Dark Fantasy: The Headless Dead January 23, 1942

Cast and Roles for Dark Fantasy: The Headless Dead (January 23, 1942)
Specific cast details for this episode are not widely documented, as Dark Fantasy episodes often lacked preserved credits. The series, originating from WKY in Oklahoma City, typically featured a small ensemble of radio actors, including Ben Morris, Eleanor Naylor Corin, Fred Wayne, Garland Moss, and Murillo Scofield, with Tom Paxton as the announcer. Roles were likely filled by these performers, with Scott Bishop as the writer.

Summary
The Headless Dead, the tenth episode of Dark Fantasy, aired on January 23, 1942, and was written by Scott Bishop. The story follows Frederick Holman, a skeptical tourist visiting the Tower of London, who doubts the eerie tales told by Garth, a guard. Garth guides Holman to a darkened chapel in the Tower, where they discuss its grim history, including executions and hauntings. Holman, dismissive, falls asleep in the chapel and is plunged into a nightmarish experience. He awakens to find himself surrounded by the animated corpses of the headless dead, spectral figures tied to the Tower’s bloody past. The episode builds a chilling atmosphere through vivid descriptions of the restless spirits and the claustrophobic setting, culminating in Holman’s desperate struggle to escape the supernatural forces. The production leverages sound effects, such as echoing footsteps and ghostly whispers, to enhance the horror, typical of Dark Fantasy’s focus on the macabre and unknown. The story emphasizes themes of skepticism versus the supernatural, leaving listeners with a haunting sense of the Tower’s enduring curse.