Radio Retropolis

A lunatic has been making false police calls in which one has caused a serious accident. Commentary on this new form of camera and film that instantly develops-The Polaroid which was part of their key evidence.

Lattimer calls in a Dr. Marsh, a Nazi scientist who owes Lattimer his freedom from war crimes, and has the answer to neutralize Superman forever. JR speaks on what made for the best villains post WWII.

Boris Karloff plays a man who wakes up in a strange hospital after a surgery and is prescribed a certain medicine that gives him bizarre terrifying dreams of walking down a corridor to his death. Commentary on the great Boris Karloff's career.

In 1938 , Orson Welles Mercury Theatre on the Air created this most faithful version of Bram Stoker's novel beautifully adapted from the diary format of the book to an audio diary given by Dr. Seward whose perspective gives the pacing of the story many new dynamics. Brilliant performances and a lush soundtrack set this version of Dracula above the rest. Agnes Moorehead plays Mina and Orson Welles plays the dual role of Dr. Seward and Dracula.

Commentary includes background on the Stoker novel, plus the many different adaptations of Dracula, Orson Welles' red hot star status, and why this version still holds up as one of the best!

A mad chemist is targeting his former associates with a deadly poison that induces laughter before death. Commentary on why many Shadow historians believe this episode sparked the creation of the Joker from Batman. JR speaks on the real history of the Joker.

This program examines the frailty of the world in 1938, its real horrors, and the fallout of Welles popularity in which he never recovered. The real horror of the 1930's only escalated with this broadcast. The world was about to enter into a new phase of terror in which the The War of the Worlds Mercury Theatre broadcast was simply the metaphor of what was to come-World War II and the Rise of the Third Reich!

This program explains much of the hysteria caused by this broadcast, the scandal that followed, and the question of whether it could ever happen again.

Betty Grable, in her debut appearance, plays a bitter, aging model trapped by a controlling mother destroying her chances at a normal, independent life. JR speaks on the tumultuous tragedy of Betty Grable's once glamorous life that almost mirror's her character she plays here. Plus, how Grable's amazing dramatic performance that floored critics.

Batman's life hangs in the balance as Lattimer shoots down the bat-plane and Batman has not yet ejected himself from the falling damaged craft. JR speaks on Batman actor Matt Crowley's career.

On their way home from a Halloween party, Jim gets lost taking a shortcut and runs out of gas...right next to an abandoned farmhouse and cemetery. JR commentary to follow episode.

A pair of hold up men have been staging a series of robberies in the city. Friday and Smith know what they look like and their method of operation. But they may need one extra advantage in nabbing them. Commentary on Peter Leeds and Peggy Webber who played all roles. Plus, the Dragnet catchphrase!

Superman, who has complete amnesia, is arrested and locked up for vagrancy in Gainesville with everybody hot on the trail to find him-including George Lattimer. JR speaks on the backlash to this storyline. Plus, what a $5000 reward really meant to someone in 1947.

Two newlyweds are on the run after they witness one gruesome murder and another they may have inadvertently caused. Commentary on what would have made this story better. Plus, actor Larry Haines.

Roger Davis is a leading man like no other. He is imaginative, very intelligent, and extremely well-spoken. On Dark Shadows he played Vicky Winters' soulmate Peter Bradford and his modern counterpart Jeff Clark. He followed that up with Ned Stuart, then Dirk Wilkins and finally artist Charles Delaware Tate.The stories of Roger Davis we have all heard mostly focused on some negative antics that have been told and re-told through the years. But, here we also talk about;his significant contributions to Dark Shadows that gave the show some of its finest moments. In this episode, Roger is at his most candid and may have you thinking twice about what you always believed.

Roger Davis is a leading man like no other. With his down home demeanor and devilish charm, he is an actor, producer and voice-over artist, who is most remembered for taking over the role of Hannibal Heyes on the troubled ABC series Alias Smith and Jones. He became one of the most successful and recognizable voice-over artists of the past several decades, doing hundreds of ads for products including Anacin pain reliever, Brut cologne and McDonald's restaurants. On Dark Shadows he played Vicky Winters' soulmate Peter Bradford and his modern counterpart Jeff Clark. He followed that up with Ned Stuart, then Dirk Wilkins and finally artist Charles Delaware Tate.

Lamont disguises himself as a laborer to take a job at the bridge that may cost him his life as he investigates why numerous workers have fallen to their deaths. Commentary on the darkness of this plot plus a focus on recurring supporting cast member Everett Sloane as Shrevi.

