This is first of a whole series of spectacular little known facts and fancies. Well, some of them are not so fancy but nonetheless amazing. Every one of the statements and dramatizations you will hear in the series are absolutely true! The first scene opens in the corridor of the general hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 14 1938...

Broadcast Date: 1940

A quiz show spoof that lampooned other quiz shows of the time such as Information, Please and The Quiz Kids. The format of the show was simple. Three nitwits made up the "board of experts". They spent more time trying to figure out what the question was than actually giving a sensible answer. The questions were as ludicrous as the ones in this episode “Why are women like the ocean? Answer: Because they never dry up!” or “Why doesn’t a regular soldier sit down? Answer: Because he belongs to the standing army!”.

Critics slated the show when it first appeared and said it wouldn’t last. They were wrong. The show ran for nine years.

Starring: Tom Howard, George Shelton, Harry McNaughton, Lulu McConnell

Two heavies turn up at Richard Diamond’s office and warn him that when he gets a call from a Mr Barton he’s to turn down the job. However when Burton turns up he offers Diamond a $1000 to the job and another $1000 on completion. Barton’s son Roger thinks he killed a man but Barton thinks his son has been framed.

Cast: Dick Powell

Broadcast: May 1, 1949

What is the ideal bodyguard? The most ferocious looking, the most efficient killer or the most devoted? On earth you might find a combination of all three but he’d never be as effective in the long run as the curious creature, which came back from mars with Dr Clyde Curtis in the year 2512. We shall very soon sense the unique qualities of this pet, Schaughtowl by name, the inspiration for a story in Galaxy Magazine called Martians Never Die.

Written by: Lucious Daniel (1952)

Cast: Raymond Edward Johnson, Lesley Woods, George Petrie, Leon Janney

Broadcast: March 12, 1953

Tonight Mr X takes us to India, the land of jeweled maharajahs and beautiful princesses, but as the story opens, Mr X is not yet within earshot of softly tinkling temple bells, for he is currently traveling down New York's 'Great White Way', and the lady sharing the cab with him is not an Indian princess, but Miss Nancy Bessington, anxious to arrive on time to a new musical comedy...

Starring: Herbert Marshall

Broadcast: September 30, 1944

In the fight against crime, the criminal enjoys one great advantage. He, and he alone decides when a crime shall be committed. Sometimes it's possible for agents of the FBI or local police to be on the scene to prevent that crime - but for obvious reasons, that rarely happens. In most cases, it is possible for the lawbreaker to strike, and run...

Starring: Stacy Harris

Broadcast Date: August 5, 1949

When Gildy takes Leroy in to work on Saturday morning Leroy discovers that there is a problemwith the water. Oh dear they soon start receiving complaints from the Mayor as the whole of Summerfield is only receiving a trickle of water. Gildy has to go to desperate lengths to get the problem fixed. 

Starring: Willard Waterman, Walter Tetley, Dick LeGrand, Amanda Randolph, Betty Lou Gerson, Jack Moyles

Broadcast Date: March 7, 1957

After taking the rap for embezzlement for his aging father, Gino. Max Monetti is released from prison seven years later, and his first visit is to his brothers Joe, Tony and Pietro Monetti in New York, to whom he promises revenge for their betrayal. However, after being reunited with his lover Irene, can the memories of his past give him a broader perspective?

Starring: Anne Baxter, John Conte, Thomas Gomez, Raymond Burr, Rick Roman, Paul Dubov, Argentina Brunetti, Eve McVeagh, Ruth Perrott, Charlene Hartley, William Johnstone, Rye Billsbury, Lillian Buyeff, Charles La Torre, Bradford Browne, Edward Marr

Broadcast Date: October 16, 1950

They wiped the blood from their helmets. The monster lay a hill of solid flesh. Within you could hear the sighs and murmurs as the furthest chambers died, the organs malfunctioning, liquids running a final instant from pocket to sack to spleen everything shutting off, closing up forever...

Adapted from the story by: Ray Bradbury

Starring: Max Robinson, Brice Chamberlain, Jay Bernard, Jerr Raider, Dwayne Hyatt and Jennifer Holarson

Broadcast Date: May 21, 1984

It was six 'o' clock on a hot evening of a sweltering July in the A1 Detective Agency office just around the corner, off Hollywood Boulevard. Doc Long and Jack Packard were lounging in their shirt sleeves, when a new client arrives. He wishes for them to accompany the ambassador of Turkey back to his country that evening...

Cast: Tom Collins

Broadcast: July 18, 1948