F U T U R E T E N S E !
----------- --------- -
1974 - 1976
First Show: May 6, 1974 Last Show: ??? ??, 1976
Number Shows: 26 Audition Show: none
Series Description:
FUTURE TENSE! was the title given to two short series of shows that
aired at various times in 1974 through 1976 on WMUK, college radio
station of Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. The
shows were announced as being produced by WMUK Special Projects and
used local actors. Professor Eli Segal updated some X MINUS ONE and
DIMENSION X scripts, changing place and time to local area and time,
as required. The series used original X MINUS ONE music opening,
closing and scene bridges although it didn't use the X MINUS ONE
"blast off" sequence. (It did use it at least once as a sound
effect).
In the first series aired in May of 1974, with the shows broadcast
Monday through Thursday (from a comment at the end of one show). From
information found, the first series appears to have been repeated in
June of 1974 and again in August of of 1976 (from corrections to
"Science Fiction on Radio: A Revised Look At 1950-1975", see Log
Comments). The second series is believed to have aired in July of
1976 (from the GoldIndex, see Log Comments). In 1975, "Pail of Air"
was awarded the Ohio State Award for "network quality radio drama".
"Cold Equation" won a Peabody Award in 1978 "for championing radio
drama".
These shows, although not easily found, offer a unique opportunity to
compare shows produced in radio's golden age to the same script
produced today. If you do, please keep in mind that these shows were
done with non-professional actors and production staff. Still, they
are well done and are anenjoyable listen, especially "Born of Man And
Woman" (my favorite).
Log Comments:
This log is based on listening to the first 16 shows, Jerry Haendiges'
log, the Corrections to "Science Fiction on Radio: A Revised Look At
1950-1975" (See "References" below) on Jim Widner's internet site
(http://www.otr.com) and entries in J. David Goldin's OTR database.
Two of the broadcasts were "double features", so titles are listed
as "A" and "B" on separate lines.
X MINUS ONE and DIMENSION X show numbers are listed after the title
in the "From" field, where applicable. Shows from X MINUS ONE are
numbered "Xnn" (nn = episode number). DIMENSION X shows are listed
as "Dnn".
Chronological Log:
Num Date Title Author From
--- -------- ------------------------------ ----------------- -------
.......... Series 1 ..........
1 05-06-74 "A Pail of Air" Fritz Leiber X44
2 05-07-74 "The Old Die Rich" H.L. Gold X60
3 05-08-74 "Tunnel Under The World" Frederik Pohl X42
4 05-09-74 "Zero Hour" Ray Bradbury X26,D11
Done in DIMENSION X & X MINUS
ONE in 15 minutes. Oddly,
this is done in 15 minutes as
well.
5 05-13-74 "The Parade" George Lefferts X02,D21
6 05-14-74 "The Defenders" Phillip K. Dick X52
7 05-15-74 "Protection" Robert Sheckley X93
8 05-16-74 "A Saucer of Loneliness" Theodore Sturgeon X83
9 05-20-74 "The Seventh Victim" Jerry Sohl X91
10 05-21-74 "The Martian Death March" Ernest Kinoy X17,D34
11 05-22-74 "Cold Equations" Tom Godwin X15
12 05-23-74 "Pictures Don't Lie" Katherine MacLean X72
13 05-27-74 "Knock" Fredric Brown X05,D05
14 05-28-74 "With Folded Hands" Jack Williamson D02
15 05-29-74 A. "Really Heavy" Ernest Kinoy X90
(X MINUS ONE title: "Real
Gone")
B. "Third From The Sun" Richard Matheson
16 05-30-74 A. "Born of Man And Woman" Richard Matheson
B. "Dr. Eitar's Experiment" Martin Gingrick
.......... Series 2 ..........
17 07-??-76 "Venus Is A Man's World" William Tenn X87
18 07-??-76 "The Discovery of Mornial William Tenn X97
Mathaway"
19 07-??-76 "The Romance Game" Finn O'Donovan X125
Based on "Gray Flannel
Armor".
20 07-??-76 "Star Bright" Mark Clifton X41
21 07-??-76 "An Imbalance of Species" Ray Bradbury none
An original adaptation of "A
Sound of Thunder", adapted by
John Scott.
22 07-??-76 "Mars Is Heaven" Ray Bradbury D14,D33,
An original adaptation. X03
23 07-??-76 "Dr. Grimshaw's Sanatorium" Fletcher Pratt X09,D25
24 07-??-76 "Field Study" Peter Phillips X89
25 07-??-76 "Double Dare" Robert Silverberg X12
26 07-??-76 "The Man in the Moon" George Lefferts X06,D15
Alphabetical List:
Title Num Date
----------------------------------- --- --------
Born of Man And Woman 16 05-30-74
Cold Equations 11 05-22-74
Defenders, The 6 05-14-74
Discovery of Mornial Mathaway, The 18 07-??-76
Double Dare 25 07-??-76
Dr. Eitar's Experiment 16 05-30-74
Dr. Grimshaw's Sanatorium 23 07-??-76
Field Study 24 07-??-76
Imbalance of Species, An 21 07-??-76
Knock 13 05-27-74
Man in the Moon, The 26 07-??-76
Mars Is Heaven 22 07-??-76
Martian Death March, The 10 05-21-74
Old Die Rich, The 2 05-07-74
Pail of Air, A 1 05-06-74
Parade, The 5 05-13-74
Pictures Don't Lie 12 05-23-74
Protection 7 05-15-74
Really Heavy 15 05-29-74
Romance Game, The 19 07-??-76
Saucer of Loneliness, A 8 05-16-74
Seventh Victim, The 9 05-20-74
Star Bright 20 07-??-76
Third From The Sun 15 05-29-74
Tunnel Under The World 3 05-08-74
Venus Is A Man's World 17 07-??-76
With Folded Hands 14 05-28-74
Zero Hour 4 05-09-74
References:
* "Science Fiction on Radio: A Revised Look At 1950-1975" by James
F. Widner and Meade Frierson III. (Available from A.F.A.B, PO
Box 130969, Birmingham, AL 35213-0969).
* "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All
Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514
* GOLDINdex database, J. David Goldin, Box 542, Newtown, CT 06470
(http://www.radiogoldindex.com)
Other Logs or Books:
* FUTURE TENSE log, Jerry Haendiges Productions, 13808 Sunset Dr.,
Whittier, CA 90602 (http://www.otrsite.com)
Last Update: May 20, 2004
This log is informational only. It does not imply that I or my
references have these shows for trade or sale. The shows are still
protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from
authorized dealers.
The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis.
Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M.
Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).