DVD front cover for The Adventures of Captain Marvel, one of the most celebrated serials for both Republic Pictures and of the sound era in general.

Movie serials were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. Known as "chapter plays," they were extended motion pictures broken into a number of segments called "chapters" or "episodes." A typical serial would consist of twelve to fifteen episodes. In all but the last episode, major characters would be in peril, which would be resolved at the beginning of the next episode. Often the reprised scene would add an element not seen in the previous close, but unless it contradicted something shown in the previous episode close, audiences accepted the explanation. (Though rare, a few serials did make an alternate to the previous close. These were called "cheats" by the audience.) DVD front cover for the film serial The Adventures of Captain Marvel. ... DVD front cover for the film serial The Adventures of Captain Marvel. ... The Adventures of Captain Marvel is an acclaimed film serial directed by John English and William Witney for Republic Pictures in 1941. ... A short film (also short or short subject) is a motion picture that is shorter than the average feature film. ... A reel of film, which predates digital cinematography. ...

Movie serials were intended to induce audiences to see the next film at the theater, to see how the dilemma of the previous chapter was resolved.

The majority of serials were Westerns, since those were the least expensive to film. Besides Westerns, though, there were films covering many genres, including crime fiction, espionage, comic book or comic strip characters, science fiction, and jungle adventures. Although most serials were filmed cost effectively, some were made at significant expense. The Flash Gordon serial and its sequels, for instance, were major productions in their times. i like western films The Western is an American genre in literature and film. ... Sherlock Holmes, pipe-puffing hero of crime fiction, confers with his colleague Dr. Watson; together these characters popularized the genre. ... Espionage (spying) is a practice of obtaining information about an organization or a society that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... This article is about the comic strip, the sequential art form as published in newspapers and on the Internet. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Flash Gordon is a science fiction comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, first published on January 7, 1935. ...

Serials were a popular form of movie entertainment dating back to Edison's What Happened to Mary? of 1912. There do appear to be older serials, however, such as the 1910 Deutsche Vitaskop 5 episode "Arsene Lupin Contra Sherlock Holmes," based upon the Maurice LeBlanc novel "Arsene Lupin Contre Herlock Sholmes," and a possible, but unconfirmed Raffles serial in 1911 (according to information from Silent Era[1]). Usually filmed with low budgets, serials were action-packed stories that usually involved a hero (or heroes) battling an evil villain and rescuing a damsel in distress. The villain would continually place the hero into inescapable deathtraps and situations, or the heroine would be placed into a deathtrap and the hero would bravely come to her rescue, usually pulling her away from certain death only instants before she met her doom. The hero and heroine would face one trap after another, battling countless thugs and lackeys, before finally defeating the villain "once and for all"...even though the villain would almost always get away at the end, to return at a future date. What Happened to Mary? is the first motion picture serial made in the United States. ... Sir Galahad, a hero of Arthurian legend, detail of a painting by George Frederic Watts From the Greek , in mythology and folklore, a hero (male) or heroine (female) usually fulfills the definitions of what is considered good and noble in the originating culture. ... One popular concept of the villain, meant to mimic the purposely distinctive visage of villains from silent films of the early 20th century. ... A poster for The Perils of Pauline (1914). ...

Many famous clichés of action-adventure movies had their origins in the serials. The popular term cliffhanger was developed as a plot device in film serials (though its origins have been traced by some historians to the Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan Doyle), and it comes from the many times that the hero or heroine would end up hanging over a cliff, usually as the villain gloated above and waited for them to plummet thousands of feet to their deaths. Other popular clichés included the heroine being tied to a railroad track; being lashed to a log in a sawmill, lying on a conveyor belt and approaching a gigantic whirling sawblade; or being trapped in an abandoned mine shaft, watching as the burning fuse of a nearby bundle of dynamite sparked and sputtered its way towards the deadly explosive. The popular Indiana Jones movies are a well-known, romantic pastiche of the serials' clichéd plot elements and devices. For other uses, see Cliffhanger (disambiguation). ... A plot device is a person or an object introduced to a story to affect or advance the plot. ... Sherlock Holmes as imagined by the seminal Holmesian artist, Sidney Paget, in The Strand Magazine. ... Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, DL (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a Scottish author most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered a major innovation in the field of crime fiction, and the adventures of Professor Challenger. ... Dr. Henry Indiana Jones, Jr. ...

