Flash Gordon 35-04-27 (01) On the Planet Mongo

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Flash Gordon 35-04-27 (01) On the Planet Mongo"

Podcast Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Flash Gordon 35-04-27 (01) On the Planet Mongo
Release Date: January 27, 2025

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Introduction to the Adventure

The episode opens with an exhilarating introduction to the interplanetary escapades of Flash Gordon and Dale Arden, setting the stage for a thrilling journey beyond Earth. The narrator vividly describes Flash's prowess as an internationally renowned athlete and Dale's admirable courage as they face an impending cosmic threat.

• [00:11] Flash Gordon:
  "Presenting for the first time in radio the amazing interplanetary adventures of Flash Gordon and Dale Arden."

Crashing Toward Planet Mongo

As Flash and Dale are navigating their aircraft, disaster strikes when a new planet begins to collide with Earth's trajectory. The sudden violent jar causes the plane to spiral out of control, leading to a heart-pounding nose dive.

• [00:27] Flash Gordon:
  "Don't be frightened, Dale. The plane has crashed. But we're safe."

Despite the chaos, Flash heroically ensures Dale's safety by parachuting to Earth, showcasing his unwavering bravery.

Encounter with Dr. Hans Zarkov

Upon landing, Flash and Dale seek refuge in the laboratory of the esteemed scientist, Dr. Hans Zarkov. However, mistrust arises as Dr. Zarkov initially perceives them as spies.

• [01:42] Flash Gordon:
  "Why, that's the laboratory of the great scientist Dr. Hans Zacher... but you see, we had to bail out."

• [02:10] Dr. Hans Zarkov:
  "Now we are in my rocket ship. And in 10 seconds we are on our way to the new planet. We will all die. Die for science."

Dr. Zarkov's obsession with scientific discovery leads him to commandeer his rocket ship, propelling the group toward the ominous new planet that threatens Earth.

Journey to Planet Mongo and Capture

As the rocket hurtles through space at light speed, the team inadvertently veers into the path of Planet Mongo. A catastrophic crash ensues, rendering Dr. Zarkov and Dale unconscious while Flash lands unscathed.

The plot thickens when strange soldiers armed with ray guns capture Flash and Dale, taking them to the formidable Emperor Ming the Merciless, the tyrannical ruler of Mongo.

• [04:06] Dr. Hans Zarkov:
  "O thou exalted me, majesty of Mongo, supreme ruler of all the peoples of the new planet."

Emperor Ming's dominance is immediately evident as he demands obedience and subjects Flash to humiliation.

Emperor Ming's Ultimatum and Resistance

Emperor Ming offers Flash a choice: submit as a slave or face a fate in the gladiatorial arena. Flash vehemently refuses, asserting his freedom and challenging Ming's authority.

• [04:25] Flash Gordon:
  "Take your hands off me. I'm no slave. As a free man and an equal."

In a display of Flash's physical prowess, he combats Ming's red monkey men, temporarily disrupting Ming's control and inciting chaos within the ranks.

Intervention by Princess Aura

Amidst the turmoil, Princess Aura, Ming's beautiful and rebellious daughter, intervenes. She rescues Flash from imminent danger by whisking him away through a secret passage to her private elevator, hinting at her complex relationship with her father.

• [05:23] Princess Aura:
  "Quick, bravest man. This way to my balcony."

Their interaction reveals Princess Aura's hidden defiance against her father's tyranny and sets the stage for a potential alliance.

Conflict Between Prince Thoon and Flash Gordon

Back at the palace, a new character, Prince Thoon of the Lion Men, emerges as an unexpected ally. Initially perceiving Flash as an enemy, Prince Thoon recognizes their shared goal of opposing Emperor Ming and extends a hand of friendship.

• [08:13] Dale Arden:
  "Who art thou, white skinned youth? Speak, answer me before I cleave thy white body in pieces."

• [08:56] Flash Gordon:
  "Here's my hand on it then, Prince Soon."

Their alliance strengthens Flash's mission to rescue Dale and overthrow Ming's oppressive regime.

Infiltration of the Palace and Rescue Attempt

Utilizing Prince Thoon's knowledge, Flash and his newfound ally navigate through the Tunnel of Terror—a perilous passage filled with deadly beasts—to reach the palace's heart. Inside, they encounter a grand altar and witness Emperor Ming preparing for a forced marriage.

• [10:31] Dale Arden:
  "Yes, this great statue before us is the God of death, which stands at the top of the altar."

As Ming's wedding procession advances, Flash orchestrates a daring plan to topple a massive idol, creating chaos and providing cover for their escape.

• [11:42] Flash Gordon:
  "Help me topple the idol."

