------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2006 : Issue 291
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Two cents about Fred [ Russ Butler <songbook2@[removed]; ]
Shows that aren't common anymore/que [ Chargous@[removed] ]
Re: Likes and Dislikes [ "Bill Harris" <nbcblue@[removed]; ]
#OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig [ charlie@[removed] ]
Allen - Funny vs. Not Funny [ Penne <bandpy@[removed]; ]
RE:Fred Allen [ bob davis <bob_d60@[removed]; ]
Comedians [ "RadioAZ@[removed]" <radioAZ@bas ]
Re: OTR Comedy vs Drama [ Philip Chavin <pchavin@[removed]; ]
OTR Preferences [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]
re: Fred Allen and XM [ Anthony Akins <asakins@[removed]; ]
X Minus What? [ "Karen Lerner" <[removed]@[removed] ]
Who's on first? [ Tom Greenli <tom_greenli@[removed]; ]
Norman Corwin Interview Re-broadcast [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
War of the Worlds - The Simpsons ver [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:18:26 -0400
From: Russ Butler <songbook2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Two cents about Fred
Fred Allen (John Florence Sullivan from Cambridge, MA) was primarily a
vaudevillian and he brought the comedy stage to radio as many comics
did. Listening to his weekly trip down "Allen's Alley," knocking on
each door revealing a familiar character on the program, was pure
vaudeville. He let the cast get the punch lines and laughter. The sight
gags were in the imagination of the listener, and the topical humor was
his take on the newspaper headlines of the week.
I was always amused by Fred's writing (he started typing the next week's
show and sketches as soon as he was off the air) - the flat out, funny
stuff was Jack Benny's forte with his cast of characters, especially Mel
Blanc.
His humor was perhaps an acquired taste for most. He was highly
literate, and very often came across as absurd. He battled censorship
with the NBC =suits= but his top rated broadcasts kept him on the
schedule. Fred's writing was funny and clever, you had to listen to get
the humor or read his books and letters.
Fred Allen was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988 - that was
32 years after he died on the night of St-Patrick's Day.
=Russ Butler songbook2@[removed]
(Also a Bostonian like Fred!)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 01:40:34 -0400
From: Chargous@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Shows that aren't common anymore/question
about baseball and big bands
There are some series that were fairly common 10 years ago, but are almost
impossible to find a decent lo-gen copy of anymore;
Charlie Chan and the Landini Mystery
Moon Over Africa
Blackstone, The Magic Detective
Phyl Coe Mysteries
Charlie Chan & Phyl Coe are the only ones I'm really trying to find. Mp3
is easy enough to find, but finding a quality, lo-gen copy is pretty
hard. Hopefully this won't be a trend for other series as well, becoming
scarce as time goes on.
When "When Radio Was" was better, in the Art Fleming era when they used to
play obscure and different shows, these series were played, where I hard
them for the first time.
There's also the equally annoying category of fairly easy to find, but
impossible to find in good sound (Mystery is My Hobby, It's A Crime Mr.
Collins, most of Danger With Grainger, That Hammer Guy, etc. etc. They all
are in 42nd generation sound.
Charlie Chan wasn't a great transfer (old turntables should be seen and not
heard) so the sound's not going to be sparkling, but it would still be nice
to find it in lo-gen.
While I'm at it, who would be the best source on big band remotes and old
time baseball broadcasts? Both are rather ovelooked in most collections,
so it's tough to find either in quality sound in any large numbers.
Travis
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 01:40:55 -0400
From: "Bill Harris" <nbcblue@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Likes and Dislikes
Elizabeth McLeod wrote:
As to the question of A&A, well, I wrote a book about them
And as Fred Allen would say, "I can't understand why anyone would want to go
to all the trouble to write a [removed] can go buy one for a couple of
bucks."
Bill H.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 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, 25 Oct 2006 09:57:34 -0400
From: Penne <bandpy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Allen - Funny vs. Not Funny
Speak about funny vs not funny! I just couldn't let this slip by. When I
read Chris Holm's note
on Allen, this part broke me up( I'm still laughing.) quote: "it makes me
want to hit myself in the face with
a brick." unquote. I may be the only one who found this at all to be
funny, but it just shows how one may react
to what they consider funny, versus another of the opposite opinion. For
example, one may cringe at the thought
of hitting onself with such a "weapon" (if hitting oneself at all), while
another (me) pictures it as impossible, therefore "funny". By the way, if
anyone is tallying, put me on the "funny" list for Fred. (sometimes, I laugh
out
loud in a theater - all by myself) Just silly me!
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:31:21 -0400
From: bob davis <bob_d60@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RE:Fred Allen
There's a couple of Fred Allen appearances that stand
out to me. The "Brooklyn Pinafore" with Leo Durocher
makes me laugh because my first exposure to baseball
as a boy was Durocher's '69 Cubs. Durocher's singing
and Allen's "Iam an Umpire" routine are great. Later,
Allen did a 1950's interview about the state of comedy
and what he said then was right on. As he put it, the
pressure on comedy was greater than ever with the
demands put on it by television. And, he said that
television comedy was basically slapstick - something
which hasn't changed much since then. My personal
favorite comedy is Groucho Marx in You Bet Your Life.
