| South African Old-Time Radio NEW PRODUCTIONS "ROOM 13" CREDITS |
| The Pumamouse Website Presents... |
"ROOM 13" WRITTEN BY DOROTHY CARTER |
| The following essay was kindly written and provided for inclusion on The Pumamouse Website by Frans Erasmus. |
SQUEAK OF JOY!!! "Room 13" will air on Thursday 26 February 2004 at 7PM as part of the VINTAGE RADIO program on Radio Today 1485AM. Special thanks and congratulations from The Pumamouse to all of those involved in this historic event! |
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| VINTAGE RADIO PRODUCTION: “ROOM 13” After the successes of the previous Vintage Radio plays, a good friend in the UK, Les Smith forwarded a script entitled “Room 13”, written by his mother, Dorothy Carter and adapted for radio by himself. Both Les & Dorothy need no introduction as both of them have been involved in radio drama previously. It was not to long ago that Dorothy’s play “Samson & Delilah” was broadcast on Vintage Radio and received wonderful response from our listeners. I read the outline and script and forwarded it to Henry Diffenthal, veteran Springbok Radio producer, responsible for several popular productions on the late Springbok Radio, including “High Adventure”, numerous “Lux Radio Theatre’s”, “Playhouse”, “Best Sellers” and “Springbok 930 Dossiers”. It was after he read it that he agreed to do this production and the wheels were set in motion. On 30 September 2003, the new production was recorded and the best possible radio actors and actresses were cast by Henry. Vera Clarke was cast as Lady Vivian Fernley, Margaret Logan (nee Milner-Smyth) played Rosalie, Margaret the star of numerous roles on Springbok Radio including playing the daughter of Patrick Carter in the very popular comedy “Father dear Father”. Durban based veteran radio actor, Tommy Reed played Julian Best, stepfather and guardian to Rosalie, while another veteran star John Simpson played the sinister Rupert Sykes Bailey. John Simpson the star of such productions like, “The Men from the Ministry”, “The Navy Lark” and countless serials and dramas on Springbok Radio. Peter Gardner was cast as William, Lady Fernley’s secretary, while Caroline Smart and Roger Service, two more veterans from the days of Springbok Radio were cast as the receptionist and as Trent respectively. Due to other obligations on Vintage Radio, this production was never aired during 2003 as what the intention was. We however are very pleased to present this play on Vintage Radio on Radio Today 1485AM on 26 February 2004. For listeners who are in the reception area of Radio Today, make a date with us and find out what happens around the mysterious disappearance of “Room 13”. My thanks to all the actors, actresses, writer and off course the producer, Henry Diffenthal who made this production possible. Again more proof that the art of making fine radio drama is still alive in South Africa. Frans Erasmus Johannesburg 31 January 2004 |