Inner Sanctum Mysteries
(1941-1952)
Anthology / Mystery / Horror / Suspense
Cast: Himan Brown, Raymond Edward Johnson, Paul McGrath, Mary Bennett, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Claude Rains, Frank Sinatra, Orson Welles and Burgess Meredith
526 Episodes beginning with the eerie creaking door!
Sound effect: A door with squeaky hinges is slowly opened. Organ begins to play.
Raymond: Good evening friends of the Inner Sanctum . This is Raymond, your host. I'm glad you came tonight, because we have a very special guest of horror with us. I'd like you meet the late Johnny Gravestone. The most celebrated member of the Inner Sanctum Ghost Society. He's the best haunter of the all. Johnny's the tall figure in the white sheet wearing the blue ribbon. He's haunted everything from a palace to a telephone booth. And uh, if you're very nice to him, he'll be glad to consider giving your house the once over. Who knows? He might even haunt you? Ha-ha-ha-ha!
(Commercial)
Raymond: Well, we're about to begin our story. Oh, I forgot to warn you about the Tremblins. They're those pesky, invisible cousins of the gremlins. They uh, saddle up to you, give quick little shoves, and give the false impression that you're trembling. If you're being troubled by a Tremblin, just grab him by his invisible little horns and stick him into the nearest pin cushion
Inner Sanctum Mysteries was a long-running anthology series broadcasting shows of mystery, horror and suspense . Over a total of 526 episodes, Raymond Edward Johnson would introduce himself after the telltale sound of a creaking door. This creaking door effect would penetrate the collective psyche of America and go on to be used as a staple for radio and TV shows for years to come.
Inner Sanctum Mysteries blended campy horror with sardonic comedy, a running theme which transitioned well when the show became sponsored by Lipton teas. Mary Bennett did the spots for Lipton tea, and the sunny , cheerful spots evoked quite a contrast from the shows content.
Many later stars would appear in the roster of actors for the show , some that you might expect, like Peter Lorre or Boris Karloff, and others you might not, such as Burgess Meredith and Frank Sinatra. Inner Sanctum Mysteries made the transfer to television in 1954. Himan Brown also resurrected the show in the 1970's as CBS Radio Mystery Series.
