------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2008 : Issue 114
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK [ Jerry Haendiges <jerryhaendiges@cha ]
5-4 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
Thoughts on myriad subjects [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
Suspense The Lost special [ <sojaq2@[removed]; ]
Douglas Edwards with the News [ "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed]; ]
Re: A celebrated anniversary [ Paul Gough <paulgough@[removed] ]
books, continued [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
The Lost Special [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 10:53:03 -0400
From: Jerry Haendiges <jerryhaendiges@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK
Hi Friends,
Here is this week's schedule for my Olde Tyme Radio Network. Here you
may listen to high-quality broadcasts with Tom Heathwood's "Heritage
Radio Theatre," Big John Matthews and Steve "Archive" Urbaniak's "The
Glowing Dial" and my own "Same Time, Same Station." Streamed in
high-quality audio, on demand, 24/7 at [removed]
Check out our High-Quality mp3 catalog at:
[removed]
=======================================
SAME TIME, SAME STATION
May 4th, [removed] Years Later
CALL FOR MUSIC
Episode 12 5-4-48
"The Dinah Shore-Harry James Show"
Nbc Philip Morris Cigarettes
Stars: Dinah Shore, Harry James
With: Johnny Mercer
A DATE WITH JUDY
5-4-48 "Everyone Takes The Day Off"
Stars: Louise Erickson, Richard Crenna, Lois Corbett, John Brown, Sandra
Gould
STUDIO ONE
Episode 53 5-4-48 "Private Worlds"
CBS SUSTAINING Tuesdays 9:00 - 10:00 pm
Stars: Madeleine Carroll, Mercedes McCambridge, Claire Niesen, Michael
Fitzmaurice, Fletcher Markle
Host: Fletcher Markle who also acted in most of the plays
Author: Phyllis Bottome
==================================
HERITAGE RADIO THEATER
ESCAPE
(CBS) 10/22/47 "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe
stars: Paul Frees as the narrator.
THE GREEN HORNET
(MBS) 10/31/39 "The Parking Lot Racket" Al Hodge is the Hornet.
FLASH GORDON
(Synd) August, 1935 Hearst "Dr. Zarkoff's Invisible Ray Machine"
====================================
THE GLOWING DIAL
Dragnet - "The Big Jolt"
originally aired October 5, 1952 on NBC
Starring: Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Sam Edwards, Harry Bartell, Vic
Rodman, Herb Vigran, George Fenneman announcing the commercials, Hal
Gibney announcing the program.
Sponsor: Chesterfield
Dragnet - "The Big Eavesdrop"
originally aired December 14, 1952 on NBC
Starring: Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Virginia Gregg, Harry Bartell, Lee
Marvin, George Fenneman announcing the commercials, Hal Gibney
announcing the program.
Sponsor: Chesterfield
Dragnet - "The Big Dream"
originally aired March 29, 1953 on NBC
Starring: Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Vic Rodman, Ralph Moody, Eddie
Firestone, George Fenneman announcing the commercials, Hal Gibney
announcing the program.
Sponsor: Chesterfield
Dragnet - "The Big Joke"
originally aired May 10, 1953 on NBC
Starring: Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Vic Perrin, Jack Kruschen, Herb
Vigran, Virginia Gregg, George Fenneman announcing the commercials, Hal
Gibney announcing the program.
Sponsor: Chesterfield
Dragnet - "The Big Confession"
originally aired March 30, 1954 on NBC
Starring: Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Herb Ellis, Georgia Ellis, Harry
Bartell, George Fenneman announcing the commercials, Hal Gibney
announcing the program.
Sponsor: Chesterfield
==================================
If you have any questions or request, please feel free to contact me.
Jerry Haendiges
Jerry@[removed] 562-696-4387
The Vintage Radio Place [removed]
Largest source of Old Time Radio Logs, Articles and programs on
the Net
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 10:53:14 -0400
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 5-4 births/deaths
May 4th births
Sent April 4th in error . . . sorry.
05-04-1874 - Frank Conrad - Pittsburgh, PA - d. 12-11-1941
"the father of radio broadcasting" Started radio station KDKA in his
garage
05-04-1886 - Earl Lee - Topeka, KS - d. 6-2-1955
actor: Fred Thompson "One Man's Family"
05-04-1886 - Shelton Brooks - Amesburg, Ontario - d. 9-6-1975
composer, author, pianist: "Cavalcade of Music"
05-04-1896 - Dr. Frank Baxter - Camden, NJ - d. 1-18-1982
actor: "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show"
05-04-1902 - Al Dexter - Jacksonville, TX - d. 1-28-1984
singer, songwriter: (Pistol Packn' Mama) "Command Performance"
05-04-1902 - Dudley Williamson - Above Discovery, AK - d. 5-2-1948
emcee: "What's the Name of the Song?"; "Queen for a Day"
05-04-1903 - Elmer Leyden - Davenport, IA - d. 6-30-1973
football player: "One of the Four Horseman" "Information Please"
05-04-1903 - Luther Adler - NYC - d. 12-8-1984
actor: Peter Gentle "Mystery Without Murder"; "Greatest Story Ever
Told (1938-39)"
05-04-1904 - Gray Gordon - d. 7-23-1976
bandleader: "The Magic Key of RCA"
05-04-1909 - Ed Max - Georgia - d. 10-17-1980
actor: Mr. Gallagher "Voyage of the Scarlet Queen"
05-04-1909 - Howard Da Silva - Cleveland, OH - d. 2-16-1986
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Forecast"; "Suspense"
05-04-1912 - Louis Brown - Brooklyn, NY - d. 1-7-2007
composer/conductor: "The Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Show"
05-04-1913 - Carroll Moore, Jr. - Somerville, MA - d. 2-5-1977
writer: "The Henry Morgan Show"
05-04-1913 - Joe Aleman - d. 1-2-1996
disk jockey: KPRL Paso Robles, California
05-04-1916 - Jean Carroll - Toledo, OH - d. 7-6-1990
comedienne: "The Sealtest Village Store"
05-04-1919 - Thomas Madigan - NYC - d. 7-8-2004
writer, director: "The Big Guy"
05-04-1921 - Patsy Garrett - Atlantic City, NJ
singer: "Broadway Matinee"; "Jackie Gleason-Les Tremayne Show"
05-04-1923 - Erik Sykes - Oldham, Lancashire, England
actor, writer: "Entertaining Archie"
05-04-1923 - Godfrey Quigley - Jerusalem - d. 9-7-1994
producer: "The Kennedys of Castleross"
05-04-1924 - Gene Klaven - Baltimore, MD - d. 4-8-2004
new york morning personalty: "Klaven and Finch"; "Klaven in the Morning"
05-04-1924 - Merrill Mael - d. 10-16-2000
actor: Uncle Fletcher "Vic and Sade"
05-04-1927 - Terry Scott - Watford, England - d. 7-26-1994
actor: "Junior Choice"; "Great Scott, It's Maynard"; "Hugh and I"
05-04-1929 - Audrey Hepburn - Brussels, Belguim - d. 1-20-1993
actor: "[removed] Story"; "Stagestruck"
05-04-1930 - Gordon Gould - Chicago, IL
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"; "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
05-04-1938 - Gillian Tindall - London, England
author: "A Little Touch of Death"
May 4th deaths
02-05-1893 - Carlton Coon - Rochester, MN - d. 5-4-1932
bandleader: (Coon-Sanders Nighthawks) "Florsheim Frolic"
05-02-1916 - Two Ton Baker - Chicago, IL - d. 5-4-1975
singer, pianist: "Tip Top Lunch Program"
05-03-1905 - William Brown Meloney - NYC - d. 5-4-1971
writer: "Claudia and David"
06-10-1898 - Norman Brokenshire - Murcheson, Ontario, Canada - d.
5-4-1965
announcer: "Music That Satisfies"; "Theatre Guild On the Air"
06-14-1891 - Elaine Sterne Carrington - NYC - d. 5-4-1958
creator-writer: "Pepper Young's Family"; "Rosemary"; "When a Girl
Marries"
06-19-1897 - Moe Howard - Bensonhurst, NY - d. 5-4-1975
original stooge: (Three Stooges) "Whatever Became of . . . .?"
