Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #309
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 10/31/2007 12:40 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to:
[removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2007 : Issue 309
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Trumbo/Stone                          [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
  Re: Below is one of the many things   [ Cnorth6311@[removed] ]
  "Johnny Got His Gun"                  [ <mikeandzachary@[removed]; ]
  War - what is it good for?            [ Wich2@[removed] ]
  Johnny Got His Gun - Arch Oboler's P  [ KENPILETIC@[removed] ]
  Re: Help                              [ Larry Husch <lshusch@[removed]; ]
  10-31 births/deaths                   [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
  Ireene Wicker, The Singing Lady       [ Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed] ]
  Finally, some FOTR pics are posted    [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ charlie@[removed] ]
  Re: Help                              [ Brent Pellegrini <brentpl@rocketmai ]
  cassette to Mp3 conversion            [ Michael Berger <makiju@[removed]; ]
  Johnny Got His Gun                    [ "Gordon Robson" <g-robson@[removed] ]
  James Cagney & Don Wilson             [ Harlan Zinck <radiovoice@[removed]; ]
  Johnny Got His Gun                    [ "Holm, Chris " <[removed]@[removed] ]
  More "War of the Worlds" Coverage     [ seandd@[removed] ]
  Man in hospital                       [ Rentingnow@[removed] ]
  Re: Dragnet "The Big Thanksgiving"    [ Michael Hayde <mikeh0714@[removed]; ]
  Re: Help                              [ Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed]; ]
  RE: Johnny Got His Gun                [ Michael Ogden <michaelo67@[removed] ]

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

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:09:06 -0400
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Trumbo/Stone
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
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A reader named Anne wrote:

There is a radio program about a man in a hospital. He can't talk, has no
arms or legs.  I think he was injured in the war.  The program is his
thoughts.
<snip>

This sounds to me like the Dalton Trumbo's novel "Johnny Got His Gun," which
was made into a 1971 movie starring Timothy Bottoms. I'm sure the astute
readership here on the Digest will be able to tell us whether there was a
radio version of it, or whether I'm thinking about the wrong show.

On a totally unrelated topic, I would like to profusely thank Listmaster
Charlie Summers for assembling on such short notice the Hal Stone photo
montage that was used during this year's "Funny Friday" comedy panel at FOTR
2007. I ended up giving the two discs (the ever-vigilant Charlie had made a
back-up copy) to Hal's buddies Chuck McCann and Bob Hastings. Be sure to visit
it in Charlie's blog.

Bravo, Charlie!

Derek Tague, Mayor of Etherville

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

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:10:00 -0400
From: Cnorth6311@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Below is one of the many things I love about
 the digest.

There is a radio program about a man in a  hospital.
He can't talk, has no arms or legs.  I think he was
injured  in the war.  The program is his thoughts.

Every one helping as best they can. Wanna bet this lady finds the show she
is looking for?

Charlie

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

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:10:28 -0400
From: <mikeandzachary@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  "Johnny Got His Gun"

Anne asked:

There is a radio program about a man in a hospital.
He can't talk, has no arms or legs.  I think he was
injured in the war.  The program is his thoughts.

It sounds like "Johnny Got His Gun," from the Dalton Trumbo novel. James
Cagney starred in the ARCH OBOLER'S PLAYS production on 03/09/40.

Mike

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

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:10:56 -0400
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  War - what is it good for?

There is a radio program about a man in a hospital.
He can't talk,  has no arms or legs.

Anne-

Sounds like Dalton Trumbo's JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN.

Happy Halloween,
-Craig W.

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

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:11:49 -0400
From: KENPILETIC@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Johnny Got His Gun - Arch Oboler's Plays 3-9-40
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Hi Gang -
In issue 308, Anne asks about

a radio program about a man in a hospital.
He can't talk, has no arms or legs. ...  I'm trying to locate this show for
my son.

This program is "Johnny Got His Gun", broadcast of ARCH OBOLER'S PLAYS
on March 9, 1940.  It was originally a novel of the same name by Dalton
Trumbo.
It was also made into a movie and there was at least one TV version of the
story.

