This Antony Ellis script is a curious science fiction story that is also a satire about the times it was broadcast. The early 1950s saw many UFO sightings, and there was a Cold War and paranoia that brought government agents and military into almost every strange event. So when a UFO lands in someone’s backyard, and the family claims it belongs to them, it poses some interesting and amusing situations. The father of the family sees it as a chance for fame and fortune. The authorities are convinced there are enemies on board and want to take hold of it. Most everyone else is either amazed or befuddled. The military comes and the way it is described is similar to the scene at the beginning of The Day the Earth Stood Still when that saucer is surrounded by military equipment. But that was Washington, DC. This is just a backyard, but you do get the sense that the house lot around the saucer is overwhelmed with the bulkiness of destructive equipment. For all of the talking and decisions and jockeying for position about the saucer, nothing really happens. They are quite surprised, and saddened, when the UFO suddenly leaves. (What were they saying inside? “There is no intelligent life on this planet”?). When all was said and done, more was said than done, and all they have are the brief memories of the landing and whatever lessons they may have learned from it. In the end, the story is not just science fiction, but the weighty topic of human nature.
This script was originally used in the series On Stage on 1954-03-24. That episode is not in circulation and may not have survived.
Regarding the show's title, the phrase “Heavens to Betsy” is of unknown origin, first used in print in the United States around the mid-1850s. The phrase has no apostrophe, and the show title reflects that. The On Stage script, however, lacks an apostrophe on its cover, but the other pages of the script have “Heaven’s to Betsy.” Such inconsistencies are common in scripts, but Antony Ellis could have some fun with punctuation and names now and then. Because duplicating scripts was costly and time consuming, such errors would be tolerated and corrected by hand during rehearsal, if necessary. The difference in spelling has no effect on pronunciation, making it understandable if a changed was deemed unnecessary on the hard copy script. CBS publicity sent to newspapers likely had no apostrophe since all newspaper listings that could be found did not have it. If the apostrophe was desired, researcher and performer Patte Rosebank notes that it would imply that “the UFO belonged to heaven, which gave it to Betsy.”
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THE CAST
Hy Averback (Henry Doyle), Truda Marson (Betsy Doyle), Richard Beals (Dickie Doyle), John Dehner (Narrator), Howard McNear (Scientist), Vic Perrin (Pthoth [radio villain] / General), Byron Kane (Captain Spaceman [radio hero] / D. A.), Virginia Eiler (Mrs. Ella Gilbert), Barney Phillips (Police Officer), Larry Thor (Suspense Narrator)
In the On Stage production of 1954-03-24, Henry and Betsy were played by Elliott and Cathy Lewis; Ella was played by Mary Jane Croft. All of the other actors played the same roles in both productions.
(Many thanks to classic radio enthusiast, researcher, and modern day performer Patte Rosebank for the On Stage information and the details of the title spelling).
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