RAS #717 – Captain Blood… and Ron’s Fizzy Rebellion

This week on Ron’s Amazing Stories we step aboard a ship loaded with adventure, rebellion, and old-school Hollywood charm. Our feature comes from Lux Radio Theater and is the radio adaptation of the 1935 classic Captain Blood, starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. Both reprise their roles, bringing the swashbuckling tale to life all over again.

We take a moment to explore the real history behind the story—its roots in the Monmouth Rebellion, the fictional-yet-inspired character of Dr. Peter Blood, and the bold musical choices of composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold, whose groundbreaking score helped usher in the era of full symphonic soundtracks.

And at the end of the show, we answer a listener email from John Pierce of Oklahoma City, who wants to know why Alan Ladd ranks so highly on my personal list of Hollywood greats. I give my take in a short segment you won’t want to miss.

What On This week:

Featured Story: Captain Blood from Lux Radio Theater
Behind the Scenes: The historical backdrop of the Monmouth Rebellion
Film Music Spotlight: How Korngold changed movie scores forever
Listener Email: Why Alan Ladd still stands tall

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible – You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you’re from. I will read it if I can. Links are below.

Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron’s Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin.

Program Info: Ron’s Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can 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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RAS #716 – The Box 13 Double Mystery

This time on Ron’s Amazing Stories, we bring you a special Box 13 double feature suggested by listener Pete Toreck from Miami, Florida. We kick things off with the very first adventure Dan Holiday ever tackled, The First Letter. Then we follow it up with one of the most listened-to stories of the entire run, The Professor and The Puzzle. Between the two tales, we take a humorous look at the advice columnists of the 1950s—those brave souls who solved life’s everyday mysteries one letter at a time.

This episode also marks a milestone: we close out the last known radio acting done by Alan Ladd. Known is the key word—because the world of old-time radio is full of surprises. I may continue with more Box 13 stories in the future, and if you know of any Ladd broadcasts I haven’t covered, let me know!

In This Episode

Box 13 – “The First Letter”
The pilot episode that sets Dan Holiday’s unique career of adventure in motion.
A Look at 1950s Advice Columnists
A lighthearted break exploring the real-life letter-solvers of the era.
Box 13 – “The Professor and The Puzzle”
A classic episode featuring mystery, danger, and a reclusive professor.
Alan Ladd Milestone
Wrapping up the known Ladd broadcasts—with room for future discoveries.

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible – You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

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RAS #715 – Office of Strategic Services

This week, Alan Ladd returns for his fourth appearance on the podcast, stepping into the role of a covert agent in the Lux Radio Theater adaptation of the 1946 spy drama O.S.S. It’s classic wartime intrigue, delivered with the steady intensity only Ladd could pull off.

We take a quick look at the real OSS, the film behind the broadcast, and why Ladd continues to impress every time he shows up on the show.

In This Episode

Alan Ladd takes on a covert wartime role
A brief look at the OSS and its legacy
The origins of the story and its Bond connection
The full Lux Radio Theater production of O.S.S.

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible – You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

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RAS #712 – Into the Inner Sanctum

This week marks the final chapter of our Month of Spooky, and we’re ending it with a creaking door and a chill in the air. It’s a double dose of fright from one of old-time radio’s finest — Inner Sanctum Mysteries. We’ll hear two unforgettable tales:

Dead Man’s Vengeance (October 7, 1944) – A chilling story where the host himself, Raymond, becomes the target of a supernatural hit list.
The Corridor of Doom (October 23, 1945) – Starring the great Boris Karloff, this haunting tale follows a man lost in a hospital corridor that may lead straight into madness.

Between the stories, Ron dives deep into Inner Sanctum’s eerie history — its creaking doors, its pun-loving host, and its strange ability to make us both laugh and shiver. He also reflects on why we like to be scared and what keeps these old tales alive more than 80 years later.

So, pull up a chair, dim the lights, and join us for one last visit to the shadows.

What You Will Hear

The chilling world of Inner Sanctum Mysteries
A discussion on why fear entertains us
Insights into Boris Karloff’s legendary career
Classic audio from two of radio’s creepiest stories
A fond farewell to the Month of Spooky

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible – You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

Social Links:
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RAS #711 – Comedy and Creeps

This week on Ron’s Amazing Stories, we bring you a haunted double feature that’s equal parts laughter and fright!

Our first tale stars Bob Hope in the Screen Directors Playhouse adaptation of The Ghost Breakers (April 3rd, 1949). It’s a spooky romp filled with witty one-liners, mistaken identities, and a manor full of “boo”s and belly laughs.

Then, we trade laughter for goosebumps with Suspense’s Ghost Hunt (June 23rd, 1949). A radio host spends the night in a haunted mansion where the echoes might be more than just sound effects. It’s one of the creepiest stories ever broadcast.

Between our two stories, I’ll be talking about why we love to scare ourselves, how humor helps us face our fears, and a few real-life haunted homes that continue to keep the lights on—and the whispers going. So, grab your flashlight and your funny bone—because this week we’re exploring Comedy and Creeps: A Haunted Double Feature.