ZBS Foundation is an American non-profit audio production company, founded by Thomas Lopez (aka "Meatball Fulton") in 1970 with a grant from Robert E. Durand as a working commune, located on a donated farm in Upstate New York. ZBS stands for "Zero Bull Shit". The commune's purpose was to raise consciousness through media, specifically full-cast audio dramas. The foundation is "one of the most prolific producers of contemporary radio drama."
The commune started with 18 people, and an island in the Hudson River was chosen as the location because it was between New York City and Montreal. Eventually, the commune disintegrated, and the foundation moved to create an artists-in-residence program over the next decade. Allen Ginsberg recorded at ZBS in 1981, and Laurie Anderson visited in 1975. Philip Glass also worked on the opera Einstein on the Beach at ZBS. The residency program ended in the mid 1980s.
The foundation also became the outlet for audio dramas written by writer/producer Lopez. His dramatic programs, notably Ruby the Galactic Gumshoe, The Fourth Tower of Inverness and Travels with Jack Flanders, are noted for their meticulous production values and New Age mysticism. Lopez has won numerous awards including the Prix Italia, and his work enjoys a cult following.
ZBS did a 1984–85 radio series, The Cabinet of Dr. Fritz, later releasing some shows in the series on cassettes and CDs. These productions were recorded binaurally using a Neumann Ku81 Kunstkopf microphone. ZBS also produced a widely acclaimed dramatization of Stephen King's The Mist, recording in binaural sound.
Releases TitleReleasedSeriesNotesHa! Fat Chance1963Meatball Fulton's first radio drama, produced at KPFA Pacifica Radio. This story predates the founding of ZBS, but was released on the ZBS site to streaming subscribers.The Fourth Tower of Inverness1972Jack FlandersMoon Over Morocco1973Jack FlandersStars & Stuff1977Science Fictionincludes The Ah-Ha Phenomenon, Tired of the Green Menace, The Adventures of Rocket Pierre, The Thing That Ate Aunt Sophie, Boogie Woogie to the Stars, and moreThe Ah-Ha Phenomenon1977Jack FlandersOriginally part of Stars & StuffTired of the Green Menace1977RubyThe original Ruby the Galactic Gumshoe story, originally part of Stars and StuffThe Incredible Adventures of Jack Flanders1978Jack FlandersThe Taj Express1980DramaFeatures stories written by contemporary Indian writersRuby: The Adventures of a Galactic Gumshoe1982RubyThe Android Sisters: Songs of Electronic Despair1984Android SistersSpinoff of RubyThe Cabinet of Dr. Fritz1984–1985Science Fiction, Drama, HorrorIncluding The Mist, Mumbo Jumbo, Aura, Sticks, The Bleeding Man and Saturday Night at the White Woman Watching Hole, recorded in binaural soundRuby 2: The Further Adventures of a Galactic Gumshoe1985RubyStarflight One1986MusicMusic by Tim ClarkDreams of Rio1987Jack FlandersMusic from the Dreams of Rio1987SoundtrackMusic featured in Dreams of RioMyth: The Music of Tim Clark1987MusicMusic by Tim ClarkA Night on the Rio Negro1987SoundtrackBackground audio featured in Dreams of RioSaratoga Springs1989HumorProduced as a series for National Public RadioTales of the Sun People1990MusicMusic by Tim ClarkRuby 3: The Underworld/The Invisible World1990–1991RubyDishpan Fantasy: A Real Soap Opera1991HumorThe Music from Ruby 31991SoundtrackMusic featured in Ruby 3Travels with Jack1992–1993Jack FlandersIncludes Dreams of the Amazon, Dreams of India, Dreams of Bali and Dreams of SumatraJourney to Qayyum1992SoundtrackMusic featured in Dreams of IndiaDinotopia1993DinotopiaAdaptation of the book by James GurneyThe Maltese Goddess1994MysteryRecorded in binaural soundRuby 41994–1995RubyIncludes The Moon Coins of Sonto Lore, The Turban of El Morya, Dark Night of the Reptoids, and Mad Moon for Rubinarain1995MusicMusic by Tim Clark and Kevin BreheneyDinotopia: The World Beneath1996DinotopiaThe Spell1996MusicMusic by Tim Clark and Kevin BrehenyO Boy O Boy O1996Science FictionRecorded in binaural soundThe Mystery of Jaguar Reef1996Jack FlandersThe Land of Enchantment1997Mojo SamSpinoff of Jack FlandersOl' Cactus Kapoor, and Other Prickly Tales1997Rodant KapoorSpinoff of RubyThe Insiders' Lounge1998Science FictionMidnight at the Casa Luna1998–2000Jack FlandersRuby 5: The Land of Zoots1998RubyFat Cats1999Fat CatsLater reissued as Saratoga Fat Cats, recorded in binaural soundRecipe for Murder1999MysteryThe Android Sisters: Greatest Hits2000Android SistersSpinoff of RubyReturn to Inverness2000Jack FlandersLittle Frieda's Life Lessons2001Little FriedaSpinoff of Jack FlandersMojo Plays Morocco1977SoundtrackMojo Sam's music from Moon Over MoroccoMojo's Concert at Inverness2001SoundtrackMojo Sam's music from Return to InvernessRuby 6: The Illusionati2001RubyThe Ultimate 3D Thunderstorm2001SoundtrackBinaural recording of a thunderstormTravelling Jack2002–2003Jack FlandersIncludes Dreams of the Blue Morpho, Somewhere Next Door to Reality, Do That in Real Life?, and The Eye of Van GoghThe Android Sisters: Pull No Punches2003Android SistersSpinoff of RubyThe Best of the Android Sisters2004Android SistersSpinoff of Ruby, released in JapanThe Best of Saratoga Springs2004HumorCompilation of Saratoga Springs episodesFat Cats 2: All the Cat's Meow2004Fat CatsRuby 6.5: Far Flung Farouk2004RubyA Streetcar Named Le Petit Lafitte2004Little Louie LafitteSpinoff of Jack Flanders' Do That in Real Life?The Wee Weever: A Little Frieda Mystery2004Little Frieda, Mojo SamSpinoff of Jack FlandersThe Case of the Disappearing Witch2005Little Frieda, Mojo SamSpinoff of Jack FlandersThe Fantastic Voyages of Captain Jack Flanders2005–2008Jack FlandersIncludes Orchids and Moonbeams, The Ghost Islands, Tropical Hot Dog Night and The White CastleRuby 7: Dream Weaver, Dream Deceiver2006Ruby90 Second Cellphone Chillin' Theater2008HumorBlue Bamboo2008MusicMusic by Tim ClarkDinotopia Suite2008SoundtrackMusic from Dinotopia Two Minute Film Noir2008Film NoirMore! Two Minute Film Noir - "Joe & Moe"2008Film NoirThe Music from Ruby 42008SoundtrackMusic from Ruby 4Ruby 7.5: The Tookah's Tales2008The TookahSpinoff of RubyThe World Beneath Suite2008SoundtrackMusic from Dinotopia: The World Beneath Even More! Two Minute Film Noir2009Film NoirFour Minute Film Noir2009Film NoirFallen Angels That Bounce2009Film NoirMojo's Vest Pocket Voodoo Adventures2009Mojo SamSpinoff of Jack FlandersRuby 8: The Good King Kapoor2009RubyWorld Sounds2009SoundtrackAudio used in Jack Flanders adventuresSteam Dreamers of Inverness2010–2011Jack FlandersSteampunk spinoff, 4 partsLady Windermere's Brass Fantabulous2010Lady WindermereLady Windermere's Brass Fantabulous, Part 2: You Can't Outrun the Flying Dead2011Lady WindermereRuby Refreshed2011–2013RubyA reissue of the original Ruby: The Galactic Gumshoe, with new music and sound effectsDo Angels Really Have Wings?2012Jack FlandersRuby 9: Masque of the Red Moon2012RubyDixon and Sparks: Excuse Me While I Disappear2013Dixon and SparksDixon and Sparks: The Night Has Begun2013Dixon and SparksDreams of Tiffany Blue2013Jack FlandersThe Music of Steam Dreamers of Inverness2013SoundtrackMusic from Steam Dreamers of InvernessThe Music of the Tookah's Tales2013SoundtrackMusic from Ruby 7.5: The Tookah's TalesSaratoga Noir2014MysteryThe Secret of the Crystal Maidens2014Jack FlandersDixon and Sparks: Shadows in the Night2015Dixon and SparksThe Green Velvet Chair2015Jack FlandersRuby 9.5: Who Knows How This Ends?2015RubyLeague of the Green Velvet Chairs2016Jack FlandersTiny Dreams2017HumorMadonna in a Green Velvet Chair2018Jack FlandersRuby 10: The Black Star of Summa Nulla2018RubyRuby 11: Little Fritzi and the Wonder Game2023RubyRuby 12: Can We Ever Turn Into Light?2024RubyRuby 14: Spooks of the Ancient Nullians2024Ruby
References
External links ZBS Foundation
NATF Interview with Thomas Lopez , by the National Audio Theatre Festival, an organization that includes Lopez as one of its advisors. Artist in Residence program The Great ZBS Data Collection