The Mysterious Traveler (1943-1952) was an OTR dramatic anthology series written, produced, and directed by Robert A. Arthur, Jr. and David Kogen, who drew talent from unsung but quite professional radio voice actors of the day. Episodes ranged from wild science fiction thrillers to crime-based mysteries. The Mysterious Traveler is significant because its narrative approach spun off comic books, magazines, and another radio drama series, making this radio series an example of transmedia storytelling.
Zero Hour
Episode 159, 22 June 1948
A professor and his biographer visit the crash site of an alleged Martian space craft. This is not the Rod Sterling story of the same title.
Behind the Locked Door
Episode 25, 25 May 1949 and Episode 329, 6 November 1951
THE episode of The Mysterious Traveler series. Two archaeologists exploring caves in the southwestern United States find one blocked behind a landslide. Inside is a one-hundred year old wagon train. When their guide is attacked, the archaeologists wonder if some members of the wagon train survived. What if their descendants still live in this dark world?
The Last Survivor
Episode 225, 11 October 1949
S.O.S.
Episode 253, 2 May 1950
Three criminals attempt to steal diamonds aboard an ocean liner but encounter more trouble than they imagined.
The Most Famous Man in the World
Episode 331, 20 November 1951
Two time travelers return to the 20th Century to prevent a man from becoming the first Dictator of America.
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Episode Inventory
Totals
Total episodes: 370
Surviving episodes: 69
The Hands That Killed
Episode 001, 5 December 1943, lost
Death at the Storm House
Episode 002, 12 December 1943, lost
King of the World
Episode 003, 19 December 1943, lost
Devil Island
Episode 004, 26 December 1943, lost
The Clock Struck Midnight
Episode 005, 2 January 1944, lost
The Visiting Corpse
Episode 006, 9 January 1944, lost
Reprised as Episode 166, 10 August 1948, available
The Strange Journal of Professor Drake
Episode 007, 16 January 1944, lost Script available here.
Murderer Unknown
Episode 008, 23 January 1944, lost
House of Death
Episode 009, 30 January 1944, available
Reprised as Episode 182, 16 December 1948, available
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Episode 010, 6 February 1944, lost
To Have and To Hold
Episode 011, 13 February 1944, lost
Death at Fifty Fathoms
Episode 251, 18 April 1950, available
Reprise of Episode 066, "Death Comes for Adolph Hitler," 24 March 1945, available
I Died Last Night
Episode 252, 25 April 1950, available
Starring Brett Morrison, Eric Dressler
Reprise of Episode 107, 8 June 1947, lost
S.O.S.
Episode 253, 2 May 1950, available
The Big Dive
Episode 254, 9 May 1950, lost
Voices at Midnight
Episode 255, 16 May 1950, lost
The Lady in Red
Episode 256, 23 May 1950, available
See "The Woman in Black," Episode 094, 9 March 1947
Beyond the Law
Episode 257, 30 May 1950, lost
Killer at Large
Episode 258, 6 June 1950, available
Death Has Two Faces
Episode 259, 13 June 1950, lost
Die She Must
Episode 260, 20 June 1950, lost
Reprise of Episode 104, 18 May 1947, lost
Journey through Time
Episode 261, 27 June 1950, lost
Five Miles Down
Episode 262, 4 July 1950, lost
Reprise of Episode 090, 9 February 1947, lost
Ring Twice for Death
Episode 263, 11 July 1950, lost
Killer Come Home
Episode 264, 18 July 1950, available
Gun for Hire
Episode 265, 25 July 1950, lost
Footsteps behind You
Episode 266, 1 August 1950, lost
Blood Money
Episode 267, 8 August 1950, lost
Reprised as Episode 065, 17 March 1945, lost
Vacation from Life
Episode 268, 15 August 1950, lost
Reprise of Episode 119, 7 September 1947, available
Nightmare
Episode 269, 22 August 1950, lost
Reprise of Episode 116, 10 August 1947, lost
Murder Has A Price
Episode 270, 29 August 1950, lost
Reprise of Episode 168, 31 August 1948, lost
Reprised as Episode 332, 27 November 1951, lost
Mind over Matter
Episode 271, 5 September 1950, lost
Tomorrow Is Forever
Episode 272, 12 September 1950, lost
Design for Death
Episode 273, 19 September 1950, lost
Reprise of Episode 014, 5 March 1944, lost
Reprise of Episode 103, 11 May 1947, lost
Into the Unknown
Episode 274, 26 September 1950, lost
What's In It for Me?
