------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 108
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Jubilee and Bubbles [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
'Ellery Queen' & 'Minute Mysteries' [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
Same Time Same Station [ Larry Gassman <lgsinger@[removed] ]
Re: Gunsmoke [ Mark J Cuccia <mcuccia@[removed]; ]
Chuck McCann [ oldpdb@[removed] (Paul Barringer) ]
Wrong again! [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
Gunsmoke [ Harry Bartell <bartell@[removed] ]
Buddy Clark and Linda [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
A Tantalizing Question [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
Gunsmoke Theme [ "Harry Machin Jr" <harbev5@earthlin ]
March 9th Birthdays [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
M*A*S*H OTR References [ Smzmurphy@[removed] ]
Linda, Scotch, the AFRS, and Annie [ Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 10:03:26 -0500
From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jubilee and Bubbles
Not too long ago we were having a discussion on the 78-L, when Elizabeth
McLeod mentioned that one of the actors on Amos 'n Andy was Ernie Whitman.
He played the role of the Reverend Johnson. (I think that's correct, I can't
even remember the character's name now but that's what you get for reading
e-mail in the middle of the night.)
The Reverend and Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman of AFRS Jubilee fame are one and
the same. He was also called "The stomach that walks like a man"
Joe Salerno
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 11:29:27 -0500
From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: 'Ellery Queen' & 'Minute Mysteries'
I just remembered the "Ellery Queen Minute Mysteries" from way-back-when.
As a teenager, I enjoyed listening them on my AM (only) radio, although I
was frequently frustrated by the "solutions".
Does anybody know if any of these "showlets" are available for listening
online? I'd like to test myself to see if I'm a better detective now than I
was then!
Herb Harrison
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 19:28:03 -0500
From: Larry Gassman <lgsinger@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Same Time Same Station
Hi everyone,
As one of the former hosts of Same Time Same Station, I feel that perhaps I
should write and alert you that for those who listen in the Los Angeles
area, the show currently hosted by Jerry Haendiges will be changing times
as of this Sunday. The program will be moving to its new time from 5 until
7 PM on [removed] FM KCSN Northridge, beginning Sunday March 9.
Congratulations!
If you don't live in the LA area and want to hear the programs on the
internet go to:
[removed]
You will hear both Jerry Haendiges and Tom Heathwood's fine programs.
If all goes well, John and I will be once again sharing the Same Time Same
Station duties with Jerry later this year.
There is a lot to do before this becomes a reality so I can't give you a
starting date. We are working to get all of our shows out of storage and
that will be a chore. Based on schedules, time and life in general, I
would hope to perhaps be close to being on the air again by the end of the
year.
Larry Gassman
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 19:28:36 -0500
From: Mark J Cuccia <mcuccia@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Gunsmoke
As far as I know, Gunsmoke was always recorded in advance. Initially (when
it started in Spring 1952) it was probably transcribed on disc, although
later (probably beginning in 1956, until it ceased the radio edition in
June 1961) it was tape recorded on magnetic tape.
The music was intially performed "live" by a studio orchestra during a
transcription or tape recording session, but by 1957, the music (theme
song and 'incidental' music score) was all "canned", pre-recorded music
cuts and cues, straight out of the CBS Music Library, using music cuts
also frequently heard on Suspense, Johnny Dollar, Have Gun Will Travel
(both radio and TV), the TV version of Gunsmoke, and other CBS-owned TV
dramas of the late 1950's and early 1960's (Perry Mason, Twilight Zone,
Rawhide, etc).
In the early years, the commercials were usually done "live" by George
Walsh or William Conrad during a transcription or recording session,
although not necessarily at the time the drama was being performed. In the
mid-1950's, there were the musical L&M and Chesterfield commercials, the
musical parts pre-recorded, but announced by George Walsh. In the later
years (after Liggett & Meyers stopped sponsoring), commercial spots on
Gunsmoke on radio were sold by CBS to "any participating sponsor", most of
the commercials (many of them 'musical' ones) were pre-recorded *well* in
advance, although George Walsh might do some additional voice-overs. But
even in the later years, some commercial slots weren't sold to any
available sponsor, and instead were filled with PSAs or promos for other
CBS Radio programs, usually announced "live" by George Walsh. Some of
those promos in the 1960/61 timeframe were for the new expanded *ten*
minute CBS Radio hourly newscasts, on-the-hour most every hour throughout
the broadcast day, 7-days a week, or were promos for the various 5-minute
"Dimension" feature programs on CBS Radio scattered throughout the
broadcast day.
George Walsh's voice can also be heard on the TV version of Gunsmoke, if
the tapes or prints that TV-Land or Hallmark or whoever shows aren't
'butchered' by the syndicator, [removed] He usually says
"Gunsmoke, starring James Arness and Matt Dillon, US Marshall". Sometimes,
the audio is cut out where Walsh's voice *should* be heard. George Walsh
would also say near the end, at the brief initial closing credits
something like "Stay tuned for scenes of next week's epsidoe of Gunsmoke",
but again, the audio is usually cut at that moment, by the syndicator
CBS-Viacom-Paramount, possibly because most local or cable stations
rerunning Gunsmoke rerun it M-F or back-to-back certain days of the week,
or all seven days, and not one epsidoe once a [removed] Those "scenes" of
"next week's" episode would have been seen when CBS-TV was originally
airing Gunsmoke in prime-time (on Saturdays later Mondays) in the 60s/70s.
Mark J. Cuccia
mcuccia@[removed]
New Orleans LA
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 19:28:44 -0500
From: oldpdb@[removed] (Paul Barringer)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Chuck McCann
I remember some time back seeing an article on Chuck McCann, in it they
said he grew up in [removed] and his father was a musician/singer at the
Roxy Theatre where he spent a lot of time watching Danny Kaye, Danny
Thomas and Jack Benny, in the article they said Chuck had done some
voices on radio, no details ???
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 19:28:57 -0500
From: otrbuff@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Wrong again!
Those Were the Days is wrong again. For March 7 it states:
"1933 - CBS debuted the first daytime serial on this day. Marie the
Little French Princess had a run of two years."
'Tain't so, McGee!
Clara, Lu 'n' Em initially appeared on WGN in June 1930 as a nighttime
feature. The series was soon picked up by NBC Blue for airing to a
national evening audience. An important precedent was set on February
15, 1932 when the network transferred the show to the morning hours.
Without notoriety the drama became, indisputably, the first network
daytime serial. A potent trend was chartered! (The Great Radio Soap
Operas, McFarland, 1999, p. 5.)
Those Were the Days simply cannot always be believed.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 19:31:00 -0500
From: Harry Bartell <bartell@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Gunsmoke
In answer to Elizabeth Minney's questions:
how did William Conrad know when to begin speaking? Did he count the
steps from his office to the saloon, or did the sound man point at him
to begin his speech, or what?
He received a cue from the control booth.
Also, was the theme music performed live?
<snip>
And who was the guitarist?
As I recall, most of the time, particularly in the earlier years, the music
was live and conducted by Rex Koury. The guitarist was usually,if I
remember his name correctly,. Julie Davidson.
Last question: Did the actors on Gunsmoke hear the commercials during
a live broadcast, and, if so, was it hard to sustain the momentum and
mood of the performance after the jolly Sugar Krinkles jingle? I
always feel a little skewed when the commercial comes bouncing on right
after a moment of heavy drama.
The actors heard the commercials if they were done live. If they were
recorded they heard [removed] pause for commercials was no more
disturbing for the actors than the time they spent off-mike from scene to
scene.
Harry Bartell
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 19:30:50 -0500
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Buddy Clark and Linda
One thing leads to [removed]
The discussion about Buddy Clark mentions "Linda" a lot, a song that I
remember liking very much as a 7-8 year old girl when it was released. And
my 15-year old sister, who kept me abreast of popular music and crooners,
was very upset. [I have never forgotten when my sister and her friends
planted lipstick kisses on a Frank Sinatra record cover]
The NY DJs and newspapers made a big story over Buddy's death so that made
him very big in my mind. I found the discussion of Buddy and his
potential, had he lived, interesting, a dose of reality applied to a memory
of a 'tragedy' frozen in time.
A few years ago when I was dabbling in selling old sheet music on e-bay I
found sheet music for "Linda" and was posting it for sale. I did some
internet research and learned that the composer Jack Lawrence was the
neighbor in Scarsdale, NY (the town bordering my home town, but much, much
richer :))) and also client and friend of Lee Eastman a famous showbiz
copyright attorney and Lawrence wrote the song in honor of Eastman's 5 yr
old daughter Linda, at Eastman's request. Apparently he traded the
copyright for the song in exchange for legal services that Eastman had
provided for him. Often mentioned as clients of Eastman who visited and
dined at his home are William "Hoppy" Boyd, Hoagy Carmichael and Harold
Arlen. The young Linda Eastman later became Linda McCartney.
Lawrence said he was having no luck peddling the song when Ray Noble decided
to record it with Buddy Clark and Lawrence was stunned by its 'overnight'
success. Buddy still remains the definitive 'Linda' interpreter.
Lawrence has outlived Linda, he's close to 90, and in her memory he has
reissued sheet music of "Linda" with a picture of him at the piano with the
young girl Linda sitting atop the piano.
