by MARTIN GRAMS, JR.

SCIENCE FICTIONTHEATRE

A HISTORY OF THE TELEVISION PROGRAM

1955–57

SCIENCE FICTION THEATRE

A HISTORY OF THE TELEVISION PROGRAM, 1955–57

©2011 MARTIN GRAMS, JR.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed, in print, recorded, liveor digital form, without express written permission of the copyright holder.However, excerpts of up to 500 words may be reproduced online if they includethe following information, “This is an excerpt from Science Fiction Theatre:A History of the Television Program, by Martin Grams, Jr.”

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DESIGN AND LAYOUT: VALERIE THOMPSON

SCIENCE FICTION THEATRE: A HISTORY OF THE TELEVISION PROGRAM240

Episode #27 “TARGET HURRICANE”

PRODUCTION #1027 / 27BDATES OF PRODUCTION: JUNE 15 AND 16, 1955DIRECTED BY LEIGH JASON

Script & StoryFIRST DRAFT DATED JULY 5, 1955 FINAL DRAFT DATED JULY 11, 1955TELEPLAY BY ROBERT SCHAEFER AND ERIC FREIWALD, FROM A

STORY BY IVAN TORS

Production Credit1ST ASST. CAMERAMAN: SPEC JONES (UN-CREDITED)1ST CO. GRIP: MEL BLEDSOE (UN-CREDITED)2ND ASST. DIRECTOR: EDDIE MULL (UN-CREDITED)2ND CAMERAMAN: BUD MAUTINO (UN-CREDITED)2ND CO. GRIP: TOMMY MATHEWS (UN-CREDITED)3RD. GRIP: EDDIE MANRIQUEZ (UN-CREDITED)ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: DONALD VERK

ASST. PROP MAN: DON SMITH (UN-CREDITED)BEST BOY: CHARLES STOCKWELL (UN-CREDITED)BOOM MAN: JIM FLANNERY (UN-CREDITED)CABLEMAN: BUD ALPER (UN-CREDITED)CONSTRUCTION CHIEF: ARCHIE HALL (UN-CREDITED)DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: ROBERT HOFFMAN

ELECTRICIANS: CHARLES HANGER, FRED HOUNSHELL AND HAP

MORLEY (ALL UN-CREDITED)FILM COORDINATOR: DONALD TAIT

FILM EDITOR: THOMAS SCOTT

GAFFER: S.H. BARTON (UN-CREDITED)MAKE-UP ARTIST: GEORGE GRAY

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: JOE WONDER

SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR ON ELECTRONICS AND RADAR OPERATION:MAXWELL SMITH

PROPERTY MASTER: MAX PITTMAN

RECORDER: LARRY GOLDING (UN-CREDITED)SCRIPT SUPERVISOR: BILLY VERNON

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SET DECORATOR: BRUCE MACDONALD

SET DESIGNER: JACK COLLIS

SOUND MIXER: JAY ASHWORTH

SOUND SUPERVISOR: GUS GALVIN

SPECIAL EFFECTS: HARRY REDMOND, JR.STILL MAN: CHARLIE ROSE (JUNE 15 ONLY, UN-CREDITED)WARDROBE: ALFRED BERKE

Marshall Thompson poses with Margaret Field and young Gary Marshallfor a publicity photo.

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Marshall Thompson prepares to make an announcement in “TargetHurricane.”

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CAST: John Bryant (Lt. Collier, $80); Ray Collins (Hugh Fredericks,$300); John Doucette (Colonel Stewart, $150); Margaret Field(Julie Tyler, $500); Robert Griffin (Walter Bronson, $125); PaulHahn (voice of the pilot, $70); Gary Marshall (Bobby Tyler, $75);Marshall Thompson (James Tyler, $1,000); and Will J. White(Non-Com, an Air Force technician, $75)

PLOT: A hurricane of unprecedented magnitude is approachingthe Florida coastline with none of the tell-tale signs of an approachinghurricane having been evident until an hour before. The S.S. Arvisreports the sound of a tremendous explosion from the sea prior tothe discovery of the cyclonic cloud. James Tyler, a meteorologist andlocal weatherman, warns the public through television and radio todig in, be prepared and stay calm, while he and his wife are bearingdown with fear. Their small son is out on a camping trip with othercub scouts and they cannot be reached. Air Rescue Helicopters failto find them. The Flying Laboratories of the Hurricane Hunters flyinto the eye of the storm to observe direction and characteristics of

Margaret Field is concerned for her young son while her husband waitsfor the latest weather reports.

