Jack Flanders
Encyclopedia
Jack Flanders is the protagonist of a series of audio dramas produced by the ZBS Foundation
. He is the creation of writer and sound artist Thomas Lopez
and is played by actor Robert Lorick
.
Jack is an adventurer who travels the Earth exploring both familiar physical places and a metaphysical
land called the Invisible Realms. His character adapts as the story requires, ranging from a bumbling fool to a competent and professional detective into spiritual mysteries. Well-versed in the occult
, folklore
, primitive magic and various mystic phenomena, he is able to withstand most reality-altering experiences and generally has an open mind towards all things.
(2007) his friend Claudine describes him as "six-foot-two with blond hair". In Somewhere Next Door to Reality
, a shop assistant says that he resembles the French poet Jacques Prévert
. As the nephew of those adventurers from a past age, Lord and Lady Jowls, Jack is somewhat of a man out of time, dressing in a white suit and Panama hat
. On at least two occasions he's obliged to wear a pith helmet
and other adventurer's garb. On another, he promises to wear an ascot tie
, which he presumably had with him.
He attended University of California, Berkeley
in the late '60s, although it is not known what he studied. He loves coffee, and likes to sample the local brews during his adventures. He frequently drinks beer but seldom wine or spirits (he does drink Port in one episode of The Fourth Tower of Inverness
, and rum in The Mystery of Jaguar Reef
). He may have smoked during his student days ("not since I read the Surgeon General's report", he says in The Fourth Tower of Inverness
), and in Moon Over Morocco
is able to provide a cigarette to a Moroccan possibly implying that he smoked then, but now has some difficulty tolerating the presence of people who smoke. On one occasion, at least, while living in London prior to the first adventure (The Fourth Tower of Inverness
), he swallowed hashish ("purely by accident") and saw a unicorn as a result. In Moon Over Morocco
, he says that he meditates and never uses any drugs. He doesn't exercise. For a "few years", he says in Return to Inverness
, he was a vegetarian but gave it up. "You have to have the right body type to be a good vegetarian", rejoins chef Wham-Bam Shazam.
His business card reads "What appears to be coming at you is coming from you." He first heard this motto in Brazil during the Dreams of Rio
story. As to why he chose this for his business card, he explains in Dreams of Sumatra
, "I heard it. I liked it. I had it printed."
, he pursues a woman, Kamala Shukla, without success. Besides The Madonna Vampyra, who appears in The Fourth Tower of Inverness
and Return to Inverness
, Claudine (a woman from another plane of existence who first appears in Somewhere Next Door to Reality
) is the only love interest of his who appears in more than one adventure story.
In Midnight at the Casa Luna
, two of the characters refer to Jack's relationship with an Infrit, Layla Oolupi, which ended badly. Layla appears to Jack during Moon Over Morocco
and plays a small but helpful role in his journey. However, in Do That in Real Life?
Jack says that he first encountered Layla at Woodhedge and the only time we know that he was there was before Moon Over Morocco
. Whenever this relationship does occur, it is between stories and we only ever hear references to it. There is a malevolent Oolupi in The Fourth Tower of Inverness
who almost succeeds in seducing Jack. When she fails, she tries to drown him in a lake of her tears.
it is mentioned that his previous adventures have been published - Carlos Castaneda
style.
Then we move into the Jungle Jack phase, stories that are largely grounded in 'reality' but with various supernatural or other-worldly intrusions. The settings for these stories are spread out across the globe but they are all tropical - the Amazon, Rio, India, Bali, Sumatra, Belize, Costa Rica. For the majority of them Jack is still on his own; only in the last few is he joined by Mojo Sam who then becomes a permanent companion in subsequent adventures. Usually it is Mojo who calls upon Jack to join him and help with a particularly tricky problem.
There is a brief return to the Cosmic Tourist for Midnight at the Casa Luna
and Return to Inverness
both of which are closely related to the original story - one borrows significantly and the other is a straight sequel.
