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Doppelgangers and Evil Twins in Old Time Radio

Identical Twins seem so cute when they are young and both wearing the same jammies, but things get very uncomfortable when one or both twins turn out to be Evil.

Doppelgangers and Evil Twins

28 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 11 hours, 2325 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
13 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from March 31, 1950:

"Screen Directors Playhouse: Dark Mirror"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

The Dark MirrorWhen we think of twins in real life or imagination usually conjures a handsome young couple pushing a double pram with a pair of identically dressed and featured tikes. At first glance, we may be envious of the young mother who gets to raise this double-dose of cuteness but soon we realize that all the troubles of childrearing will be more than doubled for the hapless dad.

Twin Boys

The evil twin is a literary device used to create an especially frightening antagonist through many genres. Often, the good and evil characters are separated at an early age, although a common device is for the evil sibling to have tormented the good for years while growing up. When the good twin becomes a companion to the story's protagonist, the existence of the evil twin will be unknown and leads to all sorts of confusion which will be blamed on the good twin.

In cinematic melodrama creating an evil twin is easily accomplished in the makeup chair by adding a scar or goatee to the actor playing both parts, although there have been instances of actors having an actual twin and the siblings taking the different roles. It is difficult to hear a scar, of course, but radio actors have had a lot more practice in doubling than screen actors.

One of the most chilling uses of the evil twin concept was in the psychological thriller "The Dark Mirror" starring Olivia de Havilland and adapted for Screen Directors Playhouse in 1950. Method actress de Havilland (who insisted that everyone in the cast seek treatment from a professional psychiatrist before filming began) plays a pair of identical twins who are so similar in appearance that they can share the same job and social appearances without anyone noticing. However, one twin is a homicidal maniac and the other her unwitting iron-clad alibi, or is she really so unwitting?

Dorothy Lamour has a run in with Sydney Greenstreet's supposed insane twin on Sealtest Variety Theatre when she is looking for an out-of-town place to rent, the bit does a great job of letting Greenstreet spoof his on-screen persona.

Bette Davis plays a twin who murders her sister and assumes her identity on Lux Radio Theatre's adaptation of "Stolen Life".

Twins and evil twins are creepy enough to be natural for "Radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills". Suspense gives us "The Pasteboard Box" where a twin murders his brother and chops up the body but faces difficulty disposing of the head, and "Five Buck Tip" where a convicted murderer nearly gets away with having his twin take his place on the electric chair.

A very interesting use of twins is in "The Big Gamble" on The Whistler when a racehorse produces twin foals and the bad guys train one to be a sure winner and the other to lose every race he runs. The program also gives us "Death Sees Double", another tale of a murderous twin taking her sibling's identity, this time discovering some uncomfortable secrets about her late sister.

