Upcoming Podcast and Just Who Was Charles Dickens?

Ron’s Amazing Stories has an upcoming podcast that will look at the Charles Dickens classic The Christmas Carol in a whole new way. If you are not familiar with the story, it is about a mean-spirited and selfish old man, Ebenezer Scrooge, who hates Christmas. One cold Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by ghosts to show him the error of his ways. We are going to take that classic Christmas story and turn it on its head. How are we going to do that? It will be the topic of a brand new Ghost Stories With Sylvia. Sylvia and I are going to combine real-life ghost stories with Dicken’s storytelling! I can honestly say I don’t know what will happen. I do hope that you will join us for this event. Be watching the website, Facebook and Twitter for date and time.

Now let’s talk about Charles Dickens.

Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English writer. He created some of the world’s best-known fictional characters, including Ebenezer Scrooge, and is one the greatest novelists of the Victorian era. Born in Portsmouth, Dickens left school at the age of 12 to work in a factory after his father was incarcerated in a debtors’ prison. After that, he began his literary career as a journalist. Dickens edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories, and non-fiction articles. He lectured and performed readings extensively, was a tireless letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children’s rights. Dickens’s literary success began with the 1836 serial publication of The Pickwick Papers, a publishing phenomenon that sparked Pickwick merchandise and many spin-offs. Within a few years, Dickens had become an international celebrity, famous for his humor, satire, and keen observation of character and society. His 1843 novella A Christmas Carol remains especially popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre.

About Sylvia Shults: Sylvia is a Librarian, Author, and Ghost Hunter. She has spent a lifetime in the pursuit of the weird and strange. Her non-fiction works include Ghost of the Illinois River, Fractured Spirits, Fractured Souls, 44 Years in Darkness, Hunting Demons, The Spirits of Christmas, and her latest release Days Of The Dead. All of her books are available on Amazon and you can find out more on her home page.

Sylvia’s Links: Facebook, Twitter, Blog Site, Amazon Author’s Page

This Week’s Podcast: On the show this week we will play a classic OTR episode of X-Minus One. It is based on the idea that you are the last person on earth and there is a knock on the door. One of science fiction’s greatest questions is: Who is at the door? Tune in this Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link

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The Pegleg Ghost

Our story for this edition of These Are Your Stories comes from Orlando Florida. It first appeared in Episode #358 – The Mightiest Man. This is one of the more terrifying stories we have had over the years and It was submitted by Lizzie Martinez.

Hi Ron, My name is Lizzie. My husband has been an avid listener of your show for months and has been raving about it. So, I started listening to your podcast too. I am a little person. The only one in my family. Since I was about three or four years of age I have had the ability to see and speak to spirits. I am sensitive to their presence. Because of my experiences growing up I started investigating the paranormal and later started my own business. When I was a young girl my family lived in a small house. I had no room of my own so I had a bed in my parents’ bedroom. I saw some unexplainable things in that room at night. The first I remember is what I can only describe as the Grim Reaper.

This creature would stand near the end of my bed and just stare at me. It wore a felt-like cloak shrouding its face and arms. The thing would come nightly, but then it suddenly stopped. Something else began to come for me instead, and It was even more terrifying. It came to hurt and torment me and made sure that I couldn’t scream for help. Each time it came I would fight to free myself from its grasp. When I finally broke free I would jump into my parent’s bed and lie between them.

This new creature would watch me from the foot of the bed between the rails and glare. Looking back at it I believe it was still the Grim Reaper from before. It had transformed itself into a blonde-haired, blue-eyed little boy who had a peg leg. Yes, you read that right a peg leg. Just like a pirate.

