"Two scientists lost in the infinite corridors of time."
Premiering in 1966, The Time Tunnel stands as a definitive marker of Irwin Allen’s ambitious science fiction era on ABC. Following the exploits of Dr. Tony Newman and Dr. Doug Phillips, the series utilized the massive "Project Tic-Toc" facility to transport audiences through significant historical milestones. Despite its single-season run, the show’s visual identity—centered on the hypnotic, concentric circles of the tunnel itself—became an indelible image of mid-century television. By blending historical drama with speculative technology, the program paved the way for future temporal adventures. Its reliance on high-quality stock footage and elaborate sets demonstrated a resourcefulness that defined 1960s genre production. Today, it remains a cherished relic of the space-age imagination, remembered for its rhythmic cliffhanger transitions and its earnest exploration of the human experience across time.
| Watched? | # | Air Date | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Sep 09, 1966 | Rendezvous with Yesterday | |
| E2 | Sep 16, 1966 | One Way to the Moon | |
| E3 | Sep 23, 1966 | End of the World | |
| E4 | Sep 30, 1966 | The Day the Sky Fell In | |
| E5 | Oct 07, 1966 | The Last Patrol | |
| E6 | Oct 14, 1966 | Crack of Doom | |
| E7 | Oct 21, 1966 | Revenge of the Gods | |
| E8 | Oct 28, 1966 | Massacre | |
| E9 | Nov 11, 1966 | Devil's Island | |
| E10 | Nov 18, 1966 | Reign of Terror | |
| E11 | Nov 25, 1966 | Secret Weapon | |
| E12 | Dec 02, 1966 | The Death Trap | |
| E13 | Dec 09, 1966 | The Alamo | |
| E14 | Dec 16, 1966 | Night of the Long Knives | |
| E15 | Dec 23, 1966 | Invasion | |
| E16 | Dec 30, 1966 | The Revenge of Robin Hood | |
| E17 | Jan 06, 1967 | Kill Two by Two | |
| E18 | Jan 13, 1967 | Visitors from Beyond the Stars | |
| E19 | Jan 20, 1967 | The Ghost of Nero | |
| E20 | Jan 27, 1967 | The Walls of Jericho | |
| E21 | Feb 03, 1967 | Idol of Death | |
| E22 | Feb 10, 1967 | Billy the Kid | |
| E23 | Feb 17, 1967 | Pirates of Deadman's Island | |
| E24 | Feb 24, 1967 | Chase Through Time | |
| E25 | Mar 03, 1967 | The Death Merchant | |
| E26 | Mar 10, 1967 | Attack of the Barbarians | |
| E27 | Mar 17, 1967 | Merlin the Magician | |
| E28 | Mar 24, 1967 | The Kidnappers | |
| E29 | Mar 31, 1967 | Raiders from Outer Space | |
| E30 | Apr 07, 1967 | Town of Terror |
Franchise Status: Cult Classic / Legacy Property
The Time Tunnel remains a definitive pillar of Sci-fi television, having concluded its influential run on ABC. Created by Irwin Allen, the series introduced audiences to the concept of a massive underground laboratory and the iconic, swirling visual of the tunnel itself. While it only lasted one season, its ambitious premise of placing two scientists in various historical crises allowed for a unique blend of educational history and high-stakes adventure. The show's commitment to visual spectacle, despite its reliance on stock footage from 20th Century Fox films, set a standard for the genre's aesthetic during the mid-sixties.
The lasting cultural DNA of the series is evident in its pioneering use of the time travel of the week format which paved the way for later hits like Quantum Leap and Sliders. Fans continue to revisit the show as a rewatch staple because of its earnest performances and the nostalgic charm of its technicolor production design. It represents a specific era of television where the wonder of scientific discovery was matched only by the peril of the unknown. Even decades later, the image of the infinite corridor remains an indelible symbol of the golden age of televised science fiction.