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The Spider #28 Audiobook
The Mayor of Hell
by Norvell W. Page writing as Grant Stockbridge
Read by Nick Santa Maria
In that single, unguarded moment while he played his precious Stradivarius, the combined forces of the Mayor of Hell — the crooked Law and the vengeful Underworld — besieged Richard Wentworth, otherwise known as the Spider, nemesis of criminals! Mourned as dead, the Spider must start life anew, without friends or funds or hidden refuge, so that the Mayor of Hell’s bloody-handed henchmen — who judge no deed too base, who respect neither man nor God — may find their just reward — in death!
During the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction, three publications ranked as the most popular: The Shadow, Doc Savage, and the Spider. The great pulp magazines of the 1930s and 40s produced a number of heroes, but none as action-oriented as the Spider. For almost exactly a decade, from October 1933 to December 1943, the Spider was the scourge of the Underworld, doling out his own particular brand of justice and imprinting his dreaded red Spider seal on the foreheads of those he has killed for the good of mankind.
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 brings the action to electrifying life. The Mayor of Hell originally published in The Spider magazine, January, 1936.
Chapter 1: The Spider is Trapped
Chapter 2: To Arrest the Spider
Chapter 3: Fugitive
Chapter 4: Through the Darkness
Chapter 5: Army of Forlorn Hope
Chapter 6: The Best Laid Plans
Chapter 7: The Mayor’s Question
Chapter 8: The Fiddler is Paid
Chapter 9: Disaster
Chapter 10: A Strange Meeting
Chapter 11: One Man’s Despair
Chapter 12: Night Visit
Chapter 13: A Daring Attack
Chapter 14: Out of Victory — Despair
Chapter 15: Counsel of Despair
Chapter 16: Danger Trail
Chapter 17: Knife and Gun
Chapter 18: Nine O’Clock
Chapter 19: Wentworth’s Bit
Chapter 20: Missing
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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