H I T C H H I K E R ' S G U I D E T O T H E G A L A X Y ----------------------- --------- --- ----- ----------- 1978 and 1980 First Show: 8 Mar, 1978 Last Show: 25 Jan, 1980 Number Shows: 12 Audition Show: none Series Description: Is there science fiction fan who hasn't heard of the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series? Doubtful. But maybe they haven't heard of the BBC's radio version of Douglas Adams' comedy/science fiction multi-book work. In fact, the radio version came first, airing on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday, 8 March, 1978 at 10:30 PM. This was the first of a six-part series that was to form the basis of the series in print. (The first book was first published in England in September of 1979.) A seventh episode was broadcast on Christmas Eve in 1978. The final five episodes aired in January of 1980, all in one week. This brought the total to 12 episodes. Simon Brett, perhaps better known for his Charles Paris detective novels, produced the first episode of the series before leaving the BBC to pursue writing. Geoffrey Perkins took over producing the remainder of the shows. The story has three main characters. There is Arthur Dent, whose house is bulldozed just before the Earth is vaporized to make way for a hyperspatial expressway. Ford Prefect is his alien friend, who is a researcher for the Hitchhiker's Guide. Of course, Arthur didn't know Ford was an alien, until Ford saved him from Earth's demise. Then there's the Book. Who (or what) else can tell the story, not to mention filling in with all those bits of trivia only a true Guide can provide. The first six episodes were written to stand alone. The ending of part six almost ties everything together, leaving but a few loose ends. Part 7 starts up almost where part 6 finished but ends as though Part 8 was next week. It isn't. Those first listeners had to wait over a year for the next installment. The remaining parts continue the insanity right up to the very end, where you'll feel like you have to wait for part 13. Very much like the series of books. There's a number of variations of The Guide. The first version was heard over the BBC's Radio 4. Then, there were the BBC World Service (heard world-wide over short wave) and the BBC transcription service versions (heard in the US on NPR). There was even a version on record and a TV version. Of course, there's the books. Each one is different, sometimes slight, sometimes not so slight. Those who have read the books but haven't heard the radio series may be in for a surprise or two. Log Comments: Unlike many modern radio series, this one is easy to find and can be found in your local book store. This version, publish by Time-Warner Publishers, packs all 12 episodes into 4 tapes (3 episodes per tape, 1 1/2 per side) or 2 CD's and is in stereo. Price is about $25 for the tapes and about $35 for the CD's. The shows were untitled. For this list, I've adopted the method used in the radio scripts book. The BBC refers to episodes as "Fits". The radio scripts are denoted as "Fit the First" for episode number one and so on. There was also a short episode description in the script book, taken from Radio Times. I've included it here. In Douglas Adams' introduction to "The More Than Complete Hitch- hiker's Guide", entitled "A Guide to the Guide", Mr. Adams mentioned episode 7 was "commonly known as the Christmas episode. It contained no reference of any kind Christmas." In keeping with the tone of the series, this bit of information is included in the list. Broadcast date for the first show was obtained from "The More Than Complete Hitchhiker's Guide" and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Original Radio Scripts". Broadcast dates for shows 7 through 12 were obtained from radio scripts book. The remaining dates are my assumptions. Chronological Log: Date Num Title ------------ --- ----------------------------------------------- 08 Mar, 1978 1 Fit The First In which the Earth is unexpectedly destroyed and the great Hitch-Hike begins. 15 Mar, 1978 2 Fit The Second After being saved from certain death during the demolition of the Earth, Arthur Dent now faces a hopeless choice between meeting certain death in the vacuum of space or finding something pleasant to say about Vogon poetry. 22 Mar, 1978 3 Fit The Third After being improbably rescued from certain death in the vacuum of space, Arthur Dent and his new companions now face a missile attack and certain death. 29 Mar, 1978 4 Fit The Fourth It has been revealed to Arthur that the Earth has been built by the Magratheans and run by mice. Meanwhile his companions have been suddenly confronted by something nasty (probably certain death). 05 Apr, 1978 5 Fit The Fifth Sent to find the Ultimate Question to Life, the Universe and Everything, Arthur Dent and his companions have been cornered by two humane cops who, nevertheless, have left them in a certain death situation. 12 Apr, 1978 6 Fit The Sixth, conclusion of first series Will the Ultimate Question to Life, the Universe and Everything (to which the answer is forty two) be discovered? Will our heroes be able to control their newly stolen spaceship and the enormous fleet of black battle cruisers that is following them? Will all end happily or in the certain death that has threatened them so persistently? 24 Dec, 1978 7 Fit The Seventh, The Christmas Episode The show that began with the end of the world continues with Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect stranded on prehistoric Earth, and Zaphod Beeblebrox and Marvin thoroughly devoured by a carbon copy of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal. 21 Jan, 1980 8 Fit The Eighth Zaphod Beeblebrox and his mysterious friend Roosta are being taken in a flying building to the evil Frogstar, whilst Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent are stranded on pre-historic Earth. Some of them are getting hungry. 22 Jan, 1980 9 Fit The Ninth In which our heroes have the chance to chew the fat with some old enemies and Arthur Dent has an unpleasant cup of tea. 23 Jan, 1980 10 Fit The Tenth In which our heroes have some close encounters with others and themselves. 24 Jan, 1980 11 Fit The Eleventh In which our heroes do a lot of running and digging. 25 Jan, 1980 12 Fit The Twelfth, the conclusion In which all is resolved, everyone lives happily ever after, and pigs fly. References: * "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Original Radio Scripts" by Douglas Adams and Geoffrey Perkins, Harmony Books, NY, 1985, ISBN 0-517-88384-8. * "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514 Other Logs or Books: * HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY log, Jerry Haendiges Productions, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 (http://www.otrsite.com) Reader Feedback: * M.J. Simpson corrected the time of the first broadcast from 10:00 to 10:30, per Radio Times. Last Update: May 20, 2004 This log is informational only and does not imply that I have these shows for trade or sale. The shows are still protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from authorized dealers. The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis. Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M. Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).