Overview

Few twentieth-century artists are renowned in such a variety of media as Orson Welles. Well known for his work in film and theater as director, actor, and writer, Welles's influence in the field of radio has often been overlooked for the more glamorous entertainment of his movies. The Medium and the Magician is a comprehensive review of Welles's radio career, devoted to assessing his radio artistry and influence in the field. Paul Heyer offers a new look at the infamous War of the Worlds panic broadcast and a discussion of how Welles's use of sound in radio influenced his motion pictures.

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Reviews

At last Orson Welles's radio work gets the attention it deserves! Paul Heyer makes the compelling case that Welles should be regarded as a formidable creative force in radio as much as he is in film and theater, backing it up with impressive research and a lively, engaging writing style. This fascinating study sheds light not just on Welles's work generally, but on U.S. radio history and the emergence of sound as an art form.--Michele Hilmes

A very insightful window into a creative period that was all too short. Communication Booknotes Quarterly Heyer's brilliance in developing this book is based on formidable research into Welles' creative output, interviews, books, papers, studies, and transcripts of every aspect or person that entered Welles's career... Impressive -- Anne Leighton H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online At last Orson Welles's radio work gets the attention it deserves! Paul Heyer makes the compelling case that Welles should be regarded as a formidable creative force in radio as much as he is in film and theater, backing it up with impressive research and a lively, engaging writing style. This fascinating study sheds light not just on Welles's work generally, but on U.S. radio history and the emergence of sound as an art form. -- Michele Hilmes, author of Radio Voices: American Broadcasting, 1922-1952

Author Information

Paul Heyer is professor of communication studies at Wilfrid Laurier University.

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