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Rare Science Fiction Broadcasts

Science fiction is one of the most intriguing uses of Radio as an art form.

Rare Science Fiction

11 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 4 hours, 1014 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
5 Audio CDs


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

The Golden Age of Radio and the Golden Age of Science Fiction occurred in loose conjunction. The literary form saw its genesis with the 1818 publication of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, now recognized as the first Science Fiction novel. The form gained respectability and substance with the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Jules Verne, H.G. Welles, and Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Amazing Stories Magazine was launched in 1926 by Hugo Gernsback. The "Buck Rogers" stories began appearing in Amazing Stories in 1928 and were soon adapted for a comic strip. They helped to establish the Pulp Fiction era of Science Fiction. For many critics, the pulp association relegated the genre to the status of "kids' stuff" and not to be taken seriously.

Astounding MagazineInterestingly, even with its "kids' stuff" reputation, Science Fiction entered what is considered its "Golden Age" in 1937 when John W. Campbell became editor of Astounding Science Fiction. During Campbell's tenure, he helped to introduce and guide the careers of luminaries such as Theodore Sturgeon, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, and Robert Heinlein.

Radio became wedded to Science Fiction with Orson Welles 1938 broadcast of The War of the Worlds. This event, as well as several popular Juvenile Serials, used the horror element of Science Fiction more than its social commentary and speculative functions. However, radio began taking Science Fiction seriously in the Atomic Age after the War With series like X Minus One, Dimension X, and 2000 Plus. Many of the scripts for these series were taken from the pages of Astounding Science Fiction and Galaxy Magazine.

  • Case History 493, "The Purple Planet", no broadcast information available. A space-liner pilot tells a psychoanalyst the story of landing on an unexplored planet and the events which led to the loss of his crew and passengers. In a surprise twist, the doctor is less interested in helping the pilot and more concerned with learning what it will take for his species to invade the Earth.
  • Fantasy, August 23, 1947, audition program, probably for NBC, "Entity from the Void". Producer Frank Ferrin, who brought us Smilin' Ed McConnell's Buster Brown Gang and the soap opera Lora Lawton took a shot at speculative fiction long before it was popular, hoping to tap the same market which enjoyed hard-boiled detective programs. The story is of a traveler from a faraway world falls in love with an earth woman whose husband is an insufferable drunk.
  • Future Tense, WMUK, Western Michigan University Kalamazoo. Part of an extensive series of student productions using several scripts from X Minus One.
  • Space Drama, May 18, 1947, audition program, "Death Rides High". There are many refugees desperate to start a new life in the United States, even if they have to evade the normal immigration channels to do it. A band of nefarious fliers with a converted bomber is willing to help, at a terrible price.
  • The Space Merchants, CBS Radio Workshop, February 1957. A semi-dystopian tale of a future where political states on the over-populated Earth exist only to ensure the survival of huge multi-national corporations. Advertising has become almost a religion and profit the highest motive. A huge advertising coup is in the offing, attracting colonists to Venus.
  • Think, 1953, ABC net. A "Radio Workshop" type program from the youngest network, scripts are adaptations of classic Sci-Fi stories.

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

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    COMMENTS

    I'm deeply honored to be a faithful customer. Your shop is wonderful and it's exactly what I needed and what I was looking for. Thank you for your kindness and for your huge collection!

    Alex Verified Purchase

    Great entertainment, and I do not have to wait a week for the next episode.

    Gary r Verified Purchase

    "Future Tense" -- A science fiction series created and broadcast by a radio station in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1974-76. The performers are amateur actors. Much better quality than I expected. Most episodes are updated versions of various OTR episodes. Some are "new" stories, or include new material.

    Jim

    A pretty morbid first episode considering stated at the beginning of the show that it was good family entertainment. Thank you for sharing

    Dennis

    The first 3 episodes are all kind of dark. The rest are much more mild. My favorites, so far, are "Knock" and "The Saucer of Loneliness".

    Jim Verified Purchase

    I listened to disc #1 which contained a show called Case History, apparently a British made show.The episode was titled " The Purple Planet". This was a variation on the old space travellers encountering unfriendly aliens. This was pretty grim and made the second show, Future Tense, with an episode called Double Dare, seem relatively light in comparison. This was a takeoff on the situation where 2 groups try to outdo each other in bragging about who is bwetter.

    Dan 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.



    11 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 4 hours, 1014 min
    11 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 4 hours, 1014 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 11 shows – total playtime 4 hours, 16 minutes
    2. Case History 493 The Purple Planet.mp3
    3. Fantasy 000000 Entity From Void Audition.mp3
    4. Future Tense Double Dare.mp3
    5. Future Tense Romance.mp3
    6. Space Drama 470518 Death Rides High.mp3
    7. Space Merchants 570217 Pt.1.mp3
    8. Space Merchants 570224 Pt.2.mp3
    9. Think 530000 Mars Is Heaven.mp3
    10. Think 530000 Word.mp3
    11. Think 53xxxx Mars Is Heaven.mp3
    12. Think 53xxxx The Word.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    11 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 4 hours, 1014 min
    11 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    118 MB – total playtime 4 hours, 16 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 11 shows – 118 MB – total playtime 4 hours, 16 minutes
    2. Case History 493 The Purple Planet.mp3
    3. Fantasy 000000 Entity From Void Audition.mp3
    4. Future Tense Double Dare.mp3
    5. Future Tense Romance.mp3
    6. Space Drama 470518 Death Rides High.mp3
    7. Space Merchants 570217 Pt.1.mp3
    8. Space Merchants 570224 Pt.2.mp3
    9. Think 530000 Mars Is Heaven.mp3
    10. Think 530000 Word.mp3
    11. Think 53xxxx Mars Is Heaven.mp3
    12. Think 53xxxx The Word.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



    11 recordings on 5 Audio CDs. Total playtime 4 hours, 16 min
    11 recordings on 5 Audio CDs
    total playtime 4 hours, 16 min

    Rare Science Fiction Disc A001

    1. Case History 493 The Purple Planet
    2. Future Tense Double Dare
    3. Future Tense Romance

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Rare Science Fiction Disc A002

    1. Think 53xxxx Mars Is Heaven
    2. Think 53xxxx The Word

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Rare Science Fiction Disc A003

    1. Fantasy 000000 Entity From Void Audition
    2. Space Drama 470518 Death Rides High

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Rare Science Fiction Disc A004

    1. Think 530000 Mars Is Heaven
    2. Think 530000 Word

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Rare Science Fiction Disc A005

    1. Space Merchants 570217 Pt.1
    2. Space Merchants 570224 Pt.2

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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