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Lights Out is an American old-time radio program devoted mostly to horror and the supernatural.
Created by Wyllis Cooper and then eventually taken over by Arch Oboler, versions of Lights Out aired on different networks, at various times, from January 3, 1934 to the summer of 1947 and the series eventually made the transition to television. Lights Out was one of the earliest radio horror programs, predating Suspense and Inner Sanctum, and was the first to gain a large following.

Category

😹
Fun
Transcript
00:00The National Broadcasting Company takes pleasure in presenting Mr. Boris Karloff
00:04in the third of a special series of Anniversary Lights Out broadcast.
00:10Tonight, at the urgent request of hundreds of listeners,
00:14we bring you a repeat broadcast of the strange play
00:17which you have chosen as a highlight of all the Lights Out series,
00:23Cat Wife.
00:26Lights Out.
00:28Everybody.
00:58Lights Out.
01:00You can stop me from cuddling too.
01:24You can treat me meaner
01:25It's all right
01:26Now you need room
01:27Girls, girls, cut it out, cut it out
01:30I don't want to park till now
01:32Oh, I'm going to talk to you
01:34I ain't just lying
01:34I ain't just lying
01:35I ain't just lying
01:35I ain't just lying
01:36I ain't just lying
01:36Cut it out of you
01:37Your husband will be
01:38Tanned down here in a minute
01:39Come on, Queenie
01:40We'd better blow out of you
01:41Yeah, I guess he better call him
01:42No, no, don't go, don't go
01:44I don't want to be alone
01:45What do you mean alone?
01:46Your husband's in the next room, ain't he?
01:48Oh, that guy
01:49What does he know about having fun?
01:50Work, work, work
01:52Makes me sick where I've never been sick before
01:54Oh, come on, get sick or wrong
01:57Let's have some more fun
01:58You can't stop me
01:59Oh, she has the most marvelous
02:01Linda, by heaven's sake, Linda
02:05Well, speak of the devil
02:08Hiya, Johnny boy
02:09Come on in
02:10The water's fine
02:11Only it ain't water, huh?
02:14Linda, by heaven's sake
02:15I'm trying to work
02:16Oh, go away
02:18Go away
02:19You're spoiling my party
02:20Throw him out of here, Kenny
02:21He's only my husband
02:22Get out of here, you
02:25Take that other woman with you
02:26Go on, come on
02:27Come on, come on
02:28No, no, wait
02:29Don't listen to him
02:30It's my house
02:30It's my house
02:31You
02:33You kicked them out
02:36My friends
02:38You kicked them out
02:40Linda, haven't you any consideration at all?
02:43I begged you
02:44Pleaded with you
02:45To try to keep these people out of the house
02:47While I'm getting some work done
02:48And you persist in doing just the opposite
02:50You kicked them out
02:52My friends
02:54Yes, yes
02:55I kicked them out
02:56And I'll do it again
02:56Every time I find them here
02:58They're no good
02:58You've given me your word
03:00Time and time again
03:01To give them up
03:02I'll call them back
03:03I'll call them all back
03:04You can't tell me what to do
03:06Not me
03:07They're my friends
03:08Mine
03:09I'll give a dozen of you
03:10For one of them
03:11All right, Linda
03:12If that's the way you feel
03:13I guess you and I
03:14Have finally come to the end of the road
03:16You haven't got a grain of loyalty in you
03:19All I ask is a little peace and quiet in my own home
03:22And I can't even have that
03:23Ah, go away
03:25Go away
03:25Night after night
03:27You and those people
03:28Yowling and screaming like a pack of alley cats
03:31And you the worst of all
03:32I'm through, Linda
03:34I'm through with you for good
03:35Oh, no, you're not
03:38Oh, no, you're not
03:43Keep away from me
03:45Keep away
03:47Oh, Linda
03:50Gee
03:53You're not through with me at all
03:56You'll never be through with me
03:59Never
04:00Oh, Linda
04:03Linda
04:05No
04:06No, let me go
04:08Let me go
04:09I don't want you, you fool
04:12You're not through with me
04:14I'm through with you
04:16No, no, Linda
04:17I'm tired of you
04:18Do you hear me?
04:18I'm tired of you
04:19I'm gonna get so far away
04:21From that smug face of yours
04:23That I couldn't see it with a telescope
04:25Linda, my wife
04:26Your wife
04:27Why do you think I married you?
04:31I thought you loved me
04:33I married you because I was sick
04:35Of working in a two-bit barbershop
04:36Because I was sick of living in a hall bedroom
04:38Wearing bargain sale dresses
04:40I wanted dough
04:40Plenty of it
04:41All I could get
04:42And you were the best chance to get it
04:44That came my way
04:45No, no, Linda
04:46You did love me
04:47You must have loved me
04:48I loved you about as much as that canary up there
04:50Loved you to please
04:51I told myself I'd stay with you years
04:54Divorce you
04:55Stick you up for plenty of alimony
04:56And then get out
04:56But we've been married five years
04:58Yeah, five years
05:00Because you fooled me
05:01That's why
05:02I fooled you
05:04Yeah
05:05You started to make a lot of money
05:08More money than I ever thought you could make
05:10So you're giving me the air, huh?
05:16No, no, Linda
05:17I love you
05:18I'll always love you
05:19I didn't mean what I said
05:20Well, I did
05:21Oh, Linda
05:21Don't leave me
05:22You're no good
05:23I know you're no good
05:25But heaven help me
05:26I love you
05:26I'll never love anybody else
05:28Get out of my way
05:29No, no
05:30I won't let you go
05:31You've got to stay
05:32Take your hands off me
05:33No, no, good
05:34You've cost me my self-respect
05:36But you'll stay with me
05:37You'll stay with me
05:39Or I'll cut you off and out of a cent
05:40You won't get a dime from me
05:42Not a dime
05:43Stop that
05:45Stop laughing
05:46Oh, you Sam
05:48You fat-headed Sam
05:52Stop that
05:54You're going to cut me off without a cent, are you?
06:00Oh, you fool
06:01I've got everything that belongs to you now
06:03You hear me?
06:05Everything
06:06What are you talking about?
06:07What are you saying?
06:09This house
06:09It's in my name, isn't it?
06:12The car
06:13It's in my name, isn't it?
06:15I know, but
06:15Oh, no, you wouldn't
06:19Oh, wouldn't I?
06:21Well, listen to this, my darling husband
06:23I cleaned out the bank account yesterday
06:26Every cent of it
06:28I won't be in the street
06:30You will
06:30Now, this is my house
06:32Get your things and get out of here
06:33I'll kill you
06:35No, stop it
06:35I'll kill you
06:36Don't you come near me
06:37Let me go
06:38Let me go
06:38Ow
06:39You touch me again
06:45I'll tear your eyes out
06:46You
06:47You
06:48Cat
06:49Get out of my way
06:50That's what you are
06:51A cat
06:52A big, white, heartless cat
06:55You think like one
06:56You screech like one
06:57You claw like one
06:58You even look like one
06:59A cat
07:01That's what you are
07:02A great, white cat
07:03I didn't marry a woman
07:05I married a cat
07:06Now, keep it up
07:07Keep it up
07:08You're doing swell
07:09Laugh at me
07:11Go on, laugh at me
07:12But you're a cat
07:13A sneaky, yowling cat
07:16Now, listen up there
07:20You stop saying it
07:22A cat
07:22A cat
07:23You hear me?
07:24A cat
07:25Stop tearing me like that
07:28Stop tearing at me
07:31John
07:36What's happening to me?
07:41John
07:42My head
07:44I can hardly see
07:47John, help me
07:50John
07:51Linda
07:52What are you staring at?
07:55What are you staring at?
07:57What are you
07:57Mia
07:58Linda
08:00Linda
08:02Oh, now, John
08:15You've got to control yourself
08:16Everything will be all right
08:18Oh, doctor
08:19What have I done?
08:20What have I done?
08:21John, please
08:22Pull yourself together
08:23You're not entirely to blame
08:25For what's happened
08:26All I do
08:28I did it
08:30I'm to blame
08:31Stop talking like that
08:32It's preposterous to say you're to blame
08:34She was hysterical, John
08:36And the suggestion that she was a cat
08:39Caught her in an unguarded moment
08:40And resulted in a temporary neurosis
08:42Oh, doctor
08:44She's got to get well
08:45She's got to
08:46Of course, she'll be all right
08:48A little rest
08:49Quiet
08:50And in a few days
08:51It'll all be forgotten
08:52Is she
08:54Is she sleeping?
08:56Yes
08:57I gave her a sedative
08:59She's resting very comfortably
09:00Can I go in and see her?
09:04But I tell you, she's sleeping, John
09:05I know, but
09:07Oh, I've got to see her
09:10I've got to look at her
09:11I've got to make sure she's all right
09:13Don't you see?
09:14I've got to make sure
09:16John, please
09:17You've had a hard time with it
09:19You'd better get to bed
09:20And get some rest
09:21Oh, no, doctor
09:23Listen to me
09:23I've got to see her again
09:25I've got to make sure
09:26That she's all right
09:27I can't rest until I know
09:29I tell you
09:30Oh, very well
09:32Just for a moment
09:33Yes
09:34Be very quiet
09:38Yes
09:39There
09:41See?
09:43She's resting very nicely
09:44Doctor
09:48Look
09:50What?
09:51Her hand
09:52Look at her
09:54Her hand
09:54Her
09:55Her claws
09:56Her teeth
09:57Her teeth
09:58Linda
09:59No, no, no, John
10:00You'll waken her
10:00Linda
10:01Listen to her
10:18Steady, John
10:18I can't stand it
10:21I tell you
10:21I can't stand it
10:23She's Linda
10:24She's my wife
10:25My beautiful wife
10:26Linda
10:27Linda
10:28Linda
10:28Sorry
10:31It's
10:35It's all right
10:36I guess I'm going a little crazy myself
10:42What's happening to her
10:46What is it?
10:47I don't know, John
10:48I don't know
10:49Listen to her
10:53You've got to do something, doctor
10:57You've got to
10:58You're my friend
10:59You've got to help me
11:00What?
11:00In the name of all that's rational
11:02What?
11:03Don't think
11:03There must be something you could do
11:05A drug
11:05Something
11:06Anything
11:07Oh, John
11:08I don't know what to say
11:09I can't think
11:11I'll call in someone else
11:13That's it
11:14I'll inform the authorities
11:15They'll take care of everything
11:17Oh, wait
11:18What's the matter?
11:19What is it?
11:20You're going to inform the authorities?
11:23Yes
11:23Yes, of course, John
11:24Don't you see
11:25It's the simplest way out?
11:27Way out?
11:28Of course
11:29Of course
11:29For you
11:30And for me
11:31What do you mean?
11:33John
11:33This horrible thing
11:35That's happened to Linda
11:36It goes beyond just you and me
11:39It goes beyond the normal
11:40Into the supernatural
11:41Everyone should know about it
11:44The world should know about it
11:45Science
11:46You mean you're going to let everybody know
11:47What's happened to Linda?
11:48Of course I am
11:49But you can't do that
11:50She's my wife
11:51Do you hear me?
11:52My wife
11:52No, no, no
11:53Now don't get excited again, John
11:54Listen sensibly
11:55We owe it to science
11:57Science?
11:58Who cares about science?
12:00She's Linda
12:01She's my wife
12:02When I cursed her to God
12:03And turned her into a yowling bitch
12:05It's my shame
12:07Mine
12:08And you're not going to tell a living soul about it
12:11No one
12:11You hear me?
12:12No one
12:13It's my duty, John
12:14I must inform the authorities
12:15No, no
12:16Keep away from that phone
12:18Keep away, I say
12:19I'm sorry, John
12:20Oh
12:21John
12:24My friend
12:30No, no
12:41Try to sleep, darling
12:44Try to sleep
12:46Yes
12:50Yes, I know
12:51I know, darling
12:52But it's almost morning
12:55You must rest
12:57Sleep, Linda
13:03Sleep, my beloved
13:06All right
13:11All right, darling
13:13I've got to be strong
13:16I've got to help you
13:18And I did help you
13:23He was going to tell them about you
13:26Everyone
13:26They've taken you away from me
13:29Locked you up
13:31Pointed at you
13:32Laughed at you
13:33But I stopped him, Linda
13:35I stopped him for you
13:38He called me
13:42Friend
13:43But you're my wife
13:45My beloved
13:46And I love you
13:47I've pleased you
13:52Haven't I, my darling
13:53I never could please you before
13:57Could I?
