Season Two of Old-Time Radio Essentials continues! This installment is our first for 2021, and Pete's choice, so he's bringing us an episode of "Fibber McGee & Molly": PIONEER DAYS. Will our discussion cause Dave to apply Johnson's Glo-Coat to his cat? TUNE IN AND FIND OUT! 

And since we're on the subject of discussion, we hope to determine whether this entry meets the following criteria:

Your feedback means a lot to us! A review at iTunes or at your usual podcatcher would be appreciated.

FIND THIS SHOW PLUS HUNDREDS OF OTHER WONDERFUL AUDIO DRAMAS AT www.mutualaudionetwork.com !

"The Dead Man", adapted from a story by Ray Bradbury

"Do you dare to go down into...THE CELLAR?"

Welcome to the tenth number in our continuing horror/suspense anthology series! Our stories are either original, or inspired by, or adapted from pulp fiction and classic literature, but they're guaranteed all-new productions, and no repeats from other series.  

We know it's been about 10 months since our last "Cellar" episode, and we are glad to be back! Production on the series was halted due to many other projects that Pete got involved in, but he hopes to keep his eye on the ball, and his hand on the tiller, and his nose to the grindstone...and his butt in the producer's chair!

And with that being said...we proudly present "The Dead Man", adapted by our director Pete Lutz, from a pulp-fiction story by Ray Bradbury -- a young man in a small town is ridiculed by his fellow denizens because he claims he's dead. But is he? ENJOY, my friends!

CADAVERA QUIVRY: Angela Young

ANNOUNCER: Graham Rowat

MRS. RIBMOLL: Geri Elliff

ARTHUR/CHARLIE: Rachel Rauch

SIMPSON: Jason D. Johnson

GILPATRICK: Paul Arbisi

MISS WELDON: Jessica Rainville

BARBERSHOP LOAFERS: Alan Clower, Kevin Schuster, Leo Longoria, Russ Walker, Ross Bernhardt

SHERIFF: Cary Michael Ayers

ODD MARTIN: Rich Wentworth

TEENAGERS: Curt Johnson, Nick Wommack, Becca Tribble, Rita Tribble

CHARLIE'S MOM: Lisa Espinoza

CHARLIE'S DAD: Austin Beach

"The Cellar" theme composed and performed by Tom Rory Parsons

NEXT EPISODE: "The Woman at Loon Point" -- a tale of werewolves in the American Northwest!

"Adventures of the Federated Tec"! A series of 8 initial episodes of 7 dramatized stories featuring Dashiell Hammett's nameless detective. We call him the Federated Tec ("Tec" being short for detective), but you probably know him as something else. We've chosen Hammett's first few stories that have moved into the public domain, and have done our best to stay true to the originals -- and why not? The originals are just fine, as far as we're concerned.

So here is episode three, "Slippery Fingers", adapted by Pete Lutz from Hammett's third published Op story, in 1923. We hope you enjoy it and will join us for future episodes. 

ADVENTURES OF THE FEDERATED TEC WAS CONCEIVED BY PETE LUTZ AND DEVELOPED BY PETE LUTZ AND MARK SLADE. "Slippery Fingers" was dramatized, directed and produced by Pete Lutz. Mixing and post-production was by Daniel French of Fishbonius Productions.

Our Cast consisted of the following players:

ANNOUNCER: Darren Rockhold

THE FEDERATED TEC, HORSEY BOY 2: Pete Lutz

FREDERICK GROVER, BOB TEAL: Jordan Bruster

BARTON, DET. PHELS, VOICE OF HAMMETT: Paul Arbisi

NED ROOT, GEORGE FARR:  Jeff Moon

HORSEY BOY 1, DET. DEAN, MARQUIS HOTEL DETECTIVE: John Bell 

JOSEPH CLANE: Frank Guglielmelli

SGT. O'GAR: Jason D. Johnson

DICK FOLEY: Mark Kalita 

THE OLD MAN: Joe Stofko

THEME/INCIDENTAL MUSIC: Dr. Ross Bernhardt

Join us next time for episode four, "The Black Hat that Wasn't There"!

Season Two of Old-Time Radio Essentials continues! This installment is our 2nd Annual Christmas Special, and Dave's choice, so he's bringing us an episode of "The Six-Shooter": BRITT PONSET'S CHRISTMAS CAROL. Will our discussion cause Paul to cry, "Fiddlesticks"? TUNE IN AND FIND OUT! 

