Tarzan: The Radio Serials

(includes the Australian serial:

Tarzan, King of the Apes)

 

 

Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan first appeared on radio on September 12, 1932 in a syndicated serial that was broadcast nightly in fifteen-minute episodes and lasted for two years and 286 episodes. It was titled Tarzan Of The Apes. 

Of this first serial, only the first 77 episodes are known to have survived and as such it isn't featured here.

 

Then Burroughs decided to try his hand at producing his own Tarzan radio show. The result was Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher, an elaborate thirteen week 39 part serial broadcast in 1934. The following introduction was penned by Edgar Rice Burroughs for the announcer to read introducing a 1940 re-broadcast of Tarzan And The Diamond of Asher:

"We bring you Tarzan, that immortal fictional character of Edgar Rice Burroughs, in a new and exciting serial entitled Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher, which is adapted from the novel, Tarzan And The Forbidden City. Deep in the heart of Africa rises a mighty cone-shaped mountain, an extinct volcano, in the huge crater of which lies The Forbidden City of Asher. To reach this stronghold two safaris endure hardships and perils that bring death to some and high adventure to all. One safari is bent on the rescue of the son of its leader whilst the other, headed by a wily and unscrupulous Oriental, seeks only the Father of Diamonds. And through the intrigue and mystery and the danger moves the majestic figure of Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle."

This serial started on May 14, 1934, airing Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, consisting of  39 15-minute episodes.  It starred Carlton KaDell as Tarzan and Ralph Scott as Tarzan's faithful aid Paul D'Arnot.

 

Carlton KaDell and Ralph Scott were back again for a second serial entitled Tarzan and the Fires of Tohr in 1936:

While investigating the illegal activities of slave traders and ivory smugglers, Tarzan and his friend, Paul D'Arnot save a member of the Burton-Ashleigh Expedition from death. After learning that the expedition is lost, Tarzan agrees to lead the group out of the jungle. Little do they realize however, that they will soon be captured by a strange yellow race, and taken to the lost city of Tohr. There they face the dangers of the arena, rogue elephants and sacrifice to the Fires of Tohr - the result of a hidden lake of volcanic fire that shoots up through a pit to the very arms of the temple god, an idol carved in the likeness of a lion. Befriending the son of the ruler of a rival city who is held as a slave in Tohr, Tarzan and his friends face death at every turn. Love, hate, jealousy, and political intrigue - as well as courage and loyalty - all play parts in this thrilling serial produced under the personal direction of Edgar Rice Burroughs

 

Want to check out a few episodes of the Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher serial?

              

These episodes are the first 4 of the Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher serial - great listening - they can be freely downloaded to your computer - just right button click on any link below and chose "Download Linked File" (or words to that effect). The file is on an average about 8Mb - download time will depend on your (broadband) speed:

 

TDA_1934-05-01 EpisodeNo.1.mp3

TDA_1934-05-02 EpisodeNo.2.mp3

TDA_1934-05-03 EpisodeNo.3.mp3

TDA_1934-05-04 EpisodeNo.4.mp3

 

 

Tarzan, King of the Apes - the Australian Serial

Tarzan, King of the Apes was 15 minute Australian serial which ran in most Australian capital cities and regional outlets from 1954. There were more than 600 episodes in the program (the exact number is not known).

There are a total of 20 episodes which have survived É

 

The first 4 episodes deal with the beginnings of the classic tale of Tarzan the Ape Man in which we learn of Tarzan's origins being the baby, John Clayton (Earl of Greystoke) who with his family are marooned in the jungle. Tarzan is raised by the Kerchak White Apes and as an adult he comes across a shipwrecked group of treasure hunters which include Jane Porter along with Cecil Clayton (Tarzan's cousin). Rod Taylor who was to soon head to the US and movie success with films such as The Time Machine (1960) plays Tarzan - albeit initially with grunts and then pidgin English after tutelage from Jane.

