Western hero Jake Dimes, Range Detective, is back for another very special holiday tale, "Santa Claus of Bitter Creek". Jake and his sidekick Briar Buck spin a Christmas yarn for their wives and in-laws when they all gather for the holidays: A cowboy who has lost his faith in Christmas gets it back in spades when he helps a youngster buy presents for his mother. It's a heart-warming tale that's perfect for Christmas! Written and directed by Pete Lutz – adapted from a short story by A. C. Abbott, and starring the Narada Radio Company.
With the voice talents of:
Dana Gonsalves as JAKE DIMES
Victoria Fancki as CHRIS GREENSLATE DIMES
Austin Beach as BRIAR BUCK
Nancy Bueler as MOLLY SUTCLIFFE BUCK
Joe Stofko as FRED GREENSLATE
Glenn Hascall as SLIM SUTCLIFFE and
Debby Gonzales Ramirez as LUPE; with
Philboyd Studge as JEFF MITCHELL
Isla Braly as BUD
Pete Lutz as MIKE GABBY
Paul Patterson as JIM BAILEY and
Lisa Michaud as BUD'S MOTHER
The Jake Dimes Theme was composed by Pete Lutz, arranged and performed by Dr. Ross Bernhardt.
Mindstream Players Christmas Special. Written, edited, mixed and directed by Tom Konkle
Starring Kurtis Bedford as Dr. John Watson
Tom Konkle as Sherlock Holmes
Stephanie Stearns Dulli as Mrs. Hudson, Lady Arabella, Penelope Chutney-Featherstone
Pete Lutz as Barnaby Winklethorpe
Jude Gerard Prest as Figgy
Gino C. Vianelli as Humphrey Carruthers
Bob Clendenin as Algernon Butterworth
And ? as Madam Zepyra.
EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! Big Story radio drama recreated by Project Audion!
Newspaper reporters were once heroic figures - exposing rackets and corruption, taking down the powerful and giving voice to the powerless. The "Big Story" series from audio drama's original classic era (the mid 20th century) celebrated the newspaper reporter - selecting true headlines and converting them into gripping dramas, much like Dragnet did with police.
Audion's December offering is a story set during the Christmas holiday, and while there IS an appearance by Santa Claus and a happy ending - this is a drama, pure and simple - of murder, greed, and redemption. Hmmm…maybe a Christmas theme after all! Our cast reaches from Canada to across the United states to recreate this lost original script just as it was done back then, so you can hear it for the first time since December 20, 1950! Our cast:
David Phillips in Virginia
Donna Patton in Tenessee
Trevor Rines in Canada
Sean Massey in Texas
Julie Hoverson in Washington
Dana Gonsalves in Texas
Scott McKinley in New Jersey
Ken Raney in Texas
and Larry Groebe did the heavy lifting
Old-Time Radio Essentials is back with episode 40, the 3rd installment of Season 4, and our fourth Holiday Special! Pete, Paul and Patte present an episode of the long-running Mutual series Nick Carter, Master Detective. This time it's Paul's pick, called "Nick Carter's Christmas Adventure"! Will Pete dwell on technical details and miss the historical context? Will Patte compare this to something Canadian? Tune in and find out!
And since we're on the subject of finding things out, while you listen you'll learn if we feel this entry meets the following criteria:
1. Is it truly representative of that series? (Can anyone point to it and say, "Yes, that is what [NAME OF SERIES] was all about.")
2. Is it an episode worthy of inclusion in any and every OTR aficionado's private collection?
So with this in mind, we three bring you, as our fortieth number (but 3rd official episode of S4), this episode of Nick Carter, Master Detective, from 12/25/43. We'll introduce the show, play it in its entirety, then discuss it at length. Thanks for joining us, and we hope you enjoy it!
Please show your support of the podcast by doing any of the following...
To comment on how we might improve OTR-E, or give suggestions for future discussions, please write to us at f6point3@gmail.com . Put the word "Essentials" in the subject line.
Your feedback means a lot to us! A review at iTunes or at your usual podcatcher would be appreciated.
Next Time: It's Pete's pick again, and he'll bring an episode of The Henry Morgan Show!
A FISH IN THE SEA PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS: The Screaming Skull
In the second annual edition of The Chilling Tales of Yuletide, we have a full-length adaptation of the 19th century short story, The Screaming Skull.
After the death of his friends, Dr and Mrs Pratt, Captain Braddock takes up residence in their former home. Yet he soon becomes convinced that the skull he found in the upstairs bedroom screams every night, haunting him, and that it was the cause of Dr Pratt's death. When investigators Miller and Shaughnessy (a believer and skeptic respectively) arrive to learn more about the situation on the night before Christmas Eve, Captain Braddock explains the haunting, as well as his theory that the skull belonged to Mrs Pratt and that her husband killed her. A half-tormented man himself, Captain Braddock is erratic in his explanations and retellings, and even Shaughnessy's skepticism is slowly put to the test as the haunting of the skull begins to drag them into the tale of murder and betrayal and guilty consciences.
Based on the story by Frances Marion Crawford and adapted by Lana O'Kell.
Sound Editor: Tori Taylor
Captain Charles Braddock: Pete Lutz
Miller: Joshua Chadwick
Shaughnessy: Lana O'Kell
FIND MORE "A FISH IN THE SEA PRODUCTIONS" at Apple Podcasts and all podcast providers
Continuing our special run of Christmas and holiday shows, we proudly present this episode of Pulp-Pourri Theatre, A CHRISTMAS CORNUCOPIA. Originally launched in 2016, this comes from Season Four of that series. Enjoy and have a very merry holiday season! NARADA RADIO COMPANY
PULP-POURRI THEATRE S4 E3: A CHRISTMAS CORNUCOPIA
1. SCROOGE & MARLEY'S REUNION (Live recording):
Pete Lutz, Micah Blain, Jason D. Johnson, Ross Bernhardt, Julio Herrera
2. Robert Frost's STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING:
Lisa Michaud
3. BIX BIXBY BOOK REVIEW 1 (Dickens's "A Christmas Carol"):
Melody Gaines, Nick Wommack, Austin Hanna, Pete Lutz
4. THE MARCH SISTERS' CHRISTMAS (Live recording):
Pete Lutz, Victoria Fancki, Jessica Matthews, Paige Walker, Debby Leal-Ramirez, Wendy Sauer, Merilee Robinson, Richard Robinson
5. George Wither's A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1622)
Austin Hanna, Geri Elliff, George Hatfield, Kristy Glick
6. THE BICKERSONS' CHRISTMAS EVE:
Dana Gonsalves, Victoria Fancki, Pete Lutz
7. BIX BIXBY BOOK REVIEW 2 (Better Homes & Gardens Cook Book):
Pete Lutz, Nick Wommack
Continuing our special run of Christmas and holiday shows, we proudly present the Narada Radio Company and their solitary holiday offering -- but it's a lulu, kiddies!
Based on the hit stage play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, and adapted for radio several times in the 1940s (and from two of which productions ours is derived), The Man Who Came to Dinner is a rollicking comedy that tells the story of a tyrannical celebrity who gets injured around Christmastime in a small town in Ohio; and of his eventual comeuppance by his friends and loved ones. Filled with colorful characters and comical situations, this is a Holiday Treat that can't be beat.
Adapted from the 1949 Hotpoint Holiday Hour and 1950 Lux Radio Theatre broadcasts, directed and produced by Pete Lutz. For entertainment purposes only, no infringement is intended. Our Narada Radio Company players were...
Darren Rockhold as Your Announcer
Les Marsden as Sheridan Whiteside
Victoria Fancki as Maggie
Rhiannon McAfee as Lorraine Sheldon
Geri Elliff as Mrs. Stanley
Duane Noch as Mr. Stanley
Rachel Pulliam as Miss Preen
Stephanie Stearns Dulli as Sarah
Bob Beaumont as Dr. Bradley
Jessica Mathews as Harriet Stanley
Dana Gonsalves as Bert Jefferson
Tom Konkle as Beverly Carlton and
Pete Lutz as Banjo, Radio Voice, Michaelson, Expressmen, and Westcott
Music was by Dr. Ross Bernhardt
Continuing our special run of Christmas and holiday shows, we proudly present the KCAL Old-Time Radio Troupe, in live performance earlier this month, performing an episode of Our Miss Brooks, entitled “Christmas Gift Mix-Up”. This program originally aired 12/20/53.
CAST (in order of appearance):
Announcer: Steve Watts
Miss Brooks: Connie McDonald
Mrs. Davis: Denise Cline
Walter: David Damron
Conklin: Doug Fain
Boynton: Norman Cline
Harriet: Galisa Watts
Mr. Stone: Steve Watts
Directed by Doug Fain. The KCAL troupe performs in their own theater in Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Continuing our special run of Christmas and holiday shows, we proudly present this episode of Pulp-Pourri Theatre, "Karpen".
Orig. rel. 12/18/14, "Karpen" was adapted from the Pulp Fiction story by Robert Neal Leath. This was Episode 3 of Season 2 of Pulp-Pourri Theatre, an anthology audio series. This is a contemporary retelling of the 16th-century "Wandering Jew" legend, set during Christmastime, 1938. Adapted, Directed and Produced by Pete Lutz, and starring the Narada Radio Company. All materials such as sound effects and incidental music in this production were sourced from the public domain.
ANNOUNCER: Lisa Ayala
JOHN ALBERTSON/KARPEN/STURMER: Pete Lutz
JACK MURPHY: Christian Ferris
SILVERSTEIN: Jack Ward
BRENDA KARPEN: Tanja Milojevic
ELEVATOR BOY/COP: Kyle Bauer
BAHKMETEFF/CALLIERI: Dana Gonsalves
TAGUCHI: Skeeter Ullman
TELEPHONE VOICE #1: Nancy Gaugler
TELEPHONE VOICE #2: Bubba Jones
Continuing our special run of Christmas and holiday shows, we proudly present the latest release from our friends at Project Audion: My True Story: A Christmas to Remember.
Project Audion's December classic radio recreation is a lost episode from a virtually-lost series - how’s that for a Christmas present from the past! “My True Story" was on the air from 1943 to 1962 on three networks, but it's all but forgotten today, as maybe 10 vintage recordings survive from perhaps 5,000 original broadcasts!
A daily cousin to the daytime soap operas, "My True Story" produced a nearly hour-long complete drama five days a week - an astonishing achievement. Our Christmas Eve 1958 episode (#3,833), also titled "The Orphan In The Auditorium," asked the question, "What happens to a child who unexpectedly meets Santa Claus?"
It's full of poignant, heart-tugging emotion for the holidays, and was recreated from an original script saved by the 10 year old actress who played “Dot,” with a far-flung Zoom-based cast performing live…
Wendy: Holly Adams, NY
Dot: Rachel Pulliam, MO
Momma / Mother Sams: Sharon Grunwald, NJ
Santa: Ken Raney, TX
Announcer: John Bell, AL
Rachel Pulliam directed, and Larry Groebe created the music and handled production
Continuing our special run of Christmas and Holiday-themed shows, we are proud to present: The Holiday Spirit by Will Anderson
Synopsis: During an argument between two hobos, Clay and Hobo Joe, about Clay’s claims of having been a country music star, Clay’s dog, Tyger, gets injured. In steps a vet who takes Tyger to his clinic. The celebration of successful surgery is interrupted when local business bully Snerdly storms in, demanding the rent payment for the clinic by five o’clock that evening. Will the formerly famous Golden Voice of the High Plains be able to save the clinic – especially after Snerdly informs them of an injunction by Song-Pluggers Incorporated, against Clay playing his old material? Make a great new family tradition with this fun, heartwarming (and slightly subversive) Holiday tale!
Rating: AD General/Suitable for all audiences
Cast (in order of appearance) :
“Golden Voice of the High Plains” Clay McGruder: Eric Chercover
Hobo Joe: Josh Brewer
Tyger, Clay’s loyal canine companion: Bernie Cesena
Kindly veterinarian Monty Morton: Steve Coon
Snerdly the evil landlord: Jeffrey Weinstock
Cadwalls the eviler well-heeled one percenter: Ted Clayton
Safeley’s sunflower cooking oil ad interstitial
Martha, 1940’s housewife: Bernie Cesena
Lois, Martha’s across-the-fence neighbor: Shelly Hinck
Winslow, Martha’s husband: Ted Clayton
Safeley’s sunflower cooking oil pitchman: Josh Brewer
The Holiday Spirit was written by Will Anderson, directed by Stacey Pattison, and recorded and edited by Jim Bollella.
Music performed by Eric Chercover and Will Anderson.
Title art designed by Kim Patishnock.
To kick off the holiday season, MINDSTREAM PLAYERS PRESENT: The Haunting of Ebenezer Scrooge, or: The Festivus Incident
Original Script Written by Tom Konkle and Kurtis Bedford
Starring:
David Beeler
Tom Konkle
Kurtis Bedford
Michael Neill
Bob Clendenin
Jude Gerard Prest
and carolers Jim Blanchette and Lisa Wyett
Sound mix by Vince Colavitti
Directed by Tom Konkle
(orig. launch 12/25/21) Season Three of Old-Time Radio Essentials is here! It's our Christmas Special, and Dave's pick -- and he's bringing us a thrilling episode of Rocky Fortune for us to enjoy and discuss.
And since we're on the subject of discussion, we hope to determine whether this entry meets the following criteria:
1. Is it truly representative of that series? (Can anyone point to it and say, "Yes, that is what [NAME OF SERIES] was all about.")
2. Is it an episode worthy of inclusion in any and every OTR aficionado's private collection?
So with this in mind, we three bring you, as our twenty-seventh number (but 2nd official episode of S3), this episode of Rocky Fortune - The Plot to Murder Santa Claus, from 1953. We'll introduce the show, play it in its entirety, then discuss it at length. Thanks for joining us, and we hope you enjoy it!
Please show your support of the podcast by doing any of the following!
To comment on how we might improve OTR-E, or give suggestions for future discussions, please write to us at f6point3@gmail.com . Put the word "Essentials" in the subject line.
Your feedback means a lot to us! A review at iTunes or at your usual podcatcher would be appreciated.
Next Time: An episode of Gangbusters!
Old Time Radio Theatre offers our very first holiday episode, “Holiday Affair” from Lux Radio Theatre! When a widowed comparison shopper attempts to return a toy train, a smitten store clerk is fired and she finds herself caught in a love-triangle during the Christmas season. SOLE TWIN AUDIOS
With the voice talents of Gina Moravec, John Farrington, Dorothy Farrington, Karl Werner, Jack West, Wyatt Henry, Alexxandra Macedo, Eleiece Krawiec, Jerry Kokich, Ever Lui, and Tiffany Perdue.
Incidental music was composed by Ross Bernhardt.
Find more at https://anchor.fm/
THE NARADA RADIO COMPANY presents our third live performance of the great Lux Radio Theatre broadcast of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, performed on the stage of Port Aransas Community Theatre, Port Aransas Texas, between December 4th and 12th, 2021.
Ten voice actors created the town of Bedford Falls, bringing to listeners all of the familiar characters from the film. Live music and a mix of live and pre-recorded sound effects completed the illusion. Audiences were mesmerized by the imagery, and laughed their heads off during the commercials (all mention of Lux was deleted and new spots for a fictitious product were substituted, to great comedic effect), AND they went home satisfied.
We hope you enjoy this recording, and we wish you a very happy holiday season, plus a prosperous 2022!
CAST:
Dana Gonsalves as GEORGE BAILEY
Michele Barnett as CLARENCE
Chuck Wilson as JOSEPH, POP BAILEY, RANDALL, and GOOD OL' REX THE WONDER DOG
Jessica Mathews as FRANKLIN, MARY BAILEY, MRS. THOMPSON and ZUZU
Pete Lutz as ANNIE, MR. POTTER, OLD MAN COLLINS, MR. MARTINI, NICK, THE BRIDGEKEEPER, and BERT THE COP
Aileen Corpos as DR. CAMPBELL, MRS. HATCH, MR. WELCH, a BANK EMPLOYEE, ED, CHARLIE and COUSIN TILLY
Jordan Bruster as A BOY, HARRY BAILEY, TOM, EUSTACE, SAM WAINWRIGHT and PETE BAILEY
John Bell as MR. GOWER, JOE, UNCLE BILLY, ERNIE THE TAXI DRIVER, THE ANGRY MAN, and THE SHERIFF
Dawn Robertson as a BOY, MRS. BAILEY, THE WORRIED WOMAN, a BANK EMPLOYEE, and JANIE BAILEY
Ross Bernhardt as THE BYSTANDER, HORACE, and MR. CARTER
YOUR ANNOUNCERS were John Bell and Dawn Robertson.
Festershield Cigarettes Commercials Cast:
Pete Lutz as the FESTERSHIELD ANNOUNCER
Aileen Corpos as MRS. SNAGWARIS
John Bell as THE CLERK and the DISPATCH VOICE
Dawn Robertson as THE DRIVER
Jordan Bruster as the TEENAGER and the CRYING KID
Michele Barnett as the MOM
Dana Gonsalves as THE TROOPER
Chuck Wilson as SANTA CLAUS ... and
Jessica Mathews, Chuck Wilson, Ross Bernhardt and Jordan Bruster as YOUR FESTERSHIELD QUARTET!
Music by Dr. Ross Bernhardt
Adapted for live performance and directed by Pete Lutz
WELCOME TO THE NORTH POLE! Here's "Santa's Inbox", a new podcast wherein good ol' St. Nick reads e-mails and letters from boys and girls all over the world -- and you get to see a little bit behind the scenes of Santa's North Pole organization. In this, our final installment, Santa's facing a problem that's quite common these days: Supply chain interruptions! Listen to how he and his faithful elf, Stinky, deal with them. With the voices of Pete Lutz and John Bell, plus a poem recitation; a song by C. E. Ayr, performed by Andy Brownlie; and an original children's story, written by C. E. Ayr, and read by Jenne Gray. Merry Christmas from the Narada Radio Company! (Simultaneously released on the Mutual Audio Network on 12/24/21.)
Art representing the story "The Little House Who Walked" by Carolina Sartor (top), and the song "I Like To Tickle And Be Tickled" by Phil Burns (bottom)
Written, produced and directed by Pete Lutz with major contributions by John Bell
WELCOME TO THE NORTH POLE! Here's "Santa's Inbox", a new podcast wherein good ol' St. Nick reads e-mails and letters from boys and girls all over the world -- and you get to see a little bit behind the scenes of Santa's North Pole organization. This time, Santa must deal with the interviews of three candidates who are applying for a rare vacancy within the elfin ranks, and these candidates are...unique, to say the least! With the voices of Pete Lutz, Jean Williams, and John Bell, plus an original children's story, "The Princess and the Dragon", written and read by C. E. Ayr. Merry Christmas from the Narada Radio Company! (Originally released on the Mutual Audio Network on 12/17/21.)
Art representing the story "The Princess and the Dragon" by Phil Burns
Written, produced and directed by Pete Lutz
EPISODE 4 LAUNCHES CHRISTMAS EVE!
WELCOME TO THE NORTH POLE! Here's "Santa's Inbox", a new podcast wherein good ol' St. Nick reads e-mails and letters from boys and girls all over the world -- and you get to see a little bit behind the scenes of Santa's North Pole organization. This time, some characters from the "Bell's in the Batfry" podcast, hoping to help Santa win the "War on Christmas", send him some unusual livestock. With the voices of Pete Lutz and John Bell, plus an original children's story, "The Hunchback Turtle of Bethune", written and read by C. E. Ayr. Merry Christmas from the Narada Radio Company! (Originally released on the Mutual Audio Network on 12/10/21.)
Art representing the story "The Hunchback Turtle of Bethune" by Carolyn Sartor
Written, produced and directed by Pete Lutz
WELCOME TO THE NORTH POLE! Here's "Santa's Inbox", a new podcast wherein good ol' St. Nick reads e-mails and letters from boys and girls all over the world -- and you get to see a little bit behind the scenes of Santa's wacky North Pole organization. With the voices of Pete Lutz and John Bell, plus an original children's story, "Jack the Little Giant", written and read by C. E. Ayr. Merry Christmas from the Narada Radio Company! (Originally released on the Mutual Audio Network on 12/3/21.)
Art representing the story "Jack the Little Giant" by Phil Burns
Mired in the havoc of the holidays and a contentious divorce, an exhausted single mother confronts a mall Santa who has concocted a frighteningly twisted plan. CAMPFIRE RADIO THEATER
Warning: Contains explicit language and graphic content.
Written, directed and produced by John Ballentine
Cast:
Melissa Medina
Joe Stofko
Amelia Hicklin
Dani Aviles
Graham Rowat
Mary Murphy
Original music score by Kevin Hartnell
For the holidays, Project Audion, for its 25th production, turns to Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol."
There were many adaptations of this tale during the Golden Age of Radio, but one of the cleverest and most charming was when it was transplanted to the Old West for a Christmas episode of the Jimmy Stewart western "The Six Shooter" which aired from 1953 to 1954. The story of Eben and Jake - and how and why Stewart's character Britt Ponsett tells it - makes for a delightful half hour.
Originally broadcast on NBC, 12/20/1953. Our cast for this recreation is our most wide-ranging in both location and age:
BRITT PONSETT: Ric Spiegel, TX
JOHNNY CARVILLE: Austin Mosher, NY
EBEN SCROOGE: Stanley Dyrector, CA
BOB CRATCHITT: Chris Marcellus, UT
BELLE / MRS CRATCHITT: Rachel Pulliam, MO
AUNT MILLIE: Denise Cline, KY
NEPHEW: Ken Raney, TX
ANNOUNCER: Paul Arbisi, IL and
JAKE MARLEY: Joe Mendell, UK
GHOST: Richard Huitema, FL
Sound is by Ken Raney, with direction, production, & music by Larry Groebe
COMING THIS MONTH TO THE MUTUAL AUDIO NETWORK: Santa's Inbox!
Here's a promo for a special holiday podcast, which will start the day after (American) Thanksgiving: Friday, November 26th, and continue every Friday until Christmas Eve. Send your emails with Christmas Wish Lists, or special dedications to that certain someone, and Santa Claus will read them out loud, mentioning your first name only, and the city where you live (you can opt out of this bit).
Don't wait to get started -- send yours to santas.xmas.inbox@gmail.com ! Parents should send their kids' messages on their behalf. Make sure you're subscribed to the Mutual Audio Network. Thanks from Santa and Stinky the Elf!
Episode 9 -- "Christmas Show 1950", The Bing Crosby Chesterfield Show
Welcome to Old-Time Radio Essentials, a new podcast wherein a specific episode from a selected OTR series is presented, and then discussed by three co-hosts: Pete Lutz, Jane St. John and Paul Arbisi; to determine whether or not it meets the following criteria:
1. Is it truly representative of that series? (Can anyone point to it and say, "Yes, that is what [NAME OF SERIES] was all about.")
2. Is it an episode worthy of inclusion in any and every OTR aficionado's private collection?
So with this in mind, we three bring you, as our ninth installment (and Pete's selection), this episode of The Bing Crosby Show from 1950. We'll introduce the show, play it in its entirety, then discuss it at length. Thanks for joining us, and we hope you enjoy it!
Episode 1 -- "Treasure Island", The Mercury Theatre On the Air
Based on the very positive response from our 2nd annual Christmas Special, Moonlight Audio is happy to present the full series of Old-Time Radio Essentials, a podcast wherein a specific episode from a selected OTR series is presented, and then discussed by three co-hosts: Pete Lutz, Jane St. John and Paul Arbisi; to determine whether or not it meets the following criteria:
1. Is it truly representative of that series? (Can anyone point to it and say, "Yes, that is what [NAME OF SERIES] was all about.")
2. Is it an episode worthy of inclusion in any and every OTR aficionado's private collection?
So with this in mind, we three bring you, as our first installment, the 2nd episode of Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre series, "Treasure Island", originally broadcast July 18th, 1938. We'll introduce the show, play it in its entirety, then discuss it at length. Thanks for joining us, and we hope you enjoy it!
To comment or give suggestions for future discussions, please write to us at f6point3@gmail.com . Watch for monthly releases of Old-Time Radio Essentials, right here on Moonlight Audio!