And since we're on the subject of discussion, we hope to determine whether this entry meets the following criteria:

Your feedback means a lot to us! A review at iTunes or at your usual podcatcher would be appreciated.

FIND THIS SHOW PLUS HUNDREDS OF OTHER WONDERFUL AUDIO DRAMAS AT www.mutualaudionetwork.com !

LIGHTS OUT: Christmas Story (12-22-37)

In this story written by series creator Wyllis Cooper, three World War One soldiers from different countries share a railway car and their lives intertwine with those of the Three Wise Men. A touching story that incorporates an unusual (for its time) sense of racial tolerance. 

TEXACO STAR THEATRE Starring Fred Allen (12-20-42) with Guest Risë Stevens of the Metropolitan Opera

Fred Allen was famous in his day for his annual Christmas show that featured an unhappy Santa Claus who was striking against Christmas due to unfair treatment over two centuries. He would tell some random visitor to the North Pole the long, hilarious story of how he came to this sad decision.  Enjoy this classic of Old-Time Radio!

THE GOON SHOW (1956 broadcast) "Robin Hood and His Merry Men"

As part of our Christmas celebration for 2020, we present this hilarious sendup of the traditional English Christmas Pantomime, from the zany Goon Show, starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan. Enjoy!

MIRACLE FOR CHRISTMAS (DRAMA)

It's the Narada Radio Company's 2nd of three very special holiday offerings for 2020, a loving remake of the classic radio drama, "Miracle for Christmas", from the Grand Central Station series, broadcast annually for several years. Our script is from the 12-24-1949 broadcast. In this heartwarming tale, a cynical ambulance driver resents having to work on Christmas Eve; but he soon realizes the importance of his job when the young doctor he is transporting from case to case appears to perform miracle after miracle. You will want to listen to this one again and again. 

CAST:

ANNOUNCERS: Michele Barnett, Dawn Robertson

MAC: John Bell

DR. MASON: Dana Gonsalves

SWITCHBOARD GIRL/ELLIE: Jessica Mathews

DR. GARRETT: Chuck Wilson

DISPATCHER: Dawn Robertson

DRUNK/YOUNG FATHER: Pete Lutz

VOICE IN THE CROWD: Ross Bernhardt

MUSIC BY Dr. Ross Bernhardt

DIRECTED & PRODUCED BY Pete Lutz

Recorded via Zoom in November 2020.

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (COMEDY)

Lovingly remade by the Narada Radio Company, this is Radio City Playhouse's adaptation of Paul Gallico's short story, originally broadcast 12/25/49 on NBC Radio. A newspaperman and his photographer are shanghaied on Christmas Eve by the Editor's bossy wife to find and deliver two goats and a red wagon. Hijinks and hilarity ensue as they reluctantly take on this challenge.

CAST:

Pete Lutz as PERRY BROWN

Dana Gonsalves as AL VOGEL

John Bell as TEX COURT and MR. PETTINGSOLL

Jessica Mathews as RUSTY

Michele Barnett as ANNOUNCER and MRS. BUANACASSA

Dawn Robertson as THE WAITRESS, MRS. PETTINGSOLL and THE BOY

Chuck Wilson as THE BUTLER and THE WAITER

John Bell, Jessica Mathews and Chuck Wilson as THE GOATS.

Music was by Dr. Ross Bernhardt

Direction and post-production by Pete Lutz

Recorded in Zoom in November 2020.

FIBBER McGEE & MOLLY: LOOKING FOR A CHRISTMAS TREE

THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, we'll be sharing a bunch of Christmas-themed shows, both old and new. We have four new shows coming your way: two OTR remakes, a Christmas story featuring Jake Dimes, Range Detective, and our 2nd Annual Old-Time Radio Essentials Christmas special. But because I enjoy the old stuff just as much as the new stuff, I wanted to share a few choice programs this month for our mutual enjoyment. So next up is this episode of "Fibber McGee & Molly". In this classic OTR comedy, the McGees are on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree for their home at 79 Wistful Vista. A hilarious romp thru yesteryear! Originally aired 12-21-1943 on NBC Radio, sponsored by Johnson's Wax.

Check the feed regularly this month for more of our holiday-themed shows! You can thank me by listening and enjoying. Season's Greetings!

THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, we'll be sharing a bunch of Christmas-themed shows, both old and new. We have four new shows coming your way: two OTR remakes, a Christmas story featuring Jake Dimes, Range Detective, and our 2nd Annual Old-Time Radio Essentials Christmas special. But because I enjoy the old stuff just as much as the new stuff, I wanted to share a few choice programs this month for our mutual enjoyment. So first up is this episode of "Duffy's Tavern", an excellent comedy series that ran for nearly 11 years on radio. Archie's guest is Dorothy Shay, a terrific singer who billed herself as "The Park Avenue Hillbillie", and you'll find out why when you listen. 

Check the feed regularly this month for more of our holiday-themed shows! You can thank me by listening and enjoying. Season's Greetings!

Originally launched in 2016, we are re-releasing this episode of Pulp-Pourri Theatre from Season Four without the "Narada Audio Drive-In" foofaraw, and without the Jake Dimes episode. Plus we added two holiday-themed installments of the popular "Bix Bixby Book Review". Enjoy and have a very merry holiday season!

PULP-POURRI THEATRE S4 E3: A CHRISTMAS CORNUCOPIA 

1. SCROOGE & MARLEY'S REUNION (Live recording):

Pete Lutz, Micah Blain, Jason D. Johnson, Ross Bernhardt, Julio Herrera

2. Robert Frost's STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING:

Lisa Michaud

3. BIX BIXBY BOOK REVIEW (Dickens's "A Christmas Carol"):

Melody Gaines, Nick Wommack, Austin Hanna, Pete Lutz

4. THE MARCH SISTERS' CHRISTMAS (Live recording):

Pete Lutz, Victoria Fancki, Jessica Matthews, Paige Walker, Debby Leal-Ramirez, Wendy Sauer, Merilee Robinson, Richard Robinson

5. George Wither's A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1622)

Austin Hanna, Geri Elliff, George Hatfield, Kristy Glick

6. THE BICKERSONS' CHRISTMAS EVE:

Dana Gonsalves, Victoria Fancki, Pete Lutz

7. BIX BIXBY BOOK REVIEW (Better Homes & Gardens Cook Book):

Pete Lutz, Nick Wommack

Season Two of Old-Time Radio Essentials continues! In this installment, our 2nd annual Thanksgiving Special, Pete, Paul and Dave present another of Paul's selections, this time an episode of "Life With Luigi": THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION. Will our discussion lead to overeating? Will Dave go into a cranberry coma? TUNE IN AND FIND OUT! 

And since we're on the subject of discussion, we hope to determine whether this entry meets the following criteria:

Your feedback means a lot to us! A review at iTunes or at your usual podcatcher would be appreciated.

FIND THIS SHOW PLUS HUNDREDS OF OTHER WONDERFUL AUDIO DRAMAS AT www.mutualaudionetwork.com !

PRESENTING...AN ALL-NEW MUSICAL AUDIO COMEDY -- In the style of a Marx Brothers movie! It's Do I Specter? I'll Say I Do! produced especially for World Audio Drama Day 2020.

Written, produced and directed by life-long Marx Brothers fan Pete Lutz, 63audio presents a scenario unlike anything seen in any Marx Bros. film: 

Mr. Woodrow Fillmore Protoplasm is a ghost-hunter, hired to rid Stately Manor on Long Island of the ghost of the widow's late husband, who refuses to cross over. A little later, he's also hired by an Italian piano player whose brother's ghost won't cross over, either. And then, Protoplasm's son meets up with yet another ghost, who's been hiding in Stately Manor for 30 years! It's spooks a-plenty for our heroes, and for you, our listeners!

Chock-full of Marx-style humor and hijinks, this new play also features two new songs, composed especially for this production by Pete Lutz, and orchestrated by Dr. Ross Bernhardt. Set your Ouija Boards for laughter!

DISCLAIMER: This production was recorded remotely during the month of September 2020 in the (soon-to-be-historical, we hope) COVID-19 pandemic. Sound quality of the actors' microphones as a result varies. We hope this does not take away from your overall enjoyment of this play. (But if it does, well, there's not much you can do about it.) Thank you.  Thank YOH!

CAST:

Lori Bryant as MRS. BRITANNIA NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

Frank Gugliemelli as CHIVES

Chris Messersmith as the Ghost of MR. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

Todd Faulkner as WOODROW FILLMORE PROTOPLASM

Nick Wommack as JAMISON PROTOPLASM

Jackie Ayers as LILLIAN STATELY

Grace Wagner as PROTOPLASM'S SECRETARY/MANICURIST

Les Marsden as RIGATONI and the Whistle of SHADOW

John Bell as MAYOR GOTTLIEB

Your Announcer is C. K. STANDARD

Additional music composed and performed by Dr. Ross Bernhardt

SPECIAL THANKS to the hosts of "The Marx Brothers Council Podcast", Noah Diamond, Matthew Coniam and Bob Gassell, for inspiring me (inadvertently) to write this play, and to Ms. Grace Wagner, for her enthusiasm for the project and very special contributions to the script.

