Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #279
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 8/25/2004 4:18 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2004 : Issue 279
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Fritz Kreisler                        [ "Clifton Martin" <MARTBART@peoplepc ]
      Mickey Rooney                         [ "John Eccles, Jr." <jeccles@earthli ]
      Re: Roma Wine                         [ "jazmaan@[removed]" <dmf273@ya ]
      8-25 Births/Deaths                    [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
      Judy Canova                           [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
      Inquiry on Postum                     [ StuartLubin@[removed] (Stuart Lubin ]
      George Aust                           [ Fred Berney <fsberney@[removed]; ]
      pregnancy on radio and TV             [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]
      "Real events on fictional shows"      [ <fc90030@[removed]; ]
      The Real Sam McGee                    [ "tas richardson" <tasrichardson@spr ]
      #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ charlie@[removed] ]
      Any more info about Bill Forman?      [ "Matthew Bullis" <matthewbullis@run ]
      Is Georgia Ellis still with us?       [ "Matthew Bullis" <matthewbullis@run ]
      A couple of thoughts on beer and bri  [ "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed] ]
      new OTR articles on the web           [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Re: Mickey Rooney                     [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      8-26 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 19:47:20 -0400
    From: "Clifton Martin" <MARTBART@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Fritz Kreisler

    I held off on the Fritz Kreisler thing, thinking there would be a ton of
    posts about that great, world famous violinist. That's why there was a
    question about him and Jack Benny.   He had nothing to do with Chryslers or
    Maxwells.  And he wasn't a football coach by that name, either.  The
    infectious melodies he composed make you ask,"What is the name of that tune
    that I've heard so many times?" It's probably "Love's Joy" or Love's
    sorrow."  Among other radio exposure, he appeared on the Bell Telephone Hour
    in 1940.

    Clif Martin

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

    Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 23:15:27 -0400
    From: "John Eccles, Jr." <jeccles@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Mickey Rooney

    I had a similar, possibly even more disconcerting, encounter with Mickey
    Rooney than Mr. Aust posted.  Rooney was appearing at a convention in my
    hometown to sign autographs.  Being a lifelong movie fan as well as an OTR
    fan I searched my collection to find items for him to sign.  As with these
    types of conventions Mr. Rooney was charging a fee for his signature, which
    I had absolutely no problem with as this has become SOP at most conventions.
    I located some Big Little Books from the 30s as well as several film
    reference books, still pictures of him with Judy Garland, and, of course, my
    copy of "Tune In Yesterday", as he starred in "The Hardy Family" radio
    series.  My mother and I anxiously approached Mr. Rooney.  We both stated
    what an honor it was to meet him and how we were lifelong fans.  He never
    acknowledged us nor even made eye contact.  He kept moving his head around,
    staring out to the side, anything to avoid acknowledging our presence.  His
    wife, Jan, desperately tried to cover for him but could not elicit a
    response from him either.  When I handed him an original Big Little Book
    from the late 30s with his picture on the cover he turned to his son before
    signing it and said,"I wonder who gets the money for this."  Wait, it gets
    better.  I handed Mr. Rooney several stills from my collection which he
    signed without comment.  I placed my stills on the table, packed my books,
    and started to leave, rather dejectedly.  I took a few steps away, and then
    realized my still pictures were on the table.  I turned around and took my
    stills back when Mr. Rooney finally decided to acknowledge my presence by
    standing and yelling,"Hey!  What are you doing there?"  He thought I was
    taking pictures from his table that belonged to him!  I should mention that
    his still pictures were under glass.  I did not even answer him, but turned
    to his wife, Jan, and said,"These are stills from my personal collection
    which I paid to have your husband sign."  I did not bother waiting for a
    response.  Quite a few people saw what Mr. Rooney did and he greatly
    embarrassed himself that day.  I am not happy that Mr. Aust had a similar
    "encounter" with Mr. Rooney, but at least now I know for certain it was not
    me and that I did not catch him on a bad day.  While I did not expect him to
    gush and tell me his life story, it could not have cost him too much to be
    polite.  While my respect for Mr. Rooney as an entertainer has never waned,
    it was very sad to see one of the legends of show business actually has feet
    of clay.

    John Eccles, Jr.

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

    Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 23:15:41 -0400
    From: "jazmaan@[removed]" <dmf273@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Roma Wine

    If you can't listen to Suspense while sipping Roma Wine, at least you can
    still listen to Inner
    Sanctum Mysteries while sipping Lipton Tea!

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

    Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 23:16:04 -0400
    From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  8-25 Births/Deaths

    Ron Sayles listed Ray Eberle's death on 8-25-79. He mispelled his name.
    Actually his brother Bob did change the spelling of his name to Eberly
    because many people would read it as Eb-earl. Ray chose to keep the
    original spelling  Eberle.

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

    Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 23:16:17 -0400
    From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Judy Canova

    I was listening to a Judy Canova show from 1-5-48 yesterday, and I was
    really amazed at what a talented lady she was/is. She was a very good
    singer as well as a comedienne.  I remember listening to the Canova show
    as a youngster and liking it alot, but I didn't pay much attention to
    her singing then. She sounds an awful lot like Dorothy Louden who came
    along later.
    I can't really remember seeing much discussion on this digest about her.
    Anybody else enjoy her talent and her show?

    George Aust

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

    Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 23:57:57 -0400
    From: StuartLubin@[removed] (Stuart Lubin)
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Inquiry on Postum

    Ahhhh! Not being a wine drinker, I would give anything to be able to sip
    a cup of Postum while enjoying an episode of Portia Faces Life!  And
    loving Sanka, a cup of that would be great during an episode of the
    Goldbergs. This could go on ad nauseam, so I wouldn't even think of
    mentioning "chocolatey" Ovaltine.

    Raymond B. Druian wonders whether the Postum commercials implied that
    their product was decaffeinated coffee.  I don't think so. Some of
    Digest's contributors have insulted the taste of the beverage, but I
    think it was delicious with milk and sugar, only if it was not rancid.
    If you kept the jar for a long time without refrigerating it, it became
    rancid and foul-tasting.

    The sponsors would refer to this villain with the evil sounding voice as
    "Mr. Coffee-Nerves". At the conclusion of the commercial, after everyone
    had given up coffee and drunk Postum, this horrible voice would say:
    "Foiled again, by Postum."

    Stuart Lubin

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

    Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 23:58:30 -0400
    From: Fred Berney <fsberney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  George Aust

    George,

    You posting about Mickey Rooney and Pat Boone brought to mind something
    that happened to me at NAB a number of years ago. I had brought my home
    video camera and was taking pictures of the different exhibits. Suddenly I
    saw someone that looked like Tiny Tim. I walked over to him and I think I
    took his picture. Anyway for some reason, he thought I must have been
    someone else, because he starts talking to me and then I remember someone
    asking us to pose for a group picture.

    This was about 7 or 8 years ago a it's all a little dim, but I'm thinking
    that somewhere, someone has a picture of Tiny Tim with me and they are
    probably wondering who the heck I am.

    I'll try and find that video and see it there is any audio on it that will
    help me remember what was going on at the time.

    Fred
    [removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 01:31:34 -0400
    From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  pregnancy on radio and TV
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    In a message dated 8/24/04 6:48:18 PM Central Daylight Time,
    [removed]@[removed] writes:

>     I always wondered why in
>     the world there are reports of such a hub-bub over
>     Lucy's TV pregnancy when radio characters had gestated
>     over the air for many years.

    It wasn't just because she was expecting.  It's because CBS didn't want to
    use the word "pregnant" on the air, they apparently thought it was offensive.
    I
    am curious as to whether any old time radio character was ever said to be
    "pregnant" as opposed to just "expecting."

    Dixon

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

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 01:32:15 -0400
    From: <fc90030@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  "Real events on fictional shows"

    Chris Chandler listed a couple of occaisions when, "real"
    happenings tied in with the plot lines of fictional shows resulting in
    emotional responses from the audience.
    I have two to add to his list.  On the April 26, 1944 broadcast of,
    "Casablanca," on Lady Esther's Screen Guild Playhouse the live
    studio audience included 200 members of, "The Free French," who
    were on the Allied side in WWII.
    When the cast which included original stars, Bogart, Bergman and
    Henreid reached the famous scene  where the band and patrons of
    Rick's Cafe Amercain drown out the song being sung by German
    troops with the stirring French National Anthem, "La Marsailles,"
    they stood and roared it out in grand style.
    On the June 6, 1944 broadcast of, "Fibber McGee and Molly," they
    celebrated D Day by throwing out the scheduled script and just had
    Billy Mills band and their singing quartette do patriotic songs as the
    world waited for news of whether or not the landings were
    successful.
    Any others come to mind?
    Frank Coopersmith

