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Audio from Internet Archive · Logs from the Old Time Radio Researchers. Goldie does not own the recordings.

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  4. /A Pail of Air
← All X Minus One episodes

In just a moment, X minus one. But first, if you're planning to join the family for this holiday weekend, remember you have a friend who will keep you company through the long hours on the road. That friend is your car radio, and it brings you a full weekend of the most stimulating variety entertainment when you tune in to NBC's Monitor. Yes, you set your dial just once for hours and hours of refreshing variety. News as it happens, sports coverage, everything from baseball t…

Transcript

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Synopsis

In the chilling episode A Pail of Air from X Minus One, we are introduced to a family living in a makeshift nest on a frozen Earth, where the sun has long since disappeared. The father, Alfred, struggles to keep the fire alive while his wife, Ethel, battles her own psychological demons, often retreating into despair. Their children, Bud and Sis, cling to memories of warmth and light, yearning for a time when the world was vibrant and alive. The family relies on pails of air to breathe, venturing out into the frigid environment to gather what they need for survival.

Host

Fred Collins

Cast›

E

Eleanor Phelps

Joe DeSantis

P

Pamela Fitzmaurice

R

Richard Hamilton

R

Rita Lloyd

R

Ronald Liss

Featured in playlists›

Goldie Originals that include this night

Sci-Fi Starter

Rocket-age wonder without the deep cut homework.

24 episodes

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Dimension X

Kaleidoscope

In Kaleidoscope, a spaceship disaster leaves the crew members floating in space, facing the grim reality of their situation. As they drift apart, tensions rise and personal reflections emerge amidst the impending doom.

Ep 48 · Saturday, September 15, 1951 · 29:32

The Adventures of Superman

Superman Vs. Kryptonite - Pt 33

Superman faces a dire challenge as he battles the effects of kryptonite and struggles to regain his memory. With the help of Batman and Robin, he must confront the villain Latimer and his henchmen to save himself and his friends.

Ep 1581 · Friday, June 27, 1947 · 14:29

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

The Lorelei Matter [AFRTS]

A heavily insured eccentric millionaire is killed...was it his young and beautiful French wife?

Ep 803 · Sunday, August 19, 1962 · 24:10

Suspense

The Silver Shoe

A man believes he sees a girl who looks exactly like his deceased girlfriend, Cory, two years after her funeral. He becomes obsessed with finding out if she is truly alive or just a figment of his imagination.

Ep 938 · Sunday, August 12, 1962 · 25:08

21st Precinct

The Neighbor

A woman reports a burglar in her apartment, prompting the 21st Precinct officers to respond quickly. They discover a complex situation involving a polite but deceptive suspect.

Ep 139 · Thursday, May 31, 1956 · 26:37

The Shadow

Revenge Is--Murder!

A stolen diamond, a dying gangster and strange visitors from beyond.

Ep 452 · Sunday, September 19, 1948 · 29:29

More from X Minus One

Same series — shared cast and standout nights

X Minus One

Skulking Permit

A colonial inspector arrives on New Delaware to ensure the colony conforms to Earth’s customs, but the townsfolk must create a criminal to satisfy his expectations. As they grapple with this absurdity, they face the challenge of proving their civilization.

Ep 38 · Wednesday, February 15, 1956 · 28:58

X Minus One

Vital Factor

A ruthless millionaire, Wayne Crowder, is determined to build a spaceship and conquer space, disregarding the technological limitations and costs involved. He seeks a brilliant inventor to create a propulsion system, but his ambition leads to unforeseen consequences.

Ep 27 · Wednesday, November 30, 1955 · 29:04

X Minus One

Requiem

An old, wealthy man, Dee Dee Harriman, is determined to visit the moon before he dies. He hires a struggling crew to take him on a perilous journey to fulfill his lifelong dream.

Ep 22 · Thursday, October 27, 1955 · 23:45

X Minus One

The Man in the Moon

An S.O.S. is received from the Moon, prompting a frantic investigation into the mysterious disappearance of a renowned physicist. As authorities scramble to understand the bizarre signal, the stakes rise with the possibility of a hidden truth.

Ep 6 · Sunday, May 29, 1955 · 28:08

X Minus One

Protective Mimicry

A treasury agent investigates a series of counterfeit credit notes that bear identical serial numbers, raising alarms about a potential security breach in the currency system.

Ep 69 · Wednesday, October 3, 1956 · 29:12

X Minus One

The Seventh Order

A powerful robot named George of Zanfar arrives on Earth with plans for invasion, but Professor Ansel Tomlin must devise a way to thwart him before it's too late.

Ep 50 · Tuesday, May 8, 1956 · 29:00

← Previous$1000 a PlateNext →How-To

Credits

  • Audio from Internet Archive (OTRR_X_Minus_One_Singles). Curated by OTRR. Goldie does not claim ownership of this broadcast.
  • Cast and sponsor data from RadioGold Index (J. David Goldin / UMKC Libraries).

XMinusOne56-03-28044APailOfAir.mp3

X Minus One, Episode 44

A Pail of Air

Wednesday, March 28, 1956 · 29:58

X Minus One, Episode 44

A Pail of Air

Wednesday, March 28, 1956 · 29:58

Summary

A family struggles to survive in a frozen world, relying on pails of air to breathe. As they face the harsh realities of their existence, hope emerges when they discover they are not alone.

Sponsor breaks

Network›

NBC

Network

Fifties Fade

When TV took the living room (1950 and after).

24 episodes

Latest Air Dates

The newest broadcast dates in the archive.

24 episodes

Casey, Crime Photographer

The Miscarriage of Justice

A woman reappears after being presumed dead for ten years, leading to the potential release of her husband, wrongfully convicted of her murder. The stakes rise as the truth behind her disappearance and new life complicates the case.

Ep 205 · Thursday, October 2, 1947 · 29:44

Chet Chetter's Tales from the Morgue

Escape From The Mysterious Island 1

Cecil Ferris wins a cruise contest and takes his friends to Galveston, but they end up on a garbage tugboat instead. As a storm approaches, they find themselves trapped in a cave surrounded by prehistoric creatures.

Ep 1079 · Saturday, December 16, 1995 · 29:14

X Minus One

Pictures Don't Lie

A radio signal from interstellar space reveals a television picture, indicating an alien spaceship is approaching Earth. A journalist investigates the implications of this discovery.

Ep 72 · Wednesday, October 24, 1956 · 28:26

X Minus One

The Sense of Wonder

A spaceship returning to Earth after a 10,000-year journey faces a crisis when one passenger, Ryckwood, realizes they have arrived at their destination and wants to leave the ship. His desire for freedom clashes with the indoctrinated beliefs of his fellow passengers.

Ep 48 · Tuesday, April 24, 1956 · 27:55

That night in history

On the air that night›

  1. Ranger BillGetting Along With The Wrong CrowdEpisode 131
  2. X Minus OneA Pail of AirCurrently listeningEpisode 44
  3. Yours Truly, Johnny DollarThe LaMarr Matter - Ep 3Episode 358