Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) -
The War of the Worlds Murder provided an interesting story-telling technique. Author Max Allan Collins talks about spending an evening with author Walter B. Gibson, creator and chronicler of âThe Shadowâ. Collins relates a tale told to him by Mr. Gibson over adult beverages, about hanging around with Orson Welles to discuss a possible âShadowâ movie, while the actor / director / man about town was busy with his âMercury Theatre On the Airâ as they prepared to air a (now-infamous) dramatization of H.G. Wells (no relation) âWar of the Worldsâ. Much of this is common knowledge decades later â but not the discovery of a dead body shortly before air time â¦
Did Gibson originally tell a true story? Did Collins embellish it? Or, did Collins make the whole thing up? Truth is, it doesn't matter. The story as related to us, the reading (or in my case, listening, as I had the audio version) public, was entertaining and kept my interest. The story talked about the famed Orson Welles and his numerous excesses â some towards his art, some towards his personal wants â and his relationship with his theater company, and its economic manager, John Houseman (who at the time was NOT known for his curmudgeonly characterizations on the big and small screens). The discovery of the missing company member and her subsequent re-discovery in the locked room was almost a distraction towards the tale of War of the Worlds, which itself was almost a distraction towards the story of a short portion of the life of the legendary Welles.
This book was definitely with the read â or, in my case, listen â and I would recommend it to those looking for a more offbeat murder mystery, or to those interested in the early days of radio, or in the sociology of that famed Halloween night when many Americans thought that the Martians HAD arrived.
RATING: 5 stars. Bonus points to the narrator for his John Houseman impersonation.
Did Gibson originally tell a true story? Did Collins embellish it? Or, did Collins make the whole thing up? Truth is, it doesn't matter. The story as related to us, the reading (or in my case, listening, as I had the audio version) public, was entertaining and kept my interest. The story talked about the famed Orson Welles and his numerous excesses â some towards his art, some towards his personal wants â and his relationship with his theater company, and its economic manager, John Houseman (who at the time was NOT known for his curmudgeonly characterizations on the big and small screens). The discovery of the missing company member and her subsequent re-discovery in the locked room was almost a distraction towards the tale of War of the Worlds, which itself was almost a distraction towards the story of a short portion of the life of the legendary Welles.
This book was definitely with the read â or, in my case, listen â and I would recommend it to those looking for a more offbeat murder mystery, or to those interested in the early days of radio, or in the sociology of that famed Halloween night when many Americans thought that the Martians HAD arrived.
RATING: 5 stars. Bonus points to the narrator for his John Houseman impersonation.
