OSHER 52 - Radio Drama 1: A Retrospective

Students will learn about the history of radio drama, beginning in the 1920's through the Golden Age of Radio. They will study its evolution, and how sounds and narration created visual experiences for listeners. We will study The Mercury Radio Theatre production of H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds" (1938,) and The United States Steel Hour production of George Orwell's "1984" (1953.) Students will look at the original novels and consider how the historical period influenced the radio productions. This is the first of three classes on Radio Drama. In the second, the class will develop a script for radio, and in Radio III, the class will produce that script. It is assumed that many students will remain for all three classes, but this is not required.