Pulp-pourri Theatre Audio Drama

S2E2: Zigzags of Treachery, part 2 In the conclusion of our Season 2 premiere,  the life of an innocent woman hangs in the balance, and only a letter can save her – if the Tec can find it in time! Adapted from the Continental Op story of the same name by Dashiell Hammett, originally published in the March 1, 1924 issue of "Black Mask" magazine. Starring The NARADA RADIO COMPANY Adapted and directed by Pete Lutz Post-production by Fishbonius Sound Design Theme and certain musical passages by Dr. Ross Bernhardt Darren Rockhold as YOUR ANNOUNCER Pete Lutz as THE TEC Noah Diamond as ATTORNEY VANCE RICHMOND Jason D. Johnson as O'GAR Frank Guglielmelli as MR. STACEY Jeff Moon as DR. ESTEP  Geri Elliff as EDNA ESTEP Mark Kalita as DICK FOLEY Jordan Bruster as BOB TEAL Paul Arbisi as LEDWICH and HAMMETT'S VOICE Rachel Pulliam as THE MAID and Joe Stofko as THE OLD MAN 

I had some bandwidth left over at the end of the month, that I didn't want to see go to waste, so I decided to post this fun musical program that I had on cassette and converted to digital. Enjoy!

In their final appearance for the 2022 Sonic Summerstock Playhouse, the Narada Radio Company proudly presents a remake of Lux Radio Theatre's LES MISERABLES, from the 1952 film starring Michael Rennie, Robert Newton and Debra Paget.  ANNOUNCER: Darren Rockhold JEAN VALJEAN – Les Marsden  JAVERT – Pete Lutz  COSETTE – Rhiannon McAfee  ROBERT – Greg McAfee  JUDGE/PROSECUTOR/GUSTAVE – Larry Groebe  RIMBAUD/GENFLOU – Paul Arbisi  BISHOP – Karim Kronfli MME. MAGLOIRE – Pam Pailes  CORPORAL/COCHESPAILLE – Dave Robison  SILVERSMITH – Jack Ward  MENTOU - Ross Bernhardt FANTINE – Carole Krohn  MATHIEU/REVOLUTIONARY – Lothar Tuppan  BREVET/DUPUY – John Bell  MARIUS/BYSTANDER – Dana Gonsalves  Director/Producer: Pete Lutz Music by Ross Bernhardt

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS - Originally released 10/2/20 Project Audion's live-transcribed cross-continental Zoom-based production for October [2020] is an episode from Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre On the Air from 1938. No, not the "War of the Worlds" which everyone knows, but "Around the World in 80 Days" which aired the week before. Welles, John Houseman, and Howard Koch condensed Jules Verne's 1872 novel into a fast-paced 60 minutes, and fewer than 20 characters (which we handle by doubling each actor's part.) Phileas Fogg's journey started October 2, 1872 at about 9 PM: Project Audion's recreation premieres exactly 148 years later! In our sterling cast: Paul Arbisi / Illinois John Bell / Alabama Norman Cline / Kentucky Aileen Corpos / Texas Dana Gonsalves / Texas Larry Groebe / Texas Pete Lutz / Texas Les Marsden / California Pete Lutz directed, and Larry Groebe produced

The Saint - "the Robin Hood of modern crime" and star of scores of books, TV shows, movies, and also a well-remembered radio series - is Project Audion's latest radio recreation. Vincent Price was urbanely brilliant as Simon Templar on the radio, but he only came to the show in 1947. The first series aired in 1945 with Edgar Barrier, and no recordings exist. Project Audion's vintage script of the episode "The Million Dollar Day" was only the 4th-ever episode. This Saint has sidekicks! We were also lucky to speak with Saint expert Ian Dickerson in England for a pre-show interview, and doubly lucky to locate a still-working SONOVOX (and experienced operator Ken Justiss) to recreate the once-famous sound effect of the "Bromo-Seltzer Train." Our transcontinental transcription recording session was challenged by electrical storms and some camera glitches, but we pulled it off! Our cast includes: THE SAINT: Les Marsden, CA HOPPY/JANITOR: Pete Lutz, TX PATRICIA: Rhiannon McAfee, CA MONTEIRO: Dana Gonsalves, TX KUZE

(Orig. rel. 8/14/22) The United Artists of Mutual present: Danse Macabre, a segment from a 1938 broadcast of The Royal Desserts Hour. Written by Arch (Lights Out) Oboler, this short piece describes how composer Camille Saint-Saëns might have been inspired to write the piece that made him famous. With the voices of John Bell as Old Jacques and The Stranger; and Pete Lutz as Rudy Vallee and Saint-Saëns. Mr. Bell and Mr. Lutz also play the voices of the ghosts in the graveyard.

