Dark Fantasy 42-01-23 (10) The Headless Dead (1)

Summary

Podcast Summary: “Dark Fantasy 42-01-23 (10) The Headless Dead (1)”

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: October 9, 2025
Original Airdate (Show within Episode): January 23, 1942
Episode Focus: "The Headless Dead" from the radio series Dark Fantasy

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Overview

This episode features a dramatized supernatural tale from the Golden Age of Radio, called “The Headless Dead,” originally aired as part of the Dark Fantasy series. The plot centers on Frederick J. Holman’s eerie visit to London’s Tower and the haunted Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, exploring ghostly legends, skepticism versus belief, and a chilling encounter with the titular headless dead. The episode is an archetype of classic horror-radio, rich with atmospheric suspense and unnerving twists.

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Key Discussion Points and Story Highlights

Visiting the Tower of London

• Setting the Scene: Frederick J. Holman is guided by Mr. Swift (spelled with an 'e'), as he tours the Tower of London and exchanges banter about famous ghostly legends.
• Skepticism vs. Belief: Holman laughs off stories, like the gambling spook of Wycketh Hall and the pig-faced specter of the rectory. Swift counters with somber, matter-of-fact belief in the uncanny.
  • Quote:
    • Ben Morris as Holman: “Don't tell me Mr. Swift with an e. Don't tell me you believe in such things as ghosts and haunts.” (01:30)
    • Fred Wayne as Swift: “But I believe, sir, I believe.” (01:43)

The Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula

• Entering the Chapel: Holman is fascinated as Swift explains the buried dead beneath the flagstones, including English royalty such as Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.
  • Quote:
    • Fred Wayne as Swift: “Including, I might add, two of England's queens.” (05:14)
    • Ben Morris as Holman: “Not actually.” (05:19)
    • Fred Wayne as Swift: “Oh, yes, Actually... Few people have, sir.” (05:20)

The Haunted Organ

• The Organ’s Mystery: Holman plays the historic, banned pipe organ and a spectral Latin voice echoes through the chapel, shocking them both.
  • Quote:
    • Eleanor Naylor Corren (Ghostly Voice): “Play.” (07:04)
    • Fred Wayne as Swift: “He always speaks like that in Latin. Whenever a stranger plays his organ for the first time.” (07:06)
    • Ben Morris as Holman: “Amazing. Absolutely incredible.” (08:18)
• Swift's Reassurance: Swift, clearly unsettled himself, tries to assure Holman, but encourages him to leave.

The Sleep and the Awakening

• Holman Falls Asleep: Alone, inexplicably drowsy, Holman dozes in a chapel pew and awakens to find himself locked in—and no longer alone.

The Parade of the Headless Dead

• Supernatural Manifestation: Holman witnesses flagstones moving as ghostly, headless figures rise and form a procession.
  • Quote:
    • Ben Morris as Holman: “Dozens of them now leaving their tombs, forming a procession down the middle aisle of the chapel. And each of them is headless and carrying his head before him in his hands.” (11:52)
• The Leader Reveals Himself: The armored leader approaches, stating Holman must now join them.
  • Quote:
    • Garland Moss as Leader: “It is not our custom to hold our rights while an intruder is present.” (12:44)
    • Garland Moss: “You're now as one of us.” (13:00)

The Oath and Bargain

• Holman Bargains for Time: Pleading for postponement, Holman swears to return at midnight the next night, repeating a chilling oath.
  • Key Oath Excerpt:
    • Garland Moss: “Raise your right hand...Repeat after me. I solemnly swear by the souls of the sacred dead to return to this chapel tomorrow at midnight.” (17:06-17:18)

The Aftermath: Reality or Nightmare?

• Confiding in Laura: At home, Holman shares the story with his wife, Laura, who insists it must be a result of ghost stories and imagination.
  • Quote:
    • Eleanor Naylor Corren as Laura: “But things like that don't happen.” (19:27)
    • Ben Morris: “Oh, dear, you're wrong. I've never believed in such things before now.” (19:37)
• Holman's Resolve Wavers: He decides not to return, trying to convince himself—and Laura—it was all a dream.

