"The Damp Man" by Allison V. Harding / A HorrorBabble Production

"The Damp Man" is the first of three stories by Allison V. Harding concerning the titular character: a large, mysterious figure dressed in black. The story first appeared in the July 1947 edition of Weird Tales Magazine. “A relentless pursuit instituted by a beyond-normal monster with a loathsome scheme hinted at only in nightmares…”
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:01:00 - Part 1
0:43:36 - Part 2
1:36:19 - Further Listening
The Damp Man playlist: • The Damp Man
Allison V. Harding playlist: • Allison V. Harding
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Narrated by Ian Gordon for HorrorBabble
Music and production by Ian & Jennifer Gordon
Video image by Pexels: pixabay.com/users/pexels-2286921
Thumbnail image by John Giunta (Weird Tales July 1947)
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This is an ORIGINAL HorrorBabble Production.

[@HorrorBabble]

IT FOLLOWS, anyone?

[@loganlogon3720]

THAT was awesome! First you get us hooked on the diabolical Dr. Satan and now this, you spoil us Ian!😆

[@jimjohhnston9992]

Fantastic Story This one really delivers the goods Your reading was beyond excellent Thank you

[@StalinLovsMsmZioglowfagz]

It follows is an awesome movie. The old man on the roof reminds me of Biden.

[@ombra711]

Classic film, looking forward to listening to this even more with that comparison!🥹

[@michaelgreaves2375]

Wow, last time I was this early, Warren was still alive!

[@alswann2702]

You fool!

[@jnightshade4379]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA that intro is literally the reason I unsubscribed for a year.

[@audralokrantz2388]

Lol 😆

[@tonymuir4715]

@@jnightshade4379 and its part of the reason I smile every time a new narration drops. Different folks, different strokes.

[@itsworsethanthat526]

Zing!

[@iesika7387]

Any supernatural elements aside, this story is terrifying just for the reminder of how hard it is to get anyone to help you or take you seriously if you are being stalked, even by someone who has already done actual physical violence. The swim coach actively working to isolate Linda "to help her fiance win her back", the police not taking any of this seriously for so long, it's all entirely too realistic. I was stalked when I was around this age and people kept letting my stalker into my dorm room or giving him my class or work schedule, or my parents address.

[@TiroDvD]

This is why Internet Anonymity is so important.

[@mariameere5807]

@@TiroDvDand yet practically impossible to achieve nowadays at least for me but not the best with technology….. right brain dominant!🙏

[@ombra711]

So the concept of "Nice Guys" have been a thing for a loooong time!😳

[@merlapittman5034]

If it was me, I'd have broken the damp man up into little pieces to make sure he couldn't come back to life when he thawed! Really frightening story, especially to someone like me who has been stalked. Excellently told, as always!

[@Dreamerwild]

Burn the pieces

[@iesika7387]

I like to imagine after he went back to the house and told Linda, she borrowed a hammer and took care of it herself. Would be pretty cathartic.

[@jha9235]

I like how at first he's like "eh, athletes not my type" and later he's admiring her "powerful strokes"

[@mrdropkicker1]

A man of culture

[@thefisherking78]

This is one of the most nerve-wracking stories you've ever told. I love the way the tension just builds and builds and builds. Also, you do a better impression of a middle 20th century Mid-Atlantic American accent than most Americans can. Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca would be proud, if you know what I mean. Just, wow.

[@goopah]

I agree with every word you wrote. The tension was off the charts. I felt like I was right there in every scene. And I never gave a thought to the 'accent', but now that you mention it, you're right.

[@deniseindoung4514]

IKR? The first time I heard him speak in that accent I thought it was some guest narrator he'd brought on for the story.

[@FosterYourAffinity]

This story... oh man. First listen through, I was distracted, and it didn't grab me. I've listened to it two more times. Wow. - Definitely evokes some parallel imagery with "It Follows" - The excitement of their first panicked flight, the pool scenes, - the anxiety that one draws from the fact that the cast of supporting characters are oblivious to the lurking danger and are more concerned with their daily lives - just adds to that ever building dread. Great read, sir!

[@brownwhale5518]

What are we all missing while our eyeballs are fixated on our distraction screens?

[@kkdd3844]

I like how in the end, the world itself got rid of the villain.

[@goopah]

Don't mess with Mother Nature! It gets flippin' cold in Canada.

[@bluegreenglue6565]

Wow, what a grotesque villain, and a very entertaining story. I can't help but see these narrations in full cinematic form as I listen, even when I'm working on a project (like I am at the moment). Thanks so much!