Climactic Battle and New Alliances

The ensuing battle sees Flash captured again amid the conflict between Ming's forces and the Lion Men’s space gyros. At his lowest moment, Flash encounters Boon, Prince of the Lion Men, who becomes a crucial ally after realizing Flash's true intentions.

• [08:26] Flash Gordon:
  "I am the sworn enemy of that fiend Emperor Ming of Mongol."

• [09:02] Flash Gordon:
  "I am called Flash Gordon upon the earth, your highness."

Their united front promises a renewed hope to overthrow Emperor Ming and save both Earth and the oppressed citizens of Mongo.

Cliffhanger and Continued Adventure

The episode concludes with Flash and Prince Thoon devising a plan to rescue Dale from Ming’s clutches. As they navigate the palace's secret passages, they face imminent dangers, setting the stage for the next installment of Flash Gordon's interplanetary adventures.

• [14:12] Dale Arden:
  "Sa."

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Notable Quotes and Moments

1. Flash Gordon's Heroism:
   "Don't be frightened, Dale. The plane has crashed. But we're safe."
   [00:27]

2. Dr. Hans Zarkov's Obsession:
   "Die for science."
   [02:10]

3. Flash's Defiance:
   "Take your hands off me. I'm no slave. As a free man and an equal."
   [04:25]

4. Princess Aura's Rescue:
   "Quick, bravest man. This way to my balcony."
   [05:23]

5. Alliance with Prince Thoon:
   "Here's my hand on it then, Prince Soon."
   [08:56]

6. Climactic Battle:
   "I am the sworn enemy of that fiend Emperor Ming of Mongol."
   [08:26]

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Conclusion

"Flash Gordon 35-04-27 (01) On the Planet Mongo" delivers a gripping continuation of Flash Gordon's saga, blending action, adventure, and complex character dynamics. From high-stakes aerial battles to intricate palace intrigues, the episode masterfully captures the essence of the Golden Age of Radio. Listeners are left eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Flash Gordon's quest to save Earth and liberate Planet Mongo from Emperor Ming's tyrannical rule.

For those new to Harold's Old Time Radio, this episode exemplifies the timeless appeal of classic radio dramas—rich storytelling, dynamic characters, and immersive soundscapes that transport audiences to fantastical realms.

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Stay Tuned: Don't miss the next episode of Flash Gordon's adventures, continuing the thrilling tales broadcasted exclusively by Harold's Old Time Radio.

Transcript

[Flash Gordon]

Presenting for the first time in radio the amazing interplanetary adventures of Flash Gordon and Dale Arts. These thrilling adventures come to you as they are pictured each Sunday in the Comic Weekly, the world's greatest pictorial supplement of humor and adventure. The Comic Weekly, now printed in 32 tabloid sized pages. Each page in full four colors, is distributed everywhere as a part of your Hearst Sunday newspaper. Racing high above the earth, comfortably seated in a Flash Gordon internationally famous athlete looks admiringly across the aisle at Dale Arden. Lines of both are intent on the terrible destruction which for many months has been approaching the earth with terrific speed. The new planet hurtling through space directly in the path of the earth. Suddenly there's a violent jar. The plane lurches into a spinning nose dive. Flash Gordon's plane does not carry him across the aisle to the frightened girl. He gathers her in his arms and leaps free of the falling plane. And pulling the rip cord of his parachute, glides to Earth. Don't be frightened, Dale. The plane has crashed. But we're safe. Yes. Hold fast, we're landing now.

[Dale Arden]

Careful.

[Flash Gordon]

Easy there, Dale. Yes, good, good.

[Princess Aura]

Oh look, Dash. There's a round steer tower. Where can we be?

[Flash Gordon]

Why, why that's the laboratory of the great scientist Dr. Hans Zacher. Why, he's coming this way. I'll call to him to help us. I hope you'll pardon us for breaking in on you so unceremoniously, doctor. But you see, we had to bail out.

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

I know you for what you are spy come to. But I have the answer to that. Come with me.

[Flash Gordon]

Put that gun away, Professor Zaka. The man is mad, Dale. We'll have to humor him. All right, professor, all right. We'll come with you.

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

Step down this ladder into this tower.

[Flash Gordon]

All right, all right.

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

Now we are in my rocket ship. And in 10 seconds we our way to the new planet. We will all die. Die for science.

[Princess Aura]

Oh, Flash, the doctor is mad. This rocket ship is rushing away from the earth with the speed of light. Right into the path of the new planet.

[Dale Arden]

Hold tight, Dale.

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

We'll escape somewhere to the new planet. The new planet. We three will save the Earth.

