December 20, 2023 • 31 mins
"The Shadow" was a popular American radio show that originally aired from 1930 to 1954. Created by Walter B. Gibson, the show featured the mysterious and enigmatic character known as "The Shadow." The character was first introduced as the host and narrator of the radio program, but he later became a crime-fighting vigilante with the power to cloud men's minds, making himself invisible to their sight.Here is a description of the show:Title: The ShadowPremiere Date: The series first aired on July 31, 1930.Format: The show was a radio drama that primarily featured crime, mystery, and suspense stories. It was known for its eerie and atmospheric storytelling.Main Character: The central character of the show was Lamont Cranston, a wealthy young man about town. However, Cranston also led a double life as "The Shadow." Using his ability to cloud men's minds and remain unseen, The Shadow fought against crime and injustice in the gritty urban landscape.Narration: The show was famous for its distinctive opening narration, delivered in a deep, haunting voice: "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" This catchphrase became one of the most iconic lines in radio history.Cast: Numerous actors portrayed Lamont Cranston and The Shadow over the years. Orson Welles, one of the most celebrated figures in entertainment history, played The Shadow from 1937 to 1938, and his portrayal is often considered one of the most memorable.Episodes: "The Shadow" featured a wide range of thrilling adventures and mysteries. Each episode usually began with a crime or threat to society, and The Shadow would use his unique abilities to unravel the mystery, defeat the villains, and restore justice.Legacy: The radio show was immensely popular during its run and contributed significantly to the development of the superhero genre. The character of The Shadow also inspired a variety of other media adaptations, including novels, comics, films, and television series.While "The Shadow" radio show eventually ended its run in the mid-1950s, its legacy lives on, and it remains an important part of American radio history, known for its captivating storytelling and iconic character.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:11):
Who knows what evil lurks in thehearts of men. A shadow knows,
(01:02):
ladies and gentlemen. The Shadow's latestadventure starts in just a moment. Right
now. I want to tell youabout a new kind of tire that will
stop you quicker, safer on wet, slippery roads than you've ever stopped before.
It's the new Goodrich Safety silver Townwith the amazing life saver tread that
actually dries wet roads. Impartial testsmade by the independent Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory proved
(01:25):
this fact beyond dispute. Not oneof the regular or premium price tires of
America's sixth largest tire manufacturers came upto the new Goodrich Silver Town in resistance
to skid. These exhaustive tests alsoproved that the New silver Town average nineteen
point one percent more non skid mileagethan any other tire tested in its own
(01:48):
price rang which means you get everysix mile free. Equip your car with
Goodrich Safety Silver Town, then you'llknow what it means to be saved by
a silk over Town stop. TheShadow of Mont Cranston, a man of
wealth, a student of science,and the master of other people's minds,
(02:12):
devotes his life to righting wrongs,protecting the innocent, and punishing the guilty
using advanced methods that may ultimately becomeavailable to all law enforcement agencies. Cranston
is known to the underworld as theShadow, never seen, only heard as
haunting, to superstitious minds, asa goat, as inevitable as a guilty
(02:35):
conscience. The Shadow's true identity isknown only to his constant friend and aide,
Margol Lane. To Day's story,the creeper, mother, is that
(03:02):
you? Is it? Don't frighteningyou, mother inquired. I won't hurt
you. I'm just going to takeyou away, away where nobody will ever
find you. Nobody will ever findyou, and you won't be lonely.
(03:25):
There are other fine young ladies likeyourself when I'm taking you. They were
rich and beautiful too. One oneone, Mother, what do you want
(03:52):
the month forgive me to make you? Rush over here in my apartment at
this time in the morning, I'vejust learned that something's happened to one of
my dearest friends, Edith Day.Edith Day, I remember the Margo came
out two seasons ago. Isn't youthat beautiful little dark haired girl. I'm
as the alan bo. Yes,that's the one, Lamont. Her mother
just told me. She's frantic,terrifying, har Margot, supposing you compose
(04:13):
yourself and I'm exactly what's wrongs asMargo Lane, my assistant and criminal investigation
would do, as it was someonewho meant nothing to you. This is
such a shark. Lamont Edith missingmissing. Yes, she disappeared from her
bedroom last night. There was signsof a struggle. When's the house located
in the Maysa hair district five blocksection of all those recent robberies have occurred,
Yes, and two murders and fiveother disappeared. Right, but the
(04:34):
paper said every block is a privategarden. The finest burglar larms have been
installed all the houses with la Mont. There's terrible. People are disappearing.
It is in ale without without atrace, without any clue as to what's
happened to them. Something awful musthave happened to eat it. No ransom
notes, no nothing, Oh yes, swarming all over the house. Commissioner
Weston himself is conducting the inquiry.Missus Day asked me to come over here
(04:58):
and stay with her, but Iwant to talk to you first. Oh,
poor police must have searched the house. I suppose, yes, we
topped the bottom. It might havebeen carried across the rooftop, so the
door to the roof was bolted andknocked on the inside. It's equip to
the burglar alarm too. You goahead and consider missus damgo. I was
hoping you'd come with me a moment. But if it's the case for you
(05:20):
as the shadow, yes, theshadow will take a hand in this game
of violence. This they are youabsolutely certain your daughter did not leave the
house after midnight? Yes, yes, Commission the West, and you asked
(05:43):
me that before. Yes, Iknow, I'm sorry, but come in.
