Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

On December 16, 1897, a celebrated actor gave a struggling performer a sovereign out of kindness — and the next evening, that same coin paid for the knife that would kill him outside the stage door he still haunts to this day.

Episode 7 of 12 in the “Twelve Nightmares of Christmas” series!

In this episode: “The Ghost of William Terris”, “Christmas Hauntings”, “Calvert Mansion”, “The Dana House”, “I Am Your Brother”

SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…
All stories in this episode are from the book, “The Spirits of Christmas: The Dark Side of the Holidays” by Sylvia Shults: https://amzn.to/3uT2vMA
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
(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.)

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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46

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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.
https://weirddarkness.com/ActorGhost
#WeirdDarkness #HauntedTheatre #TrueGhostStory #VictorianMurder #HauntedLondon #TrueCrime #ParanormalStories #GhostStory #ScaryStories #HorrorPodcast

Every year, goblin-like creatures called Kallikantzaroi stop sawing through the World Tree, crawl up from the underworld, and spend the twelve days of Christmas stealing babies, destroying homes, and terrorizing anyone unlucky enough to cross their path, pooping all over the place while they are at it.

IN THIS EPISODE: If your kids think Elf on a Shelf is creepy – just tell them that kids in Greece and its surrounding countries are terrorized each Christmas for a full twelve days by nocturnal goblins that like to defecate all over your home! (The Defecating Christmas Goblins of Greece) *** The ghost of Mary, Queen of Scots makes her presence known on Christmas Eve, 1900… or does she? (The Tower of London’s Christmas Eve Ghost) *** A serving of poisoned Christmas pie causes the death of Captain David Paye on Christmas day, 1882. But who had a motive? (A Christmas Poisoning) *** People worldwide have been celebrating Christmas for hundreds and hundreds of years – but not all of those years were joyous for everyone. For example, those who happened to be black living in America while slavery was still legal. What was Christmas like for them? (Christmas As a Slave In America) *** In that song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” there is the line “there will be scary ghost stories”… why on earth would a Christmas song have a line like that? We’ll look at that song – and other Christmas songs – that are a lot darker than you might know. (The Darker Side of Christmas Carols) *** We’re all familiar with the classic Christmas ghost tale, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens – but before that novel, there was another ghost story of Christmas, a purportedly true story. (A Ghost Story of Christmas) *** In 1897, Dr. Philip O'Hanlon was asked by his young daughter whether Santa Claus was real. His suggestion for her to find an answer has resulted in something so famous, it has practically become a meme. (Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus) *** December 16, 1965… Gemini 6 and 7 have just completed the first ever manned rendezvous between spacecraft, making history. But they were about to achieve another first in space exploration… and a first for Christmas! (The 1965 Gemini 6 UFO Christmas Prank) *** (Originally aired December 20, 2021)
SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…
“The Defecating Christmas Goblins of Greece” by A. Sutherland for Ancient Pages:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3kydv38f
“The 1965 Gemini 6 UFO Christmas Prank” by Rob Scharz for Stranger Dimensions: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9x2w3z
“The Tower of London’s Christmas Eve Ghost” from the Victorian Book of the Dead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdm47kt7
“A Christmas Poisoning” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder by Gaslight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ya5m7wfd
“Christmas As a Slave In America” by Farrell Evans for History.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5n8nedeh, and William Loren Katz for the Zinn Education Project: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5n6me3hw
“A Ghost Story of Christmas” by Paul Brown for Singular Discoveries: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/muuxt5z3
“There Will Be Scary Ghost Stories” by Mike Wilton for All Hallows Geek: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckjkerd
“The Darker Side of Christmas Carols” by Erin McCann for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8wcpwp“Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus” by Troy Taylor: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p83k7m3
Visit our Sponsors & Friends: https://weirddarkness.com/sponsors
Join the Weird Darkness Syndicate: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate
Advertise in the Weird Darkness podcast or syndicated radio show: https://weirddarkness.com/advertise
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Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.
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(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.)

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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46

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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.

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https://weirddarkness.com/defecatinggoblins
#WeirdDarkness #Kallikantzaroi #ChristmasMonsters #GreekFolklore #HolidayHorror #ScaryChristmas #ChristmasGoblins #12DaysOfChristmas #Krampus #DarkChristmas

While Santa delivers presents to good children in Belgium and Holland, his demonic helper Black Peter stuffs the naughty ones into a sack full of hungry rats, drags them back to his coal mine on a cart pulled by plague-ridden undead rams, and forces them to dig coal forever — or until he gets hungry enough to eat them.

