PROJECT AUDION #41: Life With Luigi - "Luigi's Toothache"
This month Project Audion recreates a classic radio comedy based on a timeless premise. As a nation of immigrants, the clash of old and new cultures in America has offered authors an unending supply of humorous situations. "Life with Luigi" mined this comedic vein from 1948 to 1953. Each week, small-town Italian Luigi Basco struggled to navigate the complexities of his new American life, supported by his friends from Italy, Germany, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia. It's full of charming stereotypes with broadly entertaining accents, it's-a great, innocent fun. In this episode, Luigi's aching tooth leads him into the unfamiliar world of medical specialists...
Luigi: Jacob Palka, IL
Pasquale: Pete Lutz, TX
Schultz: Larry Groebe, TX
Announcer / Horowitz / Man: Ken Jeffries, CA
Olson / Doctor: Paul Arbisi, IL
Miss Spaulding / Rosa: Donna Patton, TN
Directed by Mr. Palka and produced by Mr. Groebe
THE REASONABLY AMAZING ADVENTURES OF FLASH GORDON Episode 6: Zarkov to the Rescue
A silly take on the original radio series Flash Gordon which is now in public domain. Starting April 22, 1935, and again in May 2022 the strip was adapted into The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon, a 26-episode weekly radio serial. The series followed the strip very closely, amounting to a week-by-week adaptation of the Sunday strip for most of its run.
Flash Gordon was played by Tom Konkle, starring Stephanie Stearns Dulli as Dale Arden and Witch Queen Azora, Gino C. Vianelli as Captain Thune, Bob Clendenin as Dr. Zarkov, Pete Lutz as Saul (Pete Lutz heads the Narada Radio Company), Kurtis Bedford as Vultan, and David Beeler as the announcer and the Lieutenant. The original radio series broke with the strip continuity in the last two episodes, when Flash, Dale and Zarkov returned to Earth. We broke it completely.
Edit and Sound effects by Tom Konkle.
Directed by Tom Konkle.
Music by Bryan Arata and Tom Konkle.
The show comedy version script by Tom Konkle and Kurtis Bedford.
Producers Kurtis Bedford and Tom Konkle created the Mindstream Players.
PROJECT AUDION #38 -- The Jack Benny Program, "Mutiny on the Bounty"
Think you've heard almost every Jack Benny radio show? Try one that was just written! Project Audion presents a recreation newly penned by Robert L. Mills, former staff writer for Bob Hope. Project Audion has gathered the classic Benny gang, guest stars Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen, and a virtual studio audience for a half hour of laughter, including a send-up of "Mutiny on the Bounty." Our transcontinental cast of voice actors even recorded this show live via Zoom on a Sunday night at 7.
Featuring the talents of...
JACK BENNY: Scott R. McKinley, NJ
CHARLIE MCCARTHY / EFFIE KLINKER / MR. KITZEL: Duane Noch, NJ
EDGAR BERGEN: Larry Groebe, TX
MARY LIVINGSTONE: Denise Cline, KY
PHIL HARRIS: Norman Cline, KY
DENNIS DAY / FRANK NELSON: Bob Beaumont, CA
STAGE HAND / SHELDON LEONARD / MEL BLANC: Pete Lutz, TX
DON WILSON: Ken Jeffries, CA
...and produced and directed by Larry Groebe
Old-time Radio Essentials continues its 3rd season with an episode of Birds Eye Open House – "Groucho Brings a Turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner"! This one's Pete's pick, or rather, that of his special guest, Essential Listener Noah Diamond*. Noah's an actor, author, podcaster, Marxian Scholar, and off-Broadway Groucho impersonator, not to mention a very funny guy, so you can imagine the discussion of this episode's merits by Noah and our three co-hosts will be sparkling and rapid-fire and exceptionally funny. But why imagine it? 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 thirty-fifth number (but 10th official episode of S3), this episode of Birds Eye Open House, from 11/22/45. 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: Dave brings us an episode of Let George Do It!
*Noah's body of work (and possibly his body) can be found at noahdiamond.com
Season Three of Old-Time Radio Essentials continues! This time it's Pete's pick -- but he's invited Essential Listener Rick to choose something for us to enjoy and discuss. (NARADA RADIO COMPANY)
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-ninth number (but 4th official episode of S3), this episode of The Red Skelton Program, from 4/29/49. 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 Mark Trail, and another guest programmer!
The first of two shows, performed at KCAL's annual live dinner theatre, at the First Vineyard Winery in Nicholasville, Kentucky, on Saturday, October 29, 2022. KCAL OLD-TIME RADIO TROUPE
1st episode: Fibber McGee and Molly – “The Flying Saucer”
Cast (in order of appearance):
David Damron (Wilcox and Shriner)
Norman Cline (Fibber)
Denise Cline (Molly)
Steve Watts (Doc Gamble and Sergei)
Doug Fain (Officer, Mayor Latrivia, and General)
Susan Clements (1st woman)
Galisa Watts (2nd woman)
Connie McDonald (Rhoda)
Carolyn Threlkeld (Teeney)
As performed (live) by the KCAL Old Time Radio Troupe from Nicholasville, Kentucky at their fall 2022 "Mixed Nuts" show.
Cast includes:
Norman Cline (Gildersleeve)
David Damron (Leroy)
Connie McDonald (Marjorie)
Denise Cline (Birdie and commercials)
Susan Clements (Leila)
Doug Fain (Peavey)
Steve Watts (Judge Hooker)
Cooper Bartlett (Dr. Hargrave).
Song by Rachel Williams and sound effects by Eddie Clements. www.kcalotr.com
THE DAYCARE DASH (Comedy) Meet Julie, a modern-day urban single mom just trying to pick up her daughter Tina at the daycare center on time. Can Julie make it before the late fees set in? Ka-Ching, Ka-Ching. She has forty minutes to get to the garage and get crosstown. So on your marks, get set, GO...
CAST
GEORGIA LEE SCHULTZ - Julie
KEITH BURNETT - Lou and Cop
BRADY VAN VAERENBERGH - Man in Street and Man in Car
JOHN FRAY - Jeremy
BILL CRAVEN - Truck Driver
EMMA MCDONALD – Tina
Directed by George Zarr
Recording Engineer and Post Production – David Farquhar
Runtime: 11:19
Performance ©2022 Design Sound Productions / Voices in the Wind Audio Theatre
Fred Allen is a name unfamiliar to most people today, but for two decades his radio show set the standard for the best of American humor. His comedy and satirical influence can be seen in everything from Looney Tunes to Saturday Night Live. Robert L. Mills, comedy writer for Bob Hope, has crafted a "new" Fred Allen show for Project Audion which successfully recalls the time Allen had the #1 program on the airwaves (in the late 1940s).
We'll visit "Allen's Alley" with Senator Claghorn, Mrs. Nussbaum, and others; take on "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" in a movie parody, and welcome guest stars Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, thanks to a coast-to-coast cast of sterling vocal talent which includes:
FRED ALLEN: John Bell, AL
MOODY / CASSIDY / BANDITO: Pete Lutz, TX
PORTLAND / MRS. NUSSBAUM: Julie Hoverson, WA
KENNY DELMAR: Ken Jeffries, CA
CLAGHORN / GRIZZY: Harry Middlebrooks, CA
EDGAR BERGEN: Robert L. Mills., CA
CHARLIE MCCARTHY: Scott McKinley, NJ
with Direction & Production by Larry Groebe, TX
(Orig. rel. 8/14/22) The United Artists of Mutual present: More Bob & Ray! Recorded especially for Sonic Summerstock Playhouse 2022, it features Jeff Billard in the roles of Bob Elliott, and Pete Lutz as the many voices of Ray Goulding, in a half-hour of zany sketches. Enjoy!
