Lights Out December 29, 1937 - The Dark

"The Dark," an episode of the radio horror series Lights Out, aired on December 29, 1937, over the NBC Red Network. Written by Arch Oboler, this gruesome tale is one of the series’ most infamous, known for its shocking and macabre imagery. The story begins with a prank call to an ambulance, leading a doctor and a policeman to a dark, seemingly abandoned house. Inside, they encounter a nightmarish scene: a man turned inside out, his body grotesquely inverted by a mysterious, slimy darkness that defies explanation. As the sinister force—a creeping, sentient mist—spreads, it threatens to consume others, with chilling sound effects like slurping and squelching amplifying the horror. The episode explores themes of human curiosity and the consequences of confronting the unknown, culminating in a terrifying climax where the darkness claims its victims. Oboler’s innovative use of sound and visceral storytelling makes this a standout in radio horror history.

Note: The original 1937 broadcast recording is lost, but a shorter version was recreated for Oboler’s 1962 album Drop Dead!. The summary is based on descriptions from radio archives and the recreated script, which retains the core plot.

Cast and Crew
Cast:
Lead actors: Likely included Boris Karloff, Mercedes McCambridge, or other NBC radio regulars (specific actors for this episode are not documented, though Karloff was involved in Lights Out during this period)

Supporting roles: Filled by NBC stock players, possibly including Lou Merrill or Betty Winkler

Announcer: Not explicitly credited, likely an NBC staff announcer

Crew:
Writer/Director: Arch Oboler (primary creative force behind Lights Out in 1937)

Producer: NBC Red Network, overseen by Arch Oboler

Music: NBC house orchestra, likely arranged by Leith Stevens or another network composer

Sound Effects: NBC sound effects team, using innovative techniques like adhesive tape for skin-ripping sounds or wet cloths for the mist’s slurping

Note: Exact cast and crew details for this episode are not fully documented. The above is based on Lights Out’s standard production team and recurring actors during the 1937 season, with Karloff’s involvement noted in contemporary sources.

News in the United States (Week of December 29, 1937)
Economic Recession: The "Roosevelt Recession" deepened, with industrial output falling 20% from 1937 peaks. President Franklin D. Roosevelt urged Congress to expand New Deal relief programs, facing pushback from budget-conscious lawmakers.

Labor Issues: The United Auto Workers organized sit-down strikes in Michigan, targeting General Motors. Negotiations stalled, with violence reported at some plants.

Disney Triumph: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, released December 21, 1937, continued its record-breaking run, with theaters packed for holiday showings. It was hailed as a cultural milestone.

Holiday Season: Christmas retail sales were strong despite economic woes, with radios and toys leading purchases. Charities reported increased donations for unemployed families.

Aviation Advances: A Pan American Airways Clipper completed a test flight to New Zealand, signaling expansion of transpacific routes, though overshadowed by Amelia Earhart’s earlier disappearance.

News in the World (Week of December 29, 1937)
Sino-Japanese War: The Nanjing Massacre, ongoing since mid-December, saw horrific atrocities by Japanese forces, with estimates of 200,000 civilian deaths. Western journalists began reporting the scale, sparking outrage.

Spanish Civil War: The Battle of Teruel continued, with Republican forces holding the city against Franco’s Nationalists. Freezing temperatures and heavy snow worsened conditions for both sides.

Nazi Germany: Adolf Hitler tightened control over the economy, with forced labor policies expanding. Propaganda campaigns intensified, targeting Jewish communities and political dissenters.

British Foreign Policy: Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain faced criticism for appeasing fascist regimes. Talks with Italy aimed to secure Mediterranean stability, but Mussolini’s support for Franco complicated efforts.

Soviet Purges: Stalin’s purges claimed more victims, with thousands of military officers and intellectuals arrested or executed. The Soviet press celebrated “progress” while concealing the chaos.

Sources: The summary is based on Lights Out’s 1937 season details from radio archives, including Old Time Radio Downloads and Escape-Suspense.com, with plot details from the 1962 Drop Dead! recreation and Project Audion’s 2023 recreation of the 1938 script. Cast and crew are inferred from standard Lights Out production records and Wikipedia’s overview of the series. News is drawn from historical accounts of late December 1937, including economic data, cultural events, and international developments from newspaper archives and academic timelines.