Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #258
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 7/9/2002 8:17 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 258
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      A & C premiere                        [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
      NBC chimes                            [ "evan torch" <etorch@[removed] ]
      ALERT - John Dehner and Margot Steve  [ SanctumOTR@[removed] ]
      drink of choice during radio days     [ Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed] ]
      Radio's slim fingers                  [ ClifSr@[removed] ]
      Lucky Lager Dance Time                [ "Bill Rockhold" <brockhold@[removed] ]
      Re: Openings - Hook or Art            [ SanctumOTR@[removed] ]
      Your Birthday Radio Shows             [ Jerry Bechtel <[removed]@[removed] ]
      Contribution                          [ W4CU@[removed] ]
      Re: Initials                          [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      Drink of Choice                       [ Jerry Bechtel <[removed]@[removed] ]
      Vernor's Ginger Ale                   [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
      the day I was born                    [ JIMWMQT@[removed] ]
      Another NBC Chimes Question           [ Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed] ]
      Jack Benny in To Be or Not To Be      [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
      Shows on Birthdays                    [ "Vince Long" <vlongbsh@[removed]; ]
      CANDID Funt and Games                 [ Bhob <bhob2@[removed]; ]
      Another Pepsi Jingle                  [ "glen schroeder" <gschroeder10@char ]
      Ronald Colman                         [ ArtsMilitaria@[removed] (Arthur Fun ]
      Glass bottles                         [ John Henley <jhenley@[removed] ]
      What was on?                          [ "glen schroeder" <gschroeder10@char ]
      To Be or Not To Be                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Whistleing Themes                     [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 08:57:16 -0400
    From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  A & C premiere

    Mailing list member Mervin Haas asked in the last
    edition of the mailing list  ' When did A & C premiere
    on radio?'

    As I recall Mervin (my memory being what it is)  A & C
    premiered on  "The Kate Smith Show".  What year it
    was, I can't really say for sure.  Several of the people
    from the mailing list provided the 'where' they premiered,
    which is listed above.

    Kenneth Clarke

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 08:57:33 -0400
    From: "evan torch" <etorch@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  NBC chimes

    For some years I've had an acquaintance with Don Pardo, who started with NBC
    radio in 1944.
    Don told me a couple of times that he hated the duty of occasionally hand
    ringing the chimes for obvious reasons [removed] one was live and theoretically
    seemed only to master the three bars, so any screw-up made one seem
    particularly dumb.
    I guess the upshot is that at least on some NBC programs as late as the
    early '40's the chimes were real.

    Evan Torch
    etorch@[removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 08:58:58 -0400
    From: SanctumOTR@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  ALERT - John Dehner and Margot Stevenson on TV

    John Dehner appears several time this month on the Western Channel,
    portraying Pat Garrett opposite Paul Newman in THE LEFT-HANDED GUN (including
    Sunday, July 14th at 10:15 AM and 11:20 PM CST).

    Margot Stevenson (who portrayed "the lovely Margot Lane" opposite Orson
    Welles in 1938 and performed in more FOTR recreations than any other actress)
    costars in CALLING PHILO VANCE, airing at 5:45 Eastern/4:45 AM CST on Turner
    Classic Movies this Thursday, July 11th. --Anthony Tollin

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 08:59:26 -0400
    From: Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  drink of choice during radio days

    Maxjo@[removed] wrote:

>     people , you can have your coke & [removed] my younger days the drink
>     for me was delaware punch with an occasional cream soda

    Delaware punch was good, but Nu-Grape was the one for me.

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 08:59:43 -0400
    From: ClifSr@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Radio's slim fingers

    The first line of an old radio-related poem that I had not thought of for 50
    years popped into my head.  I found it on the net, credited to Ethel Romig
    Fuller.  Does anybody else recall this lovely thought:  "If radio's slim
    fingers can pluck a melody from night and toss it over the continent or sea;
    If the petalled white notes of a violin are blown across the mountains or a
    city's din; If songs, like crimson roses, are culled from thin blue air ...
    why should mortals wonder if God answers prayer."
    Almost an hour of searching gave me nothing about Fuller, who she was, what
    else she wrote or how she might have come to be inspired by radio.  Anybody
    out there know anything about her?

    Clif Martin
    Muskegon, Michigan

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 10:39:08 -0400
    From: "Bill Rockhold" <brockhold@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Lucky Lager Dance Time

    When I was in high school in the mid 50s, I listened to a program called
    Lucky Lager Dance Time.  As I recall the program started at 10:15 pm MST and
    was on every night of the week. On Friday (or Saturday) they would feature
    the top ten songs for that week.  Since Lucky Lager was a regional beer, I
    assume this program was heard only in the Pacific Northwest.  Does anyone
    else remember hearing this program?  Where did it originate?  I remember
    turning off my little bakelite radio to the closing theme of "Dream".

