#FIRESIDEFRIGHTS VOLUME 32 #WeirdDarkness
30 August 2024 - 2 hours 17 minsIN THIS EPISODE: This is a Fireside Frights episode where all of the stories are sent in by you, the listeners of Weird Darkness. Plus, in these episodes I strip away all of the music, sound effects, and other fancy audio production… it’s just you, me, this campfire, and your stories. Send in your own true stories at https://weirddarkness.com/submit
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(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links includ...
THE CLOWN DOLL – And The Laughter From The Closet | #MidnightInTheMacabre
He hated the clown doll his great aunt left him, so he locked it in the closet, which is exactly where the laughing came from. EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/mitm-clowndoll SOURCES and RESOURCES: “I’ve Always Hated Dolls” by Devin Hoover: https://www.creepypasta.com/ive-always-hated-dolls/ WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness. Midnight In The Macabre (MITM), originally aired: August 18, 2026 LIKE WHAT YOU’RE HEARING? WEIRD DARKNESS posts episodes 7 DAYS A WEEK! Listen FREE wherever you get podcasts or visit https://weirddarkness.com/listen. • Paranormal • True Crime • Ghosts • UFOs • Cryptids • Unexplained • Want even more? Become an OFFICIAL WEIRDO for commercial-free episodes, bonus episodes, weeknight live chats, audiobooks & more at https://WeirdDarkness.com/OFFICIAL
7 mins
18 August Finished
Death On The Road | #RetroRadio
Jim Harker kills a traffic constable on a fog-blind road at midnight and drives away without reporting it, and from that night forward every trip down that same stretch of road brings the sound of a police siren only he can hear. Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Lady Bluebeard” (June 26, 1978) ***WD 00:46:20.038 = The Creaking Door, “Death On The Road” (December 07, 1964) ***WD 01:15:09.868 = The Saint, “Conley Silver Mine” (July 31, 1949) ***WD 01:39:33.865 = Theater 1030, “The Pedestrian” (1968-1971) ***WD 02:05:17.574 = 2000 Plus, “The Other Man” (June 07, 1950) ***WD 02:35:51.037 = The Unexpected, “ The Necklace” (1947-1948) 02:47:49.587 = Columbia Workshop, “Carmilla” (July 28, 1940) (LQ) 03:17:15.893 = Dark Venture, “Ten Dollar Bill” (August 14, 1945) 03:46:13.757 = The Weird Circle, “Fall of the House of Usher” (1943) 04:13:26.305 = The Whistler, “Masters Tree” (April 30, 1945) 04:42:57.851 = Strange Wills, “So Deep Stream” (September 28, 1946) 05:12:41.544 = Show Close (ADU) = Air Date Unknown (LQ) = Low Quality ***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing. CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0747
5 hours 13 mins
18 August Finished
A HAUNTING IN SANDTOWN – The Ghost of Mary Jane Reed
On the night of June 24th, 1948, seventeen-year-old switchboard operator Mary Jane Reed went out on a first date in Oregon, Illinois and was never seen alive again, and nearly eighty years later the little river town is still arguing over who killed her – and still reporting that she never quite left. EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/MaryJaneReed READ or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5n7bcv8z FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: In 2016, near the infamous Nazca Lines, an incredible find came to light – not gold or jewels, not remnants of pottery, but a tomb. But what was found within the tomb has raised more questions than answers, as the resident mummies appears not to be human… just humanoid. (The Nazca Three-Fingered Mummy) *** Once in a while you’ll hear of a horrible tragedy and the victim will be described as “ground into mincemeat”. In some case, this is not much of an exaggeration. (Ground Into Mincemeat) *** In 1983 Diane Downs shot her own children – Christie, Danny and Cheryl, in the backseat of the car. Miraculously, Christie Downs survived. (The Survival of Christie Downs) *** When it comes to demonic possession, it’s often chalked up to mental illness – but sometimes the events surrounding the possessed person are so bizarre and unexplainable, you are almost forced to believe in the supernatural. Such was the case with Don Decker. (The Pennsylvania Rain Man) *** Cannibalism – just the word itself is enough to creep you out. Fortunately, cases of it are usually distant, in some far-off, remote, jungle area, done by natives who have yet to discover civilization. At least, that’s what we like to believe. Unfortunately, it happens worldwide, nearer than you think. Like… in America. And in some cases, not so long ago. (American Cannibals) *** The death of a