Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #217
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 7/19/2005 12:33 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2005 : Issue 217
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      "Music Radio" by Jim Cox              [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      B-Day                                 [ "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed] ]
      30th FOTR Convention                  [ JayHick@[removed] ]
      quick program question+               [ "[removed]" <asajb2000@ ]
      Cleaning of Magnetic Heads            [ OTRadiofan@[removed] (Stuart Lubin) ]
      Re: Our Miss Brooks                   [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]
      The "Life" and "Death" of Charlie Mc  [ OTRadiofan@[removed] (Stuart Lubin) ]
      THE WAR OF THE WORLDS MURDER          [ Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@earthlin ]
      Will the real James Dobson stand up   [ Hal Stone <otrjug@[removed]; ]
      Alfalfa & Henry Aldrich               [ "Don and Kathy Dean" <dxk@ezlinknet ]
      7-19 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      OTR references in modern media        [ "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed] ]
      Re: 1440 Broadway                     [ Hal Stone <otrjug@[removed]; ]
      ELIZABETH TRIUMPHS                    [ "David S. Siegel" <otrdsiegel@veriz ]

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 14:59:56 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  "Music Radio" by Jim Cox

    I spent the weekend reading"Music Radio" by Jim Cox. It was very
    difficult for me to put the book down, it was that good. Jim has
    taken on a subject that has long been neglected, that of music on
    radio. This book fills a gap in Olde Tyme Radio literature. Whatever
    your taste in music is, it is in this book. Classical Music? How
    about "The Bell Telephone Hour," or "The Voice of Firestone?" Want
    more? There is a section in the book called "The Classics." It covers
    all of the great classical programming, "The New York Philharmonic
    Orchestra" and "The Metropolitan Opera" just to name two. Like Big
    Bands, and who doesn't, there is a whole chapter devoted to Big
    Bands. Jim covers all of the greats and several near greats. Benny
    Goodman, Vincent Lopez, Xavier Cugat, et-al. Does your taste run more
    toward country/western? How 'bout "The Grand Ole Opry?" He also
    covers some individuals who made their mark on the radio. Bing Crosby
    and that Songbird of the South, Kate Smith. As I said, it is all
    there. If you love Olde Tyme Radio, and if you don't, shame on you,
    this is a book that must take its place on your library shelf. It is
    written in a style that is entertaining, yet the book is jammed
    packed with information.

    I know that Jim is a regular contributor to this list so I know he
    will read this, I hope that I am not embarrassing him.

    With this book coming out the same week as "Harry Potter," this is
    the book that should have sold [removed] million copies in 24 hours.

    Ron Sayles
    An unabashed Jim Cox fan

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 15:25:31 -0400
    From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  B-Day

    Ron Sayles said:

>     07-18-1920 - Charlie McCarthy - Chicago, IL - d. 9-30-1978 dummy:
>     "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show"

    Imagine my surprise when I found out I share a birthday with Charlie
    McCarthy.  How did that come about?  McCarthy's birthday being July 18th,
    that is.  I have a fairly good understanding of the process by which my
    birthday occurred.

    -chris holm

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 17:14:15 -0400
    From: JayHick@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  30th FOTR Convention

    All details of the convention on our web site <[removed]>.  My
    appreciation to Charles Summers for administering the site.  Changes will
    appear as they
    are sent to him.

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 18:08:23 -0400
    From: "[removed]" <asajb2000@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  quick program question+

    Generally I agree with Martin Grams, Jr. about making
    an effort to avoid the people on eBay selling oldtime
    radio and looking at it as simply a money-making
    enterprise vs. a hobby (quantity vs. quality).
    However, some of us, due to time constraints or money
    considerations do not attend any more.  In fact,
    Vintage Broadcasts and I starting attending the
    conventions ii the early 1980's and attended every
    year until 2002.
    It doesn't mean the people who offer oldtime radio are
    any less reliable or legitimate because we do not
    attend the conventions.  Also, some of the established
    dealers have turned to eBay to supplement their sales
    and one should look for dealers with good feedback and
    also people they have dealt with in the past.

    A freidn of mine is looking for some shows but can
    only identify them by title (no date or program name).
     Can anyone help?
    Exhbit A
    Statement in Full
    Calculated Risk

    I have a theory that movie stars have had a tough time
    (and to some extent Broadway stars) adapting and
    making it big in TV.  Witness Henry Fonda, who played
    a police detective in "The Smith Family" on TV in the
    mid-70's; James Stewart had a TV show as a college
    professor in the 1960's, and Nathan Lane starred as an
    art dealer.  Each of these shows lasted not much more
    than the original initial order (at most 13 episodes),
    so the track record is not good.  I don't know if
    radio to TV had the same problem; people were curious
    to see the radio stars they heard and to see those
    people who starred in the TV version of their shows
    (Our Miss Brooks, etc.)