The serials were created in separate parts, and each chapter (a typical serial usually had as many as fifteen of them) would be screened at the same theater for one week. The serial would end with a cliffhanger, as the hero and heroine would find themselves in the latest perilous situation from which there could be no escape. The audience would have to return the next week (and pay admission) to find out how the hero and heroine would escape and battle the villain once again. Serials were especially popular with children, and for many youths in the first half of the 20th century, a typical Saturday at the movies included a chapter of at least one serial, along with cartoons, newsreels, and two feature films. For other uses, see Cliffhanger (disambiguation). ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999...

The silent era was the zenith of the movie serial and serial stars from this period were major stars such as Pearl White, who starred in the quintessential silent serial The Perils of Pauline which still ranks among the best known silent films. Ruth Roland, Marin Sais, Ann Little and Helen Holmes were also early leading serial queens. Most of these serials put beautiful young women in jeopardy week after week. The serials starring women were the most popular during the silent period but in the sound era few serials had a female character in the major role. Years after their first release, serials gained new life at "Saturday Matinees," theatrical showings on Saturday mornings aimed directly at children. For that reason, serials are sometimes called "Saturday Matinee Serials," even though they were originally shown with feature films. Pearl Fay White, born March 4, 1889 in Green Ridge, Missouri, United States - died August 4, 1938 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, was a singer and star of silent film. ... The Perils of Pauline was a silent movie serial which debuted in 1914. ... Ruth Roland (August 26, 1892 - September 22, 1937) was an American stage and film actress and film producer. ... Marin Sais in a circa 1915-1918 publicity photograph. ... Ann Little (February 7, 1891 - May 21, 1984) was an American film actress whose career was most prolific during the silent film era of the early 1910s through the early 1920s. ... Helen Holmes, c. ...

In the early days of television in the United States, movie serials were often broadcast, one chapter a day. Many are now available on VHS tapes and DVDs for collectors.

Eras

Silent era

Poster for The Perils of Pauline (1914)

