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Besides posting book reviews, once in a while I will be posting articles on the subject of pulps. I hope we can generate more interest for the Blog. If you would like to share an article on the pulps, you can send me a message in the Comments of a post.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Radio Archives


 
April 25, 2014
 
 
 
Very few radio shows that aired during Radio’s Golden Age between the early 1930s right on up into the 1950s managed to spin off an equally successful sequel series – yet Jerry Dugan’s circus adventures proved to be so popular amongst young listeners that a sequel series about Jerry’s adventures in a military school – Jerry at Fair Oaks – quickly followed.
 
Jerry Dugan’s first set of radio adventures – Jerry of the Circus - began in 1937, when Hollywood-based Transco first conceived of the story of Jerry Dugan, an orphaned boy who is taken in by the Randall Brothers’ Circus after the death of his father.
 
Jerry and his dog Rags are unofficially adopted by the Randall Brothers’ Circus and are quickly befriended by most of the performers. Mystery and intrigue quickly follow and Jerry discovers that one of the circus performers is actually his long lost uncle who is suffering from amnesia!
 
Jerry at Fair Oaks picks up shortly after Sam Randall is named Jerry Dugan’s legal guardian. While Jerry’s new found family love him, they believe that a circus is no place for a bright boy with plenty of potential to grow up in. So Sam Randall decides to enroll Jerry as a full-time boarding student at the Military Academy at Fair Oaks.
 
Jerry’s adventures at Fair Oaks are often seen as a touching coming of age drama of a young boy taking his first steps towards manhood. While Jerry hates to leave the circus behind; he soon makes new friends – and even enemies – among his fellow cadets while participating in the academy’s football and polo teams. Jerry also becomes involved in a mystery surrounding his roommate and fellow cadet Les.
 
Jerry at Fair Oaks is a timeless and classic coming of age story that still enthralls listeners with its powerful storytelling. 8 hours. $23.98 Audio CDs / $11.99 Download
 
 
Special 50% discount Offer
"Philo Vance", the creation of S. S. Van Dine, first appeared in a 1926 murder mystery, and, as later stated by its publisher, "it was at once obvious that something original and exciting had happened to the detective story." Eleven more books followed in the series before their author passed away in 1939. When, in the late Fifties, Charles Scribner's Sons was considering reissues of the Vance books, a publisher's note stated that the combined sales of the original editions totaled more than half a million copies - an impressive figure for its day. There had also been magazine serializations, a play, major motion picture adaptations - and spoofs, both in print and on celluloid, so well known had the "Philo Vance" character become.
 
In 1948, Frederick W. Ziv brought the Philo Vance character to radio in a program of that name, as one of his then-novel syndicated series; stations airing these programs inserted local advertising. Veteran radio announcer and actor Jackson Beck had the title role, and the weekly half-hour entries ran well into 1950.
 
Ziv's syndicated "Philo Vance" was enacted at a large New York City studio right off Broadway - the same studio where the ubiquitous "elevator music" was also produced. The facility was leased for five or six hours per session; the longer the time booked, the less expensive it became, and it often happened that two programs would be recorded between approximately 5 and 10:30 PM. Jeanne K. Harrison directed most of the shows; the writers were Robert J. Shaw and Kenny Lyons; and Henry Sylvern provided the incidental organ music. The case included George Petrie as "District Attorney Markham"; Joan Alexander and Frances Farras, respectively, as Vance's secretary "Ellen Deering"; and Humphrey Davis as "Sergeant Heath". The production staff included a couple of sound-effects men, using both live and prerecorded noises. If a blooper occurred that was too pronounced, the entire program had to be redone because the recordings couldn't be edited. 10 hours. Regular Price $29.98 - Specially priced until May 8 for $14.99 Audio CDs / $7.49 Download
 
 
Check out our Facebook Audiobook page!
We have a new Facebook page featuring the Audiobooks of Radio Archives. Join Will Murray, Robert Weinberg, Radio Archives, the Authors and Voice Actors discussing all the new books. Take a look.
 
