Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #5
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 1/5/2003 7:31 AM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2003 : Issue 5
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Harry nile                            [ ericandsusie@[removed] ]
  Meredith Willson                      [ "Jeffrey E. Chase" <retired98g@attb ]
  Cleveland Sportscaster                [ "Jerry Williams" <mrj@[removed]; ]
  Gunsmoke TV episodes                  [ "Joel Thoreson" <misterjoel@amerite ]
  Perry Mason                           [ "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed] ]
  Re: Name the Movie                    [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
  PROGRAM RIGHT AFTER JEAN SHEPHERD'S   [ wilditralian@[removed] ]
  MP3                                   [ Kurt E Yount <blsmass@[removed]; ]
  As brilliant A Dialogue as that of H  [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
  Re: The Witching Hour                 [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
  "Somebody Knows" - Help- "Black Dahl  [ "Mark Goodrich/Jim Petri"<tootieche ]
  Off-color language re. OTR            [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
  WORDS AT WAR: Possible OTR interview  [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
  Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
  The Witching Hour                     [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Cinnamon bears                        [ Tony Baechler <tony@[removed]; ]
  Fu Manchu                             [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Max Schmid's Inquiry                  [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
  Re: Fu Manchu                         [ zbob@[removed] ]
  Murder at Midnight                    [ Grbmd@[removed] ]
  Computer Assistance for the Blind     [ ArtsMilitaria@[removed] (Arthur Fun ]
  SPERDVAC meeting                      [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
  On All The Time?                      [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 08:58:00 -0500
From: ericandsusie@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Harry nile

Hi all,
The mention of Imagination Theatre prompted me to send an "Atta-boy" to
Jim French if he is reading this list. Harry Nile is the only "New OTR"
I've heard that didn't sound fake to me. It also sounds original. Not a
copy of OTR, but a tribute.
Keep up the good work,
Eric Hardy

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 09:01:11 -0500
From: "Jeffrey E. Chase" <retired98g@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Meredith Willson

Civic pride makes me jump in here - I'm from Mason City, IA (aka River
City) and so grew up very aware of "The Music Man" and "The Unsinkable
Molly Brown". However, it wasn't until I began collecting OTR that I
realized just how busy Mr. Willson was before "The Music Man." I especially
enjoy hearing him refer to Mason City on recordings of "Command Performance".

He also wrote Mason City High School's fight song, which is probably of
little interest to anyone here, but certainly has been performed a good
many times in public. Should any listers ever travel to Mason City, stop
and see Music Man Square and Meredith Willson's boyhood home and museum.

Jeff

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 09:01:46 -0500
From: "Jerry Williams" <mrj@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Cleveland Sportscaster
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Greetings and Happy New Year to all
 Would like to find some information on a sportscaster who work out of
Cleveland in the middle to late 20s. His name was Matt Winkle, maybe what
radio stations were operating during this period or sports that were broadcast
from there around this time period.
Thanks in advance
     Jerry Williams

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 09:02:26 -0500
From: "Joel Thoreson" <misterjoel@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Gunsmoke TV episodes
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
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To answer Derek's question about the Gunsmoke episode shown New Year's Day on
TVLand, the "first" episode shown by TVLand was actually the first from the
syndication package that they have: Episode 409 "Snap Decision." TVLand has
the package of hour-long color episodes, covering seasons 12-20. TVLand labels
these seasons as 6-14 on their web site episode guide, as they do not count
the half hour episodes, now known in syndicationland as "Marshal Dillon."

Incidentally, the black & white hour-long episodes, covering seasons 7-11 can
be seen weekdays on the Encore Westerns channel, while the half-hour episodes
(listed as "Marshall Dillon") can be seen twice on Saturday on the Hallmark
Channel, following back-to-back episodes of Have Gun Will Travel.

Joel Thoreson

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 09:02:49 -0500
From: "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Perry Mason

  Have never heard the OTR version of Perry Mason. Would like to know the
opinions of Perry Mason by those who have heard it.
Andrew Godfrey

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 08:58:21 -0500
From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Name the Movie

I know with all the knowledge that exists with this group, someone will
have an answer. I've got a movie trailer that doesn't have a title. The
movie stars Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. They play doctors. It must
have come out right after "Going My Way", because that movie is mentioned
in the trailer.

Something like - together again like in Going My Way. The very last scene
of the trailer has Bing singing Make Mine Country Style and I'm wondering
if that is the name of the movie. I can write down more cast members if it
would be more helpful.

