I remember as a 12 year old, staying up WELL past my allotted beddie time with a pair of 1st generation radio headphones, lying there in dark, completely absorbed in this marathon adventure.  I was already obsessed with ancient Egypt and this story only exacerbated the whole thing.  I started carving Akhnaten's cartouche on things after this, and I think Tammy Grimes voice jump started my puberty...
Thank you for giving me back these memories!