Chandu the Magician is an American supernatural radio drama which originally aired from 1931 to 1936. A revival on a different network took place 12 years later, airing from 1948 to 1950. The series was created by Harry A. Earnshaw (1878–1953) and Raymond R. Morgan. The two series portrayed the adventures of Frank Chandler, also known as Chandu, an American who had learned mystical arts, such as astral projection, which he used to fight criminals and villains, including the evil Roxor. Chandu was Steve Ditko's and Stan Lee's inspiration for the more famous Marvel Comics character Doctor Strange.
Radio version The original version Launched in 1931 on KHJ in Los Angeles (part of The Don Lee Network, a CBS affiliate), the series was soon broadcast across the West Coast on the Don Lee-Columbia Network. It was then heard, starting in February 1932, on the East Coast on WOR, a Mutual Network affiliate. Mutual began broadcasting the series in the Midwest on October 8, 1932. The series was sponsored by White King Soap for the Don Lee-Columbia Network and by Beech Nut Gum on the Mutual Network.
Gayne Whitman played the lead role of American-born Frank Chandler, who had learned occult secrets from a yogi in India. Known as Chandu, he possessed several supernatural skills, including astral projection, teleportation and the ability to create illusions. In the film Chandu is initiated to "go forth with his youth and strength to conquer the evil that threatens mankind". His sister, Dorothy Regent, was portrayed by Margaret MacDonald.
Cyril Armbrister directed the scripts by Vera Oldham which took Chandu to far-flung locales, both real and mythical. Romantic interludes for Chandu were introduced with Egyptian Princess Nadji (Veola Vonn). Music was first furnished by Felix Mills and then Raymond Paige. According to Veola Vonn, the program was broadcast from the KHJ building on Melrose Avenue; the KHJ building is still standing, although the KHJ studios are no longer in use.
In 1932, Walter Winchell noted: "One of the smaller radio chains has a feature called Chandu, which is Hindu-Chinese for an opium preparation. In fewer wordsdope".
In 1935, the production moved to WGN Chicago, a Mutual Broadcasting affiliate, with a new cast, including Howard Hoffman in the title role and Cornelia Osgood as Dorothy. Her children, Bob and Betty, were played by Olan Soule and Audrey McGrath. When this series came to an end in 1936, WGN's productions of Chandu were transcribed in the Chicago facilities of the World Broadcasting System for use on other stations. In April 1935, they were being broadcast on one other station, WJR in Detroit, Mich.
Revival Twelve years later, the series was revived on the Mutual–Don Lee Network on June 28, 1948, as a 15-minute weekday program starring Tom Collins as Chandu and Luis van Rooten as the villainous Roxor, plotting world domination. With Howard Culver as the announcer and music by organist Korla Pandit, that series continued until January 28, 1949. The serial continuity was dropped on February 2, 1949 in favor of 30-minute episodes, each with a self-contained storyline, continuing in that format until April 28, 1949. Culver often read commercials with Pandit's organ music in the background.
On October 15, 1949, Chandu the Magician moved to ABC, where it was heard Saturdays at 7:30 pm until June and then on Wednesdays at 9:30 pm. The last broadcast was September 6, 1950.
Film adaptations In 1932, Chandu the Magician was adapted into a film starring Edmund Lowe as the eponymous character, with Bela Lugosi as Roxor and Irene Ware as Nadji. Strangely, in the later serial The Return of Chandu (1934), Lugosi took over the lead role. On February 26, 1934, the "Looking Back" column in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner noted:
Original series episodes
