Lost Tennessee Williams Radio Play Discovered After Years

Before the rise of modern podcasts and streaming narratives, listeners were drawn to the chilling tales broadcasted from their radios. Among these historical gems is a forgotten radio play by Tennessee Williams, crafted during his university days, which has now made its way back into the spotlight, offering insights into the early visions of one of America’s legendary storytellers.

The piece, “The Strangers,” was composed by Williams—then known as Tom Williams—while he was a student at the University of Iowa in the late 1930s. Now published in The Strand Magazine, this gothic tale showcases his early intrigue with themes of solitude, fear, and the tenuous boundary between reality and fantasy. The magazine is known for bringing to light lesser-known works from iconic authors like Hemingway, Faulkner, and Steinbeck.

Set against the backdrop of a stately New England manor by the sea, “The Strangers” draws audiences into a world filled with tempestuous nights, trembling candlelight, and ethereal footsteps. The narrative revolves around Mr. and Mrs. Brighton, who find themselves haunted by elusive entities existing beyond the realm of normal perception. Early dialogue from the play foreshadows Williams’ rich exploration of human vulnerability: “We members of the human species are equipped with only five senses. Or six at the very most… what we know of them is very, very slight.”

Williams’ intrigue with horror and the otherworldly was shaped not only by the popular radio hits of the 1930s but also by deeply personal encounters. Scholars have noted that at this time, Williams was contending with the mental health challenges faced by his sister Rose, an experience that would later influence the sensitive and fragile characters seen in his renowned works such as The Glass Menagerie.

Initially a creative endeavor, these early radio dramas allowed Williams to hone his narrative and dramaturgical skills, creating a foundation for the masterpieces that would characterize his illustrious career. “The Strangers” provides a rare opportunity to look back at the developmental stages of a writer whose themes of fear, madness, and human vulnerability continue to resonate today.