Side A: Rodman Edward Serling (1924-1975) enrolled at Antioch College in 1946 following military service in World War II. He began college as a physical education major, but soon discovered writing as a way of working through his war experiences. As a student, he contributed short fiction to The Antiochian literary magazine, managed the student-run Antioch Broadcasting System, and wrote and produced award-winning radio dramas. In July 1948, Serling married classmate Carolyn “Carol” Kramer. Shortly after earning his degree in 1950, he took a copy writer job at Cincinnati’s WLW radio. Serling quickly focused on selling scripts to national television networks. After eight years in Ohio, he and his wife moved to Connecticut. He returned to Antioch after the third season of The Twilight Zone to teach writing, drama, and media during the 1962-1963 academic year.
Side B: Rod Serling is best known as the creator and host of The Twilight Zone, the landmark television series in which characters found themselves in disturbing moral situations. As the principal writer, Serling penned or co-authored 92 of the 156 episodes that aired between October 1959 and June 1964. In addition, Serling penned such acclaimed scripts as Patterns and Requiem for a Heavyweight during television’s golden age of live drama. Serling’s writing was marked with a profound understanding of human nature with a strong sense of social justice, frequently addressing such issues and themes as prejudice, greed, scapegoating, authoritarian dangers, and our treatment of children and the elderly. His influential television work was honored with six Emmy awards. In addition, Serling enjoyed teaching his craft at colleges in Ohio, New York, and California.
Sponsors: William G. Pomeroy Foundation, Ohioana Library Association, Antioch College, Ohio History Connection