Famous American serials of the silent era include The Perils of Pauline and The Exploits of Elaine made by Pathé Frères and starring Pearl White. Another popular serial emerged that year, the 119 episode The Hazards of Helen made by Kalem Studios and starring Helen Holmes for the first forty-eight episodes then Helen Gibson for the remainder. Other major studios of the silent era produced them, such as Vitagraph and Essanay, as did Warner Bros., Fox, and Universal. Several independent companies (for example, Mascot Pictures) made Western serials. Four silent Tarzan serials were also made. Europe had its own serials, notably the French Judex and the German Homonculus. Poster for The Perils of Pauline (1914) This work is copyrighted. ... Poster for The Perils of Pauline (1914) This work is copyrighted. ... The Perils of Pauline was a silent movie serial which debuted in 1914. ... The Perils of Pauline was a silent movie serial which debuted in 1914. ... The Exploits of Elaine is a 1914 film serial in the genre of The Perils of Pauline, and even outgrossed that serial in ticket sales. ... Pathé or Pathé Frères is the name of various businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France. ... Pearl Fay White, born March 4, 1889 in Green Ridge, Missouri, United States - died August 4, 1938 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, was a singer and star of silent film. ... The Hazards of Helen, episode # 44 The Hazards of Helen is an American adventure film serial of 119 twelve minute episodes released over a span of slightly more than two years by the Kalem Company between November 7, 1914 and February 24, 1917. ... Kalem Studios and Hollywood staff, 1915 The Kalem Company was an American film studio founded in New York City in 1907 by Frank J. Marion, Samuel Long, and George Kleine. ... Helen Holmes, c. ... Helen Gibson Helen Gibson (August 27, 1892 - October 10, 1977) was an American rodeo rider and film actress. ... American Vitagraph was a United States movie studio, founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Alfred E. Smith in 1897 and bought by Warner Brothers in 1925. ... Essanay Studios was a motion picture company founded in Chicago, Illinois by George K. Spoor and Bronco Billy Anderson under the name Essanay (S and A). It produced silent films with such stars as Ben Turpin, Wallace Beery, Francis X. Bushman, Gloria Swanson and Charlie Chaplin. ... Warner Bros. ... Fox Plaza, the company headquarters. ... The current Universal Studios logo Universal Studios (sometimes called Universal Pictures or, officially, Universal City Studios), a subsidiary of NBC Universal, is one of the major American film studios that has production studios and offices located at 100 Universal City Plaza Drive in Universal City, California, an unincorporated area of... i like western films The Western is an American genre in literature and film. ... James H. Pierce and Joan Burroughs Pierce starred in the 1932-34 Tarzan radio series 1964 Edition of Tarzan of the Apes Tarzan, a fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first appeared in the 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, and then in twenty-three sequels. ... Judex is the title of a 1914 silent movie serial created by Louis Feuillade and Arthur Bernède. ... Hartsoekers homunculus The concept of a homunculus (Latin for little man, sometimes spelled homonculus) is often used to illustrate the functioning of a system. ...

Sound era

The arrival of sound technology made it costlier to produce serials, so that they were no longer as profitable on a flat rental basis. Further, the Great Depression made it impossible for many of the smaller companies which had turned out serials to upgrade to sound, and they therefore went out of business. Only one serial specialty company, Mascot Pictures was in fact able to make the transition from silent to sound filmmaking: Universal Pictures also kept its serial unit alive through the transition. The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn which started in October of 1929 and lasted through most of the 1930s. ... Universal Pictures is the main motion picture production/distribution arm of Universal Studios, a subsidiary of NBC Universal. ...

In the early 1930s a handful of independent companies tried their hand at making serials, but managed only two or three, including the once-prolific Weiss Brothers. The Weisses bought a little time when Columbia Pictures decided to take a try at serials, and contracted with them (as Adventure Serials Inc.) to make three chapterplays. They were successful enough that Columbia then established its own serial unit and the Weisses essentially disappeared from the serial scene. This was in 1937, and Columbia was probably inspired by the previous year's serial blockbuster success at Universal, Flash Gordon, the first serial ever to play at a major theater on Broadway; and by the success of that same year of the newly-created Republic Pictures, which dedicated itself to a program of serials and westerns, eschewing major productions in their favor. The creation of Republic involved the absorption of Mascot Pictures, so that by 1937, serial production was now in the hands of three companies only - Universal, Columbia and Republic, with Republic quickly becoming the acknowledged leader in quality serial product. Each company turned out four to five serials per year, of 12 to 15 episodes each, a pace which they all kept up until the end of World War II when, in 1946, Universal dropped its serial unit along with its b-picture unit and renamed its production department Universal-International Pictures. Republic and Columbia continued unchallenged, with about 4 serials per year each, Republic fixing theirs at 12 chapters each while Columbia fixed at fifteen. The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Flash Gordon is a 1936 film serial which tells the story of three people from Earth who travel to the planet Mongo to fight the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. ... Republic Pictures Corporation (aka Republic Entertainment) is an independent film, television, and video distribution company that was originally a movie production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, best known for its specialization in quality B pictures, westerns and movie serials. ...

By the mid-50s, however, episode television series and the sale of older serials to TV syndicators by all the current and past major sound serial producers, together with the loss of audience attendance at Saturday matinees in general, made serial-making a losing proposition.

