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Moonlight Audio Theatre

MOONLIGHT AUDIO THEATRE Is Your Portal To The Very Best In Modern Audio Drama. Featuring Engaging Stories of Mystery, Suspense, Horror, Comedy, Western, Sci-Fi, Old Time Radio and Special Features. Listen 24/7/365 From Anywhere at Anytime. Invoke The Theatre of YOUR Mind!. 950 + FREE SHOWS AND GROWING!
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Now displaying: Search Results for "comedy"
May 11, 2025

Project Audion 67 - Our Miss Brooks

Project Audion presents the delightful mid-century classic sitcom "Our Miss Brooks." Back in the 1950s, the character of Connie Brooks was everyone’s favorite high school English teacher - sassy and smart, but starry-eyed in her unrequited desire for biology teacher Mr. Boynton. Actress Eve Arden’s portrayal was so iconic she made the jump to television four years after the radio version launched in 1948 - and even filmed a movie adaptation in 1956.

Robert L. Mills, comedy writer for Bob Hope, has crafted a fresh episode of the show just for Project Audion that matches the original radio episodes, laugh for laugh. We had a great time recording this one, and you'll have a great time listening to it!

Feb 3, 2025

NO SOAP RADIO presents: The Shadow, "The Silent Avenger"

Our 3rd NO SOAP RADIO production created in September, 2022. This is a recreation of the 1938 episode of The Shadow entitled "The Silent Avenger” and was our first attempt at something besides comedy.


The show was produced, directed and edited by Paul Kovit. Paul also recreated the original music cues using the organ samples in GarageBand, and arranged the Shadow theme music under the end credits.

If you’d like to see a video version of this show checkout our website: https://nosoapradioplayers.com/


While there you can access our other productions as well as info about our group. And if you like our videos feel free to hit the subscribe button on YouTube so you can be alerted as soon as we release another production.


CAST:
Ian Oberg as The Announcer, a policeman, and Mr. O’Hara
Victoria Gordon as Margo Lane and the little girl
Paul Kovit as Danny Brecker
Zach Dillinger as Lamont Cranston and The Shadow
Annette Bochenek as Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Brecker
Tony Semczuk as Judge Wilson, The Prison Guard, and The Commissioner
Paul Patterson as Joe Brecker
Zach Eastman as The Court Bailiff, Harvey, and The Paper Boy

 

Feb 3, 2025

NO SOAP RADIO: The Jack Benny Program, "No One Remembers Jack's Birthday"

Our 4th NO SOAP RADIO production was created in February, 2023 and premiered at the 3rd annual Jack Benny Convention. This is a recreation of the 1955 Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny - "No One Remembers Jack's Birthday". We chose this particular program to spotlight one of our actors, Victoria Gordon. Victoria’s grandfather, Al Gordon, was one of the writers on this show. Al was part of Jack Benny’s writing staff for many years and also had a very successful career writing for many TV sitcoms and variety shows throughout the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s.


This show was produced, directed and edited by Paul Kovit.
If you’d like to see a video version of this show checkout our website: https://nosoapradioplayers.com/
While there you can access our other productions as well as info about our group. And if you like our videos feel free to hit the subscribe button on YouTube so you can be alerted as soon as we release another production.

CAST:
Jack West as Jack Benny
Ian Oberg as Don Wilson
Victoria Gordon as Pauline, Lois, and the Ticket Taker
Paul Kovit as Danny Brecker
Zach Dillinger as Charlie Bagby
Laura Mirksy as Dennis Day’s mother
Annette Bochenek as Mary Livingstone and The Lucky Strike singer
Tony Semczuk as Mel, Polly the Parrot, and The Theater Manager
Paul Patterson as Rochester
Zach Eastman as the speaking Dennis Day
Robert Creighton as the singing Dennis Day
Marco Bautista, Martin O’Reilly, and Leonardo Civitano as The Beavers
Patricia Benjamin-Doyle as the Western Union Operator and Opera Singer
Adrienne Jones, Margo Hennebach, and Mark Saunders as the Birthday Singers

Jan 29, 2025

Our 10th NO SOAP RADIO production is based on an original script written by Craig Shemin. This Jack Benny Program takes place in 1955. Jack wonders what it would be like if he was the subject on the TV show This Is Your Life. All of the usual cast of characters make appearances, including Mary Livingstone, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Rochester, Don Wilson, Frank Nelson, and Professor LeBlanc. Also a number of guest stars appear including Jack Benny's sister Florence, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Groucho Marx, and Fred Allen! The show was produced, directed and edited by Paul Kovit.

