------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2007 : Issue 209
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
RE: Do You Still Buy OTR [ "Kirby, Tom" <Kirby@[removed]; ]
re: do you still buy otr [ <marknichols06@[removed]; ]
Existing Serial A&A [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
Future Of XM 164 [ "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed]; ]
Still buying after all these years [ "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed]; ]
History Detectives, Redux [ chris chandler <chrischandler84@yah ]
Circulating OTR [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Golden and Recordings [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
XM Replies Re: Radio Spirits [ <leasurej@[removed]; ]
Laura Ingalls Wilder [ Frank McGurn <[removed]@sbcglobal. ]
Newark OTR convention [ Kenneth Schwartz <kschwar@[removed] ]
Pat Patrick as Ersel Twing [ David Ballarotto <[removed]@ ]
Fibber McGee [ "Donald" <alanladdsr@[removed]; ]
XM's OTR channel [ <mikeandzachary@[removed]; ]
Radio Spirits and The Older Days [ Stephen A Kallis <skallisjr@[removed] ]
The Amalgamated Broadcasting System [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
Circles within [removed] [ Wich2@[removed] ]
7-17 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:44:58 +0000
From: "Kirby, Tom" <Kirby@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: Do You Still Buy OTR
Yes, I still by OTR. Most of my purchases have been from Radio Spirits,
but thanks to this list, I've found some other sources. After reading
Martin's post, I doubt that I will by anything more from Radio Spirits.
To buy books on credit, and continue to keep and sell them when you know
you won't be paying for them is downright despicable.
My preferred format is audio CD, although now that I have this MP3
player,
MP3 is a more convenient format. I fell out of love with cassettes
because
I've had several go bad on me because I played them a lot. They suffer
from
physical wear more than CDs. I have plenty of audio CDs that I can now
rip
to MP3 to put on my player, but I don't have everything. I've always
concentrated on horror and comedy, with a few mysteries and quiz shows
when
I was in the mood.
I rarely download shows, mainly because of fear of something like the
RIAA.
I've heard that "the shows are in the public domain", and "the shows are
NOT
in the public domain", and I don't know enough to decide for sure. It
may be
different from one show to the other, but I don't know how to tell the
difference. Please don't start discussing this too much, or at all,
because
I think this topic has been a thorn in the side (or thumbtack in the
seat)
of Charlie Summers, and I don't care to read a weeks worth of digests
with
nothing but copyright discussion in them.
I wouldn't mind see a list of good audio/MP3 CD dealers who are reliable
and
respectful of copyrights, [removed]
-- Tom Kirby
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:45:28 +0000
From: <marknichols06@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: re: do you still buy otr
Yes, I still buy otr. I tried a few MP3's and found that many of the shows
I just couldn't listen to, and many others were not enjoyable because of
sound issues. Most people spend a lot of money on their hobbies, so I
don't mind spending a little to get great sound. Also, by purchasing from
places like first generation radio archives, and audio classics archive I
feel that I am supporting the hobby by supporting those who are trying to
restore and preserve otr, which I feel is part of what the hobby is
about. I don't have the thousands of shows that some have (that's not my
goal, I could not listen to it all anyway), but I enjoy what I have. I have
not tried the MP3's put out by the Otter Project, so they may be of
consistently better quality than the ones I've tried. I'm sure people
have different goals in the hobby and different approaches to the hobby,
but this is what has worked for me.
mark
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:21:43 +0000
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Existing Serial A&A
On 7/16/07 10:56 AM [removed]@[removed] wrote:
>Spurred by Amos 'n' Andy's appearance on History Detectives, I've been
>introducing my little brother to early serial Amos 'n' Andy lately. Does
>anyone maintain a list of what A&A exists from the '20s, '30s, and early
>'40s and where to get it?
You'll find a fairly complete listing of what I know to exist in the back
of my book, "The Original Amos 'n' Andy". Although this list was compiled
in 2005, it's still reasonably accurate -- there have been a couple of
finds since then,including the History Detectives disc, but nothing
that's available for circulation due to restrictions imposed by the
owners of the discs.
