December 9,
2015
60th album
released early for Odyssey Adventure Club members:
Head over Heels, with digital download and hard
copy to to follow in February and March 2016.
Illustration for "A Daughter's Love,"
airing December 2015 for OAC members
and concluding the club's second season.
Whit showcases his skills from
atop Focus on the Family in
Colorado Springs. #WhitPerfect
November 19,
2015
Whit
challenges famous Dude Perfect team to a trick
shot battle. Hash tag #WhitPerfect is used to hype
up the challenge.
October 31,
2015
After a time of doubt and guidance from friends,
Penny finalizes her answer to Wooton's marriage
proposal in "Let's Get Together."
September 26,
2015
"First Things First" airs, and Penny and Wooton slow
down to figure out what marriage means for them.
September 2015 Voyage with the Vikings audio book released
on OAC, with download to follow later.
Advent Calendar released in
September to complement the
"Countdown to Christmas
Advent Collection"
August 2015
"Countdown to Christmas Advent Collection" download
available, with CD copy to release in September.
July 2015
AIO's first ever soundtrack released via OAC (Season
1)
Award-winning
Adventures in Odyssey composer, John Campbell
Artist Gary Locke's illustration for
"Pinocchio: The Tale of a Foolish Puppet,"
airing July & August 2015 in the
Odyssey Adventure Club.
July 2015
59th album
released for digital download: Taking the Plunge,
with hard copy to to follow in August. Album 59
marks a change in format from 12-episode albums to
six.
May 8, 2015
59th album
released early for Odyssey Adventure Club members:
Taking the Plunge, with digital download and
hard copy to to follow in July and August.
The Odyssey Adventure Club Android
app becomes available during the month
of May, making Adventures in Odyssey more accessible than ever before.
May 2015
Jones & Parker Case Files
released.
April 22, 2015
The first of three Spanish album edition of AIO (Aventuras
en Odisea), is released via OAC, with volumes 2 and
3 to follow in August and November.
Logo for the Spanish version
of Adventures in Odyssey
April 2015
Special collection released:
The Crown of Thorns, with six Easter
episodes.
March 2015
Candid Conversations with Connie, Volume 2
released.
February 10,
2015
The Odyssey Adventure Club launches globally for
international members.
January 2015
The Odyssey Adventure Club celebrates its first
anniversary, launched one year earlier. Season 2
launches with "Follow Me."
Artist Gary Locke's illustration for
"Follow Me," airing January 2015
at the Odyssey Adventure Club.
January 2015
"Candid Conversations with Connie" audio book
released, AIO's first-ever audio book release.
―
2014 ―
December 6, 2014 Wooton Bassett
proposes to Penny Wise in "The Ties That Bind, Part
14."
Cover illustration for "All By Myself",
airing December 2014 at the Odyssey
Adventure Club. "All By Myself" serves
as OAC's first season finale.
November 2014 Still going
strong, The Imagination Station book series'
15th title is released: Surprise at Yorktown.
October 2014
Candid Conversations with Connie: A Girl's Guide to
Growing Up
released.
Cover for November 2014 edition
of Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse,
featuring the return of Buck Oliver,
a fan favorite since The Green Ring
Conspiracy. The character of Buck returned
due to overwhelming listener feedback.
Actor Robby Bruce, voice of Buck, is
featured in the magazine's cover story.
September 6,
2014 "The Ties That
Bind, Part 1" officially airs on radio stations,
marking AIO's longest multi-part episode to date.
September 2014 58th album
released for digital download: The Ties That Bind,
with hard copy to to follow in October.
Album 58 serves as a tie-in to Focus
on the Family's The Family Project.
August 2014
Wooton's Whirled History: A Mix of Melody Makers
is released.
July 2, 2014 58th album
released early for Odyssey Adventure Club members:
The Ties That Bind, with digital download and
hard copy to to follow in September and October.
June 2014
Wooton's Whirled History: A Blend of Bravery
is released.
April 2014 The Harley
Collection is released exclusively via the
Odyssey Adventure Club for the first time ever,
featuring unreleased episodes with Officer David
Harley from AIO's early days.
The April 2014 edition of Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse showcases contest winners
Marissa and Wesley's trip to
Costa Rica. (A.C.T.S. A Call
to Serve contest, 2013)
March 2014
90 Devotions for Kids in Matthew
released.
January 16,
2014 Dave Madden, voice of
Bernard Walton, passes away.
Artist Gary Locke's illustrations for
"The Launch", part of the OAC
experience. Each OAC season episode
features unique cover artwork.
Focus on the Family's award-winning magazine is
re-branded as Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse for the first
edition in January 2014.
The
Odyssey Adventure Club contains every single album of
Adventures in Odyssey, including bonus albums, exclusive
episodes airing on a monthly basis, videos, and activities. A
percentage of each member's subscription goes towards the support of
other ministries. An iOS app is also available for listening on the
go.
January 2,
2014 The Odyssey
Adventure Club launches, providing streaming access
to the entire Adventures in Odyssey series,
plus exclusive monthly episodes and more. The club's
first episode of Season 1, "The Launch", airs.
―
2013 ―
December 2013
Adventures in Odyssey
interactive Advent Calendar released via Thriving
Family magazine app, featuring daily crafts,
activities, and full-length Christmas episodes.
Artist Gary Locke's rendition of winterized Eugene, Connie, Whit and
Wooton
November 2013 Whit's End
Mealtime Devotions: The Second Helping released.
October 12,
2013 Connie receives
an unexpected visit from her first love, Jeff Lewis.
("Life Expectancy")
Shona Kennedy, winner of the 2012
"Get in the Show" contest, voices
Jules, Connie's half-sister.
September 28,
2013 Connie Kendall's
mother, June Kendall, passes away in "Life
Expectancy". Connie also learns she has a
half-sister.
September 21,
2013 "Big Trouble
Under the Big Top" airs, written by writing contest
winner Katie Wynn.
The Odyssey team originally
released
a Spanish version of The Visitors ("Los Visitantes") in 1992.
September 2013
Adventures in Odyssey reaches more
audiences asepisodes
in Spanish begin airing on select radio stations and
are made available for download.
August 2013 57th album
released for digital download: A Call to
Something More, with hard copy to to follow in
October.
Artist Gary Locke's detailed illustration
for the Album 57 cover features many
of June Kendall's belongings, including
a Eugene Meltsner action figure and a
CD copy of Album 37: Countermoves. Can you spot them?
A series of video podcasts and
live webcasts are featured
throughout 2013 highlighting
acts of service, announcements,
and contest winners. Thousands
participate in a voting process
from home to select the winners.
Summer 2013 Focus on the
Family hosts its summer-long A.C.T.S. (A Call to
Serve) contest, giving fans an opportunity to serve
their communities and win a missions trip to Costa
Rica and become an Adventures in Odyssey
ambassador.
June 2013 Special
collection released: Our Favorites,
showcasing the actors' favorite episodes.
The popular Passages book series
is condensed into 3-in-1 omni-books.
Volume 1 of "The Marus Manuscripts"
is released in June with Volume 2
to follow in August.
Connie Kendall poses with 2012
"Get in the Show" contest winner,
Shona Kennedy, to be featured on
the May 2013 front cover of Clubhouse magazine.
April 2013 Whit's End
Mealtime Devotions released.
Spring 2013 The Adventures
in Odyssey animated DVD series is given a
facelift and branded with the existing AIO logo.
―
2012 ―
December 22,
2012
"Push the Red
Button" airs, a pre-recorded and condensed version of the live show
in Dallas, Texas in June 2012.
December 8,
2012
Jason Whittaker
returns to Odyssey. Jack and Joanne Allen retire and
give ownership of J&J Antiques Shop to Jason. ("Home
Again")
The original cover of Family Portraits, circa 1987.
December 2012 The original pilot series
of 13 episodes preceding Adventures in Odyssey—Family
Portraits—is is released as an exclusive
download.
November 21,
2012 Adventures in Odyssey
officially celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Cover for November
2012 edition of Clubhouse magazine. This edition included a
special feature on Andy Pessoa and Gatlin Green, plus AIO trading
cards in celebration of 25 years.
Actors Zach Callison, Katie Leigh, and Andre Stojka
get ready to announce contestant Shona as the winner of "Get in the
Show".
November 3,
2012 Focus on the Family's "Get
in the Show: Ultimate Casting Call" finale event
takes place in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Three
finalists perform alongside Odyssey actors followed
by a nationwide vote for the winner—coupled with a
celebration of 25 years of Adventures in Odyssey.
The event is also streamed online as a live webcast.
October 2012 "90 Day Devotions for
Kids" released.
October 2012 Adventures in Odyssey:
The Official Guide, 25th Birthday Edition"
released.
September 2012 The entire Adventures in Odyssey
audio
series is officially made available for download in
the iTunes Store.
Cover for September
2012 edition of Clubhouse magazine, featuring the debut of
"Captain Absolutely" comics by Wooton Bassett.
September 2012 AIO Silver Celebration is
released in celebration of 25 years of Adventures
in Odyssey.
August 12,
2012 Former Indy 500 Driver
Jeff MacPherson races in the Pikes Peak
International Hill Climb in his custom painted
Adventures in Odyssey Porsche race-car.
Odyssey artist Gary Locke's rendition of
Jeff McPherson racing at Pikes Peak with
John Avery Whittaker. This illustration was
autographed by Jeff McPherson at the event.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (or ‘The Race
to the Clouds’) is a 12.4 mile race that includes 156 turns and
4,720 feet of elevation gain. The race has been an annual event
since 1916.
August 2012
56th album
released for digital download: The Grand Design
with hard copy to to follow in September.
June 16,
2012 Adventures in Odysseycelebrates its 25th birthday at the "AIO
Birthday Bash." An extended version of "Push
the Red Button" is performed live at Irving Bible
Church in Dallas, Texas.
Actors present at the Birthday Bash Live Show: Andre
Stojka, Katie Leigh, Will Ryan, Jess Harnell, Townsend Coleman,
Kimmy Robertson, Zach Callison, Chris Anthony, and Chuck Bolte.
Said of Dick Beals: "He was one of the great voice
actors of all time,” Ron Simon, curator of TV and radio at the Paley
Center for Media, told The Times on Wednesday. “He was one of those
anonymous people who pioneered what animation would become today.” " - Los Angeles Times, May 31, 2012
May 29, 2012
Dick Beals, voice
of Nicholas Adamsworth in Odyssey's early years,
passes away.
May 12, 2012
Robert Mitchell
returns to Odyssey for a visit. ("Something Old,
Something New")
March 24, 2012
Eugene and
Katrina Meltsner learn that they are unable to have
children. ("To Mend or Repair")
March 3, 2012
Jason Whittaker
faces his most difficult and life-changing challenge
yet in "The Labyrinth".
Over 5,000 entries
were received with
Christian bookstores participating in
auditions
nationwide throughout the year.
February 8,
2012
"Get in the Show:
The Ultimate Casting Call" is announced—a
nationwide contest for children ages 6-15 to
audition for an upcoming role on Adventures in
Odyssey and serve as spokesperson for AIO
throughout 2013.
February 2012
55th album
released for digital download: The Deep End,
with hard copy to to follow in June.
January 2012
Odyssey's first e-book version of an
existing book is released: Voyage with the
Vikings, with more titles to follow.
―
2011 ―
December 3,
2011
700th AIO episode airs ("How to Sink a Sub")
A special AIO
Christmas story
published in the December 2011
editionof Thriving Family to promote
the Imagination Station book series.
December
1, 2011 Focus on the Family mobile
app is released, enabling Adventures in Odyssey
fans to listen on mobile devices.
October 2011 Kidsboro book
series is re-released as a 4-in-1 omnibook.
September 21,
2011 The first Adventures in
Odyssey inspired album, M'kalister Park,
is released by fans, for fans―featuring
"Come Back Jimmy", "Communicate", "Bring Mitch
Back", and more. (Learn
more)
September 20,
2011 The Official Podcast
celebrates 5 years of podcasting.
Artist Gary
Locke's rendition of
Phillip Glossman, Richard Maxwell,
and Dr. Regis Blackgaard for the Blackgaard Chronicles collection.
September 2011 Special
collection released: The Blackgaard Chronicles,
one of the most requested AIO products of all time.
August 15,
2011 54th album
released for digital download: Clanging
Cymbals... and the Meaning of God's Love, with
hard copy to to follow in September.
The Duggars meet the Odyssey
characters, visit the three-story slide,
Whit's End, and go behind the scenes
and learn about making sound
effects for Adventures in Odyssey...
all on national television!
19 Kids & Counting
"Duggars Focus on Family" Season 4, Episode 3
June 14, 2011
Focus on the Family and Adventures in Odyssey
make an appearance on TLC's 19 Kids & Counting
reality show, featuring the Duggar
family.
Chad Reisser, voice of
Monty Whittaker, records for
"The Green Ring Conspiracy".
His character hadn't appeared
on the show since
"Scattered Seeds" (1990).
April 2, 2011
Monty Whittaker, Whit's grandson,
returns to the show in "The Green Ring Conspiracy".
Cover for April
2011 edition of Clubhouse magazine, featuring an interview
with Zach Callison, voice of Matthew Parker.
March 26, 2011
Penny Wise first appears in
Odyssey as a new friend for Connie Kendall ("The
Green Ring Conspiracy").
James Duggar shows off
his Adventures in Odyssey T-shirt under his suit.
March 18-19,
2011
The Duggar family visits Focus on the Family and
tours the Adventures in Odyssey studios.
Odyssey artist Gary Locke's rendition of
Josiah Duggar. Josiah makes a cameo appearance in "You're Two Kind"
and
asks Valerie to bat her eyelashes.
The Imagination Station book series,
geared for younger readers,
follows cousins Beth and Patrick
as they visit historical and biblical
events in history by utilizing
Whit's greatest invention.
March 2011 First Imagination
Station book―Voyage
with the Vikings―is released.
February 12,
2011
Kenneth Mars, voice of Fred Holstein,
Officer Quinn, and many others passes away at the
age of 75.
Said of Kenny Mars: "Kenneth Mars ... was
cherished by audiences for his unhinged comic performances in two of
the writer-director Mel Brooks's finest and funniest movies, The
Producers (1968) and Young Frankenstein (1974). Along with
performers including Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn and Cloris Leachman,
he created some of the most sublimely silly moments in US film
comedy." - The Guardian, February 15, 2011
February 5,
2011
Odyssey's first-ever early digital download of 53 (The
Green Ring Conspiracy) debuts online, with hard
copy to follow in March.
―
2010 ―
December 22,
2010 The Odyssey Scoop,
one of the longest standing Adventures in Odyssey
fan sites, celebrates a decade of AIO promotion.
(Okay, so we fit somewhere in Odyssey's timeline,
don't we?)
November 27,
2010 A Thankstaking Story
airs—a special
holiday musical episode of Adventures in Odyssey,
unlike any done in the past.
Nathan Hoobler (left) poses with a
team of talented professionals.
November 2010 Adventures in Odyssey
reaches new audiences. Whit's Flop is
recorded in Miami, Florida—one
of many episodes to premier for Spanish-speaking
audiences.
October
2010 52nd album released: Cause &
Effect. The entire Adventures in Odyssey
audio
series is officially made available for download in
the Family Store.
July 29,
2010 The Official Podcast
celebrates its 100th episode after nearly four years
of podcasting.
Podcast host Jesse Florea shows
off a card sent in by a devoted AIO fan.
Prior to the Avery Awards, fan sites hosted
their own "End of Season Awards" each season (see
here).
June 16, 2010 The Official Podcast
releases its first-ever edition of the Avery
Awards, an awards show to determine Best Actor,
Best Actress, Best Sound Design, Best Script, etc. from
current Adventures in Odyssey seasons.
