Claim OwnershipProject Audion: Classic Audio Dramas for Modern Times
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Network Radio of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s - the precursor to today's podcasting - was a golden era for Audio Theatre. Project Audion selects the most interesting examples of these vintage audio plays - often from lost scripts that haven't been heard or performed in decades - and recreates them in real-time using top-notch voice actors from across the country and vintage production techniques. The result: a timeless treat for your ears.
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If you love audio drama, then you will appreciate Project Audion's November episode, which is NOT an audio drama but a podcast ABOUT audio drama - and why we make it, particularly in a time when Artificial Intelligence may be able to impact this art form. youcan "Meet The Creators" of some of best, longest-running modern radio-drama groups in North America, as they discuss why they find value in creating new audio fiction in the 21st century. What's the point in revisiting and continuing this old storytelling art form? The 45-minute discussion was at different times lively, nostalgic, angry, funny, feisty, thoughtful, enthusiastic, even emotional. Our panelists included Jeff Billard, Doug Fain, Larry Groebe, Tom Konkle, Pete Lutz, Robert L. Mills, Patte Rosebank, Jack Ward...and ChatGPT. As Artificial Intelligence seems to be replacing human efforts in so many different aspects of life, how should we define the roles of both people and AI in creating twenty-first century audio stories.
From the early days of the classic era of audio drama, Project Audion recreates a unique ghost-story/murder-mystery taken from a radio drama which is now so forgotten that it, too, might well be a ghost. But in the early 1930s "Eno Crime Clues" was a major radio hit, following the adventures of detective Spencer Dean (known as "The Manhunter") and his partner, Dan Cassidy. Our lost script from 1936 took the show in a new direction. You know how Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" made such an impact by making the story sound like a genuine on-the-spot broadcast? Well, he wasn't the first. This Crime Clues episode tried the same trick over two years earlier, using a real location, the show's genuine announcer and director, and a remote broadcast which -- well, you'll just have to listen... Our cast: TOM KONKLE in California PAUL ARBISI in Illinois HOLLY ADAMS in NY DOUGLAS HERMAN in California PAUL PATTERSON in Georgia DAVID RIES also in Georgia KEN RANEY in Texas PAUL KOVIT in New York and LARRY GROEBE, directing from Texas
Gunsmoke! The show that created the "adult western" drama genre...the show that moved westerns from the kid-centered "Lone Ranger" into darker, more mature themes... the show that ran for 10 years and nearly 500 radio episodes, and 20 years and 600 more chapters on television. A handful of Gunsmoke audio recordings have been lost for seven decades, but Project Audion now recreates one of those missing episodes - in fact, Gunsmoke's second-ever show from May 3, 1952. Listen to our-country cast bring back Marshall Matt Dillon, Doc Adams, Chester and others in this live Zoom recording of the dark drama titled "Ben Thompson." Denny Thompson, Colorado Glenn Hascall, Kansas Norman Cline, Kentucky Kim Titus, Texas Jane Beverley, New Jersey Pete Fernbaugh, West Virginia Duane Noch, New Jersey Caleb Fisher, Virginia Production supervised by Larry Groebe, Texas
You know Jimmy Durante, even if you think you don't -- the fellow was so famous for so many decades that just a caricature of his face was once enough to elicit a smile. His outsized "Schnozz" matched the outsized personality from the 1920s through the 1970s. Even today his catchphrases and songs endure. You can hear Durante singing in the "Joker" movie of 2019, imitated in the "Lion King," in Warner Bros cartoons, and every year in beloved animated Christmas specials. In this Audion Original, Pete Lutz revisits this unique talent, imagining a brand-new late-1940s episode of the Jimmy Durante Comedy Caravan with his on-air partner (and future TV host) Garry Moore, plus guest stars Sydney Greenstreet and Rose Marie. It's a half-hour of the kind of variety show that radio once did so often and so well. "Everyone wants ta' get inta de act!" and here they do, for a marvelous half-hour of mirth and music with: Pete Lutz, in Texas, as Jimmy Durante Bob Beaumont, in California, as Garry Moore Scott McKinley, in New Jersey, as Sidney Greenstreet Jessica Matthews, in Texas, as Rose Marie Laura Mirsky in New Jersey, as Vera Vague Sheree Whichard, in New York, as Florence Halop Trevor Rines, in Ontario Canada, as Candy Candido Andy Hartson-Bowyer, in Virginia, as Verne Smith
"Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" (actually called "The Challenge of the Yukon" for most of its 16 years on the radio) was one of the greatest juvenile adventure radio series ever - part of a trinity of kids' shows that originated from Station WXYZ in Detroit. (The others were "The Green Hornet" and "The Lone Ranger".) It chronicled the never-ending adventure of the noble Mountie and his wonder dog Yukon King, maintaining law and order in the wilds of the frozen Northwest. While there are nearly 700 surviving recordings of this classic show, Project Audion located a MISSING episode's script that originally aired on May 25, 1955 -- just two weeks before show ended its run. What's more, we are delighted to feature 94-year-old Chuck Daugherty, who was actually heard in some of the original Preston series episodes during his time at WXYZ over 70 years ago. He's part of a terrifically talented coast-to-coast cast for this exciting episode with original commercials for Quaker cereals. In the cast: Vincent Caruso in New York Chuck Daugherty in Detroit Michigan Hunter Adkins in Baltimore Maryland Kyle Bonn in the wilds of Oregon Frank Guglielmelli in Philadelphia Glenn Hascall in Dodge City Kansas Craig Wichman in New York Larry Groebe in Dallas Texas
What makes "The Great Gildersleeve" a great radio comedy? Historically, it was the first-ever spinoff series, and its classic sitcom characters were more deeply and warmly drawn than its parent show "Fibber and McGee and Molly," but no less funny. Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve was the unforgettably blustery Water Commissioner of Summerfield, portrayed with a famous laugh full of innuendo by Hal Peary (and later Willard Waterman). Gildy's interactions with his nephew Leroy and nNiece Marjorie; friends like Judge Hooker, Peavey the druggist, and Floyd the barber; and his romantic entanglements with Leila Ransom's and others delivered laughs every week. All the regulars are here in this new script penned by Robert L. Mills and recreated by some of Audion's most talented voices: Trevor Rines, in Ontario Canada Julie Hoverson in Washington State Pete Lutz in Texas Mel Rose in Pennsylvania and Randy Kerdoon in Washington State The script was penned by Robert L. Mills in California and the production was supervised by Larry Groebe in Texas
To begin Project Audion's sixth season, we're once again returning to that all-time classic audio drama, Suspense. Once again, we've accessed a script from one of the very few lost episodes of the show, and are bringing back many of the actors from Audion's very first episode in 2020 to recreate it. This 1950 episode, "Deadline," is a powerhouse story of a newspaper editor whose fast-breaking stories on the Chicago underworld increase his paper's circulation beyond his wildest dreams... but which may also prove to be the stuff of his nightmares. It is indeed a classic tale "well-calculated to keep you in..." SUSPENSE! Pete Lutz in Texas Doug Fain in Kentucky Richard Huitema in Florida Scott McKinley in New Jersey Patte Rose-bank in Toronto Canada Craig Wichman in New York Production, direction, music and sound patterns by Larry Groebe
What's more exciting than premiering a recreated lost episode of a classic audio drama? Premiering a completely unknown and lost show! Such is "Wayfaring Men," Project Audion's latest offering. "Wayfaring Men" was a dramatic summer 1933 CBS serial about the lives of the hoboes, tramps, and bums who were numerous during the Great Depression. Not a single recording of the show exists, and almost no background information either, but Project Audion came into a handful of original mimeographed scripts, and has selected one episode from June 1933 to bring back to life. But wait - there's more! Not only will you join the men (and women) who wandered over America's rails and roadways as they try to survive without money or jobs... Because this is the finale of our fifth season, we're first going to first take you behind the scenes for an extended look at how our shows are created, from script to rehearsals, from sound effects to recording and post-production, you'll discover what goes into each Project Audion episode. Heard (and seen) in THIS episode: Trevor Rines in Toronto canada Donna Patton in Tennessee Kim Titus in Texas Jack Ward in Nova Scotia David Ries in Georgia Larry Groebe produced and directed from Texas
Project Audion brings you "The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," recreating an episode which has remained unheard for eighty years. There's no more famous detective, real or imagined, than Holmes. His creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, pretty much defined the mystery-detective story, and 138 years later Holmes and Watson are still part of popular culture. In 1945, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce portrayed them weekly on the Mutual Radio network. Our selected script (which aired only once, on January 15, 1945) "The Curse of Doctor Anselmo," carries its own mystery - the secret identity of the man who co-wrote it pseudonymously. Will you discover whodunnit? Will Holmes fall under Anselmo's curse? Will the Petri family take the time to bring you good wine? All will be revealed in this delightful half hour audio drama, faithful to the original series' sound and spirit. Our cast: Craig Wichman in New York Paul Arbisi in Illinois Glenn Hascall in Kansas Jeff Billard in Massachusetts Jane Beverley in New Jersey Richard Durrington in Idaho and Vincent Caruso in New York while Production and direction were handled by Larry Groebe in Texas
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 in Alabama Mel Rose in Pennsylvania Dana Gonsalves in Texas Les Marsden in California Scott R. McKinley in New Jersey Pete Lutz in Texas Robert L. Mills in California Larry Groebe supervised the production
Our Christmas present for you is a lost episode of the classic detective drama "The Adventures of Philip Marlowe" with a holiday theme! Because Audion's previous Philip Marlowe restoration became its most popular episode ever, we returned to our archives to unearth a Marlowe script which hasn't been performed or heard since December 19, 1948 -- "The Three Wise Guys." "The Adventures of Philip Marlowe" ran for three years on network radio, with new noir-ish tales from author Raymond Chandler's detective. In this episode, it was the night before Christmas and (as Marlowe says) "a sweet girl was in trouble. But that didn't mean a thing to the second-story man, the four-flusher in spats, and the ex-Chicago cabbie -- until, one way or the other, they all got into the spirit of the thing..." Our cast, which recorded this episode live in the classic radio drama style, included: Andy Hartson-Bowyer in Virginia Tom Konkle in California Hunter Adkins in Maryland Gregg Mcafee in California Jessica Matthews in Texas Rhiannon Mcafee in California Donna Patton in Tennessee Paul Kovit in New York Music, sounds, production, direction by Larry Groebe
The Jack Benny Program returns with a delightful all-new radio episode penned by former Bob Hope staff writer Robert L. Mills just for Project Audion. Jack and his regular gang - Mary Livingston, Phil Harris, Dennis Day, and Rochester - send up the movie classic "Casablanca" with some of the movie's original cast in guest starring roles. Jack takes the Humphrey Bogart part, inevitably. Join project Audion's talented transcontinental voice actors as they perform together in real time (like the old radio-drama days) this brand-new episode of the Jack Benny Program that sounds like it came from the 1940s! Our cast: John Bell in Alabama Paul Patterson in Georgia Julie Hoverson in Washington Mel Rose in Pennsylvania Pete Lutz in Texas Scott McKinley in New Jersey Bob Beaumont in California Ken Jeffries in California Written and directed by Robert L. Mills in California Produced by Larry Groebe in Texas
"Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" was the last detective standing at the end of radio drama's original classic era, outlasting everyone else - Sam Spade, Richard Diamond, Sherlock Holmes, The Saint, Phillip Marlowe and dozens of others. "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator" is arguably better-loved now than he was in the middle of the 20th century. Now Project Audion presents a new Johnny Dollar script, written by Patrick Keating in the style of the original episodes, and transcribed live (via Zoom) in the classic audio drama manner. Johnny Dollar travels to Texas to learn about the Damiani Diamond and what has happened to it... Project Audion's cast includes: Pete Fernbaugh in West Virginia Kristen James in California Glenn Hascall in Kansas Lefty Rosenthal in Toronto Canada Caleb Fisher in Virginia Norman and Denise Cline in Kentucky with production by Larry Groebe in Texas
Brought back to life after nearly 90 years buried at the Library of Congress, Project Audion recreates the very first script Arch Oboler created for NBC's famous late night horror drama "Lights Out." Lights Out stories gave the listener free rein to imagine the worst. And in the hands of a master storyteller like Oboler, the worst could be terrifying indeed - like a good campfire ghost story, reinforced with sound effects. "Burial Services" took a simple, horrifying premise - being buried alive - and wrapped a moody story around it, one whose shock value comes as much from hearing the private thoughts of the attendees as what happens to the person in the coffin. When "Burial Services" aired June 3, 1936 it upset so many listeners that it was never produced again - but it launched Arch Oboler on a long and highly successful career. Only the original script of "Burial Services" survived, resting in peace in the archives of the Library of Congress. Project Audion was able to unearth the script, and our transcontinental cast (even including a licensed mortician) performs the episode in its original as-broadcast form for the first time in nine decades. Listen with the lights out...if you dare... Festuring Holly Adams, New York Patte Rosebank, Canada John Mauldin, Tennessee Grace Wagner, Illinois Doug Fain, Kentucky Greg McAfee, California Sharon Grunwald, New Jersey Vincent Caruso, New York Production, direction, and sound patterns were by Larry Groebe, Texas.