Earlier this year, the first example of a Canadian extension spotting A&A
disc surfaced on eBay, an Edwin Strong pressing containing two episodes
from January 1941. It went for a great deal of money, and because of
that, it's highly unlikely that it will ever become available to anyone.
(No, it wasn't me who bought it. I don't have a great deal of money.) But
it does indicate that there may be more Strong discs out there, and if
more are found they will likely surface north of the border.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:22:38 +0000
From: "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Future Of XM 164
An XM listener on [removed] forums received this response in an e-mail to
XM OTR host Greg Bell:
Quote:
Let me reassure you. Yes, our primary old time radio content provider is
planning to cease operations shortly. But, I promise you that XM has every
intention of continuing to have an Old Time Radio channel available to
listeners. Over the last 5 years, we have grown a very nice sizable and
loyal audience enjoying XM 164 and we have no plans of going anywhere. So
hang in there - the great shows from the past will keep coming.
Greg.
Greg Bell
Program Director & Host
Radio Classics , Ch. 164
XM Satellite Radio
Washington , DC
radioclassics@[removed]
End Quote
As official as anything can be at this point. Here's a link to the XMFan
Forums
[removed]
The "Programming and Events" Forum will likely update any new news on XM
164 [removed] before XM's Official [removed]
Tim Lones
[ADMINISTRIVIA: Mr. Bell was invited to join this list; he apparently
didn't think it would be worth his while. --cfs3]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:22:49 +0000
From: "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Still buying after all these years
Hi all,
Yes I still buy OTR when I can or see a good deal. I've also gone to the
dark side and bought MP3's as well.
I'm actually buying in MP3 mostly because of space. Two shows on a CD
would get pretty bulky in a hurry.
Sound quality is an issue, but not as big as it appears to be with others.
It's odd how some of us can tolerate pops and some clicks and others
can't. I'm a musician and a jingle
singer, and in my work iI'm very picky but when listening to otr as long as
it's not muffled and the mp3 is
encoded correctly I'm just fine.
I am amazed, however, at how bad something can sound and folks will still
trade it. I just threw 2 disks of
Rocky Jordan shows away because they were loaded with tape squeal.
I think as a kid the sound of OTR shows was part of the magic--you knew
they were old because new
records just didn't sound like that.
Price was a problem for me most of the time. I tended and still do tend to
go to Sams, or some of the book
stores to see what's on sale.
I've traded a lot over the years as well.
I am finding as I get older, that if an episode of a show isn't very good
IMO or if the sound quality isn't good
enough, I get rid of it.
Bill
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:25:41 +0000
From: chris chandler <chrischandler84@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: History Detectives, Redux
Turns out OTR fans aren't the only the ones that
detect a whiff [removed] the little lectures
that accompany the forensics on PBS's "History
Detectives".
"History" repeats itself, just a couple weeks
[removed]
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:26:24 +0000
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Circulating OTR
Sammy asked:
> Spurred by Amos 'n' Andy's appearance on History Detectives, I've been
> introducing my little brother to early serial Amos 'n' Andy lately. Does
> anyone maintain a list of what A&A exists from the '20s, '30s, and early
> '40s and where to get it?
I recommen Jay Hickerson's ULTIMATE GUIDE TO OLD-TIME RADIO CIRCULATING
SHOWS book. Jay is on this Digest so you can e-mail him and ask for the
availability. His book not only lists which episodes are known to exist
and not to exist, but who you can buy and get the recording from, which
includes names and mailing address. Whenever someone asks me how many
episodes of a particular radio show is known to exist, I turn to Jay's book
and that answers the question.
Also saves a lot of time fishing through 8 OTR club catalogs and 13 OTR
vendor catalogs and dozens of library archives to find out how many exist
and how many are in circ.
Martin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:27:07 +0000
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Golden and Recordings
> when he
> sold his business to Media Bay, he signed a contract stating he would not
> sell old time radio for a large number of years (if you're going to buy out
> your competition, you want to make sure they don't start up as competition
> again). So . . . even if he has a recording you want, he cannot do so
> legally.
I have to question this. If the company with which he made the agreement
ceases to exist, I don't think it's enforceable.
Dixon asked the above. If Radio Spirits does not exist, Media Bay's name
is on the contract so that would depend on priot arrangements and a bunch
of attornies to sort it out. Incidentally, the ten years is almost up
anyway, and Media Bay is trying to find someone or some company to purchase
the Radio SPirits end so whoever becomes the new owner (if there is any)
keeps to the prior contracts.
MG
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:27:14 +0000
From: <leasurej@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: XM Replies Re: Radio Spirits
I asked the question to Greg Bell at XM regarding Radio Spirits and received
this very fast reply:
Let me reassure you. Yes, our primary old time radio content provider is
planning to cease operations shortly. But, I promise you that XM has
every intention of continuing to have an Old Time Radio channel
available to listeners. Over the last 5 years, we have grown a very nice
sizable and loyal audience enjoying XM 164 and we have no plans of going
anywhere. So hang in there - the great shows from the past will keep
coming.
Greg Bell
Program Director & Host
Radio Classics, Ch. 164
XM Satellite Radio
Washington, DC
Interesting, isn't it? Wonder who, if anyone, they will use as a provider?
John Leasure
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:27:32 +0000
From: Frank McGurn <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laurie Platt asked if Laura Wilder had ever been intviewed on Radio. I
don't think so since she was born in 1867. The internet is a great teaching
tool.
I did a Google serach and found a vert good biography. MaybeMs/ Platt could
wwse that in place of a radio interview.
[removed]~irby1/[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:27:40 +0000
From: Kenneth Schwartz <kschwar@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Newark OTR convention
Does anyone know the dates of this year's Newark OTR convention? I'm
planning a family event in October but would still like to go to Newark.
thanks everyone,
Ken Schwartz
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:58:53 +0000
From: David Ballarotto <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Pat Patrick as Ersel Twing
Does anyone have any information about Pat Patrick? Listening to him show
up as Ersel Twing on Charlie McCarthy is always a riot. A very strange
character, but information on the actor who played him seems to be very
hard to come by.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:59:01 +0000
From: "Donald" <alanladdsr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Fibber McGee
In a recent edition, a poster wrote about a picture of McGee, Molly, writer
Phil Leslie and an unidentified gentleman. The writer wondered who he might
be. I found the same picture on page 210 of the Stumpf/Price book HEAVENLY
DAYS. The gentleman is identified as
the publicity director of the Union Pacific Railroad from
October, 1950.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:00:12 +0000
From: <mikeandzachary@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: XM's OTR channel
I found this on a site devoted to XM. It's in response to the Mediabay
situation:
Let me reassure you. Yes, our primary old time radio content provider is
planning to cease operations shortly. But, I promise you that XM has every
intention of continuing to have an Old Time Radio channel available to
listeners. Over the last 5 years, we have grown a very nice sizable and
loyal audience enjoying XM 164 and we have no plans of going anywhere. So
hang in there the great shows from the past will keep coming.
Greg.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:00:24 +0000
From: Stephen A Kallis <skallisjr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Radio Spirits and The Older Days
A number of years ago, I bought a "lifetime" membership in the Old Time
Radio Club (or something similar; my memory's a tad spongy on the title).
With it came a "decoder" organized rather like the Captain Midnight 1946
Mirro-Flash Code-O-Graph. This was to be used to determine the discount
club members could take on prices for various products.
Eventually, the company stopped using the "decoder," and now apparently
the company has likewise passed. Lifetimes aren't what they used to be,
but I wonder: did anyone besides me ever get a Radio Spirits "Decoder"?
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:00:34 +0000
From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Amalgamated Broadcasting System Lives!
The story of the Ed Wynn's Amalgamated Broadcasting System, which began
broadcasting on Sept. 25, 1933 and ceased operations a little over a month
later on Oct. 28 has been discussed on this list a number of times. But I
just discovered that the ABS still exists, at least as a corporation.
