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Horror / Suspense anthology · Blue / ABC / CBS

Inner Sanctum Mysteries

January 7, 1941 – October 5, 1952 · 535 broadcasts

One of radio's most distinctive thrillers (1941-1952), Inner Sanctum Mysteries opened every week with the most famous sound in horror -- a slow, agonizing CREAK -- and a ghoulish, pun-cracking host who relished his own grisly tales before signing off with a long, leering "Pleasant dreeeeaams, hmmmmm?" Creator-producer-director Himan Brown built the show around that creaking door, which was never a door at all but a rusty desk chair he improvised when the real one refused to creak on cue. Named for and licensed from Simon & Schuster's "Inner Sanctum" book imprint, the anthology mixed horror and humor in equal doses, a tongue-in-cheek antidote to the straight-faced dread of Suspense and The Whistler. Raymond Edward Johnson was the original host "Raymond" until he left for the Army in 1945, when Paul McGrath took over as plain "Mr. Host" -- soon paired with Lipton Tea's cheery "Tea Lady," Mary Bennett, whose sunny commercials clashed gloriously with the macabre. The casts were studded with marquee names -- Boris Karloff (15-plus shows the first season), Bela Lugosi, Peter Lorre, Orson Welles, Claude Rains, Agnes Moorehead. Its host style shaped a generation of horror narrators, spun off six Universal films with Lon Chaney Jr., earned a Mad magazine spoof, and led Himan Brown straight to his 1970s CBS Radio Mystery Theater.

Collection status: 149 of 535 held (28% complete)
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Episode Spine

Grouped by year. Jump to the full list below, or open a season on its own page.

1941

January 7, 1941 Death for Sale Listen (MP3)
With Boris Karloff.
January 14, 1941 Nursery Rhyme Murders
January 21, 1941 The Magic Curse
January 28, 1941 The Vampire Strikes
February 4, 1941 Murder in the Air
February 11, 1941 Mystery of the Howling Dog
February 18, 1941 Strangled Snake,the
Available at the Library of Congress.
February 25, 1941 The Case of the Blood Type
March 4, 1941
March 11, 1941
March 16, 1941 The Man of Steel
Available at the Library of Congress. With Boris Karloff.
March 23, 1941 The Man Who Hated Death
March 30, 1941 The Mad Doctor
April 6, 1941 Death in the Zoo
April 13, 1941 The Bells of Death
April 20, 1941 Fog
April 27, 1941 Death in a Dream
May 4, 1941 The Horla
May 11, 1941 Imperfect Crime
May 18, 1941 Dead Freight
May 25, 1941 Death is a Joker
With Peter Lorre.
June 1, 1941 Fall of the House of Usher
June 8, 1941 The Kubbala
June 15, 1941 Murder in the Mind
June 22, 1941 Green-eyed Bat
June 29, 1941 The Man Who Painted Death
July 6, 1941 Doom of Damballa
July 13, 1941 Death is a Murderer
July 20, 1941 The Eye of Shiva
July 27, 1941 The Button
August 3, 1941 The Tell-tale Heart Listen (MP3)
A Robert Newman adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe classic. Simon has recently been cured of deafness, Oliver of blindness.
August 10, 1941 The Death Ship Listen (MP3)
August 17, 1941 The Dark Squadron
August 24, 1941 The Wail of Death
August 31, 1941 The Hands of Death
September 7, 1941 Hunter from Beyond Listen (MP3)
September 14, 1941 The Stallion of Death
Available at the Library of Congress.
September 21, 1941 Death Goes to a Party
September 28, 1941 The Haunting Face
Available at the Library of Congress.
October 5, 1941 Dead Man's Rock
October 12, 1941 Horror Hotel
October 19, 1941 Hell is Where You Find It
A poisonous ring, once owned by the Borgias, is still most effective. However, a murdered woman returns with truly scary results." --- RadioGOLDINdex With Burgess Meredith.
October 26, 1941 Terror on Bailey Street
November 2, 1941 Nocturne of Death
Available at the Library of Congress.
November 9, 1941 The Living Dead
November 16, 1941 The Corpse Who Came to Dinner
November 23, 1941 The Man from Outside
November 30, 1941 The Accusing Corpse
December 7, 1941 Island of Death Listen (MP3)
Same as the Inner Seeing Ear Theatre episode ??
December 14, 1941 The Song of Doom
December 21, 1941 The Man from Yesterday Listen (MP3)
With Anne Seymour.
December 28, 1941 Death Has Claws Listen (MP3)