After a final adventure as Jungle Jack we move into a French theme and the Cul-de-sac Jack phase. These stories bring in two further companions – Claudine and Dominique. With the core group growing, the stories become more of an ensemble effort with Jack taking a less assertive and more bumbling role, often being the butt of jokes, especially from Dominique who frequently launches into political diatribe.
An occasional but recurring theme is that of Captain Jack. It first appears in The Incredible Adventures of Jack Flanders
where he does indeed become captain of the Blue Swallow. In The Mystery of Jaguar Reef
, Captain Coco frequently refers to him as Captain Jack, saying that it feels right to do so. But it’s not until we move out of the Cul-de-sac Jack phase at the end of the Travelling Jack sub-series, that we enter a new sub-series of adventures for Captain Jack - The Fantastic Voyages of Captain Jack Flanders. He, Mojo, Claudine and Dominique sail between islands in the Tropics encountering ever more mysterious and other-worldly happenings.
Foundation website.
Jack Flanders story episodes are regularly featured on Mike Watt
's The Watt From Pedro Show podcast.
ZBS Foundation
ZBS Foundation, a small non-profit audio production company, was founded by Thomas Lopez in 1970 with a grant from Robert E. Durand as a working commune based on a donated farm in Upstate New York...
. He is the creation of writer and sound artist Thomas Lopez
Thomas Lopez
Thomas Lopez, aka Meatball Fulton, is one of the founders and president of the ZBS Foundation. He writes and produces the ZBS Foundation's audio drama productions. Some of these aired in 1984-85 as part of ZBS' stereo radio series The Cabinet of Dr. Fritz.His output includes the entire Jack...
and is played by actor Robert Lorick
Robert Lorick
Robert Lorick is an actor and lyricist, best known as a Broadway lyricist and for his work portraying Jack Flanders, a character in an ongoing series of ZBS Foundation audio adventures. In 1972, he made his debut as a lyricist with the Off-Broadway musical Hark! at the Mercer-O'Casey Theatre...
.
Jack is an adventurer who travels the Earth exploring both familiar physical places and a metaphysical
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
land called the Invisible Realms. His character adapts as the story requires, ranging from a bumbling fool to a competent and professional detective into spiritual mysteries. Well-versed in the occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
, folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, primitive magic and various mystic phenomena, he is able to withstand most reality-altering experiences and generally has an open mind towards all things.
Appearance & Character
Being a character of audio drama, his physical appearance is not entirely clear, but he is depicted with blond hair in the CD cover art, and is now over 60 years old, having attended college in the late '60s. In Tropical Hot Dog NightTropical Hot Dog Night
Tropical Hot Dog Night is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the nineteenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the third of the The Fantastic Voyages of Captain Jack Flanders sub-series...
(2007) his friend Claudine describes him as "six-foot-two with blond hair". In Somewhere Next Door to Reality
Somewhere Next Door to Reality
Somewhere Next Door To Reality is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the fourteenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the second of the Travelling Jack sub-series...
, a shop assistant says that he resembles the French poet Jacques Prévert
Jacques Prévert
Jacques Prévert was a French poet and screenwriter. His poems became and remain very popular in the French-speaking world, particularly in schools. Some of the movies he wrote are extremely well regarded, with Les Enfants du Paradis considered one of the greatest films of all time.-Life and...
. As the nephew of those adventurers from a past age, Lord and Lady Jowls, Jack is somewhat of a man out of time, dressing in a white suit and Panama hat
Panama hat
A Panama hat is a traditional brimmed hat of Ecuadorian origin that is made from the plaited leaves of the toquilla straw plant...
. On at least two occasions he's obliged to wear a pith helmet
Pith helmet
The pith helmet is a lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of cork or pith...
and other adventurer's garb. On another, he promises to wear an ascot tie
Ascot tie
An ascot tie, or ascot, is a narrow neckband with wide pointed wings, traditionally made of pale grey patterned silk. This wide, formal tie is usually patterned, folded over, and fastened with a stickpin or tie tack. It is usually reserved for wear with morning dress for formal daytime weddings and...
