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Beyond the Green Door

Five-minute snippets of science fiction fun, supernatural terror, and mad-scientists getting their just desserts, written by Nebula Award winner Robert Sheckley and read by the immortal Basil Rathbone.

Beyond the Green Door

40 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 2 hours, 1982 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
3 Audio CDs


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"Jack The Ripper"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Basil Rathbone

It would never work on radio because radio was dead, it had been killed on September 30, 1962, when CBS canceled the last two prime-time network radio dramas, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar and Suspense. It would never work, but it was just too good of an idea not to work, so the decision was made to go ahead with Beyond the Green Door.

Recorded in 1966, Green Door was apparently meant to be broadcast as part of NBC's Monitor, which would continue to entertain and educate listeners until 1975. A series of five-minute spots, the stories were written by science fiction master Robert Sheckley and read by one of the most respected voices of Radio's Golden Age, Basil Rathbone.

Perhaps the most accomplished fencer in Hollywood, Rathbone had been one of the screen's greatest swashbucklers. Unfortunately, when sword-play was written into the script Rathbone was usually cast as a bad guy and he lost far more on-screen duels than he won. Beyond the costume period pictures, Rathbone immortalized the role of Sherlock Holmes. The "consulting detective" is acknowledged as the "the most portrayed character" in history, but Rathbone's portrayal is considered the arch-type, having played him in fourteen pictures between 1939 and 1946. Concurrent with the film series, Rathbone, along with Nigel Bruce playing his sidekick, Dr. Watson, starred in The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes for several different sponsors on the Blue Network and Mutual.

Bob Sheckley discovered science fiction before graduating high school in 1946. He began to sell his short stories to the science fiction pulps after serving in the post-War Army. His stories were noted for being fast-moving and quick-witted. He would contribute scripts to Captain Video and His Video Rangers and his work would include novels based in the Star Trek universe. The snippets which would become the Green Door series (sixty were written) were ground out in true pulp magazine fashion at the rate of five per week.

The stories are filled with supernatural weirdness, mad scientists getting their just desserts, and neck-snapping plot twists. Although the then 66-year-old Rathbone didn't always "get" the stories, his smooth reading gave them an incredible and attractive authority. After two months of writing at such a furious pace, Sheckley felt he needed some time off, which the series producers refused. So, he quit. Rathbone himself called Sheckley and politely asked him to come back to work, but at $60 per story, he felt better to stay quit.

While recording the Green Door stories, Rathbone, then in his seventies, kept his health by performing fencing exercises in Central Park. A year later he died of a sudden heart attack in his den on July 21, 1967. He was 75. Three Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame are dedicated to Basil Rathbone, one at 6569 Hollywood Blvd for Motion Pictures, another at 6809 Hollywood Blvd for Television, and for Radio at 6312 Hollywood Blvd.

Robert Sheckley would be named Author Emeritus by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2001, he passed away at the age of 77 on December 9, 2005.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

    6
    5     1


    COMMENTS

    I have been looking for this show for many years. At a convention many, many years ago I purchased a copy on cassette. It was awful, bad sound, many drops, even with all that I loved it. When I got my new copy from OTRCAT, I was Wowed..great clear sound, a real pleasure to listen too. Pete Greco

    Peter Verified Purchase

    Interesting stories.

    Maria Verified Purchase

    Great shows and good format.

    Janice Verified Purchase

    I ENJOYED THIS VERY MUCH I HAD HEARD THIS YEARS AGO, BUT NEVER HAD A COPY , THANK YOU.

    Rebecca Verified Purchase

    Aaah the great Basil! Good stories great voice too!

