"The Thing on the Fourble Board" [remastered] One of Radio's Greatest Horror Stories!

This is from the critically acclaimed series "Quiet Please" which was broadcast by the Mutual Network and then ABC 1947 - 1949. The format is quite unique, with most of the shows being told by one guy just as if he was telling you a story personally. Many classic radio fans, radio critics, and radio historians have said that "The Thing on the Fourble Board" is perhaps the MOST SCARY horror story ever broadcast! Since I personally discovered this program several years ago, I couldn't disagree. If you isolate yourself when listening, it IS scary! The one unfortunate thing about "Quiet Please" is that the only recordings which survive are BADLY scratched vinyl records, with many nearly impossible to hear. They're practically impossible to restore. This episode was no exception, but over the years with improved technology the actual audio has been retrieved from within the scratches finally making it listenable! So here it is, with much improved (but never to be prefect) sound.
Created, written and produced by WYLLIS COOPER, with most episodes being told be veteran announcer Ernest Chappell who does a great job.
• Broadcast only once on August 9, 1948
EZ LINK #FourbleBoard
√✓√✓√✓√✓√ IMPORTANT: To properly listen to this very scary story, you must go into the bedroom and turn out the lights (Then build a fort under your covers and hide)
Quiet Please is in the public domain, as are all of my uploads • 2017-18-19-20-21-22 by Charlie Stuckey, proprietor of the SUSPENSE & Escape Channel •

[@ViridisGames]

This story still sticks with me after hearing it on a cassette tape when I was about 10. Something so captivating and frightening about this one in particular. It still creeps into my mind every time I'm outside and alone at night. A true masterpiece.

[@denisenoe3702]

Maybe you should read my essay about it.

[@asteroidkatfacts1036]

@Denise Noe I would love too.

[@denisenoe3702]

@@asteroidkatfacts1036 Old Radio Times March-April 2022.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

It took over three years for one person hit thumbs down!

[@jeremybear573]

What a party pooper . Too bad YT disabled that feature 😪

[@Sheriff_GrimLaw]

_"Stupid monkeys!"_

[@Rhino4272]

I've been listening to radio classics on Sirius lately and just heard this story for the first time. I'm 42 and want to say I'm surprised and impressed at the story and production quality of programs from this era. I was prejudiced thinking it was a more wholesome and simple time but man, these people had very vivid imaginations and knew how to tell a story! Also Jack Benny was a riot! This stuff is all new to me and I'm having such a good time discovering it all! Thank you for posting this story for others.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

Jack Benny was great! He also did a number of Suspense episodes (all on my channel - just scroll down thru my playlists to find your favorite actor) I discovered these great programs about 15 years ago, while listening to audio books. The production qualities of both Suspense and Escape still amaze me! Try to read the descriptions I provide for each upload, just one of the things that make this channel unique! Thanks for posting your thoughts - I always try to respond!

[@beavinator]

My grandfather had a vinyl record with this and other stories, we used to listen to regularly when I was a kid. This one and "Three Skeleton Key" are the ones that stick in my memory.

[@Sheriff_GrimLaw]

Both excellent choices!

[@laurenpatriciatv]

Definitely in my top 10 OTR episodes. Listening to this alone in a dark room with headphones was terrifying!

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

You must have read my description! Another really good story to hear in the dark is "Three Skeleton Key" with Vincent Price. Thanks for posting your thoughts!

[@laurenpatriciatv]

@@SuspenseESCAPEremastered I love Three Skeleton Key; you can't go wrong with Vincent Price :)

[@gutfrets1693]

what’s OTR?

[@laurenpatriciatv]

@@gutfrets1693 Old Time Radio :)

[@perryborn2777]

Man, I remember listening to old radio shows with my older sister as we were going to sleep. My dad has a whole binder of cds with radio show episodes. War of the Worlds, The Scarlet Fever, Lone Ranger... But this one episode is the creepiest. I'll never forget the sound of that wail Absolutely haunting

[@Inky1967]

Excellent story. I heard it many years ago on late night FM radio and was so pleased to find it again here on KZbin a couple of years ago. This is the third time I’ve listened to it on KZbin after having to guess the name of it until I finally got it right…this time I’m saving and downloading it!

