Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #174
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 6/13/2007 6:38 AM

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

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2007 : Issue 174
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      6-12 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
      Re: 1931 programs                     [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
      re: blimps                            [ TIMOTHY M KELLEY <tmk1_99@[removed]; ]
      Don Messick on radio?                 [ "RyanO" <rosentowski@[removed]; ]
      What's in a name.                     [ Frank McGurn <[removed]@sbcglobal. ]
      Funny incident in my childhood        [ Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed] ]
      Blimps                                [ <verotas@[removed]; ]
      Crosley Songwriter 5-in-1 CD Burner   [ Melanie Aultman <otrmelanie@[removed] ]
      Recently discovered 1931 programs     [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
      6-13 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
      Anne Fadiman on The Bob Edwards Show  [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
      #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ charlie@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:39:45 -0400
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  6-12 births/deaths

    June 12th births

    06-12-1884 - William Austin - Georgetown, British Guiana - d. 6-15-1975
    actor: Professor of the English Department "Jack Oakie's College"
    06-12-1890 - Junius Matthews - Chicago, IL - d. 1-18-1978
    actor: Grandpa Eph "David Harum"; Ling Wee "Gasoline Alley"
    06-12-1893 - Evelyn Varden - Adair, Oklahoma Territory - d. 7-11-1958
    actor: Dorothy Stewart "This is Nora Drake"; Mother Malone "Young Dr.
    Malone"
    06-12-1902 - Al Donahue - Dorchester, MA - d. 2-20-1983
    bandleader: "Al Donahue and His Orchestra"; "Matinee at Meadbrook"
    06-12-1909 - Archie Bleyer - Corona, NY - d. 3-20-1989
    conductor: "Arthur Godfrey Time"; "Casey, Crime Photographer"
    06-12-1914 - Herbert C. Kenny - d. 7-11-1992
    singer: (Member of the Ink Spots) "The Four Ink Spots"; "Let's Go
    Nightclubbing"
    06-12-1914 - Sydna Scott - Chicago, IL - d. 6-23-1996
    actor: "Luke Slaughter of Tombstone"
    06-12-1914 - William Lundigan - Syracuse, NY - d. 12-20-1975
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; announcer in early radio
    06-12-1915 - Priscilla Lane - Indianola, IA - d. 4-4-1995
    singer: "Fred Waring Show"
    06-12-1915 - Robert Forster - NYC - d. 11-15-2003
    announcer: "CBS Radio Workshop"; Gangbusters"; Twenty-First Precinct"
    06-12-1916 - Ivan Tors - Budapest, Hungary - d. 6-4-1983
    producer: "Bud's Bandwagon"
    06-12-1917 - Wendell Barcroft - d. 3-xx-1974
    newscaster: KGGM Albuquerque, New Mexico
    06-12-1919 - Uta Hagen - Gottingen, Germany - d. 1-14-2004
    actor: "Big Show"
    06-12-1920 - Peter Jones - Wem, Shropshire, England - d. 4-10-2000
    actor: narrator "Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy"; "In All Directions"
    06-12-1924 - Dave Parker - Fresno, CA
    actor: Young Good Guys "Lone Ranger"; "Green Hornet"; "Challenge of
    the Yukon"
    06-12-1924 - George Herbert Walker Bush - Milton, MA
    [removed] president: Saturday morning presidential broadcasts
    06-12-1926 - Bob Pfeiffer - Iowa - d. 4-22-2003
    announcer: "Answer Please"; "The Bickersons"
    06-12-1927 - Henry Slesar - Brooklyn, NY - d. 4-2-2002
    writer: "Voice of the Army"; "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
    06-12-1928 - Vic Damone - Brooklyn, NY
    singer: "Saturday Night Serenade"; "Stars in Khaki 'n' Blue"

