Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (radio series) facts for kids
| Genre | Science fiction radio serial, Aviation radio series. |
|---|---|
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | Mutual Broadcasting System |
| Syndicates | CBS |
| Starring | Matt Crowley Curtis Arnall Carl Frank John Larkin Wilma Deering Edgar Stehli |
| Announcer | Paul Douglas, Fred Uttal, Kenny Williams |
| Written by | Dick Calkins, Joe Cross, Jack Johnstone, Albert Miller, Dee Falkinburg |
| Directed by | Carlo De Angelo, Jack Johnstone |
| Original release | November 7, 1932 – March 28, 1947 |
| No. of episodes | 860 (estimated) |
| Sponsored by | Kellogg's, Cocomalt, Cream of Wheat, Popsicles, Fudgsicles, Creamsicles |
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century was a super exciting radio show! It was based on popular stories and comic strips about a hero named Buck Rogers. This show was really special because it was the very first science fiction radio series ever! It took listeners on amazing adventures into the future, starting way back in 1932.
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Buck Rogers: Adventures in the 25th Century
Imagine waking up 500 years in the future! That's what happened to Buck Rogers. He was a brave pilot from the 20th century. After an accident, he fell into a deep sleep. When he woke up, it was the 25th century! The world had changed a lot.
Buck Rogers found himself in a future filled with amazing technology. But it also had new dangers. He teamed up with his friends to fight evil. They explored strange new worlds and faced exciting challenges.
The Radio Show's Journey
The Buck Rogers radio show first aired on November 7, 1932. It was a "radio serial," which means it was a story told in many short episodes. Each episode was only about 15 minutes long. Listeners would tune in every day to find out what happened next.
The show ran for several years in different periods:
- From 1932 to 1936
- Again in 1939
- Briefly in 1940
- And finally from 1946 to 1947
It had an estimated 860 episodes in total! That's a lot of adventures. The show was heard across the United States. It played on networks like the Mutual Broadcasting System and CBS.
Who Were the Characters?
The radio show brought the comic strip characters to life with voices and sound effects. Here are some of the main heroes and villains:
- Buck Rogers: The main hero, a pilot from the past. Several actors played his voice, including Matt Crowley and John Larkin.
- Wilma Deering: Buck's brave and smart companion. Her voice was played by Adele Ronson.
- Dr. Huer: A brilliant scientist who helped Buck. Edgar Stehli was his voice.
- Black Barney: A friendly space pirate who often helped Buck.
- Ardala Valmar: A powerful and often tricky villain.
- Killer Kane: Another one of Buck's main enemies.
Why Was It Special?
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century was groundbreaking. It was the first time science fiction was regularly heard on the radio. Before this, most radio shows were about cowboys or detectives. This show opened up a whole new world of imagination for listeners.
It showed people what the future might be like. It had spaceships, ray guns, and adventures on other planets. This inspired many other science fiction stories and shows that came later.
The show was very popular with kids. Many companies sponsored it, like Kellogg's (who made cereals) and Popsicles. This helped make the show a big hit!
