Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #209
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 7/17/2007 9:03 AM

To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2007 : Issue 209
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      RE: Do You Still Buy OTR              [ "Kirby, Tom" <Kirby@[removed]; ]
      re: do you still buy otr              [ <marknichols06@[removed]; ]
      Existing Serial A&A                   [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Future Of XM 164                      [ "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed]; ]
      Still buying after all these years    [ "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed]; ]
      History Detectives, Redux             [ chris chandler <chrischandler84@yah ]
      Circulating OTR                       [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Golden and Recordings                 [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      XM Replies Re: Radio Spirits          [ <leasurej@[removed]; ]
      Laura Ingalls Wilder                  [ Frank McGurn <[removed]@sbcglobal. ]
      Newark OTR convention                 [ Kenneth Schwartz <kschwar@[removed] ]
      Pat Patrick as Ersel Twing            [ David Ballarotto <[removed]@ ]
      Fibber McGee                          [ "Donald" <alanladdsr@[removed]; ]
      XM's OTR channel                      [ <mikeandzachary@[removed]; ]
      Radio Spirits and The Older Days      [ Stephen A Kallis <skallisjr@[removed] ]
      The Amalgamated Broadcasting System   [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
      Circles within [removed]             [ Wich2@[removed] ]
      7-17 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:44:58 +0000
    From: "Kirby, Tom" <Kirby@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  RE: Do You Still Buy OTR

    Yes, I still by OTR. Most of my purchases have been from Radio Spirits,
    but thanks to this list, I've found some other sources. After reading
    Martin's post, I doubt that I will by anything more from Radio Spirits.
    To buy books on credit, and continue to keep and sell them when you know
    you won't be paying for them is downright despicable.

    My preferred format is audio CD, although now that I have this MP3
    player,
    MP3 is a more convenient format. I fell out of love with cassettes
    because
    I've had several go bad on me because I played them a lot. They suffer
    from
    physical wear more than CDs. I have plenty of audio CDs that I can now
    rip
    to MP3 to put on my player, but I don't have everything. I've always
    concentrated on horror and comedy, with a few mysteries and quiz shows
    when
    I was in the mood.

    I rarely download shows, mainly because of fear of something like the
    RIAA.
    I've heard that "the shows are in the public domain", and "the shows are
    NOT
    in the public domain", and I don't know enough to decide for sure. It
    may be
    different from one show to the other, but I don't know how to tell the
    difference. Please don't start discussing this too much, or at all,
    because
    I think this topic has been a thorn in the side (or thumbtack in the
    seat)
    of Charlie Summers, and I don't care to read a weeks worth of digests
    with
    nothing but copyright discussion in them.

    I wouldn't mind see a list of good audio/MP3 CD dealers who are reliable
    and
    respectful of copyrights, [removed]

    -- Tom Kirby

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:45:28 +0000
    From: <marknichols06@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  re: do you still buy otr

    Yes, I still buy otr.  I tried a few MP3's and found that many of the shows
    I just couldn't listen to, and many others were not enjoyable because of
    sound issues.  Most people spend a lot of money on their hobbies, so I
    don't mind spending a little to get great sound.  Also, by purchasing from
    places like first generation radio archives, and audio classics archive I
    feel that I am supporting the hobby by supporting those who are trying to
    restore and preserve otr, which I feel is part of what the hobby is
    about.   I don't have the thousands of shows that some have (that's not my
    goal, I could not listen to it all anyway), but I enjoy what I have. I have
    not tried the MP3's put out by the Otter Project, so they may be of
    consistently better quality than the ones I've tried.   I'm sure people
    have different goals in the hobby and different approaches to the hobby,
    but this is what has worked for me.
    mark

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:21:43 +0000
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Existing Serial A&A

    On 7/16/07 10:56 AM [removed]@[removed] wrote:

     >Spurred by Amos 'n' Andy's appearance on History Detectives, I've been
     >introducing my little brother to early serial Amos 'n' Andy lately.  Does
     >anyone maintain a list of what A&A exists from the '20s, '30s, and early
     >'40s and where to get it?

    You'll find a fairly complete listing of what I know to exist in the back
    of my book, "The Original Amos 'n' Andy". Although this list was compiled
    in 2005, it's still reasonably accurate -- there have been a couple of
    finds since then,including the History Detectives disc, but nothing
    that's available for circulation due to restrictions imposed by the
    owners of the discs.

    Earlier this year, the first example of a Canadian extension spotting A&A
    disc surfaced on eBay, an Edwin Strong pressing containing two episodes
    from January 1941. It went for a great deal of money, and because of
    that, it's highly unlikely that it will ever become available to anyone.
    (No, it wasn't me who bought it. I don't have a great deal of money.) But
    it does indicate that there may be more Strong discs out there, and if
    more are found they will likely surface north of the border.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:22:38 +0000
    From: "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Future Of XM 164

    An XM listener on [removed] forums received this response in an e-mail to
    XM OTR host Greg Bell:

    Quote:
    Let me reassure you. Yes, our primary old time radio content provider is
    planning to cease operations shortly. But, I promise you that XM has every
    intention of continuing to have an Old Time Radio channel available to
    listeners. Over the last 5 years, we have grown a very nice sizable and
    loyal audience enjoying XM 164 and we have no plans of going anywhere. So
    hang in there - the great shows from the past will keep coming.

    Greg.

    Greg Bell
    Program Director & Host
    Radio Classics , Ch. 164
    XM Satellite Radio
    Washington , DC
    radioclassics@[removed]

    End Quote

    As official as anything can be at this point.  Here's a link to the XMFan
    Forums

    [removed]

    The "Programming and Events" Forum will likely update any new news on XM
    164 [removed] before XM's Official [removed]

    Tim Lones

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: Mr. Bell was invited to join this list; he apparently
    didn't think it would be worth his while.  --cfs3]

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:22:49 +0000
    From: "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Still buying after all these years

    Hi all,
    Yes I still buy OTR when I can or see a good deal.  I've also gone to the
    dark side and bought MP3's as well.
    I'm  actually buying in MP3 mostly because of space.  Two shows on a CD
    would get pretty bulky in a hurry.
    Sound quality is an issue, but not as big as it appears to be with others.
    It's odd how some of us can tolerate pops and some clicks and others
    can't.  I'm a musician and a jingle
    singer, and in my work iI'm very picky but when listening to otr as long as
    it's not muffled and the mp3 is
    encoded correctly I'm just fine.
    I am amazed, however, at how bad something can sound and folks will still
    trade it.  I just threw 2 disks of
    Rocky Jordan shows away because they were loaded with tape squeal.
    I think as a kid the sound of OTR shows was part of the magic--you knew
    they were old because new
    records just didn't sound like that.
    Price was a problem for me most of the time. I tended and still do tend to
    go to Sams, or some of the book
    stores to see what's on sale.
    I've traded a lot over the years as well.
    I am finding as I get older, that if an episode of a show isn't very good
    IMO or if the sound quality isn't good
    enough, I get rid of it.
    Bill

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:25:41 +0000
    From: chris chandler <chrischandler84@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  History Detectives, Redux

    Turns out OTR fans aren't the only the ones that
    detect a whiff [removed] the little lectures
    that accompany the forensics on PBS's "History
    Detectives".

    "History" repeats itself, just a couple weeks
    [removed]

    [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:26:24 +0000
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Circulating OTR

    Sammy asked:

     > Spurred by Amos 'n' Andy's appearance on History Detectives, I've been
     > introducing my little brother to early serial Amos 'n' Andy lately.  Does
     > anyone maintain a list of what A&A exists from the '20s, '30s, and early
     > '40s and where to get it?

    I recommen Jay Hickerson's ULTIMATE GUIDE TO OLD-TIME RADIO CIRCULATING
    SHOWS book.  Jay is on this Digest so you can e-mail him and ask for the
    availability.  His book not only lists which episodes are known to exist
    and not to exist, but who you can buy and get the recording from, which
    includes names and mailing address.  Whenever someone asks me how many
    episodes of a particular radio show is known to exist, I turn to Jay's book
    and that answers the question.

    Also saves a lot of time fishing through 8 OTR club catalogs and 13 OTR
    vendor catalogs and dozens of library archives to find out how many exist
    and how many are in circ.

    Martin

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:27:07 +0000
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Golden and Recordings

     > when he
     > sold his business to Media Bay, he signed a contract stating he would not
     > sell old time radio for a large number of years (if you're going to buy out
     > your competition, you want to make sure they don't start up as competition
     > again).  So . . . even if he has a recording you want, he cannot do so
     > legally.

