In 1960, Playcrafters Theatre Company was founded with a mission to
promote theater of the highest quality and production values by
non-professionals; encouraging interest and participation in the
performing arts throughout the community. Playcrafters Theatre Company
is thrilled to partner with Bellport.com in their launch of South
Country Radio with an “Old Time Radio Show."
South
Country Radio Performances:
The Life of Riley- "Simon the Waiter"
The Whistler - "Stranger in the House"
The Life of Riley – “Simon the Waiter”
If you’re wise enough to remember The Life of Riley – a smile is now transforming your face and you can’t wait to press play on this screen! Playcrafters Theatre Company and Bellport.com are proud to present our 3rd installment of South Country Radio – a classic comedy that transcends its 71 years and is still relevant today.
*Originally aired on NBC radio, Saturday, April 26, 1947.
Material is in the public domain.
The Life of Riley was a 1940s American radio comedic series, staring
William Bendix, adapted into a 1949 feature film, and then a
long-running 1950s television series (originally with Jackie Gleason as
Riley for one truncated season, then William Bendix returned in the
title role for six seasons). There was even a 1958 Life of Riley comic
book!
The series was originally created for Groucho Marx, but he landed
hosting roles on Blue Ribbon Town and You Bet Your Life, so producer
Irving Brecher had to find someone else to carry his protagonist. After
Brooklyn-ifying the character and making him “more meat and potatoes,”
in Brecher’s own words, Riley was born, and he fit William Bendix’s
delivery to a T.
“Living the Life of Riley” was a common expression inferring a luxurious
or carefree existence – and thus the bumbling Chester A. Riley, a wing
riveter at the fictional Cunningham Aircraft plant in California, and
his continuous string of family and professional debacles was an ironic
hoot. His frequent exclamation of indignation—"What a revoltin'
development this is!"—became one of the most famous catchphrases of the
1940s.
Sit back, relax, and laugh your head off to our revival interpretation
of this classic!
Click here to listen to "The
Life of Riley- Simon the Waiter."
Cast and Crew:
Ted Fleissgarten as Chester A. Riley
Laurie Atlas as Peg Riley
Meghann Sullivan as Babs Riley
Charlie Miglino as Simon Vanderhoffer
Lisette Ruch as Muriel Evans
Peter Morrison as Digby O’Dell and the Maitre’D
Vincent Rasulo as the Radio Announcer
Produced by Lisette Ruch
Directed by Peter Morrison
Recording by Larry Sribnick, Bellport.com
Music/Sound Effects editing by Jack Walker
With memories of mystery and intrigue from radio shows of yesteryear - The Shadow, Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade - Playcrafters chose the detective genre as their first offering for South Country Radio. Their premier performance, “The Dead Duck Caper”, features the typical hardboiled cynical American detective Mr. Mac Steel; Mac’s likely to be found in shady all-night bars or on the streets of 1920’s Los Angeles. Join us while the mystery of “The Dead Duck Caper” unfolds.
* This production of the Dead Duck Caper is an interpretation of the
original material produced for radio in 1947 which is in the public
domain.
Click here to listen to "The Dead Duck Caper."
Cast and Crew:
Ted Fleissgarten as Mack Steele
Meg Sullivan as Essy Bell
Judy Perfido as Mrs. Bell
Amelia Chiaramonte as Lola
Manny Buckvar as Ducky Morton
Peter Morrison as Dennis O'Rourke
Annette Maillard as Jenny the Juke/Guest 2
Matt Palace as Salty Hawkins
John Hannon as the Announcer/Guest 1
Vincent Rasulo as Goon 1/Goon2/Bugsy/Bundy
Produced and Directed by Vincent Rasulo
Assistant Producer--Lisette Ruch
Assintant Director--Amelia Chiaramonte
Recording by Larry Sribnick
Music by Des Burke
Foley by Vincent Rasulo
Special thanks to Rohr Auto Werkes for the use of their space for our
rehearsals.
The Whistler – “Stranger in the House”
For their second “South Country Radio” production, Playcrafters Theatre Company chose, “The Whistler – Stranger in the House,” from the Generic Radio Workshop Script Library. The original material was produced for radio in 1942 and is now in public domain.
The Whistler
The Whistler is an American radio mystery drama which ran from May 16, 1942 to September 22, 1955 on the west-coast regional CBS radio network. The show was also broadcast in Chicago and over Armed Forces Radio. There were also two short-lived attempts to form east-coast broadcast spurs: July 3 to September 25, 1946, sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company; and March 26, 1947, to September 29, 1948, sponsored by Household Finance.
Click here to listen to The
Whistler "Stranger in the House."
Cast and Crew:
Ted Fleissgarten as The Whistler
Dan Love as Announcer
Lisette Ruch as Helen
Matt Palace as Ted
Peter Morrison as George
John Hannon as Rigby
Bob Maletta as Steward/Julian
Judy Perfido as Passenger/Operator
John Simpson as State Dept./FBI Agent
Meghann Sullivan as Rhoda/Clerk
Produced by Vincent Rasulo
Directed by Amelia Chiaramonte
Recording by Larry Sribnick
Music/Sound Effects editing by Jack Walker