etween the Golden Age of pulp magazines and the triumph of television, innovative science-fiction storytelling fleetingly flourished on radio. Folks interested in exploring this often overlooked era in SF history should enjoy The 60 Greatest Old-Time Radio Shows from Science Fiction Selected by
Ray Bradbury, an enormous new collection containing approximately 30 hours of audio dramas on 30 CDs (or 20 cassettes). Though rarely heard today, these works--primarily broadcast during the 1950s--represent, according to Bradbury's astute introduction in the booklet accompanying the programs,
"a treasure trove of tales that spoke in the night to me and millions of other people a long, long time ago."
Following a brief audio prologue from Bradbury, the package opens with Orson Welles' legendary 1938 performance of War of the Worlds. A few other early SF radio productions are also featured, most notably Arch Oboler's "Sub-Basement," from a 1943 broadcast of Lights Out, and a 1948 rendition of Curt Siodmak's "Donovan's Brain" from the long-running Suspense series. Suspense is also the source of the only two post-1950s shows in the collection--a version of Robert A. Arthur's "Black Door" from 1961 and Robert Readick's "Second Door" from 1962.
Most of the remaining adventures come from two other classic programs: Dimension X and X Minus One. Adaptations of such time-honored short stories as Isaac Asimov's "Nightfall," Robert A. Heinlein's "The Roads Must Roll" and James Blish's "Surface Tension" are showcased, along with lesser-known works like "Soldier Boy" by Michael Shaara and "Hello Tomorrow" by George Lefferts. Over a half-dozen tales from Bradbury are heard too, including "Martian Chronicles," "To the Future" and, from the Escape radio show, "Mars Is Heaven" and "Zero Hour." The collection is accompanied by a 64-page brochure with synopses and cast information about each production.
Fascinating and largely forgotten
Regardless of their glossy images, intricate plots and dialogue laced with technical gobbledygook, in many respects modern science fiction films and TV productions cannot match the "sense of wonder" furnished by good, old-fashioned SF radio. Although The 60 Greatest Old-Time Radio Shows from Science Fiction Selected by Ray Bradbury is far from a flawless package, it readily reminds present-day listeners why this "theater of the mind" can often be more masterful and moving than the visually oriented SF stories told today on movie and television screens.
The May 1950 Dimension X version of Frederic Brown's "Knock" is a perfect representation of the medium's ability to stimulate the imagination. From the famous opening line ("The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door.") to the emotional climax, the production is sparse yet superb, utilizing sound effects and a subdued but highly dramatic delivery to generate a wholly engrossing recitation of the renowned tale. "Martian Death March" by Ernest Kinoy and Theodore Sturgeon's "Saucer of Loneliness"--both from X Minus One--are equally poignant and powerful.
Unfortunately, while almost every production is commendable, little insight is provided into why Bradbury chose these specific adventures as the "greatest." For example, though a 1944 radio adaptation of "Donovan's Brain" starring Orson Welles is briefly mentioned in the liner notes, there's no indication why the author instead opted to spotlight a later, less illustrious interpretation. Equally as problematic is the fact that, at least on the CDs, the programs are simply jumbled together, with no discernible chronological, historical or even contextual sequence. However, even with these shortcomings, The 60 Greatest Old-Time Radio Shows from Science Fiction Selected by Ray Bradbury is worthwhile, offering contemporary fans a rare glimpse into a frequently forgotten but altogether fascinating chapter in SF history.
