Beyond Tomorrow
1950
Artist depiction courtesy of Tune In For Terror © 1992
(From John Dunning's Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio): "The significance of Beyond Tomorrow is that it almost became radio's first science fiction series for adults. An audition show, The Outer Limit, was prepared Feb. 23, 1950, under the title Beyond This World. This was later broadcast under the new title, but by then NBC had opened it's significant Dimension X series, and Beyond Tomorrow was cancelled after just three episodes."
The above observation is "significant", but it's not the only thing interesting about Beyond Tomorrow. The surviving stories and performances are quite good, on par with Dimension X. The series also has a wonderful opening narration, and you can just imagine the anticipation it built up in the listener. The future can bring anything, and it could happen to you! Yes, this is a fun show to listen to, then and now. And although the narrator is unknown and the series ended after just three episodes, it provides a wonderful window into a different time. Not the future (as intended), but rather, the past.
A Typical Intro:
Announcer: "And now for tonight's story. Let's go Beyond Tomorrow!"
(Eerie music plays underneath)
Host: "Are you afraid to face tomorrow? Or whatever may lay beyond tomorrow? Do you think you are up spending a weekend on the moon, or entertaining house guests from Mars? Can you and your children adjust to the strange, new, wonderful world that is being wrought in the test tubes and cyclotrons of science beyond tomorrow? Beyond Tomorrow! A new program of probabilities, drawn from the vast library of science fiction, where anything is possible, and possibly may happen... to you! "
(Dramatic music flair)
Announcer: "Tonight, based on a popular story by Theoridor Sturgon, and adpated by Draper Lewis, a tale about a man who accused of murder in a small western town, who insists it was not murder, but something really much worse! "
A Typical Closing:
Announcer: "You have just heard Incident at Switchpath, another program on the new science fiction series Beyond Tomorrow. Michael O'day was featured in the role of James Kent and Bret Morrison was heard as Professor Sikes. Music was composed and conducted by Henry Soburn, and John Campbell Jr. was our technical consultant.Beyond Tomorrow was produced and directed by Mitchell Grayson. Listen again next week at this same time for another story about you..and the future. You-- Beyond Tomorrow."
Hear it now, FREE!
Hear 2 of only 3 episodes in RealPlayer!
Incident At Switchpath - A famous sci-fi story later recreated in other shows, but first adapted to radio here.
The Outer Limit - Another popular sci-fi tale aired on both X Minus One and Suspense, but first put on the air here.
(RealPlayer allows you to continue to browse other sites while you listen.)