Episode 275, 3 October 1950, lost
The Final Hour
Episode 276, 10 October 1950, lost
The Cat's Paw
Episode 277, 17 October 1950, lost
House of Silence
Episode 278, 24 October 1950, lost
Reprise of Episode 101, 27 April 1947, lost
Their Cold Companion
Episode 279, 31 October 1950, lost
Reprise of Episode 113, 20 July 1947, lost
The Big Money
Episode 280, 14 November 1950, lost
Escape to 2480
Episode 281, 21 November 1950, lost
Reprise of Episode 134, 30 December 1947, lost
13 Steps to Death
Episode 282, 28 November 1950, lost
Two Lethal Ladies
Episode 283, 5 December 1950, lost
A Present for Santa
Episode 284, 12 December 1950, lost
The Survivors
Episode 285, 19 December 1950, lost
Between Two Worlds
Episode 286, 26 December 1950, lost
Reprise of Episode 083, 22 December 1945, lost
Never Say Die
Episode 287, 2 January 1951, lost
Death Cancels All Debts
Episode 288, 9 January 1951, lost
Diamond Fever
Episode 289, 16 January 1951, lost
Easy, Easy Money
Episode 290, 23 January 1951, lost
I'll Dance on your Grave
Episode 291, 30 January 1951, lost
Death Is But A Dream
Episode 292, 6 February 1951, lost
Money in the Bank
Episode 293, 13 February 1951, lost
When Killers Meet
Episode 294, 20 February 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 148, 6 April 1948, lost
The Ivory Elephant
Episode 295, 27 February 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 143, 2 March 1948, lost
World of Tomorrow
Episode 296, 6 March 1951, lost
Knives of Death
Episode 297, 13 March 1951, available
A Coffin for Charlie
Episode 298, 20 March 1951, lost
The Man Who Died Twice
Episode 299, 27 March 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 142, 24 February 1948, available
X Marks the Spot
Episode 300, 3 April 1951, lost
50,000 B.C.
Episode 301, 10 April 1951, lost
The Little Man Who Wasn't There
Episode 302, 17 April 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 151, 27 April 1948, lost
Chance of a Lifetime
Episode 303, 24 April 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 141, 17 February 1948, lost
The Planet Zevius
Episode 304, 1 May 1951, available
Reprise of Episode 215, 2 August 1949, lost
Death in the Swamps
Episode 305, 15 May 1951, lost
Judgement Day
Episode 306, 22 May 1951, lost
Fatal Mistake
Episode 307, 29 May 1951, lost
The Unexpected
Episode 308, 5 June 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 164, 27 July 1948, lost
Big Jackpot
Episode 309, 12 June 1951, lost
Another Man's Murder
Episode 310, 19 June 1951, lost
I Won't Walk Alone
Episode 311, 26 June 1951, lost
Restless Skeleton
Episode 312, 3 July 1951, lost
Death Writes A Letter
Episode 313, 10 July 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 154, 18 May 1948, available
They'll Never Believe Me
Episode 314, 17 July 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 149, 13 April 1948, lost
Visitors from Infinity
Episode 315, 24 July 1951, lost
Terror by Night
Episode 316, 7 August 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 165, 3 August 1948, lost
The Chase
Episode 317, 14 August 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 163, 20 July 1948, lost
When the Dead Return
Episode 318, 21 August 1951, lost
Fire in the Sky
Episode 319, 28 August 1951, available
Death Has A Thousand Faces
Episode 320, 4 September 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 171, 21 September 1948, available
Strange Destiny
Episosde 321, 11 September 1951, lost
Some Only Sleep
Episode 322, 18 September 1951, lost
Four Fatal Callers
Episode 323, 25 September 1951, lost
What Happened Last Night
Episode 324, 2 October 1951, lost
The Man Who Knew Everything
Episode 325, 9 October 1951, available
Death Needs A Substitute
Episode 326, 16 October 1951, lost
This Is Murder Calling
Episode 327, 23 October 1951, lost
Miracle on 10th Avenue
Episode 328, 30 October 1951, lost
Behind the Locked Door
Episode 329, 6 November 1951, available
Reprise of Episode 205, 24 May 1949, lost
Speak of the Devil
Episode 330, 13 November 1951, lost
The Most Famous Man in the World
Episode 331, 20 November 1951, available
Murder Has A Price
Episode 332, 27 November 1951, lost
Reprise of Episode 168, 31 August 1948, lost
Reprise of Episode 270, 29 August 1950, lost
Reprise of Episode 332, 27 November 1951, lost
Token of Friendship
Episode 333, 4 December 1951, lost
Hide Out
Episode 334, 11 December 1951, available
Make Mine Murder
Episode 335, 18 December 1951, lost
Christmas Story
Episode 336, 25 December 1951, available
Stamps from Eldorado
Episode 337, 1 January 1952, lost
It's Only Money
Episode 338, 8 January 1952, available
Starring Chuck Webster
Key Witness
Episode 339, 15 January 1952, available
Starring Ralph Bell, Chuck Webster
Change of Address
Episode 340, 22 January 1952, available
Until now, you've never wanted to own a house just made for murder.