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 01:56:04 -0400
    From: "tas richardson" <tasrichardson@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  The Real Sam McGee

    I know this is not really connected to OTR but I felt I had to put my two
    cents worth in on the recent Sam McGee thread, and besides I haven't posted
    on the Digest for quite awhile.  I am a stone and brick mason (mostly
    retired now).  Years ago I built a fireplace for the daughter of the real
    Sam McGee.  He had been a prospector in the Yukon and a friend of Robert
    Service, who had asked him if he could use his name in a poem he was
    writing.  When "The Cremation of Sam McGee" came out he was not pleased.
    According to his daughter he got his revenge by taking the poet on a canoe
    ride down a certain river that had white water rapids and scared the hell
    out of Service.  Of course he was not cremated on the marge of Lake LeBarge
    but passed away at his daughter's farm in Alberta.  But he did live long
    enough to return to the Yukon and bought some of "his own ashes" that were
    being sold to tourists as souvenirs and which amused him greatly.
    Apparently he was quite a character in his own right.  He is buried in the
    Advent cemetery a few miles east of the little town of Beiseker.  And oh
    yes, he was born in Ontario and not Tennessee.

    I just realized I can bring in an OTR connection here.  I have an old
    recording called 'The Spell of the Yukon' in which [removed] Willis narrates a
    collection of Robert Service poems including "The Cremation of Sam McGee".
    Willis had a long history with Canadian radio including the program "Harbour
    Lights" from Halifax in which he read more Canadian poetry than any man
    living, but is best known for his on- the- site coverage of the Moose River
    Mine disaster in 1936 in which he broadcast for 58 hours with no writers, no
    prepared script - all alone, for five minutes every half-hour to a hook-up
    of 58 Canadian stations and 650 stations in the States on all three leading
    American networks, to an estimated audience of fifty million listeners.  And
    stayed with it until the last man was rescued.

    Tas in rainy but still rat-free Alberta.

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 02:12:00 -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 six 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, 25 Aug 2004 10:02:49 -0400
    From: "Matthew Bullis" <matthewbullis@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Any more info about Bill Forman?

    Hello, I can't find any info about Bill Forman. I'm told by [removed] that
    it's Forman and not Foreman as I originally spelled it. Did he do any more
    radio work besides the Whistler? My friend tells me he did the announcing
    for the Phil Harris and Alice Fay show, but anything other than that? Any
    movies besides the one listed on IMDB where he was a bank customer? Is he
    still living, and do we have any other biographical info?
    Thanks a lot.
    Matthew

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 10:03:10 -0400
    From: "Matthew Bullis" <matthewbullis@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Is Georgia Ellis still with us?

    Hello, I'm punching in people's names into the [removed] database, and can't
    find info on Georgia Ellis other than the last appearance of 1991 as an
    angel. Is she still around?
    Thanks a lot.
    Matthew

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 10:04:07 -0400
    From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  A couple of thoughts on beer and bridges

    In #278, David Phaneuf said:

>     ... but nothing would beat a Petri Wine, for listening to Rathbone & Bruce
>     in "The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"

    Well, I'll admit that some Petri and Holmes does sound good, but I think I would prefer Halls of Ivy and a couple of cans of Schlitz beer.

    Also in #278, Darrel asked:

>     I've though that I could use some "You are there!" shows effectively, but
>     what other shows and specific episodes would you suggest.

    Definitely Escape's "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"!!!

    -chris holm

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 10:04:22 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  new OTR articles on the web

    For anyone interested in browsing a few new articles about OTR shows, Green
    Hornet, Gang Busters, I Love A Mystery, etc., they have been added to the
    "articles" page on Terry Salomonson's AUDIO CLASSICS web-page.  Terry has
    been archiving these articles on the web so people can enjoy reading them so
    check them out at [removed].
    Martin Grams, Jr.

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 10:06:03 -0400
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Mickey Rooney

    George Aust just posted an interesting story about his (and his wife's)
    chance meeting with Mickey Rooney (and Pat Boone) at some charity event.

>     A few minutes later Jan Rooney started talking to me(I'm sure she must have
>     thought that I was "somebody" by this time). It turned out that she was a
>     nice lady and I enjoyed our visit. All this time Rooney is hammering away at
>     Boone about his "projects" and pushing his CD into Boone's hand.