If you’d like to see a video version of this show checkout our website: https://nosoapradioplayers.com/
While there you can access our other productions as well as info about our group. And if you like our videos feel free to hit the subscribe button on Youtube so you can be alerted as soon as we release another production.


CAST:
John Bell as Jack Benny
Eric Jacobson as George Burns
Stephanie D’Abruzzo as Gracie Allen
Noah Diamond as Groucho Marx
Larry Groebe as Fred Allen
Craig Shemin as Professor LeBlanc
Victoria Gordon as Daisy and The Lucky Strike singer
Paul Kovit as Ralph Edwards
Zach Dillinger as Phil Harris
Annette Bochenek as Mary Livingstone
Tony Semczuk as Frank Nelson and Jack Bailey
Paul Patterson as Rochester
John Henderson as Don Wilson
Zach Eastman as Dennis Day
Laura Mirsky as Florence

Jan 12, 2025

Long, long before George Burns became the senior citizen movie star of films like "The Sunshine Boys" and "Oh God!" he was familiar to radio and television audiences across the country as the grounded half of the comedy couple Burns and Allen, with real-life wife (and vaudeville partner) Gracie Allen playing the ditzy dame of the duo. Theirs was a 25-year run on the airwaves, and now for Project Audion, Pete Lutz has penned a fresh new Burns and Allen script that recalls the best of their radio work during World War II, right down to their sponsor of the time, Swan Soap. Much like Bob Hope and Jack Benny did, we find the two of them at a naval base entertaining the troops, along with guest stars Henry Fonda and Chico Marx.

You'll be entertained by Audion's transcribed-live transcontinental cast of delicious, delirious vocal talents:

John Bell (as George) in Alabama

Mel Rose (as Gracie) in Pennsylvania

Dana Gonsalves (as Bill Goodwin) in Texas

Les Marsden (as Chico Marx) in California

Scott R. McKinley (as Henry Fonda) in New Jersey 

Pete Lutz (as Mel Blanc as PO2 Ferguson) in Texas

Robert L. Mills (as Adm. Tarbottom) in California 

Larry Groebe supervised the production.

Written and directed by Pete Lutz

Dec 23, 2024

SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS, based on the 1964 film and adapted/produced/directed by Pete Lutz

Martians are worried that their children are being influenced by Earth trends, so they visit the planet's wise man, who tells them that they should let their children be children, and the Earthling Santa Claus isn't such a bad thing, so their decision is to travel to Earth and kidnap the jolly old elf.

The original film has been described as one of the worst films ever made, and as a result has been spoofed by theatrical companies all over the U.S. Well, the Narada Radio Company is no exception -- originally planned for a live production in December of 2024, Murphy's Law held true and strong, so they recorded it in the director's living room instead, and said director edited the voice tracks on Saturday, December 21st, and mixed all of the music and SFX on Sunday, December 22nd. Now, if you don't like the finished product...the director wishes you a very Merry Christmas.

This play would not have been possible without the following voice talents:

Mario Aguilar as Kimar
Cassandra Paige as Cowgirl Imelda, Winky, and Girmar
Dana Gonsalves as Santa Claus, Slobo, and Martian Foreman
Pete Lutz as Cowboy Dennis, Cho-Chim and Dr. Werner von Green
Lisa Espinoza McGrew as News Anchor, Hargo, Martian and Elf
Pam Pailes as Radio Announcer and Momar
Dawn E. Robertson as Betty and Mrs. Claus
Merilee Robinson as Billy and Dennis's Maw
Richard Robinson as Dropo
Carl Thomas as Henderson, Lomas and Torg
Bobby Vela as Announcer and Rigna
Tammy Weidemann as Bomar and Shim, and
Nick Wommack as Kid-TV announcer and Voldar

Certain music passages by Dr. Ross Bernhardt; other music sourced from the public domain.

Nov 28, 2024

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Old-Time Radio Essentials returns with episode 45, the 8th installment of Season 4! Pete, Paul and Patte present Patte's pick (which is our annual Thanksgiving Special), an episode of Cincinnati, Ohio's station W-L-W comedy-variety series Fountain of Fun, called "Turkey Rationed"!  Come for the old-time radio, stay for the scintillating (that's one way of putting it) discussion afterwards!

As you listen, perhaps 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 forty-fifth number (but 8th official episode of S4), this episode of Fountain of Fun, from 11-22-42. 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 Paul's pick again for our annual Xmas show, and he'll decide later...

