Affairs of the Heart with Lonesome Gal
Season 07, Episode 01
February 14, 2019
The Things We Do for Love
Re-Imagined Radio presents a live performance by actors from Metropolitan Performing Arts and other community volunteers at Kiggins Theatre, Vancouver, WA. Samples from "The Good Salesperson" (from Short Short Story, 1930s), "The Valiant" (from Romance, 1947-1960), "The Romance of Helen Trent" (from The Romance of Helen Trent, 1933-1960), and "Bloodthirsty Kate" (from Romance, 1947-1960). Features the unique vocal stylings of Lonesome Gal (1947-1950s). Streamed live on KXRW-FM (Vancouver, WA) and KXRY-FM (XRAY-FM, Portland, OR).
Access the episode script
Production
Contents
Lonesome Gal
Samples from introductions, transitions, advertisements, March 2, 1951
"The Good Salesman"
Short Short Story, January 29, 1940
"The Valiant"
Romance, June 12, 1945
With Lloyd Nolan, Ann Sheppard, Edward Begley
The Romance of Helen Trent
circa 1940s
Sample from The Romance of Helen Trent
"Bloodthirsty Kate"
Theatre of Romance, March 31, 1956, episode #423
Credits
Producer/Announcer/Host: John F. Barber
Sound design/Post Production: John F. Barber
Graphics: Dan Wyatt, Jr.
Barbara Richardson as Lonesome Gal
Live Music by River Twain
Significance
We've offered holiday episodes for Christmas since 2013. Why not consider another holiday, like Valentine's Day? And while we're at that, why not offer a live performance that anthologizes several radio series, each focused on romance? That's our thinking behind this episode. Re-Imagined Radio recreates stories from four romantic radio series, connected by samples from Lonesome Gal who makes quite an interesting Cupid. The result? Interesting stories about the travails we endure, the stories we tell ourselves, the results we never expect when dealing with love and romance.
Producer's Notes
I'm looking forward to this episode. An anthology of several short works is both a challenge and reward.
The actors from Metropolitan Performing Arts are entusiastic as well. We're sampling from several
romantic radio drama series from the 1940 and 1950s to recreate these love stories. Each one is about
the travails we endure. The results we never expect when dealing with love. And the stories we tell
ourselves to justify the unexpected outcomes.
— John F. Barber
Background
Lonesome Gal
Written, produced, and voiced by one woman, Jean King, of Dayton, Ohio, Lonesome Gal was a very successful radio series from 1947-1950s. The series was sponsored by makers of pipe tobacco and beer, and pitched primarily for men.
Identified only as "Lonesome Gal," King spoke to her male audience in an intimate, sultry, come hither breathless voice—"Hiiiieee Baaayyybeee"—as if they were enjoying a candlelight dinner and wine, calling them "muffin" and "baby" and other pet names, acting as if each listener was the only man in the world. For many male listeners, King, no more than a voice on the radio, was the first virtual girlfriend. When she made public appearances, King wore a cat mask to hide her identity.
King customized her radio show for stations around the country, referring to familiar landmarks, streets, and parks, writing and recording almost 300 scripts each week. In between her brief, cooing monologues, King would sing, or play music by other singers. Sometimes, famous singers would appear, live, on her program.
Listen to "You Want To Be Loved," the March 2, 1951 episode of Lonesome Gal.
Cast
Barbara Richardson as Lonesome Gal
"The Good Salesman"
Campbell's Short Short Story, January 29, 1940
Popular radio series based on short, short stories featured in popular women's magazines. Each episode
was short. Fifteen minutes. This one follows two lonely people who connect through a newspaper personal
column and surprise themselves with the results.
Cast
John F. Barber as Announcer/Narrator
Rebekah Sharpe as Vivian Wilson
Arianna Dorenbosch as Sarah Wilson
Derek Nolan as Richard Marshall
Larry Taylor as Marriage Office Clerk
"The Valiant"
Theater of Romance, June 12, 1945, episode #108
Starring Lloyd Nolan, with Ann Sheppard and Edward Begley
The romantic comedy series Theater of Romance was heard on the CBS network from 1943 to
1957. Top Hollywood stars were often featured. This episode speaks truth to the fact that sometimes
there is real purpose to the unexplainable actions people undertake for love.
Cast
John F. Barber as Announcer/Narrator
Barbara Richardson as Lonesome Gal
Rebekah Sharpe as Sue Rogers
Larry Taylor as James Dyke
Derek Nolan as Newsie
Arianna Dorenbosch as Claire Paris
Greg Shilling as Warden
Derek Nolan as Priest
Sources
Old Time Radio Researchers Group.
Theatre of Romance.
Romance—Single Episodes. Internet Archive.
https://archive.org/details/OTRR_Certified_Romance_Singles/Romance_45-06-12_ep108_The_Valiant.mp3
Goldin, J. David.
Theatre
of Romance. Radio Gold Index.
https://radiogoldin.library.umkc.edu/Home/RadioGoldin_Records?searchString=Theatre%20Of%20Romance&type=Programs&count=64
The Romance of Helen Trent
circa 1940s
The Romance Of Helen Trent began in 1933, during The Depression, and continued until 1960,
twenty-seven years. The series was the queen of radio soap operas, building in outlandishness through
the years as one misadventure of the heart after another befell Helen Trent as she waited for her
star-crossed lover to return, proclaim his love, etc. etc. The portions sampled show the hardships and
heartbreaks we endure for love.
Cast
John F. Barber as Announcer/Narrator
Barbara Richardson as Lonesome Gal
Arianna Dorenbosch as Helen Trent
Derek Nolan as Gil Whitny
Rebekah Sharpe as Fay Granville
Greg Shilling as Brett Chapman
"Bloodthirsty Kate"
Theatre of Romance, March 31, 1956, episode #423
Shows how love can toss us about, like ships on the ocean. When this happens, even pirates have trouble
finding love.
Credits
Written by Antony Ellis
Starring Ray Lawrence as Captain Blackton
Paula Winslow as Bloodthirsty Kate
Cast
John F. Barber as Announcer/Narrator
Larry Taylor as Captain Blackton
Derek Nolan as Muggerridge
Greg Shilling as Gonfalon
Arianna Dorenbosch as Captain Bloodthirsty Kate
Rebekah Sharpe as Bandinage
Barbara Richardson and John F. Barber as Lookouts
Sources
Old Time Radio Researchers Group.
Theatre of Romance.
Romance—Single Episodes. Internet Archive.
https://archive.org/details/OTRR_Certified_Romance_Singles/Romance_45-06-12_ep108_The_Valiant.mp3
Promotion
Press
Hewitt, Scott. "Plays Explore Tales of Love." The Columbian, 14 Feb. 2019, p. D1, D3.
Hewitt, Scott. Kiggins Hosts Valentine's Edition of Re-Imagined Radio Performance. The Columbian, 14 Feb. 2019.
Graphics
Photo Gallery
Photography by Kassidy Young and Taylor Jones
