Founded as The 99.5 Radio Theatre in December 1966 by Baird Searles, then-head of WBAI-FM‘s Drama & Literature Department, the Mind’s Eye Theatre revived the lost art of radio drama through truly inventive means. Each program was produced, performed and assembled by Searles and a rotating cast of actors drawn from New York City’s burgeoning Off-Broadway theatre scene. Searles and company found inspiration in classic texts, such as Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and the plays of August Strindberg, as well as contemporary authors like Samuel Delany and Diane DiPrima, while bringing a decidedly modern sensibility to the proceedings by using state-of-the-art sound effects as well as avant-garde techniques like chance-based composition. The company also regularly solicited scripts from WBAI listeners. The inaugural production was a dramatization of an early short story by Don DeLillo (author of White Noise and Underworld). After only three years on WBAI, it was the first in what would be a series of innovative radio dramatizations on Pacifica stations. The Mind’s Eye adaptation of Samuel Delany’s “The Star Pit” is beloved by science fiction fans to this day and was the subject of a 40th anniversary tribute at NYC’s South Street Seaport Museum in 2007. Presented here are all of the known extant recordings of the Mind’s Eye Theatre, recently preserved, digitized and now made accessible to the public thanks to generous funding from the GRAMMY Foundation.
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This project is supported in part by an award from the GRAMMY Foundation.
Recordings available as part of this project:
Mother (Episode 1 of 14)
In its first month of production, WBAI’s 99.5 Radio Theatre presented this comedy by Don DeLillo which concerns a bed, a great many articles in one issue of the New York Times, and three members of the white race. Starring Frank Whiteman as Ralph, Holly Turner as Sally, and Joan Farber as Mildred. Directed by Christopher Strater. Technical production by Sam Sanders.
Dreams of morning after glory (Episode 2 of 14)
Original comedy by Deborah Jowitt and Murray Ralph, full of sound and voices, about an unlikely quintet of people that get up together, brush their teeth together, and are bored together, until one of them turns out to maybe be a hero.
Autobiography (Episode 3 of 14)
This is a performance of the radio version of the play of the same name, first seen at La Mama E.T.C., written by Robert Hart and directed by Mical Whitaker. A single voice, whose autobiography it is, relates and experiences contacts with a host of others.
Nightmare abbey (Episode 4 of 14)
WBAI’s 99.5 Radio Theatre presents an adaptation for radio by Joanna Russ of the satirical 18th century novel by Thomas Love Peacock. The cast includes Albert Norton, John Wilson, Judy Richheimer, Karen de Bergh, Baird Searles, and Christopher Strater. Produced by Baird Searles, with assistance from Lee Crespi and Bob Lewis. Technical production by Sam Sanders.
The Bobbity-Ba letters (Episode 5 of 14)
A dramatic reading of an imaginary correspondence between Victorian poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) and British Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850). One of a series of mythical correspondences originally printed in Punch, this program was written by Patrick Ryan. The dramatis personae consists of Randa Haines and Mike Hodel.
Kindertotenlieder (Episode 6 of 14)
Performance of a short play by William West about four children of the 21st century – or are they? The cast includes Deborah Jowitt, Randa Haines, Mike Hodel, and George Spelvin. Directed by Baird Searles for WBAI’s 99.5 Radio Theatre. Contains 13 seconds of test tone at beginning of recording. This recording was formerly cataloged as BB3830.16.
The dispute over the ownership of Anthony Burns (Episode 7 of 14)
Performance of a play for radio, adapted from original documents, by playwright and historian Jonathan Ned Katz (1938-) and directed by Lois Adler. This is a documentary concerning the famous fugitive slave case that led Boston to riot in 1854.
The skills of Xanadu (Episode 8 of 14)
Performance of Theodore Sturgeon’s story for WBAI’s 99.5 Radio Theatre. The story tells of a representative of the expansionist, imperialistic culture of the planet Kit Carson, and his encounter with the deceptively pastoral culture of Xanadu. Adapted by Baird Searles, with Larry Holpp, Anthony Abeson, Annette Oliver, Cliff May and Deborah Jowitt. Presented by express permission of Mr.