    June 12th deaths

    01-01-1917 - Ted Cott - Poughkeepsie, NY - d. 6-12-1973
    announcer, emcee: "So You Think You Know Music?"; "Music You Want"
    01-27-1888 - Harry "Singin' Sam" Frankel - Hillsboro, OH - d. 6-12-1948
    singer: (The Barbasol Man) "Reminiscin' with Singin' Sam"
    02-29-1904 - Jimmy Dorsey - Mahanoy, PA, - d. 6-12-1957
    bandleader: "Kraft Music Hall"; "Your Happy Birthday"
    03-08-1906 - Franklyn MacCormack - Waterloo, IA - d. 6-12-1971
    announcer: "Caroline's Golden Store"; "Jack Armstrong"
    04-05-1916 - Gregory Peck - Lo Jolla, CA - d. 6-12-2003
    actor: "Doctor Fights"; "Sealtest Variety Hour"
    06-01-1915 - Johnny Bond - Enville, OK - d. 6-12-1978
    singer, comedian: "Gene Autry's Melody Ranch"; "Hollywood Barn Dance"
    07-07-1898 - Arlene Harris - Toronto, Canada - d. 6-12-1976
    actor: Mrs. Higgins "Baby Snooks"; Human Chatterbox "Al Pearce and
    His Gang"
    08-11-1900 - Norma Shearer - Montreal, Canada - d. 6-12-1983
    actor: "Everyman's Theatre"; "Louella Parsons"
    10-14-1893 - Hal Burdick - Osceola, WI - d. 6-12-1978
    actor, writer: "Do You Believe In Ghosts"; "Dr. Kate"
    10-20-1884 - Thomas Chalmers - NYC - d. 6-12-1966
    actor: Sam Young "Pepper Young's Family"
    11-08-1900 - Franklin Parker - Filmore, MO - d. 6-12-1962
    actor: "Gene Autry's Melody Ranch"; "Big Town"
    xx-xx-1924 - Eugenie Baird - d. 6-12-1988
    vocalist: "Kraft Music Hall"; "Forever Top"; "Sing It Again"
    xx-xx-xxxx - William E. Scripps - d. 6-12-1952
    Founded WWJ in Detroit, Michigan

    Ron Sayles

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

    Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:41:50 -0400
    From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: 1931 programs

    Barbara Watkins has chastised us for not discussing the 1931 syndicated
    programs that guest Brad Kay played last week on her KPFK program with Bob
    Lynes.  Really Barbara, I had been planning on mentioning them during my
    broadcast tonight with Walden Hughes on RadioYesteryear, but we got off on a
    different subject than planned (as usual!)  And I will be discussing them
    with the Radio Research Group but I wanted to have a chat with Brad first.

    But yes, I'll comment on them, and start with telling everybody that they
    should go over to the KPFK site and listen to the three hour broadcast
    because it is not often that you will get to hear that much from that early.
    As Elizabeth and I have discussed here, there is so little radio from before
    1932 or 33 available that most OTR people have not heard much.  The style of
    early radio is quite different than what most are familiar with, so it is
    possible that many fans will not really like it, but this is the stuff that
    I love.  Because, as Barbara mentioned, the sound quality of these original
    transcriptions is so good, this is a very painless way to be introduced to
    the sound of 1931 broadcasts.

    Brad Kay is a record collector, not an OTR collector (actually Brad is
    rather
    famous among us record collectors as the one who discovered the 1932
    stereophonic Duke Ellington recordings.)  As I mentioned during the Radio
    Research Group session in Cincinnati, it is record collectors who are more
    likely to have the discs of early broadcasts, especially syndicated
    programs, and that while researching the history of  broadcast recording
    I have found more information about these
    recordings from record collectors than from OTR collectors.  Record
    collectors know how important the markings on the discs such as matrix
    numbers are to properly identify the recordings.  Brad mentioned on the 78-L
    that the discs were in the Columbia W340000 matrix series, and on the
    broadcast he mentioned that some of them are very early in that series.  I
    haven't had a chance yet to check with Tim Brooks to see if any ledger data
    on this matrix block remained at Columbia.  If it has, we might have
    recording dates on these programs.  If not, having this many discs in this
    series will go a long way towards recreating the matrix listing, especially
    if we find additional discs in the matrix series in discographies or other
    collections that have date identification.  But once the program is
    transferred and distributed without the matrix number info, that possibility
    is lost.

    On the broadcast Brad marveled at the size of the bands on these programs,
    and there is some great period music on these programs.  This might be a
    factor of the programs being recorded by Columbia Records, because some
    other syndicated programs of that era are not as musical.  But I am very
    jealous that Brad was able to get these transcriptions.  I can guarantee
    that if I had been at that bash that day, the discs wouldn't have sat there
    all day!

    Michael Biel   mbiel@[removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:42:27 -0400
    From: TIMOTHY M KELLEY <tmk1_99@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  re: blimps

    That is one popular theory.  According to Goodyear, the origins of the
    term are lost. One other theory is that it is a contraction of a British
    slang designation Bloody Limp.  Another theory (and regarded as the most
    probable) is that during a British airship inspection pre WWI, the
    inspecting officer thumped his thumb against the envelope, and then
    imitated the the noise it made and the term stuck.  The problem with the
    B-Limp explanation (even though it sounds plausible,) is that there is no
    record of such a classification!

    Tim

    from Akron, Airship capitol of America

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

    Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:42:49 -0400
    From: "RyanO" <rosentowski@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Don Messick on radio?

    I've been collecting a lot of classic cartoons on dvd of late and it makes
    me wonder if Don Messick did any work on radio.

    For those who may not be aware, Messick was the voice behind Scooby-Doo,
    Ranger Smith, Papa Smurf, as well as a host of others.

    RyanO

    "Share a generous slice of heaven with your friends. Save the left-over hell
    for your enemies."
    Elliott Lange

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

    Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:02:54 -0400
    From: Frank McGurn <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  What's in a name.

    A friend of mine called me an archivist (a person in charge of archives)
    <[removed];
    I had to look it . The reason he called an archivist is I try very hard
    to have as much accurate information  about a OTR episode in my date
    base. I use what I believe is the proper name of a program. Here is one
    of my delema.

    In1946 & 1947  Dom Ameche , Frances Langford and Danny Thomas stared in
    a program that the announcer, Toby Reid, called "Drene Time" I call it
    in my data base" Drene Time" .  Pinkly  Lee , Gale Gordon at times were
    semi regulars, Frances does  2 songs and Danny does a comedy routine.
    Carmen Dragon's Orchestra is on the show. Don & France have a Bickers
    sketch that  lasts for about 8 or 9  minutes. So I think its a variety
    show and the Bickersons are only small part of the show. I'm trying for
    figure out why  the "Experts" decided to name it "The Bickerson'?

    Jerry Haendiges logs, John Dunnings " On The Air", Jay Hickerson's
    'Ultimate History"   all call the program "The Bickersons" if you look
    up Drene Time you are referred to "The Bickersons, BUT The OTR
    Researchers Group Lists the Bickersons Log with no entries. and does
    have a log for "DRENE TIME" .with episode info.

    I do have several Bickerson episodes that were taken from a commercial
    recording and in my data base I list them as Bickersons (The)

    Jack Benny, Fred  Allen, Burn & Allen , Eddie Cantor and others with
    long running programs that had many sponsors like Benny' s The "Lucky
    Strick Program", The Jello Program, The Canada Dry Show Or The
    Cheverloet show" But the sponsors title  became sub- titles to the stars
    name .

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

    Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:03:31 -0400
    From: Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Funny incident in my childhood

    My mother used to tell of an incident when I was about four years old.
    Radios in those days had tubes, or valves as our British friends call
    them, and when a radio was turned on the filaments had to warm up before
    the tubes did their job, and so there was a half minute of silence before
    anything came out of the speaker.

    I apparently turned on the radio, and my Mom said "be careful you don't
    break it."

    As she finished saying that, the filaments had warmed up, and a man's voice
    said ". . . yes, and I'm not going to fix it for you, either."

    -Al Girard

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

    Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:04:15 -0400
    From: <verotas@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Blimps

    Perhaps somebody considers a blimp a limp dirigible, but incorrectly so.  The
    twain may seem similar, but not the same.

    Once again, a blimp is a big bag filled with lighter-than-air gas, with a
    cabin suspended beneath it for crew, etc.

    A dirigible or Zeppelin (named for Count Zeppelin, who developed them) is a
    solid structure of many beams, walkways, usable rooms, dining areas, etc.,
    etc. enclosed in a fabric outer covering.  Contained within the framework are
    huge bags of lighter-than-air gas (German=Hydrogen which is flammable, the
    rest of the world=Helium which is not) to provide lift.  There is no way that
    a dirigible can be "limp", unless it crashes and the gas burns or otherwise
    escapes.

    I believe the official un-official story about the term "blimp" came from USN
    Commander Charles Rosendahl, the Navy's top dirigible man - or if not he,
    another Navy expert who said someone early on went up to one of their
    lighter-than-aircraft and tweaked it with his finger, like you'd use your
    thumb and middle finger to brush off a fly or speck of dust.  He thought the
    resulting sound was a resounding, hollow  "BLIMP!"   The rest, as they say,
    is history.  True?  Who knows, regarding this tale and much of the rest of
    history as well!

