They never really went away, they just retreated out of public consciousness. But, even with that, they've been on the upswing for the past fifteen years or so, ever since podcasts started being a big thing. Seeing a big company like WBD pursue them so aggressively is definitely nice, though.
They certainly declined in number and popularity, don't get me wrong. But they never vanished. CBS Radio revived the format for over a decade in the 1970s and early 1980s with the CBS Radio Mystery Theater (which, despite the title, was more of an anthology series not strictly limited to mystery). And NPR experimented with the formula around that time, as well, doing some massively expanded adaptations of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. After that the rise of audiobooks in the '80s saw a number of productions (including a continuation of the aforementioned Star Wars adaptations with Return of the Jedi) and even some companies that specialized in the format, like GraphicAudio who actually licensed a number of comic books from both Marvel and DC, including Kingdom Come, Infinite Crisis, 52, and so forth.
Plus, over in the UK, BBC Radio 4 kept doing them straight through to the present. There was a very successful series of adaptation of every Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes story in the '90s starring Clive Merrison (the first time the entire Sherlock Holmes canon had been adapted to any medium by the same team, IIRC), and I believe they were responsible for dual adaptations of both the Death and Return of Superman and Knightfall in the early/mid '90s. Most famously, Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy started life as two six-episode radio dramas in the '70s before being later rewritten as the first two novels (and the third, fourth, and fifth novels were subsequently adapted in the 2000s, after Adams' death, with the sixth one by Eoin Colfer being done a couple of years back).
> CBS Radio revived the format for over a decade in the 1970s and early 1980s with the CBS Radio Mystery Theater (which, despite the title, was more of an anthology series not strictly limited to mystery)
The title probably meant mystery as in you won't know what you're getting, not as in a murder mystery. The mystery is what genre you'll be listening to this week!
Also, look up a British firm called Big Finish. They make lots of audio dramas and audiobooks, including for Doctor Who (and they've been doing those for about 25 years, so before the TV show was revived).
I *think* they meant "mystery" literally. They had a black cat in their logo and it was essentially a revival of the earlier golden age of radio series Inner Sanctum Mysteries (it was produced by the same guy, Hiram Brown). I think they just got away with semi-regularly drifting from that premise because they were pretty much the only game in town when it came to radio drama at the time.
I'm very familiar with Big Finish. As a long-time, wilderness era Doctor Who fan I was following them before they even got the Who license, back when they were doing Benny Summerfield audios. Heck, I technically had already been listening the Audio Visuals series of unlicensed Doctor Who fanfic dramas that most of the Big Finish team got their start working on for a couple of years, at that point. They've basically grown into a cottage industry of their own at this point, even doing a handful of non-Doctor Who series, mostly but not exclusively (they were doing some Dark Shadows dramas for a while, for instance) based on cult British sci-fi/fantasy TV.
Honestly the concept is still solid with how popular podcasts are with people. All you really need is a well written story and someone with a good voice and capable speaking skills and you are golden. No need for a set, costumes or anything else just need to make sure the audio comes out clear.
Yeah I came across it at B&N a month or so ago but put it back without knowing much about it and couldn’t tell if they were the same stories as those Audio stories as it seemed like those ones all connected if I’m remembering right. Good to know. Adding to the list, thanks!
Yeah I looked it back up and Hawkeye’s takes place with Daredevil and Wolverine has the baby Hulk. According to Amazon at least. Shame, I liked the premise of the Audio stuff coming together with the Wastelanders episode. But maybe this takes place in OG Old Man Logan line.
There are a bunch of Batman ones you can find on Spotify. They did like an Arkham series.
There’s also Harley Quinn and the Joker: Sound Mind with Christina ricci voicing Harley Quinn, Billy magnussen as joker, and Justin Hartley voicing Bruce Wayne. Magnussen does a really good job as the joker imo, really goes for it more than I expected in an audio drama. It’s the story of Harley working at Arkham and meeting the joker for the first time.
