During the “Golden Age of Radio,” the primary goal of radio drama (a generic term that also includes comedy, adventure, westerns, sci-fi, fantasy, crime, and more) was entertainment. However, radio also exposed its listeners to literature in the audio format. On May 8, 1945, 60 million Americans tuned in to hear “On A Note of Triumph,” Norman Corwin’s radio masterpiece marking the end of World War II in Europe. Lauded by Carl Sandburg as “one of the all-time great American poems,” it was the most listened-to radio drama in U.S. history.
We invite you to get into your Studebaker and take Mason’s Road on a journey back in time. Once seated at your desk, your black Remington typewriter will be waiting for you to commit your thoughts from mechanical keys to inked ribbon, and finally onto heavy bond paper. (You may use a computer if you so desire.)
Your challenge – to pick up the story from this opening episode of our radio drama, or write the opening of a new radio drama. Whether the continuation of this script or a new one, it must be of true literary quality, entertaining, and provide another cliff-hanger ending.
It is not necessary to set your story during radio’s Golden Age. Contemporary and vintage stories and styles will be judged equally. The Mason’s Road Players will produce the winning submission.
Here is a free audio scriptwriting template. You may use it or not, but do use its form.
Want more? Listen to an amazing piece of audio literature, and find other examples of Audio Literature at Mercury Theatre, such as:
- Thornton Wilder – Our Town
- Charles Dickens – A Christmas Carol
- Joseph Conrad – Heart of Darkness
- H.G. Wells – War of the Worlds
Or go to OTR.Network Library for: Hemingway – A Farewell to Arms
Mason’s Road accepts all radio drama submissions; see our Submission Guidelines.
Good-Luck! Tune in throughout this issue of Mason’s Road for our exciting literary serial.
Causeway Lit 