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November 18, 2025 34 mins
Today's Adventure: The classic story of an adventure-seeking young man who becomes a lone castaway on a remote island.

Originating Radio Broadcast Date: September 2, 1944

Originating from New York

Starring: John Thomas; Juano Hernandez; Neil Fitzgerald; Rod Hendrickson; Paul Conrad; Kermit Murdoch; Ed Collins; Brad Barker 

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to the Great Adventurers of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho.
This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we
are going to bring you this week's episode of Adventure Ahead.
But first I do want to encourage you, if you're
enjoying the podcast, to please follow us using your favorite

(00:28):
podcast software, and I want to encourage you to check
out our other podcasts. And right now my focus will
be on the Old Time Radio snack Wagon, where every
week we serve up a bot sized portion of old
time radio. These are shorter old time radio programs. Either
they're excerpts of longer shows that are self contained, or

(00:51):
they are short programs that are quite entertaining. And we
feature such a wide variety of programming on the podcast.
Now there are a lot of obscure programs you might
never have heard of. The music programs like The Royal
Hawaiian Hotel or The Hour of Charm or Wings Over Jordan,

(01:16):
or dramas like Family Doctor. But we've also featured some
of Hollywood's biggest stars of the era, including Jimmy Stewart,
Jimmy Duranti, Lucille Ball, Said Caesar, Groucho Marx, and so
many more with the old time Radio snack Wagon. You
don't know what exactly you're going to get, but it

(01:39):
will be an interesting, delightful snack of old time radio,
perfect for a short drive or a short walk. Check
it out at snackwagon dot net or wherever you get
your podcast from. Well Now. From September the second, nineteen
forty four, here is Robinson Crusoe.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Adventure Ahead.

Speaker 3 (02:20):
The National Broadcasting Company presents another in the new series
of Famous Stories for young people, Adventure Ahead. This week
that classic of thrilling adventure Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe,
a story which brought reading excitement to over fifteen generations
of boys and girls, and so Adventure Ahead.

Speaker 4 (02:49):
Adventure the one thing that I wanted most in life
to saale afar off seas, to seek my fortune and
the mystery of distant lands. I have none of England's
peaceful Shorty sixteen fifty one. I meant to make my
own adventure in the world alone.

Speaker 5 (03:08):
Robinson.

Speaker 6 (03:09):
Yes, father, you determined to leave home, your friends and
to follow this mad impulse.

Speaker 4 (03:14):
It's not an impulse, father, I've always wanted to go
to sea and visit foreign countries.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
Now that I finished school.

Speaker 4 (03:20):
I'm going up to London and sign up for the
first ship I can find.

Speaker 6 (03:23):
And nothing I can say will make you change your mind.
My father, you're making a mistake.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
My son.

Speaker 6 (03:30):
You're young and inexperience.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
But I'm almost a man. I can learn.

Speaker 6 (03:35):
But it won't be easy, Robinson. And you're alone, away
from friends and family.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
Oh, I'll never be lonely. That doesn't bother me.

Speaker 5 (03:43):
Loneliness.

Speaker 6 (03:44):
You don't know what it is to be lone with son,
But you learn someday when you're without friends.

Speaker 2 (03:51):
Without hope, without courage.

Speaker 6 (03:54):
And that'll be the test, Robinson Crusoe, of whether or
not you're a man.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
I think you want to sail for brazil Land, Yes, sir,
most anywhere happened. Well, we can use you on the crew. Oh,
thank you, sir. Bring your gear aboard. We're under way tonight.

Speaker 7 (04:27):
D the odds, Yes, sir, get that job.

Speaker 8 (04:35):
Build on the way, yes, break out for tens Zlo
dream the yard out.

Speaker 4 (04:51):
Our course was laid southwest by west through the Caribbean
seas well off the trade routes, but the way went well,
so we reached the Curry Bay coast the Cannibal coast
of South America. There we ran Apollo, tropic scorn, tempest, hurricane,

(05:12):
and lashed and tore against our ship, snapped the naps.

Speaker 3 (05:15):
Let me be.