 

A nice run of 14 consecutive episodes from 1955 have survived with Ray Barrett now starring as Tarzan. In this stirring adventure  we hear that oil has been found in The Valley of the Scorpions and that benevolent ruler Sheik Kadua Ben Sadin has struck a deal with Lord ("Tenny") Tennington which favours both the Englishman's company and the Sheik's people. But Kadua and his daughter, Jasmin go missing and the evil Ahmed Kadir installs himself as Sheik. Kadir has the rival oilman, Hugh Chandler as a partner and together they have enlisted the nomadic Tuaregs to overrun the villages and challenge Tenny's oil lease. Tarzan befriends Tenny and with the youthful Abdul and Kadua supporter Habib, they begin the fight back.

We join the story with Tarzan and Tenny in Tenny's plane observing the Tuaregs in battle against forces loyal to Kadua and led by Abdul and Habib.

 

Two further consecutive episodes have survived from 1958. In these we learn that animals have mysteriously disappeared from the jungle and something strange has happened to Jad-Bel_Jar, the Golden Lion. He's been badly burned and has been stalking the villagers, much to the puzzlement of Tarzan and Abdul. An evil witchdoctor appears to be involved.

 

Want to check out a few episodes of the Tarzan, King of the Apes - The Australian Serial?

              

These episodes are the first 4 - every - of the Australian serial Tarzan, King of the Apes - great listening - they can be freely downloaded to your computer - just right button click on any link below and chose "Download Linked File" (or words to that effect). The file is on an average about 11Mb - download time will depend on your (broadband) speed:

 

TZKAAU_1954-08-16 Shipwrecked Treasure Hunters.mp3

TZKAAU_1954-08-17 A First Meeting with Jane.mp3

TZKAAU_1954-08-18 History in an Empty Hut.mp3

TZKAAU_1954-08-19 Fight with Numa the Lion.mp3

 

These 2 MP3 CDs consists of Tarzan on Radio, a 30 minute documentary in which Professor Jeffrey Richards interviews noted Tarzan on Radio historian Robert R. Barrett as well the two 39 episode Tarzan serials: Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher & Tarzan and the Fires of Tohr. Each has been carefully restored having full introductions and conclusions - the excessively long musical intro in Diamond of Asher has been trimmed (but not at the expense of the atmosphere thus generated)

The second CD comprises the 20 surviving episodes of the Australian serial: Tarzan, King of the Apes

 

A.      A 30 minute BBC documentary of Tarzan on Radio

 

B.      Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher

 