Ho ho ho, kids! If you like the stories Santa is telling, tell your friends and family about the Spooky Santa podcast so they can listen too! 

STORY AND MUSIC CREDITS/SOURCES…

”Black Peter”: https://tinyurl.com/t6tttza
“She’s Going To Be Mad” by Vevee: https://tinyurl.com/rbcqqoo
“Finders Keepers” by Boyd Reynolds: https://tinyurl.com/wkp7uu6
All music used with permission of the artists. Spooky Santa theme by Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ). All other music by Nicolas Gasparini (http://bit.ly/2LykK0g).

***Spooky Santa™ and Weird Darkness® are creations and trademarks of Marlar House Productions and Weird Darkness, LLC. Copyright © Weird Darkness, 2023
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
https://weirddarkness.com/blackpeter
#WeirdDarkness #BlackPeter #ZwartePiet #ChristmasDemon #HolidayHorror #ScaryChristmas #Krampus #DarkChristmas #NaughtyList #SintaNightmare

In “The Imposter”, a woman, despite having no theatrical background, is suddenly inspired to write a full-length play — with the ghostly help of a long-dead actor. When the play turns out to be a hit, she tries to take all the credit for it. But the real author’s spirit isn’t having it and demands that her name be removed from the marquee.  | #RetroRadio EP0571

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Imposter” (March 22, 1977) ***WD
00:45:34.027 = Eleventh Hour, “Will” (1941-1946) ***WD
01:14:24.935 = Escape, “Red Wine” (February 26, 1949)
01:43:51.535 = Everyman’s Theater, “This Precious Freedom” (October 04, 1940) ***WD
02:11:07.323 = Murder By Experts, “Murder By Prescription” (July 11, 1949)
02:40:34.581 = Exploring Tomorrow, “The Last Doctor” (February 19, 1958)
02:59:01.191 = Faces in The Window, “Lightning Rod Man” (January 17, 1953) ***WD (LQ)
03:22:41.516 = Dark Fantasy, “Debt From The Past” (January 16, 1942)
03:46:52.517 = Fear on 4, “The Chimes of Midnight” (October 02, 1997) ***WD
04:14:52.809 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Broken Window” (1947-1950)
04:19:55.490 = Tales From The Tomb, “Don’t Drink With Strangers” (1960s)
04:23:35.238 = BBC Ghosts From The Past, “The Boat Hook” (April 15, 1992)
05:07:02.739 = Show Close

(ADU) = Air Date Unknown
(LQ) = Low Quality
***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.
Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library

ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.
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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.
= = = = =#ParanormalRadio #ScienceFiction #OldTimeRadio #OTR #OTRHorror #ClassicRadioShows #HorrorRadioShows #VintageRadioDramas #WeirdDarkness
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0571

When twelve-year-old Nick signed up to be a "Bigfoot Buster" on Christmas Eve, he never expected to come face-to-face with the real creature at his front door — wearing the park ranger's coat and picking flesh from its teeth.

Ho ho ho, kids! If you like the stories Santa is telling, tell your friends and family about the Spooky Santa podcast so they can listen too! 

All music used with permission of the artists. Spooky Santa theme by Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ). All other music by Nicolas Gasparini (http://bit.ly/2LykK0g).

I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use. If I somehow overlooked doing that for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I’ll rectify it the show notes as quickly as possible.***Spooky Santa™ and Weird Darkness® are creations and trademarks of Marlar House Productions and Weird Darkness, LLC. Copyright © Weird Darkness, 2023
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
https://weirddarkness.com/BigfootBusters#WeirdDarkness #Bigfoot #ChristmasHorror #ScaryStories #Sasquatch #Cryptid #HorrorPodcast #ChristmasEve #CreepyChristmas #MonsterStories

In 1953, a museum caretaker reached out to touch an elderly stranger's shoulder — and his hand passed through thin air as the man vanished, leaving behind a blue book that had belonged to a lawyer who died thirty years before.

#12NightmaresOfXmas “THE DEATH COACH” and 6 More True Paranormal Christmas Stories! #WeirdDarkness

Episode 6 of 12 in the “Twelve Nightmares of Christmas” series!
In this episode: “The York Museum Ghost”, “The Sea Captain’s Ghost”, “The Frozen Lovers”, “Ghost Cat”, “Saying Goodbye”, “The Death Coach”, “Sir Geoffrey Walks”

SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…
All stories in this episode are from the book, “The Spirits of Christmas: The Dark Side of the Holidays” by Sylvia Shults: https://amzn.to/3uT2vMA
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Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.
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(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.)
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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.
https://weirddarkness.com/YorkMuseumGhost
#WeirdDarkness #HauntedMuseum #TrueGhostStory #ParanormalInvestigation #HauntedEngland #GhostSighting #ScaryStories #HorrorPodcast #RealGhosts #Supernatural

In the Christmas of 1965, a nine-year-old boy receives an Advent calendar that opens itself each night, revealing a shadowy figure drawing closer to his home — in a town where a child has been snatched and murdered every Christmas Eve for three years.

