Men Call Me Mad by Dark Fantasy

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Horror! (Old Time Radio) – “Men Call Me Mad” by Dark Fantasy
Date: July 25, 2026
Host: RelicRadio.com

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Episode Overview

This week’s episode of The Horror! features the classic old-time radio drama “Men Call Me Mad” from the series Dark Fantasy (original air date: December 19, 1941). The episode explores themes of scientific exploration, the boundaries between worlds, love, sacrifice, and the high personal cost of genius. Dr. Charles Terhune, a scientist ostracized for his wild theories, claims to have discovered another world within a moonbeam. The story dramatizes his journey into this microscopic universe, his attempt to avert a catastrophic plague, and the tragic consequences he faces upon his return.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Dr. Terhune’s Incredible Discovery

• Dr. Terhune gathers his trusted friends, Dr. West and Dr. Smith, to witness his latest scientific marvel: the existence of another world within a moonbeam, visible through a special color film project.
• He speculates, “All creation consists of worlds within worlds. Who can say that our world is not contained within some still larger one?” (03:54)
• Terhune prepares to actually enter this microscopic universe using a shrinking potion derived from radium—tested previously on animals.

Notable Quote:
“I plan to enter that world in the moonbeam.” – Dr. Charles Terhune (05:59)

2. The Descent into the Moonbeam World

• The experiment proceeds: Terhune ingests the potion and physically shrinks, his friends assisting as he enters a glass chamber illuminated by the moonbeam.
• The transformation is eerily clinical, described in real time: “My head is whirring. My ears are ringing… my senses seem to be deserting me.” (08:52)
• From their perspective, Drs. West and Smith remark on his diminishing size: “He’s only about 6 inches high now… he’s fading into the light of the beam.” (10:12)

3. A Stranger in a Strange (and Dying) Land

• Terhune finds himself in a strikingly colored, alien landscape—a familiar-yet-bizarre reflection of Earth.

Notable Quote:
“I am a foreigner. America is not in this world. It is in another.” – Dr. Charles Terhune to Princess Elena (12:47)

• He encounters Princess Elena, daughter of King Londolear, who reveals that their world suffers from a mysterious, deadly plague.
• Scientific curiosity and compassion overtake Terhune, who volunteers his medical expertise: “Perhaps I can help… I’m a doctor in my own world.” (14:41)

4. Science as Salvation – and a Love Story Unfolds

• Terhune identifies the disease as typhoid—a malady unknown to the moonbeam world.
• With the King's permission, Terhune creates and distributes a life-saving serum, quelling the outbreak.

Memorable Moment:
“It’s a miracle, father. And Charles Terhune has saved us all. There have Been no typhoid deaths now for three days.” – Princess Elena (17:10)

• Grateful, Elena and Terhune confess their love, but he insists he must return home. Their parting is emotional and unresolved.

Notable Quote:
“I will return to you, Elena. I promise.” – Dr. Charles Terhune (18:42)

5. A Hero’s Return… and a Tragic Twist

• Terhune returns to his world, regaining his original size.
• He recounts his incredible journey to his friends, only to face a new problem: his sister accuses him of madness to seize family assets, and he is to be judged by a panel of mental health experts.
• At the critical moment, Terhune learns his only witnesses, Dr. West and Dr. Smith, have died suddenly in a car accident—leaving him labeled insane and facing confinement.

Notable Quotes:
“You think I’m mad. All I have told you is true. I can prove everything I’ve said. Please, Dr. Terhune... My two friends... They saw it. They’ll tell you everything I’ve said is true.” – Dr. Charles Terhune (22:37)
“And that was the verdict. Now, men call me mad, so they lock me here in the cell till the time they can remove me to a sanitarium.” – Dr. Charles Terhune (23:35)

• In his despair, Terhune realizes his one hope of escape may be—again—the moonbeam.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dr. Terhune’s Theory:
  “All creation consists of worlds within worlds. Who can say that our world is not contained within some still larger one, and that within another, and that still within another, and so on.” (03:54)

• The Shrinking Sequence:
  “My head is whirring. My ears are ringing. Eyes are growing dim. I have a sensation of emptiness in the pit of my stomach… Are my clothes diminishing, too?” (08:52)

• First Contact:
  “You see, America is not in this world. It is in another.” – Dr. Terhune to Elena (12:47)

• Discovery and Desperation:
  “Our world is doomed. We’re falling victims to a strange malady which none of our doctors or learned men can overcome. It is slaying our people by the thousands.” – Princess Elena (14:19)

• Aftermath and Tragedy:
  “I am no God, Princess. Merely a man with a little knowledge.” – Dr. Terhune (17:31)
  “Now, men call me mad, so they lock me here in the cell till the time they can remove me to a sanitarium. …My discovery will never be proved. People will laugh for a while, speak of the mad doctor to you, and then they will forget.” (23:35)

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Important Timestamps

• [03:54] – Dr. Terhune reveals his theory about universes within universes
• [08:52] – Terhune begins his transformation/shrinking
• [10:12] – Dr. West and Dr. Smith observe Terhune’s entry into the moonbeam world
• [12:47] – First conversation between Terhune and Princess Elena
• [14:19] – Princess Elena warns of the plague
• [17:10] – The plague is cured; Terhune lauded as a miracle worker
• [18:42] – Emotional farewell between Terhune and Elena
• [22:37] – Terhune’s struggle for recognition and the loss of his witnesses
• [23:35] – Terhune’s resignation to his fate

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Tone & Style

The story is delivered in the grand, melodramatic tone of 1940s radio drama—full of earnest pathos, breathless wonder, and a tragic sense of inevitability. Themes of love, sacrifice, and the persecution of the visionary are foregrounded, with dialogue that is both stilted and poetic by today’s standards.

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Final Thoughts

“Men Call Me Mad” is a classic tale of speculative science fiction, blending miniaturization, parallel worlds, romance, and tragedy. It is at once an adventure in the tradition of The Time Machine and a cautionary story about the price paid by those who see beyond the limits of their time. Lovers of Golden Age radio and speculative fiction will find it an entertaining and poignant listen.

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(Summary by RelicRadio.com. Listen to full episodes and discover more at relicradio.com.)

Transcript

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Oh, stories, real stories. And murders do

[Princess Elena]

turn out your legs.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Turn them out. Good evening. Come in, won't you? What's the matter? Surely you're not nervous. Perhaps you. Can't I tell you a story? We are meant to call from out of the past. Stories strange, weird tales of mystery and terror by radio's masters of the macabre. Story of his supernatural. The supernova. Dramatized by fantasy. The mystery, the unknown. We tell you this Frank, frankly. So if you wish to avoid the excitement tension of these magnet play, refer in our latest theory to turn off your radio.

[Podcast Host]

