------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2005 : Issue 295
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
elizabeth mcleod's amos 'n' andy boo [ "W. Gary Wetstein" <wgaryw@pacbell. ]
NO DIRECTION HOME [ <cooldown3@[removed]; ]
Re: When Better is possible, is Good [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@j ]
That Old Gang of Mine ... [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@j ]
No Girls Allowed? [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
Black & White Ed Murrow film [ "HOWARD BLUE" <khovard@[removed]; ]
Jackie Gleason on radio?? [ "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@sbcglob ]
#OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig [ charlie@[removed] ]
OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK [ "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed] ]
9-28 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Re: A "[removed]" [ mikeandzachary@[removed] ]
Tommy Bond [ "Jim Harmon" <jimharmonotr@charter. ]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 17:50:56 -0400
From: "W. Gary Wetstein" <wgaryw@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: elizabeth mcleod's amos 'n' andy book
this is a long overdue posting to laud the outstanding
book released a couple of months ago by elizabeth
mcleod, "The Original Amos 'n' Andy: Freeman Gosden,
Charles Correll And The 1928-1943 Radio Serial".
for the record, i have no affiliation with the
wonderful ms. mcleod, other than a very occasional
e-mail exchange.
the bottom line, for those lacking the patience to
read my extended ramblings below, is that this book is
a *must read* for anyone interested in amos 'n' andy,
the history of early old time radio, or the comic
serial format generally. "must read" is an abused and
overused cliche in book reviews, but in this case no
other phrase would fit.
if there is an overarching theme to the book, it's
that correll and gosden's contributions to
broadcasting, which were far reaching and numerous,
have been unfairly obscured by the various
controversies surrounding amos 'n' andy over the
years: [removed], they virtually invented the concept of
syndicated broadcasting, the daily serial format, and
to a large extent, the very concept of a fully plotted
continuing radio series. what louis armstrong was to
american popular music, correll and gosden were to
broadcasting.
in addition, mcleod also concerns herself largely with
shattering numerous well-established myths surrounding
the duo and their show. for instance, she
thoroughly-- yet respectfully-- debunks the notion
that amos 'n' andy was a controversial show during its
initial serial run. she convincingly presents
evidence that the only major organized protest against
the show by african americans was by a philadelphia
newspaper in 1931, and that the publisher's motivation
was more likely to increase the circulation of his
newspaper than any to express genuine outrage. in any
event, the public failed to rally around the cause,
and the first instance of serious organized protest
against amos 'n' andy occurred didn't OCR until the
television era. even then, mcleod points out, the
radio show-- which was still on the air-- remained
almost entirely outside the storm of controversy.
she also demonstrates, through fascinating excerpts
from the original scripts, that the world of amos 'n'
andy was far from a simplistic and demeaning
exploitation of stereotyped minstrel characters. the
lack of surviving recordings from the serial era, and
the huge popularity of the later radio and television
sitcom versions, have all but completely obscured how
diverse and individualized the characters populating
the amos 'n' andy universe were. in fact, it may have
been the only show on radio to have presented african
americans as anything *but* subservient characters
anyone reading the digest for a while must be familiar
already with ms. mcleod's always informative posts
(though she's been dismayingly absent for quite a
while. . . ), so it will come as no surprise that the
book is extremely well-written, perfectly straddling
the language line between serious academic study and
readability. there's enough material here with enough
backing evidence and research to justify a doctoral
thesis, but the prose is never anything less than
completely fluid and accessible, unlike so many
academic pop culture studies (ever read any "serious"
film criticism? my *goodness*.)
the book itself is hardbound with a lovely laminated
cover (no dust jacket included or required), with
numerous black and white photos throughout. an
appendix provides a detailed analysis of the ratings
history of the program over the years, which debunks
yet another myth that the soaring popularity of the
show in its early years was followed by a sharp
decline in listenership in the early '30s.
it is a bit on the pricey side, $45 new on amazon, but
there are also independent sellers with copies
available at a lower price. bearing in mind, though,
the monumental nature of the task at hand, and my
guess that mcleod's years of research work was not
funded by grants, and the fact that the topic itself
has such a limited potential readership, i can't
imagine she will ever receive anything close to the
compensation she deserves. i was quite happy to
contribute something to the "cause". i've spent far
less on other serious OTR studies and regretted the
money spent. this book is well worth the investment.
here's the link to buy the book at [removed] (i have
no affiliation with amazon, either):
[removed];s=books&n=507846
there hasn't been too much mention of the book here on
the digest, and i wonder if this is because people are
unaware of it, or perhaps have been inhibited from
purchase by the price. i'm very interested in the
opinions of others who have read it, though, and would
love to see some discussion of it started here on the
digest.
please forgive the lengthy post. i guess we should
all be grateful i don't post more often than i do. :)
regards, and congratulations to elizabeth,
--wgw
[ADMINISTRIVIA: Of course, purchasing instead from Barnes and Noble helps support the Digest while getting you a great price:
[removed];sourceid=39917910&bfpid=0786420456&bfmtype=book
--cfs3]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 19:23:31 -0400
From: <cooldown3@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: NO DIRECTION HOME
Having been a young lad of 17 in Hibbing in 1959 while he was there I will
tell you this. He is not the person most people would invite into the home.
He is notliked by most of the people who knew him.
Cheers,
patrick
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 19:25:39 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: When Better is possible, is Good enough?
Craig, writing about MP3 versus restored originals, notes,
No offense meant, but that reasoning has always eluded me.
I suppose this is the difference between eating to live or living to eat,
metaphorically. If one is listening to OTR shows nostalgically, an
adequate sound quality is acceptable. If one desires to hear the highest
fidelity possible, though, one has to go above "adequate."
To back off from that, is like saying, "Sure, I know that a new
from-the-negative, frame-by-frame digital restoration of my favorite
Hollywood Classic Film looks better than anyone ever saw it, save the
original editor - but I'm happy with my slp-mode VHS, of a worn, cut,
panned & scanned 16mm TV print, 'cause that's how I first watched it."
This, I think, is an unfair analogy. I have probably several thousand
OTR programs in MP3 format, but this is more due to the fact that MP3
disks can contain more program material than a straight audio CD. In an
ideal world, I'd like the higher fidelity, but for _entertainment_, I can
get by with the MP3s. When I was growing up, I didn't complain that I
had to listen to The Lone Ranger on my bedroom radio while my folks were
listening to something else on the console in the living room. Nor
should I now.
I have an MP3 player with a transmitter that I can send to my car's FM
band. If I'm on a long trip, I'd rather hear a lot of OTR without having
to switch CDs.
My basic feeling is that for whatever purposes one uses MP3 playback,
there's nothing wrong with it. If one is a dedicated audiophiles, the
tolerance threshold shouldn't inhibit others. "Perfect" sound is nice,
and all things considered is more aesthetically satisfying, but it
shouldn't be mandatory.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 19:26:03 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: That Old Gang of Mine ...
Melanie Aultman asks,
I'm familiar with the "Rat" and "Brat" Packs. Was there such in OTR?
I know many were friends [Jessell/Cantor Cantor/Benny, etc.]. Any
"gangs" then?
Probably not, because in the OTR era, there was "Gang Busters." :-)
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 19:26:47 -0400
From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: No Girls Allowed?
I've purposely been staying behind the curtains for the past week as
the suggestions poured in to suggest best detective shows on radio. And
alas, every single suggestion has been a show with a man in the lead.
Virtually every popular male sleuth has been mentioned so far,
including a few that weren't always crime-solvers, like the heroes of
"Box 13" and "Night Beat."
This "male choice domination" was one of the reasons I wrote PRIVATE
[removed] give the ladies their proper due.
"Candy Matson" is not only the best female detective show; it should
rank in the Top Twenty of any OTR fan's list of Best Detective Shows.
Each episode was exciting, clever, witty, and geographically accurate
in all respects.
