The isolation of the last year + has been a challenge in so many ways for so many people.

I also learned new things about myself—that while I can transition fairly smoothly to introvert-mode, I find that without inspiration from the wider world and stimulating, in-person conversation with friends and strangers, my creativity has gone into hibernation. But with a fun, new script from Twelve Chimes host Josh Horowitz, the production wheels are starting again!

I’m in the process of recording actors and prepping files for the creation of a NEW episode, and I couldn’t be more excited!

And I’m now working with San Francisco’s The Lost Church theatre on a monthly radio program that will feature existing Twelve Chimes episodes with new intros, interviews, and thoughts on radio drama!

I am optimistic for the future, and enthusiastic to fun and exciting stories to help us all lose ourselves in the fantastic for at least the length of an episode.

I'm so excited to be bringing you a new episode! This one was written by a then high-schooler, Isaac Penston (now in college), who I was lucky enough to meet and obtain this great script! I was also privileged to work with a great group of teen actors who brought Isaac's script to life! And I need to mention the fantastic episode artwork by a friend of Isaac's, Rowan Barbeau!

View fullsize

It was a ton of fun to edit this episode and create the sound design. It still amazes me how effective combining clean voice recordings and sound effects is in constructing an environment, supporting the immersion of the listener into the story. Despite recording and editing the episode, when I listen to the final mix, my brain creates a mental picture, and I'm drawn into the story, while listening to the voices, the footsteps, crickets, doors opening, water dripping.

I hope you like this story as I much as I do. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Check out the episode notes with full credit on the Listen page, and to learn more about everyone involved, check out the Cast & Crew page.

And please check out spooky audio drama at The Narada Radio Company at naradaradio.libsyn.com/

Stories in the Works

We've got a number of ideas in development! Dangerously mischievous animal spirits, grave robbers, Faustian tragedy, and more ghosts!

Listen to Back Episodes

We have 20 episodes...20!...for your listening pleasure, collect 'em all!!
Listen here

Please Leave a Review

Reviews on iTunes or your favorite podcast app really help to generate interest and help people find the podcast.

But most importantly, we hope you enjoy listening to these dark tales of horror and suspense!

And hope to see you soon…at midnight!

On the cusp of the new year, I'm super excited about the all the upcoming horrors in store for you in 2020...FICTIONAL audio drama horrors that is! New stories, collaborations, music, art, voices! We have stories of teenage delinquents and their run-in with ghosts, a Faustian tale about a woman and how a theremin changed her life...for the better?, a folk tale of a trickster of the forest, and more!

I've been thinking about all I've learned about storytelling, writing, sound design, and directing since the show's inception in November of 2016. I'm so thankful for all the support and collaboration from so many people -- thanks for listening, thanks for your comments and feedback, thanks for coming out to the live shows -- I HEART you all!!!

Oooo, I want to share a photo of the new flyers!!! And don't miss Twelve Chimes' ad in the latest Noir City program guide - available at the festival in San Francisco, January 24-February 2, 2020!

Okay, let's talk schedule -- a quick update:

My original concept for the show was a series of very short tales of pulpy horror released monthly. Very quickly it became clear that longer stories with more complex sound design are not just super fun to produce, but resonate more with listeners. So I'll be releasing fewer episodes, which will give myself and collaborators time to create something we're really proud of and, I hope, a thrilling listening experience for you all!

Episode 21: Midnight Delinquents — Coming Soon!

I'm excited about this play, written about teenage delinquents by a teenager -- the talented writer Isaac Penston! They even got school credit for their work! And Isaac recruited a classmate, Rowan, to create this fantastic cover art! 

Listen to Back Episodes & Please Leave a Review

Updating this message to say...we have 20 episodes...20! for your listening pleasure, collect 'em all!!
Listen here

Reviews on iTunes or your favorite podcast app really help to generate interest and help people find the podcast. Thanks for listening and once again, Happy New Year!

Hello listeners and happy holidays! Your merry producer Aimee Pavy here, so excited to announce that a new episode of Twelve Chimes It's Midnight has hit the streets, so to speak, and has been a long time coming. A fanciful and deliciously nasty horror melodrama to entertain you, after a long day of perky holiday cheer!

And to keep the holiday season at least partly in the shadows, don't forget to take your dose of noir at this year's Noir City XMas, Dec 18th at the Castro Theater in San Francisco.