The Fatal Return

• Haunted by Voices: On his way home, Holman begins to hear the voices from his eerie experience, even as his chauffeur Henry hears nothing.
  • Quote:
    • Ben Morris: “That voice. Voice? Mr. Holman, don't you hear that voice? No, sir. I don't hear nothing, sir. Listen. It's him. Listen to him.” (22:58)
• The Deadly Crash and Final Welcome: Distracted by the voices, the car crashes. In the afterlife, Holman is welcomed by the leader of the headless dead, keeping his “appointment” after all.
  • Quote:
    • Garland Moss: “Greetings, Frederick Holman, and welcome. I am pleased that you have kept your appointment with us.” (24:59)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You see only as far as you permit yourself to see, sir.” — Fred Wayne (04:12, 23:32)
• “In that procession are some of history's most famous people.” — Garland Moss (14:57)
• “No one can look upon the possession of the headless dead unless he joined them to save himself.” — Garland Moss (15:53)
• “It wasn't a dream. The flagstones of the sanctuary floor are also tombstones. It's true. It wasn't a dream.” — Ben Morris (23:51–24:00)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:46] — Garland Moss introduces himself as “master of the headless dead.”
• [02:12] — Stories of the pig-faced specter and other Tower legends.
• [04:41] — Discovery of the chapel's history and tombstones beneath flagstones.
• [06:13] — Holman plays the organ; spectral voice heard.
• [10:47] — Holman sees the floor moving, the headless procession appears.
• [12:37] — The leader of the headless dead confronts Holman.
• [17:06–17:30] — Holman's oath to return at midnight.
• [18:13] — Holman confesses to his wife, doubts his own sanity.
• [21:28] — Holman, in denial, refuses to return but is haunted en route.
• [24:59] — Post-crash, Holman is welcomed among the headless dead.

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Tone & Legacy

Dark Fantasy delivers its signature blend of gothic atmosphere, classical ghost story elements, and existential dread with understated yet ominous performances. The dialogue is clipped, British, and at times self-deprecating, with Holman’s skepticism slowly unraveling into terror.

This episode stands as a showcase of radio’s power to unsettle and haunt through sound and storytelling alone, bridging skepticism and belief, and ending with the suggestion that some debts—once promised—cannot be escaped, not even in death.

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For fans of vintage radio and supernatural tales, “The Headless Dead” is a prime example of mid-century audio horror at its finest—creepy, clever, and lingering long after the final note fades.

Transcript

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[Ben Morris]

Dark fantasy.

[Garland Moss]

I am the master of the headless dead.

[Ben Morris]

I say go ahead.

[Fred Wayne]

Just call me Swiss, sir. Spelled with an e at the end.

[Ben Morris]

Yes, yes, yes of course. You reminded me before.

[Fred Wayne]

What were you about to say sir?

[Ben Morris]

I was about to observe that this Tower of London is quite a historic place.

[Fred Wayne]

That it is sir. Historic indeed.

[Ben Morris]

And haunted. I have hotel.

[Fred Wayne]

Have you now sir?

[Ben Morris]

Oh yes. Don't tell me you haven't heard stories about the tower's ghosts.

[Fred Wayne]

Perhaps I have, perhaps not.

[Ben Morris]

Of course I don't believe that sort of rubbish, you know.

[Fred Wayne]

Rubbish?

[Ben Morris]

Certainly. Rubbish. Don't tell me Mr. Swift with an e. Don't tell me you believe in such things as ghosts and haunts.

[Fred Wayne]

But I believe sir, I believe.

[Ben Morris]

Certainly not. The legend of the gambling spook of Wycketh Hall.

[Fred Wayne]

The ghost invariably appears whenever a gambling game is in progress in Wycketh hall here in the tower and always wins the stakes.

[Ben Morris]

Yes. Don't tell me you believe such a fantastic yarn as that. Or such an unbelievable story as the one about the pig faced specter of the rectory.

[Fred Wayne]

I imagine brother Randolph would tell you there's nothing fantastic about the story at all.

