Podcast Summary: "Harold's Old Time Radio"
Episode: Theater Five 64-08-05 ep003 Terror from Beyond
Release Date: July 10, 2025
Introduction
In this gripping episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, titled "Terror from Beyond", listeners are transported back to the Golden Age of Radio, immersing them in a suspenseful narrative that blends scientific exploration with extraterrestrial horror. The story unfolds around John Parker, an electronic specialist, as he becomes entangled in a mysterious project aimed at establishing contact with intelligent life beyond Earth.
Plot Overview
"Terror from Beyond" centers on John Parker's involvement in a top-secret government project designed to detect and communicate with extraterrestrial intelligence using advanced laser technology. As Parker delves deeper into the project alongside Dr. Marlow and Roy, unforeseen and terrifying events begin to unfold, suggesting that their breakthrough may have invited more than mere communication.
Key Sections and Highlights
1. The Assignment and Initial Briefing (00:40 - 03:55)
The episode kicks off with an introduction by the narrator, Fred Foy, announcing the presentation of Terror from Beyond. John Parker arrives at the base and meets Dr. Marlow, who briefs him on the project’s objectives.
- Dr. Marlow (03:09): “You haven't. This is still part of the old project. Remember what our problem was on Van Gogh?"
Parker expresses his enthusiasm and skepticism about the project's potential, hinting at past challenges with radio telescopes and the difficulties in pinpointing extraterrestrial signal sources.
2. The First Contact Attempt (04:06 - 06:02)
After settling in, Parker and Roy set up for their first test of the laser communication system. The anticipation builds as they prepare to establish contact.
- Dr. Marlow (05:05): “Well, it was a few weeks after you left the project. We got a message from there."
As the countdown reaches zero, the team successfully receives feedback, marking a pivotal moment in their quest.
- Dr. Marlow (06:01): “The feedback.”
- Roy (06:02): “We've done it.”
3. Unsettling Occurrences (06:16 - 11:24)
Despite the initial success, strange anomalies begin to surface. Parker experiences unsettling visions of Dr. Marlow exhibiting erratic behavior, leading to Roy's mysterious disappearance.
- John Parker (06:16): “Do you think we've got something?”
In a particularly chilling scene, Dr. Marlow partially awakens with one eye glowing ominously and proceeds to violently attack Roy.
- John Parker (07:16): “And then something very odd happened. Half of him came alive. His right side first.”
4. Escalation and Descent into Madness (11:25 - 14:27)
Parker grapples with the blurred lines between reality and hallucination, questioning his sanity as he uncovers more disturbing evidence of Dr. Marlow's transformation.
- John Parker (14:27): “I must have imagined it, dreamed it, because I thought I saw you kill him.”
Dr. Marlow speculates about the nature of the alien entities, suggesting they might exist as electrical energy forms capable of possessing humans.
- Dr. Marlow (13:02): “Why not? Isn't that the way the brain functions? Giving off electromagnetic waves?"
5. The Confrontation and Revelation (16:38 - 19:26)
The tension peaks when an alien entity communicates directly with Parker, revealing their intent to study and possibly eradicate human memory of the events.
- Alien Entity (16:47): “We have been looking over your planet, studying it and its life. Particularly you so called humans.”
Dr. Marlow, now fully possessed, begs for Parker’s help to resist the alien control.
- Dr. Marlow (17:47): “John, for heaven's sake, help me. They got me.”
In a desperate bid for survival, Parker faces the harrowing reality that the aliens may return, leaving him with fragmented memories and warnings.
- Roy (19:09): “They're coming. Do something.”
6. Conclusion and Aftermath (19:26 - End)
Parker awakens with partial memories of the traumatic events, realizing the gravity of the alien threat. Determined to keep the knowledge hidden to avoid being labeled insane, he chooses to destroy his notes.
- John Parker (19:26): “There's only one thing to do. Tear it up. Every last page of it.”
The episode concludes with Fred Foy summarizing the production details, leaving listeners to ponder the chilling experiences of John Parker and the ominous presence of extraterrestrial forces.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- Dr. Marlow (05:05): "Well, it was a few weeks after you left the project. We got a message from there."
- Dr. Marlow (06:01): "The feedback."
- Roy (06:02): "We've done it."
- John Parker (07:16): “And then something very odd happened. Half of him came alive. His right side first.”
- Dr. Marlow (13:02): “Why not? Isn't that the way the brain functions? Giving off electromagnetic waves?"
- Alien Entity (16:47): “We have been looking over your planet, studying it and its life. Particularly you so called humans.”
- Dr. Marlow (17:47): “John, for heaven's sake, help me. They got me.”
- Roy (19:09): “They're coming. Do something.”
- John Parker (19:26): “There's only one thing to do. Tear it up. Every last page of it.”
Characters
- John Parker: The protagonist, an electronic specialist tasked with establishing contact with extraterrestrial intelligence.
- Dr. Marlow: The lead scientist whose mysterious behavior and eventual possession drive the central conflict.
- Roy: Parker's colleague, whose disappearance and implied murder heighten the story's suspense.
- Alien Entity: The antagonistic force communicating with and manipulating the characters.
Themes
- Isolation and Paranoia: Parker's increasing isolation and doubts about his sanity underscore the psychological horror elements.
- The Unknown and Scientific Hubris: The quest to contact extraterrestrial life reflects humanity's ambition and the potential dangers of overreaching.
- Possession and Loss of Control: The alien entity's ability to possess humans symbolizes the fear of losing autonomy to incomprehensible forces.
Conclusion
"Terror from Beyond" masterfully blends classic radio drama elements with a compelling narrative that explores the terrifying possibilities of first contact with alien intelligence. Through tension-filled scenes and profound thematic depth, the episode leaves listeners both enthralled and unsettled, pondering the fine line between scientific pursuit and the perils it may unleash.
Harold's Old Time Radio continues to celebrate the rich tradition of radio storytelling, delivering immersive and suspenseful episodes that captivate audiences new and old alike.