“THE BUTCHER OF BUCHAREST: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON” and More Disturbing True Stories! #WeirdDarkness

“CROOKED BONE” BY GERALD KERSH: A man’s twisted leg hides a darker twist in his past — and what he finally reveals will make your skin crawl. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. IN THIS EPISODE: I’ve been looking forward to cracking open this one, because it’s from a book I received recently from my bride, Robin. She was at an estate sale and came across something she immediately knew I’d want… a book entitled “Alfred Hitchcock Presents A Month of Mystery”. It’s very much like his TV show where he shared short stories from numerous authors. This anthology was published in 1969, with stories dating back as far as 1936. You'll most definitely be hearing more of these in future episodes because I love old creepy stories like these. In this episode it’s a story by Gerald Kersh originally published in 1968. It’s called “Crooked Bone”. SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Crooked Bone” is by Gerald Kersh from the anthology, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents: A Month of Mystery” by Random House: https://amzn.to/3hZSBjM ===== (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 included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness. ===== Originally aired: May 28, 2021 EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/CrookedBone

They preserved him like a rare species — but when death entered the exhibit, the real panic began. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. IN THIS EPISODE: “Knock” by Fredrik Brown starts with a short-short story based on the following text of Thomas Bailey Aldrich: ***“Imagine all human beings swept off the face of the earth, excepting one man. Imagine this man in some vast city, New York or London. Imagine him on the third or fourth day of his solitude sitting in a house and hearing a ring at the door-bell!”*** Fredric Brown condensed this text to read "a sweet little horror story that is only two sentences long". Brown’s short story then goes on to elaborate on those two sentences and builds a more complete plot around them. “Knock” was originally published in the December 1948 issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories. There have been three different radio adaptations (Dimension X, X Minus One and the Sci Fi Channel's Seeing Ear Theatre). And now it gets another adaptation – in this episode. The story was also reprinted in The Best Science Fiction Stories: 1949. SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Knock” by Fredrik Brown: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4cc9433d ===== (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 included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness. ===== Originally aired: May 20, 2021 EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/knock TAGS: weird darkness, weird darkness podcast, post-apocalyptic fiction, last man on Earth, alien zoo, sci-fi horror, psychological thriller, alien invasion story, end of humanity, weird fiction, speculative fiction, classic sci-fi, survival story, dystopian future, extraterrestrial captivity, thought-provoking horror, science fiction short story