Fred
[removed]

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 09:05:11 -0500
From: wilditralian@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  PROGRAM RIGHT AFTER JEAN SHEPHERD'S

04 JAN 02

	The help I can give is minimal.  All I can do is to tell you that there
was a Milton Cross on radio who was the announcer for the weekly Texaco
Metropolitan Opera broadcasts.  He was on for many years until his death,
which I would place somewhere around 1980 - slightly hoarse-sounding
voice with a very dignified demeanor to it.

Best regards,

Jim Arva

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 08:59:03 -0500
From: Kurt E Yount <blsmass@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  MP3

Have you talked to
Richard Mann, Editor
The Listening Room
[removed]
He does a large amount of this kind of thing for very good prices.  I
hope I am not bothering you and I hope this helps.  You are doing a great
thing.
Kurt

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 09:09:11 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  As brilliant A Dialogue as that of Harpo Marx

I know this is mostly off-topic, but it's short.   A couple of years ago,
we were discussing the idea that one could get a feeling for OTR by just
listening to telecast movie film soundtracks, without looking at the
screen.  I pointed out a few films where that definitely wouldn't work.
In that discussion, there was mention of a film, released in the 1950s.
It was a spy thriller in which not one word of spoken dialogue was given.
 I saw that film in the theater, but the title eludes me.  Can anybody
recall it?  (Contact me at skallisjr@[removed] )

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 09:04:58 -0500
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: The Witching Hour

Max Schmid <mschmid@[removed]; said:
 I'm sure that someone here will know what this poor soul is talking
 about:...The announcer would come on the air, and then say, "It's
 [removed] witching [removed]" and then would dramatize a chosen
 horror story ...

Among other openings over the years,_Lights Out_ for a while opened
with the following introduction: "Lights out, everybody!  This is the
witching hour, the hour when dogs howl and evil is let loose on a
sleeping world. Sit in the dark now, and listen [removed] _Lights Out_!"
I seem to recall, though, probably in the late 50's, a nearly
identical opening on some different program which I remember, after
some 50 years, as being actually titled _The Witching Hour_, or maybe
_The Haunting Hour_. Possibly it was a repackaged version of _Lights
Out_.

There was also a show called _Murder at Midnight_ which began with a
similar opening: "Midnight: the witching hour, when the night is
darkest, our fears the strongest, and our strength at its lowest ebb.
Midnight: when the graves gape open and Death strikes. How? You'll
learn the [removed]"

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 09:01:33 -0500
From: "Mark Goodrich/Jim Petri"<tootieches@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  "Somebody Knows" - Help- "Black Dahlia"
 episode

Hi, everyone.  I have enjoyed reading mail to this site for a long time, and
this marks the first time I have written!

I was wondering if anyone knows how I might be able to get a recording of the
Black Dahlia episode of "Somebody Knows".  This was a summer replacement for
SUSPENSE in 1950 and it was broadcast on CBS.  The only recording I have is
not complete.

This murder case interests me and, to this day, the murderer was never found.
Any help anyone could give me in locating this episode would be greatly
appreciated.  Thanks so much, Mark

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 09:08:14 -0500
From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Off-color language re. OTR

In my opinion, the word TELEVISION is not bad language in this forum, so we
can safely say stuff like "'Inner Sanctum' attempted to make the transition
from radio to television, where it failed".

Herb Harrison

[ADMINISTRIVIA: FWIW, that is the official position of the list, too. Anyone
who thinks television is incorrect language has never talked to the OTR
actors who worked in that medium when radio stopped requiring actors. There
may be bad TV, but there was lousy radio, too - ask Gary Yoggy.  --cfs3]

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 09:08:32 -0500
From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  WORDS AT WAR: Possible OTR interview in L A

Connie Martinson has contacted me and inquired whether I would be willing
to come to [removed] for an interview about my book, WORDS AT WAR. I would
appreciate hearing off-line from people familiar with her show. Her
website indicates that it is heard around the country. I would be
traveling from New York to do the interview.   I would appreciate
comments from people who who have seen the show

Thanks,

Howard Blue

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 10:54:32 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Today in radio history

>From Those Where The Days --

1928 - NBC debuted one of radio's first variety shows. The Dodge Victory
Hour starred Will Rogers, Paul Whiteman and his orchestra and singer Al
Jolson. The cost to produce this one show was $67,600.

1932 - NBC Red presented The Carnation Contented Hour. The show
continued on network radio for 19 years as a showcase for top singers
and musicians.

1935 - Bob Hope was first heard on network radio as part of The Intimate
Revue with Jane Froman, James Melton and the Al Goodman Orchestra.

