Episode 424: Death Pulls the Strings

[00:00:16] Speaker A: The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society podcast. Welcome to the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society, a podcast dedicated to suspense, crime and horror stories from the golden age of radio. I'm Eric. [00:00:35] Speaker B: I'm Tim. [00:00:35] Speaker C: And I'm Joshua. [00:00:37] Speaker B: We love mysterious old time radio stories, but do they Stand the test of time? That's what we're here to find out today. [00:00:42] Speaker C: I chose Death Pulls the Strings from [00:00:45] Speaker A: the Shadow 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 hero of his own Pulp magazine. In turn, the popularity of the Pulp inspired another radio series. [00:01:10] Speaker B: This time, the Shadow was more than just a host. He was the leading character. Premiering on 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 could not see him. [00:01:27] Speaker C: 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. Two years later, Moorhead passed the role of Margo Lane to radio actress Marjorie Anderson, who appeared alongside Johnstone for the remainder of his run. So here they are, Bill Johnstone and Marjorie Anderson in D Death pulls the strings first broadcast January 6, 1942 it's [00:02:01] Speaker A: late at night and a chill has 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. [00:02:35] Speaker D: Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows. [00:02:49] Speaker E: The thrilling adventures of the Shadow or on the air, brought to you each week at the this time by your neighborhood blue coal dealer. These dramatizations are designed to demonstrate forcibly to old and young alike that crime does not pay. One way that you can help your country's war effort is to put in all the cold you'll need for home heating right away. It's a patriotic thing to do because transportation facilities are needed for war supplies. Get in touch with your neighborhood blue coal dealer, who at present has reserves of blue coal on hand. There is no shortage of blue coal today, and suppliers should be adequate to meet the needs of every user. However, circumstances may change and it's wise not to take chances. There's a long stretch of cold weather Ahead of us, so don't delay. Fill your coal bin now and be safe. Call your friendly blue coal dealer tomorrow. The shadow, mysterious character who aids the forces of law and order is in reality Lamont Cranston, wealthy young man about town. Several years ago in the Orient, Cranston learned a strange and mysterious secret. The secret of hypnotic power to cloud men's minds so that they cannot see him. Cranston's friend and companion, the lovely Margo Lane, is the only person who knows to whom the voice of the invisible shadow belongs. Today's drama, death pulls the strings. [00:04:39] Speaker F: They call me Goro. Don't ask who I am or where I came from. Just let us say there is a man called Goro. A man? Can you call a freak of nature, A twisted monstrosity, an evil, ugly thing? A man? [00:04:58] Speaker G: No. [00:04:59] Speaker F: I am Goro, Nature's bizarre caricature of a man. I am not pleasant to look upon, and I am strong enough to compel fear. The weakness of my withered limbs is compensated by the strength of my arms. Is it not strange that I, with my almost useless legs, should want to dance? Is it not amusing that I, who could have been the greatest ballet master in the world, should play with puppets with articulated dolls which I dangle on the ends of strings? Is it not strange that I should hate all those who move gracefully, beautifully? No, my friends, it is not strange. [00:05:52] Speaker H: But, Diane, tomorrow you are giving another dance concert, and this requires your immediate approval. All my plans for the charity review depend on it. [00:06:02] Speaker I: Well, then I can guess it has something to do with your wonderful marionettes. [00:06:06] Speaker H: So far you are right. The rest is the surprise. [00:06:09] Speaker I: Oh, is it? [00:06:10] Speaker H: Ah, here we are. This is my studio. [00:06:13] Speaker I: Oh, it's very charming, Rico. [00:06:16] Speaker H: Well, shall we go in? [00:06:18] Speaker I: Oh, yes, yes, of course. Oh, yeah, you'd better go first, Rico. It's so dark. [00:06:26] Speaker H: Afraid it'll be dark, my dear. Then we shall have light. What is it? [00:06:32] Speaker I: Oh, those shrouded figures hanging from the ceiling. For a moment I thought if they [00:06:38] Speaker H: were people hanging there. Oh, no, my dear. Merely my life size puppets. That is all. Now. Now for the surprise. [00:06:47] Speaker I: Rico, don't think me silly, but you [00:06:51] Speaker J: won't be gone long. [00:06:53] Speaker H: No, I am just going into the work room. [00:06:56] Speaker I: This room seems so eerie with all your puppets hanging from the ceiling. Perhaps if you turned on more light. [00:07:03] Speaker H: I am sorry, my dear, but there is no more light. Now you must close your eyes. I will tell you when to open. [00:07:11] Speaker I: All right. You're making a great mystery of this, Rico. [00:07:15] Speaker H: I want to see your Face when I bring back these. Surprise. [00:07:25] Speaker I: Strange. It's my music. My music for my dance. Macabre. Oh, Rico. I've got my eyes closed. When may I see the surprise? How much longer, Rico? Ricko. [00:07:47] Speaker F: No longer. [00:07:49] Speaker I: Oh, no. [00:07:50] Speaker H: No. [00:07:51] Speaker F: So Goro's twisted body offends you, eh, Miss Childer? [00:07:57] Speaker I: Who are you? [00:07:58] Speaker F: I'm the brother of Rico. Puppeteer extraordinary. [00:08:01] Speaker I: Brother? [00:08:02] Speaker F: Yes, Ms. Childer. The handsome Rico is my brother. Or should I say, the handsome Rico is my face? [00:08:08] Speaker I: I don't understand. [00:08:09] Speaker F: I am Rico's genius. My brother is without talent. I make these puppets and I make them dance. Even Rico dangles from my str. Obeys me. [00:08:19] Speaker I: You. [00:08:20] Speaker F: I revolt you, Ms. Childe. Unfortunately, my ugliness has always done that. [00:08:27] Speaker I: I'm so sorry. Now I. I must leave. [00:08:30] Speaker F: Not yet. I've seen you dance, Miss Childer. Your muscular control and coordination are magnificent. [00:08:36] Speaker I: But where is Rico? [00:08:37] Speaker F: But you lack imagination. [00:08:39] Speaker I: I'm. I'm sure you're quite right. Now, please let me go. [00:08:43] Speaker F: I will make you the greatest dancer in the world. [00:08:47] Speaker I: You're hurting it. [00:08:48] Speaker F: Yes, yes. I must not hurt your arm. I must not bruise the muscles or sinews. For then. Then you will be spoiled for my purpose. But I am strong, am I not? If I wanted to, I could crush the life from you with my hands. [00:09:04] Speaker