------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 409
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
re: The Red Skelton (Show or Program [ MchBrwnng@[removed] ]
Today in radio history 11/11 [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
The Longest Laugh [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
Sperdvac [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
Treasury Dept. Transcriptions [ Larry Jordan <midtod@[removed]; ]
Bob Burns fame? [ Ed Kindred <kindred@[removed]; ]
NBC at 30 Rock [ dougdouglass@[removed] (doug dougla ]
[removed] [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
A&C title [ "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@comc ]
It's A Crime, Mr. Collins [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
Re: MP3 Out Of Order [ Shenbarger@[removed] ]
Glorious Sauciers [ Wich2@[removed] ]
"Like Banqou's [removed]" [ Wich2@[removed] ]
Information on life of CD's [ Richard Fisher <w9fjl@[removed]; ]
RE: Amos's descendants [ "Michael Hingson" <MHingson@guidedo ]
BBC documentaries on American OTR [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
Old Time Radio Shows on CD [ John DOrazio <ventureqwest@[removed] ]
Listening "In Style" [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
Bill Stern [ "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 05:49:15 -0500
From: MchBrwnng@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: re: The Red Skelton (Show or Program)
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
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I am writing to you or to anyone that can answer this question. During the
period of time that Red Skelton was on the radio, he was under different
advertisers. In the beginning he had Raleigh Cigarette's and the program was
known as
The Raleigh Cigarette Program. Then he had Tide and here is where I find a
little difference in the programs. I have a couple of programs that were
sponsored by Tide soap and the name of the program was The Red Skelton
Program and
then I have some programs with the name of The Red Skelton Show. What period
of
time was the program known as The Red Skelton Program and what period of time
was it known as The Red Skelton Show or was this just a mistake on the
announcer or writers of the shows fault. After The show was sponsored by
Tide, it was
then sponsored by Norge and the name remained The Red Skelton Show. I have
checked different logs of Red Skelton and had come up with it being known as
the
Red Skelton Show. But if you listen to the different programs, you will see
that the programs were known by different names and what I ask of the readers
of this digest is, was there a mistake made or was the program known at one
time as The Red Skelton Program.
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 05:49:24 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history 11/11
From Those Were The Days --
1932 - The National Broadcasting Company opened its new studios at Radio
City in New York City. They celebrated with a gala program at Radio City
Music Hall.
1938 - Kate Smith sang God Bless America for the very first time. It
would later become her signature song. Irving Berlin penned the tune in
1917 but never released it until Miss Smith sang it for the first time
on her radio broadcast.
1940 - The chant, "invovo legem magicarum," was heard for the first time
when Mandrake the Magician debuted on WOR in New York City.
Joe
--
Visit my homepage: [removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 05:50:18 -0500
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Longest Laugh
Laura Leff wrote:
this guy from the OTR Digest stands up at SPERDVAC and asks about the
longest laugh on the Jack Benny program. And after telling the various
stories, I
say, "Someone's going to have to sit down with a stopwatch and figure it out,
and it's probably going to be me.
This guy? THIS GUY?? I do have a name you know Laura! And it's notlike we
haven't met before. We had quite a long conversation at last year Sperdvac
Convention.
Well anyway it had been a very enjoyable panel discussion with Laura and
Eddie Carroll and one other whose name escapes me for the moment. And near
the end of it Laura asked for questions from the capacity audience. There was
absolute silence, so I stood up and asked the first thing that popped into my
mind. Since we had just recently been discussing the "longest laugh" that is
what I asked.
Eddie Carroll was just amazing. For those of you who have never seen him he
looks like Jack Benny and his expressions, mannerism's and his voice are just
like the real thing. Gasps could be heard through out the panel discussion as
he would respond in character to a question or remark. I'm looking forward to
seeing his show.
George Aust
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 05:51:17 -0500
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Sperdvac
It was a great convention, even better than last year. It was a matter
of rubbing elbows with the stars whether you wanted to or not, there
were so many of them.
And I finally got to meet the great Barbara Watkins who seemed to be
everywhere, contributing to the success of the event.
Of course Hal Stone was there but also Bob Hastings. At one point I
warned Bob that he should join the OTR Digest in self defense because
Hal says such terrible things about him. Bob said" yeah, and they're all
true!"
I was pleased to find that Bob Mott was doing the sound effects for two
of the recreations, because it just happens that I'm reading his book
"Radio Live, Television Live" and I got to have a little disscussion
with him about the book.
Kathryn Crosby was a pleasant surprise. I never expected her to be so
funny! She had some great stories including some very touching ones
about Bob Hope's funeral. Had a couple of nice chats with her also.
