Inner Sanctum Mysteries was a popular old-time radio program that aired from January 7, 1941 to October 5, 1952. Created by Himan Brown, the anthology series featured stories of mystery, terror and suspense. The tongue-in-cheek introductions were in sharp contrast to shows like Suspense and The Whistler. A total of 526 episodes are known to have been produced. The early 1940s programs opened with Raymond Edward Johnson introducing himself as, "Your host, Raymond," in a mocking sardonic voice. A spooky melodramatic organ score punctuated Raymond's many morbid jokes and playful puns. Raymond's closing was an elongated "Pleasant dreeeammsss?!" His tongue-in-cheek style and ghoulish relish of his own tales became the standard for many such horror narrators to follow, from fellow radio hosts like Ernest Chappell (on Cooper's later series, Quiet, Please) and Maurice Tarplin (on The Mysterious Traveler) to EC Comics' Crypt-Keeper in various incarnations of Tales from the Crypt. In interviews, EC publisher Bill Gaines stated that he based EC's three horror hosts not on Raymond but on Old Nancy, host of radio's earlier The Witch's Tale (1931-38). When Johnson left the series in 1946, he was replaced by Paul McGrath, who did not keep the "Raymond" name and was known only as "your host" or "Mr. Host." Beginning in 1945, Lipton Tea sponsored the series, pairing first Raymond and then McGrath with cheery commercial spokeswoman Mary Bennett, whose blithesome pitches for Lipton tea contrasted sharply with the macabre themes of the stories, and who primly chided the host for his trademark dark humor and creepy manner.

THIS EPISODE:

March 7, 1943. Blue Network. "The Black Sea Gull". Sponsored by: Carter's Little Liver Pills. A dying woman promises her husband that she will return from the grave. She does return...several times! The production makes good use of sound effects and montage. The script was originally scheduled for broadcast on February 7, 1943. Peter Lorre, Raymond Edward Johnson (host), Sigmund Miller (writer), Himan Brown (director), Santos Ortega, Ed Herlihy (? announcer). 29:18.

GoDaddy.com - Get 10% Off Orders When By Using Our Promo Code OTR1 (Click Here GoDaddy Promotional For Old Time Radio Network )

GoDaddy.com - Get $5 Off Orders Of More Then $35 By Using Our Promo Code OTR2 (Click Here GoDaddy Promotional For Old Time Radio Network )

GoDaddy.com - Get A Domain For $7.49 By Using Our Promo Code OTR3 (Click Here GoDaddy Promotional For Old Time Radio Network )

PETCO - Get Great Discounts For All Your Pet's Plus Free Shipping On Orders More Than $65.00 (Click Here Petco Promotional For Old Time Radio Network )

EHarmony - Meet That Special "Someone". Buy 3 months and get one FREE at E-Harmony ( Click Here eHarmony Promotional For Old Time Radio Network )

Budget Rent A Car -Get Great Deals With Rental Coupons (Click Here Budget Rental Promotional For Old Time Radio Network )

Brookstone Discount Store - Get Super Deals When You Shop At Brookstone (Click Here Brookstone Promotional For Old Time Radio Network )

HEMP Health Products - To Read And Learn The Benefits Of Hemp Foods, Seeds And Oils, (Click Here For The Old Time Radio Hemp Store )

Berkey Water Filtration Systems - Finest Water Purification In The World. ( Click Here To Research ) Order Toll Free: 888.803.4438 Promo Code OTR1

With Hot Conference, Your Customers Can Talk To You With 1 Click. Test Drive Hot Conference At An Always Open Public Room, Follow This Link

* TO HEAR THESE GREAT SHOWS ON YOUR CELL PHONE OR LAND LINE...CALL 425-905-1567 AND FOLLOW THE PROMPTS.