Mystery History

The Archives of Mystery Theatre Unlimited

Listed here by most recent. Browse by Title, Theme, or Season.

My Big Fat Reality Wedding

A hillbilly’s son is about to marry a blue blood’s daughter on a reality show. Complications arise from a self-obsessed bridesmaid, a new-age minister, and secrets that lead to murder.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Apr–Sep 2017. Revived: June-August 2025

Once Upon a Crime (in the Blacklight Zone)

Fairy tale characters collide with a spooky anthology host. Hooded girls, wolves, kings, and witches meet vengeance and murder.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Aug–Nov 2001; Revived 2004, 2008, 2011, 2025

Mayberry R.I.P.

Sheriff Andy Jailor is not at all bitter about an ex-wife, a kid, a controlling aunt, a nervous deputy, a strange barber, and a dumb mechanic. Not at all. So who’s behind the murder in this sleepy southern town?

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: March–May 2010; Revived June–August 2013 and January–March 2025.

Slay Ride 7: The Buttcracker Suite

Just when he thought all the “Slay Ride” shows were over, Santa is dragged back into a murder mystery at the North Pole—packed with laughter, seasonal song parodies, and a very silly murder.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: December 2024.

Tales from the Script

In 1950, three faded horror stars attempt a comeback without a finished script, while a grandstanding congressman hunts “Communists” on set. Egos, politics, and production chaos collide.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: September–November 2003; Revived September–November 2024.

Murder at the Kit Kat Klub

Dueling lounge lizards, a love-conflicted exotic dancer, a down-and-out club owner, and a strange Austrian bodybuilder—before the night is over, someone will be knocking them dead. Features nine parody songs.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: March–June 2006; Revived September 2007; August & October 2008; April–June 2018; June–August 2024.

Elliot Brick’s Case of the Overture for an Undertaker

A stagehand finds Beethoven’s undiscovered Tenth Symphony. When a theft is threatened at the unveiling, the Auxiliary hires Wheeling’s dimmest detective, Elliot Brick. Local flavor meets musical mayhem.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli with Ryan Sears. Original run: March–May 2014; Revived April–May 2024.

Bridgerdon Abbey

Scandals among British elites in the Regency era lead to murder, mystery, and musical parodies.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: January–March 2024.

Slay Ride Five — C.S.I.: North Pole

Christmas Eve. Ex-cops on a mission. A toyshop rebrand. Striking reindeer. Mob connections. And… murder.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Nov–Dec 2005; Revived 2007, 2014, 2023.

Elliot Brick’s Case of the Maltese Ferret

Six possible weapons, nine locations, and suspects galore—Elliot Brick fumbles through a campy whodunit.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Apr–Jul 2005; Revived Jan–Mar 2012; Sep–Nov 2023.

Indiana Smith and the Raiders of the Lost Sequel

A truth-compelling icon, a jilted aviatrix, Cold War spies, and a globe-trotting race to recover a mystical artifact.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Sep–Nov 2008; Revived Sep 2009; Summer 2012; Jul–Aug 2023.

Mission: Unpossible

A villain schemes to end the free-love spirit of the ’60s and trigger the cultural disaster of the 1970s. Can the Unpossible Mission Force stop him?

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Dec 31, 2012–Feb 2013; Revived Apr–Jun 2023.

Happily Never After

When a prince must choose a bride, three would-be princesses vie for his affection—with deadly results.

Written by Ryan Sears, Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Apr–May 2015; Revived Jan–Mar 2023.

A Very Hellmark Christmas Special

Christmastown, East Dakota—365 days of Christmas: cheesy romance, predictable storylines, holiday songs…and murder to solve.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: December 2022.

The Wizard of Odds

Follow the Goldbricker Road with a sexpot Dorothy, a gender-confused witch, and the comic brothers Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion—plus a few surprises.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Sep–Dec 2006; Revived Jun–Jul 2008; Jul 2010; Sep–Nov & Dec 31, 2022.

Mind Over Murder

An aging mad scientist attempts to switch his wife’s and his own minds with younger people—with hilarious results!

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Oct–Nov 2009; Revived Jan–Feb 2014; Apr–Aug 2022.

Indiana Smith and the Restaurant of Doom

A bumbling explorer discovers a treasure of biblical proportions, sparking a whirlwind world tour and possibly Indiana Smith’s last escapade.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: May–Aug 2003; Revived Sep 2007; Jan–Mar 2022.

Slay Ride 4: Revenge of the Claus

Mrs. Claus has had enough of houseguests Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny—and Santa giving toy guns to kids. Complications lead to a very funny murder with holiday songs.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Nov–Dec 2003; Revived 2004, 2008, 2013, 2021.

Johnny B. Dead

High school students in the 1950s grapple with the Red Scare, UFOs, and getting to second base—with murderous results.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Oct–Dec 2015; Revived Oct–Nov 2021.

How the West Was Dumb

Gunslingers in the Old West are hunted by a clueless marshal, a sophisticated Native American, and a brassy bounty hunter.

Written by Butch Maxwell, Ryan Sears & Bert Furioli. Original run: Sep–Nov 2014; Revived Jun–Aug 2021.

