has some people wondering if that’s wrong. (The Alchemy Master) APPROXIMATE TIME STAMPS… 00:00.00.000 = Introduction/Show Open 00:04:24.392 = Behind Roswell’s Aliens / UFO Crashes Before Roswell 00:22:26.053 = The Valley of Headless Men 00:36:00.736 = The Karner’s Backyard Glass Coffin 00:48:35.739 = The Evil Deeds of Jeffrey MacDonald 00:59:14.839 = The Alchemy Master 01:08:11.195 = BLOOPERS SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Behind Roswell’s Aliens” by Adam Janos for History.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yd5fhudu “UFO Crashes Before Roswell” from Anomalien.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2w6d76yh “The Valley of Headless Men” by Aleksa Vuckovic for Ancient-Origins.net: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9c6zf4 “The Evil Deeds of Jeffrey MacDonald” by Marco Margaritoff for AllThatsInteresting.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8eant7 “The Alchemy Master” by Ellen Lloyd for AncientPages.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4xzysbwc “The Karner’s Backyard Glass Coffin” by Trilby Beresford for Ranker.com’s Graveyard Shift:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3mpvk9jh Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: January, 2021 PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/ufo-crashes-before-roswell/

It’s #ThrillerThursday, and in this episode I have a short fictional horror story from E.F. Benson entitled simply, “Caterpillars.” YOUTUBE TIME STAMPS… 00:00.00.000 = Introduction/Show Open 00:01:43.124 = Caterpillars SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Caterpillars” by E.F. Benson: https://weirdfictionreview.com/2013/06/caterpillars/ Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: May 02, 2024 TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/caterpillars-by-e-f-benson/

Get full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp eBooks, and old-time radio shows ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD by emailing WeirdDarkness@RadioArchives.com! A creaking door and a chorus of haunting organ music. No radio show opening is more memorable for many fans than the one heard on Inner Sanctum Mysteries. This disturbing simple salvo led people into thirty minutes of suspense and horror sprinkled with puns from a creepy host, all of which can now be heard again in sparkling audio quality from Radio Archives. Inner Sanctum Mysteries was the brainchild of producer Himan Brown, inspired by the unsettling creaking door in the basement of a studio where he once worked. Brown took that inspiration and built around it a formula that lived on beyond the show itself. Listeners tuned in every week to hear that door open and be welcomed by the sinister, yet often humorous host to join him in a chair near the fire inside the Inner Sanctum for a story sure to chill them to the bone. Stories on Inner Sanctum Mysteries originally included both classic and original tales, the new stories taking center stage as the show continued. With writers like pulp scribes Emile Tepperman and Robert Newman, as well as Robert Sloan, Milton Lewis, and others, it is little surprise that Inner Sanctum is still beloved by fans today. Utilizing numerous clichés and literary devices, Inner Sanctum Mysteries carried listeners into the heart of horror, a liberal dose of camp often thrown in. Using voices ranging from star Boris Karloff to a veteran crew of New York radio actors, Inner Sanctum set the standard for horror programs both on radio and even inspired decades of horror hosts on television. Inner Sanctum Mysteries features some of the best of fright, terror, and fantastic storytelling old time radio has to offer! YOUTUBE TIME STAMPS... 00:00:00.000 = INTRODUCTION 00:01:54.794 = Over My Dead Body (June 23, 1947) 00:26:33.106 = Till Death Do Us Part (October 27, 1947) 00:55:25.238 = Death Out Of Mind (December 29, 1947) 01:19:37.154 = Tempo In Blood (January 12, 1948) 01:44:00.097 = Magic Tile (March 08, 1948) 02:08:12.114 = Lady Killer (March 29, 1948)\ 02:32:40.929 = The Corpse Laughs Last (June 28, 1948) 02:58:18.135 = Death Demon (July 05, 1948) 03:28:00.959 = Eyes Of My Murderer (July 19, 1948) 03:53:29.093 = Murder Takes A Honeymoon (July 26, 1948) 04:17:39.242 = Murder Ship (August 02, 1948) 04:42:54.281 = House Of Doom: AFR Version (August 09, 1948) SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS… This episode is sponsored by http://RadioArchives.com Weird Darkness Retro Radio theme by Storyblocks. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 Find out how to escape eternal darkness at https://weirddarkness.com/eternaldarkness WeirdDarkness® - is a registered trademark. Copyright, Weird Darkness, 2024. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/innersanctum-marathon-010

