Campfire Radio Theater – “Night Delivery”
We tune the dial back to the neon-soaked 1980s for a tale of analog horror. “Night Delivery” is a personal favorite that centers around a radio station, a rookie late-night DJ, a mysterious woman in red, and some truly devilish music.
This episode presented a wonderful challenge: assembling a soundscape that felt authentic to the era while drawing from the archives of Overlook Hotel Records. To fit the theme of the story, a portion of the music was written specifically to be played backwards, utilizing the controversial 80s panic over backmasking.
The Story: Dead Air
“Vintage vinyl and musty record sleeves permeated the air… A reminder of a bygone era when radio meant a needle plowing grooves through a record spun round and round.”
Dustin, a fresh college grad, lands a summer job at a radio station. It’s the mid-80s, and he falls in love with the magic of the airwaves, and with a mysterious woman named Sasha. But the request line isn’t the only thing ringing in the dead of night. There are shadows that loom in the studio, and a keen awareness of a dark presence that drives him from slumber screaming like a madman.
Behind the Scenes: The Laugh of Madness
In addition to scoring the episode, I had the unique opportunity to voice the laugh of Satan himself. Creator John Ballentine wasn’t interested in the stereotypical, hyped-up villain laughter common in horror films. Instead, he wanted a specific kind of madness, akin to the laughter heard on Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage” (which was rumored to be their road manager, Peter Watts).
I channeled that manic energy for the role, and you can also hear me as the “man on the street” being asked about the location of Snake Eye Records.
Featured Music
A couple of the tracks used in the story were written by friends of mine. Here are two pieces used with their kind permission:
“Unless Until” is a beautiful, slow ballad written by Mike Chambers and Andrew May:
“Drones” is by The Three Minstrels (featuring Andrew May, Joe Bartoldus, and myself):
Listener Response
Listeners have praised “Night Delivery” for its late-night radio atmosphere, memorable characters, and nostalgic tone, with many calling it one of the series’ most replayable episodes.
- “Script and characters are so well done. Instant classic.”
- “Love the DJing aspect and the nostalgia it made me feel.”
- “Sound production is on point.”
Warning: Contains explicit language and frightening situations.
Cast and Crew
Written, directed, and produced by John Ballentine.
Original music score by Kevin Hartnell.
Special Thanks:
- Andrew May
- Joe Bartoldus
- Mike Chambers
- Mat Williams
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