[@evelanpatton]

SPOILER ALERT: I wanted a little more smashing at the end! And I love how every tale is unique. This one is reminiscent of the 40/50’s Johnny Dollar, Phillip Marlow-esque writing. Very well done production! It felt like I was listening to an Old Time Radio production (apart from the clarity)! Some folks might not like the trope character style of this style, however, I think you did an excellent production, very true to the times in which this was written. It isn’t a “Classic”, but it was worth every minute. Every tale that you chose to do is compiled together with it’s own MASTERY. It makes one wonder how you do it- truly MAGIC! Thank you for the diversity of writing, it certainly isn’t mono-gore, horror babble! Cheers!

[@juliadia007]

It was slightly hitchcockian. I was expecting the denouement to be you know where (don’t want to spoil it)

[@3X73RM]

Finally a Horror Babble story with a happy ending x) Feels nice once in a while :3

[@WeirdIncluded]

Phew. Didn't expect such an ending. Amazing work

[@beckymartin1810]

So good! Came to listen to this before the second part!

[@jeank.7527]

This is so well-read I can’t stop listening- thank you!!! Can’t wait for “The Damp Man Returns” and the “The Damp Man Again” on Horrorbabble.

[@dmonvisigoth1651]

I love stories from this era written by women. It is always interesting to note the difference in perspective and the sorts of details that are included. I like that the male protagonist likes big healthy women. And the element of being creeped out to your core simply by the way someone looks at you -- that predatory gaze. Thanks for sharing this, I otherwise may never have discovered it.

[@VictorReynolds]

Great story that keeps you going!

[@0therun1t21]

The swim coach woman really made my blood boil! It's 100°F here and this is making me not want to get wet, good story, can't wait for the next installment.

[@ombra711]

I loved the first one so much, I'll be checking this out after work!🤗

[@Ivanhoe52]

Great descriptions and style of writing. And cool villain voice.

[@Official_King_Penguin]

This would make an amazing movie. Wouldn't need a huge budget either.

[@RexytheRexy]

This one got to me. It touched so well on fears and experiences known by many femme people - the doubt of others as to your sanity, the depiction of a stalker as inhuman, the hulking figure that overshadows and forces you to change your life, the way the legal system protects him/them over you (the radius of a restraining order I got against a man who violently attacked me in a way that could have been lethal was made smaller because she "didn't want to inconvenience him when he was walking downtown, the police not taking you seriously even after danger has been proven... this is, in a single word, excellent.

[@osteetheman]

Wow that was a fantastic story. I can’t wait to hear the others

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Amazing story, like all those written by AVH. Great story with good characters, descriptive setting, and relentless bad guys! Amazing narration, as always. Thanks!

[@joz6683]

Late to the party. So glad this is a longer one will help me to sleep. And as always thanks to everyone involved for your tireless work 👍

[@goopah]

Take it from me: This one will not help you sleep. I tried that last night, and ended up staring wide-eyed at the ceiling as the story unfolded. Brilliant stuff, and I don't regret it in the slightest, but most of HorrorBabble's work demands that I listen to the whole damn thing. I never get a good nights' sleep listening to this channel.

[@sabastjunberthiaume8391]

I am loving everything you’re doing @HorrorBabble ! Keep up the amazing work guys. I’m excited for more Autumn and chilly weather stories as the days get darker

[@taterpussy3825]

Harding is becoming a quick new favorite of mine thanks to readings like this. If this is part 1 of 3 then I can't wait for the continuation of this tale. Ramsdorf reminds me of Kingpin from the Spiderman comics, with his wealth and stature. What a simp too lol. Thanks for the reading Ian!

[@ImCarolB]

That was a great story and I'm so glad there are more to come! The end reminded me of the years I lived in Winnipeg -- incredibly cold in winter!

[@amethyst42]

**SPOILER ALERT!** Living in Winnipeg, I firmly believe this is the place they flew to, and our weather got 'im.

[@ombra711]

That last move George made was absolute genius!🥳

[@PlayNiceFolks]

Adjusted for inflation, 50 bucks in 1947 was about 650 dollars.

[@Luk4zguy97]

This was great. Thank you!

[@user-rd3rf3ft8e]

Wow. Again I never expected such an old tale by an author I barely know to be so great, and again you surprised me! Very spooky, intense, great prose. Truly a marvel!