It’s #ThrillerThursday and I’m sharing two stories with you this week. First up, what could possibly be creepy about an old set of eyeglasses? We’ll find out in the story “Ochelari”. Then, a great story from ‘Weirdling Woods’ author Jon Allen entitled, “Jennifer Love Hewitt Made Me Do It.” YOUTUBE TIME STAMPS… 00:00.00.000 = Introduction/Show Open 00:01:43.157 = Ochelari 00:15:17.329 = Jennifer Love Hewitt Made Me Do It SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Ochelari” by Ouroboros: https://www.creepypasta.com/ochelari/ “Jennifer Love Hewitt Made Me Do It” by Jon Allen: http://WriterJonAllen.com Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: January, 2021 PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/jennifer-love-hewitt-made-me-do-it/

IN THIS EPISODE: In the late 1950s, the Tuck family of Alabama found themselves at the center of a terrifying ordeal as mysterious fires spontaneously erupted in their home. Despite their best efforts to escape the flames, the fiery phenomenon followed them from one residence to another, consuming their possessions and leaving them homeless. We’ll look at this case and other similar ones where the seeming explanation is nothing short of paranormal. (Paranormal Flames) *** In the sleepy Kentish hamlet of Charing, a centuries-old mystery unfolds every May Day. As the clock strikes midnight, ghostly children emerge from their moss-encrusted graves, their ethereal feet dancing to the silent fiddle's tune. It’s all part of the "Night of the Dancing Feet." (Dancing After Death) *** Before his wife's murder in June 2009, Eli Weaver had numerous affairs with women he met through online dating sites, where he called himself an "Amish Stud." But only one mistress was willing to kill for him. (Eli Weaver, Amish Stud and Murderer) *** The American West evokes iconic images often seen in movies: bold adventures, noon shootouts, resolute sheriffs and marshals maintaining order, and the cavalry arriving just in time. However, the history of the Wild West, replete with myths and stereotypes, presents a more complex and sometimes disturbing reality about justice in that era. (Wild West Justice) *** On the morning of July 13, 1997, the body of Denise Johnson was discovered inside her burning childhood home in Kill Devil Hills, NC. Emergency responders quickly realized they weren't dealing with a simple arson, but a murder as well. Now, more than two decades later, the case remains unsolved. (The Unsolved Murder of Denise Johnson) *** Hachishakusama, often referred to as the "Japanese Slender Man," is a haunting figure from Japanese urban legends that rivals the terror of her American counterpart. While the Slender Man has gained a cult-like following and has even inspired real-life horror stories, Hachishakusama's tale is equally spine-chilling and capable of keeping you up at night. (The Japanese Slender Man) YOUTUBE TIME STAMPS… 00:00:00.000 = Introduction/Show Open 00:05:20.724 = Paranormal Flames 00:26:22.890 = The Unsolved Murder of Denise Johnson 00:40:03.507 = Dancing After Death (Night Of The Dancing Feet) 00:48:36.820 = Wild West Justice 00:58:36.687 = Eli Weaver, Amish Stud and Murderer 01:08:23.238 = The Japanese Slender Man SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… BOOK: “Ablaze – The Mysterious Fires of Spontaneous Human Combustion” by Larry E. Arnold: https://amzn.to/3Uqdhmz BOOK: “A Killing In Amish Country” by Gregg Olsen and Rebecca Morris: https://amzn.to/44wghmb “Paranormal Flames” source: Marcus Lowth at UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4eb8xht2 “The Unsolved Murder of Denise Johnson” source: Jacob Shelton at Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8t3b7p “Dancing After Death” by Ken DaSilva-Hill submitted directly to Weird Darkness and used with permission “Wild West Justice” source: Christy Box at Weird History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8db9vj “Eli Weaver, Amish Stud and Murderer” source: Hannah Reilly Holtz at AllThatsInteresting.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4jfmybjh “The Japanese Slender Man” source: Curry L Mitchell at ListVerse: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdd7fthz Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a...

