Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #503
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 12/26/2002 1:03 AM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 503
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ lois@[removed] ]
      NBC Blue's target audience            [ "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@hotmail ]
      OTR ON WNEW FM, [removed], NEW YORK       [ jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns) ]
      Premium Thoughts                      [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
      FREE OTR INTERACTIVE CD               [ "Li'l Reader Books" <lilreader2@yah ]
      Capitol Records Groundbreaking Broad  [ jay ranellucci <otrfan33@[removed]; ]
      Stan Freberg                          [ jay ranellucci <otrfan33@[removed]; ]
      OTR dramas and OTR variety shows      [ "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed] ]
      Young People                          [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      fibber mc gee                         [ "Robert Angus" <rangus02@[removed]; ]
      A Very OTR Christmas                  [ nicoll <nicoll@[removed]; ]
      THE HERITAGE CHRISTMAS SHOW           [ HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
      Merry Christmas                       [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
      Martin Grams, Jr. & Rod Serling       [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
      Re: Premiums                          [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
      Dickens' Christmas Carol              [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
      Red and Blue Networks                 [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
      Murder and Mrs. Chase                 [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 04:52:05 -0500
    From: lois@[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 five years, same time, same channel!

    Our numerous "regulars" include one of the busiest "golden years" actors in
    Hollywood; a sound man from the same era who worked many of the top
    Hollywood shows; a New York actor famed for his roles in "Let's Pretend" and
    "Archie Andrews;" owners of some of the best OTR sites on the Web;
    maintainer of the best-known OTR Digest (we all know who he is)..........

    and Me

    Lois Culver
    KWLK Longview Washington (Mutual) 1941-1944)
    KFI Los Angeles (NBC) 1944 - 1950
    and widow of actor Howard Culver

    (For more info, contact lois@[removed])

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:00:47 -0500
    From: "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  NBC Blue's target audience

    BryanH362@[removed] writes,

>     I have read in the past  ,  from quite a few  sources,   that  also
>     indicate
>     that NBCs blue network  was geared to the more "upscale" and carried a lot
>     more sustaining  prestige programming .  However,  some of the programs
>     that
>     aired on NBCs Blue  would seem to counter this  statement .

    One such program would have to be "Amos 'n' Andy," which started its first
    NBC run in 1929 as a Blue Network offering. (Anyone know when NBC officially
    switched it to the Red Network? Perhaps when NBC bought WMAQ in '34?)

    Certainly, one would have to think that two of the Blue Network's three
    Chicago affiliates would also counter that statement, as their specific
    target audiences were farmers (WLS, owned by the Prairie Farmer paper) and
    laborers (WCFL, owned by the Chicago Federation of Labor and intended by its
    founders as a union organizing tool). The third affiliate, WENR, was owned
    by NBC itself, sharing time on 870 khz with WLS. One would have to suspect
    that, if NBC actually did gear the Blue Network for upscale listenership, in
    Chicago it would have put Blue on WMAQ, its own full-time signal, rather
    than dividing it up amongst three stations, two of which specifically
    targeted working class audiences.

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:00:59 -0500
    From: jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns)
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR ON WNEW FM, [removed], NEW YORK

    Some time between 6 AM and 10 AM, Christmas morning, on WNEW FM, [removed],
    in New York--

    They'll be running the Ronald Colman A CHRISTMAS [removed]

    If anyone's interested!

    :-)

    Best, Jim

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:01:14 -0500
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Premium Thoughts

    Thomas Mason notes the post-radio premiums,

>     When television came into being, a few tv shows attempted the mail in
>     premium [removed]'s Captain Midnight tried it, but to me they never
>     had the pizazz that the radio ones had, and tvs Captain Midnight did not
>     fit my memory of radio's Ed Prentiss.

    The TV cryptological devices were called "decoders," as distinct from the
    "Code-O-Graph" designation of the radio show.  But then, the TV show was
    so different that it's well outside the Canon.  However, there's one
    point of interest.  On the Little Orphan Annie and Captain Midnight radio
    shows, the cipher was always letters translated into numbers.  So was the
    first TV "Decoder Pin."  However, the last (Silver Dart) Decoder Pin was
    a letter-to-letter cipher.  I 've felt that numbers were used on the
    radio to avoid ambiguity.  On TV, the viewer could see the letters, so
    that was unnecessary.

> >     The most successful for me was Space Patrol.  They carried over the

    radio premium idea to the nth degree.  Most of the premiums were
    integrated into the storyline of many shows so as to extend the premium's
    life-span. <<

    Space Patrol was either brave or foolish.  One big reason premiums fell
    out of style seems to have been that those producing TV shows had an eye
    out for reruns, something rare on OTR.  Doing so for broadcast shows
    might require producing another set of premiums.  So Space Patrol either
    didn't have any intention of reruns, or may have been prepared to offer
    some items again.

