------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 460
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
OT: Vaughn Meader [ Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed] ]
Radio theme [removed] [ Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed] ]
I don't really know Erich all that w [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
Re: NBC Inaugural Photos [ BH <radioguy@[removed]; ]
Boris Aplon [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
Re: Theme Songs [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
Today in radio history [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
SUSPENSE BOOK [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
radio [removed] [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
Once Again [ lawrence albert <albertlarry@yahoo. ]
Radio theme songs [ Judy Lane <jlane@[removed]; ]
50 reels [ "Ed Carr" <edcarr@[removed]; ]
First time Jack Benny was heard on r [ "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@sbcglob ]
First CBS stations in Los Angeles [ "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@sbcglob ]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 23:52:45 -0500
From: Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OT: Vaughn Meader
This isn't really OTR,
but I thought I'd throw it out.
does anyone know if the Vaugh Meader's
"First Family" comedy LP was ever
commericially released on CD?
or if it's available on mp3?
thanks,
rob
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 23:55:34 -0500
From: Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio theme [removed]
Whenever I listen some Johnny Dollar episodes,
the theme very much reminds me of the TV theme for
Fantasy Island. Is the YTJD theme original,
or a classical composition that could have also been used for other
shows?
rob
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 01:06:01 -0500
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: I don't really know Erich all that [removed]
I, myself, seem to have said:
But, if you come up with a list that meets with broad OTR fan approval,
and if the internet continues to swell the ranks of OTR fans, Erich Kunzel
and the Cincinnatti Pops will put together a concert of great radio
themes for > a future Cincy Con.
Maybe that will teach me to proofread my writing before I hit the
"Send" button. I can't, of course, presume to speak for Mr. Kunzel
nor the Cincinnatti Pops' program director. There should have been a
whimsical "perhaps" in there. But Mr. Kunzel has done albums of
themes to western movies and shows, themes to horror movies, etc. Why
NOT a concert and album of themes to old time radio shows? If only he
were aware what a huge fan base we represent! There ARE a lot of us,
aren't there?
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 13:10:12 -0500
From: BH <radioguy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: NBC Inaugural Photos
In response to the question of the existence of any pictures of
the NBC Inaugural Event,
Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed]; wrote:
That's a good question. The only picture that I've seen published that
seems to be authentic is one taken in the WEAF control room, showing
chief operator O. B. Hanson supervising his team of technicians manning
the consoles during the inaugural broadcast. I'm not 100 per cent sure of
this one -- but there's nothing in it that automatically says "Not 1926."
I have a original copy of the 10th Anniversary Edition of the NBC
Transmitter magazine, November 15, 1936. There are two pages of a
grouping of pictures showing THEN (1926) and NOW (1936). One of
the THEN pictures is I believe the one Elizabeth refers to above,
of the WEAF Control Room, 195 Broadway, with O. B. Hanson standing
in the background behind four technicians. There is no picture of
the opening gala affair. I would think if a picture of the grand
event existed, it would have been published in this anniversary
issue.
Bill H.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 13:10:53 -0500
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Boris Aplon
Sandy Singer wrote:
I was stunned the first time I met Boris Aplon. It was on an episode of
Captain Midnight. Boris looked EXACTLY like the character he played -
Ivan Shark.
I, too, was stunned the first time I met Boris Aplon, but for a different
reason. I met him in the 1980s and he was one of the nicest people around.
He was always immaculately dressed and had the air of a true gentleman.
Nothing like how I imagined Ivan Shark. In fact I had difficulty from then
on "seeing" the nasty character of Ivan Shark without "seeing" the gentle
Boris Aplon.
Barbara
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 13:13:17 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Theme Songs
A few theme-song favorites --
"The Clicquot March," used beginning in 1925 by Harry Reser's Clicquot
Club Eskimos. Although no 1920s-vintage broadcast recordings exist of
this program, the orchestra made a commercial recording of this theme
music for Columbia in 1926, and like all of the Eskimos' records, it's
well worth owning. The arrangement used for the record is based on the
same arrangement used on the air, complete with barking-sled-dog sound
effects created by snapping a piece of clothesline thru a hole punched in
the bottom of a tin can. Listeners could write in to the Clicquot Club
Company in Massachusetts and get sheet music for this theme, with the
cover picturing Reser and the Eskimos in full fur-parka regalia -- and
this was one of network radio's first major premium offers.
"Two Guitars," used from 1923-35 by Harry Horlick's A&P Gypsies. A couple
of broadcast recordings exist, and nothing says "Early Radio" more than
this theme plinking along in the background as Milton J. Cross introduces
the program.
"My Time is Your Time," Rudy Vallee's various programs. Vallee may not be
everyone's cake of yeast, but he had an uncanny sense for knowing how to
choose songs that precisely suited his style.
"Collegiate," used by Bob and Ray 1948-51. It may just be because I've
heard this hundreds of times over the past year and a half while dubbing
transcriptions for the First Generation Radio Archives, but this goofy
1925 pop tune played by a piano-organ team for some reason fits B&R
perfectly.
"Manhattan Serenade," the Easy Aces. The best version is the one played
on the accordion. The Aces also had the good taste to use a classy organ
arrangement of Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" as their theme song
during for a brief period in 1937-38.
"Eleanor," used by Lum and Abner 1931-40. My favorite of the several
themes used by L&A over the years, although "Evalena" (1941-47) is
probably more familiar. L&A were undoubtedly inspired by "Amos 'n' Andy"
in their choice of a slow waltz for their theme song, which leads me
[removed]
"The Perfect Song," in either Joseph Gallicchio's delicate string-trio
arrangement (1929-32) or Gaylord Carter's sweeping full-length organ
rendition (1938-41) Perfectly captures the gentle, sentimental mood of
the original "Amos 'n' Andy" serial, and it was a sign that the program
was dying when the theme was cut from a full 60-second performance to a
quick 10-second excerpt in 1942, around the same time that Bill Hay
retired as announcer. The various "jazzed up" arrangements used in the
half-hour sitcom version don't work for me all, although some of Jeff
Alexander's musical scene bridges in the 1948-54 period are clever in a
mickey-mouse sort of way.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 13:13:48 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history
>From Those Were The Days --
1940 - Lucille Ball and Cuban musician Desi Arnaz were married.
Birthday:
1927 - Richard Crenna, Our Miss Brooks, The Great Gildersleeve, and
other shows.
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 13:14:34 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: SUSPENSE BOOK
Regarding my SUSPENSE query:
That was my first book. I wrote that when I was in high school and started
out merely as a high school project / curosity and grew to book-length. It
has quite a few errors here and there and does need an index, but I have
considered that my learning experience. The book after that, THE HISTORY OF
THE CAVALCADE OF AMERICA, was my second and anyone who has both can see how
I improved and avoided the errors from my initial project.
The SUSPENSE book has gone under multiple printings over the years, five or
six years to be exact, but only recently I decided not to have it reprinted
cause five or six years has been long enough - and being my own worst
critic, felt it's my least favorite book.
Still, it seems a lot of people have been asking for me to have it
available, even for a short-run small print run just so the last-minute
people who have been trying to get a copy, can, which is why I made the
posting to see if there is still such a large demand, and apparently there
is.
As for revising the book, I really have no intentions, only because someone
has been working on a book about SUSPENSE for the past twenty years and is
finally putting it together the last two years, so i sent him all the
updated trivia and info I've gathered.
The reprint will not be a revised, just a reprint - sometime February.
Martin Grams
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 13:13:40 -0500
From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: radio [removed]
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (excerpt) - Mandrake the Magician
Joe Salerno
Video Works! Is it working for you? PO Box 273405 - Houston TX 77277-3405
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 14:28:34 -0500
From: lawrence albert <albertlarry@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Once Again
Hello to all:
Since there are many dealers in OTR who
subscribe to this digest I thought it would be the
best place to get this message out. Lately my sources
have reported finding many dealers offering many of
the Jim French series on Mp3, CD or cassette. These
include "Crisis, "The Adventures of Harry Nile" and
"Imagination Theater". All of the sellers have been
sent cease and desist letters and to a person they
have all complied. This speaks highly for the
integrity of these individuals and their ethics. So
just in case there might be some dealers who are
unaware what is OTR and what isn't as regards Jim
French's shows here is an updated list.
1. Crisis
2. The Adventures of Harry Nile
3. The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes ([removed]
Version)
4. Kincaid, The Strangeseeker
5. ImagTheater Theatre
6. The KIRO Mystery Playhouse
7. Call Simon Walker
All of the above are protected under current copyright
laws and are all in production under the umbrella
title of 'Imagination Theatre'. The only authorized
dealers of this material are Transmedia in San
Francisco: Topics Entertainment in Renton, Washington
and Movies For Your Mind ; [removed] Jim French
Productions in Bellevue, Washington.
The hobby can be proud of those dealers who have
recognized the rights of ownership and work hard to be
honorable regarding said rights. For the rare
individual who chooses not live up to the standards
set by the bulk of OTR dealers and will sell what they
want, when they want, because greed is more important
to them then ethical business practices,
[removed]'s a word for them.
Larry Albert
Jim French Productions
jrfproductions@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 18:17:20 -0500
From: Judy Lane <jlane@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio theme songs
One of my library users is looking for a cassette/CD that has old time
radio "opening themes". He doesn't want recordings of the shows themselves
([removed] The shadow, Lone Ranger)--the tape he had or saw a few years ago was
just the opening theme songs. I see a lot of clips available on the Internet,
but
I think he wants them in one convenient package. Can anyone identify a source
for this cassette? Thanks!
Judy Lane, Reference Coordinator
Mountain Valley Library System, Sacramento, CA
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 18:17:25 -0500
From: "Ed Carr" <edcarr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: 50 reels
hi
getting rid of reels, priced to go, contact me if interested
ed
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 18:18:06 -0500
From: "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: First time Jack Benny was heard on radio?
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Hello. My question is:
When was the first time that Jack Benny spoke over the radio? I had always
heard that it took place in 1932 on a nationally broadcast program hosted by
newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan from New York. (Hello, this is Jack Benny
speaking. There will now be a slight pause, while everyone says, who
cares?")
But, in doing some of my radio history research of early broadcasting in
Southern California, I see that Jack took part in a radio broadcast in 1930 in
Los Angeles, over Hollywood station KFWB (owned by Warner Brothers Pictures).
This was 2 years before he did the Sullivan radio show.
I'll quote from the ad printed in the Los Angeles Times on April 26, 1930:
"Tune in Tonight! Hear Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, Jack Benny, Benny Rubin,
George Olsen, Abe Lyman, Ben Bernie, and scores of other stars of the stage
and screen.
One of the greatest arrays of talent ever paraded before the microphone is
offered you tonight when the
National Vaudeville Association Benefit Show will be
broadcast from Shrine Auditorium over KFWB, starting at
8:30 [removed] Dont miss it!
Program broadcast through the courtesy of Packers of MJB Coffee"
What would Jack have done on this program? His vaudeville act? And would this
have been different than the Jack Benny we became familiar with through his
later radio and TV programs?
Could it be possible that Jack forgot about this 1930 radio broadcast, maybe
because it was done from a large theater away from a radio studio? Or because
Jack was not the star of the show, but appearing with a large group of
entertainers?
Any comments?
Jim Hilliker
Monterey, CA
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------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 18:28:19 -0500
From: "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: First CBS stations in Los Angeles
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I always thought that KHJ was the first affiliate of the Columbia Broadcasting
System in Los Angeles.
However, I was going through some newspaper microfilm of radio pages in early
1929 in Los Angeles. Some days, there are stories about CBS network programs
being heard in the Los Angeles area over KMTR/KPLA, two stations that shared
time on 570 kilocycles then. One of the programs was the
Majestic Hour on Feb. 16, 1929 from 6 to 7 pm California time. The headliner
of this show, sponsored by Majestic radio, was Fannie Brice, "broadcast over
the Columbia chain."
Other days, such as January 31, 1929, the newspaper said the Columbia network
programs would be heard not only over KPLA-KMTR, but also on station KFWB.
Does anyone know when these Southern Caliornia stations began broadcasting CBS
network shows, and why would more than one station in Los Angeles carry
Columbia network programs?
Did any other Los Angeles station have an affiliation with CBS before 1929?
Jim Hilliker
Monterey
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--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #460
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