Several years ago we were going through a store room and found old tapes of the Sunday Nite radio show—originally produced live before a studio audience in Maranatha Hall on the campus of University of Northwestern  and broadcast across the nation on the Skylight satellite network.  Out of those tapes we compiled eleven shows that aired as a summer Sunday evening special on Faith Radio.  Below are the podcasts of those shows.

The program featured “music, mayhem, and some meaningful stuff too,” and was hosted by was the late Richard K Allison.  Other regulars included Jeff Miller and the Refreshment Committee, Mike Donley and the New American Standard Band, and a host of characters and guests from musicians to actors to pastors and performers of various kinds.  Each week would feature a live musical guest—many nationally recognized recording artists, and skits such as The Church Secretary, Missionaries in Space, and special appearances from comedian Bob Stromberg and other noted celebrities.  The program was broadcast from the late ‘80’s to the early ‘90’s ending production in 1994.  It aired in dozens of cities across the country at the height of its popularity.  Richard K. Allison passed away in January of 1995.

Sunday Nite: Buchanan, Palermo

Sunday Nite: Pearce, Stromberg

Sunday Nite: Rider Porte

Sunday Nite: Bugs, Flyers, NWC Band

Sunday Nite: Barrett Berry

Sunday Nite: New Tradition Christmas

Sunday Nite: Steadfast Brooke Berry

Sunday Nite: Maranatha Praise Band

Sunday Nite: Hilgenberg, Mike Max, Bill Pearce

Sunday Nite: Craig, Mcnair, Wilson, Uganda

Sunday Nite: Final Show


The church secretary in “The Tainted Communion Juice”

The return of the church secretary

Church Secretary Episode 2 – From best of Vol 2

Church Secretary Episode 3 – From best of Vol 2

 

Sunday Nite was first aired on the Skylight Satellite Network in Sept. 1985, before a live audience in Maranatha Hall on the  Northwestern Campus. Paul Ramseyer, Network Director, created it to be a tool for Christians to use with non-Christian contacts to open spiritual horizons for them.  Also, it provided a live variety show to complement the newly introduced Christian music format on the Satellite.  The format featured a student ensemble, some short sketches, and a guest performer.  In the beginning it was a 90 minute show, aired one Sunday night every other month.  With this limited schedule it was difficult to cultivate a sizable and loyal audience.

January, 1987 marked a turning point when Richard K Allison was selected to be the M.C. and artistic director of Sunday Nite.  Richard was a leading man in local musical theater, featured in such shows as “Camelot”, “Music Man”. etc. As a Christian, he wanted his talent to be used for Christ. He brought with him Jeff Miller and The Refreshment Committee, a talented group of singers and actors.  Another key addition to Sunday Nite, at this point, was Michael Pearce Donley and the New American Standard Band.  The quality of the show improved significantly, as this group created original musical arrangements and humorous sketches, the most popular one being “Church Secretary”.  A descriptive title for the show became “Music, mayhem, and Some Meaningful Stuff”.

Starting in October, 1987, SN cut its length to 53 minutes and was aired every Sunday evening.  There was a taping at 7:30 and a live show at 9:06.  This made it possible for the show to be aired every Sunday night.  Judy Hannestad, Associate Producer of the show, played an invaluable role in all “the behind the scenes aspects of the production.

Sunday Nite was popular with all age groups.  Children would beg their parents to let them stay up later so they could hear the show. A retired couple wrote saying that they really love the program.

“Christians, ourselves included, can take themselves so seriously.  It’s great to have a good laugh over our own foibles.   Your humor is so much fun because you’re “one of the family”, and because it’s mixed with the serious.”

Though Sunday Nite was initially aired on our Northwestern Network, stations across the country began airing it.  Ultimately it was on over 150 stations including major markets like Los Angeles and Chicago.  The show was successful largely because of the singing and acting gifts of the M.C., Richard K. Allison, along with the dedicated talent of Jeff Miller and Michael Pearce Donley. The show went “on the road” to several cities over the years,
including a performance at the NRB Convention in D.C.

The content was cutting edge and often “pushed the envelope, but it made a unique contribution to Christian radio that still hasn’t been duplicated.  Paul Ramseyer shares that “It was a high privilege to be a part of that history.”