[Ben Morris]

Brother Randolph?

[Fred Wayne]

Yes sir. He's the overseer of the rectory. He's seen the spectre many times.

[Ben Morris]

He's probably just superstitious.

[Fred Wayne]

Brother Randolph says the thing is always dressed in a long black cloak. Does the body be human but the face is that of some grotesque and repulsive animal?

[Ben Morris]

It sounds like an old wives tale.

[Fred Wayne]

Don't mind you sir, I'm not trying to convince you about such things. That's the entrance to the choir loft. The chapel over there.

[Ben Morris]

Hmm, chapel. Didn't know there was one in here.

[Fred Wayne]

It's a Chapel of St. Peter at Vincula.

[Ben Morris]

Is it possible for me to go in there?

[Fred Wayne]

Picking your border, sir. That's what the climb of the stars was for. We always like to show visitors at Koala. The chapel.

[Ben Morris]

Well then, let's have a gander at the place, shall we?

[Fred Wayne]

Yes indeed. Here, the key. You always keep this locked? More abbot than anything else. Nobody ever climbs those steps unless they're showing them through the tower. Here we are, sir. Yeah.

[Ben Morris]

I say, it's dark in there. How about a light, my man?

[Fred Wayne]

Oh, no. Blimey. I completely forgot to turn the lights on the fuse box down below. If you don't mind waiting, sir.

[Ben Morris]

Oh, no, no, no. Wait. I wouldn't ask anyone to climb those steps again. There's enough light coming through the stained glass panes. I say, will you lead the way?

[Fred Wayne]

Yes, yes, yes, of course. What's your step, sir? Step up. Here you are, sir. You can observe the chapel below, sir. Yes.

[Ben Morris]

Deserted looking, isn't it?

[Fred Wayne]

It isn't as deserted as you might think, sir. Hmm.

[Narrator]

What was that?

[Fred Wayne]

You see only as far as you permit yourself to see, sir.

[Ben Morris]

I don't believe I understand.

[Fred Wayne]

If you look for emptiness, sir, you see emptiness.

[Ben Morris]

But it is empty down there.

[Fred Wayne]

Is it, sir?

[Ben Morris]

I suppose you're trying to tell me this chapel is haunted, too.

[Fred Wayne]

As neither ought to be, sir. Right? Yes, indeed. You see, sir, it's the burial place of the Headless Dent.

[Ben Morris]

It's another of those idiotic legends.

[Fred Wayne]

Hardly a legend. You see those flagstones down there in.

[Ben Morris]

Front of the altar? Frankly, yes.

[Fred Wayne]

Those stones. Far more than just the sanctuary, Flosser. There are also tombstones.

[Ben Morris]

Why do you tell me such a thing as that, Mr. Swift?

[Fred Wayne]

Because it's truth.

[Ben Morris]

You mean people are buried beneath those flagstones?

[Fred Wayne]

Including, I might add, two of England's queens.

[Ben Morris]

Not actually.

[Fred Wayne]

Oh, yes, Actually, I've never heard that before. Few people have, sir.

[Ben Morris]

Then that's why you say the place down there isn't deserted.

[Fred Wayne]

In manner of speaking. That's what I mean, yes. Have you observed the huge pipe organ here in the loft, sir?

[Ben Morris]

Oh, yes, yes, yes, I noticed when we came in. But getting back to what you were.

[Fred Wayne]

Talking, it's quite a famous instrument. I might say. Been played by dozens of famous people.

[Ben Morris]

Oh, it has? Could I play it?

[Fred Wayne]

It's. It's against regulation, sir, but, well, if you play softly, sir.

[Ben Morris]

Why, now, I say, that's mighty good of you. I do have somewhat of a reputation for playing the organ.

[Fred Wayne]

You play well, sir.

[Ben Morris]

Quite well, thank you. A rather old instrument, isn't it? Beautiful tone, though. Beautiful.

[Fred Wayne]

What's that? Keep playing, sir?

[Ben Morris]

Keep playing what?

[Fred Wayne]

Quickly. Quickly, Sir, I. Before it's too late.

