We offer this special treat sandwiched between our weekly Sunday OTR episodes, especially for this Thanksgiving holiday.

Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875-March 19, 1950) wrote Tarzan of the Apes in 1912. Tarzan first came to radio in 1932 as a daily serial broadcast three times a week in fifteen-minute installments. Jane was played by ERB’s daughter Joan, and Tarzan was played by her husband (and ERB’s son-in-law) Jim Pierce. Both performed well and the series was well received.

Tarzan returned to radio in 1934 and 1936 with a pair of independent, 39-part serials, both of which were again well-written, acted, and produced. They, too, were very well received by Tarzan’s legions of fans.

In the early 1950’s Tarzan on radio was revived yet again (1951-1953), this time as a half-hour show featuring a complete adventure in each episode. The following episode, “African Thanksgiving,” aired on November 22, 1951 and stars Lamont Johnson as the Lord of the Jungle, this time a well-spoken and admirable portrayal quite different from the (also admirable) Tarzan made popular by, among others, the famous Johnny Weismuller movies and his “Me, Tarzan; you, Jane,” characterization, though both representations are equally loved and respected.

Listen now as Tarzan, in his own inimitable fashion, brings a little bit of Thanksgiving to a young couple in darkest Africa, where law is scarce, slave-traders abound, and evil comes in many guises.

Play Time:  26:19