The Curse of Oak Island

The Curse of Oak Island
Genre	Reality
Country of origin	Canada
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	31
Production
Executive producer(s)	Kevin Burns[1]
Camera setup	Multiple
Running time	43 minutes
Production company(s)	Prometheus Entertainment[1]
Distributor	A&E Networks[1]
Release
Original network	History
Original release	January 5, 2014 – present
External links
Website
Production website

The Curse of Oak Island is a reality television series that premiered in Canada on the History Channel on January 5, 2014. The show details the efforts of brothers Marty and Rick Lagina from Michigan in their attempt to solve the 220-year-old Oak Island mystery. Using modern technology and a global consultancy of experts, they seek the treasure or historical artifacts believed to be buried on Oak Island off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada.^[2][3] On August 2, 2016, it was announced that Nova Scotia Business Inc. approved $1,271,546 in film funding for the production of a 4th season.^[4]

Overview

The Curse of Oak Island follows brothers Marty and Rick Lagina, originally from Kingsford, Michigan, through their efforts to find the speculated treasure or historical artifacts believed to be on Oak Island. The series discusses the history of the island, recent discoveries, theories, and the sometimes-fatal prior attempts to investigate the site.^[5] Areas of interest include the "Money Pit", Borehole 10-x, and the "Swamp". They approach their investigation in three different ways in season 3.^[6]

Background

The Lagina brothers became fascinated with the island after reading the January 1965 issue of Reader's Digest magazine that features an article on the Restall family's work to investigate the so-called "Money Pit".^[7] Marty and his brother Rick obtained a controlling interest in Oak Island Tours, which reportedly owns most of the island. The brothers were later approached by Prometheus Entertainment to do a reality show. Rick and Marty have engaged the assistance of father-and-son Dan and Dave Blankenship, permanent residents of the island who have likewise been searching for treasure since the 1960s.^[8]

Theories

The series explores various theories through guest appearances of independent researchers from around the world to help pursue the Oak Island mystery. Special guests have included researcher J. Hutton Pulitzer discussing his theory of ancient mariner visitations; researcher Petter Amundsen discussing his theory about codes hidden in Shakespearen literature revealing a secret project involving Sir Francis Bacon and the Rosicrucians; researcher Daniel Ronnstam discussing his theory about the 90 foot stone being a dual cypher; authors Kathleen McGowen and Alen Butler discussing their theory involving the fabled Knights Templar treasure and their relocation of historical religious artifacts to the island; and researcher John O'Brien discussing his theory that it is the work of the Aztec Empire.

Series overview

Season		Episodes	Originally aired
			Season premiere	Season finale
	1	5	January 5, 2014	February 9, 2014
	2	10	November 4, 2014	January 13, 2015
	3	13	November 10, 2015	February 2, 2016
	4	TBA	November 15, 2016[9]	TBA

Episodes

Season 1 (2014)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date	Viewers (millions)
1	1	"What Lies Below"	January 5, 2014	2.53[10]
Brothers Rick and Marty Lagina now own most of Oak Island. Determined to resurrect the 200-year-old search for treasure, they explore an abandoned shaft called Borehole 10-X and use water pressure to pump material to the surface. What they find gives them reason to believe that the stories of something buried on the island may very well be true.
2	2	"The Mystery of Smith's Cove"	January 12, 2014	2.35[11]
A scuba team that includes Marty's son Alex Lagina dives Smith's Cove and finds non-indigenous coconut fibres and anomalous stones. These findings appear to be evidence of unexplained activity in what has been conjectured to be an ancient, engineered shore area. Meanwhile, metal fragments and cat bones are found in the slurry from 10-X.
3	3	"Voices from the Grave"	January 19, 2014	2.33[12]
As Rick and Marty Lagina begin working to drain a swamp, they are visited by a woman who lost her father and brother to a tragic accident on Oak Island that gave rise to rumours of a deadly curse.
4	4	"The Secret of Solomon's Temple"	January 26, 2014	2.72[13]
A visitor to the island presents Rick and Marty Lagina with his theory about where the treasure on Oak Island is located and the idea that the Menorah might be among the treasures for which they are searching.
5	5	"The Find"	February 9, 2014	2.97[14]
Rick and Marty Lagina find what appears to be an antique Spanish copper coin that is the first evidence of treasure on Oak Island.

Season 2 (2014–2015)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date	Viewers (millions)
6	1	"Once In, Forever In"	November 4, 2014	2.60[15]
After dating the Spanish coin they found last summer to 1652, brothers Rick and Marty Lagina return to Oak Island and the strange triangle-shaped swamp to look for more clues to this 200-year-old mystery.
7	2	"Return To The Money Pit"	November 11, 2014	2.15[16]
As Rick and Marty Lagina begin excavating the infamous Money Pit, a visitor shows them alleged evidence that the treasures from King Solomon's Temple could be buried on Oak Island.
8	3	"The Eight-Pointed Star"	November 18, 2014	2.23[17]
After hearing that a treasure of biblical proportions was buried on Oak Island 2500 years ago, Rick and Marty Lagina unsuccessfully look for evidence to prove it while also trying to locate the original Money Pit.
9	4	"The Breakthrough"	November 25, 2014	2.15[18]
Rick, Marty and the Oak Island team drill a bore hole around the site of the money pit and come up with funding that suggest the possibility they may have located man-made vault.
10	5	"The 90-Foot Stone"	December 2, 2014	2.46[19]
A visitor comes to the island suggesting unconvincingly that he has discovered a secret method of getting to the treasure.
11	6	"Seven Must Dye"	December 9, 2014	2.90[20]
Rick searches for man-made flood tunnels without success; Marty and John visit Europe to track down a lead.
12	7	"The Trail of the Templars"	December 16, 2014	2.47[21]
While work begins in the swamp, Rick and Marty travel to Scotland to investigate an absurd theory about the construction of the Money Pit.
13	8	"X Marks the Spot"	December 23, 2014	2.72[22]
Rick and Marty search the swamp for an alternate entrance into the Money Pit, without success.
14	9	"A Dangerous Dive"	January 6, 2015	2.59[23]
Rick and Marty take a team of divers to Oak Island.
15	10	"The Big Reveal"	January 13, 2015	3.06[24]
Rick and Marty use sonar to map out the bottom chamber of the 10-X borehole.

Season 3 (2015–2016)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date	Viewers (millions)
16	1	"The Hole Truth"	November 10, 2015	2.26[25]
Rick and Marty search for underground tunnels on Oak Island and prep borehole 10-X for a dive.[26]
17	2	"Pipe Down"	November 17, 2015	2.56[27]
Prep work for a dive in borehole 10X continues while the team simultaneously searches the area near the Money Pit for shallow treasure.[28]
18	3	"Time to Dig"	November 24, 2015	2.60[29]
Rick, Marty and the team go shopping for excavation equipment, investigate the location of a possible Knight's Templar treasure and search for the original location of the Money Pit.[30]
19	4	"The Overton Stone"	December 1, 2015	3.05[31]
Work continues to locate the Money Pit while the team investigates a stone with purported Portuguese carvings.[32]
20	5	"Disappearing Act"	December 8, 2015	3.22[33]
The team completes preparations for a dive expedition down borehole 10X by investigating the shaft with a camera.[34]
21	6	"Carved in Stone"	December 15, 2015[35]	2.47[36]
Rick, Marty and the team investigate stone carvings on Oak Island and receive information that the Aztecs may have visited the island in the past.[37]
22	7	"The Missing Peace"	December 22, 2015[35]	3.40[38]
Rick and Marty welcome long-time rival Fred Nolan into the team.[39]
23	8	"Phantoms of the Deep"	December 29, 2015[35]	3.30[40]
The team conducts a sonar sweep of the waters surrounding Oak Island and begin digging on Fred Nolan's property.[41]
24	9	"Columbus Day"	January 5, 2016[35]	2.79[42]
The team preps for a dive of borehole 10X. They also hear of a theory about Christopher Columbus visiting the Island.[43]
25	10	"Silence in the Dark"	January 12, 2016[35]	3.11[44]
Difficulties are encountered during the dive to the bottom of borehole 10X, the team further investigates Fred Nolan's property and an alleged Roman sword found in the waters off Oak Island is presented to the team.[45]
26	11	"Sword Play"	January 19, 2016[35]	2.82[46]
The team has the Roman sword investigated and find that it is a modern reproduction. There is an unproductive search for treasure north of the Money Pit.[47]
27	12	"Voices from Below"	January 26, 2016[35]	3.17[48]
The team dives to the bottom of borehole 10X. In a separate investigation, a cavity is found far underground near the Money Pit.[49]
28	13	"Secrets and Revelations"	February 2, 2016[35]	3.41[50]
The diving investigation of borehole 10X concludes with nothing found. Relatives of old Oak Island residents present a gold cross which is said to have come from the treasure.

Season 4 (2016–2017)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date	Viewers (millions)
29	1	"Going for Broke"	November 15, 2016	2.62[51]
The team agrees to turn focus over to the Money Pit and review what they have collected. Meanwhile, a decipherer brings a new letter into the picture, that points their focus towards an object from Africa.[52]
30	2	"Always Forward"	November 22, 2016	2.66[53]
While preparing to excavate the Money Pit, the team investigates an 18th century well on mainland Nova Scotia and brings in an archaeologist to inspect a mysterious hole on Dave Blankenship's property.
31	3	"Swamp Things"	November 29, 2016	2.97[54]
TBD
32	4	"No Stone Unturned[35]"	December 6, 2016[35]	TBD
TBD
33	5	"Bullseye[35]"	December 13, 2016[35]	TBD
TBD
34	6	"TBD[35]"	December 20, 2016[35]	TBD
TBD
35	7	"TBD[35]"	December 27, 2016[35]	TBD
TBD

References

1. "History to Premiere New Series 'The Curse of Oak Island', 1/5". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
2. Kondolojy, Amanda. "History Announces New Series 'The Curse of Oak Island'". Zap2It. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
3. "Treasure Hunters: U.P. Natives on History Channel tonight". The Mining Journal. Marquette, MI. Associated Press. January 5, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
4. "History Channel's Curse of Oak Island gets film funding for Season 4". The Chronicle Herald. 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
5. "About 'The Curse of Oak Island'". History Channel. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
6. Pruner, Aaron. "'The Curse of Oak Island': Rick and Marty get closer to finding legendary loot". Zap2it.
7. Matthes, Ilsa (February 8, 2014). "Treasure or Money Pit?: History Channel Star Visits Escanaba School". Daily Press. Escanaba, Michigan.
8. Conaton, Chris (January 5, 2014). "'The Curse of Oak Island': Slow Going". PopMatters. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
9. history.com, "The Curse of Oak Island". Accessed October 16, 2016.
10. "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Wins Night, 'Blood, Sweat & Heels', 'Ax Men', 'Thicker Than Water' & More - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
11. "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Wins Night, 'True Detective', 'Ax Men', 'Shameless' & More - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
12. "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Wins Night, 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Shameless', 'True Detective', 'Girls' & More - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
13. "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Wins Night + 'Live From the Red Carpet', 'Curse of Oak Island', 'Sister Wives' & More - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
14. "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Tops Night + 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' & More - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
15. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Tuesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.4.2014".
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17. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Tuesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.18.2014".
18. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Tuesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 11.25.2014".
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22. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Tuesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 12.23.2014".
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24. "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Pretty Little Liars' Tops Night + 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills', 'The Curse of Oak Island' & More - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
25. "Tuesday cable ratings: Republican debate sets a Fox Business record". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
26. "History.ca: The Hole Truth Episode Guide". history.ca.
27. "Tuesday cable ratings: ESPN leads quiet primetime, plus 'Curse of Oak Island,' 'Being Mary Jane' - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
28. "History.ca: Pipe Down Episode Guide". history.ca.
29. "Tuesday cable ratings: NBA on TNT leads, plus 'Chrisley Knows Best,' 'Curse of Oak Island' - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
30. "History.ca: Time To Dig Episode Guide". history.ca.
31. "Tuesday cable ratings: It's a 'Big Bang' kind of day - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
32. "History.ca: The Overton Stone Episode Guide". history.ca.
33. "Tuesday cable ratings: 'Family Guy' leads day, 'Curse of Oak Island' and 'Moonshiners' top originals - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
34. "History.ca: Disappearing Act Episode Guide". history.ca.
35. "Shows A-Z - curse of oak island, the on history - TheFutonCritic.com".
36. "Tuesday cable ratings: Republican debate delivers big numbers for CNN". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
37. "History.ca: Carved In Stone Episode Guide". history.ca.
38. "Tuesday cable ratings: 'Curse of Oak Island' and 'Big Bang Theory' win the day - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
39. "History.ca: The Missing Peace Episode Guide". history.ca.
40. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Update: 12.29.2015". Retrieved December 31, 2015.
41. "History.ca: Phantoms of the Deep Episode Guide". history.ca.
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43. "History.ca: The Curse of Oak Island: Columbus Day". history.ca.
44. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Update: 1.12.2016". Retrieved January 13, 2016.
45. "History.ca: Silence in the Dark Episode Guide". history.ca.
46. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Update: 1.19.2016". Retrieved January 21, 2016.
47. "History.ca: Sword Play Episode Guide". history.ca.
48. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Update: 1.26.2016". Retrieved January 27, 2016.
49. "History.ca: The Curse of Oak Island: Voices From Below". history.ca.
50. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.2.2016". Retrieved February 3, 2016.
51. Metcalf, Mitch (November 16, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.15.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
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External links

• Official website
• Oak Island Money Pit Expanding resource covering the Money Pit's history
• Official Facebook Page
• The Curse of Oak Island at the Internet Movie Database
• The Secret History of Christianity
• Top Rated Fan Site: Curse Of Oak Island Photo Gallery