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.
12:00 Noon-1:00 PM PT
Initial broadcast and stream by KXRW FM, Vancouver, WA.
Subsequent broadcasts and streams by partner radio stations. See below.
Re-Imagined Radio sampled from the 2019 live performance by actors from Metropolitan Performing Arts and other community volunteers recorded in Kiggins Theatre, Vancouver, WA.
This episode was recorded for broadcast.
Affairs of the Heart was first presented as a live performance at Kiggins Theatre in 2019. For this radio broadcast we revisited three of the short stories from the earlier episode—"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 brought back Lonesome Gal whose singing broke hearts, with happiness. See information about our 2019 performance (below) for information about the stories featured in this performance.
KXRW FM, Vancouver, WA, 99.9 FM
KXRY FM, (aka XRAY), Portland, OR, 91.1FM or 107.1 FM
KUIK AM, Portland, OR, 1360 AM
KMWV FM, Salem, OR, 98.3 FM
CKXU FM, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, 88.3 FM
Lonesome Gal = Barbara Richardson
"The Good Salesperson"
Vivian Wilson = Rebekah Sharpe
Sarah Wilson = Arianna Dorenbosch
Richard Marshall = Derek Nolan
Marriage Office Clerk = Larry Taylor
"The Valiant"
Lonesome Gal = Barbara Richardson
Sue Rogers = Rebekah Sharpe
James Dyke = Larry Taylor
Newsie = Derek Nolan
Claire Paris = Arianna Dorenbosch
Warden = Greg Shilling
"Bloodthirsty Kate"
Captain Blackton = Larry Taylor
Muggerridge = Derek Nolan
Gonfalon = Greg Shilling
Captain Bloodthirsty Kate = Arianna Dorenbosch
Bandinage = Rebekah Sharpe
Lookouts = Barbara Richardson and John Barber
Live Music
River Twain
Sound Design
John Barber
Post Production
Martin John Gallagher
Social Media
Regina Carol Social Media Management and Photography
Graphic Design
Holly Slocum
Broadcast Services
Joe Clemons, KXRW, Vancouver, Washington
Dramaturge and Producer
John Barber
Eldredge, Olivia. The Re-Newal of Re-Imagined Radio. The VanCougar News Magazine, 1 February 2021.
Re-Imagined Radio presented a live performance by actors from Metropolitan Performing Arts and other community volunteers at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Streamed live on KXRW-FM (Vancouver, Washington).
This live performance was recorded for broadcast and streaming.
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 2 March 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.
"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
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.
Photography
Kassidy Young
Taylor Jones