Subject: [removed] Digest V2008 #21
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 1/22/2008 8:41 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to: [removed]@[removed]

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                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2008 : Issue 21
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      non Jewish comedians                  [ <vzeo0hfk@[removed]; ]
      Jewish comedians                      [ <vzeo0hfk@[removed]; ]
      How I Got Interested In OTR           [ Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@sbcgl ]
      Bookshare books                       [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
      What, we should leave out anyone?     [ Wich2@[removed] ]
      Fred Allen - my error                 [ <vzeo0hfk@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:47:43 -0500
    From: <vzeo0hfk@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  non Jewish comedians

    Among other non-Jewish comedians:

    Richard Pryor, Dick Gregory, Eddie Murphy, Whoopi Goldberg and more recently
    Chris Rock

    Howard Blue

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:01:55 -0500
    From: <vzeo0hfk@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Jewish comedians

    Stuart Lubin wrote,

>     it does NOT please me when someone writes that the best comedians
>     were Jewish.

    Given the tremendous influx of Jews into American comedy and their tremendous
    influence on American culture, I don't agree with the direction of his
    argument. Various cultural/ethnic groups have made their own cultural
    contributions to world culture. No, Jews have not "cornerned the market" in
    comedy, but it hurts no one to acknowledge as Dave and Susan Siegel have
    done, that Jews have influenced American comedy out of proportion to their
    numbers, and probably have done so more than any other groups ---just as
    various other groups in the US have influenced certain aspects of American
    culture out of proportion to their numbers. For example, African Americans
    invented what one might argue is the only uniquely original American musical
    form: jazz.

    It does not take away from any other group to acknowledge the contributions
    of particular groups to national and/or world culture -- the English, Greek
    etc. contributions to drama; the French contributions to cuisine; German
    brewers who developed fine beers etc.

    One can take pride in the contributions of his culture without it justifiably
    being considered a slam at other cultural groups.

    Howard Blue

    By the way, among the "non Jewish comedians" Stuart listed were Fred Allen
    and Hans Conreid.

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:02:40 -0500
    From: Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  How I Got Interested In OTR

    Randy A. Riddle poses a great question:

>     ...I thought I'd ask folks in the group to share how you became interested
>     in OTR.

    I have to answer that question by saying that when I
    started listening, it was not yet OTR.  It was our
    daily fare.  Most kids of my age were also interested
    in movies, but I guess that I got so interested
    because I had lived on both coasts and was able to
    attend free radio shows.  It was fascinating to see
    what those people looked like.  To me, few ever looked
    like I had visualized them.  In New York City, prior
    to 1948, John Reed King, of CBS fame, had a quiz show
    on WOR-Mutual which I attended at a theater off
    Broadway.  The first half hour starred Clayton (Bud)
    Collyer in another quiz show, and I already knew what
    Superman looked like because I had met him and Joan
    Alexander after a Superman broadcast.  Between
    programs on that night-time audience show, there was
    only 60 seconds, not allowing any time for a second
    warm-up. After the announcer introduced John Reed
    King, and he came on stage and began talking, I
    searched at least a minute for the John Reed King who
    had been in my mind's eye to appear.

    Why were we so interested?  It and movies were our
    only forms of diversion, and for some of us, it
    brought us into worlds that were far removed from the
    homes we lived in.  It was like fantasy. To some of
    us, it was unreal.  Where else in our dull lives could
    we hear at least four criminals being captured in one
    night? In my opinion, compared to what we have today,
    it was wonderful.  And that's why we honor those who
    brought it to us.  The OTR people did not have any
    idea at the time that they were making history.

    I am so grateful for OTR organizations who later made
    it possible for us to meet and honor many of those
    people.  And also, here on the West Coast, I am
    thankful to Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters who opened
    their doors to us, even though we were not and never
    could be members.

    Stuart

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:55:55 -0500
    From: <otrbuff@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Bookshare books

    Tony Baechler implores:

>     Authors, again I ask, beg, and encourage you to please consider donating

    electronic copies of your books to Bookshare.  If I had it
    electronically, this would be a non-issue.  Either I could find the
    problem myself or I wouldn't have to download the audio version.  Oh,
    and electronic, text books are a lot more searchable.  Please consider
    donating error-free electronic copies.

