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Reviewer: westovem - - July 28, 2020

Subject: Wish the misspellings could be fixed . . . Attraction #54 should be "Good Samaritans"

Attraction #242 should be "Casualty of a Small War" (unless it's supposed to be 'Causality' which is still misspelled.) - July 28, 2020Wish the misspellings could be fixed . . .

Reviewer: BixLives - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 15, 2019

Subject: The Last of a Great Thing Radio presents no obstacles to our imagination. The sound stage image is not improved nor injured by "special effects" . You mind is far better able to create the most elaborate realistic or apt image for the drama than any company of carpenters, stage hands, special effect experts, etc.

Theater Five is probably the last well made radio show from the era when radio was king. Of course, 1965 is somewhat after television robbed radio of it's commercial and production precedence. How Theater Five got made is a mystery that I cannot figure out, Alas, Theater Five exists and is a treasure of great shows;

—the last of a really, really good thing. RADIO. - July 15, 2019The Last of a Great Thing

Reviewer: newdickmorris - - April 29, 2019

Subject: . I really don't think there is anything wrong with the music. The various music played during most of the episodes is better than average, imo. I also think the intro music is kind of cool, honestly.



My top 5 episodes are:



Skeletons,

Your Time Is Up

Discotheque (dated music but it works for the story)

Incident on U.S. 1

A Little Game on Saturday Mornings.



Other ok episodes:



Two Came Back (Also done on Escape. Escape's version is a little better, imo.)



The Imposters (Also done on Suspense. Both suffer from revealing the major twist in the story a bit too early.)



Mama's Girl

Noose of Pearls

Congratulations, Mr Mayor

The Protective Circle

Snow in April

A Dream of a Scheme

In Time of Trouble

The Underdeveloped Nation (Dated humor but still fun) - April 29, 2019

Reviewer: Carly Corday - favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 4, 2018

Subject: Good stories, good acting, and I can hear everything! Who left those 2 shameful 1964 Let's Heat Up the Cold War promotions in "The Manor House," a story as pointless as the Vietnam Conflict, with the same sort of DUH-WHAT, delayed ending?



Next (spoiler!), and this moved me to remove a star from my rating of this favorite series: "World Enough and Time" did in fact make me feel like kicking poor Mr. Desktop PC across the room, even dragging myself out of my comfy bed to do it! The insistence of lower-brow fictional tales on pretending that hospitals can hold patients prisoner, forcing them to devise nerve-tingling escapes in terror of consequences too frightening to even be KNOWN to any of us, is so dumb!! This episode of Theater Five carried it so far, it left me as confounded as the poor man who wanted only to leave and go board his bleeping plane! AWFUL STORY. They should have just staged it on a different planet, to account for the ridiculousness of holding someone prisoner in a hospital in case a bump on his head had caused a concussion. And for not having him just WALK OUT.



I've yet to be intruded upon by music DURING these stories, but the intro theme is jarring, unmusical, and ear-splitting, though no worse than the deafening scream of rusty hinges that go on and on at the start of CBS Radio Mystery Theater, or the screeeeeeeeeeeching door leading to the Inner Sanctum, or the continuous, monotonous WHISTLER intro, and MOST of the noises that open the most worthwhile radio dramas, not to mention the million commercials left intact in most of them (for the OTR aficionado princesses to swoon over).



But regarding music, I was wondering, is Theater 5 the series with an episode about two deadly spies, a woman and a man, traveling in a cross-country bus? If so, it had the most memorable music I've ever heard in a radio mystery. Just one little child, deep in the background, singing "On Top of Old Smoky" as passengers fell asleep for the night.



(Thank you for reply on that, newdickmorris. I can find it now and hear it again! That doesn't happen much. :o) - October 4, 2018Good stories, good acting, and I can hear everything!

Reviewer: Mariana_UF - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 5, 2018

Subject: Your Time is Up Although I usually enjoy happy endings rather than realistic endings, I liked the story line a lot. It was confusing at first because I felt as though I was just starting to listen to the story five minutes in but the repetition of events and names done by the main character made everything much clearer by the middle of it. The sound effects going on with the story-line were good but at times were too loud or didn’t go along with what was happening. In one part in particular I could barely hear what the main character was saying over the sound effect. But overall I enjoyed listening to this. I especially like the heartfelt conversation that the husband and wife had over the phone because it gave the reader a personal touch before killing a character which made the ending a much bigger event that it would have been otherwise. - February 5, 2018Your Time is Up

Reviewer: Mycroft Hallowman - favorite favorite favorite - January 24, 2017

Subject: Hits and misses I've been listening to the entire series recently, and I have enjoyed it very much, most of the time. I always appreciate a competent and engaging audio play.



But there are a few rather notable flaws, the most apparent and egregious being the music. Even the incidental music bed during the play can be disrupting when it swamps the dialogue (and it does many times over the course of the series), but the intro, bumper and outro music is just plain wrong.



I'm not saying it's bad music or poorly done, because for one thing, it is done quite well, certainly no less accomplished than any such music at the time of its popular use in the industry, and for another thing, I enjoy music from all eras and kinds and genres and styles, and to me cheesy music is where you slice it, so to speak, and one man's cheesiness is another man's perfectly-suited-to-its-time-iness. I made up that phrase.



But for this series the music is blaringly wrong -- bombastic, overwrought, fit for television ads and cartoons, not dramatic productions. It tends to disrupt mood and atmosphere in some way in just about every episode I've heard thus far, which is about 80% now. It robs some episodes of their power and punch at the end, that is how badly it fits this series.



Also, I find the writing very hit and miss, and a few episodes had me wanting to kick my computer across the room for the sheer illiteracy and ignorance of the writing. Most of this series is just fine, but some may turn off listeners of radio drama who know what good writing sounds like.



The acting is almost always consistently competent and for the most part just plain good. I have been enjoying the surprise appearances of radio stalwarts of the era such as Robert Dryden, Ralph Bell, and Norman Rose, when they pop into an episode. Some of the most prolific and respected names in voice acting were used here and I always appreciate hearing them.



I am happy to find this series and enjoy it, surely, but its flaws are egregious enough to me to only give it a 3 on the scale. - January 24, 2017Hits and misses

Reviewer: SaraBellePalsy - favorite favorite favorite - January 17, 2017

Subject: Still unsure I'm still trying to figure out if I like this series or not, and the one thing that gets in the way is the soundtrack (music) The music often doen't reflect the mood of the scene, it's frequently intrusive, and it IS cheesy! But, in reality, what difference does it make? It's a bit too late to ask for the network to make a change. (Although, with the right computer programs, the music could be replaced) It IS interesting to hear stories from these particular years, and since I've heard every episode of Suspense and Escape multiple times, a change is nice. I'm about half way thru the series, I'll save judgement until I'm done. - January 17, 2017Still unsure

Reviewer: seadave - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 31, 2016

Subject: greats 1960s radio I didn't know there were radio series still being broadcasted during the 1960s. i like the background music here and the speech is much more clear than on CBS Radio Mystery Theater and there are far less accents and annoying speech than CBS RMT. Still there is a little too much dramatic speech which distracts me from listening to the story. I would never want speech like PBS' Masterpiece Theater but want just clear plain speech without accents and very little dramatic tone. Shows like this are a godsend in healthclubs, retail stores or in the car where the music and radio playlists can make me really annoyed and agitated. Listening to this can chill me out. - October 31, 2016greats 1960s radio

Reviewer: faaus - favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 27, 2016

Subject: Nice series! This is a show I'd not heard of.



Some winners here.



Nice, clean renditions.



Thanks~! - October 27, 2016Nice series!

Reviewer: gravytop - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 24, 2016

Subject: Great radio drama for contemporary audiences Notwithstanding what others say here, the music is nice, sleazy jazz. Short, 20 minute stories. This is worthwhile stuff. - October 24, 2016Great radio drama for contemporary audiences

Reviewer: MPOEye - favorite favorite favorite - September 14, 2016

Subject: Generally good stories, lousy music. Like all attempts at "bringing back" radio drama, Theater Five just doesn't get it quite right. The sort of blaring music used, in particular, is obviously "sixties," and works against the feel of "old time radio."



Otherwise, the stories are pretty good, though "trite" in many cases, with unresolved endings



Nonetheless, it's one more series of radio dramas to listen to. I've heard most of the old ones. - September 14, 2016Generally good stories, lousy music.

Reviewer: Volsnut - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 21, 2016

Subject: This is one of the best Suspense programs i've heard Awesome program i love it! - April 21, 2016This is one of the best Suspense programs i've heard

Reviewer: SPACEPATROL47 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 11, 2016

Subject: OGG VORBIS DOWNLOADING IF YOU GO TO OGG VORBIS FILE - March 11, 2016OGG VORBIS DOWNLOADING

Reviewer: old_broke_lawyer - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 8, 2016

Subject: Awesome show. Discovered it by accident.