Speaker 2 (05:21):
Huso of Buzau. Yes, let a hand here.

Speaker 8 (05:26):
Breaking up the last boats, the long boat, the honest
cofanded ship. But here off the combe boats. Aye, it's
not only can whe's a nd and off the stubburn.
We'll try and thank you in the law boat. But
what cannibal, What about the cannibal has to take the
ten busau.

Speaker 5 (05:44):
We can't save a ski.

Speaker 4 (05:46):
The backday, none of us managed to launch the longboat
and escape the stricken ship. But we were tossed and
shaken like a max box in the heavy sea, and
gulfed by every wing until I broke a stand no more,
not by an optonous wave. It split it, spilling us

(06:09):
into the roaring sea. I quite stood group in piece
of wood, watching all the others driven past me, hoping
that I might somehow keep afloat and reach the dim
outline of land. I saw my head a tiny island
in the storm, passed up along the sandy beach. I

(06:35):
pulled myself beyond the surface. Thank God that I was alive.
Hold way desn't alone. I seemed to be the only
member of the crew to reach the island, the only
one alive, and even with the storm around me, I
fell asleep, weary, exhausted, and very much alone.

Speaker 2 (07:22):
In the morning, I was still alone.

Speaker 4 (07:25):
The storm had blown itself away, and the tropic sun
beat down upon the island, drenching all the jungle wilderness
with suffocating heat. The island wasn't very large, not more
than five or six miles square, but covered with a dense,
entangled foliage, a solitary forest of mystery and silence, suggesting

(07:48):
that I might well be the only human on that
lonely strip of land, and the strong, strange feeling of
being very much alone possessed me. But as I looked
out to see the ship, I saw our ship, or
what was left of her, caught on the reef. She

(08:09):
lay about a mile off shore.

Speaker 2 (08:11):
Broken, splitter, dexawash.

Speaker 4 (08:13):
It was impossible that anyone could be alive out there,
And yet the feeling now of loneliness, of wanting to
find a fellow man, sent me.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
Swimming out far out to forward the stricken ship. Hello, Hello,
is anyone aboard?

Speaker 5 (08:43):
Hello?

Speaker 4 (08:48):
But only the wind answered my call. Ship was empty, broken, useless,
like a twisted shell. I'm crumbling fast beneath the pounding
waves and heavy tide. And then I knew full well
the island was to be my home, where I must
try to live alone the best I could until some

(09:11):
help arrived another ship, but that might well be months
or even years. And since the ship had stores aboard
that I could use, collected all the tools and sails,
gunpowder and a fowling piece, two pistols, knives, and everything
that I might need. While searching near the pilot house,
I heard a sudden noise. Who's there, who's in there?

Speaker 2 (09:36):
Oh the dollar?

Speaker 4 (09:40):
Hell, my friend, I wonder how you lived through this storm.
I can't believe you heard it die. You're coming back
with me, my friend, You and I alone that island
over there. And so I built myself a raft from

(10:09):
broken yard arms, flashed the wood together, floaded all my
precious cargo, guns and powder, tools, some bedding in a hammock,
spare canvas and a spyglass, flour and biscuit and my
dog all floated back and landed on the island, A
deserted island that could be my home. I made a

(10:41):
set of canvas shelters for the first few nights. Then
with tools, I built a stronger home, a sturdy dugout cabin.
Using forest would I cut hewed with muddy earth to
fill a chink some cracks. After that a fence, a
high stockage to protect me from the jungle. Yes, I
was secure within my castle then and felt content with

(11:04):
what was mine. But I also felt more strongly a
sense of loneliness. And sometimes at night I dreamed loneliness.

Speaker 6 (11:18):
You'll learn about it some day sun when you're without friends,
or hope or courage, And that will be the test,
my son, of whether or not you're a man.

Speaker 4 (11:36):
When I built a well protected home, I took my
musket of my dog and went a field ghost every day,
exploring all the jungle, woodland, hills and valleys.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
But I found no trace of living men upon the islands,
no animals except a few.

