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Hall of Fame, Mystery as a Hobby, Dr. Death Returns, and More From Radio Archives!

  • News
  • March 31, 2012
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March 23, 2012
 
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From the earliest days of broadcasting, radio audiences always loved a “really big show”. In December of 1943, a musical variety series that would quickly become one of the most distinguished – and expensive – radio shows on the air debuted on the then newly formed Blue Network. Titled the Radio Hall of Fame, this hour-long Sunday evening offering presented itself as a weekly tribute to the best entertainment then available on stage, in radio, on recordings, and in motion pictures.
 
Sponsored by the Philco Corporation, makers of refrigerators and the largest radio manufacturer in the country, Radio Hall of Fame featured entertainers considered the best of the best then, many still remembered today, including Fred Allen, Bing Crosby, Orson Welles, and many more!
 
Heard today, the Radio Hall of Fame remains outstanding entertainment, reflecting the tastes of the general public during the latter years of World War II. There’s never any shortage of talent on hand. And today, in a time when the once-common variety show has completely disappeared from the airwaves, it’s fun to return to an era when listeners could literally expect to hear anyone or anything presented in a sixty-minute line-up.
 
The nine broadcasts in Radio Hall of Fame, Volume 2 have been fully and beautifully restored to the best sparkling audio quality possible. These programs are truly a piece of history as well as examples of some of the finest entertainers of the Twentieth Century and belong in any Pop Culture enthusiast’s collection! Get yours today, Nine Audio CDs for $26.98!
 
 
Bob Elliott will celebrate his 89th birthday on Monday the 26th. Ray Goulding would have celebrated his 90th birthday on March 20th.
 
You can send Bob a Happy Birthday greeting by sending an email to bob@bobandray.com
 
 
 
 

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One way to tell a radio show is truly great is when it stands out above its own format, which in today’s terms may be overdone and clichéd. Mystery is My Hobby, by that definition is a truly great show.
 

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Aired originally from 1945 to 1947, this fantastic, albeit formulaic program featured Barton Drake, as played by Glenn Langan. A mystery writer by trade, Drake spends much of his time solving mysteries that seem to occur naturally all around him, plying his ‘hobby’ on a regular basis with his sidekick, Policeman Noah Danton. Usually the crime is committed, either while Drake and Danton are around or just prior to their arrival on the scene. Drake then, in the style of The Falcon or The Saint, works his way through the clues given and danger offered and solves the mystery, using the last few minutes to explain just how he did it to the slightly obtuse Danton.
 
On first listen, “Mystery is My Hobby” sounds like several other radio shows of the same format and you can definitely tell that it was one of the precursors to television shows like “Murder, She Wrote’, ‘Diagnosis Murder’ and others. What makes this light mystery program stand out, however, are the two lead characters – Drake and Danton. There’s most definitely a typical ‘Lead and sidekick’ relationship between them, but there’s something more. The two characters interact with each other with a humor and relaxed ease that not only makes the listener grin, but serves to ingratiate and involve them in the plot. The banter between Danton and Drake engages you to the point that you’re wrapped up in the mystery almost immediately and even though you have the general idea of how it’s going to play out, you’re fully invested and enjoy the entire episode.
 
Although most of the mysteries that Drake finds himself engaged in do end up in murder, another intriguing aspect of the show is that all the crimes aren’t always centered on something so fatal. Blackmail, theft, and other interesting crimes pop their head up throughout this collection. Mystery is My Hobby is a good example of a well established light formulaic mystery program, but even more so it’s a hoot to listen to because of the bickering between Drake and Danton. And you can enjoy ten hours of this wonderfully fun amateur detective show for only $29.98 on Audio CDs from Radio Archives!
 
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Doctor Death is back for second clash with supernatural detective, Jimmy Holm, and his team. When a Zombi strangles a wealthy and influencial Egyptian in his New York apartment, Holm and Police Inspector Ricks knows it signals that Doctor Death is opening up a strange new front on his sworn war against modern man. Master of many forbidden sciences, servant of Satan, Death—in reality disgraced Yale psychologist Rance Mandarin—has assembled a legion of living dead and unclean elementals to do this wicked bidding. But Death wants more. Much more.
 
The trail of dead and undead alike leads to Egypt, land of a million mystical mysteries. There, lies the tomb of Anubis, the jackal-headed Lord of the Underworld. Thought to have been a god, in reality he was once a wizard. And in his sarcophagus rests the long-lost secret of reanimating an unstoppable new army to do Death’s bidding. For Doctor Death will not rest until he has resurrected all of Egypt’s entombed mummies!
 

Only Jimmy Holm and the strange alliance of power political leaders and Underworld kingpins known collectively as the Secret Twelve possess the will to stand against Death and his Undead things. But to win, Holm must ally himself with the mysterious Egyptian ruler known as Queen Charmion. Can she be trusted? More importantly, how do you defeat a human monster who can implant his soul in the body of any living person at will? Can anyone be trusted if they might be in reality…Doctor Death? Buy the second audiobook of one of our most popular titles for only $17.98 on Audio CDs from Radio Archives.

Audiobook Reader Profile: An Interview with Joey D’Auria
 

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A Scientist driven mad by his own desires and evil depravity! Zombies, giants, and horrible powers of the mind at his disposal! The world on its knees! And a stalwart group of Twelve led by an intrepid Police Detective stand as the only thing between this lunatic and world domination! All of this and more is what readers of Pulps in the early 20th Century thrilled and chilled to in stories written by Harold Ward under the mysterious nom de guerre Zorro! These were the tales of Doctor Death!
 
Listeners today will find just as much horror and adventure in Doctor Death as they are presented as audiobooks as a part of Will Murray’s Pulp Classics! Brought to chilling life by the fantastic reading provided by Joey D’Auria, the heroic adventure of Jimmy Holm and his team as well as the true horror of the mad Doctor Death keeps listeners coming back for more and leaves goosebumps at the end of every chapter.
 
Translating a classic Pulp Tale to a modern Audiobook is exciting enough. That challenge becomes even greater when the lead character in the story is not the dashing hero rushing into save the day, but instead the insane villain of the piece. This sort of story requires a special talent, someone who can easily move back and forth between the cruel machinations of Doctor Death and the desperate do-gooding of Jimmy Holm. Joey D’Auria is exactly the voice talent to do just that and much more.
 