Machinima

Many films created using machinima, the art of using pre-existing consumer-level three-dimensional rendering engines to create computer-generated imagery, have been distributed in serial format. According to Hugh Hancock of Machinima.com, three to five minutes is an optimal length for videos downloaded over the Internet. As a result, a serial composed of multiple short videos can be an effective way of telling a longer story in this medium. Red vs. Blue: The Blood Gulch Chronicles — an ongoing comedy series by Rooster Teeth Productions with a continuous, single plot spanning more than 70 episodes — popularized this distribution method.^[1] Many Red vs. Blue episodes end with cliffhangers, and Rooster Teeth Productions has in fact acknowledged that the series is similar to older film serials in this regard.^[2] Another notable machinima production, Edgeworks Entertainment's The Codex, is a self-contained film, but was nonetheless released as a serial in 20 episodes between February and August 2005. A scene from the popular machinima series Red vs. ... A 3D rendering with raytracing and ambient occlusion using Blender and Yafray 3D computer graphics are works of graphic art created with the aid of digital computers and 3D software. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is the application of the field of computer graphics (or more specifically, 3D computer graphics) to special effects. ... Red vs. ... Rooster Teeth Productions is an award-winning production group from Austin, Texas that specializes in the creation of machinima, or films created using real-time, interactive engines from computer and video games. ... Edgeworks Entertainment is a machinima production group created by Alexander Winn and Ryan Luther. ... The Codex is a 20 episode online machinima series, set in the Halo video game universe following the story of a Covenant invasion of a Human world in order to recover a Forerunner artifact, and the story of the Humans resisting that invasion. ...

Production

Peak form

The classic sound serial, particularly in its Republic format, has a first episode of about 30 minutes (approximately three reels in length) and begins with reports of a masked, secret, or unsuspected villain menacing an unspecific part of America. This episode traditionally has the most detailed credits at the beginning, often with pictures of the actors with their names and that of the character they play. Often there follows a montage of scenes lifted from the cliffhangers of previous serials to depict the ways in which the master criminal was a serial killer with a motive. In the first episode, various suspects or "candidates" who may, in secret, be this villain are presented, and the viewer often hears the voice but does not see the face of this mastermind commanding his "spearpoint villain," similar to a sergeant, whom the viewer will see in just about every episode. Republic Pictures Corporation (aka Republic Entertainment) is an independent film, television, and video distribution company that was originally a movie production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, best known for its specialization in quality B pictures, westerns and movie serials. ... A reel may also refer to a type of dance and its accompanying music. ... A Masked Mystery Villain - The Hooded Claw from The Perils of Penelope Pitstop A Masked Mystery Villain is a stock character in genre fiction. ...

In the succeeding weeks (usually eleven to fourteen) thereafter, an episode nearer 20 minutes (approximately two reels) in length was presented, in which the "spearpoint villain" and lesser thugs commit crimes in various places, fight the hero, and trap someone to make the ending a cliffhanger. Many of the episodes have clues, dialogue, and events to lead the viewer to think that any of the candidates were the mastermind. As serials were made by writing the whole script first and then slicing it into portions filmed at various sites, often the same location would be used several times in the serial, often given different signage, or none at all, just being referred to differently. There would often be a female love interest of the male hero, or a female hero herself, but as the audience was mainly children, there was no hugging and kissing. A reel may also refer to a type of dance and its accompanying music. ...

One episode, near the end of this run, was often an "economy episode" (or "recap chapter") in which the characters reminisce about their adventures so as to introduce showing those scenes again (in the manner of a Clip show in modern television). This type of episode usually had a cheap, mechanical cliffhanger, like a time bomb rather than being unconscious in a runaway vehicle. In television, a clip show is an episode of a series, usually a sitcom, that consists primarily of excerpts from previous episodes, generally depicted as a sequence of flashbacks given plausibility by a frame tale. ...

