Subject: [removed] Digest V2001 #340
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 10/23/2001 9:03 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2001 : Issue 340
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      American Radio Archives               [ garcher@[removed] ]
      Re: CDs vs. wire recordings           [ "James B. Wood, [removed]" <woodjim@ ]
      Tello-Test (Jr. Edition)              [ Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed]; ]
      Tello Test                            [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
      Re: 16" turntables                    [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
      Jacks killer list                     [ OTR1967@[removed] ]
      TELL_O_TEST                           [ Backus2@[removed] ]
      Amos and [removed](Oh Floorwalker)       [ "Tim Lones" <tallones@[removed]; ]
      Bakersfield OTR                       [ "Philip Railsback" <philiprailsback ]
      Directing, Producing, etc.            [ Wich2@[removed] ]
      Re: A&A Xmas Show                     [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Re: Tello-Test                        [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      OTR Novels                            [ cgumprich1@[removed] ]
      A Request.                            [ Ron & Jeanne Crowley <rccjmc@earthl ]

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 00:10:20 -0400
    From: garcher@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  American Radio Archives

    This is about the American Radio Archives, rather than a job offer
    for an archvist, that I saw on a genealogical librarians' mail list.

                                    -=-=-

    Special Collections/Archivist
    Thousand Oaks, CA

    The Special Collections Department of the Thousand Oaks Library is home to
    one of the largest archival collections on the history of radio
    broadcasting in the United States (The American Radio Archives), as well
    as an extensive local history collection.  Materials include books,
    manuscripts, photographs, documents, pamphlets, scripts, sound recordings,
    and realia.  Duties include collection development; cataloging; archival
    processing; preparation of finding aids and other printed and electronic
    promotional materials; donor relations; supervision of paraprofessional
    staff and provision of research assistance to scholars and the general
    public.  ALA accredited MLS is required and archival experience or course
    work is preferred, but specialized training beyond MLS may be available
    for professionals interested in this area of librarianship.
    [removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 00:10:37 -0400
    From: "James B. Wood, [removed]" <woodjim@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: CDs vs. wire recordings

    Shawn Wells wrote:

>     I could be worng though, and maybe wire
>     will return as a recording media along with
>     transcriptions.

    I doubt that transcriptions will make a comeback, but
    wire recordings definitely have something going for them.
    As Art Shifrin will tell you, they last almost indefinitely with
    insignificant loss of quality.  The stainless steel wire won't
    rust or oxidize; just keep the wire on the spool and it'll be
    there and playable a hundred years from now.

    Jim Wood

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 00:11:51 -0400
    From: Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Tello-Test (Jr. Edition)

> >     Bruce Elliot and Dan McCullough did a local version of Tello Test on WOR,

>     New
>     York as I recall. It appears that Tello Test was syndicated in the manner
>     of,
>     say, TV's Romper Room, with each city have its own host or [removed];<

    There was also a "junior edition" called Tello-Kid Test, which Bruce and
    Dan hosted on WOR.  I remember it well, because one day they picked my
    postcard and called me to ask a preliminary question: When the owl and
    the pussycat went to see, they took some honey and plenty of money
    wrapped up in what? The correct answer could win you a Ten-Yen Chinese
    Puzzle.  Then they asked me the jackpot question, which by then had
    grown in $5 increments to $100, plus a bicycle.  Ready?  Of what country
    was Maximilian emperor and Carlotta empress?
    I won!
    The next day I told about it in school and only one other kid in my 5th
    grade class had heard the program.  I didn't know if that qualified as
    good daytime rating, but at least I had a witness to the fact that I
    wasn't making it up.  And someone heard my radio debut.

    Answer to question #1: A five-pound note.  Answer to jackpot question:
    Mexico.
    (They never did send me the Ten-Yen Chinese Puzzle).

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:23:28 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Tello Test

>     Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 21:08:57 -0400
>     From: HERITAGE4@[removed]

>     TELLO-TEST Quiz was on the air in Boston on WNAC in the 40's with
>     host, Fred Lang.

    I remember it in the early 50s, with Bill Hahn hosting.  At the time, he
    hosted a morning show,
    which was the typical music and information morning show, called "Breakfast
    with Bill."  Later in
    the morning, he did Tello-Test.  I only heard it when I was home from school,
    sick.  Then my
    mother would put a radio in my room.  She would leave it on WNAC, and I heard
    whatever was
    on, all day.

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

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:23:49 -0400
    From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: 16" turntables

    At 11:06 AM 10/21/01 -0400, you wrote:

>     I recently purchased two 16" transcription discs online but can't fit them
>     on my turntable!
>     Does anyone know where I can find a turntable that I can play these on?

    Call KAB at 908-754-1479. That is where I bought mine.

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:23:58 -0400
    From: OTR1967@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Jacks killer list

    Hi Everyone,
    I was wondering if anyone knows why Jacks Killer List is not up and running?
    I've had the opportunity to use it for going to various sites. Now I seem to
    come up with no longer on server. HELP!!!!!!! Thanks
    Elmore
    otr1967@[removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:24:06 -0400
    From: Backus2@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  TELL_O_TEST

       I remember Tell-O-Test in Pittsburgh. I believe it was on about 6:00 PM
    and hosted by Jim Westover. Not sure of the station, but probably KDKA or
    WJAS.
                                                          Dick Backus

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:24:25 -0400
    From: "Tim Lones" <tallones@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Amos and [removed](Oh Floorwalker)

         That particular show was the Traditional Amos and Andy Christmas Show
    Don't remember the specific title, but I have both the Radio and Television
    (Andy Plays Santa Claus is the title on the video) versions of the
    [removed] was probably broadcast each year from 1943 [removed](guessing)
    about the Mid-Fifties Elizabeth will have a much more complete answer I am
    sure. I loved that episode.  It had just enough gentle Humor but really
    focused on the meaning of [removed]

         As an aside, I really enjoy Holiday shows (Radio and TV) of the 50's
    and 60's.
    It really takes you [removed] the stories seemed [removed] meaning of the
    Holiday seemed much more in [removed] my two cents.

    Tim Lones
    East Sparta, Ohio

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:24:53 -0400
    From: "Philip Railsback" <philiprailsback@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Bakersfield OTR

>     Pam wrote:
>     I live in Bakersfield CA and would like to know if there is a radio
>     station and time I can hear broadcasts of the OTR programs?  I use to >hear
>     them when I lived in San Diego a few years back.  Really miss
>     them.  Please help.

    It's possible that she would be able to pick up the news station 1070 from
    LA.  It's a very powerful station.  They play OTR every night at, I think, 9
    PM.

      - Philip

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:25:31 -0400
    From: Wich2@[removed]
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Directing, Producing, etc.

    Dear Alan (& co.)-

>     While it's certainly true that DeMille was definitely not the
>     producer, still, the duties you describe are those of the director.

    Just a note for folks not in the biz: these roles are pretty fluid in
    reality. There've been many "activist" producers (Selznick, Speilberg) who
    basically co-direct.
    And of course, many directors whose tasks (by choice, or default) are so
    large as to involve production.

>     Even if CB were the producer, [removed], assembling the talent, the
>     financing, generally overseeing the production, he might very well
>     have deferred to his DIRECTOR when it came to actually performing in
>     the show.

    There are much better scholars on this board than I (paging Elizabeth, et
    al.), but just about all I've read (barring puff publicity from the time)
    says that [removed] really only had two connections with the Lux show: hosting,
    and drawing a [removed]
    -Craig Wichman
    Actor/Writer/Producer (and chief bottle washer)
    QUICKSILVER RADIO THEATER

    [removed] And, one who is deeply honored to be performing this Thur. at FOTR, for
    Mercury Theater's Arthur Anderson

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:26:16 -0400
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: A&A Xmas Show

    On 10/22/01 11:10 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:

>     I am seeking the date and/or title of an A & A episode which had
>     Kingfish or Andy (I forget which) taking a job as a department store
>     Santa and calling "Oh, Mr. Floorwalker" whenever he encounters a problem
>     child or parents.  Can anyone help?

    This was the regular Christmas episode -- entitled simply "Christmas
    Show" --  which ran every December from 1943 thru 1954. The Department
    Store Santa sequence, written by Robert J. Ross, made up the first
    two-thirds of the episode, with Freeman Gosden's famous exegesis on the
    Lord's Prayer (first presented in 1940) taking up the final third.

    There were subtle changes in the script from year to year, but the basic
    ingredients were always the same: Amos's daughter Arbadella (Barbara Jean
    Wong) admired a talking doll displayed in the window of a Harlem
    department store, but times were tough, and Amos and Ruby couldn't afford
    to buy it for her. Andy, who was Arbadella's godfather, resolved to help,
    and took a seasonal job as a Santa in that same store in order to earn
    the doll -- putting up with all sorts of strife from the children. He
    then takes the doll to Amos and Ruby's flat on Christmas eve and places
    his gift under the tree. After Andy leaves, Amos goes in to sit at
    Arbadella's bedside for a few minutes, and the Lord's Prayer scene
    follows.

    Air dates for the half-hour version of the Christmas episode were as
    follows, with currently-circulating versions marked with an asterisk.

    Volume 1 Episode 12: 12/24/43
    Volume 2 Episode 14: 12/24/44*
    Volume 3 Episode 13: 12/25/45
    Volume 4 Episode 13: 12/24/46*
    Volume 5 Episode 13: 12/23/47
    Volume 6 Episode 11: 12/19/48
    Volume 7 Episode 13: 12/25/49
    Volume 8 Episode 13: 12/24/50*
    Volume 9 Episode 13: 12/23/51*
    Volume 10 Episode 14: 12/21/52
    Volume 11 Episode 13: 12/20/53
    Volume 12 Episode 13: 12/19/54*

    The episode was also adapted for the A&A television series in 1952, and
    Correll and Gosden made a rare on-camera appearance at the beginning of
    the original telecast to introduce the presentation.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:26:37 -0400
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Tello-Test

    On 10/22/01 11:10 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:

>     Bruce Elliot and Dan McCullough did a local version of Tello Test on WOR,
>     New
>     York as I recall. It appears that Tello Test was syndicated in the manner
>     of,
>     say, TV's Romper Room, with each city have its own host or [removed];<

    This is exactly how it was done -- it was more a franchising promotion
    than a syndication package, and was developed in Chicago in the late
    1930s by an entrepreneur by the name of Walter Schwimmer. One station in
    any given market would buy a franchise to use the trademarked title and
    the copyrighted format, and would then produce the program using its own
    talent and questions and answers supplied by Schwimmer's office. At its
    peak, "Tello-Test" was heard in hundreds of markets, large and small.

    A December 1946 recording survives of the Elliot/McCullough WOR version
    of "Tello-Test," which was sponsored by the Vick Chemical Company. The
    hosts call randomly chosen phone numbers in the Greater New York area,
    and when anyone answers, a question is asked. The people called are not
    heard on air, and the hosts have to fill in the substance of what they
    say in their own sides of the conversation. This comes across as rather
    ridiculous at times -- such as with one contestant who has never heard of
    "Tello-Test," and has no idea what the call is all about, leaving the
    host to try and sputter out an explanation before she hangs up on him.

    Despite the obvious shortcomings, the format was quite popular, and
    lasted well into the 1950s. A "Tello-Test Quiz Book" was published by
    Grosset and Dunlap in 1954, containing a selection of questions and
    answers used on the program.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:38:59 -0400
    From: cgumprich1@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR Novels

    I have just finished reading "Two O'Clock, Eastern Wartime," and was
    fascinated by the depiction of life "behind-the-scenes" at an OTR
    station.

    Can anyone tell me of any other novels with OTR as the central theme?

    -Chris Gumprich
    Winnipeg, Canada

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

    Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 19:13:55 -0400
    From: Ron & Jeanne Crowley <rccjmc@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  A Request.

    Do any of our fellow OTR hobbyists have episodes of "Baby Snooks"?  My
    brother was a great fan of the program, but doesn't have a source for
    searching for same.  Assistance, please?  Thanks.  ronc

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2001 Issue #340
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