------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2009 : Issue 205
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Horror OTR for Halloween [ "Holm" <cbholm@[removed]; ]
10-27 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Cucamonga [ "Laura Leff" <president@[removed] ]
2 of Life's Mysteries Solved [ Rentingnow@[removed] ]
Last weekend's FOTR Convention [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
Trains and Mel Blanc [ "Holm" <cbholm@[removed]; ]
Jest the facts, ma'[removed] [ Wich2@[removed] ]
War of the Worlds [ Frank McGurn <[removed]@sbcglobal. ]
RE: Fruit frost warnings [ Dick Habegger <amej@[removed]; ]
#OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig [ charlie@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:27:24 -0400
From: "Holm" <cbholm@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Horror OTR for Halloween
A couple of years ago, I put together a list of OTR episodes that people
here on the digest listed as their favorites for listening around Halloween.
I posted this list, and got a great reply from Martin Grams with some
thoughts and other recommendations. I post both here just below for your
consideration.
To select a good Halloween show, you might think it would be as simple as
grabbing an episode at random from a series like Inner Sanctum, Sealed Book,
etc. etc. I would contend that it's not that simple. So many of these
shows seem to follow the individual knifes/smothers/poisons a victim for an
inheritence/lover/business-interest and is trapped by circumstance or guilt.
While they may be entertaining, they lack the supernatural or horrific
elements that make a true horror program, suitable for Halloween. Martin
also discusses this below.
Wishing you all a scary Halloween, and with thanks to Martin Grams,
-chris holm
--==*==--
Original list:
Cape Cod Mystery Theatre - The Caller on Line One
CBSRMT - Time and Again
Dimension X - Knock
Escape - Three Skeleton Key
Escape - Evening Primrose
FM&M - Gildersleeve's Halloween Party
Hall of Fantasy - the Crawling Thing
Hall of Fantasy - Out of the Sky
Inner Sanctum - Dead Walk at Night
Inner Sanctum - Judas Clock
Inner Sanctum - Ghost in the Garden
Inner Sanctum - Corridor of Doom
Lights Out - Poltergeist/Gravestone
Lights Out - Sub Basement
Lights Out - The Archer/Ancestor
Lights Out - The Dream
Lights Out - Mr Maggs (AKA the Chest)
Mercury Theatre - WOTW
Murder at Midnight - The Creeper
Mysterious Traveler - Behind the Locked Door
Mysterious Traveler - I Won't Die Alone
Nightfall - Repossession
Sealed Book - Hands of Death
Suspense - Dunwich Horror w/ Ronald Coleman
Suspense - Ghost Hunt
Suspense - Hitchiker
Suspense - House in Cypress Canyon
Suspense - Never steal a butchers wife
Suspense - The Signalman
Suspense - The Wailing Wall
Quiet Please - Green Light
Quiet Please - Tanglefoot
Quiet Please - The Thing on the Fourble Board
Quiet Please - Northern Lights
X Minus 1 - Man on the Moon
X Minus 1 - Sense of Wonder
--==*==--
Martin's response:
Chris Holm asked about radio horrors. The answer would depend on your
definition of horror. Sorry to be technical but this might make the same
topic that was discussed last year a bit more interesting.
Anything that is scary could be considered horror. My sister-in-law will
not allow my nieces (under the age of 6) to watch Disney's SNOW WHITE AND
THE SEVEN DWARFS because of the mean old witch and little Brea actually is
scared of the witch. Cinderella is okay, big mean witch - no.
Back in the 1930s and 1940s, "horror" was actually defined as blood and
thunder style murder mysteries. Inner Sanctum, The Thin Man, even Mr. and
Mrs. North was considered a "horror" program. Horror has a bigger meaning
today as we refer to those mystery programs of the past as "mysteries" but
back then they were "horror."
QUIET, PLEASE would be classified as "Fantasy," not horror, because the
stories ranged from romance to science-fiction. Very few had horror
elements and that's all it had - elements. Not the mood of creepy and
scary.
CAPE COD MYSTERY THEATRE entitled "The Caller on Line One" is wonderfully
performed and suspenseful, but I don't think it qualifies as a horror drama.
Neither would "The Judas Clock" on INNER SANCTUM MYSTERY or "Never Steal a
Butcher's Wife" on SUSPENSE. Thrillers, slightly suspenseful yes. Horror,
no.
I know Chris included a few comedies in his list because they are
Halloween-themed but if one wants to be technical, here are some truly scary
episodes that qualify as horror for what they are worth.
