Lights Out Episode 9 1937/03/10 Chicken Heart

Cast and Roles
Dr. Alberts: Head of the Research Institute, a scientist with a German accent, overseeing the chicken heart experiment.

Lewis: A reporter in his late twenties, eager to break the story of the chicken heart’s growth.

Mrs. Halop: A chairwoman-like figure, representing a group of curious onlookers at the institute.

Various Bit Parts: Including a Japanese research assistant, a tailor, a policeman, a mayor, and others, handled by the principal actors and two additional performers.

Plot Summary
In the Lights Out radio episode "Chicken Heart," aired on March 10, 1937, Dr. Alberts, head of a research institute, showcases a preserved chicken heart kept alive for seventeen months in a quartz container using a modified Lindbergh-Carrel pump. The heart, sustained by Hartman’s solution, beats steadily, fascinating a group of visitors, including the reporter Lewis and Mrs. Halop. Dr. Alberts explains that the heart could theoretically outlive generations if the serum remains fresh. However, disaster strikes when the apparatus is accidentally smashed over the weekend, spilling chemicals onto the heart. Miraculously, the heart begins to grow uncontrollably, expanding from the size of a thumbnail to a mass of pulsing flesh a thousand times larger.
Lewis, sensing a major story, presses Dr. Alberts for details as panic ensues. The scientist theorizes that an unknown chemical reaction caused the heart’s rapid growth. By the time authorities are alerted, the heart has grown to the size of a city block, doubling in size hourly. Dr. Alberts warns that within thirty hours, it could crush the entire city, and within two weeks, cover the United States. The episode ends on a frantic note, with Dr. Alberts desperately pleading for action as the monstrous heart threatens to engulf the world, leaving listeners with the chilling sound of its relentless “thump-thump.”

Themes and Style
Themes: "Chicken Heart" explores the dangers of scientific hubris, a recurring theme in Arch Oboler’s work. Dr. Alberts’s experiment, meant to defy nature, spirals into a catastrophic threat, reflecting fears of unchecked technological advancement. The episode also taps into existential dread, using the absurd yet terrifying image of an ever-growing chicken heart to evoke humanity’s vulnerability against forces beyond control. The story’s apocalyptic scope amplifies anxieties about the fragility of civilization, a potent theme for a 1937 audience facing global uncertainties.
Style: The episode is a quintessential Lights Out production, defined by its intense atmosphere and innovative use of sound. Oboler’s script relies heavily on the “thump-thump” of the chicken heart, a simple but haunting sound effect that drives the narrative’s terror. The pacing is relentless, escalating from a calm scientific demonstration to apocalyptic chaos within thirty minutes. The dialogue blends technical jargon with frantic outbursts, capturing the era’s radio drama style while pushing boundaries with its grotesque premise. Though the original 1937 broadcast is lost, its legacy endures through Oboler’s 1962 Drop Dead! album recreation and its cultural impact, notably immortalized in Bill Cosby’s comedic retelling. The episode’s blend of horror and absurdity makes it a standout in old-time radio, embodying Oboler’s knack for visceral, imaginative storytelling.