Saturday, February 16, 2013

CLASSIC PULP GOODNESS FOR YOUR EYES AND EARS FROM RADIO ARCHIVES!

RadioArchives.com Newsletter

 
February 15, 2013

You can help Radio Archives - Reviews
 
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“I’m The Comic Weekly Man, the jolly Comic Weekly Man and I’m here to read the funnies to you happy boys and honeys.”

This memorable theme song welcomed its audience to one of the most unique programs of the era of Classic Radio. The concept was simple. The Comic Weekly Man sang his song, then picked up the newspaper, flipped right to the comic strips, and read them aloud to millions of listeners, replete with different voices, music, and sound effects.
 
Airing on Mutual beginning in 1947, The Comic Weekly Man combined two pastimes important to American families, Radio and Comic strips. Reading from Puck: The Comic Weekly found in the papers owned by William Randolph Hearst, The Comic Weekly Man brought comic strip favorites – from Flash Gordon to Beetle Bailey, from Prince Valiant to Snuffy Smith - to life in a way most strips had never been heard.
 
One amazing aspect of this program is just how many voices were heard each week. The Comic Weekly Man, voiced by veteran radio actor Lon Clark, voiced all the male parts while Little Miss Honey, a young girl, assisted with the female roles. A whole cast of comic strip heroes and villains performed by two actors.
 
Fully restored, the sparkling audio quality of this collection features 12 episodes of comic strips turned radio adventures. Listen as the comic strips of your childhood joke, fight, and tickle their way to your ears with the The Comic Weekly Man. 6 hours $17.98 Audio CDs / $8.99 Download.
 
 
 
 
Listen to Lon Clark discussing The Comic Weekly Man from a 19944 FOTR panel discussion.
 
 
Read by Roy Worley. Liner Notes by Will Murray
 
 

One of the most successful pulp magazines ever envisioned was Ranch Romances. Combining Wild West settings with the eternal struggle to snag a mate, it ran from the 1920s clear to the ‘70s. Naturally, other publishers jumped on the wagon train. Popular Publications did so in 1935 with Rangeland Romances. First editor Rogers Terrill described his approach this way:
 
“Over a year ago we started a new magazine with a new idea. We started a romance magazine in which the hero and heroine fight side by side, live an adventurous life together, experience hope and despair, defeat and success, and finally love together. We brought out a magazine that was true to life; that was about characters who really could have lived and done those things that the author writes about.”
 
In other words, Rangeland Romances wasn’t just another Cinderella love pulp. The formula—which succeeding editors tinkered with from time to time—worked like a charm. Rangeland Romances ran for a generation.
 
For our first Rangeland Romances audiobook, we’ve chosen to record the August, 1948 issue in its entirety. All seven stories. It’s a hoot.
 
Described as a novel of “Border Romance,” Marian O’Hearn’s “Fiesta Kisses are Sweetest” leads off the collection. It’s followed by a brace of fun frontier novelettes, Art Lawson’s “Cupid Rules the Roost” and Isabel Stewart Way’s “No Sirens Wanted.” Four sizzling short stories follow. “Salty but Susceptible,” “Petticoat-Corralin’ Hombre,” “I’m Claiming That Guy!” and “Gambling Gal.”
 
These are sweet yet salty stories of determined cowgirls navigating the complicated courtship rituals of ranches ranging from the Dakotas to the Southwest. Pistol-packin’ Doris Day in Annie Get Your Gun! gives you a good idea of the flavor of the festivities. High Noon, this ain’t!
 
Read by Roy Worley. Gary Cooper, he ain’t either. 6 hours $23.98 Audio CDs / $11.99 Download.
 
 
 
New Will Murray's Pulp Classics eBooks
 
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 eReader! Presenting Pulp Icons such as the Spider and Operator #5 as well as wonderfully obscure characters like the Octopus and Captain Satan. Will Murray's Pulp Classics brings you the best of yesterday's Pulp today!
 
Never more was the Spider to stalk the Underworld — so Richard Wentworth decreed when he retired to the quiet countryside to nurse his beloved Nita back to health. Yet into the very heart of that peaceful sanctuary swept such a bloody tidal wave that even Wentworth had never seen its like! From New York's foul sewers had crept Crime's mad dogs, turned loose to transform the whole country into a racket-ridden ruin! In that moment of ordeal, himself hunted by crook and law officer alike, Richard Wentworth knew that the Spider must rise again — to wage bitter warfare against a lawless legion that threatened to make ever America into an Empire of Terror! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine. $2.99.
 
