February 4, 1997: Open Lines

Art Bell opens the phone lines on the night the O.J. Simpson civil trial verdict arrives, as a jury unanimously finds Simpson liable for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, ordering $8.5 million in compensatory damages. Art questions whether a monetary judgment truly constitutes justice for two murders, and callers from across the country weigh in with reactions ranging from relief to frustration.

The evening takes an unexpected turn when Art puts his mother, Jane Bell, on the air for an extended segment. Listeners quiz Ma Bell about her son's childhood mischief, including his habit of electrifying doorknobs, blowing things up with fireworks, and once escaping his crib to wander the neighborhood naked at age two. She reveals that Art's fascination with the unknown runs in the family and traces his radio career back to ham radio at age twelve.

Between family stories and Simpson commentary, Art shares a bizarre report from Wilmington, California, where UFO sightings were allegedly followed by a 1950s vintage automobile falling from the sky. He also replays a revealing 30-minute interview with presidential candidate Steve Forbes on flat tax reform and the future of Social Security.