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To subscribe to a personalised The World Adventurers' Club podcast, starting today with Papua EscapeThe Manchurian LimitedPancho Villa's TreasureThe Borneo DiamondThe Frozen NorthLand Of Doomed SoulsLand Of DeathLand Of DarknessLand Of The Black HandIndia, The Mystery LandThe Tattooed RoseNorway's LuckThe Elephant's GraveyardThe Living ShroudThe Treasure HuntHidden FangsThe Fire DogThe Black White ManGrains Of DeathHairy Wild ManMalay MadnessThe Pale FlameStorm On The SeaThe FawnKaditchaMukin In The KhyberThe Madonna's TearDead Men WalkLiving MummyMad Monk Of Ankor WatVengeanceThe Continental Express and with a new episode every four weeks every three weeks every two weeks every ten days every seven days every six days every five days every four days every three days every two days every day all episodes at once , use the following URL:

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The year is 1932, and the nation is still suffering from the effects of the Great Depression, recovery is in sight, fueled by industry success as much as government programs. The listeners of The World Adventerer's Club and other travelogue series in this early part of radio's Golden Age were offered glimpses of exotic places and extraordinary events without leaving their own front room.

The renewed interest in far off lands and cultures was, at least in part, also a reflection of the political situation. Many nations during this time were expanding their influence around the globe establishing colonies and outposts. You can still hear a faint echo of this influence in the stories -- some of the episodes carry a decidedly "colonial" attitude toward the native inhabitants of these countries ... who are sometimes characterized in a manner that, by today's standards, would be offensive.

The setting for the series is a well-to-do gentleman's club of the type that flourished in the 1890's from Europe to the US. There's even an all male chorus on hand, common to those establishments, which each week extols the virtues of living on the edge where adventures, discoveries, and the real threat of death are constant companions

Using the cigar-smoky, brandy in hand, parlor as a backdrop, each episode takes the form of a report being told to the other members of the club by someone who's just returned from some adventure in a far away, mysterious place. Members in the radio audience need only sit back in their chair, close their eyes, and imagine that they, too, are basking in the camaraderie of the club - as they share their experiences.

Sadly, nothing is known about any of the regular cast members of this show. We do know that Hanley Stafford was the featured story teller in at least six of the episodes. Hanley Stafford, who was born on September 22, 1889 as Alfred John Austin, took his stage name from his birthplace of Hanley, Staffordshire in England. No stranger to US radio his was the voice of "Daddy" for "Baby Snooks" and "Dithers" in the "Blondie" radio program. He died of a heart attack just a couple weeks before his 79th birthday on September 11 1968.

The series was transcribed by a California company named Transco. Of course, one of the benefits of transcription is that all 32 of the 15-minute episodes produced are still available for us to enjoy today. A tribute to the enduring nature of this series, it should be mentioned that much later, from January 1947 to January 1948, another series borrowed it's format for a set of 30-minute episodes under the simplified name The Adventurer's Club.

And now, find a deep wingback chair, lean back, and prepare to enter a time when most of the world was truly unknown and any exploration revealed wonders, opportunities and dangers.

From the Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. See "Note" Section below for more information on the OTRR.

1. Papua Escape (12.2Mb)
2. The Manchurian Limited (12.6Mb)
3. Pancho Villa's Treasure (12.4Mb)
4. The Borneo Diamond (12.8Mb)
5. The Frozen North (13.1Mb)
6. Land Of Doomed Souls (13.1Mb)
7. Land Of Death (13.2Mb)
8. Land Of Darkness (12.6Mb)
9. Land Of The Black Hand (12.8Mb)
10. India, The Mystery Land (12.6Mb)
11. The Tattooed Rose (12.6Mb)
12. Norway's Luck (12.8Mb)
13. The Elephant's Graveyard (12.1Mb)
14. The Living Shroud (12.4Mb)
15. The Treasure Hunt (12.4Mb)
16. Hidden Fangs (12.5Mb)
17. The Fire Dog (13.1Mb)
18. The Black White Man (13.1Mb)
19. Grains Of Death (12.2Mb)
20. Hairy Wild Man (12.3Mb)
21. Malay Madness (12.9Mb)
22. The Pale Flame (12.3Mb)
23. Storm On The Sea (13Mb)
24. The Fawn (13Mb)
25. Kaditcha (12.7Mb)
26. Mukin In The Khyber (12.6Mb)
27. The Madonna's Tear (13.2Mb)
28. Dead Men Walk (12.7Mb)
29. Living Mummy (12.2Mb)
30. Mad Monk Of Ankor Wat (12.8Mb)
31. Vengeance (12.5Mb)
32. The Continental Express (12.3Mb)

MP3 files hosted by archive.org.