Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #171
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 4/22/2003 1:06 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2003 : Issue 171
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  How long do CDs last?                 [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
  thanks                                [ knight555@[removed] ]
  The Return of Carl Freolich, Jr       [ Philipmarus@[removed] ]
  snapshot 7: in pursuit of Arch Obole  [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
  In the [removed]                         [ "John Sellards" <johnsellards@chart ]
  Your Hit Parade                       [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
  Cincy Convention -- sort of           [ "Stephen Poppitt" <stephenpoppitt@h ]
  help needed                           [ "evantorch" <etorch@[removed]; ]
  Re:Noise Reduction Program            [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
  Good Noise Reduction Computer Progra  [ "Jeff Quick" <jeffquick@[removed] ]
  snapshot 3: British WWII radio scrip  [ "Ian Grieve" <austotr@[removed]. ]
  Carl Froelich                         [ "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@comc ]
  Name that show                        [ "Don Frey" <alanladdsr@[removed] ]
  Nat & A&A                             [ "Don Frey" <alanladdsr@[removed] ]
  Re: where were the mp3's in Cincy?    [ rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed] ]
  Re: Harry Hits a Home Run             [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 18:29:55 -0400
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  How long do CDs last?

On the subject of CDs becoming the medium of choice for OTR, I heard on the
radio recently
that the CDs that you burn yourself may not last more than a couple of years.
They aren't
the same as factory-made CDs.  The chemicals break down, and soon the CD
becomes
useless.  Does anyone know anything about this?

--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
 15 Court Square, Suite 210                 lawyer@[removed]
Boston, MA 02108-2503           	         [removed]

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 20:41:54 -0400
From: knight555@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  thanks

Hi. To everyone who provided the info on Have Gun, thanks alot.   Being
born in the 50's , and seeing the tv show in reruns, we assumed the radio
show came first, so it was really interesting to find out that it was the
other way around.  I remember Richard Boone from various tv shows and I
guess last, from Hec Ramsey.  Did he ever do any radio at all?  Thanks to
all who took the time to respond! :o)  MJ

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 21:00:10 -0400
From: Philipmarus@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The Return of Carl Freolich, Jr
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/related
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was multipart/alternative

I appologize for not posting the address. I have received a few emails
inquiring about it.

Carl Froelich Jr
2 Heritage Farm Dr.
New Freedom, PA 17349

Sincerely,

Mike Kerezman

[server removed an attachment of type image/jpeg which had a name of
[removed]]

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

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 21:09:49 -0400
From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  snapshot 7: in pursuit of Arch Oboler

snapshot 7:  --of an eight-year long book research project--in pursuit of
Arch Oboler

	I am home on Long Island, calling Colorado long distance. Somehow I
have
obtained the phone number of a son of Arch Oboler. The man answers.  He
is not interested in talking about his father--but he does refer me to
his father's former assistant with the keeper of Oboler's papers. Fast
forward several years later, I'm sitting in the kitchen of Mrs. Oboler in
Studio City California. With us is Oboler's former assistant. When I
first contacted the assistant, she told me that due to an earthquake,
Oboler's are in a jumble other floor of his former studio, mixed in with
asbestos tiles. Later she dropped that story and promises that I can get
access to the papers when she's feeling little bit better.  Time goes on
and on and on. I never get  to the papers. But I do get to talk to one of
Oboler's friends who gives me some good stories which I included in WORDS
AT WAR (see Web site below)

Coming soon: snapshot 8: Hi Brown

Howard Blue
[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 22:45:25 -0400
From: "John Sellards" <johnsellards@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  In the [removed]

I'm sure this has been covered here before, but, honestly, I wasn't paying
attention as it wasn't pertinent at the time. Now I'm considering buying an
in-dash CD/MP3 unit for my car, and am wondering if any of the units
available will play 32/22 mp3s.  Any ideas?  Feel free to e-mail me off list
if this has been covered recently.

Thanks,

John Sellards

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 22:45:36 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Your Hit Parade

Hi Everybody, I receive a telephone call from a gentleman who is going to
produce a documentary on the Your Hit Parade.  He is looking for all sources
of research information to put this project together.  He would like to know
where did the idea of the Top Ten come from.  He is looking for TV shows,
Radio Shows, interviews, written information too.  Please drop me an email
if you can help,

take care,

Walden Hughes

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

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 22:46:21 -0400
From: "Stephen Poppitt" <stephenpoppitt@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Cincy Convention -- sort of

Someone (sorry, can't recall who) was talking about the dealers room at the
Convention in a recent issue of the digest, and remarked in passing that
many of the dealers seemed to be happily flouting the copyright laws.