1942

January 4, 1942 Appointment for Murder
January 11, 1942 Scarlet Widow
Available at the Library of Congress.
January 18, 1942 Dead Reckoning Listen (MP3)
January 25, 1942 Death Has a Sculptor
February 1, 1942 Death Has Wings
February 8, 1942 The Phantom Express
February 15, 1942 Death Strikes Twice
February 22, 1942 Pact of Death
March 1, 1942 Ghost Townh
March 8, 1942 The Black Swamp
March 15, 1942 The Mask of Death
March 22, 1942 Death Strikes Back
March 29, 1942 Death, the Huntsman
April 5, 1942 The Fall of the House of Usher
April 12, 1942 The Haunted Mine
April 19, 1942 Blackstone
April 26, 1942 The Man Who Died Again
May 3, 1942 Study for Murder Listen (MP3)
With Boris Karloff.
May 10, 1942 Death Calls at 12:00
May 17, 1942 The Last Performance
May 24, 1942 The Cone
May 31, 1942 Death Wears My Face
June 7, 1942 Strange Request
June 14, 1942 Terrible Vengeance
June 21, 1942 The Grey Wolf
June 28, 1942 Meeting in the Madhouse
July 5, 1942 Terror Is a Double-Edged Sword
July 12, 1942 Road to Death
July 19, 1942 The Garden of Death
July 26, 1942 Strange Cat
August 2, 1942 Death Keeps a Date
August 9, 1942 Death Has Four Faces
August 16, 1942 Moon Murders
August 23, 1942 Dead Man's Magic
August 30, 1942 Visitor at Midnight
September 6, 1942 Design for Dying
September 13, 1942 Death's Four Faces
September 20, 1942 The Dead Walk at Night
September 27, 1942 The Man Who Played with Death
October 4, 1942 Death's Revenge
October 11, 1942 The King of Darkness
October 18, 1942 The Killer and the Moth
October 25, 1942 The Deadly Parrot
November 1, 1942 The Gunman and the Ghost
November 8, 1942 The Laughing Murderer
November 15, 1942 Return from the Unknown
November 22, 1942 The Cat and the Killer
November 29, 1942 The Murders in the Morgue
December 6, 1942 The Mummy's Curse
December 13, 1942 The Man Who Returned from the Dead
December 20, 1942 The Doomed Ship
December 27, 1942 Dig My Grave

1943

January 3, 1943 Mystery of the Great Forest
January 10, 1943 The Killer Pleads Guilty
January 17, 1943 The Ring of Death
January 24, 1943 The Hound of Death
January 31, 1943 Death at Moordan Castle
February 7, 1943 The Black Sea Gull Listen (MP3)
With Peter Lorre.
February 14, 1943 River of Blood
February 21, 1943 Screams in the Night
February 28, 1943 The Button
March 7, 1943 The Black Sea Gull Listen (MP3)
With Peter Lorre.
March 14, 1943 Woman of Death
March 21, 1943 Death on Merle Street
March 28, 1943 Double Death
April 4, 1943 The Ring of Doom
April 11, 1943 The Dead Want Company
April 18, 1943 The Unforgettable Face
April 25, 1943 The Voice in the Night
May 2, 1943 Death Builds a House
May 9, 1943 One Must Die
May 16, 1943 Death from a Stranger
May 23, 1943 Death Comes Calling
May 30, 1943 Death at the Zoo
June 6, 1943 The House Where Death Lived
June 13, 1943 Murder By Mistake
June 20, 1943 The Smiling Killer
June 27, 1943 The House By the Sea
July 4, 1943 Cups of Death
July 11, 1943 Mr. De Capello
July 18, 1943 The Temple of Isis
July 25, 1943
August 1, 1943 The Horla Listen (MP3)
August 8, 1943 The House of Death
August 15, 1943 Death and the Lady Diana
August 22, 1943 The Bog-oak Necklace Listen (MP3)
August 29, 1943 The Thirteenth Chime
September 4, 1943 The Death and the Detective
September 11, 1943 Mr. Zenith
September 18, 1943 Return to Death
September 25, 1943 The Smiling Skull
October 2, 1943 The Man Who Died Twice
October 9, 1943 Death Walks on Padded Feet
October 16, 1943 The Accusing Corpse
October 23, 1943 Death's Candle Stick
October 30, 1943 The Man Who Had No Heart
November 6, 1943 Death Shines a Light
November 13, 1943 Death is a Blind Man
November 20, 1943 A Vision of Death
November 27, 1943 Death Strikes the Keys
December 4, 1943 Death Has a Vacancy
December 11, 1943 Speak of the Dead
December 18, 1943 Dreadful Tapestry
December 25, 1943 Death is a Madman

