Bomba, the Jungle Boy

***Bomba, the Jungle Boy*** is a series of adventure books for boys. There are 20 books in the series. The books were made by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, and were written under the pen name Roy Rockwood. They were first published by Cupples and Leon beginning in 1926. Since then, they have been reprinted by Grosset and Dunlap and others.

The main character of the stories is "Bomba". He is a wild boy living in the jungle. Some of his stories are set in South America and others in Africa.

## Books

1. _Bomba the Jungle Boy_, 1926
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy and the Moving Mountain_, 1926
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy at the Giant Cataract_, 1927
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy on Jaguar Island_, 1927
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy and the Abandoned City_, 1927
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy on Terror Trail_, 1928
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy in the Swamp of Death_, 1929
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy Among the Slaves_, 1929
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy on the Underground River_, 1930
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy and the Lost Explorers_, 1930
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy in a Strange Land_, 1931
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy Among the Pygmies_, 1931
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy and the Cannibals_, 1931
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy and the Painted Hunters_, 1932
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy and the River Demons_, 1932
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy and the Hostile Chieftain_, 1934
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy Trapped by the Cyclone_, 1935
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy in the Land of Burning Lava_, 1936
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy in the Perilous Kingdom_, 1937
1. _Bomba, the Jungle Boy in the Steaming Grotto_, 1938

## Movies

A series of adventure movies about Bomba in the African jungle were made between 1949 and 1955. There are 12 movies in the series. The stories are based on characters and concepts from the books. The first movie in the series is _Bomba, the Jungle Boy_; the final movie is _Lord of the Jungle_.

The movies were distributed by Monogram Pictures (known Allied Artists Pictures after 1953). They were all directed by Ford Beebe, and star Johnny Sheffield as Bomba. The only other actor to appear regularly in the series was Smoki Whitfield, who appeared in nine of them.

- _Bomba, the Jungle Boy_
_Bomba, the Jungle Boy_ is the first of the twelve Bomba movies starring Sheffield. It was first released in the United States on 20 March 1949. It also stars Peggy Ann Garner and Onslow Stevens. Whitfield appears as a native guide named Eli. The movie is about a young girl who becomes lost in the jungle. It runs for 70 minutes.

- _Bomba on Panther Island_
_Bomba on Panther Island_ is the second movie in the series. The story is about Bomba's encounter with a man-eating panther during a brush fire. It also stars Allene Roberts and Harry Lewis. Whitfield appears as native guide Eli. It was first released on 18 December 1949. It runs for 70 minutes.

- _The Lost Volcano_
_The Lost Volcano_ was released on 25 June 1950. It is about two crooks looking for gold who kidnap a little boy. It also stars Marjorie Lord, Donald Woods and Tommy Ivo. It runs for 76 minutes.

- _Bomba and the Hidden City_
_Bomba and the Hidden City_ (or, ***The Hidden City***) was released on 24 September 1950. In this movie, Bomba tries to restore a stolen throne to its rightful owner. It also stars Sue England and Paul Guilfoyle. Whitfield appears as Hadji. The movie runs for 71 minutes.

- _The Lion Hunters_
_The Lion Hunters_ (sometimes ***Bomba and the Lion Hunters***) was released on 25 March 1951. The story is about Bomba's attempt to save lions from hunters catching them for zoos. It also stars Woody Strode, and Morris Ankrum. Whitfield plays Jonas. It runs for 75 minutes.

- _Elephant Stampede_
_Elephant Stampede_ (sometimes, ***Bomba and the Elephant Stampede***) was released on 28 October 1951. The story is about two elephant hunters who plan to steal a load of ivory, but Bomba calls on friendly elephants to trample them to death. It also stars Edith Evanson, John Kellogg and Myron Healey. It runs for 71 minutes.

- _African Treasure_
_African Treasure_ (sometimes, ***Bomba and the African Treasure***) was released in 1952. In this movie, Bomba captures a pair of diamond smugglers. It also stars Laurette Luez, Lyle Talbot and Martin Garralaga. Whitfield appears as Eli. It runs for 70 minutes.

- _Bomba and the Jungle Girl_
_Bomba and the Jungle Girl_ (sometimes, ***Jungle Girl***) was released on 7 December 1952. In this movie, Bomba searches for the graves of his parents. It also stars Karen Sharpe and Walter Sande. It runs for 70 minutes.

- _Safari Drums_
_Safari Drums_ (sometimes, ***Bomba and the Safari Drums***) was released on 21 June 1953. In this movie, Bomba solves the death of a geologist killed during the shooting of a movie. It also stars Barbara Bestar and Emory Parnell. Whitfield plays native guide Eli. It runs for 71 minutes.

- _The Golden Idol_
_The Golden Idol_ was released on 10 January 1954. The story is about an evil Arab chieftain who steals a golden idol from an African tribe. It also stars Paul Guilfoyle, and Whitfield plays native guide Eli. It runs for 71 minutes.

- _Killer Leopard_
_Killer Leopard_ (sometimes ***Bomba and the Killer Leopard***) was released on 22 August 1954. In this movie, Bomba searches for a man lost in the jungle, and a leopard that is tearing people to pieces. It also stars Beverly Garland. Whitfield reappears as friendly native guide Eli. It runs for 70 minutes.

- _Lord of the Jungle_
_Lord of the Jungle_ was released on 12 June 1955. It is the twelfth and last of the twelve Bomba movies starring Sheffield. It is also Sheffield's last movie. He retired from acting to attend college. The movie also stars Wayne Morris and Nancy Hale. Whitfield reappears as native guide Eli. The story is about a herd of elephants Bomba saves from slaughter. It runs for 69 minutes.

## Related pages

- Tarzan

## Other websites

- Bomba  at the Internet Movie Database

## Infobox (book)

- **name**: Bomba the Jungle Boy
- **author**: Roy Rockwood
- **country**: North America
- **language**: English
- **publisher**: Stratemeyer Syndicate
- **release date**: 1926
- **media type**: Print (Hardcover, Hardback & Paperback)
- **pages**: 210