Unique episode takes on two different cases in the half-hour format with successful results, as it focuses on two mysterious people causing inexplicable events. The first is set in Chico California in 1922, where an unknown writer called "The Ghost" somehow drops rocks from the sky repeatedly on the town, in full view of its citizens, including newspapermen. The second concerns a mysterious man named Charles Elton who approaches a government official and demonstrates how he created a pellet that can turn water into gasoline! Before it can be purchased, Elton disappears, never to be heard from again... Where are these men? Most intriguing and memorable entry.
4 Reviews
Two episodes in one!
planktonrules15 April 2014
This is the only episode I've seen of "One Step Beyond" where instead of one story, there are two shorter ones. One was about some weird happenings in Chico, California and the other was about a guy who supposedly invented a gasoline pill!
The story about Chico is unusual in that there really are documented accounts to substantiate the weird occurrences. Now I am not saying it's true--but many people apparently believed it happened and I have a hard time saying what really occurred. These sorts of stories worked well on the show--too bad this wasn't stretched for the entire episode!
The second is really dumb and has helped to stoke countless urban legends. A man supposedly invented a gasoline pill that works when you add it to water. Sure...and if you believe that, I'd love to interest you in buying my perpetual motion machine.
Overall, you've got a mixed bag her--one very good mini-episode and one dumb one that dumb folks will swear is true--and many have over the years.
The story about Chico is unusual in that there really are documented accounts to substantiate the weird occurrences. Now I am not saying it's true--but many people apparently believed it happened and I have a hard time saying what really occurred. These sorts of stories worked well on the show--too bad this wasn't stretched for the entire episode!
The second is really dumb and has helped to stoke countless urban legends. A man supposedly invented a gasoline pill that works when you add it to water. Sure...and if you believe that, I'd love to interest you in buying my perpetual motion machine.
Overall, you've got a mixed bag her--one very good mini-episode and one dumb one that dumb folks will swear is true--and many have over the years.
"There's only one thing you can say - it's impossible!"
classicsoncall14 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
My summary quote was from one of the scientists who witnessed a fantastic invention offered up by a mysterious stranger named Charles Elton, who demonstrated a pill he developed that turned water into gasoline, or at least a combustible liquid adequate to power an automobile motor. I thought the casting of Richard Devon as Elton made perfect sense, he was already developing a con man reputation as the pick-pocket Jody Barker in the 1958/1959 series 'Yancy Derringer'. With his demonstration a success, Elton self assuredly tells the scientists and a government cabinet secretary (Addison Richards) that his fee for giving up the formula would be ten million dollars, a rather tidy sum for 1917 when the story takes place. After a quick discussion agreeing to those terms, the government man goes out to seal the deal with Elton, but he's disappeared!
What's described above was actually the second part of this 'One Step Beyond' feature. It occurred in the California town of Chino, where the opening scene takes place five years later in March of 1922. Every afternoon over the course of several days, a variety of rocks and stones fall from the sky to the astonishment of the residents. A local newspaper editor (Phillip Pine) contacts a counterpart from San Francisco to witness the strange events so that his reporting can at least be backed up by a big city account of this fantastic story. Even though precautions are taken to watch for human intervention, the San Francisco contingent is as amazed as the citizens of Chino to see rocks falling and floating from the sky at the appointed time.
The presumed link between the two segments has to do with a note that's referred to regarding the rocks in the sky. Written by someone calling himself 'The Ghost', it's claimed that this 'ghost' knows what's causing the phenomenon. But the ghost never shows up. Nor does Charles Elton, even after scores of FBI and government agents scour the country for his whereabouts due to the fantastic nature of his gasoline pill.
Series host John Newland goes on to further recount strange occurrences in the town of Chino. Much earlier in August of 1878, the New York Times reported on fish falling from the sky over several acres in the vicinity of Chino. Some years later in 1885, an object of unknown origin weighing several tons also dropped out of the sky in or near Chino.
Independently of these events I've read of accounts of other weird objects 'raining' in other parts of the world, including fish, frogs, small lizards and even mice! There have also been accounts of red rain that cannot be explained.
I personally noticed one other strange occurrence as I followed this episode through to it's closing credits. When I noticed Yvette Mimieux's name as part of the cast I knew something was wrong. So I went back and checked, and the closing credits for this show was actually the cast that appeared in the One Step Beyond episode 'The Clown'. I wonder how John Newland would have explained that one.
What's described above was actually the second part of this 'One Step Beyond' feature. It occurred in the California town of Chino, where the opening scene takes place five years later in March of 1922. Every afternoon over the course of several days, a variety of rocks and stones fall from the sky to the astonishment of the residents. A local newspaper editor (Phillip Pine) contacts a counterpart from San Francisco to witness the strange events so that his reporting can at least be backed up by a big city account of this fantastic story. Even though precautions are taken to watch for human intervention, the San Francisco contingent is as amazed as the citizens of Chino to see rocks falling and floating from the sky at the appointed time.
The presumed link between the two segments has to do with a note that's referred to regarding the rocks in the sky. Written by someone calling himself 'The Ghost', it's claimed that this 'ghost' knows what's causing the phenomenon. But the ghost never shows up. Nor does Charles Elton, even after scores of FBI and government agents scour the country for his whereabouts due to the fantastic nature of his gasoline pill.
Series host John Newland goes on to further recount strange occurrences in the town of Chino. Much earlier in August of 1878, the New York Times reported on fish falling from the sky over several acres in the vicinity of Chino. Some years later in 1885, an object of unknown origin weighing several tons also dropped out of the sky in or near Chino.
Independently of these events I've read of accounts of other weird objects 'raining' in other parts of the world, including fish, frogs, small lizards and even mice! There have also been accounts of red rain that cannot be explained.
I personally noticed one other strange occurrence as I followed this episode through to it's closing credits. When I noticed Yvette Mimieux's name as part of the cast I knew something was wrong. So I went back and checked, and the closing credits for this show was actually the cast that appeared in the One Step Beyond episode 'The Clown'. I wonder how John Newland would have explained that one.
The Sky Is Falling, the Sky Is Falling!
wes-connors4 July 2011
In 1922 Chico, a town in California's Sacramento Valley, a landslide of warm rocks falls from the sky at precisely 3:00 every day. If people don't get out of the way, they are hurt. There is no explanation for the phenomena. Concerned resident Phillip Pine (as Harry Call) contacts big city reporter Alan Dexter (as Towers), who arrives skeptical. The men receive a note from "The Ghost" claiming responsibility for the pelting. An investigation suggests the stones materialize from nowhere. A flashback to 1917 provides our cast with clues
Host John Newland reads articles from "The New York Times" that seem to suggest the supernatural is involved. Well, you can't believe everything you read.
**** Where Are They? (12/3/60) John Newland ~ Phillip Pine, Richard Devon, Addison Richards, John Alvin
**** Where Are They? (12/3/60) John Newland ~ Phillip Pine, Richard Devon, Addison Richards, John Alvin
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