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RAMAR of the JUNGLE television program 1952-54 starring Jon Hall RAMAR of the JUNGLE was a syndicated 30 minute live-action jungle adventure series that followed physician and research scientist Dr. Tom Reynolds, known to the natives as Ramar, which means "white medicine man".
 Howard, Ramar, and Zahir rescue the princess Nadja Though RAMAR of the JUNGLE is no longer broadcast on television, videos of many of the tv episodes and some of the theatrical movies are still available and can be purchased from Moviecraft. They are good quality and the folks at Moviecraft are great to deal with.  Actor Jon Hall with a portrait of himself as Ramar  David Taylor 4/5/2004 |
Charlie, Howard, and Ramar on an adventure A total of 52 episodes were produced in 1952-53 by William Flothow for Arrow Productions. The show featured Jon Hall as Dr. Tom Reynolds, a research scientist whose parents were missionaries in Africa when he was a child. The natives refer to him as the great Ramar, the white medicine man. He is returning to Africa with his associate Ray Montgomery as Professor Howard Ogden, a professor of chemistry. Episodes were set in Africa and India, but filmed in Hollywood. They were produced in four sets of thirteen episodes, and released in the 1953 and 1954 television seasons. Each series of thirteen episodes is distinguished by a different director and different opening and closing credits. Throughout these series Ramar and Howard were accompanied on their adventures by various guides. Charlie, the Cockney guide from Capetown (played by James Fairfax), with his bird Walter, guided them during the first series in Africa. Zahir, (played by Victor Millan), guided them in the next series of episodes as they visited India. Finally, they returned again to the jungles of Africa, and were guided in the third and fourth series' by the native Willy-Willy (played by Nick Stewart), with his pet monkey, Babette. Three episodes of each series were designed with related storylines so that four theatrical feature films were released by Lippert Productions from 1953-55 compiled directly from the tv episodes: White Goddess (1953), Eyes of the Jungle (1953), Thunder Over Sangoland (1955), and Phantom of the Jungle (1955). In addition, six movies were released for television in 1964 by I.T.C., each running about 80 minutes, and taking its content from the tv episodes. RAMAR was an exciting show for many of us who were children at that time. Plenty of merchandising items quickly became popular to capitalize on the popularity of the show. Probably the most popular is the board game released by the Dexter Wayne Company in 1953. It included the "Safari Scouts" membership card which all youngsters wanted. Among some of the many items kids collected were comic books, puzzles, coloring books, toy guns, safari hats and suits, and a toy village with plastic natives and animals. Many of these RAMAR of the JUNGLE memorabilia items, can be found available on eBay. I hope you will go there, purchase something, and once again enjoy Dr. Tom Reynolds and Professor Howard Ogden on their jungle adventures! |