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	  	         === Last Update 1/17/95  ====





	    [removed]   Volume 96 : Issue 83


Articles in this issue of [removed]:

	 Remember WENN
	 Audiece Laughing
	       "YUSA Radio"
	 Red Blanchard
	 Binder's I, ROBOT
	 March Timelines
	 Blank [removed]!!!
	 Cinn. Convention
	 Help with trivia
	 OTR and the bomb and red scare
	 New Friend

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

Date: 02 Mar 96 07:16:44 EST
From: "Francis X. Kelly" <[removed]@[removed]>
To: Oldtime Radio Digest <otr@[removed]>
Subject: Remember WENN
Message-ID: <[removed]@[removed]>

Someone recently dismissed AMC's "Remember WENN" as just another sitcom. It's
true that minor details are inaccurate.  Surely no independent station could
have produced the range of programming day in and day out that WENN does, and
with such a tiny staff.  But this sort of compression I consider to be
acceptable dramatic license; the series would have been less interesting if it
were showing the resources of a network of the time. 
The technical flaws-that the microphones used span a period of at least twenty
years, among other things-are minor.  And that episode three was more backstage
intrigue than radio was a bit annoying, but understandable in light of the need
to attract an audience wider than our little group of radio buffs.
However, I believe the series gets the spirit of early radio right.  I was lucky
enough to work at a small independent AM station (WPWA/WDRF in Chester Pa. if
any body cares) during the early and mid fifties.  I was in high school and
worked for pennies because radio was so much fun.
The station was not welded to one format for every minute of the day as modern
stations are.  It had two good sized studios and an announce booth; the building
having been built in the forties for a concept much grander than disc jockey
radio.  Like WENN, the staff was a collection of eccentrics evenly divided
between those on the way up and those on the way down, and the local ownership
gave them fairly wide latitude to do pretty much what they wanted. This was a
time when owning a radio station was universally profitable. 
Most of the day was filled with DJ shows:  pop, country, classical, and rhythm
and blues, although never in the same show.  News was rip-and-read from the
United press teletype.  But we did do sports play by play (high school football
games), some live music (we crammed a twenty piece big band from a local music
school into Studio A) and a small amount of drama in the form of "production"
commercials for local car dealers. (These were supposed to be one minute, but in
one case enthusiasm triumphed over good sense and a Dragnet parody used car
commercial ran close to three minutes.)  And yes, there was a fair amount of
off-mike drama, intrigue, and illicit romance.  
The point is that Remember WENN, while cramming an impossible amount of plot
into one small radio station, captures accurately the ferment and excitement of
working in radio at that time.  I don't work in radio now, but my guess is that
in the bottom line oriented mean spirited 90's, a small commercial radio station
is about as exciting as the assembly line at GM.
Remember WENN episode four, with Patti Lupone as a guest star, was better than
episode three.  A trailer at the the end promises more episodes "this summer".
I'm looking forward to them.

Frank Kelly, Greenport NY

P. S. I have all four episodes on a single VHS cassette.  I'll be glad to lend
it by mail to anyone who will pay postage both ways.  Send me a private email if
you're interested.

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

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 06:19:37 -0800
From: dennisdm@[removed] (Dennis F DeMarco )
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Audiece Laughing
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

A few issues back someone inquired about the source of the laughter at 
the beginning of "Fibber McGee and Molly." From what I understand, Jim 
Jordan (aka Fibber), while talking to the audience, would drop a phony 
script on the floor about one minute to air time, causing its pages to 
land all over the floor. The audience would howl in delight as Fibber 
tried his best to rearrange this script in the minute or so before the 
show began.

Then, after Harlow's introduction, Fibber would get his real, "ordered" 
script and begin the program.

BTW, speaking of Harlow, can anyone tell me when he passed away?

Thanks,

Dennis

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

Date:          Sat, 2 Mar 1996 10:04:05 4
From: "Ronald F. Apgar" <apgar@[removed]>
To: yusaotr@[removed]
CC: otr@[removed]
Subject:       "YUSA Radio"
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

I am so please to be able  to hear YUSA on the Internet.
Having a dedicated phone line is a blessing for me, if it wouldn't
be for that, nobody would be able to reach me.  I am tuned in to
YUSA via my PC, every moment that I am at home.  I enjoy
listening to all the old shows, they sure beat what is now on TV.
Again thanks for airing your broadcasts vis the Internet.
  
   
Ronald F. Apgar
apgar@[removed]
 
"As cold waters to a thirsty soul,
 so is good news from a far country."
                      -Proverbs 25:25