    Finally, there once was a satellite channel called The
    Nostalgia Channel that aired on NYC's Time Warner
    Cable for awhile.  Besides HBO Comedy, I do not
    receive GoodtimeTV on satellite.  It is available as a
    basic service for subscribers of Time Warner Cable in
    NYC.  It offers "classic" TV such as I Spy; Man from
    Uncle; Courtship of Eddie's Father, etc. and all the
    stuff that no longer airs on TV Land.

    It is generally true that to make as much money as
    possible, the oldtime radio dealers on eBay try to
    squeeze as much onto an MP3 disc as possible; but you
    must understand people are looking to pay the least
    amount of money possible or to get it for free.  The
    old adage of "you get what you pay for" doesn't occur
    to these people, at least not initially.  Those of
    thus more concerned with sound quality consider these
    people the bane of our existence and also puts
    pressure on us to convince people that they should pay
    more than they could and it would be worth it, but
    it's often a tough sell.

    Andy

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 18:08:39 -0400
    From: OTRadiofan@[removed] (Stuart Lubin)
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Cleaning of Magnetic Heads

    Recently there has been a discussion of the use of isopropyl alcohol for
    cleaning plastic or vinyl records. I am hardly an expert, but even I
    know that alcohol should not come in contact with plastic, or vinyl.  I
    believe, though, that someone wrote in and said that isopropyl alcohol
    should not be used to clean magnetic heads.  That is a surprise to me,
    but if it is true, what is the preferred substance for the cleaning of
    magnetic heads?

    Stuart

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 18:14:53 -0400
    From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Our Miss Brooks
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    In a message dated 7/18/05 2:00:52 PM Central Daylight Time,
    [removed]@[removed] writes:

>     A total of 130 episodes were filmed
>     and broadcast, but the days and times of when the episodes were aired vary
>     from various parts of the country because the show was syndicated.

    Did "Our Miss Brooks" not air first run on CBS-TV?  I was under the
    impression it did and only the reruns were syndicated.

    Dixon

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

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 18:15:30 -0400
    From: OTRadiofan@[removed] (Stuart Lubin)
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  The "Life" and "Death" of Charlie McCarthy

    Recently, Ron Sayles listed 07-18-20 as the birthdate of Charlie
    McCarthy, and 09-30-78 as the date of death.  He listed Charlie as
    "dummy".  Am I missing something here? Was the death of Charlie McCarthy
    incorporated into a show or drama? Are these really the dates that
    correspond to Edgar Bergen vital statistics?

    Stuart

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 22:57:52 -0400
    From: Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  THE WAR OF THE WORLDS MURDER

    I just picked up "THE WAR OF THE WORLDS MURDER" by Max Allan Collins, a
    recently-published paperback mystery from Berkeley Prime Crime.  I haven't
    read it yet, but the novel involves Orson Welles being charged with murder
    in 1938.  The only person who can sove the murder is Walter Gibson, creator
    of THE SHADOW.

    My late friend Chris Steinbrunner is prominently featured in the
    introduction, which deals with Collins being introduced to Walt Gibson at
    the 1975 Bouchercon.

    Max Collins is the author of ROAD TO PERDITION, filmed a couple years ago
    with Tom Hanks and Paul Newman.  He's an Edgar Award-nominated mystery
    author who replaced Chester Gould as scriptwriter of the DICK TRACY comic
    strip. --ANTHONY TOLLIN

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 23:01:40 -0400
    From: Hal Stone <otrjug@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Will the real James Dobson stand up

    In a recent exchange of postings with the ever lovely Irene Heinstein, she
    casually commented about my book as [removed]

>     As you know I not only bought your book, but read it and loved it.    Your
>     'jaunty' style is [removed] (SNIP)
>     Being such a good and funny writer, I think you should consider a 'blog' -
>     everyone else is doing it.

    Ah, therein lies the problem. If I got started "blogging", and living in the
    OTR era, I'd never get back to finish writing the book that I originally
    started. That one, (about my 25 year TV Directorial career) is to be an
    expose of the TV Commercial industry. I had to set that epic aside because
    of the pressure from our beloved list-master who conned me into writing
    about my OTR days first.