Last time we talked with the original Burke Devlin himself Mitchell Ryan! In that hour we discussed his early days of becoming an actor and working with some heavy weight actors such as Robert Mitchum, Clint Eastwood, and Jim Carrey. We also touched a little upon his descent into alcoholism that ultimately cost him the role of Burke Devlin. In this next hour, we expand upon that greatly as well as much more on Dark Shadows and his fellow actors.

So in this second and final hour we talked about:

• Going to work on Dark Shadows while dealing with heavy alcohol addiction.
• Working with David Ford (Sam Evans, Dark Shadows), Louis Edmonds, David Henesy, Dennis Patrick, John Karlen and Joel Crothers.
• His feelings on Alexandra Moltke ( Vicki) and why he loved working with Nancy Barrett (Carolyn)
• Memories of Jonathan Frid and dealing with fame.
• How the cast of Dark Shadows dealt with his alcoholism, especially Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans).
• On missing tapings of Dark Shadows and the day he was fired.
• Being in last stages of alcohol rejection of life.
• The moment he bottomed out and decided to make a lifesaving change.
• On working on other daytime soaps, the good and the bad.
• Playing the heavy Gen. McAllister on Lethal Weapon and working with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover.
• Working with Donald Pleasance on Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers and being a part of a legendary horror franchise.
• On why he loved being on Dharma and Greg and why the show abruptly ended.

Burke Devlin was anti-hero leading man bent on revenge on the family who wrongly sent him to prison for five years. When Dan Curtis was looking for the right actor to lead the show, he found him in Mitchell Ryan. But Ryan's time at Dark Shadows was tumultuous much to his own doing. Even so, he was magnificent in the part leaving a huge hole when he was fired a year later.

​In part 1, we only touch the surface of Dark Shadows as Ryan's career was long, varied, and very successful. Topics discussed:

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Why he said he felt he didn't exist until he became an actor.

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On working with Robert Mitchum who became a lifelong friend.

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Working the early days of live TV , Broadway at night and George C. Scott.

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Learning from Lee Strasberg and the Actor's Studio.

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Working with Clint Eastwood on High Plains Drifter and Magnum Force.

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Memories of Jim Carrey on set of Liar Liar.

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About the rumor where he was told he would never work again for turning down this role.

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On juggling his Broadway play Wait Until Dark and Dark Shadows.

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On working the early days of Dark Shadows and dealing with low ratings.

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On how he felt about Anthony George and what would have happened had he stayed.

Edmund Gwenn stars tonight as a meticulous man who has planned every detail of the perfect murder. JR speaks about Gwenn, what Natalie Wood had said, and the controversy surrounding his estate after his death. Plus the writer of this episode, Jess Oppenheimer, who would go on to co-create the greatest sitcom in television history.

​John Karlen is unpredictable. He is unapologetic. He is unfiltered. He is a great actor. He is best known to many of us as Willie Loomis on Dark Shadows as well as his Emmy Winning role as Harvey Lacey on Cagney and Lacey.

​For the next hour, he shares some of the most intimate memories and feelings of the past that you have never heard quite like this. He is a man who is razor sharp, witty, funny and yet he lives with a great sense of self-disappointment in life.

Topics of discussion include:

* His rough home life and dropping out of school

* Being in Korea living an adventurous life

* His views on other actors, acting schools, and inspirations

* On playing Willie Loomis and replacing James Hall

* On how Tyne Daly helped him win his Emmy as Harvey Lacey on Cagney and Lacey

* On how his gambling addiction and fast lifestyle led him down a path of no return

This is part 2 of our SIXTH installment celebrating the cult classic DARK SHADOWS! Series commentary and exclusive cast interviews highlight the revealing secrets behind this amazing television phenomenon!

In this second and final hour, Lara Parker (Angelique Bouchard Collins) shares some of her most private thoughts looking back on life, books, and Dark Shadows.

* Why Grayson Hall wasn't happy Lara got the role of Angelique.

* Why to this day she believes she wasn't good on the show.

* Discusses her successful second career as a novelist creating new stories for the Dark Shadows characters.

* Memories on and off set with Dark Shadows cast members including Joan Bennett, Kathryn Leigh Scott, John Karlen, David Selby and her special chemistry with Humbert Allen Astredo.

* Why she was glad when Dark Shadows ended.

* Her biggest career regret.