Mercedes McCambridge as "Defense Attorney" solved crime mysteries
better than most male attorneys, including "Perry Mason," "Mr. District
Attorney." "Roger Kigore" etc.
And, among the early 30s syndicated crime shows, "Phyl Coe Mysteries"
certainly demonstrates feminine strength and intuitive solution to
crime mysteries.
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 22:04:57 -0400
From: "HOWARD BLUE" <khovard@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Black & White Ed Murrow film
Kenneth Clarke wrote:
I heard . . . it fared quite well when it was
screened at the Cannes Film Festival and received several kudos for the
content and the black and white format in which it was filmed.
Quite clever the idea of a film in black and white -- I was wondering if
it's been done before -- then I let my mind wander and thought of another
possible experiment. How about a film with no picture!? It could be
conveyed even in cars where people could listen without having to look - Any
ideas of what to call it?
Howard
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 22:05:28 -0400
From: "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jackie Gleason on radio??
Hi!
This is something that fell through the cracks in August when KNX radio
moved out of the old CBS/Columbia Square Building after 67 years.
I was wondering about part of a KNX promotion piece that listed TV legend
Jackie Gleason among several CBS radio personalities:
"In 1938, KNX moved into the new KNX/CBS Studios on Sunset Boulevard in
Hollywood which became famous as "Columbia Square". It was here that the
great CBS Radio stars such as Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, Jack Benny, Gene
Autry, Steve Allen, Edgar Bergen, Bing Crosby, Orson Welles, Red Skelton,
Jackie Gleason, George Burns and Gracie Allen made history broadcasting
their shows in front of a live audience"
So, my question is, did Jackie Gleason ever have his own radio show on CBS,
or was he included for his TV work? Even so, Gleason worked out of New York
City, not Hollywood, correct?
Jim Hilliker
Monterey, CA
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 02:12:00 -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, 28 Sep 2005 07:49:28 -0400
From: "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK
Hi Friends,
Here is this week's schedule for my Olde Tyme Radio Network. Here you may
listen to high-quality broadcasts with Tom Heathwood's "Heritage Radio
Theater," Big John Matthews and Steve "Archive" Urbaniak's "The Glowing
Dial," Lee Michael's "The RADIO Show" and my own "Same Time, Same Station."
Streamed in high-quality audio, on demand, 24/7 at
[removed]
=======================================
SAME TIME, SAME STATION
COMMAND PERFORMANCE
Episode 69 6-05-43 "Piano Lessons"
Announcer: Ken Carpenter
Mistress of Ceremonies: Betty Hutton
Stars: Amos & Andy, Jose Iturbi, Woody Herman Orchestra
THE MARIO LANZA SHOW
Episode 22 6-20-52 Guest: Debbie Reynolds
Announcer: Bill Baldwin
Music: Ray Sinatra Orchestra
NBC UNIVERSITY THEATER
Episode 74 2-5-50 "Track of the Cat"
Author: Walter Van Tilburg Clark
Stars: John Dehner, Steven Chase, Ralph Moody, Lynn Whitney, Noreen Gammill,
Lynn Milland, Don Randolph and Lee Millar
Announcer: Don Stanley
Director: Andrew C. Love
==================================
HERITAGE RADIO THEATER
GUEST: DAVE SIEGEL
Historian, collector and author of the new book: "Flashgun Casey - Crime
Photographer - Front the Pulps to Radio and Beyond"
CRIME PHOTOGRAPHER
CBS- 1/13/54 Staats Cotsworth stars as Casey in "Road Angel."
CHARLIE CHAN
SYND/MBS 1937-38 Season From American Radio Features transcription.
Episode of "Murder In Cabin 15"
====================================
THE GLOWING DIAL
Suspense - "The Butcher's Wife"
originally aired February 9, 1950 on CBS
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Harlow Wilcox announcing.
Sponsor: Autolite
Special Note: Audio restoration on "Suspense" was done by Jerry Haendiges.
Click here to take advantage of his audio restoration services.
I Was a Communist for the [removed] - "The Red Octopus"
originally aired June 10, 1953 via Frederick Ziv Syndication
Starring: Dana Andrews.