1944

January 1, 1944 The Train to Glory
January 8, 1944 The Death Laugh
January 15, 1944 The Huntress
January 22, 1944 The Song of Doom
January 29, 1944 The Dead Walk Tonight
February 5, 1944 Dealer in Death
February 12, 1944 Dream Death
February 19, 1944 Death Steals the Scene
February 26, 1944 Mysterious Stranger
March 4, 1944 The Wolf Woman
March 11, 1944 The Valse Trieste
March 18, 1944 The Wings of Death
March 25, 1944 The Room for the Standing Dead
April 1, 1944 The Shriveled Head
April 8, 1944 Death Tonight Can Wait
April 15, 1944 The Skull That Walked Listen (MP3)
April 22, 1944 The Melody of Death Listen (MP3)
With Mary Astor.
April 29, 1944 The Laughing Murderer
May 6, 1944 Death and the Bolero
May 13, 1944 The Silent Hands Listen (MP3)
With Mary Astor.
May 20, 1944 The Dead Refuse to Die
May 27, 1944 The Haunted Guitar
June 3, 1944 Black Angel
June 10, 1944 Death is a Joker Listen (MP3)
With Peter Lorre.
June 17, 1944 The Mind Reader
June 24, 1944 Cypress Island
July 1, 1944 Death is a Delusion
July 8, 1944 The Hanging Puppet
July 15, 1944 The Spider and the Lady
July 22, 1944 The Blue Tie
July 29, 1944 The Mad House Part 1
August 5, 1944 The Mad House Part 2
August 19, 1944 Toccato Murder
August 26, 1944 Tomb of Ramhotys
September 2, 1944 Murder in the Museum
September 9, 1944 Boy Butcher
September 16, 1944 One Foot in the Grave
September 23, 1944 The Dream
September 30, 1944 Premonition
October 7, 1944 Dead Man's Vengeance Listen (MP3)
October 14, 1944 The Deadly Ring
October 21, 1944 The Grave of Marie Chandell
October 28, 1944 A Dead Woman's Tale
November 4, 1944 Blind Man's Bluff
November 11, 1944 The House of Death
November 18, 1944 The Cursed Twins
November 22, 1944 The Living Dead
November 29, 1944 The Voice on the Wire Listen (MP3)
Geraldine Reeves speaks with her family doctor about anxiety and fear. Every night at midnight she hears the sound someone playing her ex-husband's last piano composition.
December 6, 1944 The Color Blind Formula Listen (MP3)
With Richard Widmark.
December 13, 1944 The Man Who Died Smiling
December 20, 1944 The Frightened Lady
December 27, 1944 Death Dream

1945

January 2, 1945 Murdered Do Not Die
January 9, 1945 Desert Death Listen (MP3)
Hitchhikers on a desert road hide a sinister secret.
January 16, 1945 Death and the Dolls
January 23, 1945 Death is an Artist Listen (MP3)
January 30, 1945 The Hand
February 6, 1945 Death in the Depths Listen (MP3)
February 13, 1945 Ends of the Earth
February 20, 1945 No Coffin for the Dead Listen (MP3)
February 27, 1945 The Phantom Bell
March 6, 1945 The Lost Refrain
March 13, 1945 Island of the Dead
March 20, 1945 Train to Glory
March 27, 1945 Mrs. Bluebird
April 3, 1945 The Meek Die Slowly
With Arnold Moss.
April 10, 1945 The Bog-oak Necklace Listen (MP3)
April 17, 1945 The Judas Clock Listen (MP3)
A mysterious clock carries the curse of Judas Iscariot--bringing death to all who own it.
April 24, 1945 Song of the Slasher Listen (MP3)
May 1, 1945 The Girl and the Gallows Listen (MP3)
The tale of an immortal fortuneteller who prophesies death... by hanging!
May 15, 1945 The Black Art Listen (MP3)
May 22, 1945 Dead to Rights Listen (MP3)
Two murderers discover too late that crime doesn't pay.
May 29, 1945 Musical Score Listen (MP3)
June 5, 1945 Death Across the Board Listen (MP3)
Seller John Strand stumbles into a pawn shop, where he sees a decrepit old man playing chess.
June 12, 1945 Portrait of Death Listen (MP3)
In the dim light of a misty old art gallery, an art connoisseur by the name of Mr Mason purchases a somber old portrait: a portrait with a history of death...
June 19, 1945 Dead Man's Holiday Listen (MP3)
A man is dead and buried--or is he?
June 26, 1945 Dead Man's Debt Listen (MP3)
August 28, 1945 Dead Man's Deal Listen (MP3)
September 4, 1945 The Murder Prophet Listen (MP3)
(1945) With Wendy Barrie. (1952) With Agnes Moorehead.
September 11, 1945 The Last Story Listen (MP3)
With Richard Widmark.
September 18, 1945 Terror By Night Listen (MP3)
A red-headed woman driving alone at night hears a radio announcement informing of a local prison breakout.
September 25, 1945 The Lonely Sleep Listen (MP3)
October 2, 1945 The Shadow of Death Listen (MP3)
October 9, 1945 Death By Scripture Listen (MP3)
October 16, 1945 Till Death Do Us Part Listen (MP3)
A couple on their honeymoon witness a murder... and the murderer witnesses them!
October 23, 1945 The Corridor of Doom Listen (MP3)
John Clay wakes, disoriented, with no idea of where he is or how he got there. He lies on a hard white bed, in a clean white room, with a dull pain in his abdomen.
October 30, 1945 The Man Who Couldn't Die
November 6, 1945 The Wailing Wall Listen (MP3)
With Boris Karloff.
November 13, 1945 The Dreadful Hunch
November 20, 1945 Boomerang Listen (MP3)
November 27, 1945 Death Can Be Beautiful
December 4, 1945 A Puppet for Murder
December 11, 1945 The Dark Chamber Listen (MP3)
December 18, 1945 The Undead Listen (MP3)
Diana tells her husband, Richard, about her dream: a green mist... the beating of wings...
December 25, 1945 The Littlest Angel

1946

January 1, 1946 Phantom Music Box
January 8, 1946 The Creeping Wall Listen (MP3)
Karen is convinced the walls of her house are slowly moving together and will crush her. Horace, her husband, is worried for her sanity and purchases a much larger house...
January 15, 1946 The Edge of Death Listen (MP3)
A young collector of blades receives an antique rapier as a wedding gift--a sword alleged to have once belonged to Rasputin, the mad monk of Russia--and is jokingly warned about a prophecy that whomever holds the sword on the coming of the full...
January 22, 1946 The Confession Listen (MP3)
January 29, 1946 Blood of Cain Listen (MP3)
February 5, 1946 Skeleton Bay Listen (MP3)
Mystery novelist Carola Winter--feeling wild and reckless... edgy...
February 12, 1946 The Man Who Couldn't Die Listen (MP3)
February 19, 1946 You'll Never Escape
February 26, 1946 I Walk in the Night Listen (MP3)
March 5, 1946 Accident
March 12, 1946 Strands of Death Listen (MP3)
March 19, 1946 Murders in the Morgue
March 26, 1946 Death is a Double-crosser Listen (MP3)
April 2, 1946 The Night is My Shroud
With Kenneth Lynch and Ann Shepherd.
April 9, 1946 Lady with a Plan Listen (MP3)
April 16, 1946 The Lonely Hearts Killer
April 23, 1946 Make Ready My Grave Listen (MP3)
A story about a boy and a girl who have just been married, a piece of string, an open grave, and a hangman's noose.
April 30, 1946 Dead Man's Turn
May 7, 1946 You Could Die Laughing Listen (MP3)
A man with one year to live finds himself the target of blackmail after fleeing a hit-and-run accident.
May 14, 1946 Screams in the Night
May 21, 1946 Detour to Terror Listen (MP3)
A man and his sister, lost on a back-road, are menaced by a mysterious blind man.
May 28, 1946 Murder in the Night
June 4, 1946 Eight Steps to Murder Listen (MP3)
June 11, 1946 Bury Me Not
June 18, 1946 I Want to Report a Murder Listen (MP3)
July 29, 1946 One More Murder
August 5, 1946 Asleep in the Deep
August 12, 1946 Preview for Murder
August 19, 1946 Spectre of the Rose Listen (MP3)
August 26, 1946 The Long Wait is Over
September 2, 1946 The Missing Claw
September 9, 1946 Murder Comes at Midnight Listen (MP3)
September 16, 1946 Murder to a Metronome
September 23, 1946 The Dead Laugh Listen (MP3)
September 30, 1946 Death Rides a Dollar Bill
October 7, 1946 The Listener
With Agnes Moorehead.
October 14, 1946 Strange Passenger
A travelling salesman picks up a hitchhiker, who causes him to wreck, killing her. (1949) With Mason Adams.
October 21, 1946 The Black Dog
October 28, 1946 The Sister
November 4, 1946 Death's Old Sweet Song Listen (MP3)
November 11, 1946 Nightmare
November 18, 1946 Highway to Death
November 25, 1946 No Rest for the Dead
A man in need of ready cash sells the only asset he has: his own brain! With Everett Sloane and Leon Janney.
December 2, 1946 But the Dead Walk Alone
December 9, 1946 Invisible Demon
December 16, 1946 Whistle While I Die
December 23, 1946 The Lonely Room
December 30, 1946 The Open Grave

