5/5 Flash Gordon Serials
  by Vincent D, Guillen (Albuquerque, New Mexico USA)
Growing up in the 50's every Saturday morning I would journey to the local theater house in northern New Mexico to lose myself in fantasy land. The routine was 4 approc 20-25 minute episodes Flash Gordon, Capt Marvel and Zorro etc. These were produced in the 30's and 40's at Republic and Columbia. Flash Gordon was my favorite, starring Larry "Buster" Crabbe also starred as Tarzan, these weekly episodes are also known as cliffhangers, usually in 12 or 16 episodes insuring the same audience every saturday morning for 16 weeks. The concept is at the end of each week the Hero or Heroine would be in some sort of eminent catastrophe such as going over a cliff, In a burning building, a fiery airplane and you would return next week to see the outcome. Flash Gordon was my favorite with the recurring cast of Flash, Dale, Dr Zaroff and "Ming The Merciless". The special effects and costume were pretty good considering they were fimed in the 30's. My only warning is in the case of Flash Gordon some epiosodes are being sold under two different titles such as "Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe" and "Flash Gordon The Puple Death" so you maybe stuck with two identical serials under two titles.