The Skyjacker
Season 08, Episode 02
November 25, 2020
A legend. A mystery. The saga concludes.
Re-Imagined Radio presents The Skyjacker, the third of three radio stories written and directed by Dan Wyatt, Jr. Performed by Metropolitan Performing Arts actors and other community volunteers at Kiggins Theatre, Vancouver, Washington. We feature highlights from Part 1, Skyjacker '71: The D.B. Cooper Transmissions, 2018, and Part 2, In Flight with D.B. Cooper, 2019. From our Guest Writer series.
Access the episode script
Background
1971. Thanksgiving eve, November 24. A passenger hijacks Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 en route from Portland, Oregon, to Seattle, Washington, by convincing the flight crew he has a bomb in his briefcase. He demands $200,000 in cash and four parachutes, and orders the crew to fly towards Mexico. At 8:13 p.m. an air stair opens and the hijacker parachutes with $200,000 strapped to his body. He is never apprehended, never found. Forty-nine years later, the mystery remains unsolved and legendary.
Production
Contents
An original radio script, "The Skyjacker," written by Dan Wyatt, Jr. This episode is Part 3 of The D.B. Cooper Saga.
The Skyjacker, 2020
In Flight with D.B. Cooper, 2019
Skyjacker '71: The D.B. Cooper Transmissions, 2018
Credits
Written and Directed by Dan Wyatt, Jr.
Produced and Hosted by John F. Barber
Audio Recording by Wager Audio
Sound Design by John Barber
Post Production by Martin John Gallagher
Social Media and Graphic Design by Holly Slocum Design
Cast
Rob Bertrand as DB Cooper and J Edgar Hoover
Arianna Dorenbosch as Tina Mucklow, Janis Beslow, and Rose Ann Coffey
John Barber as Agent Ralph Himmelsbach
Laine Keniston as Florence Schaffner, Perry (Chief), Drive up waitress
Ryan McWayne as Al Lee, Billy Mitchell, Scotty, Dennis Lysne
Alex Lowe as Agent Milnes, Agent Campbell, Julius, and Announcer
Mark Barry as Frank Faist and Mr. Pallert
Dan Wyatt as assorted passengers
Greg Shilling as Captain William A. Scott
Anne McEnerny-Ogle as Vi Beslow
Barbara Richardson as TV reporter
Significance
D.B. Cooper hijacked a passenger jet airliner Thanksgiving eve, 1971 and parachuted from the airliner over Southwest Washington with $200,000 in cash. Cooper's hijacking is the only unsolved air piracy case in America. His exploit is celebrated in movies, television, song, and now, radio.
Producer's Notes
This episode was planned as a live performance at Kiggins Theatre, Vancouver, Washington. COVID
restrictions on public gatherings forced us to produce this episode as a radio broadcast. This was a
turning point for Re-Imagined Radio in that most every episode since has been produced for radio
broadcast rather than live performance.
— John Barber
Responses
"Chuck and I both enjoyed listening to the DB Cooper show tonight. It reminded me of my childhood when
Mom listened to old radio serials (The Shadow, Lone Ranger, etc.) as she got dinner ready and I kept her
company in the kitchen. THE SKYJACKER was quite creative—I loved all the great sound effects. The story
was pretty good too. It got me thinking that DB might've gotten sucked out quickly when the escape door
opened and perhaps he bonked his head fatally on the way out of the low-flying jet. . . . At any rate,
kudos to you and the rest of the folks who provided a nice and entertaining diversion this Thanksgiving
Eve. I am sure a lot of hard work was involved, yet your team made it seem easy."
— Sue Q., Portland, Oregon
"Thank you and your cast so much for putting this together! Re-Imagined Radio is always such a
treat."
— Kathlen Z., Vancouver, Washington
"I listened to the entire performance. It is fantastic! I am so excited to share this with the community
on Wednesday. You and Marty did a fantastic job of pulling all of the pieces together. I know the level
of work that went into what you coordinated and it is no less a miracle of activity. Nice job! The
actors were fantastic and listening, I really felt like I was on the plane with DB and the stewardess. I
submitted the file for broadcast to XRAY this afternoon and my wife Sara and I are looking forward to
listening in our living room on Wednesday evening."
— Joe C., Vancouver, Washington
Promotion
Trailer
Created by Holly Slocum, Holly Slocum Design (MP4)
Press
READ the Press Release
Re-Imagined Radio, The Skyjacker. KXRY Radio archival webpage. Provides opportunity to listen to broadcast.
Cuthill, Meagan. 50 Years Later, The Mystery of D.B. Cooper Still Intrigues. OPB, Nov. 29, 2021.
Graphics
