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Hi there,
Well, this coming week I'm excited for all of you to hear "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce and adapted for radio by Matthew Elliott. In my last blog, I talked about it at length and in just a few days you'll be able to hear what I think is one of the best TZ radio dramas we've ever produced. Whatever you do, don't miss it!
As you may know, we produce 12 to 14 new shows each year with the other shows being repeats. But since we've produced more than 160 shows since the series premiered in 2002, repeats are always more than a year apart. So, after "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge" the next 'new' or never-before-heard show will air the week of January 4th, 2010. It's an original story by Steve Nubie called "The Walk-Abouts" starring Mike Starr and the amazing supporting cast of David Pasquesi, JoBe Cerny, Lia Mortensen, Richard Henzel, Linda Kimbrough and Tim Dadabo.
"The Walk-Abouts" is the story of a writer of conspiracy books who claims to have concrete evidence that UFO¹s and Aliens really do exist. His goal is to write a best seller blowing the lid off the topic but in doing so, he may make an enemy or two. I think you're going to love this episode -- it has twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Mike Starr knocks it out of the park as always, as does this fine supporting cast. JoBe Cerny handled the directing chores and did a stellar job.
I just today heard a rough draft of "The Invaders" starring Kathy Garver, and WOW is she ever fantastic in it. Kathy is best-known for her starring role as "Cissy" the eldest sibling in the long-running CBS international television series "Family Affair." Kathy has garnered critical acclaim in movies, radio, voice-over animation, audio book narration and on stage. Hollywood legendary producer/director Cecil B. DeMille was one of the first to recognize Kathy's talents casting her alongside Charlton Heston in "The Ten Commandments" at the ripe old age of 10! To learn more about Kathy and a new "Family Affair" cook book she just wrote, please visit her official website at:
http://www.kathygarver.com/
Kathy has been in a few TZ radio dramas including starring opposite Stacy Keach in "The Fever" which airs this coming week so be sure to listen for it.
I've gotten many emails from TZ radio fans over the years asking if we're ever going to produce "The Invaders" since the teleplay had almost no dialog. If you're a TZ fan you'll remember that Agnes Moorehead starred in the famous TV episode. Moorehead played an old woman living alone in a shack far off into the woods who is attacked by invaders from another planet. Because the original TV episode was so visual and had almost no dialog at all, it posed challenges for us to bring to radio. There are similar challenges with "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge" and "Eye of the Beholder" but I assure you, you will hear them on the TZ radio dramas.
In other news, Blackstone Audio has just released Volume 2 of THE NEW ADVENTURES OF MICKEY SPILLANE'S MIKE HAMMER "The Little Death" a 2 hour and 13 minute audio novel by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins that I produced starring Stacy Keach. Last year I produced Volume 1, which included two short stories written by Matthew Elliott and JoBe Cerny. In Volume 2, we decided to do one long story, written by Max Allan Collins from material written by the late, great Mickey Spillane. Here is Max's blog talking all about it:
http://www.maxallancollins.com/blog/tag/the-little-death/
Like Volume 1, "The Little Death" is fully-dramatized with an incredible supporting cast and stars Stacy Keach as the hard-boiled detective he immortalized on television. Both Volume 1 and Volume 2 are available at Blackstone Audio's website or wherever audio books are sold. Here's Blackstone's website:
http://www.blackstoneaudio.com/
I am really proud of this MIKE HAMMER series and if you don't own them and are a fan of radio drama, I highly recommend you add them to your collection -- you won't be disappointed. Like TZ radio dramas, we went 'all-out' to bring you 'a dramatic radio theatre experience' you won't soon forget.
Well, that's all for now, I hope you'll join me next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Hi everyone,
Well, this week we're airing "There Goes the Neighborhood" with my pal Tim Kazurinsky as star. It's a brand new story written especially for The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas by terrific writer Barry Richert. Tim plays a timid scientist who builds a device that transports a grotesque beast from another dimension. The scientist quickly learns though that the unsightly visitor has a kind, gentle nature and he must thwart his greedy wife’s efforts to exploit the creature. One of my favorite "Zoners" Meg Thalken plays Tim's nasty wife - you just love to hate her in this!
The next "new" TZ show that we've produced is one you'll be hearing the week of December 14th. It's one of the most intriguing short-stories in all of literature, "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce. It's the story of a Confederate spy who is inexplicably spared death when the rope meant to hang him miraculously breaks. In 1962, the story was produced as a French short-film by Marcel Ichal and Paul de Robaix called "Incident at Owl Creek" and it won first prize for short subjects at the Cannes Film Festival that year. In 1963 it won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. That same year Rod Serling attended a private screening of the French film and he liked it so much he agreed to have it shown on his Twilight Zone TV series, with the French dialog dubbed in English so that American audiences could experience it. The February 28, 1964 telecast offered this introduction by Serling: "Tonight on the Twilight Zone, a special event. A program made outside of the United States that seems to us to be so different, so effective, and so meaningful that we offer it to you now. A haunting study of the incredible from the past master of the incredible - Ambrose Bierce. What you will now see is the French production of ... "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge."
Because the short film had very little dialog, it posed a great challenge in being adapted for our radio series. Fortunately for us, British writer M.J. Elliott was up for the challenge. M.J. is a brilliant writer, who specializes in radio drama style writing. He has written a few "new" TZ stories that you will be hearing next year and recently adapted Richard Matheson's TZ story "Once Upon a Time." The televised version of that story starred silent film icon Buster Keaton. Our radio version stars the amazing John Rhys-Davies and you'll hear it the broadcast week of February 22nd, 2010.
With a brilliant radio adaptation of the Bierce classic by M.J. Elliott, I decided to leave the directing chores up to JoBe Cerny. JoBe directed my Word of Promise audio Bible - see www.wordofpromisebible.com - In the lead role of "Peyton Farquhar" I chose actor Christian Stolte, who can currently be seen co-starring with Gerard Butler and Jamie Fox in "Law Abiding Citizen." In that film Christian plays "Clarence Darby" a crazed killer that murders Butler's character's wife and young daughter. Don't worry, Butler makes him pay mightily for the crimes. Christian can also be seen as "Charles Makley" one of John Dillinger's gang in the Johnny Depp film "Public Enemies" and as "Jesse's father" in the soon-to-be-released "A Nightmare on Elm Street." In the supporting cast of "Owl Creek Bridge" we have: William Dick, Danny Goldring, Rob Riley, Gonzo Schexnayder, Susan Hart and John Hooganakker.
The incredible mix to this hallucinatory story fell to the amazing sound designer Craig Lee at Cerny American Creative. Craig never ceases to amaze me with his vivid design style (he headed up the sound design for Word of Promise) and it's evident in this story - so kudos Craig!
With all this build up you probably wouldn't be surprised if I say that this radio version of "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge" is one of my favorite Twilight Zone Radio Dramas to date - and you wouldn't be wrong. I think it ranks right up there along with "Five Characters In Search of an Exit," "Long Distance Call," "Four O'clock," "The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank" and "Long Live Walter Jameson" which are my faves.
I hope after you listen to this episode you'll blog or email me at camari@falconpicturegroup.com with your thoughts and comments. Well, that's all for now, I hope you'll join me next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Well, this week we're airing "There Goes the Neighborhood" with my pal Tim Kazurinsky as star. It's a brand new story written especially for The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas by terrific writer Barry Richert. Tim plays a timid scientist who builds a device that transports a grotesque beast from another dimension. The scientist quickly learns though that the unsightly visitor has a kind, gentle nature and he must thwart his greedy wife’s efforts to exploit the creature. One of my favorite "Zoners" Meg Thalken plays Tim's nasty wife - you just love to hate her in this!
The next "new" TZ show that we've produced is one you'll be hearing the week of December 14th. It's one of the most intriguing short-stories in all of literature, "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce. It's the story of a Confederate spy who is inexplicably spared death when the rope meant to hang him miraculously breaks. In 1962, the story was produced as a French short-film by Marcel Ichal and Paul de Robaix called "Incident at Owl Creek" and it won first prize for short subjects at the Cannes Film Festival that year. In 1963 it won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. That same year Rod Serling attended a private screening of the French film and he liked it so much he agreed to have it shown on his Twilight Zone TV series, with the French dialog dubbed in English so that American audiences could experience it. The February 28, 1964 telecast offered this introduction by Serling: "Tonight on the Twilight Zone, a special event. A program made outside of the United States that seems to us to be so different, so effective, and so meaningful that we offer it to you now. A haunting study of the incredible from the past master of the incredible - Ambrose Bierce. What you will now see is the French production of ... "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge."