[@bobbymarcum772]

I certainly am enjoying this weirdly wonderful trio of tales. I believe I even have one of them in print, if the Weird Tales cover illustration features a very fat man with a derby hat. I also enjoy your original stories, and it is a delight to hear you read them as well as these Golden Oldies. Soon, because of literary crusaders like yourself, Weird Fiction will be a required course of study for English/American lit majors at any respectable university. The gift of literature is the single greatest gift the English Folk have given the world, and I am proud (being of Puritan stock, descended from Israel Marcum) to share that heritage with my English cousins across the pond. I'm also curious to know if you (ian) have done any collaborative work with the esteemed Jasper L'Strange, of Encrypted Classic Horror here on KZbin. The two of you, along with Simon Stanhope (who is somehow still alive, being born in the reign of Victoria) are the greatest channels KZbin has to offer. And I'm even including my favorite e-girls in the contest.

[@ktcooki276]

And Sherlock Holmes audiobooks with bitesize audiobooks? Also really enjoy Simon and Greg's work...haven't previously discovered your first recommendation!!😊

[@feralbluee]

great story! that grotesque man was a good character - had me really worried. and gosh, your pacing was perfect!. for a minute there I forgot you were English, your American was really good. thanks, sweetie person :) 🌹🌱

[@HorrorBabble]

Thanks again, Alexa!

[@stevec2993]

A very chilling tale .

[@Eris123451]

“ And in the end the burgesses passed that remarkable law which is told of by traders in Hatheg and discussed by travellers in Nir; namely, that in Ulthar no man may kill a cat.” So that's it then and I'm done; I'll leave you now with these wise words from Konix Multisystem, “Keep up the good work and, as always, stay safe.”

[@GrunOne]

And rightly so! We keep you all safe from those from the moon

[@Eris123451]

@@GrunOne And so you do; don't think that we're not properly grateful.

[@thefisherking78]

@@GrunOne 😳

[@anachibi]

Stumbled onto this one and I love it! Can't wait for the other two! Guess I'll go listen to Allison's other stories you've read so far to tide me over.

[@soulreaver1983]

Another outstanding video to enjoy many thanks Ian 😎👍👍

[@goopah]

Oh, now this one was special. Absolutely riveting. Terrifically written. But special mention must go to the narrator, who did a fantastic job conveying the tension, pacing, personalities, and flavor of the story. In particular, I greatly enjoyed the voice of the Damp Man himself. Simply outstanding work. Will you be doing the sequels as well? Please? As an aside, I must ask: How in the hell do you read all of this aloud in all of these voices, and never make a mistake?!?

[@HorrorBabble]

Thank you! Yes, we'll be recording the other 2 stories eventually. In terms of not making a mistake, that's all down to editing!

[@colemarie9262]

The thumbnail art for this is so very menacing! Kudos to the artist for managing to put that much scary into an otherwise pretty average face.

[@jlworrad]

Wonderfully noir. Thanks!

[@gregoryturner9530]

Oh hell yes! Fantastic story

[@samanthabaker964]

I enjoyed this 1. And so xcllntly narrated well. Thank u Ian!

[@mortuarycookiezshane4192]

Interesting! I’m very curious about the other two stories. By the damp man’s initial description I pictured the slug like man from the King in Yellow . This story has similar vibes to me for some reason. Perhaps because I have so many questions!

[@willam1992]

or something from beneath the sea

[@RedSphero]

I immediately thought of the King in Yellow too! Glad it wasn't just me.

[@geoffreyrichards6079]

Kinda reminds me of the hybrid inhabitants of Innsmouth as well, which seems especially fitting.

[@0The_Farlander0]

What an ending!

[@hailthebagwan]

Discovered this channel with 'the Damp Man' and have found my new favourite channel.

[@HorrorBabble]

Pleased to meet you, Andrew!

[@PlayNiceFolks]

I quite liked this one. Going to have to check out other works by Harding.

[@gumbytheonetheonly9089]

Great Job !!! Quality Entertainment ! Thank You

[@dosycatfish]

That was fantastic. Will we get to hear the other two as well? Thanks to your channel I have learned about Allison V. Harding, and fallen in love with her stories! :)

[@HorrorBabble]

Indeed! Thanks for listening.

[@blixten2928]

Oooh! The mad scientist out to kidnap the blonde girlfriend! Both smelling faintly of chlorine. This was FUN!

[@nathanielgrey4091]

Well, that was harrowing. Did Remsdorf make a deal with the damn deep ones? I hope Linda went on to live a full and beautiful life. And our hero... What a man. Someone to aspire too. Put his life on hold to protect an innocent, hoping to gain nothing from it but the satisfaction of defending an innocent soul

[@manuelluisnavarro7701]

Should make an exciting horror movie.

