------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2006 : Issue 128
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
RE: How to dispose of OTR colection [ Tom Barnett <[removed]@earthlink. ]
ITTA3 authors [ benohmart@[removed] ]
CBS [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
collection of OTR [ "Walden Hughes" <walden1@yesterdayu ]
Bret Morison [ "Walden Hughes" <walden1@yesterdayu ]
Donating OTR shows [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@j ]
two discouraging responses [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
Your Comment on the 'C' of 'CBS' in [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@j ]
William Bendix [ "Frank McGurn" <[removed]@sbcgloba ]
CBS RMT [ "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed]; ]
Lina Romay [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
Some Ask Why [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@j ]
OTR COLLECTION [ "Frank McGurn" <[removed]@sbcgloba ]
Black and White vs. Color [ "Karen Lerner" <[removed]@[removed] ]
Re: CBS [ Cnorth6311@[removed] ]
Addendum CBS RMT [ "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed]; ]
Re: Houdini [ "R. R. King" <kingrr@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 12:46:01 -0400
From: Tom Barnett <[removed]@[removed];
To: OTR <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: How to dispose of OTR colection
Frank,
I would think that a donation of the collection would be in order. There are
several places around the country that might take it (although you might have
to ship it) You can make arrangements though.
When I cleared out my cassettes in favor of MP3s some of my collection was
sold on eBay and the rest was a donation.
Some things to think about:
- there is any number of OTR interest groups that would love to take them
- a library (local, state or Library of Congress?)
- look for those foundations that need audio material for folks who have lost
their sight.
I am sure they would appreaciate the donation.
Selling the entire lot in an auction might not yield a lot of money, but may
find the collection a worthy home.
Tom Barnett
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 12:46:11 -0400
From: benohmart@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: ITTA3 authors
Hi. To those authors of It That's Time Again 3 who haven't received your
books, please
email me your address, as I don't have them. Thanks.
Ben Ohmart
ben@[removed]
Old radio. Old movies. New books.
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 12:46:29 -0400
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: CBS
When avid participants in this forum admit they had no idea
what the C in CBS stood for, I think we've lost far more in
this hobby than many of us thought possible. Something
about that is depressing.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 14:12:14 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <walden1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: collection of OTR
Hi Everybody,]
if you have a collection of OTR that you like to give away. You can mail it
to Yesterday USA 2001 Plymouth Rock Drive Richardson, TX 75081. We could
use it for the collection, or part of our annual fund raiser to keep the
station on the air. Take care,
Walden
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 14:12:22 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <walden1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Bret Morison
Hi Everybody,
does any one have a copy of Bret Morison singing on Arthur Godfrey Talent
Scout program? I would like to play it on the Friday night show. Take
care,
Walden
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 14:13:20 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Donating OTR shows
My wife recently underwent hospitalization, followed by a stint in a
Health Care Facility for physical therapy. She was there for some
months, and in the facility are many elderly folk for whom it is a
nursing home. I've been building up my film library in DVDs, and where
I've duplicated something I already had on VHS tape, I've donated the
tape. Needless to say, many of the tapes are of films from the 1940s.
The patients there love them. I got rave reviews from the social
director there: they have a large-screen monitor that they use as a
"theater screen" for mass viewings. The tapes fit perfectly into the
mix.
Likewise, OTR shows would probably go over well in that environment.
Some of the shows would work today as well as they did when first
broadcast. The Lone Ranger shows with Brace Beemer as the Ranger usually
sound good to newcomers; I speak from personal experience. My wife, who
never heard OTR, was fascinated with Pat Novak For Hire.
One could do far worse than donating to a nursing home.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 14:17:31 -0400
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: two discouraging responses
1) If you are going to give your collection to a library, especially at a
university, think about giving them some money to maintain it. Many
librarians are far more concerned with shelf space and the chore of
cataloging material than the acquisition of new materials. If there seems
to be the slightest bit of question of how badly an institution wants your
stuff, don't donate it. General [removed] local historical
societies--may simply place your stuff in a warehouse. I know, because I
have done precisely this (on orders) while working at our local science
museum.
My usual advice in such cases is that your collection, and the affection
that you've poured into it, will be better appreciated by other collectors.
Sell it.
2) I don't think that William Bendix was in Car 54. Life of Riley, yes, and
a good many movies. He was a marvelous actor, and I've always been
disappointed that his career was so short.
