Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #212
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 6/10/2002 3:03 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2002 : Issue 212
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Theme restaurants                     [ Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed] ]
  silences -- please!                   [ "Elizabeth Minney" <epminney@wcsonl ]
  MP3 Giveaway III                      [ "Richard Carpenter" <sinatra@raging ]
  WGN - Serving the Nation from Chicag  [ KENPILETIC@[removed] ]
  WLW                                   [ William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
  Re: Latter-day Dragnet                [ Rob Spencer <rfspencer@[removed]; ]
  Watts, Voices, and Wilson             [ KENPILETIC@[removed] ]
  Cinnamon Bear Audition Disc           [ Richard Fisher <w9fjl@[removed]; ]
  house jameson                         [ leonardfass@[removed] (Leonard Fass ]
  Bert Wilson                           [ User310378@[removed] ]
  Vic & Sade Music                      [ lawrence albert <albertlarry@yahoo. ]
  MP3 Thread                            [ TedOTR@[removed] ]
  Waukegan Dedication                   [ danhughes@[removed] ]
  Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
  Warner Bros. cartoon, OTR             [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Mary Livingston                       [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 18:03:25 -0400
From: Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Theme restaurants

Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; wonders:

I was wondering if somebody out there can answer this query: did there
ever exist somewhere in this country a theme-restaurant or saloon   >
dedicated to OTR.

If you're ever in Colorado Springs, CO, go to the the Bon strip
shopping center and stop in at the Shopper's Grill. Terry, the
owner has posters from the era of OTR on the walls and several
vintage radios on display, one always tuned to the local AM
station that plays a lot of the oldies including big band from the
OTR era. The food is good.

Bill H.

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

Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 18:04:09 -0400
From: "Elizabeth Minney" <epminney@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  silences -- please!

Stephen Jansen wrote:
    With this talk about "Voicetracking" going on, I
wondered if any of you know of another radio/computer
item - it's a device or program that speeds up the
silences between words?
I wonder if this is a program which is available to
us regular people - it would sure come in handy for my
own projects.  Maybe fitting 3 30-minute OTR shows on an
80-minute cd, or [removed]
     I think Mr. Jansen has cast his lure into this OTR pool and is
waiting with twinkling eyes wondering when someone will [removed]
leasing ads are perfect for such a "silence compressor," but can you
imagine shortening that lovely gap after the burglar tells Jack
Benny, "Your money or your [removed]!"  And there's a pause and a longer
pause and even a longer pause.  Then the audience begins to just crack
up realizing Benny's agonizing choice.
     Then there are the wonderful "speaking" silences which describe a
man's stride--whether he's impatient or sick or enraged.  I'm thinking
of the Gunsmoke shows and the fine sound patterns used throughout.
Also, the actors who worked together so often in the West coast shows--
Harry Bartell, Vic Perrin, Lawrence Dobkin, Parley Baer (and so many
more)--really understood the power of silence and used it to sculpt
what they said and meant.
     It seems paradoxical, but silence is an extremely effective way to
lend weight to one's words--too bad more people don't use it!  :)
Elizabeth Minney

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

Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 18:04:31 -0400
From: "Richard  Carpenter" <sinatra@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  MP3 Giveaway III

   I'd like to give away another MP3 "Gunsmoke" collection.
This one contains 72 shows, beginning Dec. 25, 1954 and ending April 29,
1956. It even has a spiffy label and semi-spiffy jewel case, which my first
two didn't.

   I'll give this MP3 free, postage-paid, to the first person who e-mails
me. And, alas, it can only be the first e-mailer. I leave the copying and
selling to the eBayers (but pass no judgments).

   For what a day at Fenway park to see the Red Sox lose cost me today, I
could have bought several MP3 collections, or even a few at Radio Spirits
prices!

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

Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 18:04:53 -0400
From: KENPILETIC@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  WGN - Serving the Nation from Chicago
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Hi Gang -                June 9, 2002 - Sunday - 4:10 PM cdt

In issue 210, Walden Hughes asks:

 Is any one a where of any radio stations broadcasting 24
 hours a day in the golden days?  I notice in 1944 that NBC
 went off the air at 3 AM ...

To my knowledge, WGN has been "Serving the Nation
from Chicago" continuously 24 hours a day, seven days
a week ever since 1939, which is when their "new" transmitting
tower was installed.  They have a "spare" transmitter and antenna
for use when the main transmitter requires service.  I don't know their
broadcast schedule prior to 1939.

