Unearthed Secrets: The Shocking Truth Behind the Original Voice of Twilight Zone

Summary

The Twilight Zone was initially going to be narrated by Hollywood legend Orson Welles, but CBS couldn't afford his salary.

Westbrook Van Voorhis, renowned for his voiceovers in newsreels, served as the narrator for the pilot episode of The Twilight Zone. Although Rod Serling preferred Richard Egan for the role, he reluctantly agreed to assume the narrative duties when Egan became unavailable.

The Twilight Zone was originally intended to have a different narrator, but eventually series creator Rod Serling took on the role. Serling designed the anthology series as a platform to explore contemporary social issues with a sci-fi twist, and his opening and closing narrations became iconic aspects of the show. The Twilight Zone aired for five seasons, totaling 156 episodes, with Serling presenting all of them except for the original pilot. Despite initially not wanting to be the narrator, Serling ended up in the role after other options fell through. Before The Twilight Zone, Serling had remained anonymous behind his typewriter, but the show's immense popularity made him a recognizable figure across the nation. While this allowed Serling to receive recognition for his creative work, it also unexpectedly thrust him into celebrity status.

Orson Welles Was Almost The Narrator Of The Twilight Zone

CBS originally wanted to hire Orson Welles as the narrator of The Twilight Zone (via /Film). The idea was that Welles’ renowned presence would bring the same level of star power to The Twilight Zone that the main host of Alfred Hitchcock Presents did with his own opening narrations. However, due to the success of movies like Citizen Kane and The Third Man, Welles became one of the most celebrated and sought-after talents in Hollywood, resulting in a salary that was beyond what the network could afford. As a result, any hope of Welles narrating The Twilight Zone was quickly extinguished.

The Twilight Zone Pilot Was Narrated By Westbrook Van Voorhis

Following the breakdown of negotiations with Welles, The Twilight Zone’s initial episode entitled "Where is Everybody?" underwent a narration change, with Westbrook Van Voorhis stepping in. Despite not having the same level of fame as Welles, Van Voorhis possessed an impressive track record as a professional narrator. He had notably provided voiceovers for the "March of Time" newsreels between 1931 and 1945. Van Voorhis' departure from the show stems from two different explanations: one suggests his unavailability for the entire series, while the other posits that the producers found his voice excessively ostentatious.

How Rod Serling Landed The Twilight Zone Narration Gig Himself

Initially, Serling did not want to provide the narration for The Twilight Zone himself. He preferred Richard Egan, a well-known actor with a deep and distinctive voice, to take on the role. Serling even stated that it had to be Egan or he would take on the task himself. However, due to contractual issues, Egan was unable to be involved, forcing Serling to fulfill his own words and become the narrator. This decision aligned with the authorial nature of The Twilight Zone, which brought a refreshing and unique element to the typically homogeneous world of television.