ESCAPE "Three Skeleton Key" November 15, 1949 production is the best.
HALL OF FANTASY "The Crawling Thing"
MURDER AT MIDNIGHT "Terror Out of Space" Syndicated, February 24, 1947 NYC
airdate. This episode has been overlooked many times but has to be one of
the scariest dramas done on that series and very effective.
THE HALL OF FANTASY "The Crawling Thing"
THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER "Behind the Locked Door" May 24, 1949 This series
had a number of great horrors (and a number of stinkers) but this is the
only one that is known to exist in circulation of the great horrors that
they did.
SUSPENSE had a number of them.
"Ghost Hunt" with Ralph Edwards June 23, 1949
"The Trap" with Agnes Moorehead June 16, 1949 (often overlooked)
"The House in Cypress Canyon" December 5, 1946
and "The Hitch-Hiker" September 2, 1942 I list this on the bottom of the
list to state that when Orson Welles did this drama for SUSPENSE, he did a
magnificent job. However, if you've never heard this one before or haven't
heard it in a while, I suggest the entry listed below.
THE MERCURY SUMMER THEATER ON THE AIR "The Hitch-Hiker" June 21, 1946
version This production was the fourth and final time Welles did the drama
and this production actually out-does the SUSPENSE production. Listen to
this with perfect clarity and not a fuzzy multi-generation sound quality to
enjoy it's flavor. One of the best horror productions done on radio.
Chris listed "The Dunwich Horror" with Ronald Coleman from November 1, 1945.
The story it was based on, by [removed] Lovecraft, is a great story but the
SUSPENSE production is hampered by the awful sound quality - the scratching
of the transcription disc when it was transferred. I have never heard a
great sounding copy of this episode and no one seems to have one. Even if
the sound quality was remastered and cleaned, the adaptation isn't spooky
like it should be.
Chris also listed "The Wailing Wall" from SUSPENSE. That was never done on
SUSPENSE. That's one of those INNER SANCTUM episodes where someone edited
the opening and closing theme from INNER SANCTUM and replaced it with
SUSPENSE. Often found on MP3 format, that is really an INNER SANCTUM
episode, not a SUSPENSE.
THE SHADOW "Dead Men Walk" Popularly circulating in collector hands, the
ending is so horrifying I am shocked censors did not censor the demise of
the villain.
THE CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATER "The Ghost-Grey Bat" March 25, 1981 The last
15 minutes of this episode is true horror.
ESCAPE "The Earth Abides" November 5 and 12, 1950. While some might
debate it's science-fiction, this is a great horror story and a superb
production.
ESCAPE "Casting the Runes" November 19, 1947 While the production isn't
superb, the story is exceptional horror.
FAVORITE STORY "The Lottery" 1947-1949 syndication
MYSTERY IN THE AIR "Mask of Medusa" stars Peter Lorre. summer of 1947
THE FIFTH HORSEMAN "Dawn" with William Bendix July 11, 1946 Should have
had somebody other than Bendix for this role but the script is creepy.
I LOVE A MYSTERY "The Temple of the Vampires" January 22 to February 16,
1940 version
I LOVE A MYSTERY "The Monster in the Mansion" October 6 to November 27,
1941 version is a close second
INNER SANCTUM MYSTERY "The Button" Stars Raymond Edward Johnson in a
one-man performance as a man jailed for a crime he did not commit, locked in
darkness and solitude, who finds a way of keeping himself occupied and from
going insane by flipping his shirt button into the air and finding it by
listening to where it lands and rolls. Towards the end, the button
accidentally lands on a spider's web and he goes insane. Was performed
twice, February 28, 1943 production is memorable. Doesn't exist in recorded
form, but the script does and Johnson's voice would have made this one of
the most memorable of the series.
