Spooky Radio: My Favorite Stories

Often, I find myself listening to old-time radio in-between podcasts when I drive to/from work. Because if there's a way to squeeze more horror into my day, I'll figure it out. There's plenty of them that were so unremarkable, that I'll be halfway through listening to one and then remember I'd already heard it a year ago...but there are also some that have always stuck with me. The following is a short list of my favorite old-time radio episodes I suggest for any avid fan of spooky sounds. Most can be found searching on Itunes or even through my links.






Theater 5 – The Talkers

This series ran in the early 60s, and a vast majority of the episodes were science fiction-themed (which in my opinion, often borders the light between fantasy and horror.) This story in particular is a simple conversation between two men after a horrific event caused by humankind has led people to start...changing...into bug-like creatures. The more they breathe, the worse it gets.


Dimension X – Marrionettes Inc.

Hosted in 1950 by NBC, this show only lasted a year. Another Science Fiction show, with  couple of quite gruesome episodes. This one intrigues me because it has an interesting twist on the idea of a human-like robot servant. A man learns he can use a robot to fool his wife so he can take a much-needed vacation...unfortunately, the robots in question don't want to give up their places when their owners return.

Lights Out – It Happened

This show was a little more prolific than the others, running well near 15 years. It hopped station to station, and even spawned an actual tv show. It's also one of the earlier horror shows on the radio, so quite historically important in it's own right. Sometimes, when I look back at this episode in my memory, I get a chill just imagining how awful it would be to go through what the young girl in this one had to...trying to run away for a bit of fun, being trapped in a sewer, and forced into servitude to make 'jewelry' for a maniac.


Mysterious Traveler – The Good Die Young

Mysterious Traveler had it's life in both radio and print, and in various different genres. The Good Die Young is an excellent little morsel about an evil little girl. What's more, I wouldn't be surprised if The Bad Seed heavily borrowed from it, because that's all I could think about when I first heard this show.


Lights Out – Cat Wife

Yet another episode from Lights Out. Cat Wife makes you wonder what is truly worse...marrying a beautiful but hateful woman, or loving a man-eating cat?

The Price of Fear – Cat's Cradle

I mentioned this one in an episode of my podcast, once upon a time. Suffice it to say, the whole series was voiced by...Vincent Price. So it's incredible, of course. Cat's Cradle in particular is interesting, because I'm always worried whether or not a spiteful cat has it out for me.


Nightfall – Guest of Honor

A bit newer than the others, this one was hosted by CBC in the early 80s. A dark story, but not quite as grim as most of the others I've recommended. It's about a high-class woman who has simply seen too much in life, and has become so bored that she decides to invite death to a party...death accepts.

Podcast, Episode 14 - Friday the 13th pt. 1 (also, Happy Halloween)

We've made it guys! 31 straight days of posts, ranging from films to fun, books to bogeys, and everything in-between. Since you've been such fantastic followers, I think it's about time I host another episode of the Hallowholics Anonymous podcast! This episode will be all about the first 7 films of Friday the 13th, hosted with none other than Jazlaan himself. So sit back, enjoy, hide the machete from your neighbor...and have a happy Halloween!

Horror Flick of the Week: Dracula (1931)

Cliche? Perhaps. I just went to the theatre this week and watched the English-Spanish double feature TCM is featuring nationwide, and had a blast. But...there were only 5 people in the theatre (including myself and two friends) during the first film, and only us when the Spanish version aired. Which leads me to believe not enough people truly appreciate this movie.

I will not say it's Lugosi's greatest performance, even though it's spectacular. Honestly, I think he doesn't get enough attention for the many other excellent roles he has played in horror. Sure...there were a few bad ones...but I really never fault his performance. Even Plan 9, the few frames he was actually present, I wouldn't say Lugosi was what made that movie bad. But this isn't an article about Bela, it's a recommendation for any and all who haven't Seen Universal's Dracula to do so as quickly as possible, and follow it up with the Spanish one too.

Renfield was not a huge character in the novel, and only cinema has made him dynamic. Specifically this movie is what started it...so watch Dwight Frye (english) and Pablo Alvarez Rubio (spanish) closely. They're absolutely incredible. In fact, I'd say they're my favorite characters in both movies. Keep in mind that the pacing is slow, because this was during the infancy of talkies, but also keep in mind that Todd Browning was nothing if not a master of making silence work for him rather than against. IF you have put Universal's Dracula off for any reason, this is the year to finally give it a good watch. You won't regret it.

