You won’t find the late Jerry Kaufherr’s name among the cast members of our presentations,

of course, but his example as a performer and supporter of his fellow unionists must be acknowledged. His generous bequest launched the KMRC - The Kaufherr Members Resource Center - a large comfortable space in the unions’ Chicago headquarters that provides AFTRA and SAG members with the tools (audio & video studios, computers, script and videotape library) and the teachers, to improve their professionalism. The AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players have used it as their rehearsal hall since its inception in 2001.

 

The Links:

All of the members of the AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players are members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and/or the Screen Actors Guild.

 

  
 
 

 
 

 

 

2012 Schedule

 

All shows will be performed at the Chicago Cultural Center in the Claudia Cassidy Theater and will start at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.). The Chicago Cultural Center is located at 77 E. Randolph (at Michigan Avenue) and the Claudia Cassidy Theater is on the 2nd Floor. The admission is free and reservations are not required, however seating is on a first come, first served basis.

 

 

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

 

Series: Lux Radio Theater

Program: My Man Godfrey (Originally broadcast May 9, 1938 on CBS Radio)
Director: Guy Barile

 

Seventy-four years after its initial broadcast, this radio adaptation, based on the movie of the same name, somehow holds up. Despite the deep economic depression the country was in, this is a funny depiction of those times. The story opens with a bizarre scavenger hunt. Teams made up of the very wealthy search for what they call "a forgotten man". The successful team discovers a seemingly hopeless alley dweller – Godfrey – who is cleaned up and given a job as a butler. Godfrey, as you may suspect, is no ordinary person, and his example teaches the upper class family some lessons about real life.

 

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

 

Series: Lux Radio Theater

Program: Dodsworth (Originally broadcast April 12, 1937 on CBS Radio)
Director: Parker Gronwold


Sam Dodsworth is a highly successful businessman who finally gives in to his wife Fran's urgings to sell his car manufacturing company and spend some time traveling overseas. In Europe, Fran holds off her dread of growing older by running around with several youngish guys. She finally convinces herself that old Sam is irrelevant in her entrancing, exciting European existence and asks him for a divorce. He resists – at first – but the best is yet to come as Sam makes some life-changing discoveries about Fran and himself.

 

 

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012 (Comedy Doubleheader)

 

Series: The Fabulous Dr. Tweedy

Program: The Bum (Originally broadcast June 30, 1946 on NBC Radio)
Director: Mercita DeMonk

 

Dr. Thaddeus Q. Tweedy, the mild mannered Professor of Philosophy at a small private college, befriends a homeless man (some call him a bum). When the man is charged with vagrancy and goes to trial, Dr. Tweedy pleads with the judge to be lenient. The result overwhelms the professor – an order from the bench that Tweedy is to be the man's full time guardian for the next 365 days. And that's where this gentle comedy generates the most fun.

 

Series: Easy Aces

Program: Jane Thinks Mink(Originally broadcast November 30, 1939 on NBC Radio)
Director: Herb Graham

 

You can almost see Mr. Ace's eyes crossing in perplexity as he struggles to understand his wife Jane, who is loving and caring, but is also a bit of a flake – well, all right, the whole flake. Take this moment in their relationship when Jane is going over her shopping list for the next day. She writtes: "tooth paste, soap, cleansing cream, mink coat, and lipstick". Mink coat? MINK COAT? And that's just the beginning of this hilarious half hour show.

 

Wednesday, October 10th, 2012 (Drama Doubleheader)

 

Series: Gunsmoke

Program: Shakespeare (Originally broadcast August 23, 1952 on CBS Radio)
Director: Connie Foster


US Marshall Matt Dillon and his sidekick Chester come upon a man almost completely done in by the intense heat and dust of the unfriendly Kansas plains. They revive him and take him into Dodge City. Dillon and Chester then search for the man's wagon. They find it blood-streaked and with a corpse in it. This episode of the celebrated radio series turns into an intriguing mystery – not exactly a whodunit, but a why and how it was done tale.

 

Series: The Whistler

Program: Night Melody (Originally broadcast February 9, 1947 on CBS Radio)
Director: Herb Lichtenstein


Honest, we're not spoiling your enjoyment of this menacing mystery by telling you upfront that the murderous husband does not get away with the terrible crime he's committed, but – trust us – we won't spill a word about how he's tracked down. On second thought, the only hint we'll offer is that the solution to this crime may be as clear as the nose on your face.

 

 

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

 

Series: Twist of the Dial 3

Program: Holiday Special
Collected and Directed by Parker Gronwold


A highly entertaining collage of seasonal radio: bits and pieces of comedy and dramatic programs that were especially written and produced for the holidays during radio's golden era. By the way, if you like old time radio commercials, Parker may even include a few of them – gift-wrapped, of course!

 

 

The AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players invite you to any or all of their re-creations.

The admission is free. Just be sure to bring your imagination.