 
Will Murray's Pulp Classics #49
by William Grey Beyer
Read by Milton Bagby. Liner Notes by Will Murray
 
 
The best-selling pulp magazine of the 1930s was Argosy. Published weekly, the title followed a simple formula for keeping its readers entertained. Their stories were lean, plot-driven, and always captivating.  Long factual explanations were kept to a minimum and  logic was sometimes stretched to the breaking point. But, the first rule of storytelling was never broken – keep the action going and never let facts interfere with the narrative’s pace.
 
Minions of the Moon by William Grey Beyer, published in Argosy in 1939, perfectly fit those requirements. The novel concerned Mark Nevins, an ordinary guy who needed his appendix removed. When his surgeon asked him to sign a paper giving the doctor the right to use a new anesthetic, Mark saw no reason not to cooperate. Of course, that was before he discovered that the drug put him in suspended animation for 6,000 years.  Awakening in a world he knew nothing about, Mark found himself in a well-equipped tomb in the company of an invisible ghost who seemed intent on annoying him at every opportunity.
 
Things progressed from bad to worse. Mark discovered that civilization had collapsed into barbarism, democracy was merely a memory, and there was no place for a Twentieth Century city-dweller. And, that’s not considering the invisible Omega, who is the last member of a lunar race, seeking some human companionship.
 
It’s the beginning of a fun novel, as Mark and Omega explore this brave new Earth, meet a beautiful girl (of course), encounter a band of Neo-Vikings, and battle two very evil Russian brains housed in bottles. It’s science fiction without any science!  Minions of the Moon is also a top example of the fast-paced storytelling so beloved by Argosy readers. Mark and Omega proved so popular that they appeared in three more serials over the next few years – Minions of Mars, Minions of Mercury, and Minions of the Shadow.  All three being wild, enthralling fantasies passing as science fiction, composed by an author who later wrote several mysteries, and then vanished. 6 hours $23.98 Audio CDs / $9.99 Download
 
 
Robert Weinberg Presents
by Jay Bonansinga
Read by Nick Santa Maria
 
 
In the tradition of The Exorcist, Jay Bonansinga’s novel, Oblivion takes the listener on a unique and frightening ride described in terrifying detail from this bestselling writer. In a dramatic showdown between the forces of good and evil, mankind's salvation rests in the hands of a burnt-out relic of a priest.
 
One snowy night in Chicago, Father Martin Delaney, a drunken ex-priest is torn away from his liquor by a well-dressed stranger. The man, who turns out to be Delaney’s former altar boy, Jimmy Dodd, is now a lawyer. He wants Father Martin to perform an ancient exorcism ritual on a famous house located far south of the Windy City. Delaney, who was defrocked due to an unsanctioned bungled exorcism, has no desire to help his altar boy. But the young lawyer won’t take no for an answer.
 
Arriving blindfolded in the middle of a raging blizzard at the special location in Washington, D.C., Father Martin soon realizes that the house that he has entered, a vast place of many rooms, is seriously haunted by a malevolent demon. And that he is the one man who can stop it from bringing about the destruction of the Earth.
 
Only then does Delaney realize that his meeting with Jimmy was not merely by chance. The nameless building is the White House, which has been possessed for hundreds of years by a menacing specter. As the priest tries to learn the spirit’s motives, he discovers a dark secret of American history.
 
Father Martin is an ordinary man, a man of doubts and fears, a man who has failed once in banishing a demon to the dark pits of hell. Now, he must stand against the army of darkness with only his wavering faith to support him.
 
Jay Bonansinga studied creative writing at Michigan State University and film directing at Columbia College, Chicago. Since then, he has written many bestselling horror and thriller novels, and directed numerous short films and music videos. Jay Bonansinga is the New York Times bestselling co-author (with Robert Kirkman) of The Walking Dead: The Fall of the Governor, as well as twenty other novels and non-fiction works published in eleven languages. He has been called “one of the most imaginative writers of thrillers” by the Chicago Tribune. 8 hours $31.98 Audio CDs / $15.99 Download
 
A note from Bob: "Like all of the books selected for "Robert Weinberg Presents" Oblivion is an exceptional horror novel and it makes for terrific listening! We're aiming for the best in the business, folks, and we have the authors worth hearing!"
 
