Way Out
Way Out was a 1961 fantasy and science fiction television anthology series hosted by writer Roald Dahl. The macabre 25-minute shows were introduced by Dahl's dry delivery of a brief introductory monologue, sometimes explaining a method of murdering a spouse without getting caught. The taped series began because CBS suddenly needed a replacement for a Jackie Gleason talk show that network executives were about to cancel, and producer David Susskind contacted Dahl to help mount a show quickly. The series was paired by the network with the similar The Twilight Zone for Friday evening broadcasts, running from March through July 1961 at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time, under the primary sponsorship of Liggett & Myers. Writers included Philip H. Reisman, Jr. and Sumner Locke Elliott. The premiere episode, "William and Mary", adapted from a Roald Dahl short story, told of a wife getting revenge on her husband. In "Dissolve to Black", an actress cast as a murder victim at a television studio goes through a rehearsal, but the drama merges with reality as she finds herself trapped on the show's near-deserted set. Other dramas offered startling imagery: a snake slithering up a carpeted staircase inside a suburban home, a disembodied brain in a jar, a headless woman strapped to an electric chair, with a light bulb in place of her head and half of a man's face erased.
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Plot Summary
Way Out was an American mystery/suspense anthology television series that aired from 1960 to 1961. Each episode featured a self-contained story often involving supernatural or psychological thriller elements, exploring the darker aspects of human nature and the unknown. The show aimed to provide viewers with suspenseful and often unsettling narratives that kept them on the edge of their seats.
Critical Reception
As an anthology series with a relatively short run and a focus on suspense, Way Out received moderate attention during its broadcast. Contemporary reviews often highlighted its ability to create chilling atmospheres and deliver shocking twists, though some noted inconsistency in the quality of storytelling across episodes. It is remembered as a precursor to later, more successful anthology series in the genre.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its suspenseful and often eerie storytelling.
- Appreciated for its exploration of psychological and supernatural themes.
- Episodes varied in quality, with some standing out more than others.
Google audience: Information regarding Google user reviews for "Way Out (1961)" is not readily available due to its age and the nature of anthology television from that era.
Fun Fact
Although it only ran for one season, "Way Out" is notable for being one of the early anthology series that paved the way for more popular shows like "The Twilight Zone" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" in exploring suspense and the uncanny.
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