I: Please. Please go. I must go. I really must. [00:09:07] Speaker F: No, Miss Charlie. You must not go. [00:09:10] Speaker I: What do you want of me? [00:09:11] Speaker F: Some must be the puppets and some must pull the strings. I have no choice in that matter. [00:09:21] Speaker I: Oh, no, no. [00:09:32] Speaker G: Now look, Ms. Lane Cranston. I'm perfectly willing to buy a ticket for the charity review. But why do I have to go and see that stupid Punch and Judy show and be bored? [00:09:43] Speaker D: Punch and Judy show? Why, Commissioner Weston, Rico is probably the greatest puppeteer in the world. [00:09:50] Speaker G: I still say it's a Punch and Judy show. And I still don't like it. I'm too old for that kid stuff. [00:09:56] Speaker J: Why, Commissioner. Rico's puppets are a work of art. [00:09:59] Speaker K: Work of art. Well, they can stay out of my cab. They can stay out. [00:10:03] Speaker G: What's he talking about? [00:10:04] Speaker D: What did you say, Shreevy? [00:10:05] Speaker K: I am thinking about a sad experience. My bosom friend and companion, Big Charlie is having one time with puppets. As fortune is having it. He is driving a thoughtful dog act from here all the way to Boston in his cab. He's driving? [00:10:18] Speaker D: Well, what's that got to do with Rico's puppets, Shreevy? [00:10:20] Speaker K: Well, up to the time of this horrible experience, he has happened with this now vaudeville dog Act. He has likened dogs immensely. He is likened Srivi. [00:10:29] Speaker J: I don't get it. [00:10:30] Speaker K: Big Charlie did. Right in the back of his cab. He got it. One of the dogs in the vaudeville act is picking this time to have puppets. [00:10:38] Speaker J: Puppets? [00:10:39] Speaker I: Oh, Shrevey. [00:10:41] Speaker K: Well, it's not so funny to Big Charlie, I can tell you. [00:10:44] Speaker D: Shrevey. You mean puppies? [00:10:45] Speaker K: That's what I'm saying, Mr. Granson. Baby dogs. [00:10:48] Speaker H: Little puppets. [00:10:51] Speaker D: Little puppets. [00:10:52] Speaker G: In case anyone is interested, that stoplight has changed. [00:10:55] Speaker K: Yes, sir, it certainly has. What? [00:10:57] Speaker D: Oh, golly. [00:10:59] Speaker G: If we have to go to that Punch and Judy show, let's get there in time for tonight's performance. [00:11:14] Speaker J: Commissioner, you can stop applauding now. [00:11:17] Speaker G: Amazing. That man Rico does amazing things with those life size puppets. [00:11:25] Speaker J: So you don't like the Punch and Judy show, eh, Commissioner? [00:11:28] Speaker G: Now, spare my feelings, Ms. Lane. [00:11:31] Speaker D: You know, there were times when I almost forgot that those puppets were just things of wood and wire. They seem so. So natural, so lifelike. [00:11:39] Speaker J: There's the curtain. What's the next act, Lamont? [00:11:42] Speaker D: I believe it's the Danse Macabre. [00:11:44] Speaker J: Danse Macabre? Isn't that the number that the dance of Diane Childer has made so famous? [00:11:49] Speaker D: Diane Charters. [00:11:50] Speaker G: Quiet Ad play. Quiet, Cranston. Annoy the people. [00:11:53] Speaker D: I'm sorry, Commissioner. [00:11:58] Speaker J: Lamont, that puppet is wonderful. [00:12:01] Speaker D: Yes, it's beautifully made. [00:12:05] Speaker J: Why, it looks exactly like Diane Childer, the dancer who disappeared. [00:12:10] Speaker D: Yes, so it does. I remember reading about Diane. [00:12:16] Speaker I: Diane? My sister. [00:12:17] Speaker F: The more that woman. [00:12:18] Speaker E: What's the matter with her? [00:12:26] Speaker G: Now, Doctor, where is this woman who made the disturbance in the theater? [00:12:29] Speaker D: She's in the inner office lying down. Commissioner Westwood, what seems to be wrong with the doctor? [00:12:32] Speaker F: Oh, nothing. [00:12:33] Speaker D: A simple case of overwrought nerves. [00:12:35] Speaker H: You see, her sister, Diane Childer has [00:12:37] Speaker D: been missing for two or three days. And the puppet she says looked so much like her sister that. [00:12:41] Speaker J: Why, Lamont, I said that very thing. [00:12:43] Speaker D: Yes, so you did. Margot. [00:12:45] Speaker H: Where is this woman who ruined my performance? [00:12:48] Speaker G: Who are you? [00:12:49] Speaker H: The man asks who I am. I am Rico. [00:12:53] Speaker D: Mr. Rico, the woman who, as you say, ruined your performance happens to be Diane Childer's sister. [00:13:00] Speaker H: Oh, yes, I know Diane Childer very well. I am a great admirer of her dancing. [00:13:07] Speaker D: Diane Childer's been missing for several days, Mr. Rico. Would you know why? [00:13:13] Speaker G: Now, Cranston, relax. You're making a murder case of this business. [00:13:17] Speaker H: Murder? [00:13:18] Speaker G: Oh, don't get upset, Mr. Rico. If you'll step into the inner office with me alone. Why, we'll ask Diane Childer's Sister, a few questions. [00:13:27] Speaker H: You'll forgive us, I'm sure. [00:13:29] Speaker G: Cranston. [00:13:29] Speaker D: Ms. Lane. [00:13:32] Speaker J: Well, I like that. [00:13:34] Speaker D: So do I, Margot. Because now we can go backstage and have a look at Rico's puppets without being disturbed. Backstage, Margot, I have a feeling that the puppet used in the Danse Macabre is not a puppet. [00:13:46] Speaker J: Why, Lamont? Rico wouldn't have to stoop to tricks to win his public. He's the world's greatest puppeteer. [00:13:53] Speaker D: He'd have to be, Margot, because I believe he was making a human body dance on his puppet strings. [00:14:08] Speaker E: We'll continue with Act 2 of Death pulls the Strings in just a moment. Meanwhile, let's talk about your kind of weather. The private weather inside your home. Nowadays, with the help of blue coal, you can have just the kind of weather you like. Comfortably warm and yet not too hot. Because blue coal burns evenly and smoothly. In fact, this tested superior home fuel is especially prepared, sized and carefully graded for home use. Yes, it fits the requirements of your furnace. It's tailor made for your home. That's why you're sure of complete satisfaction when you heat your home with blue coal. What's more, it's easier than ever to operate your furnace when you not only use blue cold but also have the automatic blue cold heat regulator. This remarkable fuel saver is rapidly becoming a must in home heating. It's easily and quickly installed and man, the work it saves will be a real eye opener to you. All you do is set the indicator of the temperature you want and let science go to work for you. From then on. Ask your neighborhood blue coal dealer for a free demonstration of the money saving blue coal heat regulator. He's listed under the words Blue Coal in the yellow section of your classified phone directory. Call him tomorrow. Now back to the