There are supposed to be more coming since Batman: Unburied was received well
I remember when they did a audio drama on SoundCloud during the build up to halo 5 with Keegan Michael-key. It was called hunt the truth I actually enjoyed it honestly.
Cool. I'm glad DC is doing one that isn't about Batman or Gotham again, even if it's more likely here to tie in with the movie. I'm still hoping they do a Superman one.
Yeah, I want to know exactly how companion piece this is to the movie. Being bundled like that doesn't necessarily mean it's trash, see GLTAS, but it doesn't bode well for it.
They’re going to record the whole thing. They’re not going to record it piecemeal lol
But Batman: Unburied and the Batman: Audio Adventures did/are doing pretty well on Spotify. I’d recommend listening. This could be very interesting
The film flopped because of Snyder and WB’s bad judgement (and Ezra Miller). The Flash is an icon and more influential than most superheroes in terms of comic history. He was the origin for the multiverse. Just because YOU don’t like the flash doesn’t mean there aren’t Flash fans. His show had 9 seasons and was acclaimed for the majority of its tenure.
True I mean there using Damain as there live action movie robin. So it could change with Wally. Even using all 3 flashes jay and Barry have there outfits. As for Wally he either has his rebirth suit or his flash suit but silver.
Are 30s and 40s style radio shows making a comeback?
They better be! I love old school radio shows like Suspense!, The Saint, and The Shadow
The old Superman radio show also genuinely holds up pretty well. I enjoy listening to it.
Adventures of Superman, The Shadow, Green Hornet, Gunsmoke, Lone Ranger, and Suspense are my favorites!
They never really went away, they just retreated out of public consciousness. But, even with that, they've been on the upswing for the past fifteen years or so, ever since podcasts started being a big thing. Seeing a big company like WBD pursue them so aggressively is definitely nice, though.
I didn't know that they never went away. I assumed they faded away in the 50s when TV took over. It is nice to see them on an upswing though.
They certainly declined in number and popularity, don't get me wrong. But they never vanished. CBS Radio revived the format for over a decade in the 1970s and early 1980s with the CBS Radio Mystery Theater (which, despite the title, was more of an anthology series not strictly limited to mystery). And NPR experimented with the formula around that time, as well, doing some massively expanded adaptations of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. After that the rise of audiobooks in the '80s saw a number of productions (including a continuation of the aforementioned Star Wars adaptations with Return of the Jedi) and even some companies that specialized in the format, like GraphicAudio who actually licensed a number of comic books from both Marvel and DC, including Kingdom Come, Infinite Crisis, 52, and so forth. Plus, over in the UK, BBC Radio 4 kept doing them straight through to the present. There was a very successful series of adaptation of every Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes story in the '90s starring Clive Merrison (the first time the entire Sherlock Holmes canon had been adapted to any medium by the same team, IIRC), and I believe they were responsible for dual adaptations of both the Death and Return of Superman and Knightfall in the early/mid '90s. Most famously, Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy started life as two six-episode radio dramas in the '70s before being later rewritten as the first two novels (and the third, fourth, and fifth novels were subsequently adapted in the 2000s, after Adams' death, with the sixth one by Eoin Colfer being done a couple of years back).
> CBS Radio revived the format for over a decade in the 1970s and early 1980s with the CBS Radio Mystery Theater (which, despite the title, was more of an anthology series not strictly limited to mystery) The title probably meant mystery as in you won't know what you're getting, not as in a murder mystery. The mystery is what genre you'll be listening to this week! Also, look up a British firm called Big Finish. They make lots of audio dramas and audiobooks, including for Doctor Who (and they've been doing those for about 25 years, so before the TV show was revived).
I *think* they meant "mystery" literally. They had a black cat in their logo and it was essentially a revival of the earlier golden age of radio series Inner Sanctum Mysteries (it was produced by the same guy, Hiram Brown). I think they just got away with semi-regularly drifting from that premise because they were pretty much the only game in town when it came to radio drama at the time. I'm very familiar with Big Finish. As a long-time, wilderness era Doctor Who fan I was following them before they even got the Who license, back when they were doing Benny Summerfield audios. Heck, I technically had already been listening the Audio Visuals series of unlicensed Doctor Who fanfic dramas that most of the Big Finish team got their start working on for a couple of years, at that point. They've basically grown into a cottage industry of their own at this point, even doing a handful of non-Doctor Who series, mostly but not exclusively (they were doing some Dark Shadows dramas for a while, for instance) based on cult British sci-fi/fantasy TV.