The last episode was sometimes a bit longer than most, for its tasks were to unmask the head villain (who usually was someone completely unsuspected), wrap up the loose ends, and end with a triumphal proclamation, followed by a joke -- and sometimes a kiss (provided that the story supplied a heroine to receive it).

Production practices

The firms saved money by reusing the same cliffhangers, stunt and special effect sequences over the years. Mines or tunnels flooded often, even in Flash Gordon, and the same model cars and trains went off the same cliffs and bridges. Republic had a Packard limousine and a Ford Woodie station wagon used in serial after serial so they could match the shots with the stock footage from the model or previous stunt driving. Three different serials had them chasing the Art Deco sound truck, required for location shooting, for various reasons. Male fistfighters all wore hats so that the change from actor to stunt double would not be caught so easily. This was achieved by placing a rubber liner on the hatband of the stunt man's fedora. The rubber would make a seal on the stuntman's head and stay on during a "fight". Flash Gordon is a science fiction comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, first published on January 7, 1935. ... Packard red hexagon symbol made its debut in 1905, with the color red added in 1913 Packard was a United States based brand of luxury automobile built by the Packard Motors Company of Detroit,Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into articles entitled Ford Motor Company and Ford (vehicles). ... A woodie is a wooden roller coaster. ... Asheville City Hall. ...

Exposition of what led up to the previous episode's cliffhanger was usually displayed on placards with a photograph of one of the characters on it. In 1939, Universal brought the first "scrolling text" exposition to the serial, which George Lucas used in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977. As this would have required subcontracting the optical effects, Republic saved money by not using it. 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... George Walton Lucas, Jr. ... This movie poster for Star Wars depicts many of the films important elements, such as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, X-Wing and Y-Wing fighters Star Wars, retitled Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1981 (see note at Title,) is the original (and in chronological... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...

Stylistic differences between the studios

The major difference between the serials made by the various firms lay in that the minor studios had their own retinue of actors and writers, their own prop department, existing sets, stock footage, and music library. The early independent studios had none of these, except for being able to rent the sets of independent Western features. As the serials were bought sight-unseen by the lesser theaters for an audience of children, their product often had the worst acting and scripts, the least capable direction, and the most monotonous music ever screened: worse than any film that got reviewed in print.

Although Republic was not even a minor studio, the serials they produced have been hailed as some of the best, especially those directed by John English and William Witney, who are widely considered among the most talented directors in the form. In addition to screenwriting many critics thought was quite capable, the firm also introduced choreographed fistfights which often included their stuntmen throwing things in desperation at one another in every fight to heighten the action. In addition, their productions were praised for their production values such as convincing explosions and other disasters as well as more fantastic visuals such as Captain Marvel flying. However, they were also somewhat hampered with limited shooting facilities, such as lacking their own backlot and props. This often prompted repeated use of familiar cars and locations from generic settings like identical warehouses, stairwells, offices and specialized locations like a certain speedboat rental pier. They were able to get the rights to the newspaper comic character Dick Tracy, the radio character The Lone Ranger, and the comic book characters Captain America, Captain Marvel, and Spy Smasher. Republic Pictures Corporation (aka Republic Entertainment) is an independent film, television, and video distribution company that was originally a movie production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, best known for its specialization in quality B pictures, westerns and movie serials. ... John English (born June 25, 1903 in Cumberland, United Kingdom – died October 11, 1969 in Los Angeles, California) was a Film Director. ... William Witney (born 15 May 1915 in Lawton, Oklahoma, United States – died 17 March 2002 in Jackson, California, United States) was a Film Director. ... Screenwriting refers to the art and craft of writing screenplays. ... For other uses, see Captain Marvel. ... A backlot is an area behind or adjoining a movie studio with permanent exterior sets for outdoor scenes in motion picture and/or television productions. ... Chester Gould art for cover of 1947 Quaker Puffed Wheat giveaway with reprints of early 1940s Dick Tracy strips Dick Tracy is a long-run comic strip featuring a popular and familiar character in American pop culture. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Captain America (1941-2007), the alter ego of Steve Rogers[1], is a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. ... For other uses, see Captain Marvel. ... Spy Smasher (real name Alan Armstrong) is a DC Comics superhero, formerly owned by Fawcett Comics. ...

