July 4, 1995: Open Lines - Unabomber & Other Topics

Art Bell broadcasts live on the Fourth of July, opening with the triumphant conclusion of his weeks-long saga to trap a feral kitten living beneath his desert home. Using smoked tuna in a humane trap, the cat he calls Ghost is finally captured and awaits a veterinary visit.

The program covers a wide sweep of Independence Day topics as callers weigh in on pressing issues. A Berkeley professor's open letter to the Unabomber sparks debate about whether Americans share concerns over modern technological society, even while condemning the violence. Art Bell dissects President Clinton's political dilemma over McClellan Air Force Base closures, noting that Senator Dianne Feinstein insists the president cannot win reelection without California. Discussion turns to the crisis in Bosnia, the mysterious fumes at Tokyo railway stations, drug policy, and a fax alleging the president was gambling on a Kansas City riverboat. Callers share personal stories ranging from UFO encounters to mouse-catching techniques, and a ham radio operator inspires Art Bell to propose broadcasting amateur radio contacts live on the air.

A freewheeling holiday broadcast capturing the eclectic spirit of late-night talk radio at its most spontaneous.