Great Northern productions
The Wrong Side of the River
Jun/16/22 10:24
An Audiobook by Brian Price
Read by Robin Miles
"This is a dream," says the narrator, "so I just jump to the good parts." 'The Other Side of the River' is a poetic allegory that we will all recognize as the current state of affairs in our world. Told through a collection of original voices, with whom mysteries fold and unfold like colorful fans, as the the story compels us to wonder, and wonder again: has the North Pole really moved? What happens when the river breaks? What is on the other side of the river? And where will we be when we get there? The author of the Old Cart Wrangler never disappoints with his comic meditations on his own private America.
Robin Miles throws herself into the narration of this lyrical novella with enthusiastic flair. In the not too distant past or future, everyone waits in the Town With No Name to cross the river. Folks can't get over it, and they can't get around it, so they learn to live with it. Miles crafts an astonishing array of voices to portray the inhabitants of the mysterious town--from a gruff wilderness man to an innocent girl--as they describe how the river affects them. Each character remains distinct but blends into a cohesive ensemble. Listeners will be swept into a story that starts as chaos and in the end fits together into a strange but enthralling whole. N.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine – Audiofile Magazine – October 2021
The Wrong Side of the River is stunning, it’s really wonderful what you’ve done. I had no idea where it was going. And Robin was so good, my god, she breathed it, she lived it. A fine piece of writing too. Hats off to you. –– Tom Lopez, ZBS Foundation
Wrong Side of the River Sample
Published by Blackstone Publishing.
Also available at Audible.
Cart Wrangler Rides Again
Dec/16/20 15:47
Loose Monologues in a Book
Brian Price has been writing these stories and monologues for a long time, and he’s finally gotten them published in the form they need to be in – where you can read them yourself.
WE’VE ALL SEEN THAT LONE SHOPPING CART sitting on the edge of a parking lot. Who goes and gets it and brings it home? Why are the mouths of catsup bottles so narrow? What will the new silence sound like? Droll, slightly dystopian, and delightfully wobbly, this collection of comic prose poems and short fiction by audio drama producer and playwright, Brian Price, is a fine introduction to his unique world of magic realism, stage monologue, and childhood memories. Perfect for public performance, private soliloquies, or just reading with your mouth full during lunch.
All the spoken word pieces from Great Northern’s Loose Wheels and Narrow Necks collection, the entire Cart Wrangler’s Saga, plus short tales and remembrances. (Table of Contents)
Available directly from the publisher, Lulu. 172 pages, $16.99 in paperback.
Don’t You Get It
Jerry made up this little audio piece for a KFAI Pledge Drive Sound Affects Show back in October. Just the sort of thing that speaks to the cultural times, and had to be created entirely one voice at a time because of those times. It’s a call to action. It’s the many voices that need to be heard. It’s a poem with a question. Don’t You Get It?
The Long and Short Of It
Apr/07/20 13:31
So Many Little Things…
The world has changed – a lot. Jerry has taken to pre-recording his Sound Affects: A Radio Playground shows for Sunday night broadcast. This gives him a chance to do some more adventurous things that can’t really be done live. He also gets in a little production practice, which is always a good thing. As for The Great Northern Audio Theatre, some of the larger projects that we have been working on have been put on hold, or shifted into slow motion for a while. We don’t know how long that might be. We have a number of related audio projects that we can do, and have been doing. So let us tell you about those.
Last Tuesday Podcast
Norman Corwin Award winner Marjorie Van Halteren produces the Last Tuesday Sound Art Podcast from her home in France. Silence Is Coming is an episode she and Brian Price created at a distance back in January of last year.
Safe Karaoke
Last July we wrote a piece for Tim Wick’s Big Fun Radio Funtime cast to perform at Convergence 2019. Brian and Jerry had this idea about when automation comes too close to entertainment, in this case Karaoke. Here is Practicing Safe Karaoke. And there is more free comic audio from Big Fun Radio Funtime, and other people we have worked with on our SideTracks page.
Earlid
Brian and his daughter, Eleanor have joined some very nice company with Earlid . They decided to try a different way to talk about the environment and climate change — get personal and get surreal. Eleanor plays the music on the piece, as well as performing some of the vocals. Earlid is “an online gallery of evolving exhibits of sound art”. Here is Vanishing.
Archives
Jerry was digging back into various archives and came up with a short poem scribed for a fanzine long ago. He had David Ossman read it for him, and then added some sounds to fill it out. It’s about the consequences of noise pollution. Please tune your ears to Listen! I Can’t Hear It Still, but don’t play it too loudly.
Bent Sunshine
Free Sound Effects
The entire catalog of sound effects in the BBC Sound Effects Library has now been posted online, in WAV format, for personal use. It has a very limited searchability, so you have to slog through them click by click; and there’s a LOT there, over 16,000 sounds. Remember, they are for personal or educational use only, you still have to license them for commercial productions.
Matthew Fecher, at AudioKit Pro has released a FREE set (over 800 loops) of Keyboard samples, recorded many years ago on Casio and Yamaha keyboards. Compared to today’s synthesizers and computer loops, they are just toys. But the vintage sound is fun and can be creatively useful. And they are Free to get and Royalty Free to use. So download the 490 MB zipped collection and see what you can do with them.
A Radio Playground - Live Audio Theater
May/01/19 16:16
Live at the Hook and Ladder Theater
Presenting a program of Live Radio Drama and Comedy in a Benefit show for KFAI Radio (90.3 FM, and KFAI.org).