Sep 1, 2024

In terms of sheer fun and laughter during radio's classic mid-century era, it's hard to beat the Phil Harris/Alice Faye show. A spinoff from Jack Benny, bandleader Phil Harris and his family found themselves in classic sitcom predicaments week after week. Now, Robert L. Mills, former writer for Bob Hope, has created another fresh script that brings all those characters -- including Frankie Remley, Julius, brother Willie, your friendly Rexall druggist and others -- back to life.

Project Audion's talented voice actors came together live with a virtual studio audience to create a delightful - and delightfully accurate - recreation of a radio comedy classic:

PETE LUTZ in Texas (Phil)

ANGELA YOUNG in Florida (Alice and Nurse Syringe)

DUANE NOCH in New Jersey (Remley)

JULIE HOVERSON in Washington (Julius)

BOB BEAUMONT in California (Willie/Doctor)

MEL ROSE in Pennsylvania (Phyllis/Little Alice/Store Patron)

HARRY MIDDLEBROOKS in California (Admiral)

RANDY KERDOON in Washington (Announcer)

ROBERT L. MILLS, in California, who also scripted the show (Druggist)

Production was handled in Texas by Larry Groebe

Aug 12, 2024

Project Audion invites you to some light summer fare. This Audion Original -- "Matinee with Bob & Ray" -- is Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding like you've never heard before, because it's made from fresh sketches in tribute to "The Two and Only."
If there is such a thing as mid-century-modern comedy, Bob & Ray are the leading example - a comedy team formed (legend has it) by accident in the mid-1940s when a baseball game broadcast was rained out and these two young men were thrown together to ad-lib on the air. That began a five-decade partnership that saw them on every radio network, on TV, films, and even Broadway. Their wit and deadpan characters influenced many later funnymen, including Bob Newhart, David Letterman, Jay Leno and many others. Also Pete Lutz, who wrote this half-hour of new absurdly satirical routines to bring back to life a "Matinee with Bob & Ray!" ENJOY!
 
Bob Elliott - John Bell, Alabama
Ray Goulding - Pete Lutz, Texas
Organ - Ross Bernardt , Texas
Production - Larry Groebe, Texas
 
In case you were led here by a direct link, idle curiosity, or a friendly, enchanted bear, you may not realize that John Bell & Pete Lutz created an earlier Bob & Ray Show in 2021. Find that show here:
https://moonlightaudio.libsyn.com/project-audion-22-the-bob-ray-show
Jul 10, 2024

PROJECT AUDION EPISODE 56 - The Jack Benny Program w/guest star James Stewart (orig. rel. 6/14/24)

Project Audion once again brings you laughs, with an all-new original episode of the Jack Benny Program sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes. This Audion Original was written for us by former Bob Hope staff writer Robert L. Mills. Jack Benny was his childhood comedy inspiration, and once again Mr. Mills has recreated that classic Benny style and humor so faithfully, it's like discovering a lost episode! This week, Jack has snagged Jimmy Stewart as his guest star, so the Benny gang (Mary Livingston, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Mel Blanc, and the rest) can stage their send-up of the Alfred Hitchcock film "The Man Who Knew Too Much." Also, after a trying violin lesson with Professor LeBlanc, Jack faces a tax audit which requires a trip to the IRS to explain some of his more mysterious deductions. Performing live in our virtual Zoom studio, our coast-to-coast cast and crew once again capture the sound of the Benny show right down to the studio audience. Tune in and join in the laughter! 

 JOHN BELL (as Jack) In Alabama

SCOTT MCKINLEY (as James Stewart) in New Jersey

ANGELA YOUNG (as Mary) in Florida

PAUL PATTERSON (as Rochester) in Georgia

PETE LUTZ (as Mel Blanc/Phil Harris) in Texas 

BOB BEAUMONT (as Dennis Day/Frank Nelson) in California 

RACHEL PULLIAM (as child) in Missouri 

KEN JEFFRIES (as Don Wilson) in California

LARRY GROEBE produced and directed from Texas

May 14, 2024

THE REASONABLY AMAZING ADVENTURES OF DALE ARDEN & DR. ZARKOV Episode 10: Flash Gets Eclipsed Part 2

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.

Directed and edited by Tom Konkle

Written and Produced by Tom Konkle and Kurtis Bedford

Starring Tom Konkle as Flash Gordon and Hawkman

Stephanie Stearns Dulli as Dale Arden

Kurtis Bedford as Announcer 1  and Ming

Gino C. Vianelli as Thune

David Beeler as Dr. Zarkov    

Pete Lutz as Bound-and-Gagged Guard

Music various in the public domain 1934

May 14, 2024

THE REASONABLY AMAZING ADVENTURES OF DALE ARDEN & DR. ZARKOV Episode 9: Flash Gets Eclipsed, Part 1

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.

