Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #170
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 4/21/2003 4:44 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2003 : Issue 170
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Doug's Cincy experience               [ Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed]; ]
  "Lowell Thomas, This Is Your Life!"   [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]
  Stamp Act                             [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]
  Two Questions                         [ chris chandler <chrischandler84@yah ]
  contacts                              [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
  Re :A word to the wise                [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
  MP3's, Cinn. Convention, and A Compr  [ "Shawn A. Wells" <swells@[removed] ]
  Hal                                   [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
  April 22 birthdays                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  Nat King Cole v A&A                   [ "Don Frey" <alanladdsr@[removed] ]
  Noise                                 [ Harry Bartell <bartell@[removed] ]
  Rationing                             [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  The return of Carl Froelich, Jr.      [ jhcollins@[removed] ]
  Re: copy protection                   [ Michael Shoshani <shoshani@[removed] ]
  Lone Ranger Club                      [ JackBenny@[removed] ]

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 13:23:44 -0400
From: Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Doug's Cincy experience

Doug felt slighted by the lack of MP3s at Cincinnati.  I agree--if your
main purpose in attending was to buy MP3s, you were sorely disappointed.
There was one dealer in the corner who had a Bargain Box that contained
some MP3 CDs for $3 each, and that was about it.

But even in the past years when we had MP3 dealers with massive
inventory, they had little that is not available free on the internet.
And I remember one dealer who charged $18 per CD!  Point is, from a
business perspective, when they pay big bucks for a table and figure in
their travel and hotel expenses, they have to charge bigtime just to
break even.

So it doesn't surprise me that few dealers sell MP3s; it suprises me that
so many dealers sell cassettes and seem to do okay (at least they keep
coming back).  My conclusion is that there must be a lot of fans who have
yet to discover computers and the internet.

For me, the beauty of the dealers' room is not the shows available in
whatever format, because they are easily found much cheaper elsewhere.
The wonder of it all is the books, the magazines, the broadcast logs, the
autographs, and the variety of memorabilia from the heyday of OTR that
are available in such quantity at (mostly) reasonable prices.  And you
can hold them and examine them carefully firsthand before deciding
whether or not you just have to have them.

That, and the fact that most of the dealers love talking OTR and they all
seem to have their individual areas of expertise.  The sharing of
knowledge by all these experts is invaluable.  For one weekend a year we
are among fellow OTR enthusiasts, both dealers and fans, and we aren't
considered geeks (or worse) for being so fanatical about our hobby.  We
are loved and appreciated, not scorned and pitied!

So download your MP3s from the usegroups, buy them at four bucks a shot
from the internet dealers, and then use your Cincy time to TALK to
people, establish wonderful friendships, exchange email addresses, and
examine and buy those antique OTR treasures scattered about the room.  It
will keep you going for another [removed]

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 13:24:04 -0400
From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  "Lowell Thomas, This Is Your Life!"

Hi Gang!

   Does amybody out there know the full story about radio newsman Lowell
Thomas's appearance as the subject of one of Ralph Edwards's "This Is Your
Life" TV  segments in the 1950s? "The way I heerd it, Johnny" was that Mr.
Thomas was completely stand-offish & under-enthused  by the proceedings.
Supposedly, when Edwards asked Thomas if he recognized a voice from behind the
curtain, a blase' Thomas intoned "No!" When the voice's speaker was revealed
to be Thomas's third-grade teacher [or somebody just as  equally  marginal in
Thomas's life], Thomas said "So?"
   Clue me in somebody.
   If  there's anybody out there in the ether who has never heard Lowell
Thomas breaking up on-air  in uncontrollable fits of laughter after mistakenly
spoonerizing [hi, John Rayburn] the story about a circus fat-lady having a
"near-fartal infation" instead of a "near-fatal infarction,"  you can hear it
on the Great American Audio (GAA) boxed set "Too Hot for Radio," which was
produced by Anthony Tollin.

Yours,

Derek

[removed]: I would have wished everybody a "Happy  Ether" last week, but that
would've been too obvious.

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 13:24:20 -0400
From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Stamp Act

It's me again:

    I appreciated Hal Stone's comparisons of collecting OTR programmes to
stamp collecting in regards to having to pay extra for quality. However, I do
think our very own Jughead should have used a different metaphor, because,
after all "Philately will get you nowhere!"

Numismatically yours in the ether,

Derek

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 13:24:46 -0400
From: chris chandler <chrischandler84@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Two Questions

Hey [removed] are both slightly technical
questions, feel free to reply privately if you're so
inclined.

1.  I'm looking for a good noise reduction computer
program.  I've been using a several-years-old version
of Cool Edit, but while it does indeed erase cracks
and pops from old discs, it also makes whoever's
talking sound like the Cylons from Battlestar
Galactica!  There's gotta be something better--what do
some of you use?

