THE SQUEAKING DOOR (Inner Sanctum)

THE SQUEAKING DOOR

INNER SANCTUM MYSTERY, WORKSHOP OF BLOOD AND HORROR, SPECIALIZES IN WHOLESALE MURDER

TUNE IN SUN. 8:30 P.M. E.W.T. (BLUE)

When Inner Sanctum Mystery was only a few weeks old, a woman listener sent a can of oil to the producer, Himan Brown. Said she did not mind the blood and ghoulishness of the program, but that darned door sent shivers down her spine. That was intentional, of course, and it is unnecessary to add that nothing has been done about oiling the ghostly hinges since the program was born, January 7, 1941. It is estimated that fifteen million spines are chilled by the blood-curdling slaughter that takes place weekly on this terror-show.

It began with an accidental thought that occurred to Producer Himan Brown while he was browsing around the sound effects shop for unusual backgrounds to incorporate in another of his programs. He happened upon a terrifyingly squeaking door, made a mental note to use it some day, and did when asked by a sponsor to submit an idea for a new show. The conception of having a “Host” to ‘escort’ listeners through the eerie portal to the chamber of horrors, and taunt then for their squeamishness, was a natural follow-up, and Raymond Edward Johnson was chosen for the role. Originally titled The Squeaking Door, the name was changed when a tie-up was effected with Simon & Schuster,
publishers of Inner Sanctum mystery novels, Three scripters, Milton Lewis, Sigmund Miller and Robert Newman, alternate on the show, and only occasionally does any other author appear. Brown himself usually conceives the idea for each story and works it out with one of his typewriter slaves.

Tall, fair, amiable Raymond Edward Johnson, born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, 1911, is one of the fine actors of the air. In addition to his Inner Sanctum work, he is currently appearing on Broadway in The Patriots, in which he has the lead role of Thomas Jefferson. Married to radio actress Betty Caine, they have one son and live at Chappaqua, New York, from which Raymond commutes daily. Himan Brown, not yet thirty-three, is one of the most prolific producers in radio. New York born, raised and educated, he is a graduate of the College of the City of New York. Studied law but flunked his bar exam and decided to get into radio instead. In the past sixteen year hard-working Himan Brown has presented more than fifteen thousand radio programs and once had thirty-five of them going each week. Claims he never once got his characters mixed. A lone wolf, Brown has never had an office or a staff, handling all details and correspondence himself. He also produces The Thin Man and Bulldog Drummond, and has two five-a-week series, Joyce Jordan and Green Valley, USA, which is government-inspired, and is his first sustaining program. Despite his prodigious role, Brown is practically unknown to the listening public, and is something of a mystery even within the industry, where he almost has a corner on radio horror programs.

Youthful, active Himan Brown’s greatest ambition is to be an actor, and he secretly looks forward to the day when one of his actors will fail to show up and the moment will come at last for him jump in as substitute. Up to the present writing his actors have remained health. And so, consequently, have his programs.

<RAYMOND, YOUR HOST, INVITES YOU TO AN EVENING TERROR>

< LESLEY WOODS AGAIN, ARMED TO HER VERY BEAUTIFUL TEETH>

<LESLIE WOODS, AN INGENUE WHO TURNED MENACE FOR INNER SANCTUM>

<PETER LORRE, WHOM YOU WOULDN’T WISH TO MEET IN THE DARK      MARTHA SCOTT IS OFTEN A FEATURE OF THIS TENSE SHOW>

<LON CHANEY, JR., IS PRODUCING A SPECIAL SHILL FOR HIS VICTIMS       CLAUDE RAINS, WHO HAS APPEARED STRONGLY ON PROGRAM>

<AN INNER SANCTUM CONFERENCE, FEATURING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, HI BROWN, RAYMOND EDWARD JOHNSON AND CLAUDE RAINS>