Science Fiction Theatre

In the mind of this 10 year old during the fifties, sci-fi was as much or perhaps more, science fantasy. Back then the possibility of 'Martians' could still not be discounted.!! True. What space travel and science that lay in store for the future was open to one's imagination. Truman Bradley, who opened the show from his laboratory somewhere alone and high in the western desert, would discuss a particular science fact and its possible ramifications and speculations. From this seed a teleplay would ensue. I loved the show. Real science and fantasy all in the same 1/2 hour program. Wish I could see them again.. Alas and alack..

Science Fiction Theater (1955-1957) stands out as perhaps the most intriguing and intelligent of all TV science fiction shows. I remember watching the series as a 13 or 14 year old when it first aired. Only recently have I obtained a DVD of the entire series, and I am happy to say that I have not had to change my original opinion of SF Theater.

The stories are solid, the actors, easily identifiable from duty in many feature films, are excellent. And, as an added bonus, it turns out that the series was filmed in color! SF Theater was not the only 50s series to be filmed in color, but it was nevertheless among a very small minority in that respect.

As someone else pointed out, the intelligent introductions by Truman Bradley are a real plus and add an air of authenticity to the stories. (Compare that aspect of SF Theater with the idiotic stories and tone of "Lost in Space" a decade later!) Finally, I would submit that these excellent shows are a good example of what can be done to tell a complete story in just 25 minutes. Too bad so many of today's movie makers need 120+ minutes to make their points.

Long before the Twilight Zone and the Outer Limits there was Science Fiction Theater. I haven't seen this wonderful TV show in 40-45 years but it still fires my imagination and possibly my nightmares. Every Friday night my 8-10 year-old's heart would begin to race as the show opened with its dramatic theme music and the camera's eye scanning the working apparatus in a "real" scientist's lab: microscope, oscilloscope, bubbling titration beakers,test tubes, and something like a radar unit. Finally the camera would settle on Truman Bradley who would introduce the episode with his resonating voice. Oh the heroes of my spent boyhood, John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Clayton Moore, Fess Parker, and Truman Bradley! I would love to see some of the old episodes—or maybe not. Would it be a disillusioning experience? Probably. By today's special-effect standards, the episodes would no doubt have a cheesy aspect to them. But I'd sure love to find out. I hope the show is still out there, somewhere. Anyway, a 2-disk DVD set of the best episodes would be about right.

I was only about 6 or 7 years old when I first watched Science Fiction Theater. Even my folks watched it. It is a fantastic series, and found where I might purchase it, but I don't know if I want to put out $80.00 or not for the two seasons! I sat on the edge of my seat every time it showed, totally enthralled with every episode. True, it wasn't always fiction, but even when the episodes didn't exactly fit with the Science Fiction Theater genre, it still provided an engaging show. For even then, much of the science fiction was still based on some simple fact. I would recommend anyone interested in the old SF series programs, Science Fiction Theater is one. Don't forget Commando Cody.

Saturday night, at 11:00P.M. was a special time in our house. In the years of 1955-57, we had "SCIENCE FICTION THEATRE". It was one of the more successful of the early Syndicated Series*.

In our market, Chicago, it was available for viewing over the local NBC TV Affiliate, WNBQ TV, Channel 5. (The station is still going strong today, albeit with a minor surgical alteration to WMAQ TV**.

And we can well remember just who was the sponsor for "SCIENCE FICTION THEATRE" in our town was. It was that outstanding scientific marvel, Bromo Selzer. The commercials were done with the host, Mr. Truman Bradley.

As to Truman Bradley, he was the host who gave us the premise with which we would be working, during the following half-hour. Hisir carefully set-up demonstrations and equally contrived explanations, all meant to cover no more than 2 minutes of screen time. Of course then, we would sit amazed at the skills demonstrated by this Scientific Wonder, even greater than Don Herbert, aka 'Mr. Wizard'! So it was that every Episode would open up with the sounding of a very distinctive and appropriate theme. This was a trademark of Ziv Television Productions, as well as their use of Syndication, which seemed to be a method of getting the stories out which just about every one of the Ziv Series used.

As the Theme (by Hollywood Veteran Screen Composer, Jack Shaindlin) continued, we a given a downward moving, panoramic view of just about the neatest collection of cool science stuff that you would ever see! Of course, we didn't know what one from the other, as to their uses, but, SO WHAT! After this introductory sequence, it was off to the story! Being science fiction gave it a real wide selection of topics and the creative team did pursue the widest of parameters imaginable. Approximately 22 minutes and two Acts later, it was back to Truman's neat Science Lab, the moral of the story and the final closing.

With the closing, we got this admonition: "Well good-bye for now, until next week, from the World of Fiction and Science!" And then we would hear that Jack Shaindalin Theme once more, and have an upward moving Panaramic View, just bass-ackwards of the opening. While this was happening, we observe our Scientific Wizard, Mr. Truman Bradley, sitting at his huge desk, studiously reading some unknown periodical, a highly esoteric Scientific Journal, no doubt.

The series had quite a few episodes over its two full seasons' run in spectacular Syndication, and we are hard pressed to remember their repeating stories or themes, even. And in addition to the Science Fiction aspects, their stories held up a great hope for the future dignity and tolerance of all of man's ideas.

And just imagine the shock when we found our own personal Scientist of Scientists, Truman Bradley, helping out Spencer Tracy(as Major Robert Rogers) in waging the French and Indian Wars in NORTHWEST PASSAGE (MGM, 1940)! Truman, how could you!

NOTE: * Some of the most successful Syndicated TV Series of the Era were: "SEA HUNT"(1958-61), "HIGHWAY PATROL"(1955-59), "I LED 3 LIVES"(1953-56) and "RAMAR OF THE JUNGLE"(1955-57). Of the 4 series all but Arrow Productions' "RAMAR OF THE JUNGLE" were Ziv/United Artists Television Productions.

NOTE ** Several years later, WNBQ changed its call letters to WMAQ, which were the call letters of the now defunct NBC Radio Station-a Flagship Station of the NBC Radio Network