------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 131
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Be careful what you say here [ "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed]; ]
CHILDREN ON RADIO [ Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@doityours ]
Kelsey Grammar and Jack Benny [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
reading for the blind [ mart459@[removed] ]
Meet Mr. [removed] [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
Anyone know where I can find "Topper [ "Steve Atlas" <slavacotr@[removed] ]
BILBY [ "Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed] ]
ORGANISTS [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
BOOKS FOR THE BLIND [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
Radio history [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
Blackhawk [ JimInks@[removed] ]
Re: Transfering Cassettes to Compute [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Little Jack Little [ n0zezgfd@[removed] ]
Sam & Henry [ "" <cooldown3@[removed]; ]
Re: Gary Owens [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]
gary owens sound bites [ Chet <cien@[removed]; ]
Thanks for the info [ Ivan Watson <watsoni@[removed]; ]
Recordings for the Blind [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]
NBC Love song [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 19:58:53 -0500
From: "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Be careful what you say here
Readers of OTR Digest occasionally relate their good and bad personal
experiences with various companies, products, customer service, etc. Some of
these comments are negative. If you think this forum is a safe place to
exchange such frank comments, read this article:
[removed];mode=thread&tid=153
It tells the depressing story of a mailing list called Aquatic Plant Digest,
whose focus is the hobby of growing plants in ponds. A company called Pets
Warehouse has sued the list manager and some subscribers for $15 million for
posting negative comments. When a group of people started raising money for
a legal defense fund, the company went on to sue them as well! The saddest
part of the story is that the lawsuit seems to be working -- many of the
defendants have already settled out of court. We will never know for how
much, because these settlements are always cloaked in secrecy. We won't even
know if the legal claims are valid unless the case actually goes to court,
which doesn't seem likely unless one of the defendants discovers a rich
uncle. Sad, very very sad.
Didn't we win a war against guys like this, around 50 years ago?
Quote from the future:
Little girl: "Grandpa, what was 'Freedom of Speech'?"
Grandpa, glancing around nervously: Shhhh!
Doug Leary
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 19:58:00 -0500
From: Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@[removed];
To: "Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: CHILDREN ON RADIO
In answer to the posting about children on radio, the following names come to
mind:
FROM LET'S PRETEND:
Albert Alley
Arthur Anderson
Dick Beals
Butch Cavell
Bill Lipton
Jack Grimes
Skip Homier
Daisy Alden
Gwynn Davies
Florence Halop
Miriam Wolfe
Rosemary Rice
Sybil Trent
Patricia Ryan
OTHERS:
Rose Marie
Walter Tetley
Danny Thomas (Dan Reid, on The Lone Ranger)
George Gobel (Got his start on National Barn Dance as a Yodeler)
Bob & Don Hastings
Sybil Jason (Guest starred in Mayor of the Town, Lux, etc.)
"Rush" (on Vic & Sade, name escapes me)
I am sure this list has triggered the memory of other posters remembering
child radio stars. Let's hear from you!
Kevin Michaels
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 21:17:41 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Kelsey Grammar and Jack Benny
Actually, Grammar wasn't the driving force behind the NBC tribute a few years
ago. I had the pleasure of interviewing Fred deCordova in his NBC office in
May of 1995, and the project was underway at that point. The question at
that moment was who had the rights to the shows, and I told him that MCA did
(except for possibly the specials). I also talked with Irving Fein about it
around the same time. There was not yet a discussion of the format or who
would host it. Don't know when Grammar came into the picture, but he
definitely is a Benny devotee.
--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 21:18:39 -0500
From: mart459@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: reading for the blind
I just wanted to say that Mrs. Culver's husband must have been talented -
I have donated time to do readings for the blind, and going through
diagrams and schematics
and being able to convey the meaning WELL is difficult at best for many of
the textbooks that I have done.
Someone once asked if I would be willing to read my fathers work on hybrid
technology, and I just thew up my hands -
way too many diagrams. Outside of the fact that it ran for five volumes at
the time :(
Reading for the blind is one of the more rewarding things that I have done.
I would recommend it to anyone who has a spare afternoon here and there.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 21:53:17 -0500
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Meet Mr. [removed]
One reader asked about a show about Meek. Just checked Hickerson and find
this entry:
Meet Mr. Meek. 1940-42. CBS. Starred Frank Readick. Comedy about
Mortimer Meek, a henpecked husband.
Have never heard the show, but that is what I found in one OTR bible.
Ted Kneebone
1528 S. Grant St., Aberdeen, SD 57401 / 605-226-3344
OTR: [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 21:56:20 -0500
From: "Steve Atlas" <slavacotr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Anyone know where I can find "Topper" radio
and/or TV shows
Approved: ctrn4eeWlc
Hi everyone,
I've been enjoying this list for a couple of years, and it's great learning
so much and meeting some great people.
One of my favorite radio and television shows is Topper. I have two
delightful radio episodes starring Roland Young, but I've never been able to
find any more episodes. The television series (starring Leo G. Carroll--who
died recently) is equally delightful--but equally difficult to find.
Can anyone suggest any source where I can locate Topper radio or television
shows? (If anyone has any episodes and would be interested in trading a copy
of those episodes for some of my OTR radio or music, please contact me
privately.)
Thanks.
Steve Atlas (slavacotr@[removed])
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 22:22:33 -0500
From: "Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: BILBY
In issue 130 lois Culver wrote"
I dont blame Jughead for being afraid to ask what a "bilby" is! Personally
I dont think I want to eat one, chocolate, or otherwise. It looks like a
rat with a bad ear day! One of our curious members to OldRadio Chat found
this URL showing what the Aussies hope to use as a substitute for the
beloved Easter bunny!
Hey, this is an endangered species we are talking about here. Some bright
spark (probably an academic) decided that the Bilby should be adopted as a
replacement for the Easter Bunny. This was a few years ago now and the
chocolate manufacturers were putting a percentage of the sale of each
chocolate Bilby towards the fund for preserving this endangered species.
Now that the Bilby has become an accepted part of the Easter Chocolate scene
it is starting to replace the Easter Bunny. You have to admire the
marketing gurus and what they can achieve. You take an animal which is one
of the biggest pests in Australia (Rabbit) you make an effigy in Chocolate
and eat it. Nothing wrong there. Then you take an endangered species, make
an effigy in Chocolate and eat it. Meanwhile trying to tell people it is no
longer a good idea to eat the pest, eat the endangered species.
Lois, they look cuter in chocolate and no tail, with the long ears you get
more for your money, hmmm maybe I should be in marketing.
Yes Jughead, the nic is spook and I didn't mean to spook you. The hot cross
buns can be eaten hot or cold, I choose hot. I had a link for them at the
time as well, apparently they are different from the ones in the US. Our
Easter break is 4 days Good Friday, and Easter Monday are public holidays,
Easter Sunday is still the main day just like yours.
I don't know if I should listen to any more Archie Episodes after reading
the health Warning. Now I know why the show was never here in Australia (as
far as I can tell), I understand there is a cure. You have to play the
episodes in reverse and follow the subliminal instructions.
Ian Grieve
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 10:54:57 -0500
From: PURKASZ@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: ORGANISTS
Loved seeing that info about the great organists of radio.
I was reminded of the day in 1972 when I was driving west on Melrose in
Hollywood and came across a small theater marquee near Vermont. Can't
remember the name of the theater, because the marquess was so startling.
It said, "Tonight only, Gaylord Carter plays the Phantom of the Opera
with the original Universal print."
That was enough for me. I pulled over and waited till 7PM till the show
started and watched as a smallish man slowly walked down the aisle and
proceeded to bring to life one of the great silent movies.
The way it must have been for the original viewers.
Powerful stuff.
However, I did not see the name of the greatest of them all in radio
dynamic organ playing, in my opinion.
The unknown master of macabre background for radio, [removed] Inner Sanctum
organist!
Who, pray tell, was that?
<A HREF="[removed],+Michael+C.">
Michael C. Gwynne</A>
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 10:55:20 -0500
From: PURKASZ@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: BOOKS FOR THE BLIND
I was very interested in reading for the blind while I was living in
Hollywood. In 1971, I was living near the Braille Institute on Vermont Ave.
One day I called them on the phone to ask how to go about doing this. They
said to come down and read some technical books for them.
I was surprised they didn't want any literature read, just tech books.
I went anyway.
Best part of the day was seeing Walter Brennan in the other room doing
the same thing.
I remember wondering if any blind person, listening to a text being read
to them about a college education, though they might have recognized that
very distinctive voice.
Gwynne
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 10:56:11 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio history
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 10:41:42 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
1942 - People Are Funny was first heard this day on NBC. Art Baker was the
show's first host, Art Linkletter took over the popular program in 1943.
According to Art Linkletter's memoirs, Art Baker and Art Linkletter were co-hosts when the
show started, then Art Baker said the two were incompatible, and Linkletter was canned.
The following season, Baker left, and Linkletter was brought back.
1949 - Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis debuted on radio in an NBC program that
ran until 1952.
That's interesting. I had always thought of them as television personalities. I never knew
that they had even =been= on radio, never mind debuted there.
I really appreciate these tidbits that you give us.
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
15 Court Square, Suite 210
lawyer@[removed]
Boston, MA 02108-2503
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 10:57:06 -0500
From:
JimInks@[removed]
To:
[removed]@[removed]
Subject: Blackhawk
The discussion about reading comics on old radio shows reminds me that I
haven't asked this question in sometime. Does anyone here have copies of the
Blackhawk radio show that ran on ABC (I think) for a season in the early
1950's? It was based on the then popular Quality Comics (now owned by DC
Comics) adventure series. I sure would like to get any of the episodes that
I can.
-Jim Amash
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 10:57:21 -0500
From: Joe Mackey
<joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net
<[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Transfering Cassettes to Computer
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 12:51:43 -0500
From: "Bill Rockhold" <brockhold@[removed];
Subject: Transfering Cassettes to Computer
I would like to transfer some of my cassetes to Mp3 format to my computer.
Check with [removed]. They have a program for that.
I tried it briefly and it seemed to work pretty well. I forget how much
it cost to register it to use beyond a trial period but I imagine its
nominal in the run long.
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 10:57:37 -0500
From: n0zezgfd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Little Jack Little
Here in Des Moines, we are working on a project to present the history of
broadcasting in Des Moines.
In connection with research regarding station WHO, there are references
to Little Jack Little. His program on WHO during the mid 1920s was used
to promote a product called Corn Sugar. Listeners could send in a card
and get a sample of the product.
Does anyone of the list have a history or other background of Little Jack
Little?
Thanks in advance for any and all comments.
George F. Davison, Jr.
N0zezgfd@[removed] (Please use a zero between the N and the z, otherwise
your e-mail will come back to you and won't be received by me.)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 11:03:19 -0500
From: "" <cooldown3@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Sam & Henry
Dear Ms McLeod,
I noted that you listed 4 shows on records for Sam & Henry which I have.
You mentioned also
In addition to these "Sam and Henry" sides, on Victor 19886, the Correll and
Gosden songs
recordings "All I Want To Do" (BVE-34578) and "Let's Talk About My
Sweetie" (BVE-34579), both recorded 3/2/26.
Which I have not found, but I have four other songs which have been
attributed to [removed] Are
Gorgeous
Kiss Your Baby Goodnight
Meadow Lark
Who Is Your Who
Can you tell me if these were released by Correll & Gosden too, and if so
can you list the recording information if available please?
Thanks for sharing your hard won knowledge of these two performers with us
here.
Patrick
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 11:04:57 -0500
From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Gary Owens
In the Wed. 04/03/2002 edition of "Newsday" (Long island, NY) on the
feature-page "Flash!" (mostly newswire stories concerning show-biz), there was
a colour photo of a mini-Laugh-In reunion staged in honour
of (the Late) Dan Rowan & Dick Martin at the star-ceremony for R & M, who
received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame the previos day. Pictured were
Dick Martin, Lily Tomlin, Henry Gibson, Ruth Buzzi, & Gary Owens.
Considering that Dick Martin started out as a gag-writer for "Duffy's
Tavern" while in his early 20s, has anyone ever tried to get him as a guest at
any of the OTR conventions? Verrrry interesting!
Derek Tague
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 13:04:45 -0500
From: Chet <cien@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: gary owens sound bites
for the gary owens fans out [removed] is something you may be
interested [removed] owens soundbites
chet norris
[removed]
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 13:55:52 -0500
From: Ivan Watson <watsoni@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Thanks for the info
Hello,
Many thanks to the kind digest folks who provided me
with some great OTR tips for my recent trip to New
York. Holding a map in one hand, and a printout of
suggested sites in the other, I was able to visit
quite a few fascinating places. I went with a friend
to see Letterman at the Ed Sullivan theatre and tried
to imagine what it looked like in the OTR days - all
that TV equipment hides what appears to be a very nice
old theatre! As well, I stopped off at 485 Madison,
Address of the Stars (a bit disapointing now -just an
ordinary office building) as well as taking the tour
of NBC (again - I had to use my "otr" imagination on
this one!) A kind lady at the Museum of TV and radio
gave me a complimentary pass, and when I asked about
their radio collection, I was informed that I could
listen to everything from "War of the Worlds to
Zorro!" Oh [removed]:) I also checked out the Guild,
Longacre and New Amsterdam Theatres in the Theatre
District. Capping it all off was a rather expensive
gin and tonic at the Rainbow Room. the restoration is
fantastic - it was easy to imagine the stars and
orchestras of yesterday enjoing drinks and good music
high above the city [removed]:) :)
Many thanks again to everyone who provided me with a
wonderful OTR trail to follow while in New York.
Ivan
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 17:23:59 -0500
From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Recordings for the Blind
Apropos to Lois Culver's statement about OTR actors who have read for the
blind, the following performers, at one time or another, read Talking Books at
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) in NYC (however, these books were
paying jobs, and were not done on a volunteer basis):
Mary Jane Higby, her husband Guy Sorel, Alan Hewitt, Arnold Moss (who also
designed crossword puzzles for the NY Times), Tony Randall, Ralph Bell, Sam
Gray, Norman Rose, Robert Donley, Leon Janney, and, of course,
Alexander Scourby, for whom AFB named its Narrator of the Year Awards.
John Rayburn also reads books for a similar Talking Books set-up called
Talking Books Publishers in Denver.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 17:24:17 -0500
From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: NBC Love song
The lyrics to the NBC Love song struck a chord (pun intended)... However,
the version I remember was a Saturday Night Live from c. 1978 that opened up
in a 1940s-style radio studio. Dan Ackroyd or Bill Murray played an announcer
who introduced a vocalist played by Garrett Morris w/ back-up vocals by the 3
female cast members of the time (Misses Curtin, Newman, & Radner). The sketch
concluded after the song with the traditional "Live from New [removed]" opening.
Now that the E! Channel is re-running SNLs from that era (in no logical order)
weeknights at 7 [removed], maybe we can see it again imminently.
Derek Tague
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #131
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