Get full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp eBooks, and old-time radio shows ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD by emailing WeirdDarkness@RadioArchives.com! “I am the Whistler and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak!” Haunting stories of fate, dramas of crime, deception, and manipulation building to a sudden and shocking denouement...and, through it all, the sardonic, mocking laughter of — The Whistler! One of radio’s most memorable thriller anthologies, The Whistler was a west-coast favorite for over a decade but, despite two attempts to go nationwide, never was able to achieve the same success as a coast to coast feature. But for listeners across the western states served by the Signal Oil Company, the program’s eerie theme music opened a weekly window into the very darkest corners of the human soul. It was so popular, in fact, that Columbia Pictures produced eight second-feature films based on the concept, all but one of which starred Richard Dix. The Whistler himself was an omniscient narrator -- the voice of Fate itself, one might suggest, or perhaps of conscience. And his stories revolved around ordinary people, pushed by the pressures of daily life into taking drastic actions. Or perhaps a sudden circumstance, an unexpected twist of life’s path, suddenly placed these protagonists on a road leading inexorably to their own destruction. Greed, lust, and perfidy of every kind figure in the plots -- and when Fate inevitably catches up with these unfortunate, driven souls, The Whistler is always ready, at the very end, to see that the knife is properly twisted. Produced by George W. Allen, with hauntingly evocative musical scores by Wilbur Hatch, The Whistler was a prime outlet for the cream of Hollywood’s top radio performers - actors such as Wally Maher, Cathy and Elliott Lewis, Gerald Mohr, Lurene Tuttle, and Betty Lou Gerson, who emphasized skill over star power - as well as announcer Bill Forman in the title role, with Marvin Miller voicing the commercials. 00:00:00.000 = INTRODUCTION 00:01:54.231 = Panic (February 04, 1946) 00:31:23.901 = Murder In Haste (February 25, 1946) 01:00:53.363 = Decision (March 04, 1946) 01:30:21.771 = Boomerang (March 11, 1946) 01:59:51.049 = The Trigger Man (March 25, 1946) 02:29:20.311 = Three Times A Sinner (April 01, 1946) 02:58:47.786 = Terror Stricken (April 08, 1946) 03:28:16.398 = Smart Boy (April 15, 1946) 03:57:45.278 = The Waterford Case (April 22, 1946) 04:26:58.944 = The Judas Face (June 03, 1946) SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS… This episode is sponsored by http://RadioArchives.com Weird Darkness Retro Radio theme by Storyblocks. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 Find out how to escape eternal darkness at https://weirddarkness.com/eternaldarkness WeirdDarkness® - is a registered trademark. Copyright, Weird Darkness, 2024. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/whistler-marathon-012

Subscribe to Paranormality Magazine at https://weirddarkness.com/magazine. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:01:04.997 = “Mothman: From Comic Books to Conspiracies” 00:06:14.976 = “Florida’s Infamous I-4: Dubbed One of America’s Most Haunted Highways” by John Beal 00:07:56.374 = “Unearthing Lesser-Known UFO Incidents and Alien Encounters” 00:14:11.996 = “Zen and the Art of Ghost Hunting” by Kjersti Beth 00:20:39.246 = “Top Horror Destinations for Paranormal Enthusiasts” SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS… All stories originally published in Paranormality Magazine or website at https://weirddarkness.com/magazine Paranormality Magazine podcast theme by Alibi Music Library Background music by Nicolas Gasparini at http://www.thedarkpiano.com Narration by Darren Marlar at https://DarrenMarlar.com and https://WeirdDarkness.com ©Paranormality Magazine, 2024; ©Weird Darkness, 2024 Subscribe to Paranormality Magazine at https://weirddarkness.com/magazine. Paranormality Magazine is a collaborative endeavor driven by a deep passion for the mysterious, unexplained, and paranormal. We are captivated by the enigmatic realms and the individuals who shape this extraordinary community. Our mission is to delve into all things Fortean, embracing topics ranging from apparitions to extraterrestrial encounters, and exploring the diverse array of cryptid creatures in between. With a global team dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, we gather captivating stories, conduct insightful interviews, and provide up-to-date coverage on groundbreaking paranormal projects that are propelling our community forward. Curious to be a part of this extraordinary journey? Visithttps://paranormalitymag.com/about-us/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/mothman-from-comics-to-conspiracies/

