The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack (R4)
By: John A. Shupek (Skytamer Images)
Series Title: The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack
American Card Catalog Number: R4
Issued by: Samuel Eppy, Inc.
Issued with: unknown
Country: USA
Number of Cards: 128
Card Numbering: 1 to 128
Type of Card: Both single cards and 16 strips of 8 cards
Card Dimensions: 3.05 × 2.44 inches (77.55 × 62.06 mm)
Circa: 1943
Checklist: Checklist
Overview — A Little History About “Smilin’ Jack” [3]
“The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” is a movie serial based on the comic strip “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack”. The movie serial, was distributed by Universal Pictures during 1943, and was comprised of 13 chapters with a total run time of 265 minutes.
Plot — In 1941, an American aviator, “Smilin’ Jack” Martin wishes to resign as an advisor to the Nationalist Chinese Army in order to return to the United States to enlist as an aviator in America’s military buildup prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He is delayed when the Chinese discover that the neutral Tibetan like Mandon “Province” contains a secret road from India to China crucial for the Allied war effort. Determined to obtain the secret for themselves, or equally determined to have the secret destroyed is the Japanese espionage organization “The Black Samurai” and the German intelligence agent Fräulein von Teufel who masquerades as an American newspaper reporter. The cast of the 13 movie-serials are listed below. Click on the actor’s names to for additional information.
- Tom Brown [4] as “Smilin’ Jack” Martin
- Rose Hobart [5] as Fräulein von Teufel
- Edgar Barrier [6] as Tommy Thompson
- Marjorie Lord [7] as Janet Thompson
- Keye Luke [8] as Capt. Wing
- Sidney Toler [9] as Gen. Kai Ling
- Cyril Delevanti [10] as Mah Ling/Han Po (his doppelganger)
- Philip Ahn [11] as Wu Tan
- Nigel De Brulier [12] as The Lo-San
- Turhan Bey [13] as Kageyama
- David Hoffman as John (Johann) O. Blenker, a Nazi spy
- Rico De Montezas as Hito, Japanese hit man
- Jay Novello [14] as Kushimi
Production — The serial was based on the comic strip by Zack Moseley but it was not in the spirit of the strip as would normally be expected from a Universal production. Very little of the original comic strip was used and a new character, Tommy Thompson, was created by Universal. The similarity to Tommy Tomkins, of the Tailspin Tommy stories, may imply a crossover of sorts. Cline suggests that it was “a quick attempt to get a story on screen about a topical subject, and could have had almost any flyer with any name as a hero.” The movie serials were presented in the 13 following “Chapters”. Click on the individual Chapter Titles to view the original movie serials.
- The High Road to Doom [15]
- The Rising Sun Strikes [16]
- Attacked by Bombers [17]
- Knives of Vengeance [18]
- A Watery Grave [19]
- Escape by Clipper [20]
- Fifteen Fathoms Below [21]
- Treachery at Sea [22]
- The Bridge of Peril [23]
- Blackout in the Islands [24]
- Held for Treason [25]
- The Torture Fire Test [26]
- Sinking the Rising Sun [27]
Chapter Titles
1943 “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” (R4) Overview
During 1943, Samuel Eppy, Inc. issued a 128-card set of “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack”. Both single cards and 16 8-cards strips were issued. The original 8-card strips were issued without the normal machine perforations between the individual cards which were designed to make detaching of the cards easy. Later, the 8-card strips were issued with the machine perforations between the individual cards. The machine preformation process was not always that precise. Skytamer’s set of 16 8-card strips had the machine perforations misaligned between the margins of the individual cards. In some cases, the preferred perforations went through the image area of the card.
According to Benjamin[28], it is believed that the set was sold with candy or, perhaps by itself. Skytamer also speculates that the 8-card strips may have been available on a weekly basis at the theaters were the “Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” matinee serials were shown. If anyone out there recalls how they were actually distributed please let us know. The individual cards measure 3.05 × 2.44 inches (77.55 × 62.06 mm), and are assigned the American Cards Catalog reference number R4.