Sunday, May 19, at 1:00 PM at the Hook and Ladder Theater, 3010 Minnehaha in Minneapolis.
KFAI Community Radio is practically the only station in the Twin Cities that still supports Modern Audio Theater. So come out to see one of the few presentations of the ancient and new arts of Radio Drama, and support your favorite local radio station.
Local comic and Ukelele instructor, Dean Johnson, will act as the Master of Ceremonies and guide us through the many places that audio can take you that television and movies cannot.
First off is The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society, who re-stages the great horror and suspense shows from the golden age of radio, including tales from Suspense, Lights Out, The Witch’s Tale, The Shadow, and more. Each episode is performed live on stage with actors playing multiple roles and producing all of the sound effects. We also produce the The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society podcast!
Then Fearless Comedy presents BIG FUN RADIO FUNTIME!, where Artistic Director, Tim Wick, brings in gloriously original sketches written with your mind in mind.
And we’ll finish it off with a set of short plays from the Award-winning Great Northern Audio Theatre, taking you on ordinary and fantastic journeys to places you didn’t know you wanted to go. Including A Day at the Library, and Tell Them NAPA Sent You.
Suggested donation - $10.
Cart Wrangler Up For Audie
Feb/05/19 14:10
The Old Cart Wrangler Audie Nomination
February 4 brought us the news that The Old Cart Wrangler’s Saga is a finalist for the 2019 Audie Awards
Tom Lopez, at ZBS, says —
Takes a lot to impress me, but you did it. I can’t think of anyone better than David Ossman to perform this piece. … It is really really good. Like perfect. And in front of a live audience. Oh yeah, and Dwight’s backing was so nice to hear, very fine indeed. … I have to admit, it’s rare I listen to a piece all the way to the end, but you nailed me in the first minute … maybe seconds.
The sublime jazz backing band was Rev. Dwight Frizzell on woodwinds, Julia Thro on guitar, and Patrick Conway on percussion. Subtle sound effects were from Tony Brewer.
(The announcement gala was in early March, and we didn’t win.)
This photo of the performance was taken by Phil Proctor, also of the Firesign Theatre. The disc or download is available from Blackstone Audio’s Downpour site. It includes a half-hour conversation between author Brian Price and David Ossman, talking about the work, the performance, and the Cart Wrangler character.
What We Did On Our Summer Vacation
I mean, besides going to The Brick while in Kansas City, we attended the HEAR Now Festival of Audio Fiction. There we had the delight to present the annual Mark Time Awards, and as the opening to that we staged one of our own audio plays, Dialogue With Martian Trombone. The all-star cast included David Ossman, Phil Proctor, Melinda Peterson, Orson Ossman, Richard Fish, and Donna Postel. You can hear that here.
Convergence 20
In July I went to the 20th Anniversary Convergence science fiction convention in Minneapolis. There I was able to help out with the Big Fun Radio Funtime performance by Fearless Comedy Productions. They were kind enough to invite me to do sound effects for the show, which I was happy to do. They also let us write a sketch for them, so we offered up The Awk Awk Incident, about the dangers of telling the Bird Watchers you’ve seen something rare around your own place. Our thanks to Tim Wick, artistic director at Fearless Comedy, for the opportunity.
The Old Cart Wrangler's Saga
Jun/02/18 13:00
World Premiere Performance by David Ossman
June 6 in Kansas City, MO
Chuck McCann Dies
May/15/18 10:34
Featured in “Villains On Parade”
We were very sad to hear that Mr. McCann passed away on April 8, 2018. We knew of his friendship with Stan Laurel, and that he was one of the few actors who had ever even tried to mimic both Laurel and Hardy. So we went for that in the radio show script. In the performance everybody was hitting on all cylinders, Chuck and Wally were milking every joke for all it was worth. It’s fun to watch the pros work.
In the photo on the right it’s director Brian Price being mauled by Mr. McCann, musician Eleanor Price in front, Wally Wingert, and Jerry Stearns, producer. Listen to all of Villains On Parade here. It’s about 32 minutes long. Listen especially for the “Lost film commentary” by the orcs from ‘Lord of the Rings’. It’s all about the villains, you see.
Loose Wheels and Narrow Necks
Dec/27/17 15:29
New Great Northern release at Blackstone Audio
“Great short stories by one of my favorite writers!” – David Ossman.
Written by Brian Price, except for the one that was written by Brian Price and Jerry Stearns. Performed by David Ossman, except for the one performed by Richard Fish and the one performed by Eleanor Price, and the ones performed by the whole cast.
Available at the Blackstone Audio Downpour website. Some are posted here on our Mark Time Radio History page.
