Subject: [removed] Digest V2006 #334
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 11/28/2006 3:41 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2006 : Issue 334
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Phyllis Cerf Wagner                   [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
      New Book On the Grand Ole Opry        [ "Bill Knowlton" <udmacon1@[removed] ]
      Bill Idelson                          [ Radioclass <radioclass@[removed] ]
      Flour and Glass                       [ Kelli Stanley <ks4color@[removed] ]
      Re: Best OTR Finds                    [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
      Re: Chrysler show                     [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]
      Radio Music Programs                  [ "Pete Rondello" <refelo@[removed] ]
      11-28 births/deaths                   [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
      The 2006 OTR Hallmark                 [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Re: Lost Fibber McGee                 [ Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed] ]
      Re: You Bet Your Life                 [ "Michael J. Hayde" <michaelhayde@ea ]
      Halls of Ivy theme song               [ Henry <wa0goz@[removed]; ]
      Light Crust Doughboys?                [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]
      "Golden Age of Radio" and "A One Nig  [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 20:35:39 -0500
    From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Phyllis Cerf Wagner

    The NYT reports that Phyllis Cerf Wagner has died at age 90. According
    to the obit ([removed]),
    she wrote radio soap operas. (The obit later states that she also wrote
    radio plays.) Anybody know anything else about what she wrote? Since
    she lived in NYC for much of her adult life, did she ever make it to
    FOTR?

    Kermyt

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

    Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:14:12 -0500
    From: "Bill Knowlton" <udmacon1@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  New Book On the Grand Ole Opry

    "The Grand Ole Opry: The Making Of An American Icon" by Colin Escott is not
    only required reading, kiddies, but also a keeper. Great coverage--good and
    bad times included--with many photos never published before.

    The author does not preach or have a point of view but he generously
    includes the praises, and complaints, about the Opry past and present by its
    stars, executives; friends and foes.

    Vince Gill does a nice forward; it's published by Center Street. 250 pages.

    May favorite portion is devoted to the fate of the Ryman and those who
    fought to keep it, thank God.

    BILL KNOWLTON

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

    Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:14:35 -0500
    From: Radioclass <radioclass@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Bill Idelson
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    Last Friady, Nov. 24, there was a great article in the Chicago Tribune about Bill Idelson who played Rush on Vic and Sade.

      If you  missed, here's a link to the story.

      [removed],1,[removed]

      Anne

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    Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:15:27 -0500
    From: Kelli Stanley <ks4color@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Flour and Glass

    I've just returned from Thanksgiving vacation, and read, with delight,
    Jim Cox's article on Martha White Flour.  I'm glad  Burrus' Light Crust
    has been absorbed into a company with such a storied history.

    I'm always intrigued by radio commercials and the products they
    advertise.  I've enjoyed many of them, from Lux soap to Ovaltine, to my
    much-missed White King Laundry Soap, which is no longer being produced,
    at least on the West coast.  If it was advertised during the Golden Age
    of Radio, I'm likely to want to try it (except for cigarettes, though
    the "Old Gold" commercials as sung by the Pied Pipers on "Songs by
    Sinatra" are at least as addictive as nicotine).

    A CD of an OTR program--with its attendant sponsoring product--would be
    a fun and festive gift.  The challenge for my family, especially at the
    holidays, is to find products and gifts (and the attendant holiday
    wrapping, cards, etc.) that are still made in America.  My father was a
    machinist, and he likes knowing something was actually made in this
    country.  This task is, of course, getting more and more difficult.   I
    usually revert to giving vintage or hand-crafted things.  And food
    stuffs are still domestic, though I doubt anyone but me would enjoy a
    sack of Martha White Flour.  ;)

    I just listened (again) to "The Santa Claus of Bum's Boulevard" episode
    of Casey, Crime Photographer, and it occurred to me that Anchor Hocking
    glass might make a nice house-warming present for some [removed] I've
    emailed them, to see if they still make their products in the US.
    Unfortunately, I don't think they'll honor the ad on that program--a 38
    piece set of Jadeite dinnerware for under $5. ;)

    I've already purchased some beautiful glassware, still made in
    Pennsylvania, from the [removed] Smith company, which has been in business
    since 1906.  Does anyone know if they ever sponsored a radio program?
    I'd love it if they had a radio tie-in--their workmanship is exquisite.

    Thanks in advance for any information--or recommendations. :)

    Kelli Stanley

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

    Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:15:58 -0500
    From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Best OTR Finds

    Andrew Godfrey asks:
     >   I am interested in knowing what shows were unavailable in the last
     >  20 years or so but now are available for OTR fans to listen to.

    As one who has been collecting since the early seventies, the best way I
    can describe some of this is to quote a publication I have copies of
    that is from February 1977. The publication is called Airwaves and was
    the creation of two gentleman, one of whom is not collecting any more -
    Jerry Chapman, and Joe Webb, who is collecting - very active in OTRR
    (Old Time Radio Researchers) and I believe a reader of this digest.

