Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer

Number 80 Productions
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Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer tells of a semi-famous roving reporter working for the Pittsburgh Guardian in the 1920s, a time of distinctive and exciting new fashions, music, politics, technology and, of course, sports. Get onboard with Orville for season 1 as he travels the country in 1924 and '25, from Pittsburgh to Chicago to Pasadena to New York and back, meeting with America's sports superstars, rumrunning gangsters, up-and-coming radio personalities and even a U.S. President... --- Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network. Voice acting is by Doug Fye, Ilona Fye and Eric Bodwell. The OMSW theme song, “The Dayton Triangles Rag” is written and performed by Bruce Smith, and is used by permission. Episode script by Os Davis; series concept by Darin Hayes.

  1. 05/26/2023

    The Rose Bowl

    New Year’s Day, 1925. The Rose Bowl: As the capper to the college football season, it’s the Big One, the kingmaker, the Grandaddy of Them All. By the mid-1920s, the Rose Bowl’s reputation as a top highlight on the sports calendar was already well affirmed and the 11th game featured two programs about to enter the national consciousness forever: the Pop Warner-coached, Ernie Nevers-led Stanford University versus the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer, having flown across nearly the entire country and witnessed via ghostly vision the future of the game, is set to cover sports history in the making. But when radio whiz kid Freddy Carson is incapacitated, can Orville and the daughter of the late sportswriter Ernie Doogle call an audible to save the day – on radio…? Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is an audio drama podcast from Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network. The Rose Bowl script and story by Os Davis. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer stars Doug Fye, Ilona Fye, and Eric Bodwell. The Rose Bowl co-stars in order of appearance Caedmon Holland, Abrianna LaValley, John Roberts and Forrest Hartl.   Additional direction by Eric Bodwell. Sound recording and primary editing by Don McIver. The theme song of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is “the Dayton Triangles Rag” and was arranged and performed by Bruce Smith.  Other tracks in this episode include •  “Rose Bowl intro” by Mike and Gene Monroe; • “Orville Mulligan’s Ragtime Dream” by Shane Ivers of Silverman Sound Studios; • “Pasadena” (1923) by Burt Firman; and •  “Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer (Outro theme)” by David Liso of Dynamo Stairs. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Series concept by Darrin Hayes. Stay tuned for more episodes of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer – coming soon!

    34 min

  2. 02/07/2023

    A Christmas Football Carol

    December 1924. Legendary Ernie Doogle has passed away – but that’s not about to stop him from having some fun with his old pal in the trenches, Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer. By the grace of the almighty Harold, the man most knew as “Doogs” returns in ghostly form to take Orville on a metaphysical ride to witness Football Past, Football Present and Football Future. Traveling (or does he?) from the 1880s to 1920 to the far-flung marvelous future of the 1950s, Orville may gain deeper insight  into the proverbial meanings of life, universe and everything, but he’ll definitely learn a thing or too about the evolution of football… Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is an audio drama podcast from Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network. A Christmas Football Carol script and story by Os Davis. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer stars Doug Fye, Ilona Fye, and Eric Bodwell. A Christmas Football Carol co-stars in order of appearance John Roberts, Forrest Hartl, Vernon Poitras, Joe Gallegos, Abianna LaValley and Szilvia Morvay. Additional direction by Eric Bodwell. Sound recording and primary editing by Don McIver. The theme song of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is “the Dayton Triangles Rag” and was arranged and performed by Bruce Smith.  Other tracks in this episode include •  “The Downhearted Blues” (1923) by Bessie Smith; •  Symphony no. 8 (Allegro con brio) by Antonin Dvorak; • “Jazz Club” by Kriss (available through fair-use agreement via FreeMusicArchive.org); • “Rockapalooza” by Shane Ivers of Silverman Sound Studios; • “Toot Toot, Tootsie (Goodbye)” (1922) by Al Jolson; • “Pasadena” (1923) by Burt Firman; and •  “Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer (Outro)” by David Liso of Dynamo Stairs. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Series concept by Darrin Hayes. Stay tuned for more episodes of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer – coming soon!

    55 min

  3. 12/25/2022

    Flight

    December 1924. When Orville Mulligan, Sports Writer for the Pittsburgh Guardian newspaper is assigned to cover the Rose Bowl in five days, he figures he’s out of luck – until learning he’ll be traversing the country in a whole new way: Via air. Piloting Orville to the big game is Walter Lees, a private-sector test pilot, member of the Caterpillar Club, and top competitor in the recently-born world of air-racing. Along the journey of 3,000 miles, Orville learns of the early history of aeronautics and gets of view of the commercial possibilities for the exciting new technology. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is an audio drama podcast from Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network. Flight script and story by Os Davis. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer stars Doug Fye, Ilona Fye, and Eric Bodwell. Flight co-stars in order of appearance Forrest Hartl, Os Davis and John Roberts. The theme song of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is “the Dayton Triangles Rag” and was arranged and performed by Bruce Smith.  Other tracks in this episode include •  “Cletus Train Music” by Mike and Gene Monroe; •  “Piano Concerto no. 2” (1924) by Sergei Prokofiev; •  “Helena’s Lament,” “Climb” and “Get a Little” by Silverman Sound Studios; •  “Pasadena” (1923) by Bert Firman; and •  “Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer (Outro)” by David Liso of Dynamo Stairs. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Series concept by Darrin Hayes. Stay tuned for more episodes of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer – coming soon!