Track List (performed by David Ossman unless otherwise noted):
''Closed Mouths and Narrow Necks''
The Yellow House - West Plains, MO, May 29, 2002
At the NATF Audio Theater Workshop
Bass: Thom Hoglen, Sax: Eric Elder
''Cart 437'' (or ''The Long Way Around'')
CONvergence 2006 - July 7, 2006
''The Collapse of the 20th Century Was So Gradual''
Minicon 32 - March 28, 1997
Piano: David Emerson
''Clones Day Parade''
CONvergence 2001 - July 6, 2001
Piano: Mike Wheaton
''Unrelated Cliffhanger Theater''
CONvergence 2006 - July 7, 2006
With Windy Bowlsby, Tim Wick, Charlie Meitzner, Preston Ossman, Eleanor Price, and David Ossman
''Your Mileage May Vary''
CONvergence 2002 - July 5, 2002
With Richard Fish
Music by Eleanor Price
''A Cure for Science''
CONvergence 2004 - July 2, 2004
Trombone: Jim ten Bensel
''The Tiniest Souls''
CONvergence 2007 - July 6, 2007
''Under the Broken Tree Bridge''
CONvergence 2008 - July 3, 2008
With Eleanor Price
Piano: Keith Spears
''Cart 437: Part Two''
Hear Now Festival - Kansas City, MO, June 9, 2016
''You Can't Handle the Truth''
CONvergence 2007 - July 6, 2007
With Wally Wingert, Windy Bowlsby, Tim Wick, Preston Ossman, Eleanor Price, and David Ossman
_________________
And since you’ve read this far, it turns out there IS a conclusion to the Cart 437 Trilogy. Coming soon to a website near you.
HEARNow Festival Report
Jun/29/17 13:49
HEARNow Festival was a Good Time
Brian Price and Jerry Stearns had a good time at the 2017 HEARNow Festival of Audio Fiction in Kansas City, MO. I thought I’d tell you a bit about what we did, and hope it inspires you to attend sometime. Remember, this is only some of the events that we were connected with; there was a LOT more going on than this. You can check their online schedule to see more.
First of all, this was my first chance to actually see the Audie Award we won for Best Audio Drama from the Audio Publishers’ Association, for In The Embers. Brian says the New York TSA took him out of line at the airport because of this oddly shaped and unscanable item in his pack. They opened it up, said “Congratulations”, and sent him on his way.
Thursday
In the evening we did a Best of Audio Fiction presentation, joined by Robin Miles, about our award-winning piece, In The Embers. We got to talk about how it came to be, and about some of the technology that enabled us to put it all together even though few of us live in the same section of the country. We shared the hour with Russell McGee, who is a sound designer for Big Finish’s Dr. Who audio series. He came with a computer presentation, way better prepared than we were. We were able to spend some time with Russell and his wife during the Festival, too.
Friday
Brian went to help out with the Workshop 101 team, teaching about the writing and production of audio theater. Follow the link to hear some of the short works that they completed during the Festival.
Jerry attended a playback session at a local theater - where it is great to be able to hear productions on a BIG excellent sound system and in a room designed for listening. I chose to attend a session presented by two other people who put audio theater actually on the radio. Hosting were Catherine Rinella of Midnight Audio Theater at WCBE in Columbus, Ohio, and Christy Duntan of KZMU community radio in Moab, Utah, who brought us Downtown Abbey. Both shows really fun to hear.
Next Brian and I both hosted a session in the theater called Simon Jones, A Retrospective. He is the original and genuine Arthur Dent of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, accept no substitutes. Technical difficulties threatened to make it a difficult session, but Simon’s good humor made it into a hilarious hour of stories from his illustrious career on stage and in radio, TV, films, and audiobooks.
Friday evening we were able to slip away for dinner at Arthur Bryant’s barbecue restaurant with Simon Jones and his wife, Nancy, Russell McGee and his wife, Elizabeth, and Rich Fish, Tony Brewer and Butch D’Ambrosio.
Saturday
In the afternoon Brian and I were pleased to moderate a session for the Podcast Palooza presenters attending the Festival. This has been an important event for us because it gets all these producers from around the country in the same place to talk and listen to each other about what they are doing, and ways they might be able to do it better. It was well attended, and everybody had something to say, and an attentive audience.
Sunday
This morning is the closing brunch and awards event for the Festival. One of the things that happened here was the presentation of the annual Mark Time Awards. Organizers David Ossman and Judith Walcutt called in via Skype to announce the winners, who were chosen this year from Firesign Theatre’s biggest supporters over the years. Brian and I were asked to read the acceptance speeches from the winners, but Brian had a better idea, and we were able to get Simon Jones to read them – which was WAY better than having us do it. David commented that he’d like Simon to read all their credits in the future.
And the final Big Deal at this ceremony was the presentation of the Norman Corwin Award. Brian and I are greatly honored to have received this award, and especially in conjunction with the Corwin Legacy Award given to Stan Freberg, one of our heroes of audio comedy.
Thank you
We’d like to thank Sue Zizza for being a gracious host to the Festival and to us. Thanks also to David Shinn for technical wizardry at a variety of incompatible venues. And to the NATF committee who somehow thought we were deserving of an award for sticking with something we loved for many years, and having opinions about it.
In The Embers wins Audie!
Jun/03/17 10:24
In The Embers takes the Best Audio Drama Audie Award
June !st the Audio Publishers Association announced the winners in their annual Audie Awards in New York City. We are pleased to say that In The Embers took the prize in the Audio Drama category.
Photo:
Brian Price, Paula Poundstone, Robin Miles. > >
We’d like to thank the Academy, the Foreign Press Association, our long-suffering families, Tom Lopez, the excellent cast, CONVergence, and librarians all across the country for this great honor. We are pleased to be recognized for something that we loved doing.