I'm not an expert on US copyright law (and have no wish to be rebuked by
Charlie for sparking a re-run of the great copyright debate of recent
memory), but just want to mention that in England the copyright on a radio
broadcast is only good for 50 years.

In respect of the BBC's radio output, any show broadcast before 1953 is
accordingly now out of copyright. Therefore much of the OTR period is
already free from those considerations.

The position may be similar in America.

Stephen Poppitt
[removed]
Writing from Cambridge, England

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

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 00:00:20 -0400
From: "evantorch" <etorch@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  help needed

Larry Gassman has told me that the tape of Vic Perrin et. al. whom he
interviewed was entitled CBS Stars of the Fifties dated August 14, 1982. I
am doing research on the history of west coast broadcasting and would like
to know if anyone has a copy?
Evan Torch
etorch@[removed]

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

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 09:25:02 -0400
From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re:Noise Reduction Program

To the person who asked about a noise reduction program, check out Sonic
Foundry's Noise Reduction Plug In. I use Cool Edit and use Sonic's program
as a plug in. It does a much better job of cleaning up scratches on records
and does not distort the audio.

The whole trick to any program is to not over use it. Play with the
settings. When you start to hear distortion, back it off a little.

As for the turntable, put in on Ebay. There are people who still want them.
I search all over the place for a second turntable about two years ago and
finally paid $600 for a new one.

Fred

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

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 09:25:43 -0400
From: "Jeff Quick" <jeffquick@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Good Noise Reduction Computer Program

Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 13:24:46 -0400
From: chris chandler <chrischandler84@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Two Questions

1.  I'm looking for a good noise reduction computer
program.  I've been using a several-years-old version
of Cool Edit, but while it does indeed erase cracks
and pops from old discs, it also makes whoever's
talking sound like the Cylons from Battlestar
Galactica!  There's gotta be something better--what do
some of you use?

Chris,

I use the new version of Cool Edit ([removed]) & even after all the revisions, the
pop-crackle & noise reduction filters leave something to be
[removed], when the offending sound your are trying to remove is
finally gone, the show sounds like it was broadcast inside a large
bell---That must be what the Cylons sound like:)  The snap & crackle filters
usually take forever to run & don't do a very good job.

Sound Forge ([removed]) seems to work much better on these two filters.  I have
had very good results removing snap crackle & pop & getting rid of offending
sounds within the show,  while still keeping the show itself in tact.

  I  don't like the interface of Sound Forge, so I import those filters into
Cool Edit via the Direct X function.  I can still use the Cool Edit
interface & run the Sound Forge filters within Cool Edit.

The import filter function in Cool Edit is wonderful.  No more running both
programs to clean up that long lost episode of Johnny Dollar  when Hal Stone
filled in for Bob Baily:)

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me off list.

Jeff Quick

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

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 09:26:06 -0400
From: "Ian Grieve" <austotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  snapshot 3: British WWII radio scripts

In issue 160, Howard Blue wrote:

I also find out that a well-known American writer, John
Dickson Carr wrote for BBC radio during the war.

Howard, I would recommend a book The Door to Doom - and other Detections,
edited by Douglas G Greene.  Great book about John Dickson Carr.  It has
about the best Bibliography of any otr related book I have read and it
includes Carr's radio scripts, books articles etc.  Highly recommended
reading for Carr fans.

Ian Grieve

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

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 09:26:18 -0400
From: "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Carl Froelich

For those digesters (Digesters?  That can't be [removed]) who requested a
snail-mail address for the elusive Mr. Froelich, it is:

Carl B. Froelich
2 Heritage Farm Dr.
New Freedom, PA 17349*

(*Courtesy of a recent ad in GOOD OLD DAYS magazine.)

Ivan

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

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 13:17:20 -0400
From: "Don  Frey" <alanladdsr@[removed];
To: "otr message" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Name that show

What l953-54 radio series was referred to by John Dunning (in his first
book)
as "undistinguished" and "totally forgettable." No, it was not my favorite
"bad"
show (described by Joseph Julian as "the worst show on the air") HEARTHSTONE
OF THE DEATH SQUAD. This was on ABC. I have two of them and am not looking
for more.

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

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 13:17:40 -0400
From: "Don  Frey" <alanladdsr@[removed];
To: "otr message" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Nat & A&A

Final thought on the "how did they treat Nat King Cole" discussion.
several people have emailed me off line on this, pro and con, and it appears
that  one of his piano/singing brothers may have played the piano
in the studio orchestra (Ike or Freddie.) Point is, though, if they
"constantly called him (the black pianist) boy this and boy do that"
it doesn't really matter who it was does it?

