Earthquakes in Old Time Radio

The countries and regions whose shores dip into the Pacific Ocean are collectively known as "The Ring of Fire". The name comes for the preponderance of volcanos in the region. The Ring of Fire is not the only place in the world where there are volcanos, of course, and volcanos are not the only frightening feature of the Ring of Fire region. The same geologic and tectonic forces which develop volcanos also give rise to the phenomena of earthquakes.

An earthquake, tremor, temblor, or quake occurs when the earth's solid surface shakes due to a release of energy from deep within the Earth's lithographic crust. We normally assume that the ground under our feet is composed of solid rock, therefore we expect it to stay solid. However, the solid, rocky crust of the Earth is floating on a dense and unbelievably hot liquid mantle.

The currents within the crust cause the continental plates of the crust floating on it to move, however, the plates do not all move in the same direction or rate of speed. Some plates are made up of heavy oceanic rocks and others of relatively light continental rock. When two different plates collide, the heavier plate generally sinks beneath or is "subducted" by the lighter rock. The lighter continent is uplifted as the oceanic plate dives under it, and the oceanic rock carries water and other things that can become volatile as they are exposed to heat and pressure beneath the surface.

The tensions and energy from plate subduction build slowly over the years, and that enormous energy is rarely released all at once. On a planetary scale, the energy comes out as the squeaks and groans of a twisted rag. However, comparing energy release on a planetary scale to what happens on a human scale is a completely different kettle of fish!

Imagine a heavy rubber band, one of those heavy ones like the grocer wraps around celery stalks. Stretch the band three or four inches and let it go. Even over that short distance, the energy released can give a terrible snap, it might even leave a mark on your skin. Now, instead of a few inches of a rubber band, imagine miles of solid rock being stretched. It may only move a few inches, but that much energy is going to do more than leave a mark on your skin!

One place where an oceanic plate is being subducted by a continental plate is off the coast of California. Residents of Los Angeles and Hollywood are used to the frequent earthquakes in the region but fatalistically look forward to "the Big One". Barely perceptible tremors occur through the region almost daily, major seismic events that can be felt throughout the region and beyond occur every few years and cause millions of dollars in property damage. It is generally agreed that "the Big One" will make these smaller quakes seem like a heavy truck rumbling down the road outside your house, with intensive property damage and loss of life.

A prelude to "The Big One" shook the San Francisco Bay Area on April 18, 1906. Although most modern scientific measuring devices did were not in use at the time, the shaking lasted more than 42 seconds, killed more than 3,000 people, and left nearly 300,000 homeless out of a population of 410,000. The Quake and the ensuing fires were so intense that the San Francisco Public Records were destroyed, including the birth records of comedienne Gracie Allen, who claimed to be born in 1906 (Gracie's husband, George Burns, pointed out that Gracie's birthday was July 26, but the quake and fires occurred in April; Gracie replied that it was a "really big earthquake").

• Police Headquarters, Ep #10, 1932. A call comes into Police Headquarters from the sheriff of Harmonsville. There has been a major earthquake that leveled half the town. The Major Insurance Company is anxious to pay off all legitimate claims. Shopkeeper Williams has a big life insurance policy on his brother, Hugh, whose body was supposedly pulled from the wreckage. However, a neighbor saw Hugh leaving town just after the quake struck.
• Chandu the Magician, May 17, 1933. Chandu and the Reagents are invited to the Palace of the Secret Star in Java. While waiting in the Palace's observatory, they discover a map of the lost Island of Lemuria. The group is magically transported to the Island and caught in the Earthquake that caused the Island to disappear beneath the waves.
• Superman, March 22, 1940. Keno and the Wolf make their escape from prison during a cell block riot that Lois and Clark are covering. They make their way to the Yellow Mask's lair where Wolf decides he will take over the gang, but the Mask has other ideas. Meanwhile, editor Perry White sends Clark and Lois to cover the series of earthquakes that are shaking up the remote town of Dyerville.
• The Voice of the Army, October 28, 1946, "In Times of Stress". Sergeant Spalding of Ft Mason returns to his San Francisco apartment on the morning of April 18, 1906. Spalding's young wife has gone to the Mission District, one of the hardest hit in that morning's earthquake. The Army is put in charge of keeping order, but the Sergeant is desperate to find his wife.
• Damon Runyan Theatre, April 10, 1949, "Earthquake". Sirens wail as the gangster bursts into the bar. They call him Earthquake because he is the biggest and meanest hombre in town, and when he decides to shoot his way out, Earthquake becomes a cop killer. Officer Johnny Brannigan follows the Earthquake to Central America, where they can use his kind of strength.

See also: California in Old Time Radio.