Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #130
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 4/4/2002 7:02 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 130
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Radio Organists                       [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
      Boston Public Library - Really Great  [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
      Frank Bresee                          [ "Christian Blees" <christian-blees@ ]
      Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Christopher Werner on Archie Andrews  [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
      Re: Kelsey Grammer & OTR              [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]
      Re: The Archie malady                 [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      Re: from Those Were The Days          [ "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; ]
      the other Tonto                       [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
      Meek                                  [ "billorr" <billorr6@[removed]; ]
      Klee Plea                             [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
      Gildersleeve Book                     [ "Norman Schickedanz" <[removed] ]
      Transfering Cassettes to Computer     [ "Bill Rockhold" <brockhold@[removed] ]
      Books for the Blind                   [ "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed]; ]
      Bilbies                               [ "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed]; ]
      Comics on Radio                       [ "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed]; ]
      Art Baker                             [ "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed]; ]
      WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?               [ Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@doityours ]
      Re: Bulova                            [ Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 05:07:22 -0500
    From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
    To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Radio Organists

    FYI:  While surfing I came upon a page which identifies organists who
    provided music for radio shows and the shows or stations for which they
    provided the music.  The link follows.

    [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 05:08:41 -0500
    From: JackBenny@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Boston Public Library - Really Great People

    Hi folks,

    Having just returned from BOSTON, I am now catching up on my OTR Digests.
    Seems that while you were discussing the BPL and your issues with it, I was
    spending three days in their Rare Books Room going over both the Jack Benny
    and Fred Allen collections.

    I spent most of my time on the Benny collection, and am very excited to say
    that I have been able to put almost everything back in its original order,
    reunited letters, clippings, and envelopes, put dates to many undated things,
    etc.  I am in the process of putting together a finding index, along with
    other extensive work I did with the collection.  Watch our Web site for more
    information.

    This left very little time for the Fred Allen collection, but I will tell you
    as much as I know.  They brought out the few cassettes that they have, which
    number only about eight or nine.  One of these is the show where Fred Allen
    started the feud with Jack Benny.  I scanned the show to find this bit of
    business, and thought that it was pretty satisfactory sound.  The entire
    collection has a five-volume bound index, which cross-references
    shows/scripts by date, guest star, and other information.  There are also
    letters, clippings, and other information.  Unfortunately, I didn't have time
    to look at any of [removed] I need to get back to Boston ASAP.

    As far as getting copies of the shows, the BPL is in the process of working
    with the City lawyers for researching rights on the various material.  I am
    providing some help with this as well, based on the research I have done for
    Jack Benny.  There is still distinct interest in releasing the shows
    commercially, but the wheels of government turn slowly, and budgets are being
    cut.

    As for the people in the Rare Books Department, I can't say enough nice
    things.  I mainly worked with the Research Librarian and the Curator of
    Manuscripts, who were both friendly and extremely helpful.  I also met
    several of the other people who work in the department, and everyone was very
    kind.  I was even singing OTR commercial jingles with one of them just before
    I left.

    I did mention that the BPL had gotten a very bad rap in the OTR community
    because of the unavailability of the Fred Allen collection for so many years.
     They did admit that it had been that way in past years, but that this had
    changed dramatically in the past five years or so.  They recognize the
    importance of the Fred Allen collection, and are happy to share it.  You do
    have to be in Boston to see most items, but it is most definitely available.
    They also have many Judy Canova scripts.

    Stuart Hample (Are you in the audience?  Does anyone know him?) apparently
    spent a great deal of time with the collection in the recent past, and
    published a book last year based on his work.  Let me know if this is not
    common knowledge, and I can provide more information.

    So if you hadn't already guessed, I give the BPL Rare Books team two very
    enthusiastic thumbs-up.  It was wonderful working with them, and I look
    forward to returning and spending more time there.

    --Laura Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 05:08:51 -0500
    From: "Christian Blees" <christian-blees@[removed];
    To: "OTR digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Frank Bresee

    Hi,

    I'd like to get in contact with Frank Bresee. Can anybody provide me
    with an email address, telephone and/or fax number? Thank you very much,

    Christian

    Christian Blees

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:21:47 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Today in radio history

      From Those Were The Days --

    1938 - After seven years of singing on the radio, Kate Smith began a new
    noontime talk show.

      Joe

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

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:22:13 -0500
    From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Christopher Werner on Archie Andrews programs

    Mr. Werner, why did you have to release to the world the results of those
    medical surveys?
    I expect to be inundated now with e-mails referring to the study that
    PROVES that listening to ANY Radio program is injurious to my mental and
    oral health.
    (After all, I would have to be crazy to listen to OTR programs that
    demonstrably will rot my teeth; and later radio programming is even more
    rotten, right?)
    I guess that, as a preventative measure, I'm going to have to set my e-mail
    program to automatically refer the authors of these messages to sites like
    "[removed]", "[removed]", and "[removed]" with the hope
    that some will realize that your report is not entirely truthful.
    For shame!
    <smile>

    Herb Harrison

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:26:40 -0500
    From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re:  Kelsey Grammer & OTR

     Jell-O Again!

     With all this talk about Frasier paying homage to OTR & his connection to
    Orson Welles, I have it on good authority that Kelsey Grammer's biggest
    influence is Jack Benny.  You may remember that Kelsey was able to use his
    influence at NBC-TV  in getting the network to consent to a prime-time special
    on [removed]
    several Thanksgivings ago--in the time-slot reserved for its top-rated "ER",
    no less.
     I know about [removed]'s idolization of Benny second-hand. I work as a recording
    engineer at Talking Books & one of the actors who records there
    is best-friends [removed]  This actor found out I had an extra copy of the Milt
    Josefberg book "The Jack Benny Show", a tome I extolled because, in addition
    to presenting a history of the show, it explored Jack's comedic technique.
    Despite my protestations ("Why should I give it to you?--I can easily get
    twenty bucks for it at an OTR convention!"), my actor-friend proceeded to talk
    me  into giving it up so that he could present it to [removed] on his next visit to
    [removed], explaining that Kelsey was too busy to seek out his own used copy. I was
    informed, after the fact, that Mr. Grammer was much appreciative & was able to
    gain insights into Jack Benny's on-stage persona that proved helpful in
    producing his special.
      It really wasn't a bad special; but the NBC special from Feb. 1981, "A Love
    Letter to Jack Benny", hosted by Jack's friends George Burns, Bob Hope, &
    Johnny Carson was much better (does anybody have that on video?)

    Derek Tague

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:27:30 -0500
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re: The Archie malady

    Christopher Werner did a great public service by posting the results of the
    Mid Atlantic Journal of Medicines' survey of the health problems caused by
    excessive exposure to episodes of "Archie Andrews" and the resultant
    decision by LOC to ban any further access to the material.

    My initial reaction was that it was just another example of "Big Brother
    Government" infringing on the rights of [removed] Citizens. (see below)

>     While following the recent thread about the possibility of releasing new
>     Archie Andrews programs from the Library of Congress (LOC) <SNIP>I asked a

    librarian friend of mine to determine if and when the programs would be
    available. Apparently a recent academic study will now prevent the programs
    from ever being released in the future. Here are the details:

>     The Monday issue of the Mid-Atlantic Journal of Medicine contains a report
>     by Doctors Fitzwilliam and Burnbaum in which they have surveyed over 3000
>     one time listeners of the Archie Andrews radio program. <SNIP> "The survey was
>     especially difficult to perform because of the ever-shrinking pool of
>     listeners
>     that were alive at the time of the original broadcasts. By systematically
>     visiting 1437 nursing homes <SNIP> we were able to examine many former fans of
>     this great comedy program."

>     <SNIP>"We are able to report conclusively, for the first time, that a
>     common ailment was present in more than 80 percent of the survey
>     participants," <SNIP> "This gives overwhelming evidence that the Archie
>     Andrews
>     program is the primary cause of an oral disease commonly referred to as bad
>     breath. <SNIP>it is felt that the prolonged laughter caused the mouth to be
>     kept in an open position for such an extended period of time that various
>     bacteria are able to enter the orifice and find a suitable breeding

    environment. <SNIP>

>     Although further study is anticipated, depending on further grant money,
>     the LOC feels that these results clearly indicate the hazard of releasing
>     any additional episodes to the public at large. Any researchers requesting
>     access to the Archie collection will now require a special medical
>     waver.

    As much as it pains me, I must, in good consciousness, support the LOC's
    decision. These recent findings, coupled with past scientific studies
    concerning this very same program, make me feel quite guilty for being
    partly responsible for causing this affliction among so many of the elderly.

    What surprises me is that no mention was made about the study done by
    Clinical Psychologists 20 years prior to this one. The results of that study
    are even more dramatic and of greater consequence. The public at large knows
    little about this, primarily due to the fact that NBC spend huge sums
    (Donations to the American Journal of Psychiatric Pap) to suppress the
    publication of the findings. I have kept quiet all these years, out of fear
    of massive law suits. But now that the statute of Limitations is in effect,
    I can now speak openly.

    Basically, over 32 mental hospitals, and 620 patients were part of the
    survey. They limited the study to those suffering from many severe forms of
    personality disorders, with special emphasis on Catatonia. Extensive
    background checks and research of childhood histories were conducted. There
    was one common denominator in all patients studied.

    If one occasionally listened to "Archie" at age 6/7, and stopped at pre-teen
    age, the brain damage was minimal. Prolonged listening tended to see far
    more stilted development of brain matter, along with a pronounced reversal
    of maturation among the male inmates. (eh! patients) . The most severe cases
    were caused by obsessive listening to the program during it's entire 10 year
    run.

    What can I say. I was young, and was not responsible for my part in causing
    these Medical Maladies.

    But let this be a warning to concerned parents. There is now some early
    evidence that in today's world, prolonged exposure to "Barney" on TV may
    well result in a far greater increase in the population of Mental health
    facilities. And be forewarned. Just as in Cigarette smoking, second hand
    exposure (Listening to that TV show from another room) can also put one at
    risk!

    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    Jughead

    Kudo's to Christopher. A very funny and well done piece.

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:28:19 -0500
    From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Re: from Those Were The Days

>     1949 - Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis debuted on radio in an NBC program
>     that ran until 1952.

    Not quite.  Martin & Lewis did TWO separate radio shows.  The one that began
    on April 3, 1949 was a sort of sitcom where the boys played themselves as
    up-and-coming nightclub entertainers (which is exactly what they were) with
    rent and bills to pay, and the plots usually involved their attempts to
    either raise money or land show biz jobs.  Flo McMichaels (sp?) played their
    secretary and after a few months Sheldon Leonard joined the cast as a
    smooth-talking neighbor who involved them in crazy schemes.  This show ran
    until January 1950.

    After scoring a resounding hit on TV's "Colgate Comedy Hour," NBC gave Dean
    and Jerry a second shot at weekly radio in the fall of 1951.  This program
    was more of a variety format, with guest stars performing in sketches, and
    was written by M&L's TV writers, Norman Lear and Ed Simmons (later Rocky
    Kalish and Arthur Phillips).  This program ran two seasons, ending in the
    summer of 1953.

    Jerry has said that Dean hated doing their radio shows, but I wonder if
    that's true.  After all, he got to sing three songs in a half-hour every
    week on radio, versus two songs in an hour every five weeks on TV.

    Finally: if anyone on the Digest has a copy of the 4/3/49 show with Bob Hope
    on tape, please contact me off-list.  I'd like to purchase (or trade for) a
    copy.