Robert Weinberg's photo gallery

Bob and Harlan Ellison at the New Orleans World SF Convention.
 
 
New Will Murray's Pulp Classics eBooks
 
The best of timeless Pulp now available as cutting edge eBooks! Will Murray's Pulp Classics brings the greatest heroes, awesome action, and two fisted thrills to your eReader! Presenting Pulp Icons such as the Spider and G-8 and His Battle Aces as well as wonderfully obscure characters like the Octopus and Captain Satan. Will Murray's Pulp Classics brings you the best of yesterday's Pulp today!
 
Greatest since Jules Verne! The incredible story of Mark Nevins who woke up in the year X2 — to become the protege of the Man on the Moon. Torn from the pages of the first and foremost pulp magazine, the fabled Argosy, and chosen from among thousands of stories by premier pulp authority, Robert Weinberg! Argosy magazine was the first and most influential pulp magazine of the 20th century. At its height, it was published each and every week, and contained a veritable cornucopia of fabulous fiction in all genres. Detective and mystery stories. Westerns. Love stories. Sports. Even science-fiction and fantasy filled its pages. Esteemed writers ranging from Edgar Rice Burroughs to Erle Stanley Gardner graced its beloved pages. Now Radio Archives is delving into the pages of this celebrated magazine in an effort to present some of the best feature fiction Argosy presented during its near-century of publication. Overseeing this production is one of the great scholars of the pulp era, novelist Robert Weinberg. “Radio Archives is issuing the best of the pulps in audio and eBook format,” he says. “It’s a pleasure to work with them, bringing back some of the greatest action fiction ever published for modern fans!” $2.99.

Dime Mystery Magazine James A Goldthwaite Book 1
In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Dime Mystery Magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a collection of stories from the pages of Dime Mystery Magazine, all written by James A Goldthwaite reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $2.99.

Beginning in 1932, Battle Birds brought readers a thrilling main story, referred to as a “novel”, that featured a rotating cast of main characters like The Three Mosquitoes and Smoke Wade. After nineteen issues, just over a year and a half after its debut, the magazine began to feature the air adventures of Dusty Ayres, and the magazine became officially titled Dusty Ayres and his Battle Birds. This lasted until the summer of 1935 when the magazine folded after thirty-one issues. But Battle Birds wasn't finished; it would return. In early 1940, Battle Birds reappeared on the newsstands. But now the focus of the stories was on the conflict that would soon be known as World War II. This resurrected Battle Birds lasted for 26 issues until May 1944. And now Battle Birds is back, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $2.99.
 
Dare-Devil Aces #037 April 1935 The Dynamite Trio
Dare-Devil Aces was another of the many pulps that rode the wave of popularity of World War I aviation tales in the decade after the conflict. It made its debut in February 1932 and lasted for an astounding 135 issues. It finally closed after World War II ended, with the November 1946 issue. During its run, it presented a wide assortment of high-flying aerial series, including The Red Falcon, The Vanished Legion, The Three Mosquitoes, Molloy and McNamara, The Black Sheep of Belogue, The Mongol Ace, Chinese Brady, Captain Babyface, Smoke Wade and others. Strap on your flying helmet, toss that scarf about your neck and get ready for some soaring action in the skies over France and Germany during the Great War. Dare-Devil Aces return in vintage pulp tales, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $2.99.
 

99 cent eBook Singles
Each 99 cent eBook Single contains a single short story, one of the many tales selected from the pages of Dime Mystery and Terror Tales. These short stories are not included in any of our other eBooks.

Peter Crump, gentleman’s gentleman, insisted on perfection in the dress of his master, the selection of the dishes for the menu — and an occasional pinch of lethal seasoning! In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Dime Mystery Magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a classic story the pages of Dime Mystery Magazine, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format$0.99.
 
Right beside the clicking teletypes, newshawk Larry Halden found a story that for him was hotter than the hot squat! In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Dime Mystery Magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a classic story the pages of Dime Mystery Magazine, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format$0.99.
 
In a way it’s fun to stage a murder, particularly if it looks like a “natural death” — unless you suddenly discover, as I did, that you’ve hurled a boomerang kill! In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird menace is the sub-genre term that has survived today. Dime Mystery Magazine was one of the most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a classic story the pages of Dime Mystery Magazine, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format$0.99.
 
The little flutist had more murder than music on his mind that blood-flecked night! In 1934 a new type of magazine was born. Known by various names — the shudder pulps, mystery-terror magazines, horror-terror magazines — weird me most popular. It came from Popular Publications, whose publisher Harry Steeger was inspired by the Grand Guignol theater of Paris. This breed of pulp story survived less than ten years, but in that time, they became infamous, even to this day. This ebook contains a classic story from the pages of Terror Tales magazine, reissued for today’s readers in electronic format. $0.99.
 
 
 
All eBooks produced by Radio Archives are available in ePub, Mobi, and PDF formats for the ultimate in compatibility. When you upgrade to a new eReader, you can transfer your eBooks to your new device without the need to purchase anything new.
 
 
This 65th anniversary issue contains six stories by Gene Wolfe and an interview with the Author. Also included are stories by Keith Taylor, F. Paul Wilson, Felix Gotschalk, Ramsey Campbell, Darrell Schweitzer, Chet Williamson, T.E.D. Klein, Lloyd Eshbach, and Tanith Lee. 148 pages.
 
Weird Tales: The Unique Magazine
From March of 1923 to September of 1954, Weird Tales was the most influential of all pulp magazines in the horror and fantasy genres. Weird Tales has enjoyed a devoted following for many decades as the very first magazine of gothic fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. Founded in 1923, the pioneering publication introduced the world to such counter-culture icons as Cthulhu the alien monster god and Conan the Barbarian. Weird Tales is well known for launching the careers of great authors like H.P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, and Robert E. Howard — even, Tennessee Williams made his first sale here! — not to mention legendary fantasy artists like Virgil Finlay and Margaret Brundage. The magazine’s influence extends through countless areas of pop culture: fiction, certainly, but also rock music, goth style, comic books, gaming… even Stephen King has called Weird Tales a major inspiration.
 
Weird Tales: The Modern Magazine
After the original magazine operation folded in 1954, there were several brief attempts to revive it — reprint anthologies in the ’60s, four new magazine issues in the ’70s, four original paperbacks in the early ’80s — before the resurrection finally achieved full-fledged afterlife under editor-publishers George H. Scithers, Darrell Schweitzer and John Gregory Betancourt. Beginning in 1988, Weird Tales has been published more or less continuously. These 25 year old magazines are Brand new and have never been read. Radio Archives is proud to have a large inventory so that everyone can have a copy of this great magazine. $9.95
 
Pulp fiction's Master of Men returns in two classic stories from one of the pulp era's best selling magazines. First, in "Scourge of the Yellow Fangs" (1937), a hidden fiend preys on the city's Chinatown. Soon, a new menace begins to spread, threatening to engulf Asian and Caucasian alike. Only The Spider has guessed the identify of the ruthless criminal behind the atrocities committed on the nation's newest citizens - but can he survive after being targeted for a ghastly death? Next, in "Death and The Spider" (1942), from Mar-lar-delan, ancient lama of Tibet, came the prophecy that when Death walked the Earth as a man, The Spider would die! Beseiged by terror and murder, the city struggles to survive as criminal forces rally to the man called Death! These two exciting pulp adventures have been beautifully reformatted for easy reading and feature both of the original full color covers as well as interior illustrations that accompany each story. Double Novel Reprint $14.95
 
Pulp fiction's legendary Knight of Darkness returns in two of his most engrossing adventures. In "The Road of Crime", a 1933 tale of redemption, a former criminal attempts to reform his life with some unseen help from The Shadow. Then, a series of robberies and murders casts suspicion on two supposedly-reformed criminals. Did the "Crooks Go Straight" — or has one of them returned to crime? This classic pulp collection also features George Rozen's spectacular pulp covers, all the original interior art by acclaimed illustrator Tom Lovell, and historical commentary by popular culture historian Will Murray. Double Novel Reprint $12.95
 
"Doc Savage, Volume 11" features two exciting 1936 thrillers by Laurence Donovan and Lester Dent, writing as Kenneth Robeson. First, the Man of Bronze battles Var, a faceless fiend whose sinister pronouncements threaten destruction through the eerie "Cold Death." Then, Doc Savage becomes embroiled in a desperate race to Antarctica to block "The South Pole Terror." This reprint showcases the classic color pulp cover by Walter Baumhofer, original interior illustrations by Paul Orban, and historical articles by Will Murray. Double Novel Reprint $12.95
 
The Master of Darkness journeys from his Manhattan environs to prove that "crime does not pay" in two action-packed pulp novels by Walter B. Gibson writing as "Maxwell Grant." The Shadow reverts to his true identity of Kent Allard to bring a fugitive financier to justice in "Crime Over Boston." Then in "Crime Over Miami" the Shadow teams with the real Lamont Cranston to unmask a criminal mastermind who has organized the Florida underworld into a criminal hurricane! This deluxe pulp reprint showcases the original color pulp covers by George Rozen and Graves Gladney, the classic interior illustrations by Edd Cartier and Earl Mayan and historical commentary by Will Murray. Double Novel Reprint $14.95

The pulp era's legendary superman returns in exotic pulp thrillers by Laurence Donovan and Lester Dent writing as "Kenneth Robeson." First, the capture of Renny by African warriors of the mysterious Shimba propels Doc and Patricia Savage on a daring rescue mission to "The Land of Long JuJu." Then, in "Se-Pah-Poo," the bizarre murder of an archeologist in Arizona and a withered hand lead the Man of Bronze and his aides to an ancient lost city! BONUS: a two-fisted adventure of Cap Fury, The Skipper! This instant collector's item leads off with the classic 1937 color pulp cover by Robert G. Harris and also includes all the original interior illustrations by Paul Orban plus historical commentary by Will Murray, author of thirteen Doc Savage novels. Double Novel Reprint $14.95

The pulps' legendary "Man of Steel" returns in three action-packed pulp thrillers by Paul Ernst and Emile Tepperman writing as "Kenneth Robeson." First, Justice, Inc. must unmask a serial murderer before "The Wilder Curse" claims further innocent victims. Then, a deadly plane crash sets Dick Benson on the trail of the incredible new .. invention behind "Midnight Murder." PLUS "To Kill a Dead Man," the final Avenger thriller from the back pages of The Shadow Magazine by Spider-scribe Emile Tepperman! This classic pulp reprint showcases the classic color pulp covers by Lenosci and A. Leslie Ross, Paul Orban's interior illustrations and commentary by pulp historian Will Murray. Double Novel Reprint $14.95

The double life of Police Commissioner James Gordon is explored in a pair of two-fisted thrillers that inspired classic Batman stories! First, The Whisperer goes undercover to close down a “School for Murder” that prepares teenagers for criminal careers! Then, Wildcat Gordon investigates corruption in the trucking industry in “Murder on the Line.” BONUS: an adventure of Norgil the Magician by The Shadow’s Maxwell Grant! This historic collector’s item showcases both original color pulp covers by Spider artist John Newton Howitt, classic interior illustrations by Paul Orban and golden-age great Creig Flessel, and historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin. Double Novel Reprint $14.95

This is an authentic replica of an original pulp magazine published by Girasol Collectables. This edition is designed to give the reader an authentic taste of what a typical pulp magazine was like when it was first issued - but without the frailty or expense of trying to find a decades-old collectable to enjoy. The outer covers, the interior pages, and the advertisements are reprinted just as they appeared in the original magazine, left intact to give the reader the true feel of the original as well as an appreciation for the way in which these publications were first offered to their avid readers. To further enhance the “pulp experience”, this edition is printed on off-white bond paper intended to simulate the original look while, at the same time, assuring that this edition will last far longer than the original upon which it is based. The overall construction and appearance of this reprint is designed to be as faithful to the original magazine as is reasonably possible, given the unavoidable changes in production methods and materials. Pulp Replica $25.00
 
by Will Murray and Lester Dent, writing as Kenneth Robeson
 
When a brazen adventuress tries to hire Doc Savage for a secret mission—but won’t tell him why—it lights the fuse for one of the most explosive exploits ever to involve the Man of Bronze.
 
Who is Hornetta Hale? Why does she need to rent Doc’s private submarine? And who is so determined to eliminate her that they destroy Doc Savage’s skyscraper headquarters in the process?
 
From Manhattan Island to the Caribbean Sea, Doc and his fighting crew chase the most violent gang of criminals they have ever encountered in a desperate race to unlock the secret of Phantom Lagoon. Or are they more than mere criminals? Softcover $24.95
 
by Will Murray and Lester Dent, writing as Kenneth Robeson
 
The world believed that aviator Tom Franklin was dead. Years before, he had set out on a pioneering transpacific flight alone—and vanished!
 
When he returned, as it from the grave, Franklin and a mysterious woman flew a battered plane that had been repaired with plates of pure gold. Desperately seeking the help of Doc Savage, the mighty Man of Bronze, Franklin and his curvaceous charge fall into the clutches of diamond smuggler Blackbird Hinton and his cutthroat crew—but not before the bronze adventurer hears of their plight.
 
From Manhattan to Cape Town ensues a quest as dangerous as any in recorded history. One that will embroil the compassionate yet hard-fisted Doc Savage and his resourceful men in a raging struggle for control of one of history’s most closely guarded mysteries.The lost secret of Python Isle! Softcover $24.95
 
 

 

Comments From Our Customers!
 
Barney McCasland writes:
I enjoyed the first volume of Fibber McGee and Molly's lost episodes. I have to say their format was an adjustment after being used to the regular half-hour episodes. Their serial storylines were interesting and I was struck by the fact that the shows were more...dramatic. Fibber and Molly seemed to have emotional reactions to the situations they found themselves in, which wasn't the case, from what I remember, in the half-hour programs. I already have volume 2, and forsee a time when I'll have all of the Fibber McGee & Molly collections.

Brian Davis writes:
Thanks for Strange Adventures. Excellent product!
 
Andy Woods from England writes:
I am continually blown away by the sound quality of your OTR releases. Just how do you achieve such amazing sound?
 
Are you working from the original acetates in most cases, as things like the Fibber & Molly short shows, the Let George Do It later episodes and Johnny Dollar, Big Show etc sound like first generation masters.
 
If so, I'm guessing you are physically scrubbing the dust from the grooves and using special weighted stylus in the tranfer?
 
I'm not asking for any secrets - I guess I'm just making an exclamation when I ask "How do you do it?".
 
RadioArchives.com is an amazing place. I'm always there. I buy downloads very regularly and listen to them all the time, every single day. I've almost neglected to listen anything but your product since discovering you. I also find the site very enjoyable - beautifully illustrated, intriguing write ups on each release etc.
 
The whole darn thing is just incredible! I'm currently being enthralled by "Strange Adventures" and the wonderful "Cocoanut Grove Ambassadors" sets - and inexplicably, in incredibly crisp sound - in NO way what one would expect from recordings made over 80 years ago!
 
I've thanked you before - and I'll keep thanking you again and again. You sure are appreciated!
 
If you'd like to share a comment with us or if you have a question or a suggestion send an email to Service@RadioArchives.com. We'd love to hear from you!

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