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the wind. In the meantime, the Navy is sending a submarine witha team of scientists to the location of the reported explosion. Theirfinding is that a giant meteorite from outer space crashed into theocean and was the cause of the storm. Luckily, only the outer wallof the hurricane hits the town and giving enough time to the publicto prepare, averts a major disaster. Tyler is relieved when he learnsthat the cub scouts were safe; they had taken refuge in a cave.

NOTES

! This episode was produced under the title “HurricaneWarning.”

! Ivan Tors’ original outline, dated Jan. 18, 1955, was titled“Hurricane.” The first draft of the script re-titled the story to “Hurricane Hunters” and production notes report theepisode was re-titled again as “Hurricane Warning” andassigned production number 16B, before being revised againfor the version we see on film today. Tors based his story onthe findings in a magazine article titled “Hurricanes” by R.H. Simpson, originally published in the June 1954 issue of Scientific American, which featured a weather balloon onthe cover.

! The entire production was filmed on Stage 6.! Marshall Thompson was a favorite of Ivan Tors, who, years

later, hired the actor to star in another television program produced by Tors, Daktari.

! This was the only episode to be reviewed by the New YorkTimes, who remarked: “The early evening show apparently hasaimed at both the teen group and the adults, but even TomSwift had more excitement on his old electric motorcycle thanthe cast did last night . . . But just at the point where sciencefiction usually steps in and puts nature back in its place, that’sit, at the moment when the wind seems to be a best 300 yardsoff the beach, what does the author do? He has a prosaic high-pressure area push it out to sea. The science fiction angle comesup only when things have settled down and the submarinereports that the hurricane was caused by a meteorite hurtlinginto the sea. In any real science fiction story, the meteoritewould have had the leading role.”

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! To ensure accuracy regarding the weather bureau’s technicallingo, Dr. Leon Lyon was on hand during filming, accordingto talent contracts.

! The poster hanging on the wall behind Marshall during histelecast, warning people of the growing threat, is the sameprop seen hanging on the wall in numerous episodes of theseries including “Project 44.”

The October 20, 1955 issue of Variety reviewed this episode:“All the tension and near-panic aroused by an oncoming hurricane

about to hit Florida are vividly captured in ‘Target,’ but just whatthis has to do with scientifiction is a moot point. In what appearsto be an afterthought, in deference to this series’ Science FictionTheatre tag, writers have it that the hurricane is caused by a meteorfrom outer space. This is reaching way over to another planet.

“In any other anthology series, ‘Hurricane’ would have fitsmoothly, but with Ziv ballying it as an S-and-F series, it was outof place. Yarn by Robert Schaefer and Eric Freiwald, from an originalby producer Ivan Tors, is one of utter simplicity, showing how abig wind is spotted off Florida, and the precautions and warningstaken by the Weather Bureau, alerting the population of what’sahead. Stock shots of a hurricane are well integrated into thefootage.

“Marshall Thompson’s performance, as the weatherman in chargewho is doubly concerned because his son’s off on a Boy Scout hike asthe wind approaches, is a very good one. While Thompson dominates,he gets good support from Margaret Field, Ray Collins, JohnDoucette and Gary Marshall. Leigh Jason’s directing is polished.”

“HURRICANE”BY IVAN TORS

The story starts with various shots of Nevada atomic explosions.Giant four-engine flying laboratories and jet planes fly into theatomic cloud to gather important knowledge. Narrator explainsthe importance of flying laboratories which can cruise at highaltitudes tracing radiation, testing equipment, forecasting weather,release radio sound balloons, collect samples of moisture and dustparticles, etc.

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Our story takes us to the Florida coast, where the Air Force hasa weather station with an important function. It is their duty to flyfour-engine planes into the eyes of hurricanes, register winddirection and give ample warning to the mainland. In our story, theweather plane radios back frightening information. A hurricane ofusual strength is building up seven hundred miles from the coastand approaching the coastline with the unheard speed of 250 milesper hour. What is most alarming is that two ships at sea reportedthe sound of an explosion. The possibility prevails that an atomicbomb or a hydrogen bomb of foreign origin was dropped in theCaribbean, generating the hurricane.

