Beowulf Alley’s Old Time Radio Theatre Company
May Performances Bring Comedy and Suspense
Beowulf Alley Theatre’s Old Time Radio Theatre Company will presents classic productions from the golden days of radio, to be presented at the theatre, 11 South 6th Avenue (Downtown between Broadway and Congress) on May 4 and May 18, 2010. Performances are at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 each for the first two children ages 6-12, cash at the door, no reservations required and general seating. For additional information, please go to our website at www.beowulfalley.org or call the box office at (520) 882-0555.
May 4
Father Knows Best: The Housekeeper, was originally performed on June 22, 1950. This all-American family comedy success is geared toward all age groups, followed by one of radio’s classic heroic-hero adventures, Doc Savage:The Sinister Sleep, originally presented April 14, 1934.
Father Knows Best ran on NBC Radio from 1945 to 1954, when it switched to CBS television. It starred Robert Young and June Whitley (later, Jean Vander Pyl) and went on to television fame with Young and Jane Wyatt. The show is often regarded as an example of the conservative and paternalistic nature of American family life in the 1950s and it is also cited as an overly rosy portrayal of American family life. The lead character changed on television from a sarcastic dominant head-of-house to a much more subdued and gentle hand.
Doc Savage, a fictional comic character, popular in the 1930s and 40s "... rights wrongs and punishes evildoers." The character appeared in comic books, film and radio and today’s graphic novels. Clark Savage Jr. was a physician, surgeon, scientist, adventurer, inventor, explorer, researcher, and musician. A team of scientists assembled by his father deliberately trained his mind and body to near-superhuman abilities almost from birth, giving him great strength and endurance, a photographic memory, a mastery of the martial arts, and vast knowledge of the sciences. Doc is also a master of disguise and an excellent imitator of voices.
He lived by his creed and invited the youth of the day to do the same –
“Let me strive every moment of my life to make myself better and better, to the best of my ability, that all may profit by it. Let me think of the right and lend all my assistance to those who need it, with no regard for anything but justice. Let me take what comes with a smile, without loss of courage. Let me be considerate of my country, of my fellow citizens and my associates in everything I say and do. Let me do right to all, and wrong no man.”
May 18
The Bickersons: Tax Refund begins this evening’s performance. Starring Don Ameche and Frances Langford, The Bickersons began as a radio sketch comedy that ran as part of other shows until 1946, when it became its own series. After a turn on NBC, it moved to CBS and ran until 1951. John and Blanche Bickerson spent their entire time in a relentless verbal war. Their quick dialogue brought laughter to all.
John: “You can accuse me of being selfish or inconsiderate, or anything else, but drinking is not one of my failures.”
Blanche: “No, it's one of your few successes.”
Leiningen vs. the Ants was a short story published in December, 1938, in Esquire Magazine. It later became one of radio’s most famous thrillers. The story will keep people on the edge of their seats. The story centers on a scrappy, no-nonsense plantation owner called Leiningen, and his stubborn refusal to abandon his plantation in the face of a seemingly unstoppable mass of army ants, described as "an elemental act of God!" These are ants that can devour a horse to the bones in two minutes. It was adapted to radio on January 14, 1948 as an episode of Escape on CBS Radio. It subsequently became the famous film, The Naked Jungle, with Charlton Heston, who later recreated the role originally performed by William Conrad. "Ten miles long, two miles wide—ants, nothing but ants!”
Beowulf Alley Theatre Company’s Old Time Radio Theatre
June Performances Offer Classic Radio Shows
(Tucson, AZ) Beowulf Alley Theatre’s Old Time Radio Theatre Company will presents two classic productions from the golden days of radio, to be presented at the theatre, 11 South 6th Avenue (Downtown between Broadway and Congress). Performances are at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 each for the first two children ages 6-12, cash at the door, no reservations required and general seating. For additional information, please go to our website at www.beowulfalley.org or call the box office at (520) 882-0555.
Tuesday June 1
My Friend Irma has been brought back again, by popular request. One of radio’s funniest comedies, it starred Marie Wilson, Diana Lynn, John Lund and a host of radio and TV greats. Most notably, it was the kick off for two of comedy’s greats, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. My Friend Irma, and it’s popularity and wacky ensemble of misfits, allowed it to go on to two movies, comic books and a huge TV success. There is a laugh every 4.5 seconds. My Friend Irma: Seeing Ghosts was first presented on July 24, 1939. Regarding her boss, Mr. Clyde, Irma said,
"When I first went to work with him he had curly black hair, then it got grey, and now it's snow white. I guess I've been with him about six months."
One of radio’s most listened to detective shows, Boston Blackie starred Chester Morris, who originally played the role in many motion pictures. It was first broadcast on NBC June 23, 1944 as a summer replacement for Amos ‘n’ Andy, and continued until September 15 of that year. On April 11, 1945, it was renewed with Richard Kollmar in the role, playing over 200 shows until October 25, 1950. While investigating mysteries, Blackie invariably encountered hare-brained Police Inspector Farraday and always solved the mystery to Farraday's amazement. Initially, friction surfaced in the relationship between Blackie and Farraday, but as the series continued, Farraday recognized Blackie's talents and requested assistance. Blackie dated Mary Wesley and for the first half of the series, his best pal, Shorty, was always on hand. The humorless Farraday was on the receiving end of Blackie's bad puns and word play. This episode was first presented December 20, 1945.
Tuesday, June 15
My Friend Irma continues to be the most popular request and this evening’s episode, The Boss Buys a Racehorse is one of their funniest. Irma’s boss, Mr. Clyde is buying a race horse. Irma comments,
“Well, Mr. Clyde wouldn’t buy any old animal. He’s very particular. Remember what I went through before he hired me?”
The second presentation for this evening is Dragnet: The Big No Tooth. Dragnet, most noted as one of early television’s first police dramas, created by and starring Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday, Badge number 714, was perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave millions of audience members a feel for the boredom and drudgery, as well as the danger and heroism, of real-life police work. Dragnet earned praise for improving the public opinion of police officers. In it’s short run, It was one of radio’s top-rated shows. While "Just the facts, ma'am" has come to be known as Dragnet's catchphrase, it was never actually uttered by Joe Friday; the closest he came were, "All we want are the facts, ma'am" and "All we know are the facts, ma'am"."Just the facts, ma'am" comes from the Stan Freberg’s parody in St. George and the Dragonet.
Directed by Sheldon Metz, the Old Time Radio Theatre Company includes Jacob Brown, Jon Benda, Warren Bodow, Janet Bruce, Joel Charles, Geri Courtney-Austein, Sydney Flynn, Vince Flynn, Audrey Ann Gambach, Barbara Glover, Bill La Point, Steve McKee, Mark McLemore, Joan O'Dwyer, Jessica Risco, Jeff Scotland, Ina Shivack, Jared Stokes, Pat Timm, John Vornholt, and Brian Wees plus occasional guest performers and the technical genius of Mike Saxon and Samuel De Jesus.
