One Step Beyond (1959)

A landmark ABC anthology series that ventured into the paranormal, delivering 97 episodes of mystery, suspense, and the unexplained across three seasons.

One Step Beyond - Series Information

  • Original Title: One Step Beyond
  • First Air Year: 1959
  • Last Air Year: 1961
  • Type: TV Series
  • Genres: Mystery, Drama, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
  • Content Rating (US): NR
  • Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 28 minutes
  • Number of Seasons: 3
  • Number of Episodes: 97
  • Status: Canceled
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: English
  • First Air Date: January 20, 1959 (United States - NR), January 20, 1959 (Canada - PG), January 20, 1959 (Germany - 16), January 20, 1959 (France - 16), January 20, 1959 (Mexico - B), January 20, 1959 (Spain - 13)
  • Networks: ABC
  • Alternative Titles: Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond (US)
  • Production Companies: Joseph L. Schenck Enterprises
  • Production Countries: United States of America

One Step Beyond - Plot

Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond is an American anthology series created by Merwin Gerard. The original series ran for three seasons on ABC from January 1959 to July 1961.

Where to Watch One Step Beyond

Looking for where to watch One Step Beyond?

One Step Beyond - Cast & Crew

Main Cast

  • John Newland
  • Jeanne Bates
  • Robert Douglas
  • Robert Ellenstein
  • Rudolph Anders
  • Amzie Strickland
  • Norma Crane
  • Argentina Brunetti
  • Candy Moore
  • Lester Matthews

Writers

  • Lawrence B. Marcus
  • Merwin Gerard
  • Don Mankiewicz
  • Francis M. Cockrell
  • Charles Beaumont

One Step Beyond - FAQs

Where can you stream One Step Beyond today?

One Step Beyond is available to stream on several free and subscription platforms, including Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Xumo Play, Mometu, Fawesome, and Hoopla. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video and accessed via the Best tv ever Amazon Channel.

Is One Step Beyond based on true paranormal stories?

Yes. One Step Beyond was notably presented as being inspired by true accounts of paranormal phenomena, including premonitions, telepathy, and unexplained events. Host John Newland introduced each episode by suggesting the stories were drawn from documented real-world cases, lending the series an eerie sense of authenticity.

How does One Step Beyond differ from The Twilight Zone?

While both are classic anthology series exploring the uncanny, One Step Beyond premiered in January 1959, several months before The Twilight Zone debuted. One Step Beyond focused on paranormal and psychic phenomena presented as true events, whereas The Twilight Zone leaned more heavily into science fiction allegory and social commentary.

Who hosted One Step Beyond?

John Newland served as the host and frequent director of One Step Beyond. Appearing on screen as himself, he introduced each episode with a calm, measured tone, guiding viewers into the story and reinforcing the series' claim that the tales were rooted in genuine paranormal occurrences.

How many seasons and episodes does One Step Beyond have?

One Step Beyond ran for three seasons on ABC, comprising 97 episodes in total. Season 1 contained 22 episodes, Season 2 expanded to 39 episodes, and Season 3 concluded with 36 episodes. The series also includes a small collection of special episodes.

When did One Step Beyond first air on television?

One Step Beyond premiered on January 20, 1959, on the ABC network in the United States. The series ran continuously until July 1961, when it concluded after three seasons, leaving behind a legacy as one of early television's most distinctive supernatural anthology programs.

What genre is One Step Beyond?

One Step Beyond spans multiple genres, primarily Mystery, Drama, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy. Each self-contained episode blends psychological suspense with supernatural elements, exploring themes of premonition, haunting, and unexplained human experience in a grounded, dramatic format typical of late 1950s television.

Who wrote episodes for One Step Beyond?

One Step Beyond featured scripts from a range of talented writers, including Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus, Don Mankiewicz, Charles Beaumont, Francis M. Cockrell, Collier Young, Ian Stuart Black, Catherine Turney, Charles Larson, and Paul David, contributing to the series' varied and consistently compelling storytelling.

More About One Step Beyond

Explore further details about One Step Beyond through these authoritative external resources.

Help Us Keep Our Content Accurate.

Report an Error