    Michael

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:28:31 -0500
    From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
    To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: the other Tonto

    Occasionally in an ep of the Lone Ranger I hear another voice, not John
    Todd, portraying Tonto. Who was this other actor?

    Joe Salerno  [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:28:43 -0500
    From: "billorr" <billorr6@[removed];
    To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Meek

    Hello all,

    This may be a wild goose chase.  I am inquiring for a friend who is not an
    OTR fan.  My research has uncovered nothing.

    Has anyone heard of "Meek"?  It may have been an imaginary friend of a
    character in a children's show in the late 30's or early 40's.

    Thanks,
    Bill Orr

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 11:42:59 -0500
    From: otrbuff@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Klee Plea

    I'm having difficulty locating more extensive biographical details and a
    link to survivors of Lawrence M. (Larry) Klee, one of Frank and Anne
    Hummerts' most prolific and durable dialoguers on several series
    including Backstage Wife, Chaplain Jim USA, Mr. Chameleon and Mr. Keen,
    Tracer of Lost Persons.  At times he also penned Aunt Jenny's Real Life
    Stories, The Fat Man, Hearts in Harmony, Man Against Crime (TV), Mr. and
    Mrs. North, The Roosevelt Story (movies) and other broadcast series.

    I know this much:  He was the son of vaudeville performer Mel Klee, whose
    act he joined at age 10.  While a student in pre-med at the University of
    Alabama in 1940 Larry Klee began writing for radio, preparing gags for
    comedian Jack Gilford.  Moving to daytime radio serials, he wrote five
    daily episodes of three simultaneous dramas per week.  He was a
    developing contributor to TV's Man Against Crime (1949-56).  He married
    former actress Jane Weldon and the couple had two children, Margaret and
    Paul.  Larry Klee died at age 42 of a heart attack Jan. 1, 1957.

    I'd like to gather more biographical information on this important figure
    in OTR and to reach his heirs.  Anything anyone could provide or suggest
    will be sincerely appreciated.  Please contact me directly.

    Jim Cox
    otrbuff@[removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 12:51:30 -0500
    From: "Norman Schickedanz" <[removed]@[removed];
    To: "Old-Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Gildersleeve Book

    Hi, all.

    Dave Siegel mentioned the Stompf-Ohmart book, The Great Guildersleeve.
    There is an enjoyable interview with Stompf about the book, streamed on the
    Internet, at [removed].

    Norm Schickedanz
    Tucson

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 12:51:43 -0500
    From: "Bill Rockhold" <brockhold@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Transfering Cassettes to Computer

    I know this was discussed several months ago, however, I seem to have lost
    the information.  Can someone help me?  I would like to transfer some of my
    cassetes to Mp3 format to my computer.  I have set my computer up to play
    through my receiver, but how do I connect the receiver /computer to be able
    transfer my OTR programs to my computer files?  This is probably pretty
    boring stuff, so if someone is willing to help me, you can reply off line.

    Bill Rockhold

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 14:55:05 -0500
    From: "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Books for the Blind

    It's not generally  known, but many of the radio personalities gave their
    time each week to volunteer to read books for the blind.  Recording for the
    Blind was aimed mainly at providing books for people who were trying to get
    college educations and many books were technical books with  diagrams, etc
    which were difficult to describe.  My late husband, Howard Culver was one
    who somehow could describe these diagrams well, and was always in demand to
    read these books.  He gave an afternoon each week reading the technical
    books.  He also was good in the recording room, cutting and splicing the
    tapes, so could fill in there when needed.  A number of other radio actors
    did volunteer work each week at Recording for the Blind in Hollywood.

