Radio history of The Mysterious Traveler and host Maurice Tarplin.

The Mysterious Traveler

1943 - 1952

Maurice Tarplin was the mysterious man on the train who told us stories that made our skin tingle.

The Mysterious Traveler was a show that conjured up both an image of the story being told, as well as the creepy narrator telling it. He was as just as the title said, a "mysterious traveler" that we met each week on the train. It would begin with the distant sound a phantom train approaching. A steam whistle blew, and soon we would be aboard, listening to our mysterious host spinning his yarn. His menacing voice and morbid tales would fascinate us, as well as disturb us. After all, what kind of person would tell such a gruesome story to a stranger on a train? What sort of human would delight in the disasters of others and chuckle about the downbeat endings? Whoever he was, he knew what the audience liked-- and that made us just as guilty because we tuned in every week to hear more of it.

Maurice Tarplin was the man behind the mysterious voice. Taking us for a ride though the sinister and supernatural was forte. Tarplin was so good at it, he also did another series that was very similar (but only 15 minutes long) called The Strange Dr. Weird. There was always a jovial undercurrent to his voice. It was obvious that he knew he was giving us the creeps and enjoyed it. And then there was the way he almost always cut off his tale right in the middle of a juicy detail. "If you think that's terrible, I should tell you about another murderer, a man who killed his wife by -- oh, you have to get off here..." Ostensively, it was because the train was pulling into our stop, but it was really because he knew how to keep us in suspense for another week. Always keep that audience hungry for more! They shoveled out a lotta murder and suspense each to starving fans.

There was even a Mysterious Traveler mystery magazine. It is doubtful the printed word could have competed with Tarplin's sinister character, but the graphic artwork on the covers and the direct association with the long running radio series were enough to keep the magazine selling for a good long while. Vintage copies of the pulp magazine are still popular today, as are the comic books, which were another popular spin-off item.

Although many episodes or the radio series have been lost to the ages, The Mysterious Traveler remains one of the best remember characters in radio's horror history, right up there with Inner Sanctum's Raymond and The Whistler.

A recording session for The Mysterious Traveler. Left to right: Jack Amerine (sound), Bill Zuckert, Lon Clark, Roger DeKoven, Ed Bergly, Maurice Tarplin (closest to mic), Jim Wallinton, and Jackson Beck.

The Standard Introduction:

(Hear it on Real Audio!)

SFX: Eerie music plays, with the clacky-clack noise heard inside a train plays the background.

Host: "This is The Mysterious Traveler, inviting you to join me on another journey into the strange and terrifying. I hope that you'll enjoy the trip, that it will thrill you a little and chill you a little. So settle back and get a good grip on your nerves and be comfortable-- if you can! As we meet a gentleman who's just found exactly the house he's been looking for. I call his story... Change Of Address. "

Sfx: Music flourish.

An Opening Narration:

Host: "Have you ever seen a house that made you say automatically, 'That house was just made for a murder.'? Of course you have. But until now, you've never wanted to own such a house. But now your name is Andrew Hollins. You're in the 40s, and all your life, you've been outwardly respectable. Now, suddenly, you feel trapped. Completely trapped by your marriage to your wife, Jocaster, who rules you with an iron hand. That's why, when you find this bleak, lonely house on the shore of the Pacific ocean, your heart leaps with joy. Because it's a house... just made for murder."

An Ending Narration and Standard Closing:

SFX: Train Whistle blows. The clacky-clack noise heard inside of a train plays in the background.

Host: "This is the Mysterious Traveler again. Poor Andrew. Even in death, Jocaster had him under her thumb. Yes, they had both left the house inside 48 hours, just as she had sworn. That's the trouble with a house just built for a murder. Too many people may have the same idea. So, if you're every tempted to dig a grave in your cellar, be sure no one else had the idea first, or you may get into trouble. In fact, it may be better if you just forget the whole thing and -- Ohhh, you have to get off here... I'm sorry!... I'm sure we'll meet again. I take this same train every week at this same time."

SFX: Train Whistle blows and train sounds fade out.