Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #10
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 1/10/2002 11:55 AM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 10
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Two shows                             [ Richard Carpenter <sinatra@ragingbu ]
      Caricatures, Burma Shave, Memories    [ leemunsick@[removed] ]
      Burma Shave Signs                     [ "Donald & Kathleen Dean" <dxk@ezlin ]
      Old Time Radio Digest                 [ lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed]; ]
      Superman and President Kennedy        [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
      For MP3 collectors only               [ "Poindexter" <poindexter12@[removed]; ]
      Today in Radio History                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Transcribed                           [ Jim Murtaugh <JimM@[removed]; ]
      Superman at Fifty                     [ "Donald Skuce" <donskuce@[removed] ]
      Casablanca                            [ Alan Chapman <[removed]@verizon. ]
      Re: Shorty the Barber                 [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Phil Harris/Bob Crosby                [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
      Date Aragon Remote?                   [ "Henry R. Hinkel" <hinkel@[removed] ]
      Writing                               [ Harry Bartell <bartell@[removed] ]
      seeking these Frebergs                [ Ben Ohmart <bloodbleeds@[removed]; ]
      Re: Burma Shave                       [ "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; ]
      Radio and Cartoons                    [ "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 10:35:28 -0500
    From: Richard Carpenter <sinatra@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Two shows

      I guess I'm in an inquisitive mood tonight. I recently purchased two MP3
    discs, mainly because I hadn't heard of either. One is "2000 Plus," a sci-fi
    show about the wondrous world of 2000 and beyond (heh!), and the other is
    "The Unexpected," a series of 15-minute shows with twisty endings. Does
    anyone have any information on what years these shows appeared, what network
    (if any) they were on, [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 10:39:16 -0500
    From: leemunsick@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Caricatures, Burma Shave, Memories

    In reply to Kenneth Clarke's query about radio CARICATURES, probably the
    most famous place in New York City for such showbiz portraits was Sardi's
    Restaurant.  Where they all are now, I don't know.

    Sardi's has a special, warm spot in my memory.  Around 1950, I was
    befriended by a new hire at CBS Listener Relations, who supplied me with
    lots of photos, news releases, and even tickets to radio (and that other
    word) shows.  One day he called me, and asked when would be my next day out
    of school.  I told him (it was a [removed]'ll see shortly why I
    remember that), and he said to come in to his office at 11:00 [removed] for some
    stuff.  This was [removed]'d never been to his office, for that matter
    any office inside CBS!

    It seemed to me that he was stalling around, going through his desk and
    handing me various pictures, etc.  Finally, he looked at his watch and
    said, "It's time for [removed] on, it's on me".  We went to Sardi's.  I
    obtained a sprained neck, looking at all the pictures on the wall, and then
    eyeballing the folk seated at every table, many of them celebrities of
    various sorts.  Sardi's was the place for them to be seen, and I wasn't
    about to waste such an opportunity!

    In my opinion at the time, for such ogling, it was seconded by Colbee's
    Restaurant, the snack spot for many CBS people.  On the ground floor of the
    CBS Building, Colbee's was used as an inside alley way by CBS employees, to
    get from 485 Madison, across the side street to the studio building from
    whence came the Arthur Godfrey programs, among various others!   I am
    informed by our fellow poster Doug Douglass, that that building was
    recently sold and (sob) torn down!  "Progress!"

    After our delightful lunch at Sardi's (I have no idea what we had to eat,
    and at the time could have cared less!), my host said "I've eaten too
    [removed]'s go for a walk".  We exited and to my surprise, we turned
    west--AWAY from his CBS office at 485 Madison Avenue.  With no further
    comment, we wound up in what is now called the "Ed Sullivan Theatre", which
    is where the Letterman show now originates.  (I agree with Andy Rooney that
    it should be called the "Arthur Godfrey Theatre").

    He had made arrangements with someone high up in "Arthur M. Godfrey
    Productions" for me to sit in on the rehearsal for the next day's Wednesday
    night top-rated Godfrey hour-long TV program.  I suspect the arrangements
    were made with producer Larry Puck, who later married soprano Marion
    Marlowe.  Probably permission came from Mr. Godfrey himself, who sat and
    chatted with me several times.  I shall never forget all this; all the cast
    were unbelievably nice to me, and I was thoroughly aware that they didn't
    have to be.  I was able to repeat this a few more times over several years,
    before I went off to college.

