The Air Adventures of Biggles was a radio series which was produced and broadcast in Australia between 1945 and 1954. The series was first produced in Adelaide by AWA (Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Ltd). In 1949, production was moved to Sydney from the 209th episode onwards. Each episode would run for about 15 minutes and about 20-40 episodes would be needed to narrate one complete story. According to Colin Craigen, producer of the series from 1949 to 1954, a total of 1256 episodes were produced.[1] Other sources however put the number at 1178.[2] This number also accords with the list of holdings at the Australian National Film and Sound Archive.
The radio stories were all adapted from the Biggles books of W. E. Johns, albeit with some artistic licence. Some, in particular, were transposed from an interwar or WW2 to a 1950s Air Police setting. Some of Johns' books were adapted twice.
The theme music was "Danger Man" by George Melachrino. This was later changed to Chappell's Changing Scenes No. 2 and the Duel, both composed by Sidney Torch.
The broadcasts are believed to have entered the public domain. Some episodes (but not many) are available from Ebay and others on Youtube and other online resources. The Australian National Film and Sound Archive has episodes 209-1178 meaning all those produced in Sydney but none of the episodes produced in Adelaide. Those in Australia may request to listen to the recordings.[3]
Production details[]
The first 208 episodes were produced by AWA in the studios of the Advertiser Network in Adelaide. From episode 209 onwards, production moved to Sydney, along with changes in scriptwriters, producers and cast:[1][4]
- Scripts:Maurice Chapman (Adelaide series), Brian Wright and Harry Howlett (Sydney series). W. E. Johns probably had oversight.
- Producer Keith MacDonald (Adelaide series), J. Colin Craigen (Sydney series)
- Cast:
- Biggles: Keith MacDonald (Adelaide series), Rex Waldron (eps 209-286), Moray Powell (eps 287-970), James Mills (eps 971-1178)
- Algy: Don Downey (Adelaide series), Max Osbiston (Sydney series)
- Bertie: Ralph Binns (Adeliade series), Walter Sullivan (Sydney series)
- Ginger: Robert Matthews (Adelaide series), Leonard Bullen (Sydney series)
- Toddy Todrick: Jack Ham (Adelaide series only - he is replaced by Pat Kendall in the Sydney series)
- Pat Kendall: (Sydney series only) Diana Perryman (eps 209-625), Ngaire Thompson (eps 699-1023)
Broadcast Dates[]
Although the first series was produced in Adelaide, the programmes were first broadcast in Sydney primarily by the AWA station 2CH:[4]
- Adelaide series:
- 2CH - Monday to Thursday 6.15 or 6.30 pm, 9 Apr 1945-4 Oct 1945.
- 2KO Newcastle (1946)
- 2CH - Monday to Thursday 6.00, 21 Jun 1948-16 Dec 1948.
- Sydney series:
- 2GB - Monday to Thursday 6.15 pm, 25 Jul 1949 - 19 Mar 1953 (ep 209-970)
- 2CH - Monday to Thursday 6.00 pm or 6.30 pm, 24 Mar 1953 - 22 Mar 1954 (ep 971 - 1178)
- 2CH - 23 Mar 1954 - 20 Jun 1957 (ep 209-886)
- 2UW - Monday to Friday 5.00 pm Aug 1957 onwards.
- 3DB Melbourne - Monday to thursday 6.15 pm, 18 Apr 1949 - 10 Dec 1952 (ep 209-970)
- 3DB Melbourne - 13 Apr 1953 - 12 Apr 1954 (ep 971-1178)
- 3AW Melbourne - Monday - to Saturday 8 am, 1954 onwards
- 5AD Adelaide - Wednesday to Friday 17 Jun 1953 - 27 Oct 1954 (ep 971-1178)
It was also broadcast in all capital cities and many local stations in Australia as well as in Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa.[4] Various local stations have been known to repeat the broadcasts more recently, for example in Brisbane in 1989-1991.[5]
Plots and Characters[]
Most of the stories were adapted from Johns' novels. With four episodes broadcast per week, scripts had to be produced at a steady rate. Scriptwriter Brian Wright recalled that the pressure was always on. They were using up Johns' stories faster than he could write them. Sometimes they worked off proofs obtained from printers and began recording programmes even before the books themselves were published or hit the shelves. Soon all the "current" 1940s-1950s stories were used up and the scriptwriters went back to the 1930s stories, transposing them to the modern era, or else writing original scripts.[2] Another technique as can be seen below was that quite often a story which had been adapted once was actually used a second time. Johns was reportedly unhappy about the liberties taken with his plots and threatened to cancel the licensing. On the other hand those involved in the productions were frustrated in their dealings with Johns. They felt that Johns did not understand the medium of radio. The text descriptions and the soliloquys which his characters sometimes indulged in just did not work on radio.[6]
