Subject: [removed] Digest V2006 #323
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 11/20/2006 4:18 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2006 : Issue 323
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  MP3 In Autos                          [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@j ]
  MP3's and OTR                         [ "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed]; ]
  Re: mp3 players in autos              [ Jim Bollman <Jim@[removed]; ]
  Charlie Ruggles in Suspense           [ "Paul Thompson" <beachcrows@sbcglob ]
  FYI About "SOS"                       [ "Glenn P.," <C128User@[removed]; ]
  available mp3 radio players           [ Ken Greenwald <radio@[removed]; ]
  Re: mp3 players in autos              [ K & J Hammel <haml@[removed]; ]
  Audio Restoration Advice              [ <historyvids@[removed]; ]
  11-20 births/deaths                   [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
  Charlie Ruggles                       [ "Robert Birchard" <bbirchard@earthl ]
  Car Mp3 Players                       [ ilamfan@[removed] (S Jansen) ]
  Mark Wuellner comments on SUSPENSE    [ "Gary Dixon" <argy@[removed]; ]
  Charlie Ruggles on SUSPENSE           [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  OTR on MP3's                          [ Dan <teac35@[removed]; ]
  GUNSMOKE Script                       [ hopharrigan@[removed] ]
  MP 3                                  [ Richard Olday <raolday@[removed]; ]
  MP3                                   [ "Barbara Harmon" <jimharmonotr@char ]
  Light Crust Doughboys                 [ Kelli Stanley <ks4color@[removed] ]

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

Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:08:26 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  MP3 In Autos

jer51473@[removed] asks whether any new cars have MP3 players.  I
found at a local Walgreens a little battery operated gadget that plugs
into the earphone jack of any audio source, including MP3 players, and
converts the audio output to an FM signal that can be picked up by a car
radio.  No need to buy a new car to get MP3 capability.

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:10:26 -0500
From: "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed];
To: ""old-time radio digest">" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  MP3's and OTR

To give my opinion on this for MR.  Godfrey, at least I think it was he,
<grin> this comes up from time to time and there are folks pretty hardline in
each
camp.
The big fear among many, and it's a very real problem, is that many MP3's are
very inferior in quality to our dearly departing cassettes.  They certainly
don't
have
to be but many of the folks doing the converting don't really know how to do
a good conversion.  If I'm in a trade with someone I will not trade crappy
files.  I
like
the larger amount of files you can get on many of the MP3 disks just so I can
get a listen to shows that I just haven't heard.
If someone wants to hear a show that I have but I don't have it in a fairly
good quality encode I always warn them.  As I convert my cassettes and reels
and
vinyl of OTR items I take some time and do some work to ensure that my MP3's
will at least sound as good as the source.  Sometimes you can improve
them in
fact.
We don't want all the work of the folks
who are doing so much work to give us high quality shows to go down the
virtual drain as low bit low fi mp3's.  If you are encoding your own, take a
bit of
time to
do it correctly.  Something that many don't know is that when you record a
show on to your hard drive, convert it to mono.  a 128KBPS mono file is as
good
as a
256KBPS stereo file.
Now when you do that you also need to make sure you don't wind up withswirly
sounding audio.  If your heads are out of alinement, or if the original
source's
machine was out of alinement this can happen.  In that case you pick
whichever channel sounds the best and copy that audio over to the other
channel so
this
swirly sound doesn't happen.
OK I've rambled on long enough, I'm sure.  I'll just say that MP3 is a great
format but it can also be done incredibly poorly which doesn't serve our
hobby
well.
Bill

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

Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:54:43 -0500
From: Jim Bollman <Jim@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: mp3 players in autos

On Nov 19, 2006, at 6:18 PM, [removed]@[removed] wrote:

From: <jer51473@[removed];
Does anyone know if any of the new autos are fearturing mp3 players?

Many/most of the new cars have CD players that play MP3s.  Our 2006
Honda Civic does and if we would have bought the high end audio
system it would have also let us plug in a thumb drive.

