Published May 28, 2025 by

Lost & Found: Leslie Nielsen's "A Walk in New York" (1958) | Rumsey Retro Radio

Lost & Found: Leslie Nielsen's "A Walk in New York" (1958)

Vintage radio microphone Did You Know? This CBC radio drama predates Nielsen's comedy fame - recorded just two years after Forbidden Planet!

Leslie Nielsen in 1950s CBC studio

A Canadian in New York

Discovered in the CBC archives by Rewind host Michael Enright, this 1958 "documentary-drama" hybrid stars a young Leslie Nielsen as a Saskatchewan-born actor chasing Broadway dreams. Key details:

  • Part of CBC's Project series (1958-1968), created to "bring excitement back to radio"
  • No surviving credits - identified by Nielsen's voice and Regina birthplace reference
  • Time capsule of 1950s NYC: Subway sounds, taxi rants, and neon-lit ambition
  • Pre-comedy Nielsen: A rare dramatic performance pre-Airplane!

🎙️ Behind the Mic:

"The producer Harry Boyle reportedly gave his team one directive: 'Make radio dangerous again.' This raw, semi-improvised piece delivers."
- Rewind (CBC Radio, 2023)

✉️ "Nielsen's delivery of homesickness ('that awful wave... longing for fresh air and clean sheets') reveals the actor's dramatic range we rarely saw later."
- Audio historian Clara Bensen

The Audio Walk

🚶 Excerpt: Nielsen's Opening Monologue

"I'm a Canadian, and I wanted to be a great actor. I was 19 years old and green, ambitious, and scared too... I came with $40 and no friends to that melting pot of 8 million human beings. 8 million plus one—New York."

(Sound: Grand Central Station crowd noise swells)

📻 Full Episode

🎧 Listen

Runtime: 60 mins • CBC Project 58

🗽 NYC Soundscape

"The drilling of street crews, taxi drivers cursing traffic, and that blinking bar sign across from my $8/week room..."

Nielsen's Radio Odyssey

Long before "Don't call me Shirley," Nielsen's voice work included:

🎭 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (Radio)

Mr. Grainger in "The Magic Shop"

🎭 The Nutcracker and the Mouseking -2004

Voice of the Mouse King

🎭 Lights Out (1950s)

Early U.S. radio drama appearances

Which Leslie Nielsen role is your favorite?

Frank Drebin? Commander Adams? The Naked Gun himself? Email your picks!

Listener Memories

From the mailbag...

James (Toronto)

"Hearing Nielsen's dramatic timing in the taxi scene—where he lets real cab drivers rant—you can already sense the deadpan genius he'd later perfect."

Never Miss a New Post

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  • 📻 Featured historic broadcasts
  • ✉️ Exclusive subscriber memories
  • 🎧 Rare audio discoveries

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Canadian Old Time Radio

Published May 27, 2025 by

36th Annual Rumsey Ride for S.T.A.R.S. - Alberta’s Longest Running STARS Fundraiser

36th Annual Rumsey Ride for S.T.A.R.S. - Alberta's Longest Running STARS Fundraiser

Helicopter icon Did You Know? The Rumsey Ride is STARS' longest consecutively held fundraiser, having surpassed $1 million in total donations last year!

Rumsey Ride for STARS Logo

The 2025 Event Lineup

This year's 36th annual fundraiser features exciting new additions while maintaining beloved traditions:

  • New Trail Route: 20km ride from Rumsey to Two Valley View Viewpoint and back (August 10)
  • STARS Show & Shine: Classic car/truck exhibition (August 10, noon-3pm)
  • Virtual Participation: Walk or ride your own trail (May 1-August 15)
  • Online Auction: August 1-7 with exciting prizes

✈️ From the Organizers:

"We had the big accomplishment last year reaching $1 million... and our group said let's keep'er going. STARS is so important to everybody."
- Rob Richmond, Organizer

✉️ "We want to leave a legacy. One of the things STARS does is as you continue with your event, to keep the logos on the chopper you have to raise at least $15,000."
- Rob Richmond, via Drumheller Newspaper

Event Highlights

🚁 Main Trail Ride

August 10, 2025

20km scenic route starting/ending in Rumsey

Pancake breakfast, BBQ beef supper

🚶 Angie & Rob's Walk 6 for 36

Virtual: May 1-Aug 15

Choose your own 5km walking route

Pledge sheets available

🏆 Online Auction

August 1-7, 2025

Exciting prizes up for bid

All proceeds to STARS

🚨 Community Impact:

"The Rumsey Ride is more than a tradition - it's a community legacy supporting critical air ambulance services that have saved countless lives across Alberta."

