Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #299
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 8/1/2002 4:50 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 299
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Re: 1925 Transatlantic Broadcast.     [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Re: Help the White House!             [ "Vince Long" <vlongbsh@[removed]; ]
      Answers for Hire                      [ "Vince Long" <vlongbsh@[removed]; ]
      "I sur hope Petrillo doesn't hear of  [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]
      Sleepy Time OTR                       [ "JLF" <infom@[removed]; ]
      Signal 10                             [ "glen schroeder" <gschroeder10@char ]
      How Much MP3 Recording Frequency Req  [ "Gerber, Barry" <bg@[removed]; ]
      Falling asleep to otr.                [ "glen schroeder" <gschroeder10@char ]
      Radio detectives                      [ AandG4jc@[removed] ]
      2LO London                            [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
      OTR--A Sleep Aid?                     [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
      Re: otr and sleeping.                 [ gad4@[removed] ]
      AFTRA Pension Scandal                 [ Kubelski@[removed] ]
      Thank you Hal Stone                   [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
      Inquiries                             [ Serialous@[removed] ]
      OTR instead of a sleeping pill!       [ Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 12:16:08 -0400
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: 1925 Transatlantic Broadcast.

    On 8/1/02 1:04 AM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:

>     I remember reading that the first transatlantic broadcast happened in 1926.
>     It was a broadcast from station 2LO London that was relayed to the us.  Does
>     anyone on the list have any technical details on it, frequencies, content
>     etc?

    You're thinking of a special transatlantic relay program which took place
    on 3/14/25. The program originated at 2L0, London, and consisted of two
    main segments -- a dance band remote from London's Savoy Hotel, and a
    studio program featuring a violin and piano. The transmission was not
    received from 2L0 directly -- the station was linked by land line to 5XX,
    Daventry, an experimental high-power longwave station which transmitted
    25,000 watts at 1560 meters. (5XX had been established in Chelmsford in
    1924, but the new Daventry transmitter wouldn't officially go in service
    until July 1925 -- the March 15th program was strictly experimental.)

    The 5XX transmission was received by RCA's experimental relay station BF,
    in Belfast, Maine (coincidentally my birthplace, and I can tell you
    there's no trace of station BF there today). The signal was then
    retransmitted by BF by shortwave, on 70 meters, and received at the RCA
    laboratory at Cortlandt Park in New York, from which it was sent by
    Western Union land line to station WJZ which transmitted the signal over
    its regular medium-wave channel. The program was also sent by Western
    Union land line to WRC in Washington, another RCA station often linked in
    network programming with WJZ. Milton J. Cross of WJZ served as stateside
    announcer for the broadcast, but no US material was transmitted to London
    during the event -- it was strictly a one-way experiment.

    The quality of the transmission varied. Reports from Belfast, ME
    indicated that the longwave signal came in loud and strong at station BF
    -- but the quality of the shortwave relay from BF to WJZ was extremely
    poor, and the program material could barely be heard underneath the
    static and fading.

>     Does a recording of this program exist?

    About half an hour's worth of excerpts exist, recorded on 78rpm wax
    masters by an unknown recording facility -- where the technicians
    apparently tuned in the program on an ordinary radio and placed a
    microphone in front of a horn speaker to pick up the sound. The result
    makes a barely-audible program even less audible -- the sound is rough
    and metallic and you can sometimes sense the sound of music under the
    noise. The local station ID by Milton Cross, on the other hand, comes
    thru clear and strong.

    These discs may have been made for Dr. Albert Goldsmith of RCA, but
    exactly who did the recording has never been positively determined. (The
    only substantial clues are the red-brown Pathe-Perfect style shellac from
    which some of the discs were pressed, and the voice of one of the
    recording engineers, who can be heard at the start of one of the segments
    saying "Hello, Carl!") The actual discs are now held by the Library of
    American Broadcasting, from which tape copies can be obtained.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 12:16:22 -0400
    From: "Vince Long" <vlongbsh@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Help the White House!

