Friday's Favorite OTR

Tom Corbett, Space Cadet: "Rocket into Danger" 1/8/52





Tom Corbett first appeared on television in 1950, but he had a brief run on radio as well (with the same cast playing the major roles) in 1952. This make it one of the few radio shows that began on television. Usually, it was the other way around.




But Tom fit well into radio, mostly because the Theater of the Mind effectively gave the show an unlimited special effects budget. If the listeners could imagine it, then it could happen on the show.





In this episode, Tom's ship Polaris flies into the asteroid belt in search of a missing ship. When the radar is damaged by a meteor, a couple of crewmen must do an EVA to make repairs. But one of the crew is knocked loose from the ship and begins to drift away.


One aspect of the show is completely predictable. Tom and a couple of other cadets had been in a fight and--naturally--the guy in danger at the climax is the one cadet still holding a grudge against the others.


But the actors are sincere in their roles and the episode as a whole is very entertaining.


This episode is available to hear or download HERE.