Shadow. [00:15:36] Speaker D: Now here's the stage door. Margot, let's go in and find out exactly what our friend Mr. Rico was up to. [00:15:41] Speaker J: All right. Doesn't seem to be anyone around. [00:15:48] Speaker D: Oh, stage doorman must have gone around to the front of the theater to see what the commotion was. Come on, let's go on stage now. This way, [00:15:58] Speaker J: Aman. I've got a feeling that someone's watching us. [00:16:00] Speaker D: We've got to be quick about this. Rick will be coming back any minute now. [00:16:03] Speaker J: There's not much light on back here, Margo. [00:16:06] Speaker D: There's the puppeteers bridge. That's where they stand above the stage. [00:16:10] Speaker J: Oh, I see. They're up above and they dangle the puppets on wires. [00:16:14] Speaker D: Oh, here they are. [00:16:16] Speaker J: What? [00:16:16] Speaker D: These shrouded figures hanging Here, behind the scenery are the puppets. [00:16:20] Speaker J: Which is the one used in the dance Macabre. [00:16:23] Speaker D: That's not this one. Maybe it's this one here. [00:16:26] Speaker G: No. [00:16:27] Speaker H: Come on. [00:16:28] Speaker J: Suppose Rico's hidden it? [00:16:29] Speaker D: He hasn't had time, Margot. Oh, yes, of course. [00:16:32] Speaker J: What? [00:16:32] Speaker D: It's still on stage in front of the scenery. I should have thought of it. [00:16:35] Speaker F: You should have thought that you have no right to be here. [00:16:38] Speaker I: What? [00:16:40] Speaker J: The mount. [00:16:41] Speaker F: Not very pleasant to look upon, am I, miss? Now, will you please explain? [00:16:47] Speaker D: Well, you see, we. We're very much interested in the puppeteers art. So we just thought we'd have a look around. [00:16:54] Speaker F: Yes, yes, you're very convincing, Mr. Cranston. [00:16:58] Speaker D: Lamont Cranston. This is Ms. Lane. [00:17:00] Speaker F: They call me Goro. Rico chooses to call me his assistant. [00:17:04] Speaker J: Lamont, I think we'd better go. [00:17:05] Speaker H: Not yet. [00:17:07] Speaker F: Exactly what were you looking for? [00:17:10] Speaker D: I would like very much to see the puppet used in the Danse Macabre number. [00:17:14] Speaker F: That is not possible. [00:17:16] Speaker D: Well, it's your privilege to refuse to show it to us. [00:17:20] Speaker F: Yes, that is right. And what would you think if I refused to show to you what I [00:17:26] Speaker D: think is my privilege? [00:17:28] Speaker F: Yes, that also is true. You have heard that old saying, Mr. Cranston? Curiosity once killed a cat. A cat is hard to kill. A cat has nine lives. A curious man has but one. [00:17:48] Speaker D: Are you threatening me? [00:17:49] Speaker F: I'm warning you. [00:17:51] Speaker D: Well, let's go. Margot. There are other means of seeing this puppet. [00:17:54] Speaker C: Meaning? [00:17:54] Speaker F: You will go to the police, Mr. Cranston. [00:17:56] Speaker D: Take it anywhere you please. Come on, Margot. [00:17:58] Speaker J: Yes, Lamont. [00:17:59] Speaker D: Wait. [00:18:00] Speaker F: Wait. I will show her to you. Here. [00:18:04] Speaker J: Lamont, it's. [00:18:06] Speaker D: It's just a puppet made of wire and wood. [00:18:11] Speaker F: What did you expect to find, Mr. Cranston? A human body? [00:18:24] Speaker H: Hello? [00:18:24] Speaker G: That's you, Cranston. [00:18:25] Speaker D: Yes, Commissioner. [00:18:26] Speaker G: What is it, Cranston? I want you and Ms. Lane to come to Pier 19 on the east river immediately. [00:18:31] Speaker D: But we can't, Commissioner. We're going to. [00:18:32] Speaker G: I don't care where you're going. This is important. Come to Pier 19, East River. I'll be waiting for you. [00:18:37] Speaker D: Okay, Commissioner. We'll be there. Well, Commissioner, I suppose you know you ruined our evening. Now, what's so important, Cranston? [00:18:48] Speaker G: I want you and Ms. Lane to identify a body. [00:18:51] Speaker I: A body? The mom. [00:18:53] Speaker G: We found her floating in the river. [00:18:55] Speaker D: When was the body found? [00:18:56] Speaker G: About an hour ago. She's over here under this tarpaulin. [00:18:59] Speaker D: Why do you ask us to identify her? [00:19:01] Speaker G: Because you know her. Or rather, you know her. Okay, Cardona, pull the tarpaulin. Off. [00:19:06] Speaker H: All right, Chief. [00:19:09] Speaker J: Diane Childer? [00:19:11] Speaker D: Yes, Marco. [00:19:13] Speaker J: Oh, Lamar. [00:19:14] Speaker G: All right, Cardona, put the tarp back. Sorry to call you here for this sort of thing, but we needed your identification for the death warrant. You see, we couldn't locate her sister. [00:19:22] Speaker D: And you won't locate her sister, Commissioner. [00:19:25] Speaker G: Why not? [00:19:26] Speaker D: Because I found out that Diane Childer never had a sister. [00:19:29] Speaker G: Oh, Cranston. I talked with her myself last night at the theater. [00:19:33] Speaker D: That woman was an imposter. [00:19:35] Speaker C: Uh huh. [00:19:35] Speaker G: Still playing detective, eh, Cranston? [00:19:38] Speaker D: Still playing hard to convince, eh, Commissioner? I presume you noticed Diane Childer's hands just now. [00:19:44] Speaker G: What about them? [00:19:45] Speaker D: Take a good look, Commissioner. Well, Margot, I don't believe our services are needed here any longer. So good night. Weston. [00:19:51] Speaker G: Yeah. Go home and read a mystery book. Good night, Lamont. [00:19:56] Speaker J: What about Diane? Childish hands, Margot. [00:19:58] Speaker D: They looked as though they'd been attached to wires. [00:20:01] Speaker J: Wires? Then you were right about Rico using a human puppet. [00:20:05] Speaker D: Perhaps. But I think he holds the answer to that question. And the Shadow is going to pay a call on Rico. Puppeteer Extraordinary. [00:20:21] Speaker H: You've got your money. Now what do you want, Rico? [00:20:25] Speaker I: I read in the papers that this Diane Childer is actually missing. [00:20:29] Speaker H: So much the better for Rico's publicity. Perhaps now Goro will realize that I have wit and that I am clever. [00:20:35] Speaker I: What? [00:20:36] Speaker H: Nothing. Now Rico will be greater than ever. And he will have to admit that I did it without his knowledge. That I thought of it myself. [00:20:45] Speaker I: Rico, listen to me. Where is this woman? What have you done with her? [00:20:48] Speaker H: Oh, I do not know. [00:20:49] Speaker I: I thought this was just a stunt for the papers, but if you. [00:20:51] Speaker H: I do not know where she is, I tell you. [00:20:53] Speaker E: Now go. [00:20:54] Speaker I: All right, I'm leaving. You know, when I screamed last night in the theater, it was only partly an act. There was something about that puppet in the Danse Macabre that was lifelike. And yet. [00:21:08] Speaker