    Too bad Herbert Morrison isn't around to answer these questions.  He was a
    nut on aviation, flying and dirigibles, and knew what he was talking about
    and what they were all about.  Aren't we all glad that he and Charlie Nehlsen
    were safely on the ground, instead of riding in the Hindenburg on their way
    back from Europe!

    Bestus - Lee Munsick

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

    Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:14:55 -0400
    From: Melanie Aultman <otrmelanie@[removed];
    To: OTRDIGEST <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Crosley Songwriter 5-in-1 CD Burner
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    I saw an ad for a Crosley Songwriter 5-in-l cd-burning stereo system.
    ($[removed]) [burns albums, radio and cass to cd] There have been discussions
    about copying things lately, but if this machine was  discussed, I missed it.
    Does anyone have one or listened to anything produced by it?  I'm wondering
    about the sound quality.

    thanks,
    Melanie

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

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

    Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:57:06 -0400
    From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Recently discovered 1931 programs

    Barbara Watkins asked what people thought about the discovery of the
    1931 shows by Brad Kay.

    Having heard your show, Don't Touch That Dial, I do appreciate you, Bobb
    Lynes and Brad Kay for allowing some of them to be heard. They were
    indeed fascinating, entertaining and of unbelievable quality for
    programs from that period.  Brad's additional research he has been doing
    helped a lot.

    But I will ask the inevitable question and as one who has helped make
    newly discovered shows available to the public, what does Brad Kay plan
    on doing with the programs?  He mentions that he has many more from the
    collection he discovered. I don't recall hearing you ask him about his
    plans. Hopefully, they won't be donated to an organization that will
    hide them away either not to be heard from again (I suspect not based on
    his generously allowing some to be heard on your program) or only
    available for historic research.  Even if he chooses to sell copies, I
    would certainly be interested in high quality copies as I am sure others
    would.

    Again, thanks for making them available to hear.

    Jim Widner

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

    Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:25:47 -0400
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  6-13 births/deaths

    June 13th births

    06-13-1873 - Jean Adair - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada - d. 5-11-1953
    actor: "Radio Guild"; "Theatre Guild On the Air"
    06-13-1874 - Major Edward Bowes - San Francisco, CA - d. 6-13-1946
    emcee: "Capitol Family"; "Original Amateur Hour"
    06-13-1887 - Edward 'Senator' Ford - Brooklyn, NY - d. 1-27-1970
    panelist: "Can You Top This"
    06-13-1890 - Elmer Davis - Aurora, IN - d. 5-18-1958
    newscaster: "Elmer Davis and the News"
    06-13-1892 - Basil Rathbone - Johannesburg, South Africa - d. 7-21-1967
    actor: Sherlock Holmes "Sherlock Holmes"; Inspector Burke "Scotland
    Yard's Inspector Burke"
    06-13-1894 - Mark Van Doren - Hope, IL - d. 12-10-1972
    pulitzer prize winning poet: "NBC University Theatre"; "Invitation to
    Learning"
    06-13-1894 - Tay Garnett - Los Angeles, CA - d. 10-4-1977
    film director: "Three Sheets to the Wind"; "Screen Director's Playhouse"
    06-13-1900 - Ian Hunter - Kenilworth, South Africa - d. 9-24-1975
    actor: "Hollywood Hotel"; "[removed] Steel Hour"
    06-13-1903 - Jack Fulton - Philipsburg, PA - d. 11-13-1993
    singer: "Ben Bernie, The Old Maestro"; "The Kraft Music Hall"
    06-13-1905 - Doc Cheatham - Nashville, TN - d. 6-2-1997
    jazz trumpeter: "Benny Goodman and His Sextet/Orchestra"; "Benny
    Goodman Quintet"
    06-13-1908 - Carl Eastman - NYC - d. 1-16-1970
    actor: "Mrs. Miniver"; "Renfrew of the Mounted"
    06-13-1909 - Anna Sosenko - NYC - d. 6-9-2000
    friend and agent to Hildegard
    06-13-1911 - Maurice Copeland - Rector, AR - d. 10-3-1985
    actor: Augustus Pendelton "Ma Perkins"; "Curtain Time"; "Hall of
    Fantasy"
    06-13-1912 - Sam Taylor - Chicago, IL - d. 5-26-2000
    writer: "Tales ofWillie Piper"
    06-13-1913 - Bob Bailey - Toeldo, OH - d. 8-13-1983
    actor: Johnny Dollar "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"; George Valentine
    "Let George Do It"
    06-13-1913 - Ralph Edwards - Merino, CO - d. 11-16-2005
    host, announcer: "Truth or Consequences"; "This Is Your Life";
    "Original Amateur Hour"
    06-13-1916 - Mary Wickes - St. Louis, MO - d. 10-22-1995
    actor: Louise "Meet Corliss Archer"; Irma Barker "Lorenzo Jones"
    06-13-1917 - Elizabeth Reller - Richmond, IN - d. 9-29-1996
    actor: Connie Barclay "Doc Barclay's Daughters"
    06-13-1917 - Si Zentner - NYC - d. 2-6-2000
    bandleader, trombonist: "Si Zentner and His Orchestra"; "Guard Session"
    06-13-1920 - Ben Johnson - Pawnee, OK - d. 4-8-1996
    actor: "Francis Burke for Attorney General"
    06-13-1924 - Lee Millar - Oakland, CA - d. 9-21-1980
    actor: Bob Regent "Chandu the Magician"; "On Stage"; "NBC Presents:
    Short Story"
    06-13-1939 - Tom Cheek - Pensacola, FL - d. 10-9-2005
    sports announcer: Original Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play