IN THIS EPISODE: Tonight we’ll look at both the well-known and not-so-well known most haunted places in America. SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “America’s Most Haunted Places” by Troy Taylor and April Slaughter for AmericanHauntingsInk.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/582mh58k (used with permission) “America’s Not-So-Famous Haunted Houses” by Troy Taylor for AmericanHauntingsInk.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p979tsv (used with permission) Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: January, 2022 PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/americas-famous-and-not-so-famous-haunted-locations/

IN THIS EPISODE: Have you ever felt like something was off about someone you met? What if the truth was more bizarre than you could imagine - that aliens walk secretly among us, perfectly disguised? (Mimic In The Mirror) *** The short story “Eight O’Clock In The Morning” by Ray Nelson – the inspiration for the movie “They Live!” *** Left-handedness: once a mark of the devil, now a unique trait celebrated across the globe. From the Salem Witch Trials to modern-day challenges with spiral notebooks, left-handers have been forced to navigate a world designed for righties, despite the historical stigmas, surprising advantages, and the evolving recognition of left-handers in combat, culture, and commerce. (Left-Handers Are In League With The Devil) *** In the shadow of Switzerland's majestic Eiger mountain, 29-year-old Aidan Roche vanished without a trace during a solo hiking trip. Despite an unlocked campervan and one last eerie messages sent from the trail, his disappearance remained shrouded in mystery. Months later, a grim discovery brought more questions than answers. (The Disappearance of Aidan Roche) *** In the summer of 1948, a series of inexplicable fires ravaged the Willey farm near Macomb, Illinois, destroying the family's home and barns. Despite the efforts of local authorities and the U.S. Air Force, no logical explanation could be found for the hundreds of mysterious blazes that seemed to start spontaneously. At the center of this baffling case was 13-year-old Wanet McNeil, whose alleged confession to arson left many unconvinced. Was Wanet truly responsible? Could she have been starting the fires with her mind? (The Macomb Firestarter) *** In 1991, 63-year-old Vasile Gorgos left his home in Romania to visit a cattle market and never returned, leaving his family to believe he had met a tragic fate. But 30 years later, Vasile shocked everyone when he mysteriously reappeared, wearing the same clothes as the day he vanished and carrying an unused train ticket from 1991 in his pocket. With no memory of where he'd been for three decades, Vasile's strange case has left people wondering if his disappearance could be tied to supernatural phenomena like portals, alien abduction, or shifts in time and space itself. (The Mysterious Vanishing of Vasile Gorgos) SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Eight O’Clock In The Morning” by Ray Nelson: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mu7tmynm “Mimic In The Mirror” source: Sean Casteel at Spectral Vision: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckjpyz8 BOOK: “Mimics – The Others Among Us” by Sean Casteel and Tim R. Swartz: https://amzn.to/3Ws07IJ BOOK: “Sky Crash Throughout Time (A Cosmic Conspiracy)” by Philip Kinsella and Brenda Butler: https://amzn.to/3WlE2v2 “Left-Handers Are In League With The Devil” source: Baiily Benningfield at Ranker’s Graveyard Shift:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8acbdh “The Disappearance of Aidan Roche” source: Strange Outdoors: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mrxvj87r “The Macomb Firestarter” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5n7dbzmh (used with permission)“The Mysterious Vanishing of Vasile Gorgos” source: Marcus Lowth at UFO Insight:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/jxztu8nd Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: April 30, 2024 PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/aliens-among-us/