Had the watchman commission? Have himcome in morning, Commissioner Callahan,
your report shows who tried all thedoors of this house every hour on the
hour last night. That's right,they were Okay, they were all locked
and nobody could have opened the dooror a window in this house without sending
(06:04):
off the burglar alarm in your agencycentral office. Yeah, yes, that's
right, and miss Day must stillbe in this house, Sergeant, Yes,
sir, if your man made acomplete search all through the house or
a Yes, Commissioner from top tobottom, but eight of plights. We
haven't look whatever, but I meanwe're a miss Day, my firs baby.
(06:33):
Hello, Hello Century Moving Company Leaden, Missus Clermont. I'm moving out
of Asan district. Yes, Iwant a band today. Yes, I'm
moving to a hotel. I won'tspend another night in the sech I'm following
Missus Peny time giving notes. I'vebeen your butler for ten years. But
(06:56):
also the things that have happened tome about that mayfair crime wave story make
it hot or Intercommissioner Lesson bestly ontough crime, going on dead, sick
person missing, without a break inmy action, without spare it all of
the fawn a month? What onearth you doing here in the public mind.
(07:25):
You're discovering things about this fair cityof ours that I never knew before.
Margo. I don't understand the month. I'm trying to find Edith's day.
Margo. It may seem a veryroundabout way, but the police,
from the private detective agents is approvenof futility of direct methods. Then you
have discovered something. Hold a month? What is it? And why did
you come here to the public libraryBecause I wanted to look up some old
maps and records of the city.But why what could that possibly have to
(07:46):
do with Edith disappear? And I'mnot sure, Margo, but it may
have everything to do with it.I'm sure there's something that may surprise you.
Mon, What are you driving at? That's just an old map,
exactly, Margo, an engineering map, a plan of the proposed water condit
so Theyden laid out in the yeareighteen ninety six. I'll explain. This
plan calls for a twelve foot watername from the West Park Reservoir to the
central district, the distance of amile and a half Margo. One mile
(08:09):
of that water conjuct was built.Then the Spanish American War came along and
the project was abandoned, was sealedup. It's all here in the old
city records. In some way,the whole project became lost in the tangles
of official red tape and forgotten.What are you driving at? I still
can't see what this has to do. I'll show you in just a minute.
Here here's a rough sketch of theMayfair district, Margo on tissue paper.
(08:33):
I've marked the location of every housein that district where a murder robbery
or abduction has taken place in thelast two months. Yes, placed it
over this old map. Ah,Look see what happens a month. Every
one of those houses is located directlyover that old abandoned waterman. Yes,
Margo, And unless I'm badly mistaken, that is the answer to the disappearance
of Edith's day, and it willlead us to the solution of this crime
(08:56):
wave in the Mayfair district. Themonth that water way down underground, the
police searched the basements of those housesthat have to be an entrance big enough
for a man to get through.I believe there is, Margot. It's
the only possible answer. In everyone of these crimes, the story's been
the same. No one was seengoing into the houses, no one was
seen going out. The burglar armswere intact, Yet people vanished a month.
(09:18):
Only you're right if there's still somechance eaters and those other poor people
are still alive down there in thatabandoned hole in the earth. But who
could do a thing like that,and why would they do it? Must
be the work of a monster,Margo. I checked up on the things
that were stolen. The other crimesrichly apposted furniture, tapestries, paintings,
never any money or jewelry, thingsyou would ordinately expect to see to take
(09:41):
good heavens a month. Do youthink someone's taking those things down into that
black hole? Yes, and he'staken something else that is doubly significant.
Food storerooms have been stripped. Caseafter case of can goods has been carried
away Margo. Food enough for adozen people, but more than anything else
can be to me that the peoplewho have vanished are still alive somewhere down
(10:01):
there in the labyrinth of tunnels carvedout of solid rock. Only you're right,
there's only some way we can getdown there. I believe there is.
I believe there is a way,a way the shadow can get down
there. With your help, I'lldo anything anything, you know that,
Margot. I want you to gostraight from here to missus days. I
want you to stay there tonight.But what about you? Where will you
(10:24):
be? Can't I do something tohelp later, Margaret? But don't worry.
You walk through the door of theday Mansion. The shadow will be
with you, and I'm sure thatsomewhere the wall, the floor, the
basement of that house will yield theanswer to this ghostly riddle, Mary,
(10:52):
Mary, I heard something down inthe center fallow a tapping sound. Or
don't sit down there, Henry,don't do it. I can't you And
how is it giving me the gate? I won't work here another day.
I'm given notice to Missus Day inthe morning she'll have to get another made.
You're right, I I don't hearnothing now. Maybe it was just
imagining things after what happened last night. I'm a butler, lot a detective.
(11:16):
Missus Day insists on staying in thishouse. I'm leaving her service too.
Or shut the door and I can'tstand and looks a that the hostel.
Oh yes, yes, you havegood reason to be afraid to stay
in this house unless I find whatI'm looking for. This big stone slab
(11:45):
has a hollow ring. This isit. This is the answer, Oh
Margot, you don't know how muchit needs to me to have you stay
here. All my friends want meto leave this house, but oh,
(12:09):
kind I can't, and this servantsthey're afraid. I'm sure they leave tomorrow.
I'm glad I could be with you, Missus Dry, But now don't
think any more about it. Pleasetry try to get some rest. You're
exhausted, and I'll try, Margot, but I'm afraid I can't rest.
