Art Bell is probably the most well-known radio host whose subject matter regularly delves into the "weird". Were there any noteworthy radio personalities before him who did the same? More generally, are there any good histories of late-night radio?

For anybody who's interested in this topic, after posting this question I wound up on the wiki page for paranormal radio shows, and footnote 1 was Sounds in the Dark: All-Night Radio in American Life by Michael C. Keith.

So looks like I've at least answered the second part of the question, and possibly the first as well. I'll know more after the book arrives later this month.

Even so, if anyone's got additional expertise in the subject of late night and paranormal radio, let me know!