All Time Favorite Story

I have had a number of emails over the years asking, What is your favorite movie, novel, television show… the list goes on. I have my patented answer which is, “I can never pick just one.” However, if you were ask, what is my favorite story, the answer is pretty clear. My favorite story is, When worlds collide written by Philip Wylie and Edwin Balmer in 1933. It was later made into a film in 1951 and was a box office success, but not a hit. It did win the 1951 Academy Award for special effects, and It was also nominated for Best Cinematography-Color.

Why do I love the story? I first read it as young lad of 13-14ish. I remember being so scared that for the next few days I could not go to sleep at night. I found out there was a sequel to the book called, After the Worlds Collide. I decided right then and there I would not be reading that one. Fast forward a couple years and decided to reread the book and its follow-up. This time I was struck by the whole idea of there being another world out there and I was hooked.

What is the story about? Sven Bronson, a South African astronomer, discovers that a pair of rogue planets, Bronson Alpha and Bronson Beta, will soon enter the solar system and will pass close enough to cause catastrophic damage. Sixteen months later, after swinging around the Sun, Bronson Alpha will return to pulverize the Earth and leave. It is hoped that Bronson Beta will remain and assume a stable orbit. Scientists work desperately to build an atomic rocket to transport enough people, animals and equipment to Bronson Beta in an attempt to save the human race.

Did you watch the movie? I knew that it had been made into a movie. Back in those days there was no internet, rentals or even movie stores. So, it was not until the early 80’s, when I bought my first VHS player, that I finally saw the film version. I fell for it all over again, I purchased a copy for ninety-eight dollars and solidified it as one of my favorite tales of all time.

Today both the books and movie are dated, but the story remains. I still love the characters and what what they went through to save the world. Paramount Pictures began pre-production on a When Worlds Collide remake in 2013, but as of April 2017, nothing new has emerged as to when it might be released.

This Week’s Podcast:

On the podcast this week we have stories about a captured rocketship and the crew’s attempt to regain control, a tale of poison toadstools and special story from you guys. You can listen to this podcast on Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from iTunes, stream it on TuneIn Radio or listen to it on your radio Saturday night at 6pm Eastern time. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

The Calendar:

June 01 – A woman of Many Names – (REPLAY)
June 11 – Horror Express #16 – (HE16)
June 15 – Crane Creek and Other Stories – (RAS288)
June 22 – The Girl in Car 32 – (RAS289)
June 29 – Science Fiction Week – (RAS290)

RAS #289 – The Girl in Car 32

On Ron’s Amazing Stories this week we have a collection of great stories. Victor Mature takes center stage in the Suspense classic, The Girl in Car 32. Then we go back in time to June 18th, 1940 for the speech, This Was Their Finest hour. Tom Williams is back with another story and we end the show with a short-story from Kate Chopin.

The OTR Story – The Girl in Car 32

Our OTR tale for this week takes place on a train. A plainclothes police officer falls in love with the suspected girlfriend of a criminal he is attempting to catch. The story comes from the classic old time radio series Suspense and is called, The Girl In Car Thirty-Two. It stars this week’s blog subject, Victor mature, and first aired March 15, 1954

Have a story you want share?

Do you have a story to share with Ron’s Amazing Stories. It is a simple thing to get your story on the show. You can you use the contact page on the main website or just send it to ronsamazingstories@gmail.com. Please remember it is your stories that fuel Ron’s Amazing Stories.

RAS Spotlight – Victor Mature

What does the name Victor Mature mean today? Most have either forgotten him or never heard of the man. In his day he was one of Hollywood’s brightest stars. If you are an old movie buff you no doubt know the name. Movies like The Robe come to mind. On the RAS blog this week we throw the spotlight on Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999).

Victor was an American stage, film and television actor who starred most notably in several Biblical movies during the 1950s and was known for his dark good looks and mega-watt smile. His best known film roles include One Million B.C. (1940), My Darling Clementine (1946), Kiss of Death (1947), Samson and Delilah (1949) and The Robe (1953). He also appeared in a large number of musicals opposite such stars as Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable.

Mature studied and acted at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. For three years he lived in a tent in the backyard of Mrs Willigan, a mother of a fellow student, Catherine Lewis. He was spotted by an agent for Hal Roach while acting in a production of To Quito and Back. Mature signed a seven-year contract with Roach in September 1939.

In July 1942, Mature attempted to enlist in the U.S. Navy, but was rejected for color blindness. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard after taking a different eye test the same day. He was assigned to the USCGC Storis, which was historically significant vessel in its own right. He rose to the rank of chief boatswain’s mate and then join the US Coast guard recruitment group. Here he would tour country performing and encouraging young men to join the Coast Guard.

After the war, Mature was cast by John Ford in My Darling Clementine, playing Doc Holliday opposite Henry Fonda’s Wyatt Earp. The film was massive success and propelled Mature to stardom. It is still regarded by many film critics as one of the best Westerns ever made.

In 1974 Victor retired from movies and married Loretta Sebena. They had his only child, daughter Victoria, whom he was very proud. His last feature film appearance was a cameo as a millionaire in Firepower in 1979. Mature was quoted on his decision to retire:

“I was never that crazy about acting. I had a compulsion to earn money, not to act. So, I worked as an actor until I could afford to retire. I wanted to quit while I could still enjoy life… I like to loaf. Everyone told me I would go crazy or die if I quit working. Yeah? Well, what a lovely way to die.”

Victor Mature died of leukemia in 1999 at his Rancho Santa Fe, California home, at the age of 86.

This Week’s Podcast:

On the podcast this week we again have a collection of great stories. Victor Mature takes center stage in the Suspense classic, The Girl in Car 32. This one has an intricate plot that follows a detective as he uses a women to trap a arch criminal. You can listen to this podcast on Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from iTunes, stream it on TuneIn Radio or listen to it on your radio Saturday night at 6pm Eastern time. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

The Calendar:

June 01 – A woman of Many Names – (REPLAY)
June 11 – Horror Express #16 – (HE16)
June 15 – Crane Creek and Other Stories – (RAS288)
June 22 – Suspense Week – (RAS289)
June 29 – Science Fiction Week – (RAS290)

RAS #288 – Crane Creek and Other Stories

On Ron’s Amazing Stories this week Richard Diamond joins us. It is time for Diamond to renew his detective license and this turns out to be murder. No really, someone gets killed! Also on the show, we have a story from you guys, A quiz that goes wrong, a five minute mystery and we visit June 6th, 1944.

The OTR Story – Private Eye Test

Our OTR story for today gives a glimpse into the world of the detective, but from the unique point of view of Blake Edwards. The tale is an episode from Richard Diamond, Private Detective called the Private Eye Test. It first aired on April 19, 1950.

Program Note: On this episode of the show we have a story from Mary and Mark Newcomb. They tell us about their UFO encounter in Missouri. They sent along proof in the form of a photo. Can see the photo and read their story at ronsamazingstories.blog or click here.

Special Post – Mary and Marks Story

On the podcast this week we had special story sent in by Mary and Mark Newcomb. I present it here so that I could post the picture she sent along with it.

Campfire Lights – By Mary Newcomb

It was the last day of a camping trip to Campbell Point Campground in Stone County Missouri. Mark and I had planned a hike for the day and were both excited about it. It was only a three mile trek that followed Crane Creek, but we had heard about the abundance of wildlife and the wonderful sights to behold. We were not disappointed. We took many pictures that day, but it was the very last one that compels me to tell this story.

We were on the return trail and were talking about all the things we had seen that day. It was Mark that noticed the lights in the meadow below us. It was late afternoon and we both thought that they were a campfire of some sort, but it was spread out. We thought we should go look in case some careless folk had left a cooking fire alone.

We climbed down the creek bed and crossed the rushing water. It was late summer so there was no chance of being pulled away. We came up the other side and what we saw froze us in our tracks. The lights were spinning in a circle in the middle of the field. I can’t describe it better than that. They did not appear to have any source. Mark quickly took out his phone to capture the event. As he did the lights flew up into the sky and began to slowly move off. Then with a big whoosh and bang they were gone.

The picture we took, of course, turned out awful. I attached it for you if you want to see. In order to find anything at all we had to convert it to black and white. The remnant of the lights appear as a smoky color in the upper right of the photo. We don’t know what we saw but that is our one and only UFO story.

-Mary Newcomb

Ron’s Thoughts:

Well Mary , I have to say that is a pretty good story and I want to thank you for sharing it with us. I have posted your photo here, but like Mary said if you looking for proof this photo is not to good. I have put arrow on the picture were I think Mary is talking about.

If you have a story you want to share with Ron’s Amazing Stories. Please just do it. You can you use the contact page on the main website or just send it to ronsamazingstories@gmail.com. Please remember it is your stories that fuel Ron’s Amazing Stories.

-Ron