On The Tinsel Front

About On The Tinsel Front

1942. Washed out of flight school and Inexplicably assigned to the Army Air Forces "First Motion Picture Unit," Private Oliver Whelan tumbles down the rabbit hole of wartime Hollywood. A hilarious, fascinating and touching full cast audio comedy/drama inspired by the real-life people and places of the U.S. Army's film production effort in Tinseltown during World War II. SEASON TWO DEBUTED SEPTEMBER 5, 2026 with first two episodes!!! The remaining five are being released every three days through September 20, 2026.

Publisher

Christopher Bomba

Category

fiction · fiction

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Mar 2024

Latest episode

20 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

8 of 14 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   20 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Riot

   Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan navigates escalating conflict between servicemen and Zoot Suiters during a Private Snafu screening, offering a compelling season finale.

2. 

   17 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Reflections

   Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan reflects on his learnings and visits Ray Harryhausen's special effects workshop in this interview episode.

3. 

   14 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Mother

   Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan interviews Florence Anderson and Lois as they meet Elle's mother, gaining insight into wartime animation and storytelling.

4. 

   11 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Suspect

   Christopher Bomba directs Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan in this fictional drama where an accused man finds an unexpected rescuer.

5. 

   8 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Shock

   In this interview episode, Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan desperately seeks information while being interviewed by police.

6. 

   5 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   New Job

   Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan navigates a new U.S. Army assignment and a shocking newspaper revelation in this interview episode.

7. 

   5 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Uncertainty

   Host Mary Bomba interviews Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan about navigating uncertainty as filming concludes and a co-star disappears.

8. 

   3 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Season 2 Trailer

   Christopher Bomba previews Season 2 of his audio comedy-drama, "On The Tinsel Front," featuring Brian Stanton and a full cast.

9. 

   8 Jun 2024

   Ep#5: Lunch With Father

   Episode # 5. SEASON FINALE.  Ollie introduces himself to a Dartmouth alumnus, receives a summons from his father, and visits the Hollywood Canteen to see Elle... WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED by Christopher Bomba STARRING... Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan with... Dante Alexander as Toes Myk Price as Stump and Joe Louis Caleb A. Fields as Spoons Sufyan Mahmoud as Willy Boy Alan Blumenfeld as Ted Geisel Jonah Weiland as Assistant Director #1 and Canteen Soldier #2 Gabriel Oliva as Ronald Reagan Tom O’Connor as the Chaplain Chris Bomba as Frank Zane Acord as Michael Curtiz and Canteen Soldier #1 John Katona as Assistant Director #2 and the Canteen Guard Samara Frame as Elle Robbie Trombetta as Bet Chris Côté as Ollie’s father, Patrick Whelan Mary Bomba as the Host and Joan Leslie MUSIC: Martin Landström, Wicked Man, courtesy of  www.epidemicsound.com Ritchie Everett, Devil's Defiance, courtesy of  www.epidemicsound.com Ritchie Everett, Snooty Fox, courtesy of  www.epidemicsound.com Martin Landström, The Nightingale Is Singing Our Song, courtesy of  www.epidemicsound.com Golden Age Radio, One More For The Road, courtesy of  www.epidemicsound.com SOUND EFFECTS courtesy of Soundly, Epidemic Sound and Freesound While On the Tinsel Front purports to tell a true story, all the characters are fictional except for the real-life personalities – some more recognizable than others -- who actually served in the wartime positions they do here. For more information about these people, Hollywood during World War II, and the actors, visit the podcast website at https://onthetinselfront.com. Thanks to everyone who made this podcast possible. © Christopher Bomba 2024

10. 

    1 Jun 2024

    Ep #4: This Is The Army

    Episode #4:  On the Warner Brothers lot in Burbank for the production of THIS IS THE ARMY, Ollie makes some friends.  A date with Elle takes an unexpected turn... WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED by Christopher Bomba STARRING... Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan with... Robbie Trombetta as Lois Samara Frame as Elle Katherine James as Shelly James Coyle as Miller Tom O’Connor as Sipriani Dante Alexander as Toes Myk Price as Stump Caleb A. Fields as Spoons Sufyan Mahmoud as Willy Boy Zane Acord as Michael Curtiz Mary Bomba as the Host MUSIC: Martin Landström, Wicked Man, courtesy of  www.epidemicsound.com Martin Landström, Hot Piece For Sale, courtesy of  www.epidemicsound.com SOUND EFFECTS courtesy of Soundly, Epidemic Sound and Freesound While On the Tinsel Front purports to tell a true story, all the characters are fictional except for the real-life personalities – some more recognizable than others -- who actually served in the wartime positions they do here. For more information about these people, Hollywood during World War II, and the actors, visit the podcast website at https://onthetinselfront.com. Thanks to everyone who made this podcast possible. © Christopher Bomba 2024

11. 

    25 May 2024

    Ep #3: Housemates

    Episode # 3.  Ollie gets to know his housemates.  After receiving bad news that raises an upsetting suspicion, Ollie gets into hot water with Sgt. Bellows... WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED by Christopher Bomba STARRING... Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan with... Robbie Trombetta as Lois Samara Frame as Elle Katherine James as Shelly Gabriel Oliva as Ronald Reagan Alan Blumenfeld as Bellows James Coyle as Miller Mary Bomba as the Host MUSIC: Martin Landström, Wicked Man, courtesy of  www.epidemicsound.com Golden Age Radio, Golden Age Radio, courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Irving Berlin, God Bless America, sung by Brian Stanton SOUND EFFECTS courtesy of Soundly, Epidemic Sound and Freesound. While On the Tinsel Front purports to tell a true story, all the characters are fictional except for the real-life personalities – some more recognizable than others -- who actually served in the wartime positions they do here. For more information about these people, Hollywood during World War II, and the actors, visit the podcast website at https://onthetinselfront.com. Thanks to everyone who made this podcast possbile. © Christopher Bomba 2024

12. 

    29 Mar 2024

    Ep #2: Dishwasher

    After putting in for a transfer, Ollie tries to fit in at the First Motion Picture Unit,  only he's qualified for nothing and finds himself in a miserable situation.  At his new home, he makes an exciting discovery... WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED by Christopher Bomba STARRING... Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan with... James Coyle as Miller Gabriel Oliva as Ronald Reagan Alan Blumenfeld as Bellows Jonah Weiland as Bernard Vorhaus Robbie Trombetta as Lois Chris Bomba as sound editor Ray Katherine James as Shelly Samara Frame as Elle Mary Bomba as the Host and Ollie’s Mother MUSIC: Martin Landström, Wicked Man, courtesy of  www.epidemicsound.com Martin Landström, Hot Piece for Sale, courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Niklas Gabrielsson, Martin Landström, Ding Dong, courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Carl Czerny, Selected Piano Studies, Part 2, # 4, performed by Robbie Trombetta Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonata in F K.332, performed by Robbie Trombetta SOUND EFFECTS courtesy of Soundly, Epidemic Sound, and Freesound. While On the Tinsel Front purports to tell a true story, all the characters are fictional except for the real-life personalities – some more recognizable than others -- who actually served in the wartime positions they do here. For more information about these people, Hollywood during World War II, and the actors, visit the podcast website at https://onthetinselfront.com. Thanks to everyone who made this podcast possible. © Christopher Bomba 2024

13. 

    29 Mar 2024

    Ep #1: Washed Out

    1942.  After washing out of flight school in Louisiana, Pvt. Oliver Whelan is assigned to an U.S. Army Air Forces base near Los Angeles, California.  He eagerly heads west only to find that there's been some kind of mistake... WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED by Christopher Bomba STARRING... Brian Stanton as Oliver Whelan with... Zane Acord as the Flight Instructor, Hancock and the Conductor Gabriel Oliva as Ben and Ronald Reagan John Katona as Marine #1 and the Propman Soldier Jonah Weiland as Marine #2 Myk Price as the Porter Samara Frame as Elle Caleb A. Fields as Flirting Soldier #1 Chris Bomba as Flirting Soldier #2 James Coyle as Miller Mary Bomba as the Host MUSIC: Martin Landstrom, Wicked Man, courtesy of  www.epidemicsound.com Richie Everett, The Devil's Defiance, courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com B.G. DeSylva, Joseph Meyer, Al Jolson, California, Here I Come!  Sung by Myk Price SOUND EFFECTS courtesy of Soundly, Epidemic Sound, and Freesound. While On the Tinsel Front purports to tell a true story, all the characters are fictional except for the real-life personalities – some more recognizable than others -- who actually served in the wartime positions they do here. For more information about theses people, Hollywood during World War II, and the actors, visit the podcast website at https://onthetinselfront.com. Thanks to everyone who made this podcast possible. © Christopher Bomba 2024

14. 

    1 Mar 2024

    Trailer

    This is the trailer for ON THE TINSEL FRONT, a scripted podcast series coming in Spring 2024. It is 1942.  Washed out of flight school and inexplicably assigned to the Army Air Forces "First Motion Picture Unit" in Culver City, California,  Private Oliver Whelan tumbles down the rabbit hole of World War II Hollywood.  A hilarious, fascinating and touching audio dramedy, much of which is based in fact. Written, produced and directed by Christopher Bomba Starring... Brian Stanton, Samara Frame, Gabriel Oliva, Alan Blumenfeld, Katherine James, James Coyle, Dante Alexander, Robbie Trombetta, Chris Côté, Mary Bomba, Zane Acord, John Katona, Jonah Weiland, Myk Price, Caleb A. Fields, Sufyan Mahmud and Tom O'Connor. Music for the trailer:  Richie Everett, The Devil's Defiance, courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Visit the website:  https://onthetinselfront.com Series will launch soon with first two episodes.  "Follow" it now wherever you get your podcasts.

Inside a recent episode

Riot

Published 20 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] As we waited, Another group of sailors came around the corner just as a southbound streetcar arrived at the intersection. The sailors stopped it, pouring into it to find a young Mexican man and drag him off. This man wasn't even wearing a zoot suit. They didn't strip him, but they beat him, leaving him crumpled on the sidewalk before running off laughing. I impulsively started to cross the street to see if I could help the man. This time it was Julie who held me back. You're right, Ollie. We can't get involved. We just have to get out of here. But is the streetcar safe? I don't know. I don't know. […]

Who has been a guest on On The Tinsel Front

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Brian Stanton
• Caleb A Fields
• Zane Acord
• Tania Verafield
• Robbie Trombetta

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

24 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Contact On The Tinsel Front

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about On The Tinsel Front