Episode 408: Hypnotic Death

[00:00:16] Speaker A: The mysterious old radio listening society podcast. [00:00:27] Speaker B: Welcome to the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society, a podcast dedicated to suspense, crime and horror stories from the golden age of radio. [00:00:35] Speaker C: I'm Eric. I'm Tim. [00:00:36] Speaker D: And I'm Joshua. [00:00:37] Speaker C: We love mysterious old time radio stories, but do they stand the test of time? That's what we're here to find out. [00:00:42] Speaker D: Today we present the Hypnotic Death, an episode of the Shadow, recommended by our Patreon supporter, James. [00:00:50] Speaker B: The Shadow debuted on radio in 1930 as the sinister host of the Detective Story Magazine Hour, voiced by Future Mercury Theater cast member Frank Reddick. The character's popularity led publisher street and Smith to hire Walter B. Gibson to reinvent the Shadow as the crime fighting superhero of his own Pulp magazine. In turn, the popularity of the Pulp inspired another radio series. [00:01:14] Speaker C: This time, the Shadow was more than just a host. He was the leading character. Premiering September 26, 1937, this new incarnation of the Shadow starred rising talents Orson Welles and Agnes Moorhead and introduced a new weapon to the Shadows arsenal. The power to cloud men's minds so they cannot see him. [00:01:30] Speaker D: When Wells departed in 1938, veteran actor Bill Johnstone assumed the role, bringing authority and warmth to the character of Lamont Cranston while preserving the dark, pulpy atmosphere that defined the show's early years. So here they are, Bill Johnstone and Agnes Moorehead in the Hypnotic Death, first broadcast Feb. 12, 1939. [00:01:54] Speaker B: It's late at night, A chilla set in. You're alone and the only light you see is coming from an antique radio. Listen to the sounds coming from the speaker. Listen to the music and listen to the voices. [00:02:13] Speaker E: Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows. [00:02:28] Speaker A: Your local Blue Coal dealer presents the Shadow. These half hour dramatizations are designed to forcibly demonstrate to old and young alike that crime does not pay. Before today's story begins, an important message to all householders. When ordering fuel, remember that there's a tremendous difference between various kinds of hard coal. And remember that there's one hard coal that offers you better heat and with less furnace attention, and that's Blue Coal. You'll find that blue coal banks and burns better and gives you absolutely the most for your money in heating service and satisfaction. So ask for Blue Coal by name the next time you order fuel. And be sure to listen at the close of today's program, for we have a special guest whom we wish to introduce to you. The Shadow, mysterious character who aids those in distress and helps the forces of law and order, is in reality Lamont Cranston. Wealthy young man about town. Cranston's friend and companion, the lovely Margo Lane is the only person who knows to whom the unseen voice belongs. The only one who knows the true identity of that master of other people's minds. [00:03:42] Speaker F: The shadow. [00:03:43] Speaker A: Today's story. [00:03:45] Speaker E: Hypnotic death. [00:03:49] Speaker G: Herbert, why did you bring me to this doctor's office? [00:03:53] Speaker H: I want you to meet the famous Dr. Darmi. He's a friend of mine. We might even get him to be my best man. [00:03:58] Speaker I: Oh, Halbert, it makes me so happy [00:04:00] Speaker G: to hear you making plans for our wedding. [00:04:02] Speaker J: Martha, dear, you stay here a minute. [00:04:04] Speaker H: I want to prepare Dr. Dahmer for the big surprise. [00:04:06] Speaker I: Yes, Halbert. [00:04:09] Speaker F: Hiya, fellas. [00:04:10] Speaker I: Well, look who's here. [00:04:12] Speaker J: Charmin. [00:04:12] Speaker H: Charlie himself. Cut that, Fats. [00:04:14] Speaker J: Her name's Herbert Van Bursten for the present. [00:04:16] Speaker F: Uh oh, you got something in tow, huh? [00:04:18] Speaker J: Charlie, I mean, yeah, yeah. [00:04:21] Speaker H: Where's the doctor? He's inside with one of the lawyers. He'll be right out. [00:04:24] Speaker F: What do you got, Herbert? A servant girl. [00:04:27] Speaker J: No living relations. [00:04:28] Speaker F: Yeah, pretty. [00:04:29] Speaker H: Made to order. [00:04:30] Speaker F: What kind of a policy she got? [00:04:31] Speaker H: 10,000 life, double indemnity. [00:04:33] Speaker E: All right. [00:04:34] Speaker F: You sure know how to pick her. You don't do so bad yourself. Here's the doc now. [00:04:40] Speaker H: Hello, Dr. Dahmer. Well, Herbert, we've been waiting for you. You know Lawyer Munson. Yeah. Where's the girl? In the waiting room. [00:04:47] Speaker A: Good. [00:04:47] Speaker H: Have you heard Policy? Yeah, right here. [00:04:50] Speaker E: Here you are. [00:04:51] Speaker H: Look it over, Munson. See that everything is in order. Sure. Let me have it. Usual form, no inserts. Double indemnity for death beneficiary Herbert Van Bursten. That's made out to you all right? [00:05:06] Speaker A: You bet. [00:05:07] Speaker H: That's okay. [00:05:08] Speaker E: Very well. [00:05:09] Speaker H: Bring the girl in. [00:05:10] Speaker F: Okay, Doctor. [00:05:11] Speaker H: See that the boys have their instructions, Munson. Right, Doctor. [00:05:15] Speaker J: Come right in. [00:05:15] Speaker H: Martha. [00:05:16] Speaker I: Yes, Hellbert? [00:05:17] Speaker J: These men are friends of mine. [00:05:19] Speaker H: And this is the great Dr. Dahmer. [00:05:22] Speaker I: Pleased to meet you, Dr. Herbert for seven. [00:05:25] Speaker H: Come here, Martha, close to me. [00:05:28] Speaker G: Yes, sir. [00:05:29] Speaker H: Look at me. Look into my eyes, Herbert. Look into my eyes, Martha. [00:05:36] Speaker I: Oh, Herbert, take me out of here. I. Martha, I am afraid I. [00:05:42] Speaker G: Don't run looking to your. [00:05:48] Speaker H: Now, Martha, from this moment on, I will control your mind. My will shall be your will. My instructions, your commands. Whether or not I am with you, whether or not you see me, you will obey my orders. [00:06:10] Speaker G: Obey your orders? [00:06:14] Speaker H: Yes, obey my orders. All right, men, you must be going. You are about to witness an even greater demonstration of my principle of telepathic hypnosis. The car with Herbert and the girls. [00:06:38] Speaker J: Just pulling over to the curb. [00:06:39] Speaker H: Dr. Dahmer, where are the boys? I see. They're standing on the corner. Herbert's getting out of the car. Very well. Stop the car. This far away, Doctor, distance in no way affects my powers. I must close my