Get full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp eBooks, and old-time radio shows ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD by emailing WeirdDarkness@RadioArchives.com! One of the most popular radio shows in history, “The Shadow” went on the air in August of 1930. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" The opening lines of the "Detective Story" program captivated listeners and are instantly recognizable even today. Originally the narrator of the series of macabre tales, the eerie voice known as The Shadow became so popular to listeners that "Detective Story" was soon renamed "The Shadow," and the narrator became the star of the old-time mystery radio series, which ran until 1954. A figure never seen, only heard, the Shadow was an invincible crime fighter. He possessed many gifts which enabled him to overcome any enemy. Besides his tremendous strength, he could defy gravity, speak any language, unravel any code, and become invisible with his famous ability to "cloud men's minds." Along with his team of operatives, the Shadow battled adversaries with chilling names like The Black Master, Kings of Crime, The Five Chameleons, and, of course, The Red Menace. The Shadow's exploits were also avidly followed by readers in The Shadow magazine, which began in 1931 following the huge success of the old-time mystery radio program. The magazine was published by Street & Smith, who had also sponsored the old-time mystery radio program. Over the course of 18 years, Street & Smith published 325 issues of The Shadow, each one containing a novel about the sinister crime fighter. These stories were written by Maxwell Grant, a fictional name created by the publishing company. Although several different people wrote under the pseudonym, Walter B. Gibson wrote most of the stories, 282 in all. Most of the novels published have been reprinted in paperback and The Shadow adventures remain popular today, with Shadow comic books, magazines, toys, games, cds and cassettes of old-time radio shows, and books bringing top dollar among collectors the world over. 00:00:00.000 = INTRODUCTION 00:01:54.735 = The Phantom Of The Lighthouse (September 07, 1947) 00:31:07.218 = When The Grave Is Open (September 14, 1947) 00:59:43.429 = The Face (September 21, 1947) 01:28:09.034 = Death Takes The Wheel (September 28, 1947) 01:53:31.546 = The Ruby Of Karavahl (October 19, 1947) 02:23:06.173 = Dream of Death (November 09, 1947) 02:53:49.190 = Doom And The Limping Man (November 16, 1947) 03:23:46.663 = The Comic Strip Killer (November 23, 1947) 03:48:44.704 = Murder And The Medium (November 30, 1947) 04:11:29.916 = Gift Of Murder (December 21, 1947) 04:35:05.483 = The Legend of Crownshield Castle (December 28, 1947) SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS… This episode is sponsored by http://RadioArchives.com Weird Darkness Retro Radio theme by Storyblocks. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 Find out how to escape eternal darkness at https://weirddarkness.com/eternaldarkness WeirdDarkness® - is a registered trademark. Copyright, Weird Darkness, 2024. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/theshadow-marathon-011

IN THIS EPISODE: We’ll find out what life was like as an inmate of Alcatraz. We’ll look at the numerous escape attempts that failed and where the escapees went wrong. And we’ll learn about a few other prisons that are even more terrifying than Alcatraz – all located in the United States. SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Being An Alcatraz Inmate” by Melissa Sartore for Ranker.com’s Weird History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/535vhu7n “The Impossibility of Escaping Alcatraz” by Melissa Sartore for Ranker.com’s Weird History:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdfj2ypt “More Terrifying Than Alcatraz” by Michelle Nati for Ranker.com’s Unspeakable Times: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3jwhh268 Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: February, 2021 PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/alcatraz-iinfamous-inmates-and-failed-escapes/

