Arch Oboler's "Cat Wife"

From the February 1939 issue of "Radio Mirror" magazine, an adaptation of "Cat Wife" from Arch Oboler's horror series "Lights Out":


...same opening warning as the radio show (though geared for readers, rather than listeners) - if you scare easily, don't read this story!




"Ironized Yeast" was the sponsor for "Lights Out"...I think I've listened to all of the episodes, but I don't recall ever hearing that the yeast tablets could miraculously grow breasts!




Sometimes a salute is just a salute.

Death Of A Salesman

Here's a head's up about an upcoming show...NOT a radio show, but a real live theater piece involving several TOTM members and alumni! Takes place in the late '40's or early '50's, too.

Death Of A Salesman
When: Starts Oct. 8. Fridays, 8 p.m., Saturdays, 8 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 17, 3 p.m. Continues through Oct. 23
Phone: 847-360-4740
Price: $20/ Student $10/ Sr & Military $15

Death of a Salesman is presented by Bowen Park Theatre company and runs from October 8 through October 23. Tickets are $20 for adults , $15 Seniors & Military and $10 for Students. Death of a Salesman is a modern tragedy about the “common man”. This Pulitzer Prize winning play, written by Arthur Miller, has as the main character, an old salesman named Willie Loman. The play explores his family relationships and the consequences of his decisions and behavior that have left him unhappy and pathetic. Directed by Shawn Fitzgerald. The Lynn Schornick Theatre at the Jack Benny Center is a charming, intimate venue that involves and engages its' audiences like no large theatre can!


Jack Benny Center For The Arts
39 Jack Benny Dr, Bowen Park
Waukegan IL 60087
847-360-4740


What are TOTM'ers doing in this show?
Acting: Laura Jansen, Mark Kettner, and Stephen Jansen
Directing: Shawn Fitzgerald
Costuming: Virginia Fitzgerald
Sound Designing: Stephen Jansen
Stage Managing: Christopher Wild
JBC Artistic Director: Jason Clark
There In Spirit: Bob Juenger ("Hi, Bob!")


Be sure to check out the show - it's going to be a big hit!

Ray Bradbury's 90th Birthday

Sure, it's short notice - but if you enjoy Theatre Of The Mindless (many of whom were born and bred in Waukegan) and/or enjoy that other Waukegan native, prolific author Ray Bradbury, be sure to visit the Waukegan Public Library on Sunday the 22nd.

All afternoon will be Bradbury readings and trolley rides visiting special local Bradbury-related landmarks, and later, even cake and ice cream - all in honor of Mr B's ninetieth birthday!

We hope to see you there!

TOTM will be doing a few short stories of his (as old time radio drama, of course), and the entire batch of festivities is free. You can register for the trolley rides HERE.

For more info:
Main Library 128 North County St. Waukegan, IL 60085 (847) 623-2041

We hope to see you there!

Lost "Duffy's Tavern" Found In Cincy!

Here's a "lost" episode of Duffy's Tavern (no audio exists of this show), copied from original scripts by Derek Tague, and performed by a slew of talented amateurs, including a "Theatre Of The Mindless" member as Finnegan (I think it's the stupid-sounding guy in the hat)!

Most of the script is pretty funny, especially Steven Thompson's character Archie, but unless you are a supreme devotee of pre-1950's opera, the show's punchline may leave you a bit flat.

Still, any port in a storm, and this "Duffy" was only heard on the night it was originally broadcast - never since, until now.

Another TOTM'er Wins Award!

Here's our own Laura Jansen, winning the Dave Warren Award (which is given for outstanding work done in Old Time Radio re-creations) at the 2010 Cincinnati Old Time Radio Convention.

What a great chuckle from the audience as Don Ramlow (the presenter, and director of the Cincy re-creations) says the name of our group, "Theatre Of The Mindless".

In fact, this year, Laura decided to take some time off from performing at the Cincy Con (awww!). She was the most surprised person in the room when she won (the rest of us know how great she is already)!

Congratulations, Laura!

ScriptFrenzy Winner!

One of us made it to 100 pages on April 29th - the finish line for the ScriptFrenzy contest, a day early! WOOHOO!

Watch (listen) for "Drive-Thru", a comedy-mystery story (sort of "Clerks" meets "Rear Window") coming "soon"!

Trying Out ScriptFrenzy

Yup - one of the secrets of producing new material is to actually WRITE SOME. And the secret to writing some is...well...to SIT DOWN AND WRITE SOME!

No excuses, no tough rules: during the month of April, you write a 100-page script.

There. That's it. Three and a third pages a day, give or take. What could be simpler?

A few of us in TOTM are giving it a try.

Later, you may be able to hear the stories here (let's HOPE!)...gosh, they're gonna be long, since a hundred pages ends up running about a hundred minutes.

I figure if I edit out everything that isn't absolutely top-notch in my story, I should have a solid thirteen minutes of excellent audio drama.

;^)