TEXACO STAR THEATER "Alter Ego" October 5, 1938 with Bette Davis
If you want to scare yourself this Halloween, these come recommended.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:29:24 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 10-27 births/deaths
October 27th births
10-27-1890 - Bob Becker - Terryville, SD - d. 8-10-1962
commentator: "Fireside Chats About Dogs/Pet Parade"
10-27-1896 - Eric Dressler - NYC - d. 8-12-1978
actor: "Scattergood Baines"; "Young Widdr Brown"
10-27-1898 - Kathryn Cravens - Burkett, TX - d. 8-29-1991
newscaster: "News Through a Woman's Eye"
10-27-1898 - Richard Carroll - Cambridge, MA - d. 3-11-1959
writer: "Shorty Bell"
10-27-1901 - David Stone - Savannah, GA - d. 8-31-1995
announcer: "Grand Ole Opry"
10-27-1907 - Mignon Schreiber - Chicago, IL - d. 4-18-1965
actor: Jennie Fox "Foxes of Flatbush", Mrs. Kransky "Guiding Light"
10-27-1908 - DeWitt "Snuffy" Jenkins - Harris, NC - d. 4-30-1990
strings: (Jenkins String Band) "Crazy Water Crystals Barn Dance"
10-27-1908 - Josephine Antoine - Boulder, CO - d. 10-30-1971
singer: "Contented Hour"
10-27-1910 - Jack Carson - Carmen, Canada - d. 1-2-1963
comedian: "Jack Carson Show"; "New Sealtest Village Store"
10-27-1911 - Charles R. Callender - Phrae, Thailand - d. 7-26-1987
sang and played piano on radio
10-27-1911 - Leif Erickson - Alameda, CA - d. 1-29-1986
actor: Richard Rhinelander III "My Friend Irma"
10-27-1914 - Dylan Thomas - Uplands, Swansea, Wales - d. 11-9-1953
writer: "Life of the Modern Poet"; "Modern Muse"
10-27-1915 - Albert Albinger - d. 11-29-1982
newscaster: WKWK Wheeling, West Virginia
10-27-1918 - Bill Ballance - Peoria, IL - d. 9-23-2004
talk show host: "Feminine Forum"; "Bill Ballance Show"
10-27-1918 - Teresa Wright - NYC - d. 3-6-2005
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
10-27-1920 - Nanette Fabray - San Diego, CA
singer, actor: "Advs. of Ellery Queen"; "MGM Musical Comedy Theatre"
10-27-1923 - Peter Bryant - London, England - d. 5-19-2006
announcer, script editor for BBC Radio
10-27-1924 - Ruby Dee - Cleveland, OH
actor: "Story of Ruby Valentine"; "Story Hour"
10-27-1927 - Charles Mullen - d. 4-14-2002
actor: "The Blue Playhouse"; "Advs. of Archie Andrews"
10-27-1933 - Floyd Cramer - Campti, LA - d. 12-31-1997
country pianist: "Country Music Time"; "Country Style [removed]"
10-27-1939 - John Cleese - Weston-Super-Mare, England
comedian: Basil Fawlty "Fawlty Towers"
October 27th deaths
01-01-1900 - Xavier Cugat - Tirona, Spain - d. 10-27-1990
bandleader: (King of the Rhumba) "Camel Caravan"
01-12-1894 - Georges Carpentier - Lens, France - d. 10-27-1975
boxer: Dempsey vs. Carpentier first boxing match broadcast
02-13-1917 - Clara Antonetti - d. 10-27-1995
broadcaster on WTSA Brattleboro, Vermont
03-05-1900 - Sam Hearn - Jersey City, NJ - d. 10-27-1964
comedian: Schlepperman "Jack Benny Program, Glamour Manor"
03-18-1932 - Frank Nagai - Tokyo, Japan - d. 10-27-2008
singer: "Kohaku Uta Gassen"
03-21-1919 - Lois Collier - Salley, SC - d. 10-27-1999
actor: Carol Chandler "Dear John"
04-22-1921 - Vivian Dandridge - Cleveland, OH - d. 10-27-1991
writer: "The Beulah Show"
05-11-1884 - Alma Gluck - Lasil, Romania - d. 10-27-1938
opera singer: made one radio appearance in 1929
05-26-1910 - Larry Rhine - San Francisco, CA - d. 10-27-2000
writer: "Duffy's Tavern"
05-29-1923 - Winifred Wolfe - San Francisco, CA - d. 10-27-1981
writer: "Cloak and Dagger"
06-08-1909 - Leland Frederick Cooley - Oakland, CA - d. 10-27-1998
writer, emcee: "Andre Kostelanetz Program"; "The Shadow"
08-26-1907 - Lester Lanin - Philadelphia, PA - d. 10-27-2004
bandleader: "Lester Lanin and His Orchestra"; "Here's to Veterans"
09-20-1911 - Frank De Vol - Moundsville, WV - d. 10-27-1999
conductor: "Rudy Vallee Drene Show"; "Sealtest Village Store"; "Dinah
Shore Show"
09-23-1910 - Elliott Roosevelt - NYC - d. 10-27-1990
commentary for the Mutual Network (Son of FDR) "Information Please"
09-24-1929 - Alfred Hudgins - d. 10-27-2004
disc jockey: "Blues in the Night"
10-25-1891 - Father Charles Coughlin - Hamilton, Canada - d. 10-27-1979
commentator, preacher: (The Radio Priest)
10-29-1910 - Lew Parker - Brooklyn, NY - d. 10-27-1972
actor: John Bickerson "The Bickersons" "Mennen Shave Time with Lew
Parker"
11-30-1914 - Charles Hawtrey - Hounslow, Middlesex, England - d.
10-27-1988
actor, comedian: Hubert Lane "Just William"
12-01-1886 - Rex Stout - Noblesville, IN - d. 10-27-1975
author: (Creator of Nero Wolfe) Debunker of Axis Propaganda "Our
Secret Weapon"
12-01-1911 - Randy Merriman - Minneapolis, MN - d. 10-27-2005
actor: "Doctor [removed]"
12-13-1912 - Herb Sheldon - Connecticut - d. 10-27-1964
announcer, host: "Honeymoon in New York"; "Luncheon at the Latin
Quarter"
Ron
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:30:46 -0400
From: "Laura Leff" <president@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Cucamonga
Joe Ross asked:
So the big question is, did he pronounce "CUC - amonga" the way Mel
Blanc did?
Even Mel Blanc didn't do it the way Mel Blanc did it at first. Check out
the 1-7-45 show for the first appearance of the bit. The pause was
introduced over time and progressively enhanced, very much the way Frank
Nelson's "yesss" and other Benny bits evolved.
--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:03:39 -0400
From: Rentingnow@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: 2 of Life's Mysteries Solved
Two of life mysteries have been solved. Unfortunately, I will have to
wait for answers for the other trillion.
The first question was:
Q: What was the origin of the B & R line: "Write if you get work and hang
by your thumbs."
A: At the convention in Newark I was told it probably was a time filler
that took off. Of course trying to find the source of much of their humor
would be impossible.
The second question was:
Q: My mother claimed that she was listening to Mae West when WOTW was on.
But there was no Mae West show opposite WOTW.
A: Provided by this list. May West was on Chase and Sandborn hour. It is
a relief to know that my mothers prudish tendency did not have a lapse.
Ah, now if the other trillion answers could be so ease and take only 40+
years for answers.
Larry Moore
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:03:55 -0400
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Last weekend's FOTR Convention
Folks;
While I will be more verbose (some might say long-winded) on the blog, I
wanted to comment quickly last weekend's convention. It was another great
weekend of getting together with folks who truly love Old-Time [removed] know
we gather here on the Digest about every day, but it's still amazing to meet
you face-to-face and get to say hello. The panels are informative, the
recreations always fun, and the drinks at the bar afterwards equally-so. I
finally got to meet Jim Harmon and his wife Barbara, _still_ didn't get
Michael Hayde's stuff to him, and practically ran over one subscriber in my
rushing from one place to another.
Everyone was extrordinarily kind to my daughter and treated her like
[removed] much so that I'm having a little trouble getting her to do her
homework and chores now that we're back. ;) On the blog I'll tell more
stories about her adventures at the convention, but everyone there gets my
personal thank-you for filling her with such joy. One person asked her if she
was there because she wanted to be, or because her parents brought her. Trust
me, she was even more excited about the convention than we were, and enjoyed
the recreations and panels as much or more than those of us who are seasoned
veterans.
I took just a tad over one thousand photos over the convention, and a
bunch of high-def video (watching Chuck McCann, who practically climbs out of
a 15" black-and-white, in high-def on a 54" screen is indescribable!), and as
I mentioned clearly did _not_ maintain updates the way I had planned (I am
usually busy at this convention, helping out when I can and taking photos
when I'm not), but over the next few days I should get some stuff posted to
the Nostalgic Rumblings [removed] one photo posted in a comment last night,
but honest, more to follow quickly.
Charlie
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:06:07 -0400
From: "Holm" <cbholm@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Trains and Mel Blanc
All this discussion on whether you could take a train from Anaheim to Azusa
to Cucamonga has been interesting, but I think it misses the point. Those
cities have funny sounding names, and they make a great gag. They were
picked for the lulz.
-chris holm
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:04:37 -0400
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jest the facts, ma'[removed]
(...that, in honor of Gregg Oppenheimer & co.'s very nice recreation of
"Little Blue Riding Hood" at [removed])
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
a Sante Fe "Daily Motor" train did go through Anaheim, Azusa, and Cucamonga
... so the next Digester who wishes to deny Katz's established facts by
merely relying on their hazy memories, [removed] me!