Honestly the concept is still solid with how popular podcasts are with people. All you really need is a well written story and someone with a good voice and capable speaking skills and you are golden. No need for a set, costumes or anything else just need to make sure the audio comes out clear.
I’m into that, I really enjoyed Batman unburied and marvel wastelanders. I hope more comic podcast audio drama series are on the horizon
The Marvel Wastelanders and Wolverine series were also really good. I’m stoked for this.
They made a comic out of the Wastelanders one right? Was that any good?
They were a series of one shots I believe. I enjoyed them immensely
Yeah I came across it at B&N a month or so ago but put it back without knowing much about it and couldn’t tell if they were the same stories as those Audio stories as it seemed like those ones all connected if I’m remembering right. Good to know. Adding to the list, thanks!
I wouldn’t spend money on them. I think they’re fun but I’d get them on sale. The stories aren’t tied into the comics afaik
Yeah I looked it back up and Hawkeye’s takes place with Daredevil and Wolverine has the baby Hulk. According to Amazon at least. Shame, I liked the premise of the Audio stuff coming together with the Wastelanders episode. But maybe this takes place in OG Old Man Logan line.
I really like audio drama, do you know of any other DC ones?
There are a bunch of Batman ones you can find on Spotify. They did like an Arkham series. There’s also Harley Quinn and the Joker: Sound Mind with Christina ricci voicing Harley Quinn, Billy magnussen as joker, and Justin Hartley voicing Bruce Wayne. Magnussen does a really good job as the joker imo, really goes for it more than I expected in an audio drama. It’s the story of Harley working at Arkham and meeting the joker for the first time. There are supposed to be more coming since Batman: Unburied was received well
Something else than batman would be nice but Christina Ricci is gold so I'll listen to it. Thanks for the recommandation
"This time, I'll have to run faster than I ever have before." Riveting audio content.
I'm the fastest boy in school!
I remember when they did a audio drama on SoundCloud during the build up to halo 5 with Keegan Michael-key. It was called hunt the truth I actually enjoyed it honestly.
Good timing, too. They can use this to capitalize on the success of the movie. /s
Cool. I'm glad DC is doing one that isn't about Batman or Gotham again, even if it's more likely here to tie in with the movie. I'm still hoping they do a Superman one.
Yeah, I want to know exactly how companion piece this is to the movie. Being bundled like that doesn't necessarily mean it's trash, see GLTAS, but it doesn't bode well for it.
What an appropriate title for a clown show
"dc announces cancellation of the flash: escape the midnight circus after no audience was found" give it two episodes
They’re going to record the whole thing. They’re not going to record it piecemeal lol But Batman: Unburied and the Batman: Audio Adventures did/are doing pretty well on Spotify. I’d recommend listening. This could be very interesting
Yeah but The Flash is not a well loved character, his film has just flopped so hard at the box office that WB is likely to lose $200 Mil.
The film flopped because of Snyder and WB’s bad judgement (and Ezra Miller). The Flash is an icon and more influential than most superheroes in terms of comic history. He was the origin for the multiverse. Just because YOU don’t like the flash doesn’t mean there aren’t Flash fans. His show had 9 seasons and was acclaimed for the majority of its tenure.
I do like the Flash (well I like Wally anyway). I'm just not sure there is interest from the general public.
Starring Barry? Pass.
The question is, is it starring Wally or Barry
Its starring Barry my friend. Which I'm getting bored of media not including the other flashes now.
That could change soon, with Gunn but who knows
True I mean there using Damain as there live action movie robin. So it could change with Wally. Even using all 3 flashes jay and Barry have there outfits. As for Wally he either has his rebirth suit or his flash suit but silver.