Radio Dramas

[Guest Adjective]

I've been listening to radio dramas lately and it's become an addiction. They are often cheesy and dated but I still get pulled into them easily. Mostly they fit into a lot of my daily activities, since the story is just in the air instead of from a glowing temptation box.

 

I would love some recommendations for these types of shows so please share

 

 

Suspense - just as the title says. Tales of murder, crime, and supernatural with guest appearances by stars of the time including Hitchcock directing the audition, Orsen Welles voicing for the Hitch-hiker, a few Peter Lorre appearances, and probably more I don't recognize because I'm not a dinosaur.

• Mr Markham Antique Dealer
  
• The Hitch-Hiker
  

Dimension X - 1950s science fiction, they would occasionally dramatize popular short stories of the time. There's also X Minus One that rehashes some of the Dimension X stories and adds some new ones. Try Wheaties.

• With Folded Hands
  
• No Contact
  

Dark Fantasy - Supernatural tales from the 1940s. Acting can be really cheesy, but that's the charm for me.

• The Demon Tree
  
• The Edge of the Shadow
  

The Black Museum - Orsen Welles falling in love with his voice as he guides the listener through a collection of crime scene evidence. Each episode focuses on a piece of evidence and how it came to be case evidence.

• The 22 Caliber Pistol
  
• The Bloodstained Brick Bat
  

The Shadow Orsen Welles, invisible crimefighter. Old fashioned tough guy voices beneath static hiss. Where'd that laugh come from?!

• Death House Rescue
  
• Murder By The Dead
  

Nightfall - Early 80s horror show, quite good and my favorite so far.

• The Telltale Heart
  
• Last Visit
  
• Dark Side Of The Mind
  
• How Did You Get My Name
  

[Guest Gary C]

No link, but I can listen to the BBC's Solaris radioplay twice a year without getting bored. It's both sterile sci-fi and suspense.

[Guest Iain C]

I heard a great one recently called Mr. Larkin's Awkward Day, a comedy based on a real incident in the life of the celebrated, grumpy, perverted poet.

 

Essentially, Larkin was an avid consumer of pornography back in the days when it was illegal - and one of his pals thought it'd be funny to send him a mocked-up letter from the police saying he was being investigated under an obscene publications law. As a result, Mr. Larkin has a very panicked, paranoid and stressful day. Highly recommended if you like the man - you can download it as an audiobook from Audible.

 

There's also a lot to be said for Radio 4's adaptations of Le Carré's Smiley novels. I'm surprised they haven't re-run them recently what with the new Tinker Tailor film. They're excellent, anyway.

[Guest Adjective]

thanks collective C! i found both of these today, i'll try them out at work tomorrow and report back.

[SR4]

theres a show on NPR on Sundays? ithink? that exclusively plays old radio shows....i leave it on the whole time.

[doorjamb]

my art teacher in elementary school used to play us The Whistler on cassette

 

The Shrunken Head

http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com/the_whistler/Whistler.1942.06.13_The_Shrunken_Head.mp3

 

 

My name's Charlie... My name's Charlie... My name's Charlie!...

 

[Guest disparaissant]

all ive really listened to radio wise is H2G2 and That Mitchell and Webb Sound. I highly recommend both, though neither are that old and neither are drama.

totally relevant to watmm:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/39038272/13%20-%20Anything%20can%20be%20music.mp3

julia... are the girls with you?

 

oh and i guess ive listened to a few of the big finish audio things for doctor who. those are cool.

[Guest Adjective]

@garyc enjoyed that Solaris the other day, was well done. good call

 

@doorjamb the Whistler sounds right up my alley, and lots of episodes on archive.org, thanks

 

disparaissant@i'll give it a shot but audiences are like flies buzzing around my head.com

[Guest Adjective]

theres a show on NPR on Sundays? ithink? that exclusively plays old radio shows....i leave it on the whole time.

is it a prairie home companion? i have no idea, but interested