Little Old Lady by Lights Out

SPEAKER_1 (0:30)

We are meant to call from out of the past. Tales of mystery and terror by radio's masters of the Macan.

SPEAKER_2 (0:41)

Stories of a supernatural, a supernormal, dramatized, a fact, a mystery, the unknown.

SPEAKER_3 (1:01)

Welcome back to The Horror! 19 years of old-fashioned fear every Saturday at relicradio.com.

Thanks for joining me this Saturday. If you'd like to help support this and all of the Relic Radio shows, visit donate.relicradio.com or click on the support link. In the show notes, you make this possible and have since the beginning. Thanks to those who have helped out. Thanks for joining me today. We'll hear from Lights Out this week, a series that debuted in January of 1934 and ran until August of 1939 That was the primary run of the series. It returned in 1942 and was often on radio until 1947 Our story today is from May 25th, 1943 It's titled Little Old Lady.

Arch Oboler (1:48)

Ionized Yeast presents Lights Out Everybody.

Lights Out brings you stories of the supernatural and the supernormal, dramatizing the fantasies and the mysteries of the unknown. We tell you this frankly, so if you wish to avoid the excitement and tension of these imaginative plays, we urge you calmly but sincerely to turn off your radio now. This is Arch Obelisk. Tonight, a strange story about ordinary people. Two girls just like you or your daughter are the girl who works next to you in the office.

Frank Martin (2:56)

But first, Frank Martin.

Arch Oboler (2:58)

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And now, Lights Out, everybody.

SPEAKER_6 (3:54)

Alice, do you think we're still in the United States? I'm beginning to doubt it. Are you sure you got the right address? Of course. Don't be so dogmatic. You have made mistakes. You sound as if you're starting to get annoyed. Oh, I am. You've been driving so long, my back feels as if somebody were doing a big apple on it.

SPEAKER_7 (4:09)

Oh, we'll be there soon enough.

SPEAKER_6 (4:10)

You know, Alice, sometimes that calm nature of yours makes me good and tired.

SPEAKER_7 (4:14)

You sound as if you want to crawl.

SPEAKER_6 (4:16)

Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that I looked forward to this vacation for weeks, and now that it's happening, well, it isn't so much fun. Oh, wait till you get to my Aunt Harry. He's gonna curl up in the alfalfa and sleep for days.

Frank Martin (4:27)

Sleep?

SPEAKER_6 (4:28)

Oh, that's a lovely word. Just imagine, sleeping as long as you want without having to worry about making an 8 o'clock class.

Frank Martin (4:35)

Perfect.

SPEAKER_6 (4:35)

But are you sure you know where your Aunt Harry lives? I've run out of synonyms for, of course I do.

I'd just like to reassure myself. I certainly hope she has off bed. Oh, and that reminds me, you did send her that letter that we're coming.

SPEAKER_8 (4:47)

No.

SPEAKER_6 (4:48)

Say that again.

SPEAKER_8 (4:49)

No, I didn't send the letter.

SPEAKER_6 (4:51)

You mean to say that she doesn't even know that we're coming to stay with her?

SPEAKER_8 (4:54)

Well, I decided it'd be more fun if we sort of surprised her.

SPEAKER_6 (4:56)

Well, of all the brainstorms, walking in on somebody you haven't seen for ten years and expecting her to welcome you. She's my only aunt, isn't she?

But maybe she won't have room for us. Don't be silly. I told you Aunt Harriet lives alone and likes it. Well, maybe she won't like it if we barge in on her. Don't be silly.

SPEAKER_8 (5:12)

Of course we'll be welcomed.

SPEAKER_6 (5:14)

What I've heard, she's a little old darling. When you were eight, she was a darling. For all you know, she's taken the welcome mat in years ago.

SPEAKER_7 (5:20)

Oh, wait a minute.

SPEAKER_6 (5:21)

Didn't you say we were supposed to go down Camden Road three miles?

SPEAKER_8 (5:24)

Yes.

SPEAKER_7 (5:25)

Then you are on.

SPEAKER_6 (5:26)

That sign back there, this isn't Camden Road.

SPEAKER_8 (5:28)

You're silly.

SPEAKER_6 (5:29)

I saw it with my own eyes. It said Pig Snackle Road.

SPEAKER_7 (5:33)

There, see that?

SPEAKER_6 (5:34)

Pig Snackle Road. You are on.