The Colonel in charge calls in the mayor of the town and themanager of the local television station informing them of theimminent danger. He recommends that the TV station remain onthe air all the time, warning the population of the approachinghurricane, giving instruction to board in their windows or seekshelter in basements. The population is advised not to escape thecity because the roads will be clogged, traffic stopped and the dangerin the open will be even greater. In the meantime, the hurricanegathers more and more momentum. Planes cannot fly into the eyeof the hurricane any longer without the danger of destruction. Afew matador guided missiles are shot in the hurricane’s eye with radiosound equipment to register the force. The information receivednow is even more alarming. The speed of the hurricane reached anunprecedented 300 miles per hour. No natural hurricane ever reachedthat velocity.

In the meantime, scientists in cooperation with the Air Force areinvestigating the possibility that the source of the monstrous windwas man-made and did not originate by nature. The hurricanereaches the coast line but its full-force does not hit the city. Thereis a great deal of damage, some casualties, but the worst of it is over.Flying laboratories now re-enter the sector where the hurricane hasoriginated. They find traces of metal vapor in the ocean, establishingthat the hurricane was caused by a giant meteorite that hit thewater and while streaking through the atmosphere, caused theatmosphere change necessary to precipitate a wind of suchforce. Once again, the Air Force proves itself to be worthy of anyemergency.

Episode #36 “PROJECT 44”

PRODUCTION #1036 / 36BDATES OF PRODUCTION: AUGUST 17 AND 19, 1955DIRECTED BY TOM GRIES

Script & StoryFIRST DRAFT BY LOU HUSTON, SEPTEMBER 12, 1955 REVISED PAGES DATED SEPTEMBER 15 AND 16, 1955 FINAL DRAFT BY LOU HUSTON, SEPTEMBER 16, 1955TELEPLAY BY LOU HUSTON

Production Credits1ST ASST. CAMERAMAN: SPEC JONES (UN-CREDITED)1ST CO. GRIP: TEX JACKSON (UN-CREDITED)2ND ASST. DIRECTOR: BOBBY RAY (UN-CREDITED)2ND CAMERAMAN: AL GREEN (UN-CREDITED)2ND CO. GRIP: DARWIN ANDERSON (UN-CREDITED)ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: BERT GLAZER

ASST. PROP MAN: STAN WALTERS (UN-CREDITED)AUDIO SUPERVISOR: QUINN MARTIN

BEST BOY: WILLIAM KANE (UN-CREDITED)BOOM MAN: BILL FLANNERY (UN-CREDITED)CAMERA OPERATOR: DICK RAWLINGS

CONSTRUCTION CHIEF: DEE BOLHIUS (UN-CREDITED)DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: CURT FETTERS

ELECTRICIANS: DICK JOHNSON, FRANK LEONETTI AND

J. THIELMAN (ALL UN-CREDITED)FILM COORDINATOR: DONALD TAIT

FILM EDITOR: THOMAS SCOTT

GAFFER: BERT JONES (UN-CREDITED)MAKE-UP ARTIST: GEORGE GRAY

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: JOE WONDER

SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR ON ELECTRONICS AND RADAR OPERATION:MAXWELL SMITH

PROPERTY MASTER: YGNACIO SEPULVEDA

RECORDER: ROY CROPPER (UN-CREDITED)SCRIPT SUPERVISOR: WANDA RAMSEY

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SET DECORATOR: BRUCE MACDONALD

SET DESIGNER: JACK COLLIS

SET LABOR: ART SWEET (UN-CREDITED)SOUND EDITOR: MONROE MARTIN

SOUND MIXER: GARRY HARRIS

SPECIAL EFFECTS: HARRY REDMOND, JR.WARDROBE: ALFRED BERKE

CAST: Vicki Bakken (Sylvia Weiss, $80); Tom Bernard (Elton Crane,$80); Toni Carroll (the nurse, $80); Doris Dowling (Janice Morgan,$750); Kenneth Drake (Malcolm Douglas, $80); Biff Elliot (EdGarrett, $350); Mary Munday (Barbara Daman, $80); RobertNelson, Jr. (Willard Hicks, $80); Patricia Parsons (Eileen Herrick,$80); Amanda Webb (Thelma Marlow, $80); Bill Williams (Dr.Arnold Bryan, $1,250); and Mack Williams (Everett Sturgis, $125)

THE EPISODE GUIDE: SEASON ONE 283

Bill Williams poses for the camera in “Project 44.”