[removed]~hawkmtn/

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

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 10:08:47 -0800 (PST)
From: roy547@[removed] (Roy Trumbull)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Red Blanchard
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Re the earlier post about Red [removed]
His real name was Richard Blanchard. He was on KCBS in San Francisco,
which at night put a better signal over downtown LA than KNX did. I
think they finally fixed KNX.
One of his sponsors was Belfast Old Fashion Mug rootbeer. A milkshake
made with same was a "Zorch" milkshake. Sounds awful but they were
okay if you were 12 at the time.
His popularity peaked between 1950 and 1953 and rated a spread in
Life magazine. I was in the audience about 3 times. His engineer
was Don Hamm whom I believe is still in Marin [removed] His producer
is long gone.
He was a very inventive zany personality who bridged the years when
OTR was on the decline and DJs were taking over. Red played music
that Dr. Dimento fans would recognize. I think I heard "Grandma's Lye
Soap" for the first time on his show.
He inspired a fellow in Oakland to write several songs for the show
which became national hits. His name was Nervous Norvus (real name
unknown). When offered $10K to do the Ed Sullivan show he turned it
down so I suspect he was serious about the nervous business.
Red went to southern CA after his KCBS days. I don't know where he
worked. I recall one ad in the trades to the effect "...been available
for 60 days and the phone hasn't been jumping off the [removed]"
I have a recollection that he may have left the mic behind to
do technical work in the industry.
Red was a longtime ham and he had his listeners bring in empty
frozen juice containers which he was going to use to build a
tower,
I still have my "I Dread Red" button with a likeness of Red on it.
That said, I invite an Angelino to bring back Hawthorne for us. Same
period and just as inventive.

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

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 11:50:10 -0800
From: dlock@[removed] (DL )
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Binder's I, ROBOT
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Last year there was some publicity about the old THE OUTER LIMITS 
adaptation of "I, Robot," because the pay-cable channel SHOWTIME had 
revived the series.  One of the first of the new shows was a remake of 
the first adaptation which had featured Leonard Nimoy as a cynical 
young reporter.  The new version starred Nimoy as the aging lawyer who 
agrees to represent the robot in court. It was directed by Nimoy's son.

Dick Lochte

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

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 14:58:02 -0500 (EST)
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]>
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: March Timelines
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

The March issue of Timelines at my web site is now
available. Still more changes to come.

Episode 3 of Captain Midnight should be out there by
Sunday.

[removed]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Widner                      INTERNET: jwidner@[removed]
Dayton, OH                      WWW: [removed]
COMPUSERVE: 74566,3041          AOL: JimWidner  
                          

                                                 

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

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 15:47:00 -0500 (EST)
From: "The Cruisin' Quartet" <tenor@[removed]>
To: [removed]@[removed]
cc: otr@[removed]
Subject: Blank [removed]!!!
Message-ID: <[removed]@[removed]>

----- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 15:38:36 -0500 (EST)
From: The Cruisin' Quartet <tenor@[removed]>
To: [removed]@[removed]
Cc: otr@[removed]
Subject: Re: [removed] Digest V96 #82

I am hoping that someone can help me.  I have not collected OTR for 
several years and have lost my supply of blank tape.  I usd Ampex 641 
(white box) 1800'.  Is this still available and who has a good price.  
What is a fair price these days.  Please respond to:   tenor@[removed]

[removed] If you trade shows I wold love to hear from you as well.

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

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 96 17:50:08 -0500
From: rickh@[removed] (RICK HARTNETT)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cinn. Convention
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Does anyone know where I can get info on the upcomming OTR convention in
Cinn OH?
Thanks
Rick
rickh@[removed]

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

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 96 19:51:12 -0500
From: rickh@[removed] (RICK HARTNETT)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Help with trivia
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Hi there, Can anyone help me with some trivia answers for a local radio
contest?  I need the names of actors whose first name are Rags, Regis,
Fatty, and Francis.  I am sure Fatty is Arbuckel, and I hope they aren't
calling Philbin an actor, there has to be another.

Thanks a lot

Rick

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

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 20:41:42 -0500 (EST)
From: "W. John Weber" <wweber@[removed]>
To: Old Time Radio <otr@[removed]>
Subject: OTR and the bomb and red scare
Message-ID: <[removed]@[removed]>

Having first entered college about 14 years ago, I have returned in order 
to get that piece of paper on my wall.  To that end, I am writing a paper 
on the ways radio drama reflected moods after the war and through the 
fifties about the bomb and the reds and red scare.

I would appreciate any ideas, memories, etc anyone on the list would like 
to contribute.

Working theories so far--

As early as the end of the war there were hints of a weariness or 
darkening of mood.  Between VE and VJ day, Norman Corwin's On a Note of 
Triumph's triumphant "Take a bow [removed]! Take a bow, little guy!" changed 
to Fourteen August's more sombre "Congratultions on being alive.  Many 
didn't make it."

Science Fiction serials provided an outlet for talking about the bomb, 
both by things like placeing stories in a post-apocalyptic world; but 
also by allegory which may not even mention the bomb directly.

While cop and detective serials during the war had eagerly used Nazis as 
the bad guys during the war, there are few or no examples of them using 
Reds as the bad guys during the fifties.  It may have been considered too 
delicate a subject to broach.  Does anyone know of any exceptions to 
this? 

Is anyone aware of any radio drama dealing with McCarthyism, either 
directly or by allegory?

Thanks,

John Weber

 

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

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 23:23:27 -0500
From: JayHick@[removed]
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: New Friend
Message-ID: <960302232326_158591922@[removed]>

Jack French is now on the Internet.  I am sure he would like to hear from his
friends.  His E-mail address is RadioJAF36@[removed]

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

    


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---- 
End of [removed] Digest V96 Issue #83