young girl and her boyfriend leave an Illinois town devastated… and it also left behind a lingering ghost. (The Ghost of Mary Jane Reed) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00.00.000 = The Foreboding 00:00:40.145 = Show Open 00:03:09.286 = The Ghost Of Mary Jane Reed 00:17:55.776 = The Pennsylvania Rain Man *** 00:29:45.637 = The Survival Of Christie Downs 00:38:06.795 = Nazca’s Three-Fingered Mummies *** 00:42:54.737 = American Cannibals 00:52:58.187 = Ground Into Mincemeat *** 00:57:59.897 = Show Close *** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps *No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast* SOURCES and RESOURCES: Albert Fish episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/46rmaca3 “The Nazca Three-Fingered Mummy” from TheSchareChamber.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/364kxnar “Ground Into Mincemeat” posted at StrangeAgo.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3rmddv3e “The Pennsylvania Rain Man” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8bz5ez “The Survival of Christie Downs” by Marco Margaritoff for All That’s Interesting:
59 mins
18 August Finished
Six Hours Alone With the Baby and Nothing Left to Eat | #MidnightInTheMacabre
A man whose hunger has never once been satisfied agrees to babysit for six hours… but the food runs out in two hours. EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/mitm-ImAGlutton SOURCES and RESOURCES: “I’m a Glutton” by R. A. Brewster: https://www.creepypasta.com/im-a-glutton/ WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness. Midnight In The Macabre (MITM), originally aired: August 17, 2026 LIKE WHAT YOU’RE HEARING? WEIRD DARKNESS posts episodes 7 DAYS A WEEK! Listen FREE wherever you get podcasts or visit https://weirddarkness.com/listen. • Paranormal • True Crime • Ghosts • UFOs • Cryptids • Unexplained • Want even more? Become an OFFICIAL WEIRDO for commercial-free episodes, bonus episodes, weeknight live chats, audiobooks & more at https://WeirdDarkness.com/OFFICIAL
12 mins
17 August Finished
SOMETHING BEHIND YOU: Phantom Riders and Angry Ghost Lights | #WDRadio
Across the country there are roads where the locals will tell you not to drive alone at night, because something out there takes an interest in the cars that pass. ========== HOUR ONE: A Malaysian Haunted House To Sell *** The brutal death of an African slave brings a curse upon the wooden chest he was ordered to construct. (The Conjure Chest) *** In Tuscaloosa, Alabama there is a home built by slaves that is considered the most haunted in Alabama. (The Haunting of Drish House) *** Drivers are reporting strange, ghostly orbs following them on dark roads. (Haunted Roads and Spook Lights) ========== HOUR TWO: More than a hundred years ago, reports described it as “the most weird and gruesome apartment in the world.” Why display an entire room full of grotesque items and open it to the public? (New York Charnel House) *** Kell’s Irish Pub in Seattle has a creepy vibe to it, even if the displays and decorations inside aren’t meant to be. Perhaps that’s because the building started its life as a massive mortuary. (The Beaux Arts Butterworth Building) *** Early one February morning in 1897, John Mars jumped out of bed from a sound sleep, and while the smell of breakfast cooking downstairs wafted up to the second level of the house, he inexplicably grabbed his pistol and went on a shooting spree of his own family. (The Act of a Mad Man) *** A four-year-old has a paranormal experience… and the man he grew into over 60 years later is still unsure of what happened to him. (The Lady Laughing In My Bedroom) ========== SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: Dang Tan Ngoc is a well-known conman who has used the names of multiple dead soldiers to con veteran groups into giving him money. One identity he stole created a fascinating but dark story. (The Strange Return Of Master Sgt. John Hartley Robertson) *** A woman comes home to find her visiting sister murdered – and police were convinced she was the one who committed the crime. So what went wrong with the case to allow her to get away with it? (Did Ida Do It?) *** A bordello, pizza, and a haunting. You can find them all at the Red Onion Saloon. (Red Onion Saloon) *** Plus, I’ll share two Creepypastas from Weirdo family members. “A Brief History of Egberting” from Louise Latham, and “Dreamality“ from Kara Raisch. ========== SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT’S SHOW: “The Lady Laughing In My Bedroom” by Geof James: https://tinyurl.com/yd4uddnx “New York Charnel House” posted