SiFi Friday: Space Patrol: The Spies from Planet X (09-19-1953)

Classic Streams: Old Time Retro Radio

The radio version of Space Patrol aired from October 4, 1952 to March 19, 1955, for a total of 129 episodes. The same cast performed on both the radio and television versions. The writers, scripts, and directors were also the same for both versions. However, the radio broadcasts were not limited by studio sets and could therefore be more expensive in scope than the television programs. This allowed for more elaborate special effects and sound design, which helped to create a more immersive experience for listeners. While there was seldom any deliberate crossover between the two versions, some of the television villains regularly appeared on the radio (notably Prince Bacarratti). Additionally, both the TV and radio versions explored the rogue planet's invasion of the Space Patrol universe during the "Planet X" story. This was a major story arc that spanned multiple episodes and helped to raise the stakes for the characters. While the radio series lacked the sophistication of sci-fi shows like the later X Minus One, it was enjoyed by many as a throwback to the Golden Age of space opera popularized in the 1930s by pioneering magazine editor Hugo Gernsback. Of the original broadcasts, only 117 survive. 97 are on the OTR site and a few others on torrent sites.