Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Escape 48-05-09 – The Time Machine (Jeff Corey)
Date: September 22, 2025

Overview

This episode is a radio dramatization of H.G. Wells’ classic tale, "The Time Machine," performed in 1948 for the “Escape” radio series. The story follows Dr. Dudley and his skeptical companion Fowler as they travel from their own time (1948) into the far future—year 100,080—where they discover a world of gentle, childlike people (the Eloi) and terrifying subterranean creatures (the Morlocks). The episode combines high adventure, eerie atmosphere, and social commentary, immersing listeners in a suspenseful journey that asks what humanity's future might become.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Invention and Test of the Time Machine

• Skepticism and Proof
  • Fowler is incredulous about Dudley’s claim of a working time machine.
  • Dudley insists on demonstrating its capabilities, inviting Fowler for a ride.
• Memorable Moment
  • Fowler notices time shifting on his watch, proving the machine’s function.
    • “My watch says 11 o’clock. I could have sworn it was noon a moment ago. Must be something wrong with it.” – Fowler (03:05)
  • They travel to the year 100,080, witnessing the dramatic passage of time.

2. Arrival in a Distant Future: The Eloi

• Impressions of a Changed World
  • The travelers arrive in a garden-like paradise, beautiful yet eerily peaceful.
  • They encounter diminutive, frail people reminiscent of children.
• Unsettling Observations
  • Dudley notes their mental simplicity: “They seem to have the minds of five year olds.” (08:21)
  • The Eloi appear happy but lack curiosity or critical skills.

3. Loss of the Time Machine

• Disaster Strikes
  • The time machine disappears; they suspect the Eloi took it.
  • Brass doors in a monument hide the machine, but the travelers cannot open them.
  • Only Weena, an Eloi woman they rescued, befriends them and picks up some English.
• Key Quote
  • “The time machine was gone. The brass doors of the monument held. Our retreat was cut off…” – Fowler (10:59)

4. The Nature of the Eloi and Fear of the Dark

• Exploring Eloi Society
  • Living arrangements are communal; physical needs are amply met.
  • All animals, except humans, appear extinct.
• A New Danger Emerges
  • Eloi exhibit a deep dread of darkness and “dark things.”
    • “Dark things. Dark places. Night.” – Weena (14:19)
  • Weena refuses to explain, heightening the sense of menace.

5. Discovery of the Morlocks

• First Encounter
  • Dudley and Fowler see a pale, ape-like creature descend into an underground shaft.
  • Weena identifies them as “Morlocks,” feared by the Eloi.
• Descent into Morlock Territory
  • The men venture below, discovering the Morlocks’ vast tunnels.
    • “So there are two species of men in this world... The little people above the ground and this obscene thing, this bleached monster below.” – Dudley (16:02, 16:08)
  • The oppressive atmosphere and the sight of bloody meat confirm a horrifying truth.
    • “And we know that cattle are extinct... What do they feed on?” (19:16)

6. A Grim Revelation: Eloi as Prey

• Horrors of the Future
  • It is revealed that the Eloi are essentially livestock for the carnivorous Morlocks.
  • Dudley: “Our friends up above, fatted cattle… until the day when they're cut out from the herd and brought underground as food.” (19:48)

7. The Struggle for Escape

• Attempts to Retrieve the Time Machine
  • After a harrowing escape from the Morlocks, Dudley and Fowler feel hopeless until Weena tells of an old museum.
  • Inside, they find sealed matches—vital for protection.
  • As dusk falls, surrounded by Morlocks, they set the forest ablaze, leveraging fire and light to escape.
    • “We came out of the gloom of that place into the deeper gloom of dusk. Suddenly we saw we were trapped. All around us were the Morlocks…” (23:52)
    • “The fire leaped high to the heavens and… the Morlocks… burned or faded away…” (24:20)

8. Return and Loss

• Final Confrontation and Narrow Escape
  • They discover the monument’s doors to the time machine open, but realize it is a trap.
  • Fowler and Dudley fight off the Morlocks as Dudley hastily reattaches the levers.
  • In the chaos, Weena is lost to the Morlocks.
    • “They tore her from my hands. At the last minute, they got her…” – Fowler (26:42)
• Return to Their Own Era
  • Fowler questions if any of it was real, but still has a piece of Weena’s tunic as proof.
    • “But then, what’s this? What is this jagged piece of thick green silk I hold in my hand? What does that mean?” – Fowler (27:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "This very thing? … This is the result of three years hard work. I promise you, Fowler, that on this machine a man can go wherever he likes in time." – Dudley (01:29–01:44)
• "They seem to have the minds of five year olds..." – Dudley (08:21)
• "Our friends up above, fatted cattle... until the day when they're cut out from the herd and brought underground as food." – Dudley (19:48)
• "It's a trap. They're ready for us inside." – Fowler (25:12)
• "They tore her from my hands. At the last minute, they got her." – Fowler (26:42)
• "What is this jagged piece of thick green silk I hold in my hand? What does that mean?" – Fowler (27:42)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Time Machine Demonstration: 01:20–03:30
• Arrival in the Future: 04:22–05:34
• Eloi Encounter & Description: 05:34–09:41
• Machine Disappearance: 09:52–10:59
• Eloi Fear of the Dark: 13:18–14:26
• First Encounter with Morlocks: 14:46–15:37
• Descent into Morlock World: 17:02–19:31
• Discovery of Museum & Matches: 21:45–23:17
• Forest Fire Escape: 24:10–25:07
• Fight for the Time Machine & Return: 26:08–27:42

Tone and Style

The episode’s tone is tense and atmospheric, blending awe at the wonders of the future with the creeping horror of humanity’s possible fate. Dialogue is sharp, with moments of humor, disbelief, tenderness, and terror—all unfolding in the clipped, articulate voices typical of radio drama's golden age. The story builds suspense and dramatic tension at every stage, making abstract philosophical questions about evolution and civilization deeply personal.