    Anthony Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    40 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 2 hours, 1982 min
    40 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 2 hours, 1982 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 40 shows – total playtime 2 hours, 33 minutes
    2. BtGD 01 Harwell And The Matland India.mp3
    3. BtGD 02 Philip Baine In The Yukon.mp3
    4. BtGD 03 Frank Davis And Magic.mp3
    5. BtGD 04 Dr James Neal And Bowler.mp3
    6. BtGD 05 Tyner And The Ape.mp3
    7. BtGD 06 Theodore Kane Buried Alive.mp3
    8. BtGD 07 Henry Gill Joins Foreign Legi.mp3
    9. BtGD 08 Patrolman Hawkins And Waxwork.mp3
    10. BtGD 09 Hampton Expedition To Africa.mp3
    11. BtGD 10 Dilly Mercer, Strange Child.mp3
    12. BtGD 11 Alaskan Justice-Sheriff Quinn.mp3
    13. BtGD 12 Drake And Abominable Snowman.mp3
    14. BtGD 13 Jack The Ripper.mp3
    15. BtGD 14 Thomas Henning-Chucka Tribe.mp3
    16. BtGD 15 Roary Flynn, Astronaut.mp3
    17. BtGD 16 Eye Thief-Letters.mp3
    18. BtGD 17 Matador's Brother Killed.mp3
    19. BtGD 18 Trent Perkins And Sword Swall.mp3
    20. BtGD 19 Mosley Searches For Schneider.mp3
    21. BtGD 20 Invasion Of Green Planet.mp3
    22. BtGD 21 Travis Takes Poison.mp3
    23. BtGD 22 George Davis' Freak Show.mp3
    24. BtGD 23 Burt Simms, Bush Pilot.mp3
    25. BtGD 24 Edward Morse-Deep Sea Fishing.mp3
    26. BtGD 25 Dillingsworth Diamond Corp.mp3
    27. BtGD 26 Dr Frederick Morton.mp3
    28. BtGD 27 Richard Hearn Hunter.mp3
    29. BtGD 28 Diver Fights For Life.mp3
    30. BtGD 29 Ogden Family-Nebraska 1870's.mp3
    31. BtGD 30 Mrs Curlew Poisoner Marries.mp3
    32. BtGD 31 John Otis-Mr Dunn, Disposer.mp3
    33. BtGD 32 Mr Arkady Baradian, Boulder.mp3
    34. BtGD 33 Mr Fitz-Hugh And Poisoned.mp3
    35. BtGD 34 Edgar Hayes-Amazon Trip Seek.mp3
    36. BtGD 35 Tom Dunlevy-Wasts-Abandon.mp3
    37. BtGD 36 New Hebridos Fisherman.mp3
    38. BtGD 37 Alfred Dix-All Hallows Eve.mp3
    39. BtGD 38 Eddie Fox-Hobo In Oakdale.mp3
    40. BtGD 39 Morton Gale-Vacation In Maine.mp3
    41. BtGD 40 Alfred Porter-Ghosts-Vampires.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    40 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 2 hours, 1982 min
    40 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    140 MB – total playtime 2 hours, 33 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 40 shows – 140 MB – total playtime 2 hours, 33 minutes
    2. BtGD 01 Harwell And The Matland India.mp3
    3. BtGD 02 Philip Baine In The Yukon.mp3
    4. BtGD 03 Frank Davis And Magic.mp3
    5. BtGD 04 Dr James Neal And Bowler.mp3
    6. BtGD 05 Tyner And The Ape.mp3
    7. BtGD 06 Theodore Kane Buried Alive.mp3
    8. BtGD 07 Henry Gill Joins Foreign Legi.mp3
    9. BtGD 08 Patrolman Hawkins And Waxwork.mp3
    10. BtGD 09 Hampton Expedition To Africa.mp3
    11. BtGD 10 Dilly Mercer, Strange Child.mp3
    12. BtGD 11 Alaskan Justice-Sheriff Quinn.mp3
    13. BtGD 12 Drake And Abominable Snowman.mp3
    14. BtGD 13 Jack The Ripper.mp3
    15. BtGD 14 Thomas Henning-Chucka Tribe.mp3
    16. BtGD 15 Roary Flynn, Astronaut.mp3
    17. BtGD 16 Eye Thief-Letters.mp3
    18. BtGD 17 Matador's Brother Killed.mp3
    19. BtGD 18 Trent Perkins And Sword Swall.mp3
    20. BtGD 19 Mosley Searches For Schneider.mp3
    21. BtGD 20 Invasion Of Green Planet.mp3
    22. BtGD 21 Travis Takes Poison.mp3
    23. BtGD 22 George Davis' Freak Show.mp3
    24. BtGD 23 Burt Simms, Bush Pilot.mp3
    25. BtGD 24 Edward Morse-Deep Sea Fishing.mp3
    26. BtGD 25 Dillingsworth Diamond Corp.mp3
    27. BtGD 26 Dr Frederick Morton.mp3
    28. BtGD 27 Richard Hearn Hunter.mp3
    29. BtGD 28 Diver Fights For Life.mp3
    30. BtGD 29 Ogden Family-Nebraska 1870's.mp3
    31. BtGD 30 Mrs Curlew Poisoner Marries.mp3
    32. BtGD 31 John Otis-Mr Dunn, Disposer.mp3
    33. BtGD 32 Mr Arkady Baradian, Boulder.mp3
    34. BtGD 33 Mr Fitz-Hugh And Poisoned.mp3
    35. BtGD 34 Edgar Hayes-Amazon Trip Seek.mp3
    36. BtGD 35 Tom Dunlevy-Wasts-Abandon.mp3
    37. BtGD 36 New Hebridos Fisherman.mp3
    38. BtGD 37 Alfred Dix-All Hallows Eve.mp3
    39. BtGD 38 Eddie Fox-Hobo In Oakdale.mp3
    40. BtGD 39 Morton Gale-Vacation In Maine.mp3
    41. BtGD 40 Alfred Porter-Ghosts-Vampires.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    40 recordings on 3 Audio CDs. Total playtime 2 hours, 33 min
    40 recordings on 3 Audio CDs
    total playtime 2 hours, 33 min

