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Bob Lamont
Ironized Yeast presents. Lights out, everybody. It is later than you think.
Arch Ober
My name, Arch Ober. All my life, I, even as you, have been fascinated by stories of the unusual, by stories of suspense, by stories of the world of the future. And of the dark mysteries of the past. Tonight, through the sponsorship of the makers of Iron ig we bring you a new series of plays that I have written. Dedicated to all of you who like to think that perhaps there are other worlds beyond this very mad one of ours. But now meet Mr. Bob Lamont, our announcer, who will tell you more of what is to come.
Bob Lamont
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, in the weeks to come, we will bring you the thrills and chills of stories of imagination. And we tell you calmly but very sincerely. That these will not be stories for those who frighten easily and permanently. But if you want release for just a little while before facing the problems of today, then listen while we tell you from week to week of this world and other worlds. Of these times and the ages to come. Of the dead and the undead. But now, Mr. Ober, what's the title of the story for tonight?
Arch Ober
Title? We'll tell you that at the end of the story. For reasons you'll quickly discover anyway, the title has no importance. This is a story that touches on the supernatural. And no matter how calm you may feel at the moment, perhaps soon you won't be quite so calm.
Bob Lamont
Yes, there's something mighty awe inspiring about the supernatural. But you know, plain facts can be pretty startling too. For instance, think of the thousands of Americans who are miserably thin and nervous and run down often because they're simply not getting enough vitamin B and iron from their food. If that's true of you friends, then I urge you in all sincerity, try ionized yeast tablets. They're so easy to take. And they've worked wonders for thousands of people who only needed more vitamin B and iron helped them gain glorious new pep and strength. And 5, 10, even more pounds of good new flesh. Remember, that's the one and only ionized yeast tablets. Now, lights out.
Frank
Hey, hey, I got another one. Now this farmer had a daughter.
Millie
Oh, that Frank is not enough. You watch your driving.
Bob Lamont
Go on.
Frank
This bus drives itself on the steering wheel, sweetie pie.
Millie
Oh, yeah, till the rain stops.
Frank
Well, what if it rains all the way down to Mexico?
Millie
We'll stop. Oh.
Frank
Oh, gee, you sure got a nice set of tires on this.
Millie
Yeah, that's one thing about that ex husband of mine. Kept everything he had in perfect condition for me. Shut your face.
Frank
I wonder if he'll Follow us.
Millie
What'd you say, Sam?
Frank
Follow us?
Millie
What for? He got the divorce, didn't he? Anyway, how's he gonna follow me? When that judge got through paying me off alimony, there wasn't enough left in the account for Sam to buy roller skates.
Frank
Yeah. Yeah, that's right.
Millie
Sure, I'm going places he ain't. He's stuck with the kid.
Frank
Yeah. Oh, how do you like that?
Millie
What?
Frank
Look up ahead. Well, that's the first thing on wheels we've seen on this road since noon.
Millie
Hey, what kind of a truck is that?
Frank
I don't know. You think I got eyes like an eagle?
Millie
No, a wolf.
Frank
Oh, yeah? Well, I'll catch up to him.
Millie
Hey, wait a minute. Maybe you better not pass it.
Frank
Why not?
Millie
Goofy looking truck, maybe. Army?
Frank
Are you kidding?
Millie
Well, I mean.
Frank
Go on. Do you think that's all them army guys got to do? They think about sticking out their hands and asking, hey, where's your draft card?
Millie
Oh, for Pete's sake, Frank.
Frank
Oh, you're just needling me, huh? Now, Millie, lay off. I told you before, no more of that draft stuff. Look, if you want a tin hero in a uniform, you got the wrong guy, baby. No draft boards roping me? No, sir. Frank, I'm getting so far away.
Millie
Listen to me. Truck ahead. Look.
Frank
Huh? Well, how do you like that?
Millie
I don't.
Arch Ober
Danger.
Frank
High explosives.