Because the short film had very little dialog, it posed a great challenge in being adapted for our radio series. Fortunately for us, British writer M.J. Elliott was up for the challenge. M.J. is a brilliant writer, who specializes in radio drama style writing. He has written a few "new" TZ stories that you will be hearing next year and recently adapted Richard Matheson's TZ story "Once Upon a Time." The televised version of that story starred silent film icon Buster Keaton. Our radio version stars the amazing John Rhys-Davies and you'll hear it the broadcast week of February 22nd, 2010.
With a brilliant radio adaptation of the Bierce classic by M.J. Elliott, I decided to leave the directing chores up to JoBe Cerny. JoBe directed my Word of Promise audio Bible - see www.wordofpromisebible.com - In the lead role of "Peyton Farquhar" I chose actor Christian Stolte, who can currently be seen co-starring with Gerard Butler and Jamie Fox in "Law Abiding Citizen." In that film Christian plays "Clarence Darby" a crazed killer that murders Butler's character's wife and young daughter. Don't worry, Butler makes him pay mightily for the crimes. Christian can also be seen as "Charles Makley" one of John Dillinger's gang in the Johnny Depp film "Public Enemies" and as "Jesse's father" in the soon-to-be-released "A Nightmare on Elm Street." In the supporting cast of "Owl Creek Bridge" we have: William Dick, Danny Goldring, Rob Riley, Gonzo Schexnayder, Susan Hart and John Hooganakker.
The incredible mix to this hallucinatory story fell to the amazing sound designer Craig Lee at Cerny American Creative. Craig never ceases to amaze me with his vivid design style (he headed up the sound design for Word of Promise) and it's evident in this story - so kudos Craig!
With all this build up you probably wouldn't be surprised if I say that this radio version of "An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge" is one of my favorite Twilight Zone Radio Dramas to date - and you wouldn't be wrong. I think it ranks right up there along with "Five Characters In Search of an Exit," "Long Distance Call," "Four O'clock," "The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank" and "Long Live Walter Jameson" which are my faves.
I hope after you listen to this episode you'll blog or email me at camari@falconpicturegroup.com with your thoughts and comments. Well, that's all for now, I hope you'll join me next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Hi everyone,
Wow, I'm really sorry for missing all of September with my TZ blog! Where does the time go? The main reason for my being so crazy-busy is that I just completed a 4-year project of producing THE WORD OF PROMISE Full Audio Bible for Thomas Nelson, Inc. Here’s the resource site for it which features video and audio clips and detailed information:
http://wordofpromise.thomasnelson.com/
A few weeks ago I went to LA to tape a special on it for Trinity Broadcasting Network along with Michael York and Ernie Hudson. It’s 30 minutes if you have a chance to watch it. Here’s a link. Look for the one with (Michael York, Ernie Hudson and Carl Amari).
http://www.tbn.org/watch-us/podcast?view_all
I've never been more proud of a project than THE WORD OF PROMISE. Single reader Full audio Bibles run about 40 hours. This is a 98 hour audio Bible with more than 600 actors including Jim Caviezel, Jon Voight, Richard Dreyfuss, Malcolm McDowell, Gary Sinise, Marisa Tomei, Joan Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Jesse McCartney, Marcia Gay Harden, Stacy Keach, Sean Astin, Lou Gossett, Jr., and many other award-winning actors. It is narrated by the incredible Michael York. There is not one word of dialog being 'read' in this audio Bible, it is all 'performed' like a film with the actors interacting with each other, set to amazing music and sound effects. It's presented in 'dramatic audio theatre' style (word-for-word from the NKJ) and I promise you it will lift the words off the page. You've never experienced anything like this audio Bible.
JoBe Cerny directed it (he directed an incredible 175,000 takes). His amazing team of sound designers, headed by Craig Lee, at Cerny American Creative handed the Foley and mix. Maestro Stefano Mainetti and his 150 piece orchestra provides the original music score that was written for each scene in the Bible - no canned music here!
My friend Jim McClain and I are in the process of creating a 2-minute TV commercial for it which I'm hoping will be on national television in a few weeks. The Full audio Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) is 98 hours on 79 CDs, plus a Bonus DVD of the 'behind the scenes' making of this project, housed in a beautiful case with a travel tin. The retail is $124.99 but our special, money-back guarantee TV offer includes 5 additional CDs of The Christmas Story, The Easter Story and the epic Stefano Mainetti music score (the music score is not available anywhere else). This is a retail value of $150.00. On our TV, those that order will get the $150.00 value for two payments of $39.99. Our website will be up in a few weeks with this offer and will be at www.wordofpromisebible.com
If you want to order this for yourself or for a Christmas gift feel free to go to our website when it's up or email me anytime at camari@falconpicturegroup.com and I'll arrange to get it to you.
On the TZ front, since I last blogged you've hopefully heard new episodes of:
"Who Am I?" starring Sean Astin. Plot: A young businessman wakes up one morning and has a completely different face – but only “he” thinks it’s different from before.
"Nothing In the Dark" starring Marshall Allman. Plot: An old woman consumed with the fact that she will die one day soon, barricades herself in her cold, dark tenement apartment so that “Mr. Death” can not visit her.
"Steel" starring Lou Gossett, Jr. Plot: In the near future boxing has been outlawed and is performed by mechanical robots. The manager of a robot desperately in need of repair does the unthinkable to win a bout.
"The Amazing Dr. Kyle Powers" starring Sean Astin. Plot: A cold, unsympathetic physician is given the opportunity to change his ways when an extraordinary visitor gives him the ability to experience his patients’ symptoms. But will the good doctor change for the better?
Next up is "There Goes the Neighborhood" a brand-new original radio play written especially for The Twilight Zone by Barry Richert and stars Tim Kazurinsky. When a timid scientist builds a device that transports a grotesque beast from another dimension, he quickly learns the unsightly visitor has a kind, gentle nature. The scientist must thwart his greedy wife’s efforts to exploit the creature. I dare say it's one of the best shows we've ever produced, so I hope you enjoy it very much.
We just recorded "The Invaders" starring Kathy Garver ("Cissy" from the great TV series "Family Affair") and will be mixing it soon. I know you will be thrilled with how we pulled off a radio adaptation of the famous TV episode starring Agnes Moorehead that had NO DIALOG!
That's all for now, catch me next time with more ... NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Wow, I'm really sorry for missing all of September with my TZ blog! Where does the time go? The main reason for my being so crazy-busy is that I just completed a 4-year project of producing THE WORD OF PROMISE Full Audio Bible for Thomas Nelson, Inc. Here’s the resource site for it which features video and audio clips and detailed information:
http://wordofpromise.thomasnelson.com/
A few weeks ago I went to LA to tape a special on it for Trinity Broadcasting Network along with Michael York and Ernie Hudson. It’s 30 minutes if you have a chance to watch it. Here’s a link. Look for the one with (Michael York, Ernie Hudson and Carl Amari).
http://www.tbn.org/watch-us/podcast?view_all
I've never been more proud of a project than THE WORD OF PROMISE. Single reader Full audio Bibles run about 40 hours. This is a 98 hour audio Bible with more than 600 actors including Jim Caviezel, Jon Voight, Richard Dreyfuss, Malcolm McDowell, Gary Sinise, Marisa Tomei, Joan Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Jesse McCartney, Marcia Gay Harden, Stacy Keach, Sean Astin, Lou Gossett, Jr., and many other award-winning actors. It is narrated by the incredible Michael York. There is not one word of dialog being 'read' in this audio Bible, it is all 'performed' like a film with the actors interacting with each other, set to amazing music and sound effects. It's presented in 'dramatic audio theatre' style (word-for-word from the NKJ) and I promise you it will lift the words off the page. You've never experienced anything like this audio Bible.
JoBe Cerny directed it (he directed an incredible 175,000 takes). His amazing team of sound designers, headed by Craig Lee, at Cerny American Creative handed the Foley and mix. Maestro Stefano Mainetti and his 150 piece orchestra provides the original music score that was written for each scene in the Bible - no canned music here!
