Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #29
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 1/19/2004 5:30 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2004 : Issue 29
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Striker the Plagiarist                [ danhughes@[removed] ]
  Fran Striker's under-rated talents    [ leemunsick <leemunsick@[removed] ]
  Another passing                       [ Pratz <[removed]@[removed]; ]
  Presenting OTR                        [ "RBB" <oldradio@[removed]; ]
  Fran Striker, Jr.                     [ "John Eccles, Jr." <jeccles@earthli ]
  John A. Gambling, Long John Nebel, a  [ leemunsick <leemunsick@[removed] ]
  George and Madeleine Brown on WOR     [ leemunsick <leemunsick@[removed] ]
  The Fat Man                           [ William Harker <wharker@[removed] ]
  1-20 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  Radio Products & The Ghost Corps      [ Gerald Wright <gdwright@[removed] ]
  Trade Names                           [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]

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

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 13:01:38 -0500
From: danhughes@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Striker the Plagiarist

Bill Harper reveals:

Fran Striker wrote approx. 19 Long Ranger books for Grosset & Dunlap,  2 Gene
Autry books (using the name Bob Hamilton) and 1 Roy Roger for Whitman under
the name Don Middleton.

Bill, I think you've solved a mystery that has puzzled me for several
years.  One of the Lone Ranger books early-on describes a
rough-and-tumble girl throwing a horse over a fence (can't remember the
details, but it was meant to be humorous).  And the exact same story
appears near the front of a Roy Rogers novel.  I always wondered which
writer was the plagiarist.  With your information, I've finally concluded
that Striker plagiarized HIMSELF.  

Love it,

---Dan

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

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 13:56:54 -0500
From: leemunsick <leemunsick@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Fran Striker's under-rated talents

James Nixon in replying to Dan Hughes' quest for adult-reader books by Fran
Striker, cited "One More River".  Sadly, I am not familiar with that
title.  But I vividly recall another very special book.

Years ago, Fran Striker Jr. first attended an FOTR convention.  We had a
most enjoyable chat about his father, for whom I considered myself a
fan.  At that time, I told Fran (Jr.) that years before as a youngster I
had read and especially enjoyed one of his Dad's books, that was quite
different from all the others with which I was familiar (there are a
lot!).  At that time, I could not recall the title, but said that it was a
mystery, all revolved around fascinating mathematics.  I have just tried to
locate it On Line, without success.

Fran knew what I meant immediately, and told me the title, which I then
recognized.  He said that work was one of his favorites, and added that it
had ranked high with his father, its author.  I regret to say that while my
memory of the book is still strong, its title has again temporarily faded
from my increasingly long-distance view.

I believe Fran is a lurker here.  My personal regards to him, if he sees
these words.  Perhaps he or another reader will know from my description,
the title of that book.  All mathematics, but fascinating.  I for one would
like to have my memory revived.

When it does surface, I heartily recommend it to all our readers.  It has
naught to do with OTR except for the one thing which OTR shares with all
good books:  the imagination of the person enjoying both.  This work really
made its reader stretch his imagination.

I can recommend an equally wonderful book, which I think should be required
reading for every high school student, but regretfully is not.  It is
"Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions", an 1884 novel written by one
Edwin Abbott.  A retired British clergyman born in London, he gained a
reputation as an expert on Shakespeare and Bacon.  Like any good radio
drama, this book forces its subject to stretch the imagination.  It was
republished some years ago by Dover Publications.  I believe it is still in
print.  Hie thee to thy local local library and settle in for a wonderful,
challenging read!

A good novel supplies what also has been cited as the forte' of good radio
drama.  Providing merely the narrative, it requires the reader/listener to
fill in the personnel, sets, props,scenery, action details.   This book
forces one to provide the most incredible sets, perhaps more mind-defying
but yet simpler than any modern film/computer special effects!

I am reminded of the brief story told by Norman Corwin in the Ken Burns
documentary "Empire of the Air", expanding on the book of the same
name.  Both, by the way, should be in every OTR fan's library.  Book and
video are still available.  Corwin recalled that as television began to
gain the same importance as radio, an adult asked a young person which he
liked more, radio or television.  Quickly the lad responded,
"Radio!"   Asked why, the answer was, "Because the pictures are better!"   YES!

Have a great day, and an even better one tomorrow!  Lee Munsick

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

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 14:50:30 -0500
From: Pratz <[removed]@[removed];
To: "OTR (Plain Text Only)" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Another passing

Another OTR actor has passed on. 86-year old Robert Dryden died Jan. 16th of
Parkinson's Disease. Never heard of him? Dryden was unquestionably one of
radio's most versatile and talented actors beginning in 1943. He could play
any type of role, and was often heard as several different characters on a
single radio program. A quick check of my own OTR reference books lists 27
radio programs on which he acted.  Some of the programs were of the
"obscure" variety, but most were major programs we've all heard or read
about. Any of you OTR actors who take part in this digest ever work with
him? And [removed] does anyone know where I can connect the voice with a
face. Inotherwords, anyone know where I can obtain a picture of Dryden
online or privately?  Thanks.

Rich

[ADMINISTRIVIA: There is a relatively poor photo of Bob at:

[removed]

   ...scroll down the page; Bob is on the right in the marked photo. I have
better photos somewhere around here; if I can find one, I'll post it.

   My favorite memory of Bob at the FOTR Convention, which shows his impish
sense of humor, is the recreation of The Shadow which starred John Archer,
directed by Anthony Tollin. Bob portrayed Blue Coal's heating expert John
Barclay in the recreation; when Ted Mallie introduced him, he spoke into the
microphone, "Evening, Friends," and then, directly to Ted in a perfect Titus
Moody, "Howdee, Bub." Ted lost it, and so did the audience. Bob continued
giving advice on heating as if nothing had happened.

   If I get some time this week, I'll see if I can get a small piece of the
video from that year into the computer.   --cfs3]

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

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 14:51:26 -0500
From: "RBB" <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Presenting OTR

<<Regarding Bob Beckett's post about his five week course at a community
[removed];>

Great to hear that he is continuing the OTR tradition!  There is a huge
market of active, retired seniors who enroll for classes like Bob's, also
those living in various levels of retirement facilities who badly need
activity programs they can identify with.

My presentation of "The Old Radio Show" to thousands of seniors throughout
Southern California was very successful for several years. Like Bob, it was
something I created and refined to meet the needs of retired seniors.  It
entertained both cognitive adults and those with dementia using OTR excerpts
and familiar music they remember hearing on the radio.

Activity Directors booked my pesentation in many locations, usually three
times a day for a one hour, interactive program with OTR trivia and audience
participation.  All I brought with me was a microphone and tape recorder.
Seniors told me it was a welcomed alternative to bingo, sing-a-longs, a
weekly piano player, etc. - and they paid me for doing it!

I'd be happy to share my experiences offlist. Being retired from a 40+ year
career in radio broadcasting helped me communicate to the groups of seniors,
but anyone with some enthusiasm and love of OTR can do it.

=Russ Butler  oldradio@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 15:48:36 -0500
From: "John Eccles, Jr." <jeccles@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Fran Striker, Jr.

There was a recent Digest posting regarding Fran Striker, Jr.'s address in
Runnemede, New Jersey.  As far as I know this address is no longer valid.  I
know Fran but, unfortunately, he has dropped out of sight in the OTR
Community.  If anyone knows his current whereabouts I would love to know
where he is.  He made a personal appearance at an event I hosted in Atlantic
City several years ago and it went over very well.  He is a fascinating
speaker and would be an asset to any OTR Convention.

John Eccles, Jr.

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

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 15:50:53 -0500
From: leemunsick <leemunsick@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  John A. Gambling, Long John Nebel, and WOR

In the late 1950s, I had the fun of working with "Long John" Nebel at WOR,
arriving shortly after he began his experimental all-night program.  It
had a name, which I do not recall, but quickly just took on his own mantle
as the moniker for the show.   This was years before his association with
Candy Jones and all the controversy that went with it.

The WOR executives heard John doing his spiels at a phony "auction" house
located on a highway in suburban Parsippany, New Jersey.  Man, did he have
the gift of gab!  Thinking they'd like to stay on all night, they
experimented with him.  No sooner did he start than he was contacted by a
sign painter from rural Washington, New Jersey, almost out to Easton,
Pennsylvania.  Howard Menger was claiming to have been visited by
Venusians, and this grabbed a lot of people, many of whom turned their
daily schedules upside-down to listen to Nebel.

I was working at a station in New Jersey, and also had an interest in
UFOs.  Working with a newspaper reporter in "little Washington", we spent a
lot of time with Menger, trudging around through the woods behind his home
where he said he'd been visited, and later got on board their space ship
for interplanetary travel.  We thought the whole thing a hoax, but were
never able to prove it.

I contacted Long John and said I was doing serious investigations into
UFOs, and had worked with author Donald E. Keyhoe, a serious aviation
author who had written a book about "Flying Saucers".  Nebel flipped and
asked me to join him.  He wanted to know if Don Keyhoe would come on the
Long John Show, but Don never did.  So I became sort of a substitute.

I came on first as an occasional visitor, then a regular panelist, and
finally as a sort of producer-without-portfolio, booking other speakers and
the like.

Initially, to save the cost of manning the Broadway studios all night, they
did the show from the WOR transmitter located just off the New Jersey
Turnpike, in Carteret, New Jersey.  The xmtr engineer doubled riding the
board and handling the few commercials.  That art-deco structure was a
hoot!  It was round, located on a large site surrounded with Cyclone
fencing, and thoroughly wired.  One could not walk onto the property--let
alone drive a vehicle--without alarms going off inside the fortress
transmitter building.  Hanging on the walls were various firearms:  rifle,
shotgun, Thompson sub-machine gun with the familiar round ammo cartridge
(as used by G-man Eliot Ness).    The building should have been retained as
a museum, but WOR sold the property.  I believe it is now a shopping mall.

Not long after the show went on and I joined it, the WOR executives decided
it was a good-er, and we moved into the studios at 1440 Broadway in New
York City.  I loved driving into Manhattan at 11 [removed] and parking with no
difficulty right next to the WOR building!   And here was I, this young
novice, actually appearing on WOR!!!

At that time, the Long John Show was preceded by Jean Shepherd.  His
program was preceded by John A. Gambling's "Music from Studio X".  On
several occasions I went in early and spent time chatting with these two
radio icons.

To me, the amazing thing about Shepherd was that everything he said (as far
as I could see) was scripted down, written in a 3-ring binder.  We all know
now that Shep was an accomplished writer, but I was stunned to find that
what seemed so incredibly spontaneous had all been written and thoroughly
worked over for best effect, night after night.  I don't know when he slept!

Like everyone else within WOR's incredible signal area, I listened to John
B. Gambling and his long-time program "Rambling With Gambling".  I think I
met Gambling pere once.  But I got to know John A. well.  To me, he had
much more personality than either his father or son.  John was five years
older than I, and we spoke fondly of our shared love of radio and being
part of it.

For my Arthur Godfrey researches, JAG (as he referred to himself, at least
off-air) provided me with a number of photographs of his famous Dad and Mr.
Godfrey.  They were friendly competitors, and good friends for many
years.  I recall on a major anniversary of the original "Rambling" program
(probably the 50th) the station had a special extended program which
originated from the huge Madison Square Garden (the arena before the
present one).  I have no idea how many people would fill that enormous
venue when set up for boxing events, but it was jam-packed with many
thousands of spectators.