See also: Twins in Old Time Radio and Darkness and Night Time.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    28 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 11 hours, 2325 min
    28 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 11 hours, 2325 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 28 shows – total playtime 11 hours, 38 minutes
    2. Big Town 481012 451 Double Murder.mp3
    3. Cbs Radio Mystery Theater 750320 Doppelganger.mp3
    4. Challenge Of Yukon 490107 Jim Beldens Secret.mp3
    5. Challenge Of Yukon 491202 Outlaws Twin.mp3
    6. Gunsmoke 590201 Bobbsey Twins.mp3
    7. In Name Of Law 360816 He Did It Or Did He.mp3
    8. Inner Sanctum Mysteries 460521 Detour To Terror.mp3
    9. Lone Ranger 430215 1571 Double Trouble.mp3
    10. Lone Ranger 430510 1607 Cactus Kid.mp3
    11. Lux Radio Theater 470825 Stolen Life.mp3
    12. Man In Iron Mask 16.mp3
    13. Man In Iron Mask 17.mp3
    14. New Adventures Of Nero Wolfe Hasty Will.mp3
    15. Police Headquarters 320000 27 Whos Who.mp3
    16. Screen Directors Playhouse 500331 062 Dark Mirror.mp3
    17. Sealtest Variety Theater 490505 032 Sidney Greenstreet.mp3
    18. Stella Dallas 00 Egyptian Mummy 2.mp3
    19. Suspense 460117 Pasteboard Box.mp3
    20. Suspense 580223 Five Buck Tip.mp3
    21. Taos 451226 1191 Looking For Kryptonite Pt 17.mp3
    22. This Is Nora Drake 480713 Nora Still Cant Fall Asleep.mp3
    23. This Is Nora Drake 480714 Peggy Ken Are At Breakfast Table.mp3
    24. Whistler 441120 130 Death Sees Double.mp3
    25. Whistler 481003 330 Big Gamble.mp3
    26. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 580622 Virtuous Mobster Matter.mp3
    27. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 590517 Twin Trouble Matter.mp3
    28. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 600821 Twisted Twin Matter.mp3
    29. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 601016 Twins Of Tahoe Matter.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    28 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 11 hours, 2325 min
    28 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    313 MB – total playtime 11 hours, 38 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 28 shows – 313 MB – total playtime 11 hours, 38 minutes
    2. Big Town 481012 451 Double Murder.mp3
    3. Cbs Radio Mystery Theater 750320 Doppelganger.mp3
    4. Challenge Of Yukon 490107 Jim Beldens Secret.mp3
    5. Challenge Of Yukon 491202 Outlaws Twin.mp3
    6. Gunsmoke 590201 Bobbsey Twins.mp3
    7. In Name Of Law 360816 He Did It Or Did He.mp3
    8. Inner Sanctum Mysteries 460521 Detour To Terror.mp3
    9. Lone Ranger 430215 1571 Double Trouble.mp3
    10. Lone Ranger 430510 1607 Cactus Kid.mp3
    11. Lux Radio Theater 470825 Stolen Life.mp3
    12. Man In Iron Mask 16.mp3
    13. Man In Iron Mask 17.mp3
    14. New Adventures Of Nero Wolfe Hasty Will.mp3
    15. Police Headquarters 320000 27 Whos Who.mp3
    16. Screen Directors Playhouse 500331 062 Dark Mirror.mp3
    17. Sealtest Variety Theater 490505 032 Sidney Greenstreet.mp3
    18. Stella Dallas 00 Egyptian Mummy 2.mp3
    19. Suspense 460117 Pasteboard Box.mp3
    20. Suspense 580223 Five Buck Tip.mp3
    21. Taos 451226 1191 Looking For Kryptonite Pt 17.mp3
    22. This Is Nora Drake 480713 Nora Still Cant Fall Asleep.mp3
    23. This Is Nora Drake 480714 Peggy Ken Are At Breakfast Table.mp3
    24. Whistler 441120 130 Death Sees Double.mp3
    25. Whistler 481003 330 Big Gamble.mp3
    26. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 580622 Virtuous Mobster Matter.mp3
    27. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 590517 Twin Trouble Matter.mp3
    28. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 600821 Twisted Twin Matter.mp3
    29. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 601016 Twins Of Tahoe Matter.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    28 recordings on 13 Audio CDs. Total playtime 11 hours, 38 min
    28 recordings on 13 Audio CDs
    total playtime 11 hours, 38 min

    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A001

    1. Man In Iron Mask 16
    2. Man In Iron Mask 17
    3. New Adventures Of Nero Wolfe Hasty Will
    4. Stella Dallas 00 Egyptian Mummy 2

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A002

    1. Police Headquarters 320000 27 Whos Who
    2. In Name Of Law 360816 He Did It Or Did He
    3. Lone Ranger 430215 1571 Double Trouble

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A003

    1. Lone Ranger 430510 1607 Cactus Kid
    2. Whistler 441120 130 Death Sees Double

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A004

    1. Taos 451226 1191 Looking For Kryptonite Pt 17
    2. Suspense 460117 Pasteboard Box

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A005

    1. Inner Sanctum Mysteries 460521 Detour To Terror

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A006

    1. Lux Radio Theater 470825 Stolen Life
    2. This Is Nora Drake 480713 Nora Still Cant Fall Asleep

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A007

    1. This Is Nora Drake 480714 Peggy Ken Are At Breakfast Table
    2. Whistler 481003 330 Big Gamble

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A008

    1. Big Town 481012 451 Double Murder
    2. Challenge Of Yukon 490107 Jim Beldens Secret

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A009

    1. Sealtest Variety Theater 490505 032 Sidney Greenstreet
    2. Challenge Of Yukon 491202 Outlaws Twin

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A010

    1. Screen Directors Playhouse 500331 062 Dark Mirror
    2. Suspense 580223 Five Buck Tip

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A011

    1. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 580622 Virtuous Mobster Matter
    2. Gunsmoke 590201 Bobbsey Twins
    3. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 590517 Twin Trouble Matter

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A012

    1. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 600821 Twisted Twin Matter
    2. Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 601016 Twins Of Tahoe Matter

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Doppelgangers and Evil Twins Disc A013

    1. Cbs Radio Mystery Theater 750320 Doppelganger

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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