Arch Oboler is perhaps better known for his radio script career, and hails from the windy city Chicago. As an old time radio shows writer, he even produced and directed a range of shows, and also wrote books. As such, his career spanned from the early days of radio through to the silver screen of film and also television. Oboler was born in 1909 in Chicago, Illinois. He began his writing career very early by selling radio scripts while he was still a high school student. He gained greater exposure with his possibly controversial script portrayal of the Adam and Eve story (starring Mae West and Don Ameche).

Perhaps because the show aired on a Sunday or perhaps because of its light treatment of the Bible, many listeners were outraged. The show caused quite a stir in old time radio. For many years, Mae West was also banned from radio shows. Times, perceptions and attitudes have of course changed considerably since then, but it was clearly controversial in the era in which it originally broadcast. When the fury died down, Oboler was offered the show ‘Lights Out’, a series that featured scary stories for the brave listener. His namesake show ‘Arch Oboler’s Plays’ was where he continued to scare everyone out there with a range of spooky chilling tales, from 1939.

In addition to his radio work, Oboler appeared in many theatrical productions and in film. He starred in films such as Escape, On Our Merry Way, and Gangway for Tomorrow. Twonky was a popular film that was directed by Oboler. His political activism grew significantly in the 1940s. He incorporated this into his media career, writing many anti-nazi screenplays and scripts. These pieces were so well-received that major Hollywood stars offered to act in his plays for union scale pay.

Oboler also wrote the Broadway play ‘Night of the Auk’ and the novel ‘House on Fire’. He had a penchant for science fiction and horror and he delivered all of his performances and writings with flair and finesse. Oboler soon had a following of millions of fans, but some still categorized his work as too gruesome or unnecessary. At his peak, Arch Oboler and particularly his works, lasted a long time. His work was always done in a unique manner, which sometimes brought about inevitable controversy, since the time was relatively rife with social taboos. Over his expansive career, his work was incredibly popular, from the early 1930s onwards. As far as old time radio goes, it was Oboler’s ‘Lights Out’ that outlived him, and can still be heard in syndication across old time radio stations. While he did pass away on 19th March, 1987, his work has certainly outlived him. The ghoulish stories that he offered were what made him so enjoyable and accessible to others, and it is this terrifying old radio shows career of his that people will remember him best for.