H: Of course, I am the great Rico. [00:21:10] Speaker I: And yet deathlike. [00:21:13] Speaker F: What do you say? What are you blabbing about in here? You go. Who is this woman? What is she doing here? [00:21:18] Speaker H: Oh, I can tell you now, Cordoba. I hired her to pose as Diane Childer's sister. [00:21:23] Speaker F: So it was you who concocted that stunt for the papers. You stupid, blundering fool. You. You. Woman. Get out of here. Get out before I. [00:21:32] Speaker I: Yes, yes, I'm going. I'm going. [00:21:34] Speaker F: I ought to kill you. [00:21:36] Speaker H: Oh, no, no, Goro. I am your brother. I wanted to help. I thought it would be you fought. [00:21:41] Speaker F: Since when have I allowed you to think? Since when have I allowed you to do anything? But be my face for the world. [00:21:46] Speaker D: And so, Goro, you are betrayed by your own brother. What? [00:21:51] Speaker F: Who said that? [00:21:52] Speaker H: I heard a voice, Goro. [00:21:55] Speaker D: It is the voice of the Shadow. [00:21:57] Speaker F: Rico, where are you? I can't see you. Where are you hiding? In my studio. [00:22:01] Speaker D: The hiding place of the Shadow will never be found, Goro. No man has ever seen me. [00:22:07] Speaker F: I am not afraid of you, unseen one. [00:22:10] Speaker H: What do you want? [00:22:11] Speaker F: Why did you come here, Rico? [00:22:13] Speaker D: The puppet used in the Danse Macabre was not a puppet, but the body of Diane Childer. [00:22:19] Speaker H: I don't know Shadow. I do not work with puppets. He does. [00:22:23] Speaker F: Shut up. You're a fool, my brother. [00:22:25] Speaker D: Garou. You murdered Diane Childert, didn't you? [00:22:28] Speaker F: I defy you to prove that voice. There is no proof. [00:22:31] Speaker D: The Shadow will prove it. Garou. [00:22:33] Speaker F: Oh, no. Shadow. Never. [00:22:35] Speaker D: Other criminals have thought themselves a match for the Shadow and have paid for their crimes. [00:22:38] Speaker F: Not Goron. Never. Goro. [00:22:42] Speaker D: We shall see. We shall see. Here we are. Rico's studio, just around the corner. Margot, remember what you're to do. [00:22:57] Speaker J: Yes. I'm to give you five minutes. And then if you don't come out, I'm to phone Commissioner Weston and get him here quickly. [00:23:02] Speaker E: Right. [00:23:03] Speaker D: I'd hate to wear those big hands of Garose as a collar very long. [00:23:06] Speaker J: Oh, Lamont, don't joke about it. You know how strong he is. [00:23:09] Speaker D: All right, Margo. Everything's gonna be all right. [00:23:17] Speaker F: What do you want? Why am I always. [00:23:18] Speaker D: I want to see Rico. [00:23:19] Speaker G: Goro. [00:23:20] Speaker F: Oh, yes. You are the curious man. The man who is interested in the art of puppeteering. Come in, come in. [00:23:28] Speaker D: Thank you. [00:23:30] Speaker F: How fortunate that you came tonight. [00:23:32] Speaker D: I want to speak with Rico. [00:23:34] Speaker F: Yes, well, I'm afraid that's important. Impossible. [00:23:36] Speaker D: I demand that you take me to him. [00:23:38] Speaker F: But I have. He's here in the studio. [00:23:42] Speaker D: What? [00:23:44] Speaker F: Ask him your questions if you wish, but I'm afraid he'll prove to be a rather unresponsive conversationalist. He was stupid in life. He looks even more stupid now, hanging there from the ceiling. You've killed him and strung him like a marionette. All his life, he's been my puppet. [00:24:00] Speaker H: Indeed. [00:24:01] Speaker F: Now he is, in fact. [00:24:02] Speaker D: You madman. [00:24:03] Speaker F: And now you are going to join him. [00:24:05] Speaker K: I don't know. You don't? [00:24:06] Speaker F: My hands are strong, my friend, even though my legs are weak. Another human puppet for my collection, huh? Or somebody knocking. Ah, too bad. You'll have to wait, Mr. Cranston, while I answer the door. Come into this room till I'm ready for you. There I Am coming. I am coming. Coming. [00:24:36] Speaker J: What have you done with him? [00:24:37] Speaker F: Oh, my curious friends are all visiting me at the same time. That is good. Come in. Now we shall have a complete cast for my puppet show tomorrow night. [00:24:46] Speaker J: What do you mean? [00:24:47] Speaker F: My brother Rico was going to have our puppets perform tomorrow night. Unfortunately, he won't be able to work the puppets himself because he is one of the performers. And you also, my dear. [00:24:57] Speaker J: Where is Lamont Kranz? [00:24:58] Speaker F: Oh, he's here. Don't worry. And he too will perform with you tomorrow night. Can you dance, miss? [00:25:06] Speaker I: Let me go. [00:25:07] Speaker F: It doesn't matter. I can make you dance. I can make you the greatest dancer in the world. I said that to her too. But after a little while, she couldn't dance at all. And death had made her ugly. So I gave it to the cold river, as I shall do with you when I'm through with you. [00:25:27] Speaker I: No. [00:25:27] Speaker B: No. [00:25:29] Speaker F: Bring the police down upon me. Yes. Yes. Now you are much quieter. Now I can work. Now I can prepare my human puppets for my last great performance tomorrow night. [00:25:43] Speaker D: You will never give that performance. Go. [00:25:45] Speaker F: What are you here, Shadow? [00:25:49] Speaker D: I said I would stop you, Goro. The police will be here any second now. [00:25:53] Speaker F: Police? Oh, if I could get my hands on you, Shadow or not, I could crush the life out of. [00:25:59] Speaker D: That is not to be, Garou. Your days of crime are over. [00:26:01] Speaker F: Not yet, Shadow. You're not strong enough to end them yourself. [00:26:05] Speaker K: Open this door. [00:26:07] Speaker G: Open up, I say. You're trapped now. [00:26:09] Speaker F: Goro. [00:26:09] Speaker D: The police are outside. [00:26:10] Speaker G: Open up. [00:26:11] Speaker D: This place is surrounded. [00:26:12] Speaker F: They can't hold me. I'm too strong for them. [00:26:13] Speaker G: Open the door or we'll break it down. [00:26:15] Speaker F: Yes, I'll open the door and you shall see. You shall see. [00:26:21] Speaker D: Now, the cop question. [00:26:23] Speaker K: What? [00:26:25] Speaker G: And stop him. [00:26:28] Speaker F: Yes, yes. My life was begun in pain. Now it ends in pain. Now I will no longer hate those who move gracefully and beautifully. For now, I, too, I am free. [00:26:59] Speaker J: You know, Lamont, it's lucky that I didn't wait five minutes before I called Commissioner Weston. [00:27:04] Speaker D: Yes, Margo, I owe my life to that. When you knocked on the door, distracted Garou and gave me a chance to regain consciousness and come back as the Shadow. [00:27:11] Speaker J: You know, Commissioner Weston thinks you escaped from Rico's studio before he got there. [00:27:15] Speaker D: Yes. I wish you could have seen his face when Garol lunged at him. [00:27:19] Speaker J: Oh, I know just how he felt. [00:27:21] Speaker B: I'll get him. [00:27:24] Speaker D: Shreevy, you're early. [00:27:25] Speaker K: Yeah, I know. But something has happened to Big Charles again. Something has happened. [00:27:28] Speaker J: What now, Shreevy? [00:27:29] Speaker K: Well, I told you about the experience he's having with the vaudeville dog. [00:27:32] Speaker D: You did Shriver. You did. [00:27:33] Speaker K: Well, what do you suppose happened this morning to him again? What do you suppose? [00:27:36] Speaker D: Tell us. [00:27:37] Speaker K: A lady is getting in his cab with a big box. And she says rush to the hospital immediately. So Big Charlie is Russian. He's rushing. [00:27:44] Speaker D: Hey, Shreevi, wait. [00:27:45] Speaker K: This is rich. She don't want to go there for herself. [00:27:47] Speaker J: Hot dog. [00:27:48] Speaker D: Which is in the box. [00:27:49] Speaker K: Yeah, she take. [00:27:50] Speaker E: How did you know? [00:27:51] Speaker D: I'm psychic. Go on. [00:27:53] Speaker K: Well, this now dog is sick. [00:27:55] Speaker J: Is this one of your now long tail shrivi? [00:27:58] Speaker K: Okay, so I'll cut it short. I'll cut. [00:28:00] Speaker F: Hey, you get it? Cut it short. Cut the tail short. [00:28:04] Speaker K: You get it? Yes, we get it. And so this dog is having puppets [00:28:08] Speaker J: in big Charlie's cab too. [00:28:10] Speaker I: He's having. [00:28:10] Speaker K: Yeah, yeah, little puppets. Big Charlie says that what happened to him shouldn't happen to a dog. [00:28:16] Speaker F: Oh, Shree. [00:28:28] Speaker E: A real life drama proving that crime does not pay will be presented immediately after a message from John Barclay. Here he is, Blue Coal's distinguished home heating expert. Mr. Barclay. [00:28:39] Speaker H: Thank you. Friends. There's a hard battle ahead of us in war work. None of us can afford to spend energy needlessly. It's time to cut out waste of all kinds. For example, waste motion and waste fuel in the operation of your furnace. I urge you to think about this because it's serious. Find out how to operate your furnace most efficiently. With the least possible effort on your part. Your Blue Coal dealer will be glad to help you in this with no charge, no obligation whatever. He'll send a John Barclay trained serviceman to your house to give your heating plant a thorough inspection to demonstrate proper furnace operation. And to tell you too about the remarkable Blue Coal automatic heat regulator. A really great work saver. The regulator is easy to install and you'll find it's economical. It'll pay for itself in fuel savings. And if you rent your home, you can take it with you when you move. Get in touch with your friendly Blue Coal dealer tomorrow. I promise you'll be well pleased with his services. Thank you. [00:29:54] Speaker E: The shadow program is based on a story copyrighted by Stephen Smith Publications. The characters, names, places, plot are fictitious. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Today, at the start of a new year, we bring you last year's biggest crime busting case. Proof that crime does not pay. Louis Lepke Buchalter, one of the most powerful racketeers in the country's criminal annals, sits in a room Alone, waiting. Several miles away, two of his henchmen walk into a small candy store. [00:30:31] Speaker K: We got a message for you, Joe. [00:30:33] Speaker E: Yeah, a message from the boss. [00:30:35] Speaker K: Joe. [00:30:35] Speaker G: Oh, no, no. [00:30:36] Speaker D: Don't do it, boys. [00:30:37] Speaker J: Don't do it. [00:30:37] Speaker K: You're a double crosser, Joe. [00:30:41] Speaker F: He got me wrong. [00:30:44] Speaker E: Back in his room, Lepke looks at his watch. [00:30:49] Speaker F: That's done by now. That's another one the cops will never pin on me. [00:30:56] Speaker D: Don't be so sure, Lepke. The law never forgets. [00:31:01] Speaker E: November 30, 1941, in Kings County Court, Lepke and his two trigger men all met the same fate. Sentence of death in the electric chair. [00:31:11] Speaker D: The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay. The Shadow knows. [00:31:27] Speaker E: Next week, same time, same station, your friendly blue coal dealer brings you another strange and thrilling adventure in the Shadow's daring battle against the forces of evil. Be sure to listen and be sure to phone your neighborhood blue coal dealer for greater heating comfort at less cost. Remember, keep the home fires burning with blue coal. This program was produced by the DLW Coal Company, distributors of blue coal. [00:31:57] Speaker A: That was Death pulls the strings from the Shadow here on the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society podcast once again. I'm Eric. [00:32:05] Speaker B: I'm Tim. [00:32:06] Speaker C: And I'm Joshua. [00:32:07] Speaker A: Joshua brought that episode of the Shadow, and when he emailed us and you know, and put that on our communication doc and said, I. I'm choosing an episode of the Shadow. I speak for both Tim and I that we were shocked. [00:32:22] Speaker C: Well, I realize I have not chosen an episode of the Shadow for the podcast since last year's incredibly successful Gorilla trilogy. [00:32:30] Speaker A: That's correct. That's correct. [00:32:32] Speaker B: Thanks for taking the hint. [00:32:35] Speaker A: Look, anytime the Shadow pops up on our communications that that's what we're going to record for the podcast, my first thought is, oh, doesn't matter if it's good or bad, I'm going to enjoy this. Like, I know in some way, shape or form. Oh, this is going to be quite lovely. [00:32:53] Speaker C: And especially if I'm curating, of course. [00:32:58] Speaker A: Other than the gorilla ones. Yes. I mean, they were gorilla y. [00:33:05] Speaker C: Thank you. That's all I wanted. [00:33:09] Speaker A: So this is. How do I put this? [00:33:12] Speaker C: There's awesome. [00:33:13] Speaker A: Awesome. Yes. There's something about this premise that feels tropey, but I can't wrap my head around, like, I've heard this before. [00:33:21] Speaker C: Cyrano de Berziak. [00:33:23] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:33:23] Speaker K: Isn't it? [00:33:24] Speaker C: Yeah, but about, like, right when he says, I'm, he's my brother, he's my face, I'm the one with the real talent. [00:33:33] Speaker A: Right. [00:33:33] Speaker C: Also a little Richard III in there. I'm trying to really, like, high class up this episode of the show about [00:33:39] Speaker A: puppets coming to life. [00:33:41] Speaker C: There's some Pinocchio. [00:33:42] Speaker A: Yep. And, you know, ventriloquist coming to life. And a ventriloquist doll being real. Like there's