Speaker 4 (11:52):
While ghosts quite difficult to kill, but hoping to domesticate them,
I caught a few built a small enclosure for them
near my habitation, so obtained fresh milk and meat. I
found several springs for drinking water in the jungle, teemed
with birds, and parrots, but they were all in for tweet.
One day I caught a parrot, though, and then resolved

(12:13):
to teach him how to speak. Was at least a
way to offset loneliness.

Speaker 2 (12:21):
Well, Polly, poor Crusso, poor rab crosser, Yes, poor Robinson Crusoe.

Speaker 4 (12:35):
With my fur cap and pattered clothing, sun, umbrella made
of goat skin, and my dog and parrot, I must
have looked a strange.

Speaker 2 (12:43):
Pathetic sight. But it was the best that I could do.

Speaker 4 (12:46):
And if I seemed downcast and woeful because the future
seemed so hopeless, I felt so much alone.

Speaker 2 (12:54):
Although I watched the sea red constantly, there was no
sign of hip or sail.

Speaker 4 (12:59):
I knew it three years until a shipper boat came here.
My only destiny was loneliness.

Speaker 6 (13:12):
Poor Robinson Crucier. Three years fasted island.

Speaker 4 (13:16):
Yes, it's been a full three years, three years, but
at least we made some progress. Has we cultivated land,
raised our own food, corn and wheat? I counted all
our goats yesterday, poller four hundred.

Speaker 2 (13:28):
And twenty two goats. Not bad?

Speaker 4 (13:30):
Huh?

Speaker 3 (13:31):
Not bad?

Speaker 4 (13:32):
Well that rate in twenty years out twenty years, i'd
be possible. I'll be stranded here for twenty years.

Speaker 2 (13:53):
Old.

Speaker 4 (13:54):
That's right, that's a good dog. Oh almost to the
other beat, expect I should have left you at home, Polly.
Seems that we haven't been over on this side of
the island for almost a year. Nice sandy beach.

Speaker 2 (14:10):
Along here, almost like the one on our side of
the island.

Speaker 5 (14:13):
Huh. I wonder how far it.

Speaker 4 (14:15):
Might be from here to the island coastwy Bay, coast
of South America.

Speaker 2 (14:19):
Why it must be last? And what's wrong? What's wrong?

Speaker 5 (14:23):
What is it?

Speaker 2 (14:24):
What's the matter? Look foot in the sand.

Speaker 4 (14:44):
Suddenly the islander I thought was safe deserted. It's filled
with danger. I'm seeing terror lurking in the jungle.

Speaker 2 (14:54):
Back in my Stockhade, I was afraid to fench your
rock for several days. Now they might have made the
footprint for the.

Speaker 4 (15:04):
Word tribes of Cannibals on the mainland. I'd almost thought
that they were many miles away. Now I didn't know
how far away they were. They brooded, worried, restless, watching ever,
watching with my spyglass, but some sign of a ship
or a boat. It was on a Friday, I remember,

(15:26):
I was watching, and then one came a boat with
ragged sails. Some sort of Indian canoe came paddling toward
my beach, and I went scrambling through the jungle with
my dog and musket.

Speaker 2 (15:37):
Close to the point where they land. Quiet white, you
mustn't know what here. Got to be cannibal, right, three
of them and got a prisoner. Night. They're going to
kill him, the prisoner. They must be cannibal.

Speaker 5 (15:53):
No, No, he's poken loose.

Speaker 2 (15:54):
He's running this wing with the cup.

Speaker 5 (15:56):
He's running this.

Speaker 2 (15:57):
Way, here, here, this way, come here, come. Oh, but
you don't little careful. There comes one away. He's coming
this way. I'll have to shoot them. Tells you that's better.

Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yeah, there's guns a running for their posts.

Speaker 5 (16:20):
Good, I've got nothing of the country.

Speaker 4 (16:28):
You don't need to be afraid anymore. I won't hurt
you about you. I don't know what you're saying. There's
no need to fear those savages. You can stay here
on the island with me. I'll take care of you.
I'll be glad to take care of you. So you
need to hit what I need someone to help me
here return. I'll give you food, place to rest. I'll

(16:50):
teach you English so you how to farm. And live
the way we do in England. And since I found
you on a Friday, that's what I'll call you you Friday, right,
That's right. Your name is Friday.