2.  I've unexpectedly come into possesion of three old
commercial 16" turntables. One of them is so huge I
just can't keep [removed] I'm wondering if anybody has
any use for--or if there might be a market for--a big
old commercial RCA circa-1950 16" stand-alone
transcription turntable.  It is HUGE, literally about
the size of a small washing machine, and is in fine
working condition, a real historical curiosity as well
as a functioning player.  Question is: is it just
junk, or would anybody, anywhere WANT it?  haha  What
should I do with the thing?

chris

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 13:24:59 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  contacts

Hi Everybody, I would like to interview a spoke persons of these Old Time
Radio Clubs to help promote them on Yesterday USA.  Reps, RHAC, Vic and
Sade.  If there any hoster of a web site that feature OTR, or any authors
that I have not gotten in touch with to help promote your project please
drop me an email to make sure I set up an interview with you for this year.
Take care,

Walden Hughes

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 13:26:18 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re :A word to the wise

Steve McGuffin, in his post titled "Hal Stone, Beware", has made me
incredibly paranoid. So much so, I may not be able to be seen in public at
future Conventions.

Sorry that it took me so long to warn you, Mr. Stone, but I just thought you
should be on your toes. My mother (age 64) called and ordered your book,
Relax, Archie, Relax for me for Christmas.  She was quite taken with you.
She
made a point of telling me several times how nice you were on the phone, how
charming, etc.  So, my father (age 70) was getting pretty ticked off about
all
of this, until I pointed out to him that you are both fellow Air Force
veterans.  That may have saved you, at least temorarily.

That last sentence has an ominous ring to it. Hell hath no fury like a
jealous husband who learned to shoot in the air force. (Yes gentle readers,
we did learn to handle weapons in the Air Force. We didn't just walk around
looking pretty in our uniforms.)

When Steve recounted how much his Mother was "taken with me", it rekindled
all sorts of memories. I gotta tell you, in my early years, I was quite a
"stud muffin". Charm was my middle name. It's comforting to know that I
didn't lose "that", like I did my hair.

When your Dad's not looking, give your Mom a hug for me. I love to live
dangerously.

But tell your dad not to worry. My lovely wife Dorothy keeps me on a short
leash.

But you obviously have a great Mom. How else could she raise a son who
turned out so intelligent, perspicacious, and laden with such discriminating
literary taste. To wit;

Seriously, folks, Hal's book is quite entertaining, I finished it in less
than
48 hours, even amongst the hustle and bustle of Christmas.  And, just as a
reminder, in case anyone out there hasn't ordered their copy yet, you can do
so by going to the following web site:
[removed]

How's that plug, Hal?

Wow! Incredible. And thank you Steve. In a recent posting, I declared that I
would no longer be promoting my book in these pages. It's a blast when
someone else does it for me. I don't want to sound like a broken record.
(get the OTR tie-in?) Or should I be current and say "a broken Mp3".

And by the way, let me also mention that every year when my mother orders my
quota of OTR related Christmas presents, she always mentions how nice
everyone
in the hobby is.

I see she has yet to encounter Hastings. :)

Thanks, Steve. And tell your Dad Happy landings. By the way, show him the
section in the book about my Military career. He might get a kick about that
screw up.

Regards

Hal(Harlan) Swelled Head Stone

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 13:27:27 -0400
From: "Shawn A. Wells" <swells@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  MP3's, Cinn. Convention, and A Comprimise

Greetings! This post will cover a number of the recent topics discussed
here, it maybe a little long in length, but I hope it's well worth the read.
What really got me interested in posting was Doug's post on "Black sheep
perspective of the CincyCon." He mentions feeling like an outsider, and even
though the OTR Conventions are geared toward all who has an interest, he
didn't feel all that welcome. I am partially to blame for the lack of
atleast one OTR dealer, who also carries CD-MP3's. As I had mentioned in an
earlier post, I came down with a bad case of the flu, and was unable to
attend. Although I can't speak about events at this years Cinn. Convention,
however I am positive that no one there intentionally meant to make anyone
feel left out, or as an outsider. Doug, you should definitely attend next
year, come over to my table and I'll take you around an introduce to all the
great folks there. I'll bring one of my CD 'Boom Box' players and will crank
up some Jack Benny, etc. to help drown out Terry's Lone Ranger CD's. :-)
When people attack the MP3 format, they generally use the 'Sound Quality'
approach. The easiest way to counter that attack is to produce high quality
MP3's that can rival or 'out perform' other recording formats. The secret,
if there really is one, to achieving high quality sound with the MP3 format
is the same as it would be with any recording medium.
1. Use have to have good source material
2. You have to have good transfer equipment ([removed] clean heads on the open
reel deck, cassette deck, a high grade needle on the Transcription
Turntable)
3. A good sound card on you PC and good recoding software
4. Good digital audio restoration software that will allow you to edit out
imperfection in the audio
And when producing MP3's, you'll need some additional software such as a
high quality MP3 encoder, and using the higher bit/sample rates.