    On 7/30/02 petersenharris2@[removed] asked:

>     Hi!  It's your friendly researcher working on a documentary for the White
>     House Association.  Help!  I'm looking for recordings of Will Rogers
>     regarding any Presidents of the United States!  A date?  A tape?  Anything
>     will [removed]

    The Will Rogers Heritage Trust may be able to help.  I have one of their
    books that has transcripts from 16 of his Good Gulf Show broadcasts from the
    early to mid 30s.  The book has an excellent index.  The organization also
    has recordings.

    You can find the book, "Radio Broadcasts of Will Rogers" here:

    [removed]

    Their main page is:

    [removed]

    and you might also visit:

    [removed]

    Vince

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 12:16:52 -0400
    From: "Vince Long" <vlongbsh@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Answers for Hire

    Google, the search engine, has been running a Beta test of a new service
    called Google Answers.  They have recruited, at this point, over 500
    researchers who will find answers to you questions on pretty much any topic
    there is.  It costs 50 cents to list a question and you can offer any amount
    from $2 - $200 for an answer.

    I used the service recently and paid a small amount for some information
    that would have taken me hours to find on my own.

    Several OTR-related questions have appeared already so those on our group
    who have a wealth of knowledge (we know who you are) may like to sign up as
    researchers.  For the rest of us, it's just fun to read through the Q&A.

    They have not provided a prominent link to the service yet.  It can be found
    under the "Jobs, Press, Cool [removed]" link at:

    [removed]

    or directly at:

    [removed]

    This is a pretty nice concept as long as answers to our questions on this
    list remain free.  ;-)

    Vince

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 12:17:07 -0400
    From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  "I sur hope Petrillo doesn't hear of this!"

    Hi Gang:

       I,  once again, would like to acknowledge the astute insights of Sean
    Dougherty in bringing the Wall St. Journal article re: musicians union leader
    James C. Petrillo to the collective attention of the OTR community.
       And, once  again, I'd like to point out another OTR cultural reference
    to yet another 1940s Warner Bros. cartoon.

       In "Hurdy-Gurdy Hare," Bugs Bunny buys an  organ-grinder & a monkey, who
    seems to be pocketing the  tin-cup proceeds. When Bugs learns of the petty
    theft, he kicks the little simian out of the act. The monkey then gets a hefty
    zoo gorilla to wreak vengeance  on Bugs, who, at the film's conclusion,
    "soothes the savage beast [sic]" with the hurdy-gurdy music.
    Bugs then recruits  the gorilla to use strong-arm tactics to "encourage"
    donations & Bugs ends the catoon addressing the audience "I sure hope Petrillo
    doesn't hear of  this!"

    Yours in the ether,

    Derek Tague

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 12:17:13 -0400
    From: "JLF" <infom@[removed];
    To: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Sleepy Time OTR
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    The RIO 100 (probably other models) has a sleep feature you can set. Only
    negative is you have to set it every time as you can't set a default. It also
    remembers where you stopped for the last 10 CD's (down to the second). In my
    opinion the only negative thing is an awful manual - must have been written by
    the person who designed it!

    I have no financial interest in Rio ..... blah blah [removed]

    JLF

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    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 12:17:24 -0400
    From: "glen schroeder" <gschroeder10@[removed];
    To: "otr" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Signal 10

    Hi listers.

    The person who talked about the program It Could Be You which dealt with
    people getting stopped by actual policeman made me think of a program that
    was on WGN in Chicago in the 50s and into the 60s called Signal 10. Does
    anyone else remember this show. It consisted of real policeman stopping cars
    for various violations, and also contained driving safety tips.  My best to
    all.

    Love dis list

    Glen Schroeder

    Madison WI

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 12:29:46 -0400
    From: "Gerber, Barry" <bg@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  How Much MP3 Recording Frequency Required to
     Preserve Original   OT R Sound Quality
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    On another subject:

    Barry Gerber wrote last time,

>     The DCJ500 is perfect for OTR because it plays MP3 files recorded at very
>     low frequencies, which is how most OTR MP3 files are recorded. The sound is
>     great. You don't need CD-quality sound for OTR.