“I have always been a huge fan of radio drama,” D’Auria stated. “In fact, back in the mid 1970’s in Los Angeles, my very good friend Roger Rittner and I created the Variety Arts Radio Theater, performing recreations of classic radio shows from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s on stage for a live audience. Our sound effects man did all our sound effects live and without recordings. We even recreated classic period radio commercials.”
 
Even when life pushed Joey other directions, he made his way back to audio. “When I was offered the job as WGN-TV’s Bozo the Clown in 1984, my family and I left L. A. for Chicago, and while there, in addition to working as Bozo the Clown, I also worked in stage productions and in TV and radio commercials. When the Bozo Show ended in 2001, my wife and I moved back to California, and in Hollywood, I returned to working in voice over and animation. One of my first jobs back in L. A. in 2002 was for the anime series Daigunder, in which I played Commissioner Spinklestarber.
 
In 2003,” D’Auria continued, “I was in Great Britain as the principle writer and show coordinator on Star Trek the Experience For See Entertainment in Hyde Park, London. Returning to the States, I became head writer and did occasional voices for Betsy’s Kindergarten Adventures on PBS. And I also supplied assorted voices for Universal/Imagine’s “Curious George” (The Movie). From there I worked on War of the Worlds: Goliath for Tripod Entertainment and most recently was the voice of General Alister Azimuth for Insomniac Games Ratchet & Clank Future – A Crack in Time. Today most of my work is for video games.”
 
Signing on as one of the voices of Will Murray’s Pulp Classics, Joey brought his own knowledge and experience with Pulp to the table. “When I was a kid,” he related, “a friend’s father had a huge pulp collection stashed inside the family’s fallout shelter in the back yard. My friend and I would spend lazy summer days sequestered down there eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and reading Amazing Stories, Captain Future, Man of Tomorrow and several other collections whose names I don’t remember. However, the thing that really drew me into “The Pulps” was the fantastic artwork on the covers.”
 
Joey sees Pulp today as just as attractive for modern readers and listeners today as it was for him as a child. When asked what appeal Pulp tales like ‘Doctor Death’ might have for fans today, he stated, “The same things that no doubt appealed to the audiences of the 1930’s, ’40’s and ’50’s! Action, adventure, thrills! Momentary escapism into a fantastic world where anything is possible!”
 
That escapism is something that D’Auria definitely enjoys about his work on Doctor Death. “The Doctor Death stories are marvelous period melodrama. For starters, you have tough talking 1930’s detectives and they are coming up against a world of mad scientists and occult creatures. Here the heroes are 100% patriotic, noble and forthright – even the notorious uncrowned king of the underworld Tony Caminetti steps up and puts all criminal activity in the USA on hold for the good of the country.”
 
The cast that D’Auria has to work with in his reading of this Pulp series is definitely varied and interesting. He explained, “It’s true the stories are all centered on Doctor Death and his insane schemes, but we also have a lot of wonderful characters who are integral to each Doctor Death plot. I approach my reading by not just telling the story – but by attempting to breathe life into all the assorted characters that people this world.”
 
Joey admits, however, that even as grand as the heroes are, he finds just as much amusement in playing the lead role. “The madly deranged Doctor Death,” D’Auria added, “brings to the party a delightfully unrepentant mad scientist who wants to take over the world and doesn’t care how many people he has to kill to do it! Doctor Death is a wonderful villain . . . and I must confess that I really miss him when he doesn’t show up in a chapter to spread his special brand of whimsical malevolence. So, I guess you could say the most fun for me in reading these stories is playing Doctor Death!”
 
D’Auria believes that listeners to the Will Murray Pulp Classics audiobooks will be drawn to the same aspects of the stories as fans of the original Pulp tales were, particularly the action. “The beauty of the pulps is that they don’t short-change the reader on action and excitement. And it’s that same action and excitement that also makes them such wonderful material for us readers. All of the other readers (many of whom are old friends of mine) are fine actors and each brings his or her own special talents to each of their stories.”
 
Joey D’Auria definitely plans to keep going with Doctor Death as long as the dastardly doctor is a part of the Will Murray Pulp Classics line up, but he also wouldn’t mind reliving some of his childhood Pulp favorites as a reader as well. “I would love to continue with the series. However, if I were to head into another direction – I guess I would have to confess to a desire for some old fashioned science fiction that harkens back to those days so long ago when I was reading stories like Captain Future, Man of Tomorrow down in my friend Peter’s fallout shelter.”
 
Will Murray’s Pulp Classics is proud to present Two Volumes of Doctor Death as read by the spectacularly talented Joey D’Auria. Get ’12 Must Die’ for $14.98 and the latest audibook “The Gray Creatures’ for $17.98! If you’re looking for the best in Audiobook and Pulp entertainment and a good villain to boot, then Doctor Death as performed by Joey D’Auria and presented by Will Murray’s Pulp Classics is exactly what you’re after!
 
by Derrick Ferguson
 
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People are forever asking me what do I see in this Pulp stuff anyway? “It’s old” they’ll say or “That stuff is corny”
 
Maybe so, but if a crime fighting Buddhist monk is corny, then give me more of it because that’s the kind of corn I love to eat. Up until now my knowledge of The Green Lama has only been limited to the prose anthologies and novels I’ve read. The thing that grabbed me about The Green Lama is that it’s a concept I’d have bet good money on wouldn’t work in the pulps but I’m switched if it doesn’t. Which actually is a good thing. The Green Lama is a refreshing change of pace from guys like The Shadow and The Spider who usually leave several dump trucks full of dead bad guys at the end of their adventures. Not The Green Lama. He relies on his trusty prayer scarf and his knowledge of human anatomy to incapacitate his foes. After listening to “The Case of The Crimson Hand” and “Croesus of Murder” I wonder if Gene Roddenberry got the idea for the Vulcan nerve pinch from The Green Lama.
 