All I can do is think orthink of what's happened and what may be
(12:31):
happening to either Oh my four dollaring. Oh sure, awful, Margot,
not to know what's that? MisterDay, Oh the house soon in the
hall, Margaret, would you anyes, yes, I'll ask it right
away. Try to get the rest, missus Day please Hello, Hello,
(12:54):
Margo, irgo yester morning, youcome down to the bat immedia to try
to get here without being seen.The servants have gone to bed. Hurry,
hurry, Margo, A while themind is Margo. Where are you
right here? Margo? As quietas you can. I've turned on my
(13:18):
flashlights. What have you found?Come over? Hearing in it? Look
that stone slab. Then you wereright, Lamont. This is how he
just get carried away down through thathole. But how in the world did
you get the slab up? MIt's quite a while. I found an
iron byre be careful, don't gettoo close to that hole, Mango.
There's no telling how deep it is. A month now, now, what
(13:39):
are we gonna do? Had webetter notify the police. No Margo call
him the police now might mean thedeath of every one of his victims,
if they're still alive. But supposewhoever's doing is heard you tapping down here,
heard you lifting your stone. Supposehe's waiting for you down there in
the dark somewhere. That's got therisk there, how you get down?
There's no ladder, the heavy clothesline in the laundering room the other end
of the cellar. I noticed thatI was examining the world in there.
(14:01):
I'll get it all right, butI should, ladies and gentlemen, before
the shadows exciting adventure continues. Ihave a word about auto trips, because
(14:22):
there are so many motorists who risklife and limb without knowing. Yes,
the shadow knows. Many a motoristrushes through the rain, puts himself in
real danger of skidding, spinning,swerving on wet roads, can stop,
quick, can stop short, can'tcontrol his car, And many a motorist
faces a death, dealing accident,dealing blowout. Why should you risk your
(14:46):
life through scared or blow out whentoday, without paying a cent extra,
you can get life saving protection againstboth of these happens. Yes, motorists,
a new kind of tire. Thenew good Rich say silver Town,
with its life favorite tread grit dryroads, dries wet roads, overcomes the
(15:07):
hazard zone of motoring, where aslippery film of water on the road and
a complete control of your car almostimpossible. This means that you stop quicker,
safer than you've ever stopped before,and the exclusive golden fly gives you
real protection against dangerous high speed blowouts. The new Gudrich Silvertown is the safest
(15:28):
thing on wheels. It's here tosave your life. Yes, save your
life at no extra car. Don'tforget your car and everyone in it will
be safer if you ride on Goodrichsafety silver Town. Did you hear that?
(16:00):
Yes, yes, you know whatit means. The creeper is bringing
you another victim to keep his companyin this living tomb. There was only
something we could do but get onand get these chains on. Uh,
I was no use. We're helpless, not becomera. Do you think that's
any chime? Any hope? Wemustn't give up hope mistake. Sooner or
(16:22):
later the police will prap the creeper, find the tunnel police. Listen all
of you, some of you havebeen here a day, a week,
two weeks. I've been here twomonths, nothing but the creeper rats for
comfort, shade like an animal halfstop. But I thought the police would
find me. I had hope too, But now I know we'll die here.
(16:44):
We'll never get out, never,never get out. What difference does
it beake sooner or later? Thecreeper it was all, we'll never see
the light of day again. Nooh, why did you see? He
(17:10):
didn't know what he was saying.He's unconscious now, and it's better that
way. I can't stand much more. Haven't helpless if someone doesn't get us
out of here soon now, soyou'll find out how I catch all the
(17:34):
fine beautiful ladies and bring them downhere. Wait, you don't have to
put those chains on me. Iwon't try to get away. Nobody gets
away, Nobody ever gets away.Nobody knows about this whole tunnel. I
found it long ago. How longhave you lived down here? Who are
you? And why have you crawledup into people's homes and dragged them down
(17:56):
here? What have you done withyou? You haven't killed him? Have
you? No? Only one?And because he wouldn't talk to me,
always kept trying to get away Ikilled him so he wouldn't run away.
But then there was no one totalk to. I got lonely. But
that was long long ago. Atthe others and I neither day. The
(18:18):
girl you carried away last night werethey? You'll see them real soon.
It's not far from here down thetunnel, a great wide place in the
tunnel. It's like a big room. You you shall see. Wait,
let me rest here a minute morn. Then I'll go with you. Now,
No, no, no, youdon't. You come down quickly?
(18:41):
They go and tell you something.How do you know someone else won't find
your hiding place, just as Idid had you better go up and the
shot and lower that. Don't no, no, no, you come now.
You try to trick me. I'llcome back and fix that when I've
changed you up with the rest ofthem. Maybe too late, who knows
I'm here. He was in thebasement when you pulled me down. Here.
(19:02):
We'll let him come. I'm notafraid of any man. Oh men
are afraid of me. I makesthem afraid. I make them my slaves.
They call me the creeper ceper,So you're the creeper, and all
(19:23):
men fear you. Who was thatwho was that? I heard laughter,
a voice, yes, the laughterand voice of the shadow. But there's
no one here. I see noone, And dear, someone is here,
someone you can't see, someone who'snot afraid of you. You're hearing
the shadow shadow. But shadows donot laugh, they do not speak.
(19:49):
For years, I have lived amongshadows in the darkness. Your crimes have
found you out, Creeper. Thevoice of a man. Why can't I
see him? There's no pat hecan hide not here. I am here
close to you, Creeper. Evenby the yellow light of your lantern,
you cannot see me because I havethe power of cast a shadow across your
(20:11):
mind, a veil across your eyes. Oh no, it's like a dream,
like the dreams I used to havewhen I lived down here alone.
