Huckleberry Radio Hour revives local variety radio

Local broadcaster Michael J. Thorp began the Huckleberry Radio Hour to promote the use of the Colwell Opera House at Crossroads Village. Thorp also fulfilled his desire to write, produce and host a traditional one-hour live variety radio show.

The show includes a number of local voice and music talents with locally focused, fun and educational themes broadcast live on WFNT 1470AM.

Thorp compares the show to the Grand Ole Opry in format and the setting to Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon, but he notes Crossroads Village is a real place.

The commercial breaks consist of actual specials at the General Store below the opera house, Genesee County Parks and Recreation events are reported and results of local fishing and horseshoe competitions are included.

The regular cast features Michigan musician and storyteller Neil Woodward, writer of the show's theme song, and includes the Huckleberry Pickers stage band and the Flint Institute of Music's Flint Jubilee Chorale.

A soap opera, As the Village Turns is performed by the Huckleberry Players actors and every show features a regional music artist or group performing two sets and the grand finale.

The opera house has featured concerts, stage shows, the radio show and a TV show when WFUM-TV won two regional emmys for their broadcast of the Huckleberry Radio Show.  Thorp said he continues to be impressed with the great acoustics and intimate setting.

Thorp said being a live audience member is interesting because it is "really two shows in one.  One is the radio show, the other is the stage show — how radio is done."

The audience sees Thorp producing and directing the show from his podium, the crew moving equipment and acts preparing. A closed rehearsal is conducted the day of the show to edit timing of events but Thorp says the live show is "very close to what I hear in my head." The show uses no computers or tapes and all mechanical sound effects are performed by Jon Coggins.

The Huckleberry Radio Show resumes its monthly schedule May 29.

Visit http://www.geneseecountyparks.org/radio_show.htm or call (810) 736-7100 for a listing of dates and ticket information.