Listeners to Wisconsin Public Radio will notice a change to the weekend schedule beginning Saturday, June 20, 2020. After careful consideration, WPR has decided to end production of “Old Time Radio Drama,” currently airing on Saturday and Sunday nights between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. statewide on most stations in The Ideas Network. The long-running program featuring radio dramas from the 1930s to 1960s will be replaced by “PRX Remix,” which showcases some of the best stories, podcasts and documentaries from independent creators and the PRX podcast network Radiotopia.
"While schedule changes can be difficult, now is the right time to end this program," said Mike Crane, WPR director. "Many of these plays and productions were produced more than 60 years ago and include racist and sexist material. Despite significant effort over the years, it has been nearly impossible to find historic programs without offensive and outdated content. And, ultimately, these programs don’t represent the values of WPR and The Ideas Network’s focus on public service through news and information.”
"I want to thank our host, Norman Gilliland, and a number of other staff and volunteers who made the show possible every week," Crane added. Listeners will continue to hear Gilliland on "The Midday," "University of the Air" and "Chapter A Day."
"Because audio drama is such a powerful art form," noted Sheryl Gasser, director of The Ideas Network, "these historic recordings lasted for much, much longer than their producers could ever have imagined. I want to thank fans of the show and remind them that the art of radio drama is alive and well today featuring contemporary stories on podcasts and websites across the world." You'll find a list of some suggestions, with links, below.
“PRX Remix” can be heard on Saturday and Sunday nights at 8 p.m. on most WPR stations beginning June 20. Please listen and share your thoughts with us by emailing listener@wpr.org or by calling WPR’s Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444.
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Looking for contemporary radio dramas? Here are some online and podcast options to get you started:
Radio Drama Revival: A free podcast dedicated “to showcasing the diversity and vitality of modern audio fiction." Each episode features original stories submitted by writers and performers around the country along with interviews about their work. Episodes are about an hour long.
Flyest Fables: Producer Morgan Givens — who has worked with NPR and WAMU's "1A" among others — describes this serialized story podcast as "immersive sound design and beautiful writing to bring back to life the kid in all of us."
Harlem Queen: Based on the true story of Madame Stephanie St. Clair, a notorious mobster during the Harlem Renaissance, from producer Yhane Smith. Available on most podcast services, listen online free via Apple Podcasts.
BBC Radio4 Drama: Excellent writing, audio production and performances by outstanding British actors. Most episodes are stand-alone stories, less than an hour-long and cover a wide range of styles including comedy, drama, adaptations and much more. Choices are updated frequently and available for a limited time.
Apple: Top Podcasts In Drama: A mix of styles from independent and well-known producers around the world can be heard for free, online via the Apple Podcasts website. You don’t need an Apple device or special app to listen. Not sure where to start? Try “BlackOut” starring and produced by Academy Award-winning actor Rami Malek.
Independent Fiction Podcasts: "The Podcast Host" has compiled this list of their favorite independent audio dramas for 2020. You’ll find detailed descriptions along with links to their favorites in the link above. You can also sign up for their weekly newsletter with updates “from the world of audio fiction …”.