something I can't quite magic. [00:33:50] Speaker B: The movie with Anthony Hopkins. [00:33:52] Speaker H: Yep. [00:33:53] Speaker B: But really good. [00:33:54] Speaker A: But not that that's bad. I'm just saying. Has this been done before? Literally this specifically life size marionettes that turn out to be actual people. [00:34:05] Speaker B: What's the John Malkovich movie? [00:34:07] Speaker A: The Apple Dumpling Gang. [00:34:08] Speaker C: Yes. [00:34:10] Speaker B: That remake with John Malkovich was incredible. [00:34:13] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. That's being John Malkovich movie. [00:34:15] Speaker E: Yes. [00:34:16] Speaker A: Yeah, that's right. Okay. [00:34:18] Speaker B: There were full size. That's the only other instance of full size mannequins I can think of when this story started. And this is the monologue of I'm a puppeteer with great big strong arms and impaired legs. And I'm evil and I'm doing evil stuff with my puppets. It was almost a little bit of tired surrender of like, I don't. I'm just Shadow's bitch. I'm Shadow's bitch. I don't care what you're doing at this point, but I'm in. Yeah, I'm 100% on board for whatever this story is. It could just be screaming at me for the next 25 minutes. But puppeteer evil with big, great big arms and weird little legs, like, okay. [00:35:02] Speaker A: Also, have we ever had a story where the puppeteer in any shape, way or form, ventriloquist, or any kind of puppeteering, is a good guy? They rank up there with orchestra conductors in Colombo, they're always evil. [00:35:19] Speaker B: In the movie, the puppet master, he's a good guy, but then he gets killed by Nazis and the puppets go for revenge. [00:35:26] Speaker A: But it's not his fault. [00:35:28] Speaker B: Not his fault. [00:35:29] Speaker A: But I'm right, though. [00:35:31] Speaker B: You're just letting that puppet master movie slide. Awesome. I'm getting away with that. [00:35:37] Speaker A: I'm just pretending I knew what you were talking about. [00:35:38] Speaker C: Did you listen to the episode that I brought? [00:35:41] Speaker K: No. [00:35:42] Speaker C: I cannot jump anyone and their taste in movies after this episode of the Shadow. [00:35:47] Speaker A: I'm just saying I think there's a prevailing thing about puppeteers and puppets in this world that ranks up there with clowns. That people. A lot of people find them creepy and don't like them. [00:35:57] Speaker B: And the metaphor is generous. [00:36:01] Speaker C: Yes. Actually, amidst all the ridiculousness in here, I think there's some legitimate horrific moments. The shrouded figures hanging from the ceiling. As Rico is bringing in Diane to show her around his studio. [00:36:18] Speaker B: Right. [00:36:18] Speaker A: And give a girl a warning. [00:36:19] Speaker C: Engravings. [00:36:20] Speaker B: He's gonna show her. [00:36:22] Speaker A: That's a terrible first date. You gotta warn a girl. [00:36:26] Speaker C: The sound effect for Garou moving like he's. It almost seems like he's sitting in a box and he's, like, dragging himself with his strong forearms. And they don't really explain how he's moving. It's just this cryptic, disturbing sound. [00:36:42] Speaker A: They hadn't invented the wheel yet. [00:36:46] Speaker C: It's just a chair. He's dragging himself. [00:36:49] Speaker A: Chair. [00:36:51] Speaker B: Am I mistaking that sound for something else? When he was like. When he was looking at the puppets and revealing this puppet is a puppet. There's not a person in there. I thought that was a sound. Maybe I'm mistaking two different sounds, but of ripping a puppet open. [00:37:07] Speaker C: They say they're shrouded figures, so I assume that was him opening the shroud. Had a little bit of a tear. [00:37:12] Speaker A: There's, like, curtains in front of them. They're behind it. That's what you were hearing. He wasn't ripping them open. He was revealing. [00:37:18] Speaker C: He says they're shrouded figures hanging from the ceiling. So shrouded made me think there was something actually covering them. [00:37:23] Speaker A: Right. [00:37:24] Speaker B: The ripping sound is what bothered me because I. [00:37:25] Speaker H: Well, not bothered. [00:37:26] Speaker B: Like, I haven't bothered, but it was really creepy to me because I thought it literally was. Look inside this puppet. Ripped it open, maybe. [00:37:32] Speaker A: And then. Oh, oh, oh, that one was real. [00:37:38] Speaker F: Oops. [00:37:38] Speaker H: Oops. [00:37:41] Speaker B: It's a person in it. [00:37:42] Speaker C: Just like every pocket clean up on Isla. [00:37:45] Speaker A: It's a lot of stringy, weird things. [00:37:50] Speaker C: So it's overall ridiculous. But the great thing about the Shadow is it will still land a few of these horrific images and sounds to keep you from thinking it's entirely a comedy. [00:38:01] Speaker B: Well, in comparison to other episodes of the Shadow, the rivalry between these two brothers and that one of them is like, I'm gonna pull a prank that's gonna put me on top. That's a tight bit of plotting. [00:38:13] Speaker C: It's a nice twist. I was surprised when Weston says, diane doesn't have a sister. [00:38:19] Speaker G: Right. [00:38:19] Speaker C: What? [00:38:20] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:38:21] Speaker A: I actually like that a lot because the Shadow can be really straightforward, which I also like for you, as, you know, give me a straightforward thing. When he said, that's not her sister went, oh, it has a little depth to this. Of mystery. [00:38:34] Speaker H: Right. [00:38:34] Speaker A: And I was like, that's not typical of later shadows. They're usually really straightforward plot and, you know, everything. [00:38:43] Speaker B: Yes. The Evil Scientist introduces. Hello. I'm an evil scientist, Right? [00:38:47] Speaker F: Yeah. [00:38:48] Speaker A: You know, everything in most shadows, beginning to end, you're privy to all information except for what weird way is the shadow gonna step in and stop this [00:38:59] Speaker B: also a little different shadow live. Is that typical? [00:39:04] Speaker A: I've heard a couple of them with the clapping at the end. [00:39:07] Speaker C: Yes, these early ones did have a live audience. And so you have the round of [00:39:11] Speaker B: applause for Shreevy's God awful jokes. [00:39:15] Speaker C: Shreevy is an idiot. He should not have a driver's license. [00:39:23] Speaker A: The character makes me. I can't stand it. I tried so hard. I've tried so hard. It's never been an interesting thing. [00:39:33] Speaker C: Puppets are baby dogs. [00:39:37] Speaker B: Like the quick aside of like. Oh, you mean puppies. Ha ha ha. That'd be fine. But no, we're in for another eight minutes of puppet material. [00:39:45] Speaker A: Right, Right. [00:39:46] Speaker