The Radio Archives audiobook is voiced by Michael McConnohie who is my favorite voice talent when it comes to Radio Archives audiobooks. Not to take away from the others because I honestly haven’t yet listened to an audiobook of theirs I didn’t like. But Mr. McConnohie’s ability to do different voices never fails to amaze me. Mr. Connohie is absolutely terrific in his dramatic reading that conveys the excitement of the stories.
 
Once again Radio Archives filled one of my slow Sunday afternoons with a wonderful production that kept me glued to my seat. My intention was to do some household chores while listening to “The Case of The Crimson Hand” and “Croesus of Murder” but that quickly went out the window as I simply did not want to get up. Another worthy addition to any pulp fan’s audio drama library. And it can be a part of yours for only $17.98 from Radio Archives!
 
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The best of timeless Pulp now available as cutting edge Ebooks! Will Murray’s Pulp Classics brings the greatest heroes, awesome action, and two fisted thrills to your E-Reader! Presenting Pulp Icons such as the Spider and Operator 5 as well as wonderfully obscure characters like Doctor Death and more, Will Murray’s Pulp Classics brings you the best of yesterday’s Pulp today!
 
Five new golden age Pulp tales exquisitely reformatted into visually stunning E-books!

 
In the heart of New York’s Chinatown, on his imperial throne, guarded by swordsmen and gunmen and a labyrinth of death traps, sat the Arch-Criminal of all time. Master of life and death, of disease, of horrible, crawling things — the Emperor of Vermin released destruction over city and nation. The Spider, Master of Men, champion of humanity, fought with every ounce of his cunning, against the monster who personified evil incarnate — while one faithful servant gave his life in this, the Spider’s most bitter, hopeless battle, and Nita herself was faced with a doom more ghastly than any criminal mind had conceived before! Another epic exploit of America’s best-loved pulp-fiction character of the 1930s and 1940s: The Spider — Master of Men! As a special Bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction: “Meet the Spider” especially for this series of eBooks.
 
Sere, ghastly, the Severed Hand brought its grisly warning to New York. Its citizens must pay the extortioner’s price or die, their living bodies slowly, agonizingly transformed into rigid mummies! The police were helpless, and only Richard Wentworth, in the Spider’s weird garb, could wage battle — against the master murder-chemist who killed to corral a fortune! Another epic exploit of America’s best-loved pulp-fiction character of the 1930s and 1940s: The Spider — Master of Men! As a special Bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction: “Meet the Spider” especially for this series of eBooks.
 

Walking cadavers! Blood-thirsty, nauseous gray creatures! In the dank tombs of Egypt where he seeks the secret of resurrection, Doctor Death strikes at his pursuers with the terrible inventions of his warped brain. This gripping account of a brave detective’s struggle against a scientific fiend is packed with thrills and horror. The maddest of the Mad Scientists — Doctor Death — starred in his own bizarre pulp magazine in early 1935. He consorted with demons, elementals, zombies, disinterred mummies, and other unclean denizens of Hell. Standing against him were the Secret Twelve, a band of the top U. S. civil and business leaders, headed by Jimmy Holm, a millionaire criminologist and occultist. One of the rare unabashedly supernatural series the pulps ever produced, Doctor Death returns in vintage pulp tales, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format.

 
One moment good-will bound the United States and the great Power across the sea… the next, shells screamed their death wails into Coast homes and factories. No citizen was safe from the bloody holocaust when the Yellow Empire struck without warning from the Pacific. With fiendish artifice the world was turned against us. And somewhere in this country, covertly completing the terrifying work of wholesale destruction, lurked the ruthless agent of the invading hordes. Operator 5 alone guessed the dread secret and matched his individual might against a million war-drunk terrorists — while the nation trembled on the brink of red wreckage! As a special Bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction especially for this series of Operator #5 eBooks.
 

From Earth, Venus and Mercury, three Musketeers of Space, accompanied by a female D’Artagnan, rocket out in a grim battle against the League of the Cold Worlds! From the blistering surface of Mercury to Pluto’s frosty icefields, their fame had spread. John Thorn, Sual Av and Gunner Welk—better known as The Three Planeteers! Are they heroes, or outlaws? Could they be both? No more knew. When the tyrannical League of the Cold Worlds devises a super-weapon capable of annihilating the defenses of the democratic Alliance of Inner Planets, The Three Planeteers go undercover to choke off Dictator Haskell Trask’s critical power supply of radite. But the mission brings them into the realm of the D’Artagnan of space, Lana Cain, legendary leader of the most brazen band of buccaneers ever to ply the space lanes. In the year 2952, the fate of the Solar System rests on a trio of hired ray-guns who dare the pirate-infested asteroid wilderness known as the Zone…from which few return…
 
When you purchase these beautifully reformatted eBooks from RadioArchives.com you receive all three formats in one ZIP file: PDF for PC or Mac computer; Mobi for Kindle and ePub for iPad/IPhone, Android, Sony eReader, and Nook. When you upgrade to a new eReader, you can transfer your eBook novels to your new device without the need to purchase anything new.
 
Find these legendary Pulp tales and more in Will Murray’s Pulp Classics, available in the Kindle store and coming very soon to the iBook Store! The best Pulp eBooks now available for only $2.99 each from Radio Archives!
 
 

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by Kendell Foster Crossen, introduction by Will Murray
Om! Ma-ni pad-me Hum! The first of its kind, the complete adventures of the Green Lama follows the adventures of Buddhist Jethro Dumont and his aides as they battle the forces of evil in the western world. Written by Kendell Foster Crossen, it’s non-stop action in the vein of The Shadow! Never completely reprinted before, the series is collected in three volumes. Each volume contains an all-new introduction, focusing on a different aspect of the character’s life across several forms of popular media. Volume 1 contains in introduction by Will Murray and features the first five stories. Only $34.95 in the Pulp Book Store!
 

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by Henry Kuttner, introduction by Will Murray
Available for the first time… the complete saga of Thunder Jim Wade! Written by fantasy legend Henry Kuttner, this collection reprints all five adventures of Thunder Jim Wade from 1941. Long discounted as a Doc Savage clone, Thunder Jim Wade: The Complete Series brings to life this classic pulp hero and shows him to be much more than a knock-off! Ride along with Wade and his two stalwart companions, Dirk Marat and Red Argyle, as they battle evil across the globe! Thrill along with them as they traverse the world in The Thunderbug, Jim’s multifunctional transforming vehicle! Includes an all-new introduction by pulp historian Will Murray! Now available in the Pulp Book Store for $29.95!
 
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Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows! The Shadow’s underworld agents Hawkeye and Cliff Marsland take center stage in two thrilling pulp novels by Walter Gibson writing as “Maxwell Grant.” First, what is the strange secret of “The Green Box” that is worth human life? The Shadow seeks the deadly secret in a masterpiece of misdirection that introduced aides Hawkeye and Tapper. Then, the Master of Darkness and his underworld operatives investigate “The Getaway Ring,” a racket that helps mobsters evade capture via a modern-day “underground railway.” BONUS: “The Crawling Death,” a lost thriller scripted by radio Shadow Bret Morrison! This instant collector’s item reprints the classic color cover paintings by George Rozen and Graves Gladney and the original interior illustrations by Tom Lovell and Edd Cartier, with historical articles by Anthony Tollin and Will Murray. Buy it today for $14.95.
 
TRIPLE NOVEL SPECIAL Tarzan’s influence on the Man of Bronze is examined in three action-packed adventures by Lester Dent writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, a giant “Dagger in the Sky” materializes from thin air and disappears after bizarre murders, leading Doc Savage to a South American war started by Earth’s wealthiest men. Then, the Man of Bronze is asked to locate an heiress who disappeared into the Brazilian jungles years earlier. Finally, while attempting to license one of Monk’s chemical inventions, Henry Jones comes into possession of “The Monkey Suit” that leads into a strange adventure, narrated in the first person. This triple-novel collector’s edition showcases the original color pulp covers by Emery Clarke and Walter Swenson, the classic interior illustrations by Paul Orban and Edd Cartier and historical commentary by Will Murray, writer of nine Doc Savage novels. Priced at only $14.95.
 
The Pulp Era’s strangest mystery man returns in two more epic adventures by Paul Ernst writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, can Justice, Inc. prevent secrets of an ancient civilization buried for centuries in The River of Ice from destroying the modern world? Then, scientists in Paris, Berlin and Montreal exhale fire as they die, setting The Avenger on the trail of The Flame Breathers and a deadly secret that threatens to plunge the world into a fiery infernal! BONUS: a thrilling adventure of Police Commissioner James Gordon, a.k.a. The Whisperer! This classic pulp reprint showcases H. W. Scott’s classic pulp covers, all the original interior illustrations by Paul Orban, and historical commentary by Will Murray for $14.95!

Pulp fiction’s legendary Master of Men returns in two classic novels from the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction, written by Norvell Page under the pseudonym of Grant Stockbridge. First, in “Overlord of the Damned” (October 1935), the Boss unleashes horrible death with his demonic acid guns… with a vat of the same deadly corrosive reserved for those who talk too much! With his beloved Nita van Sloan a hostage to a terrible doom, the Spider faces the soul-tearing prospect of planting the Spider seal on his friend Stanley Kirkpatrick, Commissioner of Police! Then, in “Dictator’s Death Merchants!” (July 1940), The jaws of death gape open when El Crocodilo feasts! With uncanny skill, he forestalls even the Spider’s best attempts to trap him. Striking without mercy, this menace from the past rises anew by demolishing a banking institution each night, in a mad scheme to take control of nothing less than all of America’s finances! This volume is available in two editions and features the original artwork from the October 1935 or the July 1940 edition of “The Spider” magazine. Both versions feature reformatted text and original interior illustrations to accompany each story. Available now for $14.95!
 
 
 
 
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By Art Sippo

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It is the middle of the Great Depression. In the town of Crescent City, poor but honest Tom Worth disappears. Two days later he reappears on his front porch and tells a tale of being captured by a band of tiny golden ogres dressed in loin cloths and held prisoner in a cave. These miniature cavemen were no higher than his knee. They beat him with clubs and warned that they were going to do horrible things to him and the people of Crescent City. Shortly thereafter he disappeared again.
 
Tom’s son, Don is away at summer camp when his mother sends him the news of his father’s final disappearance. Don was a hard working lad and a good student. He intended to work hard and better himself. A serious lad, Don worked odd jobs to help the family make ends meet. Any bully who tried to mess with him learned the hard way that Don was no pushover. In fact Don tried to emulate his hero, the amazing Doc Savage! He wanted to be sound in mind, body, and conscience.
 
Don had three good friends: B. Elmer Dexter who always had some get-rich-quick scheme, Morris ‘Mental” Byron a dreamer and philosopher, and Leander ‘Funny’ Tucker a chubby good-natured boy and a practical joker. Together, they plan to solve the mystery of Tom Worth’s disappearance. The weird aspects of this case lead Don to one logical conclusion: they must seek help from Doc Savage.
 
In one of his few solo adventures without his aides, Doc goes to Crescent City and almost immediately, an attempt is made on his life. He links up with Don Worth and his three friends to solve the mystery of the gold ogres.
 
This adventure was written specifically to inaugurate a new series of juvenile adventures starring Don Worth and his friends that would emulate the more mature stories in the Doc Savage series for younger readers. The projected series never did materialize but Lester Dent left us an example of his writing talents for a young adult audience. Every Doc savage should read this unique addition to the Doc Savage canon and you can get yours today, plus another titanic Doc Savage tale in Doc Savage Volume 20 from Radio Archives for only $12.95!
 
Comments From Our Customers!
 
C. Eugene Schneider writes:
When I found Radio Archives in 2000, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Continuing on 11 or so years later, I must say you produce the finest quality Old Time Radio recordings in your industry. I am very grateful for them and looking forward to what may be around the corner. The quality you provide is better than the original broadcasts. Thank you and keep up the fantastic work.
 
Larry Hultgren writes:
THANKS for all of your work in making excellent quality old time radio programs available. Great variety in your selections and wonderful service!
 
Mitzi McLaughlin writes:
This is great! I appreciate all of you so much for keeping this alive!
 
If you’d like to share a comment with us or if you have a question or a suggestion send an email to Service@RadioArchives.com. We’d love to hear from you!
 