    Speaking about that book,"Aw, Relax [removed]", I mentioned a few
    weeks ago that every time the book is mentioned here in the Digest pages, I
    get 3 or 4 more orders. [removed] happened again. Sure enough, 4 more
    orders came in. Including one from Jolly Olde England.

    So, can you guys (and Gals) blame me for mentioning it once more. I really
    hate to self promote. I'm not comfortable doing it (like some people I
    know), but in doing some reorganizing of a storage area, I came across
    another box of 28 copies. I need the space, folks. Order now, or forever
    regret the missed opportunity.

    The price is only [removed] bucks, + $[removed] S&H. It's 336 pages long, with well
    over 200 photo's, illustrations, etc. from the glory days of OTR. To get
    more info, or ordering information, go [removed]

    [removed]

    But 'nuff said 'bout that. (Many digesters breath a sigh of relief) Now,
    lets get back to the question that Irene raised. She went on to [removed]

>     Finally, in today's newsletter, Derek Tague asked:

> >     This might come off as a dumb question but here goes; Is this James Dobson
> >     the same dude who runs the Focus on the Family radio ministry?

>     I also wondered when I heard his name.  Do you know if it's the same James
>     Dobson?

    First off, my apologies to my good buddy (and super nice guy) Derek Tague
    for not answering this question when he first raised it. Simply too busy at
    the time, and I was neglecting e-mails, etc.

    Now, Irene, how do I respond to that question? ....Hmmm? Do I bite my
    tongue, or answer in my typical [removed] is a propensity for sometimes
    being too [removed] perhaps a tad "Politically Incorrect".

    If I'm not mistaken, isn't James Dobson a religious leader? Isn't he the one
    who is really outspoken against same-sex marriages, homosexuality, and stuff
    like that?

    Well, I think it's incredibly ironic. The OTR actor James Dobson who played
    "Archie" so briefly was "Gay". This other James Dobson couldn't possibly be
    him, much less his son. :)

    Any other questions?

    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    Jughead

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 00:26:11 -0400
    From: "Don and Kathy Dean" <dxk@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Alfalfa & Henry Aldrich

    I just watched The High and The Mighty and Island In The Sky, the 2  John
    Wayne movies currently being shown on AMC and mentioned in recent
    Digest posts. Anyone besides me catch the bit parts that Carl Switzer had
    in both movies. Carl, the "Alfalfa" of Little Rascals fame, was in his mid
    '20's
    when these films were made. He was shot to death in 1959 being only
    31 years old.

    Jimmy Lydon played the role of Murray, the navigator in Island In The Sky.
    He also starred as Henry Aldrich (of OTR fame) in 10 Henry Aldrich movies
    from 1942-1944.

    Don Dean N8IOJ

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 09:15:54 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  7-19 births/deaths

    July 19th births

    07-19-1889 - Max Fleischer - Vienna, Austria - d. 9-11-1972
    cartoonist: "Popeye the Sailor"
    07-19-1891 - Raymond Bramley - Independence, OH - d. 11-27-1977
    actor: Burton York "Howie Wing"; Silas Finke "David Harum"
    07-19-1896 - Merle Kendrick - d. 5-23-1968
    orchestra conductor: "Cabin B-13"
    07-19-1901 - Juano Hernandez - San Juan, Puerto Rico - d. 7-17-1970
    actor: Kolu "Jungle Jim"; Lothar "Mandrake the Magician"
    07-19-1902 - Buster Bailey - Memphis, TN - d. 4-12-1967
    clarinet: "Flow Gently, Sweet Rhythm"
    07-19-1906 - "Tiny" Hill - Sullivan, IL - d. 12-13-1971
    orchestra leader: "Tiny" Hill and His Orchestra"
    07-19-1912 - Frank Kane - d. 11-29-1968
    writer: "The Shadow"
    07-19-1913 - Charlie Teagarden - Vernon, TX - d. 12-10-1984
    trumpet: (Brother of Jack) "Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street"
    07-19-1914 - Lou Krugman - Passaic, NJ - d. 8-8-1992
    actor: Tony Griffin "Romance of Helen Trent"; Ulysses Hink "Dear Mom";
    "Gunsmoke"

    July 19th deaths

    02-20-1909 - Barry Wood - New Haven, CT - d. 7-19-1970
    singer, host: "Million-Dollar Band"; "Your Hit Parade"
    02-24-1919 - Betty Marsden - Liverpool, England - d. 7-19-1998
    actress: Daphne Whitehigh, Buttercup Gruntfuttock, et al "Round the Horne"
    03-31-1928 - Lefty Frizzell - Corsicana, TX - d. 7-19-1975
    singer: "Grand Ole Opry"; "Louisana Hayride"; "Big D Jamboree"
    04-27-1902 - Harry Stockwell - Kansas City, MO - d. 7-19-1984
    singer: "Broadway Matinee"
    06-23-1908 - Erik Barnouw - The Netherlands - d. 7-19-2001
    radio historian/author: "A Tower of Babel"; "The Golden Web"; "The Image
    Empire"
    09-03-1897 - Sally Benson - St. Louis, MO - d. 7-19-1972
    writer: "Junior Miss"
    11-19-1864 - Geroge Barbier - Philadelphia, PA - d. 7-19-1945
    actor: "Song of the Islands"
    11-24-1908 - Worth Kramer - d. 7-19-1998
    director: "Wings Over Jordan"
    12-17-1913 - Herbert Nelson - Stillwater, MN - d. 7-19-1990
    actor: Ralph Fraser "Dan Harding's Wife"; George Lawlor "Romance of Helen
    Trent"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 09:16:32 -0400
    From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OTR references in modern media

    I'm always surprised and pleased when I find unexpected OTR references.
    Like, for example, when one of my late 20s/early 30s compatriots says
    something like "The Shadow Knows" even when they've never heard of the radio
    show and have only vague memories of the mostly forgettable Shadow movie.
    I'm always amazed when little parts of OTR raise out of the collective
    cultural memory and show themselves.

    I heard another such instance the other day - which I hesitate to bring up
    here because of its political content - but I found it surprising enough to
    warrant repeating here.  I was listening to Morning Sedition on Air America
    Radio, where both of the hosts are young enough (40s?) to have been born and
    grown up post OTR era.  The hosts were talking with a guest about the
    Rove/Plame affair when one of the hosts asked if it was possible that
    President Bush might fire Karl Rove, to which the guest replied: "Bush firing
    Rove would be like Charlie McCarthy firing Edgar Bergen."

    Regardless of the politics, I really enjoyed the OTR reference.

    -chris holm

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:15:22 -0400
    From: Hal Stone <otrjug@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: 1440 Broadway

    Jim Burns [removed]

>     Folks, didn't the WOR studios at 1440 Broadway, vacated only this year,
>     go back to the '30s?

    In a word, [removed]

    In more than one word, here's a bit of trivia. I know of only one set of
    brothers who were OTR Directors. Jock & Ken McGregor. Jock worked
    exclusively for WOR at 1440 Broadway, Ken at NBC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
    (Maybe there were others in the business).

    I guess I know that, 'cause I worked for both. I did a number of shows for
    Jock at "OR", (as we called it) and worked with Ken for many many years when
    he directed NBC's "Archie Andrews".

    I'm not sure about their brotherly love. I never saw the two of them
    together a social functions, and Jock was never present when Ken threw
    parties at his house. But they were both bearded, stocky,Scotsmen. The kind
    you see throwing those "telephone poles" at the Highland Games.

    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    Jughead

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 14:25:27 -0400
    From: "David S. Siegel" <otrdsiegel@[removed];
    To: OTR DIGEST <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  ELIZABETH  TRIUMPHS

       Let the young generation fight over who will be the first one on the
    block to acquire the latest Harry Potter volume, borrowing Lou Gehrig's
    famous quote: "Today I consider myself one of the luckiest fellows in the
    otr hobby" having acquired (don't ask me how) a copy, still wet with
    printer's ink, of Elizabeth McLeods long awaited book: THE ORIGINAL  AMOS
    'N' ANDY.

         This is not a book for skimming as every sentence is carefully crafted
    to inform and enlighten and yet is written in a conversational style that
    makes the reader want to get on to the next chapter and the next.

          Much as I thought I knew about the history of Gosden And Correll,
    both from my own previous reading and from the many generous postings on
    the Internet by their scholarly biographer, this book adds enormously to
    that wonderful period in which two talented gentlemen met, joined forces
    and changed the history of radio broadcasting. We get to meet them as
    children, see early photos of them, learn about their families, watch them
    develop until the day they meet and then follow their always creative,
    sometimes turbulent, absolutely amazing partnership for more than 30 years.

           The book is profusely illustrated with rare photos and includes
    script excerpts, valuable statistics, cast information, background notes
    supporting every fact and conclusion and an extensive index.

         If you have to skip a meal to pay for your copy of this book, you will
    not regret it

    DAVE SIEGEL

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #217
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