    They used to run a section in the newsletter called "News" and here is a
    sample:

    " Many new "Romance" Programs are circulating, formerly there were
    around 24 in circulation. Others that are new are: 8 "True Detective"
    Programs from 1937. The episode numbers are in the twenties. Large runs
    of "Great Gildersleeve," "Our Miss Brooks," and "Burns and Allen" are
    rumored to be coming from California. 90 of the 106 "Have Gun Will
    Travel" programs exist and circulate in Good sounding network versions,
    others are AFRS. Three still may be missing. "Dimension X" programs
    "Parade" and "Martian Death March" do exist, but at this time are not
    circulating."

    As you can see, it was a rather exciting time as many programs we now
    take for granted were just becoming available to general collectors at
    this time. I can also say that many of the "Quiet, Please" programs were
    not known to exist at this time as well.

    Jim Widner

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

    Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:35:03 -0500
    From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Chrysler show
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    In a message dated 11/27/06 7:46:18 PM Central Standard Time,
    [removed]@[removed] writes:

>     Then he said,
>     "and don't miss the big Chrysler Corporation TV show on another
>     network."

    Wasn't that the much-discussed "Shower of Stars"?  I seem to recall an
    incident from that show in which Groucho (who was a guest) was supposed to pop up on
    the back seat of a convertible during a live commercial, and it flopped
    miserably. (It was poorly staged and Groucho could be seen earlier than scheduled.)
    I used to have that on tape, and Groucho once wrote a hilarious letter to
    someone about it that was published in "Letters From Groucho."

    Dixon

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    Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:39:54 -0500
    From: "Pete Rondello" <refelo@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Radio Music Programs

    Hello:

    I am a former radio announcer. WERL, Eagle River, [removed], Rhinelander
    Wis, and several others. I'd really enjoy finding two of my favorite classic
    radio programs. They are music based, and I have been unable to find them in
    the usual places.

    Does anyone know where I might find CD's, LP's, etc. of:

    "Patterns In Music" with John Doremus   and /or

    "The Earl Nightingale Show"

    Thanks!

    -Pete Rondello Sr
    Boulder Junction, WI

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

    Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:40:01 -0500
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  11-28 births/deaths

    November 28th births

    11-28-1894 - Frank Black - Philadelphia, PA - d. 1-29-1968
    conductor: "Jack Benny Program"; "NBC String Symphony"; "Cities
    Service Concert"
    11-28-1895 - Jose Iturbi - Valencia, Spain - d. 6-28-1980
    pianist, conductor: "Telephone hour"; "Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra"
    11-28-1906 - Helen Jepson - Titusville, PA - d. 9-16-1997
    singer: "Kraft Music Hall"; "Show Boat"
    11-28-1909 - Rose Bampton - Cleveland, OH
    singer: "Palmolive Beauty Box Theatre"
    11-28-1910 - Russell Napier - Perth, Australia - d. 8-19-1974
    actor: "Midweek Theatre"
    11-28-1916 - Richard Tregaskis - Elizabeth, NJ - d. 8-15-1973
    author, war correspondent: (Guadalcanal Diary) "Lux Radio Theatre"
    11-28-1917 - Elliott Lewis - NYC - d. 5-20-1990
    actor, director: Frankie Remley "Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show"; "On
    Stage"; "Mr. Aladdin"
    11-28-1925 - Gloria Grahame - Los Angeles, CA - d. 10-5-1981
    actor: "Hollywood Star Playhouse"
    11-28-1925 - Robert Readick - d. 5-xx-1985
    actor: (Son of Frank) Bill Roberts "Rosemary"; Don Cornwell "Second
    Mrs. Burton"
    11-28-1925 - Virginia Hewitt - Shreveport, LA - d. 7-21-1986
    actor: Coral Karlyle "Space Patrol"