[Eleanor Naylor Corren]

Play.

[Ben Morris]

That voice. What is it?

[Fred Wayne]

No one knows. He always speaks like that in Latin. Whenever a stranger plays his organ for the first time. Can you see who it is? No one has ever seen who it is.

[Ben Morris]

Is he gone?

[Fred Wayne]

Yes, you'll hear no more of him today.

[Ben Morris]

But what's the explanation?

[Fred Wayne]

Who is it?

[Ben Morris]

Why does he do that?

[Fred Wayne]

There is no explanation. I must admit, sir, I've often heard of the ghost of St. Peter's Chapel, but this is the first time I've actually heard him. He always does that whenever a stranger plays his organ for the first time.

[Ben Morris]

Will he return if I play again?

[Fred Wayne]

No. He always speaks just once, and he's never heard again until another organist plays for the first time.

[Ben Morris]

Amazing. Absolutely incredible.

[Fred Wayne]

I. I say, sir, it's. It's about closing time. Do you mind if I leave you now?

[Ben Morris]

Why, no. No, of course not.

[Fred Wayne]

You recall your way out of the tower, I trust? Look around a while longer. If you wish, I'll return later to lock this car loft.

[Ben Morris]

But I. I don't know whether I want to remain here. Oh, don't worry, sir.

[Fred Wayne]

You're quite all right. Besides, you don't believe in such rubbish as ghosts. Yes, but I. I'm happy to have shown your answer. By the way, what did you say your name is?

[Ben Morris]

Holman. Frederick J. Holman.

[Fred Wayne]

Then I'm very happy to have known you, Mr. Holman. Who knows? Perhaps your vill will make you a changed man. Hmm?

[Ben Morris]

Whatever did he mean by that? I say, what's come over me? I feel so sleepy. Yes, sleepy. I best sit here. Here? In this pew? Hmm. Strange. Never felt like this. I'll sleep here a while, then go home. What's that? Oh.

[Fred Wayne]

Oh.

[Ben Morris]

Went to sleep Now I remember now. I slept here in this chapel pew. I say, the door's closed now.

[Fred Wayne]

Mr.

[Ben Morris]

Swift evidently returned, locked me in. That's strange. Why didn't he awaken me? What's that? No.

[Fred Wayne]

No.

[Ben Morris]

The company. Those stones at the foot of the altar, they're being pushed up by someone underneath. Hands and arms. Long, bony arms, pushing up the flagstones. And over to the right, two ghostly figures rising out of the tombs in the floor. No. No, it's. It's not possible. It can't be. Figures. Dozens of them now leaving their tombs, forming a procession down the middle aisle of the chapel. And each of them is headless and carrying his head before him in his hands.

[Fred Wayne]

Look at them.

[Ben Morris]

Marching in a slow procession down the center aisle. Marching, marching, marching, marching on soundless feet. That man in front, the one in ancient armor, he seems to be the leader of those fantastic creatures. Oh, is this a dream? Is this a nightmare?

[Garland Moss]

No, it is not a dream.

[Ben Morris]

How did you get up here? Just a moment ago, you were down below leading the procession.

[Garland Moss]

It is not our custom to hold our rights while an intruder is present.

[Ben Morris]

But I was locked in here. I didn't intend to be here.

[Garland Moss]

Now that you are here, you must make the most of it.

[Ben Morris]

But what do you mean?

[Garland Moss]

You're now as one of us.

[Ben Morris]

It was you who.

[Fred Wayne]

Limu.

[Garland Moss]

Emu and Doug.

[Fred Wayne]

Limu and I always tell you to.

[Ben Morris]

Customize your car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. But now we want you to feel it. Cue the Emu music. Limu. Save yourself money today. Increase your wealth. Customize and save. We save.

[Fred Wayne]

That may have been too much for you. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty. Liberty.

[Eleanor Naylor Corren]

Liberty.

[Ben Morris]

Liberty Savings Very unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates Excludes Massachusetts. Prayed when I played the organ earlier today.

[Garland Moss]

Yes, I always pray when a stranger sits at the console. You see, it was I who first played this organ when it was installed. Don't you think I play well?

