Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #381
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 12/12/2005 6:33 AM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2005 : Issue 381
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Re: The History of Radio CDs          [ Fred Berney <fsberney@[removed]; ]
      Myron "Mike" Wallace                  [ "[removed]" <asajb2000@ ]
      re: Mike Wallace and Groucho Marx     [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
      Future of Radio                       [ "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed] ]
      Billie the Brownie                    [ "Mark E. Higgins" <paul_frees_fan@a ]
      Those Mad Masters                     [ Andrew Steinberg <otrdig1@[removed] ]
      video vs. audio                       [ "karl tiedemann" <karltiedemann@hot ]
      More On That Book                     [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@j ]
      Marla welcomes visitors               [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
      Mike Wallace                          [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
      Mae West on radio                     [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
      Re: Mike Wallace and Groucho Marx     [ Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed]; ]
      Spike Jones birthday special          [ Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 12:06:14 -0500
    From: Fred Berney <fsberney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: The History of Radio CDs

    A number of people who are on this digest have written books and
    posted messages mentioning them. So, I think I can mention a project
    that I did a number of years ago.

    Back in 1976, I released a 4 cassette set of tapes which I called the
    History of Radio. The idea started about a years earlier when the
    country was talking about the upcoming bicentennial. I noticed that
    not only was 1976 the 200th anniversary of the country, but that it
    was also the 50th anniversary of radio, if you use the 1926 date that
    KDKA started broadcasting.

    So, I came up with the idea of producing something for both the
    centennial and the 50 anniversary of radio. I started by taking
    excerpt from all the radio shows I had in my collection. I also had
    about 5 or 6 radio program reference books. Back then there were not
    as many books on radio as there are today. Using these books, my
    memory of the programs, and the actual tapes of the shows, I wrote a script.

    The idea was to categorize the programs into their different
    categories. The comedies, the dramas, science fiction, detective,
    children's shows, and so on. My first audio cut ended up being about
    20 hours in length. When I started the project, I had not idea how
    long the tape was going to be, but I was probably thinking 90 minutes.

    However, after compiling all of the excerpts, I released that this
    was going to be a lot longer that 90 minutes. I always hated
    listening to projects that did short excerpts that were so short that
    you didn't really get to understand what the show was all about. So
    my plan was to use nice long selections of each show to really get a
    feel for it. In many cases, I would select the beginning of the
    program, then cut to the start of the thyme of the program and do
    some more cuts to give the listener an idea of what the show was
    about. For example I took a scene from a Lum and Abner show where Lum
    wants to buy a Valentine. Learns the price of the card is more than
    he wants to spend and then decides to make one himself. I jumped
    ahead in time and used some more selections where he is in process of
    making the card and included the part where everything goes wrong. It
    probably runs about 2 minutes, and in that time you get a good
    understanding of the characters and the show.

    I did the same with all of the other shows. I ended up using 150
    different programs. Then I did a second cut trying to get the 20
    hours down in time. I also found that in searching my tapes, I had
    shows that had interviews with some of the cast of the different
    programs. So, I made part of those interviews a part of the project.
    If the person being interviewed talking about a particular show or
    subject, I tired to find that show or subject and cut it into the interview.

    This  project took me about 6 months to complete. It ended up running
    5 hours. On cassette it is on two C-90 cassettes and two C-60
    cassettes. I later transferred it from my reel to reel master to CD.
    In the CD format it is on 4 CDs.

    When I got the project finished I had no idea how to market it.
    Locally, I had it in some drug stores and record stores. Then I
    thought of contacting a company that dealt with books, records, and
    tapes. I think it was called Publisher's Clearing Service, or some
    name like that. Anyway, I sent them a sample and they made me an
    offer. However, their offer was less that $[removed] for the entire set.
    At the time, with the current cost of cassettes, labels, and vinyl
    case, my cost was very close to that figure. So without thinking it
    through, I turned them down.

    Years later, I realized that if I had made even $[removed] per set, they
    may have purchased 1000s of sets and it would have been a good thing
    to do, but I was young and missed out on what may have been a good offer.

    So, over the years, I've taken this set to conventions and placed it
    on our web site. I don't think people really understand what it is
    when they see it. Most people probably just think it is short clips
    of radio shows, but it is much more than that. There is much more
    narration in it than the set of records they were put out with Jack
    Benny narrating. Also a lot more selections than that set has.

    You could almost say it could compare to a reference book with sound.
    A lot of time and research went into the tapes and with all modesty,
    it is a project that I'm very proud of.

