1942 Perils of Nyoka Movie Serials
Filmed at Iverson Movie Ranch
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•This presentation will cover the following items:
• A brief history of movie serials, aka “Cliffhangers”
• The movie history of “Nyoka Cliff” at Iverson Movie Ranch
•A listing of the main characters, and plot summary, of the 15 chapter
1942 movie serial “Perils of Nyoka”
•Viewing of two 16 minute chapters, Monster’s Clutch and Tuareg
Vengeance, (which just happens to include the classic cliffhanger on
Nyoka Cliff)
Introduction
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Movie Serial History
•Movie serials date back to the
silent era, with The Perils of
Pauline (1914), The Exploits
of Elaine, and The Hazards of
Helen (119 12 minute
episodes from 1914-17).
•Flash Gordon was a 1936
movie serial with 13 episodes,
featuring Buster Crabbe on
the Planet Mongo. It was
reissued as Rocketship in
1949.
1914 The Perils of Pauline 1936 Flash Gordon
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Movie Serial History
•The movie serial or chapter play, was a popular motion
picture form during the 1930’s to 1950’s.
•Each chapter was screened at a movie theater for one
week, and ended with a cliffhanger, in which characters
found themselves in perilous situations with little
apparent chance of escape.
•Viewers had to return each week to see the cliffhangers
resolved and to follow the continuing story. Movie serials
were especially popular with children, and for many
youths in the first half of the 20th century, a typical
Saturday matinee at the movies included at least one
chapter of a serial, along with animated cartoons,
newsreels, and two feature films. 1942 Perils of Nyoka
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Movie Serial History
•Years after their first release, serials gained new
life at "Saturday Matinees", theatrical showings on
Saturday mornings aimed directly at children.
•Perils of Nyoka, released in 1942, was re-
released in 1952, under the new title Nyoka and
the Tigermen.
•Republic Pictures created 68 movie serials
between 1936 and 1955. Titles include Dick Tracy
(1937), The Lone Ranger (1938), Perils of Nyoka
(1942), Captain America (1944), Radar Men from
the Moon (1952) and Panther Girl of the Congo
(1955).
1952 Nyoka and the Tigermen
Nyoka Cliff at Iverson Movie Ranch - Movie History
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Nyoka Cliff at Iverson Movie Ranch - Movie History
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1923 Three Ages - Buster Keaton 1937 Wee Willie Winkie –Shirley Temple
Nyoka Cliff at Iverson Movie Ranch - Movie History
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1944 Fighting Seabees –John Wayne
Bulldozer vs Tank
1942 Perils of Nyoka - Kay Aldridge & Clayton Moore
Gorilla vs Nyoka at Nyoka Cliff
Perils of Nyoka Plot Summary
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•Short version - Nyoka (Kay Aldridge) versus evil Vultura in competition to
find the Golden Tablets of Hippocrates. Classic serial with heroic dog,
and evil man in gorilla suit in campy fun quest.
•Longer version - In exchange for helping a small group of scientists and
archaeologists find the long lost Tablets of Hippocrates, rumored to
provide the location of a hidden treasure of gold and jewels (plus the
cure for cancer), Nyoka Gordon requests their help in finding her father,
equally long lost in the same area of northern Africa as the Tablets.
•Setting – In the Sahara Desert….
1942 Perils of Nyoka Characters –The Good
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In 1949, Clayton Moore
would star in the Lone
Ranger television series
1942 Perils of Nyoka Characters –The Bad
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•Vultura (Lorna Gray), and
Satan, her gorilla bodyguard.
•They rode around in a chariot.
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Next up is
Chapter 7, Monster’s Clutch, 16 minutes
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Instead of waiting until next week,
lets see if Nyoka survives falling off of Nyoka Cliff……
In Chapter 8, Tuareg Vengeance, 16 minutes
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Sources/Acknowledgements
•Nyoka and the Tigermen DVD
•Photographs of Nyoka Cliff and Nyoka Movies courtesy Jerry England and Dennis Liff
•All 15 chapters of Perils of Nyoka are available on YouTube, search for “Perils of Nyoka
Serial https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaTRzA5gr4XBxmo_ukoHRF6VAIBIn-t5e
•This presentation is available at chatsworthhistory.com, Digital Archives, Presentations
•Prepared by Ann & Ray Vincent, January 2020
