Old Time Radio Variety Show
Speech & Drama – Final Exam
Assignment
Overview: Your final exam grade will require you, you and a partner, or you and a group of no more
than three others, to write an original old time radio variety show. This will require you to use most of
the drama & speech elements we will have covered by the end of the semester.
Radio dramas were often part of a larger radio variety show that included the drama, live music from
the hosting studio or musical guests, and another special guest or two who would be interviewed and
tell stories about their lives. This format is still popular on “A Prairie Home Companion” a radio show
created and hosted by Garrison Keillor and heard on National Public Radio (NPR). In Keillor’s show,
he combines drama (in the form of westerns, detective shows, mystery), storytelling, jokes, musical
guests, “advertisements,” “letters from listeners,” and man-made sound-effects. This is the format
you should aim for in your radio show. (Visit http://prairiehome.org/ to listen to past shows or tune in
to their broadcast from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturdays on FM 89.7)
REQUIREMENTS
1. Historical Accuracy: You must select a specific time period about which you and/or you and
your group will research and convey accurately throughout the radio show. NO TWO GROUPS MAY
COVER THE SAME TIME PERIOD! Radio dramas were especially popular from the 1920s to the
1970s; however, some radio drama shows are still popular today. For the purposes of this
assignment, you should select a decade from 1920 to 1970. All music, advertisements, special guests,
newscasts, etc. should be historically accurate to your selected time period.
All members of the group must be involved in the research and the writing of the radio show script.
2. Original Drama: This might be in the form of a mystery, a detective show, a western, a comedy,
a ghost story, science-fiction, etc. (Think: Alfred Hitchcock, Dragnet, The Lone Ranger, The
Honeymooners, Vincent Price, Twilight Zone, etc.) Your original drama should be approximately 10
minutes long.
3. Sound Effects: Your original drama should include at least FIVE (5) man-made sound effects.
You may use as many other digital sound effects as you choose, as long as you have 5 that will
happen during the live performance.
4. Informative Speech (News Monologue): At some point in your radio show, there should be an
informative speech in the form of a newscast or perhaps a political guest appearance. This should be
approximately 2-3 typed pages or 5 minutes of “air time.” If preferable, this may be split into two
different sections of the show.
5. Persuasive Speech (Advertisements): Your radio show must include a persuasive “speech” in
the form of advertisement(s). This should also be approximately 2-3 typed pages or 5 minutes of “air
time.” You may choose to have several advertisements, but each should use at least two of the
elements of persuasion: logical appeal, emotional appeal, and ethical appeal. You might consider
listening to Prairie Home Companion’s “Rhubarb Pie,” “Powdered Milk,” or “Ketchup” advertisements.
Remember that the product(s) you advertise should be historically accurate.
6. Entertaining Speech (Storytelling): Your radio show must include 2-3 pages (approximately 5
minutes) of an entertaining speech. This can be in the form of a stand-up comedy routine, a special
guest narrative, a series of “letters from the listeners” that follows a theme, or other creative means of
entertaining the audience through a creative monologue.
7. Musical Elements: Your radio show should include several musical aspects. There should be a
musical theme for the show, musical transitions from one element to the next, background music to
dramas or entertaining speeches, and some form of “live” music. You might have members of your
group perform live music, you may bring in musical guests who will perform live, or members of the
group may “perform live” by lip syncing. Again, remember to keep the music you choose historically
accurate; it should fit the time period you and your group have selected.
8. Theme: All of the above should be consistent with a running theme or host. It should fit together
and make sense. Transitions should be smooth and the entire “broadcast” should flow seamlessly
with little or no effort. IF THERE ARE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, the group must improvise and
cover for the mistakes, as would happen in live radio. The main rule of live radio: NO DEAD AIR!!!
9. Performance: Your “radio broadcast” must be a live performance. All of the above (with the
exception of pre-recorded or digital sound effects and musical transitions) should be made in front of
the audience. Each member of the group should be involved in at least THREE aspects of the show
(this includes helping with technicalities, such as cueing and playing musical transitions, background
music, etc.). Performances will begin the week BEFORE the seniors last week of school.
10. Written Work and Sources: You and your group must submit all of the above in typed format
(12-pt font, double-spaced, one-inch margins) at least one-week before performances begin. Your
written work should include an outline of the order of the show (including musical numbers and
musical transitions with song titles and website links), all scripts, and a source page indicating where
all historical and musical information was found.
As you begin, you might view some of the following clips of radio shows:
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Prairie Home Companion: Rhubarb Skit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qhWEaQMRc&list=PLUTD7KDT6v8slCQRnKxg3heGd9-Hkad1b&index=11
Prairie Home Companion : Guy Noir , Private Eye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Xvfmmci9U&list=RD9TV_ypjxEB8&index=26
Old Time Radio Sound Effects - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ43UC5tIOY
Jack Benny - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNVk2nt0DR0
Bob Hope - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6hjmVzz_yQ
Be Sure to Drink Your Ovaltine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdA__2tKoIU&list=PLT6zJ5T89AQKHFbpN5ux034PU5rTq8cf&index=1
Be creative! Be dramatic! Have fun!