C: And it used to be that they. It felt like they were laughing along with him or he was in on the joke. They are just literally they're held hostage. By the way, you're unwell Shribi. And this is hilarious. [00:40:00] Speaker A: Yep. Well, when you look up at your computer when you're listening to this and it's all wrapped up and you go, oh, there's four minutes left. Or five. And you realize, must be a lot of credits. And Shreevy. [00:40:13] Speaker F: Yeah. [00:40:13] Speaker A: And Srivi starts talking. Oh, no. This is an epilogue of such unnecessary nonsense to fill the time. [00:40:21] Speaker C: But considering how macabre this story is, it's like rotting corpses on strings dancing for a live audience. Then you have this sitcom ending of oh, Shrevey. [00:40:34] Speaker A: Right. [00:40:35] Speaker C: Round of applause. [00:40:37] Speaker A: And the freeze. [00:40:37] Speaker B: We watched a dead ballerina dance. [00:40:40] Speaker C: I could almost hear the applause light come on. Because there's no way anyone else would applaud for that joke at the end. [00:40:49] Speaker B: Are you all related to Shreevy? [00:40:52] Speaker A: Right. And thanks to the Shrevey family for coming tonight. [00:40:59] Speaker C: I really love that Weston did not want to be dragged to this Punch and Judy show. And it's just for kids. And then cut to later. I loved it so much. He just saw Blue Man Group or Soleil. What? I didn't know human beings could do that. [00:41:18] Speaker A: Right, his first Cirque du Soleil. [00:41:20] Speaker B: I can't wait to meet the puppeteer and shoot him. I'm a big fan, Lamb. [00:41:26] Speaker C: I'm sorry, I thought you were a gorilla. [00:41:32] Speaker A: Yeah, he gets a little mileage out of the. I don't want to go to this Punch and Judy show. The ninth time he makes the Punch and Judy reference. Okay, okay, okay. Okay, okay, we got the joke. Like, he just keeps. [00:41:44] Speaker B: This is offensive to puppets. [00:41:47] Speaker C: Just like, I felt like there was something vaguely meta about the comments about. I'm not into this kid stuff. Shadow Magazine and Pulp Stories. Oh, my God, those are dead people. This is not kid stuff. [00:42:04] Speaker A: Right. [00:42:04] Speaker C: And he has to throw them out in the river. Yeah. They're like single use puppets. [00:42:12] Speaker A: Disposable single use puppets. Do not flush, [00:42:21] Speaker C: Please. Compost after use. [00:42:26] Speaker B: And there's an infant variety in the shadow of what awful way is this going to be resolved? That the shadow was either mildly approving of somebody else handling this or just, oops, somebody else handled this. Like, aha, I've caught you. And there's Weston and oh, oh, you're dead. [00:42:45] Speaker A: Right? [00:42:46] Speaker C: Yeah. His plan seems to be I'm gonna go in and poke the hornet's nest. [00:42:52] Speaker A: Right. [00:42:53] Speaker C: For five minutes. You call Weston and he'll shoot them [00:42:58] Speaker A: right after I get knocked out. [00:43:01] Speaker C: Yes. [00:43:03] Speaker A: Yeah. It's a terrible plan. That didn't need the shadow. [00:43:07] Speaker C: And I love how Margo's learned that five minutes means I'm gonna call him right now. [00:43:12] Speaker B: Right, [00:43:14] Speaker H: right. [00:43:15] Speaker A: Didn't need the shadow. [00:43:16] Speaker C: He's like, I called him 15 minutes ago. Lamont, just go in there and act cool for a couple minutes. [00:43:24] Speaker B: I did get the vibe though. He was intention was, I'm gonna go in there and I'm gonna be all like, I'm muk Cranston. Then I'm gonna sneak off picking the shadow and he goes in there. I'm muck. [00:43:32] Speaker D: Ow. [00:43:34] Speaker B: This did not go according to my plan. [00:43:36] Speaker A: Right. [00:43:37] Speaker B: I had a whole costume change planned. [00:43:42] Speaker C: I made the Richard III joke earlier. But I am going to say that it has what I love about Pulps, has almost this low rent Shakespearean quality when the villain gets to have this introductory monologue at the beginning and then he gets his death speech at the end. But now I am free and I will no longer hate the graceful people. [00:44:06] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, yeah. That was your theme. [00:44:07] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It is an interesting device they use in this episode of the villain. Direct address to the audience. [00:44:16] Speaker C: The shadow uses that occasionally and I love it. [00:44:19] Speaker G: Yeah. [00:44:19] Speaker C: Because it's not like the shadow. To Tim's point about, hello, I'm a mad scientist. It's not like they hide the villain from you very effectively when they don't let you know who it is at the top. So it just is more fun, I think, to hear from the villain right away. [00:44:32] Speaker A: Right. [00:44:33] Speaker C: Like, Tim, you then know, I'm your bitch. [00:44:37] Speaker A: You got me. What was his Name? Gorgo. [00:44:40] Speaker C: Goro. [00:44:41] Speaker B: Goro Goro from Mortal Kombat. That was the other thing. [00:44:44] Speaker A: Oh, no. [00:44:45] Speaker B: Here we go through like a lot of this. Like so. Yeah. The great big arms. You have four of them, of course. What is that? [00:44:52] Speaker C: You nerd. [00:44:53] Speaker B: You're like the second boss, the sub boss in the first Mortal Kombat game. [00:44:58] Speaker A: What is Mortal Kombat? [00:45:00] Speaker B: It's a video game. [00:45:01] Speaker A: Is that the kung fu thing? It was an old arcade game and you got. [00:45:06] Speaker F: Yes. [00:45:06] Speaker C: Okay, listeners, you gotta see Tim's face as he summons the patience to explain this to Eric. [00:45:11] Speaker B: I mean, it's not entirely accurate to say it's the kung fu game, but it's the one you're thinking of. [00:45:16] Speaker A: Yes, right. Go. And they go. Ha ha ha ha. And then giant kick. [00:45:20] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. [00:45:21] Speaker A: And it's two dimensional. [00:45:21] Speaker B: Kang's bicycle kit. And there's Scorpion and Sub Zero. [00:45:24] Speaker C: Get over here. [00:45:25] Speaker A: And so one of them's Goro. [00:45:26] Speaker B: Goro is the. In the original game is the sort of stop motion animated sub boss you get before you fight. Shang Tsung. Got four arms, great big monster. [00:45:37] Speaker A: Must be hard to beat. [00:45:38] Speaker B: Yes, yes, he is. [00:45:40] Speaker A: Okay. [00:45:40] Speaker B: And he did not display any puppet skills, but I think he'd be really good if it came to it. [00:45:49] Speaker C: I also just want to say that whoever wrote this had clearly never seen a human being dance before. [00:45:56] Speaker A: Right. [00:45:58] Speaker C: To fool an audience that this is like a dance and say that's beautiful. I