Lights Out: Spider (June 8, 1938)

Setting: A remote, hellish jungle, likely in South America or Africa, with scenes in a makeshift camp and dense, oppressive wilderness. The episode relies heavily on sound effects like rustling leaves, dripping water, insect buzzes, and eerie silence to create a claustrophobic, terrifying atmosphere, emphasizing isolation and dread.
Plot:
Introduction: The episode opens with the Lights Out theme, a dissonant organ or orchestral piece, followed by an announcer (likely an NBC host) introducing the show with its signature urging to turn out the lights for maximum terror. The narrator sets the stage for “Spider,” a tale of two men facing a monstrous arachnid in a jungle, promising visceral horror.

The Premise: The story follows two Americans, Joe and Dixie, stranded in a remote jungle, desperate to escape poverty by collecting rare butterflies to sell to a wealthy collector. Their situation is already tense, with dwindling supplies and frayed nerves, when they glimpse a spider “as big as a dog,” an unnatural creature that defies reason. The spider’s presence, described with “eyes that think,” sparks both fear and greed, as they see it as their ticket to riches if they can capture it.

Escalating Horror: Joe and Dixie, driven by desperation, build a trap to ensnare the giant spider, but their plan unravels as the creature proves cunning and menacing. Oboler’s script uses a stream-of-consciousness style, with the men’s monologues—voiced with increasing panic—revealing their terror and crumbling sanity. Key scenes include their tense stakeout, spotting the spider’s glowing eyes, and a horrifying moment when the trap fails, leaving them vulnerable. Sound effects like clicking fangs (noted in the original 1938 script as “gnashing” per otrplotspot.com) and scuttling legs amplify the dread. The spider’s intelligence, hinted at in dialogue like “If it is thinking, I’m afraid of what it is thinking,” blurs the line between hunter and prey.

Climax and Resolution: The climax is a brutal confrontation, likely in the dark jungle, where the spider outsmarts Joe and Dixie. The men’s greed and overconfidence lead to their doom—possibly being ensnared in their own trap or devoured by the creature, with gruesome sound effects like screams or a sickening crunch. Oboler’s minimalist approach, with only two characters and a silent monster, keeps the focus on psychological horror, though the episode reportedly drags slightly at the end, per otrplotspot.com reviews. The conclusion leaves the spider triumphant, with the announcer reflecting on the folly of challenging nature’s horrors, urging listeners to tune in next week.

Themes: The dangers of greed, the terror of the unknown, and humanity’s vulnerability against nature’s monstrosities. The episode reflects Lights Out’s signature intensity, using a sparse cast and vivid audio to evoke primal fear, akin to Oboler’s “Chicken Heart.”

Cast and Roles:
Joe: Played by an unnamed actor, likely a Chicago radio veteran, voicing a gruff, desperate opportunist whose bravado masks growing fear, with frantic monologues capturing his unraveling psyche.

Dixie: Played by another unnamed actor, possibly the same performer doubling roles, portraying a nervous, skeptical partner whose terror escalates, voiced with a jittery, pleading tone.

The Spider: Unvoiced, its presence conveyed through sound effects like scuttling, clicking fangs, and rustling, designed to horrify listeners through imagination, per Oboler’s minimalist style.

Announcer: Likely an NBC host, delivering the opening and closing remarks with a foreboding tone, setting the stage for horror.

Note on Cast: Lights Out drew from Chicago’s talented radio pool, with actors delivering intense, overwrought performances to match Oboler’s visceral scripts. Specific casting for “Spider” is unlisted, as the series rarely credited individuals, but the small cast ensured focused, gripping delivery.

Production Details:
Music: A haunting organ or orchestral score, likely composed by NBC’s in-house musicians, opens and closes the episode, with eerie stings punctuating suspenseful moments, enhancing the jungle’s oppressive mood.

Writer/Director: Arch Oboler, renowned for his imaginative, brutal scripts, crafting a minimalist tale that leverages sound and dialogue to evoke horror, inspired by pulp fiction and gothic fears.

Sound Effects: Central to the episode, including rustling leaves, dripping water, insect buzzes, clicking fangs, and scuttling legs, creating a vivid jungle soundscape. The spider’s “gnashing” fangs, noted in the 1938 script, add a grisly touch, per otrplotspot.com.

Sponsor: Unsponsored during its 1938 NBC run, Lights Out aired late Wednesday nights (often midnight), supported by the network’s experimental programming, giving Oboler creative freedom.

Source Note: The episode’s details are confirmed via archive.org and oldtimeradiodownloads.com, with a preserved recording available. Reviews from otrplotspot.com note its minimalist approach and slightly dragging end.

World and National Events Around June 8, 1938:
To provide context for the broadcast, here are key world and national events occurring in early June 1938, reflecting the pre-war climate that shaped listeners’ perspectives:
World Events:
Nazi Germany’s Expansion: Germany, under Hitler, annexed Austria in the Anschluss (March 12, 1938) and was pressuring Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland, escalating European tensions. Radio news reported fears of war, with the Munich Agreement looming (September 1938), resonating with the episode’s theme of unseen threats.

Japanese Invasion of China: Japan’s Second Sino-Japanese War intensified, with the Battle of Wuhan (June–October 1938) beginning, causing massive civilian casualties. U.S. radio covered humanitarian concerns, amplifying anti-Axis sentiment, paralleling the episode’s monstrous antagonist.

Italian Fascism: Mussolini’s Italy, aligned with Germany, continued its imperialist policies post-Ethiopia (1936), with negotiations for the Pact of Steel (signed May 1939) underway. U.S. media reported Axis aggression, echoing the episode’s fight against evil.

Holocaust Escalation: Nazi anti-Jewish policies worsened, with increased persecution and emigration pressures. Kristallnacht (November 1938) approached, with limited U.S. awareness via radio, aligning with the episode’s grim tone.

National Events:
Economic Challenges: The U.S. was in the “Roosevelt Recession” (1937–1938), with unemployment at 19%. New Deal programs, like the Wagner Act, supported labor, covered in radio news, reflecting public desire for stability, akin to the episode’s resolution of chaos.

Roosevelt’s Policies: President Franklin D. Roosevelt pushed economic recovery and neutrality, with the Fair Labor Standards Act (passed June 25, 1938) setting a minimum wage. Radio addresses emphasized democratic values, contrasting with the episode’s anarchic horror.

Entertainment and Morale: Hollywood and radio thrived, with films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and radio shows like The Shadow dominating. Lights Out’s midnight horror, airing Wednesdays, offered thrilling escapism for late-night listeners.

Sports and Culture