May 28, 2017
Fire Watch, Part 1
Connie Willis’ short story of time travelers studying the Firewatch Brigade who helped save London during the Blitz of 1940. It comes to us from Seeing Ear Theater. Written by Tony Daniel. Directed by George Zarr. (Part 2 next week.) Available at archive.org.
Breakfast with Robin
Robin of Loxley awakes in a strange place, and is offered a breakfast the likes of which he has never tasted, and isn’t likely to again for centuries. Winner of the 2016 Midnight Audio Theatre scriptwriting competition, at WBCE radio in Columbus, Ohio. Written by Glenn Hascall. Produced by Catherine Rinella. June 4, 2017
Fire Watch, Part 2
The conclusion of the story by Connie Willis. She later went back to this theme of time travel to 1940s London in a novel in two volumes, Blackout and All Clear, which won a Nebula Award and a Hugo Award.
The Fairy Wood
The other 2016 winner in the MAT Scriptwriting contest from WBCE in Columbus, OH. An arrogant landowner goes hunting in the woods, but pays no heed to the warnings of his game keeper, or the fairies he meets there. And there are consequences to such treatment. Written by Jim McDoniel. Produced by Catherine Rinella. June 11, 2017
Jack Webb
Mike Stapp will be sitting in with some OTR from the legendary Jack Webb, including, but not limited to, episodes of Dragnet and Pat Novak For Hire. I am especially fond of Pat Novak scripts for their wildly inventive use of metaphors in pursuit of noir detectives patter.
June 18, 2017
A Thing For Machines
Sally’s “helper robots” practically run the small town of Junction Falls, but much to the consternation of her longtime boyfriend, Hal, they also take up a lot of her time and attention. Feeling increasingly neglected, he confronts Sally — and makes a shocking discovery.
Another unexpected tale from Uncanny County. Written by Todd Faulkner, produced by AJ Cermak & Todd Faulkner.
Short Subjects - Ducks Breath Mystery Theater, and a room full of bowls. June 25, 2017
The Boy Who Cried Martian
Another from Uncanny County. In 1938, Orson Welles terrified the nation with a false tale of a Martian invasion. One year later, after being all but driven from the industry, Orson is back on the air and about to face the most challenging broadcast OF HIS LIFE!
Written by Todd Faulkner, produced by AJ Cermak & Todd Faulkner. Featuring Andrew Kaempfer as Orson Welles.
Short Subjects:
July 2, 2017
The Odyssey of Runyon Jones
A story by Norman Corwin about a boy who goes to heaven looking for his dog that was hit by a car. Directed by David Ossman at the 1989 Midwest Radio Theater Workshop.
We Hold These Truths, Part 1
Originally written for radio in 1941, and broadcast just days after Pearl Harbor. Now, when we need a reminder we bring you Otherworld Media’s production of Corwin’s history-making 1941 broadcast honoring the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Bill of Rights. Forty celebrated performers include James Earl Jones, Richard Dysart, Esther Rolle, Lloyd Bridges, Tom Bosley, John Ireland, Fess Parker, Jesse White, Studs Turkel. Score by Minnesota composer Libby Larsen. Winner of the A.B.A.’s Silver Gavel, three Gold Medals at the N. Y. International Radio Festival and the CPB Silver Medal. Conclusion next week.
July 9, 2017
We Hold These Truths, Part 2
The conclusion of Norman Corwin’s celebration of the Bill of Rights, from Otherworld Media and WETA.
Short Subjects
The Firesign Theatre’s commentary on the 4th of July. July 16, 2017
Lady Windermere’s Brass Fantabulous, Part 1 - A Steampunk State of Mind
Lady Windermere is s spy. Professor Farking Foots-Foots has installed a recording device in the brass cage of Lady Windermere’s bustle. Hidden within the bows of her bustle is a lens. Whenever the Lady turns her back, she can record whatever is happening behind her.
A steampunk alternate history story from ZBS. It’s a spoof of how governments manipulate the gullible public to justify their nefarious commercial interests.
July 23, 2017
Lady Windermere’s Brass Fantabulous, Part 2
We conclude the story A Steampunk State of Mind, and begin the next chapter, You Can’t Outrun the Flying Dead.
Plenty of Zombies were created to fight the Not-So-Great-War. The Krauts have been using zeppelins to drop canisters of synthetic Zombie gas on various villages in hopes of creating a ravenous fighting force. Archibald Butterfield-Smith, flying low over Rhineland is pelted with tomatoes and cauliflowers. The Prussian ground artillery, seeing a pilot and plane splattered with blood and bits of brains, believe the English had created a Flying Zombie Corp.
Written by Meatball Fulton, produced by Tom Lopez at ZBS.
July 30, 2017
Lady Windermere’s Brass Fantabulous, Part 3 - You Can’t Outrun the Flying Dead
It’s not a Zombie flying the plane, it’s just another of Lady Windermere’s devious creations, using our hero, Archibald Butterfield-Smith covered in vegetables. (In fact, no brains were eaten in this series.)
August 6, 2017
SLAN, Part 1
In the 25th Century, mankind fought the hated telepathic Slan race in the fierce "Slan Wars." The result was the extermination of almost all Slans, and the establishment of a world-wide police state. Now, in the 30th Century, Slan Jommy Cross has escaped extermination and is living in the world of cruel humans. Amid grave danger, Jommy is determined to avoid detection, track down other surviving Slans, and with them solve the mystery of the Slans' strange existence and superiority.
From Ziggurat Productions. August 13, 2017
SLAN, Part 2
Ziggurat Productions presents A. E. Van Vogt’s novel in an original adaptation. Produced and sound effects by Bob Flick and Perry Jacobs. Original score by Bob Flick.
Conclusion next week.