From the quaking earth, itself, roared the devilish decree that threatened to demolish New York — "Your souls are mine! When I speak you will obey!" For a satanic dictator, loosing the hordes of hell, had turned America's greatest city into an Underworld Kingdom of Crime, and untold helpless thousands died, strangling, when the Emperor of Hades scattered his scarlet, slaying devil-dust! Reeking of sulphur and brimstone, it floated over Manhattan like a sinister death-cloud, and but one man — Richard Wentworth, with the Spider's weird weapons — could hope to wage battle against that Mephistophelean murderer who had set a metropolis aflame with one blasting, furnace-like breath and turned loose the kill-maddened legions of the damned! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine. As a special bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction especially for this series of eBooks. $2.99.
 
America, last citadel of freedom and democracy in the world, has made a valiant but futile stand against the ravening war hordes of the cruel conqueror, Rudolph I, the man whose super fighting machine is ruthlessly putting the nations of civilized man in thrall. Daily mass executions of men and women — even children — on the Eastern seaboard, are but one of the diabolical means of bringing the surviving patriots to heel. But there is one band that will never yield, who grimly say: “Death before dishonor!” Their leader, Jimmy Christopher, known to them as Operator 5, realizes that only one bold, desperate move can furnish his fellow Americans with the thundering fleet of air destroyers with which alone they can hope to save their country. Grimly, quickly, silently, he sets his plan in action! Total Pulp Experience. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine. As a special bonus, Will Murray has written an introduction especially for this series of eBooks. $2.99.
 
In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Terror Tales magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a collection of stories from the pages of Terror Tales magazine by Hugh B. Cave, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $2.99.
 
Murder, swift and unseen — taking as its toll the most prominent citizens of New York, and marking with blood and horror, the trail of the mysterious Black Lotus. What was the purpose of this silent scourge, that stilled the innocent in sudden death? Val Kildare knew this much at least; that the fiend behind this slaughter killed not for vengeance, but for pleasure! Wu Fang is a Chinese criminal mastermind and scientific genius. With his hybrid monkey-men, he plans to conquer America. He is member of various secret societies and has spies everywhere. Opposing him is Val Kildare of the F.B.I.  His aides, reporter Jerry Hazard, archaeologist Rod Carson and newsboy Cappy, help him in his battles against the sinister man of evil known as Wu Fang. $2.99.
 
 
99 cent eBook Singles
Each 99 cent eBook Single contains a single short story, one of the many amazing tales selected from the pages of Terror Tales and Rangeland Romances. These short stories are not included in any of our other eBooks.
 
How could Clay Cavanaugh protect his sweetheart from a man with Satan’s gifts? In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Terror Tales magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a classic story from the pages of Terror Tales magazine, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $0.99.
 
 
Lovely Tess knew that big ranches weren’t built on promises and moonlight kisses. She wanted her future safe-guarded against the ravages of wild range life — and she poured her whole heart into that kiss she gave Dusty, a kiss meaning... good-by! One of the most popular settings for romance stories was the old west, where men were men and women were women. As many a swooning damsel could attest, "There's something about a cowboy." The western romance became one of the most popular types of magazines sold during the early and mid-twentieth century. $0.99.
 
All eBooks produced by Radio Archives are available in ePub, Mobi, and PDF formats for the ultimate in compatibility. When you upgrade to a new eReader, you can transfer your eBook to your new device without the need to purchase anything new.
 
Find these legendary Pulp tales and more in Will Murray's Pulp Classics, now available in the Kindle storeBarnes and Noble Nook store, and RadioArchives.com! Search for RadioArchives.com in iTunes where over 200 eBooks are available.
 
Receive an exciting original Spider adventure FREE! Part of the Will Murray Pulp Classics line, The Spider #11, Prince of the Red Looters first saw print in 1934 and features his momentous battle with The Fly and his armies of crazed criminal killers.
 
For those who have been unsure about digging into the wonderful world of pulps, this is a perfect chance to give one of these fantastic yarns a real test run. With a full introduction to the Spider written by famed pulp historian and author Will Murray, The Spider #11 was written by one of pulp's most respected authors, Norvell W. Page. Writing as Grant Stockbridge, Page's stories included some of the most bizarre and fun takes on heroes and crime fighting in the history of escapist fiction.
 
Even today Page's scenarios and his edge-of-the-seat writing style are still thrilling both new and old fans everywhere. For those who have never read one of these rollercoaster adventures, you are in for a thrill. If you already know how much fun a classic pulp is, make sure you get a copy of this classic.
 
See what the Total Pulp Experience is for yourself. These exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading as an eBook and features every story, every editorial, and every column of the original pulp magazine.
 
Send an eMail to eBooks@RadioArchives.com and start reading your FREE copy of  the Spider #11 within seconds! Experience The Best Pulps the Past has to offer in the most modern way possible!
 