Millie
The minute I saw the red color of it, I knew it was something.
Frank
So what?
Millie
Yeah, pass him up.
Frank
Oh, you know me. All right, all right. Get over there. Get over.
Millie
Look at the guy staying right in the middle.
Frank
Come on, come on. One side.
Millie
Is he deep or something?
Frank
How do you like that guy? Hog in the middle of the road.
Millie
Who does he think he is?
Bob Lamont
Get over.
Millie
Hey, you. Go on, scare the pants off him.
Frank
What do you mean?
Millie
Come on, cut around him.
Frank
Hey, wait a minute. I'm not loaded with dynamite, he is.
Millie
Well, you're gonna follow him all the way around the shoulder. You got room. Okay, get over there, you big bum.
Frank
Shove over. I'm coming through.
Millie
Frank, look, He. He tried to kill us.
Frank
Yeah, Run us off the road. A guy loaded with dynamite tries to run us off the road. Millie, Millie. What's the matter with you? What are you just looking like that for,
Millie
Frank, Right?
Frank
Yeah, I know it was a close one, but it was your idea, passing him up. So he's gone on ahead of us. So what?
Millie
Didn't you see?
Frank
See what?
Arch Ober
What?
Millie
The driver of the truck, he didn't have.
Frank
All right, all right. I've heard you once. I've heard you a hundred times. So let's not talk about it anymore. Go on, go on. Take another drink.
Millie
Bottle's empty.
Frank
Well, there's another one in the black suitcase. Reach back.
Millie
I don't want any more.
Frank
Okay, then. So what's gone on ahead? The road's clear. We're on our way. So forget it. Without a face.
Millie
Yeah. Crazy, huh?
Frank
Sure. What's the matter, baby?
Millie
Me. Me seeing things? Yeah, like the song they sing over the radio. I ain't got nobody.
Frank
Atta baby. Other baby. Laugh it off.
Sergeant Raiden
Sure.
Millie
Nothing's gonna spoil our fun, huh, Frank?
Frank
Oh, you're telling me. Listen, once we get over the border.
Millie
Frank.
Frank
What?
Millie
Look ahead. The truck. Well, it's there again.
Frank
I see it. I got eyes.
Millie
But it's that truck.
Frank
So what? I've been going fast. I. I caught up with it. This time I will pass.
Millie
Oh, no, Frank.
Frank
What do you mean no? Four lane road. You can't block me off this time.
Millie
Frank. Don't turn off.
Frank
What are you talking about?
Millie
Another road. We'll take another road.
Frank
This one's the shortest one. We're staying right on this. I'll leave that guy standing still.
Millie
What's the matter?
Frank
The engine. It. It. No, no, it's all right. Gee, how do you like that? Was almost up to him. If the engine would. Now I'll pass that buzzard.
Millie
Frank,
Frank
what's the matter with this car? There, it's all right again. How do you like that? A second time in a row. Just when I was going to pass him, the engine cuts out.
Millie
Yes, let him go.
Frank
Huh? What do you mean let him go? Nah, There. It's okay. This time I will get around.
Millie
Yes, pass him up. I want you to pass him up.
Arch Ober
I will.
Frank
I'll be your son.
Millie
What happened again?
Frank
You're telling me. Say, what kind of a car did that husband of yours have anyway? This thing's crazy. Just when I'm gonna pass him up, the engine cuts out. When I fall behind, it's all right.
Millie
Something wrong with engine.
Frank
Sure, sure. What do you think I've been talking about? Well, I've had my belly full.
Millie
You mean we'll go some other way?
Frank
I told you this is the shortest road. Ah, look. Downgrade. Now I'll do it.
Millie
What?
Frank
Past him? Going on down a hill. O, if you think I'm going to follow behind a dynamite truck the rest of the day, you're crazy. But Frank, what's the matter with you? First you want us to pass him and then you don't he's going downhill and geared. I'm catching up to him as if he was standing still.
