Classic Horrors Club

Writer | Robert Foshko and Mort Zarcoff
Director | Don Medford
Air Date | Dec. 12, 1951

Put an elder scientist, his son, and his assistant (who happens to be his daughter), together on a boat and it’s a recipe for drama, if not disaster. Dr. Burroughs (Edgar Stehli) disapproves of his son because instead of following in his footsteps, Roy (William Eythe) wants to be a writer. Laura (Eva Gabor) plays intermediary, telling her father when he’s not being very nice to Roy and that he still deserves to be treated like a man.

One evening during their expedition, they spot a ball of light that zig-zags across the sky, then crashes into the water. “It ain’t no meteor,” says one of the crew, and of course Burroughs wants to dive where the water is bubbling. He’s so adamant that he’ll do it himself if no one else will. Ah, this is Roy’s opportunity to redeem himself in his father’s eyes! He’ll take the dive.

When Roy returns, Burroughs is sure enough nicer to him. However, he doesn’t seem quite the same. Then dead bodies start appearing, and there are only five people on the boat to start with. The “surprise” is revealed early, leaving more time than necessary for –SPOILER– Burroughs to make an unusual case to an alien about why he shouldn’t destroy the human race.

Writer | Charles O’Neil
Story | Julian C. May
Director | Don Medford
Air Date | Jan. 4, 1952

I’ve never heard of a “dune roller,” but it’s two things in the Tales of Tomorrow. First, it’s the monster in a scary tale that Cap Zanser (Truman Smith) tells young Sally (Lee Graham.) Second, it’s a “giant rolling flamethrower” that leaves Cap Zanser dead on the beach. Its origin as the latter is the combination of small, strange rocks found nearby. Not like any mineral, they’re light but hard as quartz.

After Jean Burgess (Nancy Coleman) serves the two scientists dinner, Sam Thorne (Bruce Cabot) and her father, Dr. Carl Burgess (Nelson Olmsted) find a trail of char from their countertop and a hole burned in the front door. It’s not long before they’re noticing “something weird” happening outside. Against orders, Jean sneaks out to find more rocks (?) and reports a light rolling across the water toward her.

It’s a fast-paced conclusion as the men set a trap for the creature, using Sam for bait. He does it alone so that Burgess can take care of Jean and Sally if anything happens to him. All the others can do is wait, trust him, and “maybe say a little prayer.” SPOILER — it’s a happier ending than The Invader, but leaves events contradicting the scientists’ prediction that the rocks could never recombine.