Subject: [removed] Digest V2001 #399
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 12/15/2001 3:03 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2001 : Issue 399
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      WJSV                                  [ William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
      Big Jon & Sparkie                     [ "JLF" <infom@[removed]; ]
      more offspring                        [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
      OTR references                        [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
      MP3 on DVD Players                    [ "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@earthl ]
      Bea Benaderet's son                   [ "Robert Paine" <macandrew@[removed] ]
      FRED ALLEN                            [ HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
      Fred Foy/ SGT. PRESTON and the Wolf   [ HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
      RE: My Jack Benny Problem             [ "James Horn" <jhorn@oldtimeradiohom ]
      Mad Magazine cardboard records        [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
      Kraft Music Hall                      [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
      Rio Volt 250                          [ "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed]; ]
      Minoritys and Tracy                   [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      Acorns from the tree                  [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      Re: Perry Como replaced?              [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Today in Radio History                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 17:06:23 -0500
    From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: WJSV

    We sure started up a lot of confusion about WJSV. First let me explain.
    According to the FCC rules a particular owner could only actually own
    five stations in each category, AM, FM, and TV. CBS basically owned  WABC
    (WCBS) in New York, WEEI in Boston, WBBM in Chicago, KMOX in St. Louis,
    and KNX in Los Angeles. That totals five. I do not know how this works
    out legally with partial ownership of other stations. In recent years
    that ruling seems to have gone the drain as I know of owners owning 80 or
    more stations. Also I have heard stories about CBS owning a percentage of
    WTOP. How much of this is assumption and how much is truth, I do not
    know. I did visit the WJSV studios in the Earle Theater Building about
    1942.

    While with CBS I worked out of our Washington facility at 2020  M Street
    many times. It was well known at CBS that it was always a favorite
    assignment, as I had made many friends there. Sort of a second home.
    Happy memories.

    Bill Murtough

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 17:06:37 -0500
    From: "JLF" <infom@[removed];
    To: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Big Jon & Sparkie

    There are 97 episodes of Big Jon & Sparkie available on a download site.
    There are episode titles but no dates. The shows originated in Cincinatti
    and are the m-f "fifteen" minute shows. The file directory is obviously not
    in chronological ordeer.

    Does anybody have a log of these shows showing the proper order? Thanks.

    JLF

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 18:59:39 -0500
    From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: more offspring

    Well, the discussion is finally coming around to a basic truth: if you want
    to find talented offspring, look in country music.  You'll find any number
    of stars and supporting musicians whose parents and grandparents were
    professional musicians.  Lessee: Lorrie Morgan's father was a famous guitar
    player, the Tubb family probably still has a kid in the business, Patty
    Loveless has a famous name, and there are several groups that comprise both
    parents and their kids.

    Jimmy Thudpucker, a rock star in _Doonesbury_ once pointed out that country
    is where rock music went in the 1970's.

    M Kinsler

    And don't forget Shania Twain's famous great-grandfather.

    512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 740 687 6368
    [removed]~kinsler

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 20:49:20 -0500
    From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: OTR references

    Mike Biel commented:

>     OTR in BC, the comic strip, that is.  Today's (Thurs) BC comic strip has
>     an OTR reference that might (unfortunately) have a lot of kids asking
>     their parents for an explanation of the joke.

    This reminds me of my awareness of changing times related to OTR. There is
    a cafeteria chain in the eastern midwest (Indiana, Ohio mostly) that used
    to have a dish special called a "Jack Benny" that was a lower cost entree
    that came with smaller portions. Recently, they began to sort of upscale
    their image to appeal to younger people too (the chain has good food, but a
    reputation as "appealing to older folks"). In doing so they renamed their
    Jack Benny special to a non-descriptive "value plate."  I guess some people
    did not understand the reference.

    Too [removed]

    Jim Widner
    jwidner@[removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 22:30:09 -0500
    From: "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: MP3 on DVD Players

    My son gave me a nice Panasonic
    DVD/CD player for Xmas, one
    that also plays MP3 recordings.  I
    have never been a big collector of
    OTR on MP3, but the recent talk
    about MP3 recordings has inspired
    me to ask this question.  I do have
    a few such recordings and I wonder
    why the CDs from one dealer will
    play and those from another dealer
    won't.  When I put in MP3 CDs
    from the latter, I get an on-screen
    message that the player will not
    play the disc.  Both dealer's CDs
    will play in my PC, though.  Can
    anybody suggest why this is?
    Harry Machin, Jr.
    harbev5@[removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 23:50:31 -0500
    From: "Robert Paine" <macandrew@[removed];
    To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Bea Benaderet's son

    I think the actor you referred to is Jack Bannon, Bea Benaderet's son by her
    first marriage. He also appeared on Petticoat Junction several times, once
    as a biker.

    Bea was mentioned by Orson Welles as being in the cast (maybe as Mrs.
    Cratchit?) on the 12/24/39 Campbell's Playhouse presentation of "A Christmas
    Carol".

     Macandrew

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:23:46 -0500
    From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: FRED ALLEN

    Per Joe Mackey's recent reminder -
    Peter & The Wolf  was a great job by [removed] The Bell Telephone Hour in 1953.
    I am
    going to put it remaster to a regular CD for folks interested.
    Tom Heathwood -

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:24:16 -0500
    From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Fred Foy/ SGT. PRESTON and the Wolf

    When I was producing Fred Foy's "Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch" CD, I remember
    asking him about an incident that occured on SGT. PRESTON in a script
    concerning wolves. It was an on-air blooper where one of the characters was
    supposed to say,
    "Thats my wolf" but instead said "That's my wife"  which effectively
    paralyzed the
    entire cast and production staff, with the director dropping from sight in
    the control room window.  Fred says he has no idea [removed] was able to
    continue the narration while others around him were dropping like flies.
    Unfortunately, Fred has no date for that show.  I wonder if any of the WXYZ
    experts might have a clue as to
    which show that was.  The SGT. PRESTON log shows a few different shows with
    "wolf" or "wolves" in the episode title.  I am sure Fred would like to know
    too.
    Tom Heathwood

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:26:08 -0500
    From: "James Horn" <jhorn@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: RE: My Jack Benny Problem

    In response to the Following:

>     From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
>     Subject: my jack benny mp3 problem
>     <snip>
>     The set was 7 cd's, with 680 "shows" (as mentioned 45 of those were
>     duplicates, and other "shows" included an incredibly poor quality copy of
>     the audio from the "Love Letter To Jack Benny" television special.

>     I bought the set from Old Time Radio Home, on ebay for $[removed]  Avoid
>     this set at all costs.

    I really do not understand where the 45 duplicate shows come in, I believe
    there are 690 shows with no duplicates, maybe 1 or 2, but I think I weeded
    them all out.  As for the quality, I have sold HUNDREDS of these shows
    with-out one complaint. Most of our business are repeat customers. I have no
    bad blood for your post just simply would appreciate an email before posting
    the comment AVOID this set at all costs.  As for substandard recordings, we
    work hard at restoring the best quality possible, sometimes it is very
    difficult when you are dealing with 60 year old shows.  Guess that's what I
    get for trying to help the OTR community with preserving memories.

    Thanks and God Bless

    Restoring memories.

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:26:25 -0500
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Mad Magazine cardboard records

>     Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 01:09:18 -0500
>     From: "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed];

>     I remember getting the disc entitled "It's a gas!" -- a stereotypical
>     sixties guitar and drum rock tune punctuated by belching and the words
>     "it's a gas!" Oh, to be ten years old! I wish I still had my copy.

    I think I still have mine.  And, a few years ago, MAD included it on a
    CD, along with a couple of other tunes which, I assume, were also on
    records at some time.  The CD also contained a computer-format index to
    the magazine's entire run.

    --
    A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
     15 Court Square, Suite 210                 lawyer@[removed]
    Boston, MA 02108-2503           	         [removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:29:45 -0500
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Kraft Music Hall

>     Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 10:21:50 -0500
>     From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];

>     A few years later, Perry Como also had on NBC a half hour variety show,
>     Wed. Night's. As I recall, it was called "the Kraft Music Hall".

    Perry Como had an hour-long TV show on Wednesday night under that title.
    Apparently that title had previously been used on radio, but during the
    1950s, Kraft sponsored the "Kraft Television Theater," which consisted of
    live TV drama.  Then, in the 1958-59 season, they revived the Kraft Music
    Hall title for a half-hour show staring Milton Berle.  Perry Como at this
    time was doing a variety show on Saturday nights.

    Kraft then made a deal with Perry Como, by which he took over the
    Wednesday night slot, running for an hour.  Ignoring the fact that Milton
    Berle's show the previous year had been called the Kraft Music Hall,
    Perry Como's first Kraft Music Hall show began showing a radio studio,
    with a silhouette of Bing Crosby, and the announcer's voice over saying
    that at some specified date, "Bing Crosby closed the doors to the Kraft
    Music Hall."  Someone (I forget who) came out and gave Perry Como the
    keys, supposedly on behalf of Bing.

    I don't know much about the radio version of Kraft Music Hall and would
    appreciate seeing some postings on the subject.

    --
    A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
     15 Court Square, Suite 210                 lawyer@[removed]
    Boston, MA 02108-2503           	         [removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:34:59 -0500
    From: "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Rio Volt 250

    After reading so many positive comments about the Rio Volt 100, my Christmas
    present to myself this year was the new improved model 250. Without having
    actually used the 100 I can't address the differences, but I am thoroughly
    happy with the 250.

    Enthusiastic praise:
    The sound quality is great and the anti-skip feature seems to work very
    well. I have walked around for hours with it slung on the shoulder strap and
    have yet to hear it skip. It plays all mp3 speeds I have tried from 32 to
    128. Navigation amongst files and folders is easy and the LCD screen is very
    readable.

    The two AA batteries that power the unit recharge whenever it is plugged
    into AC. In my opinion this one feature justifies the $160 or so price tag.
    Over the lifetime of this player I will save at least that much on
    batteries. GREAT IDEA, RIO ENGINEERS !!! Why don't ALL battery powered
    electronics recharge in this way? Never mind, rhetorical question.

    The Resume feature is also very nice. When you remove an mp3 disc, the
    player remembers where you were, and when you reinsert that disc it starts
    up at that point. The wonderful thing is that it remembers the 5 most recent
    discs, not just one, so different people can take turns listening to
    different discs without losing their places.

    Two kinds of headphones are included -- the over-the-head type and the
    earbud type. I like the earbuds. My wife likes the over-the-head ones. What
    could be more harmonious?

    The removable leather-ish cover has both a shoulder strap and large belt
    clip, and the bare unit has little non-skid feet for tabletop use. It comes
    with a handheld controller that also has a clip, so for walking around you
    can stuff the player in a jacket pocket and have the controls in your hand
    or at to your side.

    Criticisms:

    The cover fits a little too snugly, and although there is a zipper, it
    doesn't unzip far enough to open the lid far enough to change a CD. You
    pretty much have to slip the unit in and out of the cover. This may
    discourage people from using the cover, but without it the bare unit has no
    clips or places to attach a strap.

    The screen lighting is very nice for night-time use, but it shuts off very
    quickly (after only a few seconds), and the sideways scrolling on the
    program title is very slow. This combination means that if you want to see
    the end of a title, for instance to read the episode number, you have to do
    something like press the volume up/down buttons repeatedly to keep turning
    the light on. Perhaps there are adjustments for this that I haven't found
    yet.

    Overall I give this player two big thumbs up. Thank you Santa!

    Doug Leary

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:40:01 -0500
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Minoritys and Tracy

>     Michael Biel [removed]

>     While it is New York City, it
>     must have been difficult for any minority to get into the unions.
>     Perhaps Bill Murtough might have some observations on this matter, as
>     well as Hal, Lois, etc.

    Speaking only from my personal experience, in the 15 period that I was
    working in radio (10 of them full-time at NBC), I can recall no blacks as
    Engineers, Directors, Studio Set-Up Men, or on the Guest Relations staff.

    There was one Hispanic heritage organist (Rosa Ria) and one Greek and one
    Hispanic set-up man. I can recall only 2 black actors that I worked with.

    And it might be interesting to note, sadly, there were very few blacks in
    the studio audience.

> >     Other guests included Arthur Tracy(The Street Singer)

>     I was joking with my daughter that they shouldn't have
>     put Tracy on first because they will NEVER get him off!!  If you had
>     ever met him you would know what I mean.

    Alas, Michael, I know what you mean. He would sing whenever a spotlight was
    turned on him. The only problem was, a dim bulb in a hallway was considered
    to be a "spotlight" by Arthur. As he aged, it became almost embarrassing. I
    always felt a little sorry for former stars who craved attention and
    applause, and can be a pest about it. (Present company excepted, of course!)

    Hal(Harlan)Stone

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:40:25 -0500
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Acorns from the tree

    If the thread about offspring of celebrity performers is not limited to just
    vocalists, I have a great OTR Actor "Father" and TV Actor "Son" combination
    to lay on you.

    Ed Begley was one of the busiest and most respected character actors in NY
    OTR for many years, and went on to fame in TV as well as motion pictures.

    You TV fans know who his Son is, Right?

    How about this combo? I went to High School with the Son of a famous OTR
    Irish Tenor, who went on to become a notorious later day Radio and TV
    Shock-Jock. Can you guess who. The initials are [removed] Jr.

    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    Jughead

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:40:51 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re: Perry Como replaced?

>     Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 10:21:50 -0500
>     From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
>     Subject: :Perry Como replaced?

> >     Joe Mackey noted the other day:

> >     1944 - The Chesterfield Supper Club debuted on NBC radio. Perry Como, Jo
> >     Stafford and many other stars

>     I remember Sinatra also doing that show at some point.

      According to Dunning, pg. 152, Sinatra isn't mentioned as being any
    type of regular.  He may have been a re-occuring guest star though.

>     A few years later, Perry Como also had on NBC a half hour variety show,
>     Wed. Night's. As I recall, it was called "the Kraft Music Hall".

      Again Dunning, pg. 386, doesn't list Como as being a regular on the
    show.  KMH was on Thursday from 1933-49, except for the first six weeks
    when it was on Mondays.   The only show Como is listed as being a
    regular is the Chesterfield Supper Club and as a regular singer on FM&M,
    pg 246, with the Ted Weems band, during the '36-37 season.
      Joe

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

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:40:59 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Today in Radio History

      From Those Were the Days --

    1949 - After a decade on radio, Captain Midnight was heard for the final
    time. Put your secret decoder rings away now, kids.

      Joe

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

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2001 Issue #399
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