The Castle Of La Voca by The Hall Of Fantasy

Summary

The Horror! (Old Time Radio)

Episode: The Castle of Lavoka by The Hall Of Fantasy
Date: November 29, 2025
Host: RelicRadio.com

---

Episode Overview

This episode of "The Horror!" presents a classic broadcast of "The Hall of Fantasy" featuring the eerie tale "The Castle of Lavoka." Listeners are transported to postwar Europe as an American couple, Grant and Doris, become entangled in the forbidding legends surrounding an ancient, allegedly cursed castle. With atmospheric narration and chilling folklore, the episode delves into stories of supernatural pacts, ghostly apparitions, and the ominous return of death tied to patterns of war.

---

Key Discussion Points and Story Breakdown

1. Introduction to The Castle and Its Mysterious Aura

• [01:39–03:43]
  • The host sets the mood: “Come with me, my friends. We shall descend the world of the unknown and forbidden... Come with me and listen to the tale of the Castle of Leota.”
  • Grant and Doris, an American couple vacationing in Europe, discover a castle not marked on their map.
  • Doris experiences inexplicable dread:

    “Maybe we shouldn't... shouldn't go through that place.” – Doris, [04:53]

  • Both feel an uncanny coldness and a sense of unease gazing at the castle.

2. Arrival in the Town of Laoka

• [05:44–09:12]
  • The couple arrives at a nearby village, Laoka, greeted by suspicious and fearful townsfolk.
  • The innkeeper’s reaction to mention of the castle is strikingly tense:

    "You must mean Lavoka Castle. It has a particular significance to the people of this area.” – Innkeeper, [07:32]

  • Marked by eerie glances and an unspoken local terror of the castle.

3. The Legend of the Castle: Marek's Tale

• [10:25–19:22]
  • Doris and Grant dine with Marek, a knowledgeable villager who recounts the castle’s chilling history.
  • The castle was built by Drago, the Baron of Lavoka, “renowned for his cruelty... He lived for one purpose. To kill.” – Marek, [11:13]
  • Central legend: Baron Drago, obsessed with escaping death, is rumored to have made a pact with the Devil.
  • On key nights, a black carriage drawn by four black horses and trailed by wolves appears at the castle. Each visitation coincides with the outbreak of war and a member of the Baron’s family disappearing.
    • Quote:

      “No one saw who rode inside the carriage, but on its heels there ran a pack of snarling, howling wolves.” – Marek, [12:00]

    • The pattern repeats itself every 21 years: the carriage returns, someone disappears, and a great war erupts.
  • The local belief is the Baron never died but is “waiting for the war.” [18:29]
  • Grant is skeptical, but Doris is unnerved:

    “No, I can't bring myself to believe your story... I think it's nothing but superstitious nonsense.” – Grant, [19:23]

4. Exploring the Castle: Descent into the Catacombs

• [21:15–23:43]
  • The next day, Marek leads Grant and Doris to the castle for a tour: massive towers, grand halls, and deep dungeons.
  • The trio descends into the castle catacombs, searching for the Baron’s tomb.
  • Unease escalates; Doris feels watched and cold:

    “It seems colder down here.” – Doris, [23:07]

  • Grant finds a seemingly sleeping man who “is not breathing,” reinforcing the legend.

    “I can’t believe it. This man seems to be sleeping, yet he’s not breathing.” – Grant, [23:53]

5. The Return of the Black Carriage

• [24:04–25:20]
  • As the group tries to leave, they hear haunting noises and wolves.
  • The legendary black carriage appears in the courtyard, and the spectral Baron boards it—eyes fixed their way but ultimately ignoring them.
  • The carriage tears away into the night, trailed by howling wolves:

    “Before our eyes, the carriage wheeled around the courtyard and then thundered across the drawbridge and out into the night, followed by the snarling wolves.” – Grant, [25:20]

6. Prophecy Fulfilled: The Coming of War

• [25:21–27:10]
  • They find their horses and flee back to the village inn. The innkeeper, relieved, proclaims:

    “The carriage drove through here a while ago. I thought you’d all be dead. Providence must have had an eye on us. Well, it will happen tomorrow.”