And a reminder that Twelve Chimes episode 18, "A Perfectly Obvious Explanation," was written by Eddie Muller, a man who knows the dark better than almost anyone, as he is the Czar of Noir, the host of Noir Alley on TCM, and founder/host of the Noir City Film Festival!

We brought to life his brutal tale, originally staged as part of the 2011 Thrillpeddler's Shocktoberfest 12 "Fear Over Frisco." Listen out for Eddie’s cameo appearance in the episode!

But tell us more about the cast of the new episode, "The Turn of the Thumbscrew"! Yes yes, of course! It features the wickedly elegant Jill Tracy as Charlotte Ryden, the evil governess. She also composed and performs the eerie piano music as well as a few Christmas classics from her album Silver Smoke, Star of Night. Jill’s music can be heard in two previous episodes (“On the Prowl” and “Ghost Crush 2”), and her voice in "A Perfectly Obvious Explanation."

I'm so grateful to have roped-in such a steller cast of seasoned actors Lori Gieleghem, Paul Silverman, and Cody Nichols, as well as young ingénues Kaila Knudsen and Ilana Horowitz. And as always I'm grateful for the tireless efforts of our evil host Josh Horowitz, who collaborated with me on sound design for this episode. Endless thanks to you all!

Sadly I took ZERO photographs during recording. So here's a picture of a cool vintage microphone. Next time I must also rope-in a photographer!!

The super creepy episode cover art was created by the talented Gary Davis who I found on Deviant Art. He graciously lent his artwork for this episode. Thank you Gary! Enjoy more of his spooky work here – www.deviantart.com/maniakuk

Finally a shout out to our beloved friends of the house!

The always funny and creepy guys Eric, Tim, and Joshua, of the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society! They curate the best of old time radio with history and colorful post-show discussion!

And James Scully who is the podcast Breaking Walls: The History of American Radio Broadcasting. Every episode is impeccably researched and incredibly fascinating with tons of historical radio clips and interviews!

We hope you’ll listen and enjoy "The Turn of the Thumbscrew” and the many episodes available on our website or anywhere you listen to podcasts! And we are diligently working to bring you more suspenseful and spine-tingling dramas to keep you on the edge of your seat...stay tuned! And remember…at midnight, anything can happen!

Hello listeners, your intrepid producer Aimee Pavy here! I'm so excited to announce season 3 of Twelve Chimes It's Midnight and diligently working to bring you more suspenseful and spine tingling dramas to keep you on the edge of your seat!

We start the season with a drama by Eddie Muller, a man who knows the dark better than almost anyone, as he is the Czar of Noir, the host of the Noir City Film Festival and Noir Alley on TCM. We brought to life his brutal tale "A Perfectly Obvious Explanation," originally staged as part of the 2011 Thrillpeddler's Shocktoberfest 12 "Fear Over Frisco." Listen out for Eddie’s cameo appearance in the episode!

This episode features the wickedly elegant Jill Tracy as Dr. Lorrison. Jill’s music can be heard in two previous episodes (“On the Prowl” and “Ghost Crush 2”), but this is the first time we’ve heard her speak!

The cast also includes the incomparable Zelda Koznofski who appeared in the same role, Sherry, from the original Thrillpeddlers Shocktoberfest's staging of the play—she really tears it up!

The Thrillpeddlers was a huge influence of the birth of this radio drama podcast! “Sissies Stay Home!”

Alexander Cukor and Brett Stillo once again lend their captivating voices to Twelve Chimes as Lucky and Frank. Alexander has such an amazing voice of gravel and butter...so glad he was available for another role! And Brett mentioned that he is often typecast as the milquetoast, so this time out, he took great glee in playing the heavy, and he's ooooh so great!

We roped in Scott Owen, an old time radio enthusiast, a friend, and a willing voice to jump in and voice the Police Officer! And regular Twelve Chimes actor Aaron Seymour ran the audio recording, stopping the actors every time a motorcycle or plane flew overhead (quite a noisy day for recording)!

The haunting original artwork was created by Clyde J. Kell, who has created a number of pieces in tribute to old time radio!

And the closing music, added to lighten the tension, is the dark yet playful performance of the 1949 hit “Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think)” by the notorious San Francisco big band Lee Presson & the Nails. The choice of this song is a nod to the setting of the play (1949) and to the classic radio show “Lights Out,” whose ominous opening always included the phrase “It is later than you think.”

We hope you’ll listen and enjoy “A Perfectly Obvious Explanation” and the many episodes available on our website or anywhere you listen to podcasts! And stay tuned for more to come!