The headstones don’t speak — but something beneath them remembers, and it’s not done watching the living. Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate *** DOWNLOAD THE FREE PDF For This Episode's Word Search Game: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p867jcx DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. IN THIS EPISODE: Cemeteries are more than just resting places for the dead; they are steeped in history, emotion, and, some believe, paranormal activity. We’ll explore the eerie tales and scientific theories that make these hallowed grounds a focal point for ghostly encounters. (Unveiling The Secrets of Spirits At Cemeteries) *** Ever driven down a dark, winding country road and felt the hair on the back of your neck stand up? It’s very possible you did if you were traveling down Sleepy Hollow Road. This isn’t the Washington Irving tale of a hamlet in New York State – this is an infamous road in Kentucky with eerie legends of ghostly hearses, time warps, satanic rituals and haunted bridges. (The Sleepy Hollow of Kentucky) *** In the picturesque village of Bennington, Vermont, 18-year-old Paula Jean Welden disappeared on a chilly December afternoon in 1946. The case took many twists, including a fruitless search in the wilderness, misleading clues, and even the formation of the Vermont State Police due to criticism of the investigation. To this day, Paula's fate remains unknown. (Vanished: The Unsolved Disappearance of Paula Jean Welden”) *** In 1968, Spain experienced an unprecedented wave of UFO and humanoid sightings that left many mystified, terrified… and mesmerized. From encounters with mysterious figures in homes, to bizarre sightings outdoors, 1968 had the entire country of Spain talking about aliens from outer space. (1968: The Year Of High Strangeness) *** Despite humanity's efforts to control nature, sometimes the natural world pushes back in unexpected and chaotic ways. From a pigeon poop-induced blackout in Japan to a squirrel terrorizing a Welsh town, animals can disrupt our lives… and sometimes in humorous ways. (Man Vs Nature – When Animals Wreak Havoc) *** On a stormy night in April 1893, two condemned prisoners at Sing Sing Prison blinded a guard with pepper spray, and executed a daring escape down the Hudson River that left authorities baffled and the public enthralled. (The Great Escape From Sing Sing) *** You seemed to like my new film noir story idea, so I have another Murder Noir tonight – based on a true case from Halloween Day, 1981 when 11-year-old Karl Heikell told his parents he was going for a walk in Calumet, Michigan. He never returned home. (Murder Noir: The Case of the Vanishing Trick-or-Treater) *** Did pterosaurs, the ancient flying reptiles, truly vanish millions of years ago, or do they still soar through our skies? We’ll look at claims of modern-day sightings, some controversial theories, and a tantalizing photograph that challenges their extinction. Could these prehistoric flying giants still be among us in hiding? CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate and Only Accurate For the Commercial Version)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:00:46.290 = Show Open 00:04:10.752 = Unveiling The Secrets of Spirits In Cemeteries 00:15:33.766 = The Great Escape From Sing Sing 00:20:33.377 = Vanished: the Unsolved Disappearance of Paula Jean Welden 00:26:46.114 = The Sleepy Hollow of...

Scientists have been poking around in the human brain again… and this time, it might end with talking toasters, telepathic Wi-Fi, and your Amazon Echo placing orders if you as much as daydream. Read the article: https://weirddarkness.com/makingrobocop/ WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.

A man caring for roses accidentally creates worms that grow to monstrous proportions and develop a taste for human flesh! Hear the story from The Devil and Mr. O! | #RetroRadio EP0390 Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness and #RetroRadio:https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate and Only Accurate For the Commercial Version)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:01:50.000 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Ferret” (January 26, 1976) ***WD 00:48:05.369 = Confession, “Leo J Fowler Case” (August 30, 1953) 01:17:48.459 = Sounds of Darkness, “The Fish That Flew” (January 27, 1970) 01:43:40.249 = The Devil and Mr. O, “Revolt of Worms” (October 01, 1971) 02:15:16.149 = Dimension X, “The Last Objective” (June 03, 1951) 02:55:32.369 = The Strange Dr. Weird, “The House Where Death Lives” (November 07, 1944) (LQ) 02:55:32.279 = The Creaking Door, “White Scarf Strangler” (1965) ***WD 03:23:40.639 = The Eleventh Hour, “Jewel Robbery” (1941-1946) ***WD 03:53:50.709 = Escape, “The Log of the Evening Star” (March 14, 1948) 04:24:30.589 = Everyman’s Theater, “The Women Stayed at home” (December 20, 1940) ***WD 04:50:08.939 = Exploring Tomorrow, “Overpopulation” (April 09, 1958) ***WD 05:08:51.129 = 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. Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness. = = = = = CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0390 TAGS: old time radio, otr horror, classic radio shows, vintage radio dramas, old radio mystery shows, 1940s radio horror, golden age radio, old time radio crime, horror radio shows, creepy old radio shows, true crime radio, supernatural radio plays, noir radio episodes, suspense radio classics, gothic radio dramas, macabre old time radio, haunted broadcasts, classic horror stories, spine-tingling radio, retro suspense tales, chilling audio drama, eerie radio mysteries, nostalgic thrillers, paranormal radio hour, best old time radio horror, top mystery radio shows, scary vintage radio episodes, listen to old radio horror, crime radio shows from the 1940s, old time radio podcasts, Weird Darkness Presents, retro horror podcast, creepy vintage audio, disturbing old radio, classic crime podcast