Stearns and Price honored with Norman Corwin Award
The founders and moving spirits behind the Great Northern Audio Theatre have been chosen to receive the 2017 Norman Corwin Award for Excellence in Audio Theatre. Based in the Midwest, Great Northern Audio Theatre creates its own unique brand of lighthearted, whimsical, and comic original stories that evoke the inventiveness of Firesign Theatre and the sophistication of golden-age radio producer, Norman Corwin. Working with Minnesota's premier Sci-Fi convention, Minicon (later moved to CONvergence), Jerry and Brian created live shows each year to the delight of con-goers, embracing – and extending, and often satirizing – the Science Fiction genre. Their motto says it all:
“Ours is not to create the machines of the future.
Ours is to make fun of them when they break down.”
They have also created many excellent studio productions, and their work is not always comic. It can be pointed, ingenious, and dramatic, crossing genres and offering new viewpoints on modern life. To give just a few examples, Tumbleweed Roundup turned a Western story on its head with a wild cowboys-and-aliens encounter; Drummer's Dome explored generational realities and perceptions; Solid State University took a look at education as it was, is, and might become (winning the Golden Reel Award from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters); Dialog With Martian Trombone ingeniously revealed the real extra-terrestrial invasion that was covered up by Orson Welles' famous broadcast; and In The Embers – a truly classic original story of music, memory, and time and was mastered at the legendary ZBS studios – has won an Audie Award for Best Audio Drama. .
The Norman Corwin Award for Excellence in Audio Theatre, given annually by The National Audio Theatre Festivals (NATF), is the premier American recognition of lifetime achievement, regardless of media, in the field of audio theatre. It was instituted May 3, 2010, on Norman Corwin's 100th birthday. The first Award was given to Mr. Corwin himself, who is considered the Grand Master of American radio theatre.
In The Embers is Audie Finalist
Feb/09/17 16:37
In The Embers is an Audie Award Finalist
The Audio Publishers Association announced the finalists for the 2017 Audie Awards on February 8th, and Great Northern’s In The Embers is included as a finalist in the Audio Drama category, and in the Original Work category. We’re very pleased by this event. The Audies are given each year for the best in audiobooks, and for the narrators who perform them.
In The Embers available from Blackstone Audio
A review in AudioFile Magazine announced when In The Embers was released by Blackstone Audio on their Downpour website. We are very pleased to be published by Blackstone, one of the leading audio publishers with an ear for audio theater. You can also find In The Embers as a download in the ZBS online catalog.
The Blackstone release includes three original songs integral to the story and a 70-minute In The Embers - The Making Of documentary created especially for Blackstone. The song lyrics were written by Brian Price and sung by Robin Miles, with music performed by Mike Wheaton. (In The Embers, My Columbine, and My Gorgeous Boy.) The documentary consists of commentary from the writers and producers, and interviews with the actors, musical composer, and producer Tom Lopez of ZBS. We also introduced the two actresses who played the grownup versions of the two sisters at the center of this story, Robin Miles and Jacquie Maddix, on KFAI radio recently. The two had not met until we brought them together on Sound Affects to talk about their roles.
Twin Cities Geek Reviews In The Embers
May/21/16 20:05
The Twin Cities Geek website posted a review of In The Embers, written by Kelly Starsmore. You can read the whole review at twincitiesgeek.com. She says, “In the Embers is one for the ages and something that I will come back to time and time again.” We’re glad she liked it, and we hope you will get yourself a copy and give it a listen, too. You can see more here at Great Northern Audio. It’s available for download from ZBS.org and at Blackstone Audio’s Downpour site. In the Twin Cities you can get compact discs of the show at Uncle Hugo’s SF Bookstore, and at Dreamhaven Books.
Oh, and there’s a 60-minute documentary on The Making of In The Embers that includes interviews with the producers, the actors, and the musician, and a few comments from our mentor, Tom Lopez of ZBS. It’s entertaining as well as having something to say about the making of modern audio theater. There’s a link to the documentary on the ZBS home page, and it’s free.
And since we’re speaking of ZBS, they also have links to some new podcasts all about ZBS’s use of binaural sound recording. There are already several episodes up there, so lots to listen to, including complete ZBS stories, and some examples of ambient binaural recording that is full of fun and wonder. Narrated by Meatball Fulton. To get the full effect of binaural be sure to listen using headphones.
Sound Affects: A Radio Playground, on community radio KFAI in Minneapolis, is broadcasting another ZBS project, The Fourth Tower of Inverness, the very first Jack Flanders adventure. There are a few episodes each Sunday evening at 9:30 PM through June, on 90.3 FM and 106.7 FM in the Twin Cities, and streaming live at KFAI.org. Archives of the show are kept for two weeks, so don’t hesitate to listen now.
Mark Time Awards finalists posted
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Jan/27/16 13:06
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 30
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 30
This is the final chapter. Turner tells about what he knows of the end of an era. And then maybe he shuffles off.
Thanks for listening.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 30 (19 minutes, 13.5 MB)
See all the Turner Ashbey Chapters here.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Nov/19/15 19:08
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 29
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 29
Turner and Laze Fitzgerald participate in a happy ending or do they?
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 29 (12 minutes, 8.5 MB)
See all the Turner Ashbey Chapters here.
In The Embers Available Online
Oct/29/15 14:11
Available now from ZBS
Great Northern’s newest feature-length audio production, In The Embers, is available now from the ZBS Catalog. Downloads include the 80-minute production in 320 kbps resolution, and a PDF CD cover image suitable for printing.
In The Embers coming from Blackstone Audio
A new review in AudioFile Magazine announces that In The Embers will be released by Blackstone Audio on their Downpour website on December 8th. We are very pleased to be published by Blackstone, one of the leading audio publishers with an ear for audio theater.
