There is noTwilight ZonewithoutRod Serling . From 1959 to 1964 , the prolific video writer pulled double tariff as emcee of the CBS fancy anthology series he create . His clipped personal manner of speaking and an omnipresent cigarette made him the one constant in a show with a revolving door of actors — the viewer ’s escort into a 5th dimension .
But Serling was n’t originally the man for the Book of Job . ThevoiceofThe Twilight Zonepilot was the fantastically named Cornelius Westbrook Van Voorhis , and you could take heed this alternate dimension narration in the video below .
Van Voorhis was a longtime voiceover artist and spreader who had used his immaculate phraseology and authoritative delivery to recite everything from wartime newsreels to commercials for Life cereal grass . He seemed the ideal choice to set a boding tone for the show ’s often - eerie atmosphere .
But CBS administrator and the show ’s producers were n’t so sure after hearing his delivery . According to MeTV.com , Van Voorhis come off as a niggling too pompous . And indeed , Van Voorhis did have his critics .
“ The voice of day of reckoning ” is howTucson Citizencolumnist John CrosbydescribedVan Voorhis in 1954 . Under an illustration of Van Voorhis was a legend : “ The epitome of pretentious vocalization . ”
( Van Voorhis did , however , have his contribution of adorer . One woman became so enraptured with him during his reporting of theLindbergh babykidnapper Bruno Hauptmann test that she convinced herself the two were destined to be we 500 and in reality sued him for breach of hope when that failed to materialize . )
With Van Voorhis out and the net ’s other choice , Orson Welles , too expensive to rent , options were limit . So Serling offer to do the job himself . He recite all of the show ’s installment , though he did n’t actually appear on tv camera until the first time of year finale .
