This episode is a quintessential Halloween classic, leaning heavily into the "ghostly" reputation of the Shadow to stop a psychological crime.
Episode Overview
- Title: "The Three Ghosts"
- First Aired: October 31, 1937 (Halloween Night)
- Network: Mutual Broadcasting System
- Sponsor: Blue Coal
Cast & Voice Actors
- The Shadow / Lamont Cranston: Orson Welles
- Margot Lane: Agnes Moorehead
- Announcer: Arthur Whiteside (stepping in for the usual Ken Roberts in some listings)
- Organist: Elsie Thompson
- Commercial Spokesman: Thomas Coffin Cooke
Episode Summary
In this atmospheric holiday broadcast, a wicked criminal attempts to drive a wealthy woman to her death by convincing her that she is being haunted by three vengeful spirits. The goal is to literally frighten her into a fatal heart attack to claim her fortune.
The Shadow becomes a literal conscience in the dark. Utilizing his own ghostly presence and hypnotic voice, he turns the tables on the conspirators. By the episode's end, the Shadow ensures that the only ones truly terrified are the criminals themselves, as he uses the very haunting they invented to force a confession. It is a brilliant example of how the Shadow doesn't just fight crime with fists, but with psychological warfare.
Trivia & Fun Facts
- The Ultimate Halloween Episode: Aired on October 31, 1937, this was the show's first-ever Halloween broadcast. The producers leaned into the holiday spirit by making the plot centered on ghosts and hauntings.
- Organ Bridges: This episode is frequently cited by sound historians for its "beautiful organ bridges" performed by Elsie Thompson. The music was used to create a seamless, unsettling transition between the world of the living and the "supernatural."
- The Conscience Motif: Unlike earlier episodes where the Shadow is a more physical threat, this story highlights him as a psychological force—acting as the "conscience" that the criminals lack.
- Surviving Broadcast: While many early episodes of The Shadow are "lost," this Halloween classic was preserved in excellent audio quality, allowing modern listeners to hear the original 1937 performance.
Credits
- Host and Producer Gizelle Erickson
- Executive Producer Jon Hagadorn
- Music: Thanks to Sound Gallery By Dmitry Taras "Scary Horror Music"
- The Shadow sourced by AcousticMonster on Internet Archive
