Journey to the Center of the Earth (radio)

Journey to the Center of the Earth is a radio program from the American radio anthology series "Radio Tales". The anthology series adapted classic works of American and world literature for the radio. The series was a recipient of numerous awards, including four Gracie Allen Awards from the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (in 2004, [ [http://www.awrt.org/press-releases/2004/Press_Release_%20Announce_Winners.pdf "AWRT Press Release"] AWRT.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2003, [ [http://www.npr.org/about/press/030402.gracie.html "NPR Productions Win Gracie Allen Awards"] NPR.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2001, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20011126020253/www.awrt.org/awards/2000GracieWinners.html "2001 Gracie Allen Award Winners"] AWRT.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and 1998), a New York Festivals WorldMedal, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20050207122048/http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/res/pdf/2004RPwinners.pdf "2004 Winners, Radio Programming and Promotion, New York Festivals"] NewYorkFestivals.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and a Golden Reel Merit Award. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20010802161539/www.nfcb.org/2001reelsinfo.html "NFCB Announces 2001 Golden Reel Award Winners"] NFCB.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] The “Journey to the Center of the Earth” program from the Radio Tales series was an adaptation of the classic novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth” by Jules Verne.

Broadcast history

The Radio Tales production of “Journey to the Center of the Earth” was first broadcast via NPR on August 15, 2000 [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Summer 2000". NPR Marketing, July – Sept. 2000, Vol. VI, No. III] . The program encompassed two half-hour installments that were distributed to NPR member stations as part of the NPR Playhouse cultural series. Since November 28th, 2002, the entire Radio Tales series has aired in reruns on the Sonic Theater channel (163) of the XM Satellite Radio service [ [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/features/sonictheater.xmc "Sonic Theater"] XMRadio.com. Accessed May 22, 2008.] . The “Journey to the Center of the Earth” program debuted on XM Satellite Radio on October 13, 2003.

Production information

The program was produced and script edited by series producer Winnie Waldron, who also served as the on-air host [ [http://www.winifredphillips.com/wp_bio.html "Winifred Phillips Official Site: Biography"] Winifredphillips.com. Accessed May 19, 2008.] . Composer Winifred Phillips created over fifty-six minutes of music for the program, and also performed as the featured actress [ [http://www.mninter.net/~jstearns/nprPH.html#top "NPR Playhouse - January - March, 2001"] MNinter.net. Accessed March 21, 2008.] . “Journey to the Center of the Earth” was part of the fifth year of Radio Tales on NPR Playhouse [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Summer 2000". NPR Marketing, July – Sept. 2000, Vol. VI, No. III] .

Media

The Radio Tales production of “Journey to the Center of the Earth” has been available in numerous formats and venues, including burn-on-demand CDs manufactured and distributed by MP3.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20031129193548/artists.mp3s.com/artists/33/npr_radio_tales.html "MP3.com: Radio Tales"] MP3.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] and Ampcast.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060212003627/http://www.ampcast.com/music/25229/artist.php "Ampcast.com: Radio Tales"] Ampcast.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] . Beginning in 2005, programs from the series, including the “Journey to the Center of the Earth” program, have been available for download via the Audioville.co.uk web site [ [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view.php?Id=536&ProductCategoryId=59 "audioVille | Stor>>Fiction | Radio Tales | Download Audio Books, Podcasts and more in MP3. Comedy, Fiction, sport, news, science, drama."] Audioville.co.uk. Accessed [September 30] , 2008.] .

Opening narration

Plot summary

The narrator’s uncle is a German mineralogist who invites his favorite niece to come and study under him. The two discover a shared passion for geology and mineralogy. One day, the narrator finds her uncle reading a Runic manuscript, and by helping him translate the runes on a scrap of parchment hidden within, they discover a message from a 16th century alchemist named Arne Saknussemm. The message includes instructions on how to find a crater that leads to “the center of the earth”. Hiring a guide named Hans, they travel to Iceland, locating the crater described in the message. They descend a great distance into a deep chasm until their feet finally set down on the floor of a grotto adorned with glittering stalagmites. Finding a rift in the wall, the three explorers make their way down a tunnel and emerge upon a gigantic cavern in which an underground ocean spreads out into the far distance. They walk along the shores of this ocean and after climbing a high outcropping they reach an enormous forest where they discover the bones of mastedons, extraordinarily well preserved.

The three explorers resolve to build a raft, and once they complete it, they begin exploring the subterranean ocean, encountering many unusual species of fish and traversing a great distance. After this, they set aside their raft in order to examine an expanse of bones, which include mastadons, dinosaurs and prehistoric men. After continuing in this manner, the three encounter a herd of living mastadons shepherded by a twelve-foot tall human being. Unnerved, the narrator drags her uncle and their guide away before they are noticed.

Then, the narrator discovers a granite placard beside the mouth of a cave carved by the sea, and into which the ocean still flows. The placard bears the initials of Arne Saknussemm. Taking this as a sign, the three explorers board their raft and guide it into the cavern, floating in darkness until they reach a sandy shore. Additional exploration reveals that an avalanche has blocked any further progress, so they decide to use gunpowder to blast their way through. The narrator lights the wick, then runs to the raft, and the three explorers push off to gain as much distance as they can before the explosion occurs. When the gunpowder ignites, the detonation has an unexpected effect on this sea, which pours into the cavern and through the newly perforated opening, carrying the raft through it at great speed. Terrified, they cling to the raft as it plunges downward for a long time, and then begins to climb. The alarming rise in temperature and the earthquake shocks around them alert them to the fact that they are now rising through a shaft inside an active volcano. At last after a violent and dizzying climb they are expelled from the volcano, and the narrator loses consciousness.

When the narrator opens her eyes again, both she and her uncle are being held tightly by their guide, Hans, as they lie on a mountainside next to a large chasm, with the wreckage of their raft scattered around them. The three collect themselves and begin their journey home.

References

External links

* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view.php?Id=536&ProductCategoryId=59 Journey to the Center of the Earth Streaming Audio Excerpts on Audioville.co.uk]
* [http://www.radiotales.com/ The Official Radio Tales® Web Site]
* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 Radio Tales® Full Series - Streaming Audio Excerpts]
* [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=163 XM Satellite Radio – Information on the Sonic Theater Channel]