- Rumsey Ag Society

How to Participate

There are multiple ways to support this important cause:

🏇 Join the Trail Ride

Register for the August 10th event and collect pledges

🚗 Enter Show & Shine

$20 entry fee for classic car/truck exhibition

🎁 Donate Auction Items

Contribute prizes for the online auction

💵 Direct Donation

Financial contributions always welcome

Ready to Ride for STARS?

Visit our Facebook page for details!

Share Your STARS Story

"We want to hear from past participants and supporters! Have you:

  • Participated in previous Rumsey Rides?
  • Been helped by STARS air ambulance services?
  • Have a favorite memory from this event?

Community Voices

From the community...

Local Rider

"The Two Valley View trail is breathtaking - what a perfect way to celebrate our 36th year while supporting such an important cause. The whole community comes together for this event."

From a STARS beneficiary...

Rural Resident

"STARS air ambulance saved my father's life after his farm accident. Events like the Rumsey Ride ensure this vital service continues to be there for rural Albertans when seconds count."

✉️ Add Your Voice

Comments may be edited for length/clarity.

Stay Updated

Follow the Rumsey Ride for STARS for event updates:

Support STARS Air Ambulance

Your participation helps keep this vital service flying

🚁 Donate to STARS

All proceeds from Rumsey Ride events support STARS Air Ambulance

Community Events

Published May 22, 2025 by

Dark Knight of the Airwaves: The Batman Audio Dramas

Dark Knight of the Airwaves: The Batman Audio Dramas

Vintage radio microphone Did You Know? The 1950s Batman audio shows introduced the Batcave's grandfather clock entrance years before it appeared in comics!

Batman Audio Show Cover Art

Gotham in Your Living Room

Before Adam West and Christian Bale, Batman's adventures came alive through Audio dramas spanning five decades (1950s-1990s). These audio adventures were notable for their:

  • Pioneering sound effects (bat-arangs, grappling hooks, and Batmobile chases)
  • Original stories that later influenced comics and films
  • Multiple actors portraying Batman across different eras
  • Introduction of elements later adopted by other media

🎙️ Behind the Cowl:

"In the 1950s show, we had to create every sound live - the 'Biff! Pow!' effects were made by hitting different materials with drumsticks."
- Sound Engineer Jack Dickerson, 1952

✉️ "Playing Batman in the 90s, I'd lower my voice so much the director kept worrying I'd lose my voice by episode's end."
- Bruce Davison (Batman in Knightfall), via Comics Journal

The Cases

📻 The Debut

🎧 "The Monsters of Dumphreys Hall" (1950)

Stacy Harris as Batman, introducing the Batcave's secret entrance

💍 Romantic Twist

🎧 "The Marriage of Batman and Batwoman"

Diane Pershing as Batwoman in this alternate reality tale

💎 The Knightfall Saga

🎧 "Part 1: Broken Bat" 🎧 "Part 2: Who Rules the Night" 🎧 "Part 3: KnightsEnd"

Bruce Davison as Batman, adapting the famous comic arc

🦇 Psychological Drama Preview:

BATMAN: (voice trembling) "I... I can't do this. The gun... it's too loud..."

ALFRED: "Sir? Master Bruce?"

BATMAN: (whispering) "They were right about me. I am just a coward in a mask."

(Sound: Cape dragging as Batman collapses to knees)

🦇 "The Lazarus Syndrome" Preview:

BATMAN: (gritty) "Gotham doesn't need another ghost, Ra's. Stay dead this time."

RA'S AL GHUL: "But Detective... haven't you heard? The demon lives forever."

(Sound: Lazarus Pit bubbling, then a gasp of rebirth)

The Voices of Gotham

These dramas featured remarkable talent across generations:

🎭 Stacy Harris

The original radio Batman (1950-1951)

🎭 Bruce Davison

Batman in the 1990s adaptations

🎭 Diane Pershing

Batwoman in "The Marriage of Batman and Batwoman"

🎭 Michael Bell

The Joker in multiple 1980s productions

Which Batman villain would you like to hear in a Audio drama?

Two-Face? Mr. Freeze? Email your picks!

Share Your Gotham Memories

"We want to hear from fellow Batman Audio fans! Did you:

  • Listen to these broadcasts when they originally aired?
  • Have a favorite episode or voice performance?
  • Notice elements that later appeared in comics or films?

Listener Case Files

From the mailbag...

Thomas (Chicago)

"The 1950s 'Monsters of Dumphreys Hall' episode terrified me as a kid - the creaking doors and distant screams were more frightening than anything in the comics at the time. That's where my lifelong Batman fandom began."

From the mailbag...

Cassandra (Gotham)

"The audio version of 'When Batman Became a Coward' is fascinating - it shows Bruce's vulnerability in a way no movie has dared. The sound of his trembling voice when facing ordinary criminals is heartbreaking."

✉️ Add Your Case File

Comments may be edited for length/clarity.

Never Miss a Gotham Alert

Subscribe to receive our weekly retro radio newsletter with:

  • 📻 Featured radio shows
  • ✉️ Exclusive subscriber memories
  • 🎧 Rare audio discoveries from the Rumsey Retro vaults

Support Our Retro Radio Research

Help preserve radio history by contributing to our archival work

🦇 Donate via PayPal

All donations help maintain our audio archive and research

Join our community of 3,200+ radio history enthusiasts!

Old Time Radio

Published May 18, 2025 by

The Final Episodes: Closing the Chapter on a Comedy Classic. Subscribers can access Complete Series ZIP

The Final Episodes: Closing the Chapter on a Comedy Classic. Subscribers can access Complete Series ZIP

Vintage radio microphone Exclusive: Two more rare episodes from CBC's 1989 summer series!

The Next Installment of Suburban Madness

Following our first discovery of "The Freezer" and "Death by Weed Whacker," we've unearthed two more episodes that showcase Green and Wildman's perfect comic timing.

Newly Rediscovered Episodes

3. "The Robbery"

A home invasion turns into the world's most polite criminal encounter, with the neighbors offering tea and relationship advice to their would-be robber.

4. "Somebody's Having a Baby"

The suburban peace is shattered when labor pains strike during a backyard barbecue, leading to the most chaotic (and hilarious) home birth in sitcom history.

🎙️ Behind the Scenes:

"The baby episode was recorded in one take because we were laughing so hard. The CBC engineer had tears streaming down his face trying to keep quiet in the booth."
- Peter Wildman, 2012 convention Q&A

For the Ultimate Fans

📦 Complete Series Collection (Subscriber Exclusive):

When we conclude this series, subscribers will receive:

  • All 6 episodes in high-quality MP3 format

Subscribe now to ensure you don't miss this limited-time offer.

Why These Episodes Stand Out

1

Heightened Stakes

Crime scenes and childbirth take the suburban satire to new levels

2

Ensemble Shines

More characters get memorable moments in these episodes

3

Audio Innovation

Complex soundscapes with overlapping dialogue and effects

Comedy mask icon Own the Complete Series

Subscribe to unlock all six episodes!

  • 📻 Every surviving episode in one download

"The Robbery episode is comedy gold - I've listened three times already!"
- Subscriber Mark P., Vancouver

Canadian Old Time Radio

Published May 17, 2025 by

American Radio Theater: Reviving the Golden Age of Audio Drama

American Radio Theater: Reviving the Golden Age of Audio Drama

Vintage radio microphone Did You Know? ART has brought over 100 "lost" radio plays back to life through meticulous script recreations!

American Radio Theater Logo

Bridging Classic and Contemporary Audio Theater

Founded in 2005, American Radio Theater (ART) has become a powerhouse in the audio drama revival movement. This non-profit organization stands out for its:

  • Dual mission of preserving classic radio plays and developing new works
  • Monthly podcast featuring both vintage recreations and original productions
  • Use of traditional 1930s production techniques alongside modern technology
  • Nationwide network of performers collaborating via Zoom
  • Special events featuring OTR veterans mentoring new talent

🎙️ Behind the Mic:

"We frequently invite Old Time Radio veterans to participate - their techniques are irreplaceable."
- Joy Jackson, ART President

✉️ "Alonzo's Watch, based on Civil War letters, was pure magic. That's why we do this."
- Joy Jackson on ART's most memorable production

Experience ART's Productions

🎭 Original Plays

📜 Explore Originals

ART's catalog of contemporary audio dramas

🔍 Lost Plays

🎧 Rediscovered Treasures

Recreations of scripts with no surviving recordings

🎂 10th Anniversary

📖 Anniversary Booklet

Celebrating a decade of audio theater (PDF)

🎧 Upcoming Event:

THE MAGNIFICENT MONTAGUE RETURNS!

Folklife Festival at Seattle Center

May 24, 2025 - 1:45 PM

Center Theater

Which classic radio show should ART recreate next?

Email your suggestions

Joy Jackson's OTR Insights

On Technology's Impact:

"The internet brought OTR to younger generations who never heard it on radio. MP3s made collecting easier but changed hobby dynamics."

On ART's Mission:

"We want to bring OTR stories back to life while encouraging new writers. Audio drama has a unique magic that's as fresh today as in the 1930s."

On Their Audience:

"The blind community and audiobook lovers are our natural audience - people who appreciate stories through sound."

Radio Enthusiasts Say...

From the mailbag...

Tom (Seattle)

"ART's recreation of 'The Magnificent Montague' was spot-on! They captured all the nuance of the original while making it feel fresh. Can't wait for their Folklife performance!"

From the mailbag...

Linda (Lexington)

"As a voice actor with ART's Kentucky chapter, I love how we bridge generations. Our recent show had a 22-year-old performing alongside an 80-year-old OTR veteran - magic happened!"

✉️ Share Your ART Experience

Comments may be edited for length/clarity.

Never Miss a Radio Revival

Subscribe to receive our weekly vintage radio newsletter with:

  • 📻 Featured historic broadcasts and modern recreations
  • ✉️ Exclusive interviews with audio theater creators
  • 🎧 Behind-the-scenes stories from groups like ART

Join our community of 3,200+ radio history enthusiasts!

Old Time Radio

Published May 13, 2025 by

Licensed to Broadcast: The BBC’s James Bond Radio Dramas

Licensed to Broadcast: The BBC's James Bond Radio Dramas

Vintage radio microphone Did You Know? Toby Stephens, who played Bond in the BBC series, also starred as the villain Gustav Graves in Die Another Day!

BBC James Bond Radio Series Cover Art

Bond Beyond the Big Screen

While the films dominate 007's legacy, the BBC's radio adaptations (1990-2020) delivered Fleming's novels with cinematic flair. Produced by BBC Radio 4, these dramas stood out for their:

  • Star-studded casts (from Gandalf to Doctor Who)
  • Faithfulness to Fleming's original novels
  • Atmospheric sound design (Martinis shaken, not stirred, over the airwaves)
  • Toby Stephens' acclaimed Bond - the only actor to play both 007 and a Bond villain

🎙️ Behind the Mic:

"Recording Goldfinger, Sir Ian McKellen ad-libbed Auric's death scream so chillingly, we kept it in."
- Director Martin Jarvis, 2010

✉️ "Playing Blofeld, I stole a trick from my Spider-Man 2 role: calm menace with sudden violence."
- Alfred Molina (Blofeld in OHMSS), via Radio Times

The Missions

📻 The Debut

🎧 "You Only Live Twice" (1990)

Michael Jayston as Bond, Burt Kwouk as Tanaka

🎭 Fan Favorite

🎧 "Goldfinger" (2010)

Ian McKellen as Goldfinger, Rosamund Pike as Pussy Galore

💎 Hidden Gem

🎧 "OHMSS" (2014)

Alfred Molina as Blofeld, Joanna Lumley as Irma Bunt

🔫 "Goldfinger" Preview:

GOLDFINGER: (chuckling) "Choose your next witticism carefully, Mr. Bond. It may be your last."

BOND: "I admire your luck, Goldfinger. And your courage."

(Sound: Laser hums to life)

The 007-Actors

These dramas boasted jaw-dropping talent:

🎭 Toby Stephens

Bond (2008-2020) & Gustav Graves in Die Another Day

🎭 Sir Ian McKellen

Auric Goldfinger (2010) - "Gandalf vs. Bond!"

🎭 Alfred Molina

Blofeld (2014, 2016) - aka Doc Ock in Spider-Man 2

🎭 Peter Capaldi

The Armourer (2008) - pre-Doctor Who

Which Fleming novel should the BBC adapt next?

The Spy Who Loved Me? Octopussy? Email your picks!

Share Your Mission Debrief

"We want to hear from fellow Bond radio fans! Did you:

  • Spot a behind-the-scenes detail we missed?
  • Have a favorite episode or performance?
  • Work on these productions?

Listener Debriefs

From the mailbag...

Simon (London)

"The Goldfinger adaptation actually includes the original novel's laser scene - much more tense than the film version. McKellen's delivery of 'No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die' is somehow even more chilling on radio."

From the mailbag...

Eleanor (Edinburgh)

"The radio version of Casino Royale is the only adaptation that keeps the original novel's brutal torture sequence intact. Toby Stephens' performance during that scene is harrowing - you can hear every ounce of Bond's pain."

✉️ Add Your Debrief

Comments may be edited for length/clarity.

Never Miss a Mission

Subscribe to receive our weekly retro radio newsletter with:

  • 📻 Featured historic broadcasts
  • ✉️ Exclusive subscriber memories
  • 🎧 Rare audio discoveries

Join our community of 3,200+ radio history enthusiasts!

BBC Audio Drama

Published May 08, 2025 by

Planet Antonio: The Time-Displaced TikTok Broadcaster from 1945

Planet Antonio: The Time-Displaced TikTok Broadcaster from 1945

Vintage radio microphone Did You Know? Antonio's "time machine" is actually a modified telegraph key connected to an ENIAC computer!

Planet Antonio broadcasting from 1945

A Broadcast from the Past to Your Smartphone

In an era where TikTok trends come and go, @planetantonio has carved out a uniquely nostalgic niche. This mysterious broadcaster claims to be transmitting live from 1945 through a glitch in his experimental "frequency projector," treating modern viewers to:

  • Authentic 1940s radio cadence ("Hot dog! Well, gee Willikers!")
  • Baffled reactions to modern concepts ("What's a WeFi? Sounds like a mop!")
  • Period-accurate musical performances (often breaking into Fly Me to the Moon)
  • Live "news updates" from WWII (including Germany's surrender)
  • Charming confusion about 2025 prices ("$4 for gasoline? Highway robbery!")

🎙️ Behind the Frequency:

"I'm stationed here in Camden, New Jersey, broadcasting through a device that sends signals around Pluto before reaching your TikTok contraption!"
- Antonio explaining his "time machine" to a baffled viewer

✉️ "When someone asked about Star Wars, Antonio replied: 'Anyone fighting in this war is a star to me!' The commitment to the bit is incredible."
- TikTok user @Jake1985 in the comments

Experience the Time Warp

📻 TikTok Live Shows

🎧 Join the Broadcast

Where 1945 meets 2025 in real-time

📜 Classic Clip

Antonio reacts to modern grocery prices

🎭 Rumble Archive

🎧 Full Episodes

Extended broadcasts from the past

🔮 Sample Broadcast:

VIEWER: "Antonio, what's your favorite Star Wars character?"

ANTONIO: "My favorite who? I just processed that it's nineteen forty-five. I think anybody who is in the war is a star to me!"

(Sound: Vintage typewriter clacking)

Have you encountered other time-traveling broadcasters?

The Twilight Zone? War of the Worlds? Email us your favorites!

Share Your Experience

"We'd love to hear your Planet Antonio stories! Did you:

  • Ask him a question that got a hilarious response?
  • Notice any clever historical details in his broadcasts?
  • Figure out who's really behind this brilliant performance art?

Interesting comments may be shared in future updates (with your permission).

Listener Memories

From the mailbag...

Sarah (Chicago)

"I asked Antonio about modern gas prices ($4/gallon) and he gasped: 'That comes with liquid gold, right?' When I said no, he suggested we start using olive oil in our cars instead. The man's commitment to 1945 economics is flawless!"

Added: May 12

From the comments...