 
The legendary Master of Men returns in two classic stories from the 1930s. Hidden in the heart of New York's Chinatown, the Emperor of Vermin unleashes all manner of foul creatures to spread disease and death. The Spider wages a seemingly hopeless battle to protect mankind from the menace of a monster who personifies evil incarnate in "Dragon Lord of the Underworld" (1935). Then, in "Satan's Switchboard" (1937), no citizen, no corporation is safe from the dread schemes of The Silencer. No secret thought, no hidden act escapes his notice - and those he calls upon are found dead by their own hand, their faces horribly obliterated. Only The Spider dares defy this maniac, as he strikes back to end this terrible menace to society. These two exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading and feature both of the original full color covers as well as interior illustrations that accompany each story. $14.95. On sale for $12.95, save $2.00
 
The Master of Darkness battles global crime conspiracies in two classic pulp novels by Walter B. Gibson writing as "Maxwell Grant." Following the departure of Commissioner Weston, The Shadow attempts to prevent a Wall Street crisis brought on by "The Garaucan Swindle," in the pulp classic that introduced Police Commissioner Wainwright Barth. Then, The Shadow must find a way to stop the secret gas that causes "The Death Sleep" to prevent a criminal plot to crack the United States Mint and the Bank of London. This instant collector's item reprints both classic pulp covers by George Rozen plus the original interior illustrations of Tom Lovell, with historical commentary by Will Murray. $14.95.
 
The pulp era's legendary superman returns in two action-packed novels by Alan Hathway and Lester Dent writing as "Kenneth Robeson." First, the Man of Bronze confronts the deadly menace of The Headless Men, decapitated zombies commanded by a mad genius in the landmark 100th Doc Savage novel. Then, in his first solo adventure, a disguised Doc Savage travels to King Joe Cay to infiltrate a gang of schemers. This double-novel collector's edition features the original color pulp covers by Emery Clarke and Modest Stein, Paul Orban's classic interior illustrations and historical commentary by Will Murray, writer of ten Doc Savage novels. $14.95.

Robert E. Howard
This is an authentic replica of an original pulp magazine published by Girasol Collectables. This edition is designed to give the reader an authentic taste of what a typical pulp magazine was like when it was first issued - but without the frailty or expense of trying to find a decades-old collectable to enjoy. The outer covers, the interior pages, and the advertisements are reprinted just as they appeared in the original magazine, left intact to give the reader the true feel of the original as well as an appreciation for the way in which these publications were first offered to their avid readers. To further enhance the “pulp experience”, this edition is printed on off-white bond paper intended to simulate the original look while, at the same time, assuring that this edition will last far longer than the original upon which it is based. The overall construction and appearance of this reprint is designed to be as faithful to the original magazine as is reasonably possible, given the unavoidable changes in production methods and materials. $25.00
 
 
 
The shattering sequel to Fortress of Solitude.
 
The Doc Savage exploit that went untold for 74 years—Death’s Dark Domain!
 
In the aftermath of the evil John Sunlight’s pillaging of the secret Fortress of Solitude, a dreadful super-weapon has fallen the hands of a Balkan dictator intent upon seizing control of the vampire-haunted zone of desolation known as Ultra-Stygia. War is imminent. Monsters are loose in the disputed region. A strange darkness falls over the sinister landscape. Only Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze, understands the terrible threat to humanity. And only he can prevent the terror from spreading…
 
There are unknown Things prowling the darkest patch of land on the planet. Haunted by creatures that might have emerged from the Hell’s lowest regions, ancient Ultra-Stygia has turned into a cauldron of conflict between rival countries. Monster bats careen through the night sky. Invisible Cyclopes patrol the scorched battleground. And a power beyond understanding robs men of their vision.
 
Can the 20th century’s premier scientist and superman untangle this Gordian knot of carnage before neighboring nations are drawn into an apocalyptic new world war? Or will the Man of Bronze succumb to an unstoppable power he himself has unleashed upon mankind?
 
From the frozen Arctic to the war-torn Balkans, Doc Savage and his fighting five follow a winding trail of terror to a blood-freezing climax.
 
Death's Dark Domain features a fantastic cover painted by Joe DeVito! $24.95.
 

Back in print after 20 years! The rare Lester Dent-Will Murray collaboration resurrecting the original pulp superman...
 
Also available is the first Altus Press edition of Will Murray’s 1993 Doc Savage adventure, The Forgotten Realm. Deep in the heart of the African Congo lies a secret unsuspected for thousands of years. Doc Savage and his men embark on a quest to discover the secret of the strange individual known only as X Man, X for unknown. Before they come to the end of the trail, they find themselves fighting for their lives like gladiators of old!
 
No one knows who—or what—the strange being who calls himself “X Man” truly is. He was found wandering the ruins of a crumbling Roman fort, dressed in a toga, speaking classical Latin—and clutching a handful of unearthly black seeds.
 