    I mention it here because I think it might be something that many of
    you have not heard of or not understood what it is.

    Our web site has it listed for $[removed] in CD format and $[removed] in
    cassette format. But for readers of this list, I'm reducing the price
    to $[removed] for the CD format and $[removed] for the audio cassette format.
    Shipping is $[removed] We ship via Priority Mail not the slower and
    cheaper media mail.

    This makes an excellent gift to someone who would like to know more
    about OTR and for those of us who lived through those years, it is a
    nostalgic trip down memory lane.

    I'm going to ask my web master to change the price on the web site to
    reflect these prices, but if you want to order it before the prices
    are changed, please email me directly or call me at 800-747-0856.

    Fred
    Check us out for old time radio & TV shows & Movie Serials
    [removed]

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

    Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 13:57:36 -0500
    From: "[removed]" <asajb2000@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Myron "Mike" Wallace

    Yes, indeed.  Mike Wallace is none other than Myron
    Wallace.  Listen to any Curtain Time and you'll hear
    the same one, referred to as Myron.  That was his
    humble beginning in show business.

    Andy

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

    Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 15:06:41 -0500
    From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  re: Mike Wallace and Groucho Marx

    Michael Berger inquired about Mike Wallace reading commercials on the
    West Coast. I'm talking through my hat here -- [removed], not speaking
    authoritatively -- but it's possible he did those ads from the East
    Coast, even though the show the ads appear on originated in California.
    This seems to happen all the time in OTR. For example, Kenny Delmar did
    Lucky Strike ads for the Jack Benny program, at the same time he was
    working for Fred Allen in NYC. In at least one Fred Allen episode,
    Kenny talks about doing these ads, so it's not simply somebody who
    sounds like Kenny. Perhaps the same thing happened with Mike Wallace?

    Kermyt

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

    Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 18:59:35 -0500
    From: "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Future of Radio

                                                              Future of Radio
       With the advent of satellite radio and MP3 players and the proliferation
    of commercials on radio today there may be dark days ahead much like what
    has been already shown by the demise of newspapers. The main selling point
    of satellite radio is that you are not subjected to endless commercials. MP3
    players make it possible to hear only the songs you want to hear and not
    subject to a station's choices of what songs to play.
       I am personally a big fan of ESPN radio but the lengthy commercial breaks
    tend to make you forget what they were talking about before the break.
       Another selling point for MP3 players is that with a FM transmitter you
    can listen to songs or old time radio shows through a blank spot on the FM
    dial for those people that don't like to listen through headphones.
       Personally, I can't see paying $[removed] a month to listen to radio but
    understand those that don't mind paying to hear commercial free radio.
    Eventually you may not be able to hear a major league baseball game or
    professional football game without paying to hear it. Having not heard these
    games on satellite radios I don't know what they do to fill in time between
    innings and when timeouts are called. If I were to subscribe it would be old
    time radio shows and baseball games.
       As prices of satellite radios drop listeners will be switching in droves
    to this new medium. High prices slowed down the early growth of satellite
    radio but with prices more reasonable now subscribers should sign up at a
    much higher pace.
       With podcasts available online MP3 players will become even more popular
    and podcasts are another serious threat to the livelihood of radio stations.
    Radio stations may have to go to podcasts themselves to keep from being left
    out of the mainstream.
       Radio station general managers have to be concerned about the situation
    today as more competition challenges them to come up with new ways to keep
    the interest in broadcast radio.      Some stations have even cut back on
    commercials or arranged them in a different way so that listeners are not
    subjected to 5 minute blocks of commercials.
       Satellite radio and MP3 players are two of the biggest new developments
    in electronics and are on the brink of becoming more popular especially
    since each Christmas that passes will find thousands and maybe millions more
    embracing these new technologies since they are high on Christmas wish
    lists.
        Radio as we have known it since the 20's may not go away but it
    definitely will have to adjust to a changing marketplace.