[Flash Gordon]

Dr. Zaka. There's still time to bring your rockets. Half of a new file turn on now. What will you gain for science if we're all killed in the crash?

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

I know who you are, Flash Gordon. But your trained strength will not save you.

[Princess Aura]

Only my mind.

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

The mind of Zarkor scientist can save you. Can save any human soul upon the earth.

[Princess Aura]

Be careful, Flash. He's reaching for the controls.

[Flash Gordon]

Stand aside, Dr. Zarcon feel it.

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

The gravitational pull of the new planet. We crash. In five seconds.

[Flash Gordon]

The rocket ship hit the planet. Dr. Zakhoff and Dale are thrown from the rocket ship unconscious. Flash is thrown clear of the wreckage and lands on his feet, uninjured. He rushes to the side of the unconscious girl, picks her up and starts to carry her toward the distant towers of a city on this weird new planet. Suddenly, strange soldiers armed with ray guns appear and capturing Dale and Flash, force them to come with them to the throne room of Ming the Merciless, Emperor of Mongol and supreme ruler of the universe.

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

O thou exalted me, majesty of Mongol, supreme ruler of all the peoples of the new planet. Thy slaves salute thee.

[Emperor Ming]

Slaves, bring forward the earth people.

[Flash Gordon]

Thy slaves obey.

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

O Ming the Merciless.

[Flash Gordon]

Take your hands off me. I'm no slave. As a free man and an equal.

[Emperor Ming]

So, earthman, you are free man and well, throw him to the red monkey men in the arena with the force. With this free man, my equal.

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

There is thy freedom, earth man. Now you go into the arena to meet the red monkey men of Mongol.

[Flash Gordon]

Don't worry, Dale, Emperor Ming. I'll show you that I, a free man from the earth, I'm more than a match for your brainless red monkey man. Flash reaches the bottom step leading to the arena. He leaps and swings at the nearest jet. Then, grasping the falling man beast under the armpit, Flash twirls him around like a flail, knocking the elders in all directions. Emperor Ming, fearing that his monkey men will all be killed, orders his soldiers to destroy Flash with her ray gun. In the midst of the confusion, Princess Aura, the beautiful young daughter of Emperor Ming, calls to Flash.

[Princess Aura]

Quick, bravest man this wish here to my balcony.

[Flash Gordon]

Flash leaps to the royal balcony and joins the gorgeously jeweled princess who commands the slaves to keep back while she takes Flash through a secret door and into a passage leading to a private elevator. The two get in and Aura closes the door and presses the switch. Who are you, beautiful maiden?

[Princess Aura]

I am the Princess Aura, only daughter of Ning the Merciless.

[Flash Gordon]

Princess, I owe you my life.

[Princess Aura]

You are brave and handsome. You must not die so young. I have never seen anyone like you as man.

[Flash Gordon]

Where I come from, Princess, there are many stronger men and better looking. But tell me, Princess, where are you taking me?

[Princess Aura]

I am taking you to the private landing frames of my own rocket car. There you will be safe. We have arrived this man get in this rocket car. No one can harm you here.

[Flash Gordon]

But Princess, I don't hurry. But Princess All. How am I to rescue the Earth girls? They are off.

[Princess Aura]

That is why you are in my private rocket car, Earthman.

[Flash Gordon]

Why? What do you mean?

[Princess Aura]

Bail Arden shall never be rescued by you, the princess. As for you, Earthman, you shall love me or die.

[Flash Gordon]

Meanwhile, back in the palace, Emperor Ming is talking with Dale Arden.

[Emperor Ming]

Your companion goblin has escaped, but not for long. My men will soon capture him.

[Princess Aura]

What are you going to do with me, Emperor Ming?

[Emperor Ming]

Pleasing to me, Earth woman. You will become my wife.

[Princess Aura]

Never. I don't love you.

[Emperor Ming]

We men of Mungo have no human traits. No love, no mercy, no kindness. Whether you love me or not makes no difference. You shall become my wife as soon as the ceremony can be arranged.

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

Your majesty, look into the space ograph. Our city is being bombarded by the space gyros of the Lion Men.

[Emperor Ming]

The Lion Men order the entire space.

[Dr. Hans Zarkov]

Fleet to the attack.

[Flash Gordon]

In the terrific battle which takes place between Emperor Ming's space fleet and the gyros of the Lion Men. The attacking the rocket ship in which Flash Gordon has been held captive is destroyed and Flash is thrown to the ground unconscious. He opens his eyes to find himself staring up into the great bearded face of Boon, Prince of the Lion Men. Soon lets his great sword fall as he sees Flash Gordon's white skin.

[Dale Arden]

Who art thou, white skinned youth? Speak, answer me before I cleave thy white body in pieces. Art thou a new kind of soldier of Ming the Merciless?