Today at work I had to go the the New York Secretary of State's website to
verify the existence of a corporation. Once I had done that it popped into
my head to see how many corporations there were with the word
"Broadcasting" in their names (361, if you are interested).
One name near the top of the list caught my eye: Amalgamated Broadcasting
System, Inc. My first thought was someone had knowingly or unknowingly
copied the name of Wynn's ABS. Then I clicked on it. It is a Delware
corporation that had filed to do business in New Yorkon April 24, 1933.
Five months before the ABS signed on, obviously it was the same. And it is
listed as "active", with an address of 551 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
10176,
Check for yourself. Go to the link below and enter "Amalgamated
Broadcasting" in the field "Entity Name":
[removed]
Now the obvious question is what the hell have they been doing since 1933?
Planning a comeback? Will there be a celebration of 75 years of
non-broadcasting in the fall of [removed] Perhaps someone is keeping the
corporation alive because they want to use the name at some point (but the
name of a network that lasted for a month three-quarters of a century ago?).
Well if anyone out there has a clue as to what is going on at 551 Fifth
Avenue (sounds like a pricey address) I'd love to hear about it.
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:00:41 +0000
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Circles within [removed]
From: Fred Berney <fsberney@[removed];
Subject: [Approved: tmW7iTu] Re: Collection OTR shows
Dear Fred-
Fun memories - thanks!
Fairly sure that Frank Phister at "National Recording Company," then in
Illinois, was one of the first folks I bought cassettes from - I had
nothing to
trade! His '39 CHRISTMAS CAROL was a revelation, proving that not all
copies of
old shows had terrible audio. Why NRC? Because I'd seen its shows in the
meager collection of the Defiance Public Library.
(Where, speaking of inter-connections, The Wife and I did a mini-Quicksilver
Radio Theater gig last week to a packed house, that included a turn as
Fibber & Molly. Payback is sometimes a great thing!)
Then, when I got to NYU in '77, I - I think, through the recommendation of
friend Wayne Fedderman - I ordered a catalog from one Mr. Berney. Fun stuff I
bought; including Superman WITH Batman (!), as I recall - and not long after,
had accumulated enough to trade a [removed]
(More inter-connections: speaking of Quicksilver, do you recall the phone
conversation we had, were you spoke of your attempts to revive a Mercury-type
show with Joe Cotton?)
As things spiraled ("out of control," Wifey might [removed]), I followed up
with purchases/trade with such esteemed Listers as Andy Blatt (some more
Welles?), Jim Harmon (Dimension X), and Max Schmid (geez, how much of my
early
collection - and that of all East Coasters! - stems from Max's largesse?)
(Remember those pre-cyber days, when just reading a well put together
catalog was it's own wonderful Journey into the World of Imagination?)
Thanks, all!