I don't think a similar show could get on the air today. One of my all time favorite OTR-type programs. There is so much I want to say. First, a very odd show, in a way. For example, the plot was often left deliberately unresolved, and sometimes the bad guy got away with some awful crime. I am utterly shocked that, in 1964-65, it was able to be broadcast in the afternoon ("drive time"), since many episodes dealt with extremely controversial topics: rape, racism, teen pregnancy, child abuse, corporate greed and wrongdoing. There were episodes that revolved around situations "torn from the headlines" ( e.g ., the infamous '60s murder of a teen girl, witnessed by dozens of apartment dwellers, yet no one called the police or did anything to help). There are also episodes that were just plain unusual: "Flights of Angels" is unquestionably an attempt at portraying a drunken Orson Welles, at the height of his oratory, while having a conversation about acting, while sitting at a bar. "The Gandy Walker" is loosely based on the life of Woody Guthrie after he was hospitalized with Huntington's Disease, including his brief encounter with Bob Dylan while in the hospital. Oh, and finally, I need to mention "The Underdeveloped Nation", in which a U.S. Air Force pilot survives a plane crash, and despite numerous clues, he does not seem to be able to realize that he has landed in Oz. Have I given enough bits and pieces to grab your attention? Seriously, I can't say enough good things about this series. Give it a listen. You will love it. P.S.: In every episode, they asked listeners to write in, and they gave their address. I bet they got some fascinating letters!I don't think a similar show could get on the air today. - January 8, 2016Awesome show. Discovered it by accident.

Reviewer: JustB66 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 5, 2015

Subject: Glad to find this I have never heard of Theater Five. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. Lots of variety. - September 5, 2015Glad to find this

Reviewer: kristinmak - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 18, 2015

Subject: Oh.. wow Ive never heard such writing, such an amazing show. "Bang Bang Youre Dead" holy cr!p! Excellent audio. Great recording. Thanks a lot for ruining my whole night, because these are impossible to turn off once you get started.



These are short stories of all kinds. Suspense! Pathos! Sci Fi! Drama! you name it.

What a cool show and awesome upload. Thanks so much for the files



PS the music is great too- jazzy, complex intro and effects. The baby-sitter episode about the liar had the Beatles in it: "Bug Off". Suspenseful. Highly recommended show. Must listen. - April 18, 2015Oh.. wow

Reviewer: kumarihpx - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 20, 2014

Subject: Awesome Series These shows are really interesting - it's an always varying mix of Sci-Fi, apocalyptic stories and straight-forward pieces, some which include admirable social critique. I REALLY like the mix of stories as compared to other series and there are lots of them, too. The odd twists and turns are most like The Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, and Alfred Hitchcock shows.



This is a wonderful chest of treasures to complement those other superior series. I'm giving it a top rating, though, because it is so enjoyable, varies subject often and keeps your interest.



5/5 - December 20, 2014Awesome Series

Reviewer: radiophoto - - August 14, 2013

Subject: Incomplete Episode "Hit and Run" ends at 7 min. This was the low-res download. Is it the same for the high-res? - August 14, 2013Incomplete Episode

Reviewer: spoonja - favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 20, 2012

Subject: Jailbreak Anyone else notice that the wife in "Jailbreak" is the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz? Can't mistake that voice. - August 20, 2012Jailbreak

Reviewer: Media Lover - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 26, 2012

Subject: The Last Of The Best THEATER FIVE was one of the last of the best of old time radio genre. Great storylines - especially if you are a sci-fi fan. If you like Dimension X, X Minus 1, you will like this. Great moral and social premises which is a major component of any scifi story. Unlike some of the newer scifi stories out there that give too much emphasis on the science component rather than the fiction component, Theater Five joins one of the few elite group of classics that told a story with science components.



Special thanks to OTRR for uploading this. Your effort is much appreciated. - May 26, 2012The Last Of The Best

Reviewer: ayanami88 - favorite favorite favorite - April 6, 2012

Subject: - Apparently no one else seems to notice that Theater Five episodes all seem to have unresolved endings. I do like this show and love the atmosphere but they all end very awkwardly. Still a great show. I haven't heard them all but so far my favorites are "Fog" and "The Flea Circus". - April 6, 2012

Reviewer: FrontTooth - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 2, 2011

Subject: Highly Entertaining & Provocative Tales -- High Quality Productions As another review noted, many of these 20-minute tales are gritty. I've only listened to about 50 programs so far and I'm eager to hear them all. If you enjoy X-Minus One, Dimension X, Twilight Zone, CBS Radio Mystery Theater, among others, then relish these Theater Five productions. Some are disturbing in their focus on the dark side of human nature. So far, the series reminds me of Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Robert A. Heinlein, and Ayn Rand style of story telling.

The stark lack of sentimentality stands out among other "feel good" programs.

Of note, episode 51, All The Bright Young Ones, a story about a future society in which those age 41+ are forcibly retired to old people's centers on edges of society so the world can be managed by the young. The "old people" are forced to live in hiding.

Episode 47, The Last Land Rush, tells the story of a future over-populated world where citizens turn on one another violently as they stake out a patch of open ground in a surviver style government land program.

The production quality is superior and the writing is stellar. Highly recommended for your listening pleasure. FrontTooth -- November 2, 2011Highly Entertaining & Provocative Tales -- High Quality Productions

Reviewer: Indeterminacy - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 22, 2011

Subject: Well kept secret I listened to some of the recommendations and the first couple of weeks. This series is too good to be forgotten. The stories are similar in style and quality to the 1951 TV series Tales of Tomorrow, also available here.



The performances are gritty, and the stories uncluttered with too much background story, leaving much more to the imagination. The effect is stronger than CBS Radio Mystery Theater. Fans of CBSRMT will also discover some familiar voices.



For conveneince I downloaded this from the zipped page.



Note: episode 227 stars Alan Alda. - June 22, 2011Well kept secret

Reviewer: bippy - favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 28, 2010

Subject: 'Discotheque' is my favorite one I've listened to half of the shows and considering this was a daily broadcast the quality is pretty good. The best show so far I would say with no doubts was 'Discotheque'. This one would have made a great Rod Serling Twilight Zone episode. Whoever wrote this particular show was brilliant, I listened to it four times and kept catching more insight and nuances each time. - July 28, 2010'Discotheque' is my favorite one

Reviewer: zensixties - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 8, 2010

Subject: Theater Five is Excellent! Being a radio drama and 1960s buff I've been listening to this show for a while and have heard almost all of the episodes. I find them creative, stylish, well acted, and have that 1960s atmosphere I love.

The worst one is that one with the stamps...too ridiculous. The best are "It's a work of Art", the nuclear shelter one, "Fog", and many others. - March 8, 2010Theater Five is Excellent!

Reviewer: Dementia43 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 8, 2009

Subject: Quit complaining



Now to the show. I really find this show quite fun to listen to, it's not as good as Golden Age'd Radio classics such as Suspense, Escape, Gunsmoke, ETC but it is fun to listen to, some of the stories can be quite engrossing. Like really, if you want to download all of the episodes then go to the http://www.archive.org/details/OTRR_Certified_Theater_Five page to download all of the episodes.Now to the show. I really find this show quite fun to listen to, it's not as good as Golden Age'd Radio classics such as Suspense, Escape, Gunsmoke, ETC but it is fun to listen to, some of the stories can be quite engrossing. - September 8, 2009Quit complaining

Reviewer: chemdude - favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 31, 2009

Subject: Theater Five I enjoy these shows, even though they are not from the 40's era. Bad news is that I had download them all individually. - August 31, 2009Theater Five

Reviewer: nelsonjane - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 30, 2009

Subject: Theater Five = OTRules!!! Simply Put.... Awesome!

Thank you for the all hard work you have put into this website! And especially wonderful is the consistent labeling of details for each episode!! dL speeds are fast too!



You Rock! - August 30, 2009Theater Five = OTRules!!!

Reviewer: jeffzkrazie - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 28, 2009

Subject: Fantastic I've listened to the first 10 episodes and I'm hooked!



Enough of the complaining about the zip files seriously now.... GREAT show thanks again OTRR - August 28, 2009Fantastic

Reviewer: headcrusher - - July 14, 2009

Subject: technical these file sizes could be 75% smaller with no quality loss if converted to wma or mp3 with simple FM quality sound - July 14, 2009technical

Reviewer: MMMMMM1 - favorite favorite favorite - July 10, 2009

Subject: Singles work for me;Whole Item does not. Whole directory download stops and will not complete. - July 10, 2009Singles work for me;Whole Item does not.

Reviewer: Chlorinedream - favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 3, 2009

Subject: "House of Cards" A good atomic bomb shelter story - reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode. - April 3, 2009"House of Cards"

Reviewer: agentno99 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 1, 2009

Subject: You will become an instant fan! If you like otr, mystery theatre, twilight zone, etc., then this is for you!Pure fun here. - April 1, 2009You will become an instant fan!

Reviewer: Hythe - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 6, 2009

Subject: The Best! I think Theater Five is great!



Enough about the zip file, ok? How about some reviews about episodes of the show instead? - February 6, 2009The Best!

Reviewer: Phil Kiernan - favorite favorite favorite - December 2, 2008

Subject: Zip download fails "Corrupted header" message Single issues download OK but the total zip file fails to completely download. ???? - December 2, 2008Zip download fails "Corrupted header" message

Reviewer: Mike Hobart - favorite favorite favorite - October 2, 2008

Subject: single episodes I think the ones on this page are single episodes, so you wouldn't need WinZip. Just right click and choose "save" to download the MP3 - October 2, 2008single episodes