Westbrook Van Voorhis (1903-1968) was a radio broadcaster and narrator for television programs and movies. He is perhaps best known for his work on the Blue Network's "March of Time" radio and newsreel series. His trademark was his powerfully strong voice which led to his becoming known as the "Voice of Doom" depending on the news' subject. His oft-parodied booming catchphrase, "Time...marches on!" was another trademark.
Van Voorhis became a radio broadcaster late in the 1920s, working for station WOR and the CBS and NBC networks. Based on Van Voorhis' "March of Time" radio news series from 1931 to 1945, it became a fifteen to thirty-minute newsreel series that aired prior to the theater's main feature to keep American audiences abreast of select news stories. Sponsored by Time Inc., the series ran from 1935 to 1951. He narrated each episode of the 1954–1956 NBC series Justice, and the narration for the 1957 television series Panic!.
Van Voorhis was originally scheduled to be the announcer for The Twilight Zone television show but only narrated the television pilot, "Where is Everybody?." His narration was however revoiced before broadcasting by the show's creator and writer, Rod Serling.
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