1938-12-18 Guest of Death

Broadcast December 18th 1938 on Mutual at 5:30 p.m. EST sponsored by D.L. & W. Coal Company "Blue Coal" and syndicated for the summer by Goodrich Tires

This episode is included in Radio Spirits CD Set The Shadow: Dream of Death*

Written by: Brian J. Byrne

Announcer: Ken Roberts

Cast: Bill Johnstone (Lamont Cranston/The Shadow) Agnes Moorehead (Margot Lane) Ann Helfrin, Thomas Coffin Cooke

Music: Rosa Rio or Elsie Thompson

Synopsis:

Mr. Keezy has a grudge against the state. He served as state executioner for thirty-seven years, longer than any other employee. Having recently been relieved of duty, the humiliated Keezy was demoted to the job of tour guide, giving visitors a chance to sit in the decommissioned electric chair. Keezy, a student of fear psychology, has coupled his knowledge with the victim’s own natural fear of the electric chair and produced a paralysis that stops the heart of his victims. Using an assumed name, Lamont becomes the next visitor and Margot goes crazy when she discovers that he became the latest victim. At Keezy’s cliffside house, The Shadow tortures the former executioner — even appearing as Lamont Cranston — to make Keezy believe Lamont is a ghost. Frightened, Keezy jumps through the window and falls to his death down the cliff. Later, Lamont explains to Margot that he secretly worked with the warden to keep his death a “fact” long enough to seek out a warrant against Keezy and find proof of his deed.

Listen to this episode

Note:

This episode would later be rewritten as “A Pass to Death” broadcast February 6th 1944.

*This episode is also available on The Murray Hill Anthology of The Shadow