April 2010 First Passages book―Darien's
Rise―is
re-released, landing a third edition.
March 6,
2010 After a nearly two-year hiatus,
Adventures in Odyssey starts anew with
Whit introducing his new invention in "The
Inspiration Station"; Take It from the Top;
Andre Stojka appears for the first time as Whit in
the numbered audio series.
March 2010 51st album released:
Take It from the Top.
A much thinner John Avery Whittaker, circa 2010 and
beyond. (artist Gary Locke)
For God and Country, the first Adventures
in Odyssey collection to visit outer space.
Artist Gary Locke's rendition of
Col. Terry Virts
February
8, 2010 Adventures in Odyssey
travels to outer space with astronaut Terry Virts. A
copy of For God and Country goes up to the
International Space Station via the space shuttle
Endeavor.
February
2, 2010 Paul Herlinger, voice of John
Avery Whittaker (1996-2008), passes away. Unlike Hal
Smith, Paul resigned from his role due to health
reasons.
"Paul's voice gave him special distinction. He was
called upon to narrate regional and national documentaries, had
numerous commercial clients, appeared in radio dramas, and for more
than 10 years, until recently, played the leading role of John Avery
Whittaker in the radio drama series "Adventures in Odyssey", earning
him fans worldwide." - Obituary of Paul Herlinger
Nearly 10 years after his creation, Wooton Bassett's
full face is revealed.
New Odyssey characters:
the Parker family
Early Whit sketches
AIO logo with yellow
frame, "in" moved to top line for better
readability.
Same AIO logo without frame
Spring
2010 Adventures in Odyssey logo
is refreshed with a new look to Odyssey
characters Whit, Connie, and Eugene; new characters
introduced.
―
2009 ―
September 19, 2009 Andre Stojka steps
in as the voice of Whit in "Passages: Darien's
Rise."
Artist Mike Harrigan's rendering of Darien's Rise, featured on both the
audio drama and book releases.
September 2009 Passages: Darien's
Rise audio drama released.
June
2009 Special album released: The
Truth Chronicles, a collection of episodes
exploring a Christian worldview. Tie-in to Focus on
the Family's The Truth Project.
―
2008 ―
September 2008 50th album released
and dedicated to actor Walker Edmiston:
The Best Small Town. Adventures in Odyssey
takes a hiatus and takes a break from production of
the numbered albums. No "new" episodes would air
until March 2010.
A poster advertising the AIO
Birthday Bash in Colorado Springs
August
16, 2008 Adventures in Odysseycelebrates its 20th birthday at the "AIO
Birthday Bash." "B-TV: Live!" recorded live at Focus
on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Adventures in Odyssey: The Official Guide
released.
The Adventures in Odyssey, Celebrating 20 Years
logo, used on products leading up to the milestone celebration.
June
2008 First Kidsboro novel released―Battle
for Control.
April
12, 2008 Whit purchases McAlister Park
(the land Whit's End sits on) in "The Forgotten Deed"
after years of confusion regarding ownership of the
property.
The new look of Focus on
the Family's logo (2008)
Artist Gary Locke
March 1,
2008 Odyssey considered for Best Small
Town in America. ("Suspicious Finds")
―
2007 ―
September
29, 2007 Leonard Meltsner leaves for
Africa. ("A New Era")
Artist Gary Locke's rendition of Bernard, based off of
Bernard Walton's look in the video series.
March
10, 2007 Eugene Meltsner discovers
that he has a brother, Everett. ("The Top Floor")
February
15, 2007 Walker Edmiston, voice of Tom
Riley and Bart Rathbone, passes away.
"Actor Will Ryan said Edmiston's
versatility was exemplified on Adventures in Odyssey, a radio
series set in a small town produced by the nonprofit Focus on the
Family." - Los Angeles Times
―
2006 ―
December
16, 2006 The Washington family become
foster parents to a girl named Kelly. ("The Chosen
One")
Original
logo
September 20, 2006 The first
Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast released.
―
2005 ―
December
3, 2005 Connie starts writing a book.