Welcome back to the Horror. Thanks for joining me. This Saturday we're gonna hear from Dark Fantasy this week, a series produced out of station WKY in Oklahoma City for NBC. It produced 31 episodes between November of 1941 and June of 1942. We'll hear episode five this week from December 19th, 1941. Here's. Men call me mad.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Dark fantasy. Men call me man. Doctor west, you, please close the door. Certainly, Dr. Tyhun. Now, gentlemen, I have summoned you, My two trusted and loyal friends, to divulge a secret that even I myself can hardly comprehend. You've made a new discovery, Charles. Discovery? Yes. I have found another world. A what? Another world, you say? Exactly. Would you please snap off the lights, Doctor? That switch there? Yes, certainly. Now, by means of this special projection machine, I'm going to show you something which will astound you beyond words. I must ask you to remain perfectly still throughout this demonstration. As the picture I'm about to show you progresses, I will explain in detail just what I have done. First of all, to start the machine. Now, observe this picture I've taken on color film. A picture of the new moon. Now, you will notice that the camera has picked up a single ray of the moon. It's focused upon a wall where on dances a single tiny moonbeam. The camera approaches the moonbeam closer. Closer still closer. And then the special film in my camera reaches the lens. The scene changes. Dr. Smith. Gentlemen. Gentlemen, please. Now, you see here. My other world. My world within a moonbeam. Taken upon special color film of my own invention. Film that is constructed to pick up objects within the very atoms. Objects smaller, that is, than atoms themselves. Notice, please, the coloring of this other world within a moonbeam. See the hills, the plains with their red grass, their red leaf trees. Notice that tiny stream at the left, a vivid orange. Notice the yellow of the tree trunks, the orange colored sky and the deep blue sun. Amazing. The film ends quickly now. But first a rare sight is in store for you. Now, watch closely. There. A man. But what sort of creature is that he's riding? I don't know. You will notice. The animal approaches the small stream, wades quickly through it and vanishes from the camera's sight. And as he vanishes into the distance, the film ends. Amazing. Astounding. Unbelievable. Are the lights. If you please, Doctor. Oh, yes, of course. Look here, Tyhunt. Is this a camera trick? Absolutely not. I have shown you what actually exists within certain, or possibly all, moonbeams. What's your theory, Doctor? That all creation consists of worlds within worlds. Who can say that our world is not contained within some still larger one, and that within another, and that still within another, and so on. The thought suddenly becomes overwhelming. Yes, doesn't it? To think that all around us, within even such tiny substances as the atoms themselves under our feet, overhead on all sides, are worlds of which we are unaware. Yes. If only there were some way to visit those other worlds. Ah, Dr. West. That is the point we can. Good heavens, man. You mean. Yes. Just what do you mean, gentlemen? I plan to enter that world in the moonbeam. Impossible. I don't like to say so, Charles, but aren't you overlooking the laws of dimension, the general medium, laws of nature that are so obvious? Not only that, Terhune, but aren't you appearing a little ridiculous on the face of things? I do not expect you to be convinced until you have seen. We in our profession are not inclined to take such things as we are speaking of for granted. Then let's not waste words, my friends. I propose to convince you beyond all possible doubt. Well, I have no objection to being convinced. Nor I. Though I really believe Ter he's let his imagination win the upper hand. We shall see. I hear, gentlemen, on this table you see what looks like an Eskimo igloo made of crystal clear glass with an opening at one side at the base. Much like an entrance to an igloo or tent. Yes. It's about 10 inches high and about 8 inches in diameter. Now, when we extinguish the lights here in this room, and when that curtain is drawn from the window over there, the moonbeam in question will be centered directly through that little glass case. You want us to assist you? Exactly. But what do you intend to do? Well, I have here a number of small capsules filled with a portion whose base consists mostly of radium. What is this preparation? A substance which will cause animal matter to decrease itself many millions of times. In other words, you think it'll make you become smaller? Precisely. But small enough to enter the realm of a single atom? I hope so. Well, have you. Have you tried this concoction? Only on animals. First on rabbits and rats. And just yesterday I sent a dog into the world of atoms. But granting such a feat is possible, don't you think your clothes would also shrink with you? I have found that any object in contact with the animal matter at the time the capsule is consumed will be caused to shrink in proportion with the animal matter itself. I found that out yesterday when I failed to remove the dog's color. But suppose you consume too great a quantity of the potion? I have an equalizer, another mixture which will counteract the first capsule. By taking particular amounts of it, I can stop the reaction of the capsule. And then, having stopped it, by taking another dose of the stabilizer or equalizer, I can increase my size again. This is all very extraordinary. I plan to be gone quite some time. I'm asking you two to watch over this little glass case for a four day period. You can count on me. Good. Now I shall take a capsule. I'll begin to grow almost immediately. I've reached about two feet in height. I want you, Dr. Smith, to bend down to the floor and pick me up and place me on this table here beside this little glass case, putting me directly in front of the opening or door of the case. Is that clear? Quite. Yeah. Good. Gentlemen, my hand. Good luck, Charles Smith. We'll follow your instructions carefully, Doctor. Good. I knew I could count on you two. Now, the capsule. My head is whirring. My ears are ringing. Eyes are growing D. I have a sensation of emptiness in the pit of my stomach. You notice any change in my appearance? Good heavens. He's lost a foot in height. Why, you're growing smaller, Terhune. You are man. You're actually growing smaller. He's two feet smaller now. I hope I regain my eyesight before I become too small. Are my clothes diminishing, too?

[Princess Elena]

Yes, yes.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Quiet. I cannot describe my sensations. I feel a strange weakness. My senses seem to be deserting me. I find it rather difficult to talk. Look, he's just about 2ft high. Now, Wes, do as he told you. Doctor. Pick him up. Now place him on the table. Yes, yes. Just so. Careful now. There. Yes. Put him closer to that door so he'll have no trouble finding it. Watch your arm, Doctor. Don't cut off the moonbeam. There, that's good. See, he's only about 6 inches high.

[Princess Elena]

Now.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

There he goes into the glass case. See, the moon beam is completely covering him. He's so tiny now you can hardly see him. The size of a small ant. He's fading into the light of the beam now. I wonder what he'll discover in there. I wonder what he'll discover. At last I'm here in another world. Such a strange place. Similar to the place I came from, yet different trees, yet with leaves of brilliant scarlet and yellow bark. The grass also scarlet. An orange colored sky overhead, a sun of dazzling blue. And the water in the little stream over there, not blue, but orange. Yes, the colors all different. Everything else correspondingly the same.

[Princess Elena]

Why do you speak so strangely?

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

I beg your pardon. I thought I was alone.

[Princess Elena]

You must be a foreigner. Otherwise you'd know you're in the King's gardens and they are quite private.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

I'm so sorry. Yes, I am a foreigner. If you'll forgive me, I'll leave at once.

[Princess Elena]

Oh, no, please. It is our custom to treat foreigners in a friendly manner. And so I bid you welcome. I am the Princess Elena.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

A princess?

[Princess Elena]

Yes, daughter of King Londolear. Surely you've heard of me.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

No, Princess, I have not.

[Princess Elena]

But surely. My father rules the world with kindness and justice. And everyone knows him for his goodness.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Princess, will it frighten you if I tell you something, something more strange?

[Princess Elena]

I think not, sir. For you yourself are most strange. Your clothing, the colors not in the least ordinary. And your features are so different.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Princess Elena, My name is Charles Terhune. I'm a citizen of the United States of America.

[Princess Elena]

America? I know the world quite well, but never have I heard of America.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

That is why I fear I might frighten you, your Highness. You see, America is not in this world. It is in another.

[Princess Elena]

You're from another world?

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Exactly. You see, I am a scientist in my own universe. I discovered your world here, so I found a way to come to visit you. You don't seem at all surprised.

[Princess Elena]

No. Why should I be surprised? We've expected you for a long time.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Me?

[Princess Elena]

Well, not you exactly, but someone.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

But what do you mean?

[Princess Elena]

Our scientists have known for many years that other worlds besides ours exist. But they've never been able to discover a method of entering one of them. We've been hoping someone from beyond would find a way here.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Amazing.

[Princess Elena]

That is why I asked if you were a foreigner. Since my father rules the entire world, naturally, a foreigner could only be from another world.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

This absolutely astounds me. Princess, I must speak to your scientists. This is so wonderful. The people of our world seem much alike, save in a few minor respects. We look alike, talk alike.

[Princess Elena]

We've often wondered how much we would be like the people from beyond.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Take me to your scientist, Princess. I must see them.

