Sunday Showcase

Jack Ward continues from his latest book collection of the Ward Father Christmas Letters with a huge collection! Find your own copy of the book under your tree from Amazon https://a.co/d/ebijJdG with illustrations from Madelyn Knight (his niece). Jack believes this collection of letters inspired by the same Father Christmas that graced Tolkien's nephews represent the most in-depth look at the North and has sub-tiled this tome "A Compendium of the North". Enjoy the full audible book on sale with John Bell in the titular character! Continuing this week's preview of Father Christmas' exploits in the Canadian North with 2004! Merry Christmas everyone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Old-Time Radio Essentials continues its fifth season with episode 55, their annual Holiday Special. Co-hosts, Pete, Paul, and Patte present Paul's pick, a Christmas Eve broadcast of "The Great Gildersleeve" from 1944. as usual, they'll play the selection in full, then discuss it afterwards to determine if it truly is "essential". Happy Holidays from OTR Essentials! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Bell brings out the Christmas glory for another fantastic special this 2025! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Northside/Southside Radio Players of Chicago are back and they ppresent "Murder& Mistletoe" just in time for Christmas! "Murder & Mistletoe" was written by Juliet Youngren and features the following cast members: Monica: Sherri Berger; Frank: Dennis Newport; Libby: Kate LeVan; Jenkins the butler: Michael Hagedorn; Percival the Pekingese: Carol Seymour. Directed by Carol Seymour. Sound effects: Pam Frederick. Music: David Drazin. Announcer: Marshall Rubin. Newlyweds Monica and Frank visit Monica's wealthy Aunt Matilda on Christmas Eve to break the news that Monica has married Frank against her aunt's wishes, which threatens Monica's inheritance. A whodunit with a twist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Jack and David enjoy Christmas with Jason Markiewitz as Markiewitz Audioworks proudly presents "Theodora's Locket," a heartfelt tale of hope, love, and family, where one girl's selfless act brings forth an unexpected miracle. Inspired by L.M. Montgomery's "Christmas at Red Butte," this full-cast, family-friendly, faith-based, audio drama combines incredible voice actors, immersive soundscapes, and original music to bring their fourth annual Christmas production, "Theodora's Locket," to their fans and listeners.  Written, directed and produced by 2026 Voice Arts Award Nominee Jason Markiewitz, this holiday drama stars Christiana Thomas as Theodora, alongside a cast of Jonathan Cooke, David Hilder, Brian Jeffords, Sarah Kramer, Jason Markiewitz, Sarah Newsom, William Chad Newsom, Mike Pelletier, Shelly Raffle, and Molly Thomas. The Cover art was designed by Jon Markiewitz and the original musical score was composed by Douglas Grunwald. To learn more about Markiewitz Audioworks and their other productions, including the internationally successful and critically-acclaimed "A Cratchit Christmas," you can visit www.markiewitzaudioworks.com, follow their Facebook page, or like their YouTube Channel.  Listeners can find their previous productions on Audible, Dramafy, Spotify, and other retailers along with inclusion in Christmas playlists from the Sonic Society, Mutual Audio Network, and Audio Theatre Central.  We continue with Meet Cute "Ship Happens" Part 3! Merry Christmas everyone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Ward continues from his latest book collection of the Ward Father Christmas Letters with a huge collection! Find your own copy of the book under your tree from Amazon https://a.co/d/ebijJdG with illustrations from Madelyn Knight (his niece). Jack believes this collection of letters inspired by the same Father Christmas that graced Tolkien's nephews represent the most in-depth look at the North and has sub-tiled this tome "A Compendium of the North". Look for the upcoming audible full book on sale with John Bell in the titular character! Continuing this week's preview of Father Christmas' exploits in the Canadian North with 2003! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Project Audion is back with Bob Hope who was one of the 20th century's greatest entertainers: in vaudeville and movies, and especially his radio (and later TV) comedies, so often performed in front of appreciative US servicemen, kept America smiling for better than six decades. He became an icon of American humor, and it is a special task to bring the Hope style back to life. But now Project Audion premieres a "new" 1940s-era Bob Hope radio show, thanks to the pen of former Hope writer Robert L. Mills, the vocal wizardry of Bill Johnson, and Project Audion's versatile voice actors. In this new Christmas creation, Bob's guest star is Lana Turner, who joins him to spoof the classic movie "Double Indemnity." It's a show to make you smile! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Northside/Southside Radio Players of Chicago present "The Flopsy Mopsy Cottontail Caper," an episode of the classic radio series "Sam Spade, Detective." Originally performed for a live audience at Something Wicked mystery bookstore in Evanston, Illinois, this version was recorded at Evanston Community Media studio. Sam Spade investigates a theft with the unwanted help of Fritz Crockett at the home of wealthy society matron Mrs. Montague. Cast -- Announcer: Marshall Rubin; Sam Spade: Bruce Oz (Ozmina); Fritz Crockett: Michael Hagedorn; Effie: Rosemary Cwik; Horace Montague: Manny Schenk; Mrs. Montague: Sally Turner; Charmaine: Antoinette Broderick; Anne of Austria: Raechel Torf; Monsieur Benot; Wally Cwik; Sound effects: Pam Frederick; Director: James Severns; Music: David Drazin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Jack and David a break at Christmas Diner with "Two Flat Earthers Kidnap a Freemason, Episode 2: Toasted Ravioli" and Meet Cute "Ship Happens, Season 