Declared insane, the X Man patiently tends his weird plants until the day, impelled by a nameless terror, he flees Wyndmoor Asylum to unleash a cyclone of violence that is destined to suck the mighty Man of Bronze into the blackest, most unbelievable mystery of his entire career. For far from Scotland lies a domain of death unknown to the world and called by the ancient Latin name of Novum Eboracum—New York!
 
From the wild Scottish moors to the unexplored heart of darkest Africa, Doc Savage and his indomitable men embarked upon a desperate quest for the Forgotten Realm….
 
The Forgotten Realm features a spectacular cover painted by Joe DeVito! $24.95.
 

By John Olsen
 
Crime, Insured pits The Shadow against a new racket that has sprung up in Manhattan: crime insurance. Crime has gone ultra-modern. Bigshots have discarded old-fashioned methods and are now insuring their crimes against failure. But can they insure against intervention by that master of the night, The Shadow?

It all starts with Wally Drillick, a smooth operator who spends his leisure hours in smart night clubs and high-priced taprooms. He’s been hired by Duke Unrig, a big-time crime boss, to pilfer the Melrue jewels. But The Shadow is on the job, guarding the jewels.

What we know, although The Shadow hasn’t learned yet, is that Duke Unrig insured his crime. If the robbery is thwarted, he receives payment from a mysterious insurance company. Also, while all this has been going on, a mysterious figure has been watching. This mysterious figure has identified three of The Shadow’s secret agents. Yes, one by one, the agents of The Shadow are being revealed to a thin, stooped figure who hides in the shadows. And finally, Lamont Cranston is revealed as The Shadow. Even the location of The Shadow’s sanctum is discovered!

The mastermind behind Crime, Insured now knows The Shadow’s agents, The Shadow’s sanctum and The Shadow’s disguise. And that means it’s time to attack. Attack the one man who stands to thwart crime, and cause Crime, Insured to pay out on its insurance policies. Without The Shadow, the company fortunes will soar.

Nearly all of The Shadow’s agents appear in this story. Criminologist Slade Farrow shows up along with his assistant Tapper, whose expertise at picking a lock is second only to The Shadow. Giant African Jericho Druke is another reserve agent who appears. Doctor Rupert Sayre joins in to assist with some radio direction finding tasks.

The New York Police is represented by Commissioner Ralph Weston and ace inspector Joe Cardona. Both get small parts, but don’t get to do much. Still, it’s nice to see them included here.

Finally, as I read this story, it occurred to me that there is another of The Shadow’s agents that we always seem to forget. He’s that unnamed announcer at radio station WNX who reads The Shadow’s coded messages over the air, and emphasizes certain words to indicate the secret message. Who is he? What’s his name? We are never told. But I would like to know more about this unsung agent.

This story is one of the pivotal ones in the saga of The Shadow. Only one other time, in the entire run of the magazine stories, was The Shadow’s sanctum invaded. Read as The Shadow battles the boldest and most amazing racket in the history of modern crime, and nearly loses his entire organization in the bargain. Get ‘Crime Insured’ and another classic Shadow novel in The Shadow Volume 1. Double Novel reprint $12.95

 
Comments From Our Customers!
 
Eugene Dungan writes:
I must say that I am really enjoying listening to all of your pulp fiction audiobooks. I now have 19 of your pulp fiction audiobooks and I have two more pulp fiction audiobooks on order right now.
 
Paul Gray from England writes:
Many thanks for the Mutual Radio Theatre vol.5  -- as per usual it is all great listening. I have just downloaded the CBS Radio Workshop that I suggested to you a few months ago - this is superb - perhaps this could be part of an ongoing series. Over the past few months I have downloaded quite a few sets and found them all very interesting. It is good to know that you are keeping the downloads at half the cd price - superb.  best wishes
 
Walter Brantner from Austria writes:
Free Spider eBook. Yes please!!! :-) best from Austria, a pulp fan
 
Bruce Toews writes:
The job Radio Archives does is incredible and such an amazing value for my money.
 
Ed Sigmund writes:
Please, please, please, make The Shadow available as an ebook for Kindle.
 
Andy Wood from England writes:
I received the WJSV set on Wednesday and have been listening to it! Absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much. This has long been a favourite of mine and I've had several versions of it - this is the best sound by far that I've ever heard. Lovely packaging too.
 
The music played during the early morning music program, and during the wonderful Sundial program with the hugely enjoyable Arthur Godfrey is fabulous. One in particular, at the very end of disc two I believe, is introduced by Arthur Godfrey as the new one from Artie Shaw. The record is "Day In, Day Out" by Artie Shaw featuring Helen Forrest on lead vocals. This was a very new recording at the time of the broadcast, having been waxed on August 27th, less than a month earlier. Thanks again, really appreciate the set. Keep doing what you're doing!
 
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.
 
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