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"Deep in the heart of the Amazon, the Butler family was exploring an uncharted river canyon. Suddenly, caught up in a violent whirlpool, they were propelled though an underground cavern, and flung into a hostile world of giant prehistoric creatures. A world that time forgot, now befriended by a family of cave dwellers, each passing day is a lesson in survival for the Butlers in the VALLEY OF THE DINOSAURS!"
Valley of the Dinosaurs is an American animated television series, written by Samuel Roeca, produced by the Australian studios of Hanna-Barbera Productions, and directed by CHARLES NICHOLS. Originally broadcast on CBS between September and December, 1974, the series, about a contemporary family sucked by a vortex back to the Stone Age, was intended to be educational as well as entertaining, demonstrating the early human uses of fire, clothing, weapons and cooking.
The series was narrated by DON MESSICK who, in the opening titles describes the valley as a "world that time forgot".
The composer of the series' music was HOYT CURTIN.
The BBC bought the series and broadcast all 16 episodes, albeit in a different order to that in the US, between February 4 and May 20, 1975. The series was repeated in 1976-77 as part of the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop. However, the series of the children's Saturday morning programme was only scheduled for 12 weeks. Unfortunately, the Radio Time listings never named the episodes to be aired, and few of the entries gave helpful descriptions of the plots.
Science professor John Butler and his family are on a rafting trip along the Amazon River in an uncharted river canyon when their raft hits a rock and capsizes. They are swept through a cavern and caught in a whirlpool.
John Butler
Mike Road (voice)
Kim Butler
Shannon Farnon (voice)
Katie Butler
Kathy Gori (voice)
Greg Butler
Jackie Earle Haley (voice)
Digger
Frank Welker (voice)
Upon resurfacing, they find themselves in a mysterious realm where humans coexist with various prehistoric creatures, including dinosaurs. The Butlers meet and befriend a clan of Neanderthal cavepeople led by Gorok, his wife Gara, their teenage son Lok, and their young daughter Tana. Gorok and his family have a pet of their own in the form of a baby Stegosaurus named Glump. Gorok's family saved the Butlers' upon their first arrival.
Gorok
ALAN OPPENHEIMER (voice)
Gara
Joan Gardner (voice)
Lok
Frank Welker (voice)
Tana
Melanie Baker (voice)
Glump
Frank Welker (voice)
Gorok's family aid the Butlers' efforts to find a means of returning home. For their own part, John and his family do what they can to make the Neanderthals' daily lives easier. Examples of such included introducing Gorok's family to basic technology, such as simple machines (particularly the lever and the wheel), sailboats and windmills.
IMDb lists Margaret Richey (in "Fire") and Andrew Parks as being in the cast but does not name their characters.
Episodes
Episodes
In order of first-time broadcast by the BBC. At least some of the episodes were repeated as part of Multi-Coloured Swap Shop between October 2, and February 5, 1977. Unfortunately, only some of the listings include any clue as to the episodes aired.
01: Forbidden Fruit
01: Forbidden Fruit
Professor John Butler and his family are stranded in a tropical valley in the heart of the Brazilian jungle. They become trapped by a Brontosaurus.
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02: Pterandon
02: Pterandon
Katie and Gregg's mother is sick and precious herbs must be found to cure her, but first they have to face the dreaded Pteranodon.
In the US, this was episode 6.
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03: Smoke Screen
03: Smoke Screen
A group of vicious anthropoids attack Gorok and his tribe.
In the US, this was episode 5.
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04: After Shock
04: After Shock
An earthquake puts the tribe's water supply at risk when the 'Keeper of the Waters' is destroyed.
In the US, this was episode 8.
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05: Rain Of Meteors
05: Rain Of Meteors
When the son of the 'Sky People' poaches on Gorok's territory, John's powers of invention are tested to the utmost.
In the US, this was episode 12. The Radio Times listed this episode as "Rain Of Fire".
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06: A Turned Turtle
06: A Turned Turtle
An old hermit tells John and Gorok of a hidden passage leading out of the valley.
In the US, this was episode 3.
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07: What Goes Up
07: What Goes Up
Gorok's tribe are threatened by an army of giant ants. It seems that nothing can stop them.
In the US, this was episode 2.
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08: The Big Toothache
08: The Big Toothache
Gara's knowledge of herbs comes in useful when a tigress loses her cub.
In the US, this was episode 15.
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09: The Volcano
09: The Volcano
John and Gorok break tribal law in order to save the other families in the valley.
In the US, this was episode 4.
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10: Top Cave, Please
10: Top Cave, Please
Lok is banished to the Cave of the Winds by the tribal elders.
In the US, this was episode 9.
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11: The Sabre Tooth Kids
11: The Sabre Tooth Kids
When the cave-family's pet, Glump, falls down a pot-hole and disappears Gregg and Tana decide to go down after him.
In the US, this was episode 7. This episode was shown on BBC 2 due to coverage of the Budget on BBC 1.
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12: To Fly A Kite
12: To Fly A Kite
Lok is bitten by a venomous snake and his life is in danger.
In the US, this was episode 13.
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13: SOS
13: SOS
The Butler family see a way to get out of the valley at last.
In the US, this was episode 10.
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14: Fire!
14: Fire!
The Cave family and the Butlers face a common enemy.
In the US, this was episode 11.
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15: Test Flight
15: Test Flight
Greg and Tana are trapped in treacherous swamp-land.
In the US, this was episode 14.
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16: Torch
16: Torch
The cave people are threatened with invasion by an enemy tribe. This time it seems as though John Butler won't be able to help.
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