Two plays by Erwin H. Lerner (Episode 9 of 14)
Performance of two plays by Erwin H. Lerner for radio, I wonder if the coming is coming and It’s a night, which both came out of the Playwright’s Workshop at Theatre Genesis. Theatre Genesis is one of the four major theatre groups in the off-Broadway movement. The actors are Randall Bane, Don Barshe, John Byrd, Sue Conley, Mimi Cozzens, Glen Johnson, & Richard Hoag.
The death house letters of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg (Episode 10 of 14)
Selections and excerpts from a two-year correspondence between Julius (1918-1953) and Ethel Rosenberg (1916-1953) as they awaited execution in the death house at Sing Sing Prison. The readers are Gerald Fritz and Lois Adler. Narrated by Eric Nord. Directed by Lois Adler for WBAI’s 99.5 Radio Theatre. This recording was formerly cataloged as BB3830.08.
How pleasant to know Mr. Lear (Episode 11 of 14)
A dramatic reading of some lesser-known works by Edward Lear (1812-1888), English author, illustrator and poet who is known mostly for his nonsense poetry and prose. Among the works read are the “Nonsense Cookery” and “Eclogue”. The readers are Myrna Charles, Kathleen Dalton, Mike Hodel, Larry Holpp and John Wilson.
Degrees (Episode 12 of 14)
The 99.5 Radio Theatre partnered with Theatre Genesis to present this new play to WBAI listeners. Degrees, by George Birimisa, was first produced in 1966 by the Off-Off-Broadway group at St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bouwerie, and was adapted for 99.5 Radio Theatre by George Birimisa and Charles Lewis.
The Trojan horse, part 1 (Episode 13 of 14, Part 1 of 3)
The first part of a dramatic reading of the novel The Trojan horse (1937) by American journalist, essayist and author Christopher Morley (1890-1957). In this tragicomic retelling of the Troilus and Cressida legend, published in 1937, the 99.5 Radio Theatre tells a story that transcends the times, casually mixing periods to make a Troy as relevant to the 1960s audience as Saigon.
The Trojan horse, part 1 (Episode 13 of 14, Part 2 of 3)
The first part of a dramatic reading of the novel The Trojan horse (1937) by American journalist, essayist and author Christopher Morley (1890-1957). In this tragicomic retelling of the Troilus and Cressida legend, published in 1937, the 99.5 Radio Theatre tells a story that transcends the times, casually mixing periods to make a Troy as relevant to the 1960s audience as Saigon.
The Trojan horse, part 1 (Episode 13 of 14, Part 3 of 3)
The first part of a dramatic reading of the novel The Trojan horse (1937) by American journalist, essayist and author Christopher Morley (1890-1957). In this tragicomic retelling of the Troilus and Cressida legend, published in 1937, the 99.5 Radio Theatre tells a story that transcends the times, casually mixing periods to make a Troy as relevant to the 1960s audience as Saigon.
The Trojan horse, part 2 (Episode 14 of 14, Part 1 of 2)
The second part of a dramatic reading of the novel The Trojan horse (1937) by American journalist, essayist and author Christopher Morley (1890-1957). In this tragicomic retelling of the Troilus and Cressida legend, published in 1937, the 99.5 Radio Theatre tells a story that transcends time, casually mixing periods to make a Troy as relevant to the 1960s audience as Saigon.
Due to the length of this program, the digitized version had to be recorded onto two CDs.
The Trojan horse, part 2 (Episode 14 of 14, Part 2 of 2)
The second part of a dramatic reading of the novel The Trojan horse (1937) by American journalist, essayist and author Christopher Morley (1890-1957). In this tragicomic retelling of the Troilus and Cressida legend, published in 1937, the 99.5 Radio Theatre tells a story that transcends time, casually mixing periods to make a Troy as relevant to the 1960s audience as Saigon.
Titus groan (Episode 1 of 29)
Dramatic readings from the first installment of the “Gormenghast” trilogy by British science fiction author Mervyn Peake (1911-1968), adapted for WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre by kind permission of the U.S. publisher Weybright and Talley.
The star pit (Episode 2 of 29, Part 1 of 2)
A dramatic reading of the science fiction novella by author and critic Samuel R. Delany. Adapted for radio by the author, who also acts as narrator, it is a poetic and nightmarish vision of the future, with a conjectural view of the changes in social mores brought by an extra-solar expansion of humanity. The complex electronic score was especially written by Susan Schweers.
The star pit (Episode 2 of 29, Part 2 of 2)
A dramatic reading of the science fiction novella by author and critic Samuel R. Delany. Adapted for radio by the author, who also acts as narrator, it is a poetic and nightmarish vision of the future, with a conjectural view of the changes in social mores brought by an extra-solar expansion of humanity. The complex electronic score was especially written by Susan Schweers.
The star (Episode 3 of 29)
Baird Searles reads “The star”, a short story by Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008), for WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre. This controversial “Christmas” story tells of a space-going Jesuit and a discovery that shatters his faith. Clarke is recognized as a master of science fiction whose works include Childhood’s End, The City and the Stars, and many works of non-fiction.
The eagle and the rock (Episode 4 of 29)
A modern fable in one act by Frank Moffett Mosier. A conversation between an eagle and a rock, in which the world and the human race are discussed from an outside point of view. Features Joseph M. Hamer as the eagle and Bill Wiley as the rock. Directed by Sarah Schilling.
Mermaids and unicorns (Episode 5 of 29)
Presentation of two short plays for WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre, A touch of strange by Theodore Sturgeon and Better than Eden by William West. One play concerns the loss of a mermaid; the other, the loss of a unicorn. Both plays take place in the nude, and one takes place in the dark. Cast includes Eve Dow, Jane Dow, Judy Richheimer, Adam Smith, John Smith, and Ronald Kahn.
The birth of Venus (Episode 6 of 29)
Performance of a play by Frank Moffett Mosier, taking place in the 12th century, that concerns a visit by the Baron Paolo di Stefano to the Princess Andrina of Naples while her husband is away fighting the Turks, and gives a wry look at the medieval ideal of courtly love. The cast includes Linda Phillips as Andrina, Eugenie Snell as Francesca, Bill Wiley as Giovanni and Joseph M.
A man is many voices (Episode 7 of 29)
This adaptation of Richard Hoag’s off-Broadway play deals with a man’s confrontation with his own homosexuality in an unusual and stylized fashion. Starring Chuck Ports as the man, with supporting parts played by David Clemens, Sheila Cohen, Raymond Cole, Thomas Crawley, Fred Dykeman, Richard Hoag, Stephanie Moss, JoAnn Schuman, Michael Talcott, and Juliette Whitman.
Dying words (Episode 8 of 29, Part 1 of 2)
A concert reading by WBAI’s Word Players about death, in five loosely defined movements: Statistical, Literary, Anthropological, Camp, and Reality.
Dying words (Episode 8 of 29, Part 2 of 2)
A concert reading by WBAI’s Word Players about death, in five loosely defined movements: Statistical, Literary, Anthropological, Camp, and Reality.
Inquest at Christiana (Episode 9 of 29, Part 1 of 2)
A play by Jon Katz, adapted from the historical documents of the fugitive slave resistance at Christiana, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 1851–the so-called “Christiana Riot.” Heard in the cast are Lois Adler, Jay Bonnell, Crystal Field, Brannon Hall, Walter Jones, Frank MacFie, Marvin Peisner, and Ashton Young. Folksongs performed by John Bassette. Technical director, Edgar Walker.
Inquest at Christiana (Episode 9 of 29, Part 2 of 2)
A play by Jon Katz, adapted from the historical documents of the fugitive slave resistance at Christiana, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 1851–the so-called “Christiana Riot.” Heard in the cast are Lois Adler, Jay Bonnell, Crystal Field, Brannon Hall, Walter Jones, Frank MacFie, Marvin Peisner, and Ashton Young. Folksongs performed by John Bassette. Technical director, Edgar Walker.
