Subject: [removed] Digest V2001 #338
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 10/21/2001 9:03 AM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2001 : Issue 338
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Campbells Short Short Story           [ FKELLY <fkelly@[removed]; ]
  Re:William Hopper                     [ "Ted Davenport" <tedotr@[removed] ]
  Hindenburg documentary                [ Alan Bell <bella@[removed]; ]
  Re: Joan Bennett                      [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  MIRACLE ON 34TH. STREET RECREATION    [ "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed]; ]
  Henry Morgan                          [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
  Jay Livingston                        [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
  Ultimate History                      [ JayHick@[removed] ]
  Re:Henry Morgan                       [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
  Re: Tello Test                        [ Udmacon@[removed] ]
  Henry Morgan                          [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
  Re: Bill Cullen                       [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
  CD Labels / Rehearsal Discs           [ Tom and Susan Kleinschmidt <tomkle@ ]
  Tello-Test Quiz                       [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
  Re: Rehearsal Recordings              [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
  Guess!                                [ Ron & Jeanne Crowley <rccjmc@earthl ]
  Tello-test                            [ michael berger <intercom1@attglobal ]
  Maurice Tarplin Radio Career          [ Trinapreston3@[removed] ]
  Re: CDR longevity                     [ "James B. Wood, [removed]" <woodjim@ ]
  16" transcription discs               [ "Greg Przywara" <orsonwelles3@home. ]
  Re: Bill Cullen                       [ "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed] ]

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 10:06:02 -0400
From: FKELLY <fkelly@[removed];
To: OTR List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Campbells Short Short Story

I belong to a group at our library which performs by reading material
aloud at nursing homes and similar venues.  We're always on the lookout
for material, and I recently found one episode of Campbells Short Short
Story on the Simply Scripts web site [removed].  This
script, The Good Salesman, from January 29th 1940, was perfect for our
purposes in length, size of cast (small), and need for sound effects
(minimal).

Simply Scripts had only this one episode of Campbells Short Short Story
which, the script says, ran three times a week on CBS.  My questions:

Did this show run for more than one season?
Are any recorded episodes available? (The Good Salesman starred Agnes
Moorehead.  I'd love to compare our reading with hers!)
Does anybody have other scripts from this series?

Thanks,
Frank Kelly

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 10:09:45 -0400
From: "Ted Davenport" <tedotr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re:William Hopper

Well, I must make an apology.  Dennis Crow has informed me that William
Hopper did not commit suicide.  I thought that I had read that in an article
many years ago, probably soon after his death.  They say that the mind is
the second thing to go.  I suppose they're right.  I do apologize for the
misinformation.

 Ted Davenport
 Radio Memories
 [removed]

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 10:14:22 -0400
From: Alan Bell <bella@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Hindenburg documentary

Well, I thought I was covered. I had missed by about an hour the
Hindenburg doc that was recently on Discovery--or was it A&E?--but I
called up my dad who lives on the west coast and asked him to tape if
for me. He told me he would, and even called back to say it was
rolling and he was watching the show. I got the tape in mail today
and it contains VERY old episodes of West Wing and Law and Order.
Sheesh!

Okay, if anyone on this list taped it (preferably at SP, but beggars
can't be choosers) and can dub me a copy I'll gladly send a tape with
return postage and label affixed. Anyone? Please? I think I'd like to
use at least part of it in a class. Of course, I won't know for sure
until I see it, but from the descriptions I read here, it seems ideal.

Charlie, you already saved my bacon once, so you're excused on this one. ;^)

Alan
--
Alan Bell
Grandville, MI
bella@[removed]


[ADMINISTRIVIA: Good [removed] screwed up and missed it myself.  --cfs3]

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 10:15:12 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Joan Bennett

Bob asked what OTR shows Joan Bennett appeared on.  Here's a small list.

JOAN BENNETT

Shell Chateau  (9/19/36)  with Joe Cook, Lois January, and Dorothy Hill.
Charlie McCarthy Show  (4/3/38)  stars Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy.
The Lux Radio Theatre  (5/30/38)  ìI Met My Love Againî  with Henry Fonda.
The Jell-O Program  (6/12/38)  stars Jack Benny, with Mitch Leisen.
The Lux Radio Theatre  (12/19/38)  ìKid Galahadî  with Wayne Morris and [removed]
Robinson.
The Gulf Screen Guild Show  (4/9/39)  with George Murphy, Mickey Rooney, and
Rudy Vallee.
The Lux Radio Theatre  (7/3/39)  ìBordertownî  with Don Ameche and Claire
Trevor.
Texaco Star Theater  (12/13/39)  ìGoose Hangs Highî
The Lux Radio Theatre  (3/4/40)  ìTrade Windsî  with Mary Astor, Ralph
Bellamy, and Errol Flynn.
The Lincoln Highway  (10/26/40)
The Lux Radio Theatre  (11/11/40)  ìNothing Sacredî  with Douglas Fairbanks,
Jr.
The Gulf Screen Guild Theater  (3/9/41)  with Edward Arnold, Gary Cooper,
Jim and Marian Jordan, and Frances Langford.
The Lux Radio Theatre  (4/7/41)  ìStand-Inî  with W. Baxter.
The Kraft Music Hall  (10/23/41)  with Don Ameche and George Murphy.
Keep 'Em Rolling  (11/30/41)  with Clifton Fadiman, Frances Lederer, and
Gertrude Niesen.
The Silver Theatre  (2/15/42)  ìTalk of the Townî
The Jell-O Program  (3/8/42)  stars Jack Benny.
The Lux Radio Theatre  (1/11/43)  ìShe Knew All the Answersî  with Eve Arden
and Preston Foster.
The Kate Smith Show  (2/11/44)
Everything for the Boys  (3/28/44)  ìAn Ostrich in Bedî  with Ronald Colman.
The Lux Radio Theatre  (12/11/44)  ìCasanova Brownî  with Gary Cooper and
Thomas Mitchell.
The Lux Radio Theatre  (6/25/45)  ìThe Woman in the Windowî  with Dan Duryea
and [removed] Robinson.
Theater of Romance  (12/18/45)  ìOne Way Passageî  with Humphrey Bogart.
Hollywood Star Time  (6/8/47)  ìMurder, My Sweetî  with Dick Powell.
Suspense  (11/16/47)  ìOverture in Two Keysî  with Howard Duff.
Hollywood Star Theatre  (12/4/48)  ìA Love to Rememberî
The Family Hour of Stars  (8/21/49)  ìPenny Serenadeî
Suspense  (5/4/50)  ìