#buddy wade

[chernobog13]

12 amazing WHAT chapters?

Poster for Universal's Buck Rogers (1939) serial.

The studio had already enjoyed great success with two Flash Gordon serials - Flash Gordon (1936) and Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938) - so they figured why not give Flash's number one competitor a go as well.

To make sure there would be a built in audience, Flash Gordon star Buster Crabbe was cast as the heroic Buck Rogers. This time out Crabbe went by his given name, Larry, to differentiate the two roles. I don't know if that really fooled anyone, especially as he would return as Flash the next year in Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940).

Universal trimmed the budget for this outing. In addition to a recycled star, sets, props, and costumes from the Flash Gordon serials were also reused.

[nerds-yearbook]

In 1938, Buck Rogers and his young assistant Buddy Wade have an accident in a derigable as they are navigating over a polar region of Earth. To give themselves the best chance to survive until help can arrive, Buddy releases a special gas to put them into suspended animation. However, the balloon gets covered in snow and ice, so they are not discovered for 500 years. ("Buck Rogers" film serial)