I tried to capture all of the newspaper article to the right, but just in case your eyes are a little worn these days (like mine!), Joy has donned her reading glasses and transcribed it for us all...
"Host to ghosts, ghouls, goblins and just plain everyday gremlins, Raymond Edward Johnson, master of grisly ceremonies on "Inner Sanctum Mystery" is also a collector of note. But his items are not exactly of the drawing room type! In fact, they're strictly out of this world! Here, for example, he is shown with the death mask of an alleged Zombie. Brrrr! Perhaps that explains his ability to portray so many character parts so effectively."
Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin on 24th July 1911, Raymond Edward Johnson started out as a bank teller, and later studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago.
His career really began right there in Chicago, but it took off as a serious radio drama player once he teamed up with writer/director Arch Oboler on the Lights Out series. Arch Oboler was the one who really gave him his big break, and when they both relocated to New York he featured in several episodes of Arch Oboler's Plays, before being hired for his most famous role as the host/narrator of a chilling new series.
The new series was called Inner Sanctum, and from the very first broadcast on 7th January 1941, Johnson was heard as the series host/narrator, introducing himself as "Your host, Raymond."
Over time, the character became well known for his chilling introductions and morbid puns, and his typical closing, "Pleasant dreaaaams, hmmmmmmm?" He departed the series in 1945, when he joined the Army; and although he was replaced for the remainder of the run by Paul McGrath as host, Johnson took the "Raymond" name with him.
He later hosted the radio version of the science fiction series Tales of Tomorrow, which incidently, I just found four new episodes of. I'm going to add those over the next week or two. I believe there are only seven episodes still in existence, but if you love science fiction, you'll love these tales!