[removed]

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

Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:46:37 -0500
From: "Paul Thompson" <beachcrows@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Charlie Ruggles in Suspense

Mark Wuellner questions the wisdom in choosing Charlie Ruggles to star
in the first episode of Suspense. As Martin Grams points out in his
excellent book "Suspense - Twenty Years of Thrills and Chills",
Suspense started out as a summer replacement show (typically low
budget), John Dickson Carr's novel The Burning Court had been an
instant best seller, Charlie Ruggles had a long career already on
Broadway, in motion pictures and had been doing free lance radio
around that time. Also, that same month his latest picture "Friendly
Enemies" was opening in New York, where Suspense originated. According
to Grams, that was the reason for his [removed] a pitch for his
upcoming film.

I might also add that many of the lead roles in Suspense that summer
went to such people as Jeanne Cagney, Clarence Derwent, Richard
Widmark, Eric Dressler and Margo to name a few.

Paul Thompson

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

Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:47:07 -0500
From: "Glenn P.," <C128User@[removed];
To: Old-Time Radio Mailing List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  FYI About "SOS"

FYI, my understanding (possibly mistaken) is that prior to adoption of
"SOS", the distress signal was "CQD" -- "CQ" being a ham radio shorthand
for "I'm calling anyone"*, and the "D" for "distress". I'm not certain but
I believe I read somewhere that the Titanic issued CQD's as well as SOS's.

*(In the last quarter or so of "The War Of The Worlds" broadcast, you have
a ham operator, "2X2L", calling "CQ" and "8X3R", meaning he wants to talk
to 8X3R, but failing that he'll talk to anyone. Later in the show he calls
"CQ New York" -- requesting a response from anyone in the New York area --
but he gets no response.)

All of this said, I'm not totally sure of my facts, and as I KNOW there
is at least one "ham" on this list (he wrote previously about morse code
signals used in the background of movies and such), I invite him to please
correct or confirm me. (Thanks!)

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

Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:47:29 -0500
From: Ken Greenwald <radio@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  available mp3 radio players

I'm sure others will answer your question beside myself, but here is
what I know:
If you are looking for an new car and pick out a particular model
from one manufacturer you really want, don't worry about the CD/radio
having the ability to play mp3 discs. Just purchase the car without a
radio/CD player and have an independent installer put in the radio of
your choice. There are many to choose from and I feel sure you will
find one that pleases you. The difference in cost from a built in non
mp3 radio/CD play and one you independently install  won't be that much.
BUT remember to FIRST ask the dealer of the car you want to purchase
if the radio that comes with it can play mp3 CDs as well as CD-R and
CD-RW discs.
If it's a YES, then your set. If not, put in one yourself. That way
you can't loose!
Good luck ......
Ken Greenwald

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

Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:56:02 -0500
From: K & J Hammel <haml@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: mp3 players in autos
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Someone asked about autos with MP3 players.  I suspect almost any one you want
in a new car could have mp3.  I got a Prius earlier this year, and even though
my model was not the top end, it did come with an mp3 player.
Happy Hunting,
Kathy

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

Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 22:17:53 -0500
From: <historyvids@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Audio Restoration Advice

With some of the wonderful restorations coming out in the OTR circle in
recent years I've got a question for some of you more experienced in audio
restoration.

I'm a high school social studies teacher and where I work we have several
tapes recordings of radio broadcasts of school sporting events on cassette
tape that I would like to have transferred to to CD and cleaned up a bit to
remove the tape hiss, etc.  I've tried doing this myself with some of the
lower cost software marketed for this purpose, but not having the right
hardware to effectively record them the finished result hasn't been that
spectacular.

Can anyone point me to a good person or outfit that does this type of audio
cassette restoration without breaking the bank?

