DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Fantasmia, issue 1

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RADIO OBSERVATIONS ...being a run-down on "Exploring the Unknown", Mutual Broadcasting System, Sunday evening, Oct 31

Exploring the Unknown is a series of broadcasts introduced various branches of science and dramatizing the possibilities of each. Sponsored by Revere Copper & Steel --- founded by Paul Revere, ye original rough-rider -- these half-hour dramas tell of an entertaining story while at the same time educating the listener more of less willingly.
The drama in question concerned an expedition to the Moon, or Luna, as so fondly referred to the pulps. It seems that the United Nations had taken Farmsworn's advice seriously and wanted to send an expedition to the moon-pardon Luna. So they called in Pat O'Brien -- under a pseudoym, of course-- and appointed him as Project Co-ordinator, an Astounding-ish title if I ever heard one.
Anyway, the Hollywood Irishman cornered the scientists needed to assure the success of the venture, and being a radio drama, the rocket is soon finished and a trial radio-equipped rocket is set up.
However, it's radio signals unaccountably ceases soon after the rocket reaches space and the project seems doomed to fail. Still being a radio drama, all but the medical man of the expedition still wish to go on. O'Brien's radio wife is against his going for fear she may never see him again. But he is my Irishman and says he is going thru with the deal.
A doctor friend of the family-- probably an out-suited suitor--- decides to take the place of the cold-footed medico. So, equipped with air, food, and hot-water bottles, plus a 500 pound space suit apiece, the interpid space explorers blast off for the - ahem, Luna.
The skip skids to a shrieking landing on Luna's surface after an amazingly short trip (about one minute of broadcasting time), and they get out to stretch their legs. But the doctor is so unfortunate as to fall down a slope and wreck his space suit, thus subjecting him to decidedly uncomfortable climate of airless vacumnous Luna. The writers utterly neglect the possibillities of surviving in space, however, and with suitable sound effects polish off the doctor. Fortunately he dies in the shade, of the gully, thus mostly avoiding the harrowing description of the pill-roller's death.
O'Brien's radio wife (what a racket!) then talks to him via a space radio and says she has a change of heart, and with proper heartwarming accents says she's dam' proud to be his wife.
Fade-out with the equivelent of a quarter-million kiss, and the others considerately turn off their sets, leaving the ether to the two.
Meanwhile, we have taken other. It seems that the writer forgot to mention whether atomic power or liquid fuel propelled the ship. They never explained the lost rocket, either. Neither is mentioned the orbit of the ship's flight nor how the decimated expedition got back to Earth, if it did. In fact, the possibility or probability of a return ship was never eve mentioned.
This is a lousy state of affairs, climating as it were, many fine radioactors and leaving an undetermined number of corpses nonulating Luna.

Wait'll the Radio Actors Union hears about this!
END

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RADIO OBSERVATIONS ...being a run-down on "Exploring the Unknown", Mutual Broadcasting System, Sunday evening, Oct 31 Exploring the Unknown is a series of broadcasts introduced various branches of science and dramatizing the possibilities of each. Sponsored by Revere Copper & Steel --- founded by Paul Revere, ye original rough-rider -- these half-hour dramas tell of an entertaining story while at the same time educating the listener more of less willingly. The drama in question concerned an expedition to the Moon, or Luna, as so fondly referred to the pulps. It seems that the United Nations had taken Farmsworn's advice seriously and wanted to send an expedition to the moon-pardon Luna. So they called in Pat O'Brien -- under a pseudoym, of course-- and appointed him as Project Co-ordinator, an Astounding-ish title if I ever heard one. Anyway, the Hollywood Irishman cornered the scientists needed to assure the success of the venture, and being a radio drama, the rocket is soon finished and a trial radio-equipped rocket is set up. However, it's radio signals unaccountably ceases soon after the rocket reaches space and the project seems doomed to fail. Still being a radio drama, all but the medical man of the expedition still wish to go on. O'Brien's radio wife is against his going for fear she may never see him again. But he is my Irishman and says he is going thru with the deal. A doctor friend of the family-- probably an out-suited suitor--- decides to take the place of the cold-footed medico. So, equipped with air, food, and hot-water bottles, plus a 500 pound space suit apiece, the interpid space explorers blast off for the - ahem, Luna. The skip skids to a shrieking landing on Luna's surface after an amazingly short trip (about one minute of broadcasting time), and they get out to stretch their legs. But the doctor is so unfortunate as to fall down a slope and wreck his space suit, thus subjecting him to decidedly uncomfortable climate of airless vacumnous Luna. The writers utterly neglect the possibillities of surviving in space, however, and with suitable sound effects polish off the doctor. Fortunately he dies in the shade, of the gully, thus mostly avoiding the harrowing description of the pill-roller's death. O'Brien's radio wife (what a racket!) then talks to him via a space radio and says she has a change of heart, and with proper heartwarming accents says she's dam' proud to be his wife. Fade-out with the equivelent of a quarter-million kiss, and the others considerately turn off their sets, leaving the ether to the two. Meanwhile, we have taken other. It seems that the writer forgot to mention whether atomic power or liquid fuel propelled the ship. They never explained the lost rocket, either. Neither is mentioned the orbit of the ship's flight nor how the decimated expedition got back to Earth, if it did. In fact, the possibility or probability of a return ship was never eve mentioned. This is a lousy state of affairs, climating as it were, many fine radioactors and leaving an undetermined number of corpses nonulating Luna. Wait'll the Radio Actors Union hears about this! END