Vintage Comics - Black Magic, Issue #1: The Idol, When You Were Alive, My Dolly Is The Devil (32-End)

Right before Halloween, we come to the end of our current issue. The first story today features an antique...Krishna-Buddha fusion statue? I'm not sure. I've never heard of Buddha having 6 arms...but it doesn't really matter. Such a short story, I was actually surprised by the ending. It's honestly one of my favorites I've read in the comics I've shared so far. But I love bitter irony.

The second story is a unique twist on an age-old urban legend, of a young girl trying to get home...but never makes it, and always leaves whatever innocent driver who decided to give her a lift with a chill down his spine. Enjoyable, short, and one of the better versions of the story I've read.

Finally, our last story...is vaguely reminiscent of a classic Twilight Zone episode, with a much creepier looking doll.

Featured Fear: Nyctophobia (fear of the dark)

Darkness. All-consuming black ink, pervading the night...something mankind has fought through the ages so desperately, that the last true darkness can only be found in the most obscure of places, or underground beyond where any man can reach.

Even in the 1963 adaptation of Shirley Jackson's Haunting of Hill House, the eeriest element of the movie itself is darkness...shadows creeping in at the edge of every frame, threatening to consume Eleanor (along with her slight mental instability and the evilness of the house itself.)

Darkness is terrifying, because the unknown dangers of the world are that much more powerful. It's terrifying, because it deprives many of us of the sense we rely on the most. Sight.

The majority of Nyctophobics are either children, or very old. So, I suppose you'd say this fear strikes those who are most vulnerable. The origins of the phobia tend to be trauma of some sort, which makes quite a lot of sense. After all, night is the main time when children can no longer be watched over by their parents as vigilantly, so it's also the period of one's life where people learn to look after themselves.
The best treatment seems to be what a majority of the phobias I've mentioned is, and that's exposure therapy. Desensitizing the victim to their fears...and medication.

In honor of Nyctophobia, I'd like to share a video I've posted once before in a list of creepy shorts, which characterizes exactly what many children seem to fear the most about darkness...sleep.

October Treats

Oh no. Halloween is almost here...you've got a party planned, and just about everything ready to go...except...what the heck are you guys gonna eat? Ordering out is too boring, and you can't just throw regular party foods together with the word 'boo!' scrawled on the tablecloth...you  need something cool...something spooky. Well, thanks to some  talented people on youtube, you might just be able to pull off that party without a hitch.

As always, remember to check out the other videos on these people's channels if you enjoyed what they had to offer, because there's much more delicious stuff to find.

A Tribute to Wes Craven

“You don't enter the theater and pay your money to be afraid. You enter the theater and pay your money to have the fears that are already in you when you go into a theater dealt with and put into a narrative. Stories and narratives are one of the most powerful things in humanity. They're devices for dealing with the chaotic danger of existence. “

The day I knew I was officially growing up was the day I got to pick out a Nightmare on Elm Street movie off of the rental shelf for my Friday selection, and my mom didn't bat an eye. I was 11, and I was in for the ride of my life.

Over the years, I always find myself going back to the NOES series, which wouldn't have been possible without one man. No, not Robert Englund...though he was pretty important...I'm talking about Wes Craven. The man who made my birthday a little more somber this year by dying the day before it.

Looking at the man's genuine smile, it's hard to believe he could come up with the visions of 'The Last House on the Left' or 'The Hills Have Eyes'. Two modern classics of Gorror (gore-horror). I won't say everything he ever made was a masterpiece, but I will say that even if I didn't like some of his work...I can appreciate his characters. He was a good writer/director, and he knew something very important: make your heroes sympathetic, or people won't care if they die.

He didn't come from a family who loved film. They didn't seem to into it, honestly, and that may have been why he ended up getting his Masters in Philosophy and Writing. He ended up becoming a teacher, before moving on to film...though he didn't start from the top, or even the middle. Mr. Craven started from the bottom, as a messenger.

His first real movie was 'The Last House on the Left', which I believe ended up on the video nasties list for quite some time. He was the Spielberg of horror, in my mind. Of all the people I admire in the industry, Wes Craven is one man I would have loved to have a cup of coffee with.

People often compare Carpenter and Craven, failing to recognize that you can actually appreciate them both as separate artists with their own styles. They had no rivalry. They respected each other. So I thought...what better way to remember Wes, than to share a clip of Carpenter praising him?