Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #171
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 5/10/2002 8:07 AM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2002 : Issue 171
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Recapturing the past                  [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
  Re: Pete Kelly's Blues                [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
  Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
  journalists --request for info        [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
  Re: OTR Actors to TV                  [ gad4@[removed] ]
  Re: OTR Actors to TV                  [ gad4@[removed] ]
  Jack Webb                             [ Ga6string@[removed] ]
  Book recommendation                   [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
  Re MJS' Post                          [ "james hunt" <jameshunt@[removed] ]
  MP3 Boomboxes                         [ "John edwards" <jcebigjohn41@hotmai ]
  Top Cat cartoon connection to OTR     [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
  Re: Jack Webb and Artie Green         [ "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; ]
  "Top Cat"                             [ littlejc2@[removed] ]

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 11:32:03 -0400
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Recapturing the past

Patrick <cooldown3@[removed]; reminisced:
But I can still remember the sound from the old plastic set ...a bit
tinny sometimes, and how the show would fade in and out as the heaviside
layer shifted at night. Lightning manifested itself ...cool rain would
settle the dust, blowing droplets through the screen ...fresh smell to
everything ...the scent of the tubes glowing in the dark.

How evocative, Patrick. I didn't grow up in Texas, but you brought back some
powerful memories anyway. I have to admit I'd completely forgotten the SMELL
of radio in my youth.

It's great to see younger people discovering the excitement of the theater of
the mind; perhaps the internet will save an art form I had thought would die
with the last of those who remember listening to it. But memories like yours
help to preserve an essential element of what it was actually like to listen
to those shows in that time, an aspect it will be difficult to pass on to
youngsters who are barraged from all sides with multimedia din, an element of
old time radio as intangible as the aether that carried the radio
personalities into our homes.

One aspect of radio that is forgotten is the visual. Rarely did a family sit
around the living room staring at the console, as is often depicted. Mostly
we sat around, if we had an hour's leisure, looking at each other, sharing
our reactions to the comedy, the suspense or the terror: "Don't be scared,
kids; it's just a story." Often, though, we did other things while we
listened. Mom would prepare supper, Dad would calculate how much lumber he'd
need for tomorrow's job. We kids would play with our toys or play at doing
our homework, every once and a while commenting on the show: "Why are they
laughing? I missed it." One of the great things about listening to radio was
that the family could still interact, could still move about the house, could
get ready for bed. The great musical and dramatic stars of the day went from
room to room with us, unoffended at our divided attention. Outside were no
passing cars with thumping stereos; only the crickets and the occasional
screech owl. We were very poor, but we had all we needed.

Not all of radio's offerings were great works of art. I hesitate to say so,
but that truth cannot be denied; the dross has been preserved along with the
gold, for all to hear. We can try to demonstrate to those too young to
remember what great and unique artistry radio had to offer, but that's only
part of the equation. The new excitement of having free entertainment right
in one's home, the attempt to divert ourselves from the grim realities of the
depression, following the war effort without any certainty that we were going
to win this thing and not have German troops storming our own beaches, the
comfortable fifties when the worst seemed behind us and the world was
uncrowded, full of the promise of scientific marvels but with dark jungles
yet unexplored where, possibly, there just might be a misty plateau where
dinosaurs had survived - what it was like to hear the shows we can all hear
now on our mp3 players, but to hear them in that moment when they were fresh
and new and so were [removed] this is part of OTR that we can't recapture just by
hearing the recordings, the part that you've so effectively suggested with
your reminiscences. I, for one, would like to hear more such ruminations from
others on this list, descriptions of the everyday experience of hearing these
shows when they were first broadcast. It may be impossible to share our
personal nostalgia, but maybe a hint of it could be passed on to those who've
never known a life without tv and cineplexes. Just a thought.

I wonder how many youngsters know, in this day of central heat and air, the
smell you describe, of rain through a window screen, not aluminum or plastic
screen wire, but a screen with a hint of rust. It did, indeed, stir the
blood. Or maybe that was the negative ions conjured up by the lightning.

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 11:32:23 -0400
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Pete Kelly's Blues

"Nancy L. Hudson" <hudson@[removed]; mentioned:
Pete Kelly's Blues is one of my all-time favorite shows, which blended
so many features in a radio program ...ran for only 13 [removed]

I seem to remember a television show of that name from the early 60's. Does
my memory deceive me? I've got Dunning's book on radio, but nothing
comparable for tv. (I guess a tv encyclopedia would be pretty hard to do,
since there's no way to bracket the shows, no "death of tv" to work back
from. Too bad.) Anyhow, I don't seem to recall Jack Webb being the star, but
I do seem to remember that the main character played cornet. I remember
because I was learning to play cornet at that same time.

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 11:32:32 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Today in radio history

  From Those Were The Days --

1937 - Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy started their own radio show on
NBC -- only months after they had debuted on Rudy Vallee's radio
program. [removed] Fields, Don Ameche and Dorothy Lamour were a few of the
stars that helped Bergen and the little blockhead, McCarthy, jump to the
top of radio’s hit parade.

  Joe

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

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 13:11:25 -0400
From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  journalists --request for info

In preparation for a media blitz concerning my forthcoming book on World
War II radio, I would appreciate the names (and locating information) of
journalists -- besides Kenneth Masson -- who have written articles about
OTR in the last two years or so

Thanks,

Howard Blue

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 14:18:14 -0400
From: gad4@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: OTR Actors to TV

There was a very well produced <"Family"> cartoon series on ABC-TV, early
60's (?)  titled "Top Cat".

Im sure many will write in on this, but I believe the series being referred
to involving Gosden and Correll is Calvin and the Colonel. Top Cat was
another series starring Arnold Stang (if Im remembering correctly) and
appears to me to be more of a spoof of Sgt Bilko.

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 14:18:55 -0400
From: gad4@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: OTR Actors to TV

[removed]

I saw a message in the digest, responded to it, and then noticed Liz's more
in depth respond later on.

Great job Liz. My only puzzle is how did she respond to a message in the
actual issue that the message was about to appear in?

George

[ADMINISTRIVIA: Gee, I wonder how that happened?  ;)   --cfs3]

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 15:32:26 -0400
From: Ga6string@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Jack Webb

Dennis writes:
Re: "Sunset Boulevard": Jack Webb's portrayal of a chatty and nervous
assistant director, Artie Green, is like no other acting I have ever seen by
our famous "Joe Friday."

Hi all,
This is off-topic, I guess, as it doesn't deal directly with OTR, but one of
my favorite Jack Webb performances is in the old film, "Appointment With
Danger," starring Alan Ladd as a hard-headed postal inspector. A young,
blade-thin Webb and Harry Morgan (that's right) played the two villians, and
Jack was a great bad guy who spends most of the film trying to bump off a nun!
Bryan Powell

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 16:11:35 -0400
From: otrbuff@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Book recommendation

I have just completed reading Dennis Hart's fascinating little book
"Monitor: The Last Great Radio Show (Writers Club, 2002).  It was a
delightful read and should recall hours of pleasure for anyone who adored
that fabulous weekend series offering us more time on the air than any
other feature ever programmed by the national chains.  Hart mixes
sentiment with fact and the whole thing comes off very well.  If you
loved the show, you'll probably love the book.

Jim Cox

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 17:36:55 -0400
From: "james hunt" <jameshunt@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re MJS' Post

Regarding "the unrelated thought" to the 2nd half of his message in the
latest edition of this list, MJS
 is bemoaning the reasons why there are so few of the older programs
broadcast on radio
stations today.
Anyone in Michigan can listen to Michigan Public Radio Via their Ideas
Network on Sunday nights
for 4 hours.
Those in Central New York State can tune in one of the seven WRVO Stations,
Seven Nights per
week, 8-12 Midnight, Eastern.
On the internet   there are a number of stations, sites that offer
"Streaming OTR" with varying degrees
of success- With One Exception!
"Yesterday USA" < [removed] > broadcasts OTR 24/7. No
commercials,except those
in the original programs No banners on their website.
Click on "Listen Now' link and follow the prompts. This operatiion is
supported by listeners and private
donations and their sever IS UP Always Unless there  Are Severe weather
conditions in the tower
vacinity-which is rare. Don Hunt.

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 20:15:49 -0400
From: "John edwards" <jcebigjohn41@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  MP3 Boomboxes

Hi Sometime back someone wrote in mentioning that they had good results with
a boom box that played all MP3s well (high & low rates). It was a Phillips
but I don't recall the model number.  As I live about 100 miles from the
nearest Best Buy & Circuit City, I wanted to visit both places in about a
week to try and find something that will play the few MP3s I do have. Does
anyone have any suggestions as to what is available from these two places
that they would recommend as far as MP3 boomboxes.  Thanks, John

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 20:16:10 -0400
From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Top Cat cartoon connection to OTR

Recently, one of the mailing list mentioned that the
1960's cartoon series "Top Cat" was voiced by Freeman
Gosden and Charles Correll  of  "Amos and Andy" fame.
According to a recent search of [removed], I happen to
know that the main character (Top Cat) was voiced by
Arnold Stang, who I believe appeared on  the "Henry Morgan
Show" among others and had a brief role in  the Frank
Sinatra movie "The Man With The Golden Arm".

What might have confused him was that the voice of the little
fat cat, Benny was probably voiced by  Paul Freeman, who provided
many other characters. Hopefully, I'm not too far off the beam.

Agreed, there were many OTR actors who provided voices for characters
during television's heydey and still do.

Kenneth Clarke

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

Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 20:15:40 -0400
From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Jack Webb and Artie Green

Writes Dennis Crow:

Perhaps Webb biographer, Michael Hayde, has info on what happened to Jack
Webb between "Sunset Boulevard." and "Dragnet."  How did the guy finally
settle on his famous acting style?

Actually, I'm not really a Webb biographer; my book was about "Dragnet" and
Webb's films, not the man himself.  I know what he did, and when and how he
did it.  I can't pretend to know *why.*

Excellent question, though.  From our interviews, Peggy Webber believed
Jack's film and television acting suffered under his own direction; he was
too distracted with running things to concentrate on his performances.  Webb
himself always admitted he was "not much of an actor," which I think is
rubbish.  IMHO, it's just that he hit upon a style that made him a star, and
rarely diverted from it.  I would even say that his performances on the
radio "Pete Kelly's Blues" are closer to Pat Novak than Joe Friday; it's in
the movie where Kelly's demeanor is nearly identical to the sergeant's.

And is "Sunset Boulevard" his only major departure from the laid-back
character he later portrayed?

Not really.  He was excellent as Brando's paraplegic buddy in "The Men"
(1949), and although the film itself isn't much, I greatly enjoy his lively
performance as editor Sam Gatlin in "-30-" (1959).  ("Gunsmoke" fans ought
to seek out that one, with both Bill Conrad and Howard McNear in supporting
roles.)  Not to be missed, though, is Webb's chilling role as the psycho in
"Appointment With Danger" (1951, but actually made in 1949 during
"Dragnet's" earliest weeks on the air).  Just watching him beat Harry Morgan
to death with a pair of bronzed baby shoes is worth the price of admission!

Michael

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

Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 10:02:17 -0400
From: littlejc2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  "Top Cat"

Mr. Hunt is mistaken about the cartoon series "Top
Cat."  That series was about a group of Brooklyn alley
cats led by Top Cat who was voiced by the wonderful
Arnold Stang.

What Mr. Hunt was referring to was another cartoon
series that ran at approximately the same period as Top
Cat.  This concerned the antics of a fox and a bear for
which Gosden and Correll did indeed do the voices.  The
series was titled "Calvin and the Colonel."

If I remember correctly, there were many parallels
between "Calvin and the Colonel" and "Amos 'n' Andy."

Chester Littlejohn
littlejc2@[removed]

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #171
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