("Tales of a Small-Town Thug")
October
15, 2005 Eugene learns that his
long-lost father, Leonard, is alive. ("Prisoners of
Fear")
Above, Eugene Sings! and Eugene Sings!
Christmas albums released as part of the fanfare of Eugene's
return.
May
14, 2005 Eugene and Katrina finally
celebrate their official wedding ceremony in "For Better or
For Worse."
April 2,
2005 "A Most Intriguing Question"
airs. Eugene returns to Odyssey with much
fanfare. The team did their best to keep his return
secret until the episode aired.
A white oval container was added to
the logo for
remaining albums in the series as pictured in the original cover of
Eugene Returns! This
white oval is now featured on repackaged albums 1-50.
―
2004 ―
The most well-known Whit style, perfected by artist
Gary Locke
Fall
2004 Adventures in Odyssey
video games released. ("The Treasure of the Incas"
and "The Sword of the Spirit")
―
2003 ―
December
2003 Gold Audio Series begins.
Albums 1-15 were repackaged and released on CD for
the first time with
bonus features. These would later be re-released as
normal Odyssey collections.
Logo created for Gold Audio Series
albums only. Featured red oval and gold "Adventures in" text.
(2004-2005)
November
22, 2003 Connie almost marries
Robert Mitchell. ("Something Blue")
January
25, 2003 The Washington family first
appears in "The Toy Man."
―
2002 ―
July
25-27, 2002 "Live at the 25" recorded
at 25th anniversary of Focus on the Family in
Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Pictured above, a special
limited-time CD copy of "500"
July 13,
2002 "500" airs, a show celebrating
500 Odyssey episodes.
Cover for Clubhouse Magazine in celebration of 500 Odyssey episodes
A special collection devoted to the
Novacom saga. Needless to say, the 30-part series was popular.
A depiction of a scene in
"Expect the Worst"
July
7, 2002 "Exit" airs. The Novacom saga
ends.
January
26, 2002 Eugene and Katrina finally
tie the knot and promptly leave the show for several
years. ("Plan B: Missing in Action")
Artist Gary Locke's illustration of a
hidden camera embedded into a book.
January 5,
2002 Whit's End Connellsville opens in
"Grand Opening."
―
2001 ―
An early illustration of Odyssey
mailman Wooton Bassett published in Clubouse's
September 2001 edition. Wooton's face would remain a
mystery several years.
May 26,
2001 Wooton Bassett's first appearance
in Odyssey.("Welcoming Wooton")
Artist Gary Locke's first illustration for an
Odyssey cover appears on Danger Signals in 2001. He would
later serve as artist for albums 1-50, featuring a heavyset Whit, a
rendition of Eugene with hair hiding his eyes, and jogging suit
Connie. He primarily used character designs developed during the
days of theOdyssey video series.
February
24,
2001 Connie meets a significant new
love interest, Robert Mitchell, in "Green Eyes and
Yellow Tulips."
―
2000 ―
December
2, 2000 "Opportunity Knocks" airs. The
Novacom saga series of action-adventure shows
begins.
April 1,
2000 Official Web site launched at
WhitsEnd.org.
February
7, 2000 "Mandy's Debut" recorded live
at National Religious Broadcasters' convention in
Anaheim, California.
―
1999 ―
December
18, 1999 "A Look Back" celebrates a
millennium of Adventures in Odyssey episodes.
October
1999 First Passages book―Darien's
Rise―is released.
Illustration depicting a scene from split-episode
"Idol Minds," a more outlandishshow in Odyssey
history. Featured on the original cover for In Your Wildest
Dreams.
Due to short time (15 minute stories or less), half
shows/split-episodes were not popular as they limited plotlines and
character development. Odyssey fans preferred 25 minute
episodes over the split-episode format.
October
30,
1999 First Odyssey half-show
(split episode format), "The Eternal
Birthday/Bethany's Imaginary Friend" airs. Half
shows would later be abandoned after Fall
1999/Spring 2000 seasons. "Bethany's Flood" is the
final split-episode.
Tom Riley's inspiration for the
Timothy Center came from an unexpected source.
An illustration of the Timothy
Center,featuredin Clubhouse
Magazine
March 6,
1999 Tom Riley opens the Timothy
Center. ("Opening Day")
―
1998 ―
May 23,
1998 Connie finally graduates from
high school as valedictorian of her graduating class
in "The Graduate."
―
1997 ―
November
29, 1997 "New Year's Eve, Live!" is
recorded in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to celebrate
Adventures in Odyssey's 10th anniversary.
Featured in Focus on the Family's The Odyssey Times and Clubhouse Magazine to
celebrate a decade of Odyssey.
Cassette
label for Adventures in Odyssey used in the late 1990's to
early 2000's, beginning with Through Thick & Thin, last
appearance in Lost & Found.
November
8, 1997 Margaret Faye elected mayor of
Odyssey. ("The One About Trust")
November
1997 The Complete Guide to
Adventures in Odyssey released.
September 6, 1997
Production resumes
with "For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll." Jack Allen
and Joanne Woodston marry. Eugene and Katrina Shanks
get engaged.
January
1997 Adventures in Odyssey goes
on vacation and takes a break from production.
Re-airs the best of Adventures in Odyssey.
―
1996 ―
Original Welcome Home
illustration (main), Gary Locke art released years
later (left)
November
2, 1996 "Home, Sweet Home" airs. Whit
returns to Odyssey.
Summer
1996 First Focus on the Family
Radio Theatre production released. (Charles
Dickens's A Christmas Carol)
Original cover illustration for The Search for Whit
Artist Gary Locke's illustration of The Search for Whit collection
years later when it was repackaged
May 18,
1996 Paul Herlinger steps in as the
voice of Whit in "The Search for Whit."
January
13, 1996 "Pokenberry Falls, RFD"
features the Barclays leaving for Pokenberry Falls.
―
1995 ―
October
7, 1995 "The Final Conflict" airs. The
album Darkness Before Dawn is finished. Dr.
Blackgaard dies.
The standard version of Eugene with
hair over his eyes used up through 2009.
September 2,
1995 In "The Time Has Come," Eugene
becomes a Christian.
A scene from BTV: Behind the Scenes,
illustrated by artist Gary Locke years later.
January
21,
1995 Bernard Walton's television show,
B-TV, is born in "I Want My B-TV!"
―
1994 ―
December
24,
1994 "Unto Us a Child Is Born" airs.
Stewart Reed Barclay is born.
November 26, 1994 Jason Whittaker moves to
Odyssey. ("A Name, Not a Number")
November 5,
1994 Tom Riley elected mayor of
Odyssey in "Tom for Mayor."
Cassette
label for Adventures in Odyssey used primarily in 1990's
beginning with The Changing Times, last appearance in
Signed, Sealed and Committed.
Illustration of Jack Allen, as
appeared in Clubhouse magazine.
September 3, 1994
"Gone..." airs. Whit
leaves Odyssey. Jack Allen comes to town and co-runs
Whit's End during his absence.
January
28, 1994 Hal Smith, voice of John
Avery Whittaker (1987-1994), passes away. The search
for a new voice for Whit begins.
Arched logo abandoned and reverted
back to horizontal logo (tweaked from 1991 version), beginning with
A Time of Discovery. This version of the logo contained more
vibrant colors and "Audio Series" text (albums 18-44).
Several albums were released with
yellow "Adventures in" text, but later reverted back to red.
Used 1994-2005.
January
8, 1994 Eugene meets his future wife,
Katrina Shanks Meltsner, in "Truth, Trivia, and
'Trina."
―
1992 ―
Illustrations of Edwin
and his counterpart Shakespeare appeared later in
the series.
August 29,
1992 Edwin Blackgaard first appears in
Odyssey in "Double Trouble."
Archedlogo released on The
Early Classics and albums 11-17 (used 1992-1994) with "Audio
Series" under the name.
June 27,
1992 Harlow Doyle first appears in Odyssey in "Harlow Doyle, Private Eye."
Summer
1992 First Adventures in Odyssey
novel released: Strange Journey Back.
Featured on original cover for
Meanwhile, in Another Part of Town
Years later, artist Gary Locke's
cover illustration for Meanwhile, in Another Part
of Town
May 9,
1992 Eugene obtains his driver's
license in "A License to Drive."
An illustration of Bryan Dern,
featured
years later in Clubhouse Magazine
May 2,
1992 Odyssey's shock jock Cryin' Bryan
Dern first appears in Odyssey in "A Tongue of
Fire."
Illustration of Eugene and Whit, featured
on the original It's Another Fine Day...
―
1991 ―
October
1991 Focus on the Family moves from
Pomona, California, to Colorado Springs, Colorado.
September 1991 First
Adventures in Odyssey video released:
The Knight Travellers.
Horizontalversion logo
released on Other Times, Other Places with subdued colors.
Cassette label for Adventures in
Odyssey used primarily in the 1990's, last
appearance in Wish You Were Here!
August
5, 1991 Adventures in Odyssey
starts airing daily on stations around the country.
―
1990 ―
Illustrations of Doris and Bart
Rathbone debuted later in the series.
June 16, 1990
The Rathbone family first appears in Odyssey
in "An Act of Mercy."
Illustrations of town bully
Rodney Rathbone
March 3, 1990
In "By Any Other Name," Bernard Walton first appears
in Odyssey.
―
1989 ―
July 8,
1989 Dr. Regis Blackgaard arrives in
Odyssey. ("The Nemesis")
An early Chick-fil-A Kids Meal
cassette copy of "That's Not Fair"
Summer
1989 Chick-fil-A puts Adventures in
Odyssey booklets in its kids' meals.
One of Odyssey's firstillustrations
of the Imagination Station
(artist Bruce Day)
March
18, 1989 Whit unveils his greatest
invention in "The Imagination Station."
Whit, circa 1989-1990, as pictured on the original
Courageous Characters, Fabulous Friends audio collection (artist
Bruce Day)
―
1988 ―
Whit unveils something beneath a sheet, thought to be
Kids Radio equipment or the Imagination Station.
December
10, 1988 In "Connie," Connie Kendall
becomes a Christian.
Artist Bruce Day's early
version of Eugene Meltsner.
December 3,
1988 Eugene Meltsner first
appears in Odyssey and begins working at
Whit's End ("Connie").
Early cassette label for Adventures in Odyssey.
A preliminary illustration of a
future Classics album release, Drive Time,
featuring the Barclays on their vacation to Florida.
June 18,
1988 The Barclays first appear on
Odyssey in "Family Vacation."
May 1988
First retail package (Odyssey USA) released.
Odyssey USA later re-released
as Adventures in Odyssey. Eventually, the album became The
Early Classics, with a re-arrangement of episodes to squeeze in
unreleased shows. Ultimately, The Adventure Begins was
released to restore proper chronology to the series.
A generic version of the AIO logo,
used prior to the development
of later versions.
Slight tweak to the logo to make it
fit the new name.
April
23, 1988 Name changes to Adventures
in Odyssey. First episode to air: "The Quality
of Mercy."
―
1987 ―
Early version of Connie Kendall.
(artist Bruce Day)
December
12, 1987 Connie Kendall first appears
in Odyssey and begins working at Whit's End
("Connie Comes to Town").
November
21, 1987 First Odyssey USA
episode ("Whit's Flop") airs on 200 radio stations.
August
10, 1987 Radio Drama "Tilly" airs; it
was based on the book by the then unknown author
Frank Peretti.
Whit, circa 1987, as featured
in Focus on the Family Magazine
January
5, 1987 First Family Portraits
drama ("Whit's Visitor") airs on the Focus on the
Family daily broadcast.
Full episode is available as a bonus
feature in Just
in Time.
―
1986 ―
July 23,
1986 "Gone Fishing" airs. (Another
foundational drama)
November
23, 1985 "House Guest" airs. Hal Smith
makes his first debut in a Focus on the Family Radio
drama. He would later take on the role of John Avery
Whittaker, Odyssey's central character.