Even though the above formula looks simple enough, it's can get very costly.
My good friend Dick Fisher commented sometime back about the cost of
original transcriptions he saw on the well known auction site. You start
investing large sums of money for materials, equipment (plus keeping it
maintained), software, etc. it doesn't take long to rap up literally 10's of
thousands of dollars. Which brings me to the next topic; Jim Widner
commented on the subject where someone had spent $[removed] for 1,600 Lum And
Abner shows. I completely agree with Jim and his comment, "You forget that
person selling those shows for $21 is making virtually pure profit because
he was probably not the person who obtained the original copies and encoded
them. Sure, it's easy for him to sell the shows at that price!." I worked on
a project similar to this some time ago. It cost me a small fortune, and
took over 10 months of work. Now my asking price would be a complete
'shocker' compared to $[removed] I knew when I was working on that series that
it was going to be very difficult to just break even on it, let alone make
anything for all the work. Anytime you see someone selling MP3 CD's for next
to nothing, it's a very safe bet to assume that that person has very little
or nothing invested in them, other than downloading them from some place on
the net. The only other answer is that that person would have to be a
multi-millionaire or have a distribution base the size of Radio Spirits' to
just come close to breaking even. I realize that I am not the cheapest
dealer to come to for CD-MP3's, but I do believe that my 'Re-Mastered
Series' (CD-MP3's) catalog and the 'Direct From Transcription' (Regular
Compact Discs) catalog are of the finest in sound quality.
We have all seen threads on this digest on subjects like, "Hoarding", "OTR
For Free," and then responses from basically two different sides. Each side
having expressed their concern, I feel that an easy compromise can be
reached. I, like many other collectors, have a number of rare and
un-circulated programs that I haven't released mainly because I don't think
I'll be able to recover the costs financially, and I personally can't afford
to take large losses. I would assume that other collectors are in the same
position. On the other hand, there are folks who believe that OTR should be
freely available to anyone with an interest, and that by spreading the shows
around, this will ensure that they can be enjoyed by future generations and
not run the risk of becoming lost forever. Those that wish to freely
distribute the material should have a right to do so, but it would be unfair
to ask those that can't afford to take the financial loss to carry the
burden. So, if those that would like to distribute the material freely will
pay current market value for the material from those that have it, then they
should be able to make the shows available in any manner they choose. I will
do my part; I will transfer the material and send out either RAW digital
transfers on CD's, or I will even clean and restore the shows onto CD's at
no charge to the buying party. To keep the digest from being filled with a
lot of contact information, just e-mail me privately, and I will put
together and make it available so that both parties can work out the
details, etc. and make this happen.

Thanks
Shawn Wells
([removed] Sorry again about the long post)

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 13:27:58 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Hal

Hi Everybody, I wanted to mention if any one has not yet bought Hal book
please do so.  Go to [removed]  if you have heard the
interview
that Hal has done with the Gassman that is in SPERDVAC and think you know
all of Hal,s stories,  I would recommend the book to learn more good
stories.  Question for Hal when the opening of Archie was with Archie
calling for Judhead and the audience heard a window opening rather than a
telephone, then you said your famous lines.  Where were  you standing?
Were you operating on the dead side of the Mike, or where you a few feet
behind Bob and reading your lines?  I am wondering when you did your first
radio recreation for FOTR in the 1980s.  What kind of emotions were you
going through?  Did it feels like you were a fish out of water because you
have not done a radio show in over 30 years, or did it come back easily?
Maybe Conrad would mention how he felt doing his first recreation show after
being out of the business.  Take care,

Walden Hughesrst

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 15:06:24 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  April 22 birthdays

If you were born on the 22nd of April, you share your birthday with:

04-22-1900 - Joan Blaine - Fort Dodge, IA - d. 4-19-1949
04-22-1902 - John W. Vandercook - London, England - d. 1-6-1963
04-22-1908 - Eddie Albert - Rock Island, IL
04-22-1920 - Hal March - San Francisco, CA
04-22-1923 - Bettie Page - Kingsport, TN
04-22-1926 - Charlotte Rae - Milwaukee, WI
04-22-1936 - Glen Campbell - Billstown, AR

Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Make your day, listen to an Olde Tyme Radio Program

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 15:37:01 -0400
From: "Don  Frey" <alanladdsr@[removed];
To: "otr message" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Nat King Cole v A&A

Thanks to the gentleman for clarifying the story of Nat King Cole and
the Amos and Andy Show. I had posted it after hearing an interview with a
woman who
claimed to be there and had seen it. Perhaps all afro-americans looked alike
to her.

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 15:37:20 -0400
From: Harry Bartell <bartell@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Noise

In my humble opinion, all the current foofarah about MP3  and who should pay
how much to whom for what is absolutely ridiculous.

The vast majority-- if not every one--of those shows has been pirated
somewhere along the line, in violation of union agreements for payment to
the artists involved for repeats and recordings. If a collector thinks he
shouldn't pay for something I suggest he doesn't buy it. But let's stop all
the philosophical noise about an item that is illegal to begin with.

Harry Bartell

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 15:38:12 -0400
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Rationing

Apropos of nothing, but since we're talking about [removed]

My brother-in-law and his significant other were over to our house last week
for a seder (ritual Passover dinner).  The significant other hadn't been to
the house before, and my brother-in-law had extolled my collection.  As they
were wandering wide-eyed through one of the major rooms of old radios,
victrolas, 78s, and all the associated Jack Benny/movie/radio/stage/music
ephemera covering the walls and dangling from the ceiling, they noticed a
ration book.

"Oh, look!  You've got a ration book!" says one of them.

"Yeah," says I, "and it's full of ration stamps.  I figure if I can't find a
job and things get tough, I can always use those."

--LL

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 16:09:56 -0400
From: jhcollins@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The return of Carl Froelich, Jr.

Mike Kerezman, Jr wrote:

...Carl Froelich, Jr is still in business selling
Old Time Radio on cassette. I recently received a catalog from him after a
three year [removed]

That's great, Mike, thanks for posting this! How does one get in touch with
him? He was my first and favorite source of OTR tapes until he disappeared
a while back. Has it only been three years? Seems longer. -John Collins

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 16:54:46 -0400
From: Michael Shoshani <shoshani@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: copy protection

Michael Berger wrote:

Apologies if someone already has suggested this, but
one practical way to avoid copy ripoffs is to transfer
all master tape and disk material to DVDs, encoding it
to prevent copying. That would create a database for
the collector/vendor.

Individual shows to be sold could then be transferred
to CDs with the same encoding to prevent copying.

With the copy ripoff problem disposed of, unknown
collectors who have with held material for this reason
may be encouraged, by vendors or others, to release
what might be a treasure trove of material, not just
shows, but sports events from the 30s and 40s that are,
as yet, unreleased, except in brief snippets, such as
the dramatic finish of the 1941 All Star Game.

The intent is noble, but the solution impractical.  Most CD copy
protection schemes have proven unworkable from a compatibility
standpoint - they are designed to defeat computer CD-ROMs, which work
from a buffer; however, many modern standalone CD players ALSO work
the same way, and they can't play these discs.

Plus, there is no CD copy protection in the world that can stop
someone from tapping the analog outputs and recording that way.  With
OTR, an analog step in the digital change will make little if any
noticeable difference, and all it takes is the one copy "in the wild"
to defeat even the most expensive CD copy protection. Same thing with
DVD audio; it has analog outputs that will connect to anyone's
computer sound [removed], instant copy.

Don't forget that even with the DMCA, the Audio Home Recording Act
with amendments STILL legally permits the home user to make one (and
ONLY one) digital copy of his or her legally acquired digital media
(CD or otherwise), for one's own personal use. Yes, there are
irresponsible people who will 'rip and upload' copies of anything they
get their hands on in the name of "sharing", but copy protection will
not stop this - it will only stop the legitimate user from making his
or her one legal copy to take in the car to play so the original
doesn't get stolen.  Plus, let's say that in 20 years the CD format is
obsolete.  How DO you transfer your legally-purchased but
copy-protected collection to whatever medium is currently playable?
What if the original publisher is out of business - how do you get an
"extraction key"? Meanwhile, the pirates have already hacked a
workaround, or simply digitally recorded the analog output of an
analog playback device

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 16:53:42 -0400
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Lone Ranger Club

Since I'm mostly focused on comedy, someone may have mentioned this and I
missed it.  But just noticed this blurb in the recent [removed]
newsletter:

Official Lone Ranger Fan Club Started

Joe Southern, of the Silver Bullet newsletter, is starting a new fan club in
celebration of 70 years of the Lone Ranger! The club package will include an
8 x 10 membership certificate and color photo, a one-year subscription to the
Silver Bullet, a membership card and more.  Plus, later in the year, deputies
will receive a mystery premium!

Read the complete article on-line at:
[removed]#CC26

Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #170
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