This week Malleus focuses on the emergence of explicit sex in two mainstream audio drama serials, (insofar as a mainstream exists in this field), one German, one American. These productions go way beyond the light eroticism that flits through Tom Lopez’s ouevre or the bawdy puns of the Firesign Theater. Now that public radio drama is shifting towards private audio drama, is this new frankness a sign of things to come?
This article contains no explicit images - that’s kind of the point - and isn’t going to offend any rational adult. I don’t recommend allowing children to read it.
Welcome to the final installment of a three-part essay discussing the supernatural in contemporary German hörspiel. Today I’ll recommend three outstanding contemporary German audio dramas (with links to Mp3 samples) and finish up by considering what the thriving German audio drama market might teach the struggling American one. (more…)
Last week Malleus traced a rough history of German supernatural horror serials and considered their defining impact on the contemporary Hörspiel-Boom (audio drama explosion). What are some general characteristics of these new horror serial audios? I’ve made a list below of several trends I’ve noticed over the past 9 years, many of which differ from British and American tendencies. Read on to learn about casting practices, pricing, and for an answer to the strange riddle: Why do German audio horror serials rarely feature German heroes, and why are practically none of them set in Germany?
The inaugural column of Malleus kicks off a three part investigation of the seminal role of supernatural horror in the contemporary German audio drama explosion. Discover the first German radio drama, learn about German pulp novels, and experience the terror of Konga the Man-Frog. (more…)
I’ve long been a proponent of greater community in the audio drama world, and my prayers were finally answered with the recent launch of audiodramatalk.com, to my knowledge the first audio drama forum. While I half-expected to see a gigantic empty emptiness with one or two lone moderator comments, I was delighted to see that EVERYONE is on this board — plenty of past producers, plenty of people I WANT to get on the show, and oh, my favorite… you listeners!
If you’re not already on the radio drama listserv or otherwise in the loop, then give audiodramatalk.com a try. It is absolutely the best place to find out about exciting new works, talk about stuff you love, and ask audio-related questions, and I think this is just the start!
After an amazing month playing The Last Harbinger, I had the absolute honor and pleasure of speaking to Roger Gregg, whose work with Crazy Dog Audio Theatre is about as original, compelling, and well-produced as it gets. In this discussion, we get to learn about the grit that drives him to write what he does and the siren’s song of Ireland that brought him where he is today.
For a guy who’s just had his show cut from XM’s weekend line-up, Joe Bevilacqua is a pretty upbeat guy. We get him on the phone this week to chat about his work, make funny voices, and opine on the sorry state of audio theater while still expressing hope for the future.
He also shares some insight on radio legends and what makes producing today different than the golden era. Then, in a special extension of the episode, we feature 1/2 of Comedy-O-Rama’s New Old Time Radio Hour finale/premiere (depending on how you look at it) with an invigorating new episode of “Duffy’s Tavern.”
Due to trekkin’ through deep ranges of the tundra… okay, Old Town, Maine — the podcast is held up by a day this week. Accept my humble apologies for holding back from you this excellent interview with two true radio originals — Marc Rose and Geral McQuinn of Dry Smoke and Whispers Holodio Theater.
With 27 years of making audio happen, a catalogue that rivals that of the Library of Congress, and an unending well of ideas that only needs time to come to delicious audio realization, these two cats have much insight to offer on the state of audio theater.
I had the opportunity to chat with these two crazy cats who have been producing Dry Smoke and Whispers (and other great audio) off and on for 27 years… yes, that’s longer than I’ve been alive people!
Needless to say, they have an excellent rapport and some great insights about the state of audio drama as well as what makes a great story work. Tune in today 1PM on 90.9/104.1 in the Portland, Maine area or via WMPG’s streaming audio.
Of course, you can always stay tuned for the podcast, which I’ll have together either later today or tomorrow.
This week’s guest is Jeffrey Adams, leading creative force behind the Icebox Radio Theater of International Falls, Minnesota. Jeff’s radio history is long and notable, and his passion clear: rather than bury his theater career when moving to the Borderland, as some might, Jeff started something where he was, culling fantastic tales out of the barren landscape of a town notable because of its apperances on the weather channel.
Whether it’s epic tales of the Borderland or twisty sci-fi/fantasy/horror genre tales, Jeff loves to craft tales of wonder and delight. Tune in for this opportunity to hear him speak on the art he loves.
For a guy who’s just had his show cut from XM’s weekend line-up,