, which he presumably had with him.
He attended University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in the late '60s, although it is not known what he studied. He loves coffee, and likes to sample the local brews during his adventures. He frequently drinks beer but seldom wine or spirits (he does drink Port in one episode of The Fourth Tower of Inverness
The Fourth Tower of Inverness
The Fourth Tower of Inverness is a 1972 radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation. It is the first of the Jack Flanders adventure series, and combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with metaphysical concepts such as past life regression, Sufi wisdom, Tibetan Buddhism and shamanistic...
, and rum in The Mystery of Jaguar Reef
The Mystery of Jaguar Reef
The Mystery of Jaguar Reef is a radio drama, produced in 1996 by the ZBS Foundation . It is the tenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series. It combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with themes of pirates and aliens.-Plot:...
). He may have smoked during his student days ("not since I read the Surgeon General's report", he says in The Fourth Tower of Inverness
The Fourth Tower of Inverness
The Fourth Tower of Inverness is a 1972 radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation. It is the first of the Jack Flanders adventure series, and combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with metaphysical concepts such as past life regression, Sufi wisdom, Tibetan Buddhism and shamanistic...
), and in Moon Over Morocco
Moon Over Morocco
Moon Over Morocco is a 1974 radio drama, the second in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. Originally broadcast as fifty twelve-minute episodes, the serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton.-Synopsis:...
is able to provide a cigarette to a Moroccan possibly implying that he smoked then, but now has some difficulty tolerating the presence of people who smoke. On one occasion, at least, while living in London prior to the first adventure (The Fourth Tower of Inverness
The Fourth Tower of Inverness
The Fourth Tower of Inverness is a 1972 radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation. It is the first of the Jack Flanders adventure series, and combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with metaphysical concepts such as past life regression, Sufi wisdom, Tibetan Buddhism and shamanistic...
), he swallowed hashish ("purely by accident") and saw a unicorn as a result. In Moon Over Morocco
Moon Over Morocco
Moon Over Morocco is a 1974 radio drama, the second in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. Originally broadcast as fifty twelve-minute episodes, the serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton.-Synopsis:...
, he says that he meditates and never uses any drugs. He doesn't exercise. For a "few years", he says in Return to Inverness
Return to Inverness
Return to Inverness is a 2000 radio drama, the twelfth in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. The serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton, as a sequel to The Fourth Tower of Inverness, the first in the series.-Plot:...
, he was a vegetarian but gave it up. "You have to have the right body type to be a good vegetarian", rejoins chef Wham-Bam Shazam.
His business card reads "What appears to be coming at you is coming from you." He first heard this motto in Brazil during the Dreams of Rio
Dreams of Rio
Dreams of Rio is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation. It is the fifth of the Jack Flanders adventure series, and combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with themes of lost cities, jungle exploration and shamanism...
story. As to why he chose this for his business card, he explains in Dreams of Sumatra
Dreams of Sumatra
Dreams of Sumatra is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the ninth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the fourth of the Travels with Jack sub-series. It combines elements of Americana, Old-time radio and Sufism....
, "I heard it. I liked it. I had it printed."
Romance
He is clearly very attractive to women, and his adventures usually include some romance. Beyond a rare kiss, no physical contact with any woman is ever depicted, and romantic feelings are implied rather than stated. Usually, the women seem to be more interested in him than he is in them. In Dreams of IndiaDreams of India
Dreams of India is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the seventh of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the second of the Travels with Jack sub-series...
, he pursues a woman, Kamala Shukla, without success. Besides The Madonna Vampyra, who appears in The Fourth Tower of Inverness
The Fourth Tower of Inverness
The Fourth Tower of Inverness is a 1972 radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation. It is the first of the Jack Flanders adventure series, and combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with metaphysical concepts such as past life regression, Sufi wisdom, Tibetan Buddhism and shamanistic...
and Return to Inverness
Return to Inverness
Return to Inverness is a 2000 radio drama, the twelfth in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. The serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton, as a sequel to The Fourth Tower of Inverness, the first in the series.-Plot:...