“THE ADVENT CALENDAR HORROR” by Michael Whitehouse #WeirdDarkness #HolidayHorrors

IN THIS EPISODE: It’s a short story of fiction I bring back every Christmas simply called “The Advent Calendar”, written by Michael Whitehouse. *** (Originally aired December 24, 2020)

SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…
“The Advent Calendar” by Michael Whitehouse: https://www.creepypasta.com/the-advent-calendar/
Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.
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(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.)

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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46

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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2023, Weird Darkness.

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https://weirddarkness.com/ChristmasCalendar

#WeirdDarkness #ChristmasHorror #ScaryStories #Creepypasta #AdventCalendar #HolidayHorror #ChristmasEve #HorrorPodcast #ScaryChristmas #TrueScaryStories

Get the print version of the novel: https://weirddarkness.com/AdventOfEvil

#WeirdDarkness #ChristmasHorror #HolidayHorror #SupernaturalThriller #HauntedCalendar #DarkChristmas #HorrorStory #DemonicEvil #CreepyTales #YuletideTerror

On Christmas Eve 2008, eight-year-old Leticia opened the door expecting Santa Claus — instead, she found her aunt's ex-husband in a custom-fitted suit, armed with five handguns and a homemade flamethrower, ready to deliver his final gift to the family.

IN THIS EPISODE: (Christmas archives episode from December 13, 2020): We’ll look at some of the history of Santa and his cohorts – and how they have all not been as jolly as we know them now. (And You Thought You Knew About Santa) *** And I’ll tell you an Icelandic Christmas story that is so creepy that the government was forced to censor it. (The Icelandic Yule Brothers) *** But first, Christmas parties are a time for joy, laughs, and family. A time to be shared with the ones you love. But sometimes, the ones who love us, have a different, more sinister plan. That was the case of Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, the Killer Santa. We begin with that story. (Bruce Jeffrey Pardo: The Killer Santa) *** (Originally aired December 13, 2020)

SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…
“And You Thought You Knew About Santa” by Troy Taylor: https://tinyurl.com/y63nbyqz
“Bruce Jeffrey Pardo: The Killer Santa” from The Scare Chamber: https://tinyurl.com/yxd8rvre
“The Icelandic Yule Brothers” by Eris Wisti for Ranker’s Weird History: https://tinyurl.com/y37coytc
Visit our Sponsors & Friends: https://weirddarkness.com/sponsors
Join the Weird Darkness Syndicate: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate
Advertise in the Weird Darkness podcast or syndicated radio show: https://weirddarkness.com/advertise
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Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.
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(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.)

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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46

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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.

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https://weirddarkness.com/BruceJeffreyPardo

#WeirdDarkness #TrueCrime #ChristmasEveMassacre #CovinaMassacre #SantaKiller #HolidayHorror #MassMurder #DarkChristmas #TrueCrimeStory #CaliforniaCrime

A painter wished the aviator in cabin 8 a Merry Christmas, but when he turned back seconds later, the man with the scarred neck had vanished — and naval records confirm no one matching his description ever served aboard the HMS Glory.

#12NightmaresOfXmas “THE LAST WISH OF JIM CURRAN” and 5 More Ghostly Holiday Stories! #WeirdDarkness

Episode 5 of 12 in the “Twelve Nightmares of Christmas” series!
In this episode: “The Aircraft Carrier ‘Glory’”, “Number 149 Squadron”, “Back Already?”, “Told You So”, “Dear Theodosia”, “Last Wishes”

SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…
All stories in this episode are from the book, “The Spirits of Christmas: The Dark Side of the Holidays” by Sylvia Shults: https://amzn.to/3uT2vMA
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Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =(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.)

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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46

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WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2023, Weird Darkness.

https://weirddarkness.com/AircraftCarrierGhost
#WeirdDarkness #HauntedShip #GhostPilot #TrueScaryStories #NavalGhost #ScottishGhostStory #ChristmasGhost #ParanormalEncounter #MilitaryGhost #UnsolvedMystery