(Orig. rel. 8/14/22) The United Artists of Mutual present: More Bob & Ray! Recorded especially for Sonic Summerstock Playhouse 2022, it features Jeff Billard in the roles of Bob Elliott, and Pete Lutz as the many voices of Ray Goulding, in a half-hour of zany sketches. Enjoy! 1. Show open/Public Service Message 2. Fern Ock Veek, Sickly Whale Oil Processor 3. Einbinder Flypaper commercial 4. Happy Birthday, Ken Vose! 5. Anxiety! 6. Monongahela Metal Foundry commercial 7. Search for Togetherness 8. Mr. Science 9. Closing

S2E1: Zigzags of Treachery, part 1 In our Season 2 premiere, a man comes face-to-face with his past, and his wife gets blamed for the mess he leaves behind! Adapted from the Continental Op story of the same name by Dashiell Hammett, originally published in the March 1, 1924 issue of "Black Mask" magazine. Starring The NARADA RADIO COMPANY Adapted and directed by Pete Lutz Post-production by Fishbonius Sound Design Theme and certain musical passages by Dr. Ross Bernhardt CAST: ANNOUNCER: Darren Rockhold THE TEC: Pete Lutz VANCE RICHMOND: Noah Diamond STACEY: Frank Guglielmelli LUCY COE: Rachel Pulliam DR HUMBERT ESTEP: Jeff Moon EDNA ESTEP: Geri Elliff DICK FOLEY: Mark Kalita BOB TEAL: Jordan Bruster LEDWICH: Paul Arbisi BOYD: John Bell THE OLD MAN: Joe Stofko Series created by Pete Lutz & Mark Slade FIND THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON (8 EPISODES) HERE AT NARADA RADIO COMPANY!

Today is a good day to listen to Bad Day at Black Rock, Project Audion's latest radio drama recreation. We're going far afield with this 1959 show, because by this time in America, television had killed off the great radio movie adaptation series like "Lux Radio Theatre." In other countries like Australia, radio drama still thrived through shows like Caltex Theatre. They adapted Bad Day at Black Rock from the gritty, Oscar-nominated 1955 drama with Spencer Tracy, where one man takes on a dying town that harbors a dirty secret. Now Project Audion recreates it with a transcribed-live coast-to-coast cast which includes: MACREEDY: Les Marsden (CA) SMITH/JENKINSON: Pete Lutz (TX) COLEY/ANNOUNCER: Tom Konkle (CA) DOC: Dana Gonsalves (TX) SHERIFF/CONDUCTOR 2: John Bell (AL) PETE: Austin Hanna (TX) HASTINGS: Gino Vianelli (CA) LIZ: Jesirae Kesler (TX) VOICE/SAM/CONDUCTOR 1: Larry Groebe (TX) Pete Lutz directed, & Larry Groebe produced

(Orig. rel. 7/24/22) Please enjoy part two of this special re-enactment of a classic radio play (adapted from a famous film and stage play). Twentieth Century is a screwball comedy, with laughs and situations that come at you as rapidly as the railroad train for which it's named. Listen and enjoy!  CAST OF CHARACTERS: Les Marsden as OSCAR JAFFE Rhiannon McAfee as LILY GARLAND Dana Gonsalves as OWEN O'MALLEY Pete Lutz as OLIVER WEBB and McGONIGLE Lothar Tuppan as MAX JACOBS, LLOYD, and GERMAN ACTOR 1 John Bell as MR. CLARK and the COP Rachel Pulliam as SADIE Tom Konkle as GEORGE SMITH and ANNOUNCER Carl Thomas as UNCLE RUFUS and THE PORTER Larry Groebe as THE CONDUCTOR Jesirae Kesler as ANITA and MISS SCHULTZ Gino Vinanelli as FLANNAGAN, POP, and GERMAN ACTOR 2 Victoria Fancki as VALERIE and the WOMAN ON THE TRAIN Jason D. Johnson as FATHER and the MAN ON THE TRAIN and Jack Ward as STANLEY, the SHERIFF, and the WESTERN UNION MAN Music by Ross Bernhardt