This new release includes three original songs integral to the story and a 70-minute In The Embers - The Making Of documentary created especially for Blackstone in cooperation with Waterlogg Productions. The documentary consists of commentary from the writers and producers, and interviews with the actors, musical composer, and producer Tom Lopez of ZBS.
Great Northern Audio Collection Boxed Set
Blackstone also carries the entire Great Northern Audio Collection in a Boxed Set of 18 stories, including many from the celebrated Mark Time Radio Shows. You can get them individually or all together as downloads or on CD or MP3 CD. You can even rent them if you just want to see what this silliness is all about.
These are whimsical and original tales of science fiction and fantasy, featuring the voices of Firesign Theatre members David Ossman and Phil Proctor, and well known Hollywood actors Chuck McCann and Wally Wingert along with the superbly comic regular cast. The tales include Tell Them NAPA Sent You, about wizards, dwarfs and auto parts; Dialogue With Martian Trombone, the real story behind the Ramone Raquello Orchestra featured on Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds broadcast; The Jewels of the 11th Generation, a tale of a 300-year-old starship, kids, space pirates, and squeaky toys; and much more audio fun.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Oct/05/15 19:42
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 28
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 28
The world is changing. The Age of Indenture is collapsing. And Turner and Laze Fitzgerald are trapped in the crossroads town of Trinidad, Colorado.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 28 (15 minutes, 11 MB)
See all the Turner Ashbey Chapters here.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Aug/27/15 13:19
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 27
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 27
Turner and Laze have returned from Cyberspace. Unfortunately, one of them didn't quite end up where they should have been.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 27 (14 minutes, 10 MB)
See all the Turner Ashbey Chapters here.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Jul/24/15 14:19
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 26
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 26
Turner and Laze find out that cyberspace is like real life, except it's a longer way down.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 26 (14 minutes, 10 MB)
See all the Turner Ashbey Chapters here.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Jun/05/15 14:50
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 25
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 25
Turner describes the cliffs and dunes of Cyberspace and what it is like to be stuck in the mind of the one you love.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 25 (12 minutes, 8.5 MB)
See all the Turner Ashbey Chapters here.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Apr/18/15 11:34
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 24
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 24
Those old personal tracking memory chips were nothing but a pain in the rear. Turner and Laze's chips have flipped and now they are in each other's heads. How muc4 room is in there?
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 24 (14 minutes, 10 MB)
See all the Turner Ashbey Chapters here.
Great Northern is On the Air!
Mar/27/15 21:00
Great Northern audio productions
being broadcast and podcast
Starting Friday, March 27, four Mark Time Radio Shows will be broadcast on the Midnight Audio Theatre, which comes out of WCBE in Columbus, OH. The show is on at Midnight, so it’s actually Saturday mornings, but there we are. They will be playing four of our works over the next four weeks. You can go to the source and listen to the stream at http://wcbe.org/, or you can pick it up on their podcast anytime at http://midnightaudiotheatre.com. We thank them for supporting the audio medium, and for playing our stuff for you.
Here’s the schedule of what’s playing when:
03/27 - Villains on Parade, featuring Wally Wingert and Chuck McCann
04/03 - Thwack that Dirigible, featuring Wally Wingert and Gordon Smuder
04/10 - The Learning Curve, featuring David Ossman and Wally Wingert
04/17 - Space Girl, featuring David Ossman, Phil Proctor, and Melinda Peterson as SpaceGirl.
And thanks for David Farquhar for making several more of our works available for listening at the Moonlight Audio Theatre podcast as well. Some of them are free to hear, and some others are in their Premium Episodes list. Either way it’s another way to listen to the Great Northern Audio Theatre brand of new and different audio. Our Three Wizard Tales collection is one of their Top 25 Free Shows. So, have at it.
Interview
Jerry was interviewed recently by Stuart Flynn for his science fiction blog: SCY-FY: THE BLOG OF S. C. FLYNN. Take a look at http://wp.me/p4T72p-fc. See what he has to say about podcasting and his radio show, Sound Affects, and about the work that Great Northern Audio has been doing for 20 years.
HEAR Now Festival
We at Great Northern Audio are planning to be at the National Audio Theatre Festivals HEAR Now Festival the weekend of June 11-14. If you’re interested in audio theater, audiobooks or other kinds of audio storytelling, this is the place to come. There will be lots to listen to, lots of interesting people to talk with about audio fiction, and presentation of the new Mark Time Awards for audio drama. Find out more at http://www.hearnowfestival.org.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Mar/18/15 21:00
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 23
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 23
Turner finds himself drowning in the sands of West Texas and he has stumbled upon the Fair Liza Fair, but is the Fair Liza Fest just a simple Fertility Rite or something more?
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 23 (15 minutes, 11 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Feb/16/15 20:53
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 22
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 22
There's smoke in the air and it turns out Texas is on fire. So, Turner and the Magic East Tennessee Travelers head for the hills in search of clear skies.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 22 (15.5 minutes, 11 MB)
History of the Mark Time Radio Show
Nov/19/14 19:26
The Partial Secret Untold History
and Production Notes of
The Mark Time Radio Show
As Produced by Great Northern Audio Theatre
by Brian Price
Introduction:
Last July Jerry Stearns and I wrote and produced the last Mark Time Radio Show (Cyber Bob and Digital Nymph starring David Ossman), performed at CONVergence 2014 in Bloomington, MN. We didn’t think much about it. We just did the show (a month or so of developing the script over Skype, casting the usual suspects, one-and-a-half rehearsals, a half cue-to-cue and then hitting the stage in front of 500-600 people). We didn’t discuss that we’d come down to having produced 19 years of science fiction satire shows together. But I was thinking—well, that’s a body of work. That’s a lot of stuff.