    Another type of post-OTR premium was associated with the Tom Mix Ralston
    Straight Shooters program.  Most premiums were manufactured in advance
    (that's why there was a 1942 Code-O-Graph for the Captain Midnight
    program, even with wartime "critical materials" restrictions: they were
    all manufactured before 7 December 1941).  The Tom Mix promoters had
    manufactured enough in advance so that when the show went off the air,
    they were stuck with unannounced premiums.  So they advertised them on
    the back of Shredded Ralston cereal boxes, as offerings from the "Tom Mix
    Trading Post."

    There were some TV premiums, to be sure, including Captain Video items
    and Howdy Doody Shake-Up Mugs,  but these dwindles over time, and by the
    1960s were effectively extinct.

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:01:20 -0500
    From: "Li'l Reader Books" <lilreader2@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  FREE OTR INTERACTIVE CD

    ANYONE WANT A FREE INTERACTIVE OTR CD - I spent a little time making
    a web page based interactive cd. I'm an amature, but it was a
    blast, I had more fun making the cd than anything else,

    I have included on the cd with interesting history on all the shows.

    Amaos and Andy (no log) 8 - shows
    Big John & Sparky (no log) - 9 shows
    Dragnet W/Log - 8 Shows
    Fibber W/log - 1 show
    Gunsmoke W/Log - 9 Shows
    I love a Mystery W/Log - 1 show
    I Was a Communist FBI W/Log - 1 Show
    Richard Diamond W/Log - 8 Shows
    The Shadow W/Log - 8 Shows
    Space Patrol W/Log - 1 show
    Tom Corbett W/Log - 1 Show
    Yours Truly Johnny $ W/Log - 9 Shows

    If you would like a copy please send me an e-mail.

    I have many cd's available - just give send me your Name & Address and I
    will send you a copy

    oh please send an e-mail with FREE OTR CD in the title to:

    lilreader2 at yahoo dot com

    oh, I can't mail anything till after x-mas so it will be a few days
    befor I mail it out.

    Thanks a bunch

    -lilreader

    =====
    Bible study on demand through streaming video - [removed]
    - Take a look

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:01:26 -0500
    From: jay ranellucci <otrfan33@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Capitol Records Groundbreaking Broadcast

    In browsing the GOLDINdex I came accross an entry for
    the ground breaking ceremony for Capitol Records which
    was mc'd by Don Wilson (old radio connection) and I
    was wondering if anybody knows where I could get a
    copy of this program? I do not want to go to the
    Library of Congress however.
    The program contains addresses by Jim Ameche, Dick
    Haymes and various local disc jockeys.
    The GOLDINdex number is 25657.
    Thanks and Happy Holidays and a very prosperous New
    Year.        Jay

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:01:31 -0500
    From: jay ranellucci <otrfan33@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Stan Freberg

    For one week only!
    An evening with Stan Freberg at Feinstein's at the
    Regency in New York city.  Tuesday Jan. 28 thru Feb.
    1, 2003.
    The winner of a Grammy, 3 Emmys and 21 Clios plus a
    member of the Songwriters, Animation and RADIO Hall of
    Fame, Stan will perform many excerpts of his famous
    hits from radio, records and commercials. For Tickets
    and information call 213-339-4095
    I understand he will also be at the Magic Castle in
    Hollywood for two nights in early January, but I
    believe that will be by invitaion only.

    The only connection I have to Stan is I love
    everything he's done.

    Sorry I won't be in New York to catch the show.
               Jay

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:02:07 -0500
    From: "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR dramas and  OTR variety shows

       Spence C. quoted a recent Digest posting:

>     ...OTR music variety
>     shows are largely ignored on this list. ... I've always taken [removed]
>     very small doses.  ... Am I the only one that feels this
>     way?

       My response to the above question:

       No, I feel the same way.

       I guess that probably makes a total of about four of us Digesters
    who do.  :0)

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:02:15 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Young People

    I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for some of the kind
    things that you have been saying about the thread I started when I asked
    "young people" how they got interested in Old Time Radio. The response was
    indeed gratifying. I enjoyed reading everyone of them. I even got several
    responses off line. Thank you, and I want to wish all on this list a Merry
    Christmas and happy listening.

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Make your day just a little better, listen to Olde Tyme Radio!

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:02:31 -0500
    From: "Robert Angus" <rangus02@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  fibber mc gee
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    Free* to a good home---300-plus episodes of Fibber McGee on audiocassette.  No
    catch---just reimburse me for the shipping and postage.  rangus02@[removed]

      *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
      ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:02:37 -0500
    From: nicoll <nicoll@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  A Very OTR Christmas

    A Very OTR Christmas
    The first thing the grandchildren do upon arriving at Grandpa's house is to
    go the Christmas tree and press the button - the button being a knob on a
    cathedral radio ornament with glowing yellow dial.  "We interrupt this
    program for a holiday new bulletin.  Santa has just been spotted
    overhead.  Listen for reindeer on your roof" the announcer says.

    Then they dash to the bright blue ceramic radio cookie jar that Gramere
    keeps filled with goodies.

    And my goodies: My daughter gave me a game, "Charlie McCarthy's Radio
    Party."  The directions on how to get this are as follows: "Send two Chase
    and Sanborn Dated Package fronts (or sales slip) and 10c to Chase and
    Sanborn, 420 Lexington Avenue, New York City.  This offer expires November
    30th 1938."  And my wife gave me a beautiful 1926 radio -
    Freed-Eisemann.  It's almost in mint condition.

    So, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night

    Will Nicoll

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:02:54 -0500
    From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  THE HERITAGE CHRISTMAS SHOW

    For those thoughtful enough to be concerned about the Heritage Radio
    Theatre Christmas Week shows - Santa (USPS) was a bit tardy in delivering the
    program to Jerry, the Whittier Elf, and so didin't get on the Olde Tyme Radio
    Network on time - but it's there now.
    [removed]
    Merry Christmas to all ..........
    Tom Heathwood

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:03:04 -0500
    From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Merry Christmas

    Merry Christmas everybody,  in a reason post about music, and comedy show I
    also have a strong interested in them too.  Has any one took the time and
    compared what type of shows survive today better than other type.  I would
    guest the big comedy shows are the best surviving shows in recorded format.
    For example Fibber McGee and Molly, Great Gilderslieves, Jack Benny, Bob
    Hope show "radio Spirit has them," and the Fred Allen Show, "Boston Public
    Library."  I would like to find more Hit Parade from 1947 to 1948, Krapt
    Music Hall, Railroad hour, Doris Day show ECT.  It is interesting that some
    of the Kids show survive well such as Lone Ranger, and the challenge of the
    Yukon.  We are bless to have over 1200 Superman shows, and hopefully more
    Jack Armstrong will show up considering that the cast made transcription of
    that show for non network stations.  It also seems that we are bless that
    more of the west coast show survive than either Chicago, or New York.  I
    also think that the prestige show such as Lux Radio Theater, Cavalcade of
    America are in good shape, but Firstnighter is in short supplier.  I have
    not check the numbers out on Theater Guild,or Screen Guild   out to find out
    how did that series survive.  I am also surprise that more of MGM recordings
    has not turn up from there radio division.  Have a grate day,

    Walden Hughes

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:03:19 -0500
    From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Martin Grams, Jr. & Rod Serling

    I didn't know Serling had a career in radio. Maybe that had something to do
    with one of the best things about the TV series "The Twilight Zone": Very
    seldom did you see "aliens" or "monsters" onscreen, as in other TV "sci-fi"
    series. Though the other guys relied on heavy makeup, masks, etc., Serling
    let the viewers create those creatures/entities in their minds = much more
    effective, IMHO.

    Herb Harrison

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:03:52 -0500
    From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Premiums

    Tom Mason wrote about radio and TV premiums. When he mentioned the Space
    Patrol smoke gun, it brought to mind that I still have mine. It is sitting
    on a family room book shelve.

    Back in my teen years, my brother and I made a short 8mm movie. It dealt
    with space and we each had this gun and used it in the movie.

    What we really wanted was the Space Patrol space ship. If you remember, the
    producers of the show made an auto trailer (one that was pulled behind a
    car) in the shape of the rocket ship. Inside it had a dash board that
    looked like a rocket ship.

    They traveled around the country with it as a tie in with the Ralston
    sponsor and the show. I remember walking through it. Then there was a
    contest and the winner got the space ship. I really wanted that ship and
    actually dreamed that I had won it. But alas, it never happened.

    I've often wondered who did win it and if it is still around. This would
    have been back in the mid 1950's.

    Fred
    [removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:04:40 -0500
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: OldRadio Mailing Lists <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Dickens' Christmas Carol

>     Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2002 09:30:30 -0500
>     From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];

>     1934 - The Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, was read by
>     Lionel Barrymore on The Campbell Playhouse on CBS radio. The reading of
>     the tale became an annual radio event for years to come.

    I heard one of the last broadcasts, on the "Hallmark Radio Hall of Fame" in the mid 1950s,
    and I have a tape of the Campbell Playhouse version, which was somewhat earlier, though I
    don't know the year.  It may have been a reading in the beginning, but at least the ones I've
    heard were not readings, but full-blown dramatizations for radio.

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

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 13:05:35 -0500
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: OldRadio Mailing Lists <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Red and Blue Networks

>     Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 19:29:31 -0500
>     From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];

>     NBC began to make a conscious effort to differentiate Red and Blue, and
>     for the first time a seperate Blue Network sales office was established in
>     order to create the fiction that the two networks genuinely competed for
>     advertising clients. This issue was investigated by the FCC during its
>     1938 hearings, and the fiction of "competition" thoroughly exposed.

    When NBC sold the Blue Network, how was it determined what programs went with it?  Did
    NBC manipulate to keep the best programs for itself?  Or did the Federal regulators
    anticipate that and prevent it?

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

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

    Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 16:34:13 -0500
    From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
    To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Murder and Mrs. Chase

    I am writing a book on radio's feminine sleuths.  One of which I know
    very little is "Murder and Mrs. Chase", which Jay Hickerson's ultimate
    history lists as "ABC, 9-11-56 to 6-11-57, 7:30 PM Tuesdays" with no
    audio copies extant.

    Does this series ring a bell with anyone?  Can anybody add any more
    details to Jay's summary?

    Jack French
    Editor: RADIO RECALL
    [removed]

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #503
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