“Hi Mom!”
“Hi Osa, how was school today?”
“It was great, we talked to a really interesting man who traveled the world with Jack London on his boat.”
“Oh, that’s nice honey, have you done your chores?”
“Well, he and I talked for a long time and they are heading back to the South Seas and he wants me to go with him.”
“What!”
Fifteen year old Osa Leighty went … times were different. She left the comforts of Chanute, Kansas, in 1909 on an adventure that changed many lives, including hers.
Martin Johnson was at first her svengali, but soon fell in love and married Osa at her tender age of 16. He was 25.
The Johnsons became famous worldwide. Martin was a photographer and produced videos about the remote and exotic places he visited.
Now with Osa in front of the camera they produced many of the “shorts” shown before the main feature in theaters to audiences during the silent picture era and into the talkies. They captured scenes of wildlife in their natural habitat, giving the visual gift of the wild to millions.
They were the first to introduce indigenous cultures to our so-called civilized one, says Conrad Froehlich, Executive Director of the Safari Museum in Chanute.
We have completed a great podcast telling the Johnsons’ story with Conrad at the Museum that can be heard for free at bobfordshistory.com.
On one of their first explorations to Borneo they wanted to find a seldom seen tribe that still practiced cannibalism. They were warned not to go but found the tribe anyway, Nagapate was the tribal chief and would have none of the Johnsons. The captured Martin and Osa were in trouble but filmed everything, think of the movie “King Kong.”
They managed to escape before dinner and eventually made it back to the United States. Once home with the harrowing pictures and story the Johnsons were elevated to celebrity status.
Osa Johnson was now a woman recognized and idealized by men, women and girls everywhere. She was living the life and challenging norms that changed the perception of how a woman was supposed to act in our white male-dominated, early 20th century society.
Osa had now joined the ranks of Amelia Earhart, Coco Chanel, Effa Manley, Nellie Bly and others forcing society to accept their accomplishments and slowly changing attitudes.
On safari, Osa was in charge of providing fresh meat. They used many bearers to carry provisions and equipment that needed to be fed. Martin would film Osa “Big Game Hunting,” the likes of water buffaloes, antelopes, warthogs and others to feed the encampment. If you search, there is a video of Osa bringing down a charging rhino in its tracks.
The Johnsons exploits didn’t go unnoticed by others, George Eastman of Eastman-Kodak joined them and underwrote several expeditions.
In 1925, Osa and Martin met the Duke and Duchess of York, later to become King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England, while on safari in Kenya.
Last year I was serving time at Disney World where they have a memorial to the Johnsons with many of their safari photographs displayed at Animal Kingdom.
These people were fearless, in 1932 at the Chanute Air Field, both received their pilots licenses. Africa filmed from the air would be breathtaking.
They purchased two amphibious Sikorsky aircraft so they could land where needed. As not to frighten the wildlife, one plane was painted with zebra stripes and the other giraffe spots. I can only imagine what natives thought seeing not only their first plane but a flying zebra?
Martin and Osa Johnson left their mark, 14 feature films, 37 educational documentaries, seven books and igniting a wildlife and nature awareness movement that fostered global actions from governments, charitable funds and individuals.
The Johnsons were passionate about preservation and would go on lecture tours with films to help promote their cause. Ironically and sadly while touring in 1937 on a scheduled flight from Salt Lake City to LA the plane crashed, killing Martin. So many times this couple risked death in the wild only to have Martin succumb in civilization.
Osa continued on but it wasn’t the same. She passed away in 1953 having left a legacy, influencing a generation of people to learn and respect all wild animals, their habitat and primitive cultures.
Chanute isn’t close to anything, but if you get a “wild” thought and want to see what a young woman from Kansas can accomplish, take a trip.
We are keeping history alive so you can pass it on! Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user/membership?u=82256162
You can also check out our free video episodes at: https://www.youtube.com/@bobfordshistorymysterylore
Articles and Podcasts are complementary to people wanting to preserve our history: Nodaway Valley Bank, Rupp Funeral Home, Eagle Communications, Mastio, and Anonymous Buffs.