Hello my wonderfully curious and wonderful listeners!!!
Tonight’s episode of Stories Fables Ghostly Tales takes us deep into the echoing halls of Old Time Radio, where shadows creep, footsteps follow, and fate waits patiently at the edge of night.
We begin with Creeps by Night, a haunting 1940s series that delved into the terror of the human mind. Our first tale, Walk in Darkness, drags us into a world where unseen presences haunt every step, and paranoia itself becomes the villain....
Then, in The Hunt, the primal roles of predator and prey blur into a psychological dance, proving that fear is the most relentless pursuer of all.
Finally, we step into the world of Macabre (1961), short-lived but unforgettable. Its episode Final Resting Place contemplates the inevitability of death and the chilling certainty of fate, wrapping us in a grim but poetic meditation on where all journeys end.
But wait—there’s more. Inspired by tonight’s stories, I’ve also crafted a brand-new original song: Shadows Never Die. It threads the footsteps of darkness, the chase of the hunt, and the weight of finality into one eerie anthem. A fusion of cinematic rock and ghostly orchestral energy, this piece is a tribute to the chilling brilliance of these old broadcasts.
Origin & Era: Broadcast in 1944, Creeps by Night was a Columbia Network series, airing in the U.S. during the final years of WWII. It was designed to provide listeners with chills, often exploring the darker corners of human psychology rather than relying purely on supernatural scares.
Style: Unlike monster-of-the-week shows, Creeps by Night specialized in psychological suspense. Ordinary people in familiar settings would find themselves unravelling, stalked by paranoia, guilt, or invisible forces. The series played with the idea that fear doesn’t need fangs — it only needs doubt.
Legacy: Sadly, the show ran only a short time (March–August 1944) and only a handful of episodes survive today. Despite that, its mix of psychological tension and Karloff’s involvement makes it a cult favourite among OTR fans.
Origin & Era: Produced by the Far East Network of the U.S. Armed Forces Radio Service, Macabre was created by servicemen stationed in Tokyo. It aired from late 1961 to early 1962, with only 8 known episodes produced.
Style: True to its name, Macabre was gothic, eerie, and often philosophical in its treatment of death, fate, and horror. Unlike many American OTR shows, which leaned into either pulp scares or family-safe chills, Macabre wasn’t afraid to be morbidly poetic. It explored themes of finality, inevitability, and human weakness.
Legacy: With only a half-year lifespan, it might’ve been forgotten—but its rarity and haunting scripts have given it lasting recognition among OTR collectors and horror enthusiasts. It’s often referred to as a “hidden gem” of Old Time Radio horror.
As always, I want to thank our Oud Night Tea Titan, Matto Star, and our White Tea Warlords—Lezza, Mayah, and Sangeetha—for helping keep these stories alive. And all my Earl Grey Enforcers and tiers after, for your kindness and support are the lanterns that guide us through the dark.
So, pour yourself a warm tea, dim the lights, and prepare yourself for three tales where suspense still lingers, decades after the mics first faded to static.
Stay safe, stay curious,
— The Tale Teller
