After a five-year Covid-induced hiatus, the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy has launched a Fundrazr campaign to support an in-person convention to celebrate 50 years as a classic radio organization May 1-4, 2025 at the Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall in Las Vegas, NV.

Our 50th Anniversary Convention will be a memorable celebration packed with exciting activities:

Live Radio Recreations:  Experience the thrill of professional live re-creations from original radio scripts performed by celebrity guests, talented voice actors, and sound effects artists. Enjoy new audio theater performances as well. Shows on the schedule now include Lux Radio Theater, The Jack Benny Show, CBS Radio Mystery Theater, Mercury Theater, The Lone Ranger, Escape, The Phil Harris/Alice Faye Show, Suspense and Fibber McGee & Molly!

Panels and Workshops:  Learn the history and techniques of radio drama from experts and historians, including Martin Grams, Jr., author of the definitive work on the history of The Lone Ranger, and Joe Webb, who recently completed exhaustive histories and restorations of Suspense and Theater 5.

Meet & Greet:  Mingle with celebrities, voice actors, producers, and fellow enthusiasts.

Exhibits and Memorabilia:  Explore exhibits showcasing vintage radios, scripts, and other memorabilia from the golden age of radio.

Why We Need Fundraising: Rising costs due to inflation have made it challenging to run a convention of this scale. Travel costs, hotel expenses, sound production, and support materials have increased. We aim to keep attendance tickets affordable to maximize participation, but the budget required for a three-day event in Las Vegas is $95,000. If we do not reach our goal, we will not be able to host the event. Pledges will be cancelled per Fundrazr policies. Once our target is reached, funds raised which exceed our actual convention expenses will be retained in the SPERDVAC preservation account for use of preservation expenses.

Your Support Matters: Preserving classic radio and creating new audio theater is a labor of love that requires resources. The costs involved in creating this event exceed what our membership fees can cover. To create an event worthy of SPERDVAC’s legacy, we are raising funds to support the convention. Any surplus funds will be dedicated toward fulfilling the goals of our organization.

Your support will help us honor SPERDVAC's legacy and ensure the magic of radio and audio theater continues to inspire future generations. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to preserving the art of radio drama, variety, and comedy. (include website link)