Old Time Radio Downloads > Mystery > Lights Out

Lights Out debuted in 1934 and was radio's premier horror series. Director and writer, Wyllis Cooper's writing was characterized by grisly stories always matched with the appropriate acting and sound effects, he conceived in 1933 the idea of writing a dramatic midnight mystery serial catchy enough to the listeners' attention at a time when the competition was mostly airing music. It was however dropped in favor of an anthology emphasizing crime thrillers and the supernatural. He stayed with this program until June 1936 when another Chicago writer, Arch Oboler, took over. By the time Cooper left, the series had inspired about 600 fan clubs.

Arch Oboler was eccentric and ambitious when he took over and picked up where Cooper left off, following the latter's general example but investing the scripts with his own concerns using streams of conscious narration and sometimes social and political themes that reflected his commitment to anti-fascist liberalism. Although Lights Out would be closely associated with Oboler later on, he would always credit Wyllis Cooper as the series' creator and spoke highly of him as "the unsung pioneer of radio dramatic techniques" and the first person he knew who understood that radio drama is an art form.

"Burial Service", Oboler's first script in 1936, was initially flooded with outraged response but was followed with the more accepted and frequently repeated "Catwife" and Caligula-inspired "The Dictator". This set the pattern for Oboler's run of two horror episodes followed by a drama on more serious subjects dealing with moral, social and political issues

Lights-Out

Please enjoy these old time radio shows:

Air Date Title Synopsis
 1936-06-12  Cat Wife
In "Alley Cat," a wealthy man who discovers his wife has emptied their life savings after putting everything in her account. The ensuing argument ends up to a bloody murder before the police are sought. (Starring: Boris Karloff)
 1936-08-09  Money Money Money
A sailor murders his buddy who strikes it big at the lottery but managed to escape the authorities when initially investigated. He joins a treasure hunting-diving venture but his real identity is discovered and he receives a second visit.
 1936-09-04  The Author And The Thing

CBS net. "The Author and The Thing". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene Cleaning Fluid. Arch Oboler hosts the program and stars in it as, "Arch Oboler!" Mr. Oboler has created a monster for his radio show, whereupon it promptly comes to life and kills his brother! The last show of the season. Arch Oboler (writer, host), Mercedes McCambridge.
 1936-09-15  The Sea
A story told by an old dying lady about her two sons, one good and the other a villain. The good son sends his evil brother to dive for brass when a storm blows and the good son was simply presumed dead by his brother...
 1936-10-19  The Fast One

CBS net. "The Fast One". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Molle Shaving Cream. A story about two men with a mighty power, the ability to move very, very rapidly. Excellent radio writing. The story is also known as, "Speed." This is a network, sponsored version of cat. #11279. Arch Oboler (writer, host), Frank Martin (commercial spokesman).

Program #25. CBS net origination, syndicated rebroadcast. "The Fast One". Commercials added locally. Excellent radio writing. A story about two men with a mighty power, the power to move very, very rapidly. Syndicated program name: "The Devil and Mr. O." The story is also known as, "Speed." See cat. #77941 for a network, sponsored version of this broadcast. Arch Oboler (writer, host). 

 1936-12-07  Nobody Died
 1936-12-18  Poltergeist

Program #6. CBS net origination, syndicated rebroadcast. "Poltergeist". Commercials added locally. How'd you like to have your head squashed flat by a tombstone? Syndicated program name: "The Devil and Mr. O." The story is also known as, "Gravestone." Arch Oboler (writer, host). 
 1937-02-17  Cat Wife
In "Alley Cat," a wealthy man who discovers his wife has emptied their life savings after putting everything in her account. The ensuing argument ends up to a bloody murder before the police are sought. (Starring: Boris Karloff)
 1937-03-03  Sakhalin
A megalomaniac murderer roams Russia.
 1937-03-10  Chicken Heart
A laboratory experiment works and becomes a success. (Segment)
 1937-03-17  State Executioner
A wife leaves her husband after she finds out that he is an executioner. Later, the man goes crazy and locks himself up in a room as he imagines his past.
 1937-04-15  The Little People
Weird and heavily accented guy is eventually left by his gallivanting wife to finally join her boyfriend. Their big mistake is to pay him a visit about the divorce proceedings.
 1937-05-19  Organ
A couple excitedly spends summer with their son in a vacant home which is unoccupied for 20 years. An old man visits the and demands they leave, claiming that the house belongs to him. Eerie things begin to happen and the young boy seea a ghost who wants to entice him. They all eventually start to see other apparitions.
 1937-05-21  Until Dead

CBS net. "Until Dead". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Molle Shaving Cream. A man about to be executed escapes from jail and swears revenge against the man who framed him...and not even death can stop him! It sounds like Frank Lovejoy in the lead and Mercedes McCambridge in a commercial. See cat. #11264 for a syndicated rebroadcast version, re-titled "No Escape." The story is also known as, "The Luck Of Mark Street." Arch Oboler (host), Bob Stevenson (announcer), Frank Lovejoy, Mercedes McCambridge, Paul Stewart. 