[Ben Morris]

Why do you return when others play it?

[Garland Moss]

Because no one could ever play it as well as I. Therefore, I pray for them.

[Fred Wayne]

You.

[Ben Morris]

You're dead and yet you're playing the instrument now.

[Fred Wayne]

Yes.

[Garland Moss]

I always provide the music for our nightly meetings.

[Ben Morris]

I don't understand all this. Those others down there, they're ghastly creatures.

[Fred Wayne]

Headless.

[Garland Moss]

Yes. They were less fortunate than I. You see, I managed to keep my head.

[Ben Morris]

They were executed.

[Garland Moss]

How else would they have come to be headless? You see, we would become quite uncomfortable lying in our graves beneath the blackstone floor if we didn't arise occasionally and stretch ourselves.

[Ben Morris]

Good heavens.

[Garland Moss]

Look you down below there. Will it amaze you for me to tell you that in that procession are some of history's most famous people?

[Ben Morris]

Surely this isn't happening.

[Fred Wayne]

Indeed.

[Garland Moss]

Believe me, you're quite mistaken. Didn't you know that here in the chapel of Peter Adventure, or buried such famous people as Sir Thomas More, Henry VIII's queens Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, do remember that.

[Ben Morris]

But I, as well as Lady Jane.

[Garland Moss]

Grey and Dudley her husband, and Sir Walter Raleigh and the Duke of Mon.

[Ben Morris]

But they have all been dead for hundreds of years. How true.

[Garland Moss]

How very true. Rick Holman, you will join us.

[Fred Wayne]

What?

[Garland Moss]

I said you will join in the procession with us.

[Ben Morris]

No, not I.

[Garland Moss]

It must be so. No one can look upon the possession of the headless dead. Unless he joined them to save himself.

[Ben Morris]

Save myself. What do you mean?

[Garland Moss]

You will discover what I mean if you refuse to take part in the ceremony.

[Ben Morris]

But not now. Not tonight. Perhaps later. Yes, some other time.

[Garland Moss]

It will be more satisfactory for you to join us tonight.

[Ben Morris]

I. I can't tonight. Can't we make it some other night? I honestly. I fell asleep here. It's later than I thought.

[Garland Moss]

It's exactly midnight.

[Ben Morris]

I must return home. My family will be frantic. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll return to join you tomorrow at midnight.

[Fred Wayne]

What?

[Garland Moss]

Tomorrow at midnight, you will return to join in the procession.

[Ben Morris]

Yes, yes, that's fine. You can count on it.

[Garland Moss]

Raise your right hand.

[Ben Morris]

My right hand?

[Garland Moss]

Yes, raise it. Now repeat after me. I solemnly swear. I solemnly swear by the souls of the sacred dead.

[Ben Morris]

By the souls of the sacred dead.

[Garland Moss]

To return to this chapel tomorrow at midnight.

[Ben Morris]

To return to this chapel tomorrow at midnight.

[Garland Moss]

So help me heaven.

[Ben Morris]

So help me heaven.

[Garland Moss]

Now you may go.

[Ben Morris]

Yes, but the door to the choir loft is locked.

[Garland Moss]

It is locked, but you will have no trouble going out through it. And remember, Frederick Holman, tomorrow night at midnight.

[Eleanor Naylor Corren]

Frederick, dear, you're worried about something. I know you are. It was one o' clock when you came home last night. You've never done that before.

[Ben Morris]

No, I know, Laura, my dear, I know.

[Eleanor Naylor Corren]

You acted so strangely when you did get home. What's more, you didn't sleep. You tossed all night long.

[Ben Morris]

Laura, I must tell you something.

[Eleanor Naylor Corren]

Well, I certainly think I have some explanation coming.

[Ben Morris]

Yes, yes, you have. I. I don't know how you're going to accept this, but. Well, here goes. I went to visit the Tower of London yesterday. I saw the prison cells and the execution torture chambers. Finally, the guard took me to the little chapel of St. Peter Aviculum. So I promised to return to the chapel tonight at midnight. They permitted me to leave the chapel.