don't know how many thousands of individual strings the body would have to have on it. [00:46:08] Speaker B: All marionette's dance. Jerky arms flailing, shaking them ropes. [00:46:13] Speaker A: I see the ropes. [00:46:16] Speaker B: I don't know. We won't be saying the same thing just about now. There's another radio episode with a character named Rico. That's Harvey. Not hard not to say. Suave. By the time he says his name. [00:46:26] Speaker C: Yeah. The Marvelous Brastro. Yes, yes. Was the previous. [00:46:29] Speaker B: Our previous Rico. Suave. [00:46:31] Speaker C: Rico. [00:46:35] Speaker A: Did you notice when they said, oh, they're going to do something now called the Dance Macabre, did you notice what the music was really close to? [00:46:45] Speaker B: I did not. [00:46:45] Speaker A: It was almost the fourth. I forget which fourth Symphony by Dvorak, which is the Quiet Please intro? [00:46:54] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:46:55] Speaker C: I mean, the Dance Macabre is a real thing, I think. [00:46:57] Speaker A: But when you listen to it, it almost was, you know. And I was like, oh, that's really close. [00:47:06] Speaker B: Nice catch. [00:47:07] Speaker A: But I don't think it was intentional, but it was really. It sounded like Quiet Police for a second. And I think it's for Symphony By Dvorak. Quiet please's intro. I'm gonna look that up so we don't get emails. [00:47:22] Speaker C: One comment about the commercial. It used a weird turn of phrase that jumped out at me. I don't know about you. When he's the announcer is talking about your kind of weather, the private weather in your home. [00:47:38] Speaker A: Right? I wasn't even close. It's Cesar Frank's Symphony in D minor. [00:47:45] Speaker B: So is the music in the shadow [00:47:46] Speaker A: or for quiet please. Okay, I looked it up. Please don't stop rolling your eyes at me, Dvorak. Idiot. [00:47:55] Speaker C: You're a Dvorak. [00:47:59] Speaker B: Didn't know Mortal Kombat does no divor. What does he know? Those are the two pillars of education. [00:48:06] Speaker A: A lot about the Planet of the Apes TV show. [00:48:08] Speaker B: To answer that question, new podcast. [00:48:14] Speaker C: What did you guys think about the coda? I don't remember hearing that in a shadow before. Where it is a piece of micro nonfiction inserting the shadow into the life of a real criminal. Oh, Louis Lepke. I mean, he was a major 1930s gangster. [00:48:35] Speaker B: Oh, I didn't. [00:48:37] Speaker A: Yeah, I didn't catch what was. I thought that was a preview of the next episode. [00:48:41] Speaker C: No, it's like dramatizing the downfall of this gangster. He really was sentenced to death on that date? I think he's one of the only major American mafia bosses to ever be executed by the government. All right, and they implied the Shadow caught him. [00:48:57] Speaker A: Well, duh. [00:48:58] Speaker C: Just to twist the knife for Louis Lepke wasn't the feds that got you. It was a fictional character. [00:49:06] Speaker B: Maybe it was like a. Do you have any last requests? I want to be on their shadow. [00:49:11] Speaker C: Make a wish. Used to be for death row inmates. And someone's like, wait, what about kids with cancer? [00:49:19] Speaker A: No, death row inmates. [00:49:22] Speaker B: I mean, did they commit any crimes? [00:49:24] Speaker C: Yeah, the crime of being born. [00:49:28] Speaker A: Oh, no. Oh, no. Let's vote before we say anything else. I'll vote. I thought it was fine. It was an episode of the Shadow. It was always entertaining. Oh, it's not a classic, and it's not a classic of the Shadow, but it is. It was good and I enjoyed everything. But Shreevy. [00:49:57] Speaker B: This was a turning point for my listening to the Shadow history. Like I'm Shadow's bitch. [00:50:02] Speaker C: Yes, you are broken. [00:50:05] Speaker B: Yeah. You have your thumb on my pulse, and you know how to use that thumb to manipulate me. [00:50:14] Speaker A: Okay, let's go back to making fun of dying children. [00:50:20] Speaker B: Please get your thumb off my pulse. [00:50:22] Speaker C: Okay, I was making fun of death row inmates, thank you very much. The Children were just collateral damage. I think this Stand the test of time. Clearly. I mean, we are still talking about whether it's ethical to use dead bodies as puppets today. Yeah, that old chestnut ripped from the headlines. No, I think this is just gloriously pulpy. It's what I want from the Shadow. I only note would be could use more gorilla. [00:51:02] Speaker A: All right, Tim Tomes stuff. [00:51:03] Speaker B: Please go visit ghoulishlights.com if you're still here. I mean, you went through a lot, so thanks for sticking with us. Please go visit ghoulishlights.com youm'll find other episodes of the podcast there. Plenty of episodes of the Shadow. We fall in love with the Shadow over and over again. You'll also find a link to our store. You could buy a T shirt coffee cup with like a logo on it. We're not just selling T shirts. Like a gray men's xl. I don't know. Not the. If you want a men's gray xl, you can have one. But it's gonna have our logo on it. [00:51:33] Speaker C: Keep going. [00:51:34] Speaker B: Okay. We have other sizes too. And you know, multi gendered and multi sized. There's a lot of T shirt options and it's not just short sleeve. I got like God almighty got hoodies. There's some hoodies also. Either gender, multi sized. And you'll find a link to our Patreon page. [00:51:55] Speaker C: Yes, finally, you can go to patreon.com themorals and support this podcast. Help us, please, please. I think this is worth some money. And in exchange for your generous donations, you will become an official member of the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society. And that entails receiving access to bonus podcast Zoom. Happy hours. You can join me for one of my mysterious old book clubs that you get access to our Discord server. Just go visit patreon.com themorals and you can, even without becoming a member, sort of look around and see what's there. [00:52:39] Speaker A: And if you would like to see the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society theater company performing audio drama live on stage. We do recreations of classical time radio shows and a lot of our own original work. Just go to ghoulishdelights.com to find out where we're performing, what we're performing and how to get tickets. The audio of those shows is also made available to our Patreon. So yet another perk coming up next. What are we doing? Is it mine? [00:53:08] Speaker B: It's yours. [00:53:09] Speaker A: All right, let's see. I will go with. How about Blind Impulse from the Whistler. [00:53:20] Speaker C: Until then, you just made that up. [00:53:26] Speaker A: I hope there's one called that.