R.I.P. Himan Brown

[Illoman]

Well, he made it to 99 years of age. Himan Brown, legendary creator of such wonderful radio shows as Inner Sanctum, CBS Radio Mystery Theater, Grand Central Station and so many more.

I sent him an index card years ago which he graciously signed for me:



Rest well, Mr. Brown, and thanks for all the truly great radio drama over the years.

Mike

[Scatter]

RIP and thanks for the memories Mr Brown. Mike, it's great you have that little card. What a cool item!

[typhooforme]

My heart sank when I saw this listed here--Hi Brown was, like Forry, like Bradbury, like Harryhausen, the genuine object, the avatar of an enduring era--  My friend Mike Martini, who helmed the OTR broadcasts here from WVXU for many years (in Cinci) and now runs the shows from WMKV (also Cinci)--and Mark Magistrelli, who also worked with him--used to talk about going to see Hi to get his permission to run certain shows.  They couldn't be broadcast without Hi's approval, and he was a very--um--difficult gent to deal with IF he felt your heart wasn't fully engaged by the OTR mystique.  But if he knew you were in love with old radio (and new spoken word radio)--he would sign away, with a wry smile and a twinkling eye.  He was the last of his kind--and possibly the only one of his kind even IN his time.  A landmark is gone.  Bless you, Hi Brown--you were the genius of creepy radio!  No "resting" in peace for Hi--he's broadcasting from wherever he is now, into the light years of space, forever.

[Wich2]

>he was a very--um--difficult gent to deal with IF he felt your heart wasn't fully engaged by the OTR mystique<

I spoke to him once on the phone, 15-20 years ago, as I knew he still occasionally produced stuff. He told me, kinda crabbily, "I always use people I already know!" (Then again, most folks speak of him as kinda crabby...!)

>He was the last of his kind--and possibly the only one of his kind even IN his time.<

Elder, no disrespect to you, or to Mr. Brown - but the Poet Laureate of Radio, Norman Corwin, is still very much alive; and back in their heyday, Arch Oboler and Wyliss Cooper did similar genre work.

Rest to Himan, and comfort to his loved ones.

-Craig

[Illoman]

Wyllis Cooper wrote my all time favorite radio series "Quiet, Please". He also wrote the screenplay for the film Son of Frankenstein. He actually started the show Lights Out, and Arch Oboler took over the writing chores for it when Cooper left.

Numerous people cite the greatness of Norman Corwin, but I've yet to hear a show he wrote that's really stuck with me, the way Oboler, Cooper and Himan Brown's shows have done. Many regard him as a genius. As Craig implied, he is the last of that "old guard".

Mike

[typhooforme]

Under no circumstance do I diminish Norman Corwin's incredible work--or anything about his long career--which continues to this day!  He's a wonder!  Cooper and Oboler's fame has been written of often--and happily, Mr. Corwin is justly feted frequently of late, celebrating his 100th birthday.  I believe Hi Brown's influence has been underrated for many years.  Just giving Hi what I consider to be his just kudos to note his passing. 

[Wich2]

It's all good - among we, the happy little band who cherish this (still functioning!) little gem of a medium!

-Craig

[mike c]

Aw. Himan Brown.

99's one hell of a run.

I listened to the CBS Radio Mystery Theatre every week when I was a kid, and into my teens when it ended its run... so many memories of family gathered around the radio in the livingroom, or listening to it in the car when we were all packed in after a long Sunday of fun at my grandmother's house, which was a weekly occurrence. The hour long drive was perfectly suited for all of us to 'ohh' and 'aah' over the story's twists and turns.

Of course, I've had Inner Sanctum recordings for years, but I have just this year rediscovered and begun collecting the CBS RMT show and adding it to my ever-expanding OTR library.

Thank you for so much of it, Himan Brown. I'd say "rest in peace" but something tells me you're onto another project already...

[Bogey]

Just caught this post. RIP Mr. Brown

[CreepysFan]

 I listen to my Inner Sanctum cassettes and dvds often, these have provided me with years of creepy happiness.  We like to listen with the lights turned off, which makes picturing these gems even more chilling. I hope mr.Brown realized the joy he brought into others lives, even those of us to young to have heard the original airings. Rest in peace, and may Forry Ackerman welcome you. I'm sure Forry must have enjoyed these shows as well.