Scene from "The Day After."
Scene from "The Day After."

Art House Extra: Imagining ‘The Day After’ a Nuclear War

May 1, 2020  |    |  1 min read

 

What if the unthinkable happened in Lawrence, Kansas?

That was the premise behind the 1983 television movie “The Day After,” a speculative nuclear war movie directed by Nicholas Meyer.

The film was shot almost entirely in Lawrence and aired in the midst of the Cold War. It was half disaster movie and half cautionary public service announcement.

“The Day After” is without doubt the most famous movie ever made in the Kansas City area, featuring many great shots of Lawrence. When it aired the night before Thanksgiving in 1983, more than 100 million viewers tuned in, making it the largest audience ever for a made-for-television film.

For more, watch the attached video. And count your blessings.

Reading these stories is free, but telling them is not. Start your monthly gift now to support Flatland’s community-focused reporting.

Nick’s Picks | Roads, Bathrooms, Costco and More …

By | February 16, 2026

New Toll Road Opens Kansas City’s first toll road opens this week. Starting Saturday, you’ll pay up to $3.50 to travel the new express lanes on U.S. Highway 69 from 103rd to 151st streets in Overland Park. There are no toll booths — cameras scan your license plate, and a bill arrives by mail. KTAG…

Related Stories

Nick’s Picks | Roads, Bathrooms, Costco and More …

By | February 16, 2026

New Toll Road Opens Kansas City’s first toll road opens this week. Starting Saturday, you’ll pay up to $3.50 to travel the new express lanes on U.S. Highway 69 from 103rd to 151st streets in Overland Park. There are no toll booths — cameras scan your license plate, and a bill arrives by mail. KTAG…

Up From the Ashes: Warwick Theatre Revival Draws Applause

By | February 11, 2026

Two years ago, John Cleary met a fellow Kansas City actor for drinks. Their conversation centered on the fate of the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. A large portion of the ensemble’s home, the Warwick Theatre, was ash, charred timbers and soot-saturated costumes and props — remnants from a recent massive fire. The destruction was so great…

Nick’s Picks | Baseball, Drones, Romance and More …

By | February 9, 2026

Royals Reveal Next week, the Kansas City Royals head to Arizona for Spring Training. And that’s the mayor’s self-imposed deadline to lock in a stadium deal. So, is this finally the week owner John Sherman steps to the plate and unveils where the Royals will build their next home? At last week’s council meeting, Mayor…