EARTH ABIDES

George R. Stewart's classic 1949 post apocalyptic novel (and winner of the first International Fantasy award in 1951) was adapted for this two-part episode of Escape on CBS radio.

Produced and directed by Norman McDonnell (the co-creator of Gunsmoke), the program aired on November 5 and 12, 1950.  John Dehner (after a decade of mostly uncredited film appearances) starred as Isherwood Williams, an ecologist working in the Northern California woods.  Returning to town, he finds it empty -- an epidemic has wiped out most of mankind, leaving a few scattered survivors.  Also in the cast were Lawrence Dobkin, Peggy Weber, Michael Ann Barrett, Parley Baer, Ron Brogan, Lou Krugman, and a relatively young Paul Frees.  David Ellis wrote the adaptation.

Those who read the book will notice that the radio adaptation begins to veer from the novel in the second half, omitting many of the book's controversial themes.  It seems that this was done not to aoid these issues, but to compress the novel into two 30-minute episodes.  It should also be noted that this was the only two-parter in Escape's seven year history on radio.

A powerful show.  Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K-FgM1xK2o