The products you’ve read about in this newsletter are just a small fraction of what you’ll find waiting for you at RadioArchives.com. Whether it’s the sparkling audio fidelity of our classic radio collections, the excitement of our new line of audiobooks, or the timeless novels of the pulp heroes, you’ll find hundreds of intriguing items at RadioArchives.com.

NEW BOBBY NASH INTERVIEW AT JESS RESIDES HERE!

  • News
  • March 31, 2012
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New Pulp Author Bobby Nash was recently interviewed by Jessica Lay for her Jess Resides Here blog. They discuss everything from Bobby’s latest work, the art of making covers, and what types of books he likes to read.

You can read the full interview at http://frellathon.com/2012/03/31/author-bobby-nash-interview-2/

MARC ALAN FISHMAN: Tales from My Art Table – The Soundtrack

  • Uncategorized
  • March 31, 2012

fishman-column-art-1203312-6074898Because I no longer profess to have original thoughts, I’ve taken a liking to riffing off a topic suggested by other ComicMix columnists. This week, the lucky Ms. Mindy Newell  inspired my topic du jour. As I discussed last week, I’ve been a serious artist since high school. When I was faced with two years worth of assignments in a single school year, I was chained to the art table basically every night. My art-desk was just a dining room table, so for me the creative process started more with a mindset than a setting. An artist’s area is a second home, a place where creativity blooms and technical proficiency is honed with each successive piece. Nothing gets me into this place quicker than music.

I can point to the soundtrack of my high school days and how it lead me to the canvas… or Bristol board, or god knows what else I was drawing on. Discs in heavy rotation? Tonic’s self-titled debut was a biggie. Reel Big Fish’s Why Do They Rock So Hard was always a quick pick-me-up. Guster’s Lost and Gone Forever carried enough personal anthems that I ended up making a piece of art about it. And of course, my long-standing stalwarts – Barenaked Ladies and They Might Be Giants – were never far behind a studio session. When Matt started dating girls, leaving me wondering what the hell was wrong with me (Answer? No Beard.), I found solace in Marilyn Manson’s Antichrist Superstar and a 10-minute stint as a psuedo-goth. Oddly enough, being sad and angry all the time never worked out for the natural comedian in me. Thank Gordon for Barenaked Ladies.

During this time too, Matt and I (when he wasn’t kanoodling with the ladies) would have an occasional studio night. Generally his house. He’d bring down the boom box, plug it in, and we’d toss in some long running discs, and recreate the atmosphere cultivated in the art room at school. Dave Mathews and Tim Reynold’s Live at Luther College, Rage Against the Machine, a little Guster, and maybe Sting’s Mercury Falling… and the paint, pencils, and bonding of brothers began.

My taste in music was (and still is) pretty kooky to say the least. While I’m by no means a staunch follower of rap, metal, grunge, bluegrass, or soul music… I do have a handful of artists in all those genres that I follow methodically. Trust me, a view of my guilty pleasures list on Spotify is truly vomit-inducing to most. Unlike many of the fine folks writing here… I was right on the cusp of the shuffle generation. And while the first 18 years of my music-loving was dependent on the ‘Album,’ by college, I was picking and choosing tracks to enjoy (unless it was from a band I’d already found a love for). But I digress… This column is supposed to be about the correlation between my music and my art.

In college, I found the first medium to really speak to me – woodcut. A combination of graphic layout and meticulous process led me to an epiphany of sorts. At a piece of plywood, I found a zen-like state where I could just put my hands to a task, let music pour into my ears, and when the haze lifted, art was made. During this time, my CD player had long been ditched for a first generation iPod. All 4 GB were crammed to the brim with tracks gleaned from my own collection, and some acquired from the file-sharing sites that were all-too-popular at the time. My personal policy was to only appropriate music from artists I’d already owned something from… or tracks I liked enough to listen to repeatedly, but not support the band financially. Sorry, Dakota Moon… you’re not worth my buck.

Tunes of the time ranged from Eminem’s B-Sides, BNL’s Maroon, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Californication and Red Hot Minute… to wuss rock from John Mayer and Ben Folds. All of them piped to my fingers, amidst a mountain of wood shavings. The art attached to this piece shows off the culmination of that work. 16 panels, 10 feet tall, 18 months worth of hard work, completed through 4,000 songs on continuous play.

Nowadays, I jump between online services that pump tunes to me on the cheap (at the trade-off of intermittent commercials), or a shuffling of my iTunes. Occasionally I’ll feel a twinge of nostalgia, and I’ll toss on Sting’s Ten Summoners Tales, and just go to town. Sadly, I’ve not done a woodcut since college… but have found a true love and calling in both graphic design, and comic book making. And nowadays when I’m not buried with freelance work, day job work, or baby and wife tending… I toss on some noise canceling headphones, crank up the shuffle, and start drawing my nights away.

And yeah, Mindy… Sometimes I listen to Glee, too.

SUNDAY: John Ostrander Always Has Paris

 

THE GREEN HORNET: STILL AT LARGE AUTHORS ANNOUNCED

  • Uncategorized
  • March 31, 2012

Over at Win Scott Eckert’s blog, Win announced the writers for the upcoming release of Green Hornet: Still At Large. The writers for the project are Matthew Baugh, Thom Brannan, Win Scott Eckert, Ron Fortier, Greg Gick, Rich Harvey, CJ Henderson, Howard Hopkins, Bobbie Metevier, Will Murray, Bobby Nash, Mel Odom, S.J. Rozan, John Allen Small, Richard Dean Starr, Patricia Weakley, and Dan Wickline.