Speaker 2 (17:18):
Now once more Friday, play it once again? Hi on island,
mich Crusoe, my friend. Well, well finished your work already?

Speaker 9 (17:37):
Oh yes, mister Crusoe, Ah done, Frank, money seeds much gun?

Speaker 2 (17:45):
I like what for you well, Friday, our new stockade
comple Oh.

Speaker 5 (18:00):
Yes, mister Cruso. I like very much to work with tools.
Cappen the tool.

Speaker 4 (18:05):
Hi, You've got a good strong fence there. I've needed
that for several years.

Speaker 5 (18:09):
Is there strong? Mister Crusoe.

Speaker 2 (18:12):
You've learned to be a good carpenter Friday and a
god woodsman.

Speaker 9 (18:15):
I like to learn to mix things with my hands. Yes,
I know, I have learned to do. Money can work
since you saved.

Speaker 5 (18:22):
Me and bech.

Speaker 2 (18:23):
Yes, you've been with me a long time Friday.

Speaker 9 (18:26):
Long time, long time, money, moons, more moons than.

Speaker 5 (18:30):
Cinders on my hands.

Speaker 2 (18:31):
Yes, waste two years, long time.

Speaker 5 (18:35):
But I am happy to work for you, mister Cruso.
I like to stay beside you.

Speaker 6 (18:43):
Always always, Oh yes, yes always.

Speaker 5 (18:47):
If you lack me do you.

Speaker 4 (18:50):
Ever miss your own people, Friday, the tribe, the Indians
far from here on the main one.

Speaker 9 (18:54):
No, no, no, I never think but then, mister Crusoe,
because I want to learn many kind of work.

Speaker 5 (19:02):
I want to be how you see civilized. I want
to be like you.

Speaker 4 (19:09):
I often wonder if I am still civilized through all
these years alone.

Speaker 5 (19:15):
You miss you, miss your Pip, mister Cruso.

Speaker 2 (19:20):
Yes, I missed more than I ever realized. I could.

Speaker 5 (19:25):
You want much go back to your people, back England.

Speaker 4 (19:29):
That's all I've dreamt about for many years, as long
as I can remember, I've thought only about escaping from
this island.

Speaker 2 (19:37):
Already such dreams are hopeless. I'm afraid. I thought there
was but a way I could escape.

Speaker 5 (19:43):
But I could build but and we could go together.

Speaker 2 (19:47):
No Friday.

Speaker 4 (19:48):
We might reach the mainland with it, but that would
be no help. Mayland's wild with fribes of Kari Bay cannibals.
England is my destination.

Speaker 5 (19:56):
Then we could build big boat, mister Cruso.

Speaker 4 (20:00):
To take a bigger boat than we could ever build
a sail of England.

Speaker 5 (20:03):
There is no way, no, but big enough.

Speaker 4 (20:07):
Yes, there are ships, large enough, yep ships, great white birds,
larger than you've ever seen. Oh, they've never come near
this island as long as I've been here, Friday, I've
never seen a sailing ship come near.

Speaker 5 (20:22):
And one those those ships could take you back to England.

Speaker 4 (20:27):
Yes, you are lonely, yes, Friday, even with you here,
it's not the same as England.

Speaker 2 (20:39):
But I've grown used to the loneliness.

Speaker 4 (20:42):
My father tried to save me once from the sort
of life. Gave me very sound advice, you fuddy. Yes,
I like to see him again. Tell him that I've
earned my lesson. Well, I've learned the penalty of loneliness.

Speaker 5 (20:59):
Some day, some day, Ship, make him you can go.