I am aware of only a few times when WGN was literally "off the air".
This was was during CONELRAD drills in the late 1950s, and then
they merely changed frequency from 720 KHz to 640 KHz where they
broadcast Civil Defense information "intermittently", turning off the
transmitter per Civil Defense directive (to avoid being tracked by
enemy bombers).

I'd me interested if anyone can confirm or refute this information
about WGN.  I imagine some insiders might have access to the
old transmitter logs.

Happy Taping -- Ken Piletic - Streamwood, Illinois
kenpiletic@[removed]

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Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 18:32:43 -0400
From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  WLW

My server was was "out of service" for several days. Consequently I do
not beleive my comments about WLW were posted. .  There was a comment
that WLW was licansed to operate at 500 KW full time. Actually that was
an "experimental" license, which meant no commercials. Therefore it
actually meant after eleven  PM, which was usually the end of the
commercial day in old time radio. Not an FCC ruling but just a  plain way
of life in those days. Powell Crosley, who was not considered a nice
person, operated full time at that power. At one time in the 1930's I
thought I would like to work at WLW.  Chief engineer Rockwell said that
he would like to have me me but he was sure I wouldn't want to work there
as they only paid the engineers $[removed] a week. They hired their engineers
from the Crosley radio manufacturing operation promising that they could
get experience in order to get a better paying job later at another
station. However the announcers did better. Durwood Kirby told me that he
was paid $45 a week when he started there. (His father, an Indiana
farmer, was disgusted that his son could make that much money). In my
time WLW stood for "World's Lowest Wages".

Bill Murtough

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

Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 18:50:36 -0400
From: Rob Spencer <rfspencer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Latter-day Dragnet

The "Baby Jesus" story was indeed remade for the later, color series of
Dragnet.  It was episode 35 (Dragnet '67). It was written by Richard L.
Breen, and starred Harry Bartel as Father Xavier Rojas, Bobby Troup,
Byron Morrow, Ralph Moody, Herb Vigran, Barry (he of the Brady Bunch)
Williams, and Fernando Vasquez as Paco.  It's my favorite episode. I
love the closing lines (quoted from memory, so I apologize if they are
not entirely accurate):

Father Rojas: "You see, Sergeant, Paco's family is very poor."
Sgt. Friday: "Are they, Father?"

DUMM-DA-DUM DUM!

--Rob Spencer

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

Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 19:24:20 -0400
From: KENPILETIC@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Watts, Voices, and Wilson
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Hi Gang -              June 9, 2002 - Sunday -- 5:45 PM cdt

In Issue 211, Jerry Xfyles askes about 500,000 watts thus:

    > I'm all thumbs when it comes to radio-tech.
    > How did this differ from say 50,000 watts?  [removed]
    > did it provide greater range?   YES
    > More "bandwidth" on the dial? NO
    > drown out other stations? YES
    > Louder? SEE BELOW

In non-technical Terms, the simple "yes" and "no" answers are above.
More complete explanation follows:

Radio Signals follow the "inverse-square law".  In other words, in
order to appear twice as strong, the power must increase four times.
So, the signal strength of a 50,000 watt station would double if the
power were increased to 200,000 watts and would double again if
the power were increased to 800,000 watts.

Comparing the power between 50,000 and 500,000 watts the strength
would be slightly less than three times as strong.  This is equivalent
to about 2 "s-units".   This is not much of a difference in the prime
signal area, but it can make the difference between being heard
and not being heard at three times the distance.  So "yes" the power
increase will increase the range about three times.

Also, consider the transmitter as being in the center of the circle.
If you increase the radius three times, you increase the coverage
area approximately 28 Times.  This is a BIG difference, if you're
counting the listeners.

As to the bandwidth:
The bandwidth is 10 KHz as set by FCC law.  Bandwidth is a
function of the modulating signal, not the transmitter power.
An AM signal modulating a transmitter 100 percent is limited
to 5 HKz each side of the carrier, or 10 KHz total bandwidth.
This represents both the "upper" and "lower" sidebands.  The
reason for this limitation is to prevent "splatter" to adjacent stations.

Under ideal conditions, a 50,000 watt AM signal and a 500,000 watt
AM signal should have the same bandwidth.

As to "drowning out" other stations (on the same frequency),
yes, the strongest signal will prevail - [removed] the weaker
stations can still be heard as "heterodynes", either squeels
or "rumbles", depending on band conditions and distances
from the listener to all stations concerned.  Each station must
be considered separately.

Whether a 500,000 watt transmitter is "Louder" than a 50,000
watt transmitter is a function of the receiver.   A well designed
receiver should hear all stations with equal "loudness".   Inside
the radio there is a circuit called "AVC", which stands for Automatic
Volume Control.  This circuit uses a voltage develped from the
detected signal being tuned.  This "AVC voltage" is applied as
a negative bias to the early stages of the radio to actually make
the radio less-sensitive as the signals get stronger, and more
sensitive as the signals get weaker.

The result is that all stations should sound the same.   Now, if
there is "static" or other undesireable noise present, the noise
will appear quieter on strong signals.  This is known as the
"signal-to-noise ratio".

Signals from strong stations may appear to sound louder, because
they are louder than the noise.  Signals from weak stations may
appear quieter, because the noise can be louder than the station.

But in fact, if the receiver is operating properly, you should not have
to lower the volume control between a 50,000 Watt station and a
500,000 Watt station - all other things being equal.

There you go - more than what you wanted to know.

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

Quickly, another [removed]
Distinctive voice:   Hanley Stafford.
           As "Daddy" as "Nayland Smith" and as "Snacker-Snick".
           Once you hear him, you know who he is.

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

Last Topic:  Bert Wilson "bringing you the story of the [removed]"

Terrific announcer!   Sorry, I don't have any of his Cubs games.
And you know, every game from Wrigley Field was recorded for
delayed broadcast to the network 30 minutes later.  I understand
these tape were erased as they were being played and re-recorded
during the games.  I don't think any exist.

Happy Taping -- Ken Piletic - Streamwood, Illinois
kenpiletic@[removed]

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

Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 19:46:15 -0400
From: Richard Fisher <w9fjl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Cinnamon Bear Audition Disc

At the Cincinnati OTR convention the audition disc for the Cinnamon Bear
program surfaced.

Sound quality is quite good to excellent and they tell you in the
audition that they will not reveal who plays the 3 principal parts
because they don't want the personalities of the actors to interfere
with peoples enjoyment of the show!!

A rather strange comment and I suppose something could be made of it.

As far as I know the audition disc was uncirculated till the Cincinnati
show. It is in WAV format.

No one I have talked to had known it existed including Chuck Schaden.

I know of at least 3 dealers who now have the audition show.

Dick

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

Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 20:45:26 -0400
From: leonardfass@[removed] (Leonard Fass)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  house jameson

also was the voice of "renfrew of the mounted" and in the original cast
of "the patriots" or have i name of the play wrong? or has this already
been noted?

[removed]

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

Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 22:13:47 -0400
From: User310378@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Bert Wilson
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Philip Chavin wrote about the great Bert Wilson, announcer for the Cubbies.
I remember him most vividly, too.  I think the term "homer," as in a strong
rooter for the home team, must have been coined for Bert.  I recall one of
his favorite expressions was "We don't care who wins, as long as its the
Cubs."  As I recall, he was scheduled to be the Cincinnati Reds broadcaster
somewhere in the mid-50s, but died of a heart attack before he got started.
I was looking forward to hear him talk about the likes of Big Klu, Wally Post
and rest of that early Red Machine, but it wasn't to be.  Thanks for a nice
memory jogger.

Charles

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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 09:50:35 -0400
From: lawrence albert <albertlarry@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Vic & Sade Music

I just got Several episodes of Vic & Sade from the
early 40's. Some have organ music and some don't any
music at all  although it sounds like the ones that
don't have music should. Can anyone enlighten me about
the episodes that are in circulation regarding this
oddity?
       Larry Albert

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

Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 09:52:14 -0400
From: TedOTR@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  MP3 Thread
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I have stayed quiet through this whole thread because I am against MP3's, but
not for the reason that you might think.  I'm not against them because they
are free.  Let's face it - I haven't paid for a program in years.  I'm not
against them because of the FU MANCHU situation.  I knew that it would happen
- that is why I asked for subscribers before I released any of them.  The
same thing used to happen when there were only tapes.  As soon as the first
set went out, they spread like wildfire.  I am against them because I have
spent over 30 years trying to make the shows sound BETTER, not worse.  When
you put so many shows on a CD that they sound much worse than your source
material, you have gone against everything I believe in.  I know of one MP3
dealer that IS NOT doing it this way - Shawn Wells.  He is a friend and I
respect what he is doing.  I just do not care to go that route.