(Orig. rel. 7/24/22) Please enjoy part one of this special re-enactment of a classic radio play (adapted from a famous film and stage play). Twentieth Century is a screwball comedy, with laughs and situations that come at you as rapidly as the railroad train for which it's named. Listen and enjoy!  CAST OF CHARACTERS: Les Marsden as OSCAR JAFFE Rhiannon McAfee as LILY GARLAND Dana Gonsalves as OWEN O'MALLEY Pete Lutz as OLIVER WEBB and McGONIGLE Lothar Tuppan as MAX JACOBS, LLOYD, and GERMAN ACTOR 1 John Bell as MR. CLARK and the COP Rachel Pulliam as SADIE Tom Konkle as GEORGE SMITH and ANNOUNCER Carl Thomas as UNCLE RUFUS and THE PORTER Larry Groebe as THE CONDUCTOR Jesirae Kesler as ANITA and MISS SCHULTZ Gino Vinanelli as FLANNAGAN, POP, and GERMAN ACTOR 2 Victoria Fancki as VALERIE and the WOMAN ON THE TRAIN Jason D. Johnson as FATHER and the MAN ON THE TRAIN and Jack Ward as STANLEY, the SHERIFF, and the WESTERN UNION MAN Music by Ross Bernhardt

(Orig. rel. date 7/3/22) Sonic Summerstock Playhouse returns with part two of this very special remake of a BBC Sunday Night Theatre episode from 1958. We hope you enjoy it! It was recorded over Zoom using actors in California, Illinois, Texas, Alabama and Nova Scotia.  Gareth Severn as the BBC ANNOUNCER Les Marsden as CAPTAIN QUEEG Dana Gonsalves as LIEUTENANT MARYK Austin Hanna as LT JUNIOR GRADE KEITH Tom Konkle as LT KEEFER Carl Yowell as LCDR CHALLEE Chuck Wilson as CAPTAIN SOUTHARD Joe Martinez as DR LUNDEEN Paul Arbisi as DR BIRD Rachel Pulliam as PETTY OFFICER URBAN John Bell as CAPTAIN BLAKELY Jessica Mathews as the STENOGRAPHER Ebony Rose as the ORDERLY and Pete Lutz as LIEUTENANT GREENWALD Additional voices: Dave Robison, Edward Champion Music for this production was composed and performed by Dr. Ross Bernhardt.

(Orig. rel. date 7/3/22) Sonic Summerstock Playhouse returns with part one of this very special remake of a BBC Sunday Night Theatre episode from 1958. We hope you enjoy it! It was recorded over Zoom using actors in California, Illinois, Texas, Alabama and Nova Scotia.  Gareth Severn as the BBC ANNOUNCER Les Marsden as CAPTAIN QUEEG Dana Gonsalves as LIEUTENANT MARYK Austin Hanna as LT JUNIOR GRADE KEITH Tom Konkle as LT KEEFER Carl Yowell as LCDR CHALLEE Chuck Wilson as CAPTAIN SOUTHARD Joe Martinez as DR LUNDEEN Paul Arbisi as DR BIRD Rachel Pulliam as PETTY OFFICER URBAN John Bell as CAPTAIN BLAKELY Jessica Mathews as the STENOGRAPHER Ebony Rose as the ORDERLY and Pete Lutz as LIEUTENANT GREENWALD Additional voices: Dave Robison, Edward Champion Music for this production was composed and performed by Dr. Ross Bernhardt.

Old-time Radio Essentials continues its 3rd season with an episode of Dimension-X – their adaptation of a story by H. Beam Piper, "Time and Time Again"! This one's Dave's pick, and there's taut sci-fi a-plenty in the selection, followed by fast-paced discussion of its merits by the three co-hosts. Will Dave over-explain everything, leaving Pete and Paul with nothing to say? 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-third number (but 8th official episode of S3), this episode of Dimension-X, from 7/12/51. We'll introduce the show, play it in its entirety, then discuss it at length. Thanks for joining us, and we hope y

OLIVIA (HORROR) (Originally launched elsewhere in 2020) Teenage Drea is having a terrible life, but she's found a doll named Olivia -- and Olivia promises she can make Drea's life better, just so long as the girl delivers others to be sacrificed. Featuring Pete Lutz as The Stranger, Mr. Newman, the Bartender, and Sammy Starring Kessi Riliniki as Olivia Jackie Ayers as Drea Tanja Milojevic as the Mother Lothar Tuppan as the Father Alisha Strand-Mueller as Linda Michele Cotter as the Secretary George Hatfield as Bobby Written by Mark Slade Music by Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com, Carpenter's Notch and Audionautix.com Sound effects from the public domain and from freesound . org Guest Producer: Pete Lutz