Stranger in the House
Episode 341, 29 January 1952, available
Reprise of Episode 017, 26 March 1944, lost
The Man Who Frightened Himself
Episode 342, 5 February 1952, lost
Death Plays the Tune
Episode 343, 12 February 1952, lost
Reprise of Episode 079, 29 September 1945, lost
Strange New World
Episode 344, 19 February 1952, available
Appointment To Die
Episode 345, 26 February 1952, lost
The Betrayer
Episode 346, 4 March 1952, lost
Man of Destiny
Episode 347, 11 March 1952, lost
The Black Door
Episode 348, 18 March 1952, lost
Two of a Kind
Episode 349, 25 March 1952, lost
April Fool
Episode 350, 1 April 1952, lost
Money Isn't Everything
Episode 351, 8 April 1952, lost
Murder in Haste
Episode 352, 15 April 1952, lost
The Fourth Dimension
Episode 353, 22 April 1952, lost
Murder in 2952
Episode 354, 29 April 1952, available
The Gun Fighter
Episode 355, 6 May 1952, lost
Death Rides the Storm
Episode 356, 13 May 1952, lost
In the Depths
Episode 357, 20 May 1952, lost
Wheels of Murder
Episode 358, 27 May 1952, lost
The Haunted Trailer
Episode 359, 3 June 1952, available
The Green Plague
Episode 360, 17 June 1952, available
When Dead Men Speak
Episode 361, 24 June 1952, lost
Bird of Prey
Episode 362, 1 July 1952, lost
Sands of Death
Episode 363, 15 July 1952, lost
Time Is Running Out
Episode 364, 22 July 1952, lost
Reprise of Episode 192, 24 February 1949, lost
The Big Fog
Episode 365, 29 July 1952, lost
Death Points A Finger
Episode 366, 5 August 1952, lost
Temporary Corpse
Episode 367, 12 August 1952, lost
Day of Reckoning
Episode 368, 19 August 1952, lost
The Big One
Episode 369, 26 August 1952, lost
The Treasure of Superstition Mountain
Episode 370, 2 September 1952, lost
Reprise of Episode 219, 30 August 1949, lost
Background
The Mysterious Traveler was broadcast on Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS) 5 December 1943-2 September 1952. Each episode of this anthology radio series began with train sounds (including a steam whistle), all fading into narrator Maurice Tarplin's introduction. "This is a Mysterious Traveler, inviting you to join me on another journey into the strange and terrifying. I hope you will enjoy the trip, that it will thrill you a little and chill you a little. So settle back, get a good grip on your nerves and be comfortable—if you can."
Tarplin, as The Mysterious Traveler, narrated each episode. At the end, the story faded into the sound of train wheels and The Mysterious Traveler saying, "Oh, you have to get off here! I'm sorry! I'm sure we'll meet again. I take this same train every week at this same time."
Each episode was written, produced, and directed by Robert A. Arthur and David Kogen.
In addition to a radio series, The Mysterious Traveler was also a magazine and a comic book. The single issue comic book, The Mysterious Traveler Comic #1 (Trans-World Publications November 1948) was directly tied to the radio series, including the story "Five Miles Down," adapted from Episode 090, 9 February 1947. Charlton Comics published a separate Tales of the Mysterious Traveler comic book for thirteen issues from 1956 to 1959, followed by two more issues in 1985. Steve Ditko illustrated many stories in the series.
A magazine spin-off, Mysterious Traveler (Grace Publishing), ran for five issues, November 1951-1952. Each issue featured a pulp cover illustration by Norman Saunders. David Kogen was the publisher; Robert A. Arthur the managing editor.
The Strange Dr. Weird was a weekly radio spin-off series on the Mutual Broadcasting System featuring fifteen-minute versions of The Mysterious Traveler episode. Each was written by David Kogan and Robert A. Arthur, and narrated by Maurice Tarplin, who lived "on the other side of the cemetery." Each week he invited listeners to enjoy a different horror story, and invited them back the following week for more. Twenty-eight episodes, 7 November 1944-15 May 1945.