M Kinsler
512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 43130 740-687-6368
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 14:33:56 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Your Comment on the 'C' of 'CBS' in the OTR
Digest
Guess that's what I get for trusting in the public schools.
With the exception of the Mathematics courses, relying on what you learn
in high school alone is a dangerous practice. I once missed a chemistry
class while in college, and relied on what I'd learned in high school to
explain the action of aqua regia upon gold. But what I learned in high
school was flat-out wrong, a "simplified" quasi-explanation of the
chemistries involved. I got a "see me!" notation on my quiz paper from
the instructor.
At least, the mathematics courses had the decency to state, "The
explanation on how this was derived is outside the scope of this course."
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 14:45:27 -0400
From: "Frank McGurn" <[removed]@[removed];
To: "The Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: William Bendix
New York Linda:
William Bendix was a well known as a movie actor in the late 30's , the
1940's and some in the 1950. He did some Broadway in his early career. He
stared as Chester A. Riley in the 1944 - 1951 popular situation comedy
series "The life of Riley" and made guest appearances on various radio & TV
programs.
If you go on line to Google and search for William Bendix you will find
Biographies of him by several [removed] include his movie credits too.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 14:45:54 -0400
From: "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: CBS RMT
Regarding Ted Kneebone's wondering about the cancellation of CBS
Radio Mystery Theater, I personally have a two-pronged theory.
Prong 1 - By the early 1980s, conglomerates had begun to swallow
up many stations and CBSRMT didn't fit their cookie-cutter
approach to programming.
Prong 2 - About that time, CBS was switching from land lines to
satellite distribution. Some stations used to carry CBSRMT simply
because it was there ... the only thing coming down the line, so
why not carry it for a few extra bucks? With satellite
distribution of programming, there was the regular news and
feature channel, then there was the long-form channel for
extended-length programs. I don't know that it even made it to
the long-form channel before being canceled, but because CBSRMT
was no longer front-and-center on the main channel (like it was
on the old telephone hook-up) it was simply forgotten.
Bob Cockrum
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 15:02:15 -0400
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Lina Romay
There's an interesting article about Lina Romay in the May 3 edition of the
Glendale News-Press at:
[removed]
Barbara
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 15:56:57 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Some Ask Why
The other day, I saw on an Internet auction a listing for a Jack
Armstrong Dragon's Eye Ring. I checked the listing, and discovered that
the seller was actually auctioning a Buck Rogers Ring of Saturn, which is
somewhat rarer than the Jack Armstrong manifestation.
Actually, both rings were plastic and used the same molds. The main body
of both rings was an ivory colored luminous plastic. The Jack Armstrong
ring had a "genuine tenite stone," as Franklyn MacKormack described it,
a liquid-green piece of plastic in the shape of a cabochon. The Buck
Rogers Ring of Saturn had a bright red "stone," about the shade of a fire
engine back then.
The seller apparently spotted a monochrome picture in a collectibles
book, and chose the wrong one. (It could also have been a The Shadow
ring from Carey Salt, which also used the molds and was like the other
two rings, save that its "stone" was jet black.
I e-mailed the seller, and explained he had the ring listed incorrectly.
His response was, "I didn't know that. What's it worth?" I told him
about its relative value, and he continued to list it as a Jack Armstrong
ring through the end of the auction.
The buyer might or might not know any better. The three rings were
manufactured in 1940 (Jack Armstrong) and 1947 (Buck Rogers and Carey
Shadow). The Jack Armstrong ring was overproduced: toward the end of the
promotion, the show was suggesting that listeners get two rings so that
they could scare people by making them think they were seeing the glow of
a wild animal's eyes in the dark. There was no equivalent overproduction
of the later rings.
One might well ask, why did I bother to alert the seller? Possibly, it's
because I once sent for a Ring of Saturn; I didn't hear the Jack
Armstrong program when first broadcast; I was a little young to
appreciate it. But I do like accuracy in such trivia, and the ring
listing was unintentionally misrepresentative. (If anyone gets one of
these rings, be aware: even when new, the plastic wasn't that flexible,
and trying to fit one on a finger will almost certainly shatter it. I
lost my first Ring of Saturn that way.)
The years separating the current OTR enthusiasts and the time premiums
were issued grow continually, and not only are memories fallible, but
legends grow. For those of us who lived through the OTR years, it's
always satisfying when people get things right.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 16:23:43 -0400
From: "Frank McGurn" <[removed]@[removed];
To: "The Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OTR COLLECTION
I want to thank all the people that have responded to my friend's dilemma on
desposing of a very old and large collection of OTR cassette tapes.
I cannot speak for Ed, all I can do is present the options to him, I made
hard copies of all the suggestions and offers made by a bunch of very nice
helpful people who read the OLD TIME RADIO DIGEST. I'm meeting with Ed on
Thursday. I'll let know his decision. Thank You again, Frank McGurn
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 18:22:57 -0400
From: "Karen Lerner" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Black and White vs. Color
I took an informal poll here at Radio Spirits.
60% of us visualize the shows in color, while 40% visualize the shows in
black and white.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 21:02:48 -0400
From: Cnorth6311@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: CBS
Actually, CBS can be called CBS, the entity, or, Columbia Broadcasting
System. Either one is acceptable.
Charlie
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 21:03:37 -0400
From: "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Addendum CBS RMT
Another thought on CBS RMT and its demise. Maybe it had just run
its course. I was an early fan, recording the first eight months
of shows, sans the reruns when they began a couple of months into
the series. But life moves on and other interests and obligations
encroach ... not that my dropping off matters that much ...
however, I'm sure listenership declined over the years after its
initial splash.
Another factor, much of the time the stories just weren't that
good. And anyone can see why, feeding a monster seven days a
week. Of course, Mr. Brown explained that the strip schedule was
intended to have the show "be there" and build a listening habit
for his audience; he felt once a week would not do, nor an MWF
scheduling a la The Lone Ranger.
Not to restart the long and heated debate on copyright laws, but
I was browsing eBay the other night and entered ABC, NBC and CBS
in a search of the audiobooks section. Up popped CBS RMT several
times. Most were straightforward listings, but I came across one
with the audacity (or was it just plain ignorance) to include
this disclaimer:
"I am in accordance with Ebay policies concerning selling Public
Domain material. All material contained on these CD's are in
Public Domain as per original broadcast on the open radio
frequencies back in the day. ... My personal collection came from
other collectors and not purchased from CBS. I am not offering or
representing any copyrighted material as my own. If you have
written proof that any of these files are not Public Domain and
copyright protected, please notify me and I will work to remove
the auctions upon review of notification. All of my recordings
are sold for private listening enjoyment only."
What a bunch of nonsense! Some disclaimers aren't worth the
computer screen they're written on. I think I may have told the
story here before of how Mr. Brown autographed my copy of the
Radiola release of Grand Central Station. This particular program
episode was after his association with the show, but he signed
the cover anyway: "Stolen from Himan Brown." I also remember his
being interviewed, I think it was on KSL, shortly after CBS RMT
began and a listener called it to say how much he enjoyed the
show and that he was recording them. Mr. Brown interrupted,
saying he appreciated the listener's enthusiasm, but he didn't
want to hear another word about recording the program.
Bob Cockrum
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 23:03:25 -0400
From: "R. R. King" <kingrr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Houdini
David K. Bialik asks if there are any radio interviews with Houdini.
Does anyone know if there are any (non-radio) recordings of
Houdini's voice?
1. The only known recordings of Houdini's voice are some wax cylinders
made in 1914 -- a brief speech about his famous Chinese water torture
cell routine. You can listen to them here:
[removed]~houdinia/[removed]
But it's more fun to hear it as part of this animated video:
[removed]
A July 1970 Associated Press article reports that the cylinders were
found among the effects of magician John Mulholland and that "Houdini
buffs concluded the records were made not onstage, but while Houdini
was practicing his speech, or just having fun with the machine."
As for Houdini on the radio, he seems to have made quite a few
appearances, judging from a not-very-thorough look at the New York
Times radio listings. Here are some dates on which he was scheduled to
appear:
November 14, 1922 - A half hour long "Interview with Houdini" over
WOR.
July 2, 1924 - A fifteen minute talk "A Magician Among the Spirits"
over WOR.
July 22, 1925 - Another half hour WOR "Interview with Houdini" -- he
was to be queried "by a group of newspapermen and city officials on
one hand and by proponents of spiritualism and mysticism on the other"
according to an item in the Washington Post.
October 20 & 22, 1925 - Two fifteen minute talks over WGR, Buffalo, on
"Spiritualism" and "How to Do Magic Tricks."
2. Houdini apparently also stopped off at stations while on tour.
Here's part of an article from the March 28, 1923 Oakland Tribune:
HOUDINI TO TELL ON RADIO WAVE OF SPIRIT STUDY
Handcuff King Will Appear On Air Under Tribune Auspices.
Harry Houdini, who is starring this week at the Oakland Orpheum in an
"escape" act, will talk over the radio under the auspices of The
TRIBUNE tomorrow night. [The Trib owned Oakland station KLX.]
Houdini will be "on the air" from 7:15 to 7:30 o'clock with a talk
entitled "My Twenty-five Tears' Experience With Spiritualism."
Houdini has made an intensive study of psychic phenomena and spirit
manifestations for a quarter of a century and has debated the matter
with Conan Doyle, the celebrated English advocate of the theory that
it is possible to communicate with the dead.
"I am not taking the position that there is nothing in spiritualism."
said Houdini. "No belief could be more pleasing or comforting to the
living than to know that they could communicate with their loved-ones
who have passed on and that they may be able to join them later in the
Great Beyond.
"But it takes more than a pleasant theory to satisfy an inquiring
mind. I ask for proof, and with this, desire in mind I have devoted
much of my spare time in past years to a study of this question. I
have not been convinced that communication with the departed is a
scientific fact." ...
3. Not all of Houdini's contact with the radio world went well. Here's
a July 1925 AP wire service story:
HANDCUFF KING IS ACCUSED OF STAGING OFF-STAGE PERFORMANCE
(By Associated Press.) New [removed] is out for Harry Houdini,
handcuff king and magician, who is accused of staging an off-stage
strong man act and wrecking the interior of the office of Houdina &
Co., which is in the radio equipment business.
Several days ago Houdini, after getting a bill for goods delivered to
Houdina & Co. went to the firm's offices to straighten matters out.
There he saw a package addressed to "Hank Houdini." When he protested
against the use of his name, he says, officers of the concern
threatened to beat him up and locked the doors. In the ensuing fracas,
Houdini was far from beaten up, but a chair and a chandlier were
smashed. A policeman refused to arrest Houdini.
George Young, a representative of the Houdina & Co., had a summons
issued for Houdini appearance in court for disorderly conduct.
Young denied infringement, saying that Francis P. Houdina, an
inventor, was associated with the firm.
Houdini had not been located today to receive the summons.
[The New York Times reported that Houdini "seized a chair and broke a
chandelier when they tried to prevent him leaving the room." I like
the idea of somebody trying to lock the doors on the world's most
famous escape artist almost as much as I like the idea of a policeman
refusing to arrest him. Maybe the officer figured there was no use in
handcuffing the Handcuff King.]
4. The July 23, 1925 New York Times reports that Houdini eventually
received the summons -- just before one of his radio appearances:
HOUDINI SUBPOENAED WAITING TO BROADCAST
Magician Must Appear in Court on Charge That He Was Disorderly in
Plaintiff's Office.
George Young, secretary of the Francis P. Houdina Company of 1,476
Broadway, served a summons on Harry Houdini last night in the
broadcasting studio of Station WOR at 1,440 Broadway, charging him
with disorderly conduct in breaking a chandelier in the office of the
Houdina Company last Monday.
Mr. Young, accompanied by two policemen, entered the studio just a few
minutes before Mr. Houdini was to speak over the radio on
spiritualistic manifestations. After serving the summons, Mr. Young
turned to leave the studio when Mr. Houdini asked him for his home
address. Mr. Young said: "My business address is 1,476 Broadway." "Are
you ashamed of your home address?" asked Mr. Houdini.
The remark precipitated a heated argument, in which Mr. Young said he
was ashamed of Mr. Houdini's actions in the office of the Houdina
Company. Houdini defended himself by saying that he "would have been
killed" if he had not used force to get out of the office.
Houdini contends that the Houdina Company has used his name unlawfully
in the conduct of its business, and that the confusion of names was
intentional. Francis P. Houdina said he had no intetion of using
Houdini's name in connection with his company's products. He has just
invented a device for controlling an automobile by radio from another
car, and he said last night that the use of the magician's name would
imply that his process is a trick instead of the genuine process which
it is. The disturbance in the Houdina Company's office arose when
Houdini went there to protest about the use of his name.
After the serving of the summons Houdini spoke for about fifteen
minutes over the radio, telling about several mediums whom he had
investigated. The summons, issued by City Magistrate James M. Barrett,
requires Houdini to appear in the West Side Court on July 28.
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2006 Issue #128
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