Hope this helps.          Ken Piletic, Streamwood, Illinois

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

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:12:31 -0400
From: Larry Husch <lshusch@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Help
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

There is a radio program about a man in a hospital.
He can't talk, has no arms or legs.  I think he was
injured in the war.  The program is his thoughts.

Hi Anne-

Are you thinking about /Johnny Got His Gun/ that was adapted by Arch Oboler
for radio in 1940?

Larry

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

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:21:17 -0400
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  10-31 births/deaths

October 31st births

10-31-1886 - Courtney Ryley Cooper - Kansas City, MO - d. 9-29-1940
writer: "The Gibson Family"
10-31-1887 - Chiange Kai-Shek - Hsikow, Chekiang, China - d. 4-5-1975
world leader: "Free World Theatre"
10-31-1896 - Ethel Waters - Chester, PA - d. 9-1-1977
blues singer: "American Revue"; "Command Performance"; "Jubilee"
10-31-1900 - Neal Bliss Enslen - Delphos, OH - d. 5-23-1938
opera singer, announcer: "The Baldwin Concert"; "The Slumber Hour"
10-31-1901 - Eric Hatch - d. 7-4-1973
commentator: "Cresta Blanca Carnival of Music"
10-31-1905 - Dewey Cole - d. 3-23-1991
sound effects: "The Lone Ranger"; "Challenge of the Yukon"
10-31-1909 - Thelma Boardman - Panama Canal Zone - d. 4-21-1978
actor: Minnie Mouse "Mickey Mouse Theatre of the Air"
10-31-1912 - Dale Evans - Uvalde, TX - d. 2-7-2001
actor, singer: (Queen of the Cowgirls) "Charlie McCarthy Show"; "Roy
Rogers Show"
10-31-1915 - Chris Griffin - d. 6-18-2005
trumpet: (Benny Goodman's Orchestra) "Camel Caravan"
10-31-1916 - James Broom-Lynne - London, England - d. 12-1-1995
writer: "Charlie and Duke"; "Return Visit"
10-31-1917 - Don Hughes - d. 5-2-1990
juvenile actor: Rollo "Daddy and Rollo"; "Helen and Mary"
10-31-1922 - Barbara Bel Geddes - NYC - d. 8-8-2005
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Ford Theatre"; "[removed] Steel Hour";
"Cavalcade of America"
10-31-1922 - Illinois Jacquet - Broussard, LA - d. 7-23-2004
jazz saxophonist: "One Night Stand"; "Command Performance"; "Jubilee"
10-31-1926 - Shirley Dinsdale - San Francisco, CA - d. 5-9-1999
ventriloquist: Judy Splinters "Judy in Wonderland, The Eddie Cantor
Show"
10-31-1928 - Cleo Moore - Baton Rouge, LA - d. 10-25-1973
actor: "Bud's Bandwagon"
10-31-1931 - Dan Rather - Wharton, TX
newscaster: Houston Radio
10-31-1942 - David Ogden Stiers - Peoria, IL
actor: "Empire of the Air"

October 31st deaths

02-02-1895 - George Halas - Chicago, IL - d. 10-31-1983
football coach: "Tops in Sports"
03-05-1894 - Henry Daniell - London, England - d. 10-31-1963
actor: "Theatre Guild of the Air"
03-06-1918 - Roger Price - Charleston, WV - d. 10-31-1990
writer, actor: "The Comedy Writers Show"
05-25-1908 - Linda Watkins - Boston, MA - d. 10-31-1976
actor: Dot "Amanda of Honeymoon Hill"; "Big Guy"; "Fat Man"
06-21-1907 - Charles 'Bud' Dant - Washington, IN - d. 10-31-1999
music: "A Day in the Life of Dennis Day"; "Glamour Manor"
06-21-1921 - Joan Tetzel - NYC - d. 10-31-1977
actor: Sylvia Field "When a Girl Marries"; Jane Brown "The Goldbergs"
06-24-1915 - Jack Sterling - Baltimore, MD - d. 10-31-1991
announcer/emcee: "Make Up Your Mind"
07-16-1882 - Charles Egelston - Covington, KY - d. 10-31-1958
actor: Shuffle Shober "Ma Perkins"; Humphrey Fuller "Just Plain Bill"
07-27-1913 - Liam Redmond - Limerick, Ireland - d. 10-31-1989
actor: "Great Plays"
08-02-1915 - Johnny Long - Newell, NC - d. 10-31-1972
bandleader: "The Teen-Timers Show"; "Judy, Joe, and Johnny"
08-13-1913 - Rita Johnson - Worcester, MA - d. 10-31-1965
actor: Martha Curtis "John's Other Wife"; Joyce Jordan "Joyce Jordan,
[removed]"
08-14-1889 - Robert Woolsey - Oakland, CA - d. 10-31-1938
actor: "Hollywood Hotel"
08-19-1915 - Ring Lardner, Jr. - Chicago, IL - d. 10-31-2000
screenwriter: (Member of the Hollywood Ten) "Lux Radio Theatre"
09-22-1902 - John Houseman - Bucharest, Romania - d. 10-31-1988
writer, producer: "Mercury Theatre on the Air"; "Campbell Playhouse"
09-24-1916 - Johnny Catron - Boston, MA - d. 10-31-1998
bandleader: "The Union Oil Company Show"
10-02-1902 - Percy Crawford - Minnedosa, Canada - d. 10-31-1960
evangelist: "Young People's Church of the Air"
10-18-1906 - Adele Ronson - NYC - d. 10-31-2000
actor: Wilma Deering "Buck Rogers"; Sally Gibson "Gibson Family"
10-23-1943 - Roger Scott - London, England - d. 10-31-1989
disc jockey: "Three O'Clock Thrill"; "Hitline"
10-26-1907 - Tony Pastor - Middletown, CT - d. 10-31-1969
bandleader: "Tony Pastor and His Orchestra"
11-18-1912 - Arthur Peterson - Mandan, ND - d. 10-31-1996
actor: Reverend John Rutledge "The Guiding Light"; "World's Great
Novels"
12-06-1916 - Elmore Balthis - d. 10-31-1989
newscaster: KCOK Tulare, California
12-09-1906 - Ken Niles - Livingston, MT - d. 10-31-1988
announcer: "Hollywood Hotel"; "Rudy Vallee Show"; "A Date with Judy"
12-28-1915 - Dick Joy - Putnam, CT - d. 10-31-1991
announcer: "My Secret Ambition"; "The Saint"; "Advs of Sam Spade"
xx-xx-1880 - Merle Thorpe - Brimfield, IL - d. 10-31-1955
businessman: "How's Business"; "The New Business World"
xx-xx-1897 - Julie Hoyt - d. 10-31-1955
actor: Conducted a fashion program for NBC
xx-xx-1914 - Arthur Gary - NYC - d. 10-31-2005
announcer: "The Amazing Mr. Malone"; "The Colgate Sports Newsreel"
xx-xx-xxxx - Merna Barry - NYC - d. 10-31-1976
singer: (Barry Sisters) "Yiddish Swing"; "Molly Picon's Parade"

Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:43:38 -0400
From: Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Ireene Wicker, The Singing Lady

Exerpt from the article at
[removed]

Ireene Wicker Hammer, who as ''The Singing Lady'' told fairy tales over radio and television to
millions of American children, died yesterday in a nursing home in West Palm Beach, Fla. She was 86
years old.

She had been on the air with few interruptions from 1931 to 1975, and the programs led to books and
records for children. Her 30 awards included a Peabody and an Emmy. On her radio show, heard in the
early evening for decades, she told stories in which she acted each part - ranging from princesses
and wicked stepmothers to dragons - with a piano accompaniment. For this she was known as the ''Lady
With a Thousand Voices.''

In the late 1930's and early 40's, national polls of radio editors consistently placed her programs
first in juvenile entertainment. More than 25 million children listened to her regularly.

She was born Irene Seaton in Quincy, Ill., in 1900 and educated at public schools there. She
graduated from the University of Illinois, where she studied music and drama. She then studied at the
Goodman School of the Theater in Chicago and appeared in professional roles at the Goodman Theater in
1929 and 1930. Letter Added for Luck

Early in her radio career, she changed the spelling of her first name to Ireene with three ''e's''
when she was told by a numerologist that one more letter would bring her great success.

*****************************************************

I've been scanning and archiving old radio magazines from the 1930s, and have noticed several
articles and photos about Ireene Wicker.

Are any of you familiar with her program, and do you know if any of her shows have survived in
recorded form?

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

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:46:31 -0400
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Finally, some FOTR pics are posted

Folks;

   Finally got some pics from this year's FOTR convention posted to the blog,
and of course I started at the end, not the beginning, with photos from
Saturday Night's The Jack Benny Program re-creation. Also, thanks to Jay
Hickerson, posted a short video clip from the performance.

   More pics to follow once the ghosts and goblins who will be invading my
home this evening are properly repelled by dropping candy into their [removed]

<a href="[removed]">[removed]</a>

         Charlie

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

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 02:12:01 -0400
From: charlie@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!

A weekly [removed]

For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
Network, the channel name is #OldRadio.  We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
over nine years, same time, same channel! Started by Lois Culver, widow
of actor Howard Culver, this is the place to be on Thursday night for
real-time OTR talk!

Our "regulars" include OTR actors, soundmen, collectors, listeners, and
others interested in enjoying OTR from points all over the world. Discussions
range from favorite shows to almost anything else under the sun (sometimes
it's hard for us to stay on-topic)...but even if it isn't always focused,
it's always a good time!

For more info, contact charlie@[removed]. We hope to see you there, this
week and every week!

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

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:55:23 -0400
From: Brent Pellegrini <brentpl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Help
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

There is a radio program about a man in a hospital.
He can't talk, has no arms or legs.  I think he was
injured in the war.  The program is his thoughts.

This sounds like Dalton Trumbo's book Johnny Got His Gun.
  I think Columbia Workshop or Arch Oboler may have done it on radio

Brent Pellegrini
Private Investigator
Local and International phone: 206-905-1046

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

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:57:05 -0400
From: Michael Berger <makiju@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  cassette to Mp3 conversion

I've been converting cassettes to Mp3 files by just
using the 'earphone' [line out] jack on my portable
cassette player and plugging it into my PC, after
installing a software program called Polderbits, which
costs $[removed] and can be downloaded from its website.

Here's a link to the site with full information:

[removed]

Michael Berger

[ADMINISTRIVIA: Audacity is excellent sound editing software, and it's
open-source and free: [removed]  --cfs3]

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

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:57:20 -0400
From: "Gordon Robson" <g-robson@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Johnny Got His Gun

In regards to Anne's question about a radio program concerning a soldier in
a hospital, who can't talk, has no arms or legs:

I believe this is an episode of Arch Obeler's Plays, called "Johnny Got His
Gun", broadcast on March 9, 1940, in which:

James Cagney portrays a soldier who loses his arms, legs, and comes home a
deaf mute.  He spends the years, lying on his bed, devising some way to
communicate with his care-givers.

An excellent program!

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

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:39:12 -0400
From: Harlan Zinck <radiovoice@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  James Cagney & Don Wilson

Anne wrote:

There is a radio program about a man in a hospital. He can't talk, has no
arms or legs. I think he was injured in the war.  The program is his
thoughts. I believe everyone thinks he's in a coma. Does this sound familiar
to anyone  I'm trying to locate this show for my son.

You're thinking of "Johnny Got His Gun," based on Dalton Trumbo's stunning
anti-war novel and starring James Cagney. It was aired over NBC on "Arch
Oboler's Plays" on March 9, 1940, adapted by Oboler himself. I'm sure it's
available from any number of the dealers who post to this list.