[Eleanor Naylor Corren]

Frederick, surely you were dreaming.

[Ben Morris]

No, I'm sure it was no dream. It was all too realistic. I saw those people and heard them.

[Fred Wayne]

How?

[Eleanor Naylor Corren]

But things like that don't happen.

[Ben Morris]

I'm very positive this happened.

[Eleanor Naylor Corren]

Oh, nonsense. You were just affected by those ghost stories that guide told you about the tower.

[Ben Morris]

Oh, dear, you're wrong. I've never believed in such things before now. Well.

[Eleanor Naylor Corren]

But surely you don't intend to go back there tonight, do you?

[Ben Morris]

I don't know, Laura. I don't know. Hello? Hello, Laura? I say, Laura, are you there? Laura? Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I thought for a moment we'd been disconnected. Yes, I can hear you now. What I called for, dear, was to say I'm dining at the club tonight. Yes, Old Simon Jauster is off to the Orient. We're having a dinner for him. Yes, I'll be home early what's that? No, Laura, I've decided not to go to the tower tonight. I think you're probably right. It all must have been a dream.

[Garland Moss]

Good evening, Mr. Holman.

[Fred Wayne]

Your car, sir?

[Ben Morris]

No, thank you, Henry. Shall I drive you to the tower, sir? Tower? Of course not, Henry. Drive me straight home. Whatever made you think I'd want to go to the tower at this time of night? I. I don't rightly know, sir. Begging your pardon, Mr. Holmer. I don't know what made me ask you that. Really, I don't. Don't drive me home, Henry. Yes, sir. By the way, what time do you have, Henry? It's just a minute or two before midnight, sir. Oh, very well. Take me home at once. Did you say something, sir? Did you hear something, Henry? Hear something, sir? Yes, that voice. Voice? Mr. Holman, don't you hear that voice? No, sir. I don't hear nothing, sir. Listen. It's him. Listen to him.

[Garland Moss]

You must be tired, sir.

[Ben Morris]

There's nobody good voice. Really, sir.

[Fred Wayne]

Don't tell me you haven't heard of the gambling spook of W.

[Ben Morris]

No, it can't be.

[Fred Wayne]

Our brother Randolph's pig face spectre of the rectory.

[Garland Moss]

No one could ever play the organ as well as I.

[Ben Morris]

That's what he said. The man in armor.

[Fred Wayne]

You see only as far as you permit yourself to see, sir.

[Garland Moss]

You see, I manage to keep my head.

[Fred Wayne]

If you look for emptiness, sir, you see emptiness then.

[Ben Morris]

But it wasn't a dream.

[Fred Wayne]

The flagstones of the sanctuary floor are also tombstones.

[Ben Morris]

It's true. It wasn't a dream.

[Garland Moss]

You must join our procession, Henry.

[Fred Wayne]

The headless dead join our procession. The earthly dead join our procession. The headless dead, Henry.

[Ben Morris]

In the name of heaven, man, look.

[Fred Wayne]

Where you driving? I can't stop, sir. Look out. You're going to hit that path. Mr. Holman. Henry, look out.

[Ben Morris]

Mr. Holman. Mr. Holman, are you all right, sir? We hit that truck and Mr. Holman, we. We hit that truck broadside and. Mr. Holman.

[Fred Wayne]

Look at him.

[Garland Moss]

Greetings, Frederick Holman, and welcome. I am pleased that you have kept your appointment with us.

[Narrator]

You have heard the Headless Dead, tonight's original tale of dark fantasy by Scott Bishop. Ben Morris played Frederick Holman. Eleanor NAYLOR Corren was Mrs. Holman. Fred Wayne was swift. Garland Moss was the leader of the Headless Dead. And Murillo Schofield was heard as the chauffeur. Next Friday night at this same time, we'll bring you a strange and weird tale of the unusual. Death is a savage deity. Based upon Scott Bishop's novel of the same name. Listen for this breathtaking tale of witchcraft and black magic. Dark fantasy originates each Friday night in the studios of WKY Oklahoma City. This is the National Broadcasting Company.