[@stumblingunnar3879]

I didn't hear this one until earlier this year, but I was going through a hard time and half passing out on the couch with most of the lights turned off and I remember waking up to the sound of that thing creeping me out. After that, all I could do was sit at the front door and smoke and watch the snow pile up and listen to know how the story would end. It was in a compilation with a couple other really good ones after it which were all snowy and dark and atmospheric and moody. Just perfect. This one's special to me. Thanks for uploading it in such good quality!

[@SpoonJuggler]

The version I listened to originally was barely understandable! I took a crack at restoring these episodes myself at one point because this series absolutely deserves it. I want to shake the hand of whoever did the restoration, simply amazing work. Thank you.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

A couple of years ago, I was fortunate to find a few restored episodes of "Quiet Please" which I had to actually pay for - But that's okay - back then I had money! I do equalize the volume on my uploads, which are all mp3 format

[@trinityj1]

Hearing this for the first time has a seismic impact on your entire nervous system. You'll never forget it.

[@ericjohnson8001]

This is such a good story. I'm glad these are being preserved.

[@unclepatrick2]

My Grandfather collected OTR shows and this was one of his favorites . He use to play it at the Halloween [party that his church use to hold .

[@sclerismockrey8506]

ah, the good old days when churches used to let people celebrate Halloween.

[@thegriffin88]

This one scares me even to this day. The sound it makes! *shudder*

[@denisenoe1534]

That is Cecil Roy. She was an extraordinary actress.

[@commonsense9899]

I first heard this many years ago, and the recording sounded terrible - it's great to hear it clearly!

[@jeremytung1632]

I remember this one, it was on a collection of vintage radio programs, this was one of my favorites, along with lanigan vs the ants, and the origin of the Lone Ranger.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

I have a remastered version of Leiningen vs the ants. It's in my "Action and Adventure" playlist. Thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@nomorenames5568]

Welp I know what I'm gonna start listening too more. This is one of the best stories I've ever heard. So is this based on a Jorōgumo (Japanese spider-woman yokai). Considering the time period I wonder if this was inspired by former soldier stationed in Japan. I guess I should look up the author of the original short story.

[@nancygirardi5731]

This was my favorite story while stationed in Japan

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

Great! Thanks for serving.

[@jamesobarr2130]

What you've done with the sound is miraculous.

[@NiallMor]

For my money, the creepiest half hour in all of Old Time Radio.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

You'll get no arguments!

[@mikemalley1909]

Man, this is good stuff. I came across this because Sandy Petersen recommended it. I posted a link back to this from there, so hopefully more people will run across this as well.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

I'm glad you are enjoying these! I've had several people come here because of Sandy - I have an all sci-fi and horror playlist if you want more good stories! Just scroll down through my playlists.

[@m.pensive]

I love the detail of the creature not being able to see others until she's covered in liquid. She comes from the depths of an oil pit, where she would presumably be covered in oil and see the rest of her kind. Did you notice that her missing ring finger being trapped in a rock that was dug up is probably the reason she came up? And no longer having that finger, it prevents her from putting the ring back on, which is probably the reason she keeps crying? She's probably married to someone of her kind.

[@denisenoe1534]

Did it say it was that particular finger? At any rate, there is no reason to believe such creatures would have evolved customs parallel to our own.

[@m.pensive]

@@denisenoe1534 Fair enough on the second point As to the question, it does mention the finger had the ring so, it's likely she kept trying to put it on, which would explain why it fell besides the protagonist when he was underneath the Fourble Board. I simply extrapolated from the fact she kept weeping that she was sad she couldn't put the ring back on, and from there assumed she might be married.

[@denisenoe1534]

@@m.pensive I believed she was upset because she found herself "in an alien world."

[@Nymbo1]

half this story is them talking about a pork chop lmao

[@KeithDec25]

Totally agree with comments GREAT IMPROVEMENT for the listener...

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

Keith Brown I really like this series, but as you know the surviving recordings are in terrible shape. It takes a lot of time and patience to clean them up (with apps I don't have, nor can afford) Still, I'll be posting more in the future. Thanks for taking time to comment. - Charlie

[@theresastuckey9968]

The last time I heard this the sound quality was terrible! Yours is MUCH better! Fourble Board is a great classic story.

