The Radio Planet
← Broadway on the Air

1935–1947 · NBC

Lights Out

Written for the dark, and only for the dark

Wyllis Cooper's idea was simple and slightly mad: a drama scheduled at midnight, written on the assumption that the listener was alone and had turned the lights off. When Arch Oboler inherited it in 1936 he pushed it further than any sponsor would have permitted, into cannibalism, disintegration and a chicken heart that grows until it consumes the earth. The programme is also a technical landmark — much of what sound effects departments learned about suggesting the unspeakable, they learned making this.

71 broadcasts · 12 seasons held · Chicago, then Hollywood

19351

Transmission

1 January

1935

Lights Out

Strange Couple Stays Overnight

Network

NBC

Running time

30 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

19362

Transmission

14 October

1936

Lights Out

The Fast One

Network

NBC

Running time

22 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

9 December

1936

Lights Out

Nobody Died

Network

NBC

Running time

27 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

19374

Transmission

10 March

1937

Lights Out

Chicken Heart

Network

NBC

Running time

19 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

23 June

1937

Lights Out

Happy Ending

Network

NBC

Running time

25 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

22 December

1937

Lights Out

Uninhabited (Christmas Story - 1918)

Network

NBC

Running time

30 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

29 December

1937

Lights Out

The Dark

Network

NBC

Running time

7 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

19383

Transmission

23 March

1938

Lights Out

The Dream

Network

NBC

Running time

30 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

6 April

1938

Lights Out

Cat Wife

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

11 May

1938

Lights Out

It Happened

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

19391

Transmission

26 April

1939

Lights Out

The Devil's Due

Network

NBC

Running time

30 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

19411

Transmission

17 February

1941

Lights Out

Special To Hollywood

Network

NBC

Running time

25 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

194212

Transmission

6 October

1942

Lights Out

What The Devil

Network

NBC

Running time

21 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

13 October

1942

Lights Out

Revolt of the Worms

Network

NBC

Running time

22 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

20 October

1942

Lights Out

Poltergeist (Gravestone)

Network

NBC

Running time

26 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

27 October

1942

Lights Out

Mungahra (The House Is Haunted)

Network

NBC

Running time

23 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

3 November

1942

Lights Out

Neanderthal Man

Network

NBC

Running time

24 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

10 November

1942

Lights Out

Bon Voyage

Network

NBC

Running time

22 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

17 November

1942

Lights Out

Come to the Bank

Network

NBC

Running time

25 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

1 December

1942

Lights Out

Mister Maggs (The Chest)

Network

NBC

Running time

25 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

8 December

1942

Lights Out

Scoop (Cemetary)

Network

NBC

Running time

26 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

15 December

1942

Lights Out

Knock at the Door

Network

NBC

Running time

25 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

22 December

1942

Lights Out

Meteor Man (The Hungry Ones)

Network

NBC

Running time

22 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

29 December

1942

Lights Out

Valse Triste

Network

NBC

Running time

28 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

194336

Transmission

5 January

1943

Lights Out

The Fast One (Speed)

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

19 January

1943

Lights Out

Alley Cat

Network

NBC

Running time

25 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

26 January

1943

Lights Out

Protective Mr Drogen (Big Mr Little)

Network

NBC

Running time

28 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

2 February

1943

Lights Out

Until Dead (The Luck of Mark Street)

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

9 February

1943

Lights Out

He Dug It Up

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

16 February

1943

Lights Out

Oxychloride X (Hole, The)

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

23 February

1943

Lights Out

They Met at Dorset

Network

NBC

Running time

19 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

2 March

1943

Lights Out

The Sea

Network

NBC

Running time

22 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

9 March

1943

Lights Out

The Ball (Paris Macabre)

Network

NBC

Running time

22 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

16 March

1943

Lights Out

The Dream

Network

NBC

Running time

28 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

23 March

1943

Lights Out

The Flame

Network

NBC

Running time

23 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

6 April

1943

Lights Out

Superfeature (Familiar, Suddenly Unfamiliar)

Network

NBC

Running time

26 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

13 April

1943

Lights Out

Archer (Ancestor)

Network

NBC

Running time

24 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

20 April

1943

Lights Out

Kill

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

27 April

1943

Lights Out

Execution

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

4 May

1943

Lights Out

Heavenly Jeep

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

11 May

1943

Lights Out

Murder in the Script Department

Network

NBC

Running time

22 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

18 May

1943

Lights Out

The Spider

Network

NBC

Running time

25 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

25 May

1943

Lights Out

Little Old Lady (Mrs Kingsley's Report)

Network

NBC

Running time

22 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

1 June

1943

Lights Out

Ugliest Man in the World (Mr Freak)

Network

NBC

Running time

27 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

8 June

1943

Lights Out

Organ

Network

NBC

Running time

28 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

15 June

1943

Lights Out

Prelude to Murder

Network

NBC

Running time

24 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

22 June

1943

Lights Out

Nature Study

Network

NBC

Running time

28 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

29 June

1943

Lights Out

Baythysphere (Dictator, The)

Network

NBC

Running time

58 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

13 July

1943

Lights Out

Visitor from Hades

Network

NBC

Running time

20 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

20 July

1943

Lights Out

Profits Unlimited

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

27 July

1943

Lights Out

Little People (Shrinking People)

Network

NBC

Running time

30 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

3 August

1943

Lights Out

Murder Castle

Network

NBC

Running time

24 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

10 August

1943

Lights Out

Sakhalin

Network

NBC

Running time

27 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

17 August

1943

Lights Out

State Executioner (Official Killer)

Network

NBC

Running time

21 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

24 August

1943

Lights Out

Sub-Basement (Going Down)

Network

NBC

Running time

27 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

31 August

1943

Lights Out

Immortal Gentleman (Live Forever)

Network

NBC

Running time

23 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

7 September

1943

Lights Out

Lord Marley's Guest (Hollywood Visitor)

Network

NBC

Running time

30 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

14 September

1943

Lights Out

The Word

Network

NBC

Running time

25 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

21 September

1943

Lights Out

Mirage

Network

NBC

Running time

28 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

28 September

1943

Lights Out

The Author and the Thing

Network

NBC

Running time

28 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

19453

Transmission

21 July

1945

Lights Out

Reunion After Death

Network

NBC

Running time

27 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

25 August

1945

Lights Out

Man In The Middle

Network

NBC

Running time

58 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

20 September

1945

Lights Out

A False Prophecy

Network

NBC

Running time

28 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

19466

Transmission

13 July

1946

Lights Out

The Coffin in Studio B

Network

NBC

Running time

27 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

20 July

1946

Lights Out

Haunted Cell

Network

NBC

Running time

58 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

27 July

1946

Lights Out

Battle of the Magicians

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

3 August

1946

Lights Out

Revenge of India

Network

NBC

Running time

28 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

10 August

1946

Lights Out

Ghost on the Newsreel Negative

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

Transmission

24 August

1946

Lights Out

The Signal Man

Network

NBC

Running time

27 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

19471

Transmission

16 July

1947

Lights Out

Death Robbery

Network

NBC

Running time

29 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;

unde1

Transmission

Undated

Lights Out

Creature Off The Film

Network

NBC

Running time

23 min

Lights Out, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;