Act
Midnight Mystery Theater
The Midnight Mystery Theater germinated from The Tricano Desales Show; a live variety talk show which ran weekly at an off campus pub for Seattle University students called the Sundance Tavern in 1984. Hosted by James Goldsmith, co-hosted by Matthew Hoover, Brian Goldsmith and John Ruoff as the comedy writing staff and John Ruoff as the announcer. A bold, experimental comedy show featuring the newly formed Theater Sports improvisational troupe (still active), local stand up comedians and celebrities topped off with a game show and a musical guest. One of the most popular features was Hollywood Pulse Line; “A wacky, way-out look at the world of motion picture and television entertainment” written by Brian Goldsmith and John Ruoff and performed by John Ruoff as the unseen announcer. Out of the this comedy spot evolved mini radio plays starring Brian Goldsmith and John Ruoff as noir insurance agent Dick Doubleheart and his wise guy nutty assistant pal Sparky. In 1985 John Ruoff and Brian Goldsmith began writing a radio comedy/mystery serial based on these characters which became the first MMT show recorded by Tommy Ott entitled “The Case of the Missing Molar.” The sound effects were created by Richard Devitte. The music was written and performed by Benet Fleck. The cast included Matthew Hoover, Benet Fleck, Mary Sherman, Anne Marie Goines and Victoria Livingston. Although funny and original, the show was 90 minutes in length and was not suitable for air play but served as a learning experience in production and collaboration for the next phase of MMT.Browse all performers