[Princess Elena]

I will gladly take you to them. But first I must warn you. You are in great danger.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Danger?

[Princess Elena]

Our world is doomed. We're falling victims to a strange malady which none of our doctors or learned men can overcome. It is slaying our people but the thousands.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

A plague?

[Princess Elena]

Yes, A mysterious disease. One we've never encountered before in all history. If you would save yourself, use whatever method you have and return to your own world before it's too late.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

One moment, Princess. Will you take me to your father? I don't know why I say this, but perhaps I can help.

[Princess Elena]

Oh, no, no. Save yourself, I beg of you. Do not remain here to perish.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Please, Princess. At least allow me to try to help.

[Princess Elena]

You're either very brave or very foolish.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Brave or foolish, Take me to your father.

[Princess Elena]

Very well. But he will only warn you as I have done.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

And that, your majesty, is how I found your world and the way to enter it. It's interesting. At one time I would have said amazing. But with our discoveries of other world around us, it's now only interesting.

[Princess Elena]

I've warned Dr. Terhune to return to his own universe before he falls victim to the plague.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Yes, Mazan, you must. But I would like to help. I'm a doctor where I came from. Perhaps I could do something. I fear it is useless. Our most brilliant physicians are powerless to even make a diagnosis, much less a cure. But I have a knowledge from another world, your majesty.

[Princess Elena]

That's true, father. He found a way of reaching it while we here have been unable to reach the other places beyond.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Yes, yes, Daughter, you reason wisely. Please, your majesty, permit me to see some of the victims. I can't return home until I've at least made an attempt to help you. Very well. As you wish. Come with me. My son lies dying in a room above. I will permit you to examine him. Well. Dr. Taehyun. Your Majesty.

[Princess Elena]

Dr. Taehyun.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Heaven's Man. This is Typhoid. Typhoid?

[Princess Elena]

But what is Typhoid?

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

We have it on our earth. Tell us. Do you know the cure? Yes, your majesty, I do. Take me to your nearest medical laboratory. We must prepare a serum. Huge quantities of it. We must send it to all parts of the world immediately if we're to save your people. Daughter. These reports from all parts of the universe. The deaths grow fewer and fewer each day.

[Princess Elena]

It's a miracle, father. And Charles Terhun has saved us all. There have Been no typhoid deaths now for three days.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

I know our fight has been won.

[Princess Elena]

The people are clamoring for you, Dr. Tertian. They almost consider you a God.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

I am no God, Princess. Merely a man with a little knowledge.

[Princess Elena]

But you came to us like a miracle man, in time to work the greatest wonder of all history.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

I'm happy that my journey here has been for a purpose.

[Princess Elena]

Anything you ever wish in the world will be yours.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

I know, Elena. There is so little I want, yet so much.

[Princess Elena]

Will you remain here with us forever?

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

I cannot, Princess.

[Princess Elena]

You called me Elena a moment ago.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

I cannot, Elena. I must return to tell my people what I've discovered.

[Princess Elena]

Oh, but if you go now.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Yes, Elena.

[Princess Elena]

Oh, why must we always be governed by rules of propriety?

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Elena? If you're thinking what I hope you are.

[Princess Elena]

Charles.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Elena, my darling. Is it wrong to say I love you, child?

[Princess Elena]

Is it wrong for stars to shine or for flowers to bloom?

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Oh, my darling princess child. I love you, Elena.

[Princess Elena]

And I love you. Please don't leave me, my darling.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

Just for a little while. I will return to you, Elena. I promise.

[Princess Elena]

And I will wait for you, beloved. And when you return, nothing in this world or any other will ever take us apart.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

It's past his time. Almost four days. Took a moment there in the moonbeam, see? No, I.

[Princess Elena]

Yes. Look.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

He is coming back.

[Princess Elena]

See?

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

There. He's out of the glass case on the tabletop. He's growing rapidly west. You better place him down on the floor. Look. Larger and larger. This is perfectly astounding. Man. I wonder what his adventures have been. Dr. Terhune, can you hear me? Dr. Terhun? He's almost four feet tall now. Can you hear me, Doctor? Water. Some water, please. Water. Wetly, Wes. Quickly. Over there in that goblet. Yes. Just one moment. Here we are. He's all right now. Full size again. Here, Troyoon, drink this. Yes, thanks. Now, that's better. Are you all right, Terhune? Yes, quite all right, thank you. Gentlemen, I have had the strangest experience imaginable. I have visited a world that's amazing and wonderful. Tell us about it. Yes, I will. When I became small enough to enter the moonbeam, I found myself in the exact spot you two saw in the picture I displayed for you. I did not know which way to go naturally. But after a moment, I heard someone speak to me. That, my friends, is precisely what happened to me. And you say those people knew all about the existence of other worlds but were not familiar with such a disease as typhoid? Exactly. You must have been somewhat of a hero, didn't you? Yes, somewhat. You know, if I hadn't seen this demonstration with my own eyes, I'd never have believed it. Well, Dr. West, even though I was the one who experienced it, I'm still wondering if it actually happened. Then it happened, all right. Yes. We saw you grow small right before our eyes. So small you became almost invisible and disappeared in the moonbeam. I trust you two will confirm any statements I might make to the public about all this. No. Absolutely. Certainly tell you. By the way, was my sister here during my absence? Why, yes, she was. She acted very strangely too. But we told her nothing. Well, gentlemen, perhaps I should have told you this before. You see, my sister and I jointly own several hundred acres of valuable oil land in the South. She's a greedy woman. She's tried for years to obtain full possession of the property. She's tried many ways, but her latest method is by charging that I'm insane. Oh, that's ridiculous. Yes, exactly. But she's preferred the charges. Tomorrow at 9, I must appear before a group of alienists who will decide whether or not I'm mentally unbalanced. That is why I had to make my experiment before tomorrow. Doctor Terhune, you've been carefully examined by this impartial and experienced board of alienists. At the request of your sister. Yeah. It's our decision that you must submit yourself to a series of treatments at whatever sanitarium your sister might choose.

[Princess Elena]

No.

[Dr. Charles Terhune]

No. Stop. This has all been so irregular, so unfair. You think I'm mad. I have told you is true. I can prove everything I've said. Please, Dr. Terhune. My two friends, Dr. West and Dr. Smith. Ask them why haven't you let them testify for me? They saw it. They'll tell you everything I've said is true. One moment. Yes? Oh, yes. He's here with me now. I see. Yes. All right. I'll tell him. I'm sorry, Dr. Terhune. I'm afraid I have bad news for you. Drs. West and Smith were to have testified on your behalf. But I've just received word that they were both killed a few moments ago in an automobile accident. And that was the verdict. Now, men call me mad, so they block me here in the cell till the time they can remove me to a sanitarium. Any moment now, they'll come for me, whisk me off through the night. My discovery will never be proved. People will laugh for a while, speak of the mad doctor to you, and then they will forget. And for me no escape, child. Charles. My band. Elena. No escape. No escape. Oh, what a stupid fool I am. The moonbeam. Of course, the moonbeam. Dark fantasy. Men Call Me Mad an original tale of dark fantasy by Scott Bishop. Ben Morris was heard as Dr. Charles Terhune. Eleanor Naylor Corin was Princess Elena. Fred Wayne was King Londolier. Murillo Schofield was Dr. West. Muir Height was Dr. Smith and Daryl McAllister was the specialist. Next Friday night at the same time, the National Broadcasting Company will present another tale of dark fantasy, the House of Bread, a strange and compelling drama of Christmas 1941 and that first Christmas nearly 2000 years ago. Told to you by Scott Bishop. Dark Fantasy originates in the studios of station WKY in Oklahoma City. This is the National Broadcasting Company.

[Podcast Host]

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