Slay Ride II: Screaming All the Way

Santa faces a hostile takeover at the North Pole and a serial killer slashing through the snow. Nothing silent about this night!

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Nov–Dec 1998; Revived 2012, 2017.

Popguy the Sailor Man

Popguy the Sailor has disappeared, and Olive is about to marry rival Bruto. It all leads to a fight to the finish—spinach optional!

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Sep 2019–Feb 2020.

Elliot Brick’s The Case of the Ms. and the Show Biz Whiz

Extortion, blackmail, and fraud are tools of the trade for a powerful agent—and when Brick gets involved, it becomes a Broadway brawl with murder.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Aug–Oct 1999; Revived Apr–Aug 2018.

Rock ’em Dead

A rock band must reunite for a Rock Hall induction after a bitter breakup—only to face deadly results.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Sep–Nov 2010; Revived Jan–Mar 2019.

One Life to Lose

A daytime drama faces declining revenues, live broadcast chaos, and murder behind the scenes.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: May–Aug 2002; Revived Jan–Feb 2009; Sep–Dec 2018.

Murder on the Luv Boat

A fabled cruise ship where lovers renew commitments—or commit murder. Captain Boobing must keep couples together…or die trying!

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Apr–Aug 2004; Revived 2006, 2008, 2018.

Slay Ride (or Rudolph the Dead-Nosed Reindeer)

Santa is a wreck on Christmas Eve. The elves are unruly, reindeer are on strike, and Mrs. Claus is tired of houseguests Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny. A holiday classic with murder and laughs.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Nov–Dec 1996; Revived 1997, 2000, 2017.

Last Kill and Testament

Branford Butterworth, a wealthy entrepreneur in the toilet business, dies in a bizarre prototype explosion. Police suspect foul play in this interactive musical-comedy dinner mystery.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Oct–Nov 2017.

Space Trek XII: The Rash of Budda Kahn

The aging captain of the Starship SecondPrize confronts an old nemesis while transporting an alien princess to a peace conference—until a key crew member winds up dead.

Written by Joseph J. Cannito. Original run: Jan–May 2001; Revived Aug–Oct 2002; Jan–Mar 2017.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jackal & Mr. Hype

Sheerluck Holmes and Dr. Watson chase Jack the Ripper, but encounter a strange doctor with a formula that transforms personalities—with deadly consequences.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Sep–Nov 2011; Revived Jul 2017.

Space Trek

An aging starship captain wrestles with suspicions about his crew and obsession with an alien ambassador—while his old arch-enemy plots revenge.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Feb–May 2001; Revived Sep–Nov 2002; Apr 2006; Jan–Mar 2017.

A Deadly Christmas Carol (or What the Dickens?)

A twisted take on a holiday classic: familiar Dickens characters inappropriately recast in a hilarious musical murder mystery.

Written by Butch Maxwell, Bert Furioli & Ryan Sears. Original run: Nov–Dec 2011; Revived Nov–Dec 2016.

Dead of State

A presidential campaign pits two of the nation’s least-qualified candidates against each other—until murder derails the election spectacle.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli with Josh DeBeni, Michael Moran, Vera Barton-Caro & Ryan Sears. Original run: Sep–Nov 2016.

Star Bores

What happened between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens? In this parody, the answer is deadly funny.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli with Josh DeBeni, Michael Moran & Ryan Sears. Original run: Apr–Aug 2016.

The Capitol Hillbillies

An Ozark hillbilly billionaire becomes President. International tensions rise, politics collapse, and a White House murder follows.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Sep–Nov 2004; Revived Jul–Aug 2007; Jan–Mar 2016.

Slay Ride Six: Santa’s Last Christmas

Santa decides to retire. But will his replacement be his obnoxious elf, the scheming Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, or Mother Nature? Murder settles the question.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Nov 2010–Jan 2011.

McDeath (or Nothing Much About Doo-Doo)

The Royal Crown Shakespeare Company attempts the Bard’s “first show” — a madcap murder mystery in verse.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Apr–Jun 2007; Revived Jul–Aug 2009; Mar, May–Aug 2015.

Survivor on Killigan’s Island

The seven castaways of the U.S.S. Minnie are doomed to reruns — until a modern murder mystery invades their tropical island.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Feb–Apr 2002; Revived Jan–Feb 2015.

The Pirates of Poughkeepsie

An unlikely band of pirates from an equally unlikely place launch a comic voyage for booty, brawls, and betrayal.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Apr–May 2011; Revived Jun–Aug 2014.

The Calamityville Horror

A New Jersey businesswoman inherits a haunted house with a ghoulish staff — and a prankster ghost whose antics turn murderous.

Written by Bert Furioli, Ryan Sears & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Sep–Nov 2013.

Salon, Farewell, Auf Weidersehen, You’re Dead

At the Salon du Mort, twin brothers fight for power, prestige, and a bigger blow dryer — until murder curls up the comedy.

Written by Butch Maxwell. Original run: Jan–Feb 1998; Revived Jun–Jul 2010.

