Once Upon a Time story
A janitor travels from 1890 to 1962, courtesy of a time helmet built by a scientist. Directed by: Norman Z. McLeod. Story by: Richard Matheson.
10 total · 2 choice · 4 major · 4 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| the desire for a simpler life | choice | The 1890s era janitor Mulligan traveled to the year 1961 in an effort to get away from the bustle and bustle of his once-quiet town, but instead he found that the hustling and bustling had only gotten worse. Rollo, by contrast, traveled back in time from 1961 to 1890 in search of a simple life, but quickly ended up feeling unhappy owing to the lack of modern conveniences. |
| the grass is always greener on the other side | choice | Woodrow Mulligan, a common janitor from the 1890s, took a risk by traveling to the year 1961 to get away from the hustle and bustle of contemporary life, not realizing that the world of the mid 20th century would be all the more frenetic. |
| ironic twist of fate | major | In donning the Professor's infernal helmet, Mulligan believed he would visit a place of peace and quiet, but through a cruel twist of fate he instead found himself in an even more pandemonious future. Conversely Rollo thought he'd enjoy an idyllic past but found that it did not appeal to him at all. |
| past point of view | major | The 1890s era janitor Mulligan was perplexed by many things modern: he was shocked at the high price of sirloin, he falsely presumed a man speaking on television was directly addressing him, and he had an elaborate altercation with a vacuum cleaner. |
| time machine | major | Professor Gilbert invented a "time helmet" that his janitor Mulligan used to travel 71 years into the future to the year 1961. |
| time travel | major | Mulligan used a "time helmet" to travel from the year 1890 to the year 1961. |
| attitude of superiority | minor | Rollo exclaimed: "Your fate is unimportant, Sir, you're a janitor. I'm a scientist!". |
| future point of view | minor | Rollo did not much like a past without modern thingamajigs such as transistors. |
| human life in late modern times | minor | The life of a common janitor living in 1890 America was depicted in silent film format. |
| taxation in society | minor | Rollo longed for the good days old when there was no income tax. |