    Beyond the Green Door Disc A001

    1. BtGD 01 Harwell And The Matland India
    2. BtGD 02 Philip Baine In The Yukon
    3. BtGD 03 Frank Davis And Magic
    4. BtGD 04 Dr James Neal And Bowler
    5. BtGD 05 Tyner And The Ape
    6. BtGD 06 Theodore Kane Buried Alive
    7. BtGD 07 Henry Gill Joins Foreign Legi
    8. BtGD 08 Patrolman Hawkins And Waxwork
    9. BtGD 09 Hampton Expedition To Africa
    10. BtGD 10 Dilly Mercer, Strange Child
    11. BtGD 11 Alaskan Justice-Sheriff Quinn
    12. BtGD 12 Drake And Abominable Snowman
    13. BtGD 13 Jack The Ripper
    14. BtGD 14 Thomas Henning-Chucka Tribe
    15. BtGD 15 Roary Flynn, Astronaut
    16. BtGD 16 Eye Thief-Letters
    17. BtGD 17 Matador's Brother Killed
    18. BtGD 18 Trent Perkins And Sword Swall

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Beyond the Green Door Disc A002

    1. BtGD 19 Mosley Searches For Schneider
    2. BtGD 20 Invasion Of Green Planet
    3. BtGD 21 Travis Takes Poison
    4. BtGD 22 George Davis' Freak Show
    5. BtGD 23 Burt Simms, Bush Pilot
    6. BtGD 24 Edward Morse-Deep Sea Fishing
    7. BtGD 25 Dillingsworth Diamond Corp
    8. BtGD 26 Dr Frederick Morton
    9. BtGD 27 Richard Hearn Hunter
    10. BtGD 28 Diver Fights For Life
    11. BtGD 29 Ogden Family-Nebraska 1870's
    12. BtGD 30 Mrs Curlew Poisoner Marries
    13. BtGD 31 John Otis-Mr Dunn, Disposer
    14. BtGD 32 Mr Arkady Baradian, Boulder
    15. BtGD 33 Mr Fitz-Hugh And Poisoned
    16. BtGD 34 Edgar Hayes-Amazon Trip Seek
    17. BtGD 35 Tom Dunlevy-Wasts-Abandon

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Beyond the Green Door Disc A003

    1. BtGD 36 New Hebridos Fisherman
    2. BtGD 37 Alfred Dix-All Hallows Eve
    3. BtGD 38 Eddie Fox-Hobo In Oakdale
    4. BtGD 39 Morton Gale-Vacation In Maine
    5. BtGD 40 Alfred Porter-Ghosts-Vampires

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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