Golden Age Of Radio Live In Larchmont With An 'Ozzie & Harriet Easter'

LARCHMONT, NY — Not many of us were around to experience the magic of live radio dramas, but a one-of-a-kind performance in town offered a chance to feel what it was like.

On Saturday, civic groups and performers came together to present an afternoon of audio theater at the Larchmont Village Center. The event had the dual purpose of providing a history of audio theater with a live production and demonstrating opportunities for the blind to be participants in its creation.

The event included a live re-creation from the Sandbox Theatre of the 1949 "Ozzie & Harriet Easter" radio episode, and the playing of a recording of a new audio drama "Burning Gotham."

The program was introduced by Larchmont Mamaroneck Lion Phil Oldham. The Ozzie & Harriet episode recreation was performed by the Sandbox Theatre, led by Jason Summers.

James Scully of the Podcast Academy, presented a recording of the first episode of his original audio drama, "Burning Gotham," a fictional depiction of the great New York fire of the mid-1840s. He also spoke on the current growth of audio theater via audio books, podcasts and live productions.

Connecting via ZOOM from Los Angeles, Walden Hughes, a blind member of SPERDVAC (the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy), talked about the opportunities for the blind in audio theater.`

The live audience included blind patrons from The Westchester Council of the Blind, and New York’s VISIONS, which supports the blind, including sponsoring a Summer Camp for the blind and their families in Rockland County, which is supported by Lions Clubs.

The event was hosted by the Larchmont Library, with Paul Doherty presenting the audio materials and resources they provide for the blind & vision impaired, including a new audio reading machine, which the Lions are supporting with earphones.

The event was recorded by LMC Volunteer, Nate Greven, and will be available on LMC and via SPERDVAC’s website.

The Larchmont Mamaroneck Lions, which is celebrating their Centennial in 2023, focus on supporting existing non-profit and community service groups by bringing community service leaders together to determine needs, solutions and resources. The LM Lions are part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service organization of nearly 1.5 million members. The Lions signature cause is Vision/Blindness, along with Hunger, the Environment, Diabetes, Childhood Cancer and the future of our Youth. They are signatories of the United Nations resolutions on women’s and refugee rights, and are currently active in Afghanistan & Ukrainian refugee resettlement. In addition, housing is a local Lions priority.