I don’t think either of us has listened back to the entire canon, one after another from beginning to end. I don’t think anybody has. I wondered if all those shows sounded any good? Did they make any sense? Did they march off into some greater cosmic scheme? Most importantly, did they make anybody laugh? They were supposed to make people laugh.
So, I’ve decided to try a little exercise and listen back to each Mark Time Radio Show (listening to one per day for the next 19 days, starting November 18, 2014) like I’ve never heard them before, and then comment on each one, say what I liked, what I would’ve done differently, what I remembered, soulfully thank every actor that ever lent their precious time and talent to the show and quote maybe some favorite lines.
These will all be posted on the Great Northern Audio Facebook page, and collected on this website.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Nov/10/14 14:34
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 21
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 21
Turner and a perfect specimen of a human being are about to leave Texas when they witness a very special magic show and are compelled to stay.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 21 (15.5 minutes, 11 MB)
The Last Mark Time Radio Show
Oct/25/14 20:35
Cyber Bob and the Digital Nymph
Yes, we’re sad to say this was the last dangerous Mark Time Radio Show. We’ve been doing them for 17 years, and it’s time to move on. ● This time David Ossman of the Firesign Theatre returns one last time to the live raucous stage to play Cyber Bob, who leaves his position as cart-wrangler at the Mart to lead a digital expedition into the digital glade in search of the beautiful yet elusive Digital Nymph. There's a history between the two, and they are not playing...well, they are playing games...and when the Nymph asks, "Do you want to take the leap?" There's only one answer for an old campaigner like Cyber Bob. (See more...)
Also on the playlist is A DAY AT THE LIBRARY where they answer that electric question, "What would be the first thing you'd make with a 3D printer?" A 1958 Ford Edsel, of course. We also find there are other things we can make to enhance our 3D lives.
Both pieces recorded live before a very appreciative geeky audience at Convergence 2014, Bloomington, MN. We give heartfelt thanks to the convention for their support all these years. Especially we thank the Main Stage crew and the ASL interpreters for helping to make the shows possible. We’ve had a terrific ensemble cast, and some great guest stars over the years. We hope you’ve had as much fun listening to them.
Available for download at ZBS. To be broadcast on Sound Affects on December 7, 2014.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Oct/05/14 13:44
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 20
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 20
Turner makes it back to Richmond and then ends up Texas. But it's not because of the chip in his head. It's because of the chip in Laze Fitzgerald's head.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 20 (15 minutes, 11 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Aug/31/14 14:06
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 19
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 19
Turner wakes up in a horse-drawn ambulance and is accused of having been part of the plot to assassinate Fair Liza and is rescued by her at the same time. Stuff that dreams are made of...
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 19 (15.5 minutes, 11 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Jul/23/14 12:25
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 18
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 18
Is Laze Fitzgerald really the legendary Fair Liza, the Angel of the Unity Movement? Turner is trapped in a cave with the evidence.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 18 (10.5 minutes, 8 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Apr/23/14 20:17
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 17
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 17
The Somerset, Kentucky Irregulars (and we're talking irregular) believe that they have cornered Fair Liza in a cave in the hills. Turner is hoping to get there first.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 17 (18 minutes, 13 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Mar/13/14 14:19
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 16
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 16
A song about Fair Liza, The Saint of Reunification. Liza waited quietly by the side of the road and would not let them take that orphan boy. “Fair Liza lay in wait and she smote them.” But what does that mean? Fair Liza and the song seem to have a basis in the recent history of the Sundered States.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 16 (15 minutes, 10.4 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Jan/11/14 14:14
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 15
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 15
History has changed. Maps have changed. The tides have changed. Turner and his friends enter the Realm of Kentucky and Turner ends up working for the Duke of Lexington's daughter.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 15 (18.5 minutes, 13.4 MB)
Mark Time Radio Show Sales Event at ZBS
Jan/07/14 14:42
Our digital warehouse space is limited and all Mark Time Bundles downloads have been slashed and must go:
Did we say? MARK TIME FIRESIGN THEATRE GUEST BUNDLE - was $39.42, that´s crazy, now $34.95.
The MARK TIME GUEST STAR BUNDLE - was $19.42 now a ridiculously low $14.95.
and The COMPLETE MARK TIME RADIO SHOW COMPLETE BUNDLE - (was $59.42) -- 15 years of science fiction satire and lunacy performed on a live stage in front of a live audience for just $52.95. That includes 14 shows plus a number of audio shorts.
Here´s what some of Mark Time´s favorite professional guest performers have had to say:
"The collection of CDs you guys have done over the years at the Con embody some of my favorite live performances (and the few opportunities to play in other writers´ work!)"
-- David Ossman (Firesign Theatre)
"The most fun I´ve had in 20 years."
-- Michael Sheard (Dr. Who, The Empire Strikes Back)
"I´m not putting that bucket on my head."
-- Wally Wingert (The Tonight Show)
"That´s it. I don´t want to play the dwarf anymore."
