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The Origin of Superstition

39 episodes · 1932–1933 · Syndicated · Historical

Play The Origin of Superstition on Radio Days

Short dramas, around 1932-33, that tell where everyday superstitions came from: black cats, broken mirrors, Friday the 13th, knocking on wood. RadioGOLDINdex says the series may have been titled "Superstition on the Air."

Sources: RadioGOLDINdex

Episodes

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1932

• Three on a Match December 16, 1932 · 13 min

1933

• Throwing Salt Over Your Shoulder 1933 · Syndicated · 14 min
  Throwing salt over your shoulder, and the old gods of Babylon.
• Walking Beneath a Ladder 1933 · Syndicated · 13 min
  Walking under a ladder, and a brother's death in ancient Assyria.
• Breaking a Mirror: Seven Years Bad Luck 1933 · Syndicated · 13 min
  How a broken mirror brought misfortune in ancient Thebes.
• The Boogey Man 1933 · Syndicated · 14 min
  The Boogeyman, and the pagan god behind the name.
• Knocking on Wood 1933 · Syndicated · 13 min
  How knocking on wood began among the Tartars of ancient Asia.
• A Horseshoe Nailed Over Your Door 1933 · Syndicated · 13 min
  How a battle of the Teutonic Knights made the horseshoe a good-luck charm.
• Whistling in a Dressing Room 1933 · Syndicated · 13 min
  Why actors won't whistle backstage: a story from Shakespeare's time.
• A Black Cat Crossing Your Path 1933 · Syndicated · 13 min
  How the black cat superstition began in Ireland.
• Kissing Beneath the Mistletoe 1933 · Syndicated · 14 min
  Kissing under the mistletoe, and a prayer to an ancient Babylonian goddess.
• Friday the Thirteenth 1933 · Syndicated · 13 min
  How Friday the 13th came to be unlucky.
• Picking Up a Pin 1933 · Syndicated · 13 min
  Picking up a pin for luck, a superstition from England's Wars of the Roses.
• Crossing Your fingers 1933 · Syndicated · 14 min
  Crossing your fingers, a custom from ancient Rome.
• Don't Disturb the Dead 1933 · Syndicated · 14 min
  Don't disturb the dead: a curse on an Egyptian tomb.
• Two Walkers Separated February 24, 1933 · 13 min
• Rabbit's Foot March 3, 1933 · 13 min
• Standing Behind Chair April 7, 1933 · 13 min
• Cleopatra's Opal April 14, 1933 · 13 min
• Opening Umbrella Indoors April 21, 1933 · 13 min
• Throwing Shoes April 28, 1933 · 14 min
• Howling Dog May 5, 1933 · 14 min
• Four Leaf Clover May 12, 1933 · 14 min
• Something New; Etc May 19, 1933 · 14 min
• Wishing on a Shooting Star May 26, 1933 · 14 min
• Don't Sail on Friday June 2, 1933 · 14 min
• Don't Turn Back June 9, 1933 · 14 min
• Hat on a Bed June 16, 1933 · 14 min
• Blowing out Candles June 23, 1933 · 14 min
• Bubbles in a Tea Cup June 30, 1933 · 14 min
• Wishing on a New Moon July 7, 1933 · 14 min
• Cap Turned Backwards July 14, 1933 · 14 min
• Unlucky at Cards July 21, 1933 · 14 min
• Itching Palm July 28, 1933 · 14 min
• Lost Wedding Ring August 4, 1933 · 14 min
• No News Is Good News August 11, 1933 · 14 min
• Sing Before Breakfast, Cry Before Night August 18, 1933 · 14 min
• Lose Baby's First Pair of Shoe August 25, 1933 · 14 min
• Breaking the Wishbone September 1, 1933 · 14 min
• Ghost Ships September 8, 1933 · 14 min