  • The host reveals the grim twist:

    “The night we saw the carriage in the courtyard of the Castle of Lavoka was August 31st. On September 1st, 1939, the Germans marched into Poland and the Second World War began.”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You are just remembering a lot of stories about old castles and ghosts. There's nothing to worry about, Dor. The man who probably built that castle and all his descendants are only memories now. Memories can't hurt you.” – Grant, [05:07]
• “The animals fear it. That was no dog you heard last night. … It was the warning you heard.” – Marek, [24:09]
• “There are no records of his ever dying… They say he lies at rest in one of the catacombs beneath the castle, waiting for the war.” – Marek, [18:28]
• “The black carriage has appeared each time war begins, no matter where it happens. And in each war, there has been a report of a man who calls himself Baron Lavoka fighting in the battles.” – Marek, [18:45]
• “Before our eyes, the carriage wheeled around the courtyard and then thundered across the drawbridge and out into the night, followed by the snarling wolves.” – Grant, [25:20]

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:39] – Host sets atmospheric tone, welcomes listeners to "The Castle of Lavoka."
• [04:53] – Doris expresses her unease about the castle.
• [07:32] – Innkeeper’s reaction to the castle reveals villagers’ fear.
• [11:13–19:22] – Marek’s full recounting of the castle’s legend and its connection to war.
• [23:53] – Discovery of the Baron’s tomb; Grant shaken by a “sleeping” man who does not breathe.
• [25:20] – The black carriage’s supernatural appearance and departure.
• [27:10] – The link between the legend and the outbreak of WWII revealed.

---

Overall Tone & Style

• The language is dramatic, atmospheric, and steeped in old-fashioned gothic horror.
• Characters express tension, fear, and curiosity in equal measure, driven by both rational skepticism and growing dread.
• The sound design and narration build a sense of encroaching darkness and inevitable doom, culminating in the revelation that legend and history have become disastrously intertwined.

---

Summary

This episode is a masterful showcase of Old Time Radio horror, blending folklore and historical dread into a story where legend comes alive and history repeats itself with supernatural precision. Through expert storytelling, "The Castle of Lavoka" entwines an American couple and their local guides in a mystery of fate, curses, and eternal war, creating an atmosphere “born from the depths of hell itself.”

Transcript

[A]

Oh, stories. Real stories. And murders too.

[B]

Turn out your legs.

[A]

Turn them out. Good evening. Come in, won't you? What's the matter? Surely you're not nervous. But anyway. We are meant to call from out of the past. Stories strange and weird tales of mystery and terror by radio's masters of the maa. Story of the supernatural, the supernormal dramatized night fantasy, the mystery of the unknown. We tell you this Frank, frankly. So if you wish to avoid the excitement of these magnetic play, we urge you our latest series to turn off your radio. Yeah.

[C]

This is the horror Horror stories from the golden age of radio. Every Saturday@ Relicradio.com Our story comes from the hall of Fantasy this week a series that debuted over Kall in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1946 until May of 1947. In 1949 the series returned over WGN in Chicago where it aired until 1953. One hundred and eighty three episodes were produced for the Mutual Broadcasting System. Our story today is from August 22, 1952. It's the castle of Lavoca.

[A]

And now the hall of Fantasy. Welcome to the hall of Fantasy. Welcome to the series of radio dramas dedicated the supernatural, the unusual and the unknown. Come with me, my friends. We shall descend the world of the unknown and forbidden down to the depths with a veil of time assisted and the supernatural reigns as king. Come with me and listen to the tale of the Castle of Leota. One night, shortly after sunset, in the dead of they say, a carriage drove through here. A carriage drawn by four cold black horses. The carriage shoe was black and the driver was clothed in a livery of black. He whipped the horses and drove them as if his life depended on him. No one saw who rode inside the carriage, but on his heels there ran a pack of snarling, howling wolves. He said that Drago, Baron of Levoka, was going to make the pact would sacred himself. In just a moment the hall of Fantasy will present the Castle of Lavoka. And now for tonight's story, an original radio drama by Richard Thorne entitled the Castle of Lavoka. We were on vacation in Europe. It was a warm summer's day. Doris and I had cycled out from town, intending to find some inn along the way at which we'd spend the night.