1947

January 6, 1947 Death Pays the Freight
With Leon Janney.
January 13, 1947 Payable at Death
January 20, 1947 Witch Man
January 27, 1947 The Silent Hand
With Mary Astor.
February 3, 1947 Death Bound Listen (MP3)
With Richard Widmark.
February 10, 1947 The Ghost in the Garden Listen (MP3)
February 17, 1947 Moonlight is for Murder
February 24, 1947 Journey Into Death
March 3, 1947 The Corpse That Nobody Loved
On a dark and stormy night, a woman misses the last train home, but manages to catch a cab.
March 10, 1947 The Deadly Kiss
March 17, 1947 Bury Me Deep
March 24, 1947 Black is for Death
March 31, 1947 Ghost of Jeremiah
April 7, 1947 The Girl Who Wouldn't Die
April 14, 1947 Death is My Brother
April 21, 1947 Hour of Darkness
April 28, 1947 The Case of the Living Corpse
May 5, 1947 Don't Dance on My Grave Listen (MP3)
May 12, 1947 Dead Man Tells a Tale
May 19, 1947 Terror By Night
A red-headed woman driving alone at night hears a radio announcement informing of a local prison breakout.
May 26, 1947 Never to Die Again
June 2, 1947 The Fear of Death
June 9, 1947 The Rest of My Natural Life
June 16, 1947 The Man on the Slab
June 23, 1947 Over My Dead Body Listen (MP3)
June 30, 1947 Man and the Knife
July 7, 1947 Nightmare
July 14, 1947 I Must Not Die Alone
July 21, 1947 Death Accentuates the Negative
July 28, 1947 Murderer at Large
August 4, 1947 The White Witch
August 11, 1947 Night of Death
August 18, 1947 Adventure in the Macabre
August 25, 1947 The Body in the Closet
September 1, 1947 Last Time I Killed Her
September 8, 1947 The Deadly Ring
September 15, 1947 Till the Day I Kill You
September 22, 1947 As Long As I Live
September 29, 1947 The Hands of Death
October 6, 1947 A Time to Die
October 13, 1947 The Last Tour
October 20, 1947 The Mind Reader
October 27, 1947 Till Death Do Us Part Listen (MP3)
A couple on their honeymoon witness a murder... and the murderer witnesses them!
November 3, 1947 Carnival of Death
November 10, 1947 The Murderer Would Not Die
November 17, 1947 The Conquest of Death
November 24, 1947 Tell It to the Dead
December 1, 1947 Bernice
December 8, 1947 Blood on the Roses
December 15, 1947 Death Plays the Black Keys
December 22, 1947 Madame Midnight
December 29, 1947 Death Out of Mind Listen (MP3)
With Ann Shephard.