My friend Jim McClain and I are in the process of creating a 2-minute TV commercial for it which I'm hoping will be on national television in a few weeks. The Full audio Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) is 98 hours on 79 CDs, plus a Bonus DVD of the 'behind the scenes' making of this project, housed in a beautiful case with a travel tin. The retail is $124.99 but our special, money-back guarantee TV offer includes 5 additional CDs of The Christmas Story, The Easter Story and the epic Stefano Mainetti music score (the music score is not available anywhere else). This is a retail value of $150.00. On our TV, those that order will get the $150.00 value for two payments of $39.99. Our website will be up in a few weeks with this offer and will be at www.wordofpromisebible.com
If you want to order this for yourself or for a Christmas gift feel free to go to our website when it's up or email me anytime at camari@falconpicturegroup.com and I'll arrange to get it to you.
On the TZ front, since I last blogged you've hopefully heard new episodes of:
"Who Am I?" starring Sean Astin. Plot: A young businessman wakes up one morning and has a completely different face – but only “he” thinks it’s different from before.
"Nothing In the Dark" starring Marshall Allman. Plot: An old woman consumed with the fact that she will die one day soon, barricades herself in her cold, dark tenement apartment so that “Mr. Death” can not visit her.
"Steel" starring Lou Gossett, Jr. Plot: In the near future boxing has been outlawed and is performed by mechanical robots. The manager of a robot desperately in need of repair does the unthinkable to win a bout.
"The Amazing Dr. Kyle Powers" starring Sean Astin. Plot: A cold, unsympathetic physician is given the opportunity to change his ways when an extraordinary visitor gives him the ability to experience his patients’ symptoms. But will the good doctor change for the better?
Next up is "There Goes the Neighborhood" a brand-new original radio play written especially for The Twilight Zone by Barry Richert and stars Tim Kazurinsky. When a timid scientist builds a device that transports a grotesque beast from another dimension, he quickly learns the unsightly visitor has a kind, gentle nature. The scientist must thwart his greedy wife’s efforts to exploit the creature. I dare say it's one of the best shows we've ever produced, so I hope you enjoy it very much.
We just recorded "The Invaders" starring Kathy Garver ("Cissy" from the great TV series "Family Affair") and will be mixing it soon. I know you will be thrilled with how we pulled off a radio adaptation of the famous TV episode starring Agnes Moorehead that had NO DIALOG!
That's all for now, catch me next time with more ... NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Hi everyone,
I hope that you enjoyed "Passage on the Lady Anne" starring the amazing husband-wife acting duo Martin Jarvis and Rosalyn Ayres. Quite frankly I think it's one of the best shows we've ever produced. I hope you also enjoyed "Who Am I?" starring the brilliant actor Sean Astin. I will confess that the sound design for "Who Am I?" was not at the level that I wanted it to be. Unfortunately, we were faced with airing it as is or running a repeat so I let it air sub-par. That said, Cerny is hard at work remixing and making improvements/tweaks. The "Who Am I?" episode that we will sell for download and the show we air the next time around will be far better - I apologize for this.
Next up is "Nothing in the Dark" by George Clayton Johnson and adapted for radio by M.J. Elliott. This story is one of my favorites. The original 1962 TV version starred Gladys Cooper as Wanda Dunn and Robert Redford as Harold Beldon. A lonely old woman, Wanda Dunn, will not leave her dark basement apartment (in a soon to be demolished complex) because she's afraid "Mr. Death" is waiting for her outside. There is a commotion outside; Wanda peeks out fearfully. A young Police officer is lying on the ground just outside her door and he has been shot. After much convincing, Wanda finally opens the door and brings him in. While she does her best to nurse him, he talks to her about her fear, and she tells him she has seen Death before in the form of a man who took away the life of a woman on a bus just by touching her. Wanda has been afraid of death ever since and is convinced "Mr. Death" can change his appearance to mask his arrival. When there is a knock at the door, a man breaks into her apartment, and Wanda faints, thinking it's "Mr. Death." When she comes to, the man apologizes and explains he is a building contractor their to demolish the building the very next day. Soon after she meets "Mr. Death" head on and the twist ending is quite remarkable.
Our radio version stars Marshall Allman (Prison Break) as Police officer Beldon. I can't wait to hear the mixed version. In other news, my Word of Promise Old Testament and Full audio Bible will be released to the public by mid September. I just received finished goods of them both a few days ago and I must say the amazing packaging is only surpassed by the quality of the audio itself. My hope is that this audio Bible will become a helpful tool to spread the word of God in homes all over the world. To visit the resource center to learn more about this audio Bible and hear and watch audio and video on it, please visit:
http://wordofpromise.thomasnelson.com/
All of these Bible products are available wherever Bibles are sold.
Thanks everyone and I'll see you next time for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
I hope that you enjoyed "Passage on the Lady Anne" starring the amazing husband-wife acting duo Martin Jarvis and Rosalyn Ayres. Quite frankly I think it's one of the best shows we've ever produced. I hope you also enjoyed "Who Am I?" starring the brilliant actor Sean Astin. I will confess that the sound design for "Who Am I?" was not at the level that I wanted it to be. Unfortunately, we were faced with airing it as is or running a repeat so I let it air sub-par. That said, Cerny is hard at work remixing and making improvements/tweaks. The "Who Am I?" episode that we will sell for download and the show we air the next time around will be far better - I apologize for this.
Next up is "Nothing in the Dark" by George Clayton Johnson and adapted for radio by M.J. Elliott. This story is one of my favorites. The original 1962 TV version starred Gladys Cooper as Wanda Dunn and Robert Redford as Harold Beldon. A lonely old woman, Wanda Dunn, will not leave her dark basement apartment (in a soon to be demolished complex) because she's afraid "Mr. Death" is waiting for her outside. There is a commotion outside; Wanda peeks out fearfully. A young Police officer is lying on the ground just outside her door and he has been shot. After much convincing, Wanda finally opens the door and brings him in. While she does her best to nurse him, he talks to her about her fear, and she tells him she has seen Death before in the form of a man who took away the life of a woman on a bus just by touching her. Wanda has been afraid of death ever since and is convinced "Mr. Death" can change his appearance to mask his arrival. When there is a knock at the door, a man breaks into her apartment, and Wanda faints, thinking it's "Mr. Death." When she comes to, the man apologizes and explains he is a building contractor their to demolish the building the very next day. Soon after she meets "Mr. Death" head on and the twist ending is quite remarkable.
Our radio version stars Marshall Allman (Prison Break) as Police officer Beldon. I can't wait to hear the mixed version. In other news, my Word of Promise Old Testament and Full audio Bible will be released to the public by mid September. I just received finished goods of them both a few days ago and I must say the amazing packaging is only surpassed by the quality of the audio itself. My hope is that this audio Bible will become a helpful tool to spread the word of God in homes all over the world. To visit the resource center to learn more about this audio Bible and hear and watch audio and video on it, please visit:
http://wordofpromise.thomasnelson.com/
All of these Bible products are available wherever Bibles are sold.
Thanks everyone and I'll see you next time for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Hi everyone,
I hope you enjoyed "Bewitchin' Pool" starring Karen Black. It's a tough story to do on radio because it's so visual, with the kids splashing around in the water and the Norman Rockwell-esque country home of Aunt T. Even with these challenges I'm very happy with the way it came out and I hope you are too.
I hope that you also enjoyed "The Hunt" starring the incomparable Shelley Berman as "Hyder" with Karen Black as his wife "Rachel." I just love this story and what Shelley and Karen did with it. If you haven't heard this one, don't miss it, it's a heartfelt story and one you won't soon forget -- especially if you're a dog-lover.
Coming your way soon is "Passage on the Lady Anne" starring British actors Martin Jarvis and Rosalyn Ayres, who are real life husband and wife. They play "Mr. & Mrs. McKenzie" elderly travelers on the ancient British ocean liner "The Lady Anne." In this story, an unhappy American couple named "Alan & Eileen Ransome" (played by David Pasquesi and Ann Sonneville) take a 14-day cruise to England in the hopes that the trip will rekindle their marriage. They meet the McKenzies and other passengers who are ALL elderly and make it very clear that they do not want them aboard. This one is mysterious, moody and ultimately quite touching.
Martin Jarvis played "The Voice of God" in my Word of Promise audio Bible. Please see:
http://www.amazon.com/Word-Promise-Testament-Audio-Bible/dp/0718024249
He is a tremendous actor with incredible abilities. His lovely and talented wife Rosalyn has been in many films and TV programs -- you might remember her as The Bride of Frankenstein in the film "Gods and Monsters."
