Subject: [removed] Digest V2009 #183
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 9/28/2009 3:21 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2009 : Issue 183
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Re: Victor Borge - an original        [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
      This week in radio history            [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      9-27 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Jack's illness                        [ "Laura Leff" <president@[removed] ]
      Re: Rod Serling on radio              [ "Bill Jaker" <bilj@[removed]; ]
      OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK               [ Jerry Haendiges <Jerry@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:08:23 -0400
    From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re:  Victor Borge - an original

    Irene Heinstein asks if I was joking when I said that in comparing Borge's
    musical parodies with that of Alec Templeton that  "I've always wondered why
    Borge had not been pegged as a copycat". I also am a huge Borge fan, and when
    I brought up a stack of records for him to autograph which included his
    earliest 78 albums and every other album he ever made, he delightedly called
    his manager over to look at them.  But I also have Alec Templeton's records
    from the 1930s which include a Mozart opera parody and other similar
    interpolations of a common melody in the styles of great composers.

    I know full well of Borge's performing history in Europe in the 30s under his
    real name Borge Rosenbaum, and of his escape to the [removed] and start in our
    country.  I even asked him about his early European career.  He had made some
    records in Denmark but didn't remember anything specific.  The one I found a
    few years after was a non-musical stand-up routine about going to a
    restaurant.  There is now a Danish documentary about him on YouTube, and near
    the end of part 1 they play a section of a record of him singing. At the
    start of Part 2 they note that he introduced Phonetic Punctuation into his
    act in 1937 and play a short recording of it in Danish then segue into a more
    recent film.  They also show two excerpts from his Danish films, one scene
    where he plays five pianos and another where he accompanies a whistler.
    Funny, but not like the main thrust of his musical parodies and
    interpolations he is remembered most for and were also the hallmarks of
    Templeton's act.  A few minutes later they do mention that while he continued
    to learn English, much of his early radio material on the Crosby program was
    read from scripts written by his bi-lingual wife who "translated stuff from
    his career in Denmark". The example they play has him mentioning the
    inspirations of modern composers, and playing his upside Blue Danube Waltz.

    So I am not suggesting that he WAS copying ideas and formulas from Templeton,
    but that Crosby's audience was familiar with the similar things that
    Templeton had been doing and now suddenly was someone else doing similar
    things, and I am surprised that the idea of the similarity did not seem to
    come up, or that nobody remembers if it did.

    When I was in Denmark in 1983 I had a chance to attend his live performance
    at Tivoli, the only one he would do in Denmark that year.  He laughed when I
    reminded him of his one sentence in English about 10 minutes into the
    performance in which he said that this would be the ONLY sentence in English!
    But I wasn't disappointed, I told him, because I wanted to hear how he
    sounded in his native language.  I could pretty much tell what he was doing,
    but I wonder if routines like the restaurant one was also included.  I've
    never heard him do something similar in English.

    If you too are interested in how he sounds in Danish, take a look at the
    program.  Part 2's URL is  [removed];NR=1 ,
    and you can get to the other parts from there.

    Michael Biel   mbiel@[removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:08:44 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history

     From Those Were The Days

    9/27

    1933   NBC debuted Waltz Time, featuring the orchestra of Abe Lymon. The
    program continued on the network until 1948.

    1938   Thanks for the Memory was heard for the first time on The Bob
    Hope Show on the NBC Red network.

    9/28

    1936   Bachelor's Children debuted on CBS (at 9:45 [removed]) in addition to
    its schedule on the Mutual Network (at 10:15 [removed]). The show's theme
    song, Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life, opened the 15 minute, critically
    acclaimed, daily serial. Bachelor's Children became very popular because
    of its natural dialogue which made folks think they were hearing a real
    event. Bachelor's Children ... brought to you by Old Dutch Cleanser,
    Palmolive Peet Soap, Colgate Toothpaste and Wonder Bread.

    1939   The final broadcast of The Fleischmann Hour was heard. The star
    of the show, Rudy Vallee, wrapped things up after a decade of
    entertaining radio.

     From Those Were The Days

    9/29

    1920   Radios for 10 bucks! That's what Joseph Horne Company's
    department store in Pittsburgh, PA was selling. The radios were
    advertised in The Pittsburgh Sun for $10 ($[removed] in 2007 dollars) and
    up. One could get a ready made radio in a box with headphones and tuning
    knob. This way, one could do away with the Quaker Oats round box and the
    cat's whisker wire.