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

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 13:53:17 -0400
From: rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: where were the mp3's in Cincy?

The brochure
for this year's convention read, "53 DEALER TABLES
FILLED WITH OLD RADIO SHOWS ON CASSETTES, CD'S &
MP3'[removed]", but for all the time I spent haunting the
dealer's room, I was hard pressed to find anything
resembling an MP3 old time radio recording.

The Shadow's Sanctum had mp3's for sale, as did George Wagner's table, and
Satellite Radio Productions.  Shawn Welles was supposed to have a table, but
as you read here, he came down with the flu and couldn't make it.  The mp3's
were there, but they weren't put on the same level of display as the
cassettes and cd's, simply because most people who collect mp3's get them for
free and aren't inclined to pay the $5-$15 a CD that they cost at the
convention.

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

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 14:28:42 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: Harry Hits a Home Run

BRAVO! CUDOS! AND DEAFENING APPLAUSE TO HARRY BARTELL.

I was in the process of writing a long serious dissertation about the evils
of downloading and "pirating" of OTR material. However, Harry Bartell was
able to post a condensed version of my views, using a fraction of my
verbiage.

In my humble opinion, all the current foofarah about MP3  and who should pay
how much to whom for what is absolutely ridiculous.

[removed] you being a gentleman as usual? Is "foofarah" a polite way of
saying [removed]

The vast majority-- if not every one--of those shows has been pirated
somewhere along the line, in violation of union agreements for payment to
the artists involved for repeats and recordings. If a collector thinks he
shouldn't pay for something I suggest he doesn't buy it. But let's stop all
the philosophical noise about an item that is illegal to begin with.

(Aside to Harry) I am so looking forward to meeting you for the very first
time at this year's Seattle REPS Convention in June. And from what I
understand, it's likely we will be working together in a Recreation or two.
I consider that to be a honor, Sir. (I have to call Mr. Bartell "sir"
because he's slightly older than I am, [removed] if we had Knighthood for OTR
performers in this Country (as does England), Sir Harry would have been one
of the first so honored. When I compare my OTR career to his, I'd be lucky
to be considered his "Page". And I don't say this in any self effacing
manner. His body of work, and experience, makes him unique. And I hope his
comments on the subject put this matter to rest, and help create some
ethical behavior in the hobby.

Some of the things I wanted to say in my posting on this subject will only
substantiate what Harry just said. Although I never considered that the
"Archie Andrews" radio show was ever in a class with some of the OTR
primetime "classics", the contractual agreements that I had signed were the
same as if I had worked on any other program. My contracts with NBC *FORBID*
the duplication or use of recordings of my show for any reason other than
promotional purposes.

So anyone who claims they had the "rights" to use my voice, and make copies
from existing recordings and copies, (and more copies over the years), did
so illegally. And some of the quality of those copies was gawd awful by the
time they were duped and re-duped ad infinitum.

But I was not aware that any of this activity was going on. After I left
performing as a career, and went into TV producing/Directing, (in the mid
5o's) I was not aware that an OTR hobby even existed. I was into a whole
different life, and couldn't have conceived that the OTR years had become so
meaningful to so many people.

I didn't learn until the mid 80's that OTR clubs, Conventions, Dealers in
OTR related material, collecting shows, restoring, trading, etc. had such an
army of devotee's around the Country. And I would have remained blissfully
ignorant if Bob Hastings hadn't told some OTR Convention organizers how to
find me.

My blind friend, Walden Hughes, who I met at one of the first OTR
Conventions that I attended, asked (in the same digest issue containing
Harry Bartells recent post) the following two questions.

I am wondering when you did your first radio recreation for FOTR in the
1980s.
What kind of emotions were you going through?

What a thoughtful question, Walden. To be quite candid, I was in awe that so
many people cared about those early OTR years. And very appreciative of the
appreciation they showed for my work after so many years had gone by. It was
most gratifying. And I developed a respect and comradeship for those OTR
fans that had kept alive something that I thought was just a distant memory.

Did it feel like you were a fish out of water because you have not done a
radio show in over 30 years, or > did it come back easily?

Actually Walden, it was a snap. It's like riding a bicycle. (They say one
never forgets how to do that). When you have done something for so many
years, and mastered your craft, you can slip right back into it. Besides, I
had stayed in the entertainment business as a director, so I was always
involved in the "delivery" of lines, (or how I thought the performers I
hired should be delivering them. :)

And it was a joy to see, (and again work with) so many of my peers from
those days while doing those OTR recreations. Whoever said "you can't go
back" obviously didn't know what they were talking about when it came to
OTR. :)

Now, that said, let me pick up again with the issues of rampant duplication.

I totally support and encourage the OTR hobby. I do not make any money from
it (except maybe a modest few bucks from the sale of my book about those OTR
years). But I never intended to write that book. I was encouraged to do so
by some avid fans in the hobby. And, my reason for writing it was not
initially based on monetary return. I simply wanted to do something, or make
a contribution to the hobby, because I truly appreciated the interest shown
by the fans, and wanted to help document, for their entertainment, what it
was like to be a performer back then. They seemed "hungry" for the
information.

But could I be noble and altruistic and make it available for free, or post
it on the internet so people could freely download it. HELL NO! I couldn't
afford it. And I laud Harry Bartell for his generosity in making his "Struts
and Frets" so available to all you Digesters.

But here's the difference. Other than time spent writing his memoirs, I
don't think Mr. Bartell had any direct cash outlay. Unfortunately, I had a
different situation. Since I was (and now only slightly improved) computer
illiterate, I had to hire people to help me learn and set up two major
software programs that I needed to create the book. Then too, because I have
always been visually creative, (Painting, Sculpture, TV Directing), I wanted
as many graphics and illustrations as possible, to try to make the book
"different" than any other on the subject. (It's a curse trying to be
unique) :) Therefor, countless hours were spent on preparing the graphics.
And for the really difficult photo restorations, I had to hire a computer
graphics expert to assist me. Then, of course, there are the printing,
publishing, and marketing costs. Paypal, toll free phone numbers, credit
card sales, all cost money to implement.

CAN YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH ALL THIS?

How do you think I'd feel if someone "pirated" the finished product, and
made it freely available, and I lost out on recouping my costs and
(hopefully) making a little to compensate me for the year I spent writing
and creating the damn thing. Man may not live by "bread" alone, but try
living without it. :)

OTR DEALERS ARE NO DIFFERENT!!!!!!!!!

Most are in it for the love of the Hobby, and make copies of the shows
available at a reasonable price. Knowing what I know about them, they are
not getting rich at it.

And when some old recordings are unearthed, cleaned up, and made available
to the hobby, their time, effort and costs involved should be protected from
those who think they should get freebies.

I have no quarrel with shows that have been available for years, and are
traded among all you hobbyists. But if you want the hobby to grow and
prosper, then you had best protect the people who are investing time and
money to make new stuff available. Maybe it has to be on the honor system.
But unless you can accept the fact that downloading stuff for free is
hurting, not helping the hobby, the new material will stay in storage or be
held back.

I am aware that the LOC has over a hundred Archie shows in their vaults.
I don't for a moment think that it would be all that important to the Hobby
to get them out, restore them, and make them available for sale. The show
had limited appeal, and mostly for the younger listeners of that era. But
for arguments sake, lets say the program had enough fans to make it
economically feasible to market copies within the hobby. No dealer in his
right mind would attempt to do so unless he could protect his investment,
(time & money), and trust that the "Freeloaders" didn't abuse his efforts.

It's illegal, immoral and incredibly selfish.

By the way, I like to think I continue to make my contribution in support of
the hobby. True, I appreciate getting invited to the Conventions, and enjoy
performing again. And true, My travel expenses and accommodations are
covered by the convention organizers. But it winds up costing me money to
go, because I like my wife to accompany me, and I pay her way. So, does that
make me a hero? No! But does it demonstrate my support of the hobby? You
decide. And would I have appreciated getting a few pennies from each of my
shows that was pirated? DUH?

By the way, in closing, let me lay on you a little story about a well
respected, fair and honest dealer. As you know, Convention organizers work
with limited budgets. They are limited as to how many of us Old Timers they
can afford to invite. This particular dealer thought I would make a
contribution to the Cincinnati Convention 2 years ago. I found out that he
gave the organizers the money to cover the costs of inviting me, so I could
join long term convention guests Bob Hastings and Rosemary Rice, in an
"Archie Andrews" recreation. I was initially upset that an individual had to
anti up the money. But when I accidentally found out about it, and expressed
my concern to him, he simply explained that it was his way of showing his
appreciation for the work I had done on that show, and the fact that he had
made money over the years selling copies of the Archie Program. So you see
dear readers, for the only time in my OTR life, I received residual
compensation, and felt incredibly honored and complimented by his
generosity. As far as I know, he didn't have to do it again for this years
Convention. Right, Bob Burchett :)

If that "Dealer" would like to contact me off-list, and give me permission
to mention his name, I would be very glad to do so. I mention this to
demonstrate that there are many ethical and reputable dealers in the hobby.
Support their efforts and quit screwing around with hurting their business.

(Harry, I promise not to talk your ear off when we meet. Honest!)

Hal(Harlan)Stone

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #171
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