[Flash Gordon]

I am the sworn enemy of that fiend Emperor Ming of Mongol. He has captured a girl who is from the Earth like myself. I live only to rescue her.

[Dale Arden]

An Earthman, thou? Yes, and an enemy of Ming the Merciless.

[Flash Gordon]

That's right. Tell me, are you friend or enemy?

[Dale Arden]

I am Thoon, Prince of the Lion Men, Hereditary enemies of the men of Mongo. If thou wilt accept me as thy friend, Earthman, I will gladly join thee against.

[Flash Gordon]

Here's my hand on it then, Prince Soon.

[Dale Arden]

Good. What is thy name, earth man?

[Flash Gordon]

I am called Flash Gordon upon the earth, your highness.

[Dale Arden]

Call me Soon Friend and I will call thee Flash Friend Soon.

[Flash Gordon]

Do you know how we can gain admittance to the palace that we may rescue Dale Arden?

[Dale Arden]

Come, I will show thee a secret way into the palace.

[Flash Gordon]

Ah, good.

[Dale Arden]

The Emperor Ming is away for curing my gyro fleet. We may be able to rescue the Earth girl before Ming returns.

[Flash Gordon]

Flash Gordon and his powerful newfound friend go first to the space gyro of Prince Th. And there they gaze intently into the thought projector in which they not only see Dale Arden a captive. But they also have revealed to them a secret way leading to the throne room on the palace. The secret passage is known as the tunnel of terror because of the deadly beasts which lie within its gloomy walls. Flash and his new friend Prince finally find themselves within the palace. A door with great steel bolts stands before them. Quick. Thus door must lead directly into the center of the palace.

[Dale Arden]

From my memory of the palace, I should say that beyond this door is the great throne room of the emperor mains.

[Flash Gordon]

All right then. Here we go. Ah, there. All right too. It is the throne.

[Dale Arden]

Yes, this great statue before us is the God of death, which stands at the top of the altar. Sketch directly behind the throne of the emperor.

[Flash Gordon]

Listen, dude. What's that?

[Dale Arden]

By the great God Tao. It is royal wedding procession. Ming the merciless taking another bride.

[Flash Gordon]

Coming up the altar. Step soon around the idol.

[Dale Arden]

Around the idol means death. Thou must not come back. Come back soon.

[Flash Gordon]

Save yourself. I'm going to the rescue of my earth friend, Dale Arden. He's being forced into a marriage with Ming the merciless.

[Dale Arden]

Prince soon of the lion. Man does not save himself at the expense of his friends. If thou must die, I will die fighting with thee.

[Flash Gordon]

Dale. This way, Dale.

[Princess Aura]

I come to you.

[Flash Gordon]

Back this way, Dale.

[Dale Arden]

Down this fast as dressmaiden. As fast as thou canst run. Quick news.

[Flash Gordon]

They're swarming up the ore. Help me topple the idol. Over now. 1, 2, 3. With a grinding crash, the giant idol topples over on the onrushing soldiers of Ming the merciless, killing those in front and throwing into confusion the whole company. Flash Gordon and prince, soon with Dale between them, dash into the secret passage beneath the idol. The way becomes steeper. They slip and fall down, down 100ft or more into a whirling underground river. They're swept along down a raging current and over a falls into a lake. With the powerful strokes of the champion swimmer, Flash sets out for the shore, towing Dale by the hair. They reach the shore, and as Flash reaches down to drag Dale to safety, she screams and disappears beneath the calm surface of the lake, clutched in two powerful green scaly arms. With no thought of his own safety, Flash Gordon dives to Dale's rescue and finds an adventure stranger than any which has gone before. Follow the thrilling adventures of Flash Jordan and Daleyden Keats in your Hearst Sunday newspaper. You will find them graphically portrayed in full colored pictures in the comic weekly. Only in the comic weekly can you follow the escapades of the Catnyama kid. Those perennial Rascals or thrill to the Adventures of King of the Royal Mountain. Only in the Comic Weekly can you enjoy the good clean fun of bringing up Father Billy the Toiler way out west, the Little King. Or in the language of his hillbilly friends, go clean catawampus over the Bodacious Go and John of Barney Google. Your old friend Skippy and all his little pals are waiting for you in the Comic Weekly along with Pinky, Molly and Pat in their great adventure stories Radio Patrol. Then there is Ace Drummond, the Demon Aviator, Johnny Round the World, and many, many others. Be sure you get this big 32 page, all color Comic Weekly supplement with your copy of next Sunday's Hearst newspaper. And don't fail to listen again next week to the continuation of the amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon and.

[Dale Arden]

Sa.