The Shadow: “The League of Terror” (01/09/1938)
Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Date: December 12, 2025
Episode Overview
This classic episode of "The Shadow," titled “The League of Terror,” revolves around a dangerous counterfeit money ring that preys on small shopkeepers and the poor. When Michael Sullivan, a humble grocer, is forced to take the blame to protect his family, the Shadow (Lamont Cranston) steps in, working with his companion Margot Lane and Sullivan’s brave daughter, Mary, to expose and dismantle the criminal operation. The thrilling story unfolds across city slums, criminal hideouts, and a luxurious yacht, highlighting themes of justice, courage, and the terror wielded by organized crime.
Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown
1. The Trial and Injustice
- [00:39–04:00]
- Michael Sullivan, a witness in a counterfeit money case, retracts testimony out of fear for his family's safety.
- When pressed in court, he says, “I'm afraid of what the dirty rats would do to them if I told the truth.”
(Michael Sullivan, 03:18) - The judge sentences Sullivan to a year in prison for perjury, dismissing charges against the accused criminals.
2. The Counterfeit Ring’s Impact
- [04:01–06:35]
- Lamont Cranston (the Shadow) and Margot Lane discuss the wider suffering caused by the counterfeit ring, particularly among poor families.
- “A counterfeit dollar bill probably means the difference between eating and not eating...”
(Margot Lane, 04:22)
3. Mary Sullivan’s Desperation and Resolve
- [06:36–09:10]
- Mary, left to manage the grocery store and care for her sick mother, insists she will not be intimidated:
“If any of that counterfeit gang comes around here again, I won't depend on the law to protect me.”
(Mary Sullivan, 05:34) - Lamont and Margot, posing as customers, urge Mary to feign knowledge of the ring for leverage.
- Mary, left to manage the grocery store and care for her sick mother, insists she will not be intimidated:
4. Setting the Trap
- [09:11–10:25]
- Lamont convinces Mary to pretend she knows more than she does and attempt to blackmail the gang for her silence, hoping she’s taken to higher-ups in the organization.
- Margot worries for Mary’s safety:
“Lamont, aren’t you letting that poor girl take a terrible risk?”
(Margot Lane, 10:31) - Lamont replies: “That girl was marked for death before we came here.” (10:34)
5. Mary’s Kidnapping and the Shadow Intervenes
- [13:13–15:36]
- Mary is abducted and brought to the waterfront, threatened with harm if she doesn’t reveal what she knows.
- As thugs debate her fate, a chilling, disembodied voice fills the room:
- “You’re mistaken, Rankin. There is someone here.” (The Shadow, 15:21)
- Terror-stricken, the criminals recognize the Shadow’s reputation:
“That’s what it is... It’s the guy nobody’s ever seen—the Shadow.” (Trigger, 15:27)
6. Showdown on the Terror Yacht
- [19:12–22:55]
- Mary is taken to a luxurious yacht—the counterfeiting headquarters.
- Lamont (as the Shadow) guides Margot to contact the police and alert the Harbor Patrol about the yacht’s location:
“Act quickly. The life of the Sullivan girl depends upon it.” (The Shadow, 19:29) - Onboard, the crime ring’s tensions boil over, with thugs turning on each other in panic and paranoia.
7. The Shadow’s Final Confrontation With the “Big Boss”
- [22:56–24:55]
- The Shadow confronts the master criminal, who threatens to blow up the yacht rather than be caught:
- “This switch will set up a charge of high explosive down in the hold that will blow you and me and the police to kingdom come.”
(The Big Boss, 24:20)
- “This switch will set up a charge of high explosive down in the hold that will blow you and me and the police to kingdom come.”
- The Shadow reveals he has already cut the wires, foiling the boss’s plan:
- “The switch doesn’t work because I’ve cut the wires. See where they run along the wall.”
(The Shadow, 24:50)
- “The switch doesn’t work because I’ve cut the wires. See where they run along the wall.”
- The Shadow confronts the master criminal, who threatens to blow up the yacht rather than be caught:
8. Justice Restored
- [25:00–26:00]
- Police arrest the counterfeiters; Commissioner Weston promises to free Michael Sullivan and praises Mary’s bravery.
- The Shadow, true to form, disappears after reminding all:
“My reward, like yours, Commissioner, is in protecting the defenseless from those who have not learned that crime does not pay.”
(The Shadow, 25:55)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On justice and fear:
- “It ain’t fair. It ain’t right. I get a year in prison for trying to protect my family and the real crooks go look at them walking out the court, free as the air.”
— Michael Sullivan [03:00]
- “It ain’t fair. It ain’t right. I get a year in prison for trying to protect my family and the real crooks go look at them walking out the court, free as the air.”
- On the cruelty of crime:
- “Small businessmen, shopkeepers, poor people… this is operating among the poor people who can’t defend themselves.”
— Lamont Cranston [04:22]
- “Small businessmen, shopkeepers, poor people… this is operating among the poor people who can’t defend themselves.”
- On the legend of the Shadow:
- “They say he throws a sort of spell over a guy’s mind so you can’t see him.”
— Trigger [15:27]
- “They say he throws a sort of spell over a guy’s mind so you can’t see him.”
- The Shadow’s warning:
- “Tell the man who controls this counterfeit ring… if anything should happen to Mary Sullivan, he will answer to the Shadow.”
— The Shadow [16:02]
- “Tell the man who controls this counterfeit ring… if anything should happen to Mary Sullivan, he will answer to the Shadow.”
- Ultimate lesson:
- “The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay. The Shadow knows.”
— The Shadow (closing line)
- “The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay. The Shadow knows.”
Important Timestamps
- [00:39] – Michael Sullivan’s cross-examination and sentencing
- [04:10] – Lamont and Margot discuss justice and the counterfeiting scheme
- [06:36] – Mary Sullivan’s first act of courage
- [09:43] – Lamont outlines the strategy to trap the counterfeiters
- [13:15] – Mary’s kidnapping begins
- [15:21] – The Shadow’s unseen entrance terrifies the criminals
- [19:29] – The Shadow alerts Margot to contact Commissioner Weston
- [24:20] – The Big Boss reveals the explosives switch
- [24:50] – The Shadow reveals the switch is disabled
- [25:30] – Police arrest the criminals; Michael Sullivan’s pardon set in motion
Tone and Style
Maintaining the earnest, dramatic style of Golden Age radio, the episode blends suspenseful dialogue with sharp, moralistic lessons. The atmospheric interplay of shadows, fear, and the unseen avenger gives the story its classic noir flavor, punctuated by declarations of both menace and hope.
Summary
This drama-packed episode showcases The Shadow’s cleverness and compassion, Mary Sullivan’s courageous defiance, and a satisfying comeuppance for those who would “prey on the poor and helpless.” With deception, hidden identities, tense stand-offs, and a little timely intervention, “The League of Terror” delivers a vintage lesson: in the world of The Shadow, no criminal, however clever, can escape justice forever.