ESCAPE: The Derelict Recently released on the Mutual Audio Network's Sonic Summerstock Playhouse, the Narada Radio Company presents their re-imagining of "The Derelict", an episode of the OTR series ESCAPE, first aired in 1953. Originally set in one of Earth's oceans, director Pete Lutz picked up our castaways and placed them in outer space. Listen as one woman and three men survive the destruction of their spacecraft and take refuge on a deserted, ancient rocketship. Once onboard, personalities collide and tempers flare after the discovery of an abandoned treasure. CAST: ANNOUNCERS: Jason D. Johnson, Pete Lutz CORA: Kristy Glick KEETMAN: Karim C. Kronfli MIKE: Larry Groebe LU WA: Pete Lutz COMMERCIAL: Mrs. Holepuncher Music by Dr. Ross Bernhardt

SONIC SUMMERSTOCK PLAYHOUSE 2021: Algiers, from Lux Radio Theatre Director Pete Lutz presents an extended adaptation of Lux Radio Theatre’s ALGIERS - the story of French jewel thief Pepe Le Moko, who evades capture by hiding in plain sight, in the maze-like Casbah district. When he meets the beautiful Gabrielle, he begins to hate his surroundings — and realizes that he has made his own prison within these ancient walls. CAST OF CHARACTERS: Announcer: Darren Rockhold Hedy Lamarr/Gaby: Victoria Fancki Charles Boyer/Pepe Le Moko: Pete Lutz Slimane: Les Marsden DeMille: Joe Martinez Prefect of Police: Pete Lutz Ines: Jessica Mathews Regis: Dana Gonsalves Grandpere: Paul Arbisi Janvier: John Bell Andre: Carl Yowell L'Arbi and Maxim: Gareth Severn Carlos: Jason D. Johnson Marie: Aileen Corpos Pierrot: Rachel Pulliam Aicha: Dawn Robertson Additional voices were provided by Geri Elliff, Kendra Murray, and members of the cast. Music by Dr. Ross Bernhardt

Old-time Radio Essentials continues its 3rd season with an episode of the Lux Radio Theatre – their adaptation of the Western film "Red River", starring John Wayne! This one's Pete's pick, and there's action a-plenty in the selection, followed by fast-paced discussion of its merits by the three co-hosts. Will Pete and Paul have a Walter Brennan voice-off, reluctantly judged by Dave? 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-second number (but 7th official episode of S3), this episode of Lux Radio Theatre, from 3/3/49. We'll introduce the show, play it in its entirety, then discuss it at length. Thanks for joining us

SAVE THE LAST WORD FOR ME #7: Chatting with voice actors and audio drama creators Rhiannon and Greg McAfee (5/2017) Again from our archives, we present the 7th episode of a discussion podcast that I had high hopes for, but which only went for 9 episodes or so. But the discussions are fun and if you're interested in voice actors' lives, we delve pretty deep in these interviews.  Rhiannon & Greg McAfee are a terrifically talented couple from California, whose work I first discovered in 2016 or so, when I first heard the outstanding audio drama series "Rex Rivetter, Private Eye". Greg wrote the scripts, Rhiannon directed and played the detective's Girl Friday. Since our interview, both of them have appeared in a number of my audio dramas, and I was lucky enough to make it into one episode of RRPE before production ceased. Enjoy this most excellent discussion with two excellent folks!

SAVE THE LAST WORD FOR ME #6: Chatting with podcaster, audio dramatist, collaborator, voice actor and friend Jack Ward (03/2017) Again from our archives, we present the 6th episode of a discussion podcast that I had high hopes for, but which only went for 9 episodes or so. But the discussions are fun and if you're interested in voice actors' lives, we delve pretty deep in these interviews.  Jack Ward is the creator and co-host of "The Sonic Society", a long-running weekly podcast out of Halifax, Nova Scotia that showcases new audio dramas. He featured my first two episodes of "Pulp-Pourri Theatre" back in 2013, no questions asked, even though the productions themselves were, to be honest, questionable. But we have become good friends, and have collaborated on many projects since then, and have joined with a handful of other like-minded individuals to create the Mutual Audio Network. Jack is the head-man at the tiller though, make no mistake. Anyway, this interview was fun and I hope you enjoy it.