The Shiver Show
The Shiver Show brings you the most spine-tingling tales of crime, horror, and sci-fi from the golden age of radio. This was an era before TV, before screens—when families huddled around the radio, hearts pounding, as stories of suspense crackled through the airwaves.
From the 1930s to the 1960s, these Old Time Radio dramas captured imaginations like nothing else—and you can hear them now. Carefully curated and lovingly remastered to cut the static but keep the chills, The Shiver Show brings you the very best of that haunting era.
Co-hosts Mary Labrie and Greg Flynn prise open the coffin lid on what made these vintage dramas so unforgettable: eerie scores, masterful voice acting, immersive soundscapes, and themes that still resonate today.
Press play, close your eyes, and get ready to shiver.
The Shiver Show
Five Fingers - Old Time Radio Espionage
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This week on The Shiver Show, Mary Labrie and Greg Flynn cinch up their trench coats once again and step into the shadowy world of wartime espionage with “Five Fingers” from Lux Radio Theatre (1952).
Starring the incomparable James Mason, reprising his film role, this stylish spy drama is based on the real-life story of the infamous spy with the code name Cicero. Mason plays Ulysses Diello, a suave and deeply opportunistic valet working at the British Embassy in Ankara during World War II. By day, he’s the model servant. By night, he’s photographing top-secret documents and selling them to the Germans. Loyalty is negotiable, and everyone—especially Diello—has a price.
Mary and Greg unpack the fascinating true story of Albanian valet Elyesa Bazna, whose daring espionage earned him a fortune… paid in counterfeit money. Not exactly a retirement plan. They also explore the film’s legacy, from its glamorous 1952 cinema release (directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz) and shot in Istanbul.
Expect clipped accents, coded messages, and plenty of intrigue—though perhaps not perfect sound quality this time! Still, Mason’s velvet performance carries the day. Please join us for this terrific spy thriller.
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