13:58But now I've pleased you
14:00I killed him, Linda
14:02I killed my friend
14:05To save you
14:07And if anybody comes
14:09I'll say he never came here
14:11And no one will know, darling
14:13No one but you
14:15And I
14:17What is it, darling?
14:25What's the matter?
14:27Why are you getting up?
14:33What is it?
14:35Why go to the window?
14:36What do you want?
14:40Oh, if I could only understand
14:43Stand you
14:44If I could only know
14:45What you're trying to say to me
14:46Oh, oh, no
14:51Linda, Linda, stop
14:56I'm begging you to stop
14:57Linda, beloved
14:58Stop, stop, stop
15:01Yes, I'm coming
15:17I'm coming
15:18Good morning, Mr. Taylor
15:22Oh, it's you
15:24I found this note saying you wanted to talk to me
15:26Gee, I hope you're not going to quit taking milk from me, Mr. Taylor
15:29I know I've been kind of late with deliveries the last couple of days
15:32But you see, it's my fault
15:33No, no, I'm not going to stop taking milk
15:35That's what I want to see you about
15:36I want milk
15:37More milk
15:38Cream
15:38Everything
15:39Oh, sure, sure
15:41How much do you want?
15:42Oh, four bottles of milk
15:43No, no, no
15:44Six
15:45Six?
15:45Yes, and cream
15:46Six bottles of cream
15:48Is something wrong, Mr. Taylor?
15:50Wrong?
15:51Why do you think something's wrong?
15:53Well, I only meant
15:55You meant what?
15:56Speak up
15:57You meant what?
15:58Oh, now don't get sore, Mr. Taylor
15:59I just meant, well, you don't look so good
16:02And, well, you know how it is
16:04Sometimes a fellow has a couple too many
16:06And he starts ordering all the milk in the world
16:08You fool
16:10I'm not drunk
16:11You want to sell me that milk
16:14Or do I have to get another milk, man?
16:16No, no, no
16:16I'll get it for you
16:17I'll get it for you
16:18Hurry
16:19Six quarts
16:20Six cream
16:21Only him and his old lady
16:22The guy's left
16:23Drink the milk, my beloved
16:32Please
16:33But you haven't eaten anything
16:39You're hungry
16:40You must be hungry
16:42Oh, my darling
16:46What do you want?
16:48I'll get you anything
16:49Anything
16:50Just eat
16:51No
16:54No, I can't let you out of the room
16:58I can't
16:59Someone might come to the door
17:00They'd see through the window
17:01Oh, be patient, Linda, darling
17:06I'll think of something
17:07Drink the milk
17:10For your own good, Linda
17:12Please
17:13No, no, no, dearest
17:16Don't do that
17:18All right
17:20All right, dear
17:22All right
17:23I'll let you into the dining room
17:25But you've got to stay away from the window
17:28If someone should see you
17:30Here
17:32Let me carry you
17:34All right, darling
17:37All right
17:38I won't
17:39I won't
17:40Go yourself
17:41Go yourself
17:43You see, my darling
17:49Your pretty living room
17:50Everything in it
17:52Just the way you fixed it
17:53Everything
17:55Oh, Linda
17:58Linda
17:59This horrible thing
18:01That's happened to us
18:02I tell myself
18:03It isn't real
18:04I'll wake up soon
18:05And everything will be
18:06The way it used to be
18:07You and I
18:09Linda
18:11Where are you?
18:15Oh, Linda
18:16Don't
18:16Don't
18:17Don't
18:17Don't
18:18No, Linda
18:18Linda
18:19Don't
18:20Don't
18:20Don't
18:21Don't
18:21Don't
18:23Don't
18:24Don't
18:25Don't
18:26How could you do it
18:27How could you do it
18:32Oh, my Linda
18:45My dearest Linda
18:48close to me, close to me.
18:52Oh, my darling, my darling.