[B]

What time is it, Grant?

[A]

Let me see. It's about a quarter after four. Doris.

[B]

I think we better find some place to stay before it gets too late.

[A]

Well, according to the map, there should be a little town about a mile away from here.

[B]

Grant?

[A]

Yes, dear?

[B]

Look over there.

[A]

Where?

[B]

Right over there.

[A]

Hey. Why, it's an old feudal castle.

[B]

It's just what it is.

[A]

Hey, let's stop a minute.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Will you look at that?

[B]

I've never seen anything like it.

[A]

It looks like. Well, like history come to life. A walled fortress. Look at those three towers rising up from the walls.

[B]

The whole thing seems to have been built in the form of a triangle. There only seems to be three sides to it.

[A]

From what I can see from here, it looks to be in pretty good condition.

[B]

I wonder how old it is.

[A]

Hey, Door. I've got an idea. It's too late tonight, but why don't we find the inn and then tomorrow morning see if we can't go through that place?

[B]

That sounds pretty good. As a matter of fact, you know, I wouldn't mind spending a day or two around here.

[A]

It's.

[B]

It's beautiful country.

[A]

Well, I say we do it. What about you?

[B]

You twisted my arm. Grant?

[A]

Yes, dear?

[B]

Maybe we shouldn't.

[A]

Shouldn't what?

[B]

Shouldn't go through that place.

[A]

Why not?

[B]

I don't know. It's just that suddenly I. I felt cold inside.

[A]

You're just remembering a lot of stories about old castles and ghosts. There's nothing to worry about, Dor. The man who probably built that castle and all his descendants are only memories now. Memories can't hurt you. When we had first sat the castle, I was quite surprised because there was no indication of its existence on the map I carried. And what Doris had felt, I had felt also. When I first looked upon it, I felt, as she had said, cold inside. What it was, I didn't know. But that feeling had passed, and the only feeling I had was one of enthusiasm for the adventure that was to come. The following day, about a mile from the castle, we found the town indicated on the map. A little place called Laoka. It was no more than a village with a population of a few hundred. The inn was on the other side of the town, and as we pedaled through, the townspeople looked at us curiously. It took us only a few minutes to reach the inn and to enter it. A tall, dark man sat at a table, and he looked up as we passed him. Then he turned away again, obviously lost in thought. We were in a large room full of tables. There was no such thing as a reception desk, save for the bar at one side of the room, which served a double purpose. A bar and a registration desk. A large man with pounds of extra flesh stood behind it. Are you the proprietor? Do you understand English? I do. I was afraid, but I wouldn't it happens that I do.

[B]

Well, we'd like a room for two or three days. I hope you have something.

[A]

All of my rooms are empty, save one. It is occupied by the man you passed on your way in. I would be able to accommodate you. You are American? Yes, that's right. I was surprised to see you. With the world so close to war. We won't be in this one. Perhaps. I do not have many visitors these days. The hospitality of my inn is offered to you. If I may be of service to you while you are here, please let me know.

[B]

As a matter of fact, you can.

[A]

In what way? We passed an old castle on our way here. Do you think it will be possible for us? You must mean Lavoka Castle. Why? Don't know its name. It's laid out in the form of a triangle. Yes, yes, I know the castle. It has a particular significance to the people of this area.

[B]

Well, can you tell us anything about it?

[A]

Later, after you've had the evening meal, you shall hear of it. Come, I shall show you to your room. As he led us upstairs to our room, we passed again the man who sat alone at the table. He was staring at us and made no attempt to hide the fact. If we went up the stairs to the second floor, I wondered why the innkeeper had seemed so afraid when I mentioned the castle. I had no time for further speculation, however, at least for the next hour, our time was spent in cleaning up, and Doris kept talking of other things.

[B]

Well, I'm ready to go back downstairs. Grant, what about you?

[A]

Hey, look at the sunset, Doris.

[B]

Oh, it's a beautiful sight. Grant.

[A]

Grant? Yes?

[B]

Look where I'm pointing to. Isn't that Lavoka Castle?

[A]

Yes, it is. Stands out so in the sunset that it seems to be on fire.