Columbia was the firm that got the most of these name-brand heroes. From newspaper comics, they got Brenda Starr, Terry and the Pirates, Mandrake the Magician, and The Phantom; from the comic books, Blackhawk, Congo Bill, a time traveller named Brick Bradford, and Batman and Superman; from radio, Jack Armstrong, Hop Harrigan, and The Shadow; from the British novelist, Edgar Wallace, the first archer superhero: The Green Archer; and even from television: Captain Video. Columbia substituted animation for more expensive special effects and showed the audience that the cliffhanger would not kill the hero by having a reassuring announcer pose the next episode's menace at the end of the episode. Their scripts had more humor than the others, often to the point of being far more absurd. And even though this was an important studio in comparison to the independent ones, it merely released serials which were subcontacted out to units outside their main production system. Brenda Starr is a comic strip about the title character, a glamorous, adventurous reporter. ... Terry and the Pirates is the title of: a comic strip created by Milton Caniff; see: Terry and the Pirates (comic strip) a radio serial, based on the comic strip; see: Terry and the Pirates (radio serial) a television series, also based on the comic strip; see: Terry and the... Mandrake the Magician is a U.S. comic strip created in 1934 by Lee Falk (also creator of The Phantom) and mainly appearing in syndication in newspapers. ... The Phantom is an American adventure comic strip created by Lee Falk, also creator of Mandrake the Magician. ... Blackhawk #12 (Autumn, 1946), Quality Comics. ... Congo Bill was a long running DC Comics adventure comic strip, first published in More Fun Comics #56 (June 1940), created by Whitney Ellsworth and George Papp. ... The Brick Bradford movie, based upon the comics Brick Bradford was a science fiction comic that began in 1933 created by writer William Ritt (a journalist based from Cleveland, Ohio) and artist Clarence Gray that was originally distributed by Cetral Press Associations, a subsidiary of King Features. ... Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a DC Comics fictional superhero who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ... This article is about the character. ... This is the sports announcer. ... Hop Harrigan first appeared in All American Comics #1 created by Jon Blummer (Fighting Yank, Little Boy Blue) as one of the first aviation heroes in comic history (Hop appeared before Tailspin Tommy, Barney Baxter, Connie Kurridge and others). ... Who knows what evil lurks. ... Edgar Wallace pictured on a 1929 cover of Time The Mixer (1927), 1962 Arrow paperback edition. ... The Video Ranger and Captain Video in space suits at the controls of the X-9 Captain Video and His Video Rangers was an American science fiction television series. ...

Universal was the studio with the most available resources. It had the best writing, so they made the best use of their contracted actors. The start of some of their episodes has the exposition of the cliffhanger given in conversation, rather than appearing on placard stills. They were able to get the characters Green Hornet and Ace Drummond from radio, and Smilin' Jack, Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon from newspaper comics. Universal Pictures is the main motion picture production/distribution arm of Universal Studios, a subsidiary of NBC Universal. ... Al Hodge as Britt Reid in The Green Hornet, 1938 The Green Hornet was an American radio program that ran on WXYZ (Detroit), the Mutual Network and the NBC Blue (later ABC) Network from January 31, 1936 to December 5, 1952. ... Ace Drummond was a comic strip drawn by Clayton Knight and written by Eddie Rickenbacker. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... This entry is for the science fiction character Buck Rogers. ... Flash Gordon is a science fiction comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, first published on January 7, 1935. ...