18:56It's better this way.
18:58You can't leave me now.
19:00I'll have you with me always.
19:02I'll keep you here.
19:04Just you and I.
19:10I won't answer it.
19:12They'll go away.
19:18All right, all right.
19:19I'll answer it.
19:22No, no, stay here, my beloved.
19:24They mustn't see you.
19:26Be very quiet.
19:30Be very quiet.
19:35Yes, yes, I'm coming, I'm coming.
19:40Well, what is it?
19:42What is it?
19:43Are you the owner of this building?
19:45Yes, what do you want?
19:46Kerrigan is the name.
19:48I'm your neighbor.
19:49I've got that place across the alley from you.
19:51Neighbor?
19:52Yeah, Kerrigan is my name.
19:53I'm with the department.
19:55Department?
19:56Yes.
19:57I'm desk sergeant at the 3rd District Station.
20:00Policeman?
20:00Yes.
20:01I'm off duty today, so I thought I'd drop over and speak to you.
20:05Do you mind if I step in for a moment?
20:08Step in?
20:09Oh, no, no, not at all.
20:10Not at all.
20:12Well, you've got a nice place here.
20:17Yes, yes, nice.
20:19Very nice.
20:21You know, the same contractors made this place has made mine.
20:24You didn't know that, I'll bet.
20:26No, I didn't.
20:27Here.
20:28Irishman by the name of Gil Hooley.
20:30You put up all these bungalows along here on nothing but blarney and a shoestring.
20:34Jumped out a thread of sorry window, they tell me, the day after the stock market crash.
20:37He, he, he, he, he, he.
20:39Lucky for him.
20:41If he was alive now, some of the people around here would bar places where we would murder him.
20:45What were the trouble they're having?
20:47Trouble?
20:48Say, now, speaking of trouble, it reminds me why I come over.
20:51If you don't mind, I'll tell you.
20:53Yes?
20:53No.
20:54No, it ain't me that's complaining, Mr. Taylor.
20:57I'm the kind of man that can sleep in a boiler factory.
21:00But it's me, Katie.
21:02Ah, there's a light sleeper for you.
21:04I always say that if a star in heaven twinkles too much, the noise wakes up me, Katie.
21:09What?
21:10What is the trouble?
21:11Well, you know how the women are.
21:15Always finding something to make a fuss about.
21:18Hey, I'm not disturbing her, am I?
21:22Her?
21:22Yeah.
21:23You know your missus.
21:25She's not sleeping in the bedroom, lady.
21:27No, no, of course not.
21:28There's no one in there.
21:29I thought maybe seeing the door is closed.
21:31Oh, no, I tell you, there's no one in there.
21:33My wife, she's out of town.
21:37Oh, well, that's fine, that's fine.
21:39I always like to talk things over man to man without the women around.
21:43The women are all right, I say, but they don't know how to straighten our little troubles with neighbors without calling names and pulling hair.
21:52Oh, what is it?
21:53What's wrong?
21:53What do you want to tell me?
21:55Well, to put it plain, it's the cat.
21:59Cat?
22:00Yeah, the cat.
22:01You just got it, didn't you?
22:03You.
22:04You heard a cat?
22:05Yeah.
22:06It started a few nights ago.
22:08Now, it ain't just a mean one, like I said, but, but, but, but, Katie, where do you see our bedroom window face is right on the alley?
22:15And by golly, she hears every meow that animal makes.
22:18You, you're wrong.
22:20Eh?
22:20I have no cat.
22:23But, but, but, Katie, heard.
22:25I heard it too, for that matter.
22:27I have no cat.
22:28But I'm telling you, it come right from this house.
22:30I tell you, I have no cat.
22:31Isn't that sufficient?
22:32Well, now, seeing as you put it so plain, I'll be speaking up plain meself.
22:36I'm telling you, I heard a cat yowling last night, and the night before, and the night before that.
22:41And as soon as me name's Thomas Kerrigan, they come right from this house.
22:44Now, what do you say to that?
22:45Get out.
22:46Now, wait a second, maybe, oh, wait a second.
22:48Don't get on your high horse.
22:50Get out.
22:51Well, now, see here.