[B]

Grant, did you watch the innkeeper's face when you asked him about the castle?

[A]

He seemed surprised.

[B]

I. I wouldn't call it that. I. I'd call it frightened.

[A]

Perhaps you're right.

[B]

And perhaps we. We should forget about seeing that castle tomorrow. Perhaps we should start back.

[A]

We'll see. You know, Dora, you make it seem so. So serious. We stood there by the window, looking out at the medieval structure that stood there at the base of the mountains. That afternoon, when we had first seen the castle, it had seemed to be a beautiful relic of a dead past. But as we watched it, bathed in the redness of the setting sun, it seemed to be a mass of molten rock. Little by little, the sun slipped down and the gray shades of dusk moved out towards the Castle advancing slowly, covering the walls with the dark shadows of night. Then it was gone from our sight, swallowed up in the darkness. I had a fantastic thought for a moment that Levoka Castle was the dwelling place of. Of death. The meal was excellent and we were both quite hungry. At length. Well, it was over and our host walked over to us. Some brandy, perhaps?

[B]

Not for me.

[A]

You? Or perhaps later. Not now, if you do not mind, I shall join you. Yes, of course. You say you wish to know about Levok Castle. Would you object to another at this table? I mean, another besides myself? Well, no, of course not. Marik. Yes. Marik, come here. What do you want? They desire to know of Lavoka Castle. There are strangers here.

[B]

Yes, you. You must have seen us come in this afternoon. You were sitting right over there at that table.

[A]

Oh, yes, yes, I remember. Please sit down, won't you? Thank you. Yes, I know of the castle, perhaps more than anyone.

[B]

Well, we'd like to learn some of its history.

[A]

I will tell you the story. Then we shall see whether you are still interested in Lavoka Castle. The castle was built centuries ago, sometime in the late 1600s. It was built by Drago, the first and only Baron of Lovoka. A man renowned for his cruelty and his prowess in the arts of war. War was his life, the only life he knew. And he lived for the feel of a strong blade in his hand. He lived for one purpose. To kill. It is said that the only thing Drago feared was death. He dealt with it almost every day of his life. Yet he feared it. He feared the day that he would die. It is said that he made a pact with Satan himself so that he would not die. This is the legend. One night, shortly after sunset, in the dead of winter, they say a carriage drove through here. A carriage drawn by four coal black horses. The carriage too was black, and the driver was clothed in a livery of black. He whipped the horses and drove them as if his life depended on it. Get up there. Get up. No one saw who rode inside the carriage, but on its heels there ran a pack of snarling, howling wolves. Those who saw what happened that night were frightened almost to death. The carriage drove straight to the gate of Levoca Castle. And a huge, huge drawbridge was lowered to admitted entrance. The carriage rumbled across it, but the pack of black wolves stayed outside. They stayed outside and the sound of their howling voices drifted back to these towns. And the people were afraid. People looked up towards the castle and they said it was bathed in an eerie luminescence. The visitor to the castle was there for the better part of three hours. And then the drawbridge was lowered again and the carriage rumbled out. It seemed to be going even faster, and the driver whipped and drove the horses till their mouths were white with foam and their eyes wide with fear. The carriage rushed through the center of the town and the people were so afraid they turned their eyes away, lest by looking upon it they should die. Those who said they heard the sound of a crying baby coming from inside the carriage, but they thought they were mistaken. The following evening, the news was brought to them that the baron's son had disappeared and was nowhere to be found. And as the man stood before them, telling the townspeople of what had happened, the shadows grew together in the night. And from the distance they heard. You are listening to the tale of the Castle of Levoka on tonight's journey down the corridors of the hall of Fantasy. We'll return to our story in just a moment. And now back to tonight's story entitled the Castle of Lavoka. We sat there around the large oak table and listened to a story so fantastic it defied description. There were four of us in that room. The innkeeper, Doris and myself. And Marek, the storyteller. He continued with his story. The shadows grew together in the night, and from the distance they heard the howling cry of a wolf. The face of the baron's servant blanched with fear and he turned and made his way back to the castle. He never reached it alive. Well, of course, this is nothing but legend. Isn't that right? It is legend, yes, but it is also truth. But it cannot. What Marek says is true. I would stake my life on it.