[@customercareskeleton]

It's raining non stop Perfect time to listen to this one

[@ryanstallings7920]

Love the voice!

[@infamoushacker4chan883]

End of the story should've been, "That's it, I'm gettin me mallet."

[@Jose-oq6kj]

I love your channel so much. Thank you.

[@TheLordUrban]

You guys are dangerously close to infringing on my copyright for my original super hero Moist-Man.

[@mikemahaffey9121]

Great video. Was not expecting one on vampires.

[@ombra711]

Pouring out some 711 slushie for the homie Warren!🥲

[@ProjectTenva]

Such a good story. Alison V. Harding just seems to write really likeable characters and the 'weird' in her tales is fairly unique. Going to go back and listen to some of the earlier ones of hers you narrated I think.

[@adamscrivner30]

Brilliant.

[@Enshadowed]

there's something different about stories written by female authors that I really enjoy. I think a lot of that is the greater attention to subtle personal details, descriptions, interactions.

[@matthewhennessey5967]

Pretty cool ending.

[@matthewhennessey5967]

@@declassified1 The ending was cool. Cold.

[@walterfechter8080]

The antagonist reminds me of a villain from a Batman comic book.

[@kevinfogle7929]

the villain from Dead White?

[@AcornElectron]

“Something, something, Nyarlathotep…..old, OLD! something, something…Carter!” Keep up the good work and, as always, stay safe!

[@jimjohhnston9992]

Great Story I have a new Fave One of the best villains ever

[@Thehorrortheterror]

I really enjoyed this. It was creepy and suspenseful. And the ending I was like, “Because he’s made of *redacted*” I hope you do the other stories soon!

[@AJScraps]

Now thats a creepy thumbnail 👀😱

[@Claythargic]

Good one.

[@ClipperHorizon]

"I am the Mother White Wind / this is my hour of might / the hills and snow are my children / my service they do tonight." - Seton

[@benwrigley6176]

That was a cool one. Recommended to all.

[@alswann2702]

Poor Warren

[@stephaniestevenson6335]

I feel like a starving person sitting down to a feast!

[@TheImmortalDivine]

I think you'd have to be a woman to understand the true terror of this situation. This is the kind of horror story that's very real and is happening right now to women all over the world, and the maddening thing is that its rarely taken seriously, just like in the story.

[@roxanavasilakis9435]

Thank you 🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️

[@jhb1493]

Well that was weird. And weird is GOOD.

[@clintgh]

*SPOILER ALERT* Maybe I'm dumb or something, but what happened in the end?

[@kevingluys3063]

*Tips Fedora* "M'Lady"

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍👍

[@paulsmart4672]

Ah, the cops.

[@Scarter63]

There seemed to be an audio glitch around 2:25.

[@HorrorBabble]

That's just one of those moments that doesn't come across particularly well in audio. The line is as such in the text: "He’d taken a lot from McBrien, his editor, but this was . . ."

[@1teela]

It Follows.

[@jonahsingh5645]

Cops and being worthless, name a more iconic duo.

[@leebennett1821]

It's Baron Vladimir Harkkonan 😁😁😁

[@1701EarlGrey]

Oh, no Damp Man eat Warren!

[@shadownet3d]

Creepy!

[@crowejagerson3628]

Excellent as always. I do hope you do the other 2 stories involving the damp man

[@jimjohhnston9992]

I must respectfully dis agree I thought this story was excellent and the villain was truly unique and very effectively presented

[@exoblivione6086]

SCP level horror.

[@Jynxxxycat]

The large man, is reminiscent of the dead, squidgy gravedigger, from the "Conqueror Worm" yarn. 🤔

[@HorrorBabble]

We're not familiar with that one... Poe isn't it? We'll take a look.

[@Jynxxxycat]

@@HorrorBabble - I was thinking of "The Yellow Sign," by Robert W. Chambers. It was the earlier description of the fellow, which had me thinking about that story.

[@davidk6269]

42:30 bookmark

[@Wombats555]

Could have been worse. Could have been The Moist Feller.

[@aydenblackmer5216]

Is it just me, or does the thumb nail look like if Persona did a black and white theme

[@dirkbruere]

Should have bought a 44 magnum. Lother's head would have exploded, and I doubt even vampires can come back from that

[@ManSeekingMeaning]

Had to stop and breathe at 1:10:00 or so. Too frustrated. Correct me if I’m wrong, but even for the time period, all the female lead (Lauren?) had to do was go in with George to see the commissioner, no? She’d state she was assaulted, that she’s not engaged, and wants them to go after the man who so conveniently presented himself to the cops. If the commissioner still refused, as a journalist I’d go after him in the paper. Something. Am I missing something?

