The Cigarette Case by Oliver Onions

[@patricialamb3205]

Love your stories.Poor Oliver Onions his school days must have been a nightmare ,no wonder he changed his name.Thanks for keeping us all entertained.

[@ClassicGhost]

Yes, poor Ollie O'Nions. But he seemed a nice lad.

[@juliestone1756]

I'm listening to too many of Tony's stories - I just said to my dog " You tried to get into the locked draw today didn't you?"

[@ClassicGhost]

And did he?

[@juliestone1756]

@@ClassicGhost He probably did. He's got this innocent, put-upon look that he does but I don't buy it...mostly.

[@stardust949]

lol! the cat did it...

[@christarogers4724]

It pays to be wary........

[@janetcw9808]

@@stardust949 ALWAYS the cat 🙀

[@blixten2928]

And to my cat, "What's the secret?" Gorgeous reading, and lovely cig-case too I must say!

[@stardust949]

What an elegant ghostie story! Loved it...ah, the world when cigarette cases were a thing. sigh.

[@ClassicGhost]

Yeah. Elegance has gone

[@anaderol5408]

Not to mention classy cigarette lighters both the pocket and tabletop varieties ....and I've never been a smoker but appreciated the beauty of these trinkets.

[@anaderol5408]

@MsPoisonIvy6 🤣🤣Thanks for the chuckle - I'm old enough to remember people owning cigarette cases and more commonly cigarette lighters (not the nasty plastic things of today) beautiful, gold plated, pewter, silver plated sometimes ornate and often very expensive items - not to mention that no formal lounge was complete without a tabletop lighter (jade/silver/onyx) - there was a type of style/romance to these items but as I've never been a smoker my wistfulness at their obsolescence is merely from an aesthetic viewpoint.

[@deborahmcgee7970]

@@anaderol5408 yes I had a few nice lighters in my day

[@thelastsausage635]

Cough!

[@sonnetlikely]

You have such a talent to sound so conversational in your delivery! It never sounds like you are reading, but simply telling a story. Fantastic as always!

[@ClassicGhost]

You are, as always, so kind!

[@lunaxx4119]

You captured the conversational tone perfectly - made me smile.

[@angelicablue]

I just love Onions! "The Beckoning Fair One" is a longtime favorite, and this tale is incredible. Thanks so much. Your reading is flawless.

[@ClassicGhost]

I'm not sure it's flawless, but thanks for the compliment!

[@BigDog366]

I really enjoyed this. The set up of the young chaps walking in Provence was wonderful. We've moved so far away from this world of manners and highly educated young gentlemen that in some ways we're having the ghostly experience entering their long-lost way of life.

[@rattyrachel4316]

I enjoyed your comment. So true, and so well put.

[@J.DeLaPoer]

Indeed a better age, sadly long lost.

[@bluegreenglue6565]

A very illustrative tale, nicely descriptive and an enjoyable flow. Thank you.

[@rameyzamora1018]

Listened to Tony tell this Onions story whilst I was sitting between the Provence lavender plants in my yard. Talk about perfect! The author may be underrated due to his name - he certainly deserves a listen.

[@ClassicGhost]

Synchronicity!

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

​@@ClassicGhostwhat a great tale .Beautiful writing

[@clonejones7955]

Ok I'll have to listen to this another time as I've spent the last 5 minutes reminiscing about how much I used to love smoking and not absorbing the story😭

[@carolynraley4047]

Strength and blessed satisfaction to you ❣️

[@clonejones7955]

@@carolynraley4047 It's been 7 years and I vape so I'm still well basted in nicotine but I still miss it lol.

[@trishbirchard1270]

Ha ha ha

[@juliahamilton2282]

You do know you are wicked ! I hold on to these until bedtime and knowing you have posted them hour's before make me want to take an early night at 3 in the afternoon lol Well read and well played you spellbinder you :-)

[@martiwilliams4592]

Thank you! Just the kind of story I needed this evening. Your presentation--fantastic.

