Raymond Edward Johnson LP (1972) Arch Oboler, Edgar Allan Poe


This LP includes Johnson's performance of the Arch Oboler play STEEL, which as far as I know was performed on Arch Oboler's Plays on 6/3/39 but is now lost. Here's all the information from the album's sleeve: Credits Engineer, Directed By  –  Ira D. Shprintzen Photography  – Jack Roth Producer  –  Sal Trapani Read By  –  Raymond Edward Johnson Written By  – Arch Oboler (tracks: 2), Edgar Allan Poe (tracks: 4) Notes It was with great pleasure when we first met Raymond Edward Johnson in 1972. Raymond was living in Rutland, Vt., leading a recluse's life, and confined to a wheel chair with multiple sclerosis. Through the efforts of the Society of American Vintage Radio Enthusiasts, Raymond was first honored at a banquet in New Britain, Connecticut, where the voice that chilled us so many times on Inner Sanctum, performed Arch Oboler's Steel, which is on this album. Raymond now lives in Wallingford, Connecticut, and is once again the toast of radio, as the host of the new series TALES FROM BEYOND. In addition to Inner Sanctum, Raymond Edward Johnson was also the original star of radio's Mr. District Attorney, as well as numerous other programs. STEEL by Arch Oboler by permission of Rudy Vallee Written originally in 1936 for THE CHASE AND SANBORNE HOUR WITH RUDY VALLEE for performance by none other than Paul Muni, who had just returned from a triumphal tour of BLACK FURY. The show's producers asked Raymond Edward Johnson to cut a demonstration record of it, which would be given to Mr. Muni, to induce him to perform it on the highly rated Rudy Vallee show. However, when the producers heard Raymond in the role of Georgia Maslarovic, they were so impressed that they asked Mr. Johnson to make the actual performance. Raymond also adds, " I think the real reason was, I worked cheaper than Paul Muni." Steel is an anti war monologue, written in an era when the world was at war, and still has great meaning today. THE TELLTALE HEART by E. A. Poe Probably the most famous story written by Mr. Poe, Raymond adds a special chill in his adaptation of the great horror classic. PRODUCED BY SAL TRAPANI DIRECTED AND ENGINEERED BY IRA SHPRINTZEN PHOTO BY JACK ROTH Performed live before the Society of American Vintage-Radio Enthusiasts This album is not for broadcast or duplication in any form without the permission of the producers. A RENAISSANCE RADIO PRODUCTION P.O. BOX 377 SEYMOUR, CONN. 06483  

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.