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

    Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 19:00:26 -0500
    From: "Mark E. Higgins" <paul_frees_fan@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Billie the Brownie

         It's Christmas time, and I'm happy to announce that Billie the
    Brownie will once again be returning to the radio, in a live recreation
    of an actual script which was originally performed on WTMJ radio,
    Milwaukee on November 14, 1949.  This is a special anniversary year for
    Billie, as it was 50 years ago, on December 24, 1955, that the last
    Billie the Brownie broadcast was heard in Milwaukee.  Billie had a long
    history with the Milwaukee Christmas parade, and Schusters Department
    Store, first coming to radio on November 8, 1931, and continuing to
    broadcast every Christmas season until Christmas Eve, 1955.  During all
    those years, the scripts were written and performed by Larry Teich,
    along with eight different Billies, and seven Santas during its run.
        Last year four member of the Milwaukee Area Radio Enthusiasts
    ([removed]) got together to perform a Billie script from 1932.  The
    driving force in this recreation was Ralph Luedtke, a Billie the Brownie
    Historian and expert.  Ralph took the part of Larry, with Carol
    Boettcher as Billie, Ron Sayles (yes, the same Ron who does the births
    and deaths lists for this Digest) as the announcer, and yours truly as
    Santa.  We performed the show for our November MARE club meeting, and
    then we were fortunate enough to be able to do the script live on Ron
    Krause's radio program on WTKM, Hartford,WI on Christmas Eve of last
    year.  Last year's broadcast went national, thanks to the internet and
    this digest, with Ron Krause getting a call during the call-in part of
    the show from a listener in the State of Washington, who was a Wisconsin
    native, and remembered Billie from his childhood.  It was amazing, the
    number of listener calls that were received, from people who fondly
    remember Billie, Me-Tik the Eskimo, Bonzo, Willie Wagtail, Fairy Queen,
    WhiteCoat the polar bear, and all the other characters that were brought
    to life over the years.
        This year we have already done live performances of a Billie the
    Brownie script for the Washington County Historical Society' Christmas
    Open House, where the theme for this year was "A Brownie Christmas".  We
    will be performing a live broadcast of the 1949 script twice this year,
    first next Sunday, December 18, at 9 [removed] (Central Time), on WOKY radio,
    (AM 920) on David Doyle's "Growing Older: A New Perspective" program
    ([removed]).  Then, on Friday, December 23, at 10 [removed] (Central
    Time), we will once again be guests on Ron Krause's program, on WTKM
    radio, (AM 1540, FM [removed]) ([removed]).  Both shows will be streamed
    on the internet.  We have it on good authority that this year's audience
    will be international, as Ron has a friend in Japan, who told Ron that
    he will stay up until Midnight to hear next Sunday's WOKY broadcast.
        We hope that you will join us to relive a piece of Milwaukee's
    Christmas Past.  We have fun doing it, and hope that you'll have fun
    listening.
        Merry Christmas to all.

    Mark Higgins

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

    Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 19:00:54 -0500
    From: Andrew Steinberg <otrdig1@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Those Mad Masters
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    This San Francisco show was only on the air a short time. There is an episode
    of it circulating where Monte dreams he is a typing champion. It is
    circulating under 2 different dates. 46-03-19 and 49-03-19. Does anyone know
    which is right?

    Visit [removed] for OTR program title and date corrections

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

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

    Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 19:32:27 -0500
    From: "karl tiedemann" <karltiedemann@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  video vs. audio

    Mr. Bill Jaker wrote:

>     Wrestling and puppets were almost the only thing on television in those
>     days. Radio was still more entertaining.

    And for some of us-- thankfully-- still [removed]!

    Karl Tiedemann

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

    Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 20:16:31 -0500
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  More On That Book

    Jim Harmon writes,

>     In February, BearManor will release "It's That Time Again -- New
>     Stories of Old Time Radio -- Vol. 3" edited by me, Jim Harmon, with three
>     stories by me, one in collaboration with Jon D. Swartz, who also
>     contributes another story, and selections by Martin Grams Jr., Ted
>     Kneebone, Richard Lupoff, Barbara Gratz (Harmon), Dawn Kovner, and
>     others, some familiar to readers of these columns.

    For those who haven't visited the Bear Manor website, the forthcoming
    book takes a new twist.  In it, OTR characters who never got to get the
    chance during the OTR era will get to meet and interact with other
    characters.  What do you suppose Sherlock Holmes would do, confronting
    Raffles?  What would The Whistler say to The Mysterious Traveler?  How
    would Marshall Dillon work with Paladin?  And what would Johnny hoist at
    Duffy's Tavern?

    We'll know this February

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 23:14:38 -0500
    From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
    To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Marla welcomes visitors

    Marla's Slosberg's son, Lee, has advised me that she is making good
    progress at the Park Terrace Care Center. Her memory is improving and
    she is becoming aware of how and why she is in this rehabilitation
    facility. She is also regaining her recall of her past, including
    friends and family.

