Tag: Sibby P Wieland

Jim French Passed Away

From Sibby Wieland and World Audio Drama Day:

We are sorry to announce the death of Jim French, of Jim French Productions, yesterday, December 20th, 2017 at the age of 89. French was a legend in the Puget Sound region, working as a disk jockey and producer, but he was best known worldwide for keeping the flame of radio drama alive on American network radio through the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s, continuing well into the podcast age. At its height Jim French Productions were syndicated on hundreds of stations, including “Harry Nile” and “Imagination Theatre” and were also available as audio cassettes, CDs, and most recently as podcasts. He was known for his kindness and generosity, and he treated writers, producers, crew and actors well. JFP even let next generation streaming stations – Sound Stages Radio and others – to distribute his shows. He was also a guest with REPS (Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound). Thank you for everything, Jim.

Our deepest regrets and best wishes to the friends and family of this innovator of modern audio theatre. Farewell Jim.

 

CBC Sentimentality

cbcloveRecently Sibby P Wieland was speaking in an interview about the great loss of CBC audio drama. As a child who grew up in the eighties- one of golden ages of the CBC, I concur. My imagination exploded with everything from CBC’s Nightfall, Booster McCrane PM, Rumours and Borders, and of course my childhood favourite, Johnny Chase: Secret Agent of Space among many others. The reasons why CBC doesn’t make audio drama any more are wide and varied (ask me some time), but Howard Fink has an excellent article in the oral history forum as to The CBC Radio Drama Project and its Background for anyone who is as sentimental as I am about the good ol’ days of the CBC.

 

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