Old Radio

Today in 1950 , NBC began airing the science fiction series Dimension X . It flew by the seat of its pants as an non-sponsored, sustaining program, but did just fine for itself. It enjoyed immense success and popularity, and would eventually evolve into another chestnut, X Minus One . Staff writer Ernest Kinoy adapted top-notch sci-fi works by the likes of Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov , and Kurt Vonnegut; acting talent included Joseph Cotten , Leslie Wood, and John McGovern. The inaugural episode was "Outer Limit," adapted from a Graham Doar story about aliens carrying a warning to mankind. It had graced the pages of The Saturday Evening Post just months earlier (Dec. 24, 1949). As always, Norman Rose hosted, with Bob Warren announcing.

Today's entry is a birthday commemoration: on this day in 1903, author Cornell Woolrich came into the world. Woolrich's crime fiction was utterly adaptable, a favorite target for radio producers. His works You'll Never See Me Again and The Black Curtain were adapted by the radio classic Suspense . In fact, each of these was presented more than once. The first time The Black Curtain rolled on Suspense , the cast included Cary Grant and Hans Conried . Other stars of Woolrich adaptations include Joseph Cotten , Robert Young , and William Spier. Woolrich led a lonely, stark life. He lived with his mother in Harlem until her death, after which he drifted from hotel room to hotel room. To make matters worse, he suffered an infection that led to one of his legs being amputated. This life of suffering infused Woolrich's work--his characters, too suffered. Not a cheery story, perhaps, but fans of chilling tales have enjoyed hours of radio based on the work of ...