Best,
-Craig Wichman
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:00:50 +0000
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 7-17 births/deaths
July 17th births
07-17-1881 - Artur Argiewicz - d. 5-xx-1966
violinist: "Everyready Hour"
07-17-1883 - James Abbe - d. 11-xx-1973
photographer: "James Abbe Observes"
07-17-1889 - Erle Stanley Gardner - Malden, MA - d. 3-11-1970
creator, writer: "Advs. of Christopher London"; "Perry Mason"; "Life
in Your Hands"
07-17-1899 - James Cagney - NYC - d. 3-30-1986
actor: "Arch Oboler's Plays"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
07-17-1902 - Edward Gargan - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-19-1964
actor: "This Is Your [removed]"; "This Is Our Heritage"
07-17-1904 - John B. Hughes - d. 11-6-1989
news commentator: "Hughes Reel"
07-17-1905 - William Gargan - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-17-1979
actor: Martin Kane "Martin Kane, Private Eye"; Barrie Craig "Barrie
Craig, Private Investigator"
07-17-1906 - Anton Karras - Vienna, Austria - d. 1-9-1985
composer, zither: "The Third Man"
07-17-1906 - John Carroll - New Orleans, LA - d. 4-24-1979
actor: "Hello Mom"; "Suspense"
07-17-1908 - Jack Douglas - d. 1-31-1989
writer: "Jack Paar Show"; "The Martin and Lewis Show"
07-17-1911 - Earl Glade, Jr. - Utah - d. 5-14-2001
announcer: "Music and the Spoken Word (Mormon Tabernacle Choir)"
07-17-1912 - Art Linkletter - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
emcee: "People Are Funny"; "House Party"
07-17-1914 - Eleanor Steber - Wheeling, WV - d. 10-3-1990
singer: "Voice of Firestone"; "[removed] Fox Trappers"
07-17-1915 - Cass Daley - Philadelphia, PA - d. 3-22-1975
comedienne: "New Fitch Bandwagon"; "Cass Daley Show"; "Maxwell House
Coffee Time"
07-17-1916 - Irene Manning - Cincinnati, OH - d. 5-28-2004
singer: Night Club Singer "Mr. Broadway"; "Wehmacht Hour"; "Railroad
Hour"
07-17-1917 - Lou Boudreau - Harvey, IL - d. 8-10-2001
sportscaster: Chicago Cubs
07-17-1917 - Phyllis Diller - Lima, OH
comedian: "Special Delivery: Vietnam"
07-17-1918 - Red Sovine - Charleston, WV - d. 4-4-1980
country singer: "Country Music Time"; "Country Hoedown"
07-17-1920 - Helen Walker - Worcester, MA - d. 3-10-1968
actor: "Proudly We Hail"; "Suspense"; "Harold Lloyd Comedy Theatre"
07-17-1935 - Diahann Carroll - The Bronx, NY
singer: "Army Bandstand"; "Manhattan Melodies"; "Stars for Defense"
07-17-1951 - Lucie Arnaz - Hollywood, CA
celebrity interviewer: "Tune In With Lucie Arnaz"
07-17-1954 - J. Michael Straczynski - Patterson, NJ
author: "Encounter at Twilight"
July 17th deaths
01-11-1910 - Donald 'Red' Barry - Houston, TX - d. 7-17-1980
actor: "All-Star Western Theatre"; "Forecast"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
01-16-1910 - Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean - Lucas, AR - d. 7-17-1974
baseball broadcaster: (Baseball Hall of Fame) "Game of the Day"
01-19-1916 - Marion Sweet - d. 7-17-1978
actor: Dragon Lady "Terry and the Pirates"
03-09-1918 - Mickey Spillane - Brooklyn NY - d. 7-17-2006
writer: "That Hammer Guy" based on his novels
04-07-1915 - Billie Holliday - Baltimore, MD - d. 7-17-1959
singer: "Artie Shaw Band"
05-10-1917 - Margo - Mexico City, Mexico - d. 7-17-1985
actor: (Wife of Eddie Albert) "Suspense"; "Free Company"; "Texaco
Star Theatre"
06-14-1895 - Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards - Hannibal, MO - d. 7-17-1971
singer: Jiminy Cricket "Fun and Fancy Free"; "Cliff Edwards, Ukulele
Ike"
07-19-1901 - Juano Hernandez - San Juan, Puerto Rico - d. 7-17-1970
actor: Kolu "Jungle Jim"; Lothar "Mandrake the Magician"
07-21-1912 - Frank Deniz - Cardiff, Wales - d. 7-17-2005
guitarist: "Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club"
07-23-1924 - Gavin Lambert - East Gristead, England - d. 7-17-2005
writer: Wrote commercials for radio
11-11-1872 - Maude Adams - Salt Lake City, Utah - d. 7-17-1953
actor: "Maude Adams"
11-24-1913 - Geraldine Fitzgerald - Dublin, Ireland - d. 7-17-2005
actor: "Arthur Hopkins Presents"; "Ford Theatre"; "Cavalcade of America"
12-18-1886 - Ty Cobb - Narrows, GA - d. 7-17-1961
baseball great: "Coca Cola Top Notchers"; "Baseball: An Action History"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #209
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