X Minus One – A Gun for Dinosaur (1956)

Описание: A Gun for Dinosaur (1956) is a classic episode of X Minus One, featuring a cautionary narrative rooted in the dangers of time travel and human hubris. Adapted from the L. Sprague de Camp story by Ernest Kinoy, this broadcast exemplifies the sophisticated science fiction writing that defined NBC's radio anthology series during the mid-20th century.

🎙️ Program: X Minus One
Episode: #041 - A Gun for Dinosaur
Original Air Date: March 7, 1956
Genre: Science Fiction
Running Time: 29 minutes
Host: Fred Collins (Announcer)

The narrative centers on Mr. Seligman, a specialized guide who operates a time-travel safari business for elite big-game hunters. Seligman recounts a particularly harrowing expedition to the Cretaceous period, where he was hired to lead two men: the arrogant Courtney James and the physically unfit August Holtzinger. Despite Seligman's rigorous safety protocols and warnings about the psychological toll of facing prehistoric predators, the group journeys back millions of years. The expedition takes a turn for the worse when the hunters confront a Tyrannosaurus Rex, revealing that advanced weaponry is useless without steady nerves. The resulting panic leads to a fatal accident and a temporal paradox that forces Seligman to reconsider the ethics of his business and the inherent instability of the human spirit when removed from its own time.

🎭 Starring Cast
• Alexander Scourby: Frequent radio and television actor known for his work on NBC programs during the 1950s.
• Ralph Bell: Prolific radio performer who appeared in numerous suspense and science fiction dramas throughout the mid-20th century.
• John McGovern: Character actor with extensive credits in various radio anthologies including Suspense and Dimension X.

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📻 Production Notes & Historical Context
• The script was adapted from L. Sprague de Camp's short story originally published in the March 1956 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction.
• Ernest Kinoy, the scriptwriter, was a prolific radio and television writer who received multiple awards for his later work in television drama.
• X Minus One often adapted stories directly from Galaxy Science Fiction magazine as part of a promotional partnership with the publication.
• The episode features sophisticated sound design for the era, utilizing layered foley to simulate the environment of a prehistoric jungle.

💬 Character Quote
"You do not hunt a dinosaur with a pea-shooter, Mr. James. You need a gun that can stop several tons of charging lizard, or you do not come back at all."

📡 Broadcasting History
To create the sound of walking through prehistoric foliage or dense brush, foley artists often squeezed bundles of broom straw or stepped on berry crates to simulate snapping wood.

📻 Vintage Radio Spotlight
Philco Model 37-610 (1937). This tombstone-style radio features a five-tube chassis and covers both the standard broadcast and shortwave bands. It was marketed with the slogan Philco: A Musical Instrument of Quality.

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