The Last Chance Detectives
Encyclopedia
The Last Chance Detectives is a series of Christian television movie
s, and later a radio drama
series created by Robert Vernon and produced by Focus on the Family
in the mid-1990s.
The production of each video episode cost approximately one million USD.
The series focused on four preteen "sleuths"
who solve mysteries in their fictional desert town of Ambrosia, Arizona
. When the radio shows were airing, Canyon Quest, a prequel
book to the show, was released.
; it is in the plane that Mike and his three friends – Ben Jones, Winnona "Winnie" Whitefeather, and Spencer Williams – run their detective agency called the "Last Chance Detectives". Together, they solve mysteries and have adventures, while learning religious morals.
in the first album. Both made by Focus on the Family, the two series were partially joined together for this series. Three albums were created:
The Last Chance Detectives television films were filmed at Kingman Airport
in Kingman, Arizona
. Focus on the Family Films paid $3,000 to lease the land to film it there. There were three films created:
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
s, and later a radio drama
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
series created by Robert Vernon and produced by Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family is an American evangelical Christian tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the 1980s...
in the mid-1990s.
The production of each video episode cost approximately one million USD.
The series focused on four preteen "sleuths"
who solve mysteries in their fictional desert town of Ambrosia, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. When the radio shows were airing, Canyon Quest, a prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
book to the show, was released.
Plot
12-year-old Mike Fowler lives in the minute community of Ambrosia, Arizona (a fictional town) with his single mother and his paternal grandparents. The family runs the Last Chance Gas and Diner highway stop near the town's municipal limits, as well as the small hangar and airstrip nearby. The diner property is also home to Lady Liberty, a B-17 Bomber flown by Mike's grandfather in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; it is in the plane that Mike and his three friends – Ben Jones, Winnona "Winnie" Whitefeather, and Spencer Williams – run their detective agency called the "Last Chance Detectives". Together, they solve mysteries and have adventures, while learning religious morals.
Radio albums
The radio series included a brand new cast, and Jason Whittaker, from Adventures in OdysseyAdventures in Odyssey
Adventures in Odyssey , or simply Odyssey, is an Evangelical Christian-themed radio drama/comedy series created by Focus on the Family in 1987. The show's daily audience averages around 1.2 million within North America. The Odyssey series also includes several spin-off items, including a home-video...
in the first album. Both made by Focus on the Family, the two series were partially joined together for this series. Three albums were created:
- The Last Chance Detectives: The Day Ambrosia Stood Still
- The Last Chance Detectives: Mystery of the Lost Voices
- The Last Chance Detectives: Last Flight of the Dragon Lady
Film series
Kingman Airport (Arizona)
Kingman Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located eight nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Kingman, a city in Mohave County, Arizona, United States. It has scheduled service provided by one commercial airline, which is subsidized by the Essential Air Service...
in Kingman, Arizona
Kingman, Arizona
Kingman is located in a desert climate on the edge of the Mojave Desert, but its higher elevation and location between the Colorado Plateau and the Lower Colorado River Valley tempers summer high temperatures and contributes to winter cold and rare snowfall. Summer daytime highs reach above 90 °F ...
. Focus on the Family Films paid $3,000 to lease the land to film it there. There were three films created:
- The Last Chance Detectives: Mystery Lights of Navajo Mesa
- The Last Chance Detectives: Legend of the Desert Bigfoot
- The Last Chance Detectives: Escape from Fire Lake
Characters
- Mike Fowler: Mike's father and grandfather both served in the Air ForceAir forceAn air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
as pilots. Mike's family is the most examined in the series—when he was six (according to the opening of the first video episode, Mystery Lights at Navajo Mesa), his father was listed by the airforce as "Missing in Action" after the aircraft he was flying exploded in midflight. While it appears that he has died in the video episodes, the radio episodes indicate that Mike's father may still be alive, and merely suffering from a case of amnesiaAmnesiaAmnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
sustained in the accident. Mike is the unspoken leader of the group. In the film series he was played by Ryan Calhoun. In the radio series, he was voiced by Adam WylieAdam WylieAdam Augustus Wylie is an American television and motion picture actor, as well as a Broadway musical performer and a former Crayola spokesman.-Early life:...
.
- Winnona "Winnie" Whitefeather: Little is known about Winnie, except that she lives with her grandmother. Winnie finds cases for the team to solve, and is often involved in conflict with Ben. In the film series, Winnie was played by Crystle Lightning. In the radio series, she was voiced by Mae WhitmanMae WhitmanMae Margaret Whitman is an American television, movie and voice actress. She is known for her role as Ann Veal in the TV series Arrested Development, her role as Amber on the TV series Parenthood, her role as Roxy Richter in Scott Pilgrim vs...
.
- Spence Williams: Spence is the group's technical expert who spends his time refurbishing electronic devicesElectronicsElectronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
(most of which are found in the B-17) for use in solving cases. The only mention of his family is that his father is a geologistGeologistA geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
working in the vicinity. Even though he is the youngest of the group, Spence serves as the voice of reason of the group and uses his genius and creativity to solve problems. In the film series Spence was played by David Netter. In the radio series, he was voiced by AJ Noel. He is the only black character in the show.
- Ben Jones: He is somewhat overweightOverweightOverweight is generally defined as having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is a common condition, especially where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary...
, and reads comic bookComic bookA comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s. He comes up with conspiraciesConspiracy theoryA conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
, and often clashes with Winnie with his opinions. His background is the most clouded, as it is only known that he has parents. In the film series Ben was played by Davin Carey. In the radio series, he was voiced by Daryl SabaraDaryl SabaraDaryl Christopher Sabara is an American film and television actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Juni Cortez in the Spy Kids film series, as well as for a variety of television and film appearances, including Wizards of Waverly Place, Father of the Pride, The Polar Express, Keeping Up with...
.