Judson Fountain Halloween Countdown!
Shuffle Function to air a Judson Fountain Radio 'Drammer' a day in october!
Image from judsonfountain.com
THE JUDSON FOUNTAIN
COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN
October 5th-27th
When it comes to theater on the radio, there are two different types that need to be considered. There is "radio drama", which could technically cover virtually any type of scripted radio program featuring actors and sound effects. Then there's "radio drammer", which could be... well it could ONLY be radio written and directed by the one and only Judson Fountain. Jandek music can only be made by Jandek, Ed Wood films could only be made by Ed Wood, Harry Stephen Keeler books could only be written by Harry Stephen Keeler, and Judson Fountain radio drammers could only be created by Judson Fountain. That's just a fact.
The mention of Ed Wood in the last paragraph was deliberate, because Judson is often compared to Ed. Terrible acting, writing, and production are all trademarks of their work, but these combined shortcomings ultimately elevate their work into deliriously wonderful experiences. People often called Ed Wood's Plan 9 From Outer Space the worst film ever made, but can it truly be the worst if it is so beloved and wildly entertaining? We think not, and that's definitely the case with Judson Fountain. His stuff is too much fun to dismiss as bad.
While Judson has a strong following on KMSU (and that it something to be proud of), there may be some of you that are unfamiliar with him. Judson Fountain was born on March 12th, 1934 in New York, and he grew up during the heyday of radio dramas. He developed an obsession with Suspense themed shows, and by the time he hit his 30s he was producing his own dramas, or "drammers" as he pronounced it. Keep in mind that radio dramas were well past their prime by the time Judson began working on his shows, so not only were they throwbacks to a distant era of broadcasting, but they were also poorly produced throwbacks.
Judson's productions were all written and directed by him, and he often played one (or two or three) of the main characters, though he did have a stable of actors that appeared regularly. The drammers were pressed on vinyl in runs of about 200, with grainy photocopies of the track listing and info pasted on plain cardboard sleeves. While the recordings indicate that these productions received airplay, it still boggles the mind that commercial stations would actually carve out air time for them. (Unlike stations like KMSU that eat this stuff up with a spoon!)
That's a full month of Judson Fountain to look forward to! Hear Judson in all his Old Hag, Pops Serriano, Molly, 18 year old Johnny, Laughing Old Woman glory! And if this isn't enough for you, watch this amazing clip of Judson on the strange New York public access show Stairway To Stardom (which is a YouTube wormhole you should really fall down). It's the only known video footage of Judson, and he does his Old Codger voice! It's kind of a trip to see him actually working his magic.
If you don't want to wait around for October to get your Judson fix (and why would you want to?) you can get the officially re-released recordings on iTunes and via Innova Recordings. Let's be real, though... you can request his stuff all year round on Shuffle Function! A Judson Fountain request is a request they can't refuse!
The mention of Ed Wood in the last paragraph was deliberate, because Judson is often compared to Ed. Terrible acting, writing, and production are all trademarks of their work, but these combined shortcomings ultimately elevate their work into deliriously wonderful experiences. People often called Ed Wood's Plan 9 From Outer Space the worst film ever made, but can it truly be the worst if it is so beloved and wildly entertaining? We think not, and that's definitely the case with Judson Fountain. His stuff is too much fun to dismiss as bad.
Image from judsonfountain.com
While Judson has a strong following on KMSU (and that it something to be proud of), there may be some of you that are unfamiliar with him. Judson Fountain was born on March 12th, 1934 in New York, and he grew up during the heyday of radio dramas. He developed an obsession with Suspense themed shows, and by the time he hit his 30s he was producing his own dramas, or "drammers" as he pronounced it. Keep in mind that radio dramas were well past their prime by the time Judson began working on his shows, so not only were they throwbacks to a distant era of broadcasting, but they were also poorly produced throwbacks.
Judson's productions were all written and directed by him, and he often played one (or two or three) of the main characters, though he did have a stable of actors that appeared regularly. The drammers were pressed on vinyl in runs of about 200, with grainy photocopies of the track listing and info pasted on plain cardboard sleeves. While the recordings indicate that these productions received airplay, it still boggles the mind that commercial stations would actually carve out air time for them. (Unlike stations like KMSU that eat this stuff up with a spoon!)
