Considered a Juvenile adventure running from 1932 - 1935 in
its first run and 1948 - 1949 in its second run. Great organ
music to open this show. Kudos to Korla Pandit for making the
opening of the 1948/49 run so memorable. Has to be one of my
favourite openings, which really captures the eastern flavour
or the show.
CHANNNNNDOOOOOOO … the Magician!
Chandu was broadcast in two runs separated by 12 years. Frank
Chandler, fought the world's evil forces with occult powers he
aquired from a yogi in India and a far-reaching crystal ball.
Evil was personified in Roxor, a villain who dominated both
runs. It was a traveling series, whisking those
first-generation radio listeners to Monrovia, Algiers, and
other exotic locales in the Middle East.(source: John Dunning
On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio )
Chandu was played on radio by Gayne Whitman and in later years
Tom Collins in one of the longest running serials on radio.
Since it was a series aimed at kids two of the main characters
had to be young. Betty and Bobby along with their mother
Dorothy had to get themselves into all kinds of danger so
Chandu could of course save the day. I really like this show
its silly and fun. Though this show was obviously aimed at
children given the 15 minute format in the 1932 run and the 48
run the writing was tight and dramatic and made the show a
favourite of adults as well. In 1949 the show moved to a 30
minute format and only ran 13 episodes. The scripts from the
1932-36 run were used again in the 48-49 run. The show was
broken up into four chapters:
Chapter 1 The Search For Robert Regent
Chapter 2 Mission To Montabania
Chapter 3 The Return Of Roxor
Chapter 4 The Search For Robert Regent (30 min shows, a
version of chapter 1)
1932-36 run
Producer: Mutual Don Lee
Episodes Aired: 81
Writers: Vera Oldman, Harry A. Earnshaw, R.R. Morgan
Music : Felix Mills, Raymond Page
Chandu: Gayne Whitman
Dorothy: Margaret MacDonald
Bob: Bob Bixby
Betty: Betty Webb
1948/49 Run (My Favourite run)
Producer: Mutual Don Lee - White King
Episodes Aired: 1948 =154 1949 =13
Writers: Vera Oldman, Harry A. Earnshaw, R.R. Morgan
Music : Juan Rolando,
Mystic Organist: Korla Pandit
Chandu: Tom Collins
Dorothy: Irene Tedrow
Bob: Lee Miller
Betty: Joy Terry
Nadji: Vieola Vonn
Roxor: Luis Van Rooten
In my travels I have only heard tell of 3 shows from the
1932-36 even though I have heard 80 still exist. And 167 shows
from the 48/49 run. I have managed to collect 166 shows. I
must add that what I really like about Chandu is Tom Collins
he was brilliant. He is one of my favourite OTR actors and he
was very busy also playing Reggie on I love Adventure and
Frank Race in the Adventures of Frank Race.