Lights Out- 1938-03-16 Super Feature

Lights Out: Superfeature (March 16, 1938)
Setting: A contemporary (1938) American city, likely centered around a movie theater or a film studio, with scenes shifting to surreal or nightmarish environments as the horror unfolds. The episode relies heavily on sound effects, such as projector whirs, crowd murmurs, or eerie distortions, to create an unsettling atmosphere.
Plot:
Introduction: The episode begins with Arch Oboler’s signature ominous narration, urging listeners to turn off their lights to immerse themselves in the story. He introduces the concept of a “superfeature,” likely a revolutionary new film or cinematic technology that promises an unprecedented experience, setting the stage for a tale of ambition gone awry.

The Premise: The story likely revolves around a visionary filmmaker, inventor, or theater owner who has developed a groundbreaking motion picture or projection system—referred to as the “superfeature”—designed to captivate audiences beyond ordinary cinema. This could involve hyper-realistic visuals, immersive sound, or even experimental effects that blur the line between film and reality, reflecting 1930s fascination with technological advances in film (e.g., early Technicolor or stereophonic sound experiments).

Escalating Horror: The superfeature’s debut screening draws a curious crowd, but something goes terribly wrong. The film may take on a life of its own, with characters or images escaping the screen, or the audience becoming trapped in the narrative, unable to distinguish reality from fiction. Alternatively, the technology could have unintended psychological or supernatural effects, driving viewers to madness or pulling them into a nightmarish dimension. Sound effects, such as distorted voices, flickering projector sounds, or screams, would heighten the terror, a hallmark of Oboler’s audio-driven storytelling.

Climax and Ambiguity: The episode builds to a chaotic climax, possibly with the theater in pandemonium or the superfeature’s creator confronting the consequences of their hubris. Oboler’s stories often end ambiguously, leaving listeners to ponder the outcome—perhaps the film consumes the audience entirely, or the technology is destroyed, but its effects linger. The final moments feature Oboler’s closing narration, reinforcing the story’s moral about the dangers of overreaching ambition or tampering with forces beyond human control.

Themes: The perils of technological innovation, the seductive power of media, and the thin line between reality and illusion. Like other Oboler scripts, “Superfeature” likely critiques humanity’s obsession with progress while exploiting listeners’ fears of losing control to their creations.

Cast and Roles:
Lead Character (Filmmaker/Inventor): Played by an unnamed actor, likely a Chicago-based radio performer, portraying a driven, possibly arrogant visionary obsessed with the superfeature. The character’s tone shifts from confidence to desperation as the horror unfolds, similar to Oboler’s scientist roles in episodes like “Chicken Heart.”

Supporting Characters: An ensemble of unnamed actors, including:
Audience Members: A mix of curious moviegoers, possibly a skeptical reporter, a nervous theater manager, or an enthusiastic fan, reacting to the superfeature’s effects with awe, confusion, or panic.

Film Characters (if applicable): Voices from the superfeature itself, perhaps eerie or otherworldly, blending into the real world to create disorientation.

Technician or Assistant: A minor role, warning the lead about the technology’s dangers, adding tension.

Narrator: Likely Arch Oboler himself, delivering the opening and closing remarks in his distinctive, foreboding tone, framing the story and enhancing its eerie mood.

Note on Cast: Lights Out rarely credited actors, relying on a small pool of versatile Chicago radio talent. Performances were exaggerated to suit the horror genre, with actors doubling up on roles (e.g., crowd voices) to maximize the sense of chaos. No specific cast list for “Superfeature” is documented in sources like otrcat.com or radiogoldindex.com.

Production Details:
Music: Minimal, likely a haunting organ or string motif to open and close, with the episode prioritizing sound effects over a full score. Oboler’s direction emphasized audio immersion, using sparse music to avoid distracting from the narrative.

Writer/Director: Arch Oboler, known for his innovative scripts and use of sound to create vivid mental images. “Superfeature” aligns with his interest in technology-driven horror, as seen in episodes like “Chicken Heart” or “The Dark.”

Sound Effects: Central to the episode, likely including projector hums, flickering film reels, distorted voices, crowd screams, or surreal echoes to suggest the superfeature’s unnatural power. Oboler’s meticulous sound design, as noted in Lights Out histories, would drive the terror.

Sponsor: None for this 1938 broadcast, as Lights Out often aired late at night (11:30 PM CST) without commercial sponsorship, supported by NBC’s experimental programming.