>     Shawn wrote:

>     I would have to disagree with you on both points Barry. Not all OTR in Mp3
>     are low codes, as a matter of fact I have about 200 CD's worth of all high
>     codes. As for not needing CD - quality sound for OTR, I think it's sad that
>     you have never heard a high quality, crisp, clean show, but to each his own
>     I suppose. Shawn

    Don't feel too sad, Shawn.  I've been an OTR fan for 35 of my 60 years, the
    same period of time I've been an information systems consultant, recently
    for the commercial digital film making industry (both sound and image).  I
    have listened to a couple thousand OTR shows on radio, reel-to-reel,
    cassette, CD and in MP3 format.  I am also a classical music lover (live and
    recorded).  I know personally and professionally what excellent sound is and
    I can say with some confidence that I have never heard an OTR show that
    requires CD quality sound to preserve its sonic characteristics, all of the
    digital tinkering that the likes of Radio Spirits claims to do to the
    contrary not withstanding.  This is not to say that recording at higher MP3
    frequencies doesn't eliminate some MP3 artifacts, but I can put well over 60
    hours of MP3 OTR on a CD ROM and listen to it without any noticable
    artifacting and, more importantly, without offense to my
    classical-music-oriented ear.  Finally, I must note that I didn't get into
    OTR to satisfy my hi-fi sound sensibilities.  I'm interested in the content
    of the shows, not their sound quality.  When I want radio with high sound
    quality, I visit one of the many live radio theater groups here in Los
    Angeles that do both old and new radio or I listen to modern radio drama on
    CD or FM radio.

    Barry

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 13:02:35 -0400
    From: "glen schroeder" <gschroeder10@[removed];
    To: "otr" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Falling asleep to otr.

    Hi listers.

    For those of you who fall asleep listening to otr on cassettes and wish the
    tape would shut off when you go to sleep, there is a gadgethat you can hold
    in your hand that shuts off the machine. It works because your hand relaxes
    when you are falling asleep and the tape player shuts off. These devices are
    used by blind people that read talking books on cassettes. You  do need a
    remote mic plug on the machine you are using. There is also a player
    available for about $[removed] that has this feature built in. If anyone is
    interested in this gadget or tape machine, contact me privately and I'll try
    and stir you in the right directions.

    My best to all.

    Love dis list.

    Glen Schroeder

    Madison  WIu

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 13:08:28 -0400
    From: AandG4jc@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Radio detectives

    I have two questions for the OTR sleuths out there on the list.
    1. Was there ever a "Lone Wolf" radio series? I have heard the character in
    an early episode of Suspense, played by Hollywood actor William Warren, who
    also played him in the film series. It seems to me that "The Lone Wolf" was a
    poor clone of "Boston Blackie" and "The Saint." Don't get me wrong I liked
    the particular episode of Suspense with "The Lone Wolf." By the way that
    episode was entitled "Murder Goes For A Swim " 7/20/1943.

    Question 2.
    The other day I purchased a wonderful tape series from Radio Spirits called
    OTR Master Detectives. While sitting at home and listing to the tapes I was
    reading the booklet by Anthony Tollin. He states that in one episode of
    Philip Marlowe, William Conrad (OTR's Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke) filled in for
    series star, Gerald Mohr. Does anyone know the name of that episode? I know
    that [removed] reads these digest from time to time and I hope maybe he can
    shed some light on the subject. Plus are there, in the works, any new
    collections from Radio Spirits that are coming out soon?
    Thanks for the help,
    Allen

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: To answer the second question, it's "The Anniversary Gift,"
    aired 04/11/50. See:

    [removed]

       ...and choose "Adventures of Philip Marlowe" from the Radio section of the
    pop-up, then click "Display." Corrections or additions are _always_ welcomed.
    --cfs3]

