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Signal 30

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Wikipedia article




'Signal 30' is a 1959 social guidance film made by the Highway Safety Foundation in the vicinity of Mansfield, Ohio. The film, shown widely to high school students across the country during the 1960s through the 1980s, was produced by Richard Wayman and narrated by Wayne Byers, and takes its name from the radio code used by the Ohio State Highway Patrol for a fatal traffic accident.Alexandra Heller-Nicholas 'Found Footage Horror Films: Fear and the Appearance of Reality' 2014 "The Highway Safety Foundation became a non-profit organization, and in October 1959 Signal 30 was screened."'Field & Stream' Apr. 1986 p.19 "Signal 30 was the call number for a fatal automobile accident, and that was what the film showed, in color, sound, and all the graphic detail you could want. When we left the theater, our faces were the same olive green as our uniforms, ..."William E. Jones 'Tearoom' 2008 p.37 "Smith says that accounts vary on whether Signal 30 was an instant hit. But what his book calls "the first highway safety gore film" did win a National Safety Council Award and the endorsement of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Signal 30's success prompted Wayman and friends to start a for-profit production..."

Similar to 'Red Asphalt', 'Signal 30' features graphic footage of crashed automobiles and their horrifically injured and dismembered occupants. Despite its gruesome nature, the film later won the National Safety Council Award. It was followed by two sequels, entitled 'Mechanized Death' and 'Wheels of Tragedy', and inspired a whole genre of similarly gory road safety films.

In popular culture



* The film was featured in, and lent its name to, an episode of 'Mad Men'.

*An instrumental by the Who, "Sodding About" (an outtake from 'The Who Sell Out') has commonly been referred to as "Signal 30" , in part due to bassist John Entwistle's morbid curiosity.'The Who Sell Out' (liner notes pg. 4). Neill, Andy. The Who. Polydor Records. 2021.

* A heckling commentary soundtrack is included in comedian Michael J. Nelson's RiffTrax commentaries.

* Audio excerpts were used in a song of the same name by Public Service Broadcasting from their 2013 album 'Inform-Educate-Entertain'.

* "Duffless", a 1993 episode of 'the Simpsons', contains an indirect reference to 'Signal 30' when an unnamed film depicting car accidents to discourage drunk driving (starring Troy McClure) is shown in traffic school.

* In 'Traces of Death IV', footage of traffic accidents from 'Signal 30' is used.

See also



* List of American films of 1959

References




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