Close your eyes and imagine a small child hearing footsteps approaching from the kitchen. With each small step, there was a loud clop that dragged upon the ceramic floor. Your heart races faster and you begin to feel almost out of breath. You hear that thing-child step down from the kitchen into the room and peek from behind the dresser that blocked the doorway’s view. That blonde-haired boy with blue eyes slowly walked around the side of the dresser and then just stood there with a smile on his face. That smile changes to a frightening and menacing smear. You want to run but there’s nowhere to go. His demeanor changes yet again. That look and that grin make you realize that something bad was going to happen. Your voice disappears. You can’t even scream to wake your parents to protect you. Then that blue-eyed boy charges at you. He removes that horrible peg leg and hits you over and over again.

I would get free. I could hear him, behind me, chasing me as I climbed in between my parents. There he would stop, stand at the end of the bed, and look through the railings swaying back and forth. We would lock eyes for what seemed like an eternity. Eventually, I would wake up and it would be morning. As each new day came I’d forget about the night. But when it was time to go to bed I’d remember why I was afraid to go to sleep. I would fight with my mom to stay up. She would think that I was just being a difficult child and send me anyway. I couldn’t find the words to explain to her what was going on.

We did eventually move up the street from that crazy little house and you would think that would have solved my ghost problems. Well, not so much, but that is another story for a different day.

Lizzie Martinez – Orlando Florida

I really don’t know what to say about this one. We have had a number of stories like this, but none has affected me quite like this. When I read it, somehow, it feels like it was happening to me. I don’t know how else to explain it. So very terrifying and it rings true. Lizzie thank you for sharing this story, it truly is amazing.

-Ron

This Week’s Podcast:

On the program this week we have a science fiction story that fits right in with today’s news. It is titled The Roads Must Roll and depicts a society dependent on the transit system of the time, and what could happen if that system were interrupted. Sound familiar? You can listen to this podcast on Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link

Social Links:
Main Podcast Site by LibSyn
The Blog Site by WordPress
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Contact Links:
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Story Submissions
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The Ghost Of Fort Warren

Our story begins during the Civil War, around 1861 when a young Confederate soldier was captured and imprisoned at Fort Warren on George’s Island in Boston. When no one would help the man’s young wife get in touch with her husband, she decided to rescue him herself. Her name has been bandied around a lot, but most people say it was Melanie Lanier.

The legend is that she took the train up to Massachusetts, where she is said to have stayed overnight in Hull with the island fort visible from the shore. The next day she dressed in men’s clothing, caught a boat across to the harbor island, and found her way into the fort. Apparently, she was able to free her husband from his cell, but during the escape attempt, they were caught. She attempted to shoot a soldier who was trying to intercept them and instead the gun misfired and she killed her own husband. It was then discovered she was a woman, and that she would be executed as a spy. They dressed her in a black cloak before she was executed, and she was hung seven days later.

Fort Warren was owned by the U.S. federal government until 1958. In 1961, It was reopened to the public after initial restoration. Today, the state maintains and administers the property, which is the centerpiece of Boston Harbor. The fort is reachable by ferry from various locations around the harbor. Transfers are then available for those who wish to visit the actual site.

Visitors to Fort Warren say Melanie’s ghost still haunts the fortress and that she is said to be a very violent ghost. Reports are that when she’s been spotted she lashes out by pushing and people have experienced scratches and cuts.

Thomas Godwin, who is a New England history professor, visited the fort in 2009 with a few of his students. This is his story:

We were permitted to research and investigate Fort Warren on Georges Island in 2009. We were allowed full access and our investigation was not limited to daylight hours. The plan was to try to validate claims of ghost activity and find evidence of the paranormal. I selected several students to join me. Our investigation went flawlessly and we found no evidence during our stay at the fort. It was an enjoyable experience and most felt well worth the effort. We collected nearly 20 hours of video, audio, and other data which we planned to review as a group. We thanked the caretakers and left the island.

