FEATURELOOK
Barrett Huddleston, Curt Rose, Kim Thomas-Cobb
Golden Age Radio Returns
Autry’s “singing cowboy” show. And, the phrase “faster than a speeding bullet” was first applied to Superman on the radio, not in the comic book. The museum’s shows are directed by Barrett Huddleston, who has a Ph.D. in theater. He enjoys working with the community cast, which sometimes includes child actors. He’s especially intrigued by the eclectic crowd the radio shows By Amy Dee Stephens draw. “The audiences are so polyvalent, in that there are very different kinds of attendees in the same room,” said Huddleston. “Some were alive when these radio dramas first came out, so their attendance is purely nostalgic, but we also Before television, families gathered around the radio to have young Edmond hipsters coming because it’s a cheap listen to music and entertainment. Comedies, mysteries, date night, and they are laughing at the irony of how families and science fiction skits became especially popular, relying were portrayed back in the 1940s.” on masterful storytelling and sound effects to spark the When the pandemic began, the radio shows easily imagination--no screen required. transferred to Zoom and video formats. Last winter’s Holiday The Edmond Historical Society & Museum began Cooking Disaster show featured online comedy skits about reenacting famous radio shows in 2018 as part of its living food. “The most surprising was a history program. Actors read the scripts version of Betty Crocker teaching before a live audience, sound effects women the recipe for war steak, a are created on stage, and live music is revolting concoction of ground beef often incorporated. The 1940s Radio and cornflakes,” said Huddleston. “It’s Theater produces three shows a year funny now, but it was a serious foodand just won an Oklahoma Museum stretching suggestion during the war.” Association award. To celebrate the museum’s Olympics “We pick the script to tie into a exhibit, 1940s Radio Theater recently current exhibit,” said Anna Studstill, delved into a sci-fi script known ‘round director of education. “We recently had the world: the famed production War an animal photography display, so we of the Worlds. The 1938 broadcast performed animal-themed skits from sounded so realistic that some listeners Archie Andrews, Father Knows Best, thought Martians had actually attacked. and Tarzan.” Barrett Huddleston, Nora Cripe “We spoofed the script, setting it in The first script the museum modern-day Edmond, with live music presented was a World War II show to played by Kyle Dillingham and a cameo appearance by Mayor coincide with a WWII exhibit. The Fibber McGee and Molly Darrell Davis. No Edmond landmarks were blasted in the show was a comedy about collecting scrap metal. Since then, making of that show, by the way,” Studstill added with a laugh. the shows have ranged from a Flash Gordon episode to the “Our next radio reenactment is planned for Valentine’s Day.” Gracie Allen Runs for President stunt. Regardless if you remember listening to old-time radio or Those who have never listened to old radio are usually are seeking screen-free family entertainment, 1940s Radio surprised by their familiarity with the shows, because they Theater is an entertaining way to experience history and pop have seeped into today’s pop culture. The famous “Who’s on culture from eighty years ago—in person! First?” skit was a radio original, as were the characters of The Visit edmondhistory.org to learn more. Lone Ranger and The Shadow. The everlasting Christmas hit, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, gained popularity on Gene 26
l
EDMONDOUTLOOK.COM
l
NOVEMBER 2021
