Podcast Summary: The Horror! (Old Time Radio)

Episode: "Hanson’s Ghost" by The Hermit’s Cave

Date: December 21, 2025

Host: RelicRadio.com

Episode Overview

This episode revives a classic tale from the golden age of radio, “Hanson’s Ghost,” originally broadcast by The Hermit’s Cave series in 1944. The story immerses listeners in a chilling narrative involving haunted houses, family secrets, and the supernatural. The host introduces the tale as one of ghostly experiments and madness, inviting the audience to “be afraid” as the titular Hermit spins his haunting yarn.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Setting the Stage (00:06–02:49)

• Host’s Introduction:
  The host sets a macabre tone, encouraging listeners to turn out the lights and prepare for a tale born from the darkest imaginations of radio.

  • “Have you heard the story of Hanson’s ghost? Then listen while the Hermit tells you the story.” (02:51, Hermit)

• Background:
  A brief contextualization of “The Hermit’s Cave” and its place in radio history, highlighting its penchant for supernatural and mysterious narratives.

2. Arrival in Mohawk – Warnings and Tensions (03:28–05:59)

• Main Characters:

  • Marion and her husband Douglas (Mr. Randall)
  • Dr. Thorndyke – a medical school acquaintance of Uncle Hanson
  • Uncle Hanson – a reclusive, eccentric figure

• The Mission:
  Marion and Douglas are fulfilling her father’s dying wish to visit Uncle Hanson, who is believed to possess significant wealth.

  • “Dad said that if Uncle Hanson knew us… he might come to his senses and leave some of the [inheritance].” (03:53, Marion)

• Warning From Dr. Thorndyke:
  Dr. Thorndyke warns them about Hanson’s oddities and the house’s haunted reputation.

  • “He believed that he could recall from the dead the soul of some individual… and that the soul could return to the body of some person living in the present.” (05:30, Dr. Thorndyke)

3. Dr. Thorndyke’s Chilling Visit to Uncle Hanson (06:34–11:36)

• Recounting the Past:
  Thorndyke describes a harrowing past visit to Hanson’s home at Hanson’s request.

  • Eerie atmosphere: staggering darkness, “something cold brushed against my face…” (07:44, Thorndyke)
  • Hanson’s obsession: experimenting to achieve perpetual life by “recalling” dead souls to inhabit the living.

• Experimentation:
  Hanson demonstrates a ghastly ritual, invoking spirits with fumes and darkness.

  • “Now I shall pass my body through the fumes coming from the steaming kettle… There is something moving there in the darkness…” (10:36–10:59, Hanson & Thorndyke)

4. Debate Over Visiting Hanson (13:56–15:40)

• Seeking Truth:
  Marion and Douglas weigh the risk, comforted by Thorndyke’s belief that Hanson is “harmless,” though odd.
  • “If Dr. Thorndyke thinks he’s harmless, then to pay him a visit wouldn't be dangerous.” (15:28, Marion)

5. Inside the Old House: False Security (16:10–17:34)

• Post-Visit Routine:
  Marion and Douglas settle in at Hanson’s house and discuss how normal everything has seemed.

  • “We’ve been visiting here three days at Uncle Hanson’s. And I haven’t seen him do one strange thing.” (16:21, Marion)

• Hanson’s Servant:
  Even the peculiar servant appears benign, serving meals and sharing that “now [Hanson] could die peacefully.”

6. Nighttime Horror—The Supernatural Returns (17:58–20:04)

• Strange Occurrences:
  At night, Douglas hears unexplained noises and feels a cold presence.

  • “Something cold passed over my throat.” (19:00, Douglas)

• Attack in the Night:
  Suddenly, a spectral presence attacks Douglas. Marion witnesses a shadowy figure looming over him.

  • “Douglas, there’s something standing right over you. I can see it!” (19:22, Marion)

7. Hanson’s Final Experiment (20:06–23:14)

• Summoning the Spirit:
  Hanson believes he has captured the rogue spirit in his laboratory. He intends to test his theory by inviting the ghost to possess him.

  • “I captured the spirit trail as it wandered about the house tonight. It’s hidden in my laboratory.” (20:04, Hanson)

• The Seance:
  In a dramatic climax, fumes rise. A form appears, and a shadow approaches Hanson.

  • “Look over there. A shadow is taking form. It is approaching me.” (22:09–22:14, Marion & Douglas)

8. Possession and Tragedy (22:38–24:41)

• The Spirit Takes Over:
  Hanson’s body is inhabited by the vengeful spirit of a murdered man, who re-enacts the violence from his former life.

  • “You wanted to call me back. Well, I am here. And I shall enter your body just as you wish.” (22:40, Possessed Hanson)
  • “I couldn’t kill my wife long years ago. And I can’t kill you. But I can kill myself again. Yes. Now that dagger through my heart.” (24:09–24:23, Possessed Hanson)

• Death and Aftermath:
  The experiment fails disastrously. Hanson dies, stabbed with the same dagger as the original crime. Only his body lies there; the spirit is gone.

9. The Hermit’s Conclusion (25:38–26:46)

• Ghastly Lesson:
  The Hermit reflects: even if one could bring a spirit back, it would only re-enact the deeds of its earthly life.
  • “The spirit returned as Dr. Hanson wanted it to and entered his body. But it killed just as it had when it was on earth before.” (26:46, Hermit)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Unnatural Theories:
  • “He was experimenting with a strange theory. He believed that he could recall from the dead the soul of some individual…”
    — Dr. Thorndyke (05:29)
• Atmosphere of Terror:
  • “Something cold brushed against my face… The spirits that ruin this house were trying to be kind to you… Trying to give you new life.”
    — Conversation between Hanson and Thorndyke (08:42)
• Classic Supernatural Reveal:
  • “Look over there. A shadow is taking form. It is approaching me.”
    — Marion (22:09)
  • “You wanted to call me back. Well, I am here. And I shall enter your body just as you wish.”
    — Possessed Hanson (22:40)
• The Hermit’s Moral:
  • “The ghost returned as Dr. Hanson wanted it to and entered his body. But it killed just as it had when it was on earth before.”
    — The Hermit (26:46)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------| | 00:06 | Host's macabre introduction | | 02:51 | Hermit begins "Hanson’s Ghost" | | 03:28 | Marion and Douglas consult Thorndyke | | 06:34 | Thorndyke’s flashback visit | | 10:36 | Hanson’s haunting spirit ritual | | 13:56 | Marion & Douglas debate the visit | | 16:10 | The couple arrives at Hanson’s house | | 17:58 | Nightfall – strange noises begin | | 19:00 | Ghostly attack on Douglas | | 20:04 | Hanson summons everyone to his lab | | 22:09 | Manifestation of the spirit | | 22:40 | Possession and violent re-enactment | | 24:41 | Discovery of Hanson’s corpse | | 26:46 | Hermit’s chilling conclusion |

Tone & Style

The episode keeps to a classic, theatrical horror style—heavy on suspense, with melodramatic performances and ominous narration. The Hermit’s interjections and the chilling sound effects evoke that signature “Golden Age of Radio” eeriness. Dialogue is credulous and vibrant, dense with period-appropriate melodrama.

Summary for New Listeners

"Hanson’s Ghost" is a prime example of atmospheric old-time radio horror. The story melds a doomed family reunion with occult science—the dreadful quest for immortality by trapping souls beyond the grave. With tight pacing and memorable setpieces (the night attack, the laboratory séance, the final possession), this episode showcases why The Hermit’s Cave remains an iconic touchstone of vintage radio fright.
The moral: Tampering with the afterlife is not only futile, but may bring about horrors best left undisturbed.

For fans of classic horror—this episode is sure to leave a (chilling) impression!