The fronts of the 1943 “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” cards feature both b&w artwork and photographs. Each card front features a drawing or photograph depicting a scene from the “ The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” movie serial. The images are all centered with a thin surround margin. The images themselves are rather uninspiring, but do depict a chronological story line of “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” matinee “cliffhanger” movie serials. There are no captions or card numbers on the fronts of the 128 cards.
The Backs of the cards are divided into the following six vertical segments:
- Card number: Located in the upper left hand corner.
- Card title: “THE ADVENTURES OF / SMILING’ JACK ”. 2-lines centered on top of the card.
- Descriptive text: In English, located directly beneath the title. Descriptive text is a card to card sequential story line from the movie.
- Movie credits, 2-lines: “From the current motion picture serial released by Universal Pictures Co., based on adventure strip by Zack Mosley.”
- War bonds appeal: “Buy War Bonds and Stamps for Victory”
- Manufacturer tag line: “SAMUEL EPPY, INC., NEW YORK, N. Y. (Litho in U.S.A.) ”
The following reference card shows the fronts of a typical photo-card and artwork-card, and a typical 1943 “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” (R4) card Back. We have also included a computer-generated 600-dpi version (too big for the scanner) of the front and Back of card strip #1. Click on the card images to reveal full-size computer enhanced 600-dpi images of the card and the 8-card strip.
1943 Samuel Eppy, Inc. “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” (R4) Image-Guide
The following 1943 “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” (R4) 128-card set by Samuel Eppy, Inc., USA, Image-Guide shows computer enhanced images of the fronts and Backs of the 128 cards in the R4 set. Behind each thumbnail image is a 600-dpi computer enhanced card image that you may access. In addition, directly beneath the Image Guide, in tabular form, are links to the original scans used for this series.
1943 “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” (R4) Checklist
We have provided two versions of the 1943 “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” (R4) 128-card set issued by Samuel Eppy, Inc., USA. An 8½ × 11 inch PDF version, and the web version shown below. Click on the PDF graphic below to access the PDF version.
| 1943 “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack” (R4) Samuel Eppy, Inc., 128-Cards, USA CHECKLIST | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| № | x | Card Title | |
| 1 | JACK MARTIN (Smilin’ Jack). Ace flier, barnstormer, … | ||
| 2 | TOMMY THOMPSON (Edgar Barrier). Tommy Thompson … | ||
| 3 | CAPTAIN WING (Keye Luke). An associate of Smilin’ Jack, … | ||
| 4 | JANET THOMPSON (Marjorie Lord). Sister of Soldier … | ||
| 5 | MAH LING (Cyril Delevanti). Mah Ling is High Priest … | ||
| 6 | GEN. KAI LING (Sidney Toler). This man is typical of … | ||
| 7 | KAGWYAMA (Turhan Bey). A sly, clever and treacherous … | ||
| 8 | GERTRUDE MILLER (Rose Hobart). Gertrude Miller, … | ||
| 9 | Jack Martin, known wherever there is flying danger or … | ||
| 10 | Smilin’ Jack visits Janet Thompson, sister of Tommy, … | ||
| 11 | Captain Wing glimpses the knife-thrower through the … | ||
| 12 | In searching the unconscious Jap the man’s shirt suddenly comes open. | ||
| 13 | Smilin’ Jack and Janet are sure that Tommy must have … | ||
| 14 | Gertrude Miller enters the private office of Kageyama, … | ||
| 15 | Smilin’ Jack has changed his mind about going home. | ||
| 16 | It is early morning. The Chinese plane waits for Jack … | ||
| 17 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack Martin, American … | ||
| 18 | Disengaging his ripcord just in the nick of time Jack … | ||
| 19 | The Jap henchmen arrive in Mandon before Smilin’ Jack … | ||
| 20 | As soon as the Americans are taken away the Japs decide … | ||
| 21 | As the Jap henchmen spirit the governor away, one of … | ||
| 22 | Lo San, the High Priest, holds Back the infuriated mob … | ||
| 23 | Jack sees a shadow over his shoulder. Drawing his gun … | ||
| 24 | Smilin’ Jack now tells Lo San his entire story. The High Priest … | ||
