In Search of . . . The Complete First Season

by G. Jack Urso

This series presents information based in part on theory and conjecture. The producer’s purpose is to suggest some possible explanations, but not necessarily the only ones to the mysteries we will examine. — Opening Narration to In Search Of . . .
 

 

1970s pop culture was a bubbling cauldron of conspiracy theories, pseudo-science, New Age spiritualism, and purported paranormal phenomenon. For anyone interested in that era, no TV program explores these mysteries better than the classic television documentary series In Search of . . . , which ran from 1977 to 1982, narrated by Leonard Nimoy and produced by Alan Landsburg. The entire first season is available for viewing on my YouTube channel. See links below.

Over the course of four hour-long specials and 144 half-hour syndicated episodes, In Search of . . . explored just about every far-out idea ever to come out of the 1960s and 1970s. Then-popular theories about ancient astronauts, talking to plants, killer bees, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, Dracula, Nazis, Amelia Earhart, E.S.P., Atlantis, the Bermuda Triangle, and more, were all treated as serious phenomenon. In most episodes, In Search of . . . is explanatory in its approach to these topics rather than investigative, so if something sounds preposterous and unbelievable the producers leave it to the audience to make up their own minds.

Extraterrestrials, Magic & Witchcraft, Missing Persons, Myths & Monsters, Lost Civilizations, Special Phenomena.   
                                                               — Teaser/Tag to In Search Of . . .  
 

Despite the sensational nature of the show, In Search of . . . did produce a number of excellent scholarly programs, some of which are included in the first season episodes presented below. The episodes on Incan treasure, killer bees, and the historical Dracula are some of the stand-out episodes in this regard. Nevertheless, the more fantastical episodes on so-called ancient astronauts, Atlantis, the Bermuda Triangle, etc., give credence to myths without any substantive evidence to back it up. It is particularly displeasing to see the ancient astronaut theory continue to be promulgated today. Wild-haired experts with dubious academic credentials, or none at all, have found fame on cable networks hawking preposterous theories that have long been discredited. All this does is to steal the honor due to the ancient cultures who devised the technology and put money into the pockets of people who can only be described as charlatans.

Nevertheless, I have a real fondness for In Search of . . . . Whether real history and science or just unfounded speculation, the episodes are always compelling entertainment to watch. Part of it is the excellent writing and Nimoy’s basso profundo narration, but also the film production values are outstanding and the music by W. Michael Lewis and Laurin Rinder always strikes the right chord and mood.

The rights to In Search of . . . were lost by the original production company, Alan Landsburg Productions, who let them lapse. Subsequently, the show found its way into the hands of a wider audience. First season episodes were available on YouTube for many years, but a later distributor exercised their right to have them taken down. Nevertheless, the complete series is relatively affordable for fans. Interestingly, the three specials narrated by Rod Serling, who was to be the series narrator until his untimely death at age 50 in 1976, remain available online.
 

Episode descriptions and links to the first three films (hosted on the Aeolus 13 Umbra YouTube channel), which inspired the In Search of . . . series, and the series episodes, are available below.

 

#	Original Airdate	Episode Title	Comments
N/A	1973	In Search of Ancient Astronauts	52-minute special.  Full movie available.
N/A	1973	In Search of Ancient Mysteries	52-minute special.  Full movie available.
N/A	1975	The Outer Space Connection	90-minute special. Full movie available
1	April 17, 1977	Other Voices	Are plants empathetic to emotions? Recent studies disprove most earlier research, but this remains an intriguing episode to kick off the series.
2	April 24, 1977	Strange Visitors (aka Oracle Chamber)	Was the Oracle Chamber beneath Mystery Hill in New Hampshire built by ancient Phoenicians?
3	April 24, 1977	Ancient Aviators (aka Ancient Flight)	The Nazca Lines in Peru. Some say they were built for ancient astronauts, but ISO also suggests the ancient Peruvians had hot air balloon technology, among other theories.
4	April 27, 1977	The Bermuda Triangle (article link with episode)	An exploration of the graveyard of the Atlantic. This episode absolutely frightened me as a teenager.
5	April 26, 1977	Bigfoot	The 1970s saw an explosion of interest in this mythical creature. This episode looks at some classic accounts.
6	May 1, 1977	Killer Bees	The history and predictions of these aggressive insects, many of which have come true.
7	May 7, 1977	Earthquakes	The big one is coming – and the 1970s were terrified!
8	May 14, 1977	The Mummy’s Curse	The widely popular U.S. exhibition of King Tut’s treasure ended just before this episode aired.
9	May 21, 1977	Martians	An early warning of the dangers of climate change with some solid scientific speculation.
10	May 22, 1977	Atlantis (article link with episode)	An exploration of the theories behind the legend of the mythical lost continent.
11	May 26, 1977	Psychic Detectives	Can E.S.P solve crimes?
12	May 26, 1977	A Call From Space	Can technology help us connect to other life in the universe?
13	May 28, 1977	Learning ESP	Does E.S.P. really exist?
14	May 29, 1977	Nazi Plunder	The search for lost Nazi’s treasure continues to this day.
15	June 1, 1977	Amelia Earhart	Most of the theories presented in this episode have been discredited, but there are a few rational explanations as well.
16	June 8, 1977	Dracula	The real man and the myth.
17	June 15, 1977	The Easter Island Massacre (article link with episode)	How were Easter Island moai erected and what happened to the culture that created them?
18	June 22, 1977	Ghosts	Parapsychologists interpret “spectral sightings” as real experiences.
19	June 29, 1977	Life After Death (aka Near Death Experiences)	What happens in near death experiences?
20	July 6, 1977	The Loch Ness Monster	Tall tales, "eye witness" accounts, and serious researchers highlight this episode, including a young Dr. Robert Ballard, the man who found the Titanic!
21	July 13, 1977	UFOs	Various eyewitness accounts are reported, including some high-profile cases.
22	July 26, 1977	Voodoo	Priests and followers of this mysterious practice are investigated, including footage and music of ceremonial practices.
23	August 11, 1977	Inca Treasure (article link with episode)	An episode featuring real archeology and science – the ISO team joins a researcher who makes an important discovery about this lost civilization.
24	September 10, 1977	The Magic of Stonehenge	Scholarly inquiry and paranormal speculation summarizes beliefs about this ancient structure up through the 1970s.

 

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