    On another subject, reference was made in the last digest to Richard Bong
    WWII fighter pilot ace.  It's nice to know he hasn't been forgotten.

    Bill Rockhold

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 10:39:52 -0400
    From: SanctumOTR@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Openings - Hook or Art

    In a message dated 7/9/02 7:14:14 AM, william mahan writes:

>     An added treat with Suspense was the way it closed.  The tolling bell faded
>     into silence, then a pause, and then like a rooster at sunrise, the NBC
>     chimes.  It doesn't get any better than that.

    ***Hmmn, I don't know what recordings you're listening to, but SUSPENSE aired
    thoughout its run on CBS, not NBC. - Anthony Tollin***

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 11:41:17 -0400
    From: Jerry Bechtel <[removed]@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Your Birthday Radio Shows

    Eric Cooper opens up an interesting topic. What was on the radio when
    you were born? Some are more fortunate than others relative to the shows
    that were on at that time. I was born at 5:10 am on June 20, 1937. That
    happened to be a Sunday [removed] Nothing was on the air at that
    time (at least that I could fine). I was able to go back to my hometown,
    visit the local newspaper and pull up the radio show list for that date
    in that area. What fun! I also looked up the years that I still remember
    listening to Captain Midnight, the entire 5-6 pm 15 minute serial series
    each weekday, Aldrich Family, Life of Riley, etc.  I did find the entire
    Sunday June 20, 1937 radio show list beginning at 9:00 am. This was
    mostly music, news and church related shows until about 7 pm. Then Jack
    Benny, Fireside Boys, Variety Show, Walter Winchell, CBS Workshop, Radio
    Theater to name a few. Check your hometown newspaper. You'll find the
    show listings for any day that you look up. Interesting!...... Thanks
    for listenin'

    Jerry Bechtel

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 11:42:32 -0400
    From: W4CU@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Contribution

    Speaking of drink ads I remember when I was an engineer at WFOX in Milwaukee
    we ran a transcribed spot for Mission Bell Wine, which was sung, I believe,
    by the Golden Gate quartet "pass the time away, On a lazy summer day,
    drinking Mission Bell Wine, Man, that feeling is fine.  Truly, a fine spot.
     John Reinke W4CU@[removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 11:47:22 -0400
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Initials

    Jim Cox posts:

>     I'm desperately seeking the first or middle initials of two gentlemen who
>     acted on Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons and several other series. <SNIP>
>     Philip Clarke (the second permanent Mr. Keen) and James (Jim) Kelly (Mike

    Clancy)? <SNIP>

>     I'll sing your praises forever if you can!

    Gee Jim, As much as I would like my praises sung (Key of F please) I sure
    don't have any answers for you.

    BUT!! Your question sure mystifies me. Why are their initials so important?
    Are you trying to contact them and need initials to narrow down the search?

    There weren't too many actors who used initials in their credits, bios, etc.

    Do you have a photograph of Phil Clarke? In not, do you want one? If so,
    you'd have to sing a whole darn Aria. :)

    Regards

    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    Jughead

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 12:24:01 -0400
    From: Jerry Bechtel <[removed]@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Drink of Choice

    Well Max did you ever try the ice cold Ovaltine, shaken with ice, milk
    and a scoop of Ovaltine.  This was all placed in a Captain Midnight
    shaker, shaken vigorously for a minute and with eager anticipation
    removed the lid and WOW! On a hot day, in southeastern Pennsylavania,
    nothing could compare. Of course you sometimes had to crunch the
    crystals that didn't desolve completely but that was part of the taste.
    Being able to save the lid liner or label was also a plus and made it
    taste even better. You never knew when the next secret decoder badge was
    going to be offered. Thanks for listenin'

    Jerry Bechtel

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 12:31:44 -0400
    From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Vernor's Ginger Ale

    <Jim Lawrence posted about Vernor's in [removed];

    Vernor's "Barrel Aged, Bold Taste" ginger ale is
    also available on the West Coast (at least CA and
    NV) - a great product and it is "The Original Ginger Ale" according to the
    label!  It's canned by 7-UP and other authorities of Cadbury Beverages in
    CT.
    I don't hear any radio advertising for soft drinks
    other than Coke or [removed] there any others?

    Russ Butler  oldradio@[removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 12:31:54 -0400
    From: JIMWMQT@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  the day I was born

    [removed]

    One of the reasons I got interested in old time radio was because of the day
    I was [removed]

    September 30, 1962.

    Jim Koski

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 13:06:07 -0400
    From: Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Another NBC Chimes Question

    Vntager8io@[removed] asked:

>     Does anyone know anything about these Electro-Vox "chimes"? When were they
>     used? Why? Any info would be appreciated.

    I have not heard the "five-four-five" but you can  hear the
    Sonovox "Buy War Bonds" to the G-E-C chimes along with other
    versions of the chimes on my web site at:

    [removed]

    then leemunsick@[removed] wonders:

>     Could someone with far more knowledge than I expand on the notation here
>     the other day that the NBC chimes somehow cut off the preceding program
>     whether it was through or not?

    I have copies of several NBC memos on this subject and it is
    discussed on my History of the NBC Chimes web page at
    [removed]

>     >From the web site:      Pre-set Chimes

    The timing of the beginning and ending of network shows was
    critical. It would be up to the announcer or control room engineer
    to manually push the button to sound the chimes at the end of a
    program. If the button was not pressed hard enough the Rangertone
    chimes machine would not activate and the button would have to be
    pressed again. There was about a one second delay between the time
    the button was pressed and the chimes went out over the network.
    Some programs tended to either run over a bit or run short and the
    chimes were not always rung at the proper time. This inconsistent
    ringing of the chimes
    caused problems with network switching. NBC engineers monitored
    some 90 ringings of the chimes on both the Red and Blue networks
    on Friday, February 4, 1938 14 and noted that at times the chimes
    were rung up to 16 seconds [removed] average for the day was [removed]
    seconds late. To solve this problem it was suggested in an
    Interdepartmental Correspondence, dated February 17, 1938 15 that
    the chimes should be pre-set to automatically ring at 20 seconds
    before the close of the hour and half-hour.
    There seemed to be some concern that the production directors may
    object to this as it meant they would have to better control the
    ending of programs. Sidney Strotz, NBC Chicago commented in a memo
    16, "Because of our switching situation here in Chicago and the
    fact that we are at the present switching some 12 to 14 different
    legs of the network which necessitates synchronization either with
    the Blue or the Red, it is advisable that accuracy be maintained
    at the various divisional points and origination points of
    programs." The final consensus seemed to be that the production
    managers, knowing that a program would be cutoff and the chimes
    would ring at a specific time, would learn to time the endings of
    programs accordingly.

    and then leemunsick@[removed] comments:
    Subject:  Them chimes again!

>     Of course it was a Telechron movement.  Made by the current owner of NBC
>     (television), and once and future owner of RCA, which owned NBC
>     [removed] Electric!

    Model SO3F52 (3 inch dial) manufactured for General Electric by
    Warren Telechron Co., Ashland, Mass.

    Bill Harris

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 13:51:20 -0400
    From: JackBenny@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Jack Benny in To Be or Not To Be

    "To Be or Not To Be" was released quietly because of Carole Lombard's death.
    Thus it wouldn't have been as appropriate for Jack to comment on it on his
    [removed] only did it not have much publicity, but it would be difficult to
    talk about it without a noticeable note of sadness.

    Jack was overjoyed to work with Ernst Lubitsch, and you can easily see that
    they worked well together.  Watch Jack's expression in the scene where his
    wife (Carole) is called a tramp (or some word to that effect)...it speaks
    volumes with great subtlety.

    It is most likely that Jack had mixed emotions about the picture.  It is
    universally regarded as Jack's best, and he undoubtedly saw that as well.
    But he also was very close with Carole Lombard, and devastated by her death
    to the point that it was one of only a small handful of times that he missed
    the radio show (not due to illness).

    --Laura Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 13:51:44 -0400
    From: "Vince Long" <vlongbsh@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Shows on Birthdays

    The recent posts about shows broadcast on the day of someone's birth
    reminded me of a project I was playing with a year or two ago.  As webmaster
    for the high school where I teach I was setting up an online calendar that
    the office staff could use to list school events.  Once I got it running I
    thought it would be fun to merge my database of old radio shows with the
    calendar, which I did. While my listing of programs at the time contained
    only several thousand dated shows, it was fun to be able to pull up a month
    from, say, 1948 and see what was on that week.

    If anyone would like to play with it, the address is:

    [removed]

    Vince

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 13:53:05 -0400
    From: Bhob <bhob2@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  CANDID Funt and Games

    What were the years of Allen Funt's earliest shows on Armed Forces
    Radio?

    On a Google search, the phrase CANDID CAMERA with a qualifying "funt"
    brings 1680 results, while CANDID MICROPHONE with a "funt" qualifier
    brings 158 Google results.

    CANDID TELEPHONE with "funt" brings zero results. (Is that how urban
    legends start?) As I recall, Funt did apparently make agreements with
    hotel telephone switchboards to pull off some of his earliest audio
    gags.

    The first Allen Funt TV series on ABC in 1948 was titled CANDID
    MICROPHONE, retaining the name of the 1947 ABC radio series.

    CANDID MICROPHONE was also the title of the series of movie shorts from
    Columbia Pictures. I recall seeing a few of these; possibly some were
    re-released after CANDID CAMERA's ratings increased on CBS in the early
    1960s. There were 40 movie shorts, according CANDID CAMERA's official
    site [ [removed] ], and Funt also did a
    theatrical feature, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A NAKED LADY? (1970).

    Much of the show's early history is covered in Funt's book,
    EAVESDROPPING AT LARGE: ADVENTURES IN HUMAN NATURE WITH CANDID MIKE AND
    CANDID CAMERA (Vanguard Press, 1952). His other books were titled CANDID
    KIDS and CANDIDLY, ALLEN FUNT.

    What Funt spawned has been taken to another plateau by the hilarious
    JKX: THE JAMIE KENNEDY EXPERIMENT, a WB series in which an actor named
    Jamie Kennedy uses prosthetic makeup disguises to appear as male and
    female recurring characters in elaborate and complex hoaxes, pranks and
    practical jokes, sometimes involving a roomful of other actors:
    [removed],8341,33317,[removed]

    Bhob @ FUSEBOX VINTAGE COMIC STRIPS @
    [removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 14:35:10 -0400
    From: "glen schroeder" <gschroeder10@[removed];
    To: "otr" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Another Pepsi Jingle

    Hi listers.

    Another Pepsi jingle that I heard a comedy team do years ago is:

    Pepsi Cola hits the spot.
    Twelve full ounces that's a lot.
    Got no taste
    Got no smell
    There's a nickel shot to hell.

    Sorry about that.

    One more thing. One more whistling theme that I came up with is The Saint.
    Of course there's Andy Griffith, but that's off topic.

    Glen Schroeder

    Madison WI

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 14:35:32 -0400
    From: ArtsMilitaria@[removed] (Arthur Funk)
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Ronald Colman

    My recollections of Ronald Colman, and wife Benita, are from their
    recurring appearances as Jack Benny's neighbors and on their own show
    The Halls of Ivy.  Until yesterday I don't think I'd ever seen Mr.
    Colman in a film.  I came across the 1937 version of The Prisoner of
    Zenda on Turner Classic Movies last night and decided to watch it.  I
    had seen the 1952 version with Stewart Granger.  I'd recommend this
    movie to anyone else who knows Mr. Colman only from OTR.  I thought his
    performance was sparkling and I thoroughly enjoyed the other
    performances as well:  Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Raymond Massey, David
    Niven, C. Aubry Smith, Madeleine Carroll and Mary Astor.

    Regards to all,
    Art Funk

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 14:36:15 -0400
    From: John Henley <jhenley@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Glass bottles

    Hi,
    been away for a short vacation and am catching up on Digests.
    Found this in #246:

    Bob Watson asked:

>     And totally off topic from OTR, does anyone else out there think that soft
>     drinks just out and out taste better in  glass bottles than in cans or
>     plastic??

    Oh, absolutely, yes, whether or not it's just a mind thing
    or is based on some physical factor.
    The small town of Dublin, TX, contains the oldest still-operating
    Dr. Pepper plant in the country, and the only one that still uses
    the pre-1970s formula of all cane sugar instead of corn syrup for
    sweetening.  They can it (at another plant) but you can also buy it
    in returnable bottles - and believe me, the canned formula is good
    but the bottled is out of this world.  For one thing, it goes down
    smoooooth (like Champagne Velvet Beer), without that throat burn you
    get from your typical carbonated drink of today.
    And to think, this is what people used to enjoy each and every day.

    Some of the same phenomenon attaches, I think, to the 7-ounce Cokes
    you can buy in the non-returnable bottles that look somewhat like the
    traditional Coke bottle - it may be the same formula, but it tastes
    better in the bottle - and frankly it tastes better in a 7-ounce portion.

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 15:15:12 -0400
    From: "glen schroeder" <gschroeder10@[removed];
    To: "otr" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  What was on?

    Hi listers.

    I was borne on April 12 1947. It was a Saturday and I was borne about 9:30
    [removed] Can anyone tell me what would have been on the radio at that time,
    which is central by the way.

    Verners Ginger Ale came around here for a while back in the 80's and I
    thought it was awful. And I think the chocolate soda that Jim talked about
    was Yuhu not Yahoo.

    Glen Schroeder

    Madison WI

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 17:21:31 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  To Be or Not To Be

    This is a total guess as to why Jack Benny made few, if any mentions of "To Be
    or Not to Be" on his radio program. Soon after the move was completed Carole
    Lombard was killed in a plane crash. I understand that Jack was not even able
    to do his next program because he was so shaken by it. He probably never
    brought it up on his program because it would bring back some very painful
    memories.
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 22:06:14 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Whistleing Themes

    Lynn asked --

>     what other otr shows have whislteing in the opening?  The Whistler is a
>     given.

      Richard Diamond.
      Joe

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

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #258
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