The Lucky Star of Roy Chapman Andrews

An illustrated program for teens and adults
by Ann Bausum

". . . I can remember just ten times when I had really narrow escapes from death. . . ." —Roy Chapman Andrews, 1926

Actually there were more than ten times, and you'll hear about most of them—from battles with man-eating sharks, to escapes from the clutches of a giant python, to encounters with bandits—in this glimpse at the adventures of one of the greatest explorers of all time.

Roy Chapman Andrews (1884-1960) gained international fame as an explorer for the American Museum of Natural History of New York City. He is most remembered for the series of daring expeditions he led to the Gobi of Mongolia during the 1920s that recovered the first nests of dinosaur eggs, new species of dinosaurs, and rare fossilized mammals. His adventuresome lifestyle—conducted with the aid of his "lucky star"—reveals why Andrews is said to have served as the real-life inspiration for Hollywood's "Indiana Jones" character.

Using excerpts from Andrews's own writings and rarely seen archival photographs, this program recalls some of Andrews's greatest adventures while presenting an overview of the explorer's life.

Length: minimum of 50 minutes for program, 10-15 minutes for questions

Technical requirements: LCD projector and projection screen. Podium with reading light and microphone.

Audience feedback: Comments about this program by event sponsors and audience members are available at the Audience Feedback section of Author Visits.

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