[@Dreamerwild]

The villainous mutate in this story made a pretty significant assumption that he could procreate with a baseline human to found a "new race." It's no small miracle that he is able to live with such significant mutations. Chances are, he is sterile.

[@angelaverbowski995]

#313-✅👍🏻

[@reptile797]

This story started as one that's almost too frustrating to endure with everyone around the main characters being too stupid in order to keep the plot moving, but it's one that I nonetheless enjoyed.

[@jaybat1184]

I completely agree. One of my favorite channels but the characters in this story are so one dimensional.

[@evelanpatton]

It’s very of it’s time, almost written as if it WAS an Old Time Radio production- and those characters are hero, pathetic female, money-monster, evil conspirator, duped police, big bo$$ men, sexy sirens, apple pie women, weak familial ties, abandoned drunks, etc.

[@th0m_vi0lence3]

​@@evelanpatton I agree, there were certainly some Old Time Radio regulars in here. But the end is pleasantly surprising

[@HorrorBabble]

I'm particularly partial to plots involving mysterious 'followers' and the like -- and I rather liked the characters in this one. Let's see what you make of the follow up stories in due course.

[@fabricejarfi]

Who's Warren anyway?

[@fabricejarfi]

@Phalanx Centurion Thanks! I actually Googled it after posting this. I'd actually already read the story a couple of times but that bit hadn't stuck for some reason. :)

[@TransRoofKorean]

Taking the characters' realism approach seriously, the refusal of them to involve the police about an obvious stalker _even when the police come to them after he's assaulted_ is downright painful. It's like the decision making of the characters just makes no sense. 46:26 "He guessed he'd have to handle it himself without court orders or the police department" -- wat. Even if you're getting a gun, you're gonna want that officially recorded excuse for why ya had to shoot him, you know?

[@Capsuleer7]

To be honest, that's how it plays out in real life. Unless you have absolute concrete evidence that you're (or someone you know) is being stalked law enforcement can't do anything except make a note of it. If you have a face or name that helps but again, only so much. I work as a security guard, and let me tell you theirs only so much we can do. Most security and law enforcement is an "after the fact" business.

[@TransRoofKorean]

@@Capsuleer7 Fair; vaguely considered this; again, an actual assault occurred in the story. The best argument would be that a hundred years ago police WERE more of an after-the-fact event than they are today. The "can't do anything" FYI is utterly false in the long-term: if you don't have evidence that you've been stalked then you're correct; if you can point to your previous police reports then that's all the difference... and I mean ALL the difference. It's really pretty vital. What I'm thinking of is a pre-internet person, someone dwelling on what they have to deal with day-to-day, in the scenario of this story: I can't come to the normal conclusion someone wouldn't at least go to the police to describe a clearly malignant force walking around the city. To me, that just doesn't make sense. I've read enough old stories; reporting crimes to police used to be the norm. It clearly applies here. The fact that in the story the "guess I gotta do it myself" part of the story doesn't happen after contacting the police... it reads as making no frickin sense to me, still. No sense. (You're right that policing is [and should be] an "after the fact" business but it's interesting how much people think it should be an interventionist system... utterly new idea from the 20th century, one that has led us to normalize people not being armed: that is, not being sufficiently prepared to properly defending themselves, instead assuming the cops will come along to protect people for 'em... it's perverted what our [American] society views as the natural right to have the force to defend oneself from harm, by assuming there's this external police force right there to do it for us.) But again... The police *CAME* *TO* *HIM* in the story, and his response was "well I guess I can't ask the police for help".

[@jamiewatts333]

@@TransRoofKorean 'If you can point to your previous police reports then that's all the difference... and I mean ALL the difference. It's really pretty vital.' Life is not always that straightforward and systematic. There have been cases where women were ignored (and even murdered) after making multiple police reports about stalkers. Police and justice systems are more fallible and corrupt than most are willing to acknowledge; innocent victims do not always get the help or protection they need.

[@TransRoofKorean]

@@jamiewatts333 I entirely agree with you and even know that all far better than most, but from the perspective of the story... I feel like the whole "I gotta do this alone" is making excuses for what's already a sloppy excuse. I feel like she had a conclusion in mind and needed a way to get there. But, I'm usually rather critical and I've never written a damn thing, so it's not like my opinion is particularly important.

[@mwanney8785]

Please put zero faith in the police for your protection. It could save your life one day