    39 min

  4. 11/23/2022

    Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer - Thanksgiving and Football (or maybe Vice Versa)

    Thanksgiving Day, 1924. The recently-established tradition of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team hosting the Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions on the afternoon of the national autumnal holiday continues. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is sent to cover the Pitt-Penn State “Keystone Classic” of 1924; in so doing, he discovers a throughline of the football-on-Thanksgiving tradition going back to 1621 (okay, actually, that’s going back to 1869) and reminds us that high-level football games on Thanksgiving are nearly as old as the official Thanksgiving holiday itself.   Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is an audio drama podcast from Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network. Thanksgiving and Football (or maybe Vice Versa) script & story by Os Davis. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer stars Doug Fye, Ilona Fye, and Eric Bodwell. Thanksgiving and Football (or maybe Vice Versa) co-stars, in order of appearance, Caedmon Holland, Forrest Hartl and Wayne Brett. Additional direction by Eric Bodwell. Sound recording and primary editing by Don McIver. The theme song of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is “the Dayton Triangles Rag” and was arranged and performed by Bruce Smith.  Other tracks in this episode include •  “Jazz Club” by Kriss (available through fair-use agreement via FreeMusicArchive.org); •  “Litany of the Street” by Silverman Sound Studios; •  “Bimini Bay” (1921) by the Benson Orchestra of Chicago; and •  “Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer (Outro)” by David Liso of Dynamo Stairs. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Series concept by Darrin Hayes. Stay tuned for more episodes of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer – coming soon!

    27 min

  5. 10/28/2022

    the 1924 Colored World Series, as told by Oscar “Heavy” Johnson

    Major League Baseball’s 1924 World Series was an instant classic, a seven-game thriller between the New York Giants and Washington Senators that for 50 years was unquestionably considered the finest ever played. But that same year another Fall Classic for the ages was played” The 1924 Colored World Series was the first of its kind, a meeting of the Eastern League champion Hilldale Giants (alternatively known as the Hilldale Darby Daisies or, simply, Hilldale) and the juggernaut Negro National League consecutive champion Kansas City Monarchs played out over 10 games in four cities. Check out the story of this ’24 World Series, as told to Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer by Monarchs leftfielder Oscar “Heavy” Johnson with an assist by Pittsburgh Globe newspaperman Ray Easter. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is an audio drama podcast from Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network. “The 1924 Colored World Series” script and story by Os Davis. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer stars Doug Fye, Ilona Fye, and Eric Bodwell. “The 1924 Colored World Series” features Lyrik Johnson as Heavy Johnson, and Gerald Waters Jr. as Ray Easter. Direction by Kasey Summers. The theme song of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is “Dayton Triangles Rag” and was arranged and performed by Bruce Smith.  Other tracks used in this episode include •  “Ladies and Gentlemen” and “Cats on the Roof” by Soundtrickz; •  “Albert Einstein Goes to the Moon” by the Dave Tough Band; and •  “Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer (Outro)” by David Liso of Dynamo Stairs. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Series concept by Darrin Hayes. Stay tuned for more episodes of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer – coming soon!

    10 min

  6. 10/27/2022

    Heavy

    November 1924. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is but a few weeks removed from witnessing game 7 of the World Series, thought by nearly all to have been the Finest Ever Played, alongside President Calvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge. Now, Orville is about to learn another World Series just as fine had also been played that very same year: The inaugural Colored World Series of 1924. When Ray Easter, Orville’s counterpart from the Pittsburgh Globe newspaper, arranges a meeting with Kansas City Monarchs superstar leftfielder Oscar “Heavy” Johnson, he not only hears tell of a titanic battle of behemoths from K.C. and Philadelphia, he discovers an entire universe of baseball with its own rules and economics, featuring legendary teams like the 25th Infantry Wreckers, the All Nations club and of course the Homestead Grays. After all, sometimes you don’t have to be “Major League” to play major league baseball… Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is an audio drama podcast from Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network. “Heavy” script and story by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer stars Doug Fye, Ilona Fye, and Eric Bodwell. This episode co-stars Molly Williams and Chris Sugi, and features Lyrik Johnson as Heavy Johnson and Gerald Waters Jr. as Ray Easter. Direction by Kasey Summers. The theme song of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is “Dayton Triangles Rag” and was arranged and performed by Bruce Smith.  Other tracks used in this episode include •  “Ladies and Gentlemen” by Soundtrickz; and •  “Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer (Outro)” by David Liso of Dynamo Stairs. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Series concept by Darrin Hayes. Stay tuned for more episodes of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer – coming soon!

