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The Spider #56 Audiobook
When Thousands Slept in Hell
by Wayne Rogers writing as Grant Stockbridge
Read by Nick Santa Maria
Sinisterly beckoning, the long bony finger signaled Manhattan to its mass death — slaying hundreds of helpless victims who dared sink into a sleep from which there could be no awakening this side of hell! While the Underworld’s lawless hordes looted, only Richard Wentworth, as the Spider, dared fight, die and fight again for a fear-crazed people against a murder-Morpheus whose human quarry drowsed into death — and whose grim weapon was a Slaying Sandman sworn to turn New York into a Slumberland of Slaughter!
During the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction, three publications ranked as the most popular: The Shadow, Doc Savage, and the Spider. Of these three archetypal Pulp characters, the Spider was definitely the most outrageous.
The Spider followed the established pulp pattern of a wealthy man-about-town, Richard Wentworth III, master of disguise, dilettante of the arts, in perfect physical condition, and completely devoted to the pursuit of justice for the down-trodden, no matter what the cost to himself or loved ones. Secretly donning a decrepit black hat, a tattered black cape, a false hunch to his shoulders, a lank wig of stringy hair, an application of sinister face makeup and a pair of .45 automatics, Wentworth prowls the streets of New York as his alter-ego the Spider, chasing down criminal masterminds bent on enslaving or destroying humanity. Much of the action takes place in the tenements and slums, the poor and lower classes victimized as readily as the rich.
Nick Santa Maria reads When Thousands Slept in Hell with the crackling intensity you have come to expect of his superb talent. Originally published in The Spider magazine, May, 1938.
Chapter 1: Night of Terror
Chapter 2: The Beckoning Finger
Chapter 3: Sleeping Death
Chapter 4: Murdering Morpheus
Chapter 5: Death Insurance
Chapter 6: Bullet Ballet
Chapter 7: Hell’s Hotel
Chapter 8: Into the Shadows
Chapter 9: Doctor of Disaster
Chapter 10: Eye for an Eye
Chapter 11: Wanted for Murder!
Chapter 12: Third and Last Death
Nick Santa Maria Nick was born early in life in Brooklyn, NY. His theatrical background is based in Comedy Improv. He was a long standing member of the late lamented Miami based, Mental Floss, where he served as head writer/composer. From there he began his career in commercials, voice-overs, TV, Film, and theatre. He has performed in many roles on the stage including his award winning turn as Nick in Over The River And Through The Woods, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, in The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee as Mr. Panch (3-D Theatricals), Mr. Bromhead in No Sex Please, We’re British at The Norris, and as Pseudolus in, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Norris Theatre. Television: The Buffalo Bill Show, B.J. Stryker, and two Disney Christmas Specials. Off Broadway: Writer/Composer/Performer on Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know, Soundtrack on RCA Victor. Broadway: Vince Fontaine in Tommy Tune’s production of Grease. He also appeared in every domestic company of Mel Brooks’ The Producers, understudying everyone from Nathan Lane and Jason Alexander, to Tony Danza and David Hassellhoff. He was the original Genie in Disney’s Aladdin, a Musical Spectacular, soundtrack on Disney Records. Nick is a resident of Los Angeles and is currently writing a book about classic film comedians, Nick’s been a long time film historian, and has written several articles on the topic.
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