RAFFLES, THE GENTLEMAN THIEF ---------------------------- 2004 - Present By: Stewart Wright Initial Compilation: 04/30/2005 Last Update: 02/28/2007 Copyright 2007 by Stewart Wright First Show: 07/18/2004 Last Show: Series is still in production Number of Shows: 11 and counting Audition Show: None BACKGROUND: RAFFLES, THE GENTLEMAN THIEF is based on E. W. Hornung's stories which were written in the latter years of the nineteenth century and the early years of the twentieth. Generally, it is acknowledged that the Raffles stories were inspired by Doyle's Sherlock Holmes tales; Hornung was the brother-in-law of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Hornung's dedication in his first collection of Raffles stories, "The Amateur Cracksman", reads, "To A. C. D. This Form of Flattery." Sherlock Holmes was the master detective; A. J. Raffles was the master thief. Holmes' chronicler was his friend and associate, Dr. Watson; the chronicler of Raffles was his friend and partner-in-crime, Bunny Manders. The Raffles character is no newcomer to American radio and motion pictures. During the Golden Age of Radio, there were three CBS radio series based on the adventures of Hornung's Gentlemen Thief. The first effort had a six month run during 1934. The second series ran during the 1942-1943 broadcast season. The final series was a summer replacement during 1945. Well-known actors such as John Barrymore, Ronald Colman, and David Niven played A. J. Raffles on the silver screen. This Jim French Productions series airs in the Seattle/Puget Sound area as part of IMAGINATION THEATRE on KIXI and is syndicated as part of IMAGINATION THEATRE on about 135 radio stations in the United States and Canada. It is also heard over on XM satellite radio in the United States and around the world on the Internet. IMAGINATION THEATRE also airs other Jim French series such as CRISIS; THE ADVENTURES OF HARRY NILE; CALL SIMON WALKER; THE HILARY CAINE MYSTERIES; KINCAID, THE STRANGE-SEEKER; THE CLASSIC ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES; and THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. SERIES DESCRIPTION: A. J. Raffles is England's most renowned cricketer. His fame gives him access to the highest circles of English Victorian society. Unfortunately, his acquired taste for the better things in life costs Raffles more than he makes from playing cricket. To supplement his income, Raffles has become a highly proficient burglar. In the short story "The Ides Of March," Raffles reveals his financial situation to a chum from his school days, Harry "Bunny" Manders, "And, with your own experience, do you think that because a fellow has rooms in this place, and belongs to a club or two, and plays a little cricket, he must necessarily have a balance at the bank? I tell you, my dear man, that at this moment I'm as hard up as you ever were. I have nothing but my wits to live on absolutely nothing else." Later in the story, Raffles discloses the solution to his own financial problems: burglary. Bunny, who also has similar monetary problems, becomes Raffles' partner and his chronicler. While his fame generally places Raffles above suspicion, Inspector Mackenzie of Scotland Yard is convinced that A. J. Raffles is The Gentleman Thief. Mackenzie is resolved to bring Raffles to justice and is assisted in his efforts by Sergeant Clyde. RAFFLES, THE GENTLEMAN THIEF features a mixture of adaptations of the original RAFFLES stories and brand new pastiches. English writer M. J. Elliott is providing most of the scripts for this series. Elliott has also created scripts for KINCAID, THE STRANGE- SEEKER and THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. Several of the first episodes of RAFFLES, THE GENTLEMAN THIEF open with the following narrative by the very determined Mackenzie, "The Gentleman Thief. He was responsible for the theft of the Thimbleby diamonds in 1890. He stole Lady Dormer's pearls six months later and his list of crimes goes on. He hides in plain sight, a member of London Society. Scotland Yard won't even admit he exists, but I know his secret and I'm the man to catch him!" The principle creations of Hornung and Conan Doyle cross paths in shows presented by Jim French Productions. Raffles and Sherlock Holmes match wits in THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES episode, "The Singular Affair Of The Persian Diadem" and the IMAGINATION THEATRE episode "The Third Gate." In the RAFFLES episode, "An Affair Of State," Mycroft Holmes coerces The Gentleman Thief and his cohort, Bunny Manders, to recover a missing document of international importance and Sherlock makes a cameo performance. CREW: Producer: Jim French Director: Lawrence Albert Writer: E. W. Hornung stories adapted by M. J Elliott; pastiches written by M. J. Elliott episodes 001 through 008 and 011. Jim French, Episode 009 John Hall, Episode 010. Music: "Vagabonds" by Dwight St. John Sound Effects: Jim French and Lawrence Albert Engineer: Jim French Announcer: Lawrence Albert CAST: Starring: John Armstrong as A. J. RAFFLES Dennis Bateman as HARRY "BUNNY" MANDERS Lawrence Albert as INSPECTOR MACKENZIE Gary Schwartz as SERGEANT CLYDE Guest Stars: Susan Connors, Ted D'arms, Caitlin Finne, Jim French, Tom Hammond, Ron Hippe, Katrina Baxter Hodiak, Randy Hoffmeyer, John Patrick Lowrie, Louise Moore, David Natale, Marlene Phillips, Cynthia Lauren Tewes, and Stephan Weyte. LOG: All dates are the date of original airing on Seattle radio. EPISODE NOTES: On 10/16/2005, "The Third Gate," a special program for the 500th week of IMAGINATION THEATRE aired on a one- time basis only. Featured were characters from various Jim French series: Raffles and Bunny (RAFFLES, THE GENTLEMAN THIEF), Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES), Harry Nile and Murphy (THE ADVENTURES OF HARRY NILE), Hilary Caine (THE HILARY CAINE MYSTERIES), and Michael Kincaid, Shelly Mars and Randall "Biggie" Bigelow (KINCAID, THE STRANGESEEKER) all appearing in one adventure written by Jim French and British writer M. J. Elliott. Orig Date Episode Title - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 07/18/2004 001 The Ides Of March 08/15/2004 002 A Costume Piece (Costume Piece) (The Costume Piece) 10/31/2004 003 A Gift From The Gods 12/12/2004 004 Out Of Paradise 02/27/2005 005 Gentlemen And Players 04/10/2005 006 Le Premier Pas 06/12/2005 007 A Long Night 08/28/2005 008 Wilful Murder 10/23/2005 009 A Diamond For The Dead 01/22/2006 010 The Ardagh Emeralds 01/21/2006 011 An Affair Of State AVAILABILITY: THESE SHOWS ARE PROTECTED UNDER COPYRIGHT LAW and should be purchased only from authorized dealers. HELP KEEP CONTEMPORARY RADIO DRAMA ALIVE! Purchase from Authorized Dealers. Jim French Productions Web Site: There is now a place on the Internet where fans of the contemporary radio dramas of Jim French can find out more about Jim, his various series, and some of the actors who star in them. Fans can even purchase many of his shows. The following URL will get you there: http://www.jimfrenchproductions.com RAFFLES, THE GENTLEMAN THIEF CD Sets Jim French Productions has released three single compact disc volumes with 3 episodes each. They are available from: Jim French Productions P. O. Box 75296 Seattle, WA. 98125 1-877-875-6453 http://www.jimfrenchproductions.com MP3 DOWNLOADS The first nine episodes of this series are available for download in MP3 format. For further details, see http://jimfrenchproductions.com The above address is provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement. INFORMATION SOURCES: Larry Albert of Jim French Productions who provided episode titles, episode initial airing dates, and recurring characters information. Correspondence and conversations with Jim French and Larry Albert 2004 - 2007. Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Various Dates 2004 to 2007. The Second, Revised Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide to All Circulating Shows by Jay Hickerson, 2001. Various Web pages at: http://www.jimfrenchproductions.com/raffles.php