This Saturday (July 25th) on HOLLYWOOD 360 my guest is Radio Hall of Famer and Old-Time Radio Guru Chuck Schaden. I'll also have a recorded interview with Margot Stevenson the actress who played "The Lovely Margot Lane" opposite Orson Welles on "The Shadow." OTR shows include: The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show, The Shadow, X-Minus-One and Casey, Crime Photographer. On August 8th, Shelley Berman will be my guest.
HOLLYWOOD 360 airs on Chicago radio station WIND AM 560 from 7 pm to Midnight every Saturday night followed by two episodes of THE TWILIGHT ZONE radio dramas beginning at Midnight. If you are out of the area, tune in via the internet at:
http://560wind.townhall.com/
Well, that's all for now, check back for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
I hope you enjoyed "Bewitchin' Pool" starring Karen Black. It's a tough story to do on radio because it's so visual, with the kids splashing around in the water and the Norman Rockwell-esque country home of Aunt T. Even with these challenges I'm very happy with the way it came out and I hope you are too.
I hope that you also enjoyed "The Hunt" starring the incomparable Shelley Berman as "Hyder" with Karen Black as his wife "Rachel." I just love this story and what Shelley and Karen did with it. If you haven't heard this one, don't miss it, it's a heartfelt story and one you won't soon forget -- especially if you're a dog-lover.
Coming your way soon is "Passage on the Lady Anne" starring British actors Martin Jarvis and Rosalyn Ayres, who are real life husband and wife. They play "Mr. & Mrs. McKenzie" elderly travelers on the ancient British ocean liner "The Lady Anne." In this story, an unhappy American couple named "Alan & Eileen Ransome" (played by David Pasquesi and Ann Sonneville) take a 14-day cruise to England in the hopes that the trip will rekindle their marriage. They meet the McKenzies and other passengers who are ALL elderly and make it very clear that they do not want them aboard. This one is mysterious, moody and ultimately quite touching.
Martin Jarvis played "The Voice of God" in my Word of Promise audio Bible. Please see:
http://www.amazon.com/Word-Promise-Testament-Audio-Bible/dp/0718024249
He is a tremendous actor with incredible abilities. His lovely and talented wife Rosalyn has been in many films and TV programs -- you might remember her as The Bride of Frankenstein in the film "Gods and Monsters."
This Saturday (July 25th) on HOLLYWOOD 360 my guest is Radio Hall of Famer and Old-Time Radio Guru Chuck Schaden. I'll also have a recorded interview with Margot Stevenson the actress who played "The Lovely Margot Lane" opposite Orson Welles on "The Shadow." OTR shows include: The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show, The Shadow, X-Minus-One and Casey, Crime Photographer. On August 8th, Shelley Berman will be my guest.
HOLLYWOOD 360 airs on Chicago radio station WIND AM 560 from 7 pm to Midnight every Saturday night followed by two episodes of THE TWILIGHT ZONE radio dramas beginning at Midnight. If you are out of the area, tune in via the internet at:
http://560wind.townhall.com/
Well, that's all for now, check back for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Hi everyone,
I hope you enjoyed the TZ radio production of "Execution" starring Don Johnson as a tough cowboy from the old West that is brought to modern times by a scientist. I think it came out great and Don was marvelous as the mean cowboy killer.
Next up is "Bewitchin' Pool" by Earl Hamner and adapted for radio by the amazing Dennis Etchison. As Dennis explains it: Of all the Hamner episodes, this one may have the most heart. This one was cut and somewhat short-changed on TV. But Dennis's adaptation is based on Hamner's full script. The TV version aired June 19th, 1964. It was program 156 in the series and was the last TZ television episode ever broadcast, which was cancelled abruptly. It contrasts a bitter, edgy present with a return to an idyllic rural fantasy past. Two kids are miserable because of their parents' bitter, unhappy marriage. They dive into the family swimming pool to escape and surface in another time and place, straight out of Tom Sawyer. A wonderful older woman named Aunt T runs her rural house as a kind of orphans' home. The kids eventually return to the present, only to learn that their parents are divorcing. So they swim back to Aunt T's to live happily ever after.
There is a dark, unspoken undercurrent to this story, almost as if the kids commit suicide to escape their unhappiness. Realistically, from the parents' point of view, that is probably what happens. Whether the children's bodies are actually found we never know. But we don't dwell on that possibility. Hamner's story is about salvation by escaping to a better place, and that is what most of the audience will hear: a happy ending. But the darker, sadder story is there for those who care to think about it.
In the TV version Georgia Simmons played Aunt T. In our radio version the incredible Karen Black owns the role. I directed Karen and she's just the sweetest person ever! Jeff Lupetin, an amazing voice over artist and director handled the supporting directing chores on this one and the soon-to-be-released "The Hunt" starring Shelley Berman and Karen Black. I can't wait to hear the first draft of "Bewitchin' Pool' which will be early next week.
This Saturday on HOLLYWOOD 360 I have the great Stan Freberg as my guest along with the producers and director of CHICAGO OVERCOAT an independent film shot here in Chicago starring Frank Vincent, Armand Assante, Stacy Keach and Mike Starr. Next Saturday I have the always hilarious Tim Kazurinsky and on the 13th, the brilliant Stephnie Weir of Mad TV fame. HOLLYWOOD 360 airs on Chicago station WIND AM 560 from 7 pm to Midnight every Saturday night followed by THE TWILIGHT ZONE radio dramas at Midnight. If you are out of the area, tune in via the internet at: http://560wind.townhall.com/
That's all for now, check back for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
I hope you enjoyed the TZ radio production of "Execution" starring Don Johnson as a tough cowboy from the old West that is brought to modern times by a scientist. I think it came out great and Don was marvelous as the mean cowboy killer.
Next up is "Bewitchin' Pool" by Earl Hamner and adapted for radio by the amazing Dennis Etchison. As Dennis explains it: Of all the Hamner episodes, this one may have the most heart. This one was cut and somewhat short-changed on TV. But Dennis's adaptation is based on Hamner's full script. The TV version aired June 19th, 1964. It was program 156 in the series and was the last TZ television episode ever broadcast, which was cancelled abruptly. It contrasts a bitter, edgy present with a return to an idyllic rural fantasy past. Two kids are miserable because of their parents' bitter, unhappy marriage. They dive into the family swimming pool to escape and surface in another time and place, straight out of Tom Sawyer. A wonderful older woman named Aunt T runs her rural house as a kind of orphans' home. The kids eventually return to the present, only to learn that their parents are divorcing. So they swim back to Aunt T's to live happily ever after.
There is a dark, unspoken undercurrent to this story, almost as if the kids commit suicide to escape their unhappiness. Realistically, from the parents' point of view, that is probably what happens. Whether the children's bodies are actually found we never know. But we don't dwell on that possibility. Hamner's story is about salvation by escaping to a better place, and that is what most of the audience will hear: a happy ending. But the darker, sadder story is there for those who care to think about it.
In the TV version Georgia Simmons played Aunt T. In our radio version the incredible Karen Black owns the role. I directed Karen and she's just the sweetest person ever! Jeff Lupetin, an amazing voice over artist and director handled the supporting directing chores on this one and the soon-to-be-released "The Hunt" starring Shelley Berman and Karen Black. I can't wait to hear the first draft of "Bewitchin' Pool' which will be early next week.