Avenue of dream (Episode 10 of 29)
A mother, a daughter, a radio and a squalid apartment are the components of this radio play written by Elyse Nass and directed by Daniel Landau for WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre. Madlyn Cates plays the mother and Jacqueline Portnoy plays Olga, the daughter. Technical direction by Ed Woodard. This recording was formerly cataloged as BB3818.01.
The stranger (Episode 11 of 29)
A prize-winning mystery play in verse by Maxine Haleff, directed by Jack Marks for WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre. The cast includes Virgil Doyle, Jack Marks, Maxine Haleff and Raymond Espinosa. Technical production by Morris Markowitz and Fred Friedman. Original score by Sun Ra (1914-1993). Broadcast on WBAI, June 7 and 8, 1968.
Fortuna (Episode 12 of 29)
Poems from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana read in English translation. Hear of the joys of the flesh penned by the Goliards, medieval defrocked churchmen and students, interpreted in a modern way by The Word Players, who are Larry Holpp, Dona Marans, Albert Norton, Judy Ratner, Julie Scherer, and Ed Walker. Directed and produced by Baird Searles for the Mind’s Eye Theater.
Boy in darkness (Episode 13 of 29, Part 1 of 3)
Dramatic reading of Mervyn Peake’s Boy in Darkness, the second installment of Peake’s Gormenghast trilogy featuring the hero Titus Groan, on WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre.
Boy in darkness (Episode 13 of 29, Part 2 of 3)
Dramatic reading of Mervyn Peake’s Boy in Darkness, the second installment of Peake’s Gormenghast trilogy featuring the hero Titus Groan, on WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre.
Boy in darkness (Episode 13 of 29, Part 3 of 3)
Dramatic reading of Mervyn Peake’s Boy in Darkness, the second installment of Peake’s Gormenghast trilogy featuring the hero Titus Groan, on WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre.
Iscariot (Episode 14 of 29)
Adaptation of Frank Moffett Mosier’s play set in the Near East during the Roman Empire,and focussing on the relationship between Judas Iscariot and an unnamed friend. Features Joseph M. Hamer as Judas Iscariot and Jonathan Fox as the friend. Directed by Sarah Schilling. Technical production by Richard Brause.
Monuments (Episode 15 of 29)
Eight monologues by Diane Di Prima, written at different times, and first assembled at the Cafe Cino.
Trad, bad, mad (Episode 16 of 29, Part 1 of 2)
Written especially for radio by the young English author James Morgan, these are three interdependent plays that are highly sophisticated versions of the fairy tale “The princess and the frog”. The cast includes Charlotte Lane, Robert Bernard, Ted Royce and Sailor Cresswell. The play was directed by Sarah Schilling. Technical production and special effects by Richard Brause.
Trad, bad, mad (Episode 16 of 29, Part 2 of 2)
Part Two of the play written especially for radio by the young English author James Morgan. These are three interdependent plays that are highly sophisticated versions of the fairy tale “The princess and the frog”. The cast includes Charlotte Lane, Robert Bernard, Ted Royce and Sailor Cresswell. The play was directed by Sarah Schilling.
Rats (Episode 17 of 29)
A play with elements of suspense and fantasy which comments on contemporary life, written by Canadian playwright Michel Corbeil and first produced on WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre. The cast includes Dan Leach, Carole Silon, Marvin Felix Camilo, Stephanie Moss, Jane Sanford and John Tormey. Produced by Charles Lewis, directed by Michel Corbeil. Technical direction by Ed Woodard.
The girl had guts (Episode 18 of 29)
A dramatic reading of a short story by Theodore Sturgeon (1918-1985), one of America’s foremost writers of science fiction, for WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre. Performers are Ann Rivers, Frank Coffee, and Baird Searles. The story is used by the kind permission of the author. This recording was formerly cataloged as BB3818.17.
A child went forth (Episode 19 of 29)
A performance for radio of a long dialogue between youth and age, set forth in a contemporary mode. Written and directed by David Sawn, with Bruce Harlow as the Old Man and Bob Darchi as the Young Boy, this is from the original production as seen at Off-Broadway’s Dramarena Studio Theatre, produced by Pauline Braun. Technical production by Barry Singer.
The language of flowers (Episode 20 of 29)
The Word Players salute spring with a performance of flower poems by various authors. The collection of poems is a Victorian analysis of flowers, taken from the 1963 reissue of the book The Illustrated Language of Flowers, originally compiled by Mrs. Anna Christian Burke in 1856. The poems relate to the conception that people have of flowers, and what flowers mean to people.
A chance session (Episode 21 of 29)
The Word Players read random selections from books and bits and pieces about chance, prophecy and revelation, a reading from the I Ching, and silence, confront a 1200-foot tape of numbers (1-62) which is stopped and started by direction, but no one knows which number will come up next. The number on the tape determines who reads and what the material will be.
Federico (Episode 22 of 29)
A radio performance based on the life of the Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca, written, produced and directed by David Davidson Reiff. This stylized biographical montage contains material presented in English for the first time.
Swanwhite (Episode 23 of 29)
Radio adaptation of a play by Swedish playwright August Strindberg (1849-1912), cast in the form of a classic fairy tale but with depths and depths. Julienne Marie plays the title role; the cast also includes Larry Gates, Sue Lawless, Herb Sufrin, Charlotte Lane, Victor Arnold and Sheldon Baron. Technical production by David Rapkin. Adapted, directed, and narrated by Saylor Cresswell, Jr.
Fungi from Yuggoth (Episode 24 of 29)
A dramatic performance of an early poem by Howard Phillips “H.P.” Lovecraft (1890-1937) by the Word Players for WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre. Cast includes David Haight, Judy Ratner, Gil Jardine, Julie Scherer, Sherry Pockell and Ann Rivers. The technical production was by Neil Conan, assisted by Charles Pitts. The program was conceived and directed by Baird Searles.
A diary in topaz (Episode 25 of 29)
The Word Players perform this play for radio written especially for the Word Players by American playwright Kenneth Lillquist. The story is a love affair, told with voices of Light and Darkness. Cast includes Gil Jardine, Sherry Pockell, and Edgar Walker as the Voices of Light; and David Haight and Ann Rivers as the Voices of Darkness.
Conversation with a deaf mute (Episode 26 of 29)
A play for voices by William S. Tracy. A one-sided telephone conversation is the framework for this character study of an artist. Featuring a tour de force performance by Peter Altschuler as Jim Conroy, with Cindy Balabar as Aunt Mary Clare, Frank Coffee as the priest, George Spelvin as the doctor and Baird Searles as the narrator. Technical production by Ed Woodard.
Romeo and Juliet (Episode 27 of 29)
The Word Players perform a fragmented, splintered version of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” for WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre. The cast includes Gil Jardine, David Haight and Edgar Walker as Romeo; Susan Miller, Sherry Pockell, Ann Rivers and Julie Scherer. Music mixed by David Kavanaugh. Production assistant: Ann Goldberg. Technical direction by David Lerner.
No box scan has been included in this record, because the box is literally a plain, white box with nothing on it except the PRA Archive number.
Guest of honor (Episode 28 of 29)
A radio adaptation of a short play by Howard Pflanzer based on events that transpire over the course of a party. Featuring the voices of Joanne Hill, Yvon Dihe, Charles Woodruff, Angela Cheyne, and Lew Patterson as the voice of Tibor. Technical direction by David Rapkin. Directed by Sarah Sanders for WBAI’s Mind’s Eye Theatre. This recording was formerly cataloged as BB3818.20.
There’s a little ambiguity over there among the bluebells, and other theater poems (Episode 29 of 29)
A series of poetic plays by Ruth Krauss (1901-1993) demonstrating the possibilities of selection and juxtaposition. This was the final production of the Word Players. The Word Players are: David Haight, Susan Miller, Sherry Pockell, Ann Rivers, Julie Scherer and Edgar Walker. Directed by Baird Searles, with technical production by David Rapkin.