  Joe

--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 10:56:21 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The Witching Hour

I am probably not going to be the first person to answer this, but regarding
Max's question (rather his friend's question) - the usual case scenario of
the mixed memories.

If it's not too much bother, I'd like you to give me any sort of clue you
might have about another show on NY radio [removed] my failing memory
serves, it came on right after Jean Shepherd's show.
      The announcer would come on the air, and then say, "It's
[removed] witching [removed]" and then would dramatize a chosen
horror story by the likes of Guy DeMaupassant, [removed] Lovecraft, or others.

The program he recalls is known as MURDER AT MIDNIGHT, directed by Tony
Leader.  It was basically a rehash or Inner Sanctum, murder tales with
supernatural notes.  In fact, one episode of the program varied from the
rest (I think it was either "Red Wheels" or "The Line is Dead") in which the
announcer opened the program, explaining that "tonight's tale would vary
from our usual murder tale with no supernatural elements," thus explaining
the adjenda (sp?) of the program.  Scripts were written by Max Ehrlich,
Sigmund Miller, Robert Newman, and many others.  For the most part, the
scripts were previously dramatized on other radio programs like HOUSE OF
MYSTERY, INNER SANCTUM, SUSPENSE, etc. Just a different cast, and
occassionally the title was changed, but the drama to those scripts remained
intact.  (Which is why some people get the notion that MURDER AT MIDNIGHT
was another "Inner Sanctum".)

That program never featured tales by Guy deMaupassant or Lovecraft.
(Lovecraft stories was barely ever done on radio and the only one that comes
to mind is "The Dunwich Horror" on SUSPENSE from November 1, 1945.)

MURDER AT MIDNIGHT was a transcribed program, thus all 50 episodes were
recorded and syndicated across the US.  Syndicated programs now suffer one
flaw - time has not stood still for these programs when it comes to
airdates.  Many collectors list different airdates for the same episode.
Thankfully, the actual title of the episodes are given in the opening of
each broadcast, thus collectors can make sure that they are not buying any
duplicate recordings.  The program was recorded in NY, so you'll hear all NY
stock radio actors playing leads and supporting roles, such as Ruth Yorke,
Lawson Zerbe, Berry Kroeger, Elspeth Eric, Frank Behrens, Santos Ortega,
Charlotte Holland, Betty Caine, Mercedes McCambridge, and so on.

I did some research on the program a couple years ago and dug up lots of
great trivia and info about the episodes, including broadcast dates that I
had hoped would straighten out all the mess.  I gave the broadcast episodes
and dates to Gordon Payton and as far as I know, he did update his catalog.
Anyone who wishes to check out his site, [removed]  (or if I am
mistaken the first time)  [removed], you can check out his
Godzilla-sized catalog of science-fiction/horror radio shows and look up
MURDER AT MIDNIGHT.  So anyone who has episodes of this show and has been
meaning to put accurate airdates and episode numbers to their programs can
do so - he lists the actual NY airdates, including a rerun series that aired
about a year later.  (Hopefully this will delete all those odd dates
floating about - since the program was recorded in NY, I thought it fitting
to give Gordon (and everyone else) the NY airdates which through all my
research, was the first time the program aired in the US, before being
broadcast elsewhere.

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 10:56:42 -0500
From: Tony Baechler <tony@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Cinnamon bears

Hello.  Sorry if this has been asked and I missed it.  I was looking
through various candy sites and came across something called cinnamon
bears.  Are these related to a radio series by the same name?  Is there any
connection at all?  If nothing else, they might be appropriate next
Christmas when everyone listens to this excellent series.

If you are interested in finding this candy, please look on google.  I was
looking at various sites so I do not recall where I found them.  As I
remember, they are supposed to be like gummy bears but with cinnamon.  They
must be popular since I think I read that they were temporarily out of
stock.  I just thought some of you might find that interesting.

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 11:53:34 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Fu Manchu

Mike Leannah asked:

Subject:  fu manchu

Hello Anybody--
    Through SPERDVAC,I recently ordered about 40 15-minute episodes of a
1939 show called The Shadow of Fu Manchu. John Dunning gave the show a
favorable review in his book and I sometimes take a stab at an unknown show
by his advice.
    I am fascinated by this [removed] wonder if anyone can tell me: Was this
show popular? Were there others in the series? How popular were the books of
Sax Rohmer, the author of the stories the show was based on? Were the shows
I'm listening to drawn directly from his books? Were movies made featuring
his characters?