Another aspect of the radio series that irked Johns was the inclusion of non-canonical characters or canonical characters who were included when they were not there in the original. From early on, one of the sponsors insisted that there should be a woman in the team (Pat Kendal) and that Bertie must be present in every story. Johns was particularly irked by the inclusion of Pat Kendall. He remarked: "The broadcasting people had run out of my stories. They'd made Biggles take up with a blonde...."[6] (although Pat Kendall was not blonde). Johns threatened to sue or cancel the licensing agreement but he had to relent when it was put to him that the sales of his books had been given a big boost by the radio programme. It was the top rated show in its evening slot and estimates of the increase in the sales of Johns books ranged from 200% to 600%.[2][7] Pat Kendall would prove popular with listeners and good for the series. Listeners who started reading Johns's novels after listening first to the radio shows often wondered what happened to Pat and could not believe she was not in the original works. Colin Craigen, producer of the Sydney series recalled that Johns "didn't like us and we certainly didn't like him! He was a MOST difficult man to get on with!"[8]
There were subtle changes in the characterization of the other main characters but Johns appears to have remained silent about there. Biggles was much as described in the books. By contrast, Algy takes a far more active role in the radio shows. He is never left behind to mind the office. He is often the person who takes charge when Biggles is not around, and who comes up with a plan of action for a difficult situation. Bertie was there for light relief. He carried a hunting horn called "Harriet" with him at all times and would blow it when appropriate. Phrases like "sizzling sausages" and "baked potatoes" would be uttered frequently, perhaps more often than in the original works. Ginger appeared to be a more subdued character and to take a back seat more often compared with Algy.[9] Another lead character in the Adelaide series was one Toddy Todrick about which very little is known. It is possible that this is Todd, recording officer of 169 and later 266 Sqn, which is plausible since many of the Adelaide stories were set in WW2.
Episodes Produced in Adelaide[]
Story | Episodes | Research notes | Sources |
---|---|---|---|
Spitfire Parade | 0001-0021 | Based on Spitfire Parade | |
Biggles Sweeps the Desert | 0022-0041 | Based on Biggles Sweeps the Desert | |
Biggles Flies East | 0042-0067 | Based on Biggles Flies East | |
Biggles in the Baltic | 0068-0087 | Based on Biggles in the Baltic | |
Biggles Defies the Swastika | 0088-0109 | Based on Biggles Defies the Swastika | |
Biggles & Co. | 0110-0123 | Based on Biggles & Co | |
Biggles Goes to War | 0124-0142 | Based on Biggles Goes to War | |
Biggles in Africa | 0143-0152 | Based on Biggles in Africa | |
Biggles in the Orient | 0153-0169 | Based on Biggles in the Orient | |
Biggles Air Commodore | 0170-0184 | Based on Biggles - Air Commodore | |
The Devil's Doubloon | 0185-0208 | Based on Biggles Flies West |
Episodes Produced in Sydney[]
The Story names are those listed in the catalogue of the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. The stories have also been given other names elsewhere.
Story | Episodes | Research notes | Sources |
---|---|---|---|
Pearls Of Vanakai | 0209-0238 | Based on Biggles in the South Seas but in post war Air Police setting. First appearance of Pat Kendall. | |
Biggles Flies South | 0239-0265 | Based on Biggles Flies South | |
Secret Agent | 0266-0286 | Based on Biggles – Secret Agent | |
Biggles Flies North | 0287-0313 | Based on Biggles Flies North | |
Turncoat | 0314-0338 | Based on Biggles in Spain. They do get involved in a civil war but in San Felipe, Central America. Later, in ep407, One of them mentions that Jock McLannock (remember him from Biggles in Spain?) is "The Scourge of San Felipe" while Pat Kendal says "We fought their civil war for them". This sounds like the storyline from the comic Biggles vs von Stalhein which won't be published until 1960 in TV Express! |
|
Biggles In Borneo | 0339-0365 | This is the title in the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. Also known as "The League of Death". The plot does not seem to relate to the original Biggles in Borneo but rather involves a hunt for the "League of Death".[5][4] | |
Sergeant Bigglesworth C.I.D. | 0366-0384 | Based on Sergeant Bigglesworth C.I.D. | |
Biggles Second Case | 0385-0407 | Based on Biggles' Second Case | Last episode at this Youtube channel |
Biggles In The Jungle | 0408-0433 | Based on Biggles in the Jungle At the end of Second Case Raymond wants Biggles to test a new amphibian "The Wanderer", but Biggles gets a letter from Jock McLannock who now works for the government in British Honduras. Jock needs help... so Biggles decides to go there. The setting of British Honduras is consistent with the storyline of the original Biggles in the Jungle. |
|
Biggles Hits The Trail | 0434-0458 | Based on Biggles Hits the Trail | |
Secret Weapon | 0459-0484 | Based on Biggles in the Orient (second time) | |
Paradise Valley | 0485-0511 | Based on Biggles Takes a Holiday | |
