Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #208
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 6/7/2002 8:30 AM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

    ------------------------------

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 208
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Waukegan, Here I [removed]              [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
      Voice Tracking                        [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
      Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Jack Benny Statue Dedication          [ danhughes@[removed] ]
      Re: OTR Voicetracking                 [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Distinctive voices                    [ "david rogers" <david_rogers@hotmai ]
      Re: OTR on "The Simpsons"             [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      OTR themed restaurants                [ "Holm, Chris " <[removed]@delphiau ]
      OTR Themed Restaurants                [ widnerj@[removed] ]
      Re: Theme restaurants                 [ "H. K. Hinkley" <hkhinkley@[removed] ]
      Subject: Big Baby Jesus Christmas Dr  [ "Steven C. Thoburn" <scthoburn@comc ]
      Mr. President                         [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]
      Re: Big Baby Jesus Christmas Dragnet  [ "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; ]
      Right and Wrong                       [ Harry Bartell <bartell@[removed] ]

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 09:15:44 -0400
    From: JackBenny@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Waukegan, Here I [removed]

    Preparations for the Waukegan Jack Benny celebration are coming together
    (after many months of planning), and I'm on the plane tomorrow morning.

    For those not yet in the know, the Jack Benny statue and plaza will be
    officially unveiled and dedicated this weekend.  The festivities include a
    benefit dinner featuring Eddie Carroll doing his one-man Jack Benny show, and
    a recreation of the 9-23-51 Jack Benny Program by members of the
    International Jack Benny Fan Club.  Chuck Schaden will be on hand, as well as
    three of Jack Benny's grandchildren.  (Unfortunately, Ray Erlenborn is having
    some health issues and had to cancel.  We'll miss him a lot!)  Chuck is
    taping the festivities for broadcast at a later date.

    You can see the full schedule on our Web site.  And keep your eyes and ears
    open;  NPR interviewed several people for broadcast this Friday, and CNN and
    several other media companies are anticipated to attend.

    It's going to be a blast, and I can't wait to get going.  Hope to see some of
    you there!

    --Laura Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 09:16:13 -0400
    From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Voice Tracking

    leemunsick@[removed] writes:

    "But the thought of one or two guys pre-recording all the material for a
    whole day in an hour or so, and worse yet having it sent out perhaps to
    1200 stations is mind-boggling and let's face it, just plain greedy. Gone
    is the personality of radio, as one writer put it. One more reason for
    people to tune out and turn off."

    PLUS: The way the stations do this, local listeners have no idea that what
    they're listening to did not originate in local [removed]
    As for music, local performers won't get air time; local news probably
    won't get broadcast; local issues won't be covered.
    It appears that we citizens do not own the frequencies, and those who
    supposedly lease them from us don't have to perform any sort of public
    interest programming.
    Alas, with the current Administration's pro-business attitude, I expect to see:
                                                              up.
    Stations' & networks' profits will go
    Public service to local audiences will go
                                                                      down.

    Herb Harrison

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 09:16:20 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Today in radio history

      From Those Were The Days --

    1938 - Stella Dallas was presented for the first time on the NBC Red
    network. The serial was "the true to life story of mother love and
    sacrifice."  Stella Dallas continued to do this and so much more until
    1955.

    1944 - CBS radio saluted America’s war doctors with The Doctor Fights,
    presented for the first time this day.

      Joe

    --
    Visit my home page:
    [removed]~[removed]

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 09:30:12 -0400
    From: danhughes@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Jack Benny Statue Dedication

    Anybody else on the list headed for Waukegan Saturday for the dedication
    of the Jack Benny statue?  Wanna get together?

    ---Dan, [removed]~dan (spiffy home page)

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 10:57:27 -0400
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: OTR Voicetracking

    Mike Biel wrote:

>     I have absolutely no evidence that Dave Garroway invented this
>     procedure, but can anyone come up with an earlier candidate?

    Bob Elliot and Ray Goulding were doing this at WHDH at approximately the
    same time as Garroway. I'm currently retransferring many of their
    surviving recordings from this period for the First Generation Radio
    Archives, including a couple of discs for their early morning wake-up
    program consisting of many short cuts to be used between recorded
    selections, presumably taken from commercial 78 rpm releases or
    transcription-library cuts. I've not yet actually listened to these
    discs, since they're in very poor condition and need to be thoroughly and
    carefully cleaned before they can be transferred.

    Occasionally, because of holidays, Bob and Ray would pre-record their
    afternoon "Matinee" program the same way -- leaving slugs where the
    musical selections by Ken Wilson and Bill Green would be inserted live.

