August 11, 2023

CBS Radio Mystery Theater

CBS Radio Mystery Theater

In 1974 long-time radio producer Himan Brown convinced CBS to green-light a new anthology of Radio Dramas, CBS Radio Mystery Theater (CBSRMT). Radio shows from the golden era of broadcasting are part of ” Old Time Radio “, or “otr.” During the Golden Age of Radio, listeners gathered by their radio to enjoy their favorite radio programs. Radio Mystery Theater (1974-82) was a resurgence of the nostalgia of those radio days. CBS Radio Mystery Theater was meant to appeal to an audience that remembered when old time radio drama was a popular form of family entertainment. Riding on the wave of nostalgia fever, the radio show attracted many younger listeners who would stay up late, hidden under their covers to hear the program on their bedroom radio (and many of them were not able to go to sleep after listening to the…

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July 7, 2023

“EOS10” by Justin McLachlan

“EOS10” by  Justin McLachlan

Follow the adventures of Dr. Ryan Dalias on an intergalactic travel hub on the edges of deep space. Doctors in space, a deposed alien prince, a space pirate and a fiery nurse who’ll help you win your bar fight, written by Justin McLachlan. Dr. Ryan Dalias arrives on EOS 10—an intergalactic travel hub on the edges of deep space—on a mission to save the station’s chief medical officer … from himself. Series Premiere starring Dan Barry, Justin McLachlan, Charles Lipper, Lena Winter, and Natalie Cutcher. After Dr. Urvidian comes to grips, sorta, kinda, maybe just a little with his new and not entirely voluntary sobriety… he learns a secret about Dr. Dalias. Starring Dan Barry, Justin McLachlan, Charles Lipper, Lena Winter and Natalie Cutcher. While Jane plots a new relationship for Dr. Dalias, Dr. Urvidian…

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June 23, 2023

“The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio”

“The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio”

Are you ready for a mystery? Get ready to unleash your inner sleuth. Every day Monday-Saturday, Host Adam Graham will feature a different detective audio drama from the Golden Age of Radio. Our current mystery-solving line-up of radio detectives includes Sam Spade, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, Dangerous Assignment, Philo Vance, and Tales of the Texas Rangers. Whether you’re wanting to listen to a mystery before going to sleep or enjoy some drama while driving, or just feel nostalgia for old-school radio fiction, we have you covered with six audio dramas every week. First up, “The Man Called X: Operation Cabal” Ken goes to a country in the southern hemisphere to prevent a revolution. Original Air Date: May 27, 1952 Next up, “Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Cut Bono Matter” Johnny continues his investigation into the…

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June 9, 2023

“Suspense” produced by Jim Widner

“Suspense” produced by Jim Widner

On September 30, 1962 a major milestone in radio drama came to an end with the final episode of the long running series, SUSPENSE, produced by Jim Widner. Ironically, the episode was titled “Devil Stone” and was the last dramatic radio play from a series that had its roots in the golden age of radio. What began as a “new series frankly dedicated to your horrification and entertainment” took on a life of its own mostly due to the talents of some outstanding producers and adaptations and original stories from the cream of mystery writers of the time. The golden age of radio was truly the golden age of SUSPENSE as show after show broadcast outstanding plays which were “calculated to intrigue…stir [the] nerves.” It was the series’ first producer, William Spier, who set the framework of rules…

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May 26, 2023

“We Fix Space Junk” by Battle Bird Productions

“We Fix Space Junk” by Battle Bird Productions

‘We Fix Space Junk’ by Battle Bird Productions follows seasoned smuggler Kilner and reluctant fugitive Samantha as they travel the galaxy, dodging bullets and meeting strange and wonderful beings as they carry out odd jobs on the fringes of the law. A female-led sci-fi comedy sitcom set in the far future, in a high-tech, dystopian world, We Fix Space Junk draws on the sci-fi of the past, following in the footsteps of Harry Harrison and of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Equal parts love-letter to sci-fi and satire of the present-day, Space Junk is lovingly produced by Beth Crane and Hedley Knights of Battle Bird Productions. The first episode of Season Three sees Kilner, Samantha and Ms Lamb floating unprotected in space inside a neurotic lift. But DAX is on his way, and…