    1930   "This is Lowell Thomas." Those words were spoken for the first
    time as a young Lowell Thomas made his debut on CBS. He replaced Floyd
    Gibbons on the nightly (6:45 [removed]), 15 minute newscast. Thomas, who
    started as a reporter for the New York Daily News (at age 19), was heard
    on the radio for the next 46 years.

    1930   "Ba, ba, ba, boo. I will, ba ba ba boo ... marry you!" Bing
    Crosby, America's premier crooner for decades, married Dixie Lee.

    1940   Double or Nothing was first heard on Mutual. Each time
    contestants answered questions correctly, their winnings would double
    from $20 to $40 to the big payoff of $80. If they gave an incorrect
    answer, they were gone! Nobody bet on long how long the show would last.
    Good thing. It kept going for a dozen years. Among the sponsors: Feen A
    Mint, Chooz breath candy and Campbell's soup.

    1946   Mystery fans remember when The Adventures of Sam Spade debuted on
    CBS this Sunday night. (It had aired in the summer of 1946 on ABC on
    Friday nights.) The Adventures of Sam Spade, with Howard Duff playing
    Spade, became a big hit in the Sunday night radio lineup. And now a word
    from our sponsor: "Use Wildroot Cream Oil, Charlie ... it keeps your
    hair in [removed]"

    9/30

    1930   Death Valley Days was first heard on the NBC Red network this day
    (and) became one of radio's biggest hits. The 30 minute, Western
    adventure series starred Tim Daniel Frawley as the Old Ranger, Harvey
    Hays as the Old Prospector, John White as the Lonesome Cowboy, Edwin
    Bruce as Bobby Keen, Robert Haag as Sheriff Mark Chase and Olyn Landick
    as Cassandra Drinkwater.

    The tales heard on Death Valley Days were all based on fact and were
    human interest stories revolving around the borax mining town of Death
    Valley, California. The show was created by Ruth Woodman, a script
    writer for a New York ad agency. She had never seen Death Valley; but
    had found the vehicle to sell 20 Mule Team Borax. As time went on, Ms.
    Woodman did make a trip to Death Valley. She went back again and again
    after that, digging up facts for her scripts. She even met an honest to
    goodness old ranger, Wash Cahill, who knew everyone and everything about
    the mining town.

    Death Valley Days was renamed Death Valley Sheriff in 1944 and The
    Sheriff in 1945. And Ruth Woodman continued to write the scripts. She
    even wrote scripts when Death Valley Days became a TV show. Buy some 20
    Mule Team Borax in commemoration.

    1933   The theme song was Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here and it opened
    the National Barn Dance. The half hour country music and comedy show,
    originally heard on WLS, Chicago since 1924, moved to the NBC Blue
    network this night. National Barn Dance was broadcast from the Eighth
    Street Theater in Chicago, where the stage was transformed into a
    hayloft every Saturday night. The host was Joe Kelly. Uncle Ezra was
    played by Pat Barrett who was known to say, "Give me a toot on the
    tooter, Tommy," as he started dancing. A few of the other Barn Dance
    characters were Arkie, the Arkansas Woodchopper; Pokey Martin; the
    Hoosier Hotshots; the Prairie Ramblers; cowgirl, Patsy Montana; Pat
    Buttram; Lulu Belle and the Cumberland Road Runners. Gene Autry and Red
    Foley were heard early in their careers on National Barn Dance. Although
    there were plenty of sponsors (Alka Seltzer, One A Day vitamins,
    Phillips Milk of Magnesia), the National Barn Dance was one of the few
    radio shows to charge admission.

    1935   "Calling all [removed]" The Adventures of Dick Tracy came to radio
    for the first time    on the Mutual Radio Network. Based on the comic
    strip created by Chester Gould, the 15 minute adventure show was heard
    Monday thru Friday at 5:45 [removed] The sponsors were Quaker Puffed Wheat
    and Quaker Puffed Rice.

    10/1

    1942   People Are Funny went on the air with host Art Baker.

    10/3

    1901   The Victor Talking Machine Company was incorporated on this day.
    After a merger with Radio Corporation of America, RCA Victor became the
    leader in phonographs and many of the records played on them. The famous
    Victrola phonograph logo, with Nipper the dog, and the words "His
    Master=s Voice", appeared on all RCA Victor phonographs and record labels.

    1946   Dennis Day started his own show on NBC. Dennis, a popular tenor
    featured on The Jack Benny Show, played the same (type) naive young
    bachelor he played on the Benny show. A Day in the Life of Dennis Day
    aired for five years.