>     I never saw anybody so single minded about promoting himself. There was never
>     even a pretense of social niceties. So there went another illusion!

    George. I never met Mickey. But I certainly know his type. I've worked with
    many of them and I know the "breed". I think it's important to understand
    what makes former "Big Stars" tick. They really can't help but be so self
    absorbed. (At least most of them). It stems from years of adulation and
    special treatment when they were big names in the business, and commanded
    big money and perks. And many insulate themselves themselves from "Fans"
    (who can be pesty) by remaining distant and aloof.

    In Mickeys case, it doesn't surprise me that he was so engrossed in
    promoting his CD to Pat Boone. Why Boone should be the recipient of Mickey's
    "hustle" is not the point. The fact that Mickey is desperate for money had
    to be the reason for his single mindedness, and tunnel vision. He didn't
    have time for social niceties with "fans". (Unless, perhaps, you offered to
    buy a dozen copies of his CD's). Besides, Mickey is known for his "bulldog"
    tenacity and energetic approach to things.

    I'm not trying to put the knock on Mickey Rooney. Far from it. I think he's
    an enormous talent in a small package. Just consider this. After all of
    Mick's marriages and divorce settlements, (Back when he could command Star
    talent fees) he was left virtually penniless. He is bound to be strapped for
    money. Strapped??? More like desperate. It's one thing to keep on working
    (at his age) for the fun of it. It's another to keep working because one has
    no alternative. It's either that, or the Poor House. And Rooney has far to
    much pride to let that happen. Fortunately for him, he has a gift as an
    entertainer, and "oldsters" will still pay to see him perform.

    We, the public, need to cut him a little slack. Undoubtedly, he has a much
    younger wife. (What's this one? Number 7 or 8?) The cost of Viagra alone
    probably eats up any profits from the sale of the CD's. :)

    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    AKA Jughead
    Former star of stage, Screen, Radio, TV and Supermarket Openings.

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 11:33:13 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  8-26 births/deaths

    August 26th births

    08-26-1873 - Lee de Forest - Council Bluffs, IA - d. 6-30-1961
    inventor: Audion tube
    08-26-1905 - George F. Hicks - Tacoma, WA - d. 3-17-1965
    announcer: "Metropolitan Echoes"; "Death Valley Days"; "Seth Parker"
    08-26-1907 - Jack Berch - Sigel, IL - d. 12-10-1992
    singer: "Kitchen Pirate"; "Sweetheart Serenade"; "Jack Berch Show"
    08-26-1915 - Jim Davis - Edgereton, MO - d. 4-26-1981
    actor: "Dangerous Assignment"
    08-26-1921 - June Whitley
    actress: Margaret Anderson "Father Knows Best"
    08-26-1924 - Gloria Holliday - Billings, MT
    actress: Bessie "Great Gildersleeve"; Gloria "Honest Harold"
    08-26-1904 - Chirstopher Isherwood - High Lane, Cheshire, England - d. 1-4-1986
    writer: "NBC University Theatre"; "CBS Radio Workshop"

    August 26th deaths

    01-07-1898 - Art Baker - NYC - d. 8-26-1966
    announcer, emcee: "People Are Funny"; "Dinah Shore Show"
    01-13-1903 - Kay Francis - Oklahoma City,  Oklahoma Territory - d. 8-26-1968
    actress: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    01-17-1904 - Knox Manning - Worcester, MA - d. 8-26-1980
    announcer: "Advs. of Sherlock Holmes"; "Headlines on Parade"
    03-10-1911 - Warner Anderson - Brooklyn, NY - d. 8-26-1976
    actor: Patrick Ryan "Terry and the Pirates"
    04-13-1899 - Larry Keating - [removed], MN - d. 8-26-1963
    actor, emcee: "Murder Will Out"; "Scramby Amby"; "This Is Your FBI"
    05-24-1907 - Bill Bouchey - Michigan - d. 8-26-1977
    actor: Red Albright/Captain Midnight "Captain Midnight"
    08-28-1897 - Charles Boyer - Figeac, France - d. 8-26-1978
    actor: Michel "Presenting Charles Boyer"; "Hollywood Playhouse"
    11-23-1916 - Julie Stevens - St. Louis, MO - d. 8-26-1984
    actress: Helen Trent "Romance of Helen Trent"; Kitty Foyle "Kitty Foyle"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #279
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