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Sailor Sam

Sailor Sam is a Christian children's radio adventureseries produced in the studios of Moody 's flagship station WMBI from the 1950s to the 1970s. This program featured the voice of Charles Christiansen as Sailor Sam. Mr. Christiansen is still alive and well.

Sailor Sam is still broadcast on the air and on the 'Netby Harbour Light Radio out of Grenada. They broadcast Sailor Sam on weekday afternoons at 5 pm Eastern time.

Moody Audio is planning to offer Sailor Sam mp3 audio files and mp3 audio CDs sometime in the future but not right away as ofOctober 2007.

We will continue to add to this page as we gatherinformation on Sailor Sam.

Who is Sailor Sam?

The following about Sailor Sam is from Randy at Harbour Light on 10-21-07:

Sailor Sam is an unmarried Christian gentleman,scientist, explorer and expert sailor. His schooner, "The Porpoise," is a sleek 90 foot wooden hulled ship outfitted with a lab and many "modern" conveniences - including radar! His first mate, Olie Olson, is a big kind hearted Swede who is older than Sam but a very capable sailor and Christian himself. Accompanying them on their voyages are Sam's young cousins, Buddy and Nancy and their spinster aunt, Hazel, a somewhat older lady but none the less a capable cook, nurse and a godly Christian lady. Their adventures take them all over the world to help missionaries, solve mysteries, battle volcanoes, and more!

The program opens like this: (with Dick Anthony, I presume, playing "Sailing, Sailing" on the organ)
The Adventures of Sailor Sam! "Land Ho!" "Where away?" "Starboard bow!"Hear the creak of the rigging? Listen to the wind whip the sails! Yes,boys and girls, Sailor Sam's big schooner "The Porpoise" plunges swiftly through the waves eager to serve her master. Where's she going? Wish I could tell you but we'll have to find out from Sailor Sam. An adventurous young man whose hunt for scientific truth takes him anywhere, yes, anywhere! And with him go his two young cousins, Buddy and Nancy. Aye, aye mates! It's full speed ahead now for sea-faring thrills with, Sailor Sam!

The program closes like this:
...see you on the quarterdeck (next week) for more adventure with Sailor Sam!

Originally the program was broadcast as a weekly 15 minute serial drama. We have edited out "next week" to make the program usable for broadcasting on any schedule.

There are 32 adventures in 394 programs (that is what we have anyway)

Several of the voices in Sailor Sam are heard in other Moody dramas however this program predates all the others (I believe) and so there are some voices that are only heard in Sailor Sam. Most notable are Rex Brenner in various rolls & Flo Schmidt as Buddy. The series starts off with a young man playing Buddy but he is replaced by Flo early on. There are a couple of programs that end with a list the cast - I'm pretty sure - I will have to check to see if I can find it. You may have all that info already.

I hope that is good for a starter!

Have a great week!
Randy

The following about Sailor Sam is from Allen Winters at Sunlite Broadcasting on 10-26-07:

Sailor Sam was played by (this good man encouraged me to go into Christian Broadcasting when after a lapse of many years, had a mini Radio Broadcasting Summer School program in 1963) Charles "Chuck Christensen." Chuck worked for MBI for many many years. He was, ofcourse, Sailor Sam and was involved in some other moody productions, I believe as a producer. Later, he became station manager of WMBI, the Moody Station in Chicago.

Later, he joined the faculty of the communications Department of Moody and ultimately became head of the Department there prior to his retirement. He and his wife, Winnie also wrote, at onetime, an advice column for the now defunct Moody Monthly.

I think that WMBI news director Walter Carlson, may have been involved as an announcer for the program, but not sure. Anyway, I recall the program very, very well. Moody Radio in those days had many"stock players" who played other characters of moody productions such as Stories of Great Christians. These definitely included Walter Carlson, Ted Seelye, (of "cleared for takeoff" a moody radio missionary adventure) Miron Canaday and Rex Brenner of Ranger Bill, and many others over the years.

As a student I recall that the "stars of their programs" had their pictures displayed on the walls of the 10th floor offices of WMBI. One was of Chuck Christensen dressed as Sailor Sam. I used to have Chuck's phone number in Northern IL but lost it. Hope this helps somewhat, and if I can find anything more, will let you know.

Allan Winters
Sunlite Broadcasting
Chicago

I recorded a few adventures on cassettes but the qualityis rather poor. I even have a Sailor Sam book! I've never been able to find any others or any information for that matter. It was published by Moody Press. I remember a program called Missionary Wings but it is a pretty dim memory.

Be strong and keep smiling,

Rev. Rick Wheeler