Resident writes an “old-time radio show” for Brooksby Village

Peabody, MA -- Last year’s stay-at-home mandates gave John Sullivan a valuable resource—time. John, who lives at Brooksby Village, a senior living community managed by Erickson Living in Peabody, MA, with his wife Barbara, used the extended time at home to write six episodes of a radio show, reminiscent of America’s Golden Age of Radio.

“I was talking about the possibility of airing old-time radio shows on Brooksby TV,” says John. “Then the pandemic hit, and I had time to write an original show.”

Brooksby’s on-site television studio, with original programming produced by residents and supported by the professional expertise of full-time audio and visual employees, is one of the amenities John found most appealing when he and Barbara moved to Brooksby in 2013.

“Barbara is the treasurer for the Brooksby library and a member of the Women’s Forum,” says John, a retired business instructor who taught at Northeastern University and Boston University. “I found my spot in the television studio, where I work on the Good Day Brooksby program.”

Cliffhangers

John’s radio program, The Amazing Adventures of Jimmy and Maude, follows two residents of a fictitious retirement community, The Landing, in the made-up town of Bucks Harbor in Eastern Massachusetts. “I drew on our experience of living at Brooksby Village, of course, in the sense that you’ve got an amalgamation of people all living in the same community, but if the events took place at Brooksby that took place at The Landing, we’d have to get the FBI involved,” says John with a laugh.

Keep them hanging

Each 30-minute episode of The Amazing Adventures of Jimmy and Maude ends with a cliffhanger. There’s a love triangle, a murder, and a hit by the Ukrainian mob. The series begins on a lighthearted note, as Maude, voiced by Sandra Anastasi, waters the plants on her patio. The water overflows to the patio below, where Jimmy, voiced by John Murphy, is reading the sports section in the local paper. Drenched newspaper in hand, Jimmy storms off to find management to resolve the problem, setting up the "meet-cute" for the lead characters. As John began to write, he found himself immersed in the plot.

“The characters run the show themselves,” he says. “I just write down what they do. Spending time with these characters has sparked something in my brain.”

To bring the story to life, John enlisted the talent of Brooksby residents to voice the characters. “I knew John Murphy would be a great Jimmy, but I didn’t have any idea who would voice Maude until I heard Sandra Anastasi talking with a group of friends,” says John. “When I heard her speak, I knew she’d be perfect for the role.”

Taking on a new role

Sandra was intrigued when she learned of John’s project. “I’ve never done anything like this before,” says Sandra. “To my amazement, I was cast as Maude.”

Sandra says the diversion came at just the right moment. “Normally, I’m busy with all my usual activities at Brooksby,” she says. “But when things were slow because of the pandemic, the show was a little ray of sunshine. It provided a change of pace and a way to socialize and do something creative.”

To record the radio show, John met virtually with the cast of characters via Zoom for a practice session.

The following week, they recorded an episode using Zoom as their medium. Cliff Kent, another longtime volunteer in Brooksby’s television studio, edited the program and added special effects before each episode aired on Brooksby TV.

Enjoying time together

“Our get-togethers on Zoom were hysterical,” says Sandra. “We never knew what was going to happen. During one of our recording sessions, Brooksby was testing the fire alarms. Those unexpected moments added to the fun. John never lost his patience, and we always found a way to get it done.”

The response to the show was so positive, John has already written six more episodes, introducing new characters and plot developments.

“John is only giving us the episode we’re practicing and recording, so the cast is waiting to see what happens just like everyone else at Brooksby,” says Sandra.

John, for his part, says the show’s success has accomplished his original goal. “I wanted to tell a story through dialogue, something that would capture people’s imagination and leave them wanting more,” he says. “It’s fun to see it come to life.”

Consider Brooksby Village if you’re interested in living in an active senior independent living community. Beautiful walking paths, gardens, resort-style amenities, an on-site medical center staffed by full-time medical professionals, and new friends await. Request a brochure

About Brooksby Village: Brooksby Village is one of 20 continuing care retirement communities developed and managed by Erickson Living® and is situated on a scenic 90-acre campus in Peabody, Massachusetts. The not-for-profit community, located in Essex County, is home to 1,700 residents and is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, Inc., who provide independent financial and operational oversight of the community. Additional information about Brooksby Village can be found at BrooksbyVillage.com.

Written by Sara Martin