From http://woldnewton.blogspot.com/2012/03/green-hornetstill-at-large-authors.html

The Green Hornet: Still at Large – authors announced!
The Green Hornet: Still at Large!Coming Summer 2012!

hornet3_klauba-5065532
Cover: Douglas Klauba

The GREEN HORNET: Still at Large – softcover
Edited by: Joe Gentile, Win Scott Eckert, Matthew Baugh
Cover: Doug Klauba
288pgs, 6″ x 9″, $17.95
978-1-936814-29-9 (sc)
• The Green Hornet and Kato’s final showdown with the notorious Yellowjacket!
• “Clicker” Binney’s origin story!
• Mike Axford pulls a sting on The Hornet!
• The Hornet and Kato take on homegrown terrorists!
• Doctor Fang returns, and Britt and Casey reach a turning point!
Authors: Matthew Baugh, Thom Brannan, Win Scott Eckert, Ron Fortier, Greg Gick, Rich Harvey, CJ Henderson, Howard Hopkins, Bobbie Metevier, Will Murray, Bobby Nash, Mel Odom, S.J. Rozan, John Allen Small, Richard Dean Starr, Patricia Weakley, Dan Wickline

Cover: Ruben Procopio

The GREEN HORNET: Still at Large – limited edition hardcover
Cover: Ruben Procopio
302pgs, 6″ x 9″, $29.99
978-1-936814-30-5 (hc)
Extras: – A timeline by Win Scott Eckert of all 3 volumes of Moonstone stories fit into the chronology of the TV episodes!
– Bonus story by BATMAN producer Michael Uslan & Joe Gentile: the radio era Green Hornet meets Richard Benson, The Avenger!
The Green Hornet: Still at Large

For more information on Moonstone Books, visit http://www.moonstonebooks.com/
For more on Win Scott Eckert, visit http://woldnewton.blogspot.com/
For more on Douglas Klauba, visit http://douglasklauba.com/
For more on Ruben Procopio, visit http://maskedavengerstudios.blogspot.com/

 is still available for pre-order at the following:

PRO SE KICKS OFF ‘THE PRO SE OPEN!’

  • News
  • March 30, 2012
psp_table_2-2882115

A leader in New Pulp Fiction, Pro Se Productions announced today openings in several upcoming anthologies and a new way that the company would be soliciting writers to participate in  upcoming collections.
  
“One of the thrills,” stated Tommy Hancock, Partner in and Editor in Chief of Pro Se,  “of being a New Pulp writer and publisher is the need to write and offer opportunities for others to write all the cool ideas that could possibly fit between the covers of a book. This fact is something that Publishers, small and large alike, recognize.  As Pro Se’s presence increases at Conventions/Conferences, one question more than any other comes up constantly. And it’s the question a Publisher wants to hear, one that, fortunately for Pro Se, has been unsolicited. That is, writers and artists seeking out Pro Se and asking this most favorite of questions- “You got anything open for submissions?” or the very similar “What anthologies can I submit to?”


“After giving this some thought and looking at how not only the New Pulp crew does it, but also at how larger presses and even the largest of the Publishers handle such things, Pro Se has decided to change up its Anthology process a bit. This will not affect how PULP OBSCURA or future ‘invite only’ Anthologies are done at all. There will still be special projects, of course. But there will also be the PRO SE OPEN.”


“Essentially,” explained Hancock, “The Pro Se Open will be a list of Anthologies that Pro Se plans to do in the future. This is an open call on all the books listed in the Open, that is anyone can submit a story for any of the books in the list. There is no deadline essentially, that is until all the slots open in any given book are filled.”


The Process will be as follows-
1. An upcoming Anthology is listed in the Pro Se Open.
2. Submissions are accepted (a 2-3 paragraph proposal for the story and at least a two page writing sample if you are a new writer submitting to Pro Se)
3. When the slots for the collection are all filled, a deadline will be set of approximately ninety days from the closing of the anthology. This will give writers time to complete their tales, artists time to do covers, etc.
4. The book will be published within approximately 30 days following the passing of the deadline.

 Even though the deadline will be 2-3 months out once a book is closed, Editors assigned to these projects will follow up, monitor, and make sure work is being done. Steps will be taken to move the anthology along as planned if work is not being done in a timely manner.  This means, however, that until all the slots are filled on an anthology in The Pro Se Open, it will remain open, but it is Pro Se’s commitment that once all the works are in for a particular collection, that that collection move into high gear toward publication, regardless of current publishing schedule.

The Pro Se Open will be updated periodically as to adding new collections and removing ones that have been filled.

Anthologies currently listed in the Pro Se Open are as follows- 

PULPOLOGY- It has been said often that Pulp has its origins in ancient tales, legends, the mythologies of many lands. Taking this to heart, this anthology will feature stories starring characters from mythologies around the world! Actual mythological characters in new adventures set in their own era, the ancient world of heroes and monsters, or updated takes on classic myths (Jason and The Argonauts in the Old West, for example). Either way, these stories will spotlight the characters and strengths of mythologies world wide and put a two fisted, high octane Pulp spin on the legends themselves! 6 Stories, 10,000 words each.

THE ADVENTURES OF MOOSE AND SKWIRL, TROUBLETAKERS- Trouble happens everywhere in the universe. Any time. Any place. And to make sure whatever cockeyed balance there is is kept, the universe takes care of itself, assigning special individuals to the unpredictable, unrewarding, and usually life threatening task of just being in the completely wrong places at the totally right times to hopefully keep everyone…or most everyone from dying. But the universe doesn’t trust just one person to do this, no it works in groups of two. Moose-Stocky, barrel chested, two fisted, sarcastic, and ready to deliver a soliloquy over the bodies of whoever stands in his way… And Skwirl-Seductive, sexy, and with a sense of humor that could kill….literally. These two ‘Trouble Takers’ travel space and time very much at random, figuring out whatever issue they are thrown into and then fixing it. In their own unique, usually very destructive, bloody way. Five slots, 12,500 word stories ( If interested, request short bible for this one).

SIX GUNS AND SPACESHIPS- This is a wide open, do it as you want Space Western Anthology. The requirements- It’s got to be a mash up between classic westerns and space opera (Firefly, Outland, Bravestarr, just a few examples). It doesn’t take place on Earth at all, has to be off planet, but time period and location beyond that are up to the writer! 5 open slots, 12,500 word stories.