Millie
Look out. He's cutting to the left.
Frank
So what? I'll pass him on the right. All right, you roadhog and buzzard, pull over there.
Millie
Pull over.
Frank
I'll knock your ears back.
Millie
Frank, what is it? Why did you stop? Frank, didn't.
Frank
Didn't you see?
Millie
I didn't know. My eyes. I was scared. I kept him shut. Frank, what is it?
Frank
The truck.
Millie
The driver. Frank, you saw what I thought. The face.
Frank
No. No, I didn't. Millie, as sure as we're sitting here. I'm telling you, there's nobody driving that truck. Just nobody.
Millie
Frank.
Arch Ober
Yeah?
Millie
How long we just gonna sit here? Frank, I'm talking to you.
Frank
I need another drink.
Millie
There ain't any more. Frank. Before, when I thought I saw something goofy in that truck, you said I was seeing things. Well, maybe you did too. I mean, the rain and both our nerves being jumpy. So maybe it was just seeing things.
Arch Ober
Yeah.
Frank
Seeing things. Yeah. Maybe that's it.
Millie
All right, then, let's get going, will you? Just sitting here in the car in the rain. Let's get moving.
Frank
Okay. You know something?
Millie
What?
Frank
I feel okay now.
Millie
What you poured down. You oughta.
Frank
Goofy. That's what it was. Plain goofy. A crazy truck driver tries to block us off and I see things. You see things. Goofy. That's what it is.
Millie
Yeah. Rain sure making it dark fast, huh?
Frank
You know what I'm gonna do?
Millie
What?
Frank
The next crossroads I'm gonna turn off.
Millie
But you said.
Frank
So I changed my mind. Cut to the right and the next road going south. We'll take it.
Millie
Frank.
Frank
What?
Millie
What if they stop us?
Frank
Who?
Millie
The cops? The border patrol. Whoever they got guarding the border.
Frank
I told you that guy will meet us at no galleys. And for 200 bucks, he'll show us a way. Don't you ever listen to me.
Millie
All right. All right.
Frank
That dirty truck driving buzzard.
Millie
I never want to see a red truck again as long as I live.
Frank
Red? Yeah. Once we get over the border, we'll paint it red all the way down to South America. Hey, baby.
Millie
Yeah, that's what I want. Fun the rest of my life.
Frank
I told you, you'll get it. Oh, here's what we turned.
Millie
Hey. Well, I think how Sam used to worry about these tires.
Frank
Ah, that jump.
Millie
Patriotic duty to save him, he said.
Frank
I'll bet you he had an American flag embroidered on his chest.
Millie
Frank. Oh, gee, you make me forget anything. How far do we go?
Frank
This Way I told you. Next road will swing back south.
Millie
And Frank,
Frank
I see it.
Millie
Parked up there.
Frank
Yeah.
Millie
What are you gonna. Why are you pulling up behind?
Frank
Gonna wait.
Millie
Wait?
Frank
You don't think I'm gonna ride past him again, do you?
Millie
Then what?
Frank
We'll wait. Just.
Millie
Frank.
Frank
Yeah?
Millie
Getting dark. Yeah, Just sitting here. Rain. Frank, is there somebody in that truck?
Frank
There must be.
Millie
Who, Frank? Who?
Frank
The glove compartment. Open it.
Millie
Huh?
Frank
I'll give it.
Millie
What? Knife.
Frank
Yeah. I'm gonna find out who that guy is up there and why once and for all. Come on. Come on. Come with me.
Millie
Oh, no.
Frank
You come with me.
Millie
My arm.
Frank
Come on. I'm telling you, I've had about all I can take.
Millie
Stop dragging me along.
Frank
I'll tell that guy crowding us off the road. Fall into us every place we go. I'll tell him.
Millie
What? Let go of me. I don't want to go up there. Let go of me.
