← The Horror! (Old Time Radio)
The Horror! (Old Time Radio)
The Hollow Footsteps by Nightmare
Peter Lorre presents Nightmare on this episode of The Horror. We'll hear The Hollow Footsteps, its story from February 3, 1954. Listen to more from Nightmare https://traffic.libsyn.com/forcedn/e55e1c7a-e213-4a20-8701-21862bdf1f8a/TheHorror1207.mp3 Download TheHorror1207 | Subscribe | Spotify | Support The Horror If you enjoy The Horror and would like to help support it, visit donate.relicradio.com for more information. Thank You!
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Oh, stories. Weird stories. And murders too. Turn out your legs. Turn them out. Good evening. Come in, won't you? What's the matter? Surely you're not nervous? For every car, I think restored, 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. Stories of the supernatural, the supernormal dramatized fantasy, the mysteries of the unknown. We tell you this Frank Franklin. So if you wish to avoid the excitement of these magic play la. Turn off your radio.
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Welcome back to the horror Old Fashioned Fear from the golden age of radio. Every Saturday@ Relicradio.com Our story comes from Nightmare this week series that aired over the Mutual broadcasting system for 52 episodes between October of 1953 and September of 1954. Series featured Peter Lorre. Our story today is the Hollow Footsteps. This one aired February 3, 1954.
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Out of the dark of night, from the shadows of the senses, comes this, the fantasy of fear. Nightmare. Starring as your exciting guide to terror. Peter Laurie. You know, sleep is an interesting thing. Of course, you are aware that the eye of the mind never closes in slumber. It never tires of seeing things, thoughts and ideas. Some of these things seen by the mind are in turn caught by the memory. And we awake with a start. Did it really happen? Or was I dreaming? And sometimes. Sometimes you're never sure. There is Jeff. Jeff, who awoke one morning from a somewhat fitful sleep, awoke to find that he was a very unhappy man. And he searched to find a reason for that unhappiness in those first moments of waking. And the weight of worry and suspicion fell upon his shoulders like a well tailored coat. You are listening to Peter Laurie tell you of the hollow Footsteps, another transcribed story of Nightmare. Now, about this man, Jeff Martin. Really very ordinary fellow and. But something happened to Jack Martin. He awoke unhappy. Not the normal unhappiness of a gloomy day. Oh, no. But a deep, bleak kind of unhappiness that reaches down into the crevices of the soul. I wonder just what could be causing all this sudden distress. He acts almost like a man who's being followed, huh? Let's find out. Jess, that new Cinemascope is playing at the Grand. Like to see it this week, would you, Jeff? What did you say, Ellen? I wouldn't hear a word I said. I'm sorry, dad. Look, what's the matter? I don't know. If you ask me, you're coming down with one of those viruses. Don't you want to run to Dr. Parsons? Yes. Tomorrow yes. Promise. I promise, Gloria. Good. Because I think what I said. I promise. He said glory. Huh? He said, I promise, glory. No, no, no, I didn't. He's in your mind again, isn't he? He's in your mind again, Ellen. You can't forget him. You just never forget. Ellen told me you slip. Please, Ellen. Slip. You're always making a slip. Always that same slip. It always doesn't happen often anymore. It doesn't happen at all. I'm sorry, Ellen. She's in your mind, isn't she? Yes. Get her out, Jeff. I will do. Where you going? Out for a walk. Maybe drop in, see Sam. Sorry, I've lost my temperature. It's all right. Try it. Try it again. You gotta find out. You gotta make sure. There. There they are. There she is. Don't turn yet. Don't turn your head. Faster. Faster. See, this is following you. Just slow down now. Restore window now. Now, look. Turn your head slowly. Look carefully now. There she is up the street. Get closer to. Get closer to Now. She's going away, Father. Go away. Come here. Goria. Goria gone. Thanks. Now, what's it all about? Nothing, Sam. I'll be all right. Look, Jeff, I'm your friend. I know, I know. I don't want to pry, but if there's something the matter, some way I can tell, Sam. Thanks. Well, I'm listening. Did you ever think you were being followed? Solid. What do you mean? Well, I mean, did you ever have the feeling that somebody was following you? Not Jeff. After all, I told you, you'd think I was. I didn't say anything like that. Wait a minute, will you? I'm sorry. Matter of fact, I've experienced that feeling at times. I think everybody thinks of. Yes, I do. Got another drink? Sure. Something that doesn't amount to anything. You're sure doing a lot of drinking about it. I'll be all right. Well, how's Ellen these days? Ellen? Ellen's fine. Which reminds me, I better get back. I told her I wouldn't be long. Thanks for the drink, Sam. Don't mention it. I left my coat here someplace. Yeah, here it