Lots of information, Mike.  Two years ago I wrote an article for SCARLET
STREET about Fu Manchu on radio, documenting the many incarnations about the
program.  Terry Solomonson has reprinted the article on his web-site, for
any interested parties.
[removed].

Terry has been generous to offer archiving the magazine articles I have
written in the past, on his web-site.  It is still under construction, and
tons of other articles still have to be put up there (I've only been able to
give him a small fraction of what I've written for magazines so far) but Fu
Manchu is one of them.

If anyone reading the article feels a little deja vu and believes they read
this same article recently, they are not mistaken.  A small fanzine
documenting mystery programs on television, movies and radio (who I'll keep
nameless) reprinted my article a few months ago, word for word, with one
noticable change - someone else took credit as being the author of the
article.  Why they did this I will not know - it's downright silly since it
was published two years before in Scarlet Street [removed]  The editor of
that small fanzine, by the way, tracked down the person who submitted it to
him, and has appologized and said that his next issue will feature a
correction as to who really wrote the article.  I'm starting to feel a
little deja vu again . . . .

Hope readers enjoy the article on Terry's site!
Martin Grams, Jr.

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 12:55:06 -0500
From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Max Schmid's Inquiry

Hello All:

Max forwarded the following:

The announcer would come on the air, and then say, "It's
[removed] witching [removed]" and then would dramatize a chosen
horror story by the likes of Guy DeMaupassant, [removed] Lovecraft, or others.
I'd like to research that show on the web, but I'm stymied due to the
inability to actually remember the name of that show.

Could he be refering to DREADFUL JOHN AT MIDNIGHT? That was readings, not
dramitizations, though.  For more info go here:

[removed]

George

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 13:34:20 -0500
From: zbob@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Fu Manchu

In response to one of Mike Leannah's questions about Fu Manchu:  the movies.
There were ten Manchu films made, from 1929 to 1978. He also appeared in a
cameo role in a short -Paramount on Parade - Portrayers of the part varied
from Oland[3] thru Karloff[1], Lee[5], and finally Sellers[1].  There was a
short-lived tv series with Gordon in the mid-50's.       Bob

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 14:52:25 -0500
From: Grbmd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Murder at Midnight

In a message dated 1/3/03 11:03:46 PM Eastern Standard Time, Max passed along
this request:

The announcer would come on the air, and then say, "It's
 [removed] witching [removed]" and then would dramatize a chosen
 horror story by the likes of Guy DeMaupassant, [removed] Lovecraft, or others.

I used to listen to a program called "Murder at Midnight," which was somewhat
like the show Max's questioner cited.  They also talked about the witching
hour.

Spence

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 15:52:42 -0500
From: ArtsMilitaria@[removed] (Arthur Funk)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Computer Assistance for the Blind

Through an OTR dealer who subscribes to the Digest I have met a blind
OTR enthusiast in my city (Tampa) who needs help from a sighted person
to order from printed catalogs.  The man doesn't have a computer and
says he can't afford one on what he gets from Social Security.  There
must be some organization out there that  provides financial assistance
to help folks in his situation.  I know that there are several
subcribers to the list who are blind and thought perhaps one of you can
give me advice on how to proceed.  Please email me privately at
Art-Funk@[removed] unless you think such information would be of interest
to the group at large.  Thanks very much.

Regards to all,
Art Funk

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 22:48:21 -0500
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  SPERDVAC meeting

Bobb Lynes has just confirmed the guest for the upcoming SPERDVAC meeting.
He says:

"The guest speaker at the Saturday, January 11 SPERDVAC meeting will be
Oliver Berliner, grandson of the inventor of the [removed] Berliner.
The Gramaphone was the first machine to play flat disc records and its
success led to the formation of Victor Records, then to RCA & RCA Victor
Records. This recording process led to transcribing radio shows, which makes
it possible for us to hear and enjoy the great shows from radio's golden
years. Oliver Berliner, lecturer & long-time record producer will tell the
true story of the early years of the recording industry and hope to set the
"record straight" (pun intended!)."

The meeting begins at noon and is free and open to the public at the
Mid-Valley Branch Library, 16244 Nordhoff St., North Hills (just west of the
405 Freeway) in the San Fernando Valley.

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

Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 23:32:32 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  On All The Time?

Andrew Godfrey, discussing long-running radio shows, notes,

Very good point about the Metropolitan Opera being seasonal while
Breakfast Club and Grand Ole Opry were made for radio.

But there were plenty of seasonal radio shows.  All the Children's Hour
shows, for instance, were seasonal, running from Fall to Spring.  I don't
think "seasonality" should affect the longest-running status of various
shows.

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #5
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