Frank
All right, mister. All right. Come on out of there. You see, Millie, there is a guy driving. Come on. You get out of there. All right. I'll drag you out. Come on. Open that door. Climb down out of there. All right, I'll open it for you.
Millie
Oh, no.
Bob Lamont
Ladies and gentlemen, while we catch our breath before the second half of tonight's lights out story, I want you to hear a true story that happened to Mr. Charles Kranz of Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Kranz, who simply needed more vitamin B and iron, writes, I work in one of the large defense plants here. Not long ago, they put me on the third shift, which means working nights and sleeping daytimes. I wasn't used to this, couldn't get my regular sleep in the daytime. I also lost my appetite. One of my fellow workers told me to try ironized yeast, which I did. Now I get my regular sleep and talk about appetite. I'm always hungry. Thanks to ironized yeast, I've gained about seven pounds. Thank you, Mr. Kranz and friends. If you are miserably thin and nervous and run down, remember this. Authorities say when you don't get enough vitamin B and iron from your daily food, you may lack appetite, not eat enough to maintain normal weight and strength. And when you don't get enough iron from your food, you may be weak and pale and listless. Ironized yeast tablets give you both vitamin B and iron. They cost but a few pennies a day. So if you simply need more vitamin B and iron to feel better, look better, really enjoy life once again, ask your druggist for the one and only ironized yeast tablets with IY on the package and on each tablet. And now back to Lights out. The red truck has disappeared in the distance. But the man and woman sit there in the moving automobile with a frightened beyond word. While around them the rain beats. Down in the lonely road, a heavy rain, an endless.
Frank
Stop crying. Stop crying, I tell you. Stop it. What good is crying? Keep moving, that's all. Keep moving.
Millie
If we only get to some houses, people.
Frank
Yeah. First house we come to will stop. Sure. Wait till it's light again. People. Safeway. There's people.
Millie
People will help us, Frank. Anybody will help us.
Frank
Yeah, get the people. A car. Hadn't seen a car, not for miles.
Millie
As long as we don't see him, it's all right.
Frank
No truck could keep up with us. As fast as we've been going, he could. No, no, but keep on driving. Driving, and that'll be that. You hear me? That'll be that.
Millie
I think you're more scared than I am.
Frank
Shut up. Look.
Millie
What?
Frank
No, no. We're still alone on the road. Lift up your face. Look. See on the horizon? The lights. Oh, I'll bet you that's no galleys.
Millie
Oh, Frank.
Frank
Sure, sure. Once we get there, it'll be all right.
Millie
Are you sure, Frank?
Frank
Sure. Sure. Lights, people, a drink. That's what we need.
Millie
Yeah. I don't want to sleep tonight. I said I don't want to sleep tonight. If I close my eyes, I'll see you.
Frank
Shut up. I don't want to talk about it.
Millie
I gotta talk about it, you know. I'll talk about it now, and then I'll get it all out from inside me and I won't think about it anymore. You got to tell me. In the truck, what I saw wasn't really.
Frank
Shut up, you blessed woman. Shut up. Oh, now what are you crying about?
Millie
Leave me alone. I woke under my kid. For what? For you to yell at me?
Frank
Okay, okay, okay. Forget it. Look. Lights in the skies. Getting brighter. Oh, we're getting closer, all right.
Millie
Oh. What car ahead did you see?
Frank
What are you talking about? There's nothing there.
Millie
I saw. There. I saw it again. Red daylight.
Frank
So what? It's another car. We're getting near a town. That swell. That's what we want, ain't it? Other cars, people. That's what we want.
Millie
Break.
Frank
Red truck.
Millie
No,
Frank
Blast you.
Millie
Shut up. Gotta think.
Frank
If you hear me, you gotta give me a chance to think. All right, all right. Go on. Go on and cry your blasted eyes out. I'll get out of this, I will. The rain stopped. Lights ahead. To town.
Arch Ober
Oh.