IN THIS EPISODE: Spending the night in a haunted house is always unnerving, but would you pay for the experience? If you’re looking for a spooky escape, maybe you could try a haunted AirBNB! You might not rest in peace in these haunted homes, but you're bound to have a memorable night preparing for paranormal activity, seeking the supernatural, and greeting ghosts. (Book A Stay At a Haunted AirBNB) *** Sawney Bean, said to be the leader of a 45-member clan in Scotland, is infamously accused of murdering and cannibalizing over 1,000 people in the early 16th century. His story inspired the horror film, ‘The Hills Have Eyes.’ But did Sawney Bean ever truly exist? (The Man Who Inspired ‘The Hills Have Eyes’) *** Nestled in the Kentish Weald, the quaint village of Stalisfield boasts a thousand-year-old church and timeless tranquility. But beneath its serene surface, whispers of ancient pagan rites and dark ceremonies linger. Could the chilling past of sacrificial rituals still echo through the village today? (The Stalisfield Blade) *** As dusk fell, a pickup truck pulled up to a motel outside Tarzana. Inside, Brother Elzibah and his monks prepared for a perilous mission, recording martyr statements and arming themselves with explosives. Their target on December 10, 1958: Krishna Venta, a self-styled prophet in Box Canyon. This night promised a dramatic showdown that would mark a violent chapter in the history of American spiritual communes, and the country’s cults. (The Bizarre Story Behind The Suicide Bombing Of A Southern California Cult) SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “The Stalisfield Blade” by Ken DaSilva-Hill (used with permission) “The Bizarre Story Behind The Suicide Bombing Of A SoCal Cult” by Mattew Duersten, LAist, December 10, 2018: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4s27xpf7 “The Man Who Inspired ‘The Hills Have Eyes’” source: Leah Silverman at AllThatsInteresting.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8zy3ec“Book A Stay At a Haunted AirBNB” sources: Lauren Mack at TimeOut.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4h75fc6c; Daily Barringer and Caitlin Morton at Thrillest.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8eubbj; Jersey Griggs at TheDiscoverer.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yttxryn6; Marissa Laliberte at Reader’s Digest:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p86y2em; Julie Pennell at Today.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2kwzmdfs; Alexa Erickson at FamilyHandyman.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8w39nh Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: April 29, 2024 PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/book-a-stay-at-a-haunted-airbnb/

IN THIS EPISODE: The open road is a beautiful place where you can make friends that you’d otherwise never meet and have adventures that will change your life. But there are also extreme dangers to traveling with strangers on highways and backroads. No matter how trustworthy or well-intentioned a driver might seem, it's nearly impossible to tell if they are actually a predator or murderer, preying upon innocent hitchhikers. Creepy, true hitchhiker stories can make you think twice before picking up that stranger at the side of the road - or trying to "thumb it" yourself. SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “The Hitchhiker” original story at the beginning of this episode was written by HoneyBunny00: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8b53e2 “Hitchhiking Horror Stories” by Isadora Teich for Ranker.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3yj8t3ka, by Jacob Shelton for Ranker.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2s4a2wkz, Eric Redding for ThoughtCatalog.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/hk8pn8rf, and from ScaryCarries.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2aead59t “Phantom Hitchhikers” posted at Anomalien.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y4dxkv7m, Kelly Agan for Medium.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/36wucpzm, Paul Adams for The History Press:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8z538u, and Krystal DeCosta for ScientificAmerican.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mr29nkpa Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: January, 2021 PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/true-hitchhiking-horror-stories/

