Short Story Theater
Short Story Theater brings to life new classic tales for the 21st century, often based on science fiction, the paranormal, fantasy, or other subjects intended to promote thoughts and ideas that last far beyond the few minutes of the brief narrative.
Episodes
March 20, 2024 • 11 mins
Fast forward many thousands of years into the future to a land where there hasn't been a crime for 3 millenna! But now that the stupidest man on Arinor is guarding the treasure, things may change.
Mark as Played
December 12, 2023 • 18 mins
A tale of terror in a nearly empty Cape Cod hotel in the off-season.
Mark as Played
October 14, 2023 • 26 mins
The Hounds of Fate will follow you, no matter where you go. You cannot hide from them.
Mark as Played
October 10, 2023 • 14 mins
In tropical South Florida, three thieves are preparing to steal the treasure of a retired director of a wildlife research program. They soon find that the treasure is much larger than they expected.
Mark as Played
September 27, 2023 • 16 mins
A retired fisherman on Boston's North Shore attempts to catch a ghost ship named The Carolina Queen.
Mark as Played
August 6, 2023 • 9 mins
In a classroom, far away in a distant, advanced planet, a student presents his science project - a living, miniature planet that he calls Ear
Mark as Played
August 1, 2023 • 17 mins
Thou Shalt Not Kill. It is a commandment, perhaps the most important one. Thou Shalt Not Kill - but there is a caveat, an exception to the rule. In times of war, even your clergyman will slap you on the back, hand you a chocolate bar, and send you off to kill. Bill Russo's tale, The Death Squad, is the story of Private Shadow of the Union Army, who near the end of the U.S. Civil War is assigned to a firing squad which must kill...
Mark as Played
July 29, 2023 • 23 mins
In Bill Russo's new tale, the creatures of the Juns Federation - Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, are poised to conquer earth, by capturing one human being at a time. They have chosen desolate Ragged Mountain in Northern Maine for the starting point of the invasion. A lone disc-jockey sits in a solitary cabin at the top of the peak. In winter it is not possible for any vehicle to scale the icy mountain, or for any helicopter to land. ...
Mark as Played
July 5, 2023 • 28 mins
An irreverent, satirical look at the news from June/July 2023
Mark as Played
July 2, 2023 • 15 mins
In Hyannis on Cape Cod back in the 1950s, police would respond to a call from the Kennedy Compound in about 2 seconds. A business on busy Main Street could expect to see a response from a call to the police department in five or ten minutes. On Leftover Main, where the tourists don't go, the police won't go! So, on Leftover Main, it's every man for himself. Luckily for The Chicken Man of Leftover Main, he's up to the job.
Mark as Played
June 22, 2023 • 30 mins
A sample episode of an unusual comedy-music radio series called Cheese Please, with Snarfdude and Daffodil. If you like the episode, you can listen to the weekly shows on radio or on podcast sites.
Mark as Played
May 21, 2023 • 20 mins
The letters E, I, O, and sometimes A, are the last letters of the names of virtually all of the Italian people. Are these letters truly evil? Are the people who have these letters at the end of their name evil? Find out in Bill Russo's mostly true tale of the E, I, E, I, O and sometimes A, people.
Mark as Played
May 15, 2023 • 39 mins
The true tale of Dr. Abner Hersey, the eccentric doctor, who willed a forturne to the 13 churches of Cape Cod, and vowed to come back and haunt them, if any 'scobberlochers' mishandled his money.
Mark as Played
May 11, 2023 • 11 mins
Short Story Theater, News From the Past - a look at the sad life of one of the worlds' most successful authors. She was born in poverty in a small town, and amassed great wealth, but never found happiness.
Mark as Played
May 8, 2023 • 26 mins
A young girl fless an abusive and violent stepfather and ends up on Leftover Main Street in Hyannis, the unofficial capital of Cape Cod. She finds refuge in the toy store of a kindly lady. But back in Boston, the horrid stepfather who raped and beat her, is bent on finding out where she is. He plans to drag her back to Beantown and continuie abusing her.
Mark as Played
May 1, 2023 • 29 mins
Journey back to Old Cape Cod in the 1950s where Gable Stone leaves a game of 8 ball, to hunt for the killer of a mob boss, on a trail that runs from Hyannis to Boston to New York.
Mark as Played
February 14, 2023 • 12 mins
Millions of readers know the exploits of Sherlock Holmes from the stories of Doctor Watson. In this episode of Bill Russo's Short Story Theater, for the first time, Sherlock Holmes relates a narrative about Watson. The good doctor undertakes a risky mission to build a hospital and he ends up fighting not just to build the structure, but for his very life!
Mark as Played
January 22, 2023 • 17 mins
Every night at three hours beyond midnight a man is awakened by a knock on his front door. He walks up to the door and there is no one there, even as the knocking continues. Under increasing strain he calls 'Hostile Haunts' in hopes they can scare off the invisible intruder.
Mark as Played
January 21, 2023 • 16 mins
The Second Life of Riley Adair is a brief dramatized query into a consciousness below consciousness. Does it really exist? After you listen to the tale, you be the judge.
Mark as Played
January 10, 2023 • 31 mins
Dodge City - Duel at Dawn, is the sequel to "I Grew Up in Dodge City in 1875". Deputry Sheriff Chalky Jones tells about the most unlikely gunfight the "Wild West" ever witnessed.
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Anna Sale explores the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.
A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke.