October 21, 2025 • 50 mins
We're joined by Allan Liska of Green Archer Comics, co-author of the comic Buck Rogers v. the Cyberlords.
Green Archer is giving away two copies of the comic with metal covers and our listeners in the US and Canada can enter to win at their website.
Today's Adventure: The surviving chapters of Buck, Wilma, and Dr. Huer's journey to the center of the Earth, with Black Barney in the mix.
Originating Radio Broadcast Date: May or June 1939
Originating from New York
Starring: Carl Frank as Buck Rogers; Adela Ronson as Wilma Deering; Edgar Stehli as Dr. Huer; Joe Granby as Black Barney
To subscribe to this podcast and follow more adventures of Flash Gordon go to https://greatadventures.info/
Become one of our Patreon supporters at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Green Archer is giving away two copies of the comic with metal covers and our listeners in the US and Canada can enter to win at their website.
Today's Adventure: The surviving chapters of Buck, Wilma, and Dr. Huer's journey to the center of the Earth, with Black Barney in the mix.
Originating Radio Broadcast Date: May or June 1939
Originating from New York
Starring: Carl Frank as Buck Rogers; Adela Ronson as Wilma Deering; Edgar Stehli as Dr. Huer; Joe Granby as Black Barney
To subscribe to this podcast and follow more adventures of Flash Gordon go to https://greatadventures.info/
Become one of our Patreon supporters at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Mark as Played
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 the final episode we have
of Buck Rogers. But first I do want to encourage you.
If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us joining using
(00:27):
your favorite podcast software. Joining us once again is Alan
Leska of Green Archer Comics Green Archer dot I thank
you so much for being with us here again to
talk about Buck Rogers, an author co author of the
Buck Rogers and the Cyber Lord's comic. Alan, welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I'm excited for the conclusion. This has been a great,
great experience, and I love the fact that you are
sharing what little Buck Rodgers radio program is available with everybody.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Well, thanks so much, Allan. And you can actually enter
into a giveaway at green archer dot io slash Great
Adventurers and he's Alan's giving away two copies with metal
covers of the Buck Rogers and the Cyber Lords comics,
(01:29):
so you can check that out. But we're going to
return now to the spring or summer of nineteen thirty
nine for the last three episodes of the Mechanical mold
that are in circulation, but they're not really consecutive episodes,
(01:49):
so we'll kind of come back and talk about them
as we go. The first one, we gather that Buck
Rogers and his friends have talten somewhere, and we're going
to find out where that is. Let's go ahead and
take a lesson.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
But Rogers in the twenty fifth century.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
And the shower of silver dollars from Popsicle Pete's money box.
Buck Rogers in the twenty fifth century, with its prophecy
of all the wonderful things that may occur five hundred
years from now, have you ever give any really serious
thoughts to the scientific and mechanical developments of the future.
(02:45):
We'll just keep listening to Buck Rogers, and you'll have
a pretty good idea that many of the things that
are within the realm of scientific possibility.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
Now, our story so far.
Speaker 5 (02:53):
Has taken Buck and Willman, doctor Hewart the city of
Orr deep deep under the earth, a city of bounding and.
Speaker 6 (02:59):
Few golden radium.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
As we join our friends now we find them all
ready to start back to the surface to report that
amazing discovery of the government at Niagara, capital of twenty
fifth century America. Here we go five hundred years into
the future.
Speaker 7 (03:17):
Well, folks, how about getting started on the trip.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
Home, right, Wilma, Soon we get started, the better Come on,
doctor Herr.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Let's pile into the mechanical mole.
Speaker 8 (03:25):
No, no, wait, wait, Buck Gareff is bringing samples of
gold and radium to.
Speaker 6 (03:28):
Take back with us.
Speaker 9 (03:29):
Yes, doctor, I don't know what's detaining him, incidentally, my friend. Yes, now,
but this mechanical mole is a very wonderful machine.
Speaker 6 (03:38):
Just how does it burrow its way through the ground,
doctor Hewer.
Speaker 8 (03:41):
Now, but the giant heat ray in the nose melts
away the ground, and the force rays along the side
push it ahead.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
Very ingenious.
Speaker 10 (03:48):
Shall look at the hundreds of people gathered at the
other end of this great cavern.
Speaker 11 (03:52):
Why?
Speaker 7 (03:52):
Yes, evidently working like trojans over something or other.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
You're right too far away though to see what they're doing. Hmmm.
Speaker 9 (04:00):
Look, here comes our friend Garef, apparently alarmed about something.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
Well, I hope nothing wrong. Something is wrong, Gareth?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
What is it? Fuck?
Speaker 6 (04:09):
Lieutenant Wilman, Doctor Hewitt, what's the trouble? Please?
Speaker 12 (04:11):
Kind people stay and help us. No, but to the
supply source. Yeah, what terrible catacity has occurred. Our entire
city may be swept away unless you can help us.
The warning came to me while I was obtaining samples
of our golden.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
Radium for you to take back with you.
Speaker 10 (04:25):
Warning of what gas.
Speaker 12 (04:26):
It is something we have feared for a long time,
and although we try to make adequate provisions against the
day it might occur, I fear for the safety of
my people.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Now wait a minute, See them there at the end
of the cavern.
Speaker 12 (04:35):
They're struggling against forces the power of which they cannot comprehend.
The life of every one of them is in danger,
but still they try to hold it back.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
Hold what back? Gas? The water's doctor.
Speaker 12 (04:45):
Unless the source of our limitless water supply can be
stopped up, the entire city of all will be flooded.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
Oh why didn't you say so? Here, hop into this
mechanical law. We'll go over and see what it's all about.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
But can you help us?
Speaker 12 (04:55):
Can you keep the angry waters from filling up this
great cavern in which we live?
Speaker 6 (04:59):
Well, that remains to be seen.
Speaker 10 (05:00):
Right, get into the mall now, no, huh.
Speaker 12 (05:02):
You'll be protected from the flood in this wonderful machine
of yours.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
I can't be. I mustn't leave my people. Ya, don't
you Sea buck Gara.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Yes, now you're all excited, calm down and get in
here so I can close the metal door.
Speaker 6 (05:13):
But don't you simply we're going to be of help
to you. We can't waste time. Oh, yes, yes, I'm sorry.
That's better. Here Now.
Speaker 10 (05:22):
Sit right here, and it controlled from.
Speaker 6 (05:24):
The Whalehere you can tell us what's caused this unexpected couple.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Here we go.
Speaker 12 (05:29):
Oh, I hope we can get there in time to
save our city.
Speaker 8 (05:32):
Well, now tell us all you can about it, so
we'll know what needs to be done when we get there.
Speaker 12 (05:35):
Yes, doctor Hewitt, you must pardon me for being so upset,
but usual, the impending calamity has shaken me beyond words. Yes, well,
water supply comes by secret through a wall of porous
rock there at the end of the cabin. Yes, any
excess was always taken care of by simply allowing it
to run down into the end country through the tunnel
system you followed.
Speaker 6 (05:53):
To come here.
Speaker 12 (05:54):
But now now whoever the out that tunnel has become
stopped up. The water is no longer training away.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
You know, why don't you When we follow those tunnels.
We use the heat ray on this moll, then the melted.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Ground saddle back and solidified and block the tunnels after
we passed through.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
Oh why did you do that?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Fuck?
Speaker 12 (06:10):
Why did you block up the only outlet for the
water that can so easily fill.
Speaker 6 (06:13):
Up this entire cavern? Well, we didn't know as part
of your drainage system, garred or No, of course you didn't.
I'm very sorry. But now look ahead.
Speaker 12 (06:20):
Yes, how ineffectually my poor people are attempting to block
up the source of the flood.
Speaker 6 (06:25):
No, no, now, Garrett, Well, I'm surprised at you. Why
do you say that? Doctors? Why there is much water
seeping through that rock formation? But why all this excited?
It's so much more than usual.
Speaker 7 (06:34):
And the channels that carry the water down the streets
and into your reservoir, they're far from overflowing.
Speaker 12 (06:39):
But they will overflow, and we can't afford to let
the water collect in this cavern.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
Well, what's that not about?
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (06:45):
They missed around here is clouding up the outside of
our metalloglass window.
Speaker 12 (06:48):
Yes, fuck, that in itself illustrates the grave danger we're
in for what do you mean, Well, unless the water
is permitted to run freely away and down into the ground.
The heat that permeates our atmosphere turns it into a
heavy miss.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 12 (06:59):
Soon the will become saturated with moisture. It will disable
our atomic power plants and render our radium lighting system useless.
Worst of all, it will reach our chemical supplies and
liberate deadly gases. Helpless and in total darkness, we'll be
able to do nothing but wait for the poison to
completely fill our city.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
But that would take days, Gareth Weeks.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Perhaps, why so excited and scared about it all of
a sudden?
Speaker 12 (07:21):
It is the one thing against which we have never
been able to provide adequate protection. But please, while we talk,
the atmosphere becomes heavier and heavier with the dreadful moisture.
The efforts of my people to stop the water seepret
becomes more and more fruitless.
Speaker 6 (07:34):
Don't you see?
Speaker 12 (07:35):
Even now some of them falter and drop down where
they're standing.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
It can't see very well because of the wetness on
these metallograt er Yes.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
But can it be the poison gas you mentioned that is.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
Making those people dropping their tracks out of there?
Speaker 6 (07:47):
Yes?
Speaker 8 (07:47):
But please, please do something to help you yes, yes,
we stack to media.
Speaker 10 (07:50):
What do we do?
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Open the door? Let me out again.
Speaker 12 (07:52):
If by people suffer, I must suffer with no no
watch what are you going to do by turn on
the non recoil energy projector and aim it straight at
the water.
Speaker 8 (08:00):
Swait then, yes, sir, there'll be people in the way.
If you turn on the non recoil energy you crush
them against those rocks.
Speaker 5 (08:05):
Gareth can warn them to get out of the way,
or better still, I can use just a little of
the non recoil energy and push them out of harm's way.
Speaker 6 (08:12):
We'll do both. Gareth. You go out there and tell
them to get away from that rock.
Speaker 12 (08:17):
Formation if they're still able to do so. Do you
see most of them have fallen?
Speaker 8 (08:22):
You I should I think they would poison gas is right,
and we thought there was no need to hurry.
Speaker 6 (08:27):
I'm going to warn my people, but the gas will
get you too.
Speaker 12 (08:29):
Can go better if my people fall like Gareth, Gareth,
come back.
Speaker 10 (08:35):
Close the door doctor quick.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
Oh yes, yes, no, no, don't do it, toxics. Well
what if you don't, gas will get us too.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
It's the only way I can see to aimless non
recoil energy projector.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
This window is too clouded up, but here it goes.
That's it.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
But are you sure you're aming straight in the rock forming, yes, sir,
clears its own path through the mist.
Speaker 13 (09:00):
Had you closed the doors again?
Speaker 6 (09:01):
Yes, it's terrible we can now now, Wilma.
Speaker 5 (09:07):
Yes, fuck, get into a pressure suit quickly, precious you
look for I want you to hold back the water
seep it with a hand sized force ray while we
take this mechanical mold to the other side of the cavern.
Speaker 6 (09:16):
We'll blast away and outlet tunnel. Okay, buck, hurry now.
Speaker 7 (09:19):
Okay, my goodness, the air is getting better in here
with the door.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
It's getting worse for the folks out there.
Speaker 6 (09:26):
Funny about that, guess though.
Speaker 8 (09:27):
Here, Wilma, let me.
Speaker 7 (09:28):
Help you put on the helmet of that pressure thanks,
and I'll snap the climps of it inside and turn
on the midget radio equipment so we can talk here.
Speaker 6 (09:35):
You go now right over your head.
Speaker 8 (09:40):
For you ten on the radio so we can communicate
to the sure doctor there you are here.
Speaker 13 (09:44):
Me now, Wilma, Yes, doctor, I'm going on out.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Here, Wilma, don't forget this hand force.
Speaker 8 (09:49):
Rayhead now, wil right and stay there until we get back.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
Yes, okay, Buck, guess is awful.
Speaker 8 (10:01):
Yeah, and I hope we can care the atmosphere of
point's too late for some of those people out there.
Speaker 7 (10:06):
I've got my fortray on out.
Speaker 6 (10:07):
Here, good, Wilma. I can turn off the one here
on the mall. No, huh no, no, turn it up
high and sears the other end of his cabin. Right, sir,
We're on our way. Here's all the power you can.
We must waste any time. Yes, managing to hold back
that water, all right, Wilma.
Speaker 13 (10:26):
Yeah, fuck terrible, see all these people lying around.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
Out We're doing all we can to save well, hurry,
can you see your wayhead?
Speaker 7 (10:33):
All right?
Speaker 6 (10:33):
Buck?
Speaker 5 (10:34):
Not very well, but well enough to get us to
the other end of this huge cavern.
Speaker 8 (10:37):
I'll turn on a bit of the tnic radiation projected
to clear the metallow glass window.
Speaker 6 (10:41):
That's a good idea. That's it. Now, more power. Every
minute we take to get over there, less gas, and
this place gets to take out going as fast as
we can. Say, you know something, doctor mud Dock, that
guess had something.
Speaker 8 (10:54):
Very funny about I'm sorry, but I feel utterly to
see anything funny about it.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
Guess what this wall we hope whatever he is won't
be paid to all of them.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
No, it's like something I smelled before, something familiar about it.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
I don't know what it is, but I can't seem to.
He is worry about it as I should be.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Fuck.
Speaker 13 (11:12):
Yes, Willma, Yes, maybe poise, this is Garrett said, But
to meet these people out here, just to be quietly asleep?
Speaker 5 (11:19):
Well, keep that forth right, holding the water back until
we blast out some drainage tunnels.
Speaker 6 (11:24):
Then we'll ride back and pick you up. Okay, hear that,
doctor head, What matters? What do you mean?
Speaker 11 (11:30):
Well?
Speaker 6 (11:30):
I smell that gas before, maybe a long long time ago,
but somehow listen doctor business.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
I know you think I'm crazy, sir, but there's something
about it then doesn't stop us.
Speaker 6 (11:39):
We at the end of the cabin. Yes, sir, Well
about that gas.
Speaker 8 (11:44):
How can you prattle on that way when the lives
are hundreds of people at stake?
Speaker 6 (11:47):
Ou here, here's where we blast out.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
A tunnel, right, we can use it disintegrator, Yes, quickly,
hurry back, hurry Yes, I guess.
Speaker 13 (11:55):
I didn't clap on my helmet price what gas?
Speaker 5 (11:59):
This?
Speaker 14 (12:00):
W Willda.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Good night?
Speaker 6 (12:10):
Now.
Speaker 5 (12:10):
Wilma's life is in parallel they can't go back to
her until they've cleared a tunnel that may save hundreds,
and yet they don't go back to her. Well, now
stand by and listen to a few words from your
favorite announcer before we pick up our story again.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Welcome back. So Alan, what did you think of this one?
Speaker 6 (12:39):
So?
Speaker 3 (12:40):
I am really bummed because the obvious setup that they
had going here was that the gas that they were
that was released on the people in this in the
underground City was the gas that put Buck Rogers to
sleep for five hundred years. So if you've only experienced
Buck Rogers through the TV show, you think that he
(13:02):
fell asleep in a spaceship and so on. But in
the original story, he came across a pocket of gas
and slept for five hundred years. And so I really
would like to know where they went with that, because
you know, it was very much hinted in the part
in the first part that that gas smells really familiar.
It's something about you know that, And of course everybody
(13:26):
was falling asleep, so all the hints were there, and
I am bummed that we missed that part. But I
thought that this was great for introducing people to so
many of the Buck Rogers characters.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Well, I I thought that this was nice. It was
kind of a throwback to the early comic Stramp. People
think of Buck Rogers in space. But one thing that
I was when I picked up and I read the
original comic Stramp that impressed me was that for most
(14:01):
of the first year or two, they were just going
around the Earth and they were finding out finding weird
things that either had always been there, you know in
theory and world, like the lost continent of Atlantis, or
finding weird stuff that come out in the last few
hundred years. So this gets us back there, going to
(14:23):
this sort of underground world. I also loved how casual
they were. You know, they're like, you got days or weeks,
you know, what's there to worry about. It's well, they're
kind of under the earth, and you don't really have
a ton of options, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Yeah, no, exactly, there's there's no you know, there's no
Fema or anything that's coming to say it's your city.
You've got to figure it out and get it saved yourself, exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
And of course Will Wilma goes right into the action,
which does kind of point out a big difference between
Wilma and d Arden. I think Wilma's got a bit
more of a sense of agency and ability to do
more things, as opposed to Dale, who you know, just
kind of gets dragged around by everybody, at least in
(15:14):
a lot of the early comics and certainly in the
radio serial.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Right, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
And it's funny because in the original filed Frances Nolan stories,
she's she's a general, right, she's she's an equal in
terms of battling, and then in the movie serial and
then in the radio ceial she's very much competent and
very much is uh, you know, part of the action.
(15:39):
But then if you go and you read at least
the first year of the comics, they basically spent the
first year trying to get her as in as few
it closed as possible, as many times as possible, you know,
And so it lost something in the comic translation that
got picked back up in the radio and the movie serial.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Now, for the next segment, I should should share a
little bit of information that can be gathered from the
twelve episodes to nowhere, which I mentioned that we have
the first twelve episodes of the serial that you know,
set up a lot doesn't do a whole lot, but
we get to meet Black Barney, who was referenced in
one of the previous episodes, but we actually got to
(16:24):
meet him in those first episodes, and he had been
kind of a ne'er do well who ended up turning
to teaming up with Back Rogers. And at the start
of the radio series, he is established as the ruler
of Mars. And because he's ruler of Mars, and because
(16:45):
he's Black Barney, he decided to build his own mechanical
mole much bigger than back Rogers. And so now we're
gonna and he has a boy who an orphan, he
is adopted Willie, and we're gonna go ahead and h
(17:05):
And we don't have all the details, of course, but
apparently Blackbarney and Willie have been underground at the same
time as Buck, but they don't seem to be aware
that each other is down there as we start, And
that's the situation as we return to the twenty fifth century.
(17:28):
Let's go ahead and take a lesson.
Speaker 14 (17:33):
Rogers in that the fifth Injury and the shower of
silver dollars from popsicle feats money Box.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
Together with doctor Shure and will madeiring you know, Buck,
Rogers just finished exploring an amazing city deep under the earth,
exploration made possible by doctor Huer's invention of a mechanical mole,
a huge machine capable of burrowing its way through the ground.
As we pick up our story, now we find them
aboard the mechanical mold as it slowly but surely works
(18:16):
its way back up toward the surface. Here we go,
five hundred years into the future. All right now, Bucks,
POI stop us again so soon? Doctor, Yes, Buck, okay,
whatever you say.
Speaker 8 (18:37):
I want to check on the stratification of the ground
we're going through, to.
Speaker 10 (18:40):
See if you can tell howny of the surface we
are doctor.
Speaker 8 (18:43):
Yes, Wilma, Well, I can't do it while we're moving
because of the glare from the heat ray in the
nose of the machine.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
If it weren't for the heat rate to melt the
ground ahead of us, all the non recoil energy in
the world wouldn't move this machine.
Speaker 6 (18:55):
I'll have to turn on the forward search beam again,
you know.
Speaker 7 (18:59):
Buck, I still can't get over the city we.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Found down below, Yes, sir, golden radium all over the place,
as common to the people living down there, as stealing impervium.
Speaker 10 (19:08):
Aren't us mighty fine people? Too?
Speaker 8 (19:10):
Well, my observations indicator, we's only a very short distance
to go to reach the surface, So let's get on
the way again.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Anything to indicate whether we're on the same course we
held on the way down.
Speaker 6 (19:20):
I'm quite sure we are approximatelyly. Oh good, I don't
need to worry about coming up under any buildings.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
No, I'm quite certain we'll find ourselves on the landing
field of the Niagara Municipal Spaceport, the place from which
we started our underground explorations.
Speaker 6 (19:33):
Good, well, there we go. Hmm, that's funny.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
What's that about it?
Speaker 6 (19:41):
I don't know, sir. We don't seem to be making
any progress. Something wrong with the mechanism of mechanical mold.
Something seems to bar our way. Turn on the forward
search beam again and see what's in front of him?
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Well, Buck, come up to this metallic glass window and look,
will you say?
Speaker 5 (20:01):
See those of our mole is smack bang up against
a black, shiny surface of sometimes.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
Oh yeah, I know what it can be.
Speaker 10 (20:10):
It looks like regular metal of some kind, doesn't.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
It can't be anything very big, though, or we'd have
run into it on the way down.
Speaker 10 (20:17):
If we're on the same path we took the four.
Speaker 6 (20:19):
I'm sure we all. Wait a minute, let's see if
we can push it out of the way. Gone it
we didn't budge.
Speaker 7 (20:33):
But that must be the impervium foundations of some big
building that got buried in the ground during the Mongolian
invasion years ago.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
Possibly the heat from the thermic radiation projector makes it
grow like impervium, doesn't it.
Speaker 8 (20:46):
No, there's a greenish chint in that glowing metal that
impersium doesn't have.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
I don't know how it's going to get around it.
Speaker 10 (20:52):
Whatever it is, it's sure we can't push it out
of the way.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
I had full power on that last time. We didn't
move an inch. All right?
Speaker 7 (20:57):
Then the only thing to do is to radio to
the surface the help.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
The only question is what sort of health I know
what we do what We're not far from the surface,
and we have a couple of atomic disintegrators.
Speaker 7 (21:07):
One disintegrator we gave the other to Gareff in the
city of Board.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
Okay, once enough, well, give me a hand.
Speaker 10 (21:13):
What are you going to do with the precious suite?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
Disintegrate a hole up to the surface and then crawl
on out through it.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
No, buck, that may be very dangerous. We know we're
in now the surface that we don't know how they are.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Well, that's something I'll be able to tell you all
about in a few minutes.
Speaker 8 (21:25):
I suppose a caving should occur while you're blasting your
waist through the ground.
Speaker 6 (21:28):
The pressure suit will protect me.
Speaker 8 (21:30):
But if you lose the one disintegrator you have, if
it gets knocked out of your.
Speaker 6 (21:33):
Hand, I'll stop worrying.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Doctor.
Speaker 6 (21:36):
Somehow, we got to get back to the ground level.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
We know from past experience if there's no use trying
to move the mole against an obstacle like that out there.
Speaker 6 (21:43):
So all right, but be very careful every step of
the way.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
Sure, what I'll do is blast my way around that barrier,
whatever it is, and then.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
Head is nearly straight upward as possible. The inert current
lifting unit in this uniform will keep me floating up.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
Then as soon as I reach the surface, I'll take
off this cast iron suit and commandeer a spaceship at
the municipal spaceport.
Speaker 8 (22:04):
Good, you know our calculation is correct. It wouldn't be
far from where you were, Marge.
Speaker 10 (22:08):
And then what do you think you're going to do well.
Speaker 5 (22:10):
That will depend on how deep this mechanical mole is.
Lying only a few hundred feet. I'll swing a spaceship
up into the air, high enough to aim down a
long range disintegrator and blast away a big hole.
Speaker 6 (22:21):
Then we can float the mole up to the surface
with the gravity rays. And you better wait until you
get up there.
Speaker 8 (22:26):
We'll be in touch with you by radio all along,
and that'll be the time to decide what's to be done, right.
Speaker 10 (22:30):
Sir, Fuck, I'm not gonna let you go. It's two
days old.
Speaker 6 (22:33):
Now listen.
Speaker 7 (22:34):
There's no telling what you may run into between here
and the surface, nothing.
Speaker 5 (22:37):
More serious than a few straight out of water sand.
And this pressure uniform will protect me against any possible
cave in.
Speaker 6 (22:42):
We can't stay here underground forever. Here, now, help me
get into this thing and fast, Oh sir, we.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Can't stay here under were ground forever, Willy. So what
I'm going to do.
Speaker 11 (22:54):
Is put on this space su dam and disintegrate my
way back to the surface.
Speaker 15 (22:58):
I guess this machine we both could dig down into
the ground. Isn't so good, isn't mister Barney?
Speaker 2 (23:03):
What do you mean that they's no good.
Speaker 11 (23:05):
Just on accountter, we got stuck against something down here.
Speaker 13 (23:09):
Well, i'll bet your machine is getting along all right.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Yeah, And this here now ain't gonna be all right too. Why,
I bet it's twice as big as doctor yours.
Speaker 13 (23:17):
That's just the trouble. It's so yeah.
Speaker 11 (23:19):
Yeah, help me get onto this space helmet, and I'll
be all organized out to disintegrate a big all back
to the service.
Speaker 13 (23:26):
No, sir, mister Barney, I'm not gonna let.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
You do it. What are you talking about?
Speaker 14 (23:30):
It's too dangerous, dangerous for me that Barnye.
Speaker 13 (23:35):
Yes, sir, there's not something what you may run into
that ground.
Speaker 11 (23:37):
Out there ain't nothing to run into except for me
be a couple of lads of same to water or
watery same or something or two.
Speaker 13 (23:45):
What if the hold you disintegrate out should collapse all
over here?
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I will let it.
Speaker 11 (23:49):
I'll use this here as integrated with a broad feam focus,
I mean a broadbeam focused.
Speaker 13 (23:55):
A broadbeam focused.
Speaker 11 (23:56):
Well what I said, a broad fream. Well, well that's
that's what I'm gonna use any But what if you should.
Speaker 13 (24:03):
Run into some wild animals or something?
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Yes, they't no such thing as why or down mules.
Speaker 6 (24:11):
They're running around in the solid ground, you know that, Willy.
Speaker 11 (24:15):
Well, if I do run into it, why I'll just
bless them all to pieces with us here, and I'll disintegrator.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Won't stop to ask no questions either. I'll just let
them have it. Bring me. I'll shoot first and ask
questions afterwards.
Speaker 13 (24:29):
Oh all right, Only what about me? What if something
should happen.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
To you, Joe, worry, Willy.
Speaker 6 (24:36):
No matter what happens, I'll see that you got took
care of.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
All right.
Speaker 15 (24:41):
What isn't there some way for us to get this
big machine turned around so we can run it back
up again?
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Oh?
Speaker 11 (24:46):
What I'm gonna do is the only thing we can do.
I can't talk to you no more on the colar.
I'm gonna put on this helmet. It all but that
big buckle door for me so that I can go
on off and start disintegrating.
Speaker 13 (24:59):
All right, mister bunny.
Speaker 15 (25:00):
Only I hope you're allco careful out there, because if
anything los to happen to you, I don't.
Speaker 6 (25:04):
Know what I do.
Speaker 13 (25:07):
There's a door open for you.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Go ahead.
Speaker 13 (25:10):
I guess you can't hear me, but goodbye, and be careful.
Speaker 11 (25:17):
Boy.
Speaker 15 (25:18):
That does integrated short cuts into the ground, doesn't it?
Speaker 7 (25:31):
That disintegrated certainly cuts into the ground out there, doesn't it?
Speaker 10 (25:34):
Doctor?
Speaker 6 (25:34):
Yes, it does. Will items strange to hear it.
Speaker 8 (25:36):
Sound coming goes by radio though through the pants centering
Buck speciality.
Speaker 6 (25:40):
Yes, how's it going?
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Bug? Fine? Doctor?
Speaker 16 (25:43):
Not wasting any time trying to cut through the tough
material it's blocking them all, but just making a path
around it and slightly upward.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
Oh that guy, This handless integrator certainly does a good
job too. Look out through the forward metallic glass window.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
By the line of it, you can.
Speaker 10 (25:59):
See what kind of heck I'm no use, Bucks.
Speaker 7 (26:01):
The energy being released by the disintegration is in the
form of heat, and all we can see is a
heavy miss.
Speaker 6 (26:09):
Not this right, I had to be up the surface
of no time, just like cutting.
Speaker 10 (26:13):
Through so much. Yes, hey, this is funny what.
Speaker 6 (26:18):
I've come in the sort of a little cave.
Speaker 8 (26:20):
Here's probably a place that was washed out by underground stream.
Speaker 14 (26:23):
Yes, sir, that's what it is, all right.
Speaker 6 (26:25):
There isn't much of a ceiling to it, so I
guess i'll buck.
Speaker 10 (26:28):
Wait, well, what is it, Buck.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
I've gone of that wish I brought along a hand flash.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
How I could see it here?
Speaker 10 (26:33):
Why don't you come back and get one?
Speaker 16 (26:36):
There's something else in this cave besides me, Wilma, and
it's alive and moving around.
Speaker 10 (26:40):
Didn't come back here to the mechanical mole.
Speaker 16 (26:42):
Look, oh sir, but when you hear my disintegrator, you'll
know it's not just being fired into the ground.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
Good night, Buck sees what I think he does. I
hope he doesn't fire that disintegrator. And Barney said that
if he's anything, he'd fire first and ask questions afterwards.
And now stand by it for a few words from
your favorite enounce.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Welcome back. Well, based on what we have, I can
confirm that pretty much Black Barney's general motto is U
is to shoot first and ask questions later. What did
you What did you think of this? Of this segment?
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Alan, I actually I really love the Black Barney and
Willy relationship. You know how much Black Barney, you know,
for all of his bravado and everything on the outside,
he really loves this orphan. And again that lines up
with what's in the comic strip. You know that relationship
between those two, And I think that that is kind
(27:51):
of a nice nod to the to the comic strip
and everything, and it makes him kind of multi dimensional.
He's not just a buffoon. He is a you know,
he is actually somebody who cares.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, it gives him like a little bit of an earnestness.
And of course, in reference to the comic strip, you
also had Wilma referencing the Mongolian War, which was like
the big plot for the first few months of the
comic strip when it launched back in twenty nine or thirty.
(28:27):
All right, so I think there's probably one to three
episodes in between this episode and the final one, but
not a ton compared to the last one. So let's
go ahead and take a lesson to the conclusion of
the Mechanical Mole.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
But Roger in.
Speaker 14 (28:50):
That twenty fifth injury a shower of silver dollars from
popsicle peats money box.
Speaker 6 (29:11):
Let's see now, Buck and Black Barney.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
I finally managed to open the door of Barney's big
underground machine. And there, let's pick up our story exactly
where we left off.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
Are you all set? Then here we go five hundred
years into the future. Whiller will there, Barnie Keeper.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
I know that I shouldn't leave the poor little tag
all alone by myself down here under the ground, Willie.
Speaker 6 (29:39):
He was in the control company your machine, wasn't he?
Sure he was?
Speaker 4 (29:42):
And now he's gone. Keeper, Oh what could have happened him?
Speaker 6 (29:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
Isn't there some other part of your groundhog where he
might be sleeping quarters or something like that.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
I looked at him and he ain't there, my Will.
He's called, that's all.
Speaker 6 (29:55):
He's called, How Barney.
Speaker 4 (29:57):
Somebody or something must have come in here to you
hear me?
Speaker 6 (30:01):
Yes, yes, I hear you. But listen to me.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
What do you mean to listen to you?
Speaker 6 (30:04):
Will?
Speaker 5 (30:05):
He's called, Yes, I know, Barney, But no matter where
he went, he couldn't have got very far in a
few minutes since you left him the same he's called, No,
I don't know what I've got to mind him? Of course,
there's no way under the sun form to have got
very far away here on the ground.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
Come on, Captain, come on, and we go out to
take away. I did when I just shouldn't grade my
way up to the cave, but me and you were
run into each other.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
Okay, Barney, lead the way, only watch your step, Yeah sure, sure.
Speaker 4 (30:32):
Probably some big white Alma will come along, has it?
Speaker 5 (30:35):
Pleasy, Barney, This is a pretty sharp climb, and we
haven't got in neurtroren lifting units to.
Speaker 6 (30:40):
Help us along.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
You care about this like that? We gotta fight it.
We got.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
Here's the big open cave, Barnie, you see anything of
the great?
Speaker 6 (30:52):
I don't whether. There's not very much light filtering in
here from your control.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Carry. If he got into this big cave, Captain, he
would have got lost. He probably didn't see me anyways
around showing he kept on gone and gone. No tailor
where it might be.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
No, not necessarily, Barney doesn't tell you, Well, this cave
isn't as big as all that, and there's only one
way he could have gone out of it.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
Sure you know he might He might have fell into
some big hole the bottom of this period or.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
No, Barney, no disintegrated chaft that leads down to our
mechanical mold.
Speaker 4 (31:26):
Come on, you think maybe he could have went down
the head to the teted woman talked to yours the way.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
I don't.
Speaker 6 (31:33):
That's it, nah. No, here's the shaft. Will only be
careful because it drops almost straight down.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
And Barnie, come here, I guess no, no soil, are
you all right.
Speaker 10 (31:53):
I mean did jump all the way down that wrong
shaft on the condor?
Speaker 2 (31:56):
I couldn't wait it.
Speaker 11 (31:57):
Well, what do you think on a cord of I
must have slipped a little bit because it was so steep.
Speaker 5 (32:03):
That's why how long, Captain Roger will Well, I'm glad
to say you're safe and sound.
Speaker 13 (32:08):
Sure, I am well.
Speaker 11 (32:09):
I bet you ain't twice as glad as I am, Captain,
not even half it glad.
Speaker 7 (32:13):
No, sir, you'll see what all the fuss is about.
Willie was just sitting here talking to us, and I.
Speaker 13 (32:19):
Just got tired of waiting, that's all.
Speaker 15 (32:21):
I wanted to make sure you were all right, mister Barney.
Speaker 6 (32:25):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 13 (32:26):
Then when I got out into sort of a cave
up there, I saw a light coming.
Speaker 15 (32:29):
Up not just immigrated away place, and I heard Lieutenant
Wilma talking.
Speaker 13 (32:32):
With doctor you were, so I thought the best thing
to do was to come down here to them.
Speaker 11 (32:36):
Okay, as long as you was coming to the lieutenant woman,
it's all right.
Speaker 7 (32:43):
Damn you heard us saying some nice things about him too,
but I guess they won't hurt him, thank.
Speaker 13 (32:48):
You, Lieutenant.
Speaker 11 (32:49):
Well, you see, Lieutenant, the one thing I like about myself.
Most is my being some modest so I always tell
what it will be that way too, don't yesh.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
And someday my little Willie's going to grow.
Speaker 11 (33:04):
Up to be the finest man that ever lived, just
like you, Captain Rogers said, talk to your lieutenant woman.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
Well, the thing for us to do now is to
get these two mechanical moles underway and headed for the surface.
Uh suppose Barney and I go into the other machine, Yes,
and leave you folks here to work the mole's non
recoil energy Projector do you think we can.
Speaker 8 (33:23):
Exert enough power against the nose of Barney's machine to
push it right on up and out of a hole?
Speaker 6 (33:27):
It does, yes, sir, Now that the groundbreaker is off, well,
let's trying. But how are we going to know if
it worked out? All right? Well, we can keep in
touch with each other by radio.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
Fine, come on then, Barney, Yeah, yes, sir.
Speaker 11 (33:38):
You know, Captain, that machine you folks are using isn't
as big as mine and all that sort of stuff,
But yours looks real nice and compact.
Speaker 6 (33:47):
Well, we traveled a good many miles in it without any.
Speaker 5 (33:49):
Trouble, And did you find anything all funny. But we
can talk about that later. But yeah, yeah, let's get
into your control cabin.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
Yeah yeah, you go right ahead and sit in the
control see all right, you.
Speaker 6 (33:58):
Know that's to tell me how to work these various leavers.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Though, yes, sir, only waited second. I close this.
Speaker 6 (34:06):
That makes nothing noise for half a dozen metal doors.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Good load, like it was real strong? Huh?
Speaker 6 (34:12):
Well yes, but now how about these controls? All I
can see on the board here three leavers?
Speaker 2 (34:19):
Well is this here? One's a power control?
Speaker 6 (34:22):
Uh huh?
Speaker 2 (34:22):
This one you're used for skier from side to side.
Speaker 11 (34:26):
Yeah uh, And this one makes a noise of the
groundhoggle up and down, and that's all there is to it.
Speaker 6 (34:32):
That's all. Okay, Wait a second now while I turn
on the radio. You know, the secondary to the president.
Speaker 8 (34:43):
Of course, I've only given you a quick picture of
all we've discovered. But I'm sure the President want to
need good action.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
I'm sure you will.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
In any event, you will have.
Speaker 16 (34:51):
Captain Rogers report to him in person as soon as
you reach the surf yet huh sif.
Speaker 6 (34:55):
Hey wait a minute, hello, hello, doctor, I would just
talking to Donald, the President's secretary, so I heard I.
Speaker 8 (35:02):
Think it best that no time be lost in making
official contact with the people we found living deep.
Speaker 16 (35:07):
Under the earth.
Speaker 5 (35:07):
Oh sure, but what was that about me reporting to
the president?
Speaker 6 (35:11):
I imagine just a case of giving him the complete
story on this expedition.
Speaker 5 (35:15):
Well, now, work, doctor, Yes, it won't be necessary for
you to make the mechanical mole push this machine at
Barney's all the way back to the surface.
Speaker 6 (35:22):
No, no, sir, it'd be easy. But we'll sort of message. Well,
what do you want to do? Then, well, push us
upward a.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
Little bit and we'll roll right into the big cave
up here.
Speaker 6 (35:32):
Then we can turn and proceed under our own power.
Oh fu, well, are you already to move anytime? You are?
Speaker 1 (35:39):
All right?
Speaker 16 (35:39):
Then here we go? Everything all right?
Speaker 6 (35:45):
Yeah, yeah, we're moving straight backward.
Speaker 16 (35:47):
Good.
Speaker 7 (35:48):
I'll use a little more power here.
Speaker 14 (35:49):
Okay, whoa, whoa doctor, whoa?
Speaker 6 (35:52):
Yeah, yeh bug.
Speaker 5 (35:54):
We've rolled into the open space, and it feels as
though we've turned completely around.
Speaker 10 (35:59):
I can see you up through a metelloglass window.
Speaker 6 (36:01):
All we need to do is head upward.
Speaker 5 (36:03):
You folks can follow us or make your own past,
whichever's fastest.
Speaker 11 (36:06):
All following us up will be the fastest. We really
got power in this.
Speaker 8 (36:10):
You get groundhog, we'll see Donald is having a rocketproach
that made ready for us to take it.
Speaker 6 (36:16):
To the President. Good, well, let's get going. Go ahead,
hang on now, Bunnie, I'm going to turn on the
power or boy, this machine makes more noise than a
boiler factor.
Speaker 8 (36:49):
Okay, kind of good to meet us at the spaceboat with
this rocket of to Donald.
Speaker 6 (36:52):
It was on the President's instructions.
Speaker 5 (36:54):
Doctor, you are to ensure you're not being held up
by the crowds that were there to greet you.
Speaker 7 (36:57):
It was quite a crowd there wasn't there.
Speaker 5 (37:01):
Get over how quiet this rocket roads there seems after
that ground Hog of Barney's as all that, but.
Speaker 6 (37:07):
Boy, you never heard anything like her.
Speaker 5 (37:10):
But Barney says, it makes it sound powerful, and that's
all he cares about.
Speaker 6 (37:15):
It seems almost range to be up on the surface again.
Does yeah. Kind of good.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
Much as I like the President, though the kind of
a meeting we're going to always embarrasses me.
Speaker 6 (37:25):
Well, do you know what it means?
Speaker 5 (37:27):
Wonderful expedition, great discoveries, marvelous scientific achievement.
Speaker 6 (37:31):
Why you should want Wilman me around with more than
night and.
Speaker 7 (37:33):
See right, doctor, I need credit belongs to party to you.
Speaker 5 (37:36):
Well, if I may say so, I believe the President
has a great deal more than just that on his mind.
Speaker 6 (37:41):
Really, what he'll want to tell you himself. Now, there's
his private landing platform just ahead of us. Ain't on,
please for landing right this way, please shoot Wilma. Thanks doctor, thanks.
Speaker 8 (37:57):
You will enter his private office through that door of Oh, mister.
Speaker 17 (38:02):
President, welcome, Welcome all well mister, and congratulations on what
I believe is the greatst scientific accomplishment.
Speaker 6 (38:10):
Of our age. Thank you, mister Presidant.
Speaker 5 (38:11):
There's so much to say in commendation for your amazing
feat that I won't even attempt it. Suffice it to
say that arrangement for establishing social and commercial relationships with
the people of your underground city.
Speaker 6 (38:23):
Are being made now, blendid. I only hope that we
may have a hand on the curtain Roger's.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
You may not.
Speaker 17 (38:28):
Now, don't look so unhappy, my boy. I have another
assignment for you, that is, if you're willing to take it.
For sure, of course I answer, and don't speak too quickly, Rodgers,
because if you do accept it, it will be the
most dangerous assignment you've ever attended.
Speaker 5 (38:46):
Well, I don't know about you, but I'm willing to
bet that fuck takes that assignment, whatever it is, So
don't miss the next.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Episode, Welcome Back. Well, that ends well, and I'm pretty
certain that Buck's mission is to go after Killer Kane.
It's kind of the whole catch and release thing that
those who have got going on. But Alan, what was
(39:12):
your overall thoughts on the final episode as well as
the serial as a whole.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
I mean, it wrapped up very nicely, you know. And again,
the nice thing about Buck Rogers is that that that
focus on diplomacy and not just shoot first on everything.
You know that there's the bit in the end where
they're talking about how we've already established relationships. So you
(39:38):
compare that Flash Gordon, where okay, I conquered this planet,
then I've conquered this planet. Then I've conquered this planet.
You know, Buck just wants to, hey, let's meet people
and you know, and see if we can build allies.
It's a it's a very different worldview.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
Well, Flash Gordon builds allies, you just beats them up first.
It's it's just a different approach to the whole ally
building process.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
That's fair.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
One thing. One thing I will say for this serial
over Flash Gordon is I think the sound effects that
they used were far better. You know, they're not you know,
modern era, but I think they sounded more sci fi,
more realistic. Some of the ones in uh Flatish Gordon.
(40:27):
It's like, okay, well that was a choice, but you know,
you feel like you're dealing with like real you know,
real in quotes, rapistols and weapons and stuff that's moving
and blowing up and all that.
Speaker 3 (40:44):
Didn't they hire a third party to do the sound effects.
I thought they read that in one of the histories
of this radio cereal, whereas everything in Flash Gordon was
in house. It kind of like people would hire Industrial
Light and Magic to do their movie effects. I think
they hired a company that specialized in sound effects for this,
and I think that does make a big difference.
Speaker 1 (41:06):
Yeah, And of course Jack Johnstone, who you know we
know from series like Johnny Dollar and the Man called
X running the show. I think that that does that
definitely does help. And he certainly would have been very
well aware of youth of the process and a newspaper
article reference how he how he tried to really bring
(41:31):
all of the feel of the comics as much as
he could in terms of making it feel real to listeners. Now,
it's worth noting that Buck Rodgers would return to air
two more times in short lived series. In nineteen forty
there'd be a half hour program for a couple months,
and then a six month serialized run in nineteen forty
(41:54):
six to forty seven. And all we have of that
one is the very last episode Buck Rogers on the Radio,
But the rest of that run is missing. And do
you have any more thoughts on Buck Rogers on Radio?
Speaker 2 (42:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 11 (42:14):
You know.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
One thing that surprises me with the the a lot
of these old time radio cereals is what survives and
what doesn't and why, you know, why do we have
And I know this was an earlier radio serial, so
there may not have been as much thought put into preservation.
But it is interesting that some of these we've managed
(42:37):
to keep all the episodes of and some it's very spotty.
And I just never understood what the differences between why
some are managed to be salvaged in some oren'te.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
Yeah, it really is. It's a bit of a crapshoot
in terms of what happened to get preserved with a
lot of these programs had instructions to discard them after youth,
and so it would come down to like who didn't
who didn't listen, and there was something that could be
(43:13):
salvaged or required later on. So let's go ahead and
talk about Buck Rogers and the cyber Lords. Could you
give us like a thumbnail sketch of the plot and
what it's about.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
So for all of the good things in the original
phill of Francis Nolan's story, there's unfortunately a whole lot
of racism and and you know, of course it was
written in the twenties, so it's kind of of its time,
as they say, and so we wanted to retell that
original story, which is what we did, minus the kind
(43:48):
of the racism part. So in the in the original story,
you know, Asians broadly Asians had kind of taken over
the world and we're ruling from airships. And in the
nineteen thirty nine Cereal they replaced that with extortionists, is
(44:08):
how they referred to them. And so that's kind of
what we did, is we replace them with hackers. So
bad hackers have so infiltrated all the systems that basically
they control the world and they rule same thing from airships,
and Buck Rogers and his gang of rebels, which of
(44:29):
course includes Wilmadeering and others, have to try to take
them down, and that is you know. So we replicated
as much of the original story as we could, just
again changing the nature of the villain a little bit,
but kept the core of the story because I think
it's a really good and really interesting story that was told.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Now as you reference the original story recently entered the
public domain, when did you get the idea that this
was going to be something that you would purfue.
Speaker 3 (45:03):
I love Buck Rogers so much, like you know, I mean,
my first introduction was the nineteen seventy nine TV show,
but then going back and reading the older comics and
just all of the stories and all of the law
around it and how much it's influenced. When it went
in to public domain, I was super excited to be
(45:23):
able to tell that story to a new generation because
I feel like we're losing some of the I feel
like we're losing some of these characters that influence so much.
You know, if you're my age and maybe a little
bit younger, you know who Buck Rogers is probably from
(45:44):
the TV show, but you know, younger kids don't, They
don't have any reference for Buck Rogers. And same thing
with Flash Gordon. I know Matt Cave has been publishing
the new flash forwarded comics, but you know a lot
of that's gone as well well. And so being able
to bring these characters who they've influenced, like Star Wars.
(46:06):
George Lucas has said Star Wars wouldn't exist without Buck
Rogers and Flash forton right. So so much of what
we see in sci fi today came from these two properties.
So being able to you know, flashboard and obviously not
in the public domain, but being able to tell new
Buck Rogers stories to people and hopefully inspire them to
go look up the old stories, like what you're doing
(46:29):
with the radio show here is I think it's important
so people get where this is coming from.
Speaker 2 (46:36):
Now.
Speaker 1 (46:36):
Obviously, characters are entering the public domain every year. Now,
now are there any specific ones that are not in
the public domain now? But you are kind of looking
forward to entering the public domain for treatment at Green.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
Archer, The Shadow The Shadow Goes, The Shadow Goes in
the public domain January one, twenty twenty seven, and I
will make a comic as soon as I can, because
the Shadow, the legends of the Shadow, and the stories
of the Shadow are so incredible. I was earlier this
(47:14):
year we we tabled at PulpFest in Pittsburgh and just
a Shadow everywhere. I was so happy. I spent so
much money buying Shadow books and pulps and histories and
and and so on. But you know, he's just such
an incredible and complex character.
Speaker 1 (47:37):
Well, we'll look forward to that. And uh and as
I'm inted at the start of the program, we uh,
you argue doing a drawing for two copies of Buck
Rogers and the Cyber Lords with the metal covers, and
those are available green Archer dot I o FLA actually
(48:00):
great adventurers. And I believe that drawing is going to
be open till the end of the year.
Speaker 3 (48:06):
That's correct. Yeah, we want to giveny of people plenty
of time to listen to this, so enter you know,
whenever you want. We'll do the drawing January first, twenty
twenty six.
Speaker 1 (48:16):
All right, Well, thank you so much for joining us
the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (48:21):
Allen.
Speaker 1 (48:21):
I really appreciate it and look forward to what else
you've got to coming down at Green Archer Comics. Now
it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day,
and I want to go ahead and thank Liz, Patreon
supporter since December of twenty twenty three, currently supporting the
(48:41):
podcast at the rookie level of two dollars or more
per month. Thanks so much for the support, Liz, and
that will 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.
(49:04):
And as one final reminder, please go to Greenarcher dot
ipo slash Great Adventurers to enter their drawing to win
one of their metal covers of Buck Roger and the
Cyber Lords. Thank you once again to Alan Liska for
joining us today. We will be back next Tuesday and
(49:27):
taking a bit of a break from the future and
space as we'll be featuring episodes of the anthology series
Adventure Ahead for the rest of the year until bringing
you The Adventures of Tarzan in twenty twenty six. But
join us back here on Saturday for Cloak and Dagger
(49:49):
in the meantime, do send your comments to box thirteen
at Great Detectives dot net from Boise, Idaho. This is
your host, Adam Grahamson and all
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 the final episode we have
of Buck Rogers. But first I do want to encourage you.
If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us joining using
(00:27):
your favorite podcast software. Joining us once again is Alan
Leska of Green Archer Comics Green Archer dot I thank
you so much for being with us here again to
talk about Buck Rogers, an author co author of the
Buck Rogers and the Cyber Lord's comic. Alan, welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I'm excited for the conclusion. This has been a great,
great experience, and I love the fact that you are
sharing what little Buck Rodgers radio program is available with everybody.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Well, thanks so much, Allan. And you can actually enter
into a giveaway at green archer dot io slash Great
Adventurers and he's Alan's giving away two copies with metal
covers of the Buck Rogers and the Cyber Lords comics,
(01:29):
so you can check that out. But we're going to
return now to the spring or summer of nineteen thirty
nine for the last three episodes of the Mechanical mold
that are in circulation, but they're not really consecutive episodes,
(01:49):
so we'll kind of come back and talk about them
as we go. The first one, we gather that Buck
Rogers and his friends have talten somewhere, and we're going
to find out where that is. Let's go ahead and
take a lesson.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
But Rogers in the twenty fifth century.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
And the shower of silver dollars from Popsicle Pete's money box.
Buck Rogers in the twenty fifth century, with its prophecy
of all the wonderful things that may occur five hundred
years from now, have you ever give any really serious
thoughts to the scientific and mechanical developments of the future.
(02:45):
We'll just keep listening to Buck Rogers, and you'll have
a pretty good idea that many of the things that
are within the realm of scientific possibility.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
Now, our story so far.
Speaker 5 (02:53):
Has taken Buck and Willman, doctor Hewart the city of
Orr deep deep under the earth, a city of bounding and.
Speaker 6 (02:59):
Few golden radium.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
As we join our friends now we find them all
ready to start back to the surface to report that
amazing discovery of the government at Niagara, capital of twenty
fifth century America. Here we go five hundred years into
the future.
Speaker 7 (03:17):
Well, folks, how about getting started on the trip.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
Home, right, Wilma, Soon we get started, the better Come on,
doctor Herr.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Let's pile into the mechanical mole.
Speaker 8 (03:25):
No, no, wait, wait, Buck Gareff is bringing samples of
gold and radium to.
Speaker 6 (03:28):
Take back with us.
Speaker 9 (03:29):
Yes, doctor, I don't know what's detaining him, incidentally, my friend. Yes, now,
but this mechanical mole is a very wonderful machine.
Speaker 6 (03:38):
Just how does it burrow its way through the ground,
doctor Hewer.
Speaker 8 (03:41):
Now, but the giant heat ray in the nose melts
away the ground, and the force rays along the side
push it ahead.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
Very ingenious.
Speaker 10 (03:48):
Shall look at the hundreds of people gathered at the
other end of this great cavern.
Speaker 11 (03:52):
Why?
Speaker 7 (03:52):
Yes, evidently working like trojans over something or other.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
You're right too far away though to see what they're doing. Hmmm.
Speaker 9 (04:00):
Look, here comes our friend Garef, apparently alarmed about something.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
Well, I hope nothing wrong. Something is wrong, Gareth?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
What is it? Fuck?
Speaker 6 (04:09):
Lieutenant Wilman, Doctor Hewitt, what's the trouble? Please?
Speaker 12 (04:11):
Kind people stay and help us. No, but to the
supply source. Yeah, what terrible catacity has occurred. Our entire
city may be swept away unless you can help us.
The warning came to me while I was obtaining samples
of our golden.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
Radium for you to take back with you.
Speaker 10 (04:25):
Warning of what gas.
Speaker 12 (04:26):
It is something we have feared for a long time,
and although we try to make adequate provisions against the
day it might occur, I fear for the safety of
my people.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Now wait a minute, See them there at the end
of the cavern.
Speaker 12 (04:35):
They're struggling against forces the power of which they cannot comprehend.
The life of every one of them is in danger,
but still they try to hold it back.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
Hold what back? Gas? The water's doctor.
Speaker 12 (04:45):
Unless the source of our limitless water supply can be
stopped up, the entire city of all will be flooded.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
Oh why didn't you say so? Here, hop into this
mechanical law. We'll go over and see what it's all about.
Speaker 6 (04:54):
But can you help us?
Speaker 12 (04:55):
Can you keep the angry waters from filling up this
great cavern in which we live?
Speaker 6 (04:59):
Well, that remains to be seen.
Speaker 10 (05:00):
Right, get into the mall now, no, huh.
Speaker 12 (05:02):
You'll be protected from the flood in this wonderful machine
of yours.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
I can't be. I mustn't leave my people. Ya, don't
you Sea buck Gara.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Yes, now you're all excited, calm down and get in
here so I can close the metal door.
Speaker 6 (05:13):
But don't you simply we're going to be of help
to you. We can't waste time. Oh, yes, yes, I'm sorry.
That's better. Here Now.
Speaker 10 (05:22):
Sit right here, and it controlled from.
Speaker 6 (05:24):
The Whalehere you can tell us what's caused this unexpected couple.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Here we go.
Speaker 12 (05:29):
Oh, I hope we can get there in time to
save our city.
Speaker 8 (05:32):
Well, now tell us all you can about it, so
we'll know what needs to be done when we get there.
Speaker 12 (05:35):
Yes, doctor Hewitt, you must pardon me for being so upset,
but usual, the impending calamity has shaken me beyond words. Yes, well,
water supply comes by secret through a wall of porous
rock there at the end of the cabin. Yes, any
excess was always taken care of by simply allowing it
to run down into the end country through the tunnel
system you followed.
Speaker 6 (05:53):
To come here.
Speaker 12 (05:54):
But now now whoever the out that tunnel has become
stopped up. The water is no longer training away.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
You know, why don't you When we follow those tunnels.
We use the heat ray on this moll, then the melted.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Ground saddle back and solidified and block the tunnels after
we passed through.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
Oh why did you do that?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Fuck?
Speaker 12 (06:10):
Why did you block up the only outlet for the
water that can so easily fill.
Speaker 6 (06:13):
Up this entire cavern? Well, we didn't know as part
of your drainage system, garred or No, of course you didn't.
I'm very sorry. But now look ahead.
Speaker 12 (06:20):
Yes, how ineffectually my poor people are attempting to block
up the source of the flood.
Speaker 6 (06:25):
No, no, now, Garrett, Well, I'm surprised at you. Why
do you say that? Doctors? Why there is much water
seeping through that rock formation? But why all this excited?
It's so much more than usual.
Speaker 7 (06:34):
And the channels that carry the water down the streets
and into your reservoir, they're far from overflowing.
Speaker 12 (06:39):
But they will overflow, and we can't afford to let
the water collect in this cavern.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
Well, what's that not about?
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (06:45):
They missed around here is clouding up the outside of
our metalloglass window.
Speaker 12 (06:48):
Yes, fuck, that in itself illustrates the grave danger we're
in for what do you mean, Well, unless the water
is permitted to run freely away and down into the ground.
The heat that permeates our atmosphere turns it into a
heavy miss.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 12 (06:59):
Soon the will become saturated with moisture. It will disable
our atomic power plants and render our radium lighting system useless.
Worst of all, it will reach our chemical supplies and
liberate deadly gases. Helpless and in total darkness, we'll be
able to do nothing but wait for the poison to
completely fill our city.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
But that would take days, Gareth Weeks.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Perhaps, why so excited and scared about it all of
a sudden?
Speaker 12 (07:21):
It is the one thing against which we have never
been able to provide adequate protection. But please, while we talk,
the atmosphere becomes heavier and heavier with the dreadful moisture.
The efforts of my people to stop the water seepret
becomes more and more fruitless.
Speaker 6 (07:34):
Don't you see?
Speaker 12 (07:35):
Even now some of them falter and drop down where
they're standing.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
It can't see very well because of the wetness on
these metallograt er Yes.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
But can it be the poison gas you mentioned that is.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
Making those people dropping their tracks out of there?
Speaker 6 (07:47):
Yes?
Speaker 8 (07:47):
But please, please do something to help you yes, yes,
we stack to media.
Speaker 10 (07:50):
What do we do?
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Open the door? Let me out again.
Speaker 12 (07:52):
If by people suffer, I must suffer with no no
watch what are you going to do by turn on
the non recoil energy projector and aim it straight at
the water.
Speaker 8 (08:00):
Swait then, yes, sir, there'll be people in the way.
If you turn on the non recoil energy you crush
them against those rocks.
Speaker 5 (08:05):
Gareth can warn them to get out of the way,
or better still, I can use just a little of
the non recoil energy and push them out of harm's way.
Speaker 6 (08:12):
We'll do both. Gareth. You go out there and tell
them to get away from that rock.
Speaker 12 (08:17):
Formation if they're still able to do so. Do you
see most of them have fallen?
Speaker 8 (08:22):
You I should I think they would poison gas is right,
and we thought there was no need to hurry.
Speaker 6 (08:27):
I'm going to warn my people, but the gas will
get you too.
Speaker 12 (08:29):
Can go better if my people fall like Gareth, Gareth,
come back.
Speaker 10 (08:35):
Close the door doctor quick.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
Oh yes, yes, no, no, don't do it, toxics. Well
what if you don't, gas will get us too.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
It's the only way I can see to aimless non
recoil energy projector.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
This window is too clouded up, but here it goes.
That's it.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
But are you sure you're aming straight in the rock forming, yes, sir,
clears its own path through the mist.
Speaker 13 (09:00):
Had you closed the doors again?
Speaker 6 (09:01):
Yes, it's terrible we can now now, Wilma.
Speaker 5 (09:07):
Yes, fuck, get into a pressure suit quickly, precious you
look for I want you to hold back the water
seep it with a hand sized force ray while we
take this mechanical mold to the other side of the cavern.
Speaker 6 (09:16):
We'll blast away and outlet tunnel. Okay, buck, hurry now.
Speaker 7 (09:19):
Okay, my goodness, the air is getting better in here
with the door.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
It's getting worse for the folks out there.
Speaker 6 (09:26):
Funny about that, guess though.
Speaker 8 (09:27):
Here, Wilma, let me.
Speaker 7 (09:28):
Help you put on the helmet of that pressure thanks,
and I'll snap the climps of it inside and turn
on the midget radio equipment so we can talk here.
Speaker 6 (09:35):
You go now right over your head.
Speaker 8 (09:40):
For you ten on the radio so we can communicate
to the sure doctor there you are here.
Speaker 13 (09:44):
Me now, Wilma, Yes, doctor, I'm going on out.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Here, Wilma, don't forget this hand force.
Speaker 8 (09:49):
Rayhead now, wil right and stay there until we get back.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
Yes, okay, Buck, guess is awful.
Speaker 8 (10:01):
Yeah, and I hope we can care the atmosphere of
point's too late for some of those people out there.
Speaker 7 (10:06):
I've got my fortray on out.
Speaker 6 (10:07):
Here, good, Wilma. I can turn off the one here
on the mall. No, huh no, no, turn it up
high and sears the other end of his cabin. Right, sir,
We're on our way. Here's all the power you can.
We must waste any time. Yes, managing to hold back
that water, all right, Wilma.
Speaker 13 (10:26):
Yeah, fuck terrible, see all these people lying around.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
Out We're doing all we can to save well, hurry,
can you see your wayhead?
Speaker 7 (10:33):
All right?
Speaker 6 (10:33):
Buck?
Speaker 5 (10:34):
Not very well, but well enough to get us to
the other end of this huge cavern.
Speaker 8 (10:37):
I'll turn on a bit of the tnic radiation projected
to clear the metallow glass window.
Speaker 6 (10:41):
That's a good idea. That's it. Now, more power. Every
minute we take to get over there, less gas, and
this place gets to take out going as fast as
we can. Say, you know something, doctor mud Dock, that
guess had something.
Speaker 8 (10:54):
Very funny about I'm sorry, but I feel utterly to
see anything funny about it.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
Guess what this wall we hope whatever he is won't
be paid to all of them.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
No, it's like something I smelled before, something familiar about it.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
I don't know what it is, but I can't seem to.
He is worry about it as I should be.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Fuck.
Speaker 13 (11:12):
Yes, Willma, Yes, maybe poise, this is Garrett said, But
to meet these people out here, just to be quietly asleep?
Speaker 5 (11:19):
Well, keep that forth right, holding the water back until
we blast out some drainage tunnels.
Speaker 6 (11:24):
Then we'll ride back and pick you up. Okay, hear that,
doctor head, What matters? What do you mean?
Speaker 11 (11:30):
Well?
Speaker 6 (11:30):
I smell that gas before, maybe a long long time ago,
but somehow listen doctor business.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
I know you think I'm crazy, sir, but there's something
about it then doesn't stop us.
Speaker 6 (11:39):
We at the end of the cabin. Yes, sir, Well
about that gas.
Speaker 8 (11:44):
How can you prattle on that way when the lives
are hundreds of people at stake?
Speaker 6 (11:47):
Ou here, here's where we blast out.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
A tunnel, right, we can use it disintegrator, Yes, quickly,
hurry back, hurry Yes, I guess.
Speaker 13 (11:55):
I didn't clap on my helmet price what gas?
Speaker 5 (11:59):
This?
Speaker 14 (12:00):
W Willda.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Good night?
Speaker 6 (12:10):
Now.
Speaker 5 (12:10):
Wilma's life is in parallel they can't go back to
her until they've cleared a tunnel that may save hundreds,
and yet they don't go back to her. Well, now
stand by and listen to a few words from your
favorite announcer before we pick up our story again.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Welcome back. So Alan, what did you think of this one?
Speaker 6 (12:39):
So?
Speaker 3 (12:40):
I am really bummed because the obvious setup that they
had going here was that the gas that they were
that was released on the people in this in the
underground City was the gas that put Buck Rogers to
sleep for five hundred years. So if you've only experienced
Buck Rogers through the TV show, you think that he
(13:02):
fell asleep in a spaceship and so on. But in
the original story, he came across a pocket of gas
and slept for five hundred years. And so I really
would like to know where they went with that, because
you know, it was very much hinted in the part
in the first part that that gas smells really familiar.
It's something about you know that, And of course everybody
(13:26):
was falling asleep, so all the hints were there, and
I am bummed that we missed that part. But I
thought that this was great for introducing people to so
many of the Buck Rogers characters.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Well, I I thought that this was nice. It was
kind of a throwback to the early comic Stramp. People
think of Buck Rogers in space. But one thing that
I was when I picked up and I read the
original comic Stramp that impressed me was that for most
(14:01):
of the first year or two, they were just going
around the Earth and they were finding out finding weird
things that either had always been there, you know in
theory and world, like the lost continent of Atlantis, or
finding weird stuff that come out in the last few
hundred years. So this gets us back there, going to
(14:23):
this sort of underground world. I also loved how casual
they were. You know, they're like, you got days or weeks,
you know, what's there to worry about. It's well, they're
kind of under the earth, and you don't really have
a ton of options, you know.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Yeah, no, exactly, there's there's no you know, there's no
Fema or anything that's coming to say it's your city.
You've got to figure it out and get it saved yourself, exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
And of course Will Wilma goes right into the action,
which does kind of point out a big difference between
Wilma and d Arden. I think Wilma's got a bit
more of a sense of agency and ability to do
more things, as opposed to Dale, who you know, just
kind of gets dragged around by everybody, at least in
(15:14):
a lot of the early comics and certainly in the
radio serial.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Right, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
And it's funny because in the original filed Frances Nolan stories,
she's she's a general, right, she's she's an equal in
terms of battling, and then in the movie serial and
then in the radio ceial she's very much competent and
very much is uh, you know, part of the action.
(15:39):
But then if you go and you read at least
the first year of the comics, they basically spent the
first year trying to get her as in as few
it closed as possible, as many times as possible, you know,
And so it lost something in the comic translation that
got picked back up in the radio and the movie serial.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Now, for the next segment, I should should share a
little bit of information that can be gathered from the
twelve episodes to nowhere, which I mentioned that we have
the first twelve episodes of the serial that you know,
set up a lot doesn't do a whole lot, but
we get to meet Black Barney, who was referenced in
one of the previous episodes, but we actually got to
(16:24):
meet him in those first episodes, and he had been
kind of a ne'er do well who ended up turning
to teaming up with Back Rogers. And at the start
of the radio series, he is established as the ruler
of Mars. And because he's ruler of Mars, and because
(16:45):
he's Black Barney, he decided to build his own mechanical
mole much bigger than back Rogers. And so now we're
gonna and he has a boy who an orphan, he
is adopted Willie, and we're gonna go ahead and h
(17:05):
And we don't have all the details, of course, but
apparently Blackbarney and Willie have been underground at the same
time as Buck, but they don't seem to be aware
that each other is down there as we start, And
that's the situation as we return to the twenty fifth century.
(17:28):
Let's go ahead and take a lesson.
Speaker 14 (17:33):
Rogers in that the fifth Injury and the shower of
silver dollars from popsicle feats money Box.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
Together with doctor Shure and will madeiring you know, Buck,
Rogers just finished exploring an amazing city deep under the earth,
exploration made possible by doctor Huer's invention of a mechanical mole,
a huge machine capable of burrowing its way through the ground.
As we pick up our story, now we find them
aboard the mechanical mold as it slowly but surely works
(18:16):
its way back up toward the surface. Here we go,
five hundred years into the future. All right now, Bucks,
POI stop us again so soon? Doctor, Yes, Buck, okay,
whatever you say.
Speaker 8 (18:37):
I want to check on the stratification of the ground
we're going through, to.
Speaker 10 (18:40):
See if you can tell howny of the surface we
are doctor.
Speaker 8 (18:43):
Yes, Wilma, Well, I can't do it while we're moving
because of the glare from the heat ray in the
nose of the machine.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
If it weren't for the heat rate to melt the
ground ahead of us, all the non recoil energy in
the world wouldn't move this machine.
Speaker 6 (18:55):
I'll have to turn on the forward search beam again,
you know.
Speaker 7 (18:59):
Buck, I still can't get over the city we.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Found down below, Yes, sir, golden radium all over the place,
as common to the people living down there, as stealing impervium.
Speaker 10 (19:08):
Aren't us mighty fine people? Too?
Speaker 8 (19:10):
Well, my observations indicator, we's only a very short distance
to go to reach the surface, So let's get on
the way again.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Anything to indicate whether we're on the same course we
held on the way down.
Speaker 6 (19:20):
I'm quite sure we are approximatelyly. Oh good, I don't
need to worry about coming up under any buildings.
Speaker 8 (19:26):
No, I'm quite certain we'll find ourselves on the landing
field of the Niagara Municipal Spaceport, the place from which
we started our underground explorations.
Speaker 6 (19:33):
Good, well, there we go. Hmm, that's funny.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
What's that about it?
Speaker 6 (19:41):
I don't know, sir. We don't seem to be making
any progress. Something wrong with the mechanism of mechanical mold.
Something seems to bar our way. Turn on the forward
search beam again and see what's in front of him?
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Well, Buck, come up to this metallic glass window and look,
will you say?
Speaker 5 (20:01):
See those of our mole is smack bang up against
a black, shiny surface of sometimes.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
Oh yeah, I know what it can be.
Speaker 10 (20:10):
It looks like regular metal of some kind, doesn't.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
It can't be anything very big, though, or we'd have
run into it on the way down.
Speaker 10 (20:17):
If we're on the same path we took the four.
Speaker 6 (20:19):
I'm sure we all. Wait a minute, let's see if
we can push it out of the way. Gone it
we didn't budge.
Speaker 7 (20:33):
But that must be the impervium foundations of some big
building that got buried in the ground during the Mongolian
invasion years ago.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
Possibly the heat from the thermic radiation projector makes it
grow like impervium, doesn't it.
Speaker 8 (20:46):
No, there's a greenish chint in that glowing metal that
impersium doesn't have.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
I don't know how it's going to get around it.
Speaker 10 (20:52):
Whatever it is, it's sure we can't push it out
of the way.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
I had full power on that last time. We didn't
move an inch. All right?
Speaker 7 (20:57):
Then the only thing to do is to radio to
the surface the help.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
The only question is what sort of health I know
what we do what We're not far from the surface,
and we have a couple of atomic disintegrators.
Speaker 7 (21:07):
One disintegrator we gave the other to Gareff in the
city of Board.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
Okay, once enough, well, give me a hand.
Speaker 10 (21:13):
What are you going to do with the precious suite?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
Disintegrate a hole up to the surface and then crawl
on out through it.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
No, buck, that may be very dangerous. We know we're
in now the surface that we don't know how they are.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
Well, that's something I'll be able to tell you all
about in a few minutes.
Speaker 8 (21:25):
I suppose a caving should occur while you're blasting your
waist through the ground.
Speaker 6 (21:28):
The pressure suit will protect me.
Speaker 8 (21:30):
But if you lose the one disintegrator you have, if
it gets knocked out of your.
Speaker 6 (21:33):
Hand, I'll stop worrying.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Doctor.
Speaker 6 (21:36):
Somehow, we got to get back to the ground level.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
We know from past experience if there's no use trying
to move the mole against an obstacle like that out there.
Speaker 6 (21:43):
So all right, but be very careful every step of
the way.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
Sure, what I'll do is blast my way around that barrier,
whatever it is, and then.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
Head is nearly straight upward as possible. The inert current
lifting unit in this uniform will keep me floating up.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
Then as soon as I reach the surface, I'll take
off this cast iron suit and commandeer a spaceship at
the municipal spaceport.
Speaker 8 (22:04):
Good, you know our calculation is correct. It wouldn't be
far from where you were, Marge.
Speaker 10 (22:08):
And then what do you think you're going to do well.
Speaker 5 (22:10):
That will depend on how deep this mechanical mole is.
Lying only a few hundred feet. I'll swing a spaceship
up into the air, high enough to aim down a
long range disintegrator and blast away a big hole.
Speaker 6 (22:21):
Then we can float the mole up to the surface
with the gravity rays. And you better wait until you
get up there.
Speaker 8 (22:26):
We'll be in touch with you by radio all along,
and that'll be the time to decide what's to be done, right.
Speaker 10 (22:30):
Sir, Fuck, I'm not gonna let you go. It's two
days old.
Speaker 6 (22:33):
Now listen.
Speaker 7 (22:34):
There's no telling what you may run into between here
and the surface, nothing.
Speaker 5 (22:37):
More serious than a few straight out of water sand.
And this pressure uniform will protect me against any possible
cave in.
Speaker 6 (22:42):
We can't stay here underground forever. Here, now, help me
get into this thing and fast, Oh sir, we.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
Can't stay here under were ground forever, Willy. So what
I'm going to do.
Speaker 11 (22:54):
Is put on this space su dam and disintegrate my
way back to the surface.
Speaker 15 (22:58):
I guess this machine we both could dig down into
the ground. Isn't so good, isn't mister Barney?
Speaker 2 (23:03):
What do you mean that they's no good.
Speaker 11 (23:05):
Just on accountter, we got stuck against something down here.
Speaker 13 (23:09):
Well, i'll bet your machine is getting along all right.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Yeah, And this here now ain't gonna be all right too. Why,
I bet it's twice as big as doctor yours.
Speaker 13 (23:17):
That's just the trouble. It's so yeah.
Speaker 11 (23:19):
Yeah, help me get onto this space helmet, and I'll
be all organized out to disintegrate a big all back
to the service.
Speaker 13 (23:26):
No, sir, mister Barney, I'm not gonna let.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
You do it. What are you talking about?
Speaker 14 (23:30):
It's too dangerous, dangerous for me that Barnye.
Speaker 13 (23:35):
Yes, sir, there's not something what you may run into
that ground.
Speaker 11 (23:37):
Out there ain't nothing to run into except for me
be a couple of lads of same to water or
watery same or something or two.
Speaker 13 (23:45):
What if the hold you disintegrate out should collapse all
over here?
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I will let it.
Speaker 11 (23:49):
I'll use this here as integrated with a broad feam focus,
I mean a broadbeam focused.
Speaker 13 (23:55):
A broadbeam focused.
Speaker 11 (23:56):
Well what I said, a broad fream. Well, well that's
that's what I'm gonna use any But what if you should.
Speaker 13 (24:03):
Run into some wild animals or something?
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Yes, they't no such thing as why or down mules.
Speaker 6 (24:11):
They're running around in the solid ground, you know that, Willy.
Speaker 11 (24:15):
Well, if I do run into it, why I'll just
bless them all to pieces with us here, and I'll disintegrator.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Won't stop to ask no questions either. I'll just let
them have it. Bring me. I'll shoot first and ask
questions afterwards.
Speaker 13 (24:29):
Oh all right, Only what about me? What if something
should happen.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
To you, Joe, worry, Willy.
Speaker 6 (24:36):
No matter what happens, I'll see that you got took
care of.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
All right.
Speaker 15 (24:41):
What isn't there some way for us to get this
big machine turned around so we can run it back
up again?
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Oh?
Speaker 11 (24:46):
What I'm gonna do is the only thing we can do.
I can't talk to you no more on the colar.
I'm gonna put on this helmet. It all but that
big buckle door for me so that I can go
on off and start disintegrating.
Speaker 13 (24:59):
All right, mister bunny.
Speaker 15 (25:00):
Only I hope you're allco careful out there, because if
anything los to happen to you, I don't.
Speaker 6 (25:04):
Know what I do.
Speaker 13 (25:07):
There's a door open for you.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Go ahead.
Speaker 13 (25:10):
I guess you can't hear me, but goodbye, and be careful.
Speaker 11 (25:17):
Boy.
Speaker 15 (25:18):
That does integrated short cuts into the ground, doesn't it?
Speaker 7 (25:31):
That disintegrated certainly cuts into the ground out there, doesn't it?
Speaker 10 (25:34):
Doctor?
Speaker 6 (25:34):
Yes, it does. Will items strange to hear it.
Speaker 8 (25:36):
Sound coming goes by radio though through the pants centering
Buck speciality.
Speaker 6 (25:40):
Yes, how's it going?
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Bug? Fine? Doctor?
Speaker 16 (25:43):
Not wasting any time trying to cut through the tough
material it's blocking them all, but just making a path
around it and slightly upward.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
Oh that guy, This handless integrator certainly does a good
job too. Look out through the forward metallic glass window.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
By the line of it, you can.
Speaker 10 (25:59):
See what kind of heck I'm no use, Bucks.
Speaker 7 (26:01):
The energy being released by the disintegration is in the
form of heat, and all we can see is a
heavy miss.
Speaker 6 (26:09):
Not this right, I had to be up the surface
of no time, just like cutting.
Speaker 10 (26:13):
Through so much. Yes, hey, this is funny what.
Speaker 6 (26:18):
I've come in the sort of a little cave.
Speaker 8 (26:20):
Here's probably a place that was washed out by underground stream.
Speaker 14 (26:23):
Yes, sir, that's what it is, all right.
Speaker 6 (26:25):
There isn't much of a ceiling to it, so I
guess i'll buck.
Speaker 10 (26:28):
Wait, well, what is it, Buck.
Speaker 5 (26:30):
I've gone of that wish I brought along a hand flash.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
How I could see it here?
Speaker 10 (26:33):
Why don't you come back and get one?
Speaker 16 (26:36):
There's something else in this cave besides me, Wilma, and
it's alive and moving around.
Speaker 10 (26:40):
Didn't come back here to the mechanical mole.
Speaker 16 (26:42):
Look, oh sir, but when you hear my disintegrator, you'll
know it's not just being fired into the ground.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
Good night, Buck sees what I think he does. I
hope he doesn't fire that disintegrator. And Barney said that
if he's anything, he'd fire first and ask questions afterwards.
And now stand by it for a few words from
your favorite enounce.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Welcome back. Well, based on what we have, I can
confirm that pretty much Black Barney's general motto is U
is to shoot first and ask questions later. What did
you What did you think of this? Of this segment?
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Alan, I actually I really love the Black Barney and
Willy relationship. You know how much Black Barney, you know,
for all of his bravado and everything on the outside,
he really loves this orphan. And again that lines up
with what's in the comic strip. You know that relationship
between those two, And I think that that is kind
(27:51):
of a nice nod to the to the comic strip
and everything, and it makes him kind of multi dimensional.
He's not just a buffoon. He is a you know,
he is actually somebody who cares.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, it gives him like a little bit of an earnestness.
And of course, in reference to the comic strip, you
also had Wilma referencing the Mongolian War, which was like
the big plot for the first few months of the
comic strip when it launched back in twenty nine or thirty.
(28:27):
All right, so I think there's probably one to three
episodes in between this episode and the final one, but
not a ton compared to the last one. So let's
go ahead and take a lesson to the conclusion of
the Mechanical Mole.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
But Roger in.
Speaker 14 (28:50):
That twenty fifth injury a shower of silver dollars from
popsicle peats money box.
Speaker 6 (29:11):
Let's see now, Buck and Black Barney.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
I finally managed to open the door of Barney's big
underground machine. And there, let's pick up our story exactly
where we left off.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
Are you all set? Then here we go five hundred
years into the future. Whiller will there, Barnie Keeper.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
I know that I shouldn't leave the poor little tag
all alone by myself down here under the ground, Willie.
Speaker 6 (29:39):
He was in the control company your machine, wasn't he?
Sure he was?
Speaker 4 (29:42):
And now he's gone. Keeper, Oh what could have happened him?
Speaker 6 (29:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
Isn't there some other part of your groundhog where he
might be sleeping quarters or something like that.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
I looked at him and he ain't there, my Will.
He's called, that's all.
Speaker 6 (29:55):
He's called, How Barney.
Speaker 4 (29:57):
Somebody or something must have come in here to you
hear me?
Speaker 6 (30:01):
Yes, yes, I hear you. But listen to me.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
What do you mean to listen to you?
Speaker 6 (30:04):
Will?
Speaker 5 (30:05):
He's called, Yes, I know, Barney, But no matter where
he went, he couldn't have got very far in a
few minutes since you left him the same he's called, No,
I don't know what I've got to mind him? Of course,
there's no way under the sun form to have got
very far away here on the ground.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
Come on, Captain, come on, and we go out to
take away. I did when I just shouldn't grade my
way up to the cave, but me and you were
run into each other.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
Okay, Barney, lead the way, only watch your step, Yeah sure, sure.
Speaker 4 (30:32):
Probably some big white Alma will come along, has it?
Speaker 5 (30:35):
Pleasy, Barney, This is a pretty sharp climb, and we
haven't got in neurtroren lifting units to.
Speaker 6 (30:40):
Help us along.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
You care about this like that? We gotta fight it.
We got.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
Here's the big open cave, Barnie, you see anything of
the great?
Speaker 6 (30:52):
I don't whether. There's not very much light filtering in
here from your control.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Carry. If he got into this big cave, Captain, he
would have got lost. He probably didn't see me anyways
around showing he kept on gone and gone. No tailor
where it might be.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
No, not necessarily, Barney doesn't tell you, Well, this cave
isn't as big as all that, and there's only one
way he could have gone out of it.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
Sure you know he might He might have fell into
some big hole the bottom of this period or.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
No, Barney, no disintegrated chaft that leads down to our
mechanical mold.
Speaker 4 (31:26):
Come on, you think maybe he could have went down
the head to the teted woman talked to yours the way.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
I don't.
Speaker 6 (31:33):
That's it, nah. No, here's the shaft. Will only be
careful because it drops almost straight down.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
And Barnie, come here, I guess no, no soil, are
you all right.
Speaker 10 (31:53):
I mean did jump all the way down that wrong
shaft on the condor?
Speaker 2 (31:56):
I couldn't wait it.
Speaker 11 (31:57):
Well, what do you think on a cord of I
must have slipped a little bit because it was so steep.
Speaker 5 (32:03):
That's why how long, Captain Roger will Well, I'm glad
to say you're safe and sound.
Speaker 13 (32:08):
Sure, I am well.
Speaker 11 (32:09):
I bet you ain't twice as glad as I am, Captain,
not even half it glad.
Speaker 7 (32:13):
No, sir, you'll see what all the fuss is about.
Willie was just sitting here talking to us, and I.
Speaker 13 (32:19):
Just got tired of waiting, that's all.
Speaker 15 (32:21):
I wanted to make sure you were all right, mister Barney.
Speaker 6 (32:25):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 13 (32:26):
Then when I got out into sort of a cave
up there, I saw a light coming.
Speaker 15 (32:29):
Up not just immigrated away place, and I heard Lieutenant
Wilma talking.
Speaker 13 (32:32):
With doctor you were, so I thought the best thing
to do was to come down here to them.
Speaker 11 (32:36):
Okay, as long as you was coming to the lieutenant woman,
it's all right.
Speaker 7 (32:43):
Damn you heard us saying some nice things about him too,
but I guess they won't hurt him, thank.
Speaker 13 (32:48):
You, Lieutenant.
Speaker 11 (32:49):
Well, you see, Lieutenant, the one thing I like about myself.
Most is my being some modest so I always tell
what it will be that way too, don't yesh.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
And someday my little Willie's going to grow.
Speaker 11 (33:04):
Up to be the finest man that ever lived, just
like you, Captain Rogers said, talk to your lieutenant woman.
Speaker 5 (33:11):
Well, the thing for us to do now is to
get these two mechanical moles underway and headed for the surface.
Uh suppose Barney and I go into the other machine, Yes,
and leave you folks here to work the mole's non
recoil energy Projector do you think we can.
Speaker 8 (33:23):
Exert enough power against the nose of Barney's machine to
push it right on up and out of a hole?
Speaker 6 (33:27):
It does, yes, sir, Now that the groundbreaker is off, well,
let's trying. But how are we going to know if
it worked out? All right? Well, we can keep in
touch with each other by radio.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
Fine, come on then, Barney, Yeah, yes, sir.
Speaker 11 (33:38):
You know, Captain, that machine you folks are using isn't
as big as mine and all that sort of stuff,
But yours looks real nice and compact.
Speaker 6 (33:47):
Well, we traveled a good many miles in it without any.
Speaker 5 (33:49):
Trouble, And did you find anything all funny. But we
can talk about that later. But yeah, yeah, let's get
into your control cabin.
Speaker 2 (33:55):
Yeah yeah, you go right ahead and sit in the
control see all right, you.
Speaker 6 (33:58):
Know that's to tell me how to work these various leavers.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Though, yes, sir, only waited second. I close this.
Speaker 6 (34:06):
That makes nothing noise for half a dozen metal doors.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Good load, like it was real strong? Huh?
Speaker 6 (34:12):
Well yes, but now how about these controls? All I
can see on the board here three leavers?
Speaker 2 (34:19):
Well is this here? One's a power control?
Speaker 6 (34:22):
Uh huh?
Speaker 2 (34:22):
This one you're used for skier from side to side.
Speaker 11 (34:26):
Yeah uh, And this one makes a noise of the
groundhoggle up and down, and that's all there is to it.
Speaker 6 (34:32):
That's all. Okay, Wait a second now while I turn
on the radio. You know, the secondary to the president.
Speaker 8 (34:43):
Of course, I've only given you a quick picture of
all we've discovered. But I'm sure the President want to
need good action.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
I'm sure you will.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
In any event, you will have.
Speaker 16 (34:51):
Captain Rogers report to him in person as soon as
you reach the surf yet huh sif.
Speaker 6 (34:55):
Hey wait a minute, hello, hello, doctor, I would just
talking to Donald, the President's secretary, so I heard I.
Speaker 8 (35:02):
Think it best that no time be lost in making
official contact with the people we found living deep.
Speaker 16 (35:07):
Under the earth.
Speaker 5 (35:07):
Oh sure, but what was that about me reporting to
the president?
Speaker 6 (35:11):
I imagine just a case of giving him the complete
story on this expedition.
Speaker 5 (35:15):
Well, now, work, doctor, Yes, it won't be necessary for
you to make the mechanical mole push this machine at
Barney's all the way back to the surface.
Speaker 6 (35:22):
No, no, sir, it'd be easy. But we'll sort of message. Well,
what do you want to do? Then, well, push us
upward a.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
Little bit and we'll roll right into the big cave
up here.
Speaker 6 (35:32):
Then we can turn and proceed under our own power.
Oh fu, well, are you already to move anytime? You are?
Speaker 1 (35:39):
All right?
Speaker 16 (35:39):
Then here we go? Everything all right?
Speaker 6 (35:45):
Yeah, yeah, we're moving straight backward.
Speaker 16 (35:47):
Good.
Speaker 7 (35:48):
I'll use a little more power here.
Speaker 14 (35:49):
Okay, whoa, whoa doctor, whoa?
Speaker 6 (35:52):
Yeah, yeh bug.
Speaker 5 (35:54):
We've rolled into the open space, and it feels as
though we've turned completely around.
Speaker 10 (35:59):
I can see you up through a metelloglass window.
Speaker 6 (36:01):
All we need to do is head upward.
Speaker 5 (36:03):
You folks can follow us or make your own past,
whichever's fastest.
Speaker 11 (36:06):
All following us up will be the fastest. We really
got power in this.
Speaker 8 (36:10):
You get groundhog, we'll see Donald is having a rocketproach
that made ready for us to take it.
Speaker 6 (36:16):
To the President. Good, well, let's get going. Go ahead,
hang on now, Bunnie, I'm going to turn on the
power or boy, this machine makes more noise than a
boiler factor.
Speaker 8 (36:49):
Okay, kind of good to meet us at the spaceboat with
this rocket of to Donald.
Speaker 6 (36:52):
It was on the President's instructions.
Speaker 5 (36:54):
Doctor, you are to ensure you're not being held up
by the crowds that were there to greet you.
Speaker 7 (36:57):
It was quite a crowd there wasn't there.
Speaker 5 (37:01):
Get over how quiet this rocket roads there seems after
that ground Hog of Barney's as all that, but.
Speaker 6 (37:07):
Boy, you never heard anything like her.
Speaker 5 (37:10):
But Barney says, it makes it sound powerful, and that's
all he cares about.
Speaker 6 (37:15):
It seems almost range to be up on the surface again.
Does yeah. Kind of good.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
Much as I like the President, though the kind of
a meeting we're going to always embarrasses me.
Speaker 6 (37:25):
Well, do you know what it means?
Speaker 5 (37:27):
Wonderful expedition, great discoveries, marvelous scientific achievement.
Speaker 6 (37:31):
Why you should want Wilman me around with more than
night and.
Speaker 7 (37:33):
See right, doctor, I need credit belongs to party to you.
Speaker 5 (37:36):
Well, if I may say so, I believe the President
has a great deal more than just that on his mind.
Speaker 6 (37:41):
Really, what he'll want to tell you himself. Now, there's
his private landing platform just ahead of us. Ain't on,
please for landing right this way, please shoot Wilma. Thanks doctor, thanks.
Speaker 8 (37:57):
You will enter his private office through that door of Oh, mister.
Speaker 17 (38:02):
President, welcome, Welcome all well mister, and congratulations on what
I believe is the greatst scientific accomplishment.
Speaker 6 (38:10):
Of our age. Thank you, mister Presidant.
Speaker 5 (38:11):
There's so much to say in commendation for your amazing
feat that I won't even attempt it. Suffice it to
say that arrangement for establishing social and commercial relationships with
the people of your underground city.
Speaker 6 (38:23):
Are being made now, blendid. I only hope that we
may have a hand on the curtain Roger's.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
You may not.
Speaker 17 (38:28):
Now, don't look so unhappy, my boy. I have another
assignment for you, that is, if you're willing to take it.
For sure, of course I answer, and don't speak too quickly, Rodgers,
because if you do accept it, it will be the
most dangerous assignment you've ever attended.
Speaker 5 (38:46):
Well, I don't know about you, but I'm willing to
bet that fuck takes that assignment, whatever it is, So
don't miss the next.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
Episode, Welcome Back. Well, that ends well, and I'm pretty
certain that Buck's mission is to go after Killer Kane.
It's kind of the whole catch and release thing that
those who have got going on. But Alan, what was
(39:12):
your overall thoughts on the final episode as well as
the serial as a whole.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
I mean, it wrapped up very nicely, you know. And again,
the nice thing about Buck Rogers is that that that
focus on diplomacy and not just shoot first on everything.
You know that there's the bit in the end where
they're talking about how we've already established relationships. So you
(39:38):
compare that Flash Gordon, where okay, I conquered this planet,
then I've conquered this planet. Then I've conquered this planet.
You know, Buck just wants to, hey, let's meet people
and you know, and see if we can build allies.
It's a it's a very different worldview.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
Well, Flash Gordon builds allies, you just beats them up first.
It's it's just a different approach to the whole ally
building process.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
That's fair.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
One thing. One thing I will say for this serial
over Flash Gordon is I think the sound effects that
they used were far better. You know, they're not you know,
modern era, but I think they sounded more sci fi,
more realistic. Some of the ones in uh Flatish Gordon.
(40:27):
It's like, okay, well that was a choice, but you know,
you feel like you're dealing with like real you know,
real in quotes, rapistols and weapons and stuff that's moving
and blowing up and all that.
Speaker 3 (40:44):
Didn't they hire a third party to do the sound effects.
I thought they read that in one of the histories
of this radio cereal, whereas everything in Flash Gordon was
in house. It kind of like people would hire Industrial
Light and Magic to do their movie effects. I think
they hired a company that specialized in sound effects for this,
and I think that does make a big difference.
Speaker 1 (41:06):
Yeah, And of course Jack Johnstone, who you know we
know from series like Johnny Dollar and the Man called
X running the show. I think that that does that
definitely does help. And he certainly would have been very
well aware of youth of the process and a newspaper
article reference how he how he tried to really bring
(41:31):
all of the feel of the comics as much as
he could in terms of making it feel real to listeners. Now,
it's worth noting that Buck Rodgers would return to air
two more times in short lived series. In nineteen forty
there'd be a half hour program for a couple months,
and then a six month serialized run in nineteen forty
(41:54):
six to forty seven. And all we have of that
one is the very last episode Buck Rogers on the Radio,
But the rest of that run is missing. And do
you have any more thoughts on Buck Rogers on Radio?
Speaker 2 (42:13):
Yeah?
Speaker 11 (42:14):
You know.
Speaker 3 (42:14):
One thing that surprises me with the the a lot
of these old time radio cereals is what survives and
what doesn't and why, you know, why do we have
And I know this was an earlier radio serial, so
there may not have been as much thought put into preservation.
But it is interesting that some of these we've managed
(42:37):
to keep all the episodes of and some it's very spotty.
And I just never understood what the differences between why
some are managed to be salvaged in some oren'te.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
Yeah, it really is. It's a bit of a crapshoot
in terms of what happened to get preserved with a
lot of these programs had instructions to discard them after youth,
and so it would come down to like who didn't
who didn't listen, and there was something that could be
(43:13):
salvaged or required later on. So let's go ahead and
talk about Buck Rogers and the cyber Lords. Could you
give us like a thumbnail sketch of the plot and
what it's about.
Speaker 3 (43:25):
So for all of the good things in the original
phill of Francis Nolan's story, there's unfortunately a whole lot
of racism and and you know, of course it was
written in the twenties, so it's kind of of its time,
as they say, and so we wanted to retell that
original story, which is what we did, minus the kind
(43:48):
of the racism part. So in the in the original story,
you know, Asians broadly Asians had kind of taken over
the world and we're ruling from airships. And in the
nineteen thirty nine Cereal they replaced that with extortionists, is
(44:08):
how they referred to them. And so that's kind of
what we did, is we replace them with hackers. So
bad hackers have so infiltrated all the systems that basically
they control the world and they rule same thing from airships,
and Buck Rogers and his gang of rebels, which of
(44:29):
course includes Wilmadeering and others, have to try to take
them down, and that is you know. So we replicated
as much of the original story as we could, just
again changing the nature of the villain a little bit,
but kept the core of the story because I think
it's a really good and really interesting story that was told.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Now as you reference the original story recently entered the
public domain, when did you get the idea that this
was going to be something that you would purfue.
Speaker 3 (45:03):
I love Buck Rogers so much, like you know, I mean,
my first introduction was the nineteen seventy nine TV show,
but then going back and reading the older comics and
just all of the stories and all of the law
around it and how much it's influenced. When it went
in to public domain, I was super excited to be
(45:23):
able to tell that story to a new generation because
I feel like we're losing some of the I feel
like we're losing some of these characters that influence so much.
You know, if you're my age and maybe a little
bit younger, you know who Buck Rogers is probably from
(45:44):
the TV show, but you know, younger kids don't, They
don't have any reference for Buck Rogers. And same thing
with Flash Gordon. I know Matt Cave has been publishing
the new flash forwarded comics, but you know a lot
of that's gone as well well. And so being able
to bring these characters who they've influenced, like Star Wars.
(46:06):
George Lucas has said Star Wars wouldn't exist without Buck
Rogers and Flash forton right. So so much of what
we see in sci fi today came from these two properties.
So being able to you know, flashboard and obviously not
in the public domain, but being able to tell new
Buck Rogers stories to people and hopefully inspire them to
go look up the old stories, like what you're doing
(46:29):
with the radio show here is I think it's important
so people get where this is coming from.
Speaker 2 (46:36):
Now.
Speaker 1 (46:36):
Obviously, characters are entering the public domain every year. Now,
now are there any specific ones that are not in
the public domain now? But you are kind of looking
forward to entering the public domain for treatment at Green.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
Archer, The Shadow The Shadow Goes, The Shadow Goes in
the public domain January one, twenty twenty seven, and I
will make a comic as soon as I can, because
the Shadow, the legends of the Shadow, and the stories
of the Shadow are so incredible. I was earlier this
(47:14):
year we we tabled at PulpFest in Pittsburgh and just
a Shadow everywhere. I was so happy. I spent so
much money buying Shadow books and pulps and histories and
and and so on. But you know, he's just such
an incredible and complex character.
Speaker 1 (47:37):
Well, we'll look forward to that. And uh and as
I'm inted at the start of the program, we uh,
you argue doing a drawing for two copies of Buck
Rogers and the Cyber Lords with the metal covers, and
those are available green Archer dot I o FLA actually
(48:00):
great adventurers. And I believe that drawing is going to
be open till the end of the year.
Speaker 3 (48:06):
That's correct. Yeah, we want to giveny of people plenty
of time to listen to this, so enter you know,
whenever you want. We'll do the drawing January first, twenty
twenty six.
Speaker 1 (48:16):
All right, Well, thank you so much for joining us
the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (48:21):
Allen.
Speaker 1 (48:21):
I really appreciate it and look forward to what else
you've got to coming down at Green Archer Comics. Now
it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day,
and I want to go ahead and thank Liz, Patreon
supporter since December of twenty twenty three, currently supporting the
(48:41):
podcast at the rookie level of two dollars or more
per month. Thanks so much for the support, Liz, and
that will 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.
(49:04):
And as one final reminder, please go to Greenarcher dot
ipo slash Great Adventurers to enter their drawing to win
one of their metal covers of Buck Roger and the
Cyber Lords. Thank you once again to Alan Liska for
joining us today. We will be back next Tuesday and
(49:27):
taking a bit of a break from the future and
space as we'll be featuring episodes of the anthology series
Adventure Ahead for the rest of the year until bringing
you The Adventures of Tarzan in twenty twenty six. But
join us back here on Saturday for Cloak and Dagger
(49:49):
in the meantime, do send your comments to box thirteen
at Great Detectives dot net from Boise, Idaho. This is
your host, Adam Grahamson and all
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