    June 13th deaths

    06-07-1887 - Carmela Ponselle - Schenectady, NY - d. 6-13-1977
    operatic mezzo-soprano: "The Metropolitan Opera"
    05-26-1893 - Eugene Goosens - London, England - d. 6-13-1962
    conductor: New York Philharmonic
    05-30-1909 - Benny Goodman - Chicago, IL - d. 6-13-1986
    bandleader: (King of Swing) "Camel Caravan"; "Victor Borge Show"
    06-13-1874 - Major Edward Bowes - San Francisco, CA - d. 6-13-1946
    emcee: "Capitol Family"; "Original Amateur Hour"
    07-20-1919 - [removed] Stevens - Los Angeles, CA - d. 6-13-1994
    actor: Lois Graves "Junior Miss"
    07-26-1896 - Charles Butterworth - South Bend, IN - d. 6-13-1946
    comedian: "Fred Astaire Show"
    07-28-1912 - George Cisar - Illinois - d. 6-13-1979
    actor: Tim "Tena and Tim"
    10-10-1913 - Johnny Downs - Brooklyn, NY - d. 6-13-1994
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    11-08-1931 - Darla Hood - Leedey, OK - d. 6-13-1979
    actor: "Jack Benny Program"; "Bud's Bandwagon"
    11-20-1907 - Fran Allison - La Porte City, IA - d. 6-13-1989
    actor, singer: Aunt Fanny, "Breakfast Club"; "National Barn Dance";
    "Uncle Ezra"
    11-22-1924 - Geraldine Page - Kirksville, MO - d. 6-13-1987
    actor: "Arch Oboler's Plays"

    Ron Sayles

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

    Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:36:47 -0400
    From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Anne Fadiman on The Bob Edwards Show

    Folks;

       I'm running behind this week (gee, nothing new [removed]) so I missed
    mentioning this on Monday when the show originally aired; however, during the
    weekend, XM OnLine rotates through the entire week's worth of The Bob Edwards
    Show on on-line channel 133. You want to check out Monday's program, with
    guest Anne Fadiman; whlie she does talk about her latest book ("At Large and
    at Small: Familiar Essays"), she also talks about her famous father, host of
    "Information Please." They even play a snippet of IP with guest Red Barber
    (it's a little off-speed, but still).

       If you're a subscriber to XM, you already have an on-line account. If not,
    consider signing up for a free three-day trial of XM OnLine.

             Charlie

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

    Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:38:38 -0400
    From: charlie@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!

    A weekly [removed]

    For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
    Network, the channel name is #OldRadio.  We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
    and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
    over nine years, same time, same channel! Started by Lois Culver, widow
    of actor Howard Culver, this is the place to be on Thursday night for
    real-time OTR talk!

    Our "regulars" include OTR actors, soundmen, collectors, listeners, and
    others interested in enjoying OTR from points all over the world. Discussions
    range from favorite shows to almost anything else under the sun (sometimes
    it's hard for us to stay on-topic)...but even if it isn't always focused,
    it's always a good time!

    For more info, contact charlie@[removed]. We hope to see you there, this
    week and every week!

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #174
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