    In more recent times, I have revived that friendship with as many of the
    Godfrey Gang as I could locate.  Among many others, these talented,
    hard-working, kindly folk have provided a wealth of information for my
    proposed book on Arthur Godfrey, his activities and associates!

    One was Sy Shaffer, the trombonist who for years, numerous times each day,
    provided that famous sliding note into the Godfrey themesong, Carmen
    Lombardo's famous "Seems Like Old Times", made a hit by that constant
    exposure.  Sy was that silly voice on the record of the "Too Fat Polka",
    one third of "The Cherry Sisters", the novelty trio on many of the Godfrey
    recordings, consisting of Sy, clarinetist Johnny Mince, and band
    leader/arranger Archie Bleyer (later of Cadence Record Fame).  Later on, Sy
    left the Godfrey stable to become musical director of the Vienna State
    Opera!  He returned to New York some years after that to found a successful
    "jingle factory".  Sy told me when we met again a few years back for an
    FOTR panel, "Oh, now I remember [removed] haven't changed that much!"  No,
    of course not, from age roughly 15 to 55 plus!

    More regarding CARICATURES:  While not exactly what you referred to, you
    should look into Frank Bresee and Bobb Lynes' excellent 1998/99 book,
    "Radio's Golden Years - A Visual Guide to the Shows & the Stars".  Each of
    its 254 pages is a magnificent, unique salute in caricature form, plus
    topical data about a whole bunch of radio performers.  The format is
    roughly similar to the artwork layout of the old "Ripley's Believe it or
    Not" newspaper panels.  The book boasts an excellent index of all the
    performers included (something far too many modern "reference works" omit)
    and a fine Foreword by none other than Norman Corwin, which should give one
    some idea of the importance of this work.

    For information, contact Frank Bresee Productions, PO Box 1222, Hollywood
    CA 90078, or perhaps the SPERDVAC Library.

    For my final performance in this recital, I can recommend a book on BURMA
    SHAVE signs.  It's called "Burma Shave: Jingles By the Side of the Road" or
    very close to that.  It's great fun!

    For information on this gem, go to:
    [removed]

    I stress I have no interest in or connection to either of these works, but
    I'm sure any OTR fan will  love them.  I hope you enjoy them as much as the
    folk who have commented here recently, so positively about "And Now for the
    [removed]".  Another fine gem loaded with radio references, it's an
    incredible education about that momentous year, which started off in
    triumph with the end of WWII, and then saw our country and the world
    descend from joy and relief to revelations about the previously unknown
    horrors of the Axis cruelty, revolutions, international wrangling, the
    onset of the Cold War, labor strikes and strife, etc.

    Happy reading!  Lee Munsick   That Godfrey Guy

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 10:40:03 -0500
    From: "Donald & Kathleen Dean" <dxk@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Burma Shave Signs

    In the previous Digest #8 Kenneth Clarke issued the
    following:

>               Also, I'd like to issue a challenge to any members of
>     the mailing list to send me some examples  of Burma Shave

        signs which they remember.

    I have in my possession a 121 page book called The Verse By
    The Side Of The Road by Frank Rowsome, Jr. with drawings
    by Carl Rose.  It's the story of the Burma Shave signs and
    jingles. The copyright year was 1965 by Frank Rowsome, Jr.
    and published by Stephen Greene Press in Brattleboro, Vermont.
    Pages 71 to 121 contains the texts of all 600 Burma Shave Signs
    by year. This book is very interesting and contains the history
    of Burma Shave and the story behind this great advertising
    campaign. I would imagine it could still be available in some
    libraries or may be for sale on the internet. The signs started in
    1927 and ended in 1963. There were only 2 sign jingles in 1927.
    4 in 1928 and 1929. By 1930 the campaign really took off as
    there were 19 sign jingles for that year and averaged that same
    amount through 1963 when it all ended. So here's the very first
    one listed in the book for 1927:

    SHAVE THE
            MODERN WAY
    NO BRUSH
    NO LATHER
    NO RUB-IN
    BIG TUBE 35 CENTS
            DRUG STORES
    BURMA-SHAVE

    Here's the last one listed for 1963:

    OUR FORTUNE
    IS YOUR
    SHAVEN FACE
    IT'S OUR BEST
    ADVERTISING SPACE
    BURMA-SHAVE

    The one's in between are the best.

