Ron's Amazing Stories

This week on Ron's Amazing Stories, we wander into the shadows—literally. We're featuring two classic old-time radio programs that built their reputations on unseen narrators and atmospheric storytelling: The Shadow and The Whistler. Each one whispers from the darkness, but with personalities that couldn't be more different. Our first story is "Death House Rescue" from The Shadow, originally aired on September 26, 1937. In this tale, a man is wrongly sentenced to die for killing a policeman during a bank robbery. The Shadow steps in, using his uncanny ability to slip into the minds of others to uncover the truth. After the first story, we take a short break to talk about the two famous narrators—how they guided generations of listeners while staying completely unseen. Then we turn to "Not If I Kill You First" from The Whistler, broadcast February 12, 1944. It's a dark tale of greed, betrayal, and the promise of $30,000—though the loser pays with more than just money. We close the show by tying these two shadowy voices together and share a bonus segment with some fun trivia from the golden age of radio. If you love atmospheric drama, classic crime stories, or simply enjoy wandering the dimly lit hallways of radio's past, this is your episode. Featured Stories: The Shadow – "Death House Rescue" (9/26/1937) The Whistler – "Not If I Kill You First" (2/12/1944) Ron's Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible - You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories. Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you're from. I will read it if I can. Links are below. Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron's Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin. Program Info: Ron's Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link. Social Links: Main Podcast Site by LibSynThe Blog Site by WordPressFacebook LinkTwitter Link Contact Links: EmailStory Submissions Contact Ron

This week on Ron's Amazing Stories we step aboard a ship loaded with adventure, rebellion, and old-school Hollywood charm. Our feature comes from Lux Radio Theater and is the radio adaptation of the 1935 classic Captain Blood, starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. Both reprise their roles, bringing the swashbuckling tale to life all over again. We take a moment to explore the real history behind the story—its roots in the Monmouth Rebellion, the fictional-yet-inspired character of Dr. Peter Blood, and the bold musical choices of composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold, whose groundbreaking score helped usher in the era of full symphonic soundtracks. And at the end of the show, we answer a listener email from John Pierce of Oklahoma City, who wants to know why Alan Ladd ranks so highly on my personal list of Hollywood greats. I give my take in a short segment you won't want to miss. What On This week: Featured Story: Captain Blood from Lux Radio Theater Behind the Scenes: The historical backdrop of the Monmouth Rebellion Film Music Spotlight: How Korngold changed movie scores forever Listener Email: Why Alan Ladd still stands tall Ron's Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible - You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories. Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you're from. I will read it if I can. Links are below. Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron's Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin. Program Info: Ron's Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link. Social Links: Main Podcast Site by LibSynThe Blog Site by WordPressFacebook LinkTwitter Link Contact Links: EmailStory Submissions Contact Ron

This time on Ron's Amazing Stories, we bring you a special Box 13 double feature suggested by listener Pete Toreck from Miami, Florida. We kick things off with the very first adventure Dan Holiday ever tackled, The First Letter. Then we follow it up with one of the most listened-to stories of the entire run, The Professor and The Puzzle. Between the two tales, we take a humorous look at the advice columnists of the 1950s—those brave souls who solved life's everyday mysteries one letter at a time. This episode also marks a milestone: we close out the last known radio acting done by Alan Ladd. Known is the key word—because the world of old-time radio is full of surprises. I may continue with more Box 13 stories in the future, and if you know of any Ladd broadcasts I haven't covered, let me know! In This Episode Box 13 – "The First Letter" The pilot episode that sets Dan Holiday's unique career of adventure in motion. A Look at 1950s Advice Columnists A lighthearted break exploring the real-life letter-solvers of the era. Box 13 – "The Professor and The Puzzle" A classic episode featuring mystery, danger, and a reclusive professor. Alan Ladd Milestone Wrapping up the known Ladd broadcasts—with room for future discoveries. Ron's Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible - You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories. Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you're from. I will read it if I can. Links are below. Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron's Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin. Program Info: Ron's Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link. Social Links: Main Podcast Site by LibSynThe Blog Site by WordPressFacebook LinkTwitter Link Contact Links: EmailStory Submissions Contact Ron

This week, Alan Ladd returns for his fourth appearance on the podcast, stepping into the role of a covert agent in the Lux Radio Theater adaptation of the 1946 spy drama O.S.S. It's classic wartime intrigue, delivered with the steady intensity only Ladd could pull off. We take a quick look at the real OSS, the film behind the broadcast, and why Ladd continues to impress every time he shows up on the show. In This Episode Alan Ladd takes on a covert wartime role A brief look at the OSS and its legacy The origins of the story and its Bond connection The full Lux Radio Theater production of O.S.S. Ron's Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible - You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories. Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you're from. I will read it if I can. Links are below. Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron's Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin. Program Info: Ron's Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link. Social Links: Main Podcast Site by LibSynThe Blog Site by WordPressFacebook LinkTwitter Link Contact Links: EmailStory Submissions Contact Ron

This week on Ron's Amazing Stories, we take you back into the shadowy world of Suspense — one of radio's greatest achievements and the last show to fade out at the end of the Golden Age. Our theme this time is time and perception, and we've got two unforgettable stories that explore both. Our first tale is Time On My Hands, a husband and wife set out to do the impossible — go back in time to stop Adolf Hitler. Can history be rewritten, or is time itself the one enemy no man can defeat? Then, we'll step into A World of Darkness (January 20, 1944). Told through the eyes — or rather, the ears — of a blind man, this gripping mystery reveals how sound can paint pictures far more vivid than sight ever could. Between these stories, we'll pause for a brief look at the history of Suspense, the show that kept listeners on edge for over two decades and closed the curtain on radio's golden era. Featured Stories: Suspense – "Time On My Hands" (9/25/1960) Suspense – "A World Of Darkness" (1/20/1944) Also in this episode: A short history of Suspense The real science behind how the blind "see" without sight Ron's thoughts on the impossibility of changing time A special Thanksgiving episode teaser — send in your ideas! Ron's Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible - You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories. Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you're from. I will read it if I can. Links are below. Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron's Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin. Program Info: Ron's Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link. Social Links: Main Podcast Site by LibSynThe Blog Site by WordPressFacebook LinkTwitter Link Contact Links: EmailStory Submissions Contact Ron