    Lee would encourage her OTR friends in the Manhattan area to visit her
    at the center, and for those of us in not in that vicinity, flowers and
    cards of good wishes can now be sent to her. All such contacts will
    assist her in her recovery.

    The center's web site <[removed]; sets forth the visiting
    hours, complete directions, etc. Visitors are requested to notify the
    center when they are coming, either by email or telephone. Their
    contact information is on the web site. One can use public
    transportation to the center by taking the E or F train to 71st. Ave.
    Exit (Forest Hills) and then hopping a Q Bus to 108th Street.

    Flowers and/or mail can be sent to Marla in care of the center. She's
    in Room 215-A and the center's address is 59-20 Van Doren Street, Rego
    Park, NY 11368.

    Lee again expressed his gratitude for the prayers and support of the
    OTR community.

    Jack French
    Editor: RADIO RECALL

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

    Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 23:15:00 -0500
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Mike Wallace

>     Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 23:34:23 -0500
>     From: Michael Berger <makiju@[removed];

>     Doubtless someone has mentioned this before, but I was stunned,
>     listening to a 1949 You Bet Your Life, sponsored by Elgin America,
>     to hear a commercial read by a man introduced by George Fenneman as
>     "Myron Wallace."  I thought, no, it couldn't be, but it was - the
>     voice unmistakeable, almost insisting that I should purchase a
>     vanity dresser set or cigarette case at my earliest opportunity.

    Yes, that was Mike Wallace.  The local newspapers here in Brookline, Massachusetts
    occasionally mention the fact that Myron Wallace was a 1935 graduate of Brookline High
    (more recent graduates have included former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein,
    Patriots owner Bob Kraft, Conan O'Brien, Alan Rachens, and Michael and Kitty Dukakis).
    Wallace apparently returns from time to time to visit his old home town.

    In the 1950s, before he went over to doing news interviews, he was the host of "The Big
    Surprise," one of the lesser-known big-money quiz shows.

    --
    A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
     15 Court Square, Suite 210                 Fax [removed]
    Boston, MA 02108-2503           	         [removed]

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

    Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 23:15:22 -0500
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Mae West on radio

>     Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 16:46:20 -0500
>     From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];

>     1937 - The Federal Communications Commission was a bit upset with
>     NBC. The FCC scolded the radio network for a skit that starred Mae
>     West. The satirical routine was based on the biblical tale of Adam
>     and Eve and, well, it got a bit out of hand. So, following its
>     scolding by the FCC, NBC banned Miss West from its airwaves for 15
>     years. Even the mere mention of her name on NBC was a no-no.

    Listening to the routine now, it's hard to tell just what was so objectionable.  And why they
    blamed Mae West.  Mae West was a well-known movie actress, and she always played
    essentially the same role. Whoever hired her to play Eve in that skit (with Don Ameche as
    Adam) had to have known what they were getting.  And it certainly wasn't Mae West who
    wrote the lines she delivered.

    It's hard to listen to the routine with the attitude of an era before I was born, but it seems to
    me that the one really objectionable part involved Don Ameche more than Mae West.  After
    they've been kicked out of the Garden of Eden, Don Ameche as Adam gets really fascinated
    at the sight of Eve, saying, "It's like I'm seeing you for the first time!"  Of course, he's seeing
    Eve naked, and that certainly was more of a sensitive topic than it is today.

    It seems to me that after the skit created an unexpected sensation, they were looking for a
    scapegoat, and of course they scapegoated the woman.

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

    Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 08:14:26 -0500
    From: Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Mike Wallace and Groucho Marx

    Mike Wallace was also heard as announcer on "The Spotlight Revue"
    and/or "The Spike Jones Show" (CBS, 1947-49) on an irregular basis.
    Bob Maxwell told me he was occasionally pressed into service as a sub
    when Wallace didn't show up, or showed up less than sober. Wallace
    did a shampoo commercial on Spike's 1951 TV debut on "Colgate Comedy
    Hour."

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

    Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 08:14:44 -0500
    From: Jordan Young <jyoung@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Spike Jones birthday special

    KTOO, an Alaskan NPR station, will broadcast a special program on
    Spike Jones' birthday 12/14. It will also be aired over the Net that
    day on [removed] at 4 pm PST. Jeff Brown of KTOO interviewed Spike
    Jones Jr., Dr. Demento and yours truly for the program.

    Jordan R. Young
    "Spike Jones Off the Record"

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #381
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