[@ClassicGhost]

Oh ta.

[@martiwilliams4592]

@@ClassicGhost ;0)

[@rattyrachel4316]

Tonight, from thousands of miles away, you spirited a little magic and mystery over land and sea and into my heart. You do the same for so many others. It matters. You matter. (Beautiful story, impeccable narration.) Gratefully, 🐀.

[@ruvoodoo155]

Such a WONDERFUL story!! Not one I've heard before so it was a real treat to listen to. Thank you, Tony. 👏👏👏👏👏

[@donaldmccleary9015]

This is a neat story. Excellent narration. Thanks, Tony!

[@Firecracker66]

Love your intro

[@armyofthewolves]

Oliver Onions? Oh no, just a few of them.

[@Phinnius23]

Loved it. Thank you 😊

[@sugarfalls1]

I am going to recommend your podcast to a few people who I think would like it! I wish I had done it sooner! Thanks for another great story and exceptional narration!

[@ClassicGhost]

Brilliant! Thank you

[@sugarfalls1]

@@ClassicGhost Love you, Big Tony Walker!! Keep that summer cold at bay! I have allergies myself. What a bugger, as you Brits say :P

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

Very well narrated. I read this one in some anthology or other and remembered it for its atmosphere. A story I've looked for everywhere on the Internet and can't find is The Bottle of 1912. I can't remember the name of the author. Set in the immediate post second world War period it has a wistful valedictory atmosphere, yearning for a lost world. I really would love it if you recorded it.

[@bethpemberton7980]

You know, I look forward to the biographical info at the end. I dont know these authors.

[@julierobinson3633]

I remember about 20years ago when Walkers crisps brought out a vegetarian version of Cheese & Onion flavour (no animal based rennet in the cheese) they did a publicity stunt where they got together people with the surname Cheese and those with the surname Onion. I was amazed how many of each there apparently are as I'd never come across anyone with those surnames in real life.

[@manzanitakatznellenbogen2870]

There is a cricketer with the surname Onions and I once had a colleague with the same surname. I presume it's Anglicised Breton/Gaelic/Celtic of some ilk

[@donnacostanza532]

Listened again and I have to say one of my favorites because I got a "shout out" at the end!

[@ClassicGhost]

+Donna Costanza I must do more of that

[@uslines]

Read this years ago. Still impressed.

[@ClassicGhost]

He's a subtle writer, I think

[@maryomeara6049]

Thanks

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you very much

[@gwenowens6727]

Engaging and charming story beautifully read. I liked your French accent! I nearly fell off my ladder (I’m decorating) when I heard one of the characters said he thought it was “all my eye and Betty Martin”. It was my mum’s favourite expression and I have never heard anyone use it (although I carry on the tradition). Interesting that the author was Welsh as was my mum’s father, I wondered if it was a Welsh expression. Always fascinating listening to your narration of the story and the author’s background. Thank you.

[@ClassicGhost]

I never heard it in Wales, mind you. I've never heard it before this in fact!

[@janetcw9808]

Brilliant, thanks so much for your work. Nearly Solstice Blessings to you, all you love and followers Worldwide Xxx 🙏🏼 ❤️ 🗺️ 🍀 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@martiwilliams4592]

Must hear this again. Now, where was I when I was 24....Humm...Oh yes. Ahem. Neither fancy free nor adorned in fancy ribbons. Now ,that would make a story. You see, there was this guy who forgot his cigs case at my place, and then... . You tell stories so well. Please, tell more--with lots and lots of accents! Tip: Dual Control by Elizabeth Walter. and The Mistress in Black by Rosemary Timperley. Both really spooked me out and would love to hear your rendition. Thank you for your hard work.

[@andreac5724]

I smoked for a short time in my 20's. My cigarette case was very sophisticated and I felt very chic.

[@mitchsnow9719]

I've looked for years for a good Spanish ghost story without much success. There is, however, an interesting novella by Mexican author Carlos Fuentes called Aura set in Mexico City that's available in a good English translation. It's been made into a movie and an opera. You might give it a try.

