Moonlight Audio Theatre

Latest Episodes:

PROJECT AUDION 47 - Lights Out Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

Who was it who made that phone call to the emergency room, the one that set off the horrible chain of events that took place in The Dark? Project Audion recreates the episode "The Dark" from LIGHTS OUT - one of classic radio's most imaginatively gruesome shows. It's an episode show that hasn't been heard in its complete form since January 1938! "Lights Out" was the work of master radio dramatist Arch Oboler, and he memorably redid "The Dark" 25 years later as a highly abridged adaptation for an LP called "Drop Dead" - the only recording you could hear until now. But Project Audion worked from the original half-hour 1938 script to deliver extra thrills and chills, and leading to a climax where -- well, that would be telling, wouldn't it? Who's afraid of The Dark? You will be!

Our cast features: Jacob Palka in Illinois

Douglas Herrman in California

Denise Cline in Kentucky

Robert Stevenson in Indiana

Sounds, production, and direction by Larry Groebe in Texas

PROJECT AUDION 46 - Lone Ranger Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

Hi-Yo, Silver! The Lone Ranger is perhaps vintage radio drama's single most famous creation. Yet the Masked Man's formative years from 1933 until 1938 are essentially lost to us because no recordings were made. Original scripts DO survive, and Project Audion has selected episode #266 (out of nearly 3000!) from October 12 1934 to recreate. In 1934 the Lone Ranger and Tonto are not quite as we remember them, and the story -- featuring a cattle rancher, the coming of the railroad, and a "greasy half-breed" named Magdalena -- is rough-edged, less sensitive and streamlined than in later years. But this was the Lone Ranger that took the country by storm during the Great Depression. Now, for the first time in nine decades, this early version of the Lone Ranger rides again!

The cross-country cast of Project Audion's transcribed-live recreation includes

Lone Ranger: Dennis Thompson

Tonto: Ken Raney

Announcer: Greg Vestal

Steve Greencliff: Norman Cline

Magdalena: Pete Lutz

Tad Brewster: Scott McKinley

Gwendolyn Wiggs: Angela Young

Mother Wiggs: Sharon Grunwald Father

Jerimy Wiggs: Chuck Daugherty

Larry Groebe produced, directed, and cleaned up after the horses.

PROJECT AUDION 45 - Pat Novak for Hire Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

The short-lived noirish radio detective series "Pat Novak for Hire" is probably better loved now than it was in the late 1940s, thanks to its darkly-comic quips and the dry-as-dust performance of Jack Webb in the title role (just before his blockbuster turn on "Dragnet.") Novak - the man, like the show - was one of those "hard-boiled" types - he may bounce or crack, but he doesn't break easily. Novak shows are loved for their Raymond Chandler-esque plots and style, where the lead character never met a crook or a lady he couldn't describe with a delirious simile. Project Audion offers up a brand-new episode penned for Project Audion by long-time network television writer Casey Keller. Mr. Keller's script matches the late-1940s originals blow for blow, dame for dame, gunshot for gunshot, metaphor for metaphor. Step into the perpetual foggy night of the San Francisco waterfront to meet "Pat Novak, For Hire" in our transcribed-live adventure.

Pat Novak: PETE FERNBAUGH (WV)

Jocko Madigan: TOM KONKLE (CA)

Inspector Helleman: TEE QUILLAN (TN)

Hannah Gordon: JOANNE KURMAN (CA)

Stripper 1: DONNA PATTON (TN))

Stripper 2: JULIE HOVERSON (WA)

Jack Silver: KIM TITUS (TX)

Announcer/Goon: LOTHAR TUPPAN (CA)

Goon: BOB MILLS (CA)

Coroner: CASEY KELLER (CA)

Written by Casey Keller

Sound, Direction, and Production by Larry Groebe

PROJECT AUDION 44 - Tales of Tomorrow Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

It's the year 2090. There are signs that a pandemic is coming - a pandemic which will kill millions of innocent people - again. Because it's happened before. But this time, just maybe, we know what - or who - is causing it...and a chance to stop it.

That's the setup for "Syndrome Johnny," a lost episode from a nearly-forgotten science-fiction anthology radio drama from 1953 called "Tales of Tomorrow." The television version of "Tales of Tomorrow," which actually came before the radio edition, is considered one of the first serious scifi video series. The TV edition spawned the radio offshoot, which hoped to fill the void of the recently-cancelled and now-classic series "Dimension X," adapting stories from Galaxy Magazine. Failing to find a sponsor, it only lasted a few months. The sound quality of the few recordings that survive is mostly quite poor, and our recreation "Syndrome Johnny" doesn't survive at all.Our transcontinental cast performs in the classic audio drama tradition - live in one uninterrupted take - to recapture the spirit of this pioneering science fiction show for a national audience for the first time in 70 years.