| 25 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack Martin, ace American … | ||
| 26 | Lo San, the High Priest, instructs his fierce guards, who … | ||
| 27 | In China Gertrude Miller and Kageyama hear the report … | ||
| 28 | Back at Mandon the High Priest’s soldiers have released … | ||
| 29 | The wily Jap has arrived ahead of the Americans and … | ||
| 30 | The Jap renegade crumples on the Temple steps. His … | ||
| 31 | Now the High Priest sees for himself that the guards … | ||
| 32 | The Jap guard lying on the steps of the Temple had not … | ||
| 33 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack, Ace American flier, … | ||
| 34 | Impressed with Smilin’ Jack’s quick-witted action in his … | ||
| 35 | The message low at first, begins to come in strong. It … | ||
| 36 | In spite of the vigilance of Fraulein von Teufel and her … | ||
| 37 | Smilin’ Jack knows that the danger is not over. He … | ||
| 38 | Smilin’ Jack returns to his apartment after his fake … | ||
| 39 | In a mysterious lodging along the China waterfront the … | ||
| 40 | Suddenly the floor gives away beneath Smiling’ Jack. He … | ||
| 41 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack, ace American flier, … | ||
| 42 | In spite of Smilin’ Jack’s bravery, Mah Ling is still in … | ||
| 43 | Waiting for time when only Janet is with Mah Ling, … | ||
| 44 | In Jack’s apartment Tommy finds signs of a scuffle and … | ||
| 45 | Smilin’ Jack is frantic when he learns about Mah Ling. | ||
| 46 | Janet Thompson is almost ill over the disappearance of … | ||
| 47 | Miss Miller, the Nazi spy, assembles her murderous … | ||
| 48 | Appearing suddenly through a secret door in the water-front hideout … | ||
| 49 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack, American flying … | ||
| 50 | On his way to the docks Smilin’ Jack remembers when … | ||
| 51 | Arriving at the chandler’s shop Jack begins looking at … | ||
| 52 | The police find the chandler’s shop easily through tracing … | ||
| 53 | After cleaning up the chandler’s shop, Smilin’ Jack and … | ||
| 54 | Learning through Janet that Jack has rescued Mah Ling … | ||
| 55 | General Kai Ling and his staff acompany Mah Ling to … | ||
| 56 | Arrangements are made for final meeting with the … | ||
| 57 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack Martin, American … | ||
| 58 | Before leaving Hong Kong a final meeting is held at … | ||
| 59 | As Sir Cecil turns over the signed pact to Jack for safe … | ||
| 60 | As Sir Cecil turns over the signed pact to Jack for safe … | ||
| 61 | British intelligence had warned Jack that plans had … | ||
| 62 | Jack and Tommy give one after another of the prisoners … | ||
| 63 | Sansone died without again speaking. Both Jack and … | ||
| 64 | A close search of all passengers discloses nothing. Then … | ||
| 65 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack Martin, great … | ||
| 66 | The search of clipper passengers is suddenly stopped as … | ||
| 67 | On the sub the Jap captain gives Mah Ling one hour … | ||
| 68 | After capturing the officers and radio operator on the … | ||
| 69 | At first the Jap crew members refuse to obey and guns … | ||
| 70 | After the battle on the submarine is over Smilin’ Jack … | ||
| 71 | When the Japs learn that a freighter is on the way to … | ||
| 72 | Forgetting all capture now the Jap crew rushes … | ||
| 73 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack Martin, his pal … | ||
| 74 | As the submarine continues to sink, the German captain … | ||
| 75 | Before sending his prisoners below the Captain looks … | ||
| 76 | The prisoners have been shut in what appears to be the … | ||
| 77 | With the boat all finished and covered up again the … | ||
| 78 | Almost immediately after the men have gone, other … | ||
| 79 | In a few minutes it is dark enough to launch the boat. | ||
| 80 | Smilin’ Jack uses the ship’s radio to contact the naval … | ||
| 81 | What has gone before: Guarding Mah Ling, governor of … | ||
| 82 | Smilin’ Jack and his party are finally rescued by an … | ||
| 83 | Miller is visited by a sulking Nazi agent known as … | ||
| 84 | Miller is taken to Blenker hideout on a lonely river road. | ||
| 85 | Mah Ling is carefully guarded in a secret apartment. | ||
| 86 | Arriving at Mah Ling’s apartment, Smilin’ Jack suspects … | ||
| 87 | Search of the other rooms of the apartment finds Wu … | ||
