The Fall of the House of Usher (Radio)

“The Fall of the House of Usher” is a radio program from the American radio anthology series Radio Tales. The anthology series adapted classic works of American and world literature for the radio. The series was a recipient of numerous awards, including four Gracie Allen Awards from the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (in 2004, [ [http://www.awrt.org/press-releases/2004/Press_Release_%20Announce_Winners.pdf "AWRT Press Release"] AWRT.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2003, [ [http://www.npr.org/about/press/030402.gracie.html "NPR Productions Win Gracie Allen Awards"] NPR.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2001, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20011126020253/www.awrt.org/awards/2000GracieWinners.html "2001 Gracie Allen Award Winners"] AWRT.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and 1998), a New York Festivals WorldMedal, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20050207122048/http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/res/pdf/2004RPwinners.pdf "2004 Winners, Radio Programming and Promotion, New York Festivals"] NewYorkFestivals.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and a Golden Reel Merit Award. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20010802161539/www.nfcb.org/2001reelsinfo.html "NFCB Announces 2001 Golden Reel Award Winners"] NFCB.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] The "Fall of the House of Usher" program from the Radio Tales series was an adaptation of the classic short story by Edgar Allan Poe.

Broadcast History

The Radio Tales production of “The Fall of the House of Usher” was first broadcast via National Public Radio on November 10, 1998 [National Public Radio: "NPR NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1998". NPR Marketing, Oct. - Dec. 1998, Vol. IV, No. III] . The program encompassed two half-hour installments that were distributed to NPR member stations as part of the NPR Playhouse cultural series. Since November 28th, 2002, the entire Radio Tales series has aired in reruns on the Sonic Theater channel (143) of the XM Satellite Radio service [ [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/features/sonictheater.xmc "Sonic Theater"] XMRadio.com. Accessed May 22, 2008.] . “The Fall of the House of Usher” program debuted on XM Satellite Radio on June 14, 2003.

Production Information

The program was produced and script edited by series producer Winnie Waldron, who also served as the on-air host [ [http://www.winifredphillips.com/wp_bio.html "Winifred Phillips Official Site: Biography"] Winifredphillips.com. Accessed May 19, 2008.] . Composer Winifred Phillips created over fifty-six minutes of music for the program, and also performed as the featured actress [ [http://www.mninter.net/~jstearns/nprPH.html#top "NPR Playhouse - January - March, 2001"] MNinter.net. Accessed March 21, 2008.] . “The Fall of the House of Usher” was part of the third year of Radio Tales on NPR Playhouse [National Public Radio: "NPR NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1998". NPR Marketing, Oct. - Dec. 1998, Vol. IV, No. III] .

Media

The Radio Tales production of “The Fall of the House of Usher” was published on audiocassette by Durkin Hayes Publishing Ltd in 1997 (ISBN 0-88646-952-0), to coincide with the broadcast premiere of the program via National Public Radio. Since that time, the program has been available in numerous formats and venues, including burn-on-demand CDs manufactured and distributed by MP3.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20031129193548/artists.mp3s.com/artists/33/npr_radio_tales.html "MP3.com: Radio Tales"] MP3.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] and Ampcast.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060212003627/http://www.ampcast.com/music/25229/artist.php "Ampcast.com: Radio Tales"] Ampcast.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] . Beginning in 2005, programs from the series, including “The Fall of the House of Usher” program, have been available for download via the Audioville.co.uk web site [ [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 "audioVille | Stor>>Fiction | Radio Tales | Download Audio Books, Podcasts and more in MP3. Comedy, Fiction, sport, news, science, drama."] Audioville.co.uk. Accessed May 24, 2008.] .

Opening narration

:cquote|Within an ancient house, a man of artistic genius suffers under the blinding glare of his own terror, while his sister wastes away, succumbing at last to a final darkness. Yet, the house itself will soon become a tomb more profound than any graveyard, as darkness and light fade into one.

Plot Summary

The central character of the story is Roderick Usher, a childhood friend of the unnamed narrator. Usher has lately struggled with physical and mental afflictions and has sought out the companionship of the narrator to help alleviate his maladies. The two spend time together within the confines of Usher’s family estate while the narrator attempts to brighten Usher’s mood. When Usher’s sister Madeline seemingly falls prey to an unidentified illness and dies, Usher entombs her body in a private vault within the house. However, some time later Madeline re-emerges from the vault, having been buried alive. The stress of his sister’s bloodied and emaciated re-appearance is too much for Usher, and both brother and sister collapse together in death. The narrator flees the estate, which splits in two and crumbles into the bog.

References

External Links

* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view.php?Id=571&ProductCategoryId=59 The Fall of the House of Usher on Audioville.co.uk]
* [http://www.radiotales.com/ The Official Radio Tales® Web Site]
* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 Radio Tales® Full Catalog on AudioVille]
* [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=163 XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel]