Bill Virgin's Radio Beat January 4, 2007

[radiofan]

Thursday, January 4, 2007

On Radio: 'Wonderful Life' event celebrates radio's golden age

By BILL VIRGIN
P-I REPORTER


"The golden age of radio" is a well-known term even to those who didn't experience it firsthand.

But the passing years reduce the ranks for those who remember the regularly scheduled dramas, comedies and variety shows that lasted from the 1920s until being eclipsed by television in the 1950s -- not to mention those who worked in the industry in that era.

This Saturday, a local group will do its bit to preserve the memories of that era, and perhaps enlist some new fans of old-time radio.

Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound is staging a re-creation of the radio version of "It's a Wonderful Life" at the Carlson Theater on the Bellevue Community College campus at 2 p.m.

The headliner of the cast is Karolyn Grimes, who did some work in radio but is best known for playing Zuzu, George Bailey's daughter, in the Frank Capra film version of "It's a Wonderful Life." Part of the event includes Grimes discussing her experiences working on that movie.

For this production she'll be playing Mary Bailey. Also in the cast are performers from Jim French's "Imagination Theatre," which has continued the tradition of radio dramas with its own series syndicated on stations around the country. Jim French plays Mr. Potter, Pat French is Ma Bailey and Larry Albert is Clarence the Angel.

Randy Hoffmeyer, who has done stage, television and radio work, is George Bailey. The director will be Dick Beals, REPS's immediate past president and a former radio actor himself (on television he provided the voice of Speedy Alka Seltzer).

Bryan Haigood, REPS's secretary, said the event is designed to raise money and awareness for the organization's annual convention (to be held in Bellevue in June), which features radio actors discussing the golden age and re-creating scripts from classic radio shows.

It's also to draw attention to golden age radio and REPS generally. In addition to regular meetings and events, REPS maintains a lending library for its members of classic radio shows. More information on both the event (tickets are $9.50) and the organization is available at repsonline.org.

Enthusiasm for golden age programming remains high, as evidenced by reader reaction when KIRO-AM dropped the compilation program "When Radio Was"; it has since been picked up by KIXI-AM (880) at 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Haigood said REPS hopes to bridge the gap between those who listened to golden age programming when originally broadcast and those who have discovered the shows through old movies, TV shows or even comic book conventions. With younger fans, "The appeal is more with thrillers like 'Suspense'; older (listeners) are more inclined to listen to a 'Lum and Abner.' "

Haigood said the performance will be taped but as yet there are no plans to broadcast it.

In other radio notes:


Don Riggs' guests on "Introspect Northwest" at 7 a.m. Saturday on KPTK-AM (1090) and 7 a.m. Sunday on KMPS-FM (94.1), include Karen De Young, author of a book on Colin Powell, "Soldier."


The Blakes and The Hopscotch Boys perform live on "Audioasis" at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on KEXP-FM (90.3).


Aunt Jamamas Big Band Vigilantes performs on "Sonarchy" at midnight Saturday on KEXP-FM.


Tami Kosch's guests on "Community Matters Weekend Edition" at 7 a.m. Sunday on KPTK-AM include Fred Brock, author of "Health Care on Less Than You Think."


The Sunday edition of Jim French's "Imagination Theatre," heard at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on KIXI-AM, includes a new Harry Nile mystery.


RADIO STATIONS

AM STATIONS
Freq. Format
KVI 570 Talk
KCIS 630 Christian
KIRO 710 News/Talk
KTTH 770 Talk
KGNW 820 Christian
KIXI 880 Nostalgic pop hits
KJR 950 Sports/Talk
KOMO 1000 News
KBLE 1050 Religious
KPTK 1090 Air America
KKNW 1150 News/Talk
KWMG 1210 Spanish
KKDZ 1250 Radio Disney
KKOL 1300 Talk
KKMO 1360 Spanish
KRKO 1380 Sports/Talk
KRIZ 1420 Classic soul/R&B
KXPA 1540 Spanish
KLFE 1590 Christian
KYIZ 1620 Urban contemporary
KDOW 1680 Spanish

FM STATIONS
KPLU 88.5 Jazz/News
KNHC 89.5 Top 40/Dance
KGRG 89.9 Alternative rock
KEXP 90.3 Alternative/ World music
KSER 90.7 Public affairs/Music
KBCS 91.3 Jazz/Folk/World
KQMV 92.5 Rhythmic hits
KUBE 93.3 Urban contemporary
KMPS 94.1 Country
KUOW 94.9 News/NPR
KJR 95.7 Classic rock hits
KJAQ 96.5 Rock/pop hits
KBSG 97.3 Oldies
KING 98.1 Classical
KWJZ 98.9 Smooth jazz
KISW 99.9 Rock
KKWF 100.7 Country
KPLZ 101.5 Adult contemporary
KZOK 102.5 Classic rock
KMTT 103.7 Adult alternative
KMIH 104.5 Contemporary hits
KFNK 104.9 Rock
KCMS 105.3 Contemporary Christian
KBKS 106.1 Contemporary hits
KRWM 106.9 Soft rock
KNDD 107.7 Alternative

P-I reporter Bill Virgin can be reached at 206-448-8319 or billvirgin@seattlepi.com.

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