Oh, people like you and your pesky TRUTH! (Nice to see you - if at a clip!
- in Newark, Jack!)
From: Wich2@[removed]
FRANKENSTEIN: MODERN PROMETHEUS ...
We were honored by being picked up by WBGH
See what happenes when you're an old fart, coming off of several 14 hr.
days? No insult to WBGH, which I believe does exist, but I meant to write "W
GB H," that esteemed Boston institution which has given me so much pleasure
over the years, and which we were very proud to be a part of.
-Craig
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:05:39 -0400
From: Frank McGurn <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: War of the Worlds
Let go back to Sunday October 30, 1938, 7:00 PM Central Time. The
Mercury Theater was on CBS and The Charlie McCarthy
was on NBC. CBS had War of the Worlds and NBC' McCarthy show had as
a guest Star Madeleine Carroll (not May West
she did the Adam & Eve sketch on 12/12/1937).
In 2 days I wold be 9 years old. I stared to listen to WofW and heard
about 15 minutes of when my father came into room and switched to NBC.
His remark we don;t want to listen to that junk. Never heard the end of
the show until 1971.
The Program starts with the announcer's introduction "The Columbia
Broadcasting System and it's affiliated stations presents Orsen Wells
and the Mercury Theater on the Air in the "War of the Worlds by [removed]
Wells". At my age I knew thr program was fiction.
After Orsen Wells did his disclaimer stating that the program was
really a Halloween prank the announce Says " Tonight the Columbia
Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations coast to coast has
brought "The War of The Worlds" by [removed] Wells
the 17th in his weekly series of dramatic broadcast featuring Orsen
Wells and the Mercury Theater on the air next [removed] "
So the program was heard in many parts of the country.
Why did people panic? They didn't hear the beginning of the show.
Another point is that they were running to where ? In 1938 the country
was coming out of the great depression and people were driving older
cars that probably didn't have radios in the car, car radios were an
expensive accessory in new cars, so if they running to safety in a car
the know that the WofW was over and there was no danger.
Howard Kotch was the writer for the Mercury Theater, he wrote the script
for WofW. He was interviewed by Chuck Schade on the 50th anniversary of
WofW. In the interview Howard told that he had 6 days to rit the script
and every day when he finished a few pages the co-producer John
Housman would pick then up at Howard's apartment and take to the radio
station. On Sunday
Aa few hours before air time Howard delivered the last pages to the
Pages to CBS studio personally. CBS had no time to approve or dis
approve the script . Orsen wells had a free hand in what he produced.
On last thought the Mercury Theater on the Air was sustaining , no
sponsor, so no brakes in the play.
There have several updated versions of WofW one version that was on
National Public Radio Stared Steve Allan and Douglass Edwards and other
well known radio voices.
Frank McGurn
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:05:49 -0400
From: Dick Habegger <amej@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RE: Fruit frost warnings
Thank you Bhob Stewart! You made my day.
In my youth, I lived by the Frost Warnings. We had a lemon and orange
grove which needed to be protected.
Also, in high school, I worked with growers by "smudging" when the
temperatures dropped.
I would love to hear a more complete audio recording of Floyd Young
giving his nightly warnings.
You pointed me to the location of the KFI sign-on and the rooster
crowing. You can not imagine how many years I have been asking and
looking for this recording.
I guess my life is (almost) complete now. I have it! Thank you, thank you!
BTW, I lived in Alta Loma, now Rancho Cucamonga, and later, in Anaheim.
There is, and was, NO WAY for one Santa Fe train to schedule stops in
Anaheim, Azusa and Cucamonga!
Anyone that believes otherwise is not worthy of discussion. I challenge
them to spend a day traveling the freeways to each of these stops.
They can also get a hamburger at all of the Bob's Big Boys on the way!
Dick Habegger
Phelan, CA
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:12:01 -0400
From: charlie@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!
A weekly [removed]
For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
Network, the channel name is #OldRadio. We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
over nine years, same time, same channel! Started by Lois Culver, widow
of actor Howard Culver, this is the place to be on Thursday night for
real-time OTR talk!
Our "regulars" include OTR actors, soundmen, collectors, listeners, and
others interested in enjoying OTR from points all over the world. Discussions
range from favorite shows to almost anything else under the sun (sometimes
it's hard for us to stay on-topic)...but even if it isn't always focused,
it's always a good time!
For more info, contact charlie@[removed]. We hope to see you there, this
week and every week!
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2009 Issue #205
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