Sponsor: varied according to market
My Friend Irma - "The Lonely Hearts Club"
originally aired January 26, 1948 on CBS
Starring: Marie Wilson, Cathy Lewis, John Brown, Hans Conreid, Gloria
Gordon, Bea Benadaret, Frank Bingman announcing.
Sponsor: Lever Brothers (Swan Soap)
Special Note: Audio restoration on "My Friend Irma" was done by Jerry
Haendiges.
Click here to take advantage of his audio restoration services.
Our Miss Brooks- "The Wishing Well Dance"
originally aired June 12, 1949 on CBS
Starring: Eve Arden, Jane Morgan, Richard Crenna, Jeff Chandler, Leonard
Smith, Gloria McMillan, Gale Gordon, Bob LeMond announcing.
Sponsors: Palmolive Soap, Lustre Creme Shampoo
Special Note: Audio restoration on "Our Miss Brooks" was done by Jerry
Haendiges.
Click here to take advantage of his audio restoration services.
The Great Gildersleeve - "Studying For Advancement"
originally aired October 22, 1947 on NBC
Starring: Harold Peary, Walter Tetley, Louise Erickson, Lillian Randolph,
Earle Ross, Richard LeGrand, Pauline Drake, Willis Bouchey, John Wald
announcing.
Sponsor: Kraft Foods
==================================
The RADIO Show
Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police
"The Atlantian Syndicate Adventure" - Pt. 2, "An Airborne Fire" (Pgm. #102,
Ep. 2, Series 2) starring Howard McNear. Syndicated by Radio Attractions,
Dec. 10, 1938.
A Word From Our Sponsor:
Vic and Sade
"A Letter to Walter" starring Art Van Harvey, Bernadine Flynn, and Billy
Idelson. NBC, early 1940s, sponsored by Proctor & Gamble.
Crime Classics
"The Terrible Deed of John White Webster and His Crime That Shocked the
Nation" Episode #5, starring Lou Merrill as "Thomas Hyland," with Herb
Butterfield, Larry Thor, Junius Matthews, Jean Howell, Paula Winslowe and
Martha Wentworth. CBS, July 13, 1953, sustained (non-sponsored)
===================================
If you have any questions or request, please feel free to contact me.
Jerry Haendiges
Jerry@[removed] 562-696-4387
The Vintage Radio Place [removed]
Largest source of Old Time Radio Logs, Articles and programs on the Net
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 07:50:09 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 9-28 births/deaths
September 28th births
09-28-1881 - Pedro de Cordoba - New York City, NY - d. 9-16-1950
actor: John Marshall "Those We Love"; Jose Alvarado "Romance of the Ranchos"
09-28-1892 - Elmer Rice - New York City, NY - d. 5-8-1967
writer: "The Free Company"
09-28-1901 - Ed Sullivan - New York City, NY (Raised: Port Chester, NY) - d.
10-13-1974
host: "Ed Sullivan Show"
09-28-1901 - William S. Paley - Chicago, IL - d. 11-5-1990
Founder and president of CBS
09-28-1905 - Max Schmelling - Klein Luckow, Brandenburg, Germany - d. 2-2-2005
nazi propagnadist: Radio Berlin
09-28-1906 - Jack Meakin - Salt Lake City, UT - d. 12-30-1982
music: "Abbott and Cosetello Show"; "Great Gildersleeve"; "Honest Harold"
09-28-1909 - Al Capp - New Haven, CT - d. 11-5-1979
cartoonist: Creator of "Li'l Abner"
09-28-1914 - Lou Derman - d. 2-15-1976
writer: "Life with Luigi"
09-28-1916 - Peter Finch - London, England - d. 1-14-1977
actor: Australian Radio
09-28-1919 - Tom Harmon - Rensselar, IN - d. 3-17-1990
sportscaster: "Here Comes Harmon"; "Jimmy Durante Show"
09-28-1923 - Arnold Stang - Chelsea, MA
actor: Joey Brewster "That Brewster Boy"; Seymour Fingerhood "Goldbergs"
09-28-1923 - Fred Robbins - Baltimore, MD
disc jockey: New York City
09-28-1950 - John Sayles - Schenectady, NY
writer: "Writers and Company"
September 28th deaths
02-05-1898 - Sidney Fields - d. 9-28-1975
comic, comedy writer: "Abbott and Costello Show"; "It's Time to Smile"
02-24-1885 - Bert Lytell - New York City, NY - d. 9-28-1954
actor: Jimmy Valentine "Alias Jimmy Valentine"; Jeb Stuart "Roses and Drums"
04-02-1840 - Emile Zola - Paris, France - d. 9-28-1902
author: "CBS Mystery Radio Theatre"
06-06-1905 - John Gart - Russia - d. 9-28-1989
orchestra leader, organ: "Lawyer Tucker"; "Cloak and Dagger"; "Big Town"
06-26-1894 - William Wirges - Buffalo, NY - d. 9-28-1971
conductor: "Club Valspar"; "Arabesque"; "Gold Dust Twins"
07-24-1901 - Mabel Albertson - Lynn, MA - d. 9-28-1982
actress: (Sister of Jack Albertson) "The Phil Baker Show"
08-01-1812 - Herman Melville - New York City, NY - d. 9-28-1891
author: "Columbia Workshop"; "Favorite Story"; "World's Greatest Novels"
09-03-1901 - Mantan Moreland - Monroe, LA - d. 9-28-1973
actor: "Rudy Vallee Presents the Drene Show"
09-07-1909 - Elia Kazan - Constantinople, Turkey - d. 9-28-2003
film director, actor: "Free Company"; "Philip Morris Playhouse"
11-23-1888 - Harpo Marx - Yorkville, NY - d. 9-28-1964
comedian: (First Marx Brother to speak on radio) Occasional guest spots
12-31-1905 - Jule Styne - London, England - d. 9-28-1994
songwriter: "I Don't Wan to Walk Without You"; "I've Heard That Song Before"
xx-xx-1930 - Scott Muni - Wichita, KS - d. 9-28-2004
disc jockey: "Scott Muni's World of Rock"; "Ticket to Ride"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 07:50:17 -0400
From: mikeandzachary@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: A "[removed]"
My thanks to those who responded to my question about a "[removed]" It all
makes sense now.
Mike
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2005 10:46:06 -0400
From: "Jim Harmon" <jimharmonotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Tommy Bond
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Tommy Bond, former "Little Rascals" (TV title) or "Our Gang" (original movie
title) tough kid, had a connection to radio by playing a famous radio
character, Jimmy Olson, young friend to Superman, in the 1948 and 1950
Columbia serials made for theatres. The character of Olson was actually
created for the radio series, although revisionist history tries to say an
unnamed copy boy in the comic books was actually Jimmy Olson.
Bond, whose real age at death was actually 79, appeared with Kirk Alyn as
Clark Kent/Superman. Kirk was my good friend for some twenty years. He came
into Hollywood from the valley every day to pick up mail from his post office
box and we had breakfast together at a nearby restaurant. Occasionally we
would go somewhere else afterward. One day we skipped breakfast and Kirk
took me to have lunch with Tommy Bond.
Tommy was well into middle-age by this time, but still retained a youthful
air about him. He and Kirk recalled amusing events about the making of the
serials. Some scenes required Kirk as Superman to carry both Jimmy and Lois
Lane (Noel Neill). For the long shots they used lightweight dummies but for
the close-ups Kirk actually had to carry them, one under each arm. As he was
about to go before the camera, director Spencer Bennet (another dear old
friend I was fortunate to know) yelled "Kirkie, we can see you straining --
Superman shouldn't strain." "For God's sake, Spence, I'm not really Superman
-- these are the real people, not dummies!" "OK, do the best you can."
That was the only time I met Tommy Bond. But he and Kirk appeared
together several times at nostalgia conventions.
-- JIM HARMON
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
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End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #295
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