CHRISTMAS CAROL - new radio book from Craig W.

[Wich2]

Dear Friends-

My year-long labor of love is being printed as I write these words.

Considering that fact, and the circumstance of my traveling over the holidays, I'll get copies to those who order from me as soon as possible - by Christmas if at all doable, but certainly by early in the new year. Paypal at QuicksilverRT(*at*)aol.com is best, or email me there for check/m.o. instructions; with shipping, the price is $25.

(And yes, the offer of the surprise bonus gift stands till 1/1/13!)

Happiest of holidays to you and yours,
-Craig

[Scatter]

Craig, how exciting brother!! Payment sent, looking forward to digging into what I'm sure will be a terrific read!!

[Illoman]

Craig, best of luck with this. That cover looks great!

[Wich2]

Thanks for the support, Gary - hope you like!

Thanks, Mike - as an artist, I'm an actor!

Merriest,
-Craig

[Scatter]

Craig, did you do the cover too?

[Unknown Primate]

Looks great!

[Wich2]

Thanks, UP.

Yup, Scat, I cobbled that cover together myself, after a few artists friends weren't available.

-Craig

[gracebuster]

Ordered mine!!!!

Thanks.

[Wich2]

As Scrooge would say, "Thank'ee!"

Blessed Christmas to you and yours, Dan'l!
-Craig

[Scatter]

Thanks, UP.

Yup, Scat, I cobbled that cover together myself, after a few artists friends weren't available.

-Craig

Looks great Craig!

[Wich2]

Appreciate that, Scat.

Necessity IS the mother of invention!

(The book cover is actually "zoomed out" a bit compared to that postcard; you see a bit more of the radio, and the arm of an easy chair in the foreground.

-Craig

[Scatter]

Appreciate that, Scat.

Necessity IS the mother of invention!

(The book cover is actually "zoomed out" a bit compared to that postcard; you see a bit more of the radio, and the arm of an easy chair in the foreground.

-Craig

Well I'll be privy to a MUCH better view of it all soon! 

[Wich2]

Gang-

With thanks so much for the support, I won't go into the details of my frustration with the delay in the actual delivery of books from the printer; but as I said above, you gracious buyers will get yours as soon as possible.

Happy holidays,
-Craig

P.S.- In the meantime, our first review, which gives a taste of the book (sorry; not linkable, as from a print pub.):

(By Mark Anderson, RADIO RECALL, 12/12)

Craig Wichman's prodigious research and breezy prose make this book a really good read. He is informative and cheerful, and accessible even to those people who might think that "A Christmas Carol's" place in holiday lore exists solely with the phrase, "Oh, don't be such a Scrooge!" The log of audio productions in the Appendix numbers roughly 188; up from the original 72 that Wichman had written up in the December 2010 issue of "Radio Recall."

Wichman relies heavily on sentiment in his narrative; and rightly so. But he also manages to cinch up his backpack with solid history about radio and the nuts-and-bolts of studio production. He achieves this mainly through interviews and his own experiences with contemporary production. In the end he has brought us from broadcasts early in the last century right up to Modern Audio Drama, a phrase much bandied about these days in ever-widening circles.

Lionel Barrymore is the most famous and arguably the actor who best portrayed Scrooge, though Wichman does not shy away from other notable portrayals, Ronald Colman and Michael Gough, for example. Barrymore, however did the role so well over the years that he appeared to derive personal strength from the character. Infirm and troubled in his own life, Barrymore looked for and wrote about the benevolence and moral courage which are themes of the story. The Barrymore essay from 1936 quoted in the book is not all sweetness and light. Rather, he tells us to get acquainted with our inner ghost; in effect, walk with your ghost so both of you can rattle your chains and emerge the better for it. It is Marley's Ghost, don't forget, who says, "I wear the chain I forged in life."

One of many memories for Wichman himself entails one Christmas Eve when he was driving cross-country. He listened on the car radio to no fewer than four broadcasts of "A Christmas Carol" that faded in and out station by station as he put on the miles.

Getting these "Carol" versions produced, even with its lofty message, still would involve such mundane matters as sound checks and hitting your cues. Lonnie Burr, who at age nine in 1953 played Tiny Tim to Edmund Gwenn's Scrooge, recalls going to the studio in Los Angeles. There was a task at hand and he concentrated on his work. He called it "the terse way of getting together." Later in the interview Burr says he would like to hear that broadcast, to hear again his own youthful voice. Wichman complied and dug out a copy for him.

In 1975 E.G. Marshall played Scrooge on the show he usually hosted, "CBS Radio Mystery Theater." It was a good script, and was rebroadcast every year through 1981 The fact that Himan Brown was still producing radio drama, years after the decline of radio's Golden Age, obviously helped influence creative radio folk to keep things going into the age of Modern Audio Drama. Over the years groups have emerged, writing scripts, finding performance space and studio time. For this Wichman draws upon his own experiences with his production company, Quicksilver Radio Theater, and he quotes from an interview with his collaborator Jay Stern for insights into getting the most out of the audio studio opportunity. Suffice to say that it's not just Dickens anymore; groups and scripts are out there, looking to find space and air time. And that should put a spring in everyone's step.

The illustrations for the book are numerous and they look very nice. There are photographs of personalities and studio settings; line drawings of advertisements for shows; a photo of the old CBS building in Hollywood; and a couple of good old album covers from 78 rpm productions.

Of necessity, the Dickens story is a prose story that must be rendered into a script for voices. In that regard, Wichman decries alterations, lest any impact of the original prose be lost. He points to more than one instance where a script gives speaking lines to the Ghost of Christmas Future. For Wichman this is not just a distraction but a transgression. He speaks of the "sterling source material" which must be preserved. Many other people over the years objected to alterations great and small. One fellow wrote a letter to a network in 1933 detailing the places in the script that were not true Dickens. That letter became known as the St. Loekle Sermon. Beware, you community theater script writers!

I do however believe that Wichman's choice of title for his book is rather too obscure. It might be a true Dickens phrase but it does not seem to typify the breadth of material in the book. I found the phrase in my edition of the story. It's the Narrator just as the curtains are being drawn for the entrance of the Ghost of Christmas Past. However, on a book cover, even with the sub-title, I fear that it will just look like an odd juxtaposition of words. It's a puzzler not a grabber.

The citations are a treat to read. We find that running times vary greatly - most appear to be thirty minutes; some are sixty. Some versions were performed in the midst of a longer festival style holiday show. Wichman is very fair with the citations of the shows that he offers in The Log, in the Appendix. He lists productions that need "further confirmation and/or information." And he closes the Log with this comment: "Corrections and additions to the information contained in this book are welcomed by the author. Email: QuicksilverRT(*at*)aol.com."

[Wich2]

Gang, hope you and yours all had a great holiday! Some gracious drops on Amazon, from fellow Monsterkid and SCARY MONSTERS writer Bob Statzer:

Actor/author Craig Wichman's look at the history of Scrooge on the air is a treasure chest of treats for fans of what may be the most classic Christmas character after Santa Claus himself! Going beyond the numerous broadcasts of the Charles Dickens' classic, Wichman also examines the various audio adaptations of A CHRISTMAS CAROL done as recorded books. Vintage photos of actors and actresses (and even advertisements) spanning the decades illustrate the text, allowing us to place faces with the voices that have long haunted the airwaves. Whether you are a fan of Charles Dickens, old time radio, ghost stories or Christmas, you will welcome this book into your home and into your heart.

After travels elongated by the flu, I'm back  -  and the copies of the book are finally here! If interested, PM.

Happy New Year,
-Craig