When we returned home we began the long arduous job of review. We decided to be vigilant and each piece would receive no fewer than three examinations. Everything was clear except for one recording made at the Bartlett Battery. While no one knows for sure where Melanie was hung, one of the plausible locations was at this battery. The investigators were having trouble with the recorder and talking about how poorly the interface was laid out. In the background, an angry woman’s voice clearly says, “What are you doing here anyway!” After reviewing the project logs it was determined there were only two people on that battery at that time and both were men.

I know that this is not much of a story, but I hope your listeners will find it interesting.. Thank you for your podcast. I admire the work you do.

Thomas Godwin – Boston.

This Week’s Podcast:

On Ron’s Amazing Stories this week we have a collection of your stories with a Scottish slant. While none are connected they sure will have you saying, Humm? You can listen to this podcast on Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link

Social Links:
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The Man From Planet X

The Month Of Spooky 2021 continues this week with the annual retelling of one of my favorite old time radio classics, The Thing On The Fourble Board. This time we shake it up a bit with commentary by Sylvia and Myself. You will hear some insights about the story that should be enjoyable or at least unusual.

On the blog this time we have a story from our old friend Tom Williams. If you will remember he was raised in the south, but now lives in Berlin, Germany. Tom sent this one some time ago and has become one of my favorites.

Hello again Ron, I am not sure if you would like a little humor to your show, but give this a try, it is about aliens you know!!! Here is my scary (Funny) story. . . . .Tom

I was 8 years old in 1951, and I went to see the movie, The Man from Planet X. This particular time I was alone. I stepped up to the Cashier and purchased my ticket ( a whopping 25 cents). Then went to the refreshment counter and popped for two bags of Popcorn (another whole 30 Cents), and finally proceeded down the aisle to find the best seat for viewing. As I walked down the aisle, I noticed that the movie had just started the credits. I sat in a seat near the center of the theater.

The lead Actor in the movie was just pushing his bicycle down a hill. The scene was a dark and foggy countryside and the background music was of the usual scary variety. He then saw a saucer shaped disk, shrouded in fog in the dale below. The actor walked around the saucer looking into the lighted porthole windows as he went along. Suddenly, he looked into the face of the Alien! The background music was so startling that I actually threw both bags of popcorn into the air.

The next thing I remember I was standing outside the movie house wondering how I got there. I gathered my wits and was about to go back in to finish watching the Movie, but the manager refused to let me back in, even after I showed him my recently purchased ticket. I never got to see the movie I had paid for, and I only had enough money left for the Bus fare home.

Oh’ how I longed to see that movie. Finally, after 60 years, my Brother-in-law was able to send it to me. My taste has changed over the years and it was a disappointing movie, to say the least. The Film wasn’t scary and the copy I have has a different beginning for some strange reason. That goes to show you that memories are sometimes better than the actual event.

Keep up the Entertaining podcasts and all the best,

Tom from Berlin, Germany

Well thank you Tom for your story. I am quite familiar with your movie. I love to watch classic sci-fi films from the 50’s. My favorites being The War of The Worlds and When Worlds Collide. While they don’t terrify like they did way back when. To me they are very special. The Man From Planet X went into production on December 13, 1950, at Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, California, and wrapped principal photography six days later. In order to save money the film was shot on sets for the 1948 Ingrid Bergman film Joan of Arc. They used artificial fog to change moods, plot locations, and to hide the lack of backdrops. Not your high budget film. It was released again in 1953 which might explain why the opening of the film was different in your version. I am not sure about that though.

The Podcast:

You can listen to the podcast on Thursdays at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link

Social Links:
Main Podcast Site by LibSyn
The Blog Site by WordPress
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Contact Links:
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The Buck Rogers Poll – Closed

On Episode #485 – Dagger Heart Station we played the the first three episodes of a Buck Rodgers story titled The Gyro-Cosmic Realivator. After that show I asked you come here and take poll. What I want to know is if you would like to make the serials of the golden age of radio a recurring part of the show. For now I am only interested in how you want to complete this story. Please take a moment and vote. Thank you for reading – Ron