A Day Called 'X'
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A Day Called 'X' was a dramatized CBS documentary set in Portland, Oregon in which the entire city is evacuated in anticipation of a nuclear air raid, after Soviet bombers had been detected by radar stations to the north; it details the activation of the city's civil defense protocols and leads up to the moment before the attack (the ending is left intentionally unknown). It was filmed in September 1957[1] and aired December 8 of that year.[2][3] It was presented by Glenn Ford.
Its local rebroadcast in 2004[4] and appearance in the on-line Prelinger Archives attracted interest among local history buffs due to its extensive outside shots of the city, and the use of non-actor participants (local officials and broadcasters).[5][6] Whenever one of these individuals is heard uttering warnings or statements regarding attack, the words "An attack is not actually taking place" are superimposed over the picture.[7]
On September 27, 1955, Portland actually conducted an exercise evacuation of downtown called "Operation Greenlight,"[8][9] and the film is often misattributed to that year. Ford's narration, however, does make direct reference to the 1955 exercise.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ IATSE District One History
- ^ TIME Magazine review, Dec. 16, 1957
- ^ New York Times review
- ^ pdxradio Message Board
- ^ Stumptown Confidential, February 13, 2005
- ^ Stumptown Confidential, May 13, 2005
- ^ TIME Magazine review, Dec. 16, 1957
- ^ Portland Auditor's Office History Timeline
- ^ City photographer photo
