Tarzan had always been a legend in America, thanks to Edgar Rice Burroughs' popular novels. But it was on September 10, 1932, that the Lord of the Jungle made his radio debut and became a sensation like never before.
The Tarzan show was unique in many ways. Unlike other radio programs that were broadcast live, the Tarzan show was prerecorded onto phonograph records, which were then shipped off to radio stations across the country. This allowed for the show to be heard in many different places at once, making Tarzan a household name overnight. But what set the Tarzan show apart was the state-of-the-art recording technology and elaborate sound effects that were used.
Burroughs had written about the jungle in vivid detail, and the radio producers spared no expense in bringing it to life. They injected all the jungle noises, including the roaring of Numa the lion, the screaming of Sheeta the panther, the cries of the bull apes, the laughing of the hyenas, the rustling of the leaves, and the screams and shouts.
As a result, Tarzan's adventures came to life in the minds of listeners across America. Children and adults alike would huddle around their radios, imagining themselves swinging through the jungle, fighting off dangerous animals, and saving the day.
Did you know that the original radio adaptation of Tarzan was first broadcast on WOR in New York City and was later syndicated by the World Broadcasting System? The production was later moved to Hollywood, California. James Pierce played the role of Tarzan, while Joan Burroughs, daughter of Edgar Rice Burroughs who created the Tarzan stories, played the character of Jane. For the 77 episodes, the program's writer used material from the original Tarzan books to prepare scripts, which were then revised by Burroughs himself for accuracy.
It's intriguing to note that Tarzan's radio adventures ended in 1935, despite the fact that the character was a perfect fit for radio drama. However, a new production featuring the iconic ape man emerged in 1951, with Lamont Johnson voicing the role in 75 thrilling 30-minute jungle adventures. Initially, the program was syndicated by Commodore Productions, and later purchased by CBS in 1952, where it was aired on a coveted Saturday night time slot. What's even more remarkable is that despite the challenging state of the radio industry at that time, the show managed to garner impressive ratings, cementing its place as a beloved classic in the history of radio drama.
This is a production of the Old Time Radio Researchers (OTRR) Group located at Old Time Radio Researchers Website (www.otrr.org), Old Time Radio Researchers Facebook Group, and Old Time Radio Researchers Group.
It contains the most complete and accurate version of this series in the best sound possible at the time of creation. An updated version will be issued if more episodes or better-sounding ones become available.
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