Speaker 4 (21:04):
Back, Perhaps, I hope so Friday didn't, mister Gruso. If
you go in England, yes, Freddy one, go with you
to England. I want go with you to work for you.
You you are my king, my master. No, Friday, I
don't want a slave. If you go with me, you'll

(21:25):
go as my friend. And after that, for months and
months we seem to talk of nothing but escape. All
seemed hopeless in a way that we were doomed to
spend our lives on Forgotten Island. Until one afternoon, when

(21:47):
we were hunting Friday suddenly called white bird.

Speaker 5 (21:52):
I see good, white bird. It's a sale Friday.

Speaker 4 (21:56):
It's a ship, a full rink clipper ship, a big good. Yes,
a ship has somehow reached our island. But as we watched,
there's seen something strange about the ship. The way she
lay at anchor without flags.

Speaker 2 (22:16):
Why was she there? Why she picked my island?

Speaker 4 (22:20):
So when along boat started out, we raced along the
beach and waited hiding in the tangled thicket.

Speaker 10 (22:32):
Easy now, McGuire, easy mate, I said, I can't give
then the Handcramer, get these empty water kegs unloaded, I said,
the chance we might find fresh water here, maybe certainly
need fresh water aboard ship. Aye, island looks deserted.

Speaker 2 (22:51):
There may be wild animals.

Speaker 10 (22:52):
You've got the pistol McGuire. That's right, Captain, all right,
then let's head up the beach.

Speaker 11 (22:57):
Oh no, you don't, Captain thumpson Eh Captain, why prist
food pointed right at your heart? Captain Thompson, I mean
to you that if I have to framer, I'm might
think we are to tie up the captain.

Speaker 2 (23:10):
Good idea McGuire, get that kyler rope.

Speaker 10 (23:13):
From the land boat.

Speaker 2 (23:14):
I I'm maguire.

Speaker 10 (23:15):
Look here, mate, what's the meaning of this?

Speaker 5 (23:17):
Careful air?

Speaker 2 (23:18):
Captain?

Speaker 5 (23:18):
No false moves?

Speaker 2 (23:19):
But what are you going to do?

Speaker 11 (23:20):
You'll find out soon enough, Captain. This is just part
of the plan. Me and Framer worked out plan to
get you out of the way. Captain, you like this
deserted island so well, we're gonna leave you here.

Speaker 5 (23:34):
What why?

Speaker 2 (23:36):
How are you pay for this? McGuire?

Speaker 11 (23:37):
How will i Captain Thompson? I'm given here from now
and when I want your opinion, I'll ask for it.

Speaker 2 (23:43):
Your here, good tith hands first and lash him tight?
All right, maguire, But you can't do this. The ship,
the ship.

Speaker 11 (23:53):
You've seen the last of your ship, Captain Thompson. When
me and Kramer get back aboard, I'm taking over command.
I'll run the ship the way I want to night.

Speaker 6 (24:04):
This is mutiny.

Speaker 2 (24:05):
Aye, aye, that's right.

Speaker 11 (24:07):
But the crew will never know. We'll tell him you
had an accident, and before you died, you made me captain.

Speaker 2 (24:14):
But you'll be caught.

Speaker 11 (24:15):
The authorities shall never know what happened, Captain Thompson's.

Speaker 5 (24:18):
But you can't.

Speaker 7 (24:19):
You can't leave me here.

Speaker 2 (24:20):
Why the island's deserted I'll starve, I'll die.

Speaker 11 (24:23):
That's the general idea. Captain, Me and Kramer don't think
you're worth wasting powder and shat hands. So we're going
to tie up and leave your hair on the beach.

Speaker 6 (24:34):
Why why you black?

Speaker 11 (24:36):
I always said I'd get even with you, Captain Thompson,
and it'll give me pleasure.

Speaker 6 (24:41):
Know when you're tied.

Speaker 2 (24:42):
A death, a slow death, and.

Speaker 11 (24:45):
A deserted island. Yeah, a desert island.

Speaker 2 (24:52):
What they do, mister Krustol, what they mean mutiny? That's
what it means. Newton, righty.

Speaker 4 (24:59):
We must think of a skin, a way to rescue
the captain from those men, those fiends. That ship out
there may be going back to England and freedom. You
must think of a way to save the captain.