    47 min

  7. 10/18/2022

    The Anniversary of the Notre Dame vs Army game 1924

    A special re-release of episode Number 8 "The Four Horseman" is being put out to celebrate the 98th anniversary of the famous Notre Dame vs. Army game of 1924. Grantland Rice has been credited with dubbing the all-time great quartet of backs who starred for the 1924 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team – Miller and Stuhldreher, Crowley and Layden – as “The Four Horsemen.” But did he get the expression from another source, namely Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer…? October 1924. Like many of his peers in newsprint and radio, quasi-famous sportswriter Orville Mulligan is sent to Polo Grounds in New York City to cover college football’s game of the week between the top-ranked Irish and the Army Cadets of West Point. Meanwhile back at the offices of Orville’s ’paper of employment, the Pittsburgh Guardian, editor-in-chief Frank Delft attempts to avert a follicular crisis with disastrous results… Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is an audio drama podcast from Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network. “The Four Horsemen” script and story by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer stars Doug Fye, Ilona Fye, and Eric Bodwell. "The Four Horsemen" co-stars in order of appearance Molly Adams, Lennon DeLeon, Steve Silva, Gwyneth Doland, John Roberts, Vernon Poitras, Vincent Anastasiou and Caedmon Holland. Directing by Eric Bodwell. Sound recording and primary editing by Don McIver. The theme song of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is “Dayton Triangles Rag” and was arranged and performed by Bruce Smith.  Other tracks used in this episode include •  “Cletus Train Music” by Mike and Gene Monroe; •  “Jazz Club” by Kriss (available through fair-use agreement via FreeMusicArchive.org); and •  “Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer (Outro)” by David Liso of Dynamo Stairs. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Series concept by Darrin Hayes. Stay tuned for more episodes of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer – coming soon!

    55 min

  8. 08/24/2022

    Roaring Chicago, part 3

    November 1924. Sportswriter Orville Mulligan is assigned to cover two football games in Roaring Chicago - but with these stories filed, he's got a decidedly more nervewracking piece to write up... Episode 3 sees Orville finally gain admittance to the Ragen Athletic Club, a semipro men's association which doubles as one of the Windy City's hottest speakeasies. While his sportswriter colleagues have the time of their lives, can Orville keep his wits about him as he interviews Frank Ragen, alleged full-on member of the Chicago underworld and instigator of the Chicago race riot of 1919...? Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is an audio drama podcast from Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network. "Roaring Chicago" script and story by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Special thanks to author/historians Jennifer Taylor-Hall, Chris Willis and Joe Ziemba for additional research. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer stars Doug Fye, Ilona Fye, and Eric Bodwell. "Roaring Chicago" part 3 co-stars in order of appearance Scott Leete, Abrianna LaValley, Mindy Grossberg, Vernon Poitras, Joe Gallegos, Caedmon Holland, Forrest Hartl, John Roberts, and Don McIver. Directing by Eric Bodwell. Sound recording and primary editing by Don McIver. The theme song of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is “Dayton Triangles Rag” and was arranged and performed by Bruce Smith.  Other tracks used in this episode include "Give a Little" and "Rendezvous" by Silverman Sound Productions; "Alexander's Gin Mill Band" produced by the Dream Joker with an extrapolation of "Urban Hip-Hop" by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/, music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/; via Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0); "Albert Einstein Goes to Chicago" by the Dave Tough Band; and  “Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer (Outro)” by David Liso of Dynamo Stairs. Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Os Davis and Darin Hayes. Series concept by Darrin Hayes. Stay tuned for more episodes of Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer - coming soon!

    29 min
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About

Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer tells of a semi-famous roving reporter working for the Pittsburgh Guardian in the 1920s, a time of distinctive and exciting new fashions, music, politics, technology and, of course, sports. Get onboard with Orville for season 1 as he travels the country in 1924 and '25, from Pittsburgh to Chicago to Pasadena to New York and back, meeting with America's sports superstars, rumrunning gangsters, up-and-coming radio personalities and even a U.S. President... --- Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer is produced by Number 80 Productions and the Sports History Network. Voice acting is by Doug Fye, Ilona Fye and Eric Bodwell. The OMSW theme song, “The Dayton Triangles Rag” is written and performed by Bruce Smith, and is used by permission. Episode script by Os Davis; series concept by Darin Hayes.

Information

  • Creator
    Number 80 Productions
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2023
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Number 80 Productions
  • Show Website
    Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer