Tales of Tomorrow
| Tales of Tomorrow | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Anthology Science Fiction |
| Starring | Thomas Mitchell Lon Chaney, Jr. Boris Karloff Rod Steiger Bruce Cabot Brian Keith Leslie Nielsen Franchot Tone Paul Newman |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 85 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ABC |
| Picture format | 4:3 Black and White |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original run | August 3, 1951 – June 12, 1953 |
Tales of Tomorrow is an American anthology science fiction series that was performed and broadcast live[1] on ABC from 1951 to 1953. The series covered such stories as Frankenstein, starring Lon Chaney, Jr., 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea starring Thomas Mitchell as Captain Nemo, and many others featuring such performers as Boris Karloff, Brian Keith, Rod Steiger, Bruce Cabot, Franchot Tone, Gene Lockhart, Walter Abel, Leslie Nielsen and Paul Newman. The series had many similarities to the later Twilight Zone which also covered one of the same stories, "What You Need". In total it ran for eighty-five 30-minute episodes.
Contents |
[edit] Production
The idea for this science fiction television series began by Ted Sturgeon and Mort Abrahamson, together with the Science Fiction League of America. Its original name was going to be "Tomorrow is Yours".[2] A deal was struck between them, Richard Gordon, and George Foley, this entitled the producers of the show to have first choice of any of the 2,000 short stories and 13 novels by the various author members of the 'Science Fiction League of America'. It was meant to be the first science fiction show for adults, as there were already many for children.[3] It aimed to integrate mystery with science fiction, for a fast pace and suspense,[4] it also gave authors such as Arthur C. Clarke their first televised adaption of their works.[5]
[edit] Broadcast History
| Season | Time Slot |
|---|---|
| 1 (1951-1952) | Friday at 9:30 pm |
| 2 (1952-1953) |
[edit] Radio series
While Tales of Tomorrow the television series was still being produced in 1953, ABC also decided to try a radio series of the same name. The radio show ran from January 1–April 9th 1953.[6] However, it was to be scripted from stories appearing in Galaxy Science Fiction,[7] similar to what the Dimension X radio series had done, by collaborating with Astounding Science Fiction magazine. The radio series however didn't do as well. After only a few episodes, on February 26 it was switched to a CBS radio production for the remainder of its 15 episode run.[8] After the radio series was canceled the TV series soon followed. A few years after its cancellation the radio series X Minus One, the 1955 successor of Dimension X also began exclusively using stories from Galaxy Science Fiction in their broadcasts. Four of the fifteen 'Tales of Tomorrow' stories were later re-dramatized for 'X Minus One' scripts these being; "The Stars Are the Styx", "The Moon Is Green", "The Girls From Earth", and "The Old Die Rich".[8][9]
[edit] Public Domain episodes
Many of the television episodes, and five of the surviving radio series episodes are now in the public domain in the United States, and available for free download at Internet Archive.
[edit] See also
- Captain Video and His Video Rangers, first science fiction adventure series in United States television, aimed at juvenile audiences.
- Out There, an 1951 anthology series.
- The Outer Limits, an anthology series.
- Science fiction on television, a look at the history of Science fiction from various countries, and when they first appeared on television.
- Science Fiction Theatre an anthology series, released about 3 years later.
- Space Patrol, another science fiction adventure series that was being produced at the same time, also for juvenile audiences.
[edit] References
- ^ Tales of Tomorrow at TV.com
- ^ http://www.heinleinarchives.net/upload/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=831
- ^ The Billboard (magazine), May 19, 1951, page 11
- ^ The Billboard (magazine), August 18, 1951, page 9
- ^ Arthur C. Clarke, "The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke", Preface to 'All the Time in the World' ISBN: 057507065X.
- ^ On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. By John Dunning. ISBN: 0195076788, page 653
- ^ Science Fiction Television. By M. Keith Booker, page 5, ISBN: 0275981649
- ^ a b http://www.digitaldeliftp.com/DigitalDeliToo/dd2jb-Tales-of-Tomorrow.html Production information, and review sources on the radio series "Tales of Tomorrow".
- ^ http://www.archive.org/details/XMinus1_A Full listing of all "X Minus One" episodes at Internet Archive.
[edit] External links
- Tales of Tomorrow at the Internet Movie Database
- Episode 1 of the television series- Verdict from Space; 40 others is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
- List of Tales of Tomorrow television episodes, and link to radio series collection on Internet Archive.
- Tales of Tomorrow: Radio collection, 5 episodes from the radio series available for free download at the Internet Archive.
- Tales of Tomorrow episode guide.
- Tales of Tomorrow - radio show plot summaries.
- 1950s American television series
- 1953 radio programme debuts
- 1951 television series debuts
- 1953 television series endings
- American Broadcasting Company network shows
- American radio drama
- American science fiction television series
- Anthology television series
- Horror fiction television series
- Science fiction radio programs
