Exploring Tomorrow
1957 - 1958
Exploring Tomorrow is dated now, but back in its day, it seemed bold and visionary.
Exploring Tomorrow was hosted by John Campbell, the editor of the science-fiction oriented Analog Magazine. The series was billed as "The first science fiction radio show of science-fictioneers, by science-fictioneers, for science-fictioneers." (Otrcat.com) Each week, Campbell would open and close the story by making philosophical observations about how the technology featured in that night's story might effect mankind. These serious comments were meant to be deep and thoughful, but the effect was undercut by the choice of elevator background music. (It was a Musak rendition of "As Time Goes By," complete with muted trumpet and syrupy violins.) Despite this one flaw-- or maybe because of it-- the series is still fun to listen to. It comes across as a poor man's verison of X Minus One. Very few recordings are known to have survived, even though it was a relatitively recent series by OTR standards.
Each story was usually built around a fantastic "what if" concept, like time travel or robots. Artist depiction courtesy of Tune In For Terror © 1992
The Standard Intro:
(Echo voice:) "Exploring Tomorrow!"
(Music similar to ABC's Wide World of Sports.)
Announcer: "And now, here's your guide into these adventures in the mind... John Campbell."
An Opening Narration:
Host: "When men start a new project, it starts with a plan. The plan has to be carried out, worked though, the details arranged for. You don't have any trouble until the thing you did not expect turns up. So far, human research has achieved an unmanned satellite in space. The sole purpose of any of these devices, any machine, is to serve human beings. The machine goes first to try things out. But the sole purpose of doing it is so men can follow. And women too. But there are problems of purely human nature, that sometimes complicate the most scientific of plans."
A Middle Narration:
Host: "Alice had called attention to the fact that the space station had not been adequately designed. It had been designed alright to take care of men, and of women. But taking care of human individuals is not enough if we are to really enter the space stage. We have to take care of the human race. That's something Alice was bringing to attention."
An Ending Narration:
Host: "There's the impression that science fiction has to do with machines, all about gadgets and ray guns. It isn't. That's why it's science fiction. It has to do with human beings and the problems human beings will have with the machines we do and must live with. And if the machines aren't properly designed to recognize that their purpose is to serve humanity, they're no good either."
(Announcer reads credits.)
Hear it now, FREE!
Hear up to 9 different episodes of Exploring Tomorrow in RealPlayer!
(RealPlayer allows you to continue to browse other sites while you listen.)
OTR Plot Spot synopsis for various episodes from Exploring Tomorrow:
http://www.otrplotspot.com/ExploringTomorrow.htm
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