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

Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 08:52:49 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  11-20 births/deaths

November 20th births

11-20-1890 - Robert Armstrong - Saginaw, MI - d. 4-20-1973
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
11-20-1891 - Reginald Denny - Richmond, Surrey, England - d. 6-16-1967
actor: "Cavalcade of America"; "Screen Guild Theatre"; "Texaco Star
Theatre"
11-20-1900 - Chester Gould - Pawnee,  Oklahoma Territory - d. 5-11-1985
comic strip artist: "Dick Tracy"
11-20-1907 - Fran Allison - La Porte City, IA - d. 6-13-1989
actor, singer: Aunt Fanny, "Breakfast Club"; "National Barn Dance";
"Uncle Ezra"
11-20-1908 - Alistair Cooke - Manchester, England - d. 3-30-2004
host: "Transatlantic Quiz"; "Letter to America"; "Stage and Screen"
11-20-1910 - Ralph Muzzillo - d. 12-xx-1985
trombone: (Benny Goodman's Orchestra) "Let's Dance"
11-20-1912 - Harold Ensley - d. 8-24-2005
produced over 5,000 radio shows
11-20-1916 - Judy Canova - Stark, FL - d. 8-5-1983
comedienne: "Paul Whiteman's Musical; Varieties"; "Charlie McCarthy
Show"; "Judy Canova Show"
11-20-1916 - Virginia Verrill - Santa Monica, CA - d. 1-18-1999
blues singer: "The Jack Haley Show"; "Show Boat"; "Uncle Walter's
Doghouse"
11-20-1919 - Evelyn Keyes - Port Arthur, TX
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
11-20-1920 - Gene Tierney - Brooklyn, NY - d. 11-6-1991
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Great Scenes from Great Plays"; "[removed]
Steel Hour"
11-20-1921 - Phyllis Thaxter - Portland, ME
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
11-20-1926 - Kay Ballard - Cleveland, OH
actor: "Stagestruck"; "Stars for Defense"; "Bud's Bandwagon"
11-20-1948 - Richard Masur - New York, NY
actor: "We Hold These Truths"

November 20th deaths

03-22-1946 - Jonathan James-Moore - d. 11-20-2005
produced comedy series for BBC radio
05-22-1925 - James King - d. 11-20-2005
operatic tenor: "Metropolitan Opera"
06-29-1919 - Slim Pickens - Kingsberg, CA - d. 11-20-1983
actor: Samuel the Seal "Cinnamon Bear"
07-09-1894 - Alan Lipscott - d. 11-20-1961
writer: "The Life of Riley"
08-03-1905 - Gaylord Carter - Wiesbaden, Germany - d. 11-20-2000
organist: "Amos 'n' Andy"; "Breakfast in Hollywood"
09-09-1828 - Leo Tolstoy - Yasnaya, Polyana, Russia - d. 11-20-1910
author: "Great Plays"; "Arthur Hopkins Presents"; "Hour of St. Francis"
09-10-1900 - Francis Craig - Dickson, IN - d. 11-20-1966
bandleader: "Spotlight Revue"
12-18-1913 - Lynn Bari - Roanoke,  VA - d. 11-20-1989
actor: "Dan Carson"
12-27-1916 - Cathy Lewis - Spokane, WA - d. 11-20-1968
actor: Jane Stacy "My Friend Irma"; Kathryn Milford "Great Gildersleeve"
xx-xx-1889 - Maude Davis - San Francisco, CA - d. 11-20-1946
vaudevillian: (Clark Sisters) "Eddie Cantor"; "Kate Smith"
xx-xx-1893 - Mal Hallett - Boston, MA - d. 11-20-1952
bandleader: "Spotlight Bands"
xx-xx-xxxx - Buddy Pearson - d. 11-20-1959
writer: "The Eddie Cantor Show"

Ron Sayles

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

Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 08:53:16 -0500
From: "Robert Birchard" <bbirchard@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Charlie Ruggles
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    Responding to Mark Wuellner's "Why Charlie Ruggles?" comment.  It is true
that today Ruggles is known primarily as a comedic actor, but he had a long
career as a dramatic actor in Los Angeles area theater going back to the
early 1910s, and one of his first sound roles was a serious one--as a
detective in "Roadhouse Nights" (1929) based on a Dashiell Hammett story--and
before his stage career he was a well known track and field star entering
meets under the sponsorship of the Los Angeles Athletic Club; so while in
retrospect Ruggles may seem an odd choice, at the time he was known as a much
more versatile actor--and was known as a much more robust figure--than his
later screen persona would seem to indicate.