Program #10. CBS net origination, syndicated rebroadcast. "Until Dead". Commercials added locally. A man wants revenge so badly, he's willing to go beyond the grave to get it. See cat. #47309 for a network, sponsored version of the broadcast. Syndicated program name: "The Devil and Mr. O." The story is also known as, "No Escape" and "The Luck Of Mark Street." Arch Oboler (writer, host), Frank Lovejoy, Paul Stewart. 
 1937-06-14  The Meteor Man
A meteorite is found by a stargazing couple. Opening it, they find it is made of flesh and transforms into a head that speaks. It tells them that it was the first among the many to arrive on the planet, and why they are coming.
 1937-06-25  Happy Ending
The story is a diversion from the typical when the doctor informs his wife that she is pregnant. The wife in turn starts to imagine as she walks all the way home, on what her husband and her mother has to say, as well as how her child possibly would look like.
 1937-07-18  Lord Marleys Ghost
A rich man is hooked on his mistress and leaves his wife. Their affair ends tragically in a boating accident.
 1937-11-16  Little Old Lady

CBS net. "Little Old Lady". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene Shoe White. Aunt Harriet, living alone in a dark wood, has some very strange feline companions! A good story! The story is also known as, "Mrs. Kingsley's Report." Arch Oboler (host), Frank Martin (announcer), Shirley Mitchell, Cathy Lewis, Noreen Gammill, Jay Novello, Lou Merrill. 
 1937-12-22  Christmas Story
Three soldiers of different nationalities party on a train on a Christmas Day after their tour of duty. An event involving three wise men similarly happened 2000 years ago.
 1937-12-29  The Dark
A prankster calls an ambulance which promptly responds by arriving on the scene to find a dark house and echoing laughter from a man turned inside out in a room with strange floor.
 1938-01-25  Oxychloride X
Out of frustration from being rejected membership in a fraternity; a gifted laboratory student formulates a super antimatter corrosive substance that eats anything and eventually creating a hole on Earth.
 1938-02-18  Murder Castle
Girls who answer advertisements for older guys keep disappearing. This prompts another girl to search for her missing sister.
 1938-03-01  Chicken Heart
 1938-03-12  Super Feature
 1938-03-23  The Dream
A murderer who never had experiences a dream suddenly falls into one during his sentencing trial. (Starring: Boris Karloff)
 1969-12-31  Valse Triste
Two girls on a camping trip, and while rowing docks their boat on an island to pick some flowers when their boat drifts away finding themselves lost. They are drawn to into a strange house where a psychopath lives who demanded that the other marry him and that the other must die.
 1938-04-05  Cat Wife

NBC net, Chicago origination. "Cat Wife". Sustaining. The script was used on the program previously. The story was voted by listeners "the best" "Lights Out" story. A man's cat-like wife goes too far. The show features a fine performance by Karloff and an even better one by the "Cat Wife," who receives no billing. Boris Karloff, Arch Oboler (writer, producer, director). 
 1938-05-11  It Happened
 1938-06-04  Spider

CBS net. "The Spider". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene Shoe White. Mr. Oboler mentions that this story is set in the jungles that today are, "filled with monkey-men with .25 calibre automatic rifles." Arch Oboler (writer, host), Frank Martin (commercial spokesman). 
 1939-04-26  Devils Due
A man who aware of the operation of the two thieves approaches them for the possibility of joining the gang.
 1942-10-13  Revolt Of The Worms
An experiment backfires as a man and his assistant used human hormones and worms to make roses grow faster.
 1942-10-20  Poltergeist
After playing on a snow covered graveyard and dancing on a gravestone, a girl is hit by a rock whom her companions claim to have been thrown from the grave.
 1942-10-27  Mungahra
A man spends weeks in the jungle and steals a massive diamond from a native named Mungahra whom he stabbed to death but manages to curse him before dying.
 1942-11-03  Across The Gapneanderthal Man