Marilyn King of the King Sisters was also there and she looks great!
Wow! Also very funny lady.
My wife and I talked briefly with Greg Oppenheimer as he graciously
personalized an autograph in his book "Luck, Laughs and Lucy".(Did I get
that right?) He was at the time very busy with his directorial duties
for "The Maltese Falcon". Harold Guild was so good as Sidney
Greenstreet in that recreation as were all the others even Hal Stone.
Also got to speak to Ray Erlenborn who later was doing his own sound
effects from his table during the banquet.
Lets see, Gary Owens did the announcing during one of the recreations
and also ....... ahh shucks I'm forgetting names again. Anyway you get
the idea.
Also the dealer room was much better than last year and I picked some
goodies from Jerry Haendiges and from Avpro and about four books as well.
I'm already looking forward to next years big event!
George Aust
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 05:51:38 -0500
From: Larry Jordan <midtod@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Treasury Dept. Transcriptions
I have some 16-inch transcription disks from 1960 that feature various
singing stars doing 15-minute shows to promote [removed] Savings Bonds for
the Treasury Department. I was wondering if anyone could tell me where
these shows were recorded? (What studio, in what city)? One of them has
a male country artist who is backed by a jazz group, so I know these
weren't done in Nashville. Any particulars someone could supply would
be appreciated.
Thanks,
Larry Jordan
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 05:52:07 -0500
From: Ed Kindred <kindred@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Bob Burns fame?
About 50 years ago my mother, t wo much older sisters and I visited older
older sister's inlaws in Fort Smith. My older sister the elder mentioned
that we could visit Bob Burns house in Van Buren. I wondered as a mid teens
kinda guy what in the world is a Bob Burns. So we saw the house.
I still had not one clue about the dude and what air a bazooka? Well now by
grannies thanks to otr I have now been treated to a picture of an official
Bob Burns Bazooka. I started listening to radio in the early 40's but never
ever remember hearing or hearing a reference to Bob Burns. Fifty years
after visiting his home I still haven't heard anything by Bob Burns. I feel
so deprived.
Ed Kindred
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 05:52:23 -0500
From: dougdouglass@[removed] (doug douglass)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: NBC at 30 Rock
Today is the 70th Anniversary of NBC's first broadcast from the RCA
Building.
The Observation Deck on the 67th floor will reopen in 2005. Opened in
1933, it's been closed since 1986.
Doug Douglass
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:41:52 -0500
From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: [removed]
I was on vacation lately, so if this subject was covered already, I
apologize for asking it again:
What happened to [removed]?
I just tried to access the site a number of times & got a message
equivalent to the old "under construction" sign.
I was very disappointed, since it was a source of "You Are There" downloads
that even I could figure out how to burn to CD-R [removed]
Does anybody know if it died, or will it be back, or whatever?
Thanks for your help,
Herb Harrison
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:42:56 -0500
From: "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: A&C title
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr. astutely pointed out:
What puzzles me is that A&C never even met Frankenstein, though they did
have a brush with his monster.
Consistency, of course, was not the by-word in the many of the titles of Bud
and Lou's vehicles. For example, "Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer, Boris
Karloff" is patently untrue. (Sorry if I spoiled it for anyone who hasn't
seen it.) It's not the Red Planet the boys visit in "Abbott & Costello Go
to Mars," it's Venus.
The last title always makes me giggle when I think of the wag who added to
his review "...and not a moment too soon."
Ivan
We've moved! OTR Ramblings and Musings at Thrilling Days of Yesteryear:
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:41:01 -0500
From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: It's A Crime, Mr. Collins
For my new book on radio's lady detectives I'm trying to identify the
female co-lead in Mutual's "It's a Crime, Mr. Collins" which aired late
in the Golden Age of Radio, Aug 56 to Feb 57. Mandel Kramer played Greg
Collins, a San Francisco [removed] who traveled around the globe solving
crimes with his wife, Gail. (Of course, Kramer also played "Johnny
Dollar".)
There are 24 episodes in circulation, but all of the ones I've found
through friends and dealers have all the closing credits chopped off.
At least two women must have played "Gail" at different times because
the one in episode entitled "Red Hot Mama" is clearly not the same
actress in most of the others, including "Brown Paper Bag", "Chrome
Yellow Death", and "Brown Alligator Briefcase."
Anyone have these episodes with closing credits intact? If so, who
plays Gail? And for that matter, who plays "Jack", identified as her
uncle and/or the announcer?
