Notes on Sunday Night By The Philco...

It's good to be back at Mt. Hood Rep for another run of Philco. This year, we have a fabulous cast and an assortment of shows that cover the wide range of the magic that was Old Time Radio. This year, the blend is on the lighter side. There is the straight out comedy of Lum and Abner and Burns and Allen, the witty and stylish detective Candy Matson, San Francisco's most popular female detective and finally an episode of Suspense that is both a good thriller and a very funny backstage look at a theatrical dynasty in the mold of the Barrymore's of Broadway (and who better to write such a send up, than George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott?).

In addition to the shows, we have a full compliment of Foley magic and the marvelous musical stylings of Mr. Martin Gallagher, who made last year's show so memorable. On a similar note, if you'll forgive the pun, this year we are happy to include in our broadcast, one of the staples of Old Time Radio, the singer. Music was the life blood of radio. The popular songs that streamed from the Philco became the sound track for everything from the depression to WWII. Every broadcast day used to have musical interludes, from Liberace's fifteen minutes of classical piano, to the barely fictional stylings of Ramon Raquello atop the Meridian Ballroom in Orson Welles' War of the Worlds. Lisamarie Harrison joins the Philco crew with a selection of songs to set your toes to tapping.

We consider ourselves privileged to have you join us as we strive to re-create the magic that accompanied the glowing dial in the parlor that was the Golden Age of Radio. Close your eyes, open your senses, and enjoy the ride.

-Sam A. Mowry