Strawberry Automatic by T.Ray Gordon\Richard Sellers

He is also producing eight children's audio books for AMERICAN GREETINGS LEARNING HORIZONS division. As a character voice talent Rick has provided character voices for toys for most of the major players including HASBRO TOYS, LITTLE TIKES TOYS, GALOOB TOYS, and ITEM, etc. Recently Rick was asked to audition for a new television show to air on CARTOON NETWORK. The new show entitled SQUIDBILLIES is currently in production and scheduled to air this fall.

T. Ray Gordon began his fledgling career in 1942 as a proof reader checking radio scripts at WOR radio in New York City for the MUTUAL BROADCAST SYSTEM.

In less the three years he was ghost writing for some of the industries top talent. In the spring of 1946 he was made producer and head writer on a new science fiction radio drama scheduled to air that September. It was to be broadcast from WOR the Mutual systems flagship radio station. The show was titled "VISTAS of the BEYOND" The format was a 15 minute weekly anthology series airing at 7:30 PM just after the "KAY CARSON VARIETY HOUR".Gordon directed each episode and utilized a repertory company of New York actors to perform his shows. Working 50 sometimes 60 hours a week, producing several prime time shows while writing the scripts for his science fiction radio drama took it's toll on the 26 year old Gordon. Under intense pressure from MUTUAL to cut budgets, and reduce costs he began drinking heavily-carousing till the we hours of the morning. His initial draft of the very first episode of his show, titled 'INHUMANITY QUEST" was met with jeers by network sensors who found the script unpatriotic, dark, and anti- American.

Never the less "INHUMANITY QUEST" was broadcast on September 8, 1946.The reaction was mixed. The program director HARVEY KLAUS was anything but impressed, he threatened to fire Gordon. Slipping into a deep depression, Gordon's drinking and well known womanizing reached critical proportions. To make things worse there were the ugly rumors of an affair with the wife of a powerful sponsor. "FRIENDLY FOODS"pulled funding for Gordon's show six months after it's air date. Due at least in part to Gordon's antics other sponsors dropped away one by one. In the fall of 1947 T. Ray Gordon was fired.

He left New York City broken and battered and returned to his home in Indiana.

Gordon freelanced for several years writing instruction manuals for various consumer goods, everything from automobiles to toasters. Meanwhile he continued to write, voraciously pounding out 72 original manuscripts from 1949-1958. From time to time he would submit his work to the publishing community only to be met by rejection after rejection . By June of 1961 T. Ray Gordon was a hopeless alcoholic. Six months later, pennyless and with no prospects for the future-T. Ray Gordon ended his own life with a self inflicted gun shot wound. His death was ruled a suicide by local authorities and his body was cremated.

Forty three years after his death, T. Ray Gordon's science fiction master works live again.

Thanks to Producer Richard Sellers, Associate producer Wesley McCraw and Apex Audio Theatre. The 72 original unpublished manuscripts written by Gordon as radio plays and lost for nearly half a century, are now lovingly and painstakingly being re recorded as Audio Dramas. Produced with a multi cast of voice actors, digital sound effects, and a fantastic new musical score. The first three of T. Ray Gordon's remarkable radio dramas will soon be available to the public. Watch for "INHUMANITY QUEST" "STRAWBERRY AUTOMATIC" and "INHERITORS OF THE SUN GOD'S"

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