1. Show open/Public Service Message
2. Fern Ock Veek, Sickly Whale Oil Processor
3. Einbinder Flypaper commercial
4. Happy Birthday, Ken Vose!
5. Anxiety!
6. Monongahela Metal Foundry commercial
7. Search for Togetherness
8. Mr. Science
9. Closing
ATTENTION! Folks, we've noticed that many of you are skipping part one of this production. Please don't! Listen to part one first, you won't regret it.
(Orig. rel. 7/24/22) Please enjoy part two of this special re-enactment of a classic radio play (adapted from a famous film and stage play). Twentieth Century is a screwball comedy, with laughs and situations that come at you as rapidly as the railroad train for which it's named. Listen and enjoy! NARADA RADIO COMPANY.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Les Marsden as OSCAR JAFFE
Rhiannon McAfee as LILY GARLAND
Dana Gonsalves as OWEN O'MALLEY
Pete Lutz as OLIVER WEBB and McGONIGLE
Lothar Tuppan as MAX JACOBS, LLOYD, and GERMAN ACTOR 1
John Bell as MR. CLARK and the COP
Rachel Pulliam as SADIE
Tom Konkle as GEORGE SMITH and ANNOUNCER
Carl Thomas as UNCLE RUFUS and THE PORTER
Larry Groebe as THE CONDUCTOR
Jesirae Kesler as ANITA and MISS SCHULTZ
Gino Vinanelli as FLANNAGAN, POP, and GERMAN ACTOR 2
Victoria Fancki as VALERIE and the WOMAN ON THE TRAIN
Jason D. Johnson as FATHER and the MAN ON THE TRAIN and
Jack Ward as STANLEY, the SHERIFF, and the WESTERN UNION MAN
Music by Ross Bernhardt
Special thanks to Rick Tribble for providing the "Rail Sounds" LP that furnished most of the...um...rail sounds.
(Orig. rel. 7/24/22) Please enjoy part one of this special re-enactment of a classic radio play (adapted from a famous film and stage play). Twentieth Century is a screwball comedy, with laughs and situations that come at you as rapidly as the railroad train for which it's named. Listen and enjoy! NARADA RADIO COMPANY.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Les Marsden as OSCAR JAFFE
Rhiannon McAfee as LILY GARLAND
Dana Gonsalves as OWEN O'MALLEY
Pete Lutz as OLIVER WEBB and McGONIGLE
Lothar Tuppan as MAX JACOBS, LLOYD, and GERMAN ACTOR 1
John Bell as MR. CLARK and the COP
Rachel Pulliam as SADIE
Tom Konkle as GEORGE SMITH and ANNOUNCER
Carl Thomas as UNCLE RUFUS and THE PORTER
Larry Groebe as THE CONDUCTOR
Jesirae Kesler as ANITA and MISS SCHULTZ
Gino Vinanelli as FLANNAGAN, POP, and GERMAN ACTOR 2
Victoria Fancki as VALERIE and the WOMAN ON THE TRAIN
Jason D. Johnson as FATHER and the MAN ON THE TRAIN and
Jack Ward as STANLEY, the SHERIFF, and the WESTERN UNION MAN
Music by Ross Bernhardt
Special thanks to Rick Tribble for providing the "Rail Sounds" LP that furnished most of the...um...rail sounds.
Performed by the KCAL Old Time Radio Troupe in their downtown Nicholasville, Kentucky theater during the 2022 Summer show, June 24 - 26. This is an episode of "Easy Aces" called "Jane's Mother Comes To Visit".
Performers include Connie McDonald (Ace), Denise Cline (Jane), Susan Clements (Mrs. Bell), Kaitlyn Wesley (Miss Anderson), and Steve Watts (Ken and Mother) Singing the lead song is Rachel Williams. www.kcalotr.com
Performed by the KCAL Old Time Radio Troupe in their downtown Nicholasville, Kentucky theater during the 2022 Summer show, June 24 - 26. This is a combination of two "Lum and Abner" old time radio episode that aired in May of 1943.
Performers include David Damron as the announcer and Cedric, Norman Cline as Lum, and Doug Fain as Abner. Singing the lead song is Rachel Williams. www.kcalotr.com
Premiering on Project Audion, a brand-new episode of "The Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy Show" that sounds just as if an unknown script from 1940 had suddenly turned up. That's just how spot-on is the writing in this tribute penned for Project Audion by former Bob Hope comedy writer Robert L Mills.
Charlie and Edgar come up against W. C. Fields as well as a snarky agent from the IRS who sounds suspiciously like the unmistakable voice of Frank Nelson. It's our tribute to that most improbable of vintage radio's hit shows - a radio comedy starring a ventriloquist. Close your eyes and listen, then rewind to watch how our coast-to-coast cast (pictured here) handled the transcribed-live performance. Delightful summertime entertainment that speaks for itself!
Participants in this show included:
Robert L. Mills in California
Duane Noch in New Jersey
Pete Lutz in Texas
Bob Beaumont in California
Paul Arbisi in Illinois and
JoAnne Kurman in California
Robert L. Mills penned the script, while Larry Groebe produced and handled the audio from Texas.
ADULT THEMES AND LANGUAGE - not for listeners under age 13
A tongue-in-cheek application of the classic Flash Gordon radio serial. In this hilarious send-up, Flash deals with hawk-men and a strange queen.
Flash Gordon was played by Tom Konkle, later famous for nothing in particular. The cast also includes Rhiannon McAfee as Dale Arden, Gino C. Vianelli as Captain Thune, Stephanie Stearns Dulli as the Witch Queen Azora, Pete Lutz as Sal. Also starring Kurtis Bedford as Zug and starring Pete Handelman as the announcer and Hawkman with a hose. The original radio series broke with the strip continuity in the last two episodes, when Flash, Dale and Zarkov returned to Earth. (We broke it completely after we did a faithful version of episode one.) Edit and Sound effects by Tom Konkle. Music by Bryan Arata. The comedy version script by Tom Konkle. Producers Kurtis Bedford and Tom Konkle started the Mindstream Players.
In honor of Saint Paddy's day (March 17th), we've sent our intrepid reporter, Philboyd Studge, to New York City, home of the world's largest St. Patrick's Day parade, to interview someone who claims to be a leprechaun. You'll be "Wearin' of the Grin" by the time it's over, don't ye know. Enjoy!
Written and performed by Pete Lutz
NARADA RADIO COMPANY
Did Jack Benny ever have Bing Crosby and W.C. Fields both as guests on his long-running popular network radio show? Not until now! Robert L. Mills, former comedy writer to Bob Hope, has a created a “new” Jack Benny show that is so funny and so much like a vintage Benny show, you can easily be forgiven for thinking we've unearthed a lost episode. It also features appearances by cast regulars like Mary Livingston, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Rochester and others.
Our talented voice actors include:
JACK BENNY / MR. KITZEL: Duane Noch, NJ
BING CROSBY / W.C. FIELDS: Michael Dees, CA
DENNIS DAY / FRANK NELSON: Bob Beamont, CA
PHIL HARRIS: Norman Cline, KY
DON WILSON: Ken Jeffries, CA MARY LIVINGSTONE: JoAnne Kurman, CA
PORTER / JOHNNY WEISSMULLER: Harry Middlebrooks, CA ROCHESTER: Carl Thomas, TX
Written, directed, and featuring a cameo appearance by Robert L. Mills, CA.
Larry Groebe in Texas handled the Sheldon Leonard role, cued up the virtual audience, and produced this Project Audion episode.
SO WE HAD SOME bandwidth left over for the month, and since one of our curators grew up both poor and Lutheran, he hates to see anything go to waste; so we're posting these comic sketches for your entertainment. It's entirely possible that this material has been released previously, but never before in this combination. ENJOY! NARADA RADIO COMPANY
All material in this segment written by Pete Lutz.
TRANSCONTINENTAL TERROR Presents:
The Cellar Mini-Series, episode 3: The Second Helping
Originally released on the Mutual Audio Network in October 2021, this is the 3rd of five new episodes produced by 63audio for the month-long Transcontinental Terror audio series.
In "The Second Helping", we explore the topic of Science Run Amok, a favorite topic of film and old-time radio! This hilarious homage to the likes of Arch Oboler, Wyllis Cooper, Roger Corman and James Whale (among others) will have you running for your life with laughter! Written, directed and produced by Pete Lutz. NARADA RADIO COMPANY
CAST:
ANNOUNCER - Robin Robbins
CADAVERA QUIVRY - Angela Young
DARCY – Dawn Robertson
DERRY – Jackie Ayers
FERGUS – Dana Gonsalves
MOTHER – Riley Lutz
CREATURE – John Bell
TV REPORTER – Pam Pailes
GENERAL M'LAISE – Austin Beach
MAJOR CHIP ERROR – Pete Lutz
SERGEANT TIM PLAITE WHISTLE – Jason D. Johnson
CAPTAIN – John Bell
MR. FLUFFNUGGETS – Lisa Michaud
Music composed and performed by Dr. Ross Bernhardt
Not too many stars from the OTR era have also hosted Saturday Night Live and a Broadway show, but comic geniuses Bob & Ray did it - and so Project Audion salutes them with a recreation of the offbeat, deadpan humor that aired on radio networks across the country for years starting in the early 1950s. John Bell in Alabama, and Pete Lutz in Texas take on the many characters created by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding in an assemblage of sketches - both familiar and obscure - designed to replicate the kind of free flowing absurdity they did so well. Larry Groebe is there as well, handling the production aspects from Dallas.
HEY THERE! We had some bandwidth left over at the end of the month and we didn't want it to go to waste, since we're paying for it after all...so here are a few comedy sketches that we think you'll enjoy, most of them being parodies of TV shows and commercials. Thanks for listening, and watch for the new shows coming in September!
Like the title says, this live show was performed and recorded in 1989, staged as a mock radio broadcast to entertain the ladies of "WAVES National", an organization whose members had served or were still serving in the U.S. Navy. They held their annual convention in Atlanta that year.
All characters played by Pete Lutz and John Bayer, who were, respectively, serving on active duty and in the Naval Reserve at the time.
WAVES, by the way, stands for Women's Auxiliary Volunteer Emergency Service, which goes back to World War I. Nowadays all women serving in the Navy are full-fledged Sailors, serving on combat-ready ships and on submarines.
The comedy sketches in this program were written by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding, with filler written by Pete Lutz.
KCAL Presents FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE: The Incredible Annalee
Performed live at the KCAL Hometown Theater, in Nicholasville, KY at its summer show June 25 - 27, 2021, this is the KCAL Old Time Radio Troupe presenting an episode of old-time radio show Four Star Playhouse. This episode, which originally aired on NBC on August 21, 1951, is called "The Incredible Annalee".
KCAL Troupe members are, in order of appearance:
Doug Fain (Announcer)
Denise Cline (Commercial and Operator)
Connie McDonald (Annalee)
David Damron (Jim)
Norman Cline (Pickerel)
Steve Watts (Carlyle)
KCAL Presents: GRAND MARQUEE: A Man's Home is Her Castle
Performed live at the KCAL Hometown Theater, in Nicholasville, KY at its summer show June 25 - 27, 2021, this is the KCAL Old Time Radio Troupe presenting an episode of old-time radio show Grand Marquee. This episode, which originally aired on NBC on February 29, 1947, is called "A Man's Home is Her Castle".
KCAL Troupe members are, in order of appearance:
David Damron (Announcer)
Steve Watts (commercials)
Denise Cline (Jane)
Norman Cline (Dick)
Connie McDonald (Gladys)
Doug Fain (Elwood Marsden)