Orson Welles – Radio Days Sketch

It’s Christmas, so I don’t want to post anything too dark. I thought you might enjoy this wonderful Orson Welles monologue and sketch taken from the very first Dean Martin Show in 1967. Welles talks about his time as a radio actor, writer and director. The greatest period in Welles’ radio career was in the late 1930’s and early 40’s, (Old Time Radio Show Catalog has an excellent summation of this Golden period). Welles briefly describes the many roles he played, including The Shadow: ‘Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men.’  Alas, he does not mention the infamous 1938 War of the Worlds production that terrified America. Welles’ monologue is followed by a very funny sketch about a Private Eye show, which features Welles as a radio actor and Dean Martin as an overworked sound effects man.