Dead of the Class

The Class of ’88 plans a 25th reunion filled with anger issues, nerdy romances, and 1980s music — until murder joins the committee.

Written by Ryan Sears, Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Mar–May 2013.

Who Killed the Top Chef?

Four celebrity chefs battle for the title of World’s Top Chef — but one of them is cooking up murder.

Written by Bert Furioli, Ryan Sears & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Mar–May 2012.

Kill Phil

A TV psychologist attempts to “fix” four deranged celebrities — with comic and deadly results.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Apr–May 2008; Revived Jan–Mar 2011.

Slay Ride III: Elliot Brick’s Case of the Santa Sham

Santa’s brother is on the lam from the mob, and Elliot Brick’s investigation drags him back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve — with deadly results.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Nov–Dec 2001; Revived 2002, 2009.

Murder Under the Big Top

A mean clown, shady ringmaster, dueling trapeze artists, and a bearded lady combine for the 13th greatest show on Earth — with murder in the circus tent.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Aug–Oct 2005; Revived Jan–Mar 2010.

I Killed Lucy

Lucy and Ethel ruin Ricky’s Hollywood debut, Fred’s investment, and Orton Wells’s film — with fatal consequences.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Jan–Mar 2007.

You’re a Dead Man, Chuckie Brown

Chuckie’s life is still a mess, and when Minus’s Great Pumpkin Festival returns old friends and enemies, it all leads to murder in the pumpkin patch.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Oct–Nov 2007.

The Menace of the Super Duper Party-Pooper

Rotten throws a birthday party for SuperDuperMan. Villains crash the event — and someone won’t live to blow out the candles.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: May–Jul 2001; Revived Jul–Aug 2007.

Elliot Brick’s Case of the Ditz and the Diamond

The Oglebay Diamond resurfaces after 80 years, but before it can be donated, Elliot Brick stumbles through larceny, murder, and twisted songs.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: Jun–Aug 1998; Revived Apr–Jul 2005.

E.A.T. (The Extra Added Terrestrial)

A disguised alien infiltrates a paranormal conference. Will conspiracy theorists, reporters, or agents in black reveal the truth?

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Jan–Apr 2003.

Something Stinks at P.U.

Three professors and one spoiled co-ed face the sudden demise of their retiring dean at Prestigious University — and someone killed for his job.

Written by David Barluch. Original run: Oct 2000.

Who Wants to Murder a Millionaire?

A game show host is mysteriously murdered during a live broadcast — and the suspects are the contestants themselves.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Jun–Sep 2000.

Damn! Damn! That Rotten Old Nottingham!

Robin Hood, revolting peasants, Saxons, and a rigged contest collide in Merry Olde England — with murderous results.

Written by David J. Feilding. Original run: Jan–Mar 2000.

DOA in the Y2K (Murder in the Millennium)

A survivalist, computer geek, new-age spiritualist, evangelist, and forest ranger ring in New Year’s Eve 1999 — with doom and murder at midnight.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Nov–Dec 1999.

Variety Is the Spice of Death

A 1950s TV variety show hides jealousies, ex-spouses, and backstabbing — until someone takes murder center stage.

Written by Bert Furioli & Butch Maxwell. Original run: Jan–Feb 1997; Revived Jun–Jul 1999.

The Tragic Death of Alfred the Squatty

In the Ninth Century, a grumpy king loses his head — and suspects include heirs, knights, lovers, squires, and a wizard.

Written by Joseph J. Cannito. Original run: Apr–May 1999.

Montana Marie Gets Gunned Down at Three

In Camel Rock, Sheriff Montana Marie faces her destiny — and her grizzly end — in a frontier showdown.

Written by David Fielding. Original run: Sep–Oct 1997.

Recipe for Murder (The Great Chefs Show)

Who’s killing the great international chefs? Suspects include Alfredo Cappuccino, Angus McAnus, Jacqueline St. Coquille, Billy Bob, Wiener Schnitzel, and Julia Childish.

Happiness Is a Warm Gun (The Beatles Show)

Cash-strapped aristocrat Lord Albert Hall winds up with an unfinished John Lennon recording and tries to sell it to the highest bidder—enraging representatives of the formerly Fab Four.

Written by Butch Maxwell & Bert Furioli. Original run: May–July 1997.

A Medium for Murder (The Art Collector Show)

An art collector dies under mysterious circumstances and his newly rewritten will goes missing. Suspects include Aunt Goldie, Penny, curator Mike, Madame Futura, and faithful butler Peeves.

Original run: March–April 1997.

Take Me Out of the Ball Game (The Baseball Show)

A washed-up minor-league player clashes with his manager, his long-suffering girlfriend, a dim new star hitter, and a feisty front-office worker—until murder steps up to the plate.

Original run: September–October 1996.

Speakeasy, Die Hard (The Gangster Show)

In a 1920s private speakeasy, Vinnie “the Sauce Boss” has dirt on everyone—his girlfriend Shirley, would-be comic host Wayne, ex-cop PI Ray, even a mysterious Russian soothsayer—and what he does with it can be murder.

Original run: July–August 1996; Revived often.