Affairs of the Heart, Lonesome Gal

2021 Performance

11 February 2021

Re-Imagined Radio reprises portions of an earlier live performance by Metropolitan Performing Arts actors and other community volunteers. Broadcast and streamed by KXRW-FM (Vancouver, Washington), KXRY.FM (XRAY.FM, Portland, Oregon), and AM 1310 (Portland, Oregon).

We revisit three of the short stories from this earlier episode of Re-Imagined Radio—"The Good Salesman," "The Valiant," and "Bloodthirsty Kate"—to celebrate the rationalizations we tell ourselves, the trevails we endure, the results we never expect when dealing with affairs of the heart. And, we bring back the special appearances by Lonesome Gal, whose singing will break your heart, with happiness. See information about our 2019 performance (below) for information about the stories featured in this performance.

Radio broadcast Thursday, 11 February, 12:00 noon-1:00 PM (PDT), with multiple ways to listen . . .
KXRW FM, Vancouver, WA, 99.9FM
or, KXRY FM, Portland, OR, (aka XRAY), 91.1FM and 107.1FM
or, AM 1310, Portland, OR, 1310 AM

Or, listen online, from anywhere in the world.
Point your browser to KXRW.FM, press the "Play" button at the top of the page.
Or, point your browser to KXRY.FM, press the large "Play" button at the top of the page.
Or, use the XRAY App, available through the Apple and Android stores.
Or, program Amazon's Alexa to play KXRY.

However you join us, enjoy your listening experience!

Press & Feedback

***

2019 Performance

14 February 2019

Re-Imagined Radio presented a live performance by Metropolitan Performing Arts actors, other community volunteers at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Streamed live on KXRW-FM, Vancouver's community radio.

For Valentines Day, we sampled romantic radio drama series from the 1940s and 1950s, each addressing the travails we endure, the stories we tell ourselves, the results we never expect when dealing with love.

Lonesome Gal

Written, produced, and voiced by, Jean King, of Dayton, Ohio, Lonesome Gal was a very successful radio series from 1947-1950s. Identified only as "Lonesome Gal," King spoke to her primarily male audience in an intimate, sultry, come hither breathless voice—"Hiiiieee Baaayyybeee"—as if they were enjoying a candlelight dinner and wine, calling them "muffin" and "baby" and other pet names, acting as if each listener was the only man in the world. For many male listeners, King, no more than a voice on the radio, was the first virtual girlfriend. When she made public appearances, King wore a cat mask to hide her identity.

King customized her radio show for stations around the country, referring to familiar landmarks, streets, and parks, writing and recording almost 300 scripts each week. In between her brief, cooing monologues, King would sing, or play music by other singers. Sometimes, famous singers would appear, live, on her program.

Listen to "You Want To Be Loved," the 3 February 1951 episode of Lonesome Gal.

The Good Salesperson

From Short Short Story, a popular radio series based on short, short stories featured in popular women's magazines during the 1930s. Each episode was short, fifteen minutes. This one was originally titled "The Good Salesman," and follows two lonely people who connect through a newspaper personal column and surprise themselves with the results.

The Valiant

From the romantic comedy series Romance, 1947-1960. During the mid-1950s, this series was written by people who worked on the adventure series Escape. Top radio stars of the day were featured. This episode speaks truth to the fact that sometimes there is real purpose to the unexplainable actions people undertake for love.

The Romance of Helen Trent

From The Romance of Helen Trent, 1933-1960. This twenty-seven-years-long series was the queen of radio soap operas, building in outlandishness through the years as one misadventure of the heart after another befell Helen Trent as she waited for her star-crossed lover to return, proclaim his love, etc. etc. We sample the hardships and heartbreaks Trent, and we, endure for love.

Bloodthirsty Kate

From Romance (see above). Shows how love can toss us about, like ships on the ocean. When this happens, even pirates have trouble finding love.

Listen

This performance was recorded live.

Credits

"Lonesome Gal"
Announcer/Narrator = John Barber
Lonesome Gal = Barbara Richardson

"The Good Salesperson"
Cast
Announcer/Narrator = John Barber
Vivian Wilson = Rebekah Sharpe
Sarah Wilson = Arianna Dorenbosch
Richard Marshall = Derek Nolan
Marriage Office Clerk = Larry Taylor

"The Valiant"
Cast
Announcer/Narrator = John Barber
Lonesome Gal = Barbara Richardson
Sue Rogers = Rebekah Sharpe
James Dyke = Larry Taylor
Newsie = Derek Nolan
Claire Paris = Arianna Dorenbosch
Warden = Greg Shilling
Priest = Derek Nolan

"The Romance of Helen Trent"
Cast
Announcer/Narrator = John Barber
Lonesome Gal = Barbara Richardson
Helen Trent = Arianna Dorenbosch
Gil Whitny = Derek Nolan
Fay Granville = Rebekah Sharpe
Brett Chapman = Greg Shilling

"Bloodthirsty Kate"
Cast
Announcer/Narrator = John Barber
Captain Blackton = Larry Taylor
Muggerridge = Derek Nolan
Gonfalon = Greg Shilling
Captain Bloodthirsty Kate = Arianna Dorenbosch
Lookout = John Barber
Bandinage = Ban-din-ag; Rebekah Sharpe
Lookout = Barbara Richardson

Live Music
River Twain

Press & Feedback

Hewitt, Scott. "Plays Explore Tales of Love." The Columbian, 14 Feb. 2019, p. D1, D3.
Hewitt, Scott. Kiggins Hosts Valentine's Edition of Re-Imagined Radio Performance. The Columbian, 14 Feb. 2019.

Photo Gallery

Photography
Kassidy Young
Taylor Jones