War of the Worlds

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The Night Orson Welles Thought He Wrecked His Career

Scene from the 2020 graphic novel Orson Welles: Warrior of the Worlds While Orson Welles was broadcasting the Mercury Theater production of The War of the Worlds, he didn't have the slightest notion that he was frightening hundreds of people into conniption fits. It was only when he emerged from the studio, to find the building surrounded by police cars, blue-coats swarming through the corridors and brandishing their nightsticks, and irate CBS officials on the verge of apoplexy, that he ... (read more)

2020/06/08

Wendell Niles and the War of the Worlds

Wendell Niles and Marilyn Monroe on NBC Radio in 1952 Wendell Niles was part of that elite period when radio announcers were indeed as well-known as the programs on which they worked. Involved with virtually every aspect of show business for over 65 years, he certainly has had a career to look back upon. Born in Montana on Dec. 29, 1904, Wendell Niles' first professional experience came in 1923 when he organized an orchestra. This proved to be quite a successful venture as Niles and His ... (read more)

2020/06/02

Why Science Fiction Didn't Last on Radio

Illustration from the Dimension X episode "Mars is Heaven" by Ray Bradbury They should have made the perfect pair. Think of the action, the drama, and the adventure of science fiction -- now add a dash of good sound effects, a dash of imagination, and away you go, off on the hottest radio series ever. And yet ... the marriage didn't last. It's too bad, too. The five United States SF series, which should have been the best shows in radio history, were weak and short-lived. They ranged ... (read more)

2020/06/01

All-Time Favorite Radio Shows

Boris Karloff and Arch Oboler on Lights Out Radio's Best Private Eye Show: This was a tough one. There were some real dandies in this category and picking the best was pretty hard. Philip Marlowe was great, as was Michael Shayne. The Fat Man and Mr. and Mrs. North were also tops. Johnny Dollar and Nero Wolfe were tough to beat. After much sifting and sorting, I did manage to come up with one name ... Sam Spade. He was rough and tough, sardonic and sarcastic, a ladies man, and smart as a ... (read more)

2020/05/30