Universal also signed on four of Warner Brothers' Dead End Kids to star in three serials. Although Bela Lugosi started working for Universal, his frustration at the greater celebrity of Boris Karloff made him act in several independent serials, but only one for Universal. The Dead End Kids were five young actors and one ex-plumbers assistant, from New York who appeared in Sidney Kingsleys play Dead End in 1935 on Broadway. ... Bela Lugosi as Dracula United States stamp. ... Boris Karloff (born William Henry Pratt) (East Dulwich, November 23, 1887 – February 2, 1969) was an English actor, who emigrated to Canada in the 1910s, best known for his roles in horror films and the creation of the Monster in 1931s Frankenstein. ...

Film serials

Silent Era

• What Happened to Mary? (1912)
• The Adventures of Kathlyn (1913)
• Fantomas (1913) – (Cinema of France)
• The Perils of Pauline (1914)
• The Hazards of Helen (1914-1917)
• The Exploits of Elaine (1914)
• Les Vampires (1915) - (Cinema of France)
• The Ventures of Marguerite (1915)
• The Red Circle (1916)
• Les Mystères de New York (1916)
• Le Masque aux Dents Blanches (1917)
• Judex (1917)
• The Fatal Ring (1917)
• The Master Mystery (1919)
• Tih Minh (1919)
• The Lost City (1920)
• The Phantom Foe (1920)
• The Son of Tarzan (1920)
• Adventures of Tarzan (1921)
• The Yellow Arm (1921)
• The Sky Ranger (1921)
• The Timber Queen (1922)
• Tarzan the Mighty (1928)
• Tarzan the Tiger (1929)

What Happened to Mary? is the first motion picture serial made in the United States. ... The Adventures of Kathlyn is an American motion picture serial released on December 29, 1913 by the Selig Polyscope Company. ... Fantômas, a fictional master criminal and villain, is the subject of a series of early-20th century French detective thrillers. ... The art of motion-picture making within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad is collectively known as French cinema. ... The Perils of Pauline was a silent movie serial which debuted in 1914. ... The Hazards of Helen, episode # 44 The Hazards of Helen is an American adventure film serial of 119 twelve minute episodes released over a span of slightly more than two years by the Kalem Company between November 7, 1914 and February 24, 1917. ... The Exploits of Elaine is a 1914 film serial in the genre of The Perils of Pauline, and even outgrossed that serial in ticket sales. ... Les Vampires is a 1915 10-part silent movie. ... Le Cercle rouge (The Red Circle, 1970) is a crime film set in Paris, France. ... Judex is the title of a 1914 silent movie serial created by Louis Feuillade and Arthur Bernède. ... The Son of Tarzan is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fourth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. ... Tarzan the Tiger (1929) is a Universal movie serial based on the novel Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs. ...

