Play: I love Lucy -The Untold Story

I'm excited to announce that I'll be directing a live, full-cast performance of my original radio play, "I Love Lucy: The Untold Story", Sunday, March 3, 2013, at 4pm, at Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation, 16019 Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.

It's a humorous look behind the scenes at the creation of TV's most beloved sitcom, based on my dad's memoir, "Laughs, Luck...and Lucy: How I Came to Create the Most Popular of Sitcom of All Time." Since its New York premiere in 2011, the play has had successful productions on both coasts, as well as a nationwide broadcast on SiriusXM Radio.

Our phenomenal cast features such talented performers as Charlene Tilton (Dallas's "Lucy Ewing"), Dick Van Patten (star of "Eight Is Enough"), Phil Proctor (founder of the legendary Firesign Theater comedy troupe), William Schallert ("Dad" on "The Patty Duke Show"), Second City alum Lance Kinsey ("Lt. Proctor" in all the "Police Academy" films), and musical guest Dora Pearson (lead female vocalist for Sha Na Na). Also featured are Tommy Cook ("Little Beaver" on "The Adventures of Red Ryder"), Ivan Cury (star of "Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders"), Stuffy Singer ("The Jack Benny Program"), Gregg Berger ("Odie" on "Garfield & Friends"), and Alan Oppenheimer ("The Six Million Dollar Man").

The show, which runs about 45 minutes, will be performed in the style of old-time radio, with the actors and singers standing at microphones, scripts in hand, plus sound effects and recorded music.

After the show, refreshments will be served, and you'll have the opportunity to mingle with members of the cast.

Proceeds benefit Kehillat Israel's "Sages" seniors program. There is no charge to attend the event, but any donations are welcome. (The suggested donation is $18) Free parking is available.

Seating is limited. Reserve your tickets now at www.ourKI.org. Cast lineup subject to change.

For further information, please contact Kehillat Israel's Director of Programs & Marketing, Matt Davidson, at 424.214.7454 or mdavidson@ourKI.org

We're going to have a lot of fun on March 3rd, and I really hope to see you there.

- Gregg Oppenheimer greggoppenheimer.wordpress.com gopp@aol.com

P.S. If you can't make the March 3rd performance, be sure to check out the full-cast recording of "I Love Lucy: The Untold Story" now available at iTunes, at Amazon.com, at Audible.com, and at Audiobooks.com. All royalties from sales of the recording benefit the Motion Picture & Television Fund.

Stan Freberg set to Appear at the REPS Showcase Old Time Radio Convention

The REPS Showcase is returning this June 2013 to the Bellevue Coast Hotel. The Showcase is a fantastic event for all lover's of Old time Radio and it just got better!

Just Announced:
Stan Freburg will be joining REPS for this special event. This could be a once in a life time chance to meet, up close and in person, this legendary and very talented star! More information is forthcoming so stay tuned! More details to be posted at REPS SHOWCASE soon!

Transcontinental Terror - New Audio Productions for Halloween! Now Posted Online for Your Listening Pleasure.

This last Halloween, for the third year in a row, six audio theater companies from around the world teamed up to present a full evening of original audio horror! “Transcontinental Terror: An Express Train to Audio Horror” featured masterful productions by contemporary audio theater’s most exciting, inventive production companies — companies spanning half the globe.

Each of the productions are now posted online for your listening pleasure and are an example current Audio Dramas now being produced.

Part 1 of 6 of the Transcontinental Terror live Halloween Horror Event Featured Wireless Theatre Company (London, England) with “The Maiden without Hands” and “The Cask of Amontillado”.

Part 2 of 6 of the Transcontinental Terror. Featuring Electric Vicuna (Halifax, Nova Scotia) with “Coach #6″ and “One by One”

Part 3 of 6 of the Transcontinental Terror. Featuring FinalRune Productions (Portland, Maine) and Aural Stage Studios (Buffalo, NY) with Dark Passenger and Intensive Care Passenger and Intensive Care.

Part 4 of 6 of the Transcontinental Terror. Featuring Chatterbox Audio Theater (Memphis, Tennessee) with “Master Zacharius” Part 1 and Part 2

Part 5 of 6 of the Transcontinental Terror. Featuring Icebox Radio Theater (International Falls, Minnesota) with “All Hallow’s Eve”

Part 6 of 6 of the Transcontinental Terror. Featuring 19 Nocturne Boulevard (Seattle, Washington) with the HP Lovecraft classic “The Rats in the Walls”.

Radio Review: Bold Venture

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Becall followed other stars including Alan Ladd to the radio in their own syndicated program.In Bold Venture, radio offers us a performances from one of Hollywood's most celebrated couples in Hollywood History. The show's premise called to mind, their early appearance together in To Have or Have Not with Bogart playing Slade Shannon, a rough and rugged man of the world running a hotel called, "Shannon's Place" and also a boat called, "The Bold Venture.". Becall plays the sassy Sailor Duvall whose father was a friend of Slade. Slade was asked to take care of her. However, their relationship is far from father-daughter. The program has several strong points: Read More . . .

RTC Weekly Download 12-DEC03

Abbott & Costello - Richard Diamond - Henry Morgan

This week's weekly download of old time radio from the Radio Theater Channel. Listen Now!

REVISIT CHRISTMAS – The way it used to be

Posted on December 1, 2012 by John

America has always been a dynamic country and change is always in the air. As a consequence the culture is in a state of flux. As far as Christmas is concerned the change has been from a religious holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus to a more secular holiday celebrating family, friends and gift giving. This was the result of a changing culture in america moving away from its Western European and American traditions and toward multiculturalism. Broadcasting reflects these changes with its programming. With this in mind it is interesting to turn back the clock seven decades or so to see (or 'hear' in this case) the way it use to be. Read More

The Cinnamon Bear: An Old-Time Radio Christmas Tradition

Because I love The Cinnamon Bear so much, I post this exact same article every year on the 29th of November. If you have young children — and even if you don’t — I encourage you to listen to these old radio broadcasts with your family. Holiday traditions don’t have to be expensive. Some of the best traditions don’t cost anything at all. When I was a boy, Christmas meant The Cinnamon Bear. During the weeks before Christmas, a Portland radio station (KEX) would broadcast a fifteen minute episode of this story every night. The Cinnamon Bear chronicles the adventures of Judy and Jimmy, and their fantastic trip through Maybeland as they search for the missing Silver Star that belongs atop their Christmas tree. Read More