This Saturday on HOLLYWOOD 360 I have the great Stan Freberg as my guest along with the producers and director of CHICAGO OVERCOAT an independent film shot here in Chicago starring Frank Vincent, Armand Assante, Stacy Keach and Mike Starr. Next Saturday I have the always hilarious Tim Kazurinsky and on the 13th, the brilliant Stephnie Weir of Mad TV fame. HOLLYWOOD 360 airs on Chicago station WIND AM 560 from 7 pm to Midnight every Saturday night followed by THE TWILIGHT ZONE radio dramas at Midnight. If you are out of the area, tune in via the internet at: http://560wind.townhall.com/
That's all for now, check back for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Hi everyone,
I hope everyone enjoyed "Two" starring Don Johnson and Oksana Fedenuschen. I've gotten some very nice emails about it and it's always great to get your feedback. Next up is another show starring Don Johnson, it's called "Execution." The original story was written by Rod Serling and based on a short story by my good friend George Clayton Johnson. Dennis Etchsion adapted it for our radio play. A tough cowboy in the Old West is sentenced to death for shooting another man in the back. But just as he is hanged, he disappears from the noose. He wakes up in a lab in present-day-New York - the first successful time traveler. The scientist learns that the cowboy was about to be executed for murder and decides to send him back to face his punishment. The cowboy kills the scientist and flees. Unfortunately, the big city doesn't agree with him; it's too noisy and busy. He shoots up a bar, wreaks havoc and barely makes it back to the lab -- where he gets the surprise of his life -- or death. In the original TV episode, Albert Salmi played the unsavory cowboy and Russell Johnson (The Professor from Gilligan's Island) played the scientist. In its radio counterpart, Don Johnson plays the cowboy and JoBe Cerny portrays the scientist. This one, and "Two" were not mixed at Cerny, and the sound designer has told me this one is really rich with effects. I'm excited to hear a first draft of it this week, so I'll keep you posted. After "Execution" it's "Bewitchin' Pool" starring Karen Black.
I have a very special announcement: THE TWILIGHT ZONE RADIO DRAMAS will no longer be heard on WGN AM 720. So for those of you in the Chicagoland area that regularly tune in to TZ on WGN please tune your dial to WIND AM 560 at the same time, Saturday nights at Midnight (technically Sunday mornings). Please spread the word. And if you want to hear me as host of HOLLYWOOD 360, tune in to WIND AM 560 five hours earlier starting at 7 pm and going all the way till Midnight when TZ will be heard. As I said in my last blog, HOLLYWOOD 360 spans everything Hollywood, from today's most current showbiz headlines to radio, TV and Film Nostalgia. I present, movie, DVD and theatre reviews, celebrity and industry expert interviews, trivia contests, take calls and a whole lot more. For fans of old-time radio, I play four old-time radio shows each week, thanks to Radio Spirits so please support them at www.radiospirits.com I play one Comedy, one Detective, one Sci-Fi or Western and one Mystery/Horror show. Last Saturday I interviewed the great Michael York and Hugh O'Brian (Wyatt Earp of classic TV). This coming week May 9th I'll interview Thomas Lennon (Lt. Dangle from Reno 911). Tom is co-starring in two films right now "17-Again" and "I Love You Man." I will also be interviewing another celebrity (haven't confirmed him/her as yet) and playing four old-time radio shows, THE LIFE OF RILEY, BOX 13, HAVE GUN-WILL TRAVEL and THE WHISTLER.
We continue to improve the MYSTERY THEATER site and show at www.mysterytheater.com so I hope you're enjoying it! Well, that's all for now. Thanks for all your support and I'll see you next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
I hope everyone enjoyed "Two" starring Don Johnson and Oksana Fedenuschen. I've gotten some very nice emails about it and it's always great to get your feedback. Next up is another show starring Don Johnson, it's called "Execution." The original story was written by Rod Serling and based on a short story by my good friend George Clayton Johnson. Dennis Etchsion adapted it for our radio play. A tough cowboy in the Old West is sentenced to death for shooting another man in the back. But just as he is hanged, he disappears from the noose. He wakes up in a lab in present-day-New York - the first successful time traveler. The scientist learns that the cowboy was about to be executed for murder and decides to send him back to face his punishment. The cowboy kills the scientist and flees. Unfortunately, the big city doesn't agree with him; it's too noisy and busy. He shoots up a bar, wreaks havoc and barely makes it back to the lab -- where he gets the surprise of his life -- or death. In the original TV episode, Albert Salmi played the unsavory cowboy and Russell Johnson (The Professor from Gilligan's Island) played the scientist. In its radio counterpart, Don Johnson plays the cowboy and JoBe Cerny portrays the scientist. This one, and "Two" were not mixed at Cerny, and the sound designer has told me this one is really rich with effects. I'm excited to hear a first draft of it this week, so I'll keep you posted. After "Execution" it's "Bewitchin' Pool" starring Karen Black.
I have a very special announcement: THE TWILIGHT ZONE RADIO DRAMAS will no longer be heard on WGN AM 720. So for those of you in the Chicagoland area that regularly tune in to TZ on WGN please tune your dial to WIND AM 560 at the same time, Saturday nights at Midnight (technically Sunday mornings). Please spread the word. And if you want to hear me as host of HOLLYWOOD 360, tune in to WIND AM 560 five hours earlier starting at 7 pm and going all the way till Midnight when TZ will be heard. As I said in my last blog, HOLLYWOOD 360 spans everything Hollywood, from today's most current showbiz headlines to radio, TV and Film Nostalgia. I present, movie, DVD and theatre reviews, celebrity and industry expert interviews, trivia contests, take calls and a whole lot more. For fans of old-time radio, I play four old-time radio shows each week, thanks to Radio Spirits so please support them at www.radiospirits.com I play one Comedy, one Detective, one Sci-Fi or Western and one Mystery/Horror show. Last Saturday I interviewed the great Michael York and Hugh O'Brian (Wyatt Earp of classic TV). This coming week May 9th I'll interview Thomas Lennon (Lt. Dangle from Reno 911). Tom is co-starring in two films right now "17-Again" and "I Love You Man." I will also be interviewing another celebrity (haven't confirmed him/her as yet) and playing four old-time radio shows, THE LIFE OF RILEY, BOX 13, HAVE GUN-WILL TRAVEL and THE WHISTLER.
We continue to improve the MYSTERY THEATER site and show at www.mysterytheater.com so I hope you're enjoying it! Well, that's all for now. Thanks for all your support and I'll see you next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Hi everyone,
Well, the TZ episode "Two" was recently mixed and I believe it airs very soon on the network. This episode, written by Montgomery Pittman and adapted for radio by Dennis Etchison stars Don Johnson as a weary soldier, sometime after WWII with Chicago actress Oksana Fedenuschen as a soldier from the opposite side.
This two-character drama starred Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery in the TV version. The TV version had very little dialog, in fact the continuity script (transcript of the soundtrack) from CBS archives is barely two pages long. Dennis had to do a lot of creative writing for this one to work.
Another challenge was that the man was the only one who spoke English, and the woman said a total of three or four words - in a foreign language. To do it this way for radio would mean that she almost disappears completely from the play, and merely adding more lines for him would make it an endless monologue for the man. The point to the story is that they are two soldiers from opposite sides who can't communicate. So Dennis created a sound transition at the beginning, wherein her words in a foreign language fade through to English. Thereafter we are able to hear her thoughts in English, though her spoken words to him remain in a foreign tongue. It's a remarkable story with that I hope you won't miss.
I've always been a big fan of Don Johnson, so getting to work with him on TZ was a thrill for me. Usually when I record a star, they do two shows. Don starred in this episode and in "Execution" which airs in a few months. He was simply brilliant and I could tell he was having a fun time with it. He loves radio drama and kept dropping his pages once he didn't need them (just like the radio stars from the 40s used to do : ) Don nailed both shows and I can't wait for you to hear them.
On the MYSTERY THEATER front, we've been making progress on the site, which is at www.mysterytheater.com
You now can hear the show streaming at 9 pm Monday through Friday and you can download episodes of the Mystery Theater shows for only 99 cents each if you order it the week after it airs. If you wait more than a week though, the price is $2.99 each, so make sure to order them when they are at 99 cents each. Christopher Lee is awesome as your guide to the best in mystery, detective and science-fiction that radio has to offer. Episodes of the Old-Time Radio shows should be available soon, so keep checking back. We got word that KFWB in LA will be airing Mystery Theater weeknights very soon. I'll make an announcement when that happens.
I am now hosting my own radio show. It's called HOLLYWOOD 360, heard every Saturday night LIVE from 7 pm till Midnight at Chicago powerhouse station WIND AM 560. If you are within earshot of the station, I hope you'll tune in. For those outside the Chicagoland area, you can hear it streamed on the web at http://560wind.townhall.com/
HOLLYWOOD 360 spans everything Hollywood, from today's most current showbiz headlines to radio, TV and Film Nostalgia. I present, movie, DVD and theatre reviews, celebrity and industry expert interviews, trivia contests and a whole lot more. For fans of old-time radio, I play 4 old-time radio shows each week, thanks to Radio Spirits so please support them at www.radiospirits.com. I play one comedy, one Detective, one Sci-Fi or Western and one Mystery/Horror show.