    There's also Jean King, the "Lonesome Gal," who began syndicating her
    bedroom-voice DJ program in late 1949 after two years as a local feature
    in Dayton, OH.  She's probably the closest approach to the modern
    "voice-tracking" concept because unlike Garroway or Bob and Ray her
    program was sold to multiple markets. King even recorded commercials for
    local sponsors to be dropped into the programs -- with the engineer at
    each subscribing stations inserting the recordings specified out of the
    station's own record library.

    And even earlier -- in the late thirties -- there's evidence that some of
    the commercial programs  broadcast to Britain over Radio Luxembourg and
    Radio Normandie may have been prepared in this piecemeal format.
    Recordings exist of the "Ovaltine Song and Melody Programme" from 1937-38
    consisting of just the announcer's remarks -- the Song and Melody were
    apparently inserted from separate recordings. I don't know if these
    recordings are essentially "work discs," which were dubbed to create the
    finished program, or if they were actually broadcast this way -- but it's
    clear that the show was assembled from pieces rather than being recorded
    straight thru. At least some of the Luxembourg/Normandie English-language
    programs were done on the Miller-Phelps "Millertape" system, but I don't
    know the original format of these specific Ovaltine recordings -- I've
    only heard dubs, including one which *does* include all the musical
    selections.

    All this being so, I'd suggest that this idea seems to have occured to a
    lot of people at once, so it'll be hard to determine exactly who might
    have done it first.

    Elizabeth
    (who, if you will excuse the rant,  is really really rooting for AFTRA to
    stick it to Cheap Channel hard. It's time *someone* had the guts to fight
    back. I would frankly rather see our local stations go off the air
    completely than continue as they now are -- dead silence is better than
    the blister-packed pasteurized-process liner-card-reading voice-tracked
    drivel Chimp Channel is handing out.)

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 11:16:16 -0400
    From: "david rogers" <david_rogers@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Distinctive voices

    Regarding the distinctive voices postings, I would like to add two versatile
    voices.

    Peter Sellers - in "The Goons". To this I would like to add Peter Sellers as
    my nomination for the radio star with the most frequent unscripted laughter.

    Kenneth Williams - in "Beyond Our Ken", but particularly in "Round The
    Horne" and "Just A Minute".

    As for a distinctive voice:

    Jimmie Clitheroe - maybe not as versatile as the two mentioned above but
    certainly distinctive.

    Love as always, David Rogers

    [removed] I have never been to an OTR conference or met any OTR stars or
    collectors etc. I am just a simple guy that loves listening to old radio
    shows, particularly on my little mp3 player as I am travelling about. Is it
    usual for people who like OTR to argue and talk so much about money. I find
    it a little disappointing. My mother taught me that to keep talking about
    money was vulgar - but then I am old and English.

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 11:17:08 -0400
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: OTR on "The Simpsons"

    Rick Keating wrote:

> >     One great thing about the Simpsons is that it
> >     offers tips of the hat to various aspects of
> >     popular culture over the decades. I wouldn't
> >     be surprised if somewhere along the way, there
> >     was a tip of the hat to OTR.

    I've long been collecting and documenting post-OTR-era references to
    "Amos 'n' Andy" in popular culture -- and "The Simpsons" has produced at
    least one.  In a 1993 episode entitled "$pringfield," the show opens with
    a parody of a post-WW2 newsreel -- and this includes a quick scene of a
    Hollywood premiere covered in typical newsreel style. "Look!" declares
    the narrator, as celebrities file into the theatre, "Here's Amos -- from
    radio's 'Amos 'n' Andy'!" The gentleman thus indicated, who looks vaguely
    like a Groeningized, middle-aged Freeman Gosden (although with more
    hair), smiles at the camera, waves, and says "Hello folks!" in a Hank
    Azaria impersonation of the "Amos" voice.

    Elizabeth

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 11:53:04 -0400
    From: "Holm, Chris " <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OTR themed restaurants

    In #207, Derek Tague wonders:

>     did there ever exist somewhere in this country a theme-restaurant or
>     saloon  dedicated to OTR. *SNIP* Of course, the perfect name would be
>     "Duffy's Tavern."

    And the restroom doors would definitely have to be labeled "John" and "Marsha"

    -Chris Holm

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 13:04:38 -0400
    From: widnerj@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR Themed Restaurants

    While in my area of the midwest, there are not any themed OTR
    restaurants, there is a local area cafeteria chain that used to have a
    plate offering called a "Jack Benny" plate. Whether based from radio
    or television, the plate was smaller portions and above all else -
    cheaper!

    Jim Widner
    jwidner@[removed]

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 13:13:28 -0400
    From: "H. K. Hinkley" <hkhinkley@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Theme restaurants

    Derek askes:

>     ... did there ever exist somewhere in this country a
>     theme-restaurant or saloon
>     dedicated to OTR. You know, dishes named after OTR characters, ...