@VinnyTheHat

"The moment when Antonio 'got word through the wire' that Germany surrendered in WWII—treating it as breaking news 80 years later—was the most brilliant piece of improv I've seen on TikTok. This guy deserves an Emmy for commitment to the bit."

Added: May 10

✉️ Share Your Story

Comments may be edited for length/clarity.

Radio waves Stay Tuned to the Past

Subscribe for weekly time-traveling broadcasts straight to your inbox:

  • 📡 Rare audio discoveries like Planet Antonio
  • 🎙 Behind-the-mic stories from vintage broadcasters
  • 📻 Exclusive content for subscribers only

"Your newsletter is my weekly time machine!"
- Subscriber Margaret K.

Featured Creators and Modern Old Time Radio Twists

Published May 07, 2025 by

The Road to Victory: CBC’s VE Day Broadcast, May 8, 1945

The Road to Victory: CBC's VE Day Broadcast, May 8, 1945

Vintage radio Did You Know? This broadcast reached over 80% of Canadian households - the highest radio audience in CBC history!

CBC VE Day Broadcast

Canada's Moment of Triumph

On May 8, 1945, CBC Radio united the nation with its historic The Road to Victory broadcast marking Victory in Europe Day. This 18-hour marathon coverage featured:

  • Live reports from 14 Canadian cities and 8 European locations
  • Exclusive interviews with Canadian troops in liberated Netherlands
  • Churchill's victory speech relayed directly from London
  • King George VI's address to the Commonwealth
  • On-the-street reactions from Halifax to Vancouver

🎙️ Behind the Broadcast:

"We had to keep cutting between Ottawa and London while technicians frantically adjusted shortwave signals through static. At one point, we lost Churchill completely and had to switch to a backup feed."
- Senior producer James Bannerman in 1975 CBC oral history

✉️ "My mother recorded the broadcast on wax cylinders. When Churchill spoke, our whole Winnipeg neighborhood crowded into our parlor to hear it replayed."
- Margaret T. (born 1932), via subscriber letter

Relive the Historic Broadcast

📻 Full Broadcast Excerpt

🎧 CBC Archives Collection

Key moments from the 18-hour broadcast

🇬🇧 Churchill's Speech

🎧 Victory Announcement

(With CBC introduction and crowd reactions)

🇨🇦 Canadian Reactions

🎧 Coast-to-Coast Celebrations

From Halifax's docks to Vancouver's Victory Square
(Recommended by James)

📜 Broadcast Excerpt:

ANNOUNCER: "This is the CBC... We interrupt regular programming to bring you this special bulletin... Germany has surrendered unconditionally..."

(Sound: Distant church bells begin ringing)

REPORTER: "I'm standing outside Toronto's City Hall where people are... wait, someone just handed me a newspaper - the headline simply says 'PEACE' in letters two inches tall..."

Which historic CBC broadcast should we feature next?

The 1954 Hurricane Hazel coverage? The 1972 Summit Series? Email your suggestions!

Share Your Memories

"We're collecting personal stories about VE Day 1945! Did you or your family:

  • Listen to this historic broadcast?
  • Celebrate in a Canadian city that day?
  • Have relatives serving overseas when peace was declared?

Selected memories may be featured in future updates (with permission).

Listener Memories

From the mailbag...

James (Ontario)

"My father was a CBC engineer that day. They had to set up an emergency transmitter on Parliament Hill when the crowds grew too large for regular equipment. He said the most moving moment was when spontaneous singing of 'O Canada' broke out across the crowd - you can hear it faintly in the broadcast around 3:17 PM."

Added: May 7

From the mailbag...

Margaret (Nova Scotia)

"We listened on a battery radio because our rural power was still out. When the announcement came, my mother burst into tears - my brother's ship had been sunk in the Atlantic just two weeks earlier. That broadcast was the first time I understood that 'victory' could still be bittersweet."

Added: May 6

✉️ Add Your Memory

Comments may be edited for length/clarity.

Never Miss a Story

Subscribe to receive our weekly retro radio newsletter with:

  • 📻 Featured historic broadcasts
  • ✉️ Exclusive subscriber memories
  • 🎧 Rare audio discoveries

Join our community of 3,200+ radio history enthusiasts!

