"This is the witching hour! It is an hour when dogs howl, and evil things are let loose on a sleeping world. Want to hear about it? Then turn out your lights!"
Lights Out debuted in 1934 and was radio's premier horror series. Director and writer, Wyllis Cooper's writing was characterized by grisly stories always matched with the appropriate acting and sound effects, he conceived in 1933 the idea of writing a dramatic midnight mystery serial catchy enough to the listeners' attention at a time when the competition was mostly airing music. It was however dropped in favor of an anthology emphasizing crime thrillers and the supernatural. He stayed with this program until June 1936 when another Chicago writer, Arch Oboler, took over. By the time Cooper left, the series had inspired about 600 fan clubs.
Arch Oboler was eccentric and ambitious when he took over and picked up where Cooper left off, following the latter's general example but investing the scripts with his own concerns using streams of conscious narration and sometimes social and political themes that reflected his commitment to anti-fascist liberalism. Although Lights Out would be closely associated with Oboler later on, he would always credit Wyllis Cooper as the series' creator and spoke highly of him as "the unsung pioneer of radio dramatic techniques" and the first person he knew who understood that radio drama is an art form.
"Burial Service", Oboler's first script in 1936, was initially flooded with outraged response but was followed with the more accepted and frequently repeated "Catwife" and Caligula-inspired "The Dictator". This set the pattern for Oboler's run of two horror episodes followed by a drama on more serious subjects dealing with moral, social and political issues Click here to read more about Lights Out
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Please enjoy these 91 old time radio episodes:
| Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03.09.1943 | ball paris macabre |
Two party-going men find themselves in a strange Parisian party.. | |
| 03.16.1943 | the dream | ||
| 03.23.1943 | the flame |
Two conversationalists discusses fire comparing it to a living organism. The first man takes out an ... | |
| 03.30.1943 | money money money |
"Money, Money, Money". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene. Tony the diver doesn't stop at murde... | |
| 04.06.1943 | super feature |
A guy travels with his assistant guy showing movies to interested audiences. When an audience clamor... | |
| 04.13.1943 | archer |
A girl finds a tool which saves her from the gangsters who are hiding her away.. + “Lights Out br... | |
| 04.20.1943 | kill |
"Kill". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene Shoe White. A story told through the thoughts of the... | |
| 04.27.1943 | execution |
During WWII, a German Officer reports being fired upon by a woman in a French village. In retaliatio... | |
| 05.04.1943 | heavenly jeep |
When the jeep the soldiers are riding is blown up by a landmine, the soldiers realize they are event... | |
| 05.11.1943 | murder in the script department |
Two office clerk-typists become trapped in office after working hours. They notice that equipments a... | |
| 05.18.1943 | spider |
In a treasure hunting expedition in the jungle, the hunters catch spider which has been silently sta... | |
| 05.25.1943 | little old lady |
In a treasure hunting expedition in the jungle, the hunters catch spider which has been silently sta... | |
| 06.01.1943 | ugliest man in the world |
In a treasure hunting expedition in the jungle, the hunters catch spider which has been silently sta... | |
| 06.08.1943 | organ vacation with death |
+ They are happy when they find a mansion to spend the next two months of their vacation in for only... | |
| 06.15.1943 | prelude to murder |
Listeners hear the thoughts of a Dracula-inspired man is jealous of his wife's new male friend.. + A... | |
| 06.22.1943 | nature study | ||
| 06.29.1943 | bathysphere |
+ His Excellency is set to break the record for diving over half a mile to the bottom of the ocean i... | |
| 07.13.1943 | visitor from hades |
A couple who is terminally ill suddenly receives a macabre visit from someone whom is invisible to o... | |
| 07.20.1943 | profits unlimited |
An heiress is taken to an island where she inherits a factory from her grandfather. She soon finds o... | |
| 07.27.1943 | the little people |
"The Little People". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene Shoe White. The eternal triangle seems ... | |
| 08.03.1943 | murder castle |
"Murder Castle". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene. A kindly gentleman murders young ladies fo... | |
| 08.10.1943 | sakhalin |
A megalomaniac murderer roams Russia.. | |
| 08.17.1943 | state executioner |
A wife leaves her husband after she finds out that he is an executioner. Later, the man goes crazy a... | |
| 08.24.1943 | sub basement |
Something horric occurs when a girlfriend and boyfriend are stuck in their office building basement. | |
| 08.31.1943 | immortal gentleman |
A man is born to live a normal life from among the immortal and genius Adavars, so the gods wished t... |
Daniel
Daniel
Bob
Daniel
Susan
LIGHTS OUT
Dan
Mike
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