eyes and concentrate. Keep me informed of the results, Manson. Right. Say a girl stepped out of the car. Yes. Now to test my theory of telepathic hypnosis. Martha. Martha. Move close to the curb. [00:07:11] Speaker E: She's doing it, doctor. [00:07:13] Speaker H: She's there. Stop, Martha. Wait for my orders. She's standing at the curb. [00:07:21] Speaker F: There. [00:07:22] Speaker H: A car coming, Munson. [00:07:23] Speaker J: Yes, there's one coming down the street [00:07:25] Speaker H: at a fast clip. How far from the girl? [00:07:27] Speaker J: About 200ft. [00:07:28] Speaker H: Yes, 150. Now. Yes, 100. [00:07:33] Speaker F: Uh huh. [00:07:35] Speaker J: 50. [00:07:35] Speaker H: And now, Martha, 25. Walk, Martha, walk. [00:07:41] Speaker B: 10. [00:07:41] Speaker D: She's. [00:07:47] Speaker H: Well, that's done, Dr. Dahmer. Yes, it is quite done, Munson. Quite. [00:07:57] Speaker F: Look. Look. [00:07:58] Speaker E: She's dead. [00:07:59] Speaker F: Dead. [00:07:59] Speaker J: You murderer. [00:08:00] Speaker A: You killed my fiance. I didn't mean to do it. [00:08:03] Speaker D: Right there. [00:08:03] Speaker J: You people stand back. [00:08:05] Speaker E: Now, buddy, what happened? [00:08:07] Speaker A: Well, the girl stepped right in front of my car, Officer. I couldn't stop. [00:08:09] Speaker J: Yeah, of course you couldn't. You were going too fast. All right, all right, all right. We can't argue that out here. I'll have to place you under arrest, young fella. [00:08:15] Speaker E: Just a moment, officer. [00:08:16] Speaker J: What do you want? [00:08:17] Speaker E: I saw what happened. That young man is not to blame. The girl walked right in front of the car. [00:08:22] Speaker J: You'd better let me have your name. [00:08:23] Speaker E: Cranston. Lamont Cranston. [00:08:25] Speaker J: Say, officer, this man's talking through his hat. This woman was killed by a reckless driver. [00:08:29] Speaker E: Officer, there's something very peculiar about this whole thing. [00:08:32] Speaker H: I beg your pardon. Excuse me, officer. I am Dr. Dharma. [00:08:35] Speaker J: What is it? You witness to this? [00:08:37] Speaker H: No, I'm not. I didn't see it. But as a citizen, I feel that reckless driving must come to an end. [00:08:42] Speaker E: You say you didn't see what happened? [00:08:44] Speaker H: That is correct. [00:08:45] Speaker E: Then you'll pardon me, but I hardly think you're in a position to voice an opinion in this matter. [00:08:48] Speaker H: Dr. Don. I see. You, of course, are a witness for the driver. [00:08:52] Speaker E: Exactly. [00:08:53] Speaker H: Very noble of you. Very. I assure you, sir, that you and I will meet again. Yes, I'm sure we will meet again, [00:09:14] Speaker I: Sir. Marge, you've hardly touched your dinner. [00:09:16] Speaker D: Are you ill? [00:09:17] Speaker E: The strangest feeling's been creeping upon me since that automobile accident. [00:09:22] Speaker I: Lamont, your voice sounds awfully strange. [00:09:24] Speaker E: Yes, I. I must shake this off. [00:09:28] Speaker F: I must. [00:09:29] Speaker I: Perhaps some more coffee would help. Lamont. That's Lamont. Why are you staring so? [00:09:34] Speaker E: You a guy we'll meet again. [00:09:40] Speaker I: What are you saying? [00:09:43] Speaker E: I'm sure we will be. [00:09:47] Speaker I: You dropped the cup. What is the matter? Somebody help. [00:09:55] Speaker C: I don't know. [00:09:56] Speaker I: He just simply toppled over. Some terrible thing has come over him. [00:10:05] Speaker G: Now, Ms. Lane, try and calm yourself. [00:10:07] Speaker I: Nurse, how long will I have to wait for some news about Mr. Krantz? [00:10:09] Speaker G: Dr. Anthony and Dr. Wickman are with him now. He must be patient. [00:10:12] Speaker B: Understood? [00:10:13] Speaker I: He was so well only yesterday, and now I just can't believe it. [00:10:16] Speaker G: Oh, here's Dr. Anthony now. [00:10:18] Speaker I: Dr. Anthony. How is he? [00:10:19] Speaker F: Just a moment, Miss Lane. Nurse, will you stay with Mr. Cranston? [00:10:22] Speaker G: Yes, of course, sir. [00:10:24] Speaker F: Sit down, Miss Lane. I want to talk to you. [00:10:26] Speaker I: But, doctor, how is he? [00:10:28] Speaker A: No better. [00:10:28] Speaker F: What, if anything, is worse? That may be brutal, Ms. Lane, but you should know the facts. [00:10:33] Speaker I: Oh, Doctor, it sounds frightful. [00:10:34] Speaker F: I've called in every specialist I thought might help. They completely stumped Ms. Lane. Never in our experience have we encountered such a strange case. [00:10:42] Speaker I: Well, what can it be? [00:10:43] Speaker F: We don't know. All the vital organs are in excellent condition, yet his energy is rapidly ebbing. I hate to have to tell you this, Ms. Lane, but we're afraid Mr. Cranston won't last the night. [00:10:56] Speaker I: Oh, no. Oh, no. That can't be possible. [00:10:59] Speaker F: The most discouraging thing is Mr. Cranston's complete lack of cooperation. He seems to have lost the desire to live. [00:11:05] Speaker I: Oh, I must go to him. He must fight this thing off, whatever it is. [00:11:08] Speaker F: Come along, M. We put him in this room right across the hall. There we are. Now, Miss Lane, try to arouse his interest in something. [00:11:21] Speaker I: Yes, Doctor. I will. [00:11:22] Speaker F: Step right in. [00:11:24] Speaker I: Lamont. Oh, Lamont. [00:11:27] Speaker H: Margot. [00:11:28] Speaker I: How are you, Lamont? Are you any better? [00:11:31] Speaker E: Something pressy. [00:11:33] Speaker I: Where? [00:11:34] Speaker H: Here. [00:11:36] Speaker E: My head. [00:11:37] Speaker I: Oh. [00:11:38] Speaker E: Hands squeezing. [00:11:41] Speaker I: Lamont, listen to me, please. Your life is in your own hands. You must fight, Lamont. Fight? [00:11:46] Speaker E: Yes, fight. [00:11:49] Speaker H: Obey order. My will. Your will? [00:11:57] Speaker I: What do you mean? What are you trying to tell us? [00:11:59] Speaker D: Lamont [00:12:02] Speaker E: can't tell you. [00:12:05] Speaker H: He will let me. [00:12:07] Speaker F: What's that? Who won't let you? [00:12:12] Speaker E: You must have us obey orders, Lamont. [00:12:16] Speaker I: You've got to tell us. We want to help you. [00:12:19] Speaker E: Tired? Sleepy. [00:12:22] Speaker I: Doctor, would you step over here? [00:12:24] Speaker F: Of course, Mr. [00:12:26] Speaker I: Doctor, don't think I'm mad, but the man in that bed is not Lamont Cranston. [00:12:31] Speaker F: Not mislaid. [00:12:33] Speaker I: The body is Lamont Cranston all right, but the spirit is not his. [00:12:35] Speaker F: Well, that doesn't make sense. [00:12:36] Speaker G: Let me expl. [00:12:38] Speaker I: Isn't it true