| 88 | Smilin’ Jack races to Miller’s apartment remembering … | ||
| 89 | What has gone on before: Smilin’ Jack Martin, and associates … | ||
| 90 | Janet informs Miller that Jack believes the jeweler who … | ||
| 91 | Miller then rushes by short cut to the derelict barge. | ||
| 92 | Tommy and Capt. Wing followed Jack’s instructions and … | ||
| 93 | Wu Tan is very worried about Mah Ling. He urges … | ||
| 94 | Tricking the police into removing his handcuffs, Smilin’ … | ||
| 95 | Jack has been following Blenker and suddenly appears … | ||
| 96 | Smilin’ Jack gives himself up to the police. With the … | ||
| 97 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack Martin and his … | ||
| 98 | After the signing of the Pack Jack feels that he need … | ||
| 99 | Working with the police to discover Mah Ling’s murderer, … | ||
| 100 | Advised by Miller that Smilin’ Jack will visit him soon, … | ||
| 101 | Half dazed they had forgotten momentarily that Captain Wing … | ||
| 102 | After taking Wing to the hospital Tommy reports to Janet. | ||
| 103 | Continuing from the wrecked car Smilin’ Jack finds the … | ||
| 104 | Smilin’ Jack finds himself looking into the barrel of a … | ||
| 105 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack and his associates, … | ||
| 106 | Wu Tan becomes the real head of the Mandon government … | ||
| 107 | Wu Tan now tells Kai Ling that he can divulge the … | ||
| 108 | Soon after Jack’s visit with General Ling he gets a telephone … | ||
| 109 | “Not so fast Mr. Jack … pleased to put down gun and … | ||
| 110 | Knowing that he was walking into a trap, Jack warned … | ||
| 111 | In her Chinese costume Miss Miller, accompanied by … | ||
| 112 | When Miller turns to confront Kageyama again she … | ||
| 113 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack Martin, ace American … | ||
| 114 | Running true to form, Kageyama, once he has the upper … | ||
| 115 | Jack’s native spies have located the distant cabin where … | ||
| 116 | Miller, however, hasn’t allowed Jack to put one over. | ||
| 117 | Just as Miller finishes speaking, the sound of a giant … | ||
| 118 | More trouble is in store for Jack and the Mandon plan. | ||
| 119 | Wu Tan has been active on his own. While Jack was … | ||
| 120 | Threatened with instant death Kato is forced to call … | ||
| 121 | What has gone before: Smilin’ Jack Martin, ace American … | ||
| 122 | Arriving at the rendezvous Jack and his party is met … | ||
| 123 | After days of hard travel Jack and his caravan arrived … | ||
| 124 | Jack is finally called to the Temple where he again … | ||
| 125 | During the night false Temple guards allowed Kato’s men … | ||
| 126 | Just as Jack is about to try the ordeal of the hot … | ||
| 127 | After being refreshed, Jack is called to the private … | ||
| 128 | At last the mission of Smilin’ Jack ends successfully. | ||
Contributors
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John Shupek — John is retired Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineer that lives in Southern California. John’s 36 year aerospace career/adventure started in the mid-1960s when he worked for Pratt & Whitney at their “FRDC” … Florida Research and Development Center, West Palm Beach, Florida. John was part of the P&W jet engine design team for the CIA/USAF’s Lockheed A-12/SR-71A “Oxcart/Blackbird” engines (J58/JT11D-20). He also worked on the RL-10 rocket engine and the JTF-17A which was P&W’s entry into the United During John’s career at Northrop Grumman he served for five years as Northrop’s “Vintage Aircraft Club” Commissioner and the Curator and Webmaster for the Western Museum of Flight in Hawthorne, California. Several years later, John was the volunteer webmaster (for about 3 years) for the Yanks Air Museum, Chino, California. He also served as President and webmaster for two different NPO’s after his retirement. The Whittier Historical Society & Museum and Whittier Meals on Wheels. John’s love of aviation history and aviation photography lead to the establishment of this Skytamer.com website in 1998. The Skytamer.com site has continued to expand and will always grow and will never be completed. It’s sort of analogous to a snowball rolling down a hill without any trees to stop it. In approximately 2002, John remembered that he had collected Topps “Wings” (ACC# R707-4) airplane trading cards while in High School. Somehow the cards had disappeared over the years. So at this point, he started to re-collect airplane trading cards via eBay and become an airplane card “Image Collector” rather than a “Card Collector” per se. After John scans an airplane card for the website, he has no further use for it and he puts it Back into circulation via eBay. John’s mission statement for the Skytamer.com is basically to restore and preserve high-quality card images/artwork associated with the various airplane card sets from the early 1900s to the present. These cards are wonderful historical “snapshots” into aviation history showing which aviation events and aircraft were important at that point in time. For the Skytamer.com website, basically if it is a trading card collection that features things that fly, but doesn’t have feathers, it is eligible for consideration on the Skytamer.com website. John always welcomes inputs and high resolution scans (600-dpi) that can be used on this website. John can be reached via the “Contact Us” navigation button on the left. |
States’ SST competition between Boeing and Lockheed. Several years later, John moved Back to California and worked at the AiResearch Mfg. Company at LAX and Torrance. He originally worked on the thermal design of the HRE (Hypersonic Ramjet Engine) which was a supersonic combustion Mach 7 ramjet engine that was to be tested on the North American X-15. John did about three more years of jet engine design work before he disappeared for 13 years into the classified DOE “GCEP” (Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plant) Atomic Energy program for the enrichment of U235. After the GCEP program was cancelled by the DOE in 1985, John was hired by Northrop Aircraft to do the thermal design for Northrop’s entry into the ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) competition, the Northrop YF-23A “Black Widow II” stealth supercruise fighter. He also worked on the Northrop Grumman B-2A “Spirit” stealth bomber. After several years on a classified stealth missile program, John worked the remainder of his Aerospace career as one of Northrop Grumman’s Program Directors on the United States Navy’s F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet” jet fighter program.
References
- Watson, James C., M.D. “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack.” Non-Sports Bible (NSB). Vol. I. Chelsea, MI: Sheridan, 2007. 27. Print.
- Shupek, John A. “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack (R4) Samuel Eppy, Inc..” The Skytamer Archive (600-dpi Image Scans). Skytamer Images, Whittier, CA, 2014. Digital Image Database.
- Wikipedia, The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack
- Wikipedia, Tom Brown
- Wikipedia, Rose Hobart
- Wikipedia, Edgar Barrier
- Wikipedia, Marjorie Lord
- Wikipedia, Keye Luke
- Wikipedia, Sidney Toler
- Wikipedia, Cyril Delevanti
- Wikipedia, Philip Ahn
- Wikipedia, Nigel De Brulier
- Wikipedia, Turhan Bey
- Wikipedia, Jay Novello
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 1: The High Road to Doom
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 2: The Rising Sun Strikes
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 3: Attacked by Bombers
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 4: Knives of Vengeance
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 5: A Watery Grave
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 6: Escape by Clipper
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 7: Fifteen Fathoms Below
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 8: Treachery at Sea
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 9: The Bridge of Peril
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 10: Blackout in the Islands
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 11: Held for Treason
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 12: The Torture Fire Test
- The Internet Archive. The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack, Chapter 13: Sinking the Rising Sun
- Benjamin, Christopher. “The Adventures of Smilin’ Jack (128).” The Sport Americana® Price Guide to the Non-Sports Cards 1930-1960, No.2. Cleveland, Ohio: Edgewater Book Company, Inc., 1993, ISBN 0-937424-66-8. 180-181. Print.
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