Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: CBC Mystery Theatre 1967.xx.xx - "The Kitchen Table"
Air Date: October 31, 2025
Story by: Alan King

Overview

This episode of CBC Mystery Theatre transports listeners back to the Golden Age of Radio with a supernatural tale set in an old country house. "The Kitchen Table" tells the mysterious story of a young couple—Jim and Sally—who, after purchasing a neglected old farmhouse, become entangled in the unresolved secrets embedded in its very woodwork. Their discovery of a hidden fireplace, a haunted kitchen table, and a ghostly visitor pulls them into a chilling, unraveling mystery involving past tragedies and restless spirits.

Key Discussion Points & Story Beats

1. The Tempting Real Estate Offer

• [00:31] Mr. Jenkins, the real estate agent, tries to convince the young couple, Jim and Sally Keel, to buy the rundown farmhouse at a bargain price. The couple feels a deep connection to the house and purchases it despite its neglected state.

2. Uncovering History—The Fireplace Discovery

• [02:32] While renovating, the couple finds a giant, old kitchen fireplace hidden behind wallpaper.
• The fireplace imbues the kitchen with a "softer, mellower atmosphere," hinting at its storied past.

3. A Ghostly Visitor

• [04:58] During a storm, an old man named Dan Sharp appears at the back door, seeking shelter.
• He reveals detailed knowledge about the house and its original furnishings, including the kitchen table, two rockers, and a gun.
  • Notable Quote – Dan Sharp [05:56]:
    "Name's Dan Sharp. Know a lot of things about this house. This kitchen now is different. Used to be a table in the center. Big table, solid, ain't far away."
• After the storm, Dan leaves mysteriously—without having left any sign of wetness on the chair or floor, suggesting a spectral presence.

4. Restoring the Past

• [08:45] Following Dan Sharp's clues, the couple successfully tracks down the original kitchen furniture from various locals, including the massive kitchen table—which they find neglected in a drive shed.

5. The Unsettling Stain

• [12:08] After placing the table in the kitchen, Sally discovers an ominous, blood-like stain on its surface that neither time nor cleaning can remove.
  • Notable Quote – Sally [12:53]:
    "Jim, I know this sounds silly, but I just can't help feeling that it's blood."

6. Researching the House's Dark Past

• [15:15] Jim and Sally meet Mr. Tyson, the local newspaper publisher, to learn about the house’s history.
• They confirm that Jonathan Sharp—Dan's cousin—once lived there and died in a storm, but no one recalls what became of Dan.

7. A Terrifying Vision

• [18:24] Sally experiences a harrowing vision of two men—Jonathan and Dan—arguing in the kitchen, culminating with Jonathan murdering Dan at the kitchen table.
  • Notable Quote – Sally [20:21]:
    "He planted it right in little man's chest... And I could see the table, Jim. I could see it. Right there on the end was a spreading pool of blood."
• Sally realizes her vision is possibly not a dream, but a revelation of past events.

8. Unearthing the Truth

• [21:19] While digging for a root cellar, the couple uncovers a box of human bones. The details match Sally’s vision, pointing to Jonathan having murdered Dan and hiding his remains.

9. Putting the Past to Rest

• [23:36] Sally recalls that Dan's spirit wanted resting in the churchyard like Jonathan.
• The couple arranges a proper burial for Dan Sharp, attended by Mr. Tyson and others.

10. Resolution—Mystery Solved?

• [24:35] Upon their return, the infamous stain has vanished from the kitchen table, symbolizing the spirit's release and the conclusion of the haunting.
  • Notable Quote – Mr. Tyson [24:53]:
    "Either you two young folks are making up a good story. You've put the ghost of old Dan Sharp to rest. Either way, it's a good story. If not the best my paper's had in 30 years."

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Discovery of the fireplace:
  "Sally, there's a great big hall behind here... It's one of those great kitchen fireplaces." — Jim [02:35]

• Ghostly dry chair revelation:
  "He came in under the rain. He must have been soaked. But that chair and the floor, they're bone dry." — Sally [08:13]

• The persistent stain:
  "It was as clean as we could get it... It's no good. This is something beyond our understanding." — Sally [13:02, 14:28]

• Sally’s chilling vision:
  "The big man, he got the other man by the throat... He planted it right in little man's chest." — Sally [20:03–20:21]

• Table finally cleansed:
  "Jim, look... The stain is gone." — Sally [24:35]

Key Timestamps

• 00:31 — Real estate pitch & couple purchases house
• 02:32 — Discovery of the hidden fireplace
• 04:54 — Dan Sharp knocks on kitchen door
• 06:00–07:01 — Dan Sharp recounts house/furniture history & Jonathan’s fate
• 08:43–09:38 — Search for the original kitchen furniture
• 12:27–14:27 — Discovery and persistence of the mysterious stain
• 15:13–17:25 — Interview with Mr. Tyson, the local historian
• 18:24–21:04 — Sally’s terrifying vision of the murder
• 21:37–23:36 — Discovery of bones near the house
• 24:35–25:02 — The table’s stain disappears after Dan’s burial

Conclusion

"The Kitchen Table" intertwines domestic renovation with chilling supernatural mystery, exploring how relics—and even spirits—of the past linger in the present. Through atmospheric storytelling and evocative dialogue, the episode taps into timeless themes of guilt, remembrance, and putting the past to rest. The episode concludes with ambiguity: Whether the couple encountered real ghosts or spun a fantastic yarn, the outcome is "a good story—if not the best my paper's had in 30 years." [25:02]

For fans of classic ghost stories and atmospheric mysteries, "The Kitchen Table" is an evocative listen packed with suspense, nostalgia, and a timeless shiver of the unknown.