That day, it was intriguing that both WOR and WCBS ran promos for the
anniversary broadcast, because both John B. and Arthur M. were to be
present, along with the mayor of New York and many other dignitaries and
celebrities, plus all the beloved other WOR personalities present and past,
including newsmen, Ed and Pegeen Fitzgerald, Dorothy and Dick, and so
on.  This was not long after Mr. Godfrey had spent highly-publicized weeks
in the hospital for surgery, and newspapers were filled nearly every day
with reports on his recovery.  Today's fans won't believe this, but it was
akin to the coverage given a Presidential illness or hospital stay.  Daily
press conferences, bulletins and the like.

Mr. Godfrey arrived late into the program, as he had to do his own, during
which he reminded his listeners of the anniversary program of his friend
Gambling.  When he finally arrived, he hobbled down the long distance from
entrance to boxing arena, that postage-stamp square way, way down there in
the middle of Madison Square Garden.  It took quite some minutes, and the
enthusiastic crowd made it quite clear that they were ardent fans of both
the honoree and major guest.  They never stopped clapping and yelling and
whistling until Mr. Godfrey finally managed to get up onto the ring.  After
a formal introduction by John B., it started all over again, very much akin
to the treatment given the President of the United States when addressing
Congress.   First the Doorkeeper's announcement, the slow, handshaking walk
down and climb up to the podium, the wait for an end of the welcoming
noise, then a second formal introduction by the Speaker of the House, and
more extended applause, etc.

John A. had been there, and was kind enough to provide for my book, several
photographs of  the event, and his reminiscences plus a tape recording of
part of the proceedings.  JAG and I corresponded occasionally over the
years, and spoke occasionally by phone.  I tried on several occasions to
get him to come to the Friends of Old Time Radio (FOTR) annual convention
in New Jersey, but it seemed that John and his wife Sally annually took
that time to go on a cruise, and we never worked it out, even the year that
WOR was celebrating one of its major anniversaries.  Oddly, station
management seemed not in the least bit interested in participating and
encouraging their people to join us.  Perhaps we should have read into that
the ignominious end some years later, when they suddenly dropped grandson
John R. Gambling from their schedule.  The end, as they say, of an era.

John A. Gambling was a marvelous, decent chap.  Unpretentious, friendly,
outgoing, warm, and eager to be of help.  I value knowing him.  His friends
shall miss him.  His listeners shall not forget him.  Let's hope he
continues "Rambling With Gambling", rejoining his dad and many of their
fond listeners from all those years.  RIP

Lee Munsick

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

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 15:51:32 -0500
From: leemunsick <leemunsick@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  George and Madeleine Brown on WOR

In the 1970s, I was co-founder of Yesteryear Museum, near Morristown NJ,
with George and Madeleine Brown.  They had amassed a magnificent collection
of music boxes over the years.  They attracted my fond attention first when
I handled lighting, sound and stage setup for their assembly program at my
7th grade in Junior High School.  We remained friends for several decades.

In the 1950s, perhaps, and maybe even earlier, the Browns had their own
radio programs over WOR in New York City, featuring their music box
collection.  I seem to recall that these were Sunday morning
broadcasts.  Subsequently they appeared on recordings for the Cook label
(Emery Cook was the engineer who first produced stereo LPs) and later for
Caedmon Records, the specialty of which usually was not music, but literature!

I am wondering if anyone has any recordings made of their WOR programs.  If
so, I will be most interested in obtaining copies of those broadcasts.  I
look forward to hearing from anyone with any ideas about this.  Thanks much!

Bestus, Lee Munsick

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

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 16:29:43 -0500
From: William Harker <wharker@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The Fat Man

It interests me how subjects become interrelated.  For instance, the
discussion of "The Fat Man" necessarily gravitates to a discussion of the
Nero Wolfe show and Sydney Greenstreet.  Diane Johnson in her book,
_Dashiell Hammett:  A Life_ states that the Fat Man was "inspired by Gutman
of _The Maltese Falcon_.  In the movie version of the Black Bird, Gutman is
played by Sydney Greenstreet.

