1943-2-28 The Touch of Death

Broadcast February 28th 1943 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: Stedman Coles and Max Ehrlich

Announcer: Ken Roberts

Cast: Bill Johnstone (Lamont Cranston/The Shadow) Marjorie Anderson (Margot Lane)

Music: Elsie Thompson

Synopsis:

Having been responsible for the conviction of a killer, Lamont meets with the victim’s widow and brother who give him twelve hours to apply his detective skills to locate The Shadow…or else. Lamont is forced to commit to the detective work but the brother, Lucius, reveals he has the “touch of death” — everything he touches dies instantly. Following a trail of deaths caused by Lucius’ “touch,” Lamont discovers the whereabouts of the killer and finds he is a victim of a clever trap designed to catch the man responsible of his brother’s conviction — The Shadow. Confessing the deaths were bait to lure him to a secret room, Lucius reveals his knowledge of Lamont Cranston, alias The Shadow. The invisible avenger uses his strength to force the killer to remove his gloves, which contain small needles dipped in an untraceable poison from the Amazon. Realizing he is foiled, the criminal takes his own life with one of the gloves.

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Note:

Max Ehrlich wrote the initial draft, and Stedman Coles wrote the revised version which was broadcast on February 28th. Oddly, the first draft written by Max Ehrlich would later be used as initially intended for “The Blue Plague” broadcast April 20th 1952.

This script is performed again on April 28th 1946 with Bret Morrison as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow & Lesley Woods Margo Lane