Radio theatre in Okmulgee

Some folks remember the old-time radio dramas, but not everyone. So an Okmulgee group is bringing them back. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Rick Wells stopped in at KOKL Radio in Okmulgee Friday for a

Friday, October 7th 2005, 9:53 am

By: News On 6

Some folks remember the old-time radio dramas, but not everyone. So an Okmulgee group is bringing them back.

News on 6 reporter Rick Wells stopped in at KOKL Radio in Okmulgee Friday for a rehearsal.

Jeff Schuman: "KOKL Radio proudly presents nothing better to do in this berg on Saturday Night Theater." Jeff Schuman has created the

Okmulgee community theater group's production of "The Case of the Flat Hard Biscuit." Jeff Schuman: â€œBack last fall it was suggested by one of our members that we do some radio plays some old 1930's type radio plays."

Back before TV, families would gather round the radio and listen to the Lone Ranger and Gunsmoke and dozens of other favorites on the radio. "They stared at that box and their imaginations took them all kids of places." In this case, imagine Ragweed, Oklahoma. A meat inspector has been killed and a load of mad cow diseased beef has been stolen. Fridayâ€™s rehearsal was for episode number 2.

Scott Martin is the sound effects guy for this production and he's had to invent many of his own. "I had to create backgrounds for every scene, for instance if you're in an auto shop you'll hear machines in the background." He figures there'll be about four hours of editing involved in the each of the 15 minute segments.

Each episode will include a fake commercial for some made up product. This entire project is an effort to interest people in the community theater group and who knows they may have created something people will want more of. Jeff Schuman: â€œWe figure we'll gauge our success by how many people call the station for products that don't really exist and they probably will.â€

â€˜The Case of the Hard Flat Biscuitâ€™ will air in four parts, each Saturday morning in October. Part 1 is Saturday at 8 AM on KOKL Radio, 1240 on the AM dial.