For fourteen years beginning in 1943, the CBS Radio network brought its listeners "Romance" - an anthology of half-hour love stories both classic and new, serious and comic. A story like Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" would seem to be a particular challenge to condense to a single half-hour, but Romance captured the essence of the tale in a brisk, highly entertaining adaptation that was performed three times during the show's long run. The vintage mid-century recordings sound muddy and are not always well cast, so it became an ideal candidate for Project Audion to recreate. Enjoy the classic love match of Miss Bennet and Mr Darcy in this streamlined "Pride and Prejudice," recorded live in the authentic 1940s manner, but via Zoom using voice actors spread across the country. Our cast: Donna Patton in Tennessee Tom Konkle in California Jane Beverley in New Jersey Richard Durrington in Idaho Laura Mirsky in New Jersey Greg Vestal in Texas Les Marsden in California Larry Groebe handled production, direction, music, and sound.
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. Here they are all: PETE LUTZ in Texas ANGELA YOUNG in Florida DUANE NOCH in New Jersey JULIE HOVERSON in Washington BOB BEAUMONT in California Mel Rose in Pennsylvania HARRY MIDDLEBROOKS in California RANDY KERDOON in Washington ROBERT L. MILLS, in California, who also scripted the show Production was handled in Texas by Larry Groebe
Project Audion invites you to some light summer fare: the Audion Original "Matinee with Bob & Ray." This is Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding like you've never heard before, because it's made of fresh sketches in tribute to "The Two and Only." For those who are NOT intimately familiar with Biff Burns, Komodo dragons, or the Slow Talkers of America, the comedic duo of Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding was 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 others. Also Pete Lutz, who wrote this half-hour of new absurdly satirical routines. The droll style of "The Two and Only" returns to life in our "Matinee with Bob & Ray!" Bob Elliott - John Bell, Alabama Ray Goulding - Pete Lutz, Texas Organ - Ross Bernardt , Texas Production - Larry Groebe, Texas
In the long lineup of fictional hard-boiled detectives, Philip Marlowe stands out as one of the earliest and best. Raymond Chandler's creation first reached print in the early 1930s, then went on to memorable adaptations in film, television, and of course radio. "The Adventures of Philip Marlowe" had a solid four-year run of well over 100 episodes on CBS. Still, a handful of recordings are lost today. Now Project Audion recreates one of these missing episodes - "The Quiet Number" - directly from the original script, exactly seventy-five years after it was broadcast. "The Quiet Number" wasn't penned by Chandler, but we meet the son of the man who wrote this and most of Marlowe's other radio adventures. Then our transcontinental voice cast performs this gritty story of lost love in a hot Los Angeles summer via a live transcription that sounds just like 1949. Our versatile voice actors were: Andy Hartson-bowyer in Virginia Richard Durrington in Idaho Gary Layton in Texas Lothar Tuppan in California Kristen James in Nevada Holly Adams in New York Kyle Bonn in Oregon Larry Groebe produced and directed from Texas
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 In Alabama SCOTT MCKINLEY in New Jersey ANGELA YOUNG in Florida PAUL PATTERSON in Georgia PETE LUTZ in Texas BOB BEAUMONT in California RACHEL PULLIAM in Missouri KEN JEFFRIES in California LARRY GROEBE produced and directed from Texas
Suspense is one of classic radio's most highly-regarded dramas -- with good reason. It sustained a remarkably high quality level of dramatic tension for 20 years, as the many surviving recordings attest. But a handful of episodes are lost - and Project Audion now recreates one of them. "The Life of Nellie James" was intended as Suspense's premiere, but circumstances pushed it back to the third episode. It was performed once, live, on July 1, 1942, but never heard again. Until now -- as Project Audion, kicking off its fifth season, brings together a transcontinental cast in a live transcription of "The Life of Nellie James" from the original 1942 script. A dreadful murder takes place in the Simon James home, and justice is done ...or is it? It's a tale well-calculated to keep you in ...Suspense! Before the show, there is an interview with Suspense scholar Dr. Joseph Webb, where we discuss what makes "Suspense" so special. Our cast features a mix of players, including folks returning from Project Audion episode #1 and professional voices who are brand-new to Audion. Patte Rosebank in Canada Tim Burns in Kansas Andy Hartson-Bowyer in Virginia Richard Huitema in Florida Mel Rose in Pennsylvania Pete Lutz in Texas Art Brown in California Denny Thompson in Colorado Frank Guglielmelli in Pennsylvania Sharon Grunwald in New Jersey while Larry Groebe produced and directed from Texas
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