ALL SCI-FI

[tmlindsey]

I've known about this live 1949 production for several years, but only more recently found an article with some actual photos from the production.

Here is the link to the site the article is located on: https://colemanzone.com/Time_Machine_Project/bbcprod.htm

Using children as the Morlocks seems odd to me, but Morlocks should look basically like Gollum, which is probably a difficult type to cast

The Machine itself is an interesting design as well.



It's a pity there were no recordings made of so many early TV productions.
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"Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?"

[scotpens]

[Bud Brewster]

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I hate to say it, guys, but this is what it made me think of.


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[tmlindsey]

So I guess the Time Traveler could call his time machine the TURDIS?
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"Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?"

[Bud Brewster]

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Mr. Lindsay, you are outrageous!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[scotpens]

Looking at the full-size prop, the Time Machine actually looks more like a wheel-less scooter.





It's amazing what they were able to accomplish in the days of live television. There was no chance for retakes — everything had to be done right the first time!

[tmlindsey]

[Bud Brewster]

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The Classics Illustrated comic did a masterful job of demonstrator exactly what the novel described!



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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

[tmlindsey]

The Classics Illustrated is a cool design but I wouldn't say it's exactly as the book described. More a reflection of 1950s SF design aesthetics. But still cool

"Parts were of nickel, parts of ivory, parts had certainly been filed or sawn out of rock crystal ... twisted crystalline bars lay unfinished upon the bench beside some sheets of drawings, and I took one up for a better look at it. Quartz it seemed to be.

...the machine sure enough, squat, ugly, and askew, a thing of brass, ebony, ivory, and translucent glimmering quartz."

It doesn't sound like a particularly attractive contraption, so artists already have a lot to overcome when trying to design a visual representation.
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"Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?"

[Bud Brewster]

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Ah-ha. I stand correct, sir. Thanks.

Yes, the description only give us a list of materials from which the machine was made, and the impression that it's appearance was that of Rube Golderg device.

Clearly not what the Classics Illustrated version looks like, and the exact opposite of the elegant George Pal design.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[tmlindsey]

It's always interesting to see what artists' interpretations from text descriptions end up looking like.

The Time Machine sounds terribly ugly, the Nautilus from 20k sounds boring (visually) and the Martian tripod designs are all over the place.

I had, at one time, compiled a page of TM book covers to compare the different designs. Some where really interesting, some were terrible, but most were some variation of the 1960 George Pal machine.

I think a blending of the 1960 and 2002 versions would visually rock.
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"Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?"

[Bud Brewster]

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The version from the 2002 movie is stunning, and when it begins to operate, it blows me away.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[tmlindsey]

Marvel Comics did an adaptation in the mid/late 70s.



Clearly their machine was (at least slightly) influenced by the Classics Illustrated design.
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"Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?"

[Bud Brewster]

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The design is definitely a variation on the Classics Illustrated version, although it adds enough glitz and glitter to make it appealing in its own way.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)