Directed and edited by Tom Konkle. 

Written and Produced by Tom Konkle and Kurtis Bedford 

 Starring Tom Konkle as Flash Gordon and Hawkman

Stephanie Stearns Dulli as Dale Arden

Pete Lutz as Saul, Hawkman Envoy, and Guard 2

Kurtis Bedford as Announcer 1 and Ming

Gino C. Vianelli as Thune

David Beeler as Dr. Zarkov

Music various in the public domain 1934.

May 12, 2024

THE MAN CALLED "X", Episode 54

Premiered Apr 12, 2024

A spy caper always makes for a good show. Start with a suave man of mystery, sprinkle in some far-off exotic locales, and stir in some evil enemies of democracy and beautiful women. The result: James Bond? No, "The Man Called X" -- which broadcast several hundred episodes on network radio from 1944 through 1952. Unflappable British actor Herbert Marshall originally played American agent Ken Thurston, AKA the man called X. Project Audion now recreates the very first episode of "The Man Called X," from a script which has not been heard since its premiere in July 1944! The action of "The Cage of Europe" is set in wartime Lisbon (you know, where Ilsa flew off to in "Casablanca." Audion's recreation features voice actors performing live on both sides of the Atlantic for this half hour of what was described as in 1944 as a "comedy-mystery," and which eighty years later is still highly entertaining!

Featuring –

David Ault in England

Jack Ward in Canada

Laura Mirsky in New Jersey

George Taylor in Tennessee

Jane Beverley in New Jersey

Jeff Billard in Massachusetts

Caleb Fisher in Virginia

Joe Mendell in England

Robert Stevenson in Indiana

Larry Groebe produced and directed from Texas

Feb 23, 2024

Just premiered for the International Jack Benny Society annual convention, and now available to all: a "new" episode of the classic Jack Benny radio show newly penned exclusively for Project Audion by Bob Hope comedy writer Robert L. Mills. Here, Jack and the gang do a send up of the movie "Witness for the Prosecution" - with W. C. Fields in a guest-starring role. 
 
Here's what Mr. Mills said after hearing the final product: "This as near perfection as any living humans could possibly recreate a 75-year-old radio show. You performed miracles producing this and the program will take its place among the best work you've ever done." As Jack would say... "Well!” That's a tribute to the cast and crew. Go ahead - join our virtual studio audience and laugh at the efforts of these talented voice actors...
 
John Bell in Alabama
Pete Lutz in Texas
Ken Jeffries in California
Carl Thomas in Texas
Bob Beaumont in California
Angela Young in Florida
Harry Middlebrooks in CA
Norman Cline in Kentucky
Bob Mills wrote the script in LA
While back in Texas,  Larry Groebe oversaw the production
Dec 19, 2023

In the late 1940s and early 1950s the Phil Harris-Alice Faye radio series was a master class in radio comedy. Harris (charming, egotistical, smooth, Southern) and Faye (grounded, smart, and only occasionally the movie star) were surrounded by eccentric regulars like Elliot Lewis as Phil’s band buddy Remley, and Walter Tetley as the little kid Julius - and each week the happy result could be heard in the gales of laughter from the live studio audience. Today, Harris is best remembered as the voice of Balloo the Bear in Walt Disney's Jungle Book, but former Bob Hope comedy writer Robert L. Mills fondly recalls the Harris-Faye radio shows of his youth, and has penned a pitch-perfect recreation for our coast-to-coast Project Audion cast to perform. We promise you a half-hour's classic entertainment!

Our cast --
Pete Lutz (Phil Harris)
JoAnne Kurman (Alice Faye)
John Bell (Frank Remley)
Bob Beaumont (Willie / Mr. Scott)
Angela Young (Julius / Miss Bluecross / Customer)
Ken Jeffries (Announcer)
Robert L Mills (Druggist, Scriptwriter)
Larry Groebe (Producer/Director)

Aug 18, 2023

SONIC SUMMERSTOCK PLAYHOUSE '23:

Lux Radio Theatre's production of Kaufman & Hart's You Can't Take it With You, remade by the Narada Radio Company.

