2000 Plus

2000 Plus was an American SF radio anthology series that ran on the Mutual Broadcasting System network from March 15, 1950, to January 2, 1952. It was arguably the first adult science fiction series on radio, airing around one month prior to the better known Dimension X. The series was the creation of Sherman H. Dryer, who scripted and produced the series with Robert Weenolsen. Just under a hundred episodes were produced, but sadly only sixteen survive (an episode titled 'The Doom Machine' is thought to exist, but does not appear to be in public circulation). All the episodes were based on original scripts, unlike subsequent anthology series such as Dimension X and X Minus One, which frequently adapted pre-existing stories.

Please note that the episode numbers given below are merely the order in which the episodes are thought to have been broadcast — they are not the actual episode numbers.

Episode 1: The Men From Mars

Two teenagers set off for Mars in a second-hand space ship, but are captured en-route by ‘Martians’.

First broadcast: 29 March 1950.
Original Story by Peter Berry.
Cast: Ronald Liss, Brian Jacoby, Colette McMann, Ed Latimer, John Griggs, Sandy Fickert.

Episode 2: When The Machines Went Mad

In a robot controlled future, a small group of human revolutionaries battle to destroy the Master Mechanical Brain and free humanity from slavery. The introduction to this episode is missing.

First broadcast: 26 April 1950.
Original Story by Donald Stapleton.
Cast: Ken Williams, Charlotte Manson, Arnold Robertson, Joseph Julian, Hester Sondergaard.

Episode 3: When The Worlds Met

Martians contact Earth via thought waves and send a ship to make first contact, but is humanity ready to meet the visitors?

First broadcast: 3 May 1950.
Original Story by Judith and David Bublick.
Cast: Ken Williams, Luis Van Rooten, Lon Clark, Amzie Strickland, Gilbert Mack, Frank Ferrin, Sandy Fickert.

Episode 4: The Insect

The arachnophobic wife of a scientist experimenting with a growth-ray on insects finds herself locked in his laboratory. What could possibly go wrong?

First broadcast: 15 May 1950.
Original Story by Unknown.
Cast: Joan Shea, Larry Robinson, Ralph Bell, William Griffis.

Episode 5: The Other Man

A Security Police officer finds himself in two places at the same time, and one version of himself is accused of murder.

First broadcast: 7 June 1950.
Original Story by Unknown.
Cast: Ralph Bell, Joan Shea, Nat Polen, Gilbert Mack.

Episode 6: The Brooklyn Brain

Joe Martin volunteers for an experiment in instant learning, hoping that his new-found cultural knowledge will help persuade his girlfriend to marry him.

First broadcast: 21 June 1950.
Original Story by Unknown.
Cast: Mercer McLeod, William Keene, Bryna Raeburn, Gilbert Mack.

Episode 7: Space Wreck

Luxury space-liner ‘Golden Star’ is struck by a meteor on her maiden voyage, leaving a handful of survivors trapped in a sealed compartment. Titanic in space.

First broadcast: 28 June 1950.
Original Story by Unknown.
Cast: Mason Adams (rest of cast unknown).

Episode 8: A Veteran Comes Home

Returning to Earth after five years fighting on Mars, a war veteran struggles to adjust to a peaceful family life whilst suffering flashbacks to the war.

First broadcast: 5 July 1950.
Original Story by Unknown.
Cast: Lon Clark, William Griffis, Joan Shea, Helen Shea, Charles Smith.

Episode 9: The Flying Saucers

The head of a top-secret missile base learns a shocking truth when he is abducted by aliens who have been buzzing the base in their flying saucers.

First broadcast: 23 August 1950.
Original Story by Pierre Gerson.
Cast: Ralph Bell, Luis Van Rooten, Bryna Raeburn, Ken Williams.

Episode 10: The Robot Killer

A couple win a robot, which will do anything it is asked, in a game show give-away. Unfortunately, the wife is mentally ill and suspects her husband of having an affair with the neighbour…

First broadcast: 30 August 1950.
Original Story by Unknown.
Cast: Unknown.

Episode 11: The Green Thing

Using his newly-invented dream machine, a psychiatrist in a sanitarium discovers that multiple patients are having the same dream of… The Green Thing!

First broadcast: 27 September 1950.
Original Story by Edgar Marvin.
Cast: Henry Morell, Hester Sondergaard, John Griggs, Joseph Julian, Lon Clark, Gilbert Mack.

Episode 12: The Giant Walks

A mad scientist uses an experimental serum to create a thirty-foot giant superman.

First broadcast: 8 November 1950.
Original Story by Julian Schneider.
Cast: Joseph Julian, Lon Clark, Henry Morell, Bryna Raeburn, Morton Lawrence, Bruce Evans.

Episode 13: Worlds Apart

Disabled by an encounter with a comet, the passengers and crew of the first spaceship to Neptune are relieved to be rescued and returned to the spaceport. Unfortunately, they are arrested on arrival, and no one seems to have heard of ‘Chicago’ or the ‘USA’…

First broadcast: 29 November 1950.
Original Story by Unknown.
Cast: Ralph Bell, William Griffis, Gregory Morton.

Episode 14: The Rocket And The Skull

A US airforce officer, vital to the country’s first Moon shot, suffers a fractured skull in a plane crash. Following an operation, the metal plate used to repair his skull starts to pick up strange messages to Mars. Meanwhile, Eastern Alliance spies are plotting to sabotage the space mission.

First broadcast: 10 October 1951.
Original Story by Unknown.
Cast: Arnold Robertson, William Griffis, Gregory Morton, Nat Polen, Merrill Joels.

Episode 15: The Temples of The Pharaohs

The crew of a spaceship are thrown 5000 years back in time and find themselves in ancient Egypt.

First broadcast: 26 December 1951.
Original Story by Unknown.
Cast: Unknown.