Radio Retropolis

In tonight’s first episode, Novak is hired as a bodyguard on a drive from Tahoe to San Francisco by a bookie. While stopped at a gas station, he meets a female hitchhiker who later turns up dead in the trunk of the car.  Commentary on star Ben Morris taking over the role of Pat Novak and why Jack Webb was not part of the series in 1947.

Jamie Lee Curtis was interviewed for the television special CHILLER 13: GREAT AMERICAN SLASHERS in 2013.  Only a few seconds were heard. Listen now to the complete interview as she talks about why Laurie Strode was a trailblazer, what she thinks of the legacy of Michael Myers,why she did Halloween H20 and why she almost walked off the movie.  Finally, hear her one requirement in her agreeing to do Halloween: Resurrection. With the release of the 40th anniversary of Halloween, you'll learn how this interview may have revealed the seed to that film being made.

In this never before heard interview just three years before her death, Debra Hill shares EXCLUSIVELY how the locations used for Halloween were instrumental in the film's success as well as well as collaborating with director John Carpenter in how she was key in the development of the characters.  Plus, we look at the amazing accomplishments of Hill's career that unfortunately was cut short by her untimely death in 2005.

Orson Welles put on a dramatic, very well acted radio play that put the nation into a perilous frenzy which began the biggest controversy of the decade! Millions of Americans shrieked in terror as to what they thought was the world coming to an end! It changed how we approached radio and television forever. 

This is the original unedited broadcast WITH commentary!

This program examines the frailty of the world in 1938, its real horrors, and the fallout of Welles popularity in which he never recovered. The real horror of the 1930's only escalated with this broadcast. The world was about to enter into a new phase of terror in which the The War of the Worlds Mercury Theatre broadcast was simply the metaphor of what was to come-World War II and the Rise of the Third Reich!

This program explains much of the hysteria caused by this broadcast, the scandal that followed, and the question of whether it could ever happen again.

In 1938 , Orson Welles Mercury Theatre on the Air created this most faithful version of Bram Stoker’s novel beautifully adapted from the diary format of the book to an audio diary given by Dr. Seward whose perspective gives the pacing of the story many new dynamics.  Brilliant performances and a lush soundtrack set this version of Dracula above the rest.  Agnes Moorehead plays Mina and Orson Welles plays the dual role of Dr. Seward and Dracula.

Commentary includes background on the Stoker novel, plus the many different adaptations of Dracula, Orson Welles' red hot star status, and why this version still holds up as one of the best!

When we left Lois, Jimmy and Mary, they were bound and locked in in car that was plunging fast down the hill into a water filled quarry just seconds away from certain death.  Will Superman get the information from a beaten-up Vincent in time? Commentary the realities of political victories.  Plus, a look into the next serial Clan of the Fiery Cross-he most infamous radio serial of the entire series.

A con artist who is looked upon as a great man in Pratt County, is planning to scam $50,000 at the expense of the people in a phony water scheme.  Commentary on Alan Hale and his fascinating life.

Just as Superman has finally figured out Vincent’s hideaway, Jimmy Lois, and now Mary are bound and taken away in the back of a car at gunpoint to be eliminated.  Commentary on Superman taking Vincent on a ten mile high ride.

A gang has been breaking into neighborhood stores and nobody knows how they do it.  Extensive commentary on the Top 10 Shows of the 1950s according to its standing in the pop culture universe.  We also examine why some 1950's favorites didn't make the cut.