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

Art House Extra

May 1, 2020 | John G. McGrath | 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.

Tags: Art House, Lawrence, Movies

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Image credit: Bus fares return to Kansas City this week. Most trips will cost $2. (Carlos Moreno | KCUR 89.3)

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