1948

January 5, 1948 The Flaming Corpwe
January 10, 1948 Murder Mansion
January 12, 1948 Tempo in Blood Listen (MP3)
January 19, 1948 Murder Counts to Four
January 26, 1948 The Doomed Listen (MP3)
February 2, 1948 Death Trap
February 9, 1948 The Mislaid Corpse
February 16, 1948 The Black Art
February 23, 1948 Death Takes a Lonely Road
March 1, 1948 Dream Another Grave
March 8, 1948 The Magic Tile Listen (MP3)
(1948) With Mercedes McCambridge and Everett Sloane. (1952) With Ann Seymour.
March 15, 1948 Ring Around the Morgue
March 22, 1948 Kill Me Tonight
March 29, 1948 Lady Killer Listen (MP3)
With Everett Sloane.
April 5, 1948 Murder is My Destiny
April 12, 1948 Vampire
April 19, 1948 Death Paints Its Face
April 26, 1948 Doorway to Death
May 3, 1948 Murder on My Mind
May 10, 1948 The Murder Mirror
May 17, 1948 A Touch of Death
May 24, 1948 Murder Wears Polka Dots
May 31, 1948 The Murdered Never Die
June 7, 1948 The Kane Curse
June 14, 1948 Mark of Murder
June 21, 1948 Death Trap
June 28, 1948 The Corpse Laughs Last Listen (MP3)
July 5, 1948 Death Demon Listen (MP3)
(1948) With Ann Seymour and Everett Sloane. (1949) With Leslie Woods and Everett Sloane.
July 12, 1948 Death is a Magician
July 19, 1948 The Eyes of My Murderer Listen (MP3)
July 26, 1948 Murder Takes a Honeymoon Listen (MP3)
August 2, 1948 The Murder Ship Listen (MP3)
August 9, 1948 House of Doom Listen (MP3)
August 16, 1948 Paint My Coffin Black
August 23, 1948 Only the Dead Will Know
August 30, 1948 Next Time I Live Listen (FLAC)
September 6, 1948 Death Rides a Riptide Listen (MP3)
September 13, 1948 The Murder Carousel
With Larry Haines.
September 20, 1948 Hangman's Island Listen (MP3)
September 27, 1948 Murder By Prophecy Listen (MP3)
Theodore (Ted) Zenga Lyon inherits the Highgate Estate. Located a few miles from the town of Hillcrest, the estate is known as the one-time home of Daniel Zenga, a man who, in turn, was known for his mastery of the dark arts.
October 11, 1948 Death in the Universe
October 18, 1948 Death of a Doll Listen (MP3)
This is the story of Willie Harper and the devil, and how Willie, on his first assignment for The Morning Blade, finds himself at two in the morning, sweating nervously, in the murky shadows of a river front street in the lower city.
October 25, 1948 The Phantom Dancer
November 1, 1948 Flight from Fear
November 8, 1948 Front Page Murder
November 15, 1948 Death Watch in Boston Listen (MP3)
Hospital intern Carl Dickens stumbles into Captain Zeb's Tattoo Salon with a heavy wooden box under his arm and tells the most improbable story.
November 22, 1948 Monkey Called Death
November 29, 1948 Murder for Keeps
December 6, 1948 Cause of Death Listen (MP3)
December 13, 1948 Murder Faces East Listen (MP3)
December 20, 1948 Between Two Worlds Listen (MP3)
December 27, 1948 The Painted Corpse