, Claudine (a woman from another plane of existence who first appears in Somewhere Next Door to Reality
Somewhere Next Door to Reality
Somewhere Next Door To Reality is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the fourteenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the second of the Travelling Jack sub-series...
) is the only love interest of his who appears in more than one adventure story.
In Midnight at the Casa Luna
Midnight at the Casa Luna
Midnight at the Casa Luna is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . The two parts of the story were released individually in 1998 and 2000; part two has the title The Hungry Ghosts...
, two of the characters refer to Jack's relationship with an Infrit, Layla Oolupi, which ended badly. Layla appears to Jack during Moon Over Morocco
Moon Over Morocco
Moon Over Morocco is a 1974 radio drama, the second in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. Originally broadcast as fifty twelve-minute episodes, the serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton.-Synopsis:...
and plays a small but helpful role in his journey. However, in Do That in Real Life?
Do That in Real Life
Do That In Real Life? is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the fifteenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the third of the Travelling Jack sub-series. It combines elements of Old-time radio with psychic phenomena, supernatural beings and energies.-Plot:Jack is having a...
Jack says that he first encountered Layla at Woodhedge and the only time we know that he was there was before Moon Over Morocco
Moon Over Morocco
Moon Over Morocco is a 1974 radio drama, the second in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. Originally broadcast as fifty twelve-minute episodes, the serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton.-Synopsis:...
. Whenever this relationship does occur, it is between stories and we only ever hear references to it. There is a malevolent Oolupi in The Fourth Tower of Inverness
The Fourth Tower of Inverness
The Fourth Tower of Inverness is a 1972 radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation. It is the first of the Jack Flanders adventure series, and combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with metaphysical concepts such as past life regression, Sufi wisdom, Tibetan Buddhism and shamanistic...
who almost succeeds in seducing Jack. When she fails, she tries to drown him in a lake of her tears.
Finances
Jack's finances are something of a mystery. When he is introduced he does not appear to have wealth but is able to travel around the world well enough. He lives principally in an apartment in New York and later inherits the mansion and estate of Inverness, so we can assume a good deal of family money. In Dreams of SumatraDreams of Sumatra
Dreams of Sumatra is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the ninth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the fourth of the Travels with Jack sub-series. It combines elements of Americana, Old-time radio and Sufism....
it is mentioned that his previous adventures have been published - Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda was a Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author....
style.
Jack Flanders' Stories
- The Fourth Tower of InvernessThe Fourth Tower of InvernessThe Fourth Tower of Inverness is a 1972 radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation. It is the first of the Jack Flanders adventure series, and combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with metaphysical concepts such as past life regression, Sufi wisdom, Tibetan Buddhism and shamanistic...
(1972) - Moon Over MoroccoMoon Over MoroccoMoon Over Morocco is a 1974 radio drama, the second in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. Originally broadcast as fifty twelve-minute episodes, the serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton.-Synopsis:...
(1973) - The Ah-Ha PhenomenonThe Ah-Ha PhenomenonThe Ah-Ha Phenomenon is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . Released in 1977 this is the third of the Jack Flanders adventure series, and combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with metaphysical concepts such as Sufi wisdom and Tibetan Buddhism.-Plot:Jack Flanders is...
(Originally presented within the science fictionScience fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
series Stars and Stuff, 1977) - The Incredible Adventures of Jack FlandersThe Incredible Adventures of Jack FlandersThe Incredible Adventures of Jack Flanders is a radio drama produced by the ZBS Foundation and Meatball Fulton. It is the fourth of the Jack Flanders adventure series.-Plot:...
(1978) - Dreams of RioDreams of RioDreams of Rio is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation. It is the fifth of the Jack Flanders adventure series, and combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with themes of lost cities, jungle exploration and shamanism...
(1987) - Travels with Jack
- Dreams of the AmazonDreams of the AmazonDreams of the Amazon is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the sixth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the first of the Travels with Jack sub-series. It combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with themes of lost cities, jungle exploration and shamanism...
(1992) - Dreams of IndiaDreams of IndiaDreams of India is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the seventh of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the second of the Travels with Jack sub-series...
(1992) - Dreams of BaliDreams of BaliDreams of Bali is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the eight of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the third of the Travels with Jack sub-series...
(1992) - Dreams of SumatraDreams of SumatraDreams of Sumatra is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the ninth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the fourth of the Travels with Jack sub-series. It combines elements of Americana, Old-time radio and Sufism....
(1993)
- Dreams of the Amazon
- The Mystery of Jaguar ReefThe Mystery of Jaguar ReefThe Mystery of Jaguar Reef is a radio drama, produced in 1996 by the ZBS Foundation . It is the tenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series. It combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with themes of pirates and aliens.-Plot:...
(1996) - Midnight at the Casa LunaMidnight at the Casa LunaMidnight at the Casa Luna is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . The two parts of the story were released individually in 1998 and 2000; part two has the title The Hungry Ghosts...
(1998, 2000) - Return to InvernessReturn to InvernessReturn to Inverness is a 2000 radio drama, the twelfth in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. The serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton, as a sequel to The Fourth Tower of Inverness, the first in the series.-Plot:...
(2000) - Travelling Jack
- Dreams of the Blue MorphoDreams of the Blue MorphoDreams of the Blue Morpho is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the thirteenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the first of the Travelling Jack sub-series...
(2002) - Somewhere Next Door to RealitySomewhere Next Door to RealitySomewhere Next Door To Reality is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the fourteenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the second of the Travelling Jack sub-series...
(2002) - Do That in Real Life?Do That in Real LifeDo That In Real Life? is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the fifteenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the third of the Travelling Jack sub-series. It combines elements of Old-time radio with psychic phenomena, supernatural beings and energies.-Plot:Jack is having a...
(2003) - The Eye of Van GoghThe Eye of Van GoghThe Eye of Van Gogh is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the sixteenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the fourth of the Travelling Jack sub-series. It combines elements of Old-time radio with psychic phenomena, supernatural beings and energies.-Plot:Balls of invisible...
(2003)
- Dreams of the Blue Morpho
- The Fantastic Voyages of Captain Jack Flanders
- Orchids and MoonbeamsOrchids and MoonbeamsOrchids and Moonbeams is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the seventeenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the first of the The Fantastic Voyages of Captain Jack Flanders sub-series...
(2005) - The Ghost IslandsThe Ghost IslandsThe Ghost Islands is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the eighteenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the second of the The Fantastic Voyages of Captain Jack Flanders sub-series...
(2006) - Tropical Hot Dog NightTropical Hot Dog NightTropical Hot Dog Night is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the nineteenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the third of the The Fantastic Voyages of Captain Jack Flanders sub-series...
(2007) - The White CastleThe White Castle (ZBS Foundation)The White Castle is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . It is the twentieth of the Jack Flanders adventure series and the fourth of the The Fantastic Voyages of Captain Jack Flanders sub-series...