Program #2. CBS net origination, syndicated rebroadcast. "Across The Gap". Commercials added locally. A group of modern tourists find themselves fifty-thousand years in the past. Syndicated program name: "The Devil and Mr. O." The story is also known as, "Neanderthal," "Neanderthal Man," and "And Adam Begot." A "Lights Out" opening has been added. Arch Oboler (writer, host). 
 1942-11-16  Bon Voyage
 1942-11-17  Come To The Bank
 1942-12-01  Story Of Mr Maggs
From an auction, a man buys an evil trunk.
 1942-12-08  Scoop
 1942-12-15  A Knock At The Door
 1942-12-22  The Meteor Man
A meteorite is found by a stargazing couple. Opening it, they find it is made of flesh and transforms into a head that speaks. It tells them that it was the first among the many to arrive on the planet, and why they are coming.
 1942-12-23  Valse Triste
Two girls on a camping trip, and while rowing docks their boat on an island to pick some flowers when their boat drifts away finding themselves lost. They are drawn to into a strange house where a psychopath lives who demanded that the other marry him and that the other must die.
 1943-01-05  The Fast One
A man consumes a formula that speeds-up humans and starts a criminal spree.
 1943-01-19  Devi L And Mr Alleycat
 1943-01-26  Protective Mr. Drogen
 1943-02-02  Until Dead
 1943-02-10  Oxychloride X

Program #12. CBS net origination, syndicated rebroadcast. "Oxychloride X". Commercials added locally. A young crackpot college student invents the universal solvent, with of course nothing to keep in it. Syndicated program name: "The Devil and Mr. O." The story is also known as, "The Hole." Arch Oboler (writer, host). 
 1943-02-23  They Met At Dorset
Unsure of his location, the German rescue mission tries to free Rudolf Hess from his English captors but are. Thinking they have found the house, they are surprised to find people laughing inside. When they asked for him, the party denies holding him so they decided to murder all the English occupants.
 1943-03-03  The Ball
Two party-going men find themselves in a strange Parisian party.
 1943-03-14  The Dream

NBC net, Chicago origination. "The Dream". Sustaining. The series' fourth anniversary broadcast. An accused murderer has never dreamt in his entire life, until a beautifully shaped woman, with a face from hell, appears to him and says only one word..."kill"! The show features lots of screaming and mayhem. A script with the same title, but with a different story, was used subsequently on "Lights Out" on March 16, 1943 (see cat. #77937). Boris Karloff, Arch Oboler (writer). 
 1943-03-25  Flame
 1943-03-30  Money Money Money

CBS net. "Money, Money, Money". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene. Tony the diver doesn't stop at murder nor anything else for money. His last dive is most successful. This is a network, sponsored version of cat. #11273. The story is also known as, "Three-Thousand Dollars." Arch Oboler (writer, host), Frank Martin (commercial spokesman).

 

Program #19. CBS net origination, syndicated rebroadcast. "Money, Money, Money". Commercials added locally. Tony the diver stops not at murder nor anything else for money. His last dive is most successful. Syndicated program name: "The Devil and Mr. O." The story is also known as, "Three-Thousand Dollars." See cat. #79072 for a network, sponsored version of this broadcast. Arch Oboler (writer, host). 
 1943-04-06  Superfeature
A guy travels with his assistant guy showing movies to interested audiences. When an audience clamors for a monster film, a real monster appears from the movie.
 1943-04-13  Archer
A girl finds a tool which saves her from the gangsters who are hiding her away.
 1943-04-20  Kill

CBS net. "Kill". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene Shoe White. A story told through the thoughts of the principal character, an accused murderer. Arch Oboler (writer, host), Frank Martin (commercial spokesman). 
 1943-04-27  Execution
 1943-05-04  Heavenly Jeep
When the jeep the soldiers are riding is blown up by a landmine, the soldiers realize they are eventually not hurt at all.
 1943-05-11  Murder In The Script Department
Two office clerk-typists become trapped in office after working hours. They notice that equipments and facilities automatically shut down. To their surprise, the typewriters start to write independently, the furniture breaks loose and a shrill scream is heard.
 1943-05-18  Spider
In a treasure hunting expedition in the jungle, the hunters catch spider which has been silently staring at them since they arrived.
 1943-05-25  Little Old Lady
In a treasure hunting expedition in the jungle, the hunters catch spider which has been silently staring at them since they arrived.
 1943-06-05  Ugliest Man In The World
In a treasure hunting expedition in the jungle, the hunters catch spider which has been silently staring at them since they arrived.
 1943-06-08  The Organ
A couple excitedly spends summer with their son in a vacant home which is unoccupied for 20 years. An old man visits the and demands they leave, claiming that the house belongs to him. Eerie things begin to happen and the young boy seea a ghost who wants to entice him. They all eventually start to see other apparitions.
 1943-06-15  Prelude To Murder
Listeners hear the thoughts of a Dracula-inspired man is jealous of his wife's new male friend.
 1943-06-28  Nature Study
A group on study tour gets trapped by a rockslide in a canyon and panics. Some of them will die while others admit of being murderers themselves.
 1943-06-29  Bathysphere
A motive-laden worker descends to record ocean depths with his unsuspecting superior.
 1943-07-13  Visitor From Hades
A couple who is terminally ill suddenly receives a macabre visit from someone whom is invisible to others. Having no known way of getting rid of this visitor, the couple later recognizes him and realizes the real purpose of his visit.
 1943-07-20  Profits Unlimited
An heiress is taken to an island where she inherits a factory from her grandfather. She soon finds out that the workers lived there for many generations and knew nothing else but work.
 1943-07-27  The Little People

