Subject: [removed] Digest V2008 #103
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 4/23/2008 4:18 PM

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

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2008 : Issue 103
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Re: Fear on Four                      [ Kevin Bristol <citadel92@[removed] ]
      Radio Spirits                         [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      RE: Russ Hodges                       [ "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed] ]
      RE: Dennis Crow, [removed]               [ "Stewart Wright" <stewwright@[removed] ]
      Dennis Crow Obituary                  [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
      Whites on Amos 'n Andy                [ George Tirebiter <tirebiter2@hotmai ]
      Omega Flats                           [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
      4-23 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
      #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ charlie@[removed] ]
      Radio Spirits                         [ Karen Lerner <kareneflerner@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:43:13 -0400
    From: Kevin Bristol <citadel92@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Fear on Four

    I found this out on the web. At least they are free downloads of the show that you can start with. The site is a little annoying with some popups but they are easily closed if you don't have a blocker that stops them. Sound quality of the two shows I downloaded was very good.

    [removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:44:29 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Radio Spirits

    Dick Fisher mentioned:

>     I would say not very good service and the customer having to pay for the
>     call to check on an order is certainly not appreciated. But then
>     possibly I am expecting too much with all the problems they have had
>     recently and if so my apologizes to their staff and crew.

    Dick is correct. If a company made a customer pay for a phone call to check on
    an order, the customer service quality is not up to par. However, for curiosity,
    I called their customer service number and I was patched in almost immediately.
    I was not charged for the call, so I looked into it a bit more and there appears to
    be two different phone numbers a customer can call, and using the 1-800 number
    worked okay with me.

    Dick Fisher also commented:

>     Just thought I would let you know what to expect about how the new Radio
>     Spirits handles your orders. I also noted that at least 90% of the
>     catalogs on the table were still there when the convention closed. That
>     is really too bad for their business.

    Actually, it's the best for their business.  First, Radio Spirits sent WAY too many
    catalogs for the convention. Even if every person in attendance took two catalogs
    and not one, there would probably have been left overs.  The fact that they did
    not spare an expense meant they are trying their best to get the company name
    out there.  One stack of bundled catalogs, still in shrink wrap, was taken up to my
    room on the last evening. I figured there was way too many catalogs, so one
    bundle less would not hurt anything.  I did the same with the fliers OTR fans placed
    on the flier table in the hallway, so that all the catalogs and fliers would be
    dispensed in mail orders when I ship OTR-related products.  All of them
    have already been mailed out, so I did my good deed of the week.  At the end of
    every convention, people who can do something like that, should.  I have seen
    many times at conventions where all the fliers and catalogs get pushed into a garbage can
    or tossed away and sadly, the fliers go to waste.  I've always looked at like this:
    if they spent the time and money putting fliers out, they should get maximum exposure,
    rather than the bottom of a garbage can.  People like Terry Salomonson and Derek Tague
    will vouch I've done this in the past, as they've been with me when I pack orders.

    For Radio Spirits to send more catalogs than there is head count of attendance, is
    much better than sending too little a quantity.  Sending less catalogs than needed is
    a bad thing, from a marketing standpoint.  Sending more than needed is smart.

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:44:59 -0400
    From: "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  RE: Russ Hodges

>     06-18-1910 - Russ Hodges - Dayton, TN - d. 4-19-1971
>     sportscaster: "Giants win the pennant, Giants win the pennant, Giants win

    the pennant"

    It's been almost sixty years, and still Ron Sayles has to keep rubbing my
    nose in it! I was a student at the Mason Elementary School in Chicago, where
    the 6th through 8th graders moved from room to room for our classes. The last
    period of the day was "Music" with Miss White (or was it Mrs. Tarka? -- she
    married some time before I graduated). When we walked into the room, she had
    the radio on, the one that she had checked out from the supply closet, with
    the big green tuning eye in the middle of the dial, and the game was on.
    Rather than sing or do whatever else we did in music class, we listened to
    the ball game. As the period ended, Bobby Thompson came up to bat, and I
    think we might have been able to sit there through the first pitch or two (if
    there were even that many pitches -- amazing what one can forget in only
    sixty years) before we were chased back to our home room to swap out the
    stuff we were carrying around during classes for whatever we wanted to take
    home overnight -- homework and like that. I remember walking out into the
    hall and running into Miss White/Mrs. Tarka as I was leaving, and she said
    the Giants had won the game. Incredible! Just a minute or two before, the
    Dodgers were leading and the 9th inning was practically over. Yet the Bums
    had again snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory, as they had so many
    times in the past. It's one of those things I've tried and tried to forget,
    and now Ron has to go and remind me again. 'tain't fair, I tell you, 'tain't
    fair.

    Thanx,
    [removed]

    * Kiss a malamute today *
    *Today's Lucky Number is 280	*

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:40:54 -0400
    From: "Stewart Wright" <stewwright@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  RE: Dennis Crow, [removed]

    	I too have fond memories of Dennis Crow.  We corresponded several
    times over the years on various OTR topics.

    	Several years ago I was looking for a Cinnamon Bear book as a
    Christmas present for my grand nephews.  Dennis graciously supplied title
    and author information that enabled me to find a copy of one of the books.
    The book was a big hit with my grand nephews.

    I will Dennis and his posts.

    Signing off for now,

    Stewart

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:54:34 -0400
    From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
    To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Dennis Crow Obituary

    Dennis Crow, 65, a retired educator and OTR enthusiast, died of
    cancer on April 20, 2008 at his residence in Gresham, OR, in the
    foothills of Mt. Hood. A life-long resident of Oregon, he was born
    July 6, 1942 in McMinnville, the son of Loyd and Jamie Crow.

    He graduated from Linfield College in 1960 in the town of his birth
    and in 1967 obtained his Masters in Education from Portland State
    College. A year later, he was awarded an advanced certificate of
    graduate studies from the University of Illinois under an NDEA
    Fellowship for experienced teachers. In 1990 he received a coveted
    Superintendent's Certificate from the University of Oregon.

    Crow taught English at Union High School in Sandy, OR from 1964 to
    1979 and then became a school administrator, first as department
    head, then vice principal, followed by principal, and ultimately
    Superintendent of that high school. He retired from that position in
    1995 and took what he described as a "candy store job," working in
    Walden Books where he could share his love and knowledge of books
    with customers. He worked there seven years before the store closed.

    While he enjoyed travel and Shakespeare, his first-love hobby was old-
    time radio. He gave regular presentations on the Golden Age of Radio
    to local Elderhostels, where a 45 minute program could turn into a
    two hour chat. His favorite series was "The Cinnamon Bear" and he was
    a linchpin in the Cinnamon Bear Brigade, which is now in hibernation.
    He was an active researcher in discovering previously unknown facts
    about that juvenile holiday adventure program and marveled at its
    continuing popularity, many decades after it was first transcribed in
    1937.

    Crow attended many radio conventions, including Friends of Old-Time
    Radio (FOTR) in Newark, NJ and the Seattle conventions of the Radio
    Enthusiasts of Puget Sound (REPS.) He was an active member of
    SPERDVAC and the Metro Washington OTR Club as well as a frequent
    contributor to both the OTR Digest and RADIO RECALL.

    He was deeply involved in his community and willingly donated his
    time and talents to many worthy organizations in Sandy, OR. Crow
    served on the board of the Sandy Historical Society and was active in
    their fund-raising. A very religious man, he was an adult Sunday
    school teacher and a former deacon at the Sandy Baptist Church. He
    also had served for the past nine years on the board of the Mt. Hood
    Hospice and was in their care at the time of his sudden death. Family
    has suggested that in lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be
    made to any of these fine organizations.

    His survivors include his wife, Shirley J. Crow nee Boring, (whom he
    married in July 1971, having proposed marriage on their first date,)
    a brother, David Crow, two nephews, Alan and Robert Crow, and a grand-
    niece, Veronica Crow.

    The family wishes to say to the OTR community, in the words of Paddy
    O'Cinnamon, "I am much obliged to you." And the OTR community is
    quite secure in that belief that Dennis Crow earned his Silver Star
    as he was welcomed through the  pearly gates.

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:33:30 -0400
    From: George Tirebiter <tirebiter2@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Whites on Amos 'n Andy

    One of the few surviving episodes from the 1930's network run features a
    guest appearance by Walter Huston playing himself.  I think this is from
    1936. I don't think he's identified as "white actor Walter Huston", but the
    audience would have known he was white.

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:38:29 -0400
    From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
    To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Omega Flats

    MWOTRC was contacted by David DeWitt,  an ex-serviceman, looking for
    an AFRS sci-fi series he heard while stationed at Keflavic AFB,
    Iceland in the late 70s. The series was "Omega Flats" and it
    consisted of several episodes, at least 40.  He is trying to find out
    if any audio copies survived and/or anything about the cast and crew.