that when a person suffers from a psychosis, they mutter of things and experiences of the past. [00:12:44] Speaker B: Yes. [00:12:45] Speaker F: Yes, that's quite correct. [00:12:46] Speaker I: Well, these things Mr. Cranston's been saying, I've never heard him say before. No, but, doctor, I'm convinced Mr. Cranston is uttering the words of someone else. [00:12:54] Speaker J: Someone else? [00:12:55] Speaker I: Yes. A will stronger than his own dominates him, dictates his every word in action. [00:13:00] Speaker F: You mean a form of hypnosis? [00:13:01] Speaker I: Have you ever heard of telepathic hypnosis? [00:13:03] Speaker F: Why, of course. A book has been published on a subject just recently. In fact, I have a copy at my office. [00:13:08] Speaker I: I feel only an authority on that subject can help Mr. Cranston. We must send for the author of that book. [00:13:14] Speaker F: But, Ms. Lane, the theories of hypnosis described in this particular book have not been endorsed by the medical profession. It makes interesting reading. [00:13:21] Speaker I: Dr. Anthony, we don't know what's wrong with Mr. Cranston. Perhaps I'm clutching at a straw, but his life is in danger. I insist that you call him that author. [00:13:28] Speaker F: Very well. [00:13:29] Speaker D: Nurs. Yes? [00:13:30] Speaker G: Office. [00:13:30] Speaker F: Go into my office. Phone this man to come here at once. Here. I'll write the name for you. Dr. Augusta D. Yes, nurse, what is it? [00:13:48] Speaker G: Dr. D's here. [00:13:49] Speaker I: Oh, thank heavens. [00:13:50] Speaker F: How do you do, Dr. D. I'm Dr. Anthony. [00:13:53] Speaker H: Pleasure. [00:13:54] Speaker F: And this is Ms. Lane, a friend of patient. [00:13:56] Speaker H: I'm honored, Ms. Lane. [00:13:57] Speaker I: Oh, it's good of you to come, doctor. I hope you can help Mr. Cranston. [00:14:00] Speaker H: I shall do everything in my power. [00:14:02] Speaker I: I suppose you've come in contact with [00:14:04] Speaker H: similar cases frequently, Ms. Lane. [00:14:06] Speaker I: Is it possible then, that Mr. Cranston's will is dominated by another? [00:14:10] Speaker H: Quite possible. His very existence is in the hands of, well, master mentality. [00:14:16] Speaker I: Oh, doctor, please help him. [00:14:18] Speaker D: Please. [00:14:18] Speaker H: Yes. Yes, of course, Ms. Lane. [00:14:20] Speaker F: I'll awaken the patient. [00:14:21] Speaker H: No, Doctor. I'll awaken him. Mr. Cranston. [00:14:29] Speaker F: Yes? [00:14:31] Speaker H: Open your eyes. [00:14:35] Speaker C: Open [00:14:38] Speaker D: eyes. Awake. [00:14:40] Speaker F: Why, doctor, that's an amazing demonstration. [00:14:42] Speaker I: Lamont. Lamont, this is Dr. Dahmer. He's come to help you. [00:14:47] Speaker E: Oh, Bae. [00:14:50] Speaker H: Okay. [00:14:51] Speaker I: Don't you understand? Why do you stare like that? Lamont. Dr. Anthony. Dr. Donner. That's the same expression he had on his face just before he collapsed in the restaurant. [00:15:00] Speaker F: He seems frightened. [00:15:01] Speaker I: Dr. Dominu. [00:15:02] Speaker H: Ms. Lane. Dr. Anthony. I think it best that you leave me alone with the patient. [00:15:06] Speaker F: Of course, doctor. It's a little cool in this room. Would you mind closing that window behind you? [00:15:11] Speaker H: At the window. Window, of course. I. I'll take care of it now. If you please. [00:15:18] Speaker F: Certainly, doctor. We'll leave at once. [00:15:20] Speaker E: Come. [00:15:20] Speaker C: Miss me? [00:15:20] Speaker I: Dr. Dahmer, I place my last hope in you. [00:15:23] Speaker H: Mr. Cranston will be well taken care of. [00:15:26] Speaker I: Thank you, doctor. [00:15:29] Speaker H: Well, Cranston, we meet again. [00:15:33] Speaker E: We meet again. [00:15:37] Speaker H: Yes, of course. Your vocal cords quite forgotten. You can find. Think clearly enough, but can't express yourself. Well, I shall lessen the pressure a bit for the moment so that you and I can have a little tater tate. You may talk, Cranston. You may talk. [00:15:56] Speaker E: You murderer. You fiend. [00:16:01] Speaker H: Rather a spectacular beginning for a tater tate. [00:16:04] Speaker E: There may be a spectacular end to it too, doctor. Dharma, there's a limit to your control. [00:16:08] Speaker H: The fact that dispute you, Mr. Cranston, you are helpless. You can speak no louder or no longer than I choose to permit. [00:16:16] Speaker E: You've grown rich by murder and fraud. But in some way, I'm going to put an end to you. [00:16:22] Speaker H: Come now, Cranston. Your slight respite is over. I returned you to the condition that baffles science and destroys you. My will is your will. My orders your command. Obey. Obey. I will your will. Obey. Obey. Precisely. Now, Cranston, I leave you to your doom. You shall be dead by morning. [00:17:11] Speaker A: Before our second act begins, let me ask you a question. Have you ever talked to an older person who said, well, of course, things are a lot easier for you people now than they were in my day. I guess you can't blame older folks for being just a bit envious. But we have so many new, improved products which make present day living easier. The list is practically endless. Just for example, take blue coal. Now, thousands of you homeowners will agree with me that blue coal has certainly seen simplified living. Its use has brought home heating comfort that wouldn't have been thought possible a generation or so ago. For blue coal burns so much better, requires so little furnace attention, and it gives you safer, more dependable heating service and satisfaction. You see, blue coal is a guaranteed product of the Glen Alden coal company, the nation's largest hard coal producers. All their superior resources, equipment and care in mining and preparation combine to make blue coal the finest hard coal money can buy. That's why it will pay you to make your next fuel. Order a supply of blue coal. See what a tremendous difference it makes compared to ordinary anthracite. Then you'll join the thousands of regular blue coal users who say there's no substitute for blue coal for perfect heat with less furnace. [00:18:31] Speaker E: Attention. [00:18:32] Speaker A: Call your dealer tomorrow. His name is listed in the where to buy it section of your classified Telephone directory under the words Blue Coal. [00:18:49] Speaker I: Is Mr. Cranston any better, Dr. Anthony? [00:18:51] Speaker F: Sorry, Ms. Lane. No improvement. Oh, this is terrible. [00:18:54] Speaker I: It's horrible. Even Dr. Dahmer couldn't help. [00:18:57] Speaker F: No. He said the patient refused to cooperate. Under the circumstances, help was impossible. [00:19:02] Speaker I: I'm afraid Mr. Cranston lacked