Speaker 11 (25:09):
Yes, I have trn I go down, I leave their
creamer up. I'm might slash his arms back, that's the
main thing, so he can't swim for the ship before
we get underway.

Speaker 7 (25:25):
But mate, you can't leave me here alone.

Speaker 5 (25:27):
I imploy you.

Speaker 2 (25:28):
Please don't leave me here alone. Listen to the dog wire.

Speaker 5 (25:33):
No, please shut up. But you're you're making a mistake.

Speaker 7 (25:36):
You have no reason to waterguire.

Speaker 5 (25:40):
An Indian you you comfort treasure?

Speaker 2 (25:45):
Huh treasure?

Speaker 5 (25:47):
Who are you?

Speaker 2 (25:48):
How'd you get here?

Speaker 5 (25:49):
We live here? Find treasure? In for it?

Speaker 12 (25:52):
You will wore silver, your comfortature treasure. Ha maguire, you
think there's a treasure on this island? Mike Be, you
can't have a tell?

Speaker 6 (26:03):
Would not tell long?

Speaker 2 (26:06):
Hey bye?

Speaker 5 (26:07):
Mister?

Speaker 2 (26:08):
Uh the treasure?

Speaker 6 (26:11):
Where is it?

Speaker 5 (26:11):
It's a pullet I saw on you.

Speaker 2 (26:14):
I think I'll take a look, hike.

Speaker 7 (26:17):
I'll take your eye.

Speaker 11 (26:18):
I am Captain Thompson.

Speaker 2 (26:19):
Huhm, But but I haven't got a pistol. You won't
need one.

Speaker 6 (26:22):
I'll be right back. But but my boy, I said
I'd be right back.

Speaker 11 (26:25):
I'll keep him tied up.

Speaker 2 (26:27):
Boy? Is it a big treasure, my boy? A big treasure?

Speaker 9 (26:31):
Who is?

Speaker 5 (26:31):
Yes? Very big tour there is?

Speaker 2 (26:36):
Well? Where is it? Where is the treasure?

Speaker 5 (26:37):
I saw you? Mister who here? Who here? Mister uh? Here?
It is?

Speaker 2 (26:46):
Huh where? I don't see any treasure? Where right behind you? Huh?
And Manchester? The petal of mine might go off?

Speaker 9 (26:55):
But mic a son party, I haven't mister crust ruso,
who who are you?

Speaker 2 (27:00):
How did you never mind? Who I am? Mister mate?
Turn around and started walking back to your boat. Oh lively,
there look a lot.

Speaker 5 (27:06):
But what are you going to do?

Speaker 2 (27:10):
You don't know why I'm here on this is not
hard to guess, mister mate.

Speaker 4 (27:14):
I haven't seen a ship or a sailor for many years,
but I can still recognize.

Speaker 2 (27:17):
The mutant ut Now did you not? Never mind? Look
alive there? Going back to your boat and your legal captain.

Speaker 11 (27:25):
No, no, no, I wouldn't go back, Captain Thompson, Hey,
you're killing me.

Speaker 6 (27:29):
Hang me from my yard?

Speaker 5 (27:30):
Good I No, no, I won't go back.

Speaker 2 (27:32):
You can't make me run away. Come back A shoe?
Where else?

Speaker 5 (27:37):
Shoe?

Speaker 2 (27:47):
And that's the story, Captain Thompson.

Speaker 7 (27:50):
It's incredible, crucial.

Speaker 4 (27:52):
All these years, I've been waiting for a ship to
come and take me away from this lonely place.

Speaker 2 (27:56):
This was the first ship to ever sail near my
little island. And you've lived here. You're alone these many years,
He asked, Captain. A miracle.

Speaker 7 (28:04):
It was a miracle, your gallant rescue, the way you
suddenly appeared from the jungle. I can hardly believe it yet.
And I'm in dinner to you Crusoe, for saving my
life and for saving my ship.

Speaker 2 (28:16):
Thank you captain. How can I help you Crusoe?

Speaker 6 (28:19):
How can I show my gratitude?

