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Drama & Anthology · Syndicated

Magic Island

· 130 broadcasts

One of radio's earliest science-fantasy serials for young listeners, Magic Island follows wealthy Patricia Gregory, who has spent fourteen years scouring the South Pacific for the daughter lost when the family yacht wrecked near the thirtieth parallel. Acting on a rumor of a white girl on a hidden island, she finds Joan alive among the scientifically advanced people of Euclidia -- a civilization of ray guns, magnetic beams, viewing screens, and an island that can submerge to hide. What follows is a 130-chapter escape-and-recapture adventure: stolen submarines, homing pigeons, secret formulas, and the coldly brilliant ruler G-47. Written, produced, announced, and acted by Perry Crandall, Magic Island began on Hollywood's KNX in 1935 and was syndicated on transcription discs by Atlas Radio Corp. from 1937 into the 1940s. Crandall died in 1939, just as the recorded serial was finding its audience; all 130 fifteen-minute episodes survive.

Collection status: 130 of 130 held (100% complete)
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Episode Spine

undated

date unknown Jerry Halls Proposal Listen (MP3)
Patricia Gregory presses on with her long South Pacific hunt for her lost daughter, and young Jerry Hall talks his way aboard Captain Bradford's expedition.
date unknown Leaving LA for Magic Island Listen (MP3)
A strange radio voice beckons the Gregory yacht steadily onward.
date unknown Strange Windstorm Listen (MP3)
An eerie wall of fog pins the ship in place and kills the engine.
date unknown Strange Bank Of Fog Listen (MP3)
Captain Bradford's own instrument can't pierce the uncanny fog.
date unknown Tex Bradford Prepares His Straightoscope Listen (MP3)
Captain Bradford readies his straightoscope to see through the murk.
date unknown Island in the Viewer Listen (MP3)
The viewer catches a glimpse of the missing Joan Gregory as an unseen force hauls the yacht toward the island.
date unknown Pulled by a Magnetic Force Listen (MP3)
Fog-piercing lenses and phantom footsteps hint at the strange people waiting ahead.
date unknown Joan Is Found On Euclidia Listen (MP3)
Face to face with G-47 at last -- and Joan Gregory, missing for fourteen years, is finally found.
date unknown G 47 Uses His Ray Gun Listen (MP3)
When Jerry tries to warn his friends back in California, G-47's ray gun cuts him and Joan down.
date unknown False Radio Message Listen (MP3)
Captain Bradford is found choked and collapsed inside his cell -- what has happened to him?
date unknown Island Secrets Listen (MP3)
Bradford hatches a scheme to talk freely without G-47 eavesdropping.
date unknown Last Radio Message From Magic Island Listen (MP3)
G-47 lets Jerry radio the outside world, but the message changes nothing.
date unknown Joan Stays On The Yacht Listen (MP3)
With Euclidian ray guns able to melt a battleship in an instant, escaping the island looks impossible.
date unknown The Cloth Factory On The Island Listen (MP3)
A tour of Euclidia's marvels is cut short when an alarm signals an escape attempt.
date unknown Staged Escape Attempt Listen (MP3)
The yacht's captain tries to break out, but G-47's scientists anticipate every move -- and Jerry has vanished.
date unknown Soundproof Seaweed Cloth Listen (MP3)
Realizing escape is hopeless, Tex still holds one card: the formula for the Universal Solvent.
date unknown Homing Pigeon Listen (MP3)
A new plan takes shape -- calling for help by carrier pigeon.
date unknown Pigeons Released Listen (MP3)
The pigeon slips away; is rescue finally on the way?
date unknown The Secret Formula Listen (MP3)
Amid the island's science, Patricia finds one thing to teach the brilliant Joan -- how to pray.
date unknown G 47 Has the Pigeon and Formula Listen (MP3)
The pigeon plan collapses, and G-47 seizes Tex's secret formula.
date unknown A Different Formula Listen (MP3)
The captured formula proves to be not the Universal Solvent but a recipe for artificial diamonds.
date unknown Trapped in an Elevator Listen (MP3)
Seawater pours down the shaft while Joan and Jerry sit helpless in a jammed elevator car.
date unknown Elevator Escape Listen (MP3)
Freed from the elevator, the pair find Patricia's yacht abandoned.
date unknown Stolen Oxygen Tank Listen (MP3)
Bradford's next escape scheme fits the carrier pigeon with a tiny diving suit.
date unknown Battleship Approach Listen (MP3)
The island begins to submerge, leaving Captain Bradford stranded in the open water.