    There is a bare-bones website devoted to this series
    <[removed]> but whoever set this up is not answering the
    "contact us" button.  It does however provide a limited amount of
    information, mostly based upon the unknown webmaster's fading memory
    of it. Characters on the show were Zeta Ranger, Mako, Crusty, and his
    brother, Dusty.

    Our club's archives have no information on this sci-fi series.  Any
    Digester know anything about it?

    Jack French
    Editor: RADIO RECALL
    <<[removed]>

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:33:58 -0400
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  4-23 births/deaths

    April 23rd births

    04-23-1564 - William Shakespeare - Stratford-upon-Avon, England - d.
    4-23-1616
    playwright, poet: Several of his works adapted for radio
    04-23-1879 - Talbot Mundy - London, England - d. 8-5-1940
    writer: "Jack Armstrong, The All-American Boy"
    04-23-1884 - Edwin C. Hill - Aurora, IN - d. 2-12-1957
    news commentator: "Human Side of the News"; "Your News Parade"
    04-23-1893 - Frank Borzage - Salt Lake City, UT - d. 6-19-1962
    film director: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
    04-23-1895 - Ngaio Marsh - Christchurch, New Zealand - d. 2-18-1982
    author: "Final Curtain"
    04-23-1898 - Lee Vines - Texas - d. 12-28-1987
    announcer: "CBS Radio Workshop"; "Burns and Allen"
    04-23-1901 - George Harmon Coxe - Olean, NY - d. 1-30-1984
    novelist: "Casey, Crime Photographer" based on his novels
    04-23-1910 - Simone Simon - Bethune, Pas-de-Calais, France - d.
    2-22-2005
    actor: "Inner Sanctum"
    04-23-1915 - James F. Fleming - Baraboo, WI - d. 8-10-1996
    announcer: "Vic and Sade"; "Get John's Other Wife"
    04-23-1918 - Oliver Treyz - Willewemoe, NY - d. 6-14-1998
    director of ABC radio
    04-23-1919 - Clifford Kendrick - d. 9-17-1996
    drums: "Bob Skyles and His Skyrockets"
    04-23-1921 - Janet Blair - Altoona, PA - d. 2-19-2007
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre", "Abbott and Costello"
    04-23-1921 - Warren Spahn - Buffalo, NY - d. 11-24-2003
    hall of fame pitcher: "Tops in Sports"
    04-23-1922 - Jack May - Henley-on-Thames, England - d. 9-19-1997
    actor: "The Archers"; "Sherlock Holmes"
    04-23-1925 - Elena DaVinci - d. 11-10-2006
    host: "Magazine of the Air"
    04-23-1928 - Shirley Temple - Santa Monica, CA
    actor: Judy Graves "Junior Miss"
    04-23-1931 - Tom Pettit - d. 12-22-1995
    nbc reporter: "Meet the Press"
    04-23-1932 - Ed Walker - Forrest, IL
    co-host: "The Joy Boys of Radio"