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

Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 08:54:03 -0500
From: ilamfan@[removed] (S Jansen)
To: [removed]@[removed] (OTR Bulletin Board)
Subject:  Car Mp3 Players

Does anyone know if any of the new autos are fearturing mp3 players? Ive
heard the volvo has one, but im not interested in a volvo. Any others? I need
to buy soon and would sure like to have mp3 for otr. Thanks!"

Well, it seems like LOTS of new autos are coming with mp3 players - only took them about 5 years to 'get in gear' and take the hint that we consumers are listening to mp3s ravenously!  Here's a link to a site that I like, under its' subheading of car audio/mp3 players:

[removed]

Also try a Google search for "head unit" and mp3, you 'auto' be able to find a stereo that can be installed, if you don't happen to have a new car choice for mp3.

Stephen Jansen

--
Old Time Radio never dies - it just changes formats!

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

Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 08:54:23 -0500
From: "Gary Dixon" <argy@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Mark Wuellner comments on SUSPENSE
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Since SUSPENSE is my favorite of all the classic radio shows, I wanted to make
a few remarks regarding Mark Wuellner's comments about "The Burning Court" and
the Charlie Ruggles performance (from 1942).

The original concept of the show was to give actors who were primarily known
for comedy, drama, and romantic [removed] opportunity to perform in a
different gendre.  If Mark (or anybody) has access to a complete SUSPENSE log,
scan the first 20 shows.  A few of the casting choices will probably be
somewhat of a surprise?  Charlie Ruggles wasn't the only actor who might have
seemed out of place?

If memory serves me right, the original first run of SUSPENSE ran for only 13
weeks. After that, the show was reformatted a [removed] Barry Kroeger
eventually eliminated as the man in black.

argytunes

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

Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 10:35:58 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Charlie Ruggles on SUSPENSE

Mark asked:

Can anyone provide any history or conjecture as to why Suspense chose
Ruggles?  I love Suspense for showcasing comedians' versatility in later
years, but why risk the first show, and thus any future shows, on Charlie
Ruggles' ability to give a credible dramatic performance?

The question is valid but Charlie Ruggles was a NAME and he was certainly
more popular than other Hollywood actors such as Harry Stockwell or Slim
Summervile.  The SUPENSE series for the summer of 1942 was just a filler for
a few weeks and though it was intended to be the start of something big (if
it took off, which it apparently did), summer programs don't always have as
large a ratings as programs during the prime seasons.  Stars like Jack
Benny, Bette Davis and Cary Grant would never have guested on the show
because it had no prestige so actors like Charlie Ruggles was a blessing for
a show that was not even familair with the radio audience, and Ruggles
wouldn't have been as expensive.

One has to remember that SUSPENSE may have been a long-running program but I
have always underwent the notion that SUSPENSE was a whole bunch of
different series in itself.  The summer 1942 season was one series, the
pre-Roma Wines was another.  Then you have the Roma Wines episodes where
stars flocked in to do roles that were different.  Then you have the
hour-long sustainers that was another series in itself.  Then you had the
Auto-Lite program that offered a different variety of stories.  Then the
Sustainers from 1954-1956 which played in the vein of the later ROMANCE and
ESCAPE series.  Then you had the William N. Robson episodes, the series
after Robson, and finally the NYC run for the final year and a half.  Each
was a different series in itself because of the selection of the stories,
the presentations, and the cast.  Having Charlie Ruggles as a guest during
the Roma Wine years (which I believe they did) was something to expect
during those years.  Having Ruggles during the 1942 summer season was
impressive.

Besides, SUSPENSE was NOTHING until the second production of "Sorry, Wrong
Number" started a publicity craze in 1943 - then people really started
listening in.

Martin Grams Jr.