(2008)
- Orchids and Moonbeams
- Steam Dreamers of Inverness
- Steam Dreamers of Inverness - Part 1 (2010)
- Steam Dreamers of Inverness - Part 2 - Islands in the Sky (2010)
- Steam Dreamers of Inverness - Part 3 (2011)
- Steam Dreamers of Inverness - Part 4 (2011)
- Associated (have secondary characters in common)
- The Adventures of Rocket Pierre, a sub-series within Stars and Stuff (1977) [Little Frieda]
- Little Frieda's Life Lessons (2001) [Little Frieda]
- The Case of the Disappearing Witch (2005) [Mojo Sam, Little Frieda]
- The Wee Weever - A Little Frieda Mystery (2007) [Mojo Sam, Little Frieda]
- Land of Enchantment (2006) [Mojo Sam]
- Mojo's Vest Pocket Voodoo Adventures (2009) [Mojo Sam]
Character Phases
The Jack Flanders stories can be divided into distinct phases. Initially there is the Cosmic Tourist phase which makes up the first four adventures. These are principally concerned with Jack’s explorations and adventures in the Invisible Realms. In these tales he is largely on his own and survives on his wit, luck, charm and the ability to always present a moving target.Then we move into the Jungle Jack phase, stories that are largely grounded in 'reality' but with various supernatural or other-worldly intrusions. The settings for these stories are spread out across the globe but they are all tropical - the Amazon, Rio, India, Bali, Sumatra, Belize, Costa Rica. For the majority of them Jack is still on his own; only in the last few is he joined by Mojo Sam who then becomes a permanent companion in subsequent adventures. Usually it is Mojo who calls upon Jack to join him and help with a particularly tricky problem.
There is a brief return to the Cosmic Tourist for Midnight at the Casa Luna
Midnight at the Casa Luna
Midnight at the Casa Luna is a radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation . The two parts of the story were released individually in 1998 and 2000; part two has the title The Hungry Ghosts...
and Return to Inverness
Return to Inverness
Return to Inverness is a 2000 radio drama, the twelfth in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. The serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton, as a sequel to The Fourth Tower of Inverness, the first in the series.-Plot:...
both of which are closely related to the original story - one borrows significantly and the other is a straight sequel.
After a final adventure as Jungle Jack we move into a French theme and the Cul-de-sac Jack phase. These stories bring in two further companions – Claudine and Dominique. With the core group growing, the stories become more of an ensemble effort with Jack taking a less assertive and more bumbling role, often being the butt of jokes, especially from Dominique who frequently launches into political diatribe.
An occasional but recurring theme is that of Captain Jack. It first appears in The Incredible Adventures of Jack Flanders
The Incredible Adventures of Jack Flanders
The Incredible Adventures of Jack Flanders is a radio drama produced by the ZBS Foundation and Meatball Fulton. It is the fourth of the Jack Flanders adventure series.-Plot:...
where he does indeed become captain of the Blue Swallow. In The Mystery of Jaguar Reef
The Mystery of Jaguar Reef
The Mystery of Jaguar Reef is a radio drama, produced in 1996 by the ZBS Foundation . It is the tenth of the Jack Flanders adventure series. It combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with themes of pirates and aliens.-Plot:...
, Captain Coco frequently refers to him as Captain Jack, saying that it feels right to do so. But it’s not until we move out of the Cul-de-sac Jack phase at the end of the Travelling Jack sub-series, that we enter a new sub-series of adventures for Captain Jack - The Fantastic Voyages of Captain Jack Flanders. He, Mojo, Claudine and Dominique sail between islands in the Tropics encountering ever more mysterious and other-worldly happenings.
Broadcast History
The early stories were broadcast on college radio stations and on NPR during the 1970s and 1980s. Currently, they are sold directly on CD and as mp3 downloads via the ZBSZBS
ZBS stands for* ZBS Foundation* Zugbeeinflussungssystem S-Bahn Berlin...
Foundation website.
Jack Flanders story episodes are regularly featured on Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
's The Watt From Pedro Show podcast.
Characters
The following characters have prominent or recurring roles in the Jack Flanders series.- Jack Flanders, the hero of the stories, is an adventurer into the Invisible Realms and investigator of strange and mysterious events. People with unusual problems seek his very special type of metaphysical help.