    April 23rd deaths

    01-08-1908 - William Hartnell - London, England - d. 4-23-1975
    actor: The Doctor "Doctor Who"
    02-15-1905 - Harold Arlen - Buffalo, NY - d. 4-23-1986
    composer: "Songs By Arlen"; "Kraft Program"; "Good New of 1940"
    02-17-1907 - Larry "Buster" Crabbe - Oakland, CA - d. 4-23-1983
    actor: "George Jessel Show"; "Hollywood Showcase"
    03-10-1900 - Peter de Rose - NYC - d. 4-23-1953
    pianist, singer: "Sweethearts of the Air"
    03-19-1907 - Kent Smith - NYC - d. 4-23-1985
    actor: "NBC University Theatre of the Air";"Radio Reader's Digest"
    04-10-1919 - Bruce Buell - Santa Ana, CA - d. 4-23-1996
    annoucer: "California Caravan"; "Mystery is My Hobby"
    04-23-1564 - William Shakespeare - Stratford-upon-Avon, England - d.
    4-23-1616
    playwright, poet: Several of his works adapted for radio
    05-07-1903 - Samuel Herbert Herman - Bronxwood, NY - d. 4-23-1995
    xylophone player: Staff musician for NBC
    05-11-1909 - Ocie Stockard - Crafton, TX - d. 4-23-1988
    bango: "The Musical Brownies"
    05-19-1894 - Henry Busse - Magdeburg, Germany - d. 4-23-1953
    orchestra leader: "Fitch Bandwagon"; "Spotlight Bands"
    05-24-1914 - Vernon (Vern) Carstensen - Clinton, IA - d. 4-23-1999
    announcer, actor: "Box 13"; "Damon Runyon Theatre"
    07-04-1907 - Tommy Carr - Philadelphia, PA - d. 4-23-1997
    actor: Jerry Hall "Magic Island"
    07-21-1911 - Alice Cornett Asherman - Plant City, FL - d. 4-23-2002
    singer: Had own program five times weekly on NBC
    07-24-1917 - Robert Farnon - Toronto, Canada - d. 4-23-2005
    conductor: "AEFP Farewell Party"; "Songs for America"<<223>>
    07-29-1916 - Albert Lewin - NYC - d. 4-23-1996
    writer: "Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy"; "Eddie Cantor Show"
    08-14-1879 - Edna Fisher - NB - d. 4-23-1978
    actor: "The Al Pearce Show"
    09-13-1883 - Lewis E. Lawes - Elmira, NY - d. 4-23-1947
    commentator: "Twenty Thousand Years in Sing Sing"
    10-24-1879 - Benjamin Albert "[removed]" Rolfe - Brasher Falls, NY - d.
    4-23-1956
    conductor: "Lucky Strike Dance Orchestra"; "Believe It or Not"
    11-06-1904 - Selena Royle - NYC - d. 4-23-1983
    actor: Hilda Hope "Hilda Hope, [removed]"; Kathy Marsh "Portia Faces Life"
    12-05-1906 - Otto Preminger - Vienna, Austria - d. 4-23-1986
    actor, film producer, director: "Fun In Print"; "Listen to the People"
    12-17-1902 - House Jameson - Austin, TX - d. 4-23-1971
    actor: Sam Aldrich "Aldrich Family"; Inspector Douglas Renfrew
    "Renfrew of the Mounted"
    xx-xx-1916 - Mike Moser - Spokane, WA - d. 4-23-1953
    producer, director: "Space Patrol"

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

     ***** WARNING! UNHANDLED BAD CHARACTER!!!!!

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

    Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:12:01 -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 nine 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, 23 Apr 2008 10:10:46 -0400
    From: Karen Lerner <kareneflerner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Radio Spirits
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from text/html

       I do not generally use this forum to speak about Radio Spirits, but I
       feel compelled to put in my two cents regarding Dick Fisher's recent
       post about our customer service.

       Customers are always able to reach a customer service representative
       for free by either calling the toll free number printed on our
       catalogs or by sending an email through our website using the "Contact
       Customer Service" link on the home page.  Both of these methods are
       free of charge.  The folks at the toll free number have somewhat
       limited cutomer service capabilities, but they will have customers
       leave a message in the customer service voice mailbox if they cannot
       help, and a representative who can take care of things will
       call back.

       Our standard shipping has always taken 7 to 14 business days from the
       date an order is placed.  This being the case, it is not unusual that
       an order placed on April 14th would not yet be in a customer's mailbox
       on April 21st.  It is also worth mentioning that since Radio Spirits
       changed hands last fall several improvements to our shipping have been
       made - including a switch to "boxes only" packaging (no jiffy packs),
       a switch to a faster and more reliable shipping service, and new
       tiered shipping rates.

       While the company may face some disadvantages without the protective
       safety net of owndership by a large corporation, we also enjoy greater
       freedom without "corporate decision making" and bureaucracy.  One
       example of this, as I hope some Digesters have noticed, is a much
       wider range of new products in addition to the standby popular shows b
       including series like The Railroad Hour, Mayor of the Town, Kraft
       Music Hall, Cloak and Dagger, Pepper Young's Family, and Information
       Please - series that never would have seen the light of day during the
       MediaBay era.

       It is certainly fair to say that we did pick up some baggage with the
       business and we may still have some kinks to work out of the system as
       we try to streamline things down to a size that a smaller company can
       manage, but I think that our customers should actually be able to
       expect a higher level of service, a more diverse product offering, and
       better sounding shows than in years past.  That is certainly what Mark
       and I strive for when we come in to work every day.

       Regards,

       Karen Lerner

       Radio Spirits

      *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
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    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2008 Issue #103
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