is. Oh, yeah. Look, you want some company on the way home? I give you some air, huh? Yeah. Yeah, that's an idea. Walk back with me, Sam. That's a good idea. Well, I think you'll be all right, Jeff. Probably just nervous, like you said. Working too hard, that's all. You have a slow bear. Yeah, maybe. Lots of people have feelings like this every once in a while. It's so Real. So real it seems so real when she comes. She? Who? A woman. See? You're being followed by a woman. Yeah. Let's see what you're so worried about. If you take my advice. Wait a minute. Wait. You hear? Hear what? Listen. I don't hear a thing. Walk a few steps. You hear her? She's there. She's there behind us. Yep. I can turn around. Quick. There she is. There she goes around that corner. I'll get her. You wait here. You saw her. You saw her. Sam, I. I can't understand it. What's the matter? I just can't understand it. What? Sam, what? She was on to go. No place to hide. Gloria. What? I saw her face this time. It was Gloria. Gloria? But it can't be, Sam. It couldn't be, could it? Gloria's dead. Been dead for 15 years. You see? Now. Now you have part of the answer. J is being followed and. And by a woman. Well, a man should not mind too much if he's being followed by a woman. There's no such thing as an uninteresting female. Women are so. What is the word? Well, let's see what I. Oh, yes, yes. So Jeff Martin is being followed by a woman. Being followed till he finds himself trapped. Trapped in a living nightmare. Now, let's see. Where were we? Oh, yes, yes. There must be a reason why some strange female is so interested in him. Hey, I know of a way to stop that woman's constant pursuit. You know, women are always so fond of pretty kerchiefs. Yes, but why would a woman follow such a plain man as Jeff Martin? Well, let's find out. Ready for coffee? Are you ready for coffee, Jeff? Do you want coffee or don't? Oh, yes. Yes, thanks. What's the matter, Jeff? Do you believe in ghosts, Ellen? Ghosts? That people can come back. Come back from death to haunt. To follow you until. Jeff, I think you better see a doctor. You don't believe me, do you? Believe you? How could I just say there's aren't any things like ghosts. You know that as well as I. No. No, I don't. You do. I know you do. It's just that you're upset, that's all. You're upset and you won't face what's really upsetting you until you think of. It's not true, Ellen. I know it's not true because I'm being followed by one. Followed by a ghost. She's back, Ellen. She's come back to haunt me. Who, Jeff? Gloria. You're thinking of her. Again. You just won't let her alone, will you? You won't let her be dead. You have to keep thinking about her, reminding yourself about her and reminding me. That's not it, Ellie. Don't tell me what's true and not true staring us in the face. Jess. You still love her. You want her. Ellen, please. You don't stand her. But that you're not to grant her. But she's dead. She's dead. Jesse's dead, and the dead don't come back. Ellen, please. Ellen. Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry. I lost control. It won't happen again. How can I be jealous of a dead woman? It's impossible, isn't it? It's silly. I just wish you'd stop saying your name in front of me. Jeff. I wish you'd stop. Ellen, believe me, I'm not deliberately. She's come back, I tell you. She. She follows me on the street. Ellen. It's true, Jeff. I don't want to hear any more about it, please. Phone screen. Huh? Phone. Oh, I'll get it. Hello? J. J? Hello, Jess. Who is this? Yes, darling, who is this? Who is it? Jeff. Jeff, what's the matter? Nothing. Who was it? Who was on the phone? Gloria. It was Gloria. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Listen, it was Gloria. She's come back. Stop it. Don't tell me it was Gloria or Gloria's ghost. Ghosts don't use the telephone, Jeff. They don't have. Listen to me, Ellen. No listening. Why are you doing this to me, Jeff? I don't know why, but I won't take it my problem. I'll leave, do you hear? I'll leave you, Jeff. I don't know what to do, Sam. I just don't know what to do. Well, the only suggestion I have is this man. Cole. Gerald Cole. I don't know. Why don't you try him? He's a medium, something like that. No, not exactly. I wouldn't call him a medium. He deals with the same problems. He approaches them from different angles. He's a scientist, Jeff. Very scientific. No phone. I think he'd be able to help. I think so. But there aren't any such things as ghosts, Sam. I know it. I know there can't be ghosts. Then what's the explanation? I don't know. You think there are ghosts, Sam? Do you believe in them? Well, let's put it this way. I don't disbelieve. Remember what Shakespeare said? There's stranger things in heaven and earth. Yeah. Yeah. You want to see Cole? I Can set up an appointment. All right. All right. I'll try anything once. I have to do something expensive. Money doesn't matter, Sam. Nothing matters now but my peace of mind, my marriage. I've gotten. Do something. Tell Cole I'll see him the same. Always been the same. Footsteps