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Dimension X: The Outer Limit - April 8, 1950
Oct 8, 2025 •
I remember the crackle of the radio in my grandfather’s study… tonight, we tune in to the whispers of the cosmos with the very first episode of Dimension X. “The Outer Limit” invites us to step past the veil of the known, into a town where strange occurrences test the…
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Dimension X: “With Folded Hands” – April 15, 1950
Oct 8, 2025 •
Step into a world where technology’s promise of utopia becomes a gilded cage. In this episode of Dimension X, humanity’s creation of flawless robots, known as “mechanicals,” leads to a society where every need is anticipated, and every danger is averted. While the mechanicals’ intentions are benevolent, their actions strip…
Exploring Dimension X: Adventures in Time and Space
I remember the crackle of old radio speakers filling the room with stories of distant worlds—Dimension X captured that magic in full. Broadcast on NBC from April 8, 1950, to September 29, 1951, it was one of the first adult science fiction programs, exploring life and death, science and religion, war and politics, and humanity’s place in the universe. Unlike the simpler adventures of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, this series challenged listeners while thrilling them with imaginative storytelling.
The first 13 episodes were performed live, then the series shifted to pre-recorded shows. Directors Fred Wiehe and Edward King guided the production, while Norman Rose’s deep, resonant voice served as announcer and narrator, opening each episode with the haunting line: “Adventures in time and space… told in future tense.” For a short time, Wheaties sponsored the show, adding a touch of everyday familiarity to the extraordinary stories.
What made Dimension X truly special was its lineup of top-tier science fiction writers. Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Kurt Vonnegut, Robert Bloch, and others lent their stories to the series. In-house writer Ernest Kinoy adapted these works carefully and contributed original scripts. Episodes like Bradbury’s Mars Is Heaven and Jack Williamson’s With Folded Hands remain compelling today, proving the timeless power of great storytelling.
Actors including Joe Di Santis, Wendell Holmes, Santos Ortega, and Jan Miner brought these tales vividly to life. The series’ signature echoing “DIMENSION X X X X…” made the show instantly recognizable. Each half-hour episode was a self-contained journey, transporting listeners to alternate realities while leaving them pondering what they had just experienced.
Many Dimension X episodes were later remade in X Minus One (1955–58), often using the same scripts and actors. Some fans prefer the slightly longer original episodes, while others enjoy the crisper production quality of the adaptations. If you’re new to these shows, starting with X Minus One gives you the most stories, then exploring the unique Dimension X episodes individually adds depth to the experience.
From the crackle of the speakers to the stars above, Dimension X shows how radio science fiction could captivate, challenge, and inspire. Each story is an invitation to imagine the universe in all its possibilities. What story will the universe tell next?