date unknown Magic Island Prepares To Submerge Listen (MP3)
Bradford makes it back after freeing the pigeons -- just as a fleet of battleships closes in.
date unknown Radio Signals Within The Island Listen (MP3)
A coded message from Johnson reaches Patricia and Jerry, and Jerry is put to work on a submarine.
date unknown Jones And Jerry Board The Sub Listen (MP3)
Joan gives Jerry a guided tour of the marvels built into the Euclidian undersea craft.
date unknown A Woman Commander Listen (MP3)
Jerry is forced to radio Johnson and draw him into a trap while a pigeon carries the secret away.
date unknown Message To Johnson Listen (MP3)
The rising water came from a torpedo; aboard the sub, Jerry and Joan are dropped by a sleep ray.
date unknown Joan And Jerry Ray Gunned Listen (MP3)
Waking from the ray, Jerry and Joan learn the Euclidians have uncovered their plans.
date unknown Submarine Heads For Johnsons Ship Listen (MP3)
To reach Johnson, the Euclidian submarine readies a decidedly strange way of breaking the surface.
date unknown Submarine Surfaces To Meet Johnsons Ship Listen (MP3)
Johnson ignores the submarine's threats and refuses to halt his ship -- trouble is coming.
date unknown Johnson Speeds Away Listen (MP3)
Johnson's fuel is leaking away, and his tanks will soon run dry.
date unknown Tex Contacts Johnson Listen (MP3)
The submarine's commander charges its mighty magnets to start dragging Johnson's boat in.
date unknown Johnsons Ship Runs Out Of Fuel Listen (MP3)
Euclidia surfaces again as Patricia and Tex discover a messenger pigeon.
date unknown Gregorys Yacht Pulled Out Into The Light Listen (MP3)
With Johnson's boat hauled to Euclidia, Jerry offers Commander S-1 a chance to see the wider world.
date unknown Commander Talks To Johnson Listen (MP3)
Mac MacCloud stands in for Johnson and G-47 is handed a false formula, but Johnson has slipped away.
date unknown Everyone Arrives Listen (MP3)
The whole party is gathered for a visit deeper into Euclidia.
date unknown Mc Leod Poses As Johnson Listen (MP3)
Jerry and Joan are marched into the laboratory just as the fake formula starts to fail.
date unknown Help From The Sub Commander Listen (MP3)
Jerry and Joan slip underwater to Patricia's cruiser, from which she broadcasts a phony distress call.
date unknown The Gas Is Released Listen (MP3)
Bradford starts pumping fuel to the cruiser in another bid to break free of the island.
date unknown Jerry And Joan Escape Listen (MP3)
Jerry and Joan plot to sabotage Euclidia to cover an escape -- Joan even has two ray guns.
date unknown Transferring Oil Listen (MP3)
The youngsters win over Patricia and Tex for their sabotage plan, and a coded message goes out.
date unknown Escape Attempt Tonight Listen (MP3)
Jerry has Joan pretend to gun him down, launching their scheme to cut the island's power.
date unknown Power Shutdown Plan Listen (MP3)
The plan goes wrong -- they are trapped in a Euclidian elevator shaft.
date unknown Joan Fires At Jerry Listen (MP3)
Jerry and Joan press on with their sabotage of the Euclidian power room.
date unknown Escape From Guard Listen (MP3)
With all power cut, the island itself begins to sink.
date unknown Ready To Throw Switches Listen (MP3)
A hard climb up a cement tube gets a crucial message delivered.
date unknown The Alarm Sound Listen (MP3)
As the island submerges, everyone gets clear with the pigeons' help.
date unknown Swim For The Boat Listen (MP3)
A coded word from Johnson follows a breathless run of narrow escapes.
date unknown Island Sinks and a Successful Escape Listen (MP3)
The fuel drums turn out to hold turpentine, stranding the expedition with nothing to run on.
date unknown Lighted Buoys Mark The Route Listen (MP3)
Becalmed for hours, the party is recaptured by a Euclidian submarine.
date unknown Out Of Fuel Listen (MP3)
Hauled back to the island, they find help from the beautiful Commander S-1.
date unknown Sub Catches Up Listen (MP3)
The Euclidian submarine overtakes and retakes the yacht.
date unknown Sub Tows The Yacht Back To Magic Island Listen (MP3)
Towed back and drawn down beneath the island once more.
date unknown Two Guards Knocked Out Listen (MP3)
The Euclidians plan to move the whole island so the Gregory party can never be found.
date unknown In a Chamber 90 Feet Underground Listen (MP3)
A Euclidian ray gun sounds -- and Tex Bradford vanishes.
date unknown Island Gets Ready To Move Listen (MP3)
Seemingly alone on the island, Patricia decides to take a desperate chance.