Sydney Greenstreet also played Nero Wolfe, another detective whose weight
tended to fluctuate over the years as Rex Stout wrote the novels.  Most of
the time his weight was described as "one-seventh of a ton."  Not only can
one get into discussions as to whether it is one-seventh of a short ton or
one-seventh of a long-ton but whether one-seventh of either is
"heavy."  Plus, of course, what was "heavy" or "fat" in 1929 (the
publication date of _The Maltese Falcon_), 1934 (the publication date of
the first Nero Wolfe story -- _Fer-de-Lance_), or the dates of the radio
shows may not be the same as what is considered "heavy" or "fat" today.

As an aside, anyone know why Hammett turned down Mutual Broadcasting's
offer of putting "The Thin Man" on for five fifteen minute shows a week?  A
Hammett letter of August 10, 1949 to his daughter Mary Hammett, claims he
turned down Mutual.  But, I'd also like to know if there is another story.

Bill Harker
wharker@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 16:30:19 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  1-20 births/deaths

January 20th births

01-20-1878 - Finlay Currie - Edinburgh, Scotland - d. 5-9-1968
actor: John H. Watson "BBC Home Theatre"
01-20-1896 - George Burns - NYC - d. 3-9-1996
comedian: "Burns and Allen"
01-20-1896 - Rolfe Sedan - NYC - d. 9-15-1982
actor: "Escape"; "Suspense"; "Mystery in the Air"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
01-20-1898 - Colin Clive - [removed], France - d. 6-25-1937
actor: "Hollywood Hotel"
01-20-1903 - Leon Ames - Portland, IN - d. 10-10-1993
actor: "Earplay"; "Screen Guild Theatre"; "Screen Director's Playhouse"
01-20-1920 - DeForest Kelley - Atlanta, GA - d. 6-11-1999
actor: "Suspense"
01-20-1922 - Connie Haines - Savannah, GA
singer: "Abbott and Costello Show"; "Rhapsody in Rhythm"
01-20-1926 - Patricia Neal - Packard, KY
actress: "Hollywood Star Preview"

January 20th deaths

02-18-1903 - Jacques Fray - Paris, France - d. 1-20-1963
pianist, disc jockey: "Fray and Braggiotti"
05-29-1894 - Beatrice Lillie - Toronto, Canada - d. 1-20-1989
commedienne: "Beatrice Lillie Show"
07-16-1907 - Barbara Stanwyck - Brooklyn, NY - d. 1-20-1990
actress: "Prudential Family Hour of Stars"; "This Is My Story"

Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 19:15:29 -0500
From: Gerald Wright <gdwright@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Radio Products & The Ghost Corps

Not to start the Ovaltine thread again, but as I was strolling down the
international food aisle in my local Safeway grocery store and I was
surprised to see a large jar of "that" product, manufactured in Asia,
but having a label indicating it contained the "European Formula"

Product Placement

I've noticed that in many detective radio programs if any automobile is
identified it was a Nash, except about 1948-49 when it was a step-down
Hudson. Also I've noticed that many times Mobile gas and/or station is
mentioned.

I've been curious about the radio program "The Ghost Corps" which, as
far as I've been able to find out, is always just referred to as a show
from the 1930s with no additional information. I find its quality very
much above most other shows of that era. Does anyone have information
to actual dates, production and acting credits?

Any information greatly appreciated,

Gerry Wright
ZoneZebra Productions
San Francisco

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

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 19:15:54 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Trade Names

Speaking of trade names as generics, Jer51473 observes,

The same references are still used at times by me and other family
members. Can anyone think of other such references as influenced by radio
and mag ads?

Eastman Kodak had two:  "Kodak" for "camera," and "Brownie" for "box
camera."

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #29
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