Vintage Radio
Old Time Radio, or OTR as it is called, is a passion of mine. For thirty years or so in the middle of the 20th Century, a tremendous burst of creativity, technology, and storytelling was delivered directly to the imagination of the listener, the best possible stage of any performance. The BBC still does this, but the Golden Age of American radio is over, alas. Fortunately, Radio Spirits and a few other companies keep it alive.
Dimension X volume 1
Dimension X volume 1
DIMENSION X Vol. 1
Hosted by Norman Rose (12 half-hour episodes on 6 CDs in a collector case) “Dimension X” was one of radio’s first adult science-fiction series and made its mark by adapting short stories by acknowledged masters in the field, including: Isaac Asimov, Robert Bloch, Ray Bradbury, Fredric Brown, Robert. A. Heinlein, Clifford D. Simak, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. and William Tenn. The original stories were adapted by scriptwriters, Ernest Kinoy and George Lefferts, who also contributed their own original scripts. At the start of every broadcast, host Norman Rose promised us “adventures in time and space, told in future tense!” You knew you were about to be transported from your everyday existence to somewhere completely different … maybe even a distant planet. Radio was a fertile medium for science fiction. It was easy to visit other planets, interact with aliens or fly in a rocket ship simply by using your imagination. “Dimension X” debuted April 8th, 1950 and completed its run September 29th, 1951 including a 5-month hiatus in the middle.
CD#1
4/15/50 “With Folded Hands” by Jack Williamson. Starring Peter Capell and Philip Bourneuf. / 4/22/50 “The Report on the Barnhouse Effect” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Starring Santos Ortega and Bob Hastings.
CD#2
4/29/50 “No Contact” by George Lefferts and Ernest Kinoy. Starring Wendell Holmes and Lawson Zerbe. / 5/6/50 “Knock” by Frederic Brown. Starring Arnold Moss and Luis Van Rooten.
CD#3
5/13/50 “Almost Human” by Robert Block. Starring Santos Ortega and Rita Lynn. / 6/3/50 “The Embassy” by Donald Wollheim. Starring Joseph Julian and Berry Kroeger.
CD#4
6/10/50 “The Green Hills of Earth” by Robert Heinlein. Starring Ken Williams and Nelson Olmsted. / 7/21/50 “Beyond Infinity” by Villiers Gerson. Starring Les Damon and Lotte Stavisky.
CD#5
9/15/50 “Hello Tomorrow” by George Lefferts. Starring Nancy Olson and Santos Ortega. / 7/12/51 “Time and Time Again” by H. Beam Piper. Starring Peter Capell and Joe DeSantis.
CD#6
8/2/51 “Universe” by Robert Heinlein. Starring Mason Adams and Peter Capell. / 9/29/51 “Nightfall” by Isaac Asimov. Starring John McGovern and Staats Cotsworth.