The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society

This week we’re listening to “The Black Door” from Suspense, yet another installment in our ongoing Lockdown Listener Series. Thanks to our mysterious listener Roberta for recommending this episode to us! An ambitious archaeologist partners with a treasure hunter to uncover a lost city in the mountains. But the legend of this city contains a dire warning about a “Black Door!” What horrors await them in this ancient ruin? What secret will they learn that connects the place to famous landmarks of history? Does this bar serve late-in-the-day Suspense episodes? Listen for yourself and find out!

We’re back this week with another recommendation from our listeners, in this case “The Deadly Hour” from CBS Radio Mystery Theater, an episode suggested by Cindy. Thanks, Cindy! In this tale, heartbreak has driven a man to years of self-imposed silence, but now a bizarre turn of events has compelled him to share his story with a doctor. Can anything be done to comfort this man’s tortured soul? Can what he says be believed? Should we have gone back and edited out Eric’s original interpretation of the plot? Listen for yourself and find out!

As we continue to record these episodes under lock-down conditions, we also continue to listen to suggestions provided by our Mysterious Listeners! This week, we check out “Border Town,” an episode of Escape recommended to us by Marc. Thanks, Marc! Jack Webb stars in this tale of an aspiring actor who decides to explore the seedy underworld in a small Mexican town. The show does include some racial stereotypes and derogatory terms, albeit not what one might expect. Will he outsmart this den of thieves? Just how dangerous is an unemployed actor? How does one play the game, “Wham-O Toy or Smiths’ Song?” Listen for yourself and find out!

Apologies for running a little late, but we are back with an episode recommended to us by our mysterious listener, Swearoh! Thanks, Swearoh! This week, we are listening to “The Wig Makers of Doom Street,” from The Shadow! A ghoulish couple is killing young women to harvest their victims’ hair for theatrical wigs! Can Lamont and Margo put an end to this diabolical business plan? Is this a crime that we could make pay? Is that ad saying that education is a good thing or bad thing? Listen for yourself and find out!

Our thanks to our mysterious listener Tim, who recommended we check out “Delay en Route,” from Cloak and Dagger! This series took its inspiration from the files of the OSS, the American organization dedicated to espionage during World War II! In this particular episode, an OSS agent must face a difficult decision after helping the Italian partisans oust the fascists from their town. Who can truly say what justice is? Will Roberto successfully return to Vermont? Is this more like Sgt. Preston of the Yukon or Call of Duty? Listen for yourself and find out!

Our long-time listener David recommended that we check out “Short Order,” another all-star episode of Suspense! Thanks, David! The owner of a small but successful diner gains a new customer, a man whose face has been horribly disfigured. Even as this new guest starts to drive away his other customers, the owner seems to fall victim to other misfortunes. Are these woes all just a coincidence? Is some supernatural force targeting this diner? Is ketchup to blame for everything wrong in the world? Listen for yourself and find out!

This week we kick off the first in a series of episodes recorded during stay-at-home orders, beginning with “Ancient Sorceries” from Escape recommended to us by our Mysterious Listeners Marc and Anton! Based on the story by Algernon Blackwood, “Ancient Sorceries” tells the tale of a buttoned-up British man who finds himself mysteriously drawn to a Welsh village where the taciturn inhabitants seem to already know him. Where on Earth is the strange organ music coming from? What do cats and sleep have in common? Would a soothing magical balm make it easier to listen to “Cat Wife”?  Listen for yourself and find out!

April 2nd would have been the late Jack Webb’s 100th birthday! Our mysterious listener Mark recommended that we celebrate the occasion and by happy coincidence, our mysterious listener Tim recommended that we listen to “The Big Ruling” from Webb’s signature series, Dragnet! This particular episode depicts an investigation of a heroin ring and evidence that law enforcement is no longer what it once was! Will an informant provide enough details to catch and convict the narcotics dealer? Do you find the casual banter between officers to be authenticating or extraneous? Why would Joe Friday need a new suit? Listen for yourself and find out!

This week we seek high adventure with the episode “The Shanghai Secret,” from the series, Voyage of the Scarlet Queen. Ship’s Master Kearney cannot set sail until the murder of his first mate is solved. But staying ashore makes him an easy target for an international conspiracy. Can Kearney trust anyone? Who did kill his first mate? Just how amorous are his feelings for his ship? Listen for yourself and find out!