A popular radio show in the 1940's coming on late at night (after the 10:00 news, CST) "I Love a Mystery" was typical of the radio drama shows of the pre-television
times. We sat spell bound listening to them describe the sometimes frightening always dramatic and mysterious adventure in the night's episode. Instead of special effects they had sound effects --a block of wood scratching on sandpaper, a small hinged door they could slam, a sheet of metal they could bend to sound like thunder, two blocks of wood snapped together for footsteps, etc. We believed the sounds were real as we used our imaginations to reveal the scenes.
"Inner Santum" a scary mystery radio show featured a spooky squeaking door as the intro. Orson Wells Theater, frequently featured scary shows--a favorite radio actress was Mercedes McCambridge who had an unusual hypnotic voice.
The black and white mystery and crime movies of the time featured tough guys like Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart and George Raft, speaking lines like "take this you dirty rat" as they emptied a '45' into their victims, whereupon the victims would dutifully collapse in agony
Radio mystery shows were an audio extension of mystery novels and films were the visual counterparts. The radio shows and black and white movies have gone their way, but the mystery and crime novels are still here and are thriving with new authors and plots.
What is behind the fascination with murder, death and mayhem enjoyed by the meekest of readers and God- loving patrons? The answer is elusive, best left to the psychologists and sociologists. Even though the stories are gripping and absorb the reader into the described scenes, the reader knows the material is fiction--not
reality.
Modern movies have departed from the 'let's pretend' motifs and depict murder,
death, mayhem and blood in living color, with ever more life-like special effects.
Oh well, just re-mincing. . . .
With Love and Kindness,
THE HATMAN
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