at: https://tinyurl.com/ybsfs68x “The Beaux Arts Butterworth Building” by Meg van Huygen: https://tinyurl.com/y7h2mkyr “The Act of a Madman” by Robert Wilhelm: https://tinyurl.com/y9757b7d “A Malaysian Haunted House to Sell” by Brandon Grimes for Paranormality Magazine: http://weirddarkness.com/magazine “The Conjure Chest” for The Unexplained Mysteries: https://tinyurl.com/m9w2ffg “The Haunting of Drish House” by Amanda Penn for Horror Media: https://tinyurl.com/y8bovtwp “Haunted Roads and Spook Lights” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe: https://tinyurl.com/ydfwg875 “The Strange Return Of Master Sgt. John Hartley Robertson” by Derek Faraci for The 13th Floor: (site no longer exists) “Did Ida Do It?” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder By Gaslight:
1 hour 48 mins
17 August Finished
CURSES CARVED IN STONE: The Dark Side of Egyptian Hieroglyphics
The ancients didn’t just fear death — they weaponized it, leaving behind curses in hieroglyphics meant to haunt anyone brave enough to look. EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/CursesCarvedInStone READ or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3cfn27cp FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: They say grief lingers in the house where children were murdered… but so does something colder, crueler — and far more dangerous. (The Horror of Waupun, Wisconsin) *** In the haunted heart of Edinburgh, there’s a pub where the drinks are strong and the screams are stronger. (The Spirits of Banshee Labyrinth) *** The last person to see Virginia alive passed a polygraph — but his wife said he didn’t come home until hours later. (The Vanishing of Virginia Carpenter) *** Asteroids, alien civilizations, even cosmic plagues — the real terror isn’t what we can see in the sky… it’s what we can’t. (Space Threats to Earth) *** It started with flirtation, turned into an affair, and ended with a gunshot echoing through the cold night air in a Walgreen’s parking lot. (Three Shots In The Night) *** They carved their warnings into stone 4,000 years ago — and now, after centuries of silence, the hieroglyphic curses of the dead are being read aloud once again. But in doing so, are we inviting doom and destruction? (Hieroglyphic Curses) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Short Fictional Story, “Breath of Anubis” 00:11:21.779 = Show Open 00:13:18.068 = Hieroglyphic Curses 00:25:27.966 = The Vanishing of Virginia Carpenter *** 00:32:11.146 = Space Threats To Earth 00:36:45.704 = Spirits of the Banshee Labyrinth 00:42:07.498 = Three Shots In The Night *** 00:47:55.685 = Horror of Waupun, Wisconsin 00:58:32.140 = Show Close *** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps *No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast* SOURCES and RESOURCES: Haunted Rockford YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HauntedRockfordEvents BOOK: “Dark Skies” by Daniel Deudney: https://amzn.to/3XFWUF6 Fictional story at the beginning of this episode, “Breath of Anubis” by ChatterGhost “Space Threats to Earth”: https://anomalien.com/threats-from-outer-space-might-be-fueling-conspiracy-theories/ “Three Shots In The Night”: https://the-line-up.com/murder-of-emmett-corrigan “Hieroglyphic Curses”: https://www.jstor.org/stable/40000520,https://ng.opera.news/ng/en/culture/6aaa5bcd19c53ffa60ffc337d5742fce, https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/ancient-egypt-tomb-saqqara-priest-16826821, https://www.rom.on.ca/en/learning/activities-resources/online-activities/ancient-egypt/religion/tomb-inscriptions-curses, https://www.ancient-origins.net/history/tomb-curses-ancient-egypt-magical-incantations-dead-003228, https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2020/08/06/debunking-the-curse-of-the-pharaohs/, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Execration-Texts, https://www.businessinsider.com/egypt-saqqara-tombs-mummy-curses-2020-11, https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/the-curse-of-the-curse-of-the-pharaoh,https://blog.nms.ac.uk/2017/06/23/ancient-egyptian-tomb-warnings-curses-and-ghosts/,https://listverse.com/2023/06/08/10-creepy-curses-hidden-in-hieroglyphics “The Horror of Waupun, Wisconsin: https://www.hauntedrockford.com/shadows-of-a-murder/ “Spirits of the Banshee Labyrinth”: https://moonmausoleum.com/haunted-spirits-at-the-banshee-labyrinth-pub/ “The Vanishing of Virginia Carpenter” by Troy Taylor (used with permission): https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdzcaez9 (Over time links may become invalid, disappear,...
59 mins
16 August Finished