Author Archives: crypticescapemagazine

November 01

X Minus One – “Requiem”

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Another Robert Heinlein classic about an older man nearing the end of his life and all he wants before he dies is to visit the moon.  He asks a Doctor to have dinner with him after he was turned down for a moon ride at the annual fair.   The man happens to be the owner […]

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October 30

Inner Sanctum Mystery – “Death is an Artist”

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Talk about a creepy story.  Imagine stumbling into an apartment with four dead cats, all with their heads cut off or their throats slit.  Introduce an artistic husband and a spiteful ex-wife you have a thrilling episode to be sure. Inner Sanctum Mystery – “Death is an Artist” (January 23, 1945)    

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October 29

The Adventures of Superman – “Threat to the Planet Building” (1940)

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“The Yellow Mask” attempts to end Lois Lane’s life and the conflict between Superman and this dastardly villain finally comes to an end.      

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June 20

The Beast with Five Fingers (1946 Full Film)

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When a distinguished but now-crippled pianist dies, he leaves everything to his niece, much to the dismay of his personal secretary (Peter Lorre) and other occupants of the old boy’s gothic manse. And now it seems the place is haunted by the pianist’s disembodied hand–but is it the cause of murder, or the avenger thereof? […]

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June 20

The Warlord of Mars – “Rewards” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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REWARDS With the realization that Dejah Thoris was no longer within the throneroom came the belated recollection of the dark face that I had glimpsed peering from behind the draperies that backed the throne of Salensus Oll at the moment that I had first come so unexpectedly upon the strange scene being enacted within the […]

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June 20

Buck Rogers and the 25th Century – “Dr. Huers New Relativator is Installed”

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The Plot is in the title folks.  🙂 Buck Rogers and the 25th Century – “Dr. Huers New Relativator is Installed” – April 21st, 1939

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June 19

House of Dracula (1945 Universal Pictures Full Film)

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Tired of immortality, Dracula seeks out the castle home of Dr. Franz Edlemann, a doctor who has been working on a possible cure for vampirism.  Dracula relocates to the home permanently to receive a series of transfusions of blood mixed with the clavaria formosa.  The mysterious plant that can change the structure and qualities of […]

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June 19

The Warlord of Mars – “The Tide of Battle” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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THE TIDE OF BATTLE But Solan’s last loud cry had not been without effect, for a moment later a dozen guardsmen burst into the chamber, though not before I had so bent and demolished the great switch that it could not be again used to turn the powerful current into the mighty magnet of destruction […]

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June 19

X Minus One – “Child’s Play”

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A timid lawyer receives a mysterious package, which turns out to be a kit from two hundred years in the future.  What could be inside? X Minus One – “Child’s Play” – October 20th, 1955

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June 11

Jungle Captive (1944 Universal Pictures Full Film)

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The final chapter in the ape woman saga, Jungle Captive is the third film of the series.  It is preceded by Captive Wild Woman and Jungle Woman where we witness the ongoing struggle of beautiful women who have the superhuman strength of a gorilla and the temperament as well.  When will these mad scientists get […]

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June 11

The Warlord of Mars – “The Magnet Switch” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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THE MAGNET SWITCH The guardsmen paid not the slightest attention to their wards, for the red men could not move over two feet from the great rings to which they were padlocked, though each had seized a weapon upon which he had been engaged when I entered the room, and stood ready to join me […]

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June 11

Inner Sanctum Mystery – “Death is an Artist”

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Four dead cats and a man are found in an apartment…all with their throats slit or their heads cut off! The story of the human victim involves a hated wife and murder. A delightfully macabre story. Inner Sanctum Mystery – “Death is an Artist” – January 1st, 1945

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June 07

Jungle Woman (1944 Universal Pictures Full Film)

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In the sequel to Captive Wild Woman, we see the return of Paula Dupree, the ape woman.  The film sets out as a series of flashbacks rehashing the events of the previous film.  We learn then that Paula indeed survived as Cheela.  Once revived she is can turn to her human form this time without […]

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June 07

The Warlord of Mars – “Follow the Rope” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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“FOLLOW THE ROPE” What could it mean? “Follow the rope.” What rope? Presently I recalled the cord that had been attached to the parcel when it fell at my side, and after a little groping my hand came in contact with it again. It depended from above, and when I pulled upon it I discovered […]

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June 07

The Adventures of Superman – “Atomic Fuel Cylinders Stolen”

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Dr. Dahlgren’s Atomic Beam fuel cylinders have been stolen by “The Yellow Mask.” The Adventures of Superman – “Atomic Fuel Cylinders Stolen” – February 28, 1940