Starry Crown | 0512-0534 | Based on Biggles Breaks the Silence | |
Bawn's Curse | 0535-0562 | Based on Biggles Flies West (second time) | |
Scourge Of The Orochons | 0563-0587 | Based on Biggles Gets His Men | |
Combined Ops | 0588-0606 | Based on Biggles - Air Commodore (second time) | |
Atomic Papers | 0607-0624 | Based on Biggles Sees It Through with a more modern setting and more up to date documents to recover. | |
Big Game | 0625-0653 | Based on Biggles Hunts Big Game Apparently Pat Kendal is wounded in a crash and goes offstage from ep631. The actress for Pat Kendal is changed after this.[4][5] |
|
Ladies In Danger | 0654-0673 | Based on Biggles Fails to Return Setting is still Monaco and Francois Budette and Madame Ducoste appear. It seems Pat is the one who "fails to return. They search for her and the Princess and Pat as played by Ngaire Thompson surfaces around ep 667.[4][5] |
Four episodes occasionally surface on the internet. |
The Devil Drug | 0674-0699 | Based on Another Job for Biggles | |
The White Prophet | 0700-0720 | Based on Biggles Works It Out | |
Treasure Of The Incas | 0721-0749 | Based on The Cruise of the Condor | |
Deal With A Pirate | 0750-0783 | Based on Biggles Delivers the Goods Transposed to a postwar Air Police setting about 5 years after WW2. The basic premise is still faithful to the original novel: Li Chi shows up at the Air Police HQ with an offer of 500 tons of rubber on an island in the Mergui. He had stolen the rubber from the Japanese during the war. As for adversaries, instead of Japanese forces, there are groups of armed rebels, equipped with aircraft! For transport the RAF supplies Bristol Superfreighters which take the rubber to Singapore (a sensible plan in the post war era). |
Remembering the Past Australia.com See also this Youtube channel (some episodes appear to be missing) |
Desert Broom | Based on Biggles Sweeps the Desert (second time) At the end of Deal with a Pirate, Raymond mentions that some aircraft had disappeared while enroute between Sudan and Nigeria. That, it will be recalled, was the premise of Biggles Sweeps the Desert. |
||
Arctic Airways | 0833-0868 | Based on Biggles Flies North (second time) | |
The Freedom Party | 0869-0930 | Based on Biggles in Borneo (second time?) | |
Lost Oasis | 0931-0970 | Based on Biggles Flies South (second time) | |
The Iron Curtain | 0971-1023 | Based on Biggles Follows On | See this Youtube channel |
The Black Raider | 1024-1047 | Based on Biggles and the Black Raider This story is sometimes known as "The Black Elephant Affair". At the end of this story, Pat Kendall is seriously wounded and left behind in a hospital in Juba. Her character does not appear in subsequent stories. |
This is by far the most easily available in the series with multiple online sources. See for example The Internet Archive. |
The Black Peril | 1048-1086 | Based on The Black Peril At the end of the last episode of The Black Raider, Biggles and Bertie (with Algy and Ginger in the plane following), are on the way back to England from Africa. Over Norfolk, they have to make a forced landing because of thick fog. It will be recalled that this is the opening scene of The Black Peril. |
|
In The Blue | 1087-1123 | This was based on Biggles in the Blue. This story is sometimes known as "International Brigade". | Another easily available story with multiple online sources. |
In the Gobi | 1124-1164 | Based on Biggles in the Gobi. | See this Youtube channel |
The Enchanted Island | 1165-1178 | Based on The Adventure of the Enchanted Island from Biggles - Charter Pilot. Features Dr Duck but in an Air Police setting. | See this Youtube channel |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 W. J. McLennan, "The Air Adventures of Biggles", Biggles & Co. No. 13, Oct 1992, 3-5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Brad Weier (ed.), "Let’s go Behind the Scenes …with Brian Wright", The Biggles Friend Magazine 9, May 2005, 22-28.
- ↑ "Australian radio series (1930s–1970s) A guide to holdings in the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia", National Film and Sound Archive, Australia, 14. URL
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Graeme Dein, "The Air Adventures of Biggles Radio Serial Guide", unpublished pamphlet dated Aug 2011.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Meryl E. Witty, "Biggles on Australian Radio", Letter to the editor, Biggles & Co. No. 17, Oct 1993.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Peter Beresford Ellis and Jennifer Schofield, By Jove, Biggles! The Life Story of Captain W. E. Johns, (Watford: Norman Wright, 2003), 178.
- ↑ Brad Weier (ed.), "Let’s go Behind the Scenes … the Air Adventures of Biggles!", The Biggles Friend Magazine 10, Sep 2005, 16-19.
- ↑ W. J. McLennan, "The Air Adventures of Biggles (Part II)", Biggles & Co. No. 14, Jan 1993, 14-16.
- ↑ W. J. McLennan, "The Air Adventures of Biggles (Part III)", Biggles & Co. No. 15, Apr 1993, 18-19.