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Theater Five

Theater Five was ABC's attempt to revive radio drama in the USA in the early 1960s. Produced by Edward A. Byron, the series ran Monday to Friday at 5pm, hence the series name. It was a general drama anthology series, with each episode about 20 minutes long. The series included a good bit of fantasy and science fiction. The episodes below are the genre episodes.
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Episode 21: All The Bright Young Ones

​​Intergenerational strife erupts in a world run by young people.

​First broadcast: 12 October 1964.
Original Story by Virginia Radcliffe.
​Cast: Rosemary Rice, Peter Fernandez, Ralph Camargo, William Redfield, Larry Robinson.​
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Episode 22: The Man Who Loved Jellyroll
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​A man wakes up in hospital and finds he can read minds.

First broadcast: 20 October 1964.
Original Story by Albert G. Miller.
​Cast: James Monks, George Petrie, Gertrude Warner, Fran Carlon, Ralph Camargo.
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Episode 23: The Second Chance
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​A man drinks a magic potion which reverses ageing.

First broadcast: 30 October 1964.
Original Story by Robert Cenedella.
​Cast: George Petrie, Ethel Everett, Evelyn Juster, William Griffis.
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Episode 24: Living Credit
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​A couple's credit record really does define who they are!
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​First broadcast: 6 November 1964.
Original Story by Mort Golding.
​Cast: Court Benson, Mary Kay Wells, Cliff Owen, Vicki Vola, Robert Dryden, Evelyn Juster.
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Episode 25: The Nameless Day

A man meets a strange pair of sisters and discovers a watch inscribed to him ten years before he was born.

​First broadcast: 9 November 1964.
Original Story by Richard McCracken.
​Cast: Connie Lembcke, Evelyn Juster, George Petrie, Guy Sorel, Ivor Francis
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Episode 26: World Enough And Time

A man who doesn't age, due to him travelling around the world ahead of the sun, is delayed by a traffic accident.

​First broadcast: 10 November 1964.
Original Story by
John Nicholas Ianuzzi.
​Cast: Frank Thomas, Donald Buka, George Petrie, George Baxter, Jack Grimes.
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Episode 27: Deedle Deedle Dumpling, My Son X1

​A father believes his son's body has been taken over by aliens.
​

​First broadcast: 13 November 1964.
Original Story by
George Bamber.
​Cast: Bryna Raeburn, William Griffis, William Mason, Peter Fernandez.
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Episode 28: The City Manager

An autocratic city manager becomes obsessed with making his city as efficient as possible.

​First broadcast: 16 November 1964.
Original Story by
Robert Cenedella.
​Cast: Leon Janney, Owen Jordan, Charles Randall, Jack Hurdle.
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Episode 29: A Little Piece of Candle

A group of miners, trapped by a cave-in, receive help from an unexpected quarter.

​First broadcast: 18 November 1964.
Original Story by
William Mourn.
​Cast: Peter Fernandez, Vladjek Schimmick, Robert Dryden, David Kerman, William Bassett.
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Episode 30: A Nothin' Place
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​Following a payroll heist, a pair of crooks hide out in a devilishly sinister hotel.


​First broadcast: 20 November 1964.
Original Story by
Frank Thomas.
​Cast: Frank Thomas, Arlene Walker, Donald Buka.
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Episode 31: The Talkers

​In a post-nuclear wasteland, two survivors emerge from their underground shelter to hold a conversation.

​First broadcast: 24 November 1964.
Original Story by
Robert McCloskey
​Cast: Donald Buka, Robert Dryden.
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Episode 32: The Neighbour

​A couple's new neighbour seems to have no face!

First broadcast: 26 November 1964.
Original Story by
Sol Panitz.
​Cast: Bryna Raeburn, Felice Camargo, Lon Clark, Luis Van Rooten, Ralph Camargo.
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Episode 33: The Lesson

A woman wakes up in a strange hotel room to find herself inhabiting another woman's body.

​First broadcast: 27 November 1964.
Original Story by
Francis Rickett.
​Cast: Grace Matthews, Peter Fernandez, Court Benson, Sylvia Lee, William Griffis, George Petrie.
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Episode 34: Congratulations, Mr. Mayor

The recently defeated mayor of a small American town discovers the real reason the town seems so perfect.

​First broadcast: 8 December 1964.
Original Story by
Mort Golding.
​Cast: Dan Ocko, Ian Martin, Jackson Beck, Joyce Gordon, Mary Jane Higby, Nat Polen.
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Episode 35: The Wish Fulfillment Machine

In a future world where no-one is allowed to grow old or die, one man decides to rebel.

​First broadcast: 24 December 1964.
Original Story by
George Bamber.
​Cast: Ivor Francis, George Petrie, Bryna Raeburn, Bill Mason, Jeff Davis.
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Episode 36: Five Strangers

Five passengers on a cargo plane arrive at an unexpected destination.

​First broadcast: 28 December 1964.
Original Story by
Don Haring.
​Cast: 
Augusta Daphne, Court Benson, Evie Juster, Robert Dryden, William Redfield.
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Episode 37: Charlie, The Beautiful Machine
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A mild-mannered clerk shows a new office computer who's the boss.

​First broadcast: 29 December 1964.
Original Story by
Albert G. Miller.
​Cast: John Gibson, Arlene Walker, Jack Grimes, Arthur Anderson.
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Episode 38: A Presence of Mind

An American couple buy a Mexican hacienda, complete with resident ghost.

​First broadcast: 31 December 1964.
Original Story by Richard McCracken
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​Cast: Grace Matthews, Bryna Raeburn, Court Benson, Guy Sorel.
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Episode 39: Discotheque
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​A man finds himself in the disco from hell — literally.

​First broadcast: 1 January 1965.
Original Story by
Romeo Muller.
​Cast: George Petrie, Evie Juster, Larry Haines, Constance Parker, Ethel Remey, Jeff David.
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Episode 40: The Delinquents

A pair of 'juvenile' delinquents, in town for the annual Frolic, find themselves in trouble with the law.
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​First broadcast: 8 January 1965.
Original Story by
Robert Cenedella.
​Cast: 
Vicki Vola, George Petrie, Abbe Lewis, Peter Fernandez, William Griffis.


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