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May 12, 2023

“Bird Woman, Sacajawea” by Lynn Rogoff

“Bird Woman, Sacajawea” by Lynn Rogoff

Bird Woman, Saacajawea is a magical realism, multi-episode AI video podcast drama series, is set in the early West. Sacajawea, discovers her shape-shifting powers as; part Woman & part Eagle. She fights alongside the Expeditioners making heart-wrenching choices between the Native world & Clark’s world, discovering her full powers & true destiny on our Expedition, as Bird Woman. Sacajawea a Shoshoni young woman is captured, pregnant & living among the Mandan tribe when Lewis & Clark Expedition arrives. They are looking for a translator when the expedition winters at the reservation. When the tribal elders persuade Captain Clark, they must take pregnant Sacajawea & her scurrilous, French fur trader husband, Charbonneau, the Captains are shocked. The chiefs clarify they will need to trade with the Shoshoni for horses for there is no waterway across the…

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April 28, 2023

“Mickie McKinney: Boy Detective, Troubles with Teamwork” by R.L. Fink

“Mickie McKinney: Boy Detective, Troubles with Teamwork” by R.L. Fink

I’m not allowed to toot my horn all the time, but this announcement seems worth a little fanfare. Mickie McKinney: Boy Detective, which is featured from time to time on this site, has taken the GOLD at the Wishing Shelf Book Awards!! Mickie McKinney is no longer Maple Ridge Middle School’s one and only private detective. Now there is a certain blonde by the name of Sam Hayes to share the office with, and the cases, who keeps giving away the candy! So when Angus McDermitt hires Mickie to help him ask Kailani Groom to the school dance, Mickie sees it as an opportunity to work one last solo case. Too bad for him, Kailani is the girl of his dreams. Chapter 1: The New Partner Mickie is learning to deal with someone else in…

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April 14, 2023

“The Gathering” by Lewis Carter

“The Gathering” by Lewis Carter

Alternative Stories and Fake Realities is a podcast designed to promote new and original audio drama, poetry and writing from across the English speaking world. Working with themes we will produce high quality content aimed at providing new perspectives on existing stories and ideas as we bring fresh and original writing into the world. When Sasha and Gemma’s mother dies they are contacted by the mysterious solicitor Clark, with news that the rambling and isolated family home, Harrington Hall has been left to the sisters as part of the will. There’s a catch however: in order to gain their inheritance Sasha and Gemma must spend a night together in the abandoned house.  Content warning : This drama contains strong language and depictions of peril and horror.  In The Gathering by Lewis Carter you can hear…

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March 24, 2023

“The Frost King, or, the Power of Love” by Louisa May Alcott

“The Frost King, or, the Power of Love” by Louisa May Alcott

This week we will be listening to the Sleepy Bookshelf: classic works of fiction, adapted and narrated by host Elizabeth Grace to help you relax. Tonight, Elizabeth reads “Fable 1: The Frost King, or, the Power of Love” from Flower Fables, by Louisa May Alcott, originally published in 1854. This work contains wildly imaginative stories that grew out of Alcott’s experience as a storyteller to the children of her Concord, Connecticut, neighbors. Through these enticing encounters with fairies, elves, and animals, the author creates a foundation for young people based on the themes of love, kindness, and responsibility. These stories are part of a large body of fantasy fiction the author wrote throughout her career. Each story features adventures of elves and fairy sprites in fairyland and are imbued with the lushness of Alcott’s love…

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January 27, 2023

“Oz 9” by Shannon Perry

“Oz 9” by Shannon Perry

Welcome back Fictional Cafe Listeners, up next we have “Oz 9” by Shannon Perry. On an otherwise unexceptional Tuesday in 2042, Gated Galaxies fired off 400 of its Oz 8000™ ships, each with 50,000 “resting guests” tucked into stasis pods, plus a skeleton crew of up to half-a-dozen total no-hopers. It was a win-win for G2, as they’re known, as the Oz 8000 model was about to be declared “unfit for journeying to the nearest 7-Eleven, much less interstellar space” and recalled. G2 had a very large fleet of the 8000s, and a slight head start on the recall, as they’d paid off the head inspector to delay her report by promising the ships would be stripped and sold for parts. Instead, the ships were spit-shined, outfitted with some black market YugoPods™, and space aboard quietly…

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