Welcome to 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales!

Episodes

Oct. 30, 2024

THE MAN WITH TWO BEARDS A FATHER BROWN MYSTERY

Father Brown gets into a discussion with a well repected detective who believes that murderers can be picked out of a crowd, while the kindly father explains that men commit murder for all kinds of reasons and its impossible to identify them by sight....

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Oct. 23, 2024

THE DEATH OF HALPIN FRAYSER by AMBROSE BIERCE

A scary tale about a disembodied spirit and two lawmen who are hunting him in the woods near a church graveyard.  Enjoy alkl our shows and episodes at www.bestof1001stories.com

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Oct. 20, 2024

A GHOST by GUY de MAUPASSANT

At a gathering of old friends, one man describes his encounter with a female ghost. Be sure to check out our 1001 Ghost, Chiller, and Lovecraft stories at your favorite podcast server. Enjoy all our stories at www.bestof1001stories.com

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Oct. 13, 2024

AN INVITATION by ROBERT BARR

A powerful and cruel Archbishop traveling with a 12 man escort is returning home after demanding allegiance from smaller fiefdoms in the region when he is suddenly surrounded by a force twice his size and given an invitation to dine with the female...

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Oct. 9, 2024

THE PURPLE WIG A FATHER BROWN MYSTERY by G.K.CHESTERTON

The Duke of Exmoor wears a wig which people believe hides a family disfigurement- namely a deformed ear.  He creates a terrible curse that would befall anyone who sees his naked head.  When a local reporter calls out the Duke for creating a...

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Oct. 6, 2024

KEN'S DAY and BREAKING TRAINING by ZANE GREY

The final game is against Place, but this time it's s a home game. After the game, team gathers for one last meeting before everyone heads home for the summer.

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Oct. 2, 2024

THE TENOR by H. C. BUNNER

A humurous tale about a young New York City girl and her best best friend who both idolize a visiting French Tenor and cleverly hatch a plan for one of them to serve as his housemaid so she can meet her idol in person. H.C. Bunner at his best.

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Sept. 29, 2024

A METTER OF PRINCIPLE and THE FIRST PLACE GAME THE YOUNG PITCHER by…

Ken Ward pitches against the best team in their conference- Place- and its a nail-biter all the way.

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Sept. 25, 2024

RAPPACINI'S DAUGHTER (PT 2) by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

Giovanni enters the garden for the first time and soon Beatrice joins him. The two find they have much in common- but there is a lingering fear on the part of Giovanni regarding her poisonous apsect, a fear which become worse after Giovanni is warned...

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Sept. 22, 2024

MRS.RAEBURN'S WAXWORKS by LADY ELEANOR SMITH

A down and out young man looking for work gets a job as custodian at a wax works museum and finds himself captivated by a woman's wax likeness in the section reserved for murderers. This story was inspired by the author's attempt to sneak into the...

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Sept. 18, 2024

RAPPACCINI'S DAUGHTER (PT 1) by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

You'll find suspense, horror, and brilliantly crafted storyline in this classic Hawthorne short story about a young man who cmonmes to Padua Italy to study and finds himself in love with a young beauty whose life has been compromised by an evil...

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Sept. 15, 2024

FRIENDSHIP and THE HEARN GAME ZANE GREY

Ken Ward, returning to the team's quarters after his fight with Graves, is confronted by Coach Worry, who asks him how his face got banged up.  Graves appears a few minutes later in worse shape and gets a tongue-lashing from Worry.

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Sept. 11, 2024

STATE UNIVERSITY GAME and KEN CLASHES WITH GRAVES

The team plays an overconfident State University team and teaches them some lessons. After the game, the coach warns the team of their only weakness- that of every man on the team adhering to the rules of curfew and rules regarding no smoking/no...

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Sept. 8, 2024

IN THE SPRING and A COWARD by MAUPASSANT

In The Spring- A young man goes outdoors on a warm spring day and finds his attentions are riveted on a beautiful young girl- but before he can approach him he is pulled aside by an older man who insists on telling him a story about the dangers of...

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Sept. 4, 2024

A SISTERLY SCHEME by H.C. BUNNER

While vacationing at a Maine resort, a young bachelor is left hign and high by a young lady who decided to dump him at the last minute.  While watching her disappear acropss the lake with her new choice, he is approached by a saucy young lady who...

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Sept. 1, 2024

PRESIDENT HALSTEAD ON COLLEGE SPIRIT and NEW PLAYERS

Following an inspiring speech from President Halstead, some new plqayers appeared, and Ken finally got a chance to pitch.

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Aug. 28, 2024

A RULER OF MEN by O.HENRY

On the streets of New York our narrator runs into an old buddy named Kansas Bill who he hasn't seen for a long while. After a few beers his old pal,shares a whopper of a story about how he got himself involved with an Irishman who planned to rule a...

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Aug. 25, 2024

HUNTER QUARTERMAINE'S STORY by H. RIDER HAGGARD

Upon invitation to Sir Henry's residence, a small group mof close friends, both men and women, gather to have a chance to meet the famous African big game hunter Mr. Allen Quartermaine.  This story, written in 1885, is one of H. Rider Hagarrd's...

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Aug. 21, 2024

OLD TICONDEROGA by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

New Englander writer Nathaniel Hawthorne visits the remains of Fort Ticonderoga, which played an important part in the French-Indian and Revolutionary wars as first the French battled the English for possession of the valuable waterways and later the...

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Aug. 18, 2024

ANNIHILATION AND EXAMINATIONS ZANE GREY THE YOUNG PITCHER

The big day arrives during spring training and the banished varsity players , sidelined this year due to their playing for other teams off season, arrive to wreak revenge upon Coach Arthur's new recruits with a crowd of thousands of students. ...

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Aug. 14, 2024

THE STORY OF SIR PELIAS (CHAPS 5-6) by HOWARD PYLE from THE STORY OF …

In Chapter 5: How Sir Gawain met Sir Pelias- then how Sir Gawain found his way into Lady Ettards castle In Chapter 6: Sir Pelias is saved from certain death by the Lady of the Lake   Check out our new website at www.bestof1001stories.com

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Aug. 11, 2024

THE THREE TOOLS OF DEATH A FATHER BROWN MYSTERY by G.K.CHESTERTON

Father Brown is called upon to investigate the recent death of an older recluse who was at one time well known to the community, His brilliant insight leads the police to the manner in which the old man's death took place. You are invited to explore...

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Aug. 7, 2024

THE CAGE and OUT ON THE FIELD BY ZANE GREY

Wayne University Ken Ward has a long shot at playing varsity baseball ijn his first year due to the team's varsity players being grounded by playing ball outside the college off season.  When the tryouts come over a hundred players show up and...

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Aug. 4, 2024

THE SAFETY MATCH by ANTON CHEKHOV

A truly rare story from Anton Chekhov which is best decribed as a mystery spoof.  A seasoned Russian investigator teams up with a 20 year old detective wanna-be to determine the fate of a retired worker.  Visit our new website at and enjoy...

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