Season Two of Old-Time Radio Essentials continues! In this installment, Pete, Paul and Dave present another of Pete's selections, this time an episode of "Escape": THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, adapted from Poe's classic Gothic horror tale. Will our discussion lead to property values in the 19th century? TUNE IN AND FIND OUT! 

And since we're on the subject of discussion, we hope to determine whether this entry meets the following criteria:

Your feedback means a lot to us! A review at iTunes or at your usual podcatcher would be appreciated.

FIND THIS SHOW PLUS HUNDREDS OF OTHER WONDERFUL AUDIO DRAMAS AT www.mutualaudionetwork.com !

As a special bonus for our listeners we present my audio adaptation of the classic horror film starring Bela Lugosi, "WHITE ZOMBIE". One of three special productions for the 2020 Transcontinental Terror series taking place on the Mutual Audio Network. Enjoy!

The story and dialogue were by Garnett Weston, and the screenplay was by Frank Lawrence and Laura Mae. It was adapted for audio and directed by Pete Lutz. Our cast consisted of the following players:

KRISTY GLICK as Madame "Murder" Legendre   

KENDRA MURRAY as Madeline

AILEEN CORPOS as Dr. Bruner         

PHILBOYD STUDGE as Beaumont and the Carriage Driver

MARK KALITA as Neil

CHUCK WILSON as Silver

EBONY ROSE and DAWN ROBERTSON as the Maids

And JACKIE AYERS as the Vulture

ZOMBIE VOICES were provided by Carl Thomas, John Bell, Jack Ward, and Arno Eggsleft

Your ANNOUNCER was C. K. Standard

Music was by Dr. Ross Bernhardt, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Kevin MacLeod, Claude Debussy and Reinhardt Gliere. 

Simultaneously launched today on the Mutual Audio Network for Transcontinental Terror 2020, we present our first of three for this year, entitled "What the Cat Dragged In", written by Will Anderson and Pete Lutz. 

CAST:

Jessica Rainville as MAGGIE

Austin Beach as MATT

Philboyd Studge as MR. HERMS and THE E.M.T.

Delaney Brittingham as THE LITTLE GIRL

John Bell as SERGEANT KAPINSKY

Rachel Pulliam as OFFICER GARRITY and

Ryo-Ohki and Olive as THE CAT

ANNOUNCER: C. K. Standard

Our theme was "Private Reflection" by Kevin MacLeod, obtained under an Attribution Creative Commons License. 

Directed & Produced by Pete Lutz

Private Reflection by Kevin MacLeod:

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4241-private-reflection

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

With a planned release on World Audio Drama Day, October 30th, DO I SPECTER? I'LL SAY I DO! Is bound to go down in the history books as something that somebody wrote and a few other people performed! Who can ask for better than that, I ask you? Anyway, here's a sneak preview of three musical numbers that will be performed in this all-new comedy! 

First you'll hear Jamison Protoplasm and his father Woodrow Fillmore Protoplasm singing a snippet of "I've Never Met a Ghost (That I Believed In); that's followed by a small smackerel of Lillian Stately and Jamison singing the love duet, "Phantom Love"; and finally we'll hear Rigatoni playing a sample his obligatory piano solo (with his brother Shadow coming in on the harp towards the end).

Enjoy, and be sure to return to this spot (or a similar spot, or a polka-dot, or even a paisley -- whatever you like) on October 30th to hear the whole dang thing!

SONGS (c) 2020 by Pete Lutz

Composed by Pete Lutz, orchestrated by Dr. Ross Bernhardt; singers: Nick Wommack, Todd Faulkner, Jackie Ayers

Season Two of Old-Time Radio Essentials continues! In this installment, Pete, Paul and Dave welcome Essential Listener Kelly, who brings us this episode of OUR MISS BROOKS from 1950, "School on Saturday", starring Eve Arden! Will our post-show discussion cause Kelly to give us all detention? TUNE IN AND FIND OUT! 

And since we're on the subject of discussion, we hope to determine whether this entry meets the following criteria:

Your feedback means a lot to us! A review at iTunes or at your usual podcatcher would be appreciated.

FIND THIS SHOW PLUS HUNDREDS OF OTHER WONDERFUL AUDIO DRAMAS AT www.mutualaudionetwork.com !

Here's part 2 of our fourth and final Sonic Summerstock Playhouse offering for 2020, a beautiful Norwegian folk tale interpreted by Louis MacNiece for BBC Radio and originally broadcast in 1959. There was no recording available for us to take inspiration from, so we did everything based on the script's dialogue and sound/music cues. In my humble opinion, this is one of the most lovely audio dramas I've ever produced, and I hope you enjoy it. 

Angel Leigh McCoy as Helga

Karim C. Kronfli as Father and the North Wind’s Groom

Rachel Pulliam as Halvor and Longnose

Julia Eve as Mother and the Female Troll

Gareth Severn as the Prince and the Bear

Alex Moore as the Three Crones

Pete Lutz as the East Wind, the Parrot, and the Male Troll

Julie Hoverson as the West Wind and the Stepmother

Dana Gonsalves as the South Wind and the Prisoner 

Nick Wommack as the North Wind 

Additional voices by Alex Moore and Pete Lutz

Music composed and performed/sung by Dr. Ross Bernhardt

Produced & Directed by Pete Lutz

COMING SOON to this feed, especially for World Audio Drama Day 2020 -- an all-new comedy tribute to those masters of comedy mayhem, the Marx Brothers! 

DO I SPECTER? I'LL SAY I DO! was written by Pete Lutz and inspired by his life-long love of Los Hermanos Marx, and includes representations of all four brothers, plus other familiar character archetypes from their films -- except this time, they're placed in a situation unlike any seen in their 13 movies. 

This new feature is cast with wonderful voices (a mix of amateur and professional actors) and terrific gags, which Marxian experts have deemed worthy of the brothers themselves! It includes two brand-new songs, "I Never Met a Ghost That I Believed In", and "Phantom Love", composed and with lyrics by Pete Lutz, and orchestrated by Dr. Ross Bernhardt, who has himself composed many wonderful musical passages for the Narada Radio Company.

So here is the opening fanfare and the overture for DO I SPECTER? I'LL SAY I DO!, and we sincerely hope you like it and will come back at the end of October to hear the full program!

Here's part 1 of our fourth and final Sonic Summerstock Playhouse offering for 2020, a beautiful Norwegian folk tale interpreted by Louis MacNiece for BBC Radio and originally broadcast in 1959. There was no recording available for us to take inspiration from, so we did everything based on the script's dialogue and sound/music cues. In my humble opinion, this is one of the most lovely audio dramas I've ever produced, and I hope you enjoy it. Part 2 follows next week!

Angel Leigh McCoy as Helga

Karim C. Kronfli as Father and the North Wind’s Groom

Rachel Pulliam as Halvor and Longnose

Julia Eve as Mother and the Female Troll

Gareth Severn as the Prince and the Bear

Alex Moore as the Three Crones

Pete Lutz as the East Wind, the Parrot, and the Male Troll

Julie Hoverson as the West Wind and the Stepmother

Dana Gonsalves as the South Wind and the Prisoner 

Nick Wommack as the North Wind 

Additional voices by Alex Moore and Pete Lutz

Music composed and performed/sung by Dr. Ross Bernhardt

Produced & Directed by Pete Lutz

Created especially for Sonic Summerstock Playhouse 2020, we present a loving re-creation of several sketches from my favorite radio comedy duo, Bob & Ray. These sketches were drawn from their 1980s-era radio show for NPR. Directed by Pete Lutz and post-produced by John Bell, with music by Dr. Ross Bernhardt.

JOHN BELL as Bob Elliott

PETE LUTZ as Ray Goulding

Created especially for Sonic Summerstock 2020, we present a lost episode of the Old-Time Radio series, QUIET, PLEASE, entitled "Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall". Oliver is a man in an unhappy marriage, and under the thumb of his tyrannical boss. It seems the only way he can get any relief is to tell his troubles to his friend Eddie, over the phone. As we listen, we learn that someone else is listening, and has an unusual solution to Oliver's problems. Produced & directed by Pete Lutz

CAST:

OLIVER/ERNEST CHAPPELL: Pete Lutz

EVERWEIN: Dana Gonsalves

CAROLINE: Kristy Glick

DICTAGRAPH VOICE: Dawn Robertson

MUSIC: Dr. Ross Bernhardt