Escape's adaptation of The Time Machine takes liberties with H.G. Wells' famous story, but it is still a good adventure tale.
Unlike the original story, which only had one time traveller, Escape's version has two, Dudley and Fowler. Dudley is the inventor of the time machine, and he invites the skeptical Fowler to take a trip with him. They travel from the year 1948 to the year 100,080.
When they arrive in the future they find themselves in an unfamiliar, pastoral world populated by a child-like race of humans called the Eloi. The travellers are welcomed, and everything seems pleasant until they realize that their time machine is missing.
Soon they discover that the Eloi are not the only race of humans in the future. The Morlocks, an underground race of humans who live in darkness, are the true masters of this world.
If you want to read the original text, The Time Machine (1895) by H.G. Wells, it is available online at Wikisource. The chapter that was excluded from the book and later published under the title "The Grey Man" is also available.
Escape first presented "The Time Machine" on May 9, 1948. The story was adapted for radio by Academy-award nominated screenwriter Irving Ravetch and was produced/directed by Norman MacDonnell. Eric Rolf starred as Fowler, Jeff Corey played Dudley and Kay Brinker played Weena.
. Download Escape.1948.05.09_The_Time_Machine.mp3
Escape's second presentation of this radioplay is better than the first. John Dehner played the role of Fowler, Lawrence Dobkin played Dudley, and Georgia Ellis appeared as Weena. This episode aired on October 22, 1950.
. Download Escape.1950.10.22_The_Time_Machine.mp3
(Image of the first edition cover of The Time Machine from Wikipedia)
Yet another version. Oct. 27, 1950.
http://www.archive.org/download/otr_escape/Escape.1950.10.27_The_Time_Machine.mp3
Posted by: Rich | February 19, 2008 at 02:58 PM