The Spider #3 Audiobook
Wings of the Black Death
by Norvell W. Page writing as Grant Stockbridge
Read by Nick Santa Maria
Like the consuming flames of a prairie fire the dread news spread: “The Spider has gone mad! He will massacre us all!” But Richard Wentworth, never more sane, was even then gambling life itself in one desperate effort to save the city which cursed his name — from the awful ravages of man-spread plague!
Some writers fall into clover, but Norvell W. Page backed into a spider web that captured him for ten exciting years. Back in the difficult year of 1933, Page was working as a newspaperman and writing for the pulp magazines, when fellow pulpster mentioned that he was stuck. He had promised to deliver a horror novelette to the editor of Dime Mystery Magazine, but the deadline was too tight. So Page decided give it a shot himself.
Page's timing was perfect. He not only scored the cover of that issue of Dime Mystery, but this was his first sale to Popular Publications, who had just launched The Spider, written by R. T. M. Scott. After two issues, Scott was moving on and editor Rogers Terrill desperately needed a replacement. Page was fast, wrote vividly, and made difficult deadlines. The job was offered to Page. His background as a crime reporter didn't hurt his resume either.
The December, 1933 issue of The Spider ushered in the era of Grant Stockbridge with the thrilling Spider exploit, Wings of the Black Death. With his first white-heat story, Norvell Page owned the series. No doubt, he saved it from oblivion. In a few short months, Page remade Richard Wentworth alias the Spider into a messianic avenger unlike anything pulp readers ever read before. Driven, deadly, the Spider was a daredevil caught between the law that branded him as a criminal and the underworld he terrorized with his metallic laugh and searing lead.
Radio Archives is proud to present Norvell Page's debut Spider exploit—a desperate struggle against overwhelming odds to save Manhattan from being overwhelmed by a man-made Plague. Read by Nick Santa Maria.
Chapter 1: The Spider Returns
Chapter 2: Spider, You Must Die!
Chapter 3: Flight — and Challenge
Chapter 4: Shoot to Kill
Chapter 5: The Black Death
Chapter 6: The Spider Unmasked
Chapter 7: Through the Flames
Chapter 8: The Plague Again
Chapter 9: The Voice on the Wire
Chapter 10: Great Apollo
Chapter 11: Virginia's Clue
Chapter 12: Wentworth Views the Plague
Chapter 13: A Shot in the Dark
Chapter 14: Wholesale Death
Chapter 15: Is That a Confession?
Chapter 16: Nita Cries 'Vengeance!'
Chapter 17: The Cave of the Pigeons
Chapter 18: Doom of The Plague
Chapter 19: Kirkpatrick Is Generous
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.