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

Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 10:35:40 -0500
From: Dan <teac35@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  OTR on MP3's

I'm in between tape and CD. I would love to continue
recording on tape as my personal vehicle still has a
fully operational tape deck (Delco) as well as the
company vehicle. My recording gear is up to the task
(AIWA AD S-10 & AD S-15, Nakamichi B-1) and many boxes
of blank tape. For open reel recording, a Sony deck.
For a short time, I did sell/swap copies with other
collectors.
 However,
As much as I hate to admit it, MP3's are more
convenient and a time saving way of obtaining many,
many programs. I can remember many years ago making
copies of tapes for my personal collection and
listening to each and every one as they were dubbed.
Now, as work and Family situations had developed over
the years, MP3 CD's are starting to be a part of my
OTR collection as I no longer have time at home to
listen to OTR - or dub cassettes. What dubbing I do is
from CD to tape during the evening meal or before
bedtime.
 What listening i do now is work transit, picking up
the kids at the sitters, or, as weather and time
permits, evening walks.
 So, the short answer is yes, I find disks are a nice
way to obtain shows and for storage.
[removed]
 I will still make copies of my CD-R disks every 5 or
so years as I do not completely trust the medium for
long term storage. My tape collection (both Open Reel
and cassette) is still playable since getting bit by
the OTR bug way back in fall of '83. I will as time
allows to record on tape, but still collect shows on
disk.

 Have A Great Day!
Dan

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

Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 12:30:08 -0500
From: hopharrigan@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  GUNSMOKE Script

Last year someone on the digest was kind enough to email me a script of the
OTR GUNSMOKE Christmas episode, wherein Matt and a another man share a horse
dueing a snowstorm. Matt relates the spirit of Christmas back in Dodge while
they travel.
Bottom [removed]
My computer crashed last Spring sometime and the script was lost. Can anyone
send this to me as soon as possible since I need to use it for a school
recreation show in a few weeks?
Let me know and many thanks,
Randy Story
hopharrigan@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:53:19 -0500
From: Richard Olday <raolday@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  MP 3

For the person who asked about MP 3 player in cars, my
2006 Ford Escape came equipped with a CD & MP 3 player
even though the sales person did not know it was so
equipped. I'm sure that there are many othersd now
available. Dick

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

Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:48:42 -0500
From: "Barbara Harmon" <jimharmonotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  MP3
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Our 2007 Toyota Prius has a CD and MP3 player.  - JIM HARMON

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Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:49:46 -0500
From: Kelli Stanley <ks4color@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Light Crust Doughboys

First, let me thank you all for the wonderfully informative and
scintillating discussions.  Work, academic pursuits and an overly busy
life generally keep me from active participation, but no matter how
sporadic my available time, the digest is always a source of delight.

While browsing in my favorite paper ephemera shop in San Francisco, I
found and purchased a postcard featuring "The Light Crust Doughboys."
I'd never heard of the group, but of course was intrigued.  The reverse
of the card reads:

"Pictured on the opposite side are those popular radio stars, the LIGHT
CRUST DOUGHBOYS.  For over nine years they have broadcasted the merits
of LIGHT CRUST, 'The Finest of Fine Flours,' from studios in the Burrus
Mill & Elevator Co. at Fort Worth, Texas.  The Doughboys are heard at
12:30 noon, Monday through Friday, over WBAP, WFAA, KPRC, WOAL, KARK and
at 7:15 [removed] over KWKH--Shreveport."
(All caps verbatim).

The front illustrates an eight member ensemble and the announcer.  The
"boys" apparently featured a juvenile female singer (at least she looks
very young--and she's standing on a platform) named "Dolores Jo."  The
other members are:
Zeke (guitar), [removed] (guitar), Bashful (bass), Cecil (fiddle), Abner
(fiddle), Ted (accordion) and Junior (banjo).  The announcer is a large,
tall genial looking fellow named Parker Wilson.  The photo looks like it
dates from the late '40s to early '50s, judging from the hair styles.

Jay Hickerson's invaluable tome indicates there are eight shows
available of this series, but so far I've not been able to locate any.
I'd love to hear whether anyone on the digest has heard these shows or
has any knowledge or recollection of the performers.  I assume they
played country music, but that's just a guess based on their location.

So, if there are any LIGHT CRUST aficionados out there, please let me
know! :)

Thanks!

Kelli Stanley

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2006 Issue #323
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