    I have to question this.  If the company with which he made the agreement
    ceases to exist, I don't think it's enforceable.

    Dixon asked the above.  If Radio Spirits does not exist, Media Bay's name
    is on the contract so that would depend on priot arrangements and a bunch
    of attornies to sort it out.  Incidentally, the ten years is almost up
    anyway, and Media Bay is trying to find someone or some company to purchase
    the Radio SPirits end so whoever becomes the new owner (if there is any)
    keeps to the prior contracts.
    MG

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:27:14 +0000
    From: <leasurej@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  XM Replies Re: Radio Spirits

    I asked the question to Greg Bell at XM regarding Radio Spirits and received
    this very fast reply:

    Let me reassure you. Yes, our primary old time radio content provider is
    planning to cease operations shortly. But, I promise you that XM has
    every intention of continuing to have an Old Time Radio channel
    available to listeners. Over the last 5 years, we have grown a very nice
    sizable and loyal audience enjoying XM 164 and we have no plans of going
    anywhere. So hang in there - the great shows from the past will keep
    coming.

    Greg Bell

    Program Director & Host
    Radio Classics, Ch. 164
    XM Satellite Radio
    Washington, DC

    Interesting, isn't it?  Wonder who, if anyone, they will use as a provider?

    John Leasure

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:27:32 +0000
    From: Frank McGurn <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Laura Ingalls Wilder

    Laurie Platt asked if Laura Wilder had ever been intviewed on Radio. I
    don't think so since she was born in 1867. The internet is a great teaching
    tool.

    I did a Google serach and found a vert good biography. MaybeMs/ Platt could
    wwse that in place of a radio interview.
    [removed]~irby1/[removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:27:40 +0000
    From: Kenneth Schwartz <kschwar@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Newark OTR convention

    Does anyone know the dates of this year's Newark OTR convention? I'm
    planning a family event in October but would still like to go to Newark.

    thanks everyone,
    Ken Schwartz

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:58:53 +0000
    From: David Ballarotto <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Pat Patrick as Ersel Twing

    Does anyone have any information about Pat Patrick?   Listening to him show
    up as Ersel Twing on Charlie McCarthy is always a riot.  A very strange
    character, but information on the actor who played him seems to be very
    hard to come by.

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:59:01 +0000
    From: "Donald" <alanladdsr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Fibber McGee

    In a recent edition, a poster wrote about a picture of McGee, Molly, writer
    Phil Leslie and an unidentified gentleman. The writer wondered who he might
    be. I found the same picture on page 210 of the Stumpf/Price book HEAVENLY
    DAYS. The gentleman is identified as
    the publicity director of the Union Pacific Railroad from
    October, 1950.

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:00:12 +0000
    From: <mikeandzachary@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  XM's OTR channel

    I found this on a site devoted to XM. It's in response to the Mediabay
    situation:

    Let me reassure you. Yes, our primary old time radio content provider is
    planning to cease operations shortly. But, I promise you that XM has every
    intention of continuing to have an Old Time Radio channel available to
    listeners. Over the last 5 years, we have grown a very nice sizable and
    loyal audience enjoying XM 164 and we have no plans of going anywhere. So
    hang in there the great shows from the past will keep coming.

    Greg.

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:00:24 +0000
    From: Stephen A Kallis <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Radio Spirits and The Older Days

    A number of years ago, I bought a "lifetime" membership in the Old Time
    Radio Club (or something similar; my memory's a tad spongy on the title).
      With it came a "decoder" organized rather like the Captain Midnight 1946
    Mirro-Flash Code-O-Graph.  This was to be used to determine the discount
    club members could take on prices for various products.

    Eventually, the company stopped using the "decoder," and now apparently
    the company has likewise passed.  Lifetimes aren't what they used to be,
    but I wonder: did anyone besides me ever get a Radio Spirits "Decoder"?

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:00:34 +0000
    From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  The Amalgamated Broadcasting System Lives!

    The story of the Ed Wynn's Amalgamated Broadcasting System, which began
    broadcasting on Sept. 25, 1933 and ceased operations a little over a month
    later on Oct. 28 has been discussed on this list a number of times.  But I
    just discovered that the ABS still exists, at least as a corporation.

    Today at work I had to go the the New York Secretary of State's website to
    verify the existence of a corporation. Once I had done that it popped into
    my head to see how many corporations there were with the word
    "Broadcasting" in their names (361, if you are interested).

    One name near the top of the list caught my eye: Amalgamated Broadcasting
    System, Inc.  My first thought was someone had knowingly or unknowingly
    copied the name of Wynn's ABS.  Then I clicked on it.  It is a Delware
    corporation that had filed to do business in New Yorkon April 24, 1933.
    Five months before the ABS signed on, obviously it was the same.  And it is
    listed as "active", with an address of 551 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
    10176,

    Check for yourself.  Go to the link below and enter "Amalgamated
    Broadcasting" in the field "Entity Name":

    [removed]

    Now the obvious question is what the hell have they been doing since 1933?
    Planning a comeback?  Will there be a celebration of 75 years of
    non-broadcasting in the fall of [removed] Perhaps someone is keeping the
    corporation alive because they want to use the name at some point (but the
    name of a network that lasted for a month three-quarters of a century ago?).

    Well if anyone out there has a clue as to what is going on at 551 Fifth
    Avenue (sounds like a pricey address) I'd love to hear about it.

    [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:00:41 +0000
    From: Wich2@[removed]
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Circles within [removed]

    From: Fred Berney  <fsberney@[removed];
    Subject: [Approved: tmW7iTu] Re: Collection OTR shows

    Dear Fred-

    Fun memories - thanks!

    Fairly sure that Frank Phister at "National Recording Company," then in
    Illinois, was one of the first folks I bought cassettes from - I had
    nothing to
    trade! His '39 CHRISTMAS CAROL was a revelation, proving that not all
    copies of
      old shows had terrible audio. Why NRC? Because I'd seen its shows  in the
    meager collection of the Defiance Public Library.

    (Where, speaking of inter-connections, The Wife and I did a  mini-Quicksilver
    Radio Theater gig last week to a packed house, that included a  turn as
    Fibber & Molly. Payback is sometimes a great thing!)

    Then, when I got to NYU in '77, I - I think, through the recommendation of
    friend Wayne Fedderman - I ordered a catalog from one Mr. Berney. Fun stuff  I
    bought; including Superman WITH Batman (!), as I recall - and not long  after,
    had accumulated enough to trade a [removed]

    (More inter-connections: speaking of Quicksilver, do you recall the phone
    conversation we had, were you spoke of your attempts to revive a Mercury-type
    show with Joe Cotton?)

    As things spiraled ("out of control," Wifey might [removed]), I followed up
    with purchases/trade with such esteemed Listers as Andy Blatt (some more
    Welles?), Jim Harmon (Dimension X), and Max Schmid (geez, how much of my
    early
    collection - and that of all East Coasters! - stems from Max's largesse?)

    (Remember those pre-cyber days, when just reading a well put together
    catalog was it's own wonderful Journey into the World of Imagination?)

    Thanks, all!

    Best,
    -Craig Wichman

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

    Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:00:50 +0000
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  7-17 births/deaths

    July 17th births

    07-17-1881 - Artur Argiewicz - d. 5-xx-1966
    violinist: "Everyready Hour"
    07-17-1883 - James Abbe - d. 11-xx-1973
    photographer: "James Abbe Observes"
    07-17-1889 - Erle Stanley Gardner - Malden, MA - d. 3-11-1970
    creator, writer: "Advs. of Christopher London"; "Perry Mason"; "Life
    in Your Hands"
    07-17-1899 - James Cagney - NYC - d. 3-30-1986
    actor: "Arch Oboler's Plays"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
    07-17-1902 - Edward Gargan - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-19-1964
    actor: "This Is Your [removed]"; "This Is Our Heritage"
    07-17-1904 - John B. Hughes - d. 11-6-1989
    news commentator: "Hughes Reel"
    07-17-1905 - William Gargan - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-17-1979
    actor: Martin Kane "Martin Kane, Private Eye"; Barrie Craig "Barrie
    Craig, Private Investigator"
    07-17-1906 - Anton Karras - Vienna, Austria - d. 1-9-1985
    composer, zither: "The Third Man"
    07-17-1906 - John Carroll - New Orleans, LA - d. 4-24-1979
    actor: "Hello Mom"; "Suspense"
    07-17-1908 - Jack Douglas - d. 1-31-1989
    writer: "Jack Paar Show"; "The Martin and Lewis Show"
    07-17-1911 - Earl Glade, Jr. - Utah - d. 5-14-2001
    announcer: "Music and the Spoken Word (Mormon Tabernacle Choir)"
    07-17-1912 - Art Linkletter - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
    emcee: "People Are Funny"; "House Party"
    07-17-1914 - Eleanor Steber - Wheeling, WV - d. 10-3-1990
    singer: "Voice of Firestone"; "[removed] Fox Trappers"
    07-17-1915 - Cass Daley - Philadelphia, PA - d. 3-22-1975
    comedienne: "New Fitch Bandwagon"; "Cass Daley Show"; "Maxwell House
    Coffee Time"
    07-17-1916 - Irene Manning - Cincinnati, OH - d. 5-28-2004
    singer: Night Club Singer "Mr. Broadway"; "Wehmacht Hour"; "Railroad
    Hour"
    07-17-1917 - Lou Boudreau - Harvey, IL - d. 8-10-2001
    sportscaster: Chicago Cubs
    07-17-1917 - Phyllis Diller - Lima, OH
    comedian: "Special Delivery: Vietnam"
    07-17-1918 - Red Sovine - Charleston, WV - d. 4-4-1980
    country singer: "Country Music Time"; "Country Hoedown"
    07-17-1920 - Helen Walker - Worcester, MA - d. 3-10-1968
    actor: "Proudly We Hail"; "Suspense"; "Harold Lloyd Comedy Theatre"
    07-17-1935 - Diahann Carroll - The Bronx, NY
    singer: "Army Bandstand"; "Manhattan Melodies"; "Stars for Defense"
    07-17-1951 - Lucie Arnaz - Hollywood, CA
    celebrity interviewer: "Tune In With Lucie Arnaz"
    07-17-1954 - J. Michael Straczynski - Patterson, NJ
    author: "Encounter at Twilight"

    July 17th deaths

    01-11-1910 - Donald 'Red' Barry - Houston, TX - d. 7-17-1980
    actor: "All-Star Western Theatre"; "Forecast"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
    01-16-1910 - Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean - Lucas, AR - d. 7-17-1974
    baseball broadcaster: (Baseball Hall of Fame) "Game of the Day"
    01-19-1916 - Marion Sweet - d. 7-17-1978
    actor: Dragon Lady "Terry and the Pirates"
    03-09-1918 - Mickey Spillane - Brooklyn NY - d. 7-17-2006
    writer: "That Hammer Guy" based on his novels
    04-07-1915 - Billie Holliday - Baltimore, MD - d. 7-17-1959
    singer: "Artie Shaw Band"
    05-10-1917 - Margo - Mexico City, Mexico - d. 7-17-1985
    actor: (Wife of Eddie Albert) "Suspense"; "Free Company"; "Texaco
    Star Theatre"
    06-14-1895 - Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards - Hannibal, MO - d. 7-17-1971
    singer: Jiminy Cricket "Fun and Fancy Free"; "Cliff Edwards, Ukulele
    Ike"
    07-19-1901 - Juano Hernandez - San Juan, Puerto Rico - d. 7-17-1970
    actor: Kolu "Jungle Jim"; Lothar "Mandrake the Magician"
    07-21-1912 - Frank Deniz - Cardiff, Wales - d. 7-17-2005
    guitarist: "Harry Parry's Radio Rhythm Club"
    07-23-1924 - Gavin Lambert - East Gristead, England - d. 7-17-2005
    writer: Wrote commercials for radio
    11-11-1872 - Maude Adams - Salt Lake City, Utah - d. 7-17-1953
    actor: "Maude Adams"
    11-24-1913 - Geraldine Fitzgerald - Dublin, Ireland - d. 7-17-2005
    actor: "Arthur Hopkins Presents"; "Ford Theatre"; "Cavalcade of America"
    12-18-1886 - Ty Cobb - Narrows, GA - d. 7-17-1961
    baseball great: "Coca Cola Top Notchers"; "Baseball: An Action History"

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #209
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