-- Cyber Bob (Cyber Bob and Silicon Kid)
"You can´t have two Scotsmen in the same play. It´s just not done."
-- Phil Proctor (Firesign Theatre, Rugrats)
"It´s ok, Philip. I´m sure they´ll do better the next time."
-- Melinda Peterson (Cagney and Lacey, MacGiver, JAG)
"Look, really, the dinosaurs aren´t mine."
-- George Leroy Tirebiter (High School Madness)
Yeah, we do make them available for sale, but all of these have been on many peoples’ podcasts for years, so it’s not like they aren’t out there to find. This is just the high-quality audio files with a CD cover PDF file included.
While we’re on the subject of ZBS, we’re broadcasting their latest Jack Flanders story, Dreams of Tiffany Blue, on Sound Affects: A Radio Playground on KFAI community radio. It’s January 5 and 12, 2014. If you missed one, they’re kept in the archive on the KFAI website for two weeks.
AND, a wonderful ZBS series called Saratoga Springs is being made available for listening by the online news-site, Saratoga Wire, along with a nice writeup about Tom Lopez, the talent behind everything ZBS.
And finally, all the Mark Time Radio Show CDs are available at Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore, in Minneapolis, including the latest ones - Jokes in Space with VIllains on Parade, and Thwack That Dirigible with SpaceGirl, which aren’t available on CD anywhere else. CDs specially made for Uncle’s.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Nov/18/13 20:22
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 14
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 14
Turner enters the Realm of Kentucky and joins a band of entrepreneurs selling citizenship and peerage transfer papers to honorable customers.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 14 (16 minutes, 11 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Sep/15/13 13:43
Turner Ashbey, Chapters 12-13
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Chapter 12
The great Get Gone is in progress and Turner and his new friends, Ed and Claire, are headed to Colorado, but it looks like Kentucky might be in the way.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 12 (14.2 minutes, 10 MB)
Chapter 13
The venerable historian, Turner Ashbey, never did like the number thirteen. Here's what he did about it.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 13 (2 minutes, 1.7 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Jul/28/13 19:47
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 11
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Turner and Laze Fitzgerald are saved from a drone attack when all the drones mysteriously drop out of the sky. Laze says they all need to leave their safe haven at the underground Library, and Turner escapes from further attacks, but hates to leave Laze behind.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 11 (14.5 minutes, 10.5 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
May/27/13 14:17
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 10
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Young Turner and Laze Fitzgerald are working in an intelligence library when the power goes out. Laze tells him a secret about herself, and she says he must come with her because “they” are coming.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 10 (15 minutes, 11 MB)
Cult Radio A-Go-Go
Apr/16/13 14:42
Joe Bev to broadcast Great Northern Audio
What if a citadel of higher education was completely automated? Great Northern's Solid State University will be featured this Saturday, April 20, 2013 on The Joe Bev Experience. (http://www.joebev.com/) That’s at 3 PM EDT and 12 Noon PDT.
Written and produced long before computers started showing up in classrooms, just about everything in this academic send-up ended up coming true. Featuring Dan Coffey (Dr. Science himself), Dave Moore and Jerry Stearns. Winner of the Golden Reel Award for Best Radio Drama for 1993 from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.
Joseph Bevilacqua's website is entertaining, informative and goofy–a wonderful mix and just the kind of place to hear SOLID STATE UNIVERSITY – hope you have time to visit. And listen in for other Great Northern Audio works in the coming months.
New Spontoon Radio
Apr/07/13 12:53
Spontoon Islands Radio Drama
The Spontoon Islands are in a cartoon world between 1920-40, inhabited by furry animal cartoons and seaplanes. Artists from all over the world contribute art, strips and stories to the shared universe. E. O. Costello contributes radio scripts evocative of the time and place, filled with original characters and sounding like a cross between Old Time Radio and the Sunday Comics.
The Great Northern Audio Theatre is proud to present two of the many scripts available at: http://spontoon.rootoon.com/SPwRdoCn.html.
Rosie’s Place is LuChow’s, the spot where every fur goes for lunch on Meeting Island. “It’s Shot From Guns” is about Rosie, when she hires dimbulb brothers B’onss and K’nutt to do laundry for the restaurant. B’onss powers the washer with an airplane engine, showing the consequences of stupidity as a way of life. The usual characters show up at Rosie’s lunch counter, too.
The Headline Chaser is Michael Mooney, a new reporter for the Spontoon Mirror. In “If You Can’t Stand the Heat”, when his minkess friend tells him about local restaurants losing food right off the loading docks, he knows there’s a story there. He’s a reporter, he can’t help himself. He has to investigate. Featuring Simon Jones (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) as publisher Charles Foster Crane.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 8
Apr/07/13 12:47
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 8
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Turner and Laze Fitzgerald talk about the recent history of the Republic of Texas and how everyone was afraid of what it meant. They have an afternoon of feeling relaxed and free, and suddenly discover that they aren’t as alone up there on the mountain as they had thought they were.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 8 (13.3 minutes, 9.7 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Jan/27/13 14:45
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 7
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Turner and Laze Fitzgerald talk about the recent history of the Republic of Texas and how everyone was afraid of what it meant. They have an afternoon of feeling relaxed and free, and suddenly discover that they aren’t as alone up there on the mountain as they had thought they were.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 7 (12 minutes, 8.4 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Dec/23/12 16:36
Turner Ashbey, Chapter 6
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Turner finds Laze Fitzgerald, talks about a billionaire who bought a state government, and the beginning of the dissolution of the former United States.
