Inner Sanctum: The Dead Are Never Lonely

Los Angeles: Jack Stewart and Associates, Circa 1950. Original radio script for "The Dead Are Never Lonely," episode 474 of season 10 (Sept. 25, 1950) of the popular radio program, "Inner Sanctum Mystery." The series aired from January 7, 1941 to October 5, 1952, and was created by producer Himan Brown. A total of 527 episodes were broadcast, most of them now presumed to be lost, including this one. Brief annotations in manuscript ink to a few pages.

The anthology series featured mystery and horror stories, and its tongue-in-cheek introductions were in sharp contrast to shows like "Suspense" (1942-1962) and "The Whistler" (1942-1955). Early episodes opened with Raymond Edward Johnson introducing himself as, "Your host, Raymond," followed by spooky organ music by Lew White, and each episode punctuated by Raymond's morbid jokes and playful puns. Raymond's closing was an elongated "Pleasant dreeeeaams, hmmmmm?" and his style of narration became the standard for many similar radio programs to follow.

Vittes was a regular scriptwriter during the Golden Age of radio, writing for "The Adventures of the Thin Man" (based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett, 1941-1950), "The Affairs of Peter Salem" (1949-1953), "Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator" (1950-1955), "The Lone Wolf" (1948-1949), and "The Saint' (1950-1951).

Notable Hollywood stars made guest appearances on the show, including Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre, and several films were based on the radio show (itself based on selected mystery novels published by Simon and Schuster), as well as a syndicated television series in the 1950s. Each film starred Lon Chaney, Jr., as a neurologist ("Calling Dr. Death," 1943), a professor ("Weird Woman," 1944), an artist ("Dead Man's Eyes," 1944), a stage mentalist ("The Frozen Ghost," 1945), a scientist ("Strange Confession," 1945), and an attorney ("Pillow of Death," 1945).

Self wrappers as issued, undated, with an agency label and a credit for writer Vittes on the front wrapper. Title page integral with front wrapper. 23 leaves, with last page of text numbered 22. Mimeograph on white stock. Very Good plus overall, corner stapled.

Dunning US. Terrace US.

[Book #135847]