Image from judsonfountain.com
Years after Judson ceased making radio magic, collectors began discovering his records. As one story goes, they didn't find them in the bins, but UNDER the bins. These rare recordings rapidly built up a cult following, and by 1995 WFMU had arranged a reunion with Judson and his long time announcer Sandor Weisberger. Not long after this show (which is available as an abbreviated 2002 rebroadcast on the WFMU website. Jump ahead to the 59:55 mark.) Judson disappeared. No one knows what became of him, though it appears that he may have died in 2005. There are no details regarding his life after the 'FMU appearance, or the cause of death.
A few years ago Shuffle Function started a Halloween tradition where they would play one Judson Fountain radio drammer a day during the last sixteen morning shows before Halloween. This has become a feature of the show that they're asked about year round, so this post is going to be both an announcement and a schedule for their upcoming Judson Fountain broadcasts. Shuffle Function will begin playing them on Tuesday, October 5th, and continue through Thursday, October 27th. Unless something suddenly comes up, they'll be playing them at around 7:10 in the morning, just after the second hour of the morning show begins, so everyone can start their day with some amazing Judson weirdness.
A few years ago Shuffle Function started a Halloween tradition where they would play one Judson Fountain radio drammer a day during the last sixteen morning shows before Halloween. This has become a feature of the show that they're asked about year round, so this post is going to be both an announcement and a schedule for their upcoming Judson Fountain broadcasts. Shuffle Function will begin playing them on Tuesday, October 5th, and continue through Thursday, October 27th. Unless something suddenly comes up, they'll be playing them at around 7:10 in the morning, just after the second hour of the morning show begins, so everyone can start their day with some amazing Judson weirdness.
Thanks to the generosity of some truly amazing record collectors, they were able to add TWO ADDITIONAL radio drammers to the mix! Neither of these Judson Fountain masterpieces has been released outside of their original vinyl releases, and it's doubtful that they've been heard much at all on the radio since they were first released. These are EXCLUSIVE to the Shuffle Function Countdown To Halloween shows. Expect hags, young toughs, and guys named Pops, as well as the usual off kilter storytelling we all love from Judson Fountain.
Here's the schedule of drammers and when they will run:
Thursday, October 5th - The Old Woman of Haunted House
Friday, October 6th - The Garbage Can from Thailand
Monday, October 9th - Two Boys in a Haunted House
Tuesday, October 10th - Granny Sing No More!
Wednesday, October 11th - Hallowe'en Night
Thursday, October 12th - The Castle of Lo Sein
Friday, October 13th - Captain Hale
Monday, October 16th - The Gorgon's Head
Tuesday, October 17th - Captain Hale Goes to Japan!
Wedneday, October 18th - The Golden Arm
Thursday, October 19th - Dark, Dark, Dark!
Friday, October 20th - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Monday, October 23rd - The Wax Museum
Tuesday, October 24th - The Evil Portrait of Old Man Beni
Wednesday, October 25th -The Nasty Roomer!
Image from judsonfountain.com
Here's the schedule of drammers and when they will run:
Thursday, October 5th - The Old Woman of Haunted House
Friday, October 6th - The Garbage Can from Thailand
Monday, October 9th - Two Boys in a Haunted House
Tuesday, October 10th - Granny Sing No More!
Wednesday, October 11th - Hallowe'en Night
Thursday, October 12th - The Castle of Lo Sein
Friday, October 13th - Captain Hale
Monday, October 16th - The Gorgon's Head
Tuesday, October 17th - Captain Hale Goes to Japan!
Wedneday, October 18th - The Golden Arm
Thursday, October 19th - Dark, Dark, Dark!
Friday, October 20th - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Monday, October 23rd - The Wax Museum
Tuesday, October 24th - The Evil Portrait of Old Man Beni
Wednesday, October 25th -The Nasty Roomer!
Thursday, October 26th - BRAND NEW! The Curse of the Old Hag (on The Richard Hoffman Radio Show, 1969)
Friday, October 27th - BRAND NEW! The Ghost of Pop Belinne
Monday, October 30th - Shuffle Function's Garbage Can From ThailandThat's a full month of Judson Fountain to look forward to! Hear Judson in all his Old Hag, Pops Serriano, Molly, 18 year old Johnny, Laughing Old Woman glory! And if this isn't enough for you, watch this amazing clip of Judson on the strange New York public access show Stairway To Stardom (which is a YouTube wormhole you should really fall down). It's the only known video footage of Judson, and he does his Old Codger voice! It's kind of a trip to see him actually working his magic.
If you don't want to wait around for October to get your Judson fix (and why would you want to?) you can get the officially re-released recordings on iTunes and via Innova Recordings. Let's be real, though... you can request his stuff all year round on Shuffle Function! A Judson Fountain request is a request they can't refuse!