In our cast: Trevor Rines, Canada

Tim Burns, Kansas

Jack Ward, Canada

Greg McAfee, California

Rhiannon McAfee California

Gary Layton, Texas

and Larry Groebe, Texas

OLD-TIME RADIO ESSENTIALS 40 - Nick Carter Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

Old-Time Radio Essentials is back with episode 40, the 3rd installment of Season 4, and our fourth Holiday Special! Pete, Paul and Patte present an episode of the long-running Mutual series Nick Carter, Master Detective. This time it's Paul's pick, called "Nick Carter's Christmas Adventure"! Will Pete dwell on technical details and miss the historical context? Will Patte compare this to something Canadian? 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 fortieth number (but 3rd official episode of S4), this episode of Nick Carter, Master Detective, from 12/25/43. We'll introduce the show, play it in its entirety, then discuss it at length. Thanks for joining us, and we hope you enjoy it!

Please show your support of the podcast by doing any of the following...

To comment on how we might improve OTR-E, or give suggestions for future discussions, please write to us at f6point3@gmail.com . Put the word "Essentials" in the subject line.

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

Next Time: It's Pete's pick again, and he'll bring an episode of The Henry Morgan Show!

THE CELLAR Miniseries 3.5: Far Below Oct 29, 2023

Show notes

THE CELLAR Miniseries 3.5: Far Below

The Cellar's third miniseries concludes with this adaptation by Pete Lutz of one of the most famous pulp-horror tales to appear in Weird Tales magazine! Robert Barbour Johnson's story of a special squad of the NYPD, assembled to combat strange subterranean creatures in the subway tunnels, was voted the best story ever to appear in those pages. Mr. Lutz's adaptation takes a few liberties with the story, but only enough to keep it moving along at a good clip. We think you'll approve! Thanks for joining us for this year's miniseries, and be sure to come back next year for our fourth outing in...The Cellar! NARADA RADIO COMPANY

Announcer: Trevor Rines Cadavera Quivry (Your Ghostly Host): Angela Young INSPECTOR CRAIG: Pete Lutz LIEUTENANT: Dana Gonsalves DR. BLOOM: Paul Arbisi HAGGERTY: Nick Wommack SERGEANT: Chuck Wilson CAPTAIN RICHTER: Les Marsden THE VOICES OF "THEM": Sarah Leight, Larry Cashion Theme by Tom Rory Parsons Incidental music by Ross Bernhardt Produced & directed by Pete Lutz

DESECRATE Oct 29, 2023

Show notes

DESECRATE (HORROR) Philamena was a seer, a psychic by modern vernacular. And somewhere among these stones is her gravesite. Tonight, we're going to contact her." On All Hallows' Eve, a graveside Ouija board session descends into a nightmare, unveiling a web of lies and betrayal between longtime friends and perhaps a doorway to something far more disturbing.

Warning: Explicit language, violence, and graphic content. Written, directed, and produced by John Ballentine. Original music score by Kevin Hartnell. CAMPFIRE RADIO THEATER

TIES OF BLOOD – PART TWO Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

TIES OF BLOOD – PART TWO (HORROR, MYSTERY) "All predators aren't created equal." Nikki's inquisitive instincts lead her into dangerously precarious situations as the mystery of the Red Hill Adductions deepens.

Warning: Explicit Language and Graphic Content. Written, directed, and produced by John Ballentine. Original music score by Kevin Hartnell. CAMPFIRE RADIO THEATER

TIES OF BLOOD – PART ONE Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

OF BLOOD – PART ONE (HORROR, MYSTERY) "All the freaks come out before daybreak." A rash of abductions in the small community of Red Hill leads a young woman to suspect her mysterious nocturnal neighbor might be hiding a sinister side.

Warning: Explicit Language and Graphic Content. Written, directed, and produced by John Ballentine. Original music score by Kevin Hartnell. CAMPFIRE RADIO THEATER

THE CELLAR Miniseries 3.4: The Renegotiation Oct 22, 2023

Show notes

THE CELLAR Miniseries 3.4: The Renegotiation

The Cellar Miniseries continues with this thrilling retelling, by Kevin Kordis, of an old folktale. In order to save the people of his village from marauders, a blacksmith must enter into an agreement with the agent of a mysterious figure. Some years later, he feels that he should revisit this situation with the agent. The agent doesn't agree, but the smith is...quite persuasive. Mr. Kordis wrote this play for the 2019 Cellar Scriptwriting Competition, and received Honorable Mention. We're very proud to be finally presenting it. This episode has the added thrill of having been edited and mixed in a single marathon production session lasting approximately 10 hours! We hope you enjoy it. NARADA RADIO COMPANY

Announcer: Trevor Rines Cadavera Quivry (Your Ghostly Host): Angela Young Nick Wommack as The ORATOR Jason D. Johnson as The SMITH Chuck Wilson as The ELDER Orlando Segarra as The AGENT

The Cellar theme by Tom Rory Parsons

Incidental music by Dr. Ross Bernhardt

Produced & directed by Pete Lutz

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