[B]

Let him go on with the story.

[A]

I'd. I'd like a little brandy for it. I thought perhaps you might. For you.

[B]

Thank you, no.

[A]

Now then, go on with your story. By your leave. As I said, they found the servant outside the castle gate and there was a great uproar about his death. But the baron issued an edict that it was never to be discussed. And of course the people obeyed him, for by now they lived in superstitious fear of the baron. I must add that the night the carriage appeared that night the baron's son was carried away. The war began. Of course. The baron went off to the war and distinguished himself in the field. The war was over in due time, and the baron returned to Lavoka Castle. He lived a quiet life in the years that followed, but 21 years to the night his son disappeared, it happened again. Again. It was a cold winter's Night the snow crunched under your feet and the air was brisk and biting. From the north, the wind began to blow. Then, from out of the night, the carriage appeared again. It was exactly the same as that which had happened 21 years before. Get out. Get up there. It was the same driver, the same carriage, and it even appeared to be the same horses. It flashed through the town and up the road leading to the castle. And in the back of it, the devil dogs ran snarling and howling. Until the carriage rolled into the castle. And they sat outside as they had a generation before. But it was not for long, for in a few minutes the carriage appeared again. There was no doubt about it this time, for very clearly the townspeople heard. No. Let me go. Let me go in the name of. And in another moment, the carriage was gone. The following day, the townspeople learned that the baron's wife had disappeared. They knew who had come to claim her. That night, war broke out in Romania and the baron hastened to join the conflict. If I understand you correctly, both times the carriage appeared, war broke out. That is correct.

[B]

What happened then?

[A]

Just as he had done before, the baron distinguished himself in the war and returned to Lavoka Castle. By this time, the Baron was almost 60. Peace reigned for a period of 40 years. And sometime during that time, the baron disappeared. He died? I say he disappeared.

[B]

When did he die?

[A]

There are no records of his ever dying. They say he lies at rest in one of the catacombs beneath the castle, waiting. Waiting? Waiting for what? Waiting for the war.

[B]

The war?

[A]

The black carriage has appeared each time war begins, no matter where it happens. And in each war there has been a report of a man who calls himself Baron Laboke fighting in the battles. That's fantastic. Call it what you will, but when the last war began, the carriage appeared and drove straight up to the castle. I was but a boy then, and I saw it with my own eyes. The night before that, we heard the wolves. Each time the carriage appears, the wolves appear the night before to warn us of its coming, to let us know we should guard ourselves. Now that you have heard the story, do you still wish to visit Lovoka Castle?

[B]

No.

[A]

Yes. I don't care what you say. I can't bring myself to believe your story. I think it's nothing but superstitious nonsense.

[B]

But Grant.

[A]

I'm sorry, darling. I want to visit that castle. If you want, you can remain here.

[B]

No, I'll go with you.

[A]

What about you, Marek? Will you show us the way? Enter the castle with us? You say that in such A way that if I were to refuse, I would appear to be a coward. I shall go with you, American. Tomorrow afternoon will be all right with you? Yes. Let us have a drink to your trip. That's a good idea. Will you join us, Madame?

[B]

Yes, I. I will.

[A]

All right, then do your trip tomorrow. To Lavoka Castle. To La Castle. We went upstairs to our room. Shortly after that, the story Mark had told had been quite long and the hour was late. We went to bed, yet neither of us could sleep.

[B]

Grant?

[A]

Yes, dear?

[B]

Don't you think we should go home soon?

[A]

Why?

[B]

Well, how long have we been over here?

[A]

Since the middle of May.

[B]

Well, this is August 30th. I. I've seen enough of Europe. I want to go home. I think three and a half months is enough time to stay home.

[A]

All right. When we get back to Marats, we'll make arrangements to go home.

[B]

Good. About tomorrow.

[A]

What's that?

[B]

I heard an animal outside.

[A]

Oh, that was just a dog door. Go to sleep.

[B]

All right. Good night.