[@AstralPixie]

It's eery when he says "...that's funny..." You just know *something's not right* "There was a finger". I'd heard about this episode. Thanks for posting. Good fun. *** Spoiler * : "My wife wants to meet you"

[@rohanquinby3188]

This story haunts me all the time

[@davidbenedettoWHS]

If this was re-made in 2019, I could see J. K. Simmons in the lead on this play. He'd know a thing or two 'cause he's seen a thing or two. Unless of course, this play is not quite his tempo.

[@charliestuckey-outtamymind4279]

Best sound quality ever!

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

Yes, if I do say so myself

[@DashRipr0ck]

*Thank you* for posting these radio shows. Liked/subscribed. 👌

[@hamesh3474]

one of my favorites

[@TheHauntedMouth]

Wow, a very creative and unexpected monster... and that ending is screwed up! Definitely not a stale, predictable story.

[@geoffbutterfield3043]

Fantastic! This a real gem.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

Thanks - It's one of my favorites, too.

[@Anon26535]

Statement of... "Porky", regarding an incident during his time as an oil field worker...

[@gooqleinsider9467]

Very good.

[@neelalong5317]

One of the BEST!!!

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

Neela Long Always one of my favorites.

[@fromthesidelines]

"Quiet, please!............'QUIET, PLEASE'............"

[@denisenoe7746]

Old Radio Times published an article I wrote about this episode.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

That's great - did you read my description?

[@denisenoe1534]

@@SuspenseESCAPEremastered Yes and, although I didn't directly quote from it, your description influenced my essay.

[@chrisschillig5160]

@@denisenoe1534 Is there a link to the essay? I'd like to read it.

[@denisenoe3702]

Old Radio Times ran an essay I wrote on this episode.

[@Leonard89008]

Got thisrecommened bySandy Peterson the inventer of the Call of Cthulhu RPG and I must say I really enyoed it. Great Weird Fiction/Horror and the ending is truly disgusting...

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

I'm glad you took the time to hear this one! This story affects just about everybody in some way - For more really good sci-fi and horror episodes, check out my Suspense and Escape sci-fi - horror playlist. Thanks for posting your comments - Charlie

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

You just made me check out Sandy Peterson!

[@OofusTwillip]

Strangely, I don't find this scary at all. Creepy, definitely. And very sad. That poor creature, pulled into a strange and hostile world, and kept there.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

If the guy and the rock creature had a son, they would have named him "Rocky." A daughter? "Pebbles." (sorry)

[@denisenoe3702]

Not really "kept there." It's more like there is not way to get her back to her own habitat.

[@oldhatcinema]

Well that was . . . really, really, really, really bizarre. Like, that ending was whacked out. I actually didn't find this one scary, but to think that he would MARRY something like that; now that's repulsive.

[@lisvender]

I don’t quite understand…why did they end up together??

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

love.

[@barbaraanderson4381]

Mmm pork chops

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

Thanks, Homer!

[@yarayaredaze2927]

I find the protagonist incredibly relatable in the end. Could any of us say we would have done things any differently? I think not.

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

That's a very interesting observation. Fortunately, we'll never actually be in such a position!

[@charliefoust1799]

Porkchop sandwiches!

[@5759sk]

Could you picture yourself as he's introducing his wife to you, you married that? Try not to show fear. Wo

[@philipdove1705]

So in summary was she a half spider stone girl? That eats people except her husband?

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

Something like that!

[@Inky1967]

He was scared of spiders too

[@artisan2906]

oh god it has a little girl face? and thats the ONLY reason he MARRIED IT? grossssssss.......

[@fantasia55]

Why is the monster named Mike?

[@denisenoe7746]

Maxine but she likes to be called Mike. Porky probably named her.

[@fantasia55]

@@denisenoe7746 I always wondered about that.

[@claudiafischer6393]

Maybe the name is Mic.

[@fantasia55]

@@claudiafischer6393 could be. that name befuddles me.

[@claudiafischer6393]

@@fantasia55 because it is only a voice with no body , only perceptible when covered with something as mud.

[@binyon7]

GROSS

[@SuspenseESCAPEremastered]

I guess the story worked!

[@binyon7]

@@SuspenseESCAPEremastered yep.

[@LairsBar]

031222 Twilight Zone Season 1 Episode 18. Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Flight_(The_Twilight_Zone)#Episode_notes)