10-23-1931 - Diana Dors - Swindon, Wiltshire, England - d. 5-4-1984
actor: "Earplay"
10-28-1915 - Alwyn Kurts - Perth, Western Australia - d. 5-4-2000
performer: "Raising a Husband"
11-13-1925 - Ed Backey - Havre de Grace, MD - d. 5-4-1988
disk jockey: WTOW Towson, Maryland
11-23-1915 - John Dehner - Staten Island, NY - d. 5-4-1992
actor: Paladin "Have Gun, Will Travel"; [removed] Kendall "Frontier
Gentleman"; "Gunsmoke"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 13:04:28 -0400
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Thoughts on myriad subjects
A few comments on items in digest #113:
5/8
1959 - The final broadcast of One Man's Family was heard on NBC after
being on the air 27 years. The show had completed 3,256 episodes since
its beginning in 1932.
This seems to be one of those myths that has been perpetuated numerous
times. I've been guilty of it, too. Once bad information begins, unless
somebody checks, it goes on and on and on. I checked listings in a number
of metropolitan dailies a few months back to determine whether this widely
proclaimed date was corrrect. It turned out that it was erroneous: One
Man's Family departed the NBC airwaves on the afternoon of Friday, April 24,
1959. There was new network programming in its place the following Monday.
While this makes little difference to most of us, it settles the question
for those who take responsibility for getting it right, and will be
reflected in my future texts.
authors come to us, and once they've
been dropped by McF, those people come to us too (like
Arthur Anderson). A book is too much work to let fall
out of print<
Ben Ohmart is to be commended for his contributions in preserving OTR. He
has made texts affordable to many that couldn't own them otherwise.
I don't know the particulars of each case, but I do know that McFarland is
currently on a binge of re-releasing some of its earlier works in softcover
editions. I believe texts by Jim Harmon and some other OTR authors may be
among them. I've been advised that the first two hardbacks it published of
mine will be out soon in paperback form: The Great Radio Soap Operas (and)
The Great Radio Audience Participation Shows. Though I can only speak for
myself, I haven't heard that authors are being dropped although it is
possible. Some may choose to take their works elsewhere for re-release, of
course.
Ted Kneebone observes, regarding the high price of books:
I wonder if self-publishing is one
possible answer.
Speaking again for me, only if the author prefers to invest half or more of
his time in production and marketing, thereby cutting back severely on what
he's able to bring out. It just isn't a viable option unless you have only
one or two books burning within your soul. Ask yourself: Do you want to
research and write or do you want to print and sell? Having done the latter
on my first book, I found out getting rid of a thousand books (which took
years) isn't nearly as much fun as resarch and writing.
Larry Jordan asks:
Does anybody on the OTR list know for sure whether Welk was doing any
regular radio broadcasts after he launched his TV show in 1955?
Yes. The Lawrence Welk Show aired on ABC Radio from Aug. 27, 1955 to Nov.
16, 1957, late Saturday night, after the TV show began.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 13:06:28 -0400
From: <sojaq2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Suspense The Lost special
Just finished listening to Randy's work and it was very good. It was
somewhat scratchy in the begining but was still better than what I would have
heard orginaly on my Zenith in Schoolcraft Michigan. "staff AFRS announcer"
at the begining of the program was Howard Duff I am sure. He sounds bored,
maybe tired or fed up . Probably did a pile of shows that day. The end
announcer did not sound like Howard, this confuses me. Anyway thanks Randy,
a great job. Roger Smith
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 13:07:02 -0400
From: "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Douglas Edwards with the News
I appreciate Jim Cox's recalling of Douglas Edwards' pioneering
career. Those were interesting times, when he did the 15-minute
evening newscast, and the special news events (convention and
election night coverage) were turned over to Walter Cronkite --
instead of the star anchor doing everything considered important
- but I guess the networks do that these days to get their
money's worth from the outrageous salaries the parrots are paid.
Also, back then, CBS and the others had their own stable of
analysts on the payroll, whom we assumed (at least, I did as a
kid) knew what they were talking about - not depending so much
outside historians, newspaper reporters, etc.
I remember the Edwards opening well: "Good evening, everyone,
from coast to coast." Love that coax cable - although we were
still seeing quite a few shows as kinescopes, especially when
daylight saving time kicked in. There was also something else
sometimes in the opening shot of the Edwards news program - a
model airplane above his head. I don't think it was just a prop
for the set ... I think it might have been a disguised boom mike
in case his trusty Altec 639 on the desk went out. If anyone
knows for sure, let me know.
