"The Leech"by Robert Sheckley(From Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine, December 1952)

(BONUS EPISODE) "The Leech"  by Robert Sheckley

Award-winning podcast hosted by voice artist Darren Marlar who narrates true stories of crime, the unexplained, and paranormal.* Ranked #2 in Podcast Magazine‘s “Best True Crime and Horror” podcasts for 2020* Named one of the “Best Storytellers in Podcasting” in 2019 by Podcast Business Journal* Darren Marlar’s narration of “The Tell-Tale Heart” won Bronze at HEAR NOW 2020 Podcast Palooza* Reached #5 worldwide on the “HOT 50” chart for November 2020 by Podcast Magazine* Finalist for”Storyteller-Drama” award for the “People’s Choice Podcast Awards” in 2019

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HOUR ONE: Colorado’s best urban legends! *** A pitch black room at an inn, yields to a strange glow. (Comfort At The Comet Inn) *** Each year, hundreds of people simply disappear from parks and forests. What happened to them – and where are they? (People Are Vanishing Into Thin Air In Our National Parks) *** A series of unexplained incidents took place in the early 19th century at the Chase Vault, in the cemetery of the Christ Church in Oistins, Barbados. Each time the vault was opened to bury a family member, all coffins but one had changed position. (The Chase Vault)==========HOUR TWO: A Virginia pilot encounters a mysterious golden orb during a skydive flight! *** For those who claim to have spoken with extraterrestrials, they are told the aliens arrive here from other worlds. But what if the so-called aliens aren’t really aliens at all – what if they are humans, visiting from the future? We begin with that story! (Aliens: Us From a Future Time?) *** Horror and Sci-Fi author and Weird Darkness fan J.D. Buffington doesn’t believe in such things as ghosts. If Houdini couldn't reach his wife from the other side, then certainly no one else could, either, right? But that being said, J.D. has had some weird stuff take place in his life. (My Many Ghostly Encounters) *** Soon after moving into a sprawling Denver mansion, Russell Hunter sensed he wasn't alone. I’ll share true events that inspired the film, “The Changeling”. (The Real Life Haunting That Inspired “The Changeling”)==========SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: Known as California's Freeway Killer, William Bonin used a Ford van to lure in teenage hitchhikers to rape and ruthlessly murder. (California’s Freeway Prowler) *** A couple is haunted by a slain rooster! (Cock-a-Doodle BOO!)==========SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT’S SHOW:“Virginia Pilot Encounters Mysterious Golden Orb During Skydive Flight” by Brandon Grimes for Paranormality Magazine: https://paranormalitymag.com/?ref=5714“Aliens: Us From a Future Time?” by Nick Redfern for Mysterious Universe: http://bit.ly/2JptCDF“My Many Ghostly Encounters” by J.D. Buffington from his Circus Sized blog: http://bit.ly/2YvapqF“The Real Life Events That Inspired ‘The Changeling’” by Orrin Grey for The Line Up: http://bit.ly/2xwnMLa“The Forgotten Epidemic” by Troy Taylor: http://bit.ly/2RUIA8M“Comfort At The Comet Inn” by Jubelee from YourGhostStories.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/93sauh8b“California’s Freeway Prowler” by Giselle Ruiz from All That’s Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3hrvrs8z“The Chase Vault” from Ghost-Story.co.uk: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2dzwvsjk“Cock-a-Doodle BOO!” by James McGuinness: (link no longer available)“People Are Vanishing Into Thin Air In Our National Parks” by an unknown author: (link no longer available)“Colorado’s Best Urban Legends” from Paranormality Magazine: https://paranormalitymag.com/?ref=5714==========(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked...

#WeirdDarknessRadio WEEKEND OF MAY 11-12, 2024

The Dubno alien abduction case, and Ukraine’s long history of UFO encounters. SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Ukraine Alien Abduction” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p82rjjpVIDEO: UFO Spotted Near Explosion In Ukraine: https://weirddarkness.com/ufo-spotted-near-explosion-in-ukraine/Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: July, 2022CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/ukraine-alien-abductions/

