Children attending the Callaway Christian Academy had an opportunity last week to learn about the history of broadcasting and some fun tricks for sound effects, all while providing entertainment for the public.

Steve Sommer, Director of Callaway Christian Academy, proposed the idea to the students and teacher, Morgan Hinman, of doing an old-time radio show. Sommer said he fashioned the concept from the programming done by Garrison Keillor, who created the Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) show A Prairie Home Companion (called Garrison Keillor's Radio Show in some international syndication), which he hosted from 1974 to 2016. Keillor is also the creator of the five-minute daily radio/podcast program The Writer's Almanac, which pairs one or two poems of his choice with a script about important literary, historical, and scientific events that coincided with that date in history.

“He would do an hour-long show that would include a portion of something like a detective show, and then a skit, then he would read letters from home, and interview people, and that sort of thing. And his sound effects were out of this world,” Sommer explained. “I got to thinking that we could do that, and actually did about six years ago in Broken Bow. It’s just the idea that you bring old time radio flavor back as a form of entertainment.”

The students provided the sound effects for the program, which was held Friday evening, March 17, at the Community Center. The sound effects accompanied skits which were read by a handful of community volunteers. Sommer said the students even contributed ideas of sound effects that they ended up using in the skits, because they were better than those that were suggested.

“One of the skits was a segment of a skit of Wyatt Earp and Annie Oakley who were chasing a bad guy who stole a case of Twin Bing candy bars,” Sommer shared with a chuckle.

Other segments included a cooking show, the news, a poker game, a detective story and a variety of other skits. Of course, since it is old-time radio there isn’t acting - only the reader's voice and sound effects are heard by the audience and tell the story being shared.

The program was not actually broadcast on the air, but rather was performed live as a fundraiser for the school. Along with the radio show, a gospel quartet the evening of the show, programs were handed out that included some information of old time radio shows that many folks may remember, or at least have heard of. Those included Abbott & Costello, Buck Rogers, Dick Tracy, Dragnet, The Lone Ranger and several more.

A hot dog meal was offered prior to the show, all for a free will offering to benefit the school.

The Callaway Christian Academy began in September 2022, and combines a Biblical background to the students' education. “We start the day with a pledge to the flag and a Bible study,” Sommer explained. “Math, reading and writing are considered vital, along with respect for each other, adults and our country.”

Sommer said that enrollment will be held over in the coming months for the 2023-24 school year, and anyone interested in learning more about the academy or enrolling may contact him or come to the academy during school hours. The Callaway Christian Academy is located in the former Callaway Mercantile building.