Tom Konkle as YOUR ANNOUNCER

Les Marsden as GRANDPA

Laura Mirsky as PENNY

Noah Diamond as TONY

Amanda Sisk as ALICE

Joe Martinez as CECIL B. DEMILLE

Victoria Fancki as ESSIE

Dana Gonsalves as ED

Debby Ramirez as RITA

Larry Groebe as PAUL 

Scott McKinley AS MR. DEPINNA  

Tre Minor as DONALD

Pete Lutz as KOLENKHOV

Alex Lagase as MR. KIRBY

Stephanie Stearns Dulli as MRS. KIRBY

John Bell as HENDERSON of the IRS

Ian Federgreen as the head J-MAN and

Geri Elliff as GRAND DUCHESS OLGA KATRINKA 

 

Additional voices performed by Stephanie Stearns Dulli, John Bell, and Pete Lutz

 

Recorded over Zoom in July 2023, with actors from Texas, California, New Jersey, New York, Alabama and Illinois. Originally released 8/6/23 on the Mutual Audio Network as a feature of the 2023 Sonic Summerstock Playhouse festival.

Jun 15, 2023

Project Audion revisits one of the funniest, most beloved radio comedies of the 20th century. Fibber McGee and Molly tickled the radio audience for so long - more than a quarter of a century - that it spawned the very first-ever spinoff shows... and recurring gags like Fibber's hopelessly overstuffed closet, and quips like Molly's "t'ain't funny, McGee", remained part of shared American pop culture long after the series left the airwaves. Part vaudeville act, part sitcom, the series stared real-life couple Jim and Marion Jordan who were indeed former vaudeville comics. Don Quinn's scripts and a large cast of supporting characters who stopped by 79 Wistful Vista kept the laughs rolling.

Now, Robert L. Mills (former comedy writer for Bob Hope) has wonderfully recreated the style of the show at its peak in a new script penned just for Project Audion. In it, Fibber thinks he's come up with a brilliant and practical new invention - for once, does his boasting have merit? Listen to our transcontinental cast and laugh!

Our cast:

Fibber McGee: John Bell, AL

Molly / Teeny: Holly Adams, NY

Harlow Wilcox: Ken Jeffries, CA

Wallace Wimple: Dana Gonsalves, TX

Mayor LaTrivia: Bob Beaumont, CA

Doc Gamble: Frank Guglielmeli, PA

Old Timer: Harry Middlebrooks, CA

Gildersleeve: Larry Groebe, TX

Leroy: Carolyn Threlkeld, KY

Produced, directed, and mixed by Larry Groebe

Apr 15, 2023

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

Apr 1, 2023

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.

Feb 18, 2023

PROJECT AUDION 39 - Little Ham from Harlem, by Langston Hughes

Project Audion presents a world premiere of an unrealized radio play by the famed Black poet Langston Hughes. What might radio drama's Golden Age of the 1930s, '40s and '50s have sounded like had Black creators been allowed time on the airwaves? Back then, radio was almost exclusively a stage for White entertainers, with only a handful of secondary roles and occasional guest appearances offered to people of color. In 1943, Langston Hughes took the lead characters from a successful theatrical comedy he had written eight years earlier - "Little Ham from Harlem" - and proposed creating a daily soap opera around them. Hamlet Jones of the Singing Shoe Shine Parlor, and Tiny Lee, his "stout but beautiful" lady friend, would have been the main focus of radio's first Black soap opera. It would have taken the radio audience around Harlem life as Hughes knew it, encompassing everything from numbers-running to local night spots. But "Little Ham" would have not been just a soap opera. It was also full of comedy, and each episode was deliberately scripted to feature songs from the cast worked into the action. Langston Hughes wrote the show's first two 15 minute episodes, then shopped his concept to networks, syndicators, and advertising agencies. But in the 1940s, no one would take a chance on such a progressive idea. As Hughes noted some years later, 'My Agents stated flatly "It is just abut impossible to sell a Negro writer to Hollywood or radio, and they use Negro subject matter very rarely."' His two completed scripts for "Little Ham" were filed away, unproduced and unheard. Now Project Audion brings the show to life for the first time.

"Little Ham from Harlem" features the talents of Black actors from across America, and is preceded by an interview with Dr. Vanessa Valdez, Director of City College of New York's annual Langston Hughes festival, who offers insights into Langston Hughes' work and impact.

Our cast features:

LITTLE HAM: Lee J. Green, NE

BUSTER: Robert Stevenson, IN

SHINGLE: Willie Macon, FL

PAPA MACK: Carl Thomas, TX

TINY LEE: Yle Blackburn, CT

SUGAR LOU: Tabetha McNeal, VA

LAWYER / STRANGER: Sean Massey, TX

ANNOUNCER / CUSTOMER: Norval Soleyn, NY

with production and direction by Larry Groebe in Texas

Feb 18, 2023

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

Dec 23, 2022

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

Nov 26, 2022

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 

Nov 24, 2022

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!

Nov 5, 2022

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)

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