    Don Dean - N8IOJ

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 10:39:22 -0500
    From: lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Old Time Radio Digest

    Can anyone help me?  The newsletter/print publication
    Old Time Radio Digest Seems to have disapeared?  I
    payed my subscription in early 2001 and have never
    recieved an issue.  I have tryed contacting Editor
    Bob Burchette by Phone and e-mail with no reply.  Is
    any one else getting any issues?  Any one know
    anything??  Thanks for any info in advance!!!

    Lynn

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:02:07 -0500
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Superman and President Kennedy

>     Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 00:40:56 -0500
>     From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];

>     Another story, where Superman helps JFK with his Council on Physical
>     Fitness, was set to go to press when the assassination occurred.  It was
>     subsequently postponed until LBJ and the Kennedy family gave [removed] the okay
>     to print it.

    I remember that.  It was called "Superman's Mission for President
    Kennedy."  When they published it, they had a new splash page, showing
    JFK's ghost towering over the Capitol dome, with Superman flying up to
    the right, looking at the ghost with a sad look on his face.   They
    explained that they pulled it at the last possible moment after the
    assassination, but they were now publishing it at the behest of President
    Johnson.

    --
    A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
     15 Court Square, Suite 210                 lawyer@[removed]
    Boston, MA 02108-2503           	         [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:02:27 -0500
    From: "Poindexter" <poindexter12@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: For MP3 collectors only

    If you don't frequent the OTR newsgroups, you may not know about a Windows
    (see Charlie, we do pay attention) program called Otter.

    It has a number of built in databases for shows and can be used to easily
    keep track of which episodes you have or don't have for a given series.  It
    can be used to rename whole folders of shows to just about any naming format
    you use, make text files of what you have or what you're missing and show
    duplicates regardless of the file naming format. Each program in the
    database has a simplified log for the show, with date and episode title.

    I have found it to be a very useful tool.  I didn't write the program (I
    wish I had that ability) and I don't think there is a website associated
    with it.  It was posted anonymously in the newsgroups and as far as I know,
    that's the only place to get it.  It is free.

    If you don't have newgroup knowledge or access, I can e-mail the program to
    you upon request with the usual 'as is' disclaimer.  It is a ZIP file just
    about 1MB in size, requires no installation (just unzip into a folder and
    run the program file).

    Poindexter

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:02:35 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Today in Radio History

      From Those Were The Days --

    1943 - The quiz show, The Better Half, was first heard on Mutual radio
    this day. The program brought four married couples to compete in stunts
    involving traditional concepts of,‘manhood’ and ‘womanhood’.

      From a long time subscriber --

    1952 - The Modern Adventures of Casanova, premiered over Mutual,
    starring Errol Flynn.

       Joe

    --
    Visit my home page:
    [removed]~[removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:02:51 -0500
    From: Jim Murtaugh <JimM@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Transcribed

    			Even though I have been collecting for a number of
    years, I'm not very proficient I in the technical phase of old time radio,
    that is, I don't always know the meaning of all of the terms.  I have been
    listening to a run of the Great Gildersleeve, and the announcer says that
    the show is "partially transcribed".  What exactly does that mean?  What
    parts of the show would be transcribed, and what wouldn't?  Thanks for your
    help.

    			Jim Murtaugh

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:03:19 -0500
    From: "Donald Skuce" <donskuce@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Superman at Fifty

    For those of you who are interested in securing
    a copy of "Superman at Fifty" there are several
    copies for sale at [removed]

    [removed] is a consortium of used and rare book
    dealers.  I just checked and there appears to be
    a couple of dozen copies for sale.

    Don Skuce

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:06:20 -0500
    From: Alan Chapman <[removed]@[removed];
    To: Old-Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Casablanca

> >     I've read that CASABLANCA was originally supposed to star Ronald Reagan
> >     and Ann Sheridan in the Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman roles.

>     How about the version I just heard this week?  Alan Ladd and Hedy Lemarr!

    No rumor.  Alan Ladd and Hedy Lamarr did star in Casablanca ... on the
    Lux Radio Theater, 1/24/44.

    Alan Chapman

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:07:49 -0500
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re: Shorty the Barber

    On 1/10/02 10:51 AM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:

>      Listening to a later "Amos 'n' Andy" as I drove home from work tonight, I
>     found myself wishing Shorty the Barber was still part of the series. Does
>     Elizabeth or anyone know what happenbed to him? Did he move on or pass on?
>     Surely, his stuttering and sputtering weren't suddenly seen as politically
>     incorrect in a series that itself was accused of being incorrect? Or is his
>     absence just one of life's unsolvable mysteries?

    Lou Lubin, who played Shorty, was a veteran stage performer who had done
    a stuttering act on radio in the mid-thirties as part of the blackface
    team of Swor and Lubin (Swor was Bert Swor, who was one of several
    "straight man" performers to play the role of "George Moran" in the Moran
    and Mack team after Charlie Mack and the real George Moran had a
    falling-out.) Their signature routine was a "debate," in which Swor would
    browbeat Lubin into a stammering wreck as Lubin tried to argue his point.
    This bit was reprised several times in 1940s A&A episodes, notably with
    James Baskett's "Gabby Gibson" character in the Swor role.

    Lubin was added to the A&A cast in 1944 as part of an agency edict to
    "make it funnier." A&A had never been a "belly laugh" show before the
    sitcom era, and Correll and Gosden themselves were never "belly laugh"
    performers -- and thus didn't feel equipped to do belly-laugh material.
    Hence, it was reasoned, a performer suited to more exaggerated
    characterizations was needed to produce a louder response from the studio
    audience -- and, by extension, the listeners at home. Lubin remained with
    the series until 1951 when CBS budget cuts rendered his role expendable
    and he was eliminated. He died in 1973.

    Interestingly, Freeman Gosden himself had a slight stammer, which can be
    heard in several of the surviving recordings of 1929 syndication episodes
    -- rather than try to suppress the stutter, he turned it into an
    effective character trait for Amos. His oldest son also stammered until
    overcoming the habit by sheer force of will -- and today, Freeman Jr. is
    a member of the National Advisory Council of the National Stuttering
    Association, an association which provides education and support services
    for stutterers and their families.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:58:49 -0500
    From: JackBenny@[removed]
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Phil Harris/Bob Crosby

    Phil Harris joined the Jack Benny Program on 10/4/36, and last appeared there
    on 6/1/52.  Bob Crosby joined the show on 9/14/52, and stayed for the rest of
    the radio run (to 5/22/55).

    There are many people who say that Phil left the show because of bad feelings
    and arguments about money.  When I spoke with him in 1990, he showed no
    malice about the departure.  The writers had started to include him only in
    the first 15 minutes of the program, after which Phil would leave the studio
    and run down an alleyway to get to his own show and warm up the audience.
    After a while of doing that, it just wasn't worth the headache to continue.

    I have heard of "Speaking of Radio", and there's a set of them dedicated to
    Jack Benny that are available through our audio library.

    --Laura Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 12:59:00 -0500
    From: "Henry R. Hinkel" <hinkel@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Date Aragon Remote?

    Rich Pratz wrote:

>     Knowing I am a native Chicagoan, Tas sent me a tape of WGN's last
>     remote broadcast from the Aragon Ballroom featuring Wayne King and
>     his Orchestra. <snip>
>     The only thing missing from that broadcast is a date.  I would dearly
>     like to know when that farewell broadcast from the Aragon took place.

    Wayne King did the "Farewell Broadcast" at the Aragon on February 8, 1964.
    Nancy Evans, Jim Hayes, Jack Ladell and Franklyn McCormack were also heard
    on this WGN broadcast.  It was a nice tribute to the ballroom with a few
    reminices mentioned along with the music.  A sound clip can be heard of the
    opening of this broadcast at the Big Band Bulletin Board at Lou Genco's site
    at  [removed]

    Hank Hinkel

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 13:18:13 -0500
    From: Harry Bartell <bartell@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Writing

    In answer to Rodney Bowcocks' question:

    Vic Perrin and I wrote two Gunsmoke scripts. We plotted the stories
    together. He did the dialogue for one and I did the same for the
    other--"Chester's Inheritance".
    I also wrote scripts  for many years for the Dear Abby broadcasts on
    CBS.