faith in Dr. Dmer. If there was some way I could. Dr. Anthony, you have a copy of Dr. Dharma's book? [00:19:09] Speaker H: Yes, that might do it. [00:19:11] Speaker I: If we show Mr. Cranston the book, he might realize how important Dr. D is. [00:19:14] Speaker F: Well, we can try it. Nurse. [00:19:16] Speaker G: Yes? [00:19:16] Speaker F: Go across to my office. You'll find Dr. D's book on my desk. [00:19:19] Speaker A: Bring it here. [00:19:20] Speaker G: Yes, officer. [00:19:21] Speaker I: Dr. Anthony, the phone light is on. [00:19:22] Speaker F: Oh, thank you. I'll answer it. Hello? Yes, sir. Mustard to speak to Mr. Cranston? Well, it's impossible. You. Well, I see. All right, have him come up. I'll talk to him. [00:19:37] Speaker I: What is it, Doctor? [00:19:38] Speaker F: The driver of the car that killed the girl goes on trial tomorrow. His lawyer's downstairs in the reception room. Methinks Mr. Cranston can save the boy. [00:19:45] Speaker I: Perhaps the plight of the boy might stimulate Mr. Creston's interest. [00:19:48] Speaker F: Why, yes, there is that possibility. [00:19:51] Speaker G: Here's the book, doctor. [00:19:52] Speaker I: Let me have it. [00:19:52] Speaker G: Yes. [00:19:54] Speaker I: Look, Lamont, this is Dr. Dahmer's book. You see his name on the COVID He's a tremendous, important man, Lamont. You must let him help you. [00:20:04] Speaker F: Ms. Lane, I believe we've stuck something. [00:20:06] Speaker I: He's thumbing through the pages. I think we've aroused his interest. [00:20:09] Speaker F: Oh, that's the lawyer. [00:20:10] Speaker I: You must put him off, Doctor. [00:20:11] Speaker F: Yes, nurse? Tell the gentleman we can't see him just yet. [00:20:14] Speaker G: Yes, office. [00:20:15] Speaker I: Look, doctor, he's actually reading the book. [00:20:18] Speaker F: This is the first break in the case. [00:20:19] Speaker I: Oh, I hope so. [00:20:21] Speaker G: Dr. Anthony. [00:20:21] Speaker F: Yes, nurse, what is it? [00:20:22] Speaker G: All that lawyer wants is for Mr. Cranston to establish how far the automobile was from the girl when she stepped off the curb. He brought this enlarged photograph of the scene of the accident in the hope that Mr. Cranston could mark the spot on the picture. [00:20:33] Speaker J: Well, I'm afraid that. [00:20:34] Speaker I: Doctor, look, Mr. Cranston's reaching out with a photograph, I believe. [00:20:39] Speaker F: Do you think he recognized him? [00:20:40] Speaker I: Apparently. Apparently? Nurse, let me have that photo. [00:20:43] Speaker G: Yes, Ms. Lane. [00:20:44] Speaker I: Here, Lamont. Show us where the automobile was when the girl stepped off the curb. [00:20:50] Speaker F: Why, he's drawing his finger over the picture. [00:20:52] Speaker I: No, no, Lamont, not there. The place where the car. [00:20:58] Speaker F: He's indicating a spot on the sidewalk. You see, it's useless. His brain isn't functioning. Look. Look, Ms. Lane. He's. He's pointing from Dharma's name on the book cover to the spot on the photograph. [00:21:08] Speaker D: Doctor. [00:21:09] Speaker I: Doctor, I see it now. [00:21:10] Speaker G: What? [00:21:10] Speaker I: He's placing Dharma at the scene of the accident. Oh, Doctor, don't you understand? Lamont had met that man before. That's why he was so agitated when Dharma came in here. [00:21:20] Speaker F: Why, I Believe you're right, Ms. Lane. [00:21:21] Speaker I: That's why he keeps repeating the word. We will meet again. [00:21:26] Speaker F: Do you think Dahmer might be the influence that dominates Mr. Cranston? [00:21:30] Speaker I: I don't know, Doctor. [00:21:31] Speaker F: Look, Ms. Lane. He's pointing to a passage in Dharma's book. [00:21:34] Speaker I: Now, what is it, Lamont? [00:21:35] Speaker F: Read the passage, Ms. Lane. [00:21:37] Speaker I: Should the controlling mind lose poise for even an instant in that moment, the spell is broken and the will of the subject released. If the controlling mind loses void. [00:21:49] Speaker E: Window. [00:21:51] Speaker H: Window. [00:21:53] Speaker E: Window. [00:21:54] Speaker F: Oh, he's trying to tell Think by association of ideas. [00:21:57] Speaker I: What significance can the window have? I got it, Doctor. [00:22:01] Speaker F: What? [00:22:02] Speaker I: Do you remember when you asked Dharma to close that window? He lost his poise. He never went near it. He didn't dare look out of this 26th floor window. [00:22:09] Speaker F: Of course, I thought his conduct strange at the time. [00:22:12] Speaker I: Dharma is a victim of a phobia. The fear of high places. That is what Mr. Cranston is trying to win out. [00:22:20] Speaker E: We shall meet again. [00:22:25] Speaker I: We've got to get Dharma back up here. We've got to make him lose his self control, if only for an instant. It's the only way to break Dharma's influence. [00:22:32] Speaker A: But will he come? [00:22:33] Speaker F: He's washed his hands of the case. [00:22:35] Speaker I: I think I know a way to get him here. Get the chairs out there on the terrace, miss. [00:22:48] Speaker G: Yes, doctor. [00:22:49] Speaker I: Anthony, I think we'd better move Mr. Cranston's bed a little closer to the edge. [00:22:52] Speaker F: Yes. Hurry, Ms. Lynn. Dharma already on his way out. [00:22:55] Speaker G: Where do you Want this? Here, Ms. Lane. [00:22:56] Speaker I: Right over there, close to the parapet. [00:22:57] Speaker F: How did you manage to get Dharma to come up here? [00:23:00] Speaker I: I simply phoned and told him Mr. Cranston was getting well. He nearly dropped the phone, he was so nervous. [00:23:05] Speaker F: That must be Dharma. Look, I. I'll go through the next room and leave you and Mr. Cranston alone with him. Nurse, you show Dr. D in and you can go. [00:23:12] Speaker G: Thank you, doctor. [00:23:13] Speaker F: Good luck, Ms. Lane. I certainly hope this will. [00:23:15] Speaker G: I hope so, Doctor. [00:23:16] Speaker I: Hurry. Hurry. Lamont, watch him. Watch Dharma every second. This is our only chance to beat. Oh, Dr. Dahmer, I'm glad to see you. [00:23:29] Speaker H: How do you Do I too, am glad. Isn't this rather unwise, having. Having Mr. Cranston out here? It's. It's quite windy at this house. [00:23:37] Speaker I: Mr. Cranston requested it. [00:23:39] Speaker H: Requested it? Mr. Cranston did? [00:23:41] Speaker I: Yes. Won't you sit down, doctor? Here's a chair right over here. [00:23:44] Speaker H: Yes, I. Pardon me, Miss Lynn, but. But I'm pressed for time. Must examine Mr. Cranston alone. Do you mind? [00:23:49] Speaker I: Not at all, doctor. I'll lead. Oh, Ms. Lynn, look out. My, how awkward. [00:23:54] Speaker J: You nearly fell over the edge. [00:23:56] Speaker I: Did I frighten you, doc? [00:23:57] Speaker