1.          TDA_1934-05-01 EpisodeNo.1.mp3

2.          TDA_1934-05-02 EpisodeNo.2.mp3

3.          TDA_1934-05-03 EpisodeNo.3.mp3

4.          TDA_1934-05-04 EpisodeNo.4.mp3

5.          TDA_1934-05-07 EpisodeNo.5.mp3

6.          TDA_1934-05-08 EpisodeNo.6.mp3

7.          TDA_1934-05-09 EpisodeNo.7.mp3

8.          TDA_1934-05-10 EpisodeNo.8.mp3

9.          TDA_1934-05-11 EpisodeNo.9.mp3

10.       TDA_1934-05-14 EpisodeNo.10.mp3

11.       TDA_1934-05-15 EpisodeNo.11.mp3

12.       TDA_1934-05-16 EpisodeNo.12.mp3

13.       TDA_1934-05-17 EpisodeNo.13.mp3

14.       TDA_1934-05-18 EpisodeNo.14.mp3

15.       TDA_1934-05-21 EpisodeNo.15.mp3

16.       TDA_1934-05-22 EpisodeNo.16.mp3

17.       TDA_1934-05-23 EpisodeNo.17.mp3

18.       TDA_1934-05-24 EpisodeNo.18.mp3

19.       TDA_1934-05-25 EpisodeNo.19.mp3

20.       TDA_1934-05-28 EpisodeNo.20.mp3

21.       TDA_1934-05-29 EpisodeNo.21.mp3

22.       TDA_1934-05-30 EpisodeNo.22.mp3

23.       TDA_1934-05-31 EpisodeNo.23.mp3

24.       TDA_1934-06-01 EpisodeNo.24.mp3

25.       TDA_1934-06-04 EpisodeNo.25.mp3

26.       TDA_1934-06-05 EpisodeNo.26.mp3

27.       TDA_1934-06-06 EpisodeNo.27.mp3

28.       TDA_1934-06-07 EpisodeNo.28.mp3

29.       TDA_1934-06-08 EpisodeNo.29.mp3

30.       TDA_1934-06-11 EpisodeNo.30.mp3

31.       TDA_1934-06-12 EpisodeNo.31.mp3

32.       TDA_1934-06-13 EpisodeNo.32.mp3

33.       TDA_1934-06-14 EpisodeNo.33.mp3

34.       TDA_1934-06-15 EpisodeNo.34.mp3

35.       TDA_1934-06-18 EpisodeNo.35.mp3

36.       TDA_1934-06-19 EpisodeNo.36.mp3

37.       TDA_1934-06-20 EpisodeNo.37.mp3

38.       TDA_1934-06-21 EpisodeNo.38.mp3

39.       TDA_1934-06-22 EpisodeNo.39.mp3

 

C.              Tarzan and the Fires of Tohr

 

1.           TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.01.mp3

2.           TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.02.mp3

3.           TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.03.mp3

4.           TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.04.mp3

5.           TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.05.mp3

6.           TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.06.mp3

7.           TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.07.mp3

8.           TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.08.mp3

9.           TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.09.mp3

10.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.10.mp3

11.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.11.mp3

12.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.12.mp3

13.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.13.mp3

14.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.14.mp3

15.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.15.mp3

16.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.16.mp3

17.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.17.mp3

18.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.18.mp3

19.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.19.mp3

20.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.20.mp3

21.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.21.mp3

22.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.22.mp3

23.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.23.mp3

24.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.24.mp3

25.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.25.mp3

26.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.26.mp3

27.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.27.mp3

28.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.28.mp3

29.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.29.mp3

30.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.30.mp3

31.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.31.mp3

32.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.32.mp3

33.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.33.mp3

34.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.34.mp3

35.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.35.mp3

36.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.36.mp3

37.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.37.mp3

38.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.38.mp3

39.       TFT_1936-xx-xx EpisodeNo.39.mp3

 

 

Tarzan, King of the Apes - the Australian Serial

 

A.  The Beginnings of Tarzan

 

1.           TZKAAU_1954-08-16 Shipwrecked Treasure Hunters.mp3

2.           TZKAAU_1954-08-17 A First Meeting with Jane.mp3

3.           TZKAAU_1954-08-18 History in an Empty Hut.mp3

4.           TZKAAU_1954-08-19 Fight with Numa the Lion.mp3

 

 

B.   The Valley of the Scorpions

 

1.           TZKAAU_1955-06-08 Routed by the Tuaregs.mp3

2.           TZKAAU_1955-06-09 Refuelling at the Oasis.mp3

3.           TZKAAU_1955-06-13 Reconnoitre by Air.mp3

4.           TZKAAU_1955-06-14 Chandler Intervenes.mp3

5.           TZKAAU_1955-06-15 The Waterhole Ruse.mp3

6.           TZKAAU_1955-06-16 Meeting with Hussien.mp3

7.           TZKAAU_1955-06-20 Opposing Truck Convoys.mp3

8.           TZKAAU_1955-06-21 Defending the Valley.mp3

9.           TZKAAU_1955-06-22 On the Attack.mp3

10.       TZKAAU_1955-06-23 Ever Dangerous Chandler.mp3

11.       TZKAAU_1955-06-27 Battle Lines Drawn.mp3

12.       TZKAAU_1955-06-28 Clandestine Recruitment.mp3

13.       TZKAAU_1955-06-29 The Final Battle.mp3

14.       TZKAAU_1955-06-30 Fond Farewells and US Bound.mp3

 

C. The Golden Lion

 

1.           TZKAAU_1957-08-14 Stalked Again by Jad-Bel-Jar.mp3

2.           TZKAAU_1957-08-15 The Search for Jad-Bel-Jar.mp3

 

 

 

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