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:43:52 -0500
From: Shenbarger@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: MP3 Out Of Order
In a message dated 11/12/2003 Kurt E. Yount wrote:
My feeling is, and as always, don't quote me, is to make sure that the
shows are put in to the folder in the date order in which they should be
played. In most cases, my iRiver player will play the shows in order,
even when other players will not. I think I have had a couple of cases
where the shows are played out of orer, but not nearly as many as on my
cheaper MP3 players. I am sure somebody will jump in and correct me, but
as a blind person who has been plagued by this since I can't see the
order on the player, this is what I have theoretically come
up with.
There are a couple of concerns, all of them related to how computers and
players work with filenames. Even if you don't use a Microsoft operating
system, there are some things to understand.
The root problem lies in the legacy MSDOS filename specification known as
[removed], meaning on original MSDOS computers the filename was permitted a maximum
of 8 letters with an extension of 3 letters (in this case MP3). Beginning
with Windows 95, longer filenames are permitted. Additionally, these longer
filenames can use previously reserved characters such as "spaces". Today most
computers using MSDOS use one of two primary file directory systems, Windows
FAT-32 or NTFS (New Technology File System or NT) In the FAT-32 systems the
legacy [removed] file directory structure is preserved and long filenames are
dummied in by file table extensions. Some programs and MP3 players understand
long filenames, some do not.
To deal with the problem you need to understand how filenames are shortened.
Shortened filenames have a form of 6~#.3 - that is, 6 characters plus a "~"
and a single digit with a 3 character extension. MSDOS drops "space"
characters when creating the short name and uses the next available digit for
the ~# part based on other matching shortened names. This results in the
following:
AA 441103 THE [removed] becomes AA4411~[removed]
AA 441110 EMPLOYMENT [removed] becomes AA4411~[removed]
where "x" depends on which file is put in the directory first and whether
there are already files in the directory matching "AA4411". It will be a
number and that's all you can depend on.
The short name cannot be "renamed" in a way that will leave the long name in
tact. It's all according to who got their first. Also, once the ~# is set by
MSDOS, it will not be changed as long as the file is in that directory.
Erasing AA4411~[removed] will not change the short name AA4411~[removed]
Although it does not apply to MP3 files, you should know that files will have
the ~# form if the file extension is longer than 3 characters. This happens
when we name files with .html or .jpeg filename extensions regardless of the
filename length.
There are two possibilities with four permutations:
1. MP3 players may understand long filenames or they may not.
2. MP3 players may play files in alphabetical order or file directory entry
order.
What can we do?
1. Choose long file names that will shorten gracefully to preserve the
alphabetical program serial sequence.
2. When burning CD's, ensure the CD's are created with the files in
alphabetical order. Some burning software will do this automatically, some
will burn files in the order you select them.
3. Avoid using legacy MSDOS level utilities to manage your files. They do not
generally know anything about long file names. Genuine late model MSDOS
utilities are often safe, such as copy and xcopy, but other programs should
always be tested. The most damage has been done by MSDOS versions of PKZIP
which I often use myself. These versions do not preserve long filenames. When
needing to use the ZIP program, which will not compress MP3 files BTW as they
are already efficiently compressed, use a Windows version such as WinZip.
4. Understand that when files are copied into a directory with similar files,
different short names may be assigned based on the files already there--every
filename must be unique, both the short and long versions. Long names are
never changed but short names are an operating system call.
5. What's said here about filenames is true for directory (or folder) names
too. They will be shortened to fit the [removed] format using ~# conventions.
Although NTFS, UNIX, LINUX and MAC systems deal with long filenames in a more
professional manner, they still burn CD's for MP3 players to be compatible
with ISO file naming conventions, so short names will be created on the CD.
Yes, it's sad, but the Joliet extensions in the ISO CDROM specification are
implemented based on the legacy MSDOS method. The truth is Microsoft wrote
the Joliet extension to be compatible with Windows 95. Also, FWIW, the Joliet
extension limits long filenames to 64 characters.
Don Shenbarger
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:44:39 -0500
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Glorious Sauciers
From: Bob Fells <rfells@[removed];
By the mid-1930s he was guesting on several shows but his 1937
Shakespeare series on NBC seems to be his first continuing appearance on
the air.
C'mon. Isn't anybody gonna step up to the plate, & help Bob & I out? (Jerry
H., don't I recall a "new" one of the '37's on your site?)