    Harry Bartell

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 13:18:49 -0500
    From: Ben Ohmart <bloodbleeds@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: seeking these Frebergs

    Hi. I'm looking for the following Stan Freberg
    interviews, all from 1989 I think. If you have them,
    please get in touch. Thanks.

    1989
    1/2. STAN FREBERG ON LARRY KING. Two cassettes.
    Promoting book, "It Only Hurts When I Laugh;"
    background on Chung King commercial and plays it (95%
    don't buy it), and Contadina; played small part in the
    movie "Gentleman's Agreement;" Walter Tetley and
    Sunsweet Prune commercial (plays the commercial);
    David Merrick problems; "Green Christmas" problems
    from advertisers; plays Encyclopedia Brittanica ad
    (Ray Shark, Terror of the Deep, Orchid and Bee, Space,
    The Eagle Has Landed, and Amazon Rain Forest);"Freberg
    Underground," pay radio; plays "Cue the Marischino
    Cherry;" Time for Beany; early morning phone calls to
    Bob and Ray at home in the 1960's; plays a commercial
    for "It Only Hurts When I Laugh;" and background on
    Puffed Grass commercial.

    2/10. STAN FREBERG ON RAY BRIEM. Promoting book, "It
    Only Hurts When I Laugh;" background on Pacific
    Airlines commercial; Freberg at Capitol records; early
    morning phone calls to Bob and Ray at home in the
    1960's; Milburn, Australia Olympics, Freberg carried
    torch; celebrity reactions to "The Great Pretender,"
    George Shearing, and "Try;" pay radio; background on
    Sunsweet prune commercial; early times at Warner
    Brothers; Trouble in River City and Walter Tetley and
    his wrinkles; on an episode of "Suspense;"and sound
    effects and "Banana Boat."

    6/23. - SAME TIME, SAME STATION. Freberg on with John
    and Larry Gassman. KPPC, Pasadena public radio. Two
    cassettes. Promoting volume 2 of "Stan Freberg
    Presents the United States of America." How Freberg
    gets ideas for his comedy. On Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 of
    "Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America."
    The Beany and Cecil shows. Feud with Bob Clampett.
    CLIP of Stan Freberg with Jack Benny. Freberg did
    camel noises on 1/9/44 Jack Benny program. On his
    kangaroo sound for The Phil Harris--Alice Faye Show.
    Balloon story from "Beany and Cecil." Reaction to
    "Take an Indian to Lunch." On his daughter Donna.
    Walter Tetley background. Call from JUNE FORAY. Johnny
    Ray and "Try." On Frank Brisee and Phil Harris. Tap
    dancer story on the making of Vol. 2, Theyard (sp?)
    Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers. "When Radio Was."
    His voices for Warner Bros. and Pete Puma, "Pullet
    Surprise." in 1996.

    - ---------------
    TV & film stills western & nostalgia books
    [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 13:54:46 -0500
    From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Re: Burma Shave

    M Kinsler wrote:

>     The future holds
>     Cell phone and jet
>     Wait till you see
>     The Internet.
>     Burma Shave

>     I'm not too sure about that last one.

    The mother of one of my closest friends has this for her outgoing (answering
    machine) message:

    Brevity is
    The soul of wit
    Leave a message
    And we'll answer it!
    Burma Shave.

    Michael J. Hayde

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

    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 13:55:19 -0500
    From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Radio and Cartoons

    This will probably arrive too late to do me any good, but: at Friday night's
    meeting of the [removed], I'll be doing a presentation on "Radio and
    (Theatrical) Cartoons."  As part of the program, I'll be running six
    examples for which radio provided the 1)theme, 2)denouement or
    3)inspiration.  So here are my questions before the board:

    First, do you have any favorite examples or memories of radio-related
    cartoon shorts?  Second - and this is especially directed toward those of
    you (like myself) who classify as baby boomers - how many latter-day OTR
    fans were introduced and/or spurred on by the constant references and
    catch-phrases in cartoons (particularly those from Warner Bros.)?

    Michael J. Hayde

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #10
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