His quick, unrehearsed jokes with real people beats
anything else I've heard.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 13:16:58 -0400
From: "RadioAZ@[removed]" <radioAZ@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Comedians
In the discussion about Fred Allen and topical humor, consider this:
Thirty years from now, who will be lining up to buy retrospective DVDs of
monologues by Jay Leno, David Letterman, [removed] Certainly not people born
today. But 30-somethings who watch those guys regularly now will be that
audience.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 13:17:20 -0400
From: Philip Chavin <pchavin@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: OTR Comedy vs Drama
In Digest #288 Sam Bliss offered an opinion and I'd
like to respond here. He feels that OTR
dramas/adventures are much more entertaining (to him,
anway) than the comedies, in large part because
they've held up better. I have respect for his view -
it's probably a majority view.
But I'm entertained tremendously by recordings of
"dated" OTR comedies (Bob Hope, for example). To me,
hearing such comedy now is a wonderful experience. As
for not holding up: When I listen to OTR comedy I
don't listen to it as I would to modern day comedy; I
listen to it with historical perspective. I imagine
how the "dated" broadcast sounded to the studio and
national audience just at that point in time and I get
in the historical mood - I'm listening to Bob Hope's
topical jokes as though I'm listening to him on the
radio in 1946 (or whenever); a kind of time-travel.
That's very entertaining to me.
-- Phil C.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:22:32 -0400
From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OTR Preferences
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
I agree, preferences for OTR are subjective and shouldn't be opened
to a vote. They are, after all, just individual opinions which are different
across the board. There are no right or wrong answers to which OTR programs
were the best or worst. If feedback is what we're looking for then we should
ask to be contacted by those interested offline.
Back on topic: Does anyone have any information on "Quiz Kids"?
Anything would be appreciated (broadcast dates, casts, sponsors, etc.). One
of the things which drew my interest in the program was the type questions
asked. The way they were worded made you wonder whether there could ever be
any answer to them at all. Yet, once an answer was provided it made sense
and
caused you to wonder what the next question would be. Sometimes, the younger
kids on the panel could surprise you by answering the questions the older
ones could not. In some ways, it was like a younger version of "Information
Please". BTW, was there ever a television version of this program? Just
wondering.
Also, I've heard of an OTR program called "Professor Quiz", but have
yet
to be able to locate any information on it or find any available eps of it.
Another OTR Fan,
Kenneth Clarke
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:22:15 -0400
From: Anthony Akins <asakins@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: re: Fred Allen and XM
In Volume 2006 : Issue 290 William Harker wrote: "Does XM (or
Radio Spirits from which XM appears to obtain a lot of its
programming) carry Fred Allen?"
Yep, XM does carry the Fred Allen show. My guess is about one
week a month XM will play the Fred Allen show. I'm pretty sure
it was on last week, which suggests, if I'm right about the
frequency, it will be two-three more weeks before another
episode is played.
Anthony Akins
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:44:03 -0400
From: "Karen Lerner" <[removed]@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest (E-mail)" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: X Minus What?
First, many thanks to Howard Blue for making my Orson Welles/Freedom of
Speech mystery episode quest a short one! ([removed] those of you who have
met me, no short jokes here please!) :)
[removed] I have been sent in search of a specific X minus one story about a
"microbial" invasion force that is about to take over the world, but at the
last moment it is discovered that they are in the body of a condemned
prisoner who is about to be electrocuted.
Does this ring any bells for anyone? I have a customer who would be so
thrilled if I could give him a title and/or broadcast date.
Karen Lerner
Radio Spirits
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:06:39 -0400
From: Tom Greenli <tom_greenli@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Who's on first?
Who's on first?
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their
famous sketch, "Who's on First?" might have turned out
something like this:
*COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT*
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den
and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at
the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows I need a computer and
software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can
use to write proposals track expenses and run my
business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend
anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK,
let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want
to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOT T: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".
COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you
don't start with some straight answers. What about
financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track
my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer?
How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a lic ense to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on
"START"...............................
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:23:48 -0400
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Norman Corwin Interview Re-broadcast
Folks;
If you missed the hour-long interview with Norman Corwin aired on XM
Satellite Radio's "The Bob Edwards Show" in July of 2005, you'll get another
chance this Monday on XMPR, Channel 133 - 8:00 am and 9:00 am in the east,
7:00 am and 5:00 pm in the west. If you aren't a subscriber to XM Satellite
Radio, you can get a free three-day pass for XM Online at
[removed] and hear the show online all day on Monday.
Charlie
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 19:23:59 -0400
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: War of the Worlds - The Simpsons version
FYI: For their annual "Treehouse of Horror" episode, broadcast around
Halloween every year, this year the Simpsons "are doing a segment titled
"The Day the Earth Was Stupid," ...a takeoff on Orson Welles' infamous 1938
radio broadcast, "The War of The Worlds."
Infamous? I disagree with that characterization:
Mirriam-Webster online dictionary: Infamous:
1 : having a reputation of the worst kind : notoriously evil <an infamous
traitor>
2 : causing or bringing infamy : DISGRACEFUL <an infamous crime>
3 : convicted of an offense bringing infamy.
Webster's Dictionary: Infamous
1. Of very bad report; having a reputation of the worst kind; held in
abhorrence; guilty of something that exposes to infamy; base; notoriously
vile; detestable; as, an infamous traitor; an infamous perjurer.
False errant knight, infamous, and forsworn.
- Spenser.
2. Causing or producing infamy; deserving detestation; scandalous to
the last degree; as, an infamous act; infamous vices; infamous corruption.
3. (Law) Branded with infamy by conviction of a crime; as, at common
law, an infamous person can not be a witness.
4. Having a bad name as being the place where an odious crime was
committed, or as being associated with something detestable; hence, unlucky;
perilous; dangerous.
Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds.
- Milton.
Full article on ABC website:
[removed];page=1
Irene
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2006 Issue #291
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