I I used to pretend. Iused to talk to people, pretend they
(20:33):
talk to me. No, Creeper, those others who spoke to you were
fantastic creatures of your imagination. Iam here. Watch, I'll provide you
see. I was close enough tosnatch that chain from your hand. Throw
it away. Now, Now youare going to lead me to your other
(20:56):
victims. m'N get back and away. No, you keep away from me,
Keep away, or I'll kill you. That's the gun you used to
kill Haggerty the night watchman. Yes, yes, he almost caught me.
Yes, yes, I killed him. I killed him, and I'll kill
you. Why don't you try?Why don't you shoot the creeper? If
(21:18):
I can only see you? No, no, no, no, that
doesn't matter. That's a better way. I can see the girl. Keep
away from me, shadow you keepaway, I'll shoot him. That's call
(21:40):
me. And you never thank me? Never. I told you I hate
I told you i'd kill her.I told you yellow on Margo, O
fool, I was to expose youto this. Did did he get away?
(22:03):
No? I knocked him out,but not quite soon enough. Did
you shoot you? Nothing? Yourmind? Nothing? Well? It hit
my shoulder, only a fresh wound. I'll be all right. Find me
to day in the other of themonth. Get them out of here,
No, Margo, that can waiton it. Got to stop this floor
of blood. I'm all right.Let me get up. Uh, don't
try to get out. Who's doingtill when I get this handkerchief? Tell
(22:26):
him, I said, is notthe tightest, tightest. What's the best
we can do? And I getyou a little doctor there. Yeh,
I've got to find some way ofgetting you back up that shop. Silk,
please the money. Tell me aflesh wound. I tell you,
he can almost chopped off. I'llbe all right. Just leave me here
and go help the others, themind pot, the creeper, the lens.
(22:49):
You there, he's gone, yousaid, good said, I'm right.
I thought I knocked him out.You gotta go after him. Now.
You know, if someone found hishiding place, you kill eat it,
you'll your people. He's got downhere, fraid all right, Margot,
I hate to leave you here likethis. Go on, please,
I'm all right. I'll try tofind a way to get up the shot
and notify the all right, Margot, you think you can. There's a
(23:11):
ladder, but be careful with oldand rocking, and some of the rungs
are gone. I'll get out.I'll get help, but it may be
too late. And lets you canfind the creeper and stop him from murrying
those poor people. He's dragged downinto this office. I think I could
only be sure which way he went. He's going to take me that way
down the time. Hurry, lamar, hurry, take the last, All
right, Margot, but get outof here. If you can notify the
(23:33):
police, tell them a creeper shot, you tell them you so I am
escaped down here through the cellar.But don't come back down here, Margot.
There's no telling what may happen,what this theme may do. Conrad,
(23:55):
help the Quatans come back. Something'shappened to day. Maybe maybe the
police upon this horrible place at last, this stations, beatings, horrible,
being changed up. If the policeare coming, he'll kill us. I
know he won't. Wait wait,going to that chair, he calls the
throne. Why doesn't he see somethingdoing something? Why is he sad?
(24:21):
He turning his way? Things happened, all right. I'm afraid something worse
is going to happen. Nothing canbe worse nothing. Why don't you get
it all aware us? Yes?Why don't I Why don't I kill all
of you? That's it, that'sit. Then he won't be able to
(24:44):
take me away from my custle ofthe earth. And so I have the
dynamite and it's already. All Ihave to do is life the views.
That's it. That's It'll see thetunnel and we all die, But we
love me together. I won't belonely. It's too late for that creeper.
(25:12):
Shadow. So you followed me,Yes, creeper, did you hear
that? It's the shadow? Shut? Shadow. Listen to me, all
of you. You have nothing tofear from me. Nothing appear from the
Shadow. I've come to help you, get you out of the deser see.
But you won't Shadow, You'll nevertake them away from me. Look
(25:37):
look what I have in my hands. See dynamite. Dynamite. I stole
that too. I knew that somedayI might need it. Some day someone
would come. But it'll kill usall and it'll kill you too. Shadow.
Oh, Prepa, I'm not chained. I can get away from you.
Why don't you follow me? Followmy poor No, you're a prayed
(26:03):
tuttel. You're running away, butyou won't get pass. You don't know
this tunnel like I do. Andfollow me. Follow my boy, freamer,
follow my boys. I'm following you. You can't go much further.
You've come the wrong way. Behindyou is the end of the tunnel.
The end of the tunnel, andthe end of you. Yeah, this
(26:29):
is the end of the tunnel.What are you waiting for? The creamer
light the fuse. Now is yourchant? Yes, yes, you're right
now Now is my chance? No, you can't get away, right,
(26:53):
Cad, you guess where I amby the sound of my boy, Yes,
yes, your caught your court shuttelwhen you are of the way.
No one else knows except that girland I killed her. She got help,
and I'll be saying I'll be holdMonth. I thought, yes,
(27:41):
Margo, I know I've read thepapers. They gave the shadow of very
sign of bitchy, don't you thinkwith love Month? What really happened?
Well, when the police got there, edith Day and mister Comrade and the
others told him the shadow arrived justas the creeper was going to dine and
might the place and kill them all. They said, the shadow tricked the
creeper into following him down the tunnel, away from the others so they wouldn't
(28:04):
be killed. And then there wasan explosion. They said, the creeper
and the shadow were blown to pieces. Do I look blown to pieces?