I have obtained two of these shows, 10/12/38 and a Christmas show
Speaking of [removed] It's also claimed that Jack subbed for his brother in a
CHRISTMAS CAROL one year. As I've heard his TWELFTH NIGHT, were he
shamelessly imitates Lionel, I'd love to hear if he pulls the same trick
[removed]
Best,
Craig "Scrooge on the Air in NJ this Dec." Wichman
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:55:45 -0500
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "Like Banqou's [removed]"
From: Faulknerian189@[removed]
REST OF THE STORY ...
Robert Todd Lincoln, in 1910, was suffering from a high fever ... The
Physician----- -why, the son of Edmond Booth (the very brother of JOHN
WILES BOOTH}
Folks-
Hoo boy, that's just the tip of the weird [removed]
-Young EDWIN saved Young Robert from falling in front of a train
-Abe definitely saw Edwin, & probably (that stupid [removed]) John, perform
-The bed Abe died in across from Ford's, had been rested in by John during
rehearsal breaks
-Robert, who was in DC (though to his eternal regret, not at the theater)
when his father was murdered, was then cursed by being near the Garfield &
McKinley assasinations
..and much, much more other-worldliness, lots of it central to Quicksilver's
GOOD FRIDAY, 1865 - LINCOLN'S LAST DAY.
As far as related OTR, steer clear of Mercury's turgid ABRAHAM LINCOLN, with
Welles' stone Lincoln; but the Hallmark "Sandburgs", & some Cavacades & Mr.
Presidents, are decent.
Best,
Craig "playing E. Booth's buddy, John Drew, this week" Wichman
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:43:12 -0500
From: Richard Fisher <w9fjl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Information on life of CD's
As everyone knows there has been a great deal of discussion of the life
expectancy of CD's in recent digests.
A friend of mine sent my this site yesterday which has a great deal of
good information on CD's and DVD's of various types.
This is an NIST site (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
and is listed below. You may find what they have to say interesting. It
is quite well written in my opinion. It is about 11 pages long.
[removed]
Dick
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:58:51 -0500
From: "Michael Hingson" <MHingson@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: Amos's descendants
On 11/10/03 11:37 PM [removed]@[removed] wrote:
She's considered a likely nominee for Commissioner of Education under
the next governor.
So should we expect Arbadella to be appointed as commissioner of
Education next week after Arnold is sworn in as Governor?
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:59:01 -0500
From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: BBC documentaries on American OTR
Has anybody noticed that practically the only radio
documentaries about American OTR being made today are
done by the BBC? (The only exception I can think of is
Garrison Keillor's Comedy College, which has done
episodes on Jack Benny and Burns and Allen.) In the
past few months, the BBC has had brief series on The
Real Amos and Andy, and married comedy teams (Who
Wears the Trousers). A few years back, they had a
series on Radio Detectives (mix of US and British
sleuths). I understand they also did a series on radio
serials, called something like The Radio Adventures.
Does anybody know of any other recent BBC
documentaries focusing on US OTR? Also, does anybody
know where I can get copies of these? I presume most
of these have never been commercially released. (The
paying audience for, say, "The Real Amos and Andy"
probably isn't that huge.)
Kermyt
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:59:19 -0500
From: John DOrazio <ventureqwest@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Old Time Radio Shows on CD
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Looking to Buy Sell and Trade,old time radio shows on CD.
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:59:49 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Listening "In Style"
At my local Walgreens, I noted a reproduction cathedral-style radio, with
both AM and FM -- and a cassette drive tastefully set into its right-hand
side (as viewed by the user) -- all for about $20. (There's another
model Retro radio, priced about the same, but without the cassette drive,
so look closely.)
This would be an alternate solution to listening to OTR "in style"
without gutting an Old-Time radio. (I have no connection with Walgreens
save as a customer.) I don't know if it's just a store item, but it may
pop up in other Walgreens.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 12:59:31 -0500
From: "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Bill Stern
In the movie Radio Days, there is an excellent spoof of the Stern-style of
broadcasting as the reporter tells the story of the baseball pitcher who,
while hunting, shot himself in the leg, but returned to his pitching the
next season, then while hunting had another accident and lost an arm.
Returned to his pitching the next season, and had still another hunting
accident and was blinded - but returned to pitch a perfect season. It was
done very "Stern-like" proving the genius of Director Woody Allen's talent.
To change the subject a little: Years ago, I remember watching a movie with
Anthony Quinn who played an Eskimo named [removed] very good movie. I
have been trying to find the movie on tape since Quinn died a few years ago
but can find no reference to it anywhere. Am I wrong about the movie, is it
too politically incorrect, or is it just not released on video?
Roby McHone
Fairbanks, [removed] we always have a white Thanksgiving
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #409
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