1 - Part 2"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chicago re-creation of the "Suspense" radio series play "Sorry, Wrong Number," written for the stage by Louise Fletcher. Engineered by Steve Yates Studio, Morton Grove, IL. Directed by Dr. James G. Severns, former theater department chairman at Truman State U., Kirksville, MO, and starring his wife, professional actress Pat Vern-Harris, whose many stage and screen credits included comedy, drama, and musicals over a 60-year career. As a girl, Ms. Vern-Harris did radio drama in Memphis on station WHER, owned by Sam Phillips of Sun Records. Cast/Crew: Mrs. Albert Stevenson: Pat Vern-Harris; Operator: Carol Seymour; Man: Tom Gollagly; George: Greg Melton; Chief Operator: Sylvia Schluter; Announcer/Sgt. Martin: Nick Palumbo; Western Union Man: James Severns; Hospital Receptionist: Kate Le Van. Producer & Sound effects: Carol Seymour; Music composed/performed by David Drazin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The secret is out! Jack Ward continues from his latest book collection of the Ward Father Christmas Letters a day after his own children find a copy for Early Ward Christmas. Find your own copy of the book under your tree from Amazon https://a.co/d/ebijJdG with illustrations from Madelyn Knight (his niece). Jack believes this collection of letters inspired by the same Father Christmas that graced Tolkien's nephews represent the most in-depth look at the North and has sub-tiled this tome "A Compendium of the North". Look for the upcoming audible full book on sale with John Bell in the titular character! Continuing this week's preview of Father Christmas' exploits in the Canadian North with 2002! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Jack and David a break at Christmas Diner with "Two Flat Earthers Kidnap a Freemason, Episode 1: Shadowbanned" and Meet Cute "Ship Happens, Season 1 - Part 1"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Ward continues from his latest book collection of the Ward Father Christmas Letters. Find your own copy of the book available at Amazon https://a.co/d/ebijJdG with illustrations from Madelyn Knight (his niece). Jack believes this collection of letters inspired by the same Father Christmas that graced Tolkien's nephews represent the most in-depth look at the North and has sub-tiled this tome "A Compendium of the North". Look for the upcoming audible full book on sale with John Bell in the titular character! Continuing this week's preview of Father Christmas' exploits in the Canadian North with 2001! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week as they grapple on to the glorious golden galaxy of homespun audio drama, they find themselves Traversing Tuesdays, which is a cozy, character-driven storytelling podcast for creative minds, spoonie hearts, and fans of whimsical audio fiction. This week we explore episodes 1-4! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Ward opens up his latest book to share with the world two decades of Father Christmas Letters sent to his three sons, first Aedan, then Colm, and finally Rory from 1999 to 2018. These letters are lovingly compiled by Jack this Christmas and placed in a book available at Amazon https://a.co/d/ebijJdG for your perusal with illustrations from Madelyn Knight (his niece). Jack believes this collection of letters inspired by the same Father Christmas that graced Tolkien's nephews represent the most in-depth look at the North and has sub-tiled this tome "A Compendium of the North" for that reason. Whether it's hosting the World Efl Conference, fighting off Snow Goblyns and Polar Giants, or making friends with Winter Dwarves and finding a new home to erect the North Pole, these epic tales in epistolary will bring a smile to your heart, and a glow from the real spirit of Christmas. Beginning this week, Jack presents the first two letters from 1999 and 2000, a mere day before the birth of his second son! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Old-Time Radio Essentials returns with episode 54, for season 5 with Pete, Paul and Patte- Everyone's favourite P-P-People with a great classic from the BBC "I'm Sorry I'll Read that Again!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding themselves in a huge gulf between the October Horror month and December's Christmas month, Jack and David take some "Imaginary Advice" and listen to experiments in audio fiction, an Anthology series by Ross Sutherland including, "Six Houses Parties", "Episode One" and "Nice My Selector". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Friday, for our 75th episode, I thought we'd gather some folks together to talk ABOUT the medium. Especially because right now Artificial Intelligence is on so many people's minds - and it promises to impact audio storytelling like it's impacting so many other things.  We brought together eight very opinionated folks, plus one AI chatbot, so that you can "Meet The Creators." It's a panel discussion with some of best, longest-running modern radio-drama creators in North America -- one to get you thinking, starting from a wide-ranging and subtle discussion on what we should even call the medium. We also consider why we even 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 ranged from coast to coast and both America and Canada. 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-based stories. Not a fictional story this month -- but the story of why we make audio drama is well worth hearing... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where there's dark there's light there's hope. Jack, David, and the captive Zug make their way out of the Dark Nebula of Halloween in the Audioverse to explore "Half Hour Audio Hour" which is a monthly anthology of 10-30 minute audio drama scripts from a different playwright each month. This week we feautre: "Blag" by Victoria Morris and with a special chat about the show with "Behind the Blag" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices