Singing cowboy Gene Autry stars in one of the oddest serials ever made. Framed for murder, Autry (playing himself) must continue making daily broadcasts of his radio show or lose his Radio Ranch, all the while evading the authorities and trying to prove his innocence. If that isn't enough, he also has to battle the denizens of the secret, ancient underground Kingdom of Murania located beneath Radio Ranch. Robots wearing cowboy hats? Thunder Riders to the rescue! It's your typical singing cowboy-musical-Western-science fiction adventure serial.

Produced in 1935, The Phantom Empire was Gene Autry's first starring role. Surprisingly, it inspired no sequels.

We will be screening episodes throughout the day.

Original lobby card. (Yes, they are wearing watering cans on their heads. No, we don't know why.)