Last week on HOLLYWOOD 360 I interviewed Annette O'Toole. This week I'm interviewing Mike Starr and Chicago casting guru Claire Simon. Guests in upcoming weeks will include Malcolm McDowell, Stacy Keach, Sean Astin, Michael York and many others.
Well, I'm off for now. I hope you'll tune in all the radio shows we offer! See you next time for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Well, the TZ episode "Two" was recently mixed and I believe it airs very soon on the network. This episode, written by Montgomery Pittman and adapted for radio by Dennis Etchison stars Don Johnson as a weary soldier, sometime after WWII with Chicago actress Oksana Fedenuschen as a soldier from the opposite side.
This two-character drama starred Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery in the TV version. The TV version had very little dialog, in fact the continuity script (transcript of the soundtrack) from CBS archives is barely two pages long. Dennis had to do a lot of creative writing for this one to work.
Another challenge was that the man was the only one who spoke English, and the woman said a total of three or four words - in a foreign language. To do it this way for radio would mean that she almost disappears completely from the play, and merely adding more lines for him would make it an endless monologue for the man. The point to the story is that they are two soldiers from opposite sides who can't communicate. So Dennis created a sound transition at the beginning, wherein her words in a foreign language fade through to English. Thereafter we are able to hear her thoughts in English, though her spoken words to him remain in a foreign tongue. It's a remarkable story with that I hope you won't miss.
I've always been a big fan of Don Johnson, so getting to work with him on TZ was a thrill for me. Usually when I record a star, they do two shows. Don starred in this episode and in "Execution" which airs in a few months. He was simply brilliant and I could tell he was having a fun time with it. He loves radio drama and kept dropping his pages once he didn't need them (just like the radio stars from the 40s used to do : ) Don nailed both shows and I can't wait for you to hear them.
On the MYSTERY THEATER front, we've been making progress on the site, which is at www.mysterytheater.com
You now can hear the show streaming at 9 pm Monday through Friday and you can download episodes of the Mystery Theater shows for only 99 cents each if you order it the week after it airs. If you wait more than a week though, the price is $2.99 each, so make sure to order them when they are at 99 cents each. Christopher Lee is awesome as your guide to the best in mystery, detective and science-fiction that radio has to offer. Episodes of the Old-Time Radio shows should be available soon, so keep checking back. We got word that KFWB in LA will be airing Mystery Theater weeknights very soon. I'll make an announcement when that happens.
I am now hosting my own radio show. It's called HOLLYWOOD 360, heard every Saturday night LIVE from 7 pm till Midnight at Chicago powerhouse station WIND AM 560. If you are within earshot of the station, I hope you'll tune in. For those outside the Chicagoland area, you can hear it streamed on the web at http://560wind.townhall.com/
HOLLYWOOD 360 spans everything Hollywood, from today's most current showbiz headlines to radio, TV and Film Nostalgia. I present, movie, DVD and theatre reviews, celebrity and industry expert interviews, trivia contests and a whole lot more. For fans of old-time radio, I play 4 old-time radio shows each week, thanks to Radio Spirits so please support them at www.radiospirits.com. I play one comedy, one Detective, one Sci-Fi or Western and one Mystery/Horror show.
Last week on HOLLYWOOD 360 I interviewed Annette O'Toole. This week I'm interviewing Mike Starr and Chicago casting guru Claire Simon. Guests in upcoming weeks will include Malcolm McDowell, Stacy Keach, Sean Astin, Michael York and many others.
Well, I'm off for now. I hope you'll tune in all the radio shows we offer! See you next time for more NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Hi everyone,
Let's start this blog with an apology -- I'm very sorry that the MYSTERY THEATER website is not fully-functional to date. I've had many emails expressing disappointment in the site still being 'under construction' in sections. There are many reasons why this is so, but there is really no need to pass the buck, I take full responsibility for its present condition. We're all working very hard to get it up and running to full capacity as soon as possible. I hope you'll visit it often and if you do, you'll see the progress we're making.
Once again, the site is www.mysterytheater.com
MYSTERY THEATER with host Christopher Lee is airing on 35 stations to date and we're growing the station list each week. At the site is a 'Radio Locator' section to help you find a station in your area. If there is not one, soon you'll be able to hear the show streamed each night at 9 pm. I'm told this will be 9 pm in all US time zones - - Eastern, Central and Pacific. At MYSTERY THEATER we present great mystery, science-fiction and detective programming from the golden age of radio and beyond, so I hope you'll check out the site.
On the TZ front, I have a special announcement:
We have released a total of 13 volumes of TZ on Compact Disc (10 shows per volume). They are all available at our website. We've decided to NOT manufacture any more CDs of TZ. We've decided that TZ will be a download ONLY show as soon as the CD product that we have in our warehouse is sold. We will not be releasing a volume 14 on CD. Volume 14 and subsequent volumes will be available at our website but via download only. The 13 volumes that we do have on CD have been specially marked: Buy 1, get 1 Free. You can buy as many volumes as you like and get an equal number of volumes for free while supplies last so -- get em' while they're hot!
We're reeling in all the third-party companies that sell and download our TZ product and very soon, the only place TZ will be available is at our official TZ website. We want to be better at managing the distribution of the series and if it is available at our website and our website only, we believe we can better serve fans and collectors.
I recently received in the TZ episode "Probe 7, Over and Out" starring Academy-Award Winner Lou Gossett Jr. Mr. Gossett is simply amazing in the role of Colonel A.L. Cook, an astronaut who crash-lands on an uncharted planet. While there he learns that much of his own world has been destroyed. He has no one to rescue him, no way to repair his ship and nothing to go back to if he could. He's a space-age Robinson Crusoe and he's on his own -- until he meets a female astronaut who also crashed there. But she's not from his planet and she speaks a language he can't understand.
In the original teleplay starring Richard Basehart, the female astronaut (played by the beautiful Antionette Bower) barely speaks at all. Much of the story was visual, as he explored the planet and tried to communicate with her. All of that worked great on television, but this is RADIO. Our brilliant writer Dennis Etchison had to work magic with his radio adaptation of the TV script, including adding lines in an unknown language for her to speak, so we can hear their interaction. This one needed Herculean efforts for writing, acting and sound design. I'm pleased to report that all three hit the mark. I think it's one of the best we've ever done. Kudos to Mr. Gossett and Chicago actress Oksana Fedenuschen who are the only voices in the play other than Stacy Keach as host and Doug James as the announcer. "Probe 7, Over and Out" will be airing on the TZ network soon so tune in for it.
Next up is "Two" starring Don Johnson and I'm looking forward to hearing a draft mix of it. Well, that's all for now. See you next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Let's start this blog with an apology -- I'm very sorry that the MYSTERY THEATER website is not fully-functional to date. I've had many emails expressing disappointment in the site still being 'under construction' in sections. There are many reasons why this is so, but there is really no need to pass the buck, I take full responsibility for its present condition. We're all working very hard to get it up and running to full capacity as soon as possible. I hope you'll visit it often and if you do, you'll see the progress we're making.
Once again, the site is www.mysterytheater.com
MYSTERY THEATER with host Christopher Lee is airing on 35 stations to date and we're growing the station list each week. At the site is a 'Radio Locator' section to help you find a station in your area. If there is not one, soon you'll be able to hear the show streamed each night at 9 pm. I'm told this will be 9 pm in all US time zones - - Eastern, Central and Pacific. At MYSTERY THEATER we present great mystery, science-fiction and detective programming from the golden age of radio and beyond, so I hope you'll check out the site.
On the TZ front, I have a special announcement:
We have released a total of 13 volumes of TZ on Compact Disc (10 shows per volume). They are all available at our website. We've decided to NOT manufacture any more CDs of TZ. We've decided that TZ will be a download ONLY show as soon as the CD product that we have in our warehouse is sold. We will not be releasing a volume 14 on CD. Volume 14 and subsequent volumes will be available at our website but via download only. The 13 volumes that we do have on CD have been specially marked: Buy 1, get 1 Free. You can buy as many volumes as you like and get an equal number of volumes for free while supplies last so -- get em' while they're hot!
We're reeling in all the third-party companies that sell and download our TZ product and very soon, the only place TZ will be available is at our official TZ website. We want to be better at managing the distribution of the series and if it is available at our website and our website only, we believe we can better serve fans and collectors.