03/17/32 #9 Transferred to Egypt 03/23/32 #13 The Slave Auction 04/12/32 #27 Important Papers Missing 04/13/32 #28 Betty & Bob Disappear 04/20/32 #33 Abdallah Joins Chandu 04/21/32 #34 Held at Gunpoint 05/30/32 #61 Finds Hidden Passageway 05/31/32 #62 Captured by Roxor 09/12/32 #136 Chandu Warns Nicky 09/13/32 #137 Betty Reminisces 09/14/32 #138 Gunfire Heard 09/30/32 #150 Learns Estaben's Identity 10/03/32 #151 Nadji Disappears 10/04/32 #152 Dimitri Defeated 10/05/32 #153 Exposes Count to Nicholas 10/06/32 #154 Saves Nadji from Fire 10/07/32 #155 Leaving After the Fire 10/11/32 #157 Warns Murderer 10/12/32 #158 Yogi Warns Chandu 10/13/32 #159 The Clock Strikes Five 11/08/32 #177 News Of Robert's Whereabouts 11/16/32 #183 Will Chandu Save Dorothy 11/17/32 #184 Magic Fails 11/18/32 #185 Chandu & Betty Visit Dorothy 11/21/32 #186 Cobra Decides Fate 11/22/32 #187 Bob Plans a Swap 11/23/32 #188 To the Temple 11/24/32 #189 Robert Returns 11/25/32 #190 Finds Betty & Bob 11/28/32 #191 Dr. Shaw & Black Magic 11/29/32 #192 Nadji Arrives 11/30/32 #193 Magic Successful 01/27/33 #235 In Algiers 01/30/33 #236 Buying Perfume 01/31/33 #237 Sees Nicholas 02/01/33 #238 Warning from Chandu 02/03/33 #240 Motor Trouble 02/06/33 #241 Family Reunited 02/07/33 #242 Betty & Bob Sneak Out 02/08/33 #243 Tells Story 02/09/33 #244 Note from Dimitri 02/10/33 #245 Blank Letter 02/13/33 #246 At Dimitri's Villa 02/14/33 #247 Driver Flees 02/15/33 #248 Nicky's Information 02/16/33 #249 Crystal Smashed 02/17/33 #250 Snake Charmer 02/20/33 #251 Discuss Situation 02/21/33 #252 Locked in Inner Room 02/22/33 #253 Chandu Recognized 02/23/33 #254 Note Found 04/17/33 #291 Water Supply Low 04/18/33 #292 Crystal Vision Fulfilled 04/19/33 #293 Nadji Is Murder Suspect 04/20/33 #294 Cigarette Poison Discovered 04/21/33 #295 Vindion Spotted 04/24/33 #296 A Man Looks Like Vindion 04/25/33 #297 Native Tells a Story 04/26/33 #298 Aboard the Liner 04/27/33 #299 The Island of Lura 05/01/33 #301 At the Entrance of the Cave 05/02/33 #302 Drums Underground 05/03/33 #303 Bob Explores the Cave 05/04/33 #304 Nadji Gives Chandu a Warning 05/05/33 #305 Vindion Talks to His People (Several Skips)
05/08/33 #306 Nadji Is Convinced She Must Stay 05/09/33 #307 Vindion Forced to Awaked the Children 05/10/33 #308 Vindion Tries to Stop Chandu 05/11/33 #309 Bob Finds Poison and a Letter 05/17/33 #313 Drawings from Limura 05/23/33 #317 Nadji Is Afraid of Vitrius 05/24/33 #318 In Vitrius' Observatory 05/25/33 #319 Vitrius' Telescope Is a Radio 05/26/33 #320 Plans to the Ruined Temple 05/29/33 #321 Vitrius Changes Plans 05/30/33 #322 Bob & Betty Worried About Their Mother 05/31/33 #323 The Temple of Death 06/01/33 #324 Vitrius Thought Chandler Was Dead 07/07/33 #350 Mrs. Regis Meets with Mr. Motleon 08/21/33 #381 Preparing for the Next Trip 10/24/34 ## Chandu Warns Nicholas 10/25/34 ## Betty Reminisces 10/26/34 ## Gunfire Heard 10/29/34 ## Estaben's Identity Is Learned 10/30/34 ## Nadji Disappears 10/31/34 ## Dimitri Defeated 11/01/34 ## Exposes Count to Nicholas 11/02/34 ## Nadji Saved from Fire 11/06/34 ## Miniature Statue Recovered 11/08/34 ## Cafe Waiter Is Otto 11/09/34 ## Yogi Warns Chandu 11/20/34 ## News of Robert's Location 12/19/34 ## Will Chandu Save Dorothy 12/20/34 ## Magic Fails 12/21/34 ## Chandu & Betty Visit Dorothy 12/25/34 ## Bob Plans a Swap 12/26/34 ## To the Temple 12/27/34 ## Robert Returns 12/28/34 ## Bob & Betty Found 12/31/34 ## Dr Shaw & Black Magic 12/22/34 ## Cobra Decides Fate 01/01/35 ## Nadji Arrives 01/02/35 ## Magic Successful 06/24/35 ## Adrift at Sea 06/25/35 ## Poison Death 06/26/35 ## Nadji Is Accused 06/27/35 ## Cigarettes of Death 06/28/35 ## Rescue at Sea 07/01/35 ## The Island of Suva 07/02/35 ## MrWilson's Charter Boat 07/03/35 ## The Footprint 07/04/35 ## Vindion Strikes 07/06/35 ## The Search for Nadji 07/07/35 ## Desertion 07/09/35 ## The Cave 07/11/35 ## Reunited 07/12/35 ## Another Encounter 07/15/35 ## Rescued 07/16/35 ## The Power of Chandu 07/17/35 ## The Awakening 07/18/35 ## Wilson's Mission 07/23/35 ## The Palace of the Secret Star 07/30/35 ## A Mental Picture 07/31/35 ## Rescued Again 08/01/35 ## The Devious Plot 08/02/35 ## Beware of Vitrius 08/05/35 ## Marshall Is Captured 08/06/35 ## A Message in Code 08/07/35 ## Clash of the Wizards 08/08/35 ## Chandu Victorious 09/13/35 ## Ruby Mine in Burma
Revival episodes
06/28/48 # 1 Chandler Returns 06/29/48 # 2 Secret Papers Missing 06/30/48 # 3 Is Regent Alive? 07/01/48 # 4 In Alexandria 07/02/48 # 5 Dorothy Disappears 07/05/48 # 6 Search for Dorothy 07/06/48 # 7 Slave Auction Rescue 07/07/48 # 8 To Cairo 07/08/48 # 9 Blue Flame 07/09/48 # 10 Secret Place 07/12/48 # 11 Note from Nadji 07/13/48 # 12 Betty Meets Abdullah 07/14/48 # 13 Chandu Meets Nadji 07/15/48 # 14 Betty Is Kidnapped 07/19/48 # 15 Betty Is Found 07/20/48 # 16 Roxor Meets Nadji 07/21/48 # 17 Secret Entrance 07/22/48 # 18 Spell on Dorothy 07/23/48 # 19 Crystal Ball 07/26/48 # 20 Breaking The Spell 07/27/48 # 21 Betty & Bob Disappear 07/28/48 # 22 Secret Door 07/29/48 # 23 Roxor Threatens Death 07/30/48 # 24 Bob Rescued 08/02/48 # 25 Abdullah Disappears 08/03/48 # 26 Emerald Casket 08/04/48 # 27 Disappearing Ink 08/05/48 # 28 Looking for Casket 08/06/48 # 29 Sick Camel 08/09/48 # 30 Trouble with Guides 08/10/48 # 31 Low Water Supply 08/11/48 # 32 Abdullah's Affections 08/12/48 # 33 Gordon Douglas 08/13/48 # 34 Douglas' Dinner 08/16/48 # 35 Douglas Is an Imposter 08/17/48 # 36 Finding a Letter 08/18/48 # 37 Nile Cruise 08/19/48 # 38 Chandu's Disguise 08/20/48 # 39 Manuscript Found 08/23/48 # 40 Douglas Tells Roxor 08/24/48 # 41 Letter Arrives 08/25/48 # 42 Roxor's Plans 08/26/48 # 43 Fraud's Identity 08/27/48 # 44 Abdullah Stabbed 08/30/48 # 45 Inquest Planned 08/31/48 # 46 Douglas Disappears 09/01/48 # 47 Lost in the Catacombs 09/02/48 # 48 Chandu's Rescue 09/03/48 # 49 Roxor Is Alive 09/06/48 # 50 Chandu Escapes 09/07/48 # 51 Reaching the Ruins 09/08/48 # 52 Judy Allen 09/09/48 # 53 Torture Chamber 09/10/48 # 54 Story Teller 09/13/48 # 55 Cairo Restaurant 09/14/48 # 56 Robert's Ring 09/15/48 # 57 Arenia the Spider 09/16/48 # 58 Curse on Betty 09/17/48 # 59 Ben Ali's House 09/20/48 # 60 Opening the Letter 09/21/48 # 61 Sonya Shoots Nadji 09/22/48 # 62 Betty & Bob Run 09/23/48 # 63 Arenia Is Shot 09/24/48 # 64 Message for Nadji 09/27/48 # 65 Mirror of Life 09/28/48 # 66 Roxor Is Killed 09/29/48 # 67 Exploring The Garden 09/30/48 # 68 Family Is Reunited 10/01/48 # 69 Explosion 10/04/48 # 70 Contacts Dorothy 10/05/48 # 71 Gardener Recognized 10/06/48 # 72 Bribery Attempt 10/07/48 # 73 Secret Meeting 10/08/48 # 74 Landmark Spotted 10/11/48 # 75 Map Found 10/12/48 # 76 Fortune Told 10/13/48 # 77 Dancing Partner Recognized 10/14/48 # 78 Meets Dimitri 10/15/48 # 79 Spell Cast on Bob 10/18/48 # 80 Gypsy Coming After Betty & Bob 10/19/48 # 81 Dimitri Asked to Leave 10/20/48 # 82 Castle Plans Found 10/21/48 # 83 Warning from Nadji 10/22/48 # 84 Advice for Nicholas
10/25/48 # 85 Tells About Plans 10/26/48 # 86 Spell Cast 10/27/48 # 87 Nadji Told of Curse 10/28/48 # 88 Looking for Dorothy 10/29/48 # 89 Finding Dorothy's Hat 11/01/48 # 90 Nicholas Has Disappeared 11/02/48 # 91 Trying to Escape 11/03/48 # 92 Thinks Nicholas Is in the Castle 11/04/48 # 93 Nicholas Found 11/05/48 # 94 Dwarf Spotted 11/08/48 # 95 Chandler Admits Real Mission 11/09/48 # 96 To Go to Schmitar Mountain 11/10/48 # 97 Call from Paris 11/11/48 # 98 Threat from Dimitri 11/12/48 # 99 Stranger Spotted 11/15/48 #100 Fortune Told 11/16/48 #101 Chandler Trapped 11/17/48 #102 Enters Cave 11/18/48 #103 Learns Estaben's Identity 11/19/48 #104 Influences Dimitri 11/22/48 #105 Metso's Killed 11/23/48 #106 Spell Broken 11/24/48 #107 Threat from Dwarf 11/25/48 #108 Nadji Arrives 11/26/48 #109 Fire 11/29/48 #110 Chandler Escapes Fire 11/30/48 #111 Forged Letter 12/01/48 #112 Nadji Leaves 12/02/48 #113 Lupu Arrives