Frank
Once I get there, you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna ditch you. You hear that, Millie? I'm gonna ditch you. Sure, sure. All that's happened, that thing up there, it's you that brought it on. You're just a hoodoo to me. Get rid of you, and I'll get rid of him up ahead. Go on. Go on. Go on. Cry. Cry. Who cares? I'm ditching you, baby, and there's nothing you can do about it. Sure, follow him. Get to town. He won't get into town. He couldn't. But I will. And then out you go, baby.
Millie
Be the dirty rat.
Frank
You take your car and go right back again, baby. Once we get to no galleys, I don't want any part of it. Or you. Hey, look. Gone.
Millie
What?
Frank
The truck ahead, it's gone. Put on spotlight. Yeah, gone. Just like that. The minute I even talk about getting rid of you, it's gone.
Millie
You walk out on me and I'll kill you. Yeah.
Frank
Bright lights, here I come. Clear road ahead.
Millie
You're not going to ditch me.
Frank
You're in the ditch already, baby.
Millie
Sam won't take me back.
Frank
You got me crying.
Millie
I'll fix you. I'll tell him you're running out in the draft.
Frank
Yes, you will.
Millie
I yell it so loud, they heard it back on State Street.
Frank
Maybe I'll have to shut your mind.
Millie
You touch me and I'll tear your eyes out.
Frank
All right, baby. I've had enough today. What's happened, what I saw in that truck, it all adds up to one thing. No matter what I gotta do for it, I gotta get rid of my hoodoo. You? Yeah. Even if I have to kill you, Frank. You're gonna be smart, eh, baby?
Millie
Frank, behind us.
Frank
What are you talking about?
Millie
Behind us?
Frank
Huh? The car. So what?
Millie
Him.
Frank
Ah, you. You're crazy.
Millie
Him, I tell you. Following us.
Frank
Nobody's following us. Getting near a town. It's another car. So what?
Millie
Oh, shut up.
Frank
I. I'll show you. Put on speed. Leave him behind. I'll show you.
Millie
It's no good getting closer.
Frank
What?
Millie
Closer, I tell you.
Frank
No go, Pastor.
Millie
It's not closer, Frank. He's closer.
Frank
You're crazy. You're trying to drive me crazy.
Millie
Frank, it is the red truck. It's him.
Frank
No. Stop saying that. Him. Him.
Millie
No. No. Rear vision mirror. Look in it. Faster. Go faster.
Frank
Yes. Yes.
Millie
Don't let him get me, Frank. Faster. He's getting closer. Faster.
Frank
I can't. Foot's down to the floor.
Millie
Faster. Can. Can. Frank is right behind us. Going to ride over us Back? No, on top of. Go back, Frank. Turn the wheel, Frank. He's going to drive over.
Sergeant Raiden
Hello?
Frank
Hello?
Sergeant Raiden
Hello, Sergeant, this is Raiden. About that crash just outside Nogales. Yeah, I've been all over it and it still don't make sense. Empty road, no skid marks, no nothing. And it looks as if this sedan must have been the only car on the road. Yeah, and yet it's crushed flat like. Well, like a 75 ton tank rolled over it. Well, I'm telling you the truth, Sergeant. The whole automobile crushed flat like a tin can. And then it must have caught fire. No, what was left of them was burned to a crisp. Huh? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, I'm coming in. Oh, one thing more, Sarge. There's a funny thing. All around the car, where we found it, there are hoof prints. Y. Yeah, I said marks like hoof prints burned into the macadam of the road. No, Serge, I'm cold sober as sure as I'm standing here. I'm telling you, the car was crushed flat and the bodies burned. And the marks like hoof prints burned in the road like. Well, like something walked around watching them burn. Okay, okay. I was just telling you it don't mean a thing to me. What the devil?
Bob Lamont
Mr. Ober.
Arch Ober
Yes?
Bob Lamont
The story. What was in that truck? Was it really? I mean, was it really.