PLOT: The development of a new rocket fuel makes space traveltechnically possible within a few years. Dr. Arnold Bryan, an expertin aviation medicine, is put in charge of Project 44 to determinewhether Man himself is physically, mentally and emotionally ableto survive a long space flight. Aided by his fiancée, Janice Morgan(a psychologist), Bryan selects and trains eighty healthy youngscientists who—it is hoped—will eventually explore Mars. After thegroup is told the true purpose of the project, they seem to deterioratephysically and mentally. After a near tragedy aboard the simulatedspace ship, Dr. Bryan is forced to conclude that Man is earth-bound.The only positive result of the experiment is that three couples inthe project are in love and want to be married. On the verge ofdeclaring his own project a failure, Bryan learns that one of thescientists has engineered the seeming failures to avoid makingthe space flight. Actually, the scientists have proven they are “space-worthy.” The story ends on the note that the construction on thespace ship will begin tomorrow and flight to Mars will be made—with Dr. Bryan and his bride aboard.

NOTES

! Actress Toni Carroll played the role of a nurse in anotherepisode, “Beyond Return.”

! A poster mapping out the layers of Earth’s atmosphere hangson the wall in this episode, which also appears in “Beyond,”“Hour of Nightmare,” and the wall of Truman Bradley’s laboratory during the initial opener of every episode, locatedbehind the oscillator cone.

! The opening stock footage of the Science Hall (side and frontview) is the same footage reused in five other first seasonepisodes: “Death at 2 A.M.,” “A Visit From Dr. Pliny,” “The Unexplored,” “Y··O··R··D··” and “Operation Flypaper.”

! The two blue spacesuits used in this episode are the same used in the movie Gog (1954). One of those suits was used for Truman Bradley’s opening introduction. The stock footagein the beginning of this episode of the two astronauts inspacesuits rotating on the spin-table and picking up speed was lifted from Gog (1954).

! The entire episode was produced on Stage 3 and 7.

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! The stock footage at the closing of this episode, consisting of a rocket launch, lifted from the movie Gog (1954), which wasthe closing footage of that motion picture.

! The cosmic ray chart hanging on the wall in this episode isthe same prop that also appears in “A Visit From Dr. Pliny,”“Before the Beginning,” “Postcard From Barcelona” and in themotion-picture Gog (1954).

THE EPISODE GUIDE: SEASON ONE 285

Standard contract for actors who appeared on ZIV-TV productions. It isthese contracts that were used to determine how much every actor waspaid for appearing on Science Fiction Theatre.

! The man in the space suit during Truman Bradley’s labdemonstration was the same actor who appeared un-creditedas the fingerprint man in “Beyond Return.”

Dr. Robert S. RichardsonThe American astronomer of Mt. Wilson and Palomar Observatories,

who appears as a guest in the beginning of this episode, discusseswith Truman Bradley the realistic possibility of finding water andplant life on Mars, even with a thin atmosphere, and man’s attemptto land on the planet’s surface. Dr. Robert S. Richardson also wrotescience fiction under the name of Philip Latham. Under his realname, Richardson wrote Five Against Venus (1952) and Missing Menof Saturn (1953). He had served as technical advisor for The War ofthe Worlds (1953) and Conquest of Space (1955), and wrote numeroustelevision scripts for Captain Video.

The December 22, 1955 issue of Variety reviewed this episode:“ZIV’s Science Fiction Theatre which has gotten off to a slow start

but has been picking up speed with regularity lately, has anothergood entry in ‘Project 44,’ a story of man’s attempt to conquerspace. This is right in the groove of those with an appetite for thescientifiction motif, and Lou Huston’s teleplay is well written anddirected with firmness by Tom Gries.

“Huston’s story is of a hush-hush project wherein the governmentis testing eight young scientists to see if they will be able to takethe hardships in a contemplated trip to Mars. All goes well untilsuddenly just about everybody involved begins flunking their tests andit looks as though the whole project is kaput. But the scientist incharge finds a saboteur in their midst—one of the eight, not wantingto go on the interplanetary trek because he’s secretly married hasrigged the tests deliberately so the venture would collapse.

“Bill Williams performs with believability as the chief scientistand receives good support from Doris Dowling, Biff Elliott, MaryMunday, Toni Carroll, Mack Williams and Vicki Bakken.”

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