22:53I'm not saying you're lying.
22:55I'm just thinking maybe the animal's caught in your cellar without you knowing it.
22:59Now, if you let me go down, I'll...
23:00I tell you, there's no cat here.
23:02Get out.
23:02Get out of here.
23:03Oh, it's like that, is it?
23:05You heard me.
23:06Get out of my house.
23:07Well, you sure are making a lot of noise about nothing, young fella.
23:11But it's your house, and if that's the kind of neighbor you want to be, I get...
23:16What?
23:16What are you standing there for?
23:18Get out.
23:19Get out.
23:19Now, just a minute.
23:21Take it easy.
23:22No cat, eh?
23:23Well, what was that I just heard?
23:25Nothing at all.
23:26You've got no right to...
23:27Mr. You may not be a liar, but you sure are something close to it.
23:31If that ain't a cat in that bedroom there, I ain't never heard of it.
23:35Get out.
23:35Get out of here.
23:36Oh, no, I won't.
23:38Listen to that cat.
23:40If that ain't creating a public nuisance, I'd like to know what it is.
23:42It's none of your business.
23:44This is my house.
23:45Get out of here.
23:46Now, stop pulling at me, me booko.
23:48I may be off duty, but I'm still an officer of the law.
23:51And I'm telling you, that cat, you got an idiot of violating the city ordinance.
23:54Now, if you don't make us shut up disturbing me, Katie, I will.
23:58No, no.
23:58Stay away from that door.
24:00Stay away from that door.
24:04Listen to it.
24:06That ain't no cat you got in here.
24:07What?
24:08Oh, I'm sorry.
24:09Yes, yes.
24:10I lied.
24:11It is a cat.
24:12Just a cat.
24:13But I'll make you be quiet, but go away.
24:15Go away.
24:16Wait a minute.
24:17Take it easy.
24:18If it's just a cat, what do you get in the looks like?
24:20No, no, I'm not.
24:21I'm not.
24:22Look at you.
24:23Your eyes are blazing.
24:24What's going on here?
24:26I think I'll have a look.
24:27No, no.
24:28Stay away.
24:29Oh, no.
24:30No.
24:31Get away.
24:32Take it away.
24:33I told you.
24:33I told you to go.
24:35If I only had begun.
24:37You'll never use it.
24:38Never.
24:38Keep away from it.
24:39Help.
24:40Help.
24:40Help.
24:48I asked you to go, didn't I?
24:50I asked you to.
24:52Didn't I, Linda?
24:54You heard me.
24:55You heard me asking.
24:58Linda.
24:59Linda, what's the matter?
25:01What are you going to do?
25:02Linda, keep away from him.
25:03What are you going to do?
25:04No, no, Linda.
25:05Get away from him.
25:07Linda, Linda.
25:08Stop.
25:09Stop.
25:09Stop.
25:10Oh, my eyes.
25:13My eyes.
25:14My eyes.
25:16My eyes.
25:23My eyes.
25:25My eyes.
25:27My eyes.
25:28Oh.
25:30I can't see.
25:32Oh, God.
25:35For you to only find it.
25:37Blood.
25:39Blood in my eyes.
25:41I'm...
25:41I'm blind.
25:45Oh, God.
25:46Pity on me.
25:48Help me to find it.
25:49It must be here.
25:51I dropped it.
25:53Somewhere.
25:53You're back now.
25:58You're back now.
26:00Pressing against me.
26:03Oh, God.
26:04Let me find that gun.
26:07I dropped it here somewhere.
26:09Let me find...
26:10Got it.
26:13Got it.
26:14Press close to me.
26:20I can't see you.
26:22Press close to me.
26:24I mustn't miss.
26:27There.
26:28First claw.
26:30What does it matter?
26:31You cross it, animal.
26:32You've taken everything from me.
26:34My eyes.
26:35My life.
26:36Now I'll take...
26:37Linda!
26:38I held my beloved...
26:52I'm coming with...
26:54Linda...
26:57Wait.
26:57Wait.
27:06Lights Out with Boris Karloff
27:09and written especially for radio
27:11by Arch Obler
27:12comes to you each Wednesday
27:14from our Chicago studios.

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