[@ClassicGhost]

And I could try out my Spanish. What little I learned was from Mari from Mallorca so it might sound different to Mexico Spanish. Let me see how long Aura is. I found an English translation. Or reads very well. It’s about 20,000 words. That’s half the length of A Turn of the screw

[@cawiltu]

My siblings refused to sell me one of the Art Deco ashtrays designed for the queen Mary

[@quint3570]

Oliver onions.. sounds like a character from Viz

[@EnCryptedHorror]

Nice one.

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks!

[@MSYNGWIE12]

Hi Tony, are you, since a "Renaissance Man" a collector, of such exquisite items as the case used to illustrate another marvelous tale by Oliver Onions? Narrator's can make or break a ghost story. I heard a longer tale by this writer and wasn't taken with it- UNTIL I HEARD YOUR VERSION! The Beckoning Fair One, that's it! That ability to not use an adjective before EVERY noun - ah - with so many contemporary novelists- sounds more like a "bot", can't express exactly what I mean but, the style is lacking in many ways. Have you been to France? Another spooky tale to ponder ( if you are of that type of mind) the afterlife. Thanks, REALLY enjoy your channel. ( if partner and myself weren't on pension avenue so to speak, I'd sponsor, not a lie, sounds lame I know. Listening to you've done, do, accomplished makes me want to venture forth- statues have wrinkles?! A certain bohemian, gutsy, rock singer used to do that, a living statue- well why not an older version?!) Nuts, no...Namaste, Z. ( yes I do own vintage clothes..l! ) Looking forward to your next story. Love the comment from the person who is listening to you so much he now talks to his dog...

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you for commenting. I really appreciate your time listening. I have bene to France, but not recently! I think it's about three years now since we went to Paris and wandered round Pere La Chaise cemetery amongst other things, but a visit to cemetery is almost guaranteed.

[@georgesfeydeaufeydeau6235]

It has a bit of a slow start, but a Spanish story I enjoyed is "La Mujer Alta" (The Tall Woman" by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón). But I doubt it has even been translated. Horacio Quiroga (an Argentinian) wrote a few really creepy stories. In general, Latin American writers tend to be more prolific when it comes to this genre.

[@ClassicGhost]

Makes me wish my Spanish was better

[@janetcw9808]

Is the locked drawer sentence from 'Rebecca'? 🤔

[@ClassicGhost]

No . Apparently from Psychomania

[@goliardgirl]

The movie RETURN TO GLENNASCAUL ripped this story off BIG TIME! (Love the movie but they should have credited Oliver Onions with the story!)

[@Tipi_Dan]

When serving a nice Martini, one might ask one's guest if they would like an olive or onions on their toothpick... or little plastic sword (if people still use those.) For this reason, I was incredulous to find that the author's name is not a nom de plume. I can only assume this fellow's parents had a deeply twisted sense of humor, and enjoyed Martinis. Yes, I know its an old joke, and one I have used before near here. I couldn't help it.

[@ClassicGhost]

The little plastic swords! How I loved to collect those

[@violetfemme411]

@@ClassicGhost I miss them too, though I'm not sure they're safe in my hands. I was having a martini (or 2) with friends in NYC, and sharing another of the many bizarre (mis)adventures that can only ever have happened to me. As all such stories do, it required especially wild gesticulating, which in my case has been compared to a Maestro on crack. Suddenly I heard a rather shrill scream behind me and turned to see a girl wearing a backless dress shooting stink eye in my direction. I left the plastic swords and toothpicks at the bar after that.

[@aarondutil3077]

Marsham is clearly responsible for the two dislikes this narration received.😂

[@ClassicGhost]

Marsham is a bot

[@eddiemunster2196]

No.8 today 7/5/21

[@Thomas-wn7cl]

👍

[@uslines]

No 1

[@lesleyd41]

Reading a bit too fast…..slow down a touch so we can savour the story.