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June 06

Captive Wild Woman (1943 Universal Pictures Full Film)

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Exotic animal trainer, Fred Mason, is returning from a safari where he captured a large selection of animals for John Whipple, his employer.  Whipple is the owner of a circus and often hires safari experts to routinely capture dangerous and rare animals from all over the world.  One such animal is Cheela, a gorilla who […]

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June 06

The Warlord of Mars – “The Pit of Plenty” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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THE PIT OF PLENTY I did not languish long within the prison of Salensus Oll. During the short time that I lay there, fettered with chains of gold, I often wondered as to the fate of Thuvan Dihn, Jeddak of Ptarth. My brave companion had followed me into the garden as I attacked Thurid, and […]

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June 06

The Shadow – “White God”

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The Shadow and Margot visit an island to find out why a dozen ships have vanished in “The Graveyard of the Pacific.” The Shadow – “White God” – May 1st, 1938

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June 05

Bowery at Midnight (Monogram Pictures 1942 Full Film)

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A professor of psychology maintains a soup kitchen in the Bowery.  Secretly, however, he’s also a gang boss who uses the soup kitchen to recruit members for his organization.  One such recruit is a doctor who has become addled and addicted to drugs and alcohol.  The doctor, however, happens to be quite adept at corpse […]

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June 05

The Warlord of Mars – “In Durance” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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  IN DURANCE The public houses of Barsoom, I have found, vary but little. There is no privacy for other than married couples. Men without their wives are escorted to a large chamber, the floor of which is usually of white marble or heavy glass, kept scrupulously clean. Here are many small, raised platforms for […]

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June 05

Suspense – “In Fear and Trembling”

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“At the edge of the cliff overlooking the sea is the grey stone mansion weather-beaten by the storms of several decades. To this mansion four years ago Gilbert Durant brought his wife Lucia and until a year ago when Lucia’s half-sister came to live with them they were quite happy. The gradually something began to […]

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June 04

The Black Cat (1941 Full Movie)

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An oldie and a goodie.  The Black Cat, which is loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe‘s short story of the same name stars Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi, and Alan Ladd.  Lugosi also starred in the earlier 1934 film with the same title.

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June 04

The Warlord of Mars – “With the Yellow Men” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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WITH THE YELLOW MEN Thuvan Dihn was not long in joining me; and, though we found the hooked weapon a strange and savage thing with which to deal, the three of us soon despatched the five black-bearded warriors who opposed us. When the battle was over our new acquaintance turned to me, and removing the […]

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June 04

Buck Rogers and the 25th Century – “Black Barney is Under Control of Killer Kane”

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The plot is in the title!  😛 Buck Rogers and the 25th Century – “Black Barney is Under Control of Killer Kane” – April 19th, 1939

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May 02

The Ghost Breakers – (1940 Full Movie)

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Lawrence Lawrence (yes that’s his real name), played by Bob Hope, is a crime reporter.  While broadcasting his latest story Mary Carter, played by Paulette Goddard is listening from her hotel room when suddenly the lights go out from a mighty thunderstorm.  The entire city lies in a complete blackout.  While in the darkness a knock […]

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May 02

The Warlords of Mars – “Through the Carrion Caves” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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THROUGH THE CARRION CAVES Straight toward the north, day and night, our destination compass led us after the fleeing flier upon which it had remained set since I first attuned it after leaving the thern fortress. Early in the second night we noticed the air becoming perceptibly colder, and from the distance we had come […]

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May 02

X Minus One – “First Contact”

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A classic story of the first encounter with an alien race and the mutual distrust that would involve—neither ship wishes to be the first to depart for fear of giving away clues of their origin to a potential adversary. X Minus One – “First Contact” – October 6th, 1955

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May 01

Frankenstein (1931 Universal Studios Film)

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A true riveting classic in the truest sense in horror movies.  Universal Studios floating on the success of Dracula continued the fright fest with their rendition of Frankenstein in 1931.  Directed by James Whale and adapted from the Mary Shelley play about a mad-scientist who exhumes corpses to build a new man.  However, there was […]

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May 01

The Warlord of Mars – “New Allies” by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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NEW ALLIES Surrounded by guardsmen I marched back along the corridors of the palace of Kulan Tith, Jeddak of Kaol, to the great audience chamber in the center of the massive structure. As I entered the brilliantly lighted apartment, filled with the nobles of Kaol and the officers of the visiting jeddak, all eyes were […]

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May 01

Inner Sanctum Mystery – “Desert Death”

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Two men pick up three others and offer them a lift into town. They said they were British but they are nazi prisoners who had escaped from the camp up near Post City. Inner Sanctum Mystery – “Desert Death” – January 9th, 1945

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