I recently received in the TZ episode "Probe 7, Over and Out" starring Academy-Award Winner Lou Gossett Jr. Mr. Gossett is simply amazing in the role of Colonel A.L. Cook, an astronaut who crash-lands on an uncharted planet. While there he learns that much of his own world has been destroyed. He has no one to rescue him, no way to repair his ship and nothing to go back to if he could. He's a space-age Robinson Crusoe and he's on his own -- until he meets a female astronaut who also crashed there. But she's not from his planet and she speaks a language he can't understand.
In the original teleplay starring Richard Basehart, the female astronaut (played by the beautiful Antionette Bower) barely speaks at all. Much of the story was visual, as he explored the planet and tried to communicate with her. All of that worked great on television, but this is RADIO. Our brilliant writer Dennis Etchison had to work magic with his radio adaptation of the TV script, including adding lines in an unknown language for her to speak, so we can hear their interaction. This one needed Herculean efforts for writing, acting and sound design. I'm pleased to report that all three hit the mark. I think it's one of the best we've ever done. Kudos to Mr. Gossett and Chicago actress Oksana Fedenuschen who are the only voices in the play other than Stacy Keach as host and Doug James as the announcer. "Probe 7, Over and Out" will be airing on the TZ network soon so tune in for it.
Next up is "Two" starring Don Johnson and I'm looking forward to hearing a draft mix of it. Well, that's all for now. See you next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Hi friends,
I'm sorry it's been a while since my last Blog but I've been crazy busy getting ready to launch MYSTERY THEATER, the new nationally syndicated radio series hosted by Christopher Lee. MYSTERY THEATER premieres this coming Monday March 2nd, 2009! If you're a fan of classic radio mystery, detective and sci-fi shows, you're going to love MYSTERY THEATER. MYSTERY THEATER is designed to air 2-hours each weeknight, Monday through Friday. On each 2-hour show, listeners are treated to three 30-minute dramas. In just the first two weeks alone we'll present: SUSPENSE, BOSTON BLACKIE, PHILIP MARLOWE, THE CLOCK, JEFF REGAN, THE WHISTLER, RICHARD DIAMOND, MURDER BY EXPERTS, THE FAT MAN, PAT NOVAK, THE SHADOW, ESCAPE, ELLERY QUEEN, THE SAINT, LIGHTS OUT, JOHNNY DOLLAR, INNER SANCTUM and others.
Eventually we'll have more than 5,000 radio dramas available for download purchase in our RADIO VAULT. Each episode will come from the original transcription disc or a low source master, then receive: Cedar processing; Time correction; Hiss removal; Levels normalized; Hum removal and then a re-equalization process. I believe that the quality of the radio shows available for download at www.mysterytheater.com will be some of the best you've ever heard. And the download price will only be 99 cents per show! And if you buy 5 shows you get 1 free - buy 10 shows you get 3 free.
You'll also be able to hear each night's MYSTERY THEATER show streamed at the website in case you don't have a radio station in your area, or if the radio station plays the show at a time that is not convenient for you. The nightly steam will be at 10 pm Eastern time, every Monday through Friday.
On the TZ front, I'm bummed to say that I just heard the produced mix of "Come Wander With Me" and I am not at all happy with it on many levels so I've decided to scratch the show altogether and start fresh. There were things I really liked about it, including the acting by the two stars Marshall Allman and his lovely wife Jamie Allman (who was just on THE CLOSER last night and was outstanding) but I have issues with the supporting players and other parts so that one is going back to the drawing board. I'm sorry as I know fans of that episode have been waiting for it but I just am not comfortable releasing anything that isn't great and this one 'just ain't great' the way it is now.
The next NEW TZ show that you'll hear is "Probe 7 - Over and Out" starring Academy Award winner Louis Gossett, Jr. I've had the pleasure of working with Mr. Gossett on my Word of Promise New Testament audio Bible project, where he is magnificent as "John." Next week, I'm told by the geniuses at Cerny that I'll have the rough draft of this next week so I'm excited about that.
Last Wednesday I had the great pleasure of directing Don Johnson in two episodes of TZ, "Two" and "Execution." He was incredible in both shows. He absolutely, and totally nailed it! Don is a radio drama fan and he was so much fun to work with. I've always been a huge Don Johnson fan and I can't wait to mix these shows.
Our TZ syndicator, Westwood One has added some great radio stations to the growing network. We're now on 190 radio stations! Here's the newest station adds:
WCRN AM 830.0 Boston, MA Sat 2p-4p
WROK-AM 1440 Rockford, IL Sun 10p-12a
KUBC-AM 580 Grand Junction, CO Sat 10p-11p
KOA-AM 850 Denver, CO Sat 3a-5a
KYNS-AM 1340 Santa Barbara, CA Sat 10a-12p
WICY-AM 1490 Burlington, NY Sat 7p-9p
WCCO-AM 830 Minneapolis, MN Sat 11p-12a & Sun 2:30a-3:30a
WSJF-FM 105.5 Jacksonville, FL Sun 10p-12a
Thanks for all your support. I'll see you next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
I'm sorry it's been a while since my last Blog but I've been crazy busy getting ready to launch MYSTERY THEATER, the new nationally syndicated radio series hosted by Christopher Lee. MYSTERY THEATER premieres this coming Monday March 2nd, 2009! If you're a fan of classic radio mystery, detective and sci-fi shows, you're going to love MYSTERY THEATER. MYSTERY THEATER is designed to air 2-hours each weeknight, Monday through Friday. On each 2-hour show, listeners are treated to three 30-minute dramas. In just the first two weeks alone we'll present: SUSPENSE, BOSTON BLACKIE, PHILIP MARLOWE, THE CLOCK, JEFF REGAN, THE WHISTLER, RICHARD DIAMOND, MURDER BY EXPERTS, THE FAT MAN, PAT NOVAK, THE SHADOW, ESCAPE, ELLERY QUEEN, THE SAINT, LIGHTS OUT, JOHNNY DOLLAR, INNER SANCTUM and others.
Eventually we'll have more than 5,000 radio dramas available for download purchase in our RADIO VAULT. Each episode will come from the original transcription disc or a low source master, then receive: Cedar processing; Time correction; Hiss removal; Levels normalized; Hum removal and then a re-equalization process. I believe that the quality of the radio shows available for download at www.mysterytheater.com will be some of the best you've ever heard. And the download price will only be 99 cents per show! And if you buy 5 shows you get 1 free - buy 10 shows you get 3 free.
You'll also be able to hear each night's MYSTERY THEATER show streamed at the website in case you don't have a radio station in your area, or if the radio station plays the show at a time that is not convenient for you. The nightly steam will be at 10 pm Eastern time, every Monday through Friday.
On the TZ front, I'm bummed to say that I just heard the produced mix of "Come Wander With Me" and I am not at all happy with it on many levels so I've decided to scratch the show altogether and start fresh. There were things I really liked about it, including the acting by the two stars Marshall Allman and his lovely wife Jamie Allman (who was just on THE CLOSER last night and was outstanding) but I have issues with the supporting players and other parts so that one is going back to the drawing board. I'm sorry as I know fans of that episode have been waiting for it but I just am not comfortable releasing anything that isn't great and this one 'just ain't great' the way it is now.
The next NEW TZ show that you'll hear is "Probe 7 - Over and Out" starring Academy Award winner Louis Gossett, Jr. I've had the pleasure of working with Mr. Gossett on my Word of Promise New Testament audio Bible project, where he is magnificent as "John." Next week, I'm told by the geniuses at Cerny that I'll have the rough draft of this next week so I'm excited about that.
Last Wednesday I had the great pleasure of directing Don Johnson in two episodes of TZ, "Two" and "Execution." He was incredible in both shows. He absolutely, and totally nailed it! Don is a radio drama fan and he was so much fun to work with. I've always been a huge Don Johnson fan and I can't wait to mix these shows.
