What I'm reading now

Looking forward to this.  The opening salvo has been presented and I'm hooked.  I hope it holds up.

ON THE AIR May 29, 1938

82 years ago this really fun episode of The Shadow thrilled many listeners across America and continues to thrill those of us who love OTR, especially The Shadow.  There were two episodes entitled "The Creeper" and this is, in my opinion, by far the better of the two.  If you haven't heard this one before or just want to listen again just click here and settle in for a fun ride.

"Bitter Fruit" page 1

 

"Plenty of old-money tycoons in it.  Maybe some chums of Mr. Ort's.  Maybe even your host Lamont Cranston."

What I hope to be reading next

Barnes & Noble hasn't yet gotten their copies of the newest Cussler book (I'm loyal to the local shops) but I hope that I will be reading this tale by the weekend.  If not, then it'll be "The Yellow Hoard", the second adventure of The Avenger.

"Bitter Fruit"

And now we start to final chapter to the Rasputin saga.  (Dig those white socks!)

A quote too challenging

Nice try, Agent J.  However the clew of "three possibilities" was in reference to a villain who challenged The Shadow on three separate occasions.  Dr. Rodil Mocquino is the villain and "The City of Doom" is the adventure that this quote comes from.  We'll try another one next week.  Thanks for playing.

"Ghosts" page 24

"We need to talk."

A quote to challenge you

" I have awaited you. Be seated. We have much to discuss, you and I. You cannot afford to kill me when you know the facts that concern your agent, Harry Vincent. He is my prisoner - he and others who tried to block my path! There are five of them in all. My death will mean theirs!"

You know the drill.  Who said it and in what novel was it written?  Three possibilities exist... choose wisely.

"Ghosts" page 23

"Good evening, Comrade Vasilevich."

Remember

Take a moment, pause and remember why we enjoy the freedoms we have.  Remember those that gave all they had to give and those that are willing to do so right now.

"Ghosts" page 22

"Lamont...wait.

That woman... her voice... that's her...

Zara... Rasputin's partner."

What I'm reading now

Well, almost now.  I just finished Justice, Inc., the premiere issue of The Avenger, this morning (it's too rainy to work on the various outdoor projects my wife has on the agenda.  How sad... heh heh heh).  So I guess I'll crack open this tale and see where it takes me tonight.
As for The Avenger?  Well, it ain't no Shadow tale but I liked it better than Doc Savage.  The writing is a bit odd and I just have to gloss over some of the ways the author (Kenneth Robeson, so they wanted everyone to think) uses words.  Hey, the master himself, W. B. Gibson, made up his fair share of the pulp dictionary so I will cut Mr. Ernst some slack.  I think I'll see where this series takes me. 

ON THE AIR May 22, 1938

All my sources say the title of this episode is "Message From the Hills" but the announcer states it as "The Message From the Hills".  Perhaps he just misread it and the submitted script forgoes the "The".  Little matter as I've enjoyed this episode for many years.  There really isn't a bad show featuring Orson Welles in the lead.  So, however you may remember the title, sit back and enjoy this episode from 82 years ago today.

"Ghosts" page 21

Agent J does it again

Mobsmen on the Spot is indeed the answer to yesterday's quote.  And Cliff has been a loyal agent ever since.  The mystery of his real name was never revealed.  Even more of a mystery than The Shadow's name and background.  He was also the only married (that we know of) agent in the series.

Well done, Agent J.  I'll have to work a bit harder to stump you.

"Ghosts" page 20

"How, Anastasia?  How did you survive?"

We know who said it, so...

What tale is this quote from.

 "Cliff Marsland!  That was not your name, fourteen years ago, when you were overseas... Like yourself, I am a man whose name has been forgotten. We shall speak no more of days gone by. You are now Cliff Marsland. I am, The Shadow!"

"Ghosts" page 19

"I had been reassigned."

"Well, how funny!  So had I!  To Siberia... with my family."

What came out the week of May 15, 1940 - 1942

1940_Masters of Death

1941_Master of Flame

1942_Death's Bright Finger

"Ghosts" page 18

"You could sooner convince me that war is a thing of the past."

What came out the week of May 15, 1933 - 1939

1933_The Death Giver

1934_Death Clew

1935_The Third Skull

1936_The City of Doom

1937_Treasure Trail

1938_The Hand

1939The Three Brothers

"Ghosts" page 17

"Enough of your hints... your sanctimony..."

ON THE AIR May 15, 1938

Well, well, well... this one is new to me.  How exciting to run across an episode that I haven't heard before.  Sit back and enjoy Orson Welles as The Shadow in "Murders in Wax" just as your grandparents or great grandparents may have done 82 years ago today.

Agent J strikes again

You are absolutely correct, sir.  Joe Cardona in The Pooltex Tangle from October 1937 did, indeed, "speak" those words.  Great detective work.

"Ghosts" page 16

"A man shouldn't have secrets.  Don't believe in 'em.  Let man know what the Lord knows."

A quote to die for... hint

This tale was penned by Theodore Tinsley in 1937.  He had three stories published that year.  As to the person who is being quoted I can say that he is not an agent.  Good luck.

"Ghosts" page 15

"Goat's milk."

"And?"

"And what?"

A quote to die for

"You aren't going to die, Doctor Leach - not yet! That slug through the upper wall of your chest missed the lung cavity. When you recover from that wound, you're going to die sitting up! In the same place Pool will die. The electric chair! And I hope they burn you last so you'll have time to think it over. Pool killed Milton. But you - you're the cold-blooded rat that murdered my nephew!"

 Who said it and which adventure was it from?  Good luck, agents.

"Ghosts" page 14

"You're tugging my gam, Markham..."

Would love to get this in the mail

I wonder if this...

was what the lucky fan of The Shadow found in the above mailer.  Who knows?  Well, we all know who knows...

"Ghosts" page 13

"DEATH RETREATS AGAIN!"

"Bring me the woman!"

Thanks for the recommendation, Agent J

I'll see if I can find a copy of The Black Bat and give it a go.  I really know nothing about this character other than some of the covers I've run across.

"Ghosts" page 12

"Left me with jokes on my fingers.  Diamonds, rubies..."

ON THE AIR May 8, 1938

Love this episode.  Yet again one that I listen to on the "hi-fi" stereo.  I know I can listen by streaming (here, if you want) but I love setting up the album and feeling a bit more nostalgic as it's just a step closer to when radio broadcast these adventures.  Still, amazing how much fun these are even after listening so many times over the last 40+ years.  When I first heard these they were already nearly 40 years old.  Yikes, 82 years and still going strong.  Enjoy.

"Ghosts" page 11

"I know who is hunting us!  It is HIM!  The agent!  The one with the girasol!"

Waiting in the wings

I've been wanting to read "The Avenger" for some time now.  With so many (so, so many) issues of The Shadow waiting I've just put it off.  So, when I finish what I'm reading now I'm going to finally see if the wait was worth it.  I hope it's better than Doc Savage, of which I've already documented my feelings on those stories.  Still love the character just not the writing.  Fingers crossed for this...

"Harry, you never told me you was friends with Italians!"

Reading this at the moment

I really like Chaykin's work but this ain't The Shadow I know.  However, without this series we'd never have gotten the wonderful "The Shadow Strikes", so we have to thank Mr. Chaykin for making our hero relevant again.

"Ghosts" page 9

"Me, I've got my own little Queen-for-a-night waiting at my hotel.  And noon is around the time she starts to stir, so..."

This just doesn't seem to fit with my vision of Harry Vincent of the pulps, a little more Chaykin than Gibson.  Alas, times change.

What came out the week of May 1, 1940 - 1946 and Spring of 1949

1940_Death in the Stars

1941_The League of Death

1942_The Northdale Mystery

1943_The Robot Master

1944_Freak Show Murders

1945_Tear-Drops of Buddha

1946_The Curse of Thoth

1949_The Black Circle

1947 and 1948 fell into the bi monthly category before the magazine gave way to the quarterly publication schedule of the last four issues.