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 6 (17 minutes, 12 MB)
Mark Time Radio Shows
Dec/11/12 20:44
Mark Time Radio Bundles from ZBS
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the coveted Mark Time Awards—the only awards given annually to honor the best in science fiction and fantasy audio theater. (Meatball Fulton has a lifetime achievement award from Mark).
Each year Jerry Stearns and Brian Price of Great Northern Audio Theatre have celebrated the celebration by writing and producing their own ridiculous sci-fi satires performed before a live audience just preceding the awards ceremonies. These silly shows have always been well received and under distributed.
But right now you can download them ALL from the fine folks at ZBS. All highest quality audio at 320 kbps, with PDF covers and liner notes.
Mark Time Radio Shows Complete bundle
- $ 59.42 ($91 originally)For the first time ever—the compete package of Mark Time shows in one place for one low price. Space travel, time travel, kids, monsters and inflatable dreams—no subject was left unscathed—though we promise few Tribbles were harmed during the recording of these shows.
Includes:
Velveteen Submission
Peter Galaxy / Tell Them NAPA Sent You
Martian Trombone / High Moon / Wizard Jack
Super Pal / Jewels of the 11th Generation
Cyber Bob / The Learning Curve
Jokes In Space
Villains on Parade
Thwack That Dirigible
Space Girl
Mark Time’s Firesign Theatre guest bundle
- $ 39.42 ($65 originally)David Ossman of the legendary Firesign Theatre and in reality, Mark Time himself, was often on hand to celebrate the celebration. His talented friends and compatriots, Phil Proctor and Melinda Peterson, made wonderful appearances as well. Besides, if Santa Claus lived in outer space he probably would look and sound a little bit like Mark Time.
Space Girl
Cyber Bob / The Learning Curve
Jewels of the 11th Generation / Super Pal
Martian Trombone / High Moon / Wizard Jack
Peter Galaxy / Tell Them NAPA Sent You
Velveteen Submission
Mark Time Guest Star Bundle
- $ 19.42 ($30 originally)
Over the years Mark Time has played host to some wonderful guest stars: Michael Sheard (Admiral Ozzel of Stars Wars), the grand dame of fantasy—Jane Yolen, the Voice of the Tonight Show—Wally Wingert, and the amazing voice talent Chuck McCann (CooCoo for Coco Puffs).
Peter Galaxy / NAPA (David Ossman & Michael Sheard)
Martian Trombone / Wizard Jack (David Ossman, Phil Proctor, Jane Yolen, Melinda Peterson)
Villains on Parade (Chuck McCann & Wally Wingert)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Nov/23/12 15:36
TURNER ASHBEY, Chapter 5
Writer, historian and former ambassador to the Great State of Colorado, Turner Ashbey looks back at his life including his on and off again relationship with resistance leader, Laze Fitzgerald.
Turner recalls heading up into the Appalachians to search for Laze Fitzgerald, and finding everything but.
Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 5 (13.5 minutes, 10 MB)
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Oct/02/12 20:39
TURNER ASHBEY, Chapter 4
Turner follows Laze Fitzgerald’s directions, and recalls a particularly memorable event they both attended when they were teenagers, before things fell apart.
Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 4
(13 minutes, 10 MB)The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Sep/10/12 17:27
TURNER ASHBEY, Chapter 3
Turner Ashbey remembers back to the 2030s when Laze Fitzgerald went missing, how he figured out where she might be headed, and what he did about it--all those years ago.
Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 3
(13 minutes, 10 MB)SpaceGirl - The Mark Time Radio Show 2012
Aug/07/12 14:06
SpaceGirl: Downloading the Legacy
The Mark Time Radio Show at Convergence 2012 was a huge bit of fun. We had a terrific cast, lots of sound effects, and an enthusiastic audience. We marked the convention theme of “Wonder Women: women in science fiction” with a female heroine played by the fabulous Melinda Peterson. And we celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the Mark Time Awards with two members of the Firesign Theatre in the cast; David Ossman and Philip Proctor always add performance excellence to a production.
SpaceGirl
Linda Kim Shelmerdine discovered her powers as a teenager, when she was a turmoil of solar and hormonal flares. Now she occasionally feels her age, and she’s tired of the way everyone seems to perceive of superheroes saving the world, always in it for themselves. Meet Dr. Creep, the Super Villain, and Senator Mulder Hack, chair of the joint joint sub-sub-committee, and the magnificent Hungarian Dwarf Parade, who are watching over SuperGirl’s personal affairs.
Available now as a download from ZBS.
The Cast: (above, left to right)
Wndy Bowlsby
Tim Liebe
Megan Petersen
David Ossman
Gordon Smuder (Transylvania TV)
Melinda Peterson
Phil Proctor
Rich Fish
Tim Wick
Tony Brewer (sound effects with Brian Wesley)
___________
Music by Eleanor Price.
Sound by Jerry Stearns and Kris Markman.
Produced by Jerry Stearns and Brian Price.
David Ossman - Mark Time himself
The Recollections of Turner Ashbey
Jul/02/12 20:55
TURNER ASHBEY, Chapter 2
Brought to you and produced by Great Northern Audio Theatre. A new chapter is planned to be released every two to four weeks.
Recollections of Turner Ashbey, Chapter 2
(10 MB, 13 minutes)