Our TZ syndicator, Westwood One has added some great radio stations to the growing network. We're now on 190 radio stations! Here's the newest station adds:
WCRN AM 830.0 Boston, MA Sat 2p-4p
WROK-AM 1440 Rockford, IL Sun 10p-12a
KUBC-AM 580 Grand Junction, CO Sat 10p-11p
KOA-AM 850 Denver, CO Sat 3a-5a
KYNS-AM 1340 Santa Barbara, CA Sat 10a-12p
WICY-AM 1490 Burlington, NY Sat 7p-9p
WCCO-AM 830 Minneapolis, MN Sat 11p-12a & Sun 2:30a-3:30a
WSJF-FM 105.5 Jacksonville, FL Sun 10p-12a
Thanks for all your support. I'll see you next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Well, last week the geniuses at Cerny sent me the TZ episode "The Shelter" starring Ernie Hudson and it came out great! It will be airing on the network this week so listen for it. Ernie is a great actor and does a brilliant job as a man who has the foresight to build a bomb shelter in his basement before it's ever needed. The supporting cast has many of our TZ regulars including: Kurt Naebig, JoBe Cerny, Tom McElroy, Jamie Baron, Ana Sferruzza, Linda Reiter, Norm Woodel, Doug James, Jeff Lupetin and Ric Vargas. It features newcomers April Williams and her son Damon Williams and also first time Zoner Renee Domenz. It also has a few lines by my 10-year old son C.J. who you can hear as the young boy who receives phone calls from his dead Grandma in "Long Distance Call" starring Hal Sparks. FYI: "Long Distance Call" is one of the three shows we offer for free download on our TZ home page.
The next show that Cerny is working on is "Young Man's Fancy" by Richard Matheson and adapted for radio by Dennis Etchison. It's the story of a woman who is in competition with her new husband's dead mother, whose spirit does not want to let go of him. Tony Plana (the dad from "Ugly Betty"), who was magnificent in "The Mirror" for us, plays Alex, the husband and Franette Liebow plays Virginia his new wife. Nydia Rodriguez plays Alex's dead mother (she can be seen as the woman judge who gets blown up in her car in "The Dark Knight").
Barry Richter, who has written some amazing TZ radio scripts for us, including a brilliant adaptation of "The Encounter" has tackled the one show that so many people thought would be impossible to present on radio -- "The Invaders." That's the show where Agnes Moorehead plays a woman who does not utter any dialog as she is being invaded by tiny spacemen. It's one of the most famous TZ shows of all time. Well, I have to say that Barry figured out an angle on how to present it on radio and I can't wait for you to hear it. Way to go Barry! With this script Barry just proved that Stan Freberg was right when he said "anything can be done on radio!"
By the way, here's just some of the stars you'll soon hear in upcoming episodes of TZ:
Ed Begley, Jr.
Bruno Kirby
John Schneider
Jason Alexander
Stan Freberg
Marshall Allman
Kim Fields
Blair Underwood
Hal Sparks
Lou Gossett, Jr.
Don Johnson
John Heard
Barry Bostwick
Lou Diamond Phillips
Robert Knepper
Karen Black
Shelley Berman
Henry Rollins
John Rhys-Davies
Well that's all for now my friends. See you next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
The next show that Cerny is working on is "Young Man's Fancy" by Richard Matheson and adapted for radio by Dennis Etchison. It's the story of a woman who is in competition with her new husband's dead mother, whose spirit does not want to let go of him. Tony Plana (the dad from "Ugly Betty"), who was magnificent in "The Mirror" for us, plays Alex, the husband and Franette Liebow plays Virginia his new wife. Nydia Rodriguez plays Alex's dead mother (she can be seen as the woman judge who gets blown up in her car in "The Dark Knight").
Barry Richter, who has written some amazing TZ radio scripts for us, including a brilliant adaptation of "The Encounter" has tackled the one show that so many people thought would be impossible to present on radio -- "The Invaders." That's the show where Agnes Moorehead plays a woman who does not utter any dialog as she is being invaded by tiny spacemen. It's one of the most famous TZ shows of all time. Well, I have to say that Barry figured out an angle on how to present it on radio and I can't wait for you to hear it. Way to go Barry! With this script Barry just proved that Stan Freberg was right when he said "anything can be done on radio!"
By the way, here's just some of the stars you'll soon hear in upcoming episodes of TZ:
Ed Begley, Jr.
Bruno Kirby
John Schneider
Jason Alexander
Stan Freberg
Marshall Allman
Kim Fields
Blair Underwood
Hal Sparks
Lou Gossett, Jr.
Don Johnson
John Heard
Barry Bostwick
Lou Diamond Phillips
Robert Knepper
Karen Black
Shelley Berman
Henry Rollins
John Rhys-Davies
Well that's all for now my friends. See you next time for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year everyone! I look forward to an exciting 2009! We have a lot in store for fans of TZ and MYSTERY THEATER. MYSTERY THEATER with host Christopher Lee launches this March 2nd, 2009. A mass-mailing of MYSTERY THEATER demo kits went out this week. Stations should start receiving them next week. We have a follow-up mailing scheduled for the first week of February so my hope is to launch with 50 or so stations and build on that throughout the year and on-going. My goal for the show is 150 stations by the end of 2010.
The website is coming along quite nicely; it will be up and running by mid February and will be at www.mysterytheater.com MYSTERY THEATER is set up to run Monday through Friday. At the official website, listeners will be able to listen to that night's MYSTERY THEATER show at 10 pm Eastern each night Monday through Friday. The 5 shows airing the current week will be available for download the following week for only 99 cents each. Fans will have one week to download the prior week's shows for only 99 cents each. Then, after one week, the 5 shows will be replaced with 5 new shows (which aired the previous week) and they too will be available for download for only 99 cents each and so on. If you miss downloading any MYSTERY THEATER shows, they will be permanently available in the Radio Vault for a download price of $2.99 -- so I encourage fans to download them when they are available for only 99 cents each.
The website will also have a "Radio Vault" feature that will house thousands of other top-quality radio episodes from the mystery, detective and sci-fi categories. Each episode (whether 30-minutes of 60-minutes) will be only 99 cents each to download. When you buy 5 shows, you get 1 additional show for free. When you buy 10 shows, you get an additional 3 shows for free. There will be many other fun features at the MYSTERY THEATER website and I can't wait to have it up and running.
Last week we received in the TZ episode of "The Mirror" starring Tony Plana and it came out great! Listen for it on a station near you. Next to be mixed is "The Shelter" by Rod Serling and adapted for radio by Dennis Etchison. George Clayton Johnson calls it the best of the Serling episodes. This one stars the amazing Ernie Hudson. It's the one about the man who builds a bomb shelter in his backyard. When it looks like the Big One is going to hit, his neighbors panic, turn into a mob and try to break into his shelter. By the time it's over all have learned something about themselves -- some of it ugly. It's similar in feel to "Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" which is one of the best-remembered TZ shows. I look forward to hearing what the geniuses at Cerny do with "The Encounter."
Well, that's all for now friends, check back with me soon for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
The website is coming along quite nicely; it will be up and running by mid February and will be at www.mysterytheater.com MYSTERY THEATER is set up to run Monday through Friday. At the official website, listeners will be able to listen to that night's MYSTERY THEATER show at 10 pm Eastern each night Monday through Friday. The 5 shows airing the current week will be available for download the following week for only 99 cents each. Fans will have one week to download the prior week's shows for only 99 cents each. Then, after one week, the 5 shows will be replaced with 5 new shows (which aired the previous week) and they too will be available for download for only 99 cents each and so on. If you miss downloading any MYSTERY THEATER shows, they will be permanently available in the Radio Vault for a download price of $2.99 -- so I encourage fans to download them when they are available for only 99 cents each.
The website will also have a "Radio Vault" feature that will house thousands of other top-quality radio episodes from the mystery, detective and sci-fi categories. Each episode (whether 30-minutes of 60-minutes) will be only 99 cents each to download. When you buy 5 shows, you get 1 additional show for free. When you buy 10 shows, you get an additional 3 shows for free. There will be many other fun features at the MYSTERY THEATER website and I can't wait to have it up and running.
Last week we received in the TZ episode of "The Mirror" starring Tony Plana and it came out great! Listen for it on a station near you. Next to be mixed is "The Shelter" by Rod Serling and adapted for radio by Dennis Etchison. George Clayton Johnson calls it the best of the Serling episodes. This one stars the amazing Ernie Hudson. It's the one about the man who builds a bomb shelter in his backyard. When it looks like the Big One is going to hit, his neighbors panic, turn into a mob and try to break into his shelter. By the time it's over all have learned something about themselves -- some of it ugly. It's similar in feel to "Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" which is one of the best-remembered TZ shows. I look forward to hearing what the geniuses at Cerny do with "The Encounter."
Well, that's all for now friends, check back with me soon for MORE NEWS FROM THE ZONE!
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