-Irene
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 19:31:22 -0500
From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: A Tantalizing Question
Perhaps I am being presumptuous, but I feel that Digest readers might
enjoy a good challenge. Here is my contribution for 2003.
Can anyone answer this question: At Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the
Hollywood Hills, there reposes a simple gravestone. It contains the name of
the deceased and years of birth and death. It also has a four word
inscription: "Golden Voice of Radio."
Can anyone tell me the name of the deceased? It may surprise you.
Dennis Crow
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 19:31:40 -0500
From: "Harry Machin Jr" <harbev5@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Gunsmoke Theme
With all of the wonderful sources of information displayed daily
in the OTR Digest, I'm sure someone can help me with a question
I've had for many years.
I know that sometime many years ago, on TV I'm sure, I heard the
words sung to the Gunsmoke theme. I believe the theme was called
"Gunsmoke Trail" and those two words came at the end of the song.
When did I hear the theme song sung? Does anyone know the words
to the theme?
Harry Machin, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 19:31:47 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: March 9th Birthdays
If you born on March 9th, you share your birthday with:
1902 - Will Geer - Franfort, Indiana
1934 - Joyce Van Patten - Queens, New York
1938 - Charles Siebert - Kenosha, Wisconsin
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Make your day, listen to an Olde Tyme Radio Program
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 20:12:03 -0500
From: Smzmurphy@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: M*A*S*H OTR References
Chris refers to OTR references on M*A*S*H. I caught one the other day: Frank
is "interviewing" a Korean woman that Radar wants to get a job at the 4077th.
Frank tells Radar to leave the room. When Radar protests, Frank tells him
that there's no reason for him to stick around "unless there's a call for
Philip Morris."
Can anyone else think of other unexpected references from television, movies
or wherever that you just wouldn't understand unless you were an OTR fan?
Best,
Mike Murphy
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 22:03:05 -0500
From: Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Linda, Scotch, the AFRS, and Annie
Spence Coleman, referring to Buddy Clark's hit record "Linda," writes:
In the song's lyrics I was impressed by Buddy's boldness in
approaching a girl who didn't even know him, and by his eloquent words and
style that won him a date with the girl. At the time I had a crush on a
particular girl, but I didn't have the nerve to approach her. So, even
though it was fiction, I admired the singer's way with women.
If I had known then what I know [removed]
...you might well have married Linda Eastman and beat out Paul McCartney
for her affections, Spence. Linda McCartney was the daughter of songwriter
Jack Lawrence's attorney, Lee Eastman, and Lawerence used her name as
inspiration for the song.
Meanwhile, Derek Tague wrote:
As a First-Generation Scots-American, I'd like to remind everybody that a
person from Scotland is properly referred to as a SCOT, or, adjectivally,
SCOTTISH--and not SCOTCH. An American born person of Scottish heritage
should
be called a Scots-American, or Scottish-American.
SCOTCH is a drink, which I've never cared for--even when I was drinking.
I stand corrected, Derek. I was thinking of my favorite libation at the
time, a scotch and soda at the end of a long day. And, even if you don't
care for the stuff yourself, friend, I extend a warm and grateful thank you
to your forebears for mastering the art of distilling grains into this
lovely concoction. The world would indeed be a colder and less friendly
place indeed without the work of Mr. Dewars and his many associates.
Now, onto a question:
I've been doing some small-time research lately on the AFRS in preparation
for a short article about their wartime distribution of 16" vinyl disks.
I've noticed over the years that a great many AFRS disks seem to be found
in Columbia Records sleeves, indicating that Columbia contracted to do many
of the pressings. However, I've also noticed that some AFRS disks - though
very few - have master numbers in the runouts that look the same as RCA/NBC
pressings of the same period. Does anyone out there have any
knowledge/statistics/whatever about the contracts for pressing 16" disks
for the AFRS? And, in addition, does anyone have access to or knoweldge of
AFRS record keeping who could perhaps determine recording dates for AFRS
productions?
Thanks for any information you can provide!
Harlan
Harlan Zinck
First Generation Radio Archives
[removed]
PS: Thanks to all of the Digesters who have written such nice words about
our Radio Orphan Annie CD set over the past couple of weeks. We're very
proud of it and, speaking as the person who personally found and bought the
disks a few months ago, I'm delighted that we could make these long-lost
shows available once more. By the way, if you're a fan of Orphan Annie or
just like to look at cool graphics and radio memorabilia, you'll want to
stop by [removed] where two enthusiastic and very
talented Archives volunteers - John Olsen and Joe Koomen - have created a
short history of Orphan Annie's Secret Society and decoder badges. Thanks
to Joe's graphic skills, you can even print out and put together your own
1936 Secret Compartment Decoder Pin!
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #108
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