"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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.16.1939 | nobody died |
+ Adelina, an old woman, is dying. Dr Miller is called out to attend to her. Adelina's youngest son ... | |
| 12.09.1936 | nobody died |
A dying patient begs the doctor to prolong her life just until her youngest son arrives. As the doct... | |
| 11.03.1942 | neanderthal man |
Program #2. CBS net origination, syndicated rebroadcast. "Across The Gap". A group of modern touri... | |
| 06.22.1943 | nature study | ||
| 05.11.1943 | murder in the script department |
Two office clerk-typists become trapped in office after working hours. They notice that equipments a... | |
| 08.03.1943 | murder castle |
"Murder Castle". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene. A kindly gentleman murders young ladies fo... | |
| 02.16.1938 | murder castle |
Girls who answer advertisements for older guys keep disappearing. This prompts another girl to searc... | |
| 10.27.1942 | mungahra |
A man spends weeks in the jungle and steals a massive diamond from a native named Mungahra whom he s... | |
| 03.30.1943 | money money money |
"Money, Money, Money". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene. Tony the diver doesn't stop at murde... | |
| 08.05.1936 | money money money |
A sailor murders his buddy who strikes it big at the lottery but managed to escape the authorities w... | |
| 09.21.1943 | mirage |
A couple notices that a silent old man on the beach can make people pass out by erasing their names ... | |
| 08.25.1945 | man in the middle |
A secretary and her boss are having an affair which is discovered by her brother. The brother threat... | |
| 09.07.1943 | lord marleys ghost |
A rich man is hooked on his mistress and leaves his wife. Their affair ends tragically in a boating ... | |
| 07.14.1937 | lord marleys ghost |
A rich man is hooked on his mistress and leaves his wife. Their affair ends tragically in a boating ... | |
| 05.25.1943 | little old lady |
In a treasure hunting expedition in the jungle, the hunters catch spider which has been silently sta... | |
| 11.17.1937 | little old lady |
+ | |
| 12.15.1942 | knock at the door |
A protective mother is murdered by her sons girlfriend but her ghost keeps haunting whenever her son... | |
| 04.20.1943 | kill |
"Kill". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene Shoe White. A story told through the thoughts of the... | |
| 05.11.1938 | it happened |
On a tour in Paris, a rich young girl is fed up with the tour guide, and decides to explore the city... | |
| 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... | |
| 05.04.1943 | heavenly jeep |
When the jeep the soldiers are riding is blown up by a landmine, the soldiers realize they are event... | |
| 07.20.1946 | haunted cell |
A man is sentenced to death and is visited by a ghost at the |
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| 06.23.1937 | happy ending |
The story is a diversion from the typical when the doctor informs his wife that she is pregnant. The... | |
| 08.10.1946 | ghost on the newsreel negative |
In hope of catching ghosts on film, two men tries their luck in a haunted farm.. | |
| 01.05.1943 | fast one |
A man consumes a formula that speeds-up humans and starts a criminal spree.. Who among us has not ha... |
Daniel
Daniel
Bob
Daniel
Susan
LIGHTS OUT
Dan
Mike
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