Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #119
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 4/2/2004 4:42 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2004 : Issue 119
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Sherlock Holmes                       [ "RyanO" <rosentowski@[removed]; ]
      RE: Radio Actors and Actresses        [ BryanH362@[removed] ]
      Long ago products                     [ "Tim Lones" <timl2002@[removed] ]
      Re: Benny discs?                      [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]
      Re: 4-2 births/deaths                 [ "Michael J. Hayde" <michaelhayde@ea ]
      1/2 shows on 16in                     [ edcarr@[removed] ]
      HOLMES AS A FRIEND                    [ "John E. Sexton" <jsexton@[removed]; ]
      My Friend Sherlock                    [ "Cheniston Roland" <violinland@hotm ]
      Re: Radio Stars                       [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
      Lifebuoy                              [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
      Brazil                                [ "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed] ]
      OTR on WGN                            [ John Francis MacEachern <JohnFMac@c ]
      air america and harry shearer         [ "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed] ]
      Old products, old [removed]          [ John Francis MacEachern <JohnFMac@c ]
      hanging with Holmes                   [ "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed] ]
      This Weekend With Walden Hughes       [ BryanH362@[removed] ]
      Regarding the Sealegs Matter          [ "John Abbott" <mraastro@[removed] ]
      Pictures of Johnny Dollar             [ "John Abbott" <mraastro@[removed] ]
      4-3 births/deaths                     [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Re: Sponsor's Booth                   [ Michael Shoshani <mshoshani@sbcglob ]
      Re: Benny 1932-33 shows rediscovered  [ Michael Shoshani <mshoshani@sbcglob ]

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 20:16:00 -0500
    From: "RyanO" <rosentowski@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Sherlock Holmes

>     To my ear the best Holmes and Watson on radio will
>     always be Clive Merrison & Michael Williams of the
>     BBC.

    I don't believe I've heard this version.  Can someone give a quick history
    of the BBC program (when it aired, how long it aired, etc.)  Also, did it
    dramatize the original stories of Arthur Conan Doyle? I must admit that I
    don't care for most radio Holmes because many writers tried to do their own
    stories, copying Doyle.  They failed.

    RyanO

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 21:13:51 -0500
    From: BryanH362@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  RE:  Radio Actors and Actresses

>     Sadly, the radio actor and actress is another career that has gone by the
>     wayside, at least in the United States and Canada. There are some people
>     working the occasional show, but I doubt there are any "radio stars" with
>     the possible exception of Garrison Keillor and his friends.

    Where do you hear most radio actors today ? Probably on the radio commerical.
    If you listen to radio you can often hear a short 30 second info drama to
    promote some product or service.

    -Bryan

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 21:36:12 -0500
    From: "Tim Lones" <timl2002@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Long ago products

    Hello Folks:
    On the subject of Long ago products (which was brought up on the digest a
    while ago)..I work for a store in a  regional (Countywide-7 store) grocery
    chain in the Canton, Ohio area that still sells LAVA soap and Oxydol
    detergents We have also sold Lifebuoy soap in the recent past, though not
    sure we do now.  We also have Fels Naptha Soaps, Twinkle Brass and Silver
    Polishes, 20 Mule Team Borax, and Clark Candy [removed] at cheaper prices
    than Vermont Country Store I would [removed]

    Tim Lones

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 21:54:47 -0500
    From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Benny discs?
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    In a message dated 4/1/04 7:34:36 PM Central Standard Time,
    [removed]@[removed] writes:

>     The only problem is, no one will believe me.

    Could that be because it's April Fools???  Guess Elizabeth took this year
    [removed] ;-)

    Dixon

      *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
      ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 21:55:24 -0500
    From: "Michael J. Hayde" <michaelhayde@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: 4-2 births/deaths

>     April 2nd births

>     04-02-1920 - Jack Webb - Santa Monica, CA - d. 12-23-1982
>     actor: Joe Friday "Dragnet"; Pete Kelly "Pete Kelly's Blues"

    SCENE: A DESK IN AN LAPD SQUAD ROOM.  TWO DETECTIVES SIT OPPOSITE EACH OTHER.
    ONE IS FILLING OUT A REPORT, THE OTHER IS PERUSING SOMETHING ON HIS DESK.