TO LOVE AND DIE- Pulp Romance is back! And its deadlier than ever! These stories will be set in any time period up until modern day and must feature two things-Romance…and Treachery. These stories may be mysteries, horror tales, adventure yarns, whatever, but there must be a strong core of romance mixed with danger throughout. Six Open Slots, 10,000 word stories

NEWSHOUNDS! – Dogged reporters, crusty editors, copyboys and cub photographers with dreams of grandeur, Pressmen who know the city lives and breathes by what they print! One of the most fertile grounds for action packed pulp has always been the newspaper office. And all those wonderful character types and more all work for The Partisan, a 1950s paper partial to the common man, to righting the wrongs done against the innocent and the weak! And this gaggle of hard bitten, hard fighitng men and women are known near and far to those who love them and those who wish to see them dead! Do No Wrong in Their City unless you want it covered by the Newshounds! 5 open slots, 12,500 word stories (If interested, request short bible for this one)

THE NINTH CIRCLE-VOLUME ONE, This collection centers around a crime ridden precinct and borough in a city that shuffles its misbegotten and forgotten to THE NINTH CIRCLE. Six Slots-10,000 word stories (If interested, request short bible for this one)

DEAD MAN WALKEN- This western adventure has enough intrigue and mystery to choke a horse! A town is savagely attacked by a ruthless band of outlaws and most of the citizens killed, including the promising sheriff elect, Fitch Walken. A month after the massacre and all the bodies are buried, Fitch Walken stumbles into town, the last three months of his life gone from his memory! The mystery deepens when Walken’s grave is exhumed…and he’s IN THE COFFIN! What follows is the classic struggle of a man to find out who he is, what happened to him, and just which side of good and evil he will stand on! Five Slots Open-12,500 word stories (If interested, request short bible for this one)

THE BLACK FEDORA-A BOOK OF VILLAINS- This is just what it says it is, an anthology dedicated to stories about the bad guys we love to hate. These stories will focus on original villains and of course the heroes they face, these tales similar in style to the FU MANCHU stories of the past. But this isn’t only for yellow perils!! Any type of villain that populates pulp is welcome to try on THE BLACK FEDORA! Two slots open, 15,000 word stories

HIGH ADVENTURE HISTORY-Ever wanted a chance to write a masked man enforcing justice in ancient Egypt? Or a larger than life genius and his team of heroes righting wrongs in renaissance Italy? Or mad scientists terrorizing the Arizona desert towns of the Old West? Then here’s your chance! HIGH ADVENTURE HISTORY will include stories of traditional pulp concepts and tropes plopped into our very own past, pre 1900! Take your favorite pulp stereotype and wrap it up in ancient or not so ancient places and people and join us in HIGH ADVENTURE HISTORY! Five Slots open, 12,500 words stories.

THE SHAMUS DIRECTIVE is a project actually founded in historical context. Just prior to and all during World War Two, The United States government via the FBI as well as members of the Armed Forces, developed dossiers on all licensed Private Investigators in the country. A list was then comprised of the ones deemed appropriate and ‘good’ and they were then considered to be ‘cleared’ to be used in espionage missions, mostly on the homefront, or missions that regular forces just could not deal with for various reasons. THE SHAMUS DIRECTIVE poses the theory that not only was this list compiled, but the people on it were truly the world’s greatest detectives and they were formed into sort of a team to handle major issues in conjunction, even maybe saving major parcels of land and people in the process. Three Slots Open, 10,000 word stories (If interested, request short bible for this one)


If you’re a writer or artist and are interested in these anthologies or have questions, email Hancock at proseproductions@earthlink.net! And check out Pro Se at www.prosepulp.com and www.pulpmachine.blogspot.com.


Paramount Offers Mission: Impossible $10,000 Sweepstakes on Tax Day

  • Uncategorized
  • March 30, 2012

HOLLYWOOD CA (March 28, 2012) – The Impossible Missions Force may not be able to stop tax day from coming, but they can help soften the blow to your wallet.  In celebration of the April 17th Blu-ray and DVD debut of the smash hit film Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol, Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is launching a sweepstakes in which one lucky winner will receive $10,000 to use for any mission, including paying taxes or just buying something really, really cool.  From March 27th through April 24th consumers can visit www.MI4TaxDaySweeps.com to enter for a chance to win the cash prize along with a copy of the two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack of Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol.  Visitors can enter one time each day throughout the sweepstakes period and receive additional bonus entries by tweeting (see official sweepstakes rules at www.MI4TaxDaySweeps.com for details).

Boasting “a bullet train of action and an arsenal of cool gadgets” (David Germain, Associated Press), Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol delivers non-stop thrills and breathtaking stunts, including a dizzying ascent up the world’s tallest building.  Starring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton and Michael Nyqvist, the film will be available in a Limited Edition three-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack bursting with over two hours of special features (exclusively at Best Buy), as well as in a two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and as a single-disc DVD.  All Blu-ray and DVD releases available for purchase will be enabled with UltraViolet, a new way to collect, access and enjoy movies.  With UltraViolet, consumers can add movies to their digital collection in the cloud, and then stream or download them – reliably and securely – to a variety of devices.

PRO SE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS A SCI FI ‘SAVIOR’!

  • News
  • March 30, 2012

Pro Se Productions, a leading Publisher of New Pulp, announces its latest volume today, a debut novel from a long time contributor to Pro Se’s award winning magazine line.

saviorfclr-3725016

“Science Fiction,” Tommy Hancock, Partner in and Editor in Chief of Pro Se Productions stated, “is definitely a cornerstone of Pulp Fiction, both Classic and New.  It’s an area, though, that Pro Se really hasn’t gotten into until recently with some entries in our magazines.  ‘Savior’ by Don Thomas is our first novel jumping nose first into that genre and we’re really proud of that.  And it’s a vein of Science Fiction that’s somewhat popular lately, apocalyptic virus takes on the world and a small portion of the population rises to combat it.  But it’s also different, too, in that Don exposes what happens when that small section of humanity becomes heroes of almost cosmic proportions in the eyes of the world and at what costs this takes place.”


From the back cover copy for SAVIOR by Don Thomas-  


In the Near Future, a Red Death will cover the world. As civilization struggles to survive, one government emerges with a sliver of hope- The Strategic Agency against Viral Infections by Organized Resistance. SAVIOR.

SAVIOR delivered on the promise of a miracle cure, elevating themselves into legends…but behind every legend lies truths and secrets…truths and secrets former SAVIOR agent Steve Ryker has sworn to bring into the light…even if it kills him.