Speaker 4 (28:21):
I have only one request, eh, Friday, my native friend
and myself would like passage on your ship anywhere, anywhere
away from this island.

Speaker 6 (28:29):
Well, of course, to England.

Speaker 7 (28:33):
Perhaps we touched there within a year.

Speaker 2 (28:36):
To England, you say, sir, you you spoke of miracles
to me. That would be a miracle.

Speaker 6 (29:00):
Well, well, mast conness, how to realize you come back?

Speaker 4 (29:04):
Yes, Father, a little older, a little tired, but I've
learned many things.

Speaker 2 (29:10):
I've come home to stay and your friend here, Friday.

Speaker 6 (29:14):
Do you think you will like our civilization?

Speaker 5 (29:16):
Friday, Well, it's not seem as I learned, but I
will learn.

Speaker 2 (29:21):
I like it.

Speaker 6 (29:22):
Problemson tells me you're a true friend.

Speaker 4 (29:25):
He told me how to do money thing, and Friday
taught me manything. What do you mean, son, patience most
of all, and the will to go on living even
though I was alone and lonely. You know, father, I've
never forgotten what you told me this day I went
away about loneliness. I didn't believe you. Then I knew

(29:46):
you didn't. Son, He said, I had learned someday about
loneliness when I was without friends and hope and courage,
and I.

Speaker 6 (29:55):
Have learned Yes, yes, you stood the test of loneliness,
my son, And whether or not you're a man, we
let the world decide.

Speaker 3 (30:28):
And that's the story of Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe's classic tales,
as adapted for radio by Tom Gutaine. Crusoe was played
by Duken Thomas Friday by Juano Hernandez. Others in the
cast were Neil Fitzgerald, Rod Hendrickson, Paul Conrad, Kermit Murdoch,
Ed Cullen and Brad Barker.

Speaker 2 (30:48):
The music was by Doc.

Speaker 3 (30:49):
Whipple and the entire production was under the direction of
Joseph Mansfield. Listen to Adventure Ahead each week for the
stories of gallant deeds to appeal to the young in
heart of every NBC and this affiliated independent stations present
Adventure Ahead as a public service. This is the National

(31:17):
Broadcasting Company.

Speaker 1 (31:26):
Welcome back. It's worth noting that this is the only
adaptation of Robinson Crusoe from Old time radio that I
can find, and I have access to a lot of
anthology programs, and I can find multiple adaptations of stories
like a Tale of Two Cities or even Crime and punishment.

(31:49):
But this is the only one that I can find
of Robinson Crusoe. However, there are many productions and skits
that reference this story, either in some sort of parody
or in something that compares a more modern situation to
that of Robinson Crusoe, which is a testament to the
book's influence on the world and it's stained power during

(32:12):
the golden age of radio. As a radio adaptation, this
served to condense the dense plot of the book to
a few fine points. It also reduced the books philosophical
and theological struggles to the idea of loneliness, maybe somewhat repetitively.
I don't know if you are stranded on an island

(32:34):
for that long, I'd hope you would have thought had
deeper thoughts than I don't actually like being all alone. Still,
this captures much of the core plot and the adventure
of the story, and what Crusoe was able to do
and how he survived, and a nice portrayal of the

(32:55):
relationship between him and Friday. Well, now it is time
to think our Patreon supporter of the day, and I
want to thank Lewis Patreon supporter since May of twenty
twenty five. Currently supporting the podcast at the first Mate
level of seven dollars and fourteen cents or more per month.
Thanks so much for your support, Lewis, and that will

(33:16):
do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please
follow us using your favorite podcast software. And if you're
enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure to lock the video,
subscribe to the channel, and mark the notification bell, all
those great things that help YouTube channels to grow. We'll
be back next Tuesday with another episode of Adventure Ahead,

(33:39):
but be sure and join us on Saturday for Cloak
and Dagger. In the meantime, do send your comments to
Box thirteen at Greatdetectives dot net, follow us on Twitter
at Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram,
dot com, slash Great Detectives From Boise, Idaho. This is

(34:01):
your host, Adam Graham signing off.
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