    FRANK SMITH: Hey, Joe!
    JOE FRIDAY: Yeah, Frank?
    FRANK: You were born on April 2nd, 1920, right?
    JOE: Yeah.
    FRANK: (Shakes head) Funny [removed]
    JOE: What's funny, Frank?
    FRANK: Well, I've got this perpetual calendar, and [removed]
    JOE: You've got a what?
    FRANK: Perpetual [removed] you don't know what a perpetual calendar is?
    JOE: Oh, sure, it tells you the day and date for every year on the Gregorian
    calendar - past, present and future.
    FRANK: That's right.
    JOE: I was just wondering what you're doing with one here in the squad room.
    FRANK: Well, it's a good thing to have if you want to know what day someone's
    birthday is on.  Helps you to plan the party ahead of time.
    JOE: Oh, I see.
    FRANK: So anyway, it's a funny [removed]
    JOE: What is?
    FRANK: Your birthday being on April 2nd, 1920.
    JOE: How's that?
    FRANK: Well, it's just that your birthday this year falls on the exact same
    day as the year you were born.
    JOE: Uh-huh.
    FRANK: The exact same day.
    JOE: What day is it, Frank?
    FRANK: Well, that's what's funny.
    JOE: Huh?
    FRANK: Your birthday.
    JOE: Yeah?
    FRANK: It's Friday!

    DUM-DE-DUMM-DUMM!

    Michael

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 23:18:42 -0500
    From: edcarr@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  1/2 shows on 16in

    hi
    every once in a while i like to ask of those who collect
    16in discs, has anyone have 1/2s of the dennis day(2
    shows), frank race, lives of harry lime(6 shows) new yrs
    dance party, damon runyon theater (3 discs,6 shows)
    blue music ribbon time, karft music hall, nelson eddy,
    freedom usa, favorite story (2 discs,4 shows), i was a
    communist for the fbi, catholic hr, fred waring, eddie
    cantor, date with judy (3 discs=3 shows), col flax (3
    discs=3 shows), tex and jinx, jack parr.
    i have i believe the only complete show of col. flax not
    in circulation.
    i haven't given dates, as one time i asked and i received
    some very goofy replies, never matched anything or
    dates, game playing,
    if you will contact me off line if you have any of the
    above, i really don't expect miracles, but ...
    thanks much (lowercase ed
    )

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 10:18:14 -0500
    From: "John E. Sexton" <jsexton@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  HOLMES AS A FRIEND

      Well I don't drink or smoke but I'd gladly like to just take Holmes
    and Watson (don't forget him :) out to eat at a cafeteria or enjoy
    something that Mrs. Hudson would cook up. I'd also enjoy accompaning
    them on a case and riding on one of those spectacular buggy [removed]
    then who among us wouldn't enjoy such an advenyure. Best,John

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 10:20:50 -0500
    From: "Cheniston Roland" <violinland@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  My Friend Sherlock

    I would indeed.

    We both have an interest in Paganini who is the subject of
    my PhD and we both love violins.

    Surley that would be a great start to a friendship.

    In Februaru next I do a lecture on "Sherlock Holmes
    Violinist" so perhaps I should pop around for a chat after
    all.

    These are great OTR lists with great people. I must tell DR
    Watson about them.

    Cheniston

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 10:21:22 -0500
    From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
    To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re:  Radio Stars

    Al Girard wrote:

>     Sadly, the radio actor and actress is another career that has
>     gone by the wayside, at least in the United States and Canada.
>     There are some people working the occasional show, but
>     I doubt there are any "radio stars" with the possible exception
>     of Garrison Keillor and his friends.

    Since you mentioned Garrison Keillor, who is not really a radio actor except
    in some skits, I will add the 2 guys who I wake up to on Saturday morning,
    Tom and Ray Magliozzi, the 'tapit' brothers, Click and Clack - namely 'Car
    Talk' on NPR.   It's great to start the day laughing.

    Irene

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 10:26:24 -0500
    From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
    To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Lifebuoy

    Al Girard mentioned Lifebuoy Soap and its availability these days.  In a fit
    of nostalgia I ordered Lifebuoy from Vermont Country Store and when a bag of
    it arrived and I opened the first bar and got my first whiff I remembered -
    too late - how much I always hated that smell.