But lamon, how did you escape? The old old trick of voice projection,
Margo ventriloquism. Its easy. Inthat tunnel, the creeper followed my
voice held the dynamite where he thoughtmy voice was coming from ahead of him.
(28:26):
But all the time I was behindhim, far enough behind him to
be safe. Oh glad, Oh, I'm so glad. Laman, I
was afraid that this time was true, that the Shadow was dead. No,
Margo, as Mark Twain once said, the report of my death has
been grossly exaggerated. The Shadow wasstill alive, very much alive, as
(28:52):
the criminal world to discover to itssorrow. You have been listening to a
dramatized version of one of the manycopyrighted stories which appear in the Shadow magazine,
(29:22):
The Weed of Crime, their's bitterfood. Crime is not kay.
The Shadow knows all the characters andall the places named are fictitious. Any
(29:51):
similarity to persons living or dead ispurely coincidental.
Who knows what evil lurks in thehearts of men. A shadow knows,
(01:02):
ladies and gentlemen. The Shadow's latestadventure starts in just a moment. Right
now. I want to tell youabout a new kind of tire that will
stop you quicker, safer on wet, slippery roads than you've ever stopped before.
It's the new Goodrich Safety silver Townwith the amazing life saver tread that
actually dries wet roads. Impartial testsmade by the independent Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory proved
(01:25):
this fact beyond dispute. Not oneof the regular or premium price tires of
America's sixth largest tire manufacturers came upto the new Goodrich Silver Town in resistance
to skid. These exhaustive tests alsoproved that the New silver Town average nineteen
point one percent more non skid mileagethan any other tire tested in its own
(01:48):
price rang which means you get everysix mile free. Equip your car with
Goodrich Safety Silver Town, then you'llknow what it means to be saved by
a silk over Town stop. TheShadow of Mont Cranston, a man of
wealth, a student of science,and the master of other people's minds,
(02:12):
devotes his life to righting wrongs,protecting the innocent, and punishing the guilty
using advanced methods that may ultimately becomeavailable to all law enforcement agencies. Cranston
is known to the underworld as theShadow, never seen, only heard as
haunting, to superstitious minds, asa goat, as inevitable as a guilty
(02:35):
conscience. The Shadow's true identity isknown only to his constant friend and aide,
Margol Lane. To Day's story,the creeper, mother, is that
(03:02):
you? Is it? Don't frighteningyou, mother inquired. I won't hurt
you. I'm just going to takeyou away, away where nobody will ever
find you. Nobody will ever findyou, and you won't be lonely.
(03:25):
There are other fine young ladies likeyourself when I'm taking you. They were
rich and beautiful too. One oneone, Mother, what do you want
(03:52):
the month forgive me to make you? Rush over here in my apartment at
this time in the morning, I'vejust learned that something's happened to one of
my dearest friends, Edith Day.Edith Day, I remember the Margo came
out two seasons ago. Isn't youthat beautiful little dark haired girl. I'm
as the alan bo. Yes,that's the one, Lamont. Her mother
just told me. She's frantic,terrifying, har Margot, supposing you compose
(04:13):
yourself and I'm exactly what's wrongs asMargo Lane, my assistant and criminal investigation
would do, as it was someonewho meant nothing to you. This is
such a shark. Lamont Edith missingmissing. Yes, she disappeared from her
bedroom last night. There was signsof a struggle. When's the house located
in the Maysa hair district five blocksection of all those recent robberies have occurred,
Yes, and two murders and fiveother disappeared. Right, but the
(04:34):
paper said every block is a privategarden. The finest burglar larms have been
installed all the houses with la Mont. There's terrible. People are disappearing.
It is in ale without without atrace, without any clue as to what's
happened to them. Something awful musthave happened to eat it. No ransom
notes, no nothing, Oh yes, swarming all over the house. Commissioner
Weston himself is conducting the inquiry.Missus Day asked me to come over here
(04:58):
and stay with her, but Iwant to talk to you first. Oh,
poor police must have searched the house. I suppose, yes, we
topped the bottom. It might havebeen carried across the rooftop, so the
door to the roof was bolted andknocked on the inside. It's equip to
the burglar alarm too. You goahead and consider missus damgo. I was
hoping you'd come with me a moment. But if it's the case for you
(05:20):
as the shadow, yes, theshadow will take a hand in this game
of violence. This they are youabsolutely certain your daughter did not leave the
house after midnight? Yes, yes, Commission the West, and you asked
(05:43):
me that before. Yes, Iknow, I'm sorry, but come in.
Had the watchman commission? Have himcome in morning, Commissioner Callahan,
your report shows who tried all thedoors of this house every hour on the
hour last night. That's right,they were Okay, they were all locked
and nobody could have opened the dooror a window in this house without sending
(06:04):
off the burglar alarm in your agencycentral office. Yeah, yes, that's
right, and miss Day must stillbe in this house, Sergeant, Yes,
sir, if your man made acomplete search all through the house or
a Yes, Commissioner from top tobottom, but eight of plights. We
haven't look whatever, but I meanwe're a miss Day, my firs baby.
(06:33):
Hello, Hello Century Moving Company Leaden, Missus Clermont. I'm moving out
of Asan district. Yes, Iwant a band today. Yes, I'm
moving to a hotel. I won'tspend another night in the sech I'm following
Missus Peny time giving notes. I'vebeen your butler for ten years. But
(06:56):
also the things that have happened tome about that mayfair crime wave story make
it hot or Intercommissioner Lesson bestly ontough crime, going on dead, sick
person missing, without a break inmy action, without spare it all of
the fawn a month? What onearth you doing here in the public mind.
(07:25):
You're discovering things about this fair cityof ours that I never knew before.
Margo. I don't understand the month. I'm trying to find Edith's day.
Margo. It may seem a veryroundabout way, but the police,
from the private detective agents is approvenof futility of direct methods. Then you
have discovered something. Hold a month? What is it? And why did
you come here to the public libraryBecause I wanted to look up some old
maps and records of the city.But why what could that possibly have to
(07:46):
do with Edith disappear? And I'mnot sure, Margo, but it may
have everything to do with it.I'm sure there's something that may surprise you.
Mon, What are you driving at? That's just an old map,
exactly, Margo, an engineering map, a plan of the proposed water condit
so Theyden laid out in the yeareighteen ninety six. I'll explain. This
plan calls for a twelve foot watername from the West Park Reservoir to the
central district, the distance of amile and a half Margo. One mile
(08:09):
of that water conjuct was built.Then the Spanish American War came along and
the project was abandoned, was sealedup. It's all here in the old
city records. In some way,the whole project became lost in the tangles
of official red tape and forgotten.What are you driving at? I still
can't see what this has to do. I'll show you in just a minute.
Here here's a rough sketch of theMayfair district, Margo on tissue paper.
(08:33):
I've marked the location of every housein that district where a murder robbery
or abduction has taken place in thelast two months. Yes, placed it
over this old map. Ah,Look see what happens a month. Every
one of those houses is located directlyover that old abandoned waterman. Yes,
Margo, And unless I'm badly mistaken, that is the answer to the disappearance
of Edith's day, and it willlead us to the solution of this crime
(08:56):
wave in the Mayfair district. Themonth that water way down underground, the
police searched the basements of those housesthat have to be an entrance big enough
for a man to get through.I believe there is, Margot. It's
the only possible answer. In everyone of these crimes, the story's been
the same. No one was seengoing into the houses, no one was
seen going out. The burglar armswere intact, Yet people vanished a month.
(09:18):
Only you're right if there's still somechance eaters and those other poor people
are still alive down there in thatabandoned hole in the earth. But who
could do a thing like that,and why would they do it? Must
be the work of a monster,Margo. I checked up on the things
that were stolen. The other crimesrichly apposted furniture, tapestries, paintings,
never any money or jewelry, thingsyou would ordinately expect to see to take
(09:41):
good heavens a month. Do youthink someone's taking those things down into that
black hole? Yes, and he'staken something else that is doubly significant.
Food storerooms have been stripped. Caseafter case of can goods has been carried
away Margo. Food enough for adozen people, but more than anything else
can be to me that the peoplewho have vanished are still alive somewhere down
(10:01):
there in the labyrinth of tunnels carvedout of solid rock. Only you're right,
there's only some way we can getdown there. I believe there is.
I believe there is a way,a way the shadow can get down
there. With your help, I'lldo anything anything, you know that,
Margot. I want you to gostraight from here to missus days. I
want you to stay there tonight.But what about you? Where will you
(10:24):
be? Can't I do something tohelp later, Margaret? But don't worry.
You walk through the door of theday Mansion. The shadow will be
with you, and I'm sure thatsomewhere the wall, the floor, the
basement of that house will yield theanswer to this ghostly riddle, Mary,
(10:52):
Mary, I heard something down inthe center fallow a tapping sound. Or
don't sit down there, Henry,don't do it. I can't you And
how is it giving me the gate? I won't work here another day.
I'm given notice to Missus Day inthe morning she'll have to get another made.
You're right, I I don't hearnothing now. Maybe it was just
imagining things after what happened last night. I'm a butler, lot a detective.
(11:16):
Missus Day insists on staying in thishouse. I'm leaving her service too.
Or shut the door and I can'tstand and looks a that the hostel.
Oh yes, yes, you havegood reason to be afraid to stay
in this house unless I find whatI'm looking for. This big stone slab
(11:45):
has a hollow ring. This isit. This is the answer, Oh
Margot, you don't know how muchit needs to me to have you stay
here. All my friends want meto leave this house, but oh,
(12:09):
kind I can't, and this servantsthey're afraid. I'm sure they leave tomorrow.
I'm glad I could be with you, Missus Dry, But now don't
think any more about it. Pleasetry try to get some rest. You're
exhausted, and I'll try, Margot, but I'm afraid I can't rest.
All I can do is think orthink of what's happened and what may be
(12:31):
happening to either Oh my four dollaring. Oh sure, awful, Margot,
not to know what's that? MisterDay, Oh the house soon in the
hall, Margaret, would you anyes, yes, I'll ask it right
away. Try to get the rest, missus Day please Hello, Hello,
(12:54):
Margo, irgo yester morning, youcome down to the bat immedia to try
to get here without being seen.The servants have gone to bed. Hurry,
hurry, Margo, A while themind is Margo. Where are you
right here? Margo? As quietas you can. I've turned on my
(13:18):
flashlights. What have you found?Come over? Hearing in it? Look
that stone slab. Then you wereright, Lamont. This is how he
just get carried away down through thathole. But how in the world did
you get the slab up? MIt's quite a while. I found an
iron byre be careful, don't gettoo close to that hole, Mango.
There's no telling how deep it is. A month now, now, what
(13:39):
are we gonna do? Had webetter notify the police. No Margo call
him the police now might mean thedeath of every one of his victims,
if they're still alive. But supposewhoever's doing is heard you tapping down here,
heard you lifting your stone. Supposehe's waiting for you down there in
the dark somewhere. That's got therisk there, how you get down?
