Gene Autry battles Lemurians (or Muranians) living underground near a ranch in California (shades of Mount Shasta) in the bizarre 1935 science fiction western The Phantom Empire. The first and only science fiction singing cowboy western. Gene Autry the singing cowboy plays… “Gene Autry” the singing cowboy—who broadcasts a daily radio program from his Radio Ranch. Unfortunately, his radio career is being constantly upset by gangsters who want to get their hands on his ranch and its rich radium deposits. If that wasn’t enough problems for a singing cowboy, his ranch is also the entry point of the very advanced and very hostile Lost City of Murania, which lies 20,000 feet beneath the Earth’s surface. Each week, Autry has to deal with murder attempts, sabotage, frame-ups, and execution as he fights to make his daily radio singing gig or lose the ranch. A great old serial with lots of 1930s Tesla Technology—still science fiction today! This 12-chapter Mascot serial offered singing cowboy Gene Autry his first starring role, in what has to be one of the most sublimely, surpassingly surrealistic serials ever made. Consider the following– 5 or 6 miles underground below the dude ranch owned by Gene Autry is the long-lost super-scientific civilization of Murania. Shades of reality—30s style?
