To Death and Back

To Death and Back is a 1940 Australian radio serial about explorer Frank Westhover, best known for his expeditions in New Guinea. Westhover played himself.^[1]^[2]

Westhoven made his trip in 1935.^[3]

The show was announced in 1939 and aired in 1940 (being broadcast first in New Zealand) and again in 1942.^[4]^[5]^[6]

Premise

"The story of a perilous journey in quest of gold in the heart of Papua... This is the first time the full story of the party’s adventures has been told. Listeners will be fascinated with the superstition of the natives, the bush telegraph, the relay of Tom-Tom messages from tribe to tribe, and will be thrilled with the loyalty of the brave Pugini." ^[7]

Cast

Frank Westhover as himself
Ron Randell as Alikio, his guide
John Saul
Marshall Crosby
Osman Wenban
Cecil Perry
Eric Pearce

References

^ "STRONG CAST". The Cumberland Argus And Fruitgrowers Advocate. No. 4635. New South Wales, Australia. 29 July 1942. p. 7. Retrieved 30 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "FRANK WESTHOVEN'S NEW GUINEA EXPLOITS TOLD ON 2CH". The Cumberland Argus And Fruitgrowers Advocate. No. 4635. New South Wales, Australia. 29 July 1942. p. 7. Retrieved 30 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Cannibals of 1935". Portland Guardian. Vol. XCI. Victoria, Australia. 6 June 1935. p. 3 (EVENING.). Retrieved 30 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "2LM Programme". The Northern Star. Vol. 63. New South Wales, Australia. 1 June 1940. p. 11. Retrieved 30 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Australasian Radio Relay League. (December 16, 1939), "Explorer Plays Own Life Drama", The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal, Sydney: Wireless Press, nla.obj-729718813, retrieved 30 March 2024 – via Trove
^ Australasian Radio Relay League. (August 17, 1940), "Almost in Confidence", The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal, Sydney: Wireless Press, nla.obj-720056051, retrieved 30 March 2024 – via Trove
^ Australasian Radio Relay League. (August 1, 1942), "Peril In Quest For Cold", The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal, Sydney: Wireless Press, nla.obj-722516894, retrieved 30 March 2024 – via Trove

[1] "STRONG CAST". The Cumberland Argus And Fruitgrowers Advocate. No. 4635. New South Wales, Australia. 29 July 1942. p. 7. Retrieved 30 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

[2] "FRANK WESTHOVEN'S NEW GUINEA EXPLOITS TOLD ON 2CH". The Cumberland Argus And Fruitgrowers Advocate. No. 4635. New South Wales, Australia. 29 July 1942. p. 7. Retrieved 30 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

[3] "Cannibals of 1935". Portland Guardian. Vol. XCI. Victoria, Australia. 6 June 1935. p. 3 (EVENING.). Retrieved 30 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

[4] "2LM Programme". The Northern Star. Vol. 63. New South Wales, Australia. 1 June 1940. p. 11. Retrieved 30 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

[5] Australasian Radio Relay League. (December 16, 1939), "Explorer Plays Own Life Drama", The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal, Sydney: Wireless Press, nla.obj-729718813, retrieved 30 March 2024 – via Trove

[6] Australasian Radio Relay League. (August 17, 1940), "Almost in Confidence", The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal, Sydney: Wireless Press, nla.obj-720056051, retrieved 30 March 2024 – via Trove

[7] Australasian Radio Relay League. (August 1, 1942), "Peril In Quest For Cold", The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal, Sydney: Wireless Press, nla.obj-722516894, retrieved 30 March 2024 – via Trove

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