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X Minus One: “And the Moon Be Still as Bright” - April 22, 1955
Oct 8, 2025 •
I remember the crackle of my grandfather’s radio, the way it seemed to hum with possibilities… tonight, we tune in to the debut of X Minus One, “And the Moon Be Still as Bright.” The story lifts us to the red sands of Mars, where human explorers confront not only…
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X Minus One: “No Contact” – April 24, 1955
Oct 8, 2025 •
In the inaugural episode of X Minus One, listeners are introduced to a high-stakes space mission aimed at breaching an enigmatic barrier that has claimed the lives of five previous expeditions. As the crew approaches the invisible force field, they grapple with uncertainty and fear, knowing that failure could mean…
X Minus One: Exploring New Dimensions in Time and Space
I remember the thrill of old radio broadcasts, the way the crackle of the speakers could transport you to worlds beyond imagination. X Minus One captured that magic for a whole new generation of science fiction fans. Airing on NBC from April 24, 1955, to January 9, 1958, this half-hour radio drama series is widely regarded as one of the finest science fiction offerings in any medium, blending high production values with stories from some of the greatest American writers of the era.
Originally, X Minus One was a revival of Dimension X (1950–51), with the first 15 episodes re-performing scripts from the older series. But it didn’t stop there. Soon, the show carved its own niche, featuring adaptations of newly published science fiction stories from the top authors of the time, including Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, Robert A. Heinlein, Theodore Sturgeon, Frederik Pohl, and many others. NBC staff writers Ernest Kinoy and George Lefferts skillfully adapted these stories for radio, while also contributing some original scripts of their own. The result was a series that not only honored its literary roots but also demonstrated what radio could do as a storytelling medium.
X Minus One brought a dazzling variety of stories to life. Audiences could experience Robert Sheckley’s clever satirical adventures in “Skulking Permit,” Bradbury’s hauntingly beautiful Mars Is Heaven, Heinlein’s thought-provoking Universe and The Green Hills of Earth, Pohl’s imaginative The Tunnel Under the World, Fritz Leiber’s chilling A Pail of Air, and George Lefferts’ gripping The Parade. Each episode was carefully produced, with actors, sound effects, and music all working together to create an immersive experience. Regular performers like Joe Di Santis, Wendell Holmes, and Jan Miner brought depth and personality to every role, while the iconic opening countdown, delivered by announcer Fred Collins, set the stage:
“Countdown for blastoff… X minus five, four, three, two, X minus one… Fire! From the far horizons of the unknown come transcribed tales of new dimensions in time and space. These are stories of the future; adventures in which you’ll live in a million could-be years on a thousand may-be worlds. The National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street & Smith, publishers of Astounding Science Fiction, presents… X Minus One.”
The show’s reach extended beyond radio airings. Though it occupied various time slots, limiting its initial following, its episodes survived remarkably well, later re-released as podcasts and inspiring stage adaptations by Counter-Productions Theatre Company in Rhode Island. From 2008 through 2016, the troupe brought episodes like The Parade, A Logic Named Joe, and Hallucination Orbit to the stage, proving that these stories could thrill audiences even decades later.
X Minus One was canceled after its 126th broadcast in 1958, but it left an enduring legacy. It extended the imaginative foundations laid by Dimension X, demonstrating the power of radio as a medium for sophisticated science fiction. The series continues to captivate listeners today, preserving a golden era of storytelling where each episode was a portal to new worlds, new ideas, and new possibilities.
Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or revisiting the classics, X Minus One offers a journey through the far horizons of imagination—a testament to the timeless appeal of stories that push the boundaries of time, space, and human curiosity.