H: Oh, come away from there. [00:23:58] Speaker I: I'm sorry. I'll leave you now with your case. [00:24:00] Speaker J: Yes, I. [00:24:01] Speaker H: Miss lane, look. Mr. Cranston's gone. What was that? [00:24:08] Speaker E: Should the controlling mind lose poise for even an instant? Thanks for the tip, Doctor. Ms. Lane's fate stumbled at the trick. [00:24:18] Speaker J: You lost poise. [00:24:20] Speaker H: Who are you? [00:24:20] Speaker E: Your liberated subject, Lamont Cranston. [00:24:22] Speaker H: I can't see you. [00:24:23] Speaker E: Quite right, doctor. Nobody ever sees the shadow. [00:24:28] Speaker H: The shadow? [00:24:30] Speaker J: You? [00:24:30] Speaker E: Yes, doctor. [00:24:31] Speaker H: I've heard of you, the invisible. But this can't be. You accomplish this through hypnotism. [00:24:42] Speaker E: Correct, doctor. We're masters of the same art. We apply it quite differently. [00:24:48] Speaker H: You have hypnotized me. All my life, I've looked forward to an encounter with a shadow. I felt it would be the ultimate test of my hypnotic powers. [00:25:00] Speaker J: Well, here we are, doctor. [00:25:03] Speaker H: Quite so. And you shall see who is master. [00:25:07] Speaker E: What do you mean? [00:25:08] Speaker H: I lost control over your will. But only for the moment. You're a fool if you think you can best me. I have just to touch you and you will again be helpless if you can touch me. You have made one mistake. A fatal one mistake. Your selection of an arena was thoughtless. This terrace is small. You'll have to pass me to get away. [00:25:29] Speaker E: I warn you, Dahmer, this may mean your doom. [00:25:33] Speaker H: I know where you are now. There, I'll. [00:25:39] Speaker E: You've lost the first move. You can't touch me. Dharma, it's useless to try. Your wisest course is to surrender and settle with the law. [00:25:49] Speaker H: Never. You moved that chair. You're in the corner, near the wicker fence. Now we at sea. [00:25:58] Speaker E: Get back from the edge. [00:26:05] Speaker I: Lamont. [00:26:06] Speaker D: La. [00:26:06] Speaker I: Are you all right? [00:26:07] Speaker E: Yes, Margot. [00:26:08] Speaker I: I heard it's great. [00:26:09] Speaker E: It was Dharma. Lost his balance. Fell 26 stories. [00:26:12] Speaker I: Oh, Lamont. Well, thank God you're safe. Oh, it was so ghastly. You lying there, aware of everything, not able to express your thoughts. [00:26:20] Speaker E: You express them very well for me, Margo. If it were not for you. This would be my hour of doom instead of Dharma's. He had an amazing mind, Margot. But like so many brilliant minds, it was bent in the wrong direction. Men like Dharma would be a boon to mank if they use their talents constructively. [00:26:57] Speaker A: We'll introduce our special guest in just a moment. But first let's hear from Blue Coal's heating expert, John Barclay. [00:27:03] Speaker J: Thank you, Ken Roberts, and good afternoon, friends. Many homeowners are under the impression that all they need do to put coal on the furnace fire is throw on a few shovels full. I can assure you that that's neither the most practical nor the most economical way to get satisfactory heating results. First, the grates should be shaken gently until you see the first red glow in the ash pit. Be sure not to shake red hot or unburned coals through into the ash pit, for then you'll simply be wasting coal. Next, pull a mound of live coals to the front of the firebox just inside the fire door with a shovel or a hole. Now you have a fire bed sloping down toward the back of the furnace. Put fresh coal into the hollow formed by this slope, being sure to leave a few burning coals near the door. These live coals will act as a pilot light which will burn off the gases which rise from the fresh coal contact with the burning coal. Try this method of putting coal on the fire and see if it doesn't give you far more satisfactory heating results. And remember, if at any time you have difficulty with your heating plant, get in touch with your nearest Blue Coal dealer. He'll gladly send a John Barkley serviceman to show you how to fix up the trouble. John Barkley service is absolutely free, so call your Blue Coal dealer. I thank you. [00:28:40] Speaker A: And now I have the privilege of presenting Dr. Lorne W. Barclay, National Director of Camping Activities of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. By the way, you're not related to John Barkley, our heating expert, by any chance, are you? [00:28:54] Speaker J: Not that I know of. But I've heard his heating advice on this program and found it very useful. [00:28:59] Speaker F: Good. [00:29:00] Speaker A: Dr. Barclay, the producers of Blue Coal have asked me to congratulate your great organization, the Boy Scouts of America, on the 29th anniversary of its founding. Through the years, the Boy Scouts have made many important contributions to the finest American ideals. And for that, we salute you. [00:29:18] Speaker J: Thank you, Mr. Roberts. And may I say that we are [00:29:21] Speaker F: grateful to the sponsors of the Shadow program. [00:29:24] Speaker J: They too are making a valuable contribution to Americans young and old by showing them that crime in any form does not pay. [00:29:33] Speaker A: We appreciate having had you with us this afternoon, Dr. Barclay, and we sincerely hope you will visit us again. Today's program is based on a story copyrighted by the Shadow magazine. All the characters and all the places named are fictitious. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidentally, the Shadow Magazine is now on sale at your local newsstand. [00:30:15] Speaker E: The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not. Hey, the Shadow knows. [00:30:31] Speaker B: That was the hypnotic death from the Shadow here on the mysterious old Radio Listening Society podcast once again. I'm Eric. [00:30:39] Speaker C: I'm Tim. [00:30:39] Speaker D: And I'm Joshua. [00:30:41] Speaker B: And that was brought to us by our Patreon, James. Thanks, James. Thank you, James, for being a Patreon. Thanks for your recommendation. We're always very happy to do any episode of the Shadow. This is interesting because this particular episode of the Shadow has been on my list of possibilities to bring to the podcast for. [00:31:02] Speaker D: James beat you to it. [00:31:04] Speaker B: James beat me to it. I never brought it. And my whole thing. [00:31:07] Speaker C: Because you hate it so much. [00:31:08] Speaker B: Yes, because I hate it. And James, you idiot, why would you. Because I find it super interesting as to how vulnerable and defeated the Shadow is in this. I think it's an interesting episode because