 One observation I would like to make, however.  The MP3 crowd just hasn't
paid the price - and I'm not talking about money.  The only thing a person
has to do these days is sit in front of a computer and download shows.  Where
is the pride or sense of preservation in that?  When I first became a
collector, there were no shows for sale, no clubs, no lending libraries.  How
did you get shows?  You found a collector.  Since they didn't sell you had to
find something that they wanted.  If you didn't have anything, how did you do
it?  I found a collector locally and I did anything he wanted.  If he wanted
his yard mowed, I did it.  If he needed some whiskey, I bought that and
brought it to him.  Anything I could do for the loan of his reels.  I also
went to radio stations and asked to go through the things they were throwing
away.  We were always doing detective work trying to find the earliest
generation that we could.  We were always on the lookout for sound upgrades.
I guess you could say that we were never satisfied.  These shows were free
also because we were trading.  Just having the show is only part of it.  The
goal is to have it in GOOD SOUND QUALITY.

I have spent all of my years recording OTR on tape and I plan to stick with
that.  One reason is that I have spent 17,000+ hours transferring reels to
cassettes and there is no way I am going to start over.  I just don't have
enough years left to attempt that.  The other reason is that I don't believe
in compressing the audio in OTR in any way.  I can tell you what will happen
if RADIO MEMORIES will no longer pay my expenses.  I will quietly close RADIO
MEMORIES and continue to enlarge my collection with my small circle of
trading friends.  It will just be for my enjoyment and no longer for sale.
These are just my thoughts and opinions.

I would like to publicly thank the people that mentioned me so kindly in the
Digest.  It is greatly appreciated.

Ted Davenport
Radio Memories

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Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 09:53:13 -0400
From: danhughes@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Waukegan Dedication

We had a hoot in Waukegan this weekend for the Jack Benny Statue
Dedication.  I was surprised to see not a single Cincinnati cohort, but
we met a lot of new friends and some of them will soon join this Digest.

I've posted a few photos on my website, and plan to add a few more in the
next few days:

[removed]~dan

Choose the first link; pretty self-explanatory.

Eddie Carroll, the Jack Benny impersonator, was fabulous.  Check out the
photo of him with my daughter.  He looked very much like Jack in the
1960's.  And he had the mannerisms down cold, as the photo indicates.  He
starred in a recreation of a wartime Benny program, with supporting
actors made up of Jack Benny Fan Club members.  It was a hoot!

Just wish there'd been a dealers' room at the motel.

The program was a bit disjointed; the local museum (with some Benny
stuff, including his vaudeville trunk) and Jack Benny Junior High (with a
lobby full of Benny memorabilia) didn't seem to be too clear on when they
should be open for visitors over the weekend.  We were able to tour the
museum, but the school was closed.  Quite a disappointment there.

The people were wonderful; everybody accessible and friendly (though the
smoke in the motel lounge was overpowering to us nonsmokers).  Three of
Jack's grandkids were there, and The Jack Benny stories flowed 'til all
hours.

So howsabout adding dealer tables and making this an annual affair???

---Dan

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

Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 09:53:29 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Today in radio history

  From Those Were The Days --

1924 - The first political convention on radio was presented by NBC.
Graham McNamee provided coverage of the Republican National Convention
from Cleveland, OH.

  Joe

--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 09:53:50 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Warner Bros. cartoon, OTR

I received the following this weekend, anyone help?
I believe this was the cartoon that spoofed Major Bowes Original Amateur
Hour, so I figured since there was previous discussion on the subject in the
past, maybe someone can help this collector?

I am looking for a vintage warner bros. vitaphone cartoon called JACK RABBIT
AND OWL JOLSON IN I LOVE TO [removed] anyone has any information as
where I can find this video, please contact me at   xensargo@[removed]
..thank [removed]

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

Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 09:54:06 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Mary Livingston

Speaking of voice tracking. At the end of Jack Benny's run on radio didn't
Mary Livingston record her part at home and then have it played back on Sunday
nights show? I seem to recall in the book by Joan Benny , "Sunday Nights at
Seven",  that she (Joan) stood in for the rehearsals in place of her mother.
Isn't this a modified form of voice tracking? I am not condoning voice
tracking, just pointing out that it is not a new phenomenon.
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Make your day just a little better,
Listen to an Old Time Radio Program.

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #212
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