    Lois Culver
    KWLK Radio (Mutual) Longview, WA 1941-44
    KFI Radio (NBC) Los Angeles CA 1945-47, 50-53
    Widow of Howard Culver, actor

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 15:13:23 -0500
    From: "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Bilbies

    I dont blame Jughead for being afraid to ask what a "bilby" is!  Personally
    I dont think I want to eat one, chocolate, or otherwise.  It looks like a
    rat with a bad ear day!  One of our curious members to OldRadio Chat found
    this URL showing what the Aussies hope to use as a substitute for the
    beloved Easter bunny!
    [removed]
    As to what he does with the [removed] was just admitted as a
    "merchandising" problem.
    Join OTR Chat on Thursdays, 8 PM ET, on IRC.  StarLink-IRC network,
    #Oldradio channel.  Meet actors, soundmen from the "golden days of radio",
    and others with the same interest.  Email for directions.

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 15:18:22 -0500
    From: "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Comics on Radio

    I believe that every major area had someone reading the comics for the
    kiddies each week.  In Los Angeles, KFI, the major NBC station, Russ Stewart
    read them.  He recorded them ahead of time on Fridays, then gave them to me
    so I could take them home and read them even before the Los Angeles Times
    came to my doorstep on Sunday [removed] a treat!
    Lois Culver

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 15:32:39 -0500
    From: "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Art Baker

    Joe Mackey's mention of Art Baker reminded [removed] was host of People Are
    Funny,  and later hosted a show called You Asked For [removed] on KFI
    Radio had a show called Art Baker's Notebook, a syndicated daytime show
    which later moved to ABC.  One evening Bill Stulla, who was then doing a
    show for KFI, and I, went over to Art's apartment and Art decided he was
    hungry so we went to a nearby restaurant.  Art had a bowl of soup and Bill
    and I had a cup of coffee.  Art loved to do origami (paper folded into
    animal shapes), and he folded the tip and left it on the table.  As we were
    leaving, the waiter picked up the tip and [removed]"how nice" (sneering) "a
    dollar bird".  Art sneered back "a FIVE dollar bird!" then vowed that next
    time the waiter would get a folded paper napkin for a tip.

    Lois Culver
    KWLK Radio (Mutual) Longview, WA 1941-44
    KFI Radio (NBC) Los Angeles CA 1945-47, 50-53
    Widow of Howard Culver, actor

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 15:33:00 -0500
    From: Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@[removed];
    To: "Radio  Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

    Who would have thought that here today in the year 2002, that we radio fans
    would be conversing (so to speak) with the same group of talented artists we
    listened to some 40-50-odd years ago?  Such great names in Radio as Harry
    Bartell * Hal Stone * Walden Hughes * and even the wife of Howard Culver, M/s
    Lois Culver, are part of this wonderful list that we can "talk" to just as if
    they were another fan, like us.  Only in America!  Hats off to you guys, that
    made us feel like one of you.  If I have left out any names of other OTR
    personalities on this list, I am sure that someone will pick it up and
    continue the praise!

    Kevin

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 19:57:44 -0500
    From: Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Re: Bulova

    Hal Stone wrote: <dualxtwo@[removed];

>     Hey Harlan! Do you happen to know if the Bulova Time thing I did using
>     "Jugheads" voice is in the collection. Would love a copy, if possible.

    Sorry, Hal, didn't find the recording. I did, however, find the director's
    notes for Bob Hasting's Bulova audition - seems that he failed it because,
    every time he said "Bulova" then started to spell it out, you interrupted
    him with that "[removed]" bit. There's no specific mention of
    you in the notes, mind you, but the word "bonehead" *is* scrawled in bright
    red letters at the bottom of the page -- maybe the guy got Jughead's name
    [removed]

    Harlan

    Harlan Zinck
    First Generation Radio Archives
    [removed]

    PS: Thanks to all the folks who wrote to say that they enjoyed the Bulova
    posting. I can't take all of the credit for it, though - it was Elizabeth
    McLeod's initial idea, which Karl Pearson and I elaborated upon. Heavenly
    days, McGee, there isn't *anything* she can't do, is there?

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #130
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