[A]

It was the following afternoon. For some reason, we hadn't been able to get started until late in the afternoon. It was after 3 o' clock when we started out. We discarded our bicycles in favor of horses, which Marek had been able to procure for us. The trip up to Levoka Castle was uneventful, and within an hour we stood at the edge of the drawbridge looking into the courtyard. Shall we go across? Of course.

[B]

It doesn't show any signs of age.

[A]

It has been perfectly preserved. I'll take you on a tour of the inside. We can leave the horses here. I'll give you a hand, Doris.

[B]

That's all right, Grant. I can manage.

[A]

Now. Just follow me. Mark led across the courtyard and into the gray building. The huge wooden doors were slightly ajar at the entrance, and with an effort Mark pushed them open and led us inside. We were in a huge hall which must have served as both a reception hall and a dining place. From there he led us into the Baron's chambers, his wife's, which formed two sides of the massive triangle. Members of the retinue must have occupied the third side of the triangle. We visited each of the three towers which looked out across the countryside, giving a clear view of anything approaching. Then Marek led us down into the cells beneath the castle. Coming finally to another stairway, he turned to me. This leads down into the catacombs. Well, let's go down and take a look at them.

[B]

Perhaps they.

[A]

Oh, nonsense. Door. We both have flashlights. I see you brought a gun, Mark. Nothing could hurt us. Let's go. All right.

[B]

It seems colder down here.

[A]

Yes, it does. I shall show you where they say Drago is sleeping.

[B]

What time is it, Grant?

[A]

Why, it's 7:30. Yes. We have been in the castle for several hours. We have been down here in the lower sections where there is no light for over an hour. I shall show you the baron's resting place and then we shall return to the inn. This is the chamber where he sleeps.

[B]

Granted, there is someone in here.

[A]

This isn't a joke, is it, Larry? I have never been down here before. It is no joke, as you call it. I want to have a look at him.

[B]

No, Grant, don't.

[A]

I can't believe it. This man seems to be sleeping, yet he's not breathing.

[B]

Let's get out of here, Grant.

[A]

All right.

[B]

I've been nervous ever since I heard that dogmatic.

[A]

You say you heard a dog?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

There are no dogs in this area. No animal will come within miles of the town and castle. The animals feared. That was the dog you heard last night. You mean. We have no time to lose. We must get out of here. Follow me. Yes. It was the warning you heard.

[B]

I knew it shouldn't have come.

[A]

Don't worry. Door. We'll get out of this. I wish I felt that sure. The horses are out in the courtyard. It won't be long now. The horses are on the others. They're. They're gone. What are we going to do? Get back. Back over here in the shadow? Yes. Perhaps you will not see us.

[B]

Grant, the drive.

[A]

Be quiet. What's that? What's that noise? I don't know. The driver's pointing to the doorway. Grant. It's the Baron. Baron Luvoka. He's walking towards the carriage. He's looking this way.

[B]

He's turning away.

[A]

He's getting into the carriage. Get up. Get up. Well. Before our eyes, the carriage wheeled around the courtyard and then thundered across the drawbridge and out into the night, followed by the snarling wolves. We found our horses later and went back to town. When we returned to the inn, the innkeeper was relieved to see us. The carriage drove through here a while ago. I thought you'd all be dead. Providence must have had an eye on us. Well, it will happen tomorrow. What will happen tomorrow? The war. The war will begin. The innkeeper was right. The night we saw the carriage in the courtyard of the Castle of ochre was August 31st. On September 1st, 1939, the Germans marched into Poland and the Second World War began. So runs tonight's, tale of the Unusual, the Terrifying, the unknown. Join us again when next we journey down the corridors of the hall of Fantasy to hear another strange tale of the supernatural. All characters and events portrayed in these programs are fictional and any similarity to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

[C]

You can find more from the hall of Fantasy, the Horror and all of the Relic Radio shows at the website relicradio.com you can find the shows on Spotify, newer shows. Anyway, search for the Relic Radio Network on Spotify or click on one of the Spotify links in the show notes. And while you're there, click on that support link as well. Your support has made this and all of the Relic Radio shows possible since 2007. Thanks to those who have helped out over the years. Thanks for joining me this week. I'll be back tomorrow with Strange Tales and next Saturday with our next episode of the Horror.