Canadian Old Time Radio

Published May 05, 2025 by

Soundings: Jeff Green’s Visionary Radio Sci-Fi Universe

Soundings: Jeff Green's Visionary Radio Sci-Fi Universe

Vintage radio microphone Did You Know? The series was recorded using binaural audio technology for immersive 3D soundscapes!

Jeff Green, creator of Soundings

Ottawa's Answer to Twilight Zone

Produced from 1985-1989 by multimedia artist Jeff Green, Soundings delivered mind-bending science fiction through CBC Radio and international broadcasts. This indie production stood out for its:

  • Cinematic binaural sound design (recorded with Neumann KU-81i dummy head microphone)
  • 45-minute episodes designed for perfect cassette recording
  • Cyberpunk comedy (Spaxter series) alongside psychological horror
  • Original music by Charles Fairfield and Ian Tamblyn
  • International acclaim from NPR to Australia's ABC

🎙️ Behind the Scenes:

"We recorded 'Spaxter' in an empty swimming pool for natural reverb. The actors wore roller skates during chase scenes to create Doppler effects."
- Jeff Green, 1986 interview

"The 'Somebody Talking To You' cassettes were actual customized mixtapes we mailed to listeners who wrote in."
- Sound engineer Charles Fairfield

Dive Into the Soundscape

🔮 "Spaxter" Preview:

SPAXTER: "The meld in my head was buzzing like a hornet's nest. Osiris wasn't just another two-bit pharaoh wannabe - he'd bought the actual Great Pyramid."

LOUELLA: "So let me get this straight... you're going to stop a god by throwing a cocktail party?"

(Sound: Pyramid door grinding open with alien hum)

Complete Soundings Collection

🏆 Award-Winning Radio

  • 2x ACTRA Best Radio Program (1988, 1989)
  • NY Festivals Silver Medal (1990)
  • Mark Time Award for Best Sci-Fi Audio
  • ASFSFA Hall of Fame for "Spaxter"

Join Our Audio Adventure

Subscribe for weekly discoveries in vintage radio:

  • 📡 Rare audio finds like Soundings
  • 🎙 Behind-the-scenes production stories
  • 📻 Exclusive digital mixtapes for subscribers

"Your newsletter introduced me to Soundings - now I'm hooked on vintage radio drama!"
- Subscriber Margaret K.

Canadian Old Time Radio

Published May 03, 2025 by

The People Across the Street: CBC’s Lost Comedy Gem

The People Across the Street: CBC's Lost Comedy Gem

Vintage radio microphone Trivia: Recorded at CBC's Toronto studios, often after midnight when the building was empty!

From The Frantics to Suburban Satire

Before becoming Canadian comedy legends with The Red Green Show and History Bites, Rick Green and Peter Wildman honed their craft through two pivotal projects:

The Frantics (1980-1987)

  • CBC Radio's anarchic sketch troupe
  • Created the immortal "Boot to the Head"
  • Featured Paul Chato and Rick Green

The People Across the Street (Summer of 1989)

  • Satirical suburban humor
  • Precursor to their TV chemistry
  • Few recordings survive today

Both shows shared a signature blend of absurd premises and razor-sharp timing that would define Green and Wildman's careers.

Rediscovered Episodes

1. "The Freezer"

A household appliance becomes the battleground for neighborly one-upmanship.

2. "Death by Weed Whacker"

Lawn care escalates into a Shakespearean tragedy.

🎙️ Behind the Scenes:

"We'd write these in Peter's basement, fueled by instant coffee and leftover pizza. CBC paid us $300 per episode—enough for more pizza."
- Rick Green, 2008 interview

Why These Shows Matter

1

Comedy Legacy

Launched multiple Canadian TV careers

2

Rare Audio

Few recordings survive from this CBC era

3

Cultural Time Capsule

Captured 1980s Canadian suburban life

Comedy mask icon Never Miss a Lost Comedy Gem

Subscribe for weekly discoveries of rare Canadian comedy:

  • 🎭 Rediscovered radio comedies
  • 🎙 Behind-the-scenes stories from cast members
  • 📻 Exclusive audio clips from our archives

"Your newsletter helped me rediscover these comedy treasures from my youth!"
- Subscriber Dave R., Toronto

Canadian Old Time Radio