November 18, 2025 • 12 mins
The Strange Dr. Weird was a sister series to The Mysterious Traveler, both in theme and its narrator, Maurice Tarplin. The 29 episodes were produced and directed by Jock MacGregor and written by Robert A. Arthur, who also scripted for The Mysterious Traveler.
Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. Podcasts @ Apple | Spreaker | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon
Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. Podcasts @ Apple | Spreaker | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
The strange doctor weird.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good evening, Come in one't j by, what's the murder?
You seem a bit nervous? Perhaps the cemetery outside the
house is upset you. But there are things far worse
than cemeteries, for instance, and hypnotic force, which drives a
(00:37):
person to murder, as in the story I wanna tell
you tonight, a story I call the Knife of Death.
My story The Knife of Death begins several years ago
(00:59):
in the city of London, and all London is blacked
out waiting for the nightly visit of German bomber's Henry Hawkins.
An air red Warden slowly makes his way through a
street filled with wreckage with the aid of a black outlander.
His big Ben strikes the hour, fucking stops and listens.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
He that's you, Albert, have none other? Henry? Me lad,
it's ten o'clock and I'm here to relieve you. Look
at this straight where you pretty much them Jerry's made
of it last night. Ay, it's hardly out standing.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Well, i'd best.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Beginning on home now, but for the missus begins worrying.
I'll walk a bit of the way with Henry. Thanks Albert, Yeah,
you mind the wreckage now, Henry. This glancer late much,
but without it we'd break on. Next half a minute,
Albert shine a lightless way with him. Huh, what's up?
I'll kicked something that was I it is climy. It's
a knife. Ay, we'd luck clean it up a bit, Henry.
(01:55):
Look the endle of that knife. What's blood? Red?
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Ay?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
The endel seems to be carved out of some kind
of stone. Looks like ruby to mean, I doesn't that?
Look at the way it gleams and glitters, Henry, I've
never seen anything like it, nor have I. The haendel
looks like a pool of blood. And when the old
the lens in close to it, the fire of the
stone seems to go right through you. Henry, wat's come over?
You come off it? Will you? Fire of the stone
(02:22):
makes me feel all warm and sager and strongly? Does?
I let me hold it to be, Henry? Now, now
just a minute, Henry, half of that knifeest Mine, I
helped your finder, didn't not stop reaching for it. It's mine.
I take half of that knifeest Mine. I gotta right
to hold it. Now, give it a year. I'm trying
to take it from me. Will you well take this?
And don't what what am I? Dane Albert Albert speak
(02:49):
to me? God didn't mean to tab you. I would
indeed murdy if they catch me, they're angry for this.
I've gotta get out of here. Is that you, Henry? Yes?
(03:12):
Where you being? It's off of twelve. I stopped at
the corner pub.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Henry.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
You've been drinking. What if I have, man, there's a
few drinks in the acher's always murdered someone. Oh, I
got a right to take a few of drinks. Stop
shot in, Henry. I'm not there here laying up your
coat for you. I can hang it up myself. What's
the load of Why it's a knife, Henry? What are
you doing with a knife? I found it, They let
(03:38):
it alone it. Why there's this fresh blood all over
the blade? Lope me? It's just the color of the
rubyn or Henry? How did blood get on that blade?
Closes like it was alive? Makes me feel all warm inside,
warm and strong, Henry, you frighten me when you talk
(04:00):
like that. You'd best give me that knife. No take
it anyways more dry your trunk. Don't give it here,
give it here, I sigh don't give it to here?
What Henry? You stab me? What? What have I done? Really?
(04:21):
Wake to me? What didn't mean to do it?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Love his life?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
He's a girted move that makes me do it? Oh Milly?
What have I done?
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Poor Millie, Poor Henry? What's going to happen?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Doctor Weird?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Then I'll tell you. Can you keep something in the hat?
