RAS #594 – Columbia Workshop

On Ron’s Amazing Stories we are going to take a close look at the old time radio series The Columbia Workshop. This was a unique show that was one of the pioneers of modern radio. We have a bigfoot story from a listener in Buffalo, New York. It takes place in the area of Washington state I am very familiar with, The Pacific Crest Trail. The show begins with a review of the audiobook Selected Stories of Harry Bates. Who was he? Press that play button and find out.

Featured Story – Columbia Workshop July, 1936

Our featured story this week isn’t a story at all. It was an experiment by CBS that began in July of 1936. Radio was still a very new thing and early pioneers wanted to find out what the boundaries were of this new medium. It was called The Columbia Workshop. I found the very first episode of the show and cleaned it up as best I could. This one tells two stories while showing what radio sound could do. I hope you like it. My suggestion to you is this: As you listen, imagine yourself listening to an old tube radio, on the porch, on a warm night on July 18, 1936.

Other Stories Include – The Principle Murder, The Day the Earth Stood Still And Selected Stories of Harry Bates, Bigfoot Calling Bigfoot, A Comedy of Danger, and The Finger of God

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible – You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories and Gladdy’s Goodies – Good Treats for your dog to eat.

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you’re from. I will read it if I can. Links are below.

Program Info: Ron’s Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

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RAS #593 – Dogs And Werewolves

On Ron’s Amazing Stories the theme is the canine. We will begin the show with a review of the audiobook Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O’Neal. Then we tell Jeremy’s strange story that takes place in the deserts of New Mexico. Our featured story comes from the Canadian Mounted Police, and we end the show with a brand new Johnny Is It True – Werewolf Edition. So press that play button and enjoy the show.

Featured Story – The Pack-Rat Nest

Our featured story for this week is all about a dog. It comes from the classic OTR series Challenge Of The Yukon. Sergeant William Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police and his lead sled dog, Yukon King, fight evildoers in the Northern wilderness during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. These stories are well told and the quality of the sound is phenomenal. Our tale is titled The Pack-Rat Nest and might just be the most complete crime story I have heard from old time radio. It first aired on May 13, 1952.

Other Stories Include – Murder At The Mountain Lodge, Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses, The Howl In The Desert, The Pack-Rat Nest, and Johnny Is It True – Werewolf Edition

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RAS 592 – Stairway To Heaven

Thunderstorms were the word of the day. We had a day full of them and it disrupted my plans for the show, but in the end my loss is your gain. The strikes caused a power disruption which temporarily shutdown my systems. In the end I decided it was better to leave them off and come up with a new plan for the show. I have been wanting to run today’s story for quite a while. The problem is that we have 60 minutes and the story was a bit longer than that. However, with some creative editing you will hear an amazing story! It is my hope that you enjoy this special edition of Ron’s Amazing Stories.

Featured Story – Stairway To Heaven

Our featured story is a radio adaptation of a 1946 film titled A Matter of Life and Death (AKA, Stairway To Heaven). I know what you are thinking. Was this the inspiration of the famous rock tune by Led Zeppelin? In a nutshell, no. WWII British Air Force pilot Peter Carter is on his way home from a bombing mission in a badly damaged aircraft. Before he bails out of the plane, into the ocean, he contacts June who is an Allied radio operator. With her, he shares what he believes to be his final moments on Earth. It is titled Stairway To Heaven and it first aired on The Screen Directors Playhouse on July 26, 1951.

Program note: If you want to watch the 1946 film version of Stairway To Heaven you can find it here on YouTube with advertisements.

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RAS #591 – The Spider And The Fly

On Ron’s Amazing Stories it is spider week. Now, before you go “EEK!” know that none of these little beasties are going to get you. We have three listener stories; Twins deal with a really big spider that only they can see, Josh is redeemed after his encounter, and six year old Paddy tells us about a spider’s day in the front yard. Also, on the show we debut a new OTR series Let George Do it. So press that play button and enjoy the show!

Featured Story – The Spider And The Fly

Our Featured story comes from an OTR series that I just recently became aware of, Let George Do It. It was a detective drama starring Bob Bailey as detective-for-hire George Valentine. Clients came to Valentine’s office after reading a newspaper carrying his classified ad: Danger’s my stock in trade. If the job’s too tough for you to handle, you’ve got a job for me. The story for today loosely follows our spider theme. It is titled The Spider And The Fly and has a pretty solid twist at the end. What do you do when your neighbor appears to be a black widow? Well you let George handle it. This one first aired on October 9, 1950.

Other Stories Include – Trial By Fire, A Grown-Up Guide to Planet Earth, That is one big Spider, My Redemption, Spider Has A Bad Day, The Spider And The Fly

Social Links:
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The Blog Site by WordPress
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Contact Links:
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Story Submissions
Contact Ron

RAS #590 – Q&A With Ron

On Ron’s Amazing Stories we are doing something that we have never done before. Ron has collected some questions and comments sent in by the listeners to respond to. Also, on the show we have one of Ron’s all time favorite stories, The Time Machine by HG Wells. What you will hear is an adaptation of that story, which is very different from HG’s vision. Is it any good? I guess you will have to press that play button and find out.

Featured Story – The Time Machine

Our featured story comes from the old time radio series Escape. As I mentioned at the top, The Time Machine is one of my all time favorites. More than 120 years have passed since its initial publication in 1895. Yet today it still can stand alone as one of the best time travel tales of all time and continues to engage readers and inspire fellow science fiction authors. But the question is how do you tell this story in a 30 minute format. Well that is what the folks did at Escape. However they took the story in a completely different direction, which is what you will hear right now. It is still titled The Time Machine and it first aired on May 9, 1948 which is exactly 74 years ago

Other Stories Include – Shortwave Clue, Q&A With Ron, The Time Machine, and Old Shag