SAVIOR is the debut novel of author Don Thomas, a mainstay writer of Pro Se Presents, a two year award winning New Pulp magazine. Complete with fully realized characters, lightning fast pacing, and more meteoric action, SAVIOR proves to be a solid, taut science fiction thriller!

SAVIOR-Edited by Nancy Hansen, Cover Art by Marc Guerrero and Design by Sean E. Ali! Ebook Formatting by Russ Anderson!  Available now on Amazon and at www.prosepulp.com and in ebook form at Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble!  


SAVIOR!  From Pro Se Productions- Puttin’ The Monthly Back In Pulp!

PRO SE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS A SCI FI ‘SAVIOR’!

  • News
  • March 30, 2012

Pro Se Productions, a leading Publisher of New Pulp, announces its latest volume today, a debut novel from a long time contributor to Pro Se’s award winning magazine line.

saviorfclr-1467816

“Science Fiction,” Tommy Hancock, Partner in and Editor in Chief of Pro Se Productions stated, “is definitely a cornerstone of Pulp Fiction, both Classic and New.  It’s an area, though, that Pro Se really hasn’t gotten into until recently with some entries in our magazines.  ‘Savior’ by Don Thomas is our first novel jumping nose first into that genre and we’re really proud of that.  And it’s a vein of Science Fiction that’s somewhat popular lately, apocalyptic virus takes on the world and a small portion of the population rises to combat it.  But it’s also different, too, in that Don exposes what happens when that small section of humanity becomes heroes of almost cosmic proportions in the eyes of the world and at what costs this takes place.”


From the back cover copy for SAVIOR by Don Thomas-  


In the Near Future, a Red Death will cover the world. As civilization struggles to survive, one government emerges with a sliver of hope- The Strategic Agency against Viral Infections by Organized Resistance. SAVIOR.

SAVIOR delivered on the promise of a miracle cure, elevating themselves into legends…but behind every legend lies truths and secrets…truths and secrets former SAVIOR agent Steve Ryker has sworn to bring into the light…even if it kills him.

SAVIOR is the debut novel of author Don Thomas, a mainstay writer of Pro Se Presents, a two year award winning New Pulp magazine. Complete with fully realized characters, lightning fast pacing, and more meteoric action, SAVIOR proves to be a solid, taut science fiction thriller!

SAVIOR-Edited by Nancy Hansen, Cover Art by Marc Guerrero and Design by Sean E. Ali! Ebook Formatting by Russ Anderson!  Available now on Amazon and at www.prosepulp.com and in ebook form at Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble!  


SAVIOR!  From Pro Se Productions- Puttin’ The Monthly Back In Pulp!

MARTHA THOMASES: Hunger Games – Black Like Thee?

  • Uncategorized
  • March 30, 2012

thomases-column-art-120330-8021896This column is going to get to its point in a roundabout way. If you want to get right to the incendiary arguing, skip ahead a few paragraphs. However, once you get there, you may find spoilers for The Hunger Games. Be prepared.

For the rest of you, I have a story to tell. When I was a girl of 10, I had a dog, Nancy. Before she died 11 years later, she and I had many heart-to-heart talks, where I would talk and then imagine what she would say to me.

We had a lot in common, in that we were both female and living in the Midwest. However, at some point, I realized that I was assuming we were even more alike. I thought she loved the Smothers Brothers and the Incredible String Band as much as I did. I thought she was against the war in Viet Nam. I thought she spoke English.

And I thought she was white.

I mean, she was white, except for her head, which was red and brown. Still, this was fur, not skin. It took me a while to recognize my assumptions as racist.

Some of this is how the human brain works. When someone says the word mother, I imagine my own mother. If I read a book with a first-person narrator, I assume the narrator is a middle aged New York woman like myself until the author establishes other characteristics.

Which brings me to my real subject. When I read The Hunger Games last month, I paid attention to the descriptions of the various characters. Sometimes the descriptions, all from the perspective of the narrator, Katniss, merely stated a person’s gender, or hair and eye color. Sometimes the descriptions offered more detail.

The character of Rue is one who inspires more detail. She is small and slight, like Katniss’ sister. She is shy, but smart and good at hiding. Her hair and eyes are dark.

So is her skin.

When I read the book, one of the fun things for me was to try to figure out which territories of Panem corresponded to which parts of the United States. Katniss lived in an area full of coal mines, so I figured she lived in Appalachia. Rue lives in a place that is warm and humid, a place where everyone works in agriculture. I imagined Florida, and maybe her ancestry was African-American with maybe some Cuban.

Apparently, some readers did not pay that much attention. After the movie opened last weekend to record-setting crowds, the Twitterverse was inundated with postings by people who were upset by the casting of a dark-skinned actress to play the part of Rue. There were so many complaints that there is a Tumblr site dedicated to recording all of the posts (which I found via this, so thanks!).

Now, I am not always a fan for color-blind casting. I didn’t like it when they talked about Marlon Wayans for Robin in the Tim Burton Batman movies, although I would like to believe that’s because I didn’t think he was right for the part. I thought making Jimmy Olson black, which was under discussion for a time, was kind of arbitrary and therefore a bit condescending. Both one these opinions may represent a layer of racism I haven’t yet exorcised.

But when an author takes the time and effort to specify a character’s ethnicity, I believe her.

I don’t know who these Twitter posters are, or what kind of lives they lead. I don’t know their opinions on other subjected. I haven’t even seen the movie yet.  In any case, Rue is lucky that she doesn’t live in their neighborhoods. Or walk around in a hoodie with Skittles.

SATURDAY: Marc Alan Fishman Jumps On Mindy Newell’s Bandwagon 

Merlin Season Four Wraps Friday on Syfy

  • Uncategorized
  • March 29, 2012

Thirteen episodes of sorcery and swordplay, dragons and demons, bewitchings and betrayals comes to a head this Friday when the fourth season of MERLIN culminates in an exhilarating season finale entitled “The Sword in the Stone, Part 2,” premiering March 30 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
only on Syfy.

For cast members Colin Morgan (merlin), Bradley James (Arthur) and Katie McGrath (Morgana), the fourth season has been filled with memorable moments for both the actors and viewers. (more…)

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