------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 85
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re: Wire recorders [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
Hollywood Hotel [ "Greg Przywara" <gmprzywara@hotmail ]
Re: Cleaning up audio. [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK SCHEDULE for [ HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
Re: classic radio for today's kids [ "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-self ]
vintage radio question [ "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-self ]
Readick [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
site for purchasing mp3s? [ Jer51473@[removed] ]
Who are these people? [ Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed]; ]
NEW LONE RANGER [ Backus2@[removed] ]
2-23 Birthdays [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
FM transmitter [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
The "Jimmy Barton" Mystery [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
Cornell Woolrich and John Colyar [ "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@neb. ]
the spider pulp-old radio show? [ michael chatterton <chat51@comcast. ]
Ring Lardner Playhouse [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
Lesley Woods [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
Re: "Radio Comedy" [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
The longest running? [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:22:01 -0500
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Wire recorders
Rich Pratz's description of KBUR's use of a continuous loop of wire for a 7
second delay is the first time I've heard of wire being used for this, but
there is a definite advantage using wire rather than the usual tape. Tape
loops wear out in a half hour or hour program, and the wire probably
didn't--until it got so weak it broke! But I do wonder if it really was a
continuous loop of wire, rather than a wire from the feed spool of the left
hand machine onto the take-up spool of a second machine to its right.
Except for one rare machine made by Magnacord, wire recorders did not use a
capstan drive. The wire was pulled thru the machine only by the take-up
spool. Since you did mention the spools, I wonder if the spools were
feeding and taking up wire, rather than using a continuous loop which would
feed back from the second machine back to the first one over and over
again. Additionally, since most machines had only an erase and combination
record/play head, I would think that two machines were necessary.
UNLESS, perhaps, the machine being used was a GE type machine which used
much larger spools than the usual Webster-Chicago or Silvertone type. Do
you recall if this machine used two spools that were each about 4 inches in
diameter and about an inch high? That type of machine might me modifiable
for this purpose more easily than the type that most on this digest are
more familiar with. Those machines used small feed spools about 2 inches
in diameter by 1/2 inch thick, but had a larger take up spool that was
about 5 inches in diameter by the same 1/.2 inch height. That take up
spool was not removable except in the later machines, which meant that
except in those late machines you could not change wires without rewinding
the first one. Rewinding an hour-long wire could take up to 15 minutes.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:22:11 -0500
From: "Greg Przywara" <gmprzywara@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Hollywood Hotel
I would like to get some more info on the program Hollywood Hotel which ran
on CBS from 1934 to 1938. Did they do one-hour dramatizations of movies like
Lux Theater or did they just do little promotional bits like Good News did?
Also if anyone has a good-sized collection of this program please contact me
off list if you would like to trade with me. I have a motherlode of Lux
Theater, Theater Guild, and NBC University Theater to offer in return.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:21:38 -0500
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Cleaning up audio.
From: Roger Lorette <roger@[removed];
Lately I've been getting more and more interested in the process of
"Cleaning up" the audio of many shows in my collection.
The short answer is: DON'T. Unless you are using a high quality amplifier
and studio-grade speaker system you will probably be doing nothing more
than trying to correct for the inadequacy of the speakers you are using.
If you are doing it on a computer, there has never been a set of computer
speakers made that are suitable for equalization and audio restoration.
And then when you hear your recording on a good system you will realize
what a mish-mosh you made. If you don't know what you are doing and are
not using a high quality speaker, don't monkey around with the sound when
making dubs.
I'm wondering if any of the professionals on this list would care to offer
some tips on the [removed] which is the best program to use and
ideally some hints on what filters and settings that seem to give the
best results cleaning Old Time Radio shows.
Filters are rarely used by restoration engineers anymore because they
indiscriminately remove sound along with noise. If there has been a law
against the use of filters and equalizers by OTR collectors 30 years ago
the sound quality of the programs in general circulation would be much
better than they are. Hearing a seventeenth generation recording is bad
enough, it is even worse if several of the collectors tried to do some
"fixing" of the sound while dubbing. Each person's "fix" added on to all
the others screwed up things more and more and more.
HOWEVER, there is nothing wrong with you making some personalized
adjustments while PLAYING BACK for your enjoyment. After all, if you do
need to compensate for the speakers you are using, by all means do so while
playing back. But avoid doing any fixing of the sound while making your
dub--you'll probably make matters worse.
I've been experimenting with the program "Cool Edit" which
seems to improve most shows somewhat but I can't ever
seem to get the results I'm looking for.
This is not what this program was designed for. If you really do want to
know what program to use, the answer that most restoration engineers will
tell you is CEDAR. However, be prepared to spend between $20,000 and
$60,000. There are less expensive ways to do some things, but the results
usually sound cheaper and often do more harm than good.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:22:18 -0500
From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK SCHEDULE for Week
starting: 2/23/03
Here's the lineup for this week. New shows start every Sunday at:
[removed] 24/7 Streaming Audio
SAME TIME, SAME STATION with Jerry Haendiges:
1. COMMAND PERFORMANCE 11/19/46 "Superman"
with Bob Hope, Bela Lugosi, Sterling Holloway, Wendell Niles,
The King Sisters, and Paulette Goddard.
2. TRUE OR FALSE - 9/12/38 - Host: Dr. Harry Hagen --
"Postal Clerks vs. The League of Women Voters"
3. DEATH VALLEY DAYS 6/16/39 The Old Ranger, John McBride,
tells the tale of "Shoo Fly" with: Irene Hubbard, Milton C. Herman,
Frank Butler and Jeffrey Bryant.
4. TAILSPIN TOMMY - First Episode - 9/5/41 "Mine Ore"
HERITAGE RADIO THEATRE with Tom Heathwood:
1. THE ADVENTURES of SHERLOCK HOLMES - BBC/NBC 1954 -
"Blackmailer" with Sir John Guilgud and Sir Ralph Richardson.
2. YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR CBS 2/1/58 stars Bob Bailey with Special
guest: Vincent Price in: "The Price of Fame Matter"
3. THE COLGATE SPORTS NEWSREEL with BILL STERN NBC #550 - 5/19/50 Guest:
Ted Williams.
4. BOB & RAY Extra.
Enjoy - Tom & Jerry
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:23:11 -0500
From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: classic radio for today's kids
David [removed]
I'm not sure what to play for them when the Jack Armstrongs run out. If
any of you have some suggestions for shows appropriate for children
their ages, I'd love to hear of them.
And I [removed]
When I was 7 or 8 (I'm 24 now), I had first discovered OTR. Up until I
was 12 or 13, two of my favorite shows were The Green Hornet and The
Great Gildersleeve. Gildy is still a favorite, and I think it would be a
perfect show for anyone's kids to listen to. Summerfield and those who
live there were very special to me around that age. As an adult, the
show amazes me on another level. No matter what you're age, it's a happy
ray of sunshine.
I'm not sure if you're concerned about overly violent programs, but The
Green Hornet was always very exciting around that age for me, and though
I've not heard it in some time, it doesn't seem like there was much in
the way of death and that sort of thing. The Green Hornet usually
tackled the tamer crimes in the city. :-)
Rodney Bowcock
Past Tense Productions "Classic movies and TV for $7"
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:22:55 -0500
From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: vintage radio question
While browsing through an antique shop yesterday, I found a 1936
Atwater/Kent Model 976 floor radio. It's in very good shape, and seems
to be fully working. I'm very interested in buying it, but I don't know
if the asking price of $350 is reasonable, as I know nothing about old
radios. If somebody could, please e-mail me and let me know if this is a
good deal.
Thanks,
Rodney Bowcock
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:23:32 -0500
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Readick
Hi Everybody, the Grand son of Frank Readick, of Shadow fame, and he is the
son of Robert Readick of the lead of Johnny Dollar contacted Yesterday USA
and said he would love to here some of the shows that his Grand Father, and
dad worked on on Yesterday USA. I need some help I know Frank did the
opening on the Shadow show while Orson Welles was the star and I have some
of those, but are they any show that he had a role in on the 'sShadow, or
other shows? I believe that Robert Readick took the role of Johnny Dollar
in the late 1950s, but does any one have the date, and some of the shows I
could use on the air for him? Where there any other show that Robert
Readick work on? Take care,
Walden .
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:23:50 -0500
From: Jer51473@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: site for purchasing mp3s?
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Last week someone posted about a site that sold mp3s with many programs on
them and for very resonable prices. I emailed the site with questions about
their program and believe i erased their response. In fact i have also lost
the site address and the name of the site. I would appreciate it, if anyone
knows what im talking about, if you would contact me at my address or on the
board with the lost information. Thanks
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:24:28 -0500
From: Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Who are these people?
Dan Hughes gave us a few clues and asked us for identification.
I haven't the foggiest about the first picture.
The second signature sure looks like "Paul Frees", though you'd expect a
man with a thousand voices to have more than one way of signing his
name.
The third I can help you with. It's Esther Van Wagoner Tufty, nicknamed
"The Dutchess" and a doyen of the Washington press corps for over 50
years. Judging from the 3-chimes logo on the WNBW camera, I'd say the
picture was taken around 1955. She was a regular on NBC and you can
read all about her at [removed]
Hope this settles 67% of your query.
--Bill Jaker
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:26:02 -0500
From: Backus2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: NEW LONE RANGER
I just opened my Sunday paper to the front page of the "TV Week" to see a
passable (but too young) Tonto, and some swishy looking refugee from an
androgynous rock group wearing a mask. YUCK ! Can you imagine this guy saying
: "Tonto, we're here to make the West safe for all people, like our good
friends here in Cripple Creek "
Long live Brace Beemer, or even Clayton Moore.
Dick Backus
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:26:12 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 2-23 Birthdays
The following people were born on February 23rd.
1904 - William L. Shirer - Chicago, Illinois
1912 Thomas L. Thomas - Maesteg, South Wales
1913 - Jon Hall - Fresno, California
1939 - Peter Fonda - New York City
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Make your day, listen to an Olde Tyme Radio Program
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:26:22 -0500
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: FM transmitter
Hi Everybody, does any one know where I can buy a FM transmitter in order to
replay OTR and my broadcast through out my house? Take care,
Walden Hughes
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:27:18 -0500
From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The "Jimmy Barton" Mystery
Russell Hudson has advanced the search and provided important new clues to
the elusive actor who played Jimmy Barton on "The Cinnamon Bear." He made
me a recording of an old 78RPM Decca album featuring Dickens' "A
Christmas Carol, " starring Ronald Colman.
If you recall, the CB promotional disc which turned up in Cincinnati last
year and was first brought to the Digest's attention by Richard Fisher,
contained a clue we've never had before about the actor who played Jimmy.
Lindsay MacHarrie, CB's Director, stated that the actors who played the
Barton twins had performed together many times.
On the Decca album, recorded on September 17, 1941, in Los Angeles, Barbara
Jean Wong ("Judy Barton") and another actor, Stephen Muller, appear in
child roles. Though Muller uses an apparently "affected" English accent,
the resulting voice has some striking similarities to Jimmy Barton's.
We obviously have work to do here, but the identification of similarities
is made easier by Russ juxtaposing Stephen Muller's actor voice with Jimmy
Barton's (taken from the 78RPM promotional disc made in 1937). They run
back-to-back on tracks seven and eight of his personally engineered CD.
We need the help of audio identification experts. We also need to know
who Stephen Muller is. I have not been able to run him down but Russ found
an extant episode of "Lux Radio Theater" in which he appears --- "How Green
Was My Valley," which originally aired on September 21, 1942.
Anyone heard of Stephen Muller?
Dennis Crow
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:27:44 -0500
From: "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@[removed];
To: "old time radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Cornell Woolrich and John Colyar
Hi all:
I know I am not spelling either of these names correctly, but I saw
someone's question about Cornell Woolrich and also wondered about John
Colyar. He wrote the well-known Suspense stories, "Wet Saturday," "Back for
Christmas," and others. Who were these two men? Were they published
authors, or did they write for radio?
Thanks.
RyanO
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:28:08 -0500
From: michael chatterton <chat51@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: the spider pulp-old radio show?
was there ever a radio show called the spider taken from the pulp
around the time the shadow was out in the pulps !
from michael chatterton-chat51@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:28:20 -0500
From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Ring Lardner Playhouse
Hello All:
Jim Yellen asked about the above series. I remember hearing this perhaps
5-6 years ago. (It was on one of the New York City AM stations -I think
WEVD- that can be picked up at night over a large area.) It consisted of 30
minute adaptations of Ring Lardner short stories. Some of Lardner's stories
are perfect for the half-hour radio format, just the right length and plots
that translate easily to an audio format. I don't know when these were
produced (they are obviously modern, not OTR) or anything else about them,
except that they are well done.
George
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:29:18 -0500
From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Lesley Woods
Mike Parise writes:
I would appreciate any information on Lesley Woods, She was Mary Wesley
with Chester Morris on the 1944 Radio program "Boston Blackie", with
Staats Cotsworth in "Casey Crime Photographer" 1940's, "Bulldog
Drummond" 1944 and also some soap opera's. I fell in love with her
voice on Casey and Boston Blackie, and have never seen a photograph of
her.
While researching my upcoming book on radio's lady detectives at the
Library of American Broadcasting at the University of Maryland, I was
reviewing bound copies of Radio Mirror magazine. The October 1946 issue
had a small black and white photograph of Woods, who was a very
attractive blonde lookalike for Veronica Lake, including the long hair
almost over one eye.
You have good taste, [removed]
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:29:55 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: "Radio Comedy"
On 2/23/03 5:08 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:
This is a 70'ish
publication, have others opinions of it? I would suggest it as a general
history of the subject, at least covering many of the best known shows and
stars.
Arthur F. Wertheim is probably best known as an authority on Will Rogers
-- he was editor-in-cheif for the collection of Rogers' papers published
by the University of Oklahoma, and also edited a collection of Rogers'
Ziegfeld Follies material entitled "Will Rogers: At the Ziegfeld
Follies." He's also written extensively on general popular-culture
subjects in academic journals. He did a very perceptive analysis of the
Milton Berle craze of 1949-51 in the 1981 edition of "American
History/American Television: Interpreting the Video Past," which you
might find in a good college library.
"Radio Comedy" is one of the better academic books on OTR-era radio, in
that it's based for the most part on primary-source research (Wertheim
was the only serious researcher ever to succeed in interviewing Freeman
Gosden, for example, and he makes heavy use of original scripts wherever
available in discussing the various programs covered by the book.) There
*are* flaws -- Wertheim picks up and passes on a few myths that should
have been caught short and debunked (the "Ed Wynn Founded WNEW" legend
for one, and the 1952 revisionist version of the A&A Breach of Promise
story for another), but in general the book is reliable. It *is* a bit
turgidly writte, but at least it contains none of the postmodernist
babble that mars many more recent works on broadcasting history.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 12:30:22 -0500
From: otrbuff@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The longest running?
The material tapped from "Those Were the Days" reported in this digest is
frequently in error. Hundreds, maybe thousands of us recognize that the
statement appearing Sunday concerning The Breakfast Club is ludicrous:
"The radio program went on to break records as the longest-running
program on the air." It wasn't true in 1968 when the show left the air
and it isn't true today. As has been pointed out scores of times here
stalwarts like the Grand Ole Opry, the Metropolitan Opera concerts, Paul
Harvey, Music and the Spoken Word, The Guiding Light and a raft of others
are and were more durable. Of course anyone who deals with this stuff
daily and has a basis for separating the truth from fiction will get it
but it's a disservice to novices who may be unable to distinguish the
conflicting information. I cringe every time I see something like this
when so many of us obviously know it just isn't so.
Jim Cox
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #85
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