    My husband is home from rehab after a stroke and requires 24-hour live-in
    care for a while.   The mother of my caregiver substitutes for her on the
    weekend and a couple of weeks ago she asked me where I got that wonderful
    soap.   I started to explain about Vermont Country Store, whit it cost so
    much, etc. then ran down the hall, pulled out the bag and gave it to her.
    Problem solved.  It's safe to go into the bathroom again.

    -Irene

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 10:28:35 -0500
    From: "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Brazil

       As soon as I saw the posting yesterday in Digest #117 about Senor
    Pietraroia defending his PhD thesis, in Brazil, on Orson Welles's "The War
    Of The Worlds" I immediately cashed in my life insurance, borrowed money
    from friends and booked a (very expensive) flight to Sao Paulo, due to
    arrive there today, April 2nd, in time to attend the event.  All because I'm
    one of the founders of -- and President of -- the OWTWOTWW (Orson Welles's
    The War Of The Worlds Worshipers).  I'm very tired, very poor now, but very
    excited to be able to be present at the State University of Sao Paulo later
    today.  I'm sending this message from a fellow passenger's laptop high in
    the air on my way to Brazil.  I'll send a detailed report to the Digest on
    my return.

      -- Phil C.

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 10:29:34 -0500
    From: John Francis MacEachern <JohnFMac@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OTR on WGN
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    Hi!

    Milt Rosenberg hosts a talk show every night on WGN.  The new schedule
    for April was posted yesterday, his show next Tuesday night is devoted
    to OTR.  Here's the blurb from the schedule:

    Extension 720 tonight welcomes four representatives of the AFTRA/SAG
    Senior Radio players, who will perform excerpts from Mars in Heaven,
    from the X - minus One radio series, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Our
    guests will share their memories and stories of the time when most of
    the radio serials came from Chicago. Joining us will be GUY BURRELL,
    HERB GRAHAM, MERCITA DE MONK and CONNIE FOSTER.

    WGN has a live internet feed, you can access it through Milt's site
    here:  [removed]

    It's a live show from Chicago, here in Boston I listen to it from
    10-12pm EST,   adjust that for your own time zone, if you want to hear
    it live.

    Milt frequently puts recordings of his favorite shows in an online
    archive for listening on demand;  if he does so with this program, I'll
    notify the list.

    John Mac

      *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
      ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 10:30:20 -0500
    From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  air america and harry shearer

    In 118, Andy Blatt wrote:

>     Billed as an alternative to the conservative talk shows, it is off to
>     an auspicious start, however modest.  [AirAmerica] airs on only five
>     stations at the moment as well as online streaming.

    Don't for XM radio on channel 167.

    And now for something completely different, has anyone ever tried to get
    Harry Shearer at an OTR convention?  I would think his work with the Jack
    Benny Program, along with current radio like Le Show and his voice work with
    The Simpsons would make him an interesting guest.

    -chris holm

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 10:32:27 -0500
    From: John Francis MacEachern <JohnFMac@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Old products, old [removed]

    Hi!

    Regarding old products:  I don't know why Lava has been mentioned, I buy
    it all the time at my local Stop and Shop Supermarket here in New
    England.  I have it by the sinks in my kitchen and my cellar.

     When I was a boy, my mother used used Lux dishwashing liquid;  now
    that's something I haven't seen in years.  I only remember it because it
    came in a white plastic squeeze bottle with a pink top, once they were
    empty they became my bathtub toys. (It was also the soap that put the
    bubbles in the tub!)

    Regarding old careers:  Although I'm not old enough to even remember OTR
    when it was originally broadcast, I grew up in a very old neighborhood
    and people were slow to change. So, I have very clear memories of the
    coal delivery man, who would slide the coal down a chute through a
    cellar window.  We would take the pieces that fell on the sidewalk, the
    girls would use them to draw Hop-Scotch diagrams on the sidewalk, we
    boys would just write naughty things all over the place.  When I wa a
    teenager in the late 70's. I occasionally earned decent money by
    cleaning out the old coal bins in the cellars of people who recently
    converted to oil so they could use them for storage.

    I also remember the iceman/milkman, both jobs had been combined by my
    youth.  On hot summer days, we boys used to run into his truck to steal
    a piece of ice to suck on, while he was in the house making his
    delivery.  Frequently he would catch us, scream at us and warn us that
    he put broken glass inside the ice.  I don't think he was really mad at
    us, but then, if boys on every street did it, he wouldn't have enough
    ice left to keep the milk cold.  By the way, I was in college in the
    early 80's, my family was already using our second microwave,  before
    old Mr. Loftus across the street finally bought a fridge and ended the
    last ice delivery on the street.  Still, most of my older relatives
    still call the fridge an icebox.

    I also remember the garbageman, not to be confused with the trashman.
    The garbageman came every Monday morning to pick up all of our table
    scraps, ect. that we dumped in the swill bucket, in the ground in the
    back yard.  (In the days before garbage disposals).

    I still live in the same neighborhood that I grew up in, about four
    streets away from my parent's house.  So, these are four careers no
    longer practiced around here.  With the advent of digital technology, I
    think the meter reader will soon join the list, if he already hasn't and
    I wouldn't be surprised, twenty years from now if the mailman did too.

    John Mac

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 10:32:49 -0500
    From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  hanging with Holmes

    In #118, david rogers wondered

>     I wonder how folks would feel about having Holmes as a friend.
>     <SNIP> However, would you just pop round for a smoke, a
>     brandy and a chat?

    Absolutely.  I don't think Holmes would be a buddy, someone to drink beer and
    go the cricket match with.  But to just sit and talk to a man like that, to
    be used as a sounding board, to try to follow his train of logic and sudden
    jumps of deduction.  To take target practice against the wall, or stuff a
    pipe full of tobacco from the old slipper.  I'd bring my own robe - while
    it's not purple, it is pretty hideous.  Heck, I might even do some coke with
    him.

    HOWEVER, once he dragged out his violin and start his "tuneless scrapings",
    I'd steal a couple of cigars from the coal scuttle and be out the door.

    -chris holm

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 10:33:05 -0500
    From: BryanH362@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  This Weekend With Walden Hughes

    [removed]  for LIVE STREAMING .
    Fri,  Sun    10:30 EST/ 7:30 PST
    Sat  12 midnight / 9pm PST

    Friday 4-2-04 Frank Bresee- interview with George Jessel

    Saturday 4-3-04
    Walden will start the live broadcast late do to being at a Lion Club fund
    raiser.  Walden is planning to go live at 9 [removed] West Coast time with

     A.  the first part of his four part Doris Day special which last around 3
    hours.  The total special will be 12 hours long spread over four Saturday
    nights.  Starting at 9 [removed]  Doris Day birthday is on April 3RD

     B.  part one of a four part interview that Martin Block did with Doris Day

    Sunday 4-4-04

    A.  Mike Biels at the top of the show
    B.  Laura Leff talk about Jack Benny of 3-28-04
    C.  replay of an interview with Buck Stapleton who was a drummer during the
    big band days and had a record career with Capital PR.

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 15:15:41 -0500
    From: "John Abbott" <mraastro@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Regarding the Sealegs Matter

    Last month I posed the following question about the YTJD program "The
    Sealegs Matter":

    In the story, Oscar Patrick Vladimir Poscaro does not have one, but Johnny
    Dollar does.

    One what?

    The answer - a pilot's license.  Johnny took over the flying of the small
    plane because he seemed to be better qualified than Oscar.

    Now you know.
    John C. Abbott

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 15:16:13 -0500
    From: "John Abbott" <mraastro@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Pictures of Johnny Dollar

    To All:

    I am in the process of putting together material for a book on the "Yours
    Truly, Johnny Dollar" programs that I hope to finish up this summer. One of
    the things I would like to include in the book is pictures of the stars who
    portrayed Johnny.

    However, I am running out of places to look for on-line pictures of the
    following Johnny Dollar actors:

    - Charlie Russell
    - John Lund
    - Bob Readick

    If anyone either has a good public domain picture, or can direct me to a
    site that has one, I would appreciate the information.

    I have contacted the Library of Congress, and they have in turn referred me
    to a number of libraries who, for a king's ransom, will look in their files
    to see if they have anything.  But before I plunder my new telescope fund, I
    thought I would refer to the experts.

    So, if you have anything you can pass on, I thank you in advance.

    "Yours Truly"

    John C. Abbott
    Wheaton, MD.

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 15:17:11 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  4-3 births/deaths

    April 4th births

    04-03-1894 - Dooley Wilson - Tyler, TX - d. 5-30-1953
    actor: "Theatre of Romance"; "New World A-Coming"; "Jubilee"
    04-03-1898 - George Jessel - NYC - d. 5-24-1981
    comedian, emcee: (Toastmaster General of the [removed]) "Hollywood Calling"
    04-03-1904 - Peter Van Steeden - Amsterdam, The Netherlands - d. 1-3-1990
    bandleader: "Town Hall Tonight"; "Mr. District Attorney"
    04-03-1909 - Jerry Cooper - Bay Minette, AL
    singer: "Krueger's Musical Toast"; "Vocal Varieties"
    04-03-1919 - Miyoshi Umeki - Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan
    singer: Japanese radio
    04-03-1921 - Jan Sterling - NYC - d. 3-26-2004
    actress: "Screen Director's Playhouse"; "[removed] Steel Hour"
    04-03-1924 - Doris Day - Cincinnati, OH
    singer, actress: "Your Hit Parade"; "Bob Hope Show"; "Doris Day Show"
    04-03-1924 - Marlon Brando - Omaha, NE
    actor: "Streetcar Named Desire"; "Pepper Young's Family"; "As Easy as [removed]"
    04-03-1925 - Jan Merlin - NYC
    actor: Roger Manning "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet"
    04-03-1938 - Jeff Barry
    actor: Himself "It's the Barrys"

    April 4th deaths

    01-22-1893 - Conrad Veidt - Potsdam, Germany - d. 4-3-1943
    actor: "Free World Theatre"
    03-17-1892 - Ferde Grofe - NYC - d. 4-3-1972
    conductor, composer: (The Grand Canyon Suite) "Florsheim Frolic"
    03-27-1924 - Sarah Vaughn - d. 4-3-1990
    singer: "Guest Star"; "Your Rhythm Revue"
    05-02-1907 - Pinky Lee - St. Paul, MN - d. 4-3-1993
    comedian: "Hoagy Carmichel Show"; "Carefree Carnival"
    06-28-1906 - Ann Leaf - Omaha, NE - d. 4-3-1995
    organist: (Little Organ Annie) "Ann Leaf at the Organ"; "Lorenzo Jones"
    09-27-1923 - Mary McCarthy - Winfield, KS (Raised: Los Angeles, CA) - d.
    4-3-1980
    actress: "MGM Musical Comey Theatre"
    12-19-1907 - Ray Noble - Brighton, England - d. 4-3-1978
    bandleader: "Coty Program"; "Burns and Allen"; "Chase & Sanborn Hour"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    For a complete list:
    [removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 17:33:20 -0500
    From: Michael Shoshani <mshoshani@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Sponsor's Booth

    Ted inquired:

>     I have heard that some network radio studios provided special private booths
>     for show sponsors to use.  Kind of like sky boxes in today's sports
>     stadiums.

>     Were these booths equipped for entertaining?  That is, did they cater meals,
>     snack, beverages (alcoholic or otherwise)?  Or were they just private places
>     to sit and watch (listen) to the show?

    My guess is that they were just there for viewing and listening to the
    show.  I read on a great website whose URL escapes me (perhaps
    Elizabeth will come to my rescue), concerning the West Coast
    operations of NBC in San Francisco, that if a show went on the air
    more than sixteen seconds late, the sponsor got the time for free.
    This suggests to me that these were nitpicky gents, perhaps with
    stopwatches, who were far more business than pleasure.

    Michael Shoshani

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

    Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 17:33:52 -0500
    From: Michael Shoshani <mshoshani@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Benny 1932-33 shows rediscovered

    Laura Leff exclaimed:

>     The only problem is, no one will believe me.

    We are all wary of First-Of-April announcements since Elizabeth
    McLeod's masterful announcement from a year ago. :)

    Michael Shoshani

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #119
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