In reference to Jim Hilliker's question about Don Wilson, sports announcer
(and Randy Larson's reply), there are recordings extant of Wilson announcing
part of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games over KECA. I've never heard them
myself and I don't know of a current source for them, but some of them were
offered by producer George Garabedian in a two-LP set issued sometime in the
early 1970s. I believe it's now a collector's item; the last time I saw a set
up for sale, it went for something like $[removed]$[removed]

Harlan Zinck
First Generation Radio Archives
[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:40:06 -0400
From: "Holm, Chris " <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Johnny Got His Gun

In #308, Anne wrote:

There is a radio program about a man in a hospital.
He can't talk, has no arms or legs.  I think he
was injured in the war.  The program is his
thoughts.  I believe everyone thinks he's in a
coma.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?  I'm
trying to locate this show for my son.

Others have probably already answered this, but this is most likely a
radio adaptation of Dalton Trumbo's famous novel "Johnny Got His Gun,"
in which a WWI soldier is severely injured, losing all his limbs, face,
ears, eyes, etc.  He is kept alive for years, and eventually tries to
communicate using his head to tap out Morse code, asking to be allowed
to die.

It's been adapted in many forms, including movies and radio.  What
you're thinking of is probably a version done by Arch Obler's Plays.  I
haven't heard it myself, so I can't say how closely it follows the book
and its strong anti-war message.

A quick and dirty search says this show was done in 1940, and starred
James Cagney.

This novel was also done as a movie in the 1970s, and is the inspiration
for the song "One" by Metallica (a quite good song, in my opinion).

Hope that helps.
-chris holm

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

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:40:56 -0400
From: seandd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  More "War of the Worlds" Coverage

Technology news website CNET covers the Mercury Theater's War of the World's
hysteria today.

[removed]

The reporter refers to the show as a "Halloween Special."  I thought it was a
regularly scheduled broadcast.

Most of the article is speculation on whether such a thing could happen
again, arguing mostly in the negative.  I'd counter argue that a nation of
people who are falling for Nigerian dictator get rich quick e-mails shouldn't
be lording it all over their 1938 counterparts.

On the other hand, I also remember Cliff Carpenter mentioning at a panel at
an OTR convention that when he got into the army he had to explain to his
fellow soldiers that the voices they heard on the radio were actors, not
actual people narrating their lives.  At that time, broadcasting was so new I
guess people didn't know what to make of it.

Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:21:28 -0400
From: Rentingnow@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Man in hospital

In a message dated 10/30/2007 6:18:51 [removed] Eastern Daylight Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:

There is a radio program  about a man in a hospital.
He can't talk, has no arms or legs.

I realize the situation in the radio program should not be considered  funny
but it reminded me of an experience I had as a nursing student.

I  was at clinical in Horton Hospital in Middletown NY in 1972.  My
assignment  was a man who had broken both of his legs and one of his arms in
a auto crash. He said that if he broke his other arm he would kill  himself.
My thought
was:

How?

Larry Moore

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

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:57:07 -0400
From: Michael Hayde <mikeh0714@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Dragnet "The Big Thanksgiving"

Trina asked if there was a radio version of "The Big
Thanksgiving."  There is: it's called "The Big Net",
and it aired on April 20, 1954.  I haven't heard this
episode in awhile, and cannot recall if it takes place
during Thanksgiving as the TV version does.

The only mention of the holiday in the TV episode is
when, due to a stakeout, Joe and Frank have their
Thanksgiving dinner in a cheap neighborhood diner.

Michael

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

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:57:18 -0400
From: Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Help

There is a radio program about a man in a hospital.

Sounds somewhat like Dennis Potter's "The Singing Detective," which
would be new-time radio.

Jordan Young

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

Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:59:09 -0400
From: Michael Ogden <michaelo67@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  RE: Johnny Got His Gun

There is a radio program about a man in a hospital. He can't talk, has no
arms or arms or legs. I think he was injured in the war. The program is his
[removed];

There will probably be several replies to this question, as it
references one of the most famous (and controversial) anti-war stories ever
written. It's Dalton Trumbo's 1939 novel JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN, and the radio
version was done by Arch Oboler on his program ARCH OBOLER'S PLAYS on March 9,
1940, with James Cagney in a tour-de-force performance as the maimed soldier.
There's a brief but informative write-up at Wikipedia and also a link to
listen to the radio show.

Mike Ogden

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #309
*********************************************

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