An interesting read about audio drama — and apropos of the most recent Podtalk episode, Audio Drama - with Scott Edward Smith
Descriptions of audio drama as “theatre of the mind” have been around about as long as the medium itself. Its origins can be traced back to the way stage plays were adapted for radio, bringing everything from Shakespeare to the crime dime novel to a broader audience. Actors stood at microphones to read their parts live, foley artists at the ready to create any sound effects the story might need, and musicians provided the soundtrack as it was being broadcast. Without the widespread use of recording technology for these performances, audio dramas were simply a recreation of the experience of watching a play with one important sense missing. ~ Newt Schottelkotte