Figure 1.--Here we see fans of the 1932-34 radio series, 'Tsrzan of the Apes', they gave joined the 'Tarzan Club'. These clubs were a popular way 01of promoting radio programs with children. The Signal Oil Company was a California sponsor.

Adaptations of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan book began with the movies, but soon there were radio peograms as well. They also dealt with a grown-up Lord Greystoke, who was raised by a female ape as Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle. Jane was a girl who was separated from a safari. We think radio programming began in 1924, but we only have information on specific programs with 'Tarzan of the Apes' (1932). This Tarzan program originated at WOR in New York City and was then syndicated by the World Broadcasting System. Production later was moved to Hollywood, California. The series was broadcast September 12, 1932 - March 3, 1934. The programs began as a 15 minute show, byt was soon exposndedto 30 minutes which became a standard for radio and TV serials. Each show depicted Tarzan's efforts to protect his jungle homeland from evildoers. To add a touch of reality, the producers went to locl zoos to record actual animal sounds. The was no 'Boy' in the initial radio series. ('Boy' played by Johnny Sheffield did not appoear in the movies until 1939.) The seies was, however, very popular with children. Child-oriented programs like Tarzan commonly promoted two two elements found to be appealing to the Kids. Firsr was a club centered on the main cgrcter. Second was premiums that could be obtained by sending in items like labels or box tops from the sponsor's products. Signal Oil was a Trzan sponsor. And the Signal Tarzan Club provd enormously popular. Vincent Terrace wrote in his book, Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows, "Stories relate Tarzan's efforts to protect his adopted homeland from evildoers.

Created: 4:06 AM 6/12/2018
Last updated: 9:41 AM 12/14/2018