Orson Bean narrates this nostalgic trip back to the exciting escapist world of movie serials. Inspired by the recent prime-time airing of "Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe" (Wednesday's at 8PM) producer Ken Johnson screened over 60 hours of serial chapters before selecting the following excerpts:
"The Phantom Empire" (1935) with Gene Autry and Frankie Darro.
"Tailspin Tommy In The Great Air Mystery" (1935) with Noah Beery Jr., Jean Rogers, and Maurice Murphy.
"Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars" (1936 ) with Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, and Frank Shannon.
"Tim Tyler's Luck (1937) with Frankie Thomas and Jack Mulhall.
"Perils of Nyoka" (1942) with Kay Aldrige and Clayton Moore.
Still photos show theaters packing kids during Saturday matinees when the main attraction was usually the weekly serial chapter. Additional footage shows the serial as it existed during pre-soundtrack days.
