This document discusses the history and elements of radio dramas. Radio dramas were popular in the 1930s-1950s as they relied on narration, dialogue, music and sound effects to tell stories without video. By the late 1930s, radio dramas were widely popular in genres like mysteries and soap operas. After television was introduced, radio drama popularity declined in the US with most being cancelled by 1960. Key elements of radio dramas included narration to set the scene, dialogue between characters, music to transition between scenes or set mood, and sound effects to establish the environment. With podcasting, radio dramas have become popular again as they can be created and distributed easily.

1. The Radio Drama

2. What is a Radio
Drama?
A dramatized audio performance, broadcast on
radio or published on audio media, such as tape
or CD.
Because there is no accompanying video, a radio
drama depends on narration, dialogue, music and
sound effects to help the listener imagine the
characters and story.

3. History of Radio
Dramas
By the late 1930s, radio drama was widely popular
in the United States (and also in other parts of the
world).
There were dozens of programs in many different
genres, from mysteries and thrillers, to
soap operas and comedies.

4. Decline of Radio
Drama
After the advent of television, radio drama never
recovered its popularity in the United States.
Most remaining CBS and NBC radio dramas were
cancelled in 1960.

5. Elements of a Radio
Drama
Narration
Music
Dialogue
Sound Effects

6. Narration
In most radio dramas, the
narrator laid the ground
work for the show.
Listen to the opening
narration for The
Shadow, which ran from
1937 to 1954.

7. Dialogue
The function of dialogue in radio drama
is:
to give information
reveal character
direct attention (or foreshadow)
reveal theme
establish the level of reality
establish the tempo and rhythm of
the drama
Normally only two or three characters
are involved in a conversation and they
repeat their names often.

8. Music
To identify the program
Every show had a theme that was instantly
recognizable.
To create a bridge, a short three or four measure musical
connection between scenes.
To underscore dialogue, as in a movie, creating a
"dramatic" mood.

9. Sound Effects
Used to establish the environment.

10. The Radio Drama
Today
With the advent of
podcasting, Radio
Dramas have once
again become a
popular medium of
communication.

11. Benefits of
Podcasting
Podcasts are easy to
create, cost little to no
money, and can be
produced by anyone.
There are no
restrictions on the
length or content of a
podcast.

12. War of the Worlds
1938 CBS Radio Broadcast by Orson welles