- Little Frieda, a Venusian who is a million and a half years old, looks like a little human girl with large pigtails and no pupils in her eyes. She smokes large Havana cigars, and can see thought forms. When in danger, her pigtails stand on end. She appears in Moon Over MoroccoMoon Over MoroccoMoon Over Morocco is a 1974 radio drama, the second in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. Originally broadcast as fifty twelve-minute episodes, the serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton.-Synopsis:...
as "Little Flossic, the child of magick", the words "Flossic" and "Magick" accented on the second syllable. In this adventure Jack addresses her as "Flossi." Little Frieda is played by P. J. Orte (though credited as Spooner Duffy in Moon Over Morocco), who also hosts the science fictionScience fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
series Stars and Stuff, produced by ZBS ("Hi, I'm P. J. Orte, back again with science fiction fantasy stories, some long, some short.") - Mojo Sam the Yoodoo Man, an expatriate American, Mojo Sam discovered his roots in MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
where he studied a mixture of yogaYogaYoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
and voodoo. He later returned to the US and accompanied Jack Flanders on many adventures. - Kasbah Kelly, an American expatriate who owns a bar in Tangiers and employs Mojo Sam. Kelly arranges Jack's trip to Africa and is his guide to Morocco. He narrates Moon Over MoroccoMoon Over MoroccoMoon Over Morocco is a 1974 radio drama, the second in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. Originally broadcast as fifty twelve-minute episodes, the serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton.-Synopsis:...
(the only Jack Flanders adventure narrated by a character within the story) and is a principal character in this adventure, but never recurs in any other adventure. Kelly is fond of adagesAdageAn adage is a short but memorable saying which holds some important fact of experience that is considered true by many people, or that has gained some credibility through its long use....
and gets into a bit of a contest with Mojo, the two of them quipping increasingly esoteric sayings back and forth. At the beginning of Moon Over Morocco Kelly warns us that not all of what he is going to tell us will necessarily be true. - Dr. Marlin Mazoola, an alchemistAlchemyAlchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
of the first order, Dr. Mazoola is a classic mad scientistMad scientistA mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
whose quest for alchemical knowledge often brings about great danger. - The Madonna Vampyra, an "energy vampire," but also the queen of the "Lotus Land," which can be accessed through The Fourth Tower of InvernessThe Fourth Tower of InvernessThe Fourth Tower of Inverness is a 1972 radio drama, produced by the ZBS Foundation. It is the first of the Jack Flanders adventure series, and combines elements of Americana and Old-time radio with metaphysical concepts such as past life regression, Sufi wisdom, Tibetan Buddhism and shamanistic...
. She is the first of the serious love interests for Jack Flanders. She appears in the original Inverness serial, as well as Return to InvernessReturn to InvernessReturn to Inverness is a 2000 radio drama, the twelfth in ZBS's Jack Flanders series. The serial was written and directed by Meatball Fulton, as a sequel to The Fourth Tower of Inverness, the first in the series.-Plot:...
, in which it is revealed that she has hardly aged over the intervening years, whereas Jack, a mortal, has. She is played by Laura EstermanLaura EstermanLaura Esterman is an American actress known for portraying Ruby the Galactic Gumshoe in contemporary radio dramas and for her Drama Desk Award and Obie Award winning performance in the 1992 original stage production of Scott McPherson's Marvin's Room.-Life and career:Esterman was born in New York...
, who also played Ruby the Galactic GumshoeRuby the Galactic GumshoeRuby the Galactic Gumshoe is the titular character of a radio drama series by the ZBS Foundation, written by Thomas Lopez. The first series, Ruby: Adventures of A Galactic Gumshoe was created in 1982, and the eighth and most recent was copyrighted 2009...
, in the serial of that name, also released by ZBS Media. - Old Far-Seeing Art, an expert in the technique of sending one's consciousness out into the body of animals and viewing the world through their eyes. He was once a miner ("in the days of ore") and considers himself a cowboy - especially when Chief Wampum is around.
- Chief Wampum, originally from India. He moved to Inverness in reaction to all the people who were coming to India to study with gurus and take an Indian name, he decided to come to the west and take a western name: Chief Wampum Stompum. He's known to have authored a book on how to fly "fromborks" and also helps Jack to access the plane where the fabled city of the Ah-Ha's dwells.