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 13:08:50 -0400
    From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  2LO London

    <<<Dave Marthouse inquired about the first transatlantic
    broadcast by 2LO in London in [removed];

    The station was one of 17 shortwave stations of the BBC
    in 1926.  The broadcast frequency for 2LO was 365 meters
    with 3,000 watts of power.  The strongest BBC station listed was 5XX in
    Daventry, England with 26Kw, according to Tom Kneitel's "Radio Station
    Treasury 1900-1946" who
    reprinted a collection of early, published radio station logs.
    No information about the broadcast content, however.  I wonder if they used
    the Big Ben, hourly chimes in 1926?

    Russ Butler   oldradio@[removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 13:09:16 -0400
    From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR--A Sleep Aid?

              I have heard OTR referred to as a lot of things, but NEVER
    a sleep aid!  If  there's any audible sleep aid, I MHO, it would
    have to be MUZAK--not OTR!  Sitting through 15 minutes of
    Chopin while waiting for your bank representative to come back
    on the line is more than any human being should have to bear!

              Like I said in the last issue of the OTR Mailing List, when I
    feel stressed by the events of the day (bills, telemarketers calling
    at 3:00 AM, being exposed to news about bombings, terrorists,
    and child kidnappings, etc.)  I settle down and listen to some OTR.
    The positive messages in "Amos 'n Andy", laughter from listening
    to "Fibber McGee and Molly", "The Jack Benny Show", or "The Edgar
    Bergen and Charlie McCarthy Show", suspense from "Suspense",
    the mysterious adventures of  "Ellery Queen", "Nero Wolfe", and
    "The Shadow", and the  daffy hi-jinks of  "My Favorite Husband",
    "My Friend Irma", and "Blondie" all provide the respite which is
    necessary.

              It's really fascinating for me when I consider the wonderful
    special effects which provided the necessary impact to the story
    just by some well placed organ music or the sound of  bomb
    explosions, gunshots, and of course the terrified screams from
    actresses that sent shivers up my spine!  TV may be filled with the
    'high tech' effects some call impressive, but it pales in  comparison
    with the 'low tech'/more emotive effects of radio!

              I hope there are some of the people who provided the special
    effects and performed on OTR reading this.  Sometimes, I MHO,
    a well placed effect (like a creaking door, the increasing swell of
    organ music, or sudden frightening scream) can hold my interest in
    the program as much as a well written/well acted script!

    Kenneth Clarke

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 14:19:13 -0400
    From: gad4@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: otr and sleeping.

>     I join Mike Thompson and Chris Holm in listening to OTR cassettes when I am
>     going to sleep.     If only technology would make it possible for the
>     cassette player to sense when we have fallen asleep and automatically shut
>     off and save wear and tear on the cassettes.  :))

    One option to this that Ive used it the Rio Volt mp3/cd player. These
    actually have a timer where you can set to stop playing after whatever time
    you specify.  And with the cd medium there is no mechanical contact,
    therefore no physical wear.  Many nights I set the rio volt to play for an
    hour at a low volume. If it stops too early, I set it a little longer:)

    George

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 15:05:40 -0400
    From: Kubelski@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  AFTRA Pension Scandal

    Apparently, "Sam" of soul group "Sam & Dave" is in litigation with AFTRA over
    his pension and has a compelling case that artists in AFTRA are getting
    swindled by their own union.

    I figure there must be some AFTRA retirees on this list - anyone want to
    comment on the situation as it applies to OTR veterans as opposed to musical
    recording artists?

    The details can be found at the weblog "[removed]" -
    [removed].  It is written by a University of Tennessee Law School
    professor named Glenn Reynolds who holds a special contempt for the recording
    industry in general, just to put his comments on the situation in context.

    Sean Dougherty
    Kubelski@[removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 15:12:02 -0400
    From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
    To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Thank you Hal Stone
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    Thank you, thank you, Hal.