Get full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp eBooks, and old-time radio shows ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD by emailing WeirdDarkness@RadioArchives.com! This Mutual entry in the horror and mystery genre was far from the best remembered, such as Suspense, Quiet Please, and Inner Sanctum. But The Sealed Book offers a glimpse into a dusty archive that serves as a reminder that comics and was roasted at the stake of public opinion in the mid-50s, grew into print from just such gnarled roots as these old time radio macabre shows. The Sealed Book begins with a classic intro, in which when gonged, we are escorted by the tuxedoed announcer with unseen organist as the keeper of the book opens the ponderous, albeit squeaky door "to the secret vault wherein is kept the great sealed book, in which is recorded all the secrets and mysteries of mankind through the ages, Here are tales of every kind, tales of murder, of madness, of dark deeds strange and terrible beyond all belief." 00:00:00.000 = INTRODUCTION 00:01:54.482 = Hands Of Death (Mary 18, 1945) 00:31:52.505 = King Of The World (March 25, 1945) 01:01:49.355 = Death Spins a Web (April 01, 1945) 01:31:12.477 = Devil Island (April 08, 1945) 02:00:34.488 = The Accusing Corpse (April 29, 1945) 02:30:03.576 = Stranger In The House (May 06, 1945) 02:59:33.360 = Out Of The Past (May 13, 1945) 03:29:03.345 = I’ll Die Laughing (May 27, 1945) 03:58:26.973 = Design For Death (June 03, 1945) 04:27:50.797 = Ghost Makers (June 10, 1945) SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS… This episode is sponsored by http://RadioArchives.com Weird Darkness Retro Radio theme by Storyblocks. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 Find out how to escape eternal darkness at https://weirddarkness.com/eternaldarkness WeirdDarkness® - is a registered trademark. Copyright, Weird Darkness, 2024. CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/sealed-book-01

#WeirdDarknessRadio WEEKEND OF APRIL 27-28, 2024 ========== HOUR ONE: Seeing a lifelike human skeleton in a doctor’s office, especially in the past couple of centuries, was – and in many cases still is - commonplace. But where did one go to get such lifelike skeletons if you were a doctor in the 1800s? Why, a skeleton factory, of course! (The Skeleton Factory) *** The story of Kate Watson is a grim one – living as a prostitute in the Old West, and when that wasn’t enough she took up cattle rustling. Her husband wasn’t any better. So it’s probably no surprise that she was strung up until dead. But maybe you should wait to pass judgement until you hear the whole story. (The Lynching of Cattle Kate) *** In March of 2004, teenager Brianna Maitland left work in the late evening hours and was never seen again. To this day it is still one of Vermont’s most infamous mysteries. (The Vanishing of Brianna Maitland) *** Plus, “The Haunted Adirondack Mountains” ========== HOUR TWO: It is considered by many, Britain’s most well-known disappearing person case. Even now, over three decades later, people in the UK are still fascinated and intrigued by the unexplained vanishing of Suzy Lamplugh. (The Suzy Lamplugh Mystery) *** John List planned the murders of his own family so carefully, he almost got away with it. In fact, it took 18 years to catch him. (The Family Man Who Murdered His Family) *** We’ll look at what it was like to be a woman in the 17th Century… and accused of witchcraft. (Witchly Accusations) *** If you drink whiskey, or even if you don’t, you’re likely familiar with “Jameson Irish Whiskey.” But did you know that cannibalism played a part in its history? (Whiskey and Cannibalism) *** A strange phenomenon takes place in Arkansas, and despite the numerous sightings and investigations, there is still no explanation for it. (Unexplained In Arkansas) ========== SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: Parents always feel their child is special in some way – something that makes their child better in some way than other children. Parents of indigo children are no different, with some parents thinking their children have psychic abilities. Doctors say that these children have ADD or ADHD, but one parapsychologist says indigo children have something even more special – possibly even paranormal - inside them. (Supernatural Indigo Children) *** When you think of a mad scientist you most likely think of Victor Frankenstein – but it’s rumored Mary Shelley took inspiration for the character from a real mad scientist by the name of Andrew Ure. (Andrew Ure: A Real Life Mad Scientist) *** The story of Kate Watson is a grim one – living as a prostitute in the Old West, and when that wasn’t enough she took up cattle rustling. Her husband wasn’t any better. So it’s probably no surprise that she was strung up until dead. But maybe you should wait to pass judgement until you hear the whole story. (The Lynching of Cattle Kate) ========== SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT’S SHOW: "The Suzy Lamplugh Mystery” by Amelia Gentleman for The Guardian: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2v2z6tp6 “The Family Man Who Murdered His Family” from The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/392yt322 “Witchly Accusations” by Jessica Nelson for the UK’s National Archives: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/j7nnd3ax “Whiskey and Cannibalism” posted at The Scare Chamber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/9rx24777 “Supernatural Indigo Children” by Gina Dimuro for All That’s Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/apk85b29 “Unexplained in Arkansas” by Ellen Lloyd for Ancient Pages: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/27zaptdb “Haunted Adirondack Mountains” by Molly Briggs for Paranormality Magazine: http://weirddarkness.com/magazine “The Skeleton Factory” from Strange Ago: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2j8reje3 “Andrew Ure: A Real Life Mad Scientist” posted at The Scare Chamber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3n5tfpeh “The Murder of Nurse Cindy” posted the The Trouble With Justice:...