A couple of bloopers: One that jolted us Texans ... he pronounced
the location of an oil storage fire in Dumas, Texas, as a very
French-sounding Doo-mah' rather than plain ol'
Doo'-mus ... and there was the election night he was recapping
the vote in the region of the country he was assigned when he
said, "And now back to you, Walter." Cronkite, not shown, is
heard saying, "I'm not going to do it!" So Edwards tried again
with nothing more than, "Er, uh, that's your cue, Walter." The
camera switched to Cronkite, who is seen hanging up a telephone
handset, and he continued with whatever he was going to say.
But mostly I remember how others referred to Edwards ...
Cronkite, I recall, referred to him as a gentleman, and someone
else also used that term. Now I wasn't reading trade publications
back when Cronkite took over the evening newscast, but I don't
recall any tales of Edwards throwing a fit at losing the TV
anchor position. Maybe that endeared him to Cronkite. I suspect,
for one thing, Edwards was quite well off by that time, and he
continued to be well-paid doing a five-minute TV newscast (at the
end of As the World Turns or some other soap opera, I believe)
and he did at least one of the 10-minute hourly radio newscasts
in the afternoon, in addition to The World Tonight.
All-in-all, he seemed like a professional who had the right
perspective on life.
Bob Cockrum
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 14:14:18 -0400
From: Paul Gough <paulgough@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: A celebrated anniversary
Jim Cox's post about Douglas Edwards brings to mind an
event I arranged for the Connecticut Chapter of the
Society of Professional Journalists in New Haven about
1979. Edwards was the speaker, and unlike some doing
such gigs gratis, did not request a limo from New York
City. (Neither did Don Hewett at another such
event--he took the train to New Haven and was picked
up at Union Station). The night of the event, I was
checking in the lined up attendees, and, without
looking up, said "Next." The reply was "Douglas
Edwards". He took it in stride although I was
embarrassed I hadn't recognized him. After the
talk--which helped raise about $20,000 for scholarship
endowment--my son, who was about 12 at the time and a
devoted CBS News junkie, got to speak with him alone
for a while. The conversation led to an invitation for
my son to see him in NYC for a special tour. The
invitation was sincere because we were going to NYC
the next day and Edwards said he would be delighted to
see us then. After giving the studio address and
telling us not to be surprised by the warehouse look,
he gave us his private number and told us to call in
the morning for a time to meet him. Everywhere we went
(including through the door marked NO ADMITTANCE that
led to Dan Rather's studio) everyone we encountered
greeted him respectfully as "Mr. Edwards." We got to
see the then new set for "Sunday Morning" and a small
studio with a small control room with a camera and an
engineer aways ready to go on the air with a bulletin
within seconds of the arrival of the anchor. My son,
who now covers TV news--including CBS--for the
Hollywood Reporter, and I always were impressed by the
giant in the field of broadcast journalism who took
the time to speak with and host a 12-year-old on those
two occasions less than 24 hours apart. He was very
gracious and a regular guy.
Paul Gough
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 19:44:33 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: books, continued
Ben Ohmart commented:
We try to keep (radio) books at a low price because I've always said we're selling mainly to
individuals, not libraries. Frankly, I think that's a reason a lot of authors come to us, and once
they've been dropped by McFarland, those people come to us too (like Arthur Anderson).
A book is too much work to let fall out of print, and it's too much work to price out of reach.
By the way, the wife and I plan to be at FOTR and Martin Grams' convention this year.
So it'll be nice to some of you (again). See ya then!
Ben overlooked the fact that his company, Bear Manor Media, is also a sponsor of the
Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention. His company has donated not one, but two different books
to the convention and they will be given away tot he first 100 people who pre-register for
MANC. The retail value of the books is $[removed], so even if you are planning on attending for
the weekend and not a single day, the freebees is more than the cost of a weekend
admission. [removed]
Ted Kneebone commented:
I wonder if it's time for authors of old time radio/television books to do their own publishing?
Is publishing an OTR book the sole income of these authors? If the spouse works, maybe these
authors rely on some supplementary income? With affordable computers and many tricks of
the trade available at the cost of good word processing software, I wonder if self-publishing is
one possible answer. I have spent money on the excellent OTR books, but I usually draw the
line when a single volume costs more than $50. I look for a used copy. Isn't there such a thing
as online publishing? Pay a fee, get a download, and print your own copy? Maybe it's already being [removed]
Small notes of comment:
1. Online publishing is a reality today, but is not practical. It is far easier to duplicate a CD-Rom
or a computer file containing a 1,400+ page book within a few minutes and less than the cost of
a dollar (CDs are cost effective these days), and sadly, there are people who do that. Copying a
500 page book is not cost effective - it costs more in copy fees to scan and copy each page than
to simply buy the book.
2. Writing a book isn't difficult, but making a living on the sale of one book is.
OTR is a limited market. I don't know anyone who is making a living writing books,
without some additional source of income.
3. A LARGE number of authors have self-published their own works. I have, Terry Salomonson,
Jay Hickerson, Dave Siegel, have, and I believe Laura Leff did with her Jack Benny books (which
I do recommend, by the way).
4. As for the cost of a book, yeah, that can be an issue, and I don't blame them.
For anyone who ponders whether or not to buy a book at even a $75 price, here are a few thoughts:
To fly out to a University Library costs an average (for me, anyway) $350 for a round-trip
airfare, and that's flying coach.
The cheapest motels/hotels cost anywhere from $45 to $110 per night.
A single research trip takes up an average of three nights.
Copy fees and food adds to the bill.
To do the research for a book like I LOVE A MYSTERY, to copy all 1,700 radio scripts, numerous
airfares, gas expenses, parking fees, copy fees, food, motel, and even reimbursing people to
do the research at a couple of places that would normally cost a lot more if I went myself, can
also add up.
Total cost of research for the I LOVE A MYSTERY book, $7,[removed] (I pulled out the paperwork
to verify.) Printing cost with the printers was $7,100 for the first printing (and that was getting as
many copied (as large an order as I could get) and keep the price as cheap as I could per
book. Total cost of the first printing, $14,[removed]
Retail price of the book? $[removed] plus postage.
INNER SANCTUM MYSTERIES book
Costs involved (including printing) $11,[removed]
ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS book
Costs involved (including printing and legal permission from MCA/Universal) $19,[removed]
DUFFY'S TAVERN book (not yet published)
Costs involved (not counting printing) $8,[removed]
Many authors will probably admit that four-digit figures were involved to do their books, but in
the case where they spent 20 plus years researching, the costs involved may not be available
on hand, but the contribution they leave to everyone is priceless, and appreciated.
Martin Grams Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 19:42:27 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Lost Special
I just got back from a number of research/business trips to find a bunch of
postings I cannot resist posting. Incidentally, Michelle and I just returned
from the Wanaque Reserve Clubhouse, part of a retirement home in Wanaque, New
Jersey, having presented a brief history of old-time radio to a crowd that
was very receptive and spent a good bit of the time recalling the programs
they listened to during their childhood - Let's Pretend, Mr. Keen, The Lone
Ranger, etc. I suspect I convinced a number of them to attend the FOTR
Convention this October, and Larry Jankner, one of the residents who happens
to attend FOTR every year, will probably pass out fliers to the event when I
get to designing fliers to FOTR and mailing copies to him.
Regarding SUSPENSE, that is a "lost" episode. Details regarding the episode
can be found below. There are a number of SUSPENSE episodes that exist only
in the AFRS rebroadcast form, but it does offer us a chance to listen to the
1943 broadcast. Congradulations, Randy, for the job well done AND making it
available for everyone to listen to.
Episode #60 "THE LOST SPECIAL"
Broadcast September 30, 1943.
Starring: Orson Welles
Adapted for SUSPENSE by Jack Fink from the 1898 short story of the same name
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Produced and directed by William Spier.
No sponsor.
Joseph kearns is "The Man in Black."
Story: a train mysteriously vanishes without a trace, including the cargo it
was carrying. Scotland Yard is baffled when they examine the tracks to find
no trace or clue to how such a crime was committed.
This same short story was the basis for a number of SHERLOCK HOLMES radio
broadcasts, even though the story never had Holmes in the story.
One such example is November 18, 1934 "The Case of the Lost Special" with
Luis Hector as Holmes
ESCAPE also featured an adaptation of the short story on February 12, 1949,
recorded February 9, with Ben Wright in the cast.
Just providing a little background.
Martin
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2008 Issue #114
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