The Virginia Tech shootings and a timely Gunsmoke episode
I’m a big fan of Old Time Radio. As the “theater of the mind” it provides as good or better entertainment than what most media outlets churn out today. The Shadow, Jack Benny, X Minus One, The Six Shooter, The Adventures of Superman; any genera for any age found its way onto the airwaves from the 1930’s through the early years of the 1960’s. Television eventually ended radio’s role in providing such entertainment, relegating the medium mostly to music and news.
But I – and many others, too, nevertheless thrill to tales from radio’s golden age. One of my favorites is Gunsmoke and last night, while working at my desk, I listened to a few episodes. This series, known for its gritty realism, is widely regarded by OTR fans as one of the finest radio dramas of all time. As many people know it was a hugely popular television series (to date, the longest running series of all time). Well, the television series would never have existed without the popularity of the radio series.
I’m not a particular fan of Westerns myself but Gunsmoke always delivers the goods- solid story, solid acting, and the series almost always gave listeners thought-provoking entertainment. I had never listened to these particular episodes before and so was surprised to find one relevant to the events in Virginia. Entitled Reluctant Violence, the episode struck me as very timely in light of the shootings. Its about a man who wants the people of Dodge City to give up their guns.
If you’re familiar with the television show only then the radio drama will be somewhat familiar but decidedly different. Both are timeless classics; unfortunately, the issue of violence with guns is also timeless.
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