Sound Era

The New Adventures of Tarzan is a 1935 American film serial in 12 episodes. ... The Phantom Empire starring Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy, was a 12 chapter 1935 Mascot serial that combined western, musical, and science fiction genres. ... Darkest Africa (1936) is a Republic Movie serial. ... Flash Gordon is a 1936 film serial which tells the story of three people from Earth who travel to the planet Mongo to fight the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. ... Title Screen of Undersea Kingdom (1936) Undersea Kingdom was film serial released in 1936 by Republic Pictures and starred Ray Crash Corrigan. ... Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island (1936) is a Republic Movie serial. ... Dick Tracy (1937) is a 15-Chapter Republic Movie Serial starring Ralph Byrd based on the Dick Tracy comic strip by Chester Gould. ... A 1937 Republic serial staring Bela Lugosi and Ralph Byrd. ... Zorro Rides Again (1937) is a 12-chapter Republic Movie serial. ... Flash Gordons Trip to Mars is a 1938 film serial of 15 episodes, based on the comic strip Flash Gordon. ... Dick Tracy Returns (1938) is a Republic Movie serial. ... Hawk of the Wilderness (1938) is a Republic Movie serial based on the Kioga novel by William L Chester. ... Daredevils of the Red Circle (1939) is a 12-Chapter Republic Movie Serial starring Charles Quigley and Charles Middleton. ... The Phantom Creeps was a 1939 serial, starring Bela Lugosi, about a mad scientists who created various elaborate inventions with the intention of ruling the world. ... Zorros Fighting Legion was 1939 Republic Pictures serial consisting of 12 chapters. ... Al Hodge as Britt Reid in The Green Hornet, 1938 The Green Hornet was an American radio program that ran on WXYZ (Detroit), the Mutual Network and the NBC Blue (later ABC) Network from January 31, 1936 to December 5, 1952. ... Drums of Fu Manchu (1940) is a 15-Chapter Republic Movie Serial starring Henry Brandon and Robert Kellard. ... The Adventures of Red Ryder (1940) is a 12-Chapter Republic Movie Serial starring Don Red Barry. ... Mysterious Doctor Satan is a 1940 film serial named after its chief villain. ... Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe is a 1940 twelve episode serial film about Flash Gordon. ... The Adventures of Captain Marvel is an acclaimed film serial directed by John English and William Witney for Republic Pictures in 1941. ... Jungle Girl (1941) is a 15-Chapter Republic Movie Serial starring Frances Gifford. ... King of the Texas Rangers (1939) is a Republic Movie serial. ... Dick Tracy vs Crime Inc (1939) is a Republic Movie serial. ... The Masked Marvel The Masked Marvel The Masked Marvel (1943) was a 12 chapter serial from Republic, who produced the best known of the serials. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Batman was a 15-chapter serial released in 1943 by Columbia Pictures. ... The Tiger Woman (1944) is a 12-Chapter Republic Movie Serial starring Allan Lane and Linda Stirling. ... Captain America is a 1944 serial based on the Marvel Comics superhero Captain America. ... Zorros Black Whip was a 1944 film serial starring Linda Stirling. ... The Phantom Rider (1946) is a Republic Movie serial. ... King of the Forest Rangers (1946) is a Republic Movie serial. ... Daughter of Don Q (1946) is a Republic Movie serial. ... The Crimson Ghost was a television serial (1946) about a hooded villains plot to steal a death ray device known as the cyclotrode. ... Hop Harrigan first appeared in All American Comics #1 created by Jon Blummer (Fighting Yank, Little Boy Blue) as one of the first aviation heroes in comic history (Hop appeared before Tailspin Tommy, Barney Baxter, Connie Kurridge and others). ... Son of Zorro (1947) is a Republic Movie serial. ... The Superman serial was a 1948 15-part black-and-white movie serial starring Kirk Alyn as Superman and Noel Neill as Lois Lane. ... Ghost of Zorro (1949) is a Republic Movie serial. ... Batman and Robin was a 15-chapter serial released in 1949 by Columbia Pictures. ... Atom Man vs. ... Radar Men from the Moon (Republic Studios, 1952) was the first Commando Cody serial, in 12 chapters, starring newcomer George Wallace (1917-2005) as Cody and Aline Towne as his sidekick Joan Gilbert, with serial veteran Roy Barcroft as the evil Retik, the Ruler of the Moon. ... Zombies of the Stratosphere (Republic Studios, 1952) was intended as the second serial featuring new hero Commando Cody and the third 12-chapter serial featuring the rocket-powered flying suit introduced in King of the Rocketmen (1949). ...

See also

• List of film serials

// COLUMBIA PICTURES Perils of the Wilderness- western Directed by Spencer Gordon BennetStarring Dennis Moore Blazing the Overland Trail-western Directed by Spencer Gordon BennetStarring Dennis Moore REPUBLIC PICTURES Panther Girl of the Kongo-jungle Directed by Franklin AdreonStarring Phyllis Coates King of the Carnival Directed by Franklin Adreon COLUMBIA PICTURES...

References

November 23 is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 38 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

• The Serial Experience
• Serial Squadron
• Silent Era