    November 28th deaths

    01-31-1915 - Garry Moore - Baltimore, MD - d. 11-28-1993
    host, comedian: "Garry Moore Show"; "Camel Caravan"; "Take It or
    Leave It"
    02-17-1910 - Marc Lawrence - NYC - d. 11-28-2005
    actor: "Let George Do It"; "This Is Your FBI"; "Scout About Town"
    02-27-1880 - Georgia Burke - Atlanta, GA - d. 11-28-1985
    actor: Lily "When A Girl Marries"
    03-04-1934 - John Dunn - Glasgow, Scotland - d. 11-28-2004
    announcer, newsreader: "Roundabout"; "Housewive's Choice"; "Breadfast
    Special"
    04-03-1783 - Washington Irving - NYC - d. 11-28-1859
    author: "House of Mystery"; "Tomorrow Calling"; "American School on
    the Air"
    04-27-1898 - George McCall - Renton, Scotland - d. 11-28-1952
    host: "Man About Hollywood"
    05-11-1910 - Johnnie 'Skat' Davis - Brazil, IN - d. 11-28-1983
    trumpet: "The Fred Waring Show"
    06-04-1907 - Rosalind Russell - Waterbury, CT - d. 11-28-1976
    actor: "Four-Star Playhouse"; "Silver Theatre"
    06-29-1899 - Lester Vail - Denver, CO - d. 11-28-1959
    director: "Aldrich Family"; "March of Time"; "World's Most Honored
    Flights"
    07-24-1914 - Vicent Bogert - New York - d. 11-28-1978
    writer: "Duffy's Tavern"
    09-24-1911 - Edmund L. Hartman - St. Louis, MO - d. 11-28-2003
    screenwriter: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    10-06-1912 - Mel Dinelli - d. 11-28-1991
    writer: "Advs. of Philip Marlowe"
    10-11-1920 - Ralph Paul - Denver, CO - d. 11-28-1987
    announcer: "Aldrich Family"; "True Detective Mysteries"; "Might Casey"
    11-08-1916 - Norman Macdonnell - Pasadena, CA - d. 11-28-1979
    producer, director: "Gunsmoke"
    12-16-1911 - Howard Reilly - d. 11-28-1991
    producer: "The Fred Allen Show"
    xx-xx-1875 - Beatrice Fairfax - Washington, [removed] - d. 11-28-1945
    writer: "Advice to the Lovelorn"
    xx-xx-1902 - Richy Craig, Jr. - d. 11-28-1933
    monologist: "Blue Ribbon Malt Jester"
    xx-xx-1908 - Fred Uttal - NYC - d. 11-28-1963
    quizmaster: "Detect and Collect"; "What's My Name"; "Melody Puzzles"

    Ron Sayles

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

    Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:47:48 -0500
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  The 2006 OTR Hallmark

    Among the 2006 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, this year, is "A Christmas
    Broadcast," an old-fashioned radio from the good ol' days of old-time radio,
    and the ornament allows us to tune into one of five stations to hear
    Christmas music, a station identification and at least one advertisement.

    Any search on [removed] will direct interested parties to the 2006
    ornaments and can even find photos on this OTR keepsake.

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: This isn't the first cathedral radio "Keepsake Ornament"
    Hallmark has produced; in 1993, they had a lighted-dial radio with a
    kitten next to it which, when a button is pressed, plays a "new bulletin"
    announcing Santa's [removed]"Listen for reindeer on your roof!"  --cfs3]

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

    Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 23:02:52 -0500
    From: Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Lost Fibber McGee

>     While I don't want your point to be lost with this information, I feel
>     the need to point out that the recent 15 minute Fibber McGee & Molly
>     episodes that've been released by First Gen were not lost.  They've
>     been circulating in poorer quality versions for some time.

    That's true for some of the episodes, but not for the majority of what
    has been located.  More than 300 of the newly-located episodes
    are not in the list of poor-quality episodes that were already in
    circulation.  It's indeed an exciting find.

    Al Girard
    webmaster of The Unofficial Fibber McGee and Molly Home Page
    [removed]
    (Gotta clean out that URL one of these days!)

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

    Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:09:04 -0500
    From: "Michael J. Hayde" <michaelhayde@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: You Bet Your Life

    A. Joseph Ross asked about George Fenneman's closing to YOU BET YOUR LIFE:
    "...and don't miss the big Chrysler Corporation TV show on another network."

>     Anyone know what that show was?

    Actually, it was TWO shows: CLIMAX, which aired three out of four Thursday
    nights on CBS, and SHOWER OF STARS, which aired on the fourth Thursday.  Both
    were in the 8:30-9:30pm [removed] right after YOU BET YOUR LIFE concluded
    on NBC Television.  Both shows ran from 1954-58.

    Michael

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

    Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 13:34:38 -0500
    From: Henry <wa0goz@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Halls of Ivy theme song

    Does anyone know if there is a place where I can get the "Halls of
    Ivy" theme song?  Does anyone know who the male chorus was that sang
    it and if there was ever a single or an album with the song on it?

    Thanks

    Henry

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

    Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 14:08:27 -0500
    From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Light Crust Doughboys?
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           One of the stories my Mother used to tell was when she and one of
    her friends drove from Ft. Worth to Dallas to hear a radio show by a team
    known as the Interwoven Pair.  I believe the sponsor of the show was the
    Interwoven Sock Company (or some such thing).  While I didn't get their
    full names, I believe that their last names were Jones and Hare.  For some
    reason or another that memory comes to the fore when I hear the Light Crust
    Doughboys mentioned.  I believe that they might have changed their group
    name depending on what their sponsor was the time and that this group may
    have
    been known under several names.

    Another OTR Fan,

    Kenneth Clarke

    PS     Could the names of these men have been Burt Jones and Ernie Hare?

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    Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:54:54 -0500
    From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  "Golden Age of Radio" and "A One Night Stand
     with the Big Bands"

    The latest "Golden Age of Radio" programs with Dick Bertel
    and Ed Corcoran, and "A One Night Stand with the Big Bands"
    with Arnold Dean can be heard at [removed].

    Each week we feature three complete shows in MP3 format
    for your listening pleasure or for downloading; two "Golden
    Age of Radios" and one "One Night Stand." We present new
    shows every week or so. The current three programs will be
    available on line at least until the morning of 12/5/06.

    Program 14 - May, 1971 - Jim Jordan

    >From The official Fibber McGee and Molly Homepage
    ([removed])

    While many of the programs from the Golden Days of Radio
    have disappeared forever, thankfully the Fibber McGee and
    Molly Show's sponsor, [removed]'s Wax of Racine,
    Wisconsin and NBC kept transcription discs from most of the
    programs that they sponsored, and we, the fans of the program
    have benefitted since they've become available on tape. The
    Fibber McGee and Molly Show starred real-life husband and
    wife Jim and Marian Jordan of Peoria, Illinois, a pair who had
    toured throughout the vaudeville circuit before eventually working
    on several different radio shows, most notably "Smackout."

    >From April 16, 1935 to September 6, 1959 one of the best-
    known addresses in the USA was the home of Fibber McGee
    and Molly. They resided at 79 Wistful Vista in a midwestern
    city where the popular shows took place. Initially the show
    was broadcast on Mondays, but eventually it was moved to
    Tuesday evenings where it stayed for most of its run. Fibber
    was just that - a fibber, a braggard, a man who stretched his
    stories and ideas to the limit, often to the dismay of his patient
    spouse Molly. McGee took telling tall tales to a fine art. His
    wild ideas and schemes were the basis for the show which
    usually took place in the living-room at their home. They
    didn't enjoy quiet evenings alone because there was always
    a steady stream of visitors, each a character in his or her
    own way, who added to the confusion and hilarity of the
    situation at hand.

    Program 15 - June, 1971 - Don McNeil

    Don McNeil was "The Man Who Came to Breakfast." For
    35 years millions joined him five days a week, laughed at and
    with him, sang with him, and marched around the breakfast
    table at 15-minute intervals. Don McNeill created and hosted
    "The Breakfast Club," a variety hour that made an indelible
    mark on radio.

    "A One Night Stand with the Big Bands" With Arnold Dean

    Program 10 - March, 1972 - Sammy Kaye

    Sammy Kaye, musically, set the nation's band leading styles
    for years and his versatility in the music business as a leader,
    song writer, and personality in his own right, earned him the
    acclaim of loyal fans and the praise of the country's music
    critics.

    Variety, the show business newspaper, once price-tagged
    the coined phrase, "Swing and Sway," as a million dollar
    slogan. And they became one of the bands that sparked the
    whole big band scene. It was at the Cabin Club in Cleveland,
    Ohio, where the band was featured on radio broadcasts, that
    the famous slogan, "Swing and Sway" became Kaye's
    trademark. The announcer would introduce the band's
    appearance with catchy phrases such as "Music in the Rhythmic
    Way Played by Sammy Kaye," "Music in the Sentimental Way
    Played by Sammy Kaye," and occasionally, "Let's Swing and
    Sway with Sammy Kaye." One night some fans came in and
    called to Kaye, "Hi Swing and Sway." That was it. Everything
    else was dropped and "Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye"
    was born.

    In the 1970's WTIC decided that there was a market in
    the evening for long-form shows that could be packaged
    and sold to sponsors. Two of those shows were "The
    Golden Age of Radio" and "A One Night Stand with the
    Big Bands."

    Dick Bertel had interviewed radio collector-historian
    Ed Corcoran several times on his radio and TV shows,
    and thought a regular monthly show featuring interviews
    with actors, writers, producers, engineers and musicians
    from radio's early days might be interesting. "The Golden
    Age of Radio" was first broadcast in April, 1970; Ed was
    Dick's co-host. It lasted seven years. "The Golden Age
    of Radio" can also be heard Saturday nights on Walden
    Hughes's program on Radio Yesteryear.

    Arnold Dean began his love affair with the big band
    era in his pre-teen years and his decision to study
    the clarinet was inspired by the style of Artie Shaw.
    When he joined WTIC in 1965 he hosted a daily program
    of big band music. In 1971, encouraged by the success
    of his daily program and "The Golden Age of Radio"
    series, he began monthly shows featuring interviews
    with the band leaders, sidemen, agents, jazz reporters,
    etc. who made major contributions to one of the great
    eras of music history.

    Bob Scherago
    Webmaster

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2006 Issue #334
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