1949

January 3, 1949 Fearful Voyage Listen (MP3)
January 10, 1949 Murder Comes to Life Listen (MP3)
A man with amnesia tries to find out who he really is... but does he really want to know the horrifying truth?
January 17, 1949 Mark My Grave Listen (MP3)
January 24, 1949 The Deadly Dummy Listen (MP3)
January 31, 1949 The Devil's Fortune Listen (MP3)
A fortune in Mexican gold lies under the control of a lunatic.
February 7, 1949 Death Demon Listen (MP3)
(1948) With Ann Seymour and Everett Sloane. (1949) With Leslie Woods and Everett Sloane.
February 14, 1949 Birdsong for a Murderer Listen (MP3)
(1949) With Arlene Blackburn. (1952) With Boris Karloff.
February 21, 1949 Flame of Death Listen (MP3)
February 28, 1949 Roses Are Red
March 7, 1949 Murder By Coincidence
March 14, 1949 Death and the Dectective
March 21, 1949 Only the Dead Die Twice Listen (MP3)
March 28, 1949 Appointment with Death Listen (MP3)
The inhabitants of a perpetually gloomy home feed on each other's gloom, and destroy themselves, one by one.
April 4, 1949 Death Wears a Lonely Smile Listen (MP3)
April 11, 1949 Murder Off the Record
(1949) With Mason Adams and Elspeth Eric. (1952) With Ken Lynch.
April 18, 1949 The Death Deal Listen (MP3)
April 25, 1949 Death is the Winner
May 2, 1949 The Deadly Double
May 9, 1949 The Corpse on the Town
May 16, 1949 The Unburied Dead Listen (MP3)
A woman's troubles are only beginning when she discovers that she's been dead for six years.
May 23, 1949 Strange Passenger
A travelling salesman picks up a hitchhiker, who causes him to wreck, killing her. (1949) With Mason Adams.
May 30, 1949 The Corpse is Lonely Listen (MP3)
June 6, 1949 Death on the Highway Listen (MP3)
June 13, 1949 Curious Corpse
June 20, 1949 Corpse Without a Conscience Listen (MP3)
June 27, 1949 Model for a Murder
July 4, 1949 Pattern for Fear Listen (MP3)
July 11, 1949 Death Song
July 18, 1949 Deadly Fare Listen (MP3)
July 25, 1949 Murder Wears a Straw Hat
August 1, 1949 Dead Level
August 8, 1949 Death Takes First Place
August 15, 1949 Dead Heat Listen (MP3)
August 22, 1949 Mind Over Murder Listen (MP3)
August 29, 1949 Death's Little Brother Listen (MP3)
September 5, 1949 Murder Rides the Carousel Listen (MP3)
September 12, 1949 The Vengeful Corpse Listen (MP3)
September 19, 1949 Honeymoon with Death Listen (MP3)
Newlyweds Joan and Anthony Darby rent a secluded cottage which, according to legend, is enchanted--a young bride once killed her husband in the cottage and now only lovers whose love is true can survive a night alone.
September 26, 1949 Strike Me Dead
October 3, 1949 Catch a Killer Listen (MP3)
October 10, 1949 The Devil's Workshop Listen (MP3)
October 17, 1949 Image of Death Listen (MP3)
October 24, 1949 Night is My Shroud Listen (MP3)
With Kenneth Lynch and Ann Shepherd.
October 31, 1949 A Corpse for Halloween Listen (MP3)
November 7, 1949 Make Deep My Grave
November 14, 1949 Wish to Kill Listen (MP3)
November 21, 1949 Time to Die
November 28, 1949 The Illusion of Murder
December 5, 1949 Wake Up and Die
December 12, 1949 Touch of Death
December 19, 1949 Beyond the Grave Listen (MP3)
(1949) With Martin Gabel. (1950) With Mercedes McCambridge.
December 26, 1949 The Enchanted Ghost Listen (MP3)

1950

January 2, 1950 Blood Relative
January 9, 1950 Killer at Large Listen (MP3)
January 16, 1950 The Scream Listen (MP3)
January 23, 1950 Hitch-hiking Corpse Listen (MP3)
January 30, 1950 Skeleton Bay Listen (MP3)
Mystery novelist Carola Winter--feeling wild and reckless... edgy...
February 6, 1950 The Deadly Face
February 13, 1950 Not Quite Dead
February 20, 1950 The Obituary
February 27, 1950 The Death Grip
March 6, 1950 The Haunted
March 13, 1950 Diamonds for a Corpse
March 20, 1950 Corpse in the Parlor
April 3, 1950 The Touch of Terror
April 10, 1950 Cry of Death
April 17, 1950 Beneficiary -- Death Listen (MP3)
July 13, 1950 No Rest for the Dead Listen (MP3)
A man in need of ready cash sells the only asset he has: his own brain! With Everett Sloane and Leon Janney.
July 20, 1950 The Baited Corpse
July 27, 1950
August 3, 1950
August 10, 1950
August 17, 1950
August 24, 1950
August 31, 1950
September 4, 1950 The Corpse Said No
September 11, 1950 Death Watch
September 18, 1950 Dead Man's Holiday
A man is dead and buried--or is he?
September 25, 1950 The Dead Are Never Lonely
October 2, 1950 Cry Ghosts
October 9, 1950 Death Wish
October 16, 1950 The Hangman
October 23, 1950 The Empty Grave
November 6, 1950 Twice Dead Listen (MP3)
November 13, 1950 Skeleton in the Sun
November 20, 1950 No Escape
November 27, 1950 One Coffin Too Many
December 4, 1950 Beyond the Grave
(1949) With Martin Gabel. (1950) With Mercedes McCambridge.
December 11, 1950 Two in the Grave
December 18, 1950 Murder By Consent
December 25, 1950 Enchanted Ghost

