Affairs of the Heart, Lonesome Gal

2021 Episode

11 February 2021

Re-Imagined Radio sampled from the 2019 live performance by actors from Metropolitan Performing Arts and other community volunteers recorded in Kiggins Theatre, Vancouver, WA. Broadcasts and streams by our local, regional, and international partners. Archival recordings available for on demand listening.

Listen

Optimized for radio broadcast.

Cast

Barbara Richardson as Lonesome Gal

"The Good Salesperson"
Rebekah Sharpe as Vivian Wilson
Arianna Dorenbosch as Sarah Wilson
Derek Nolan as Richard Marshall
Larry Taylor as Marriage Office Clerk

"The Valiant"
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

"Bloodthirsty Kate"
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 Barber as Lookouts

Credits

Live music by River Twain
Sound Design by John Barber
Post Production by Martin John Gallagher
Social Media by Regina Carol Social Media Management and Photography
Graphic Design by Holly Slocum Design
Curated, Produced, and Hosted by John F. Barber

Promotion

Eldredge, Olivia. The Re-Newal of Re-Imagined Radio. The VanCougar News Magazine, 1 February 2021.

2019 Episode

14 February 2019

Re-Imagined Radio presented a live performance by actors from Metropolitan Performing Arts and other community volunteers at Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Streamed live on KXRW-FM (Vancouver, Washington).

Listen

Recorded live performance.

Background

Lonesome Gal
Written, produced, and voiced by, Jean King, of Dayton, Ohio, Lonesome Gal was a very successful radio series from 1947-1950s. Identified only as "Lonesome Gal," King spoke to her primarily 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 2 March 1951 episode of Lonesome Gal.

The Good Salesperson
From Short Short Story, a popular radio series based on short, short stories featured in popular women's magazines during the 1930s. Each episode was short, fifteen minutes. This one was originally titled "The Good Salesman," and follows two lonely people who connect through a newspaper personal column and surprise themselves with the results.

Cast
John 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
From the romantic comedy series Romance, 1947-1960. During the mid-1950s, this series was written by people who worked on the adventure series Escape. Top radio stars of the day were featured. This episode speaks truth to the fact that sometimes there is real purpose to the unexplainable actions people undertake for love.

Cast
John 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

The Romance of Helen Trent
From The Romance of Helen Trent, 1933-1960. This twenty-seven-years-long 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. We sample the hardships and heartbreaks Trent, and we, endure for love.

Cast
John 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
From Romance (see above). Shows how love can toss us about, like ships on the ocean. When this happens, even pirates have trouble finding love.

Cast
John 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 Barber as Lookouts

Credits

John Barber as Announcer/Narrator
Barbara Richardson as Lonesome Gal
Live Music by River Twain