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Somehow? Doctor? You remind me of something I was going
to say, if you'll pardon the brief interruption. Under more
and more hats these days, right inside you'll find the
familiar Adam crust of quality. It's no coincidence, but the
these Adam hats are worn by well dressed men. Man
who knows quality instinctively recognize the genuine superiority of an
(05:08):
Adam in the fine purpouse, the expert craftsmanship, and the
correct styles. What's more, Adam hats come in a wide
choice of styles and colors and shapes. Triple assurance that
you'll get the hat that's right for you. Next time
you go stepping out where an Adam, people will notice
(05:28):
the difference. Now let's step into the Hawkins house again,
doctor Weiss, And.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Now to continue my story, The knife of Death, The neighbors,
hearing Missus Hawkins cry out as she was stammed, called
Corporal Mason, a bobby who was on duty near by.
When Mason entered the Hawkins house, he found Henry sitting
in a chair, his face buried in his hands. Missus
(06:00):
Hawkins was dead, the murder weapon on the floor beside
the body. Corporal Mason notified Scotland Yard, and twenty minutes
later there was a knock on the door.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
There we are, Hawkins, I'll answered the door. Oh good evening,
Corporal Evening said, I'm inspected the King of Scotland Yard.
This is Sergeant Roberts. How do you do, sir, Food evening,
M nasty mess. Nothing's been touched now, sir. I'd presume
this is the dead woman's husband. Yes, sir, Henry Hawkins.
His name is uh Alan Hawkins. I must ask you
a two questions. I warn you, however, that anything you
(06:35):
may say may be using card against you. You understand, Yes,
very well, Hawkins. You confess to the murder of your wife. Yes,
Odd killed him, but it wasn't my fault. It drove
me to it. The life drove you to it. I'm
afraid I don't understand it not wait in case it
bla weaight angel, it made me do it. M It
(06:56):
is a most unusual looking knife of that blood red handle. Strange?
What's he say? In some report or other? In our files?
I recall reading something about a knife of the blood
red handle. Now where did I read that? Oh? Well,
never mind, Hawkins, where did you get that knife? While
I was coming off are A David in honor stumbled
on it, raking eh where was this Miller Court's right
(07:20):
off door sixth Street, Miller's Court, Miller's Cott Who say, yes,
hi jove, Now I remember where I read about the
knife of the blood red handle? Really say? Is it
was in the file of Jack the Ripper, Jack the Ripper? Yes.
In eighteen eighty six, Jack the Ripper attacked a woman
near Hanbury Street. The victim was found dying, but before
she died, she muttered a few words about being stabbed
(07:41):
by a knife with a handle red as blood. Surely say,
you don't think there's any connection between Jack. That it
does not, but that one lying that on the floor.
Now there's more to my story, Mason. Do you remember
the name of Jack the Ripper's last victim? Why yes,
it is Mary Kelly. She was murdered in November eighteen
eighty eight. Quite right, Corpora. Do you remember where her
(08:01):
body was found, as I do. Her body was found
in Miller's Court, right off Dorset Street. It is caught.
Why that's where Orkin said he found the knife that's
lying there on the floor. Exactly. You tried to tell it.
Inspicted that the knife, Hawkins fans belonged to Jack the Ripper,
or that he's been lying in the seat he's part
fifty years. No, no, no, not lying in the street, Corporal.
(08:24):
What if after Jack the Ripper had murdered Marie Kelly,
he had lost the knife at the scene of the crime, Say,
for example, it dropped into a drain, and the bombs
that fell in Miller's Court last night turned it up again.
Oh kem nowshe? Why nest she be saying that Hawkins
is right, that there is something about that knife that
drives people to commit murder with it. Where is I
tell you there is when you hold it in your hand,
(08:46):
things that come alive, drives you against your will to kill?
Are you deaf? No? Meaning of course that you think
I'm daft too? Oh? No, this didn't mean nat City Reserve,
I admitted, rather a wild theory. But what if it
were true? Don't you see? That's my account for Marie
Kelly being the rippers lost victim. Once he lost the knife,
he was no longer driven to murder. Weich, sir, you
(09:08):
don't really believe that knife has an evil force behind it,
do you? No? No, I suppose not. And yet, well
it's an interesting theory, oh you say, is quite? It's quite,
Sergeant Robberts. You'll remain here with Corporal Mason while I
take the prison of the Scotland yard. It's nothings to
be touched, mind you. I'll send the technical staff over
at once a good say all right, come along Hawkins, Yes, sir,
(09:34):
I say, sergeant. Isn't it bad time they were retired?
They inspector? He acts a bit bomby an have a
little more respect there, or come up it even you've
got to admit the old man's sounds bob me. Imagine
that the knife there on the floor once belonged to
Jactor and there's an evil force behind it. Stick old
getting queer ideas well, that's just about the queerest I
(09:56):
ever heard. It's an unusual knife all right, through that
that red handle, but evil force behind it. Hey, now,
don't you go picking it up? Take it easy, will you.
I'm using an handkerchief to pick it up. Ain't I
just want to take a terse and look at it.
You heard what the inspector said. Nothing was to be touched.
(10:16):
You know. The end of does seem to sort of
glitter and glow makes you feel warm inside. And now
you've got it. You put your hand all around the
handle and spoil the fingerprints. P He is a good
like this. Mason is your superior. I order you to
put that knife down. Put it down to your here
see a strong o. Hey, give me that knife, that's mine.
(10:40):
Keep away, say you, darf, give it to me. Stay
away from me. Not I'll teach you to disobey an order.
You'll aim over all all I can take you from me?
What you're all right? Take it dead? I killed him,
this bloody heart. It drove it a killing. I didn't
(11:05):
want to do it, but it made me spitter. He
must have been right. It's a knife. It is a
knife projector ripper.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Too bad about poor Mason, wasn't it? But as everyone knows,
a knife is a dangerous thing to play with, particularly
a knife with a blood red handle that flows and
glitters with a hypnotic force. What happened to it meets
under lock and key at Scotland Yards, And strangely enough,
(11:45):
when Henry Hawkins and Corporal Mason would dried for murder,
a dead weapon wasn't offered in evidence. In fact, a
king was afraid to have anyone't hand me. Oh, by
the way, if you should ever come across a knife
for the blood red rull be handled, oh you have
to go grets, you'll drop in on me again. So
(12:08):
just look for the house on the other side of
the cemetery, the house of doctor Weird.
The strange doctor weird.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good evening, Come in one't j by, what's the murder?
You seem a bit nervous? Perhaps the cemetery outside the
house is upset you. But there are things far worse
than cemeteries, for instance, and hypnotic force, which drives a
(00:37):
person to murder, as in the story I wanna tell
you tonight, a story I call the Knife of Death.
My story The Knife of Death begins several years ago
(00:59):
in the city of London, and all London is blacked
out waiting for the nightly visit of German bomber's Henry Hawkins.
An air red Warden slowly makes his way through a
street filled with wreckage with the aid of a black outlander.
His big Ben strikes the hour, fucking stops and listens.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
He that's you, Albert, have none other? Henry? Me lad,
it's ten o'clock and I'm here to relieve you. Look
at this straight where you pretty much them Jerry's made
of it last night. Ay, it's hardly out standing.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Well, i'd best.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Beginning on home now, but for the missus begins worrying.
I'll walk a bit of the way with Henry. Thanks Albert, Yeah,
you mind the wreckage now, Henry. This glancer late much,
but without it we'd break on. Next half a minute,
Albert shine a lightless way with him. Huh, what's up?
I'll kicked something that was I it is climy. It's
a knife. Ay, we'd luck clean it up a bit, Henry.
(01:55):
Look the endle of that knife. What's blood? Red?
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Ay?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
The endel seems to be carved out of some kind
of stone. Looks like ruby to mean, I doesn't that?
Look at the way it gleams and glitters, Henry, I've
never seen anything like it, nor have I. The haendel
looks like a pool of blood. And when the old
the lens in close to it, the fire of the
stone seems to go right through you. Henry, wat's come over?
You come off it? Will you? Fire of the stone
(02:22):
makes me feel all warm and sager and strongly? Does?
I let me hold it to be, Henry? Now, now
just a minute, Henry, half of that knifeest Mine, I
helped your finder, didn't not stop reaching for it. It's mine.
I take half of that knifeest Mine. I gotta right
to hold it. Now, give it a year. I'm trying
to take it from me. Will you well take this?
And don't what what am I? Dane Albert Albert speak
(02:49):
to me? God didn't mean to tab you. I would
indeed murdy if they catch me, they're angry for this.
I've gotta get out of here. Is that you, Henry? Yes?
(03:12):
Where you being? It's off of twelve. I stopped at
the corner pub.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Henry.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
You've been drinking. What if I have, man, there's a
few drinks in the acher's always murdered someone. Oh, I
got a right to take a few of drinks. Stop
shot in, Henry. I'm not there here laying up your
coat for you. I can hang it up myself. What's
the load of Why it's a knife, Henry? What are
you doing with a knife? I found it, They let
(03:38):
it alone it. Why there's this fresh blood all over
the blade? Lope me? It's just the color of the
rubyn or Henry? How did blood get on that blade?
Closes like it was alive? Makes me feel all warm inside,
warm and strong, Henry, you frighten me when you talk
(04:00):
like that. You'd best give me that knife. No take
it anyways more dry your trunk. Don't give it here,
give it here, I sigh don't give it to here?
What Henry? You stab me? What? What have I done? Really?
(04:21):
Wake to me? What didn't mean to do it?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Love his life?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
He's a girted move that makes me do it? Oh Milly?
What have I done?
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Poor Millie, Poor Henry? What's going to happen?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Doctor Weird?
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Then I'll tell you. Can you keep something in the hat?
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Somehow? Doctor? You remind me of something I was going
to say, if you'll pardon the brief interruption. Under more
and more hats these days, right inside you'll find the
familiar Adam crust of quality. It's no coincidence, but the
these Adam hats are worn by well dressed men. Man
who knows quality instinctively recognize the genuine superiority of an
(05:08):
Adam in the fine purpouse, the expert craftsmanship, and the
correct styles. What's more, Adam hats come in a wide
choice of styles and colors and shapes. Triple assurance that
you'll get the hat that's right for you. Next time
you go stepping out where an Adam, people will notice
(05:28):
the difference. Now let's step into the Hawkins house again,
doctor Weiss, And.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Now to continue my story, The knife of Death, The neighbors,
hearing Missus Hawkins cry out as she was stammed, called
Corporal Mason, a bobby who was on duty near by.
When Mason entered the Hawkins house, he found Henry sitting
in a chair, his face buried in his hands. Missus
(06:00):
Hawkins was dead, the murder weapon on the floor beside
the body. Corporal Mason notified Scotland Yard, and twenty minutes
later there was a knock on the door.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
There we are, Hawkins, I'll answered the door. Oh good evening,
Corporal Evening said, I'm inspected the King of Scotland Yard.
This is Sergeant Roberts. How do you do, sir, Food evening,
M nasty mess. Nothing's been touched now, sir. I'd presume
this is the dead woman's husband. Yes, sir, Henry Hawkins.
His name is uh Alan Hawkins. I must ask you
a two questions. I warn you, however, that anything you
(06:35):
may say may be using card against you. You understand, Yes,
very well, Hawkins. You confess to the murder of your wife. Yes,
Odd killed him, but it wasn't my fault. It drove
me to it. The life drove you to it. I'm
afraid I don't understand it not wait in case it
bla weaight angel, it made me do it. M It
(06:56):
is a most unusual looking knife of that blood red handle. Strange?
What's he say? In some report or other? In our files?
I recall reading something about a knife of the blood
red handle. Now where did I read that? Oh? Well,
never mind, Hawkins, where did you get that knife? While
I was coming off are A David in honor stumbled
on it, raking eh where was this Miller Court's right
(07:20):
off door sixth Street, Miller's Court, Miller's Cott Who say, yes,
hi jove, Now I remember where I read about the
knife of the blood red handle? Really say? Is it
was in the file of Jack the Ripper, Jack the Ripper? Yes.
In eighteen eighty six, Jack the Ripper attacked a woman
near Hanbury Street. The victim was found dying, but before
she died, she muttered a few words about being stabbed
(07:41):
by a knife with a handle red as blood. Surely say,
you don't think there's any connection between Jack. That it
does not, but that one lying that on the floor.
Now there's more to my story, Mason. Do you remember
the name of Jack the Ripper's last victim? Why yes,
it is Mary Kelly. She was murdered in November eighteen
eighty eight. Quite right, Corpora. Do you remember where her
(08:01):
body was found, as I do. Her body was found
in Miller's Court, right off Dorset Street. It is caught.
Why that's where Orkin said he found the knife that's
lying there on the floor. Exactly. You tried to tell it.
Inspicted that the knife, Hawkins fans belonged to Jack the Ripper,
or that he's been lying in the seat he's part
fifty years. No, no, no, not lying in the street, Corporal.
(08:24):
What if after Jack the Ripper had murdered Marie Kelly,
he had lost the knife at the scene of the crime, Say,
for example, it dropped into a drain, and the bombs
that fell in Miller's Court last night turned it up again.
Oh kem nowshe? Why nest she be saying that Hawkins
is right, that there is something about that knife that
drives people to commit murder with it. Where is I
tell you there is when you hold it in your hand,
(08:46):
things that come alive, drives you against your will to kill?
Are you deaf? No? Meaning of course that you think
I'm daft too? Oh? No, this didn't mean nat City Reserve,
I admitted, rather a wild theory. But what if it
were true? Don't you see? That's my account for Marie
Kelly being the rippers lost victim. Once he lost the knife,
he was no longer driven to murder. Weich, sir, you
(09:08):
don't really believe that knife has an evil force behind it,
do you? No? No, I suppose not. And yet, well
it's an interesting theory, oh you say, is quite? It's quite,
Sergeant Robberts. You'll remain here with Corporal Mason while I
take the prison of the Scotland yard. It's nothings to
be touched, mind you. I'll send the technical staff over
at once a good say all right, come along Hawkins, Yes, sir,
(09:34):
I say, sergeant. Isn't it bad time they were retired?
They inspector? He acts a bit bomby an have a
little more respect there, or come up it even you've
got to admit the old man's sounds bob me. Imagine
that the knife there on the floor once belonged to
Jactor and there's an evil force behind it. Stick old
getting queer ideas well, that's just about the queerest I
(09:56):
ever heard. It's an unusual knife all right, through that
that red handle, but evil force behind it. Hey, now,
don't you go picking it up? Take it easy, will you.
I'm using an handkerchief to pick it up. Ain't I
just want to take a terse and look at it.
You heard what the inspector said. Nothing was to be touched.
(10:16):
You know. The end of does seem to sort of
glitter and glow makes you feel warm inside. And now
you've got it. You put your hand all around the
handle and spoil the fingerprints. P He is a good
like this. Mason is your superior. I order you to
put that knife down. Put it down to your here
see a strong o. Hey, give me that knife, that's mine.
(10:40):
Keep away, say you, darf, give it to me. Stay
away from me. Not I'll teach you to disobey an order.
You'll aim over all all I can take you from me?
What you're all right? Take it dead? I killed him,
this bloody heart. It drove it a killing. I didn't
(11:05):
want to do it, but it made me spitter. He
must have been right. It's a knife. It is a
knife projector ripper.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Too bad about poor Mason, wasn't it? But as everyone knows,
a knife is a dangerous thing to play with, particularly
a knife with a blood red handle that flows and
glitters with a hypnotic force. What happened to it meets
under lock and key at Scotland Yards, And strangely enough,
(11:45):
when Henry Hawkins and Corporal Mason would dried for murder,
a dead weapon wasn't offered in evidence. In fact, a
king was afraid to have anyone't hand me. Oh, by
the way, if you should ever come across a knife
for the blood red rull be handled, oh you have
to go grets, you'll drop in on me again. So
(12:08):
just look for the house on the other side of
the cemetery, the house of doctor Weird.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.