1951

January 1, 1951 Phantom Music Box
January 8, 1951 Terror in the Night
January 15, 1951 The Sound of Death
January 22, 1951 Lonesome Corpse
January 29, 1951 Finger of Death
February 5, 1951 Snow-white Scarf
February 12, 1951 Fear of Night
February 19, 1951 The Smile of Death Listen (MP3)
With Larry Haines.
February 26, 1951 Man from the Grave Listen (MP3)
March 5, 1951 Death Proposal
March 12, 1951 Live a Little, Die a Little
March 19, 1951 Skeleton in a Trunk
March 26, 1951 The Unseen
April 2, 1951 The Deadly Purse
April 9, 1951 Time to Kill
April 16, 1951
April 23, 1951
April 30, 1951
May 7, 1951 Death is a Right Hook
May 14, 1951
May 21, 1951
May 28, 1951 Unforgiving Corpse Listen (MP3)
June 4, 1951 A Corpse There Was
June 11, 1951 Death Watch
June 18, 1951 Ghost in the Garden

1952

June 22, 1952 Birdsong for a Murderer Listen (MP3)
(1949) With Arlene Blackburn. (1952) With Boris Karloff.
June 29, 1952 Terror By Night Listen (MP3)
A red-headed woman driving alone at night hears a radio announcement informing of a local prison breakout.
July 6, 1952 Death Pays the Freight Listen (MP3)
With Leon Janney.
July 13, 1952 Death for Sale Listen (MP3)
With Boris Karloff.
July 20, 1952 The Listener Listen (MP3)
With Agnes Moorehead.
July 27, 1952 The Murder Prophet Listen (MP3)
(1945) With Wendy Barrie. (1952) With Agnes Moorehead.
August 3, 1952 Murder Off the Record Listen (MP3)
(1949) With Mason Adams and Elspeth Eric. (1952) With Ken Lynch.
August 10, 1952 The Magic Tile Listen (MP3)
(1948) With Mercedes McCambridge and Everett Sloane. (1952) With Ann Seymour.
August 17, 1952 The Corpse Laughs Last Listen (MP3)
August 24, 1952 No Rest for the Dead Listen (MP3)
A man in need of ready cash sells the only asset he has: his own brain! With Everett Sloane and Leon Janney.
August 31, 1952 Strange Passenger Listen (MP3)
A travelling salesman picks up a hitchhiker, who causes him to wreck, killing her. (1949) With Mason Adams.
September 7, 1952 The Meek Die Slowly Listen (MP3)
With Arnold Moss.
September 14, 1952 Till Death Do Us Part Listen (MP3)
A couple on their honeymoon witness a murder... and the murderer witnesses them!
September 21, 1952 The Corpse Nobody Loved Listen (MP3)
On a dark and stormy night, a woman misses the last train home, but manages to catch a cab.
September 28, 1952 The Dead Walk at Night Listen (MP3)
October 5, 1952 Death Pays the Freight
With Leon Janney.
The Story

One of radio's most distinctive thrillers (1941-1952), Inner Sanctum Mysteries opened every week with the most famous sound in horror -- a slow, agonizing CREAK -- and a ghoulish, pun-cracking host who relished his own grisly tales before signing off with a long, leering "Pleasant dreeeeaams, hmmmmm?" Creator-producer-director Himan Brown built the show around that creaking door, which was never a door at all but a rusty desk chair he improvised when the real one refused to creak on cue. Named for and licensed from Simon & Schuster's "Inner Sanctum" book imprint, the anthology mixed horror and humor in equal doses, a tongue-in-cheek antidote to the straight-faced dread of Suspense and The Whistler. Raymond Edward Johnson was the original host "Raymond" until he left for the Army in 1945, when Paul McGrath took over as plain "Mr. Host" -- soon paired with Lipton Tea's cheery "Tea Lady," Mary Bennett, whose sunny commercials clashed gloriously with the macabre. The casts were studded with marquee names -- Boris Karloff (15-plus shows the first season), Bela Lugosi, Peter Lorre, Orson Welles, Claude Rains, Agnes Moorehead. Its host style shaped a generation of horror narrators, spun off six Universal films with Lon Chaney Jr., earned a Mad magazine spoof, and led Himan Brown straight to his 1970s CBS Radio Mystery Theater.

Full story — coming soon while it's being curated.
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