it's him fighting for his life and almost defeated. [00:31:30] Speaker D: Yeah, and one of the reasons James recommended it was because Margot plays such a big role in this. [00:31:39] Speaker B: He's helpless. Margot pretty much solves this whole thing and interprets his weird. [00:31:45] Speaker D: He sounds like he has Bill's palsy, doesn't he? Half of his face. Face. He's like mar. [00:31:50] Speaker B: Speaking of someone that's had it. Have you ever had it? [00:31:53] Speaker D: No, but I have certainly enjoyed others who have. [00:31:58] Speaker B: My quick story with that is I did a long time ago Greater Tuna, which is a two man show where each actor plays like 25 roles. I don't know, like you play a ton of characters. There's quick costume changes. It's a banal script. It's not great. But, you know, the point is, is that I'm on my way up to do this thing and I get Bell's palsy. Well, so I have. I believe it's 14 characters you have to play. [00:32:26] Speaker D: Okay. [00:32:27] Speaker B: So I have to figure out how to play all these characters with half a face. So I come up with different. [00:32:33] Speaker D: You only played seven of them, so. [00:32:36] Speaker B: So accents and voices. I had to figure out how. So I just created them using the Bell's palsy. The night before opening, the Bell's palsy goes away. As it does, it just disappears. Stayed up till four in the morning. Redoing all of those characters. [00:32:55] Speaker D: You should have just done it as if you had Bell's palsy. [00:32:59] Speaker B: It's not that easy. It's seriously so hard to get that part of your face to move that it creates, first of all, a lot of drool. I was like, you gotta be kidding me. That this thing just went away. [00:33:13] Speaker C: Anyway, not to make this whole thing about Bell's palsy, but when I had it, the question like, oh, what happened? Like, I turned my neck. [00:33:21] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:33:22] Speaker C: And suddenly half my face is numb. And I had to, like, tape one eye closed and put an eye patch over it. [00:33:27] Speaker B: Yep. [00:33:28] Speaker D: And that's pretty cool. [00:33:29] Speaker B: Mine. Yeah, mine. I had never heard of Bell's palsy. So my whole thing. And I called my wife and told what was going on. We both thought, oh, so you're having a stroke. Yeah, you are having a stroke. And I did. I got to an emergency room and, well, you have Bell's palsy, which sounds terrible. [00:33:47] Speaker C: I'm like, oh, no. [00:33:48] Speaker B: How long have I got? You know? Like, I don't know what's going on. He goes, yeah, there's no cure and it'll just go away. [00:33:53] Speaker H: And I would, what? [00:33:55] Speaker C: And then the other thing is. Or it might never go. [00:33:57] Speaker B: Or it might never go away. George Clooney has it permanently. He's just learned how to live with. [00:34:03] Speaker D: Helps if you're that handsome. Yeah. Right. [00:34:08] Speaker B: Anyway, Tim, tell him stuff. [00:34:11] Speaker C: It is now kind of just clear that episodes of Shadow were just going to come and say, we loved it. This is awesome. We like this a lot. But to try to summon some kind of critical commentary. If this was the first episode of the Shadow you ever heard, like, why do people like this? [00:34:29] Speaker B: Right. He doesn't ever become the Shadow till the very end, Right? [00:34:34] Speaker C: Yes. But for all the reasons you said, it was fascinating, both on the meta level of, like, ooh, he's not. He's paralyzed. And Margot has to take over the whole action. And the kind of other meta level of. Did he just get his butt kicked by hypnotism? Like, that was his shtick. Is he faking? [00:34:55] Speaker B: Right. Which is something I just love about it, that there's this hypnotist war going on that he's. That he loses. [00:35:05] Speaker D: Yeah. It's not a really masculine episode of the Shadow. The entire thing revolves around dueling hypnotism. It's like, you have to make him lose his poise, open a window. [00:35:23] Speaker B: It really throws off his game. [00:35:26] Speaker D: Guys, I can't hypnotize. It's too drafty. [00:35:29] Speaker C: In here. [00:35:32] Speaker D: I'm losing my poise. [00:35:34] Speaker C: Oh, she almost fell. I'm too, too upset. [00:35:41] Speaker B: So it's all like Mr. Smith of Lost in Space. [00:35:48] Speaker D: But I mean, that is, in all seriousness, what makes it compelling within the large body of shadow work out there is that it is very much an outlier. That the shadow is just in down, just walks up as a Good Samaritan and starts throwing his weight around as an eyewitness and then is just laid immediately low by this hypnotist. And it's a great scheme on the part of the hypnotist. It's a great opening sequence. You're really like, what's going on? [00:36:24] Speaker C: And ooh, another small, interesting detail is, like, important part of our plan. We need a lawyer who understands insurance policies really well. Sinister, evil. [00:36:38] Speaker D: And the open window just does scream Chekhov's open window. The first time they mention just stands out. Like, that's gonna be important. I have no idea why or how, but it's so weird that again, I find it intriguing. Yeah. Open that window. Open that window. Okay. [00:36:56] Speaker B: Right. It would have been awesome if that never came back into play. [00:37:03] Speaker C: End of the final conflict. Both ridiculous and cool. Is a game of tag. Like, if I can touch you, I will defeat you. [00:37:13] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:37:14] Speaker C: Over here. [00:37:14] Speaker D: Are you there? Touch. Hypnotism is weird. [00:37:17] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:37:19] Speaker D: Touch. [00:37:26] Speaker C: So, yeah, I have the impulses here and talk about all the things that are awesome, like the production and the acting and the story, but it's mostly just delightfully weird. I was wondering, as I listened to this, where the trope of what hypnotism is, is you say a thing and they say it back to you and you say a thing slowly. A simple, slow sentence. Yes, simple, slow sentence. That rhythm. Because it is like, that is hypnotism in media. [00:37:54] Speaker D: Yeah. And I think that is the root of real hypnotism, which is essentially a hyper meditative state. So I think its origins are actually in real hypnotism. [00:38:06] Speaker B: Those two words should not go together. Hyper meditative. [00:38:12] Speaker C: You are meditating very loudly right now. [00:38:16] Speaker D: But where you get into the fantasy realms is with like, I can telepathically hypnotize you. I can touch hypnotize you. [00:38:25] Speaker C: But I don't