date unknown Chamber Filling With Water Listen (MP3)
A reprieve of three days is granted.
date unknown Tex Is Ray Gunned Listen (MP3)
Jerry and Joan strain to catch a faint, ominous signal.
date unknown Safe For Three Days Listen (MP3)
Tex and Pat find themselves trapped and cut off.
date unknown Keystone Notes Listen (MP3)
The four steal a Euclidian submarine that can run at forty-eight knots.
date unknown Locked in Rooms Listen (MP3)
Joan explains the submarine's marvels as they steer for Los Angeles.
date unknown Reunited Listen (MP3)
The Euclidians launch a hunt for the fleeing submarine.
date unknown Stealing A Sub Listen (MP3)
Water boils up around them from far beneath the sea.
date unknown The Warning Signal Listen (MP3)
Euclidian magnetic depth bombs close in on the stolen submarine.
date unknown 90 Second Intervals Listen (MP3)
A crash dive carries the sub clear of G-47's reach -- for now.
date unknown Attacked From The Air Listen (MP3)
Thales, the sinister figure of Euclidia, enters the chase.
date unknown Sub Dives To 9000 Listen (MP3)
A single musical note threatens to tear the submarine apart.
date unknown 10 Seconds For The Combination Listen (MP3)
Joan jettisons the sub's stern and saves everyone from the deadly note.
date unknown Protection Around The Sub Listen (MP3)
A very Euclidian bout of seasickness sets in.
date unknown Stern Section Dumped Off Listen (MP3)
Nearing Los Angeles, the sub is dragged back by magnetism from a second Euclidian vessel.
date unknown Getting Seasick Listen (MP3)
Joan plans to turn magnetic bombs against the pursuing second submarine.
date unknown Another Sub Follows Listen (MP3)
A coded message goes to Johnson, but Octavo looses a destroying tone at the sub.
date unknown Tex Tries The Radio Listen (MP3)
Johnson pulls them to safety just as the submarine is destroyed.
date unknown Coded Message Keynotes Hit Sub Listen (MP3)
The Euclidians freeze Joan, Jerry, Patricia, and Tex helpless in the middle of Los Angeles harbor.
date unknown Sailboat Pickup Listen (MP3)
They lay plans for a secret landing in Los Angeles -- home at last.
date unknown Sprayed With A Chemcial Listen (MP3)
Patricia and Tex decide to return to Euclidia, leaving Joan and Jerry behind.
date unknown Rescued By Oil Tanker Listen (MP3)
The unseen Thales keeps watch.
date unknown Joan And Jerry Stay Behind Listen (MP3)
Someone is inside the house -- are the Euclidians attacking?
date unknown Jerry Shows LA To Joan Listen (MP3)
An intruder breaks into the Gregory home, and then a fire erupts.
date unknown Someones In The House Listen (MP3)
Tex foils a Euclidian plot and resolves to return and conquer the island.
date unknown Smelling Smoke Alarms Everyone Listen (MP3)
A hidden recording exposes the Euclidians' plans, and Joan discovers what fear means.
date unknown Planning The Return Listen (MP3)
Commander S-1 shadows the Gregory boat by submarine -- and Thales is aboard, watching.
date unknown Joan Is Afraid Listen (MP3)
The expedition searches the ship for the hidden Thales.
date unknown Sailing For The Magic Island Listen (MP3)
A storm stops the ship's engines, and only Thales can restart them.
date unknown Joan Questions The Crew Listen (MP3)
The Swedish engineer is unmasked as Thales -- flattened by the Chinese cook.
date unknown A Large Bad Storm Causes Problems Listen (MP3)
A fierce storm drives the party back toward Euclidia.
date unknown Engineer Peterson Is Taken Prisoner Listen (MP3)
They return to Atlantis, the Euclidian city on the ocean floor.
date unknown Ship Arrives At The Magic Island Listen (MP3)
An elevator that turns sideways carries them down to Atlantis, where one by one they disappear.
date unknown The Descent Into Modern Atlantis Listen (MP3)
G-47 and Thales interrogate them two hundred feet down -- only the topmost level of the city.
date unknown Everyone Disappears Listen (MP3)
The whole party vanishes into Euclidian hands.
date unknown Questioned By G 47 Listen (MP3)
G-47 questions them within the vast cavern beneath the sea.
date unknown A Beautiful Apartment Listen (MP3)
The submarine commander guides a tour through the colony of Euclidia.
date unknown The City Is Discovered Listen (MP3)
A life sentence in Euclidia -- perhaps it won't be so terrible after all.
date unknown 13 Large Cave Rooms Listen (MP3)
Cheops the Builder, who raised Euclidia, introduces himself.
date unknown The Old Skipper Found Caring For Animals Listen (MP3)
A manufactured volcanic eruption becomes a grave danger.
date unknown Meeting Master Builder Listen (MP3)
Jerry is pulled from a flooded room as the rescue fleet sets out.
date unknown Artificial Volanco Eruption Listen (MP3)
Over a Euclidian lunch, fresh escape plans take shape.
date unknown Ships Moved Away Listen (MP3)
The party is led on foot through the avenues of Euclidia.
date unknown Comparing Notes Listen (MP3)
They weigh a plan to free the homing pigeons for another escape.
date unknown The Pigeons Listen (MP3)
A prisoner disappears from the soundproof room.
date unknown Talk About Future Plans Listen (MP3)
A broadcast from home recaps the adventure so far.
date unknown Jerry And Tex Disappear Listen (MP3)
A tour of the works that build thousand-mile-an-hour rockets that double as submarines.
date unknown Listening To Radio Broadcast Listen (MP3)
A test flight of the rocket plane heads toward a collision.
date unknown Aboard A Test Rocket Plane Listen (MP3)
The rocket plane's instruments die at forty thousand feet and it plunges toward the sea.
date unknown A Test Flight Listen (MP3)
A hard rescue follows -- the Euclidians cannot swim.
date unknown Instruments Have Failed Listen (MP3)
Another rescue is pulled off on the open sea.
date unknown Rocket Plane Down In The Water Listen (MP3)
The submarine commander, now Elaine Raleigh, joins the team.
date unknown All Four Are Rescued Listen (MP3)
A chance at escape opens inside a steel tube.
date unknown Elaine Has A New Home Listen (MP3)
With Elaine's help, a new escape by homing pigeon is planned.
date unknown An Airlock Is Discovered Listen (MP3)
A hidden airlock is discovered.
date unknown Making Escape Plans Listen (MP3)
An emergency grips Euclidia while Tex grows deeply suspicious of Elaine.
date unknown A Keystone Note Demonstration Listen (MP3)
With Elaine's help, the Gregory party makes another break from Euclidia.
date unknown Tex Is Suspicious Of Elaine Listen (MP3)
The party reaches Los Angeles and sets the rocket plane down on Lake Hollywood.
date unknown Daring Escape Attempt Listen (MP3)
Plans form for a return to Euclidia, armed with Tex's Universal Solvent.
date unknown Landing On Lake Hollywood Listen (MP3)
With some fast thinking and a well-placed automobile, Jerry keeps Hollywood's reporters from getting their story out.
date unknown A Second Return Is Planned Listen (MP3)
A police escort turns up for Jerry and Joan.
date unknown Tex Takes Off With Elaine And Is Seen Listen (MP3)
Low on fuel, Tex Bradford tries to bluff his way through.
date unknown Stopping Reporters Story Listen (MP3)
Patricia calls for full speed ahead, while Jerry secretly schemes to hold the boat back.
date unknown Tex And Elaine Control Euclidia Listen (MP3)
With Tex and Elaine now controlling Euclidia, the Euclidians move to raise the island.
date unknown Motor Almost Dead Listen (MP3)
Jerry, Joan, and Patricia despair of reaching Tex in time.
date unknown Island Being Raised Listen (MP3)
A leaking lifeboat and a single light in the dark.
date unknown They Are Sinking Listen (MP3)
Thales agrees to surrender all of Euclidia.
date unknown On A Life Raft Listen (MP3)
G-47 has vanished.
date unknown G 47 Surrenders Listen (MP3)
Professor Hubbard arrives, and his true identity is astonishingly revealed.
date unknown G 47 Has Disappeared Listen (MP3)
The serial closes as three would-be college students arrive and Euclidia is destroyed.
date unknown G 47 Is A Professor Listen (MP3)
date unknown Enrolling In College Listen (MP3)
The Story

One of radio's earliest science-fantasy serials for young listeners, Magic Island follows wealthy Patricia Gregory, who has spent fourteen years scouring the South Pacific for the daughter lost when the family yacht wrecked near the thirtieth parallel. Acting on a rumor of a white girl on a hidden island, she finds Joan alive among the scientifically advanced people of Euclidia -- a civilization of ray guns, magnetic beams, viewing screens, and an island that can submerge to hide. What follows is a 130-chapter escape-and-recapture adventure: stolen submarines, homing pigeons, secret formulas, and the coldly brilliant ruler G-47. Written, produced, announced, and acted by Perry Crandall, Magic Island began on Hollywood's KNX in 1935 and was syndicated on transcription discs by Atlas Radio Corp. from 1937 into the 1940s. Crandall died in 1939, just as the recorded serial was finding its audience; all 130 fifteen-minute episodes survive.

Full story — coming soon while it's being curated.
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