    I knew that you would handle Neil Crowley's comments better then I.   He
    pushed so many of my buttons that I'm still sputtering about his assault on us
    and deleted my emotional attempts at responding to him, waiting for you to do
    it.  And you did handle him brilliantly!   His bulletproof shutters can't
    protect him from the truth as you told it.

    Hal said:

>     Now all you posters know. One of the reasons national League baseball fans
>     hated the Yankee baseball organization was not the great players that they
>     had over the years. but that teams supercilious, arrogant, overbearing and
>     obnoxious fans.  :)

      Neil sent me back in time,  into the annoying Yankee fan mindset of the 50s,
    reminding me of how I used to feel about the Yankees and their fans in the
    50s.   Some things never change.    :)))

    We know the difference between the very healthy, spirited, and funny,
    Giant-Dodger rivalry as opposed to the way Yankee fans acted.    They  always
    seemed to think they were better then us, in a class of their won, above the
    fray.   Hah!!!

    I think we NY NL fans have moved forward, matured.     I've rooted for the
    Yankees from time to time in AL playoffs, and I think Derek Jeter is cute.

    And I'm grateful to the Yankees for the SF Giants now-retired great
    broadcaster Hank Greenwald was with the Yankee organization for 2 years.

    Look into your heart, Neil.  See the error of your ways.  Cover your back.
    :))

    Irene
    IreneTH@[removed]

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    [ADMINISTRIVIA: Um, any chance we might get back to OTR anytime soon? Maybe?
    Please?  --cfs3]

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 16:20:52 -0400
    From: Serialous@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Inquiries

    Just a few questions here

    1. How many of the Rudy Vallee Sealtest Shows w/ John Barrymore are in
    existence. I never seem to find any.

    2. I was recently listening to a series of Jack Benny programs where Jack was
    trying to replace Dennis during his tenure in WWII. I was wondering if there
    was a marketing signifigance to having a singer on a show, or was it an
    example of it being the norm to have a spot like that on a comedy or variety
    program?

    3. Gee Hal, us Yankee fans being the most supercilious, arrogant, overbearing
    obnoxious fans in baseball? Those are the adjectives that describe the Mets
    fans who drove me to Yankeedom some 15 years ago. Just to prove how smart
    Yankee fans are, there the only MLB team to make the fans remember a player
    by their number alone. (I can't believe I'm having an arguement with Jughead)

    Michael "Bleeds Yankee Pinstripes" Nella
    serialous@[removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 17:48:41 -0400
    From: Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR instead of a sleeping pill!

    "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed]; comets:

>     I join Mike Thompson and Chris Holm in listening to OTR cassettes when I am
>     going to sleep.     If only technology would make it possible for the
>     cassette player to sense when we have fallen asleep and automatically shut
>     off and save wear and tear on the cassettes.  :))

    OK, here is how you do it. First use a recorder that has a jack
    for a remote stop/pause. Find an older thermostat, one that has a
    mercury switch. This is the little glass bulb with two wire
    contacts inside with a blob of mercury. When the bulb is tilted so
    that the mercury contacts the two wires the circuit is closed.
    Remove the mercury switch from the thermostat and tape it to your
    arm just below the wrist so that when the arm is held in a
    vertical position the mercury makes contact with contacts in the
    bulb. Connect the mercury switch to the remote jack of the
    recorder. When laying in bed rest your arm with the switch on the
    bed, bent at the elbow so that the part of the arm between the
    wrist and elbow is in the vertical position causing the mercury to
    make contact. Now turn on the recorder and listen to your favorite
    OTR program. When you fall asleep, the arm will fall to the
    horizontal position, the mercury flows to the opposite end of the
    bulb opening the circuit and the recorder will stop.
    Or, you could wire a remote button that has to be held down to
    activate the recorder and when you fall asleep and relax, you
    release the button and the recorder stops. ;>)
    I really love this technical stuff!

    Bill H.

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #299
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