know the people who say I obey. Unless you tell me say, I obey. Say it. [00:38:31] Speaker D: Depending on the fetish touch, I open. Just the image of, let's move all the furniture dangerously close to the edge of this terrace that is out on the 26th floor of the hospital. [00:38:54] Speaker B: That's the other thing. Let's let's have a nice moment and round of applause for the laws that have gone into effect about being able to open a window above the fourth floor or at least, you know, have some safety features on it. Like the idea that you could open up a window that high up. You can't get above the 10th floor. I'm gonna say the fifth floor at a hotel. And you can't open your window. Right. You can't open your window. They don't let you. [00:39:24] Speaker D: Well, yeah. Because you're gonna jump. Yeah. [00:39:26] Speaker C: It's not just you can't open the special glass. Like you really gotta try hard. [00:39:30] Speaker D: Yeah. They just don't do not want you to jump out that window. You can kill yourself throwing yourself repeatedly against the glass. But the back windows at it. [00:39:40] Speaker B: Remember when the back windows of cars went through a 10 year period where they only rolled halfway down? Oh, that. Do you know why? It was child safety. But it was Ralph Nader got that law passed and now they roll all the way down again. [00:39:53] Speaker D: But yes, like Nader died. [00:39:56] Speaker B: Nader died. Screw the children. Yeah. [00:39:58] Speaker C: It was the tired of choking dogs back there. [00:40:01] Speaker B: Right. [00:40:02] Speaker D: Flying the flag at a half map. Everyone rolled down their back died. [00:40:12] Speaker B: There isn't a lot of discussion about this episode because there's not a lot there other than he's struggling. Margo solves it by getting him distracted so he can become the shadow and take over his mind or at least become invisible. That's it. That's all that happens in this. [00:40:32] Speaker C: There's not a lot because of specifically that. What keeps it engaging? Is it the ambiguous, the arbitrary clock of you're going to die of Hypnotism death in 24 hours. Hypnotism death. Or is it the villain? Is it Dahmer, Dr. Dahmer who is his arrogance makes it so like I want to see this guy get his. Normally the plot of you're in a bed for a and can't move and can't talk is not great drama. [00:41:04] Speaker D: Yeah. And usually radio drama because it's theater of the mind moves from location to location. We have our opening sequence where we get the hideout or wherever the young woman is taken to be hypnotized. And then the street corner. And then we're talking 20 straight minutes in a hospital. [00:41:22] Speaker B: In a hospital room. [00:41:23] Speaker D: Yeah. To me, what kept it engaging was trying to guess whether the shadow really was faking what was gonna be the twist. How was he gonna get out of this? And I was happy to find out that no, he was really laid low by this hypnotist. And it was really Margot who saved the day. [00:41:45] Speaker C: And there was the little nuanced mystery of. In the hypnotism, his throat was sort of hypnotized closed. Yeah, yeah, it was. Specifically. You can't talk about these things. And it was a physical sort of sensation he had in his throat. [00:41:58] Speaker B: There's that thing with superhero storytelling of having to throw the. The thing in that will stop them. Superman's kryptonite. Right. Like, so that you have an ability to have a plot where your superhero can be defeated. And this seems like the first time I can think of other than the dog that trapped him in a tree once. Remember when he got trapped by a dog and he couldn't get out of the tree? Yeah, that was great. [00:42:33] Speaker C: It's because those back windows didn't roll. Right. [00:42:35] Speaker D: Margo, I'm calling you on the shortwave radio. [00:42:38] Speaker B: Bring dog treats. But we really haven't had. Oh, now there's a way to defeat the shadow. And then in the movie, though, right, with Alec Baldwin, Isn't it a battle of mind control in that movie? [00:42:56] Speaker C: That's more directly someone who knows the same methods of mind control that he does. This was a little interesting of separate skill sets, separate backgrounds, but I was [00:43:09] Speaker B: thinking that this episode might have inspired the plot of that shadow movie. [00:43:15] Speaker D: I think this was likely inspired by the pulps. But yeah, hypnotism is the natural thing to fight hypnotism. Fight fire with fire. It just. It gets really repetitive. So they decided not to have every week a new evil hypnotist. As much fun as it is. But there are other episodes in which [00:43:35] Speaker C: Bunch of evil hypnotists waiting in line. Ah, [00:43:39] Speaker B: I think you should slow down on that opinion. I think that might work. [00:43:42] Speaker D: There are several other episodes in which he confronts hypnotists. There's the hypnotized audience, which, honestly, when James first recommended this episode, that's what I thought it was. And I was very excited to hear this because I've never heard this one. I maybe just passed over it thinking it was the hypnotized audience, which is a whole nother fight with a hypnotist and an audience. There's a great line that makes me think that perhaps my problem right now is that I'm hypnotized is when the doctor says all his vital organs are in excellent condition, yet his energy is rapidly ebbing. I've been hypnotized. That's my problem in life. Or I'm 54. [00:44:24] Speaker C: Well, the Doctor that was an odd little plot slide of the Doctor's, like, well, we could consult other experts or I got this book by a guy and I guess, right, by a wild coincidence, I have this book by the. [00:44:40] Speaker B: This copy of Deus Ex Buccina. [00:44:43] Speaker D: Yes, the Youur by Dr. Ricken. [00:44:50] Speaker C: That would be a very funny story though if it was a different book. Like they just brought some other author who was not the one who hypnotized him. [00:44:58] Speaker D: A Farewell to Arms. [00:45:04] Speaker B: Shadow over Innsmouth. [00:45:10] Speaker D: I thought it was just wild that they let the shadow not just be taken out of the fight, but just to be just so weak to not even be able to speak. I think there's one point where like Margot talks to him and he's just like. [00:45:24] Speaker B: He makes like gurgling John Stone loved this episode. He was off book. [00:45:31] Speaker C: This was again. And it delights me every time it pops up in a shadow episode. Oh, this guy's discovered who the shadow's identity. Oh, you're about to have a terrible accident, sir. [00:45:41] Speaker D: Yes. And Michelle's about to half heartedly go, no, don't. Oh, too