    That's a simple request I would love to honor were it within my power.  When
    you work for mainstream (sometimes called legitimate) publishers as opposed
    to those where authors pay to get their books done (sometimes known as
    vanity publishers), it's the publisher that has the final say.  From a legal
    standpoint it controls the rights, no matter if a book says "copyright" next
    to an author's name.  Hence, an author isn't at liberty to fire off an
    electronic copy of his work to whomever he wishes.  It doesn't work that
    way.  And if the publisher decides it's not good policy to pursue that kind
    of distribution, that's the end of it.  That may be an unsatisfactory
    explanation for some but may help you understand why there seems to be
    "reluctance" on an author's part.

    While we're on this, let me expand into the subject of audio tapes which
    I've sometimes been asked about.  No one, to my knowledge, is routinely
    taking any of McFarland's 300+ new releases annually and recording them.
    Let me emphasize "to my knowledge" for it could be happening somewhere
    somehow for some limited few.  I'm simply not aware of it.  Certainly with a
    staff of 45 or fewer they employ no one who has time to do that and process
    all those new works.  They hardly have time to get those 300+ out -- each
    new book does not appear for 12-18 months after it leaves an author's hands,
    even with authors providing an electronic copy matching the hard copy.  So
    you can see there's a hard day's night going on there and the intricacies of
    production are multifaceted!

    Having said that, let me assure you that I would be in sympathy with the
    idea of recording books but I don't know that the publisher would.  If it
    was done, it would have to be with their approval to avoid legal
    complications.  And most authors I know certainly do not have time to stop
    and record their own books.  I wouldn't be finishing #17 now if I had hit
    the pause button to record the previous volumes!

    I understand where Tony is coming from.  I recognize his need and am unable
    to supply the electronic copy he could use.  I always refer such requests to
    the legal officer at the publishing company who deals directly with those
    making such requests.  Again, not in my domain.  Sounds easy but ain't
    necessarily so!

    For a number of years I have been a weekly volunteer at the Audio Studio for
    the Reading Impaired, Inc. near my home, making tapes for the blind,
    dyslexic, arthritics who can't hold a book in their hands, and other
    reading-impaired individuals across America.  We are located in the shadow
    of the Kentucky Printing House for the Blind, the largest Braille publisher
    in the world.  I have served on the board of directors of the Audio Studio
    and am presently its chairman.  So I know, understand, and appreciate the
    need for putting materials in the hands of handicapped individuals that can
    be useful.

    I just wanted to make it clear that some of us would be happy to donate
    electronic copies of our books or recorded versions to agencies and
    institutions that could use them if it was within our providence.  There are
    myriad reasons why most of us don't, and I've cited a little here to let you
    know we're not holding back for any unsympathetic reasons.

    Jim Cox

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:32:05 -0500
    From: Wich2@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  What, we should leave out anyone?

    From: Stuart Lubin stuartlubin6686@[removed]

>     As  an ethnic Jew, it does NOT please me when someone
>     writes that the best  comedians were Jewish ... No group has ever cornered
>     the market on anything  ... let's form a list of great, non-Jewish radio
>     comedians ...

    Once again, Friend Stuart shows both brains & balance! So, with no  offense
    to Carl Reiner, Dave Siegel, Michael Biel, my old Jewish college
    classmate/now
    working comedian Wayne Fedderman (with whom we used to  play this game), or
    anyone else, here are some adds to his list (may  contain some duplicates of
    previous names) of people & shows:

    -Vic & Sade
    -Lum & Abner
    -Bob Hope (Crosby would really count here, too)
    -much of Benny's cast
    -Bob & Ray
    [removed] Fields
    -Lou Costello
    -Fibber & Molly
    -Will Rogers
    -Red Skelton

    (DISCLAIMER: On the general topic, one of the larger blessings of this
    smalltown Ohio Lutheran boy's move to the largest Jewish metropolis on the
    planet,
    has been the gaining of relationships with Stella Adler, Mario Siletti,
    Pearl Pierson, Sondra Lee, Bill Nadel, & countless other Children of Abraham
    whose names you wouldn't know!)

    Shalom,
    -Craig W.

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:40:40 -0500
    From: <vzeo0hfk@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Fred Allen - my error

    Whoops - Fred Allen (John Florence Sullivan) was not likely Jewish. My error

    Howard Blue

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2008 Issue #21
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