following me. When I turn around, she's there. Just for a second. I see her. And she's gone. You've tried to follow her? Yes. Yes. Never successfully. She. She just seems to disappear into thin air. I see. And he's called you on the phone? Yes. You recognize the voice? A mistake. I see. Obviously an electrophonic ectoplasmic phenomena. What's that? Well, you needn't understand the terms. Ghost is good enough. What can I do, Rose? Cole, what can I do? We mustn't rush it. This requires careful consideration. Will you take the case? Well, I'm not sure yet. But you've got to. You've got to help me. Of course. Of course, Mr. Martin. I'll try. But there are a number of things to do. First, we'll have to have one or two more consultations. Full history detailed on the basis of the fact. I'll know better how to approach it or whether to approach it at all. Sometimes this procedure can be, well, dangerous. If the person had to severely aggressive nature, for example. I'll have to know all about it. What do you want to know? Everything. In cases of electronic ectoplasmic phenomena, we need to know everything. If there are complications of nuclear nature, we must proceed carefully. Very carefully. How much? How much will all this cost? That depends on what we find in the preliminary consultations. This interview will be $500. The next, perhaps 700. Twelve hundred dollars. A heavy drain on my powers. Mr. Martin, you must understand that cases of electrophonic ectoplasm are difficult. All right, I'll go through with it. Good. I think you've made a wise decision. But you must tell me everything. Yes, yes. Now, let's get started, shall we? The woman's name? Gloria. Gloria Denim. Denham. And when did she die? 15 years ago. Now, Mr. Martin, what exactly was your relationship to her? We were engaged to be married. I see. And, of course, you must have had disagreements, fights at times. Will you tell me the exact nature of such arguments? $500. I had him to take care for him, like all your reasons. It's the only way, Ellen. Believe me, it's the only way. I've got to beat this thing. I can't let Gloria go on. I'm excited, sick and tired of Hearing about Gloria and Gloria's ghost. You're just trying to hurt me, Jen. No. You're trying to hurt me and ruin yourself. Let me. Ellen. Hello, Jeff. Jeff, darling. Who is it? Who is it? Who is it? Ellen? It's Gloria. It's Gloria. I heard her voice. But it's impossible, Jeff. It's impossible. Is it? And then what happened? I. I left. Yes, I just left, that's all. I have a feeling there's more to it, Mr. Martin, and you must tell. No, no, there's no more to it. I told you, I left. I just left. I never saw her after that. Now, come, come, Mr. Martin. There must be something you're holding back. Robert, will you. I'll have to drop this case if you don't tell me. All right. I killed her. Is that what you want to heal? Did you? Yes. Yes. Yes, I killed her. That night. I. I killed Gloria Denham. Now, how are you satisfied? I killed her. I killed her. And that's why she's come back after 15 years. Confession is always good for her soul. For her, so I'm told. If Martin the guilty king. Too much for you, didn't it? Like a stone around your neck. What are you going to do? Oh, poor Jeff. Poor Jeff. He's being followed. Followed by guilt. Followed until he's found himself Craft trapped in a living nightmare. People. People. Oh, there are so many different kinds of them. And so many of them look like so many of the rest of. And a few look exactly alike. Have you ever come face to face with someone in a crowd who looks exactly like you? Perhaps you've met someone who looks like a person you knew? Or someone you knew very well. A person very close to you. For a split second, you are gripped with terror. It cannot be true. And you know why. It may be for the same reason Jeff Martin has. That person is not alive. I wonder what poor Jeff will do. And then? Well, she fell. Fell hard. First I thought she was only unconscious, but then when I couldn't bring her to, I knew. I knew she was dead. That was when I left. I left the apartment. Nobody ever questioned me. I was in the clear. I thought I never heard about her again. Have a drink, Mr. Martin. Here you are. Thanks. In a way, it's a relief. Relief to tell somebody it's been bottled up all these years. That's how I feel. Better, of course. Well, I guess you better call the police. Now, Mr. Martin, please don't be so hasty. There may not be any need to call the police. I killed her. I'm a murderer. Yes, yes, I know, I know. But we must recognize who. The old police haven't bothered you for 15 years. Why, in my trouble now. Gloria's back. That's the trouble. Gloria, we can deal this. We can. A difficult case, but I think I can do it. Yes, we must conduct a seance and put this ghost to bed once and for all. How much will it be? $4,000. $4,000? Oh, no, no, I can't. Now, you're a man of means. But that's all the money I have in the world. It's more than I've got. All right, all right. I won't trust you. Mr. Martin, if you feel you can't afford it, you know best. But I feel it my duty to point out the risks you are running. The possible danger remain. You see, these cases of electrophonic ectoplasm are unique. And there are definitely nuclear photon complications. The woman Gloria has achieved. After 15 years of sonic and visual representation. She's obviously a strong positron framework, an exceptional amount of beta, gamma omega energy reserves. She will attain a material representation. And then. Well, then what? She has the power to kill. But if you can't afford to say aunt. Mr. Martin, I understand these things. I'm sorry I can't be of any more help, but my time is. Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait. I'll go through with it. Say yes. Yes. When can you do it? Tomorrow, if you like. We'll need a strong rife energy frame to resist the power. All right. See you tomorrow, then. Now, if you'll all be seen at any particular place, you over there. Mr. Lacy and Ms. Martin will take the central seat. Yes, yes, Mrs. Martin. Thank you. Now, I think we're about ready. Do we hold hands or anything? As I've informed your husband, Mrs. Martin, I'm not a medium. My work is scientific. No, we don't hold hands. Oh. If you just place your palms on the electrodes, we'll have the contact we need. I sit here, you see, next to the controls. It's by means of these controls that we achieve the contact with the electrophonic ectoplasmic beam. I see. Gloria has succeeded in rearranging her energies into a representation of the life form once again. A remarkable feat, if I do say so. But on the other hand, she's put herself in danger. We can trap her by means of this machinery, you see? A complicated circuit, but essentially an arrangement of cathodes and anodes that'll create a magnetic flux and draw her into our sight. Trapped I can't go through with it. No, I can't. Let me out of here. Just sit down. Ellen. Ellen, I can't. Sit down, Jeff. Sit down. All right. All right. Now, I think we're ready. Mr. Lakey, will you turn out the light? Sure. Good. Now I'll set the controls. Now, please don't be frightened. What's that? Just adjusting the frequency, Ms. Marsh. She can bury her wavelength Susanov that way. She tries to evade her, but we don't get her. What's that? She's nabbed us. She can't escape now. Let me out of here. Sit down. Sit down. I want to see her. There she is, an outcast. Gloria. Yes, it's Gloria. She's fluorescent. She. Gloria. What do you want? Why don't you leave me alone? Why? Why do you. Oh, J. You can't call my husband, darling. Be quiet, Ellen. Me, poor darling. Care if I for you. That's why I came back. If I didn't want it. You certainly succeeded. The poor man hasn't had a day's peace for money. Sorry. I didn't mean it. I know that. That's why I came back to kill you. I know. Daughter. My d. Stop hurting. All his life you couldn't hold him. But I. Did you hear that? You. You had me. Oh, dear. Darling, I feel so sorry for you. Oh, if I could only come back completely and make me so happy. God and spicy will destroy the image. That's what I intend to do once and for all. Ellen. Go. Get off the king of the light. Turn in the light for doctor. What a death for life. No, no, no. Don't you go away, stupid. Kill me like, do you? Oh, with pleasure. Now you can turn off that fresh machinery, Mr. Cole, and disconnect that microphone. Microphone? Yes, yes. I don't need it any longer. Do we, Gloria? Yes. There's your ghost. She's as alive as I am. Well, you're alive is questionable. Shut up, Gloria. I, I, I, I don't understand. You're not dead. All right, Mr. Cole. Now you can return my husband's $4,000. Well, now. Well, what? Nothing. Of course I'll return it. This is your fault, lady. You suggest his wife be here. Don't blame me, Cole. I did my best. You were in on it too. You. You. Now, wait a minute, Jeff. There's a better way to wind this up. Go on, Jeff. Don't just stand there. Oh, yeah. Now, really, Mrs. Martin. Is this Mrs. Eddy? It was only little Jean, but the last on you. Oh, for heaven's sake, look what she did to my nylon. Oh, good. Hello? Hello? Police? And so it was an awful dream the poor man had one that left him running crazy mad. Do not be afraid or harbor doubts about the mind Unless the eye of the mind goes blind. Go your way and see quite free. These things never happen to you or me. Well, I do hope you'll sleep tonight. No, I will. I think I'm feeling warm before I retire and then off to some pleasant dreaming.
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That's the Horror for this week. I hope you enjoyed the story today. You can find more from Nightmare, the Horror and all of the other Relic radio podcasts@ Relicradio.com our shoutcast stream is up and running there as well, with even more old Time Radio lots to listen to, all for free. Thanks to your support. If you'd like to help out, visit donate relicradio.com or click on one of the links on the website. Thanks to those who have thanks for joining me this week. Be back tomorrow with Strange Tales and next Saturday with our next episode of the Horror.