12/09/2019
We first heard of The Shadow when he began as the mysterious narrator of the radio show "Detective Story Hour." This radio program was created, as were many of them way back when, to encourage the sales of the montly magazine "Detective Story", published by the company Street & Smith's, out of NYC.
The success of this radio program, and its host character, led to the creation of The Shadow magazine, which began its run in 1931. The Radio show so famous nowadays, started in 1937, sponsored by Blue Coal. The first "wealthy young man about town" Lamont Cranston, was brought vocally to life by Orson Welles on Sept 26, 1937.
Welles, however, was not the originator of those famous lines, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" This was created by actor Frank Readick, Jr., who spoke into a water glass held next to his mouth.
We'd love to have you all take some quick video selfies, holding a water glass next to your mouth and voicing those famous lines!
