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Arch Oboler (December 7, 1909 - March 19, 1987) was a Chicago-born scriptwriter, novelist, producer and director who was active in films, radio and television.

Oboler generated much attention for his radio scripts, and his work in radio remains the outstanding period of his career. Although some noted a tendency for gruesomeness, he received praise as one of broadcasting's top talents, and he is regarded today as one of the innovators of old time radio.

Biography

Oboler sold his first radio scripts while still in high school during the 1920s.

He pursued a career in radio, and first found notoriety when he took over the NBC horror anthology Lights Out in 1936. The show was already a sensation because of creator Wyllis Cooper's violent, quirky scripts, and Oboler continued in a similar vein. Oboler stated at the beginning of every episode:

This is Arch Oboler bringing you another of our series of stories of the unusual, and once again we caution you: These Lights Out stories are definitely not for the timid soul. So we tell you calmly and very sincerely, if you frighten easily, turn off your radio now.

In 1939, he was given another show Arch Oboler's Plays, which ran on CBS. While still featuring horror stories, Plays used more topical material, especially regarding the war then beginning in Europe.

His screenplays include Escape (1940), Gangway for Tomorrow (1943) and On Our Merry Way (1948). In 1945, he moved into directing with Betwitched and Strange Holiday, followed by the apocalyptic Five (1951), filmed at his own Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house. He made film history with the 3-D Bwana Devil (1952). The Twonky (1953) was adapted from the Lewis Padgett short story in the September, 1942, issue of Astounding Science Fiction.

Sidney Lumet directed Oboler's Broadway play, Night of the Auk, a science fiction drama about astronauts returning to Earth after the first moon landing. Produced by Kermit Bloomgarden, the play ran for only eight performances in December, 1956, despite an impressive cast (Martin Brooks, Wendell Corey, Christopher Plummer, Claude Rains, Dick York). The play was published by Horizon Press in 1958.

Audio horror gained an added dimension with Oboler's stereo LP recording, Drop Dead! (1962). It features the following tracks: "Introduction to Horror," "I'm Hungry," "Taking Papa Home," "The Dark," "A Day at the Dentist's," "The Posse," "Chicken Heart" and "The Laughing Man."

Oboler returned to films with another 3-D feature, The Bubble, in 1966. His fantasy novel, House on Fire (Bartholomew House, 1969) was adapted by Oboler for radio's Mutual Radio Theater in 1980.

Listen to

Lights Out: "Valse Trieste" (12/29/42)

External links

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 In 1939, he was given another show  ''[[Arch Oboler's Plays]]'', which ran on  [[CBS]]. While still featuring horror stories, ''Plays'' used more topical material, especially regarding the war then beginning in Europe.
-His screenplays include ''Escape'' (1940), ''Gangway for Tomorrow'' (1943) and ''On Our Merry Way'' (1948). He moved into directing with ''Strange Holiday'' (1942), followed by ''Bewitched'' (1945) for [[MGM]] and the apocalyptic ''Five'' (1951), filmed at his own [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]-designed house. He made film history with the 3-D ''[[Bwana Devil]]'' (1952). ''[[The Twonky]]'' (1953) was adapted from the [[Lewis Padgett]] short story in the September, 1942, issue of [[Astounding Science Fiction]].
+His screenplays include ''Escape'' (1940), ''Gangway for Tomorrow'' (1943) and ''On Our Merry Way'' (1948). In 1945, he moved into directing with ''Betwitched'' and ''Strange Holiday'', followed by the apocalyptic ''Five'' (1951), filmed at his own [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]-designed house. He made film history with the 3-D ''[[Bwana Devil]]'' (1952). ''[[The Twonky]]'' (1953) was adapted from the [[Lewis Padgett]] short story in the September, 1942, issue of [[Astounding Science Fiction]].
 [[Sidney Lumet]] directed Oboler's Broadway play, ''Night of the Auk'', a science fiction drama about astronauts returning to Earth after the first moon landing. Produced by Kermit Bloomgarden, the play ran for only eight performances in December, 1956, despite an impressive cast (Martin Brooks, Wendell Corey, Christopher Plummer, [[Claude Rains]], Dick York). The play was published by Horizon Press in 1958.