“THE UKRAINE ALIEN ABDUCTIONS” (Plus Bloopers!) #WeirdDarkness

Get full-length pulp audiobooks, pulp eBooks, and old-time radio shows ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD by emailing WeirdDarkness@RadioArchives.com!After September 30, 1962, commercial radio drama was as dead as the doornail described in the opening pages of Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843), and everyone understood that television killed it. People who worked in both mediums realized that working in radio was a much better overall experience than television could ever be. Sure, TV had pictures to go along with the stories, but putting those pictures on the air involved a highly technical and expensive technology, and by the time those images reached the audience they were grainy, blurry, and sometimes nearly impossible to see. One actor could play different parts on several different radio programs, even in a single episode, but once they were seen in a TV show their face was recognizable enough that they had a hard time working on another show, and even a twenty-second appearance meant hours in makeup and wardrobe. Appearing in a radio drama required just a couple rehearsals and then remaining as quiet as possible in the studio, following along in the script until time to perform your lines, which you also read from the script. There was one important thing that television could offer over radio work; money. The accounting in TV and radio was fundamentally different. A radio program was usually paid for by a single sponsor while commercial time on TV shows was sold piecemeal, but there was still a phenomenal amount of money involved in TV production and the networks and sponsors were happy to pay it. Unable to compete with the huge amount of money being spread around by TV, after the final broadcasts of Suspense and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar on September 30, 1960, the Golden Age of Radio came to an end. Or did it? In the decade after the end of the Golden Age of Radio, TV matured artistically and technically. There had been a rejection by the networks of "rural" programming which helped launch a nostalgia craze. This craze began with the release of George Lucas's American Graffiti (1973), and suddenly everything old seemed new again. One of the genres which were best suited to radio was the horror shows which made listeners sit up in bed and pull the sheets over their heads. This sort of program had been pioneered Wyliss Cooper and Arch Oboler on Lights Out as well as The Whistler, Suspense, and Inner Sanctum Mysteries. This was the type of show creators decided upon for his radio nostalgia project, which became The CBS Radio Mystery Theater. They were convinced that there was enough interest from those who had heard similar shows growing up during the Golden Age, but the show built a following of younger fans for whom radio drama was a new and exciting experience. In many ways, CBSRMT was more like a TV program on the radio than a typical Old Time Radio show. The shows were taped rather than broadcast live, which allowed for greater post-production editing and creative control. The scripts generally ran 45 minutes, and the action was broken at points to allow for separately produced commercials and news bulletins to be inserted. The opening featured the "creaking door" effect which had been part of The Inner Sanctum. Host E.G. Marshall was never as campily creepy earlier horror hosts, but his closing, "Until next time, pleasant… dreams?" was sure to inspire nightmares. Production of CBSRMT was efficient almost to the point of cheapness. Creators drew upon radio row veterans working in New York as well as up-and-coming television personalities. The show used original stories from a wide variety of genres as well as literary classics. Writers were paid a flat $350 for each recorded script, and actors received union scale rates of $73.92 per episode. The actors would come into the studio for an initial script reading...

“CBS Radio Mystery Theater” 5-HOUR MARATHON 17 #WeirdDarkness #RetroRadio

This is a special Mother’s Day episode with a creepy tale by author Jon Allen written specifically for the occasion!SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…“Mother” by Jon Allen:  http://WriterJonAllen.com= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness theme and background music provided by Alibi Music Library.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =WeirdDarkness™ - is a production and trademark of Marlar House Productions. © 2023, Weird Darkness.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Originally aired: Mother’s Day, 2022

“MOTHER” by Jon Allen, (A Sci-Fi HORROR For MOTHER'S DAY!) #WeirdDarkness

IN THIS EPISODE: In 2016, near the infamous Nazca Lines, an incredible find came to light – not gold or jewels, not remnants of pottery, but a tomb. But what was found within the tomb has raised more questions than answers, as the resident mummies appears not to be human… just humanoid. (The Nazca Three-Fingered Mummy) *** Once in a while you’ll hear of a horrible tragedy and the victim will be described as “ground into mincemeat”. In some case, this is not much of an exaggeration. (Ground Into Mincemeat) *** In 1983 Diane Downs shot her own children – Christie, Danny and Cheryl, in the backseat of the car. Miraculously, Christie Downs survived. (The Survival of Christie Downs) *** When it comes to demonic possession, it’s often chalked up to mental illness – but sometimes the events surrounding the possessed person are so bizarre and unexplainable, you are almost forced to believe in the supernatural. Such was the case with Don Decker. (The Pennsylvania Rain Man) *** Cannibalism – just the word itself is enough to creep you out. Fortunately, cases of it are usually distant, in some far-off, remote, jungle area, done by natives who have yet to discover civilization. At least, that’s what we like to believe. Unfortunately, it happens worldwide, nearer than you think. Like… in America. And in some cases, not so long ago. (American Cannibals) *** The death of a young girl and her boyfriend leave an Illinois town devastated… and it also left behind a lingering ghost. (The Ghost of Mary Jane Reed)YOUTUBE TIME STAMPS…00:00.00.000 = Introduction00:00:57.179 = Show Open00:03:46.377 = The Ghost Of Mary Jane Reed00:19:45.668 = The Pennsylvania Rain Man00:31:34.858 = The Survival Of Christie Downs00:41:04.512 = Nazca’s Three-Fingered Mummies00:45:49.795 = American Cannibals00:57:14.135 = Ground Into MincemeatSOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…Albert Fish episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/46rmaca3“The Nazca Three-Fingered Mummy” from TheSchareChamber.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/364kxnar“Ground Into Mincemeat” posted at StrangeAgo.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3rmddv3e“The Pennsylvania Rain Man” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8bz5ez“The Survival of Christie Downs” by Marco Margaritoff for All That’s Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p98ek5s“The Ghost of Mary Jane Reed” from American Hauntings Ink: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/582z7w4j“American Cannibals” from Ranker Crime: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8j83p4Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird...

(BONUS EPISODE) "The Leech" by Robert Sheckley

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