    Joe

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

    Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:09:06 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  9-27 births/deaths

    September 27th births

    09-27-1872 - Bentley D. Ackley - Spring Hill, PA - d. 9-3-1958
    pianist for Billy Sunday: "Back Home Hour"
    09-27-1883 - Rev. Dr. Frederick K. Stamm - Millheim, PA - d. 2-23-1961
    pastor: "Highlights of the Bible"
    09-27-1885 - Harry Blackstone, Sr. - Chicago, IL - d. 11-16-1965
    magician: "Harry Blackstone, the Magic Detective" based on him.
    09-27-1887 - Pat "Uncle Ezra" Barrett - Holden, MO - d. 3-25-1959
    actor: "National Barn Dance"; Uncle Ezra "Uncle Ezra"
    09-27-1892 - Ed Tomlinson - Stockton, GA - d. 12-30-1973
    commentator: "The Other Americans"; "What's New in South American?"
    09-27-1893 - Phil Cook - Coldwater, MI - d. 9-18-1958
    comedian: "Radio Chief"; "Quaker Oats Man"; "Morning Almanac"
    09-27-1896 - Buddy Pearson (Hyman) - d. 11-21-1959
    writer: "The Eddie Cantor Show"
    09-27-1898 - Vincent Youmans - NYC - d. 4-5-1946
    composer: "Chicago Theatre of the Air"
    09-27-1901 - Beasley Smith - McEwen, TN - d. 5-14-1968
    pianist/orchestra leader: "Music In the Moonlight"; "Sunday Down South"
    09-27-1903 - Robert O. Cook - Manitowoc, WI - d. 11-9-1995
    Began his career as a sound man on a Hollywood radio station
    09-27-1913 - Hugh Rowlands - Racine, WI - d. 1-5-1978
    actor: Trigger Brett "Island Venture"; Jimmy "Tom Mix"
    09-27-1915 - Cy Howard - Milwaukee, WI - d. 4-29-1993
    creator, writer, producer: "Life with Luigi"; "My Friend Irma";
    "Milton Berle Show"
    09-27-1915 - Frank Gerstle - d. 2-23-1970
    actor: "Escape"; "NBC University Theatre"; "Six Shooter"; "Gunsmoke"
    09-27-1917 - James Andelin - Provo, UT - d. 12-27-2006
    actor: "Arnold Grimm's Daughter"; Og, Son of Fire"; "Houseboat Hannah"
    09-27-1917 - William Orr - d. 12-25-2002
    actor: "Hollywood Theatre Group"
    09-27-1918 - Barclay Allen - d. 12-7-1966
    pianist/composer: "Freddy Martin, His Singing Saxophone and His
    Orchestra"
    09-27-1918 - James McCallion - Glasgow, Scotland - d. 7-11-1991
    actor: Stephen Dallas "Stella Dallas"; Sydney Lawrence "One Man's
    Family"
    09-27-1920 - Jayne Meadows - Wu Chang, China
    actor: "Hollywood Star Preview"
    09-27-1920 - William Conrad - Louisville, KY - d. 2-11-1994
    actor: Matt Dillon "Gunsmoke"; Louis Dumont "Jason and His Golden
    Fleece"
    09-27-1921 - Carol Thurston - Forsyth, MT - d. 12-31-1969
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    09-27-1923 - Mary McCarty - Winfield, KS - d. 4-3-1980
    actor: "MGM Musical Comedy Theatre"
    09-27-1925 - Burkett "Uncle Josh" Graves - Tellico Plains, TN - d.
    9-30-2006
    dobro player: (Foggy Mountain Boys) "Grand Ole Opry"
    09-27-1927 - Red Rodney - Philadelphia, PA - d. 5-27-1994
    jazz trumpeter: "Saturday Night Swing Session"
    09-27-1933 - Greg Morris - Cleveland, OH - d. 8-27-1996
    actor: "Voices of Vista"
    09-27-1934 - Claude Jarman, Jr. - Nashville, TN
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    09-27-1934 - Dick Schaap - NYC - d. 12-21-2001
    sportscaster: "Sports Answer Man: "Sports Week"

    September 27th deaths

    01-03-1900 - Cecil Underwood - Vienna, MO - d. 9-27-1976
    producer, director: "Fibber McGee and Molly"; "Great Gildersleeve"
    01-09-1898 - Gracie Fields - Rochdale, Lancashire, England - d.
    9-27-1979
    comedian, singer: "Gracie Fields Victory Show"; "Gracie Fields Show"
    01-12-1896 - Harry Reser - Piqua, OH - d. 9-27-1965
    bandleader: "Cliquot Club Eskimos"
    01-13-1914 - Stanley Waxman - Ohio - d. 9-27-1998
    actor: "Escape"; "Man Called X"; "Tell It Again"; "Presenting Charles
    Boyer"
    01-26-1937 - Alison Steele - Brooklyn, NY - d. 9-27-1995
    disk jockey: "The Nightbird"
    03-06-1885 - Ring Lardner - Niles, MI - d. 9-27-1933
    writer: "Hallmark Hall of Fame"; "NBC Presents: Short Story"
    03-27-1915 - Hugh Conover - Washington, [removed] - d. 9-27-1992
    announcer: "Amanda of Honeymoon Hill"; "Big Sister"; "Right to
    Happiness"
    04-09-1913 - Fay Helm - Bakersfield, CA - d. 9-27-2003
    actor: "Shell Chateau"; "Cavalcade of America"
    05-21-1904 - Robert Montgomery - Beacon, NY - d. 9-27-1981
    actor: "Doctor Fights"; "Suspense"; "This Is War"
    05-24-1907 - Bill Bouchey - Clare, MI - d. 9-27-1977
    actor: Red Albright/Captain Midnight "Captain Midnight"
    05-28-1919 - Ola Masters - Pambula, Australia - d. 9-27-1986
    writer: "The Penny Ha'penny Stamp"
    05-29-1909 - Bruce Seton - Simla, India - d. 9-27-1969
    actor: Flint "Flint of the Flying Squad"
    06-14-1904 - Karena Shields - d. 9-27-1972
    actor: Helen Gregory "Tarzan"
    06-26-1914 - Babe Didrikson Zaharias - Port Arthur, TX - d. 9-27-1956
    all-around athlete: "Babe Didrikson Zaharia Sports Show"
    07-29-1905 - Clara Bow - Brooklyn, NY - d. 9-27-1965
    actor: (The It Girl) "Kay Parker in Hollywood"
    08-04-1904 - Phil Clark - London, England - d. 9-27-1985
    actor: Mr. Keen "Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persosn"
    08-11-1902 - Lloyd Nolan - San Francisco, CA - d. 9-27-1985
    actor: Johnny Strange "Results Inc."; Martin Kane "Martin Kane,
    Private Eye"
    08-28-1925 - Donald O'Connor - Chicago, IL - d. 9-27-2003
    comedian, actor: "Ginny Simms Show"; "Philip Morris Playhouse";
    "Suspense"
    09-18-1916 - Samuel Badillo - d. 9-27-1992
    newscaster: WIAC San Juan, PR
    10-04-1909 - James Webb - Denver, CA - d. 9-27-1974
    screenwriter: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    10-22-1915 - Laurette Fillbrandt - Zanesville, OH - d. 9-27-2000
    actor: "Girl Alone"; "Affairs of Anthone"; "One Man's Family"

    Ron

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

    Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:09:14 -0400
    From: "Laura Leff" <president@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Jack's illness

    Tom Barnett asks:

>     My question is - does anybody know what Jack was out sick with?

    Pneumonia.  Very bad.  Spent some of the time in an oxygen tent.

    --Laura Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:09:25 -0400
    From: "Bill Jaker" <bilj@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Rod Serling on radio

    	My thanks Martin Grams, Jr. for plugging the special OFF THE PAGE
    program
    about Rod Serling this Tuesday at 1:00 Pm (with a repeat broadcast at 7:00
    PM) on WSKG Public Radio in Rod's hometown of Binghamton.  It will launch an
    extensive commemoration of the 50th anniversary of "The Twilight Zone" in
    Binghamton, Ithaca and elsewhere.  I believe that our program will be the
    only event that will look with any depth into Serling's radio experience.
    	I should add two more points (and I hope they make it onto the Digest
    by
    Tuesday):
    	The program will also include an interview with the humble Mr. Grams
    about
    his new and encyclopedic book on "The Twilight Zone".  Also, WSKG is not
    streaming programs live at this time, but the audio will be archived on our
    website at [removed] and should be available within a day or so following
    the broadcast and will remain on the website for at least the next couple of
    years.
                                                        -- Bill Jaker

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

    Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:09:30 -0400
    From: Jerry Haendiges <Jerry@[removed];
    To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK

    Hi Friends,

    Here is this week's schedule for my Olde Tyme Radio Network. Here you
    may listen to high-quality broadcasts with Tom Heathwood's "Heritage
    Radio Theatre," Big John Matthews and Steve "Archive" Urbaniak's "The
    Glowing Dial" and my own "Same Time, Same Station."  Streamed in
    high-quality audio, on demand, 24/7 at [removed]
    Check out our High-Quality mp3 catalog at:
    [removed]
    =======================================

    SAME TIME, SAME STATION

    HARRY VON ZELL SHOW
    3-18-46    Audition Show
    NBC Sustaining
    Stars: Walter Tetley And Frank Nelson
    Announcer: Marvin Miller

    THE WHISPERER
    Episode 4    8-8-51    "Policeman In Danger"
    NBC Sustaining Sundays 5:00 - 5:30 Pm
    Stars: Carlton Young as Philip Gualt (The Whisperer) and Betty Moran as
    Ellen Morris (The Nurse)
    Music: Johnny Duffy; Organist
    Producer/Director: Bill Karn
    Writer: Jonathan Twice
    The story of a man who leads a double life. One as a Lawyer and the
    other as a Crime Syndicate Front.

    TEXACO STAR THEATER
    Episode 1  11-9-08  "Out Of Thin Soil"
    Stars: The Dead End Kids: Billy Halop, Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan. Paula
    Winslowe
    CBS   Texaco
    Host: John Barrymore
    Cast:  Charlie Ruggles, Una Merkle, Ned Sparks, Jane Froman, Kenny Baker
    Music: David Broekman and His Orchestra
    Announcer: Jimmy Wallington
    ==================================

    HERITAGE RADIO THEATER

    BLONDIE
    (NBC) 1948 "Alexander Joins The Circus" Penny Singleton/Arthur
    Lake/Hanley Stafford/Larry Sims.

    ESCAPE
    (CBS) 11/26/47 "Country of the Blind" Paul Frees/Bill Conrad/Peggy
    Webber/Harry Bartel. A classic.

    BLACKSTONE - THE MAGIC DETECTIVE
    (MBS/Synd) 2/13/49 "The Coin of Cleopatra" Ed Jerome as Blackstone.
    ====================================

    THE GLOWING DIAL

    Challenge of the Yukon - episode # 303  "Return to the Crime"
    originally aired October 1, 1943 on WXYZ, Detroit, The Michigan Radio
    Network
    and via Transcription
    Starring: Jay Michael as Sgt. Preston, Dewey Cole as Yukon King, Bill
    Morgan announcing.
    Sustained
    Special Note: Audio restoration on "Challenge of the Yukon" was done by
    Jerry Haendiges.

    The Lone Ranger - "Trouble on the Railroad" aka "Trestle of Death"
    originally aired January 27, 1939 on WXYZ, Detroit and MUTUAL
    Starring: Earle Graser as The Lone Ranger, John Todd as Tonto, Brace
    Beemer announcing.
    Sponsors: Silvercup Bread (most of the [removed]), Gingham Bread (Western
    [removed]), Merita Bread (Southern [removed])

    The Green Hornet - "Death in the Dark"
    originally aired August 31, 1946 on WXYZ, Detroit and ABC
    Starring: Bob Hall as The Green Hornet, Rollon Parker, Lee Allman, Gil
    Shea, Paul Hughes, Bill Saunders, Elaine Alpert, John Todd, Bob Hite
    announcing.
    Sustained

    The Hermit's Cave aka The Little Theatre of the Air - "Spirit Vengeance"
    originally aired between 1935 and the mid-40's on WJR, Detroit and via
    Transcription
    Starring: Detroit Acting Troupe "The Mummers".
    Sponsor: Olga Coal

    Show World - "Edward Everett Horton is interviewed"
    originally aired January 8, 1940 on WXYZ, Detroit and The Michigan Radio
    Network
    Starring: Dick Osgood hosts, Edward Everett Horton is special guest,
    Fielden Farrington announcing.
    Sustained
    Special Note: Audio restoration on "Show World" was done by Jerry Haendiges.

    Challenge of the Yukon - episode # 304  "King Spots Murder"
    originally aired October 8, 1943 on WXYZ, Detroit, The Michigan Radio
    Network
    and via Transcription
    Starring: Jay Michael as Sgt. Preston, Dewey Cole as Yukon King, Bill
    Morgan announcing.
    Sustained
    ==================================

    If you have any questions or request, please feel free to contact me.

          Jerry Haendiges

          Jerry@[removed]  562-696-4387
          The Vintage Radio Place   [removed]
          Largest source of Old Time Radio Logs, Articles and programs on
    the Net

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2009 Issue #183
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