bad. [00:45:48] Speaker C: Luckily my secret is safe again, right? [00:45:52] Speaker D: Every time somebody falls off a building, the shadows secret identity is on the way down. [00:45:57] Speaker C: The wall crashes in the shadow. [00:46:00] Speaker B: And every time he does that to someone, Margo sleeps a little less. [00:46:07] Speaker C: We're good, aren't we, Margo? [00:46:09] Speaker D: Real good. [00:46:10] Speaker B: Real, real good. We're good, right? Yes. [00:46:12] Speaker D: I love at the end when they're. It's always discussing what just happened as if it's perfectly normal. And I can't remember if it's Margot or Lamont. Dharma would be a boon to mankind if he used his talents constructively. Which led me to think like, what is a constructive pro Social use for the ability to control the will of others from a distance. [00:46:37] Speaker B: I think that's just called politics. [00:46:39] Speaker D: Yes. [00:46:40] Speaker C: Quit smoking. [00:46:41] Speaker D: Yeah, I guess you're right. [00:46:42] Speaker C: Lose some weight. [00:46:44] Speaker B: Social media works that way. [00:46:46] Speaker C: Yeah. That's made the world great. [00:46:47] Speaker D: It's perfect. [00:46:49] Speaker B: Really helped out a lot. [00:46:54] Speaker D: And I did not know that the bureaucratic structure of the Boy Scouts was so specific that they had a director of camping activities. A national director of camping activities. [00:47:08] Speaker B: That's a gig. [00:47:09] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:47:11] Speaker B: What'd you write down today, Bill? Make a fire. [00:47:15] Speaker D: I wonder if it breaks down though, if there's someone under him who takes care of s' mores. And whittling below that. [00:47:25] Speaker B: Whittling? Yeah. [00:47:28] Speaker D: And why was he there? It was just to say how much the Boy Scouts love blue coal and the blue coal Said, and we love the Boy Scouts. I'm like, get a room, guys. [00:47:38] Speaker B: Okay. [00:47:39] Speaker C: Go camping. [00:47:40] Speaker B: You guys never say, get a room. I'm talking about the Boy Scouts. [00:47:44] Speaker D: Get a tent. [00:47:46] Speaker B: Too soon. Yeah. Well, I'm ready to vote. I don't know what else to say about it. Do you have more to say? [00:47:58] Speaker D: Not productive. [00:48:00] Speaker C: All right, let's keep going. [00:48:04] Speaker B: I thought it was just a great episode of the Shadow. Something new and interesting, different perspective. A different thing happened to him that he had to overcome. I loved that Margot had to take over. It's. Look, the Shadow is never going to go above a certain threshold of what it is. It's good fun. It's not deep. And I thought that was fun. It wasn't any better or worse than any other shadow I've ever heard, but it was unique. [00:48:35] Speaker D: I totally agree. [00:48:40] Speaker C: In the world of the Shadow storytelling moments, like, they're trying to interpret what he's pointing to on the picture of, like, oh, no. Clearly this indicates brain damage and he's dying. We should just give up. Like, no. And Margot's like, no. He's pointing out that this person's there. Oh, okay. I guess we won't give up on him. [00:49:04] Speaker B: And I picture those doctors making all those assessments while smoking. [00:49:07] Speaker D: Yeah. Hey, Margo, you want to be my nurse? You're good at this. [00:49:13] Speaker C: It is, but the stakes and the storytelling is sinister and funny and enjoyable. And even in a really aberrant story like this, it's all there. So I really liked it. [00:49:26] Speaker D: This is what I want out of the Shadow. Even as an outlier, it is just pulpy, campy. It's not a Boy Scout joke, Commissioner. Pulp, campy, fluffy, fun. And the fact that it was different from the other Shadows makes it a little more exciting. It's a classic, mostly because it is such an outlier. And what's missing from it makes it exciting, but also makes it not a classic because it's the Shadow and he should probably be in more of his own episode. [00:49:59] Speaker C: That expected them to start jumping to clips from past episodes of the Shadow. [00:50:05] Speaker D: Margot, do you remember when I solved that case? So, overall, yeah, I would say it stands the test of time in a pulpy, fun way. I think it was as rickety then as it is now, but great fun. But I also always want to say this about the Shadow. I totally understand. If many of our listeners skip over Shadow episodes, it's going to be those guys carrying on about how much they like the Shadow, even though it's crap. True, but I love it. [00:50:34] Speaker B: Tim tell him stuff. [00:50:35] Speaker C: Please go visit ghoulishtolights.com you can listen to more episodes of the Shadow Yay. Or other stuff that we've done. Our episodes. You can sort through them by what series we've done. You'll find all the episodes we done there. You can comment. You can go onto our store and buy some swag. You can also link to our Patreon page. [00:50:57] Speaker D: Yes. Go to patreon.com themorals and be like James. James is an exemplary patron. James is at most of the happy hours. He's frequently at book clubs. He is getting the most out of his membership. And you can too. Go to patreon.com themorals and join today. [00:51:19] Speaker B: James, part of the moral sleepovers. We should do that moral sleepover part. [00:51:27] Speaker C: James, if Eric invites you to sleep over and say no, no zoom sleepovers. [00:51:34] Speaker B: Just leave it on all night. [00:51:36] Speaker D: Just mute someone when they snore. [00:51:40] Speaker B: I kind of want to do this. The mysterious Old Radio Listening Society Theater company also performs live on stage recreations of classic old time radio shows and a lot of our own original work. You can find out what we're performing, where, when, how much. [00:52:01] Speaker D: Some added sound effects there for you. That's. [00:52:03] Speaker B: That's how it works. That right there was how we do motorboat. [00:52:07] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:52:09] Speaker C: Sound of 18 empty bottles. [00:52:14] Speaker D: That's like two years worth of recordings. [00:52:18] Speaker B: Hey, go to ghoulishdelights.com and you can come see us performing live. And then also if you're a Patreon, the audio of those live performances is made available to you. So another perk. What's coming up next? [00:52:30] Speaker D: Next is Tim's Choice. [00:52:32] Speaker C: Oh boy, oh boy. So for next episode, I'm bringing a series we have not listened to before on this podcast. It's an episode entitled the Case of the Widow's Gorilla from the Adventures of the Falcon. [00:52:44] Speaker D: Until then, touch.