Arch Ober
Well, I can only repeat the title of tonight's story.
Frank
What the devil was it really?
Arch Ober
How should I know?
Bob Lamont
Oh, and I suppose you don't even know about next week's lights out story.
Arch Ober
Oh, but I do. Do you like worms, Mr. Lamon? What? Worms. Fat crawly worms. You know, the kind that slither all over your lawn at night. The squirmy ones that hang on the end of your fish hook. Well, next week our story is going to be about worms. Little insignificant worms who one strange night decided that they'd be insignificant no longer. Or perhaps you think the impossible is always impossible?
Bob Lamont
Mr. Ober, the longer I live, the more I become convinced that nothing is impossible. Of course, not everyone feels that way. I'm thinking now of the thousands of people who go on day after day leading a miserable half existence. Thin and weak and nervous, run down, always tired because they figure nothing can help them. Well, friends, if you're one of those thin, tired, nervous folks, and if it's due simply to vitamin B and iron shortage, believe me, there is help for you. Ironized yeast supplies both these vital substances. It's helped thousands who needed them helped them so amazingly that ionized yeast is actually sold on this no risk money back basis. If you are not 100% pleased with the results, the cost of the first package will be refunded to you in full by the Ironized Yeast Company. Box IY Rahway, New Jersey. And now, Mr. Oler, will you tell us more about next Tuesday night?
Arch Ober
Yes, but not too much. The story is called the Revolt of the Worms. And in it we ask a very simple question. What would happen to our earth if suddenly the earthworms. Yes, the simple little earthworms that turn over our soil suddenly grew and grew until. But that's next week.
Bob Lamont
It is later than you think. This summer's close. May have to last you several summers more. So give them the care they need to last longer. Before packing those clothes away for winter, rid them of grease spots with energene cleaning fluid. Moths attack grease spots first, you know. And if neglected, grease spots may penetrate deeply into the fabric and prove harmful to the cloth. So get out the energene and get rid of every grease spot on the clothes you're packing away. You'll find energene cleaning fluid removes those grease spots easily to help make your clothes last longer. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.
Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode Date: June 15, 2026
Episode Theme: A supernatural radio drama from the Golden Age, exploring eerie, suspenseful tales—tonight’s story focuses on a supernatural encounter with a faceless driver and a ghostly red truck.
This episode of "Lights Out," created by Arch Oboler, is a suspenseful radio drama titled "What the Devil". The tale centers around a couple, Frank and Millie, as they drive into a nightmarish scenario on a dark, rainy road. Their journey becomes a descent into terror when a mysterious red dynamite truck repeatedly appears—and seems to be driven, or haunted, by something beyond human comprehension.
“All my life, I, even as you, have been fascinated by stories of the unusual, by stories of suspense, by stories of the world of the future. And of the dark mysteries of the past.” (00:30 - 00:56)
"The driver of the truck, he didn't have..." (07:04)
“I'm telling you, there's nobody driving that truck. Just nobody.” (11:09)
(Frank, opening the truck) “Oh, no.” (16:03)
“I'm ditching you, baby, and there's nothing you can do about it.” (21:32)
“Well, like something walked around watching them burn...What the devil?” (26:41)
“What the devil was it really? How should I know?” (26:55)
“What the devil was it really? How should I know?” – Arch Oboler (26:55)
The dialogue is tightly wound, full of period slang, sarcasm, and escalating panic. The episode combines pulpy melodrama with existential terror, using rain, darkness, and the haunted red truck to create a setting thick with dread and inevitability.
"What the Devil" is a quintessential Lights Out episode, weaving highway noir, supernatural horror, and postwar anxieties into a relentless, ambiguous nightmare. The unresolved final question—what the devil was in the truck?—leaves listeners shivering, a hallmark of Oboler’s chilling craft.
For fans of vintage radio who want a dose of old-school tension and a heady, ambiguous ending, this episode is a must-listen.