THE ADVENTURES OF DOC SAVAGE For further information, contact the author at: dickjudge@juno.com Clark Savage Jr., known as "Doc Savage, Man of Bronze, was born in the early thirties in the extremely popular pulp fiction of that era. This was a one man army for justice. Over 6' tall he was muscled like Hercules; raised by scientists he was turned into a mental and physical superman with super eyesight and super hearing. He surrounded himself with five men with individual strengths - Renny, Johnny, Long Tom, Ham and Monk. Years before this NPR series there was a brief history of Doc Savage on the radio. There were twenty-six 15 minute scripts for a series that began in Feb. 1934 over the Don Lee network, with national syndication beginning in September of that year. Unfortunately none of these programs have surfaced but all 26 scripts have been found. The titles for the "early" series are listed below after the NPR information This NPR series was syndicated late in 1985 over various stations. Set in the early 1930s, the Fear Key story took place in New York City while The 1000-Headed Man started life in London and then ran off to Indo- China. The story lines were quick-paced and well scripted. Both were adapted from Lester Dent's original stories. Mr. Dent was the man behind the Man of Bronze. It was his idea and in addition to many Doc Savage stories, wrote all 26 of the 1934 scripts. This NPR series was offered by the Variety Arts Radio Theater under special arrangement with Conde Nast Publications. ALL of the programs below are in circulation. For additonal information feel free to contact the author of this article, dickjudge@juno.com. *********************************************************************** DATE TITLE & STORY LINE ------------------ ---------------------------------------------------- Dec 29, 1985 Fear Key: Ch. 1 Kidnapped Doc is kidnapped but escapes & learns that his abductors are members of the Santini gang Jan 5, 1986 Fear Key: Ch. 2 Hanging Man In wake of another kidnapping, Doc's cohorts, The Fabulous Five, enter the scene with his cousin Pat Savage & an old salt who claims to be 131 years old Jan 12, 1986 Fear Key: Ch. 3 Disappointing Parcel Cousin Pat trails the Santini gang, Doc tries to learn the connection between the first of the wealthy men and Santini's firm, Fountain of Youth Inc. Jan 19, 1986 Fear Key: Ch. 4 Island of Death Scene shifts to Caribbean & island of Fear Key as Santini fails to blow up Doc's plane but traps him & luscious Kel Avery Jan 26, 1986 Fear Key: Ch. 5 Terror Underground Mysterious old man, Dan Thunden, appears to be what he claims and Doc & his friends discover a deadly secret about the island Feb 2, 1986 Fear Key: Ch. 6 Mysterious Weeds Doc's team finds itself in Santini's hands and it looks like the evil villain will obtain the secret of Fear Key Feb 9, 1986 Fear Key: Ch. 7 Crawling Terror, (conclusion) Doc discovers the secret and just in the nick of time. Doc uses a grenade to protect the fate of the mysterious island Feb 16, 1986 1000-Headed Man: Ch. 1 The Black Stick Doc finds himself with a key to the secret of a man with 1000 heads Mar 23, 1986 1000-Headed Man: Ch. 2 Three Black Sticks Evil Sen Gat kidnaps two of Doc's cohorts & tries to trade them to Doc for 3 mysterious keys Mar 2, 1986 1000-Headed Man: Ch. 3 Flight Into Fear Linda and Rex are tricked into going to Indo-China. Doc follows them but is too late to save them from being overcome by an invisible force Mar 9, 1986 1000-Headed Man: Ch. 4 Pagoda of the Hands Doc's plane is destroyed by a mysterious ball of fire. He comes across a weird stone enclosure and then a hissing sound that leads to his capture Mar 16, 1987 1000-Headed Man: Ch. 5 Accursed City Doc along with Lucille have reached the lost city of the 1000-Headed man. She disappears and Sen Gat tries to bargain for 2 of the 3 black sticks Mar 23, 1986 1000-Headed Man: Ch. 6 Deadly Treasure (Conclusion) Doc Savage rescues Calvin Copeland and members of his expedition and the secret of the lost city is revealed *********************************************************************** The lost Doc Savage show titles from the 1934 series: Beginning in Feb. 1934 over the Don Lee network and syndicated nationally in September of that year. Known show numbers Unknown show numbers Prog. 1 The Red Death The Box of Fear Prog. 2 The Golden Legacy The Phantom Terror Prog. 3 The Red Lake Quest Mantrap Mesa Prog. 4 The Sniper in the Sky Fast Workers Prog. 5 The Evil Extortionists Needle in a Chinese Haystack Prog. 6 Black-Light Magic Monk Called It Justice Prog. 7 Radium Scramble The White-Haired Devil Prog. 8 Death Had Blue Hands The Oilfield Ogres Prog. 9 The Sinister Sleep The Fainting Lady Prog. 10 The Southern Star Mystery Poison Cargo Prog. 11 The Impossible Bullet Find Curley Morgan Prog. 12 The Too-Talkative Parrot The Growing Wizard Prog. 13 The Blue Angel Prog. 14 The Green Ghost