USGS/Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington
Volcanoes in Historical and Popular Culture
"On Television"
- The Relic Hunter
-
-- Episode 26: October 14, 2000, The Legend of the Lost
Government agent Derek Lloyd, who tricked Sydney and Nigel
into a mission once before, lures Sydney
to New Guinea by kidnapping Nigel. Sydney and Nigel don't
believe that the spy is on a goodwill mission,
but are seduced by the possibility of rediscovering
a lost civilization, the Kai Nomata, an ancient tribe
believed to have been destroyed by a volcano thousands of years ago.
- Earth's Final Conflict
-
-- 2001 TV Series
- Xena: Warrior Princess
-
-- 1997 TV Series
Xena and Gabrielle must cross robe bridge over canyon filled with
flowing lava flows and get the evil "gods" to follow.
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
-
-- Season 2, episode #8
"THE OTHER SIDE" - The goddess Demeter blackmails Hercules into
helping retrieve
her daughter Persephone from the clutches of Hades,
god of the underworld. In one scene Hercules and Persephone barely
make it across a chasm with molten lava below.
- Mysterious Island
-
-- 1995 TV Series
Loosely based on the novel by Jules Verne. Released in Canada in June
1995. Released in Portugal in July 1998.
- X-Files
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-- November 18, 1994
Episode titled "Little Green Men", aired November 18, 1994.
Plot set in Mt. Avalon, Washington. A malfunction in a robot
designed for volcanic exploration finds evidence of a lifeform
living in caves. Script idea was based on Project Dante, a
NASA-funded robotic volcano explorer, which on July 28, descended
into the crater of Mount Spurr, Alaska. Episode shows views of
Mount St. Helens volcano.
- Journey to the Center of the Earth
-
-- 1993 TV Series
- Airwolf
-
-- June 4, 1985
starring Jan Michael Vincent (as Stringfellow Hawke) and
Ernest Borgnine (as Dominic).
Episode aired (USA) June 4, 1985, "Eruption".
A volcanic eruption forces Hawke and Dominic to land near a
ruthlessly-run old mining town. (Contains Mount St. Helens footage).
- Tales of the Gold Monkey
-
-- April 8, 1983
starring Stephen Collins as Jake Cutter and
Caitlin O'Heaney as Sarah White.
Episode "A Distant Shout of Thunder" aired April 8, 1983. Sarah
inadvertently takes a statue of the "fire god" Pele, and the angry
natives try to sacrifice her to the volcano.
- Fantasy Island
-
-- Episode 95, (Season 5, Episode 7), November 21, 1981, "The Perfect
Husband/Volcano"
- Swiss Family Robinson
-
-- 1976
starring Martin Milner, Helen Hunt, and Willie Aames.
Episode titled: The Treasure.
Island Volcano erupts while family is searching for
pirates gold.
- Hogan's Heroes
-
-- Episode #88: March 2, 1968,
"How to Escape From Prison Camp Without Really Trying"
While Colonel Klink was on holiday in the Alps,
the "Alps" background scene with lodge, was Mount Hood, Oregon
- Gilligan's Island
-
-- Episode #98: April 17, 1967, "Gilligan, the Goddess"
King Killiwani and two other natives come to the island looking
for a 'White Goddess.' Ginger an Mary Ann are likely candidates,
until the Castaways discover that the natives plan to take the
"White Goddess" back to their island to marry a volcano and
then be sacrificed into it. After seeing Gilligan in a wig and heels,
the natives choose him as the "White Goddess."
- Gilligan's Island
-
-- Episode #61: March 10, 1966, "Operation: Steam Heat"
Hot water spurting from beneath the island pleases the castaways
as they can now have hot water piped to their huts.
However, the hot water also concerns the professor since
it means that increased volcanic activity may be imminent.
The Professor saves the day by making a bomb from ingredients
found on the island (of course!) to spike the volcano.
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11/04/03, Lyn Topinka