    Some years back I was told of "Fibber McGee's" restaurant in Orlando FL.
    On a trip to the area, with great anticipation, though not knowing what
    to expect, my wife and I managed to find the place.  The sandwiches on
    the menu were given names from the FM&M program like "The Wallace Wimple
    Hamburger".  The decor of the restaurant was typical neighborhood cafe
    and there was no other reference to the show.  We were disappointed.
    Somewhere among my souveniers is a menu that just happened to fall into
    my wife's purse.

    Does anyone know if the restaurant is still there serving WW hamburgers?

    HK

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 13:14:14 -0400
    From: "Steven C. Thoburn" <scthoburn@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Subject:  Big Baby Jesus Christmas Dragnet

    Speaking of Harry Bartell, many years ago I was watching a (TV)rerun of (I'm
    pretty sure) Alfred Hitchcock Presents.  I kept trying to figure out who one
    of the actors was- I was sure I'd "seen" him before.  When the credits
    rolled, lo and behold, it was Harry Bartell.  Does anyone else remember
    this?

    Steve
    (You know, Petri wine is GOOD wine!)

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 13:13:59 -0400
    From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Mr. President

    Jell-O Again!

        As an addendum to Dennis Crow's comments on Mr. President:
    My problem with collecting the tapes is that the dealers that sell the
    cassette versions label them with  the name of the president being portrayed.
    Therefore, the fun of guessing who "Mr. President" is in any
    particular programme is ruined. IMHO, my problem with Edward Arnold's
    portrayals  is that he tended to play each president in the same manner
    as all harrumph-ing corporate types he played in all those Frank Capra movies
    ([removed],his portrayal of newspaper publisher [removed] Norton in "Meet John Doe," in
    which his crypto-fascist character plans to use the grass-roots "John Doe"
    movement to launch a bid to [removed] President).

    Yours in the ether,

    [removed]

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 14:57:25 -0400
    From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Big Baby Jesus Christmas Dragnet

    Elizabeth Minney observed:

>     is it the black and white filming which does this, or is it my imagination,
>     but nearly all the actors on that particular show had exceptionally
>     brilliant eyes.

    Actually, your video is of a b&w print of a show that was filmed in color in
    [removed] so that (combined with Jack Webb's "big head" close-ups) may have
    the effect of "emphasizing" certain characteristics such as eyes.  It must
    be even more impressive in its original color.

    I also enjoyed your delight at seeing Mssrs. Bartell and Moody at work.  But
    I have to ask: have you never seen the latter-day "Dragnet" with Harry
    Morgan?  Mr. Webb remade that episode in 1967, and Mr. Bartell, Mr. Moody
    and Mr. Vigran reprised their roles.  It's definitely a highlight of that
    particular incarnation of "Dragnet."  (Wonder if Dick Wolf's version will
    remake it again?)

    One final comment: one of the tragedies regarding the unavailability of the
    original b&w "Dragnet" is that sooooo many OTR actors were on it, and it
    represents a chance to SEE them in their prime.

    Michael

    ------------------------------

    Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 17:38:11 -0400
    From: Harry Bartell <bartell@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Right and Wrong

    As an interested observer, I am baffled by Gad4's comments in issue 207.

    I am not a collector and I have little or no technical knowledge of
    recording. I don't know an MP3 from B-2 but there seems to be differences of
    opinion as to the efficacy of the process. In scrolling past the various
    articles which I don't understand, there are pros and cons expressed but I
    haven't gotten any sense of people saying one is right and the other wrong .
    Certainly, there are preferences and dislikes , usually with very valid
    [removed]

    The inferences I draw from Gad4's letter indicate that everybody should
    always agree with everybody else. If that were true, we would still be
    working on the premise that the earth is flat and the sun revolves around
    us. "Right" and "Wrong" have more ethical meanings to me even though they
    are used interchangeably with "correct" and "incorrect". For example, if the
    man says Gale Gordon was responsible for "yeeesssss?" he [removed]

    Harry Bartell

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #208
    *********************************************

    Copyright [removed] Communications, York, PA; All Rights Reserved,
      including republication in any form.

    If you enjoy this list, please consider financially supporting it:
       [removed]

    For Help: [removed]@[removed]

    To Unsubscribe: [removed]@[removed]

    To Subscribe: [removed]@[removed]
      or see [removed]

    For Help with the Archive Server, send the command ARCHIVE HELP
      in the SUBJECT of a message to [removed]@[removed]

    To contact the listmaster, mail to listmaster@[removed]

    To Send Mail to the list, simply send to [removed]@[removed]