There's no ladder, the heavy clothesline in the laundering room the other end
of the cellar. I noticed thatI was examining the world in there.
(14:01):
I'll get it all right, butI should, ladies and gentlemen, before
the shadows exciting adventure continues. Ihave a word about auto trips, because
(14:22):
there are so many motorists who risklife and limb without knowing. Yes,
the shadow knows. Many a motoristrushes through the rain, puts himself in
real danger of skidding, spinning,swerving on wet roads, can stop,
quick, can stop short, can'tcontrol his car, And many a motorist
faces a death, dealing accident,dealing blowout. Why should you risk your
(14:46):
life through scared or blow out whentoday, without paying a cent extra,
you can get life saving protection againstboth of these happens. Yes, motorists,
a new kind of tire. Thenew good Rich say silver Town,
with its life favorite tread grit dryroads, dries wet roads, overcomes the
(15:07):
hazard zone of motoring, where aslippery film of water on the road and
a complete control of your car almostimpossible. This means that you stop quicker,
safer than you've ever stopped before,and the exclusive golden fly gives you
real protection against dangerous high speed blowouts. The new Gudrich Silvertown is the safest
(15:28):
thing on wheels. It's here tosave your life. Yes, save your
life at no extra car. Don'tforget your car and everyone in it will
be safer if you ride on Goodrichsafety silver Town. Did you hear that?
(16:00):
Yes, yes, you know whatit means. The creeper is bringing
you another victim to keep his companyin this living tomb. There was only
something we could do but get onand get these chains on. Uh,
I was no use. We're helpless, not becomera. Do you think that's
any chime? Any hope? Wemustn't give up hope mistake. Sooner or
(16:22):
later the police will prap the creeper, find the tunnel police. Listen all
of you, some of you havebeen here a day, a week,
two weeks. I've been here twomonths, nothing but the creeper rats for
comfort, shade like an animal halfstop. But I thought the police would
find me. I had hope too, But now I know we'll die here.
(16:44):
We'll never get out, never,never get out. What difference does
it beake sooner or later? Thecreeper it was all, we'll never see
the light of day again. Nooh, why did you see? He
(17:10):
didn't know what he was saying.He's unconscious now, and it's better that
way. I can't stand much more. Haven't helpless if someone doesn't get us
out of here soon now, soyou'll find out how I catch all the
(17:34):
fine beautiful ladies and bring them downhere. Wait, you don't have to
put those chains on me. Iwon't try to get away. Nobody gets
away, Nobody ever gets away.Nobody knows about this whole tunnel. I
found it long ago. How longhave you lived down here? Who are
you? And why have you crawledup into people's homes and dragged them down
(17:56):
here? What have you done withyou? You haven't killed him? Have
you? No? Only one?And because he wouldn't talk to me,
always kept trying to get away Ikilled him so he wouldn't run away.
But then there was no one totalk to. I got lonely. But
that was long long ago. Atthe others and I neither day. The
(18:18):
girl you carried away last night werethey? You'll see them real soon.
It's not far from here down thetunnel, a great wide place in the
tunnel. It's like a big room. You you shall see. Wait,
let me rest here a minute morn. Then I'll go with you. Now,
No, no, no, youdon't. You come down quickly?
(18:41):
They go and tell you something.How do you know someone else won't find
your hiding place, just as Idid had you better go up and the
shot and lower that. Don't no, no, no, you come now.
You try to trick me. I'llcome back and fix that when I've
changed you up with the rest ofthem. Maybe too late, who knows
I'm here. He was in thebasement when you pulled me down. Here.
(19:02):
We'll let him come. I'm notafraid of any man. Oh men
are afraid of me. I makesthem afraid. I make them my slaves.
They call me the creeper ceper,So you're the creeper, and all
(19:23):
men fear you. Who was thatwho was that? I heard laughter,
a voice, yes, the laughterand voice of the shadow. But there's
no one here. I see noone, And dear, someone is here,
someone you can't see, someone who'snot afraid of you. You're hearing
the shadow shadow. But shadows donot laugh, they do not speak.
(19:49):
For years, I have lived amongshadows in the darkness. Your crimes have
found you out, Creeper. Thevoice of a man. Why can't I
see him? There's no pat hecan hide not here. I am here
close to you, Creeper. Evenby the yellow light of your lantern,
you cannot see me because I havethe power of cast a shadow across your
(20:11):
mind, a veil across your eyes. Oh no, it's like a dream,
like the dreams I used to havewhen I lived down here alone.
I I used to pretend. Iused to talk to people, pretend they
(20:33):
talk to me. No, Creeper, those others who spoke to you were
fantastic creatures of your imagination. Iam here. Watch, I'll provide you
see. I was close enough tosnatch that chain from your hand. Throw
it away. Now, Now youare going to lead me to your other
(20:56):
victims. m'N get back and away. No, you keep away from me,
Keep away, or I'll kill you. That's the gun you used to
kill Haggerty the night watchman. Yes, yes, he almost caught me.
Yes, yes, I killed him. I killed him, and I'll kill
you. Why don't you try?Why don't you shoot the creeper? If
(21:18):
I can only see you? No, no, no, no, that
doesn't matter. That's a better way. I can see the girl. Keep
away from me, shadow you keepaway, I'll shoot him. That's call
(21:40):
me. And you never thank me? Never. I told you I hate
I told you i'd kill her.I told you yellow on Margo, O
fool, I was to expose youto this. Did did he get away?
(22:03):
No? I knocked him out,but not quite soon enough. Did
you shoot you? Nothing? Yourmind? Nothing? Well? It hit
my shoulder, only a fresh wound. I'll be all right. Find me
to day in the other of themonth. Get them out of here,
No, Margo, that can waiton it. Got to stop this floor
of blood. I'm all right.Let me get up. Uh, don't
try to get out. Who's doingtill when I get this handkerchief? Tell
(22:26):
him, I said, is notthe tightest, tightest. What's the best
we can do? And I getyou a little doctor there. Yeh,
I've got to find some way ofgetting you back up that shop. Silk,
please the money. Tell me aflesh wound. I tell you,
he can almost chopped off. I'llbe all right. Just leave me here
and go help the others, themind pot, the creeper, the lens.
(22:49):
You there, he's gone, yousaid, good said, I'm right.
I thought I knocked him out.You gotta go after him. Now.
You know, if someone found hishiding place, you kill eat it,
you'll your people. He's got downhere, fraid all right, Margot,
I hate to leave you here likethis. Go on, please,
I'm all right. I'll try tofind a way to get up the shot
and notify the all right, Margot, you think you can. There's a
(23:11):
ladder, but be careful with oldand rocking, and some of the rungs
are gone. I'll get out.I'll get help, but it may be
too late. And lets you canfind the creeper and stop him from murrying
those poor people. He's dragged downinto this office. I think I could
only be sure which way he went. He's going to take me that way
down the time. Hurry, lamar, hurry, take the last, All
right, Margot, but get outof here. If you can notify the
(23:33):
police, tell them a creeper shot, you tell them you so I am
escaped down here through the cellar.But don't come back down here, Margot.
There's no telling what may happen,what this theme may do. Conrad,
(23:55):
help the Quatans come back. Something'shappened to day. Maybe maybe the
police upon this horrible place at last, this stations, beatings, horrible,
being changed up. If the policeare coming, he'll kill us. I
know he won't. Wait wait,going to that chair, he calls the
throne. Why doesn't he see somethingdoing something? Why is he sad?
(24:21):
He turning his way? Things happened, all right. I'm afraid something worse
is going to happen. Nothing canbe worse nothing. Why don't you get
it all aware us? Yes?Why don't I Why don't I kill all
of you? That's it, that'sit. Then he won't be able to
(24:44):
take me away from my custle ofthe earth. And so I have the
dynamite and it's already. All Ihave to do is life the views.
That's it. That's It'll see thetunnel and we all die, But we
love me together. I won't belonely. It's too late for that creeper.
(25:12):
Shadow. So you followed me,Yes, creeper, did you hear
that? It's the shadow? Shut? Shadow. Listen to me, all
of you. You have nothing tofear from me. Nothing appear from the
Shadow. I've come to help you, get you out of the deser see.
But you won't Shadow, You'll nevertake them away from me. Look
(25:37):
look what I have in my hands. See dynamite. Dynamite. I stole
that too. I knew that somedayI might need it. Some day someone
would come. But it'll kill usall and it'll kill you too. Shadow.
Oh, Prepa, I'm not chained. I can get away from you.
Why don't you follow me? Followmy poor No, you're a prayed
(26:03):
tuttel. You're running away, butyou won't get pass. You don't know
this tunnel like I do. Andfollow me. Follow my boy, freamer,
follow my boys. I'm following you. You can't go much further.
You've come the wrong way. Behindyou is the end of the tunnel.
The end of the tunnel, andthe end of you. Yeah, this
(26:29):
is the end of the tunnel.What are you waiting for? The creamer
light the fuse. Now is yourchant? Yes, yes, you're right
now Now is my chance? No, you can't get away, right,
(26:53):
Cad, you guess where I amby the sound of my boy, Yes,
yes, your caught your court shuttelwhen you are of the way.
No one else knows except that girland I killed her. She got help,
and I'll be saying I'll be holdMonth. I thought, yes,
(27:41):
Margo, I know I've read thepapers. They gave the shadow of very
sign of bitchy, don't you thinkwith love Month? What really happened?
Well, when the police got there, edith Day and mister Comrade and the
others told him the shadow arrived justas the creeper was going to dine and
might the place and kill them all. They said, the shadow tricked the
creeper into following him down the tunnel, away from the others so they wouldn't
(28:04):
be killed. And then there wasan explosion. They said, the creeper
and the shadow were blown to pieces. Do I look blown to pieces?
But lamon, how did you escape? The old old trick of voice projection,
Margo ventriloquism. Its easy. Inthat tunnel, the creeper followed my
voice held the dynamite where he thoughtmy voice was coming from ahead of him.
(28:26):
But all the time I was behindhim, far enough behind him to
be safe. Oh glad, Oh, I'm so glad. Laman, I
was afraid that this time was true, that the Shadow was dead. No,
Margo, as Mark Twain once said, the report of my death has
been grossly exaggerated. The Shadow wasstill alive, very much alive, as
(28:52):
the criminal world to discover to itssorrow. You have been listening to a
dramatized version of one of the manycopyrighted stories which appear in the Shadow magazine,
(29:22):
The Weed of Crime, their's bitterfood. Crime is not kay.
The Shadow knows all the characters andall the places named are fictitious. Any
(29:51):
similarity to persons living or dead ispurely coincidental.
Popular Podcasts
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.
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
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!