CBS net. "The Little People". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene Shoe White. The eternal triangle seems a bit lopsided when two of the angles are shrunken to doll size. The lead character uses what sounds like a Bela Lugosi accent. This is a network, sponsored version of cat. #11280. Arch Oboler (writer, host), Frank Martin (commercial spokesman).

 

Program #26. CBS net origination, syndicated rebroadcast. "The Little People". Commercials added locally. The eternal triangle seems a bit lopsided when two of the angles are shrunken to doll size. Syndicated program name: "The Devil and Mr. O." The story is also known as, "The Shrinking People." See cat. #79074 for a network, sponsored version of this broadcast. The lead character uses what sounds like a Bela Lugosi accent. Arch Oboler (writer, host). 
 1943-08-03  Murder Castle

CBS net. "Murder Castle". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene. A kindly gentleman murders young ladies for a living. Grisly. Arch Oboler (host), Frank Martin (announcer).
 1943-08-10  Sakhalin
A megalomaniac murderer roams Russia.
 1943-08-24  Sub Basement
The girlfriend always wondered what her boyfriend does inside his office building. He takes her on a tour of the building starting from the basement. Accidentally locked in, the couple entangles something horrid.
 1969-12-31  Immortal Gentleman
A man is born to live a normal life from among the immortal and genius Adavars, so the gods wished the him to do something they themselves cannot.
 1943-09-07  Lord Marleys Guest
A rich man is hooked on his mistress and leaves his wife. Their affair ends tragically in a boating accident.
 1943-09-14  The Word
Two honeymooners climbs to the 100th floor of a tower to watch the city skyline and simply forget the looming war headlines. Seeing a storm lightning approaching, they go down only to find out that everyone in the city is gone or missing.
 1943-09-21  Mirage
A couple notices that a silent old man on the beach can make people pass out by erasing their names etched on the sand. When he reappeared with the moon, he scribbles some dates instead.
 1943-09-28  Author And The Thing
 1945-07-21  Reunion After Death
 1945-07-28  Rocket Ship
In the year 2000, a crewman returns from the moon and notes moon craters being similar to atom bomb craters in New Mexican test sites.
 1945-08-25  Man In The Middle
A secretary and her boss are having an affair which is discovered by her brother. The brother threatens the boss to stay away from his sister and a big fight follows.
 1945-09-01  The Day The Sun Exploded
 1946-07-13  The Coffin In Studio B
While participants are rehearsing for the "Lights Out" show, a coffin salesman enters promoting his product.
 1946-07-20  Haunted Cell
 1946-07-27  Battle Of The Magicians
 1946-08-03  Revenge Of India
An influential Indian gets kidnapped by gangsters and hidden in the trunk of their car. Unknowingly, the man keeps a handheld radio and maintained contact with his servant for rescue.
 1946-08-16  Ghost On The Newsreel Negative
In hope of catching ghosts on film, two men tries their luck in a haunted farm.
 1946-08-24  The Signal Man
A old train signalman is interviewed by a reporter. He says he saw a signaling figure just before the accident occur at the spot where the wrecks occurred.
 1947-07-12  Death Robbery

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 ABOUT OLD TIME RADIO
The buzz-term for Old Time Radio is "OTR". OTR usually means radio broadcasting from the golden age of radio, mostly before 1964.These shows from the pre-television age include adventure, comedies, mystery shows, western dramas and shows from World War II. These programs feature the best talent of the day and were broadcast nearly as widely as cable programs today. And just like TV today, families would gather around their crystal radio sets to enjoy the entertainment together.