IN THIS EPISODE: Most people, when they think of the end of their lives, want to feel that they have accomplished something of significance. To leave a lasting legacy. But it is much more rare for someone to accomplish something significant – after they are dead! (Done By The Dead) *** Mrs. Elizabeth G. Wharton was a pillar of society in Baltimore, Maryland in the late 1800s. That is, until she was accused of murdering General William Scott Ketchum. (The Baltimore Borgia) *** For every legitimate and fascinating find by geologists, there seems to be a fraudulent find somewhere else trying to fool the masses. This has been a problem since geology became a thing – and one of the most fascinating of these true tales is the one about Baringer’s Lying Stones. (The Lying Stones) *** A strange, ape-like creature with glowing eyes in England might really be, as some believe, a specter of the night. (Man-Monkey of the Night) *** It’s hard to understand how human sacrifice has ever been a reality in any point in history – but what if you were to learn that evidence of it showed up in London, England… in 2001? (Torso In The River) *** A would-be geisha murders her lover… but the events leading up to and during the death make for a fascinatingly dark story. (The Murderess Geisha) *** When it comes to spectral animals, we’re more than familiar with black dogs or hell hounds, ghostly cats, horses carrying a headed or headless phantom, even a ghost bear rumored to haunt the Tower of London… but have you ever heard of the American Southwest’s ghost camels? (America’s Ghost Camels) SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Man-Monkey Of The Night” by Nick Redfern for MysteriousUniverse.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdhdevrr “Done By The Dead” by Kyle D. Walter for ListVerse.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y62afnj6 “America’s Ghost Camels” by Kathy Weiser-Alexander for LegendsOfAmerica.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p979beb “The Baltimore Borgia” by Robert Wilhelm for MurderByGaslight.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y2whacb9 “Torso In The River” by Richard Hoskins for MysteryConfidential.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdd5u543 “The Murderess Geisha” by Dr. Romeo Vitelli for Providentia: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yzy4v3wy “The Lying Stones” by Brent Swancer for MysteriousUniverse.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p854d9e Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: January, 2021 PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/deeds-done-by-the-dead/

IN THIS EPISODE: When you think of monsters in America, you probably think of Bigfoot in the American Northwest – or perhaps the Chupacabra in the South. Maybe you think of Dogman in the upper Midwest. But people don’t typically think of the American lakes and shores, where we have our own collection of monsters and sea serpents. (American Sea Monsters) *** As the saying goes – don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time. But once in a while the punishment goes far beyond what the crime calls for. (Cruel and Unusual Punishments) *** Marilyn Monroe was found dead of a drug overdose on August 5, 1962. And while the facts of her death are shocking, her troubling childhood wasn’t pretty either. We’ll look at the life and death of this Hollywood bombshell. (The Troubled Life And Shocking Death of Marilyn Monroe) *** We’ll take a look at, not the very first serial killer - but the first serial killer FAMILY in America! The bloody Benders! (America’s First Serial Killer Family) SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE… “American Sea Monsters” by Charles M. Skinner, posted at LegendsOfAmerica.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ycy9tdes “Cruel and Unusual Punishments” by Jonathan Hastad for ListVerse.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y994jmsf “The Troubled Life And Shocking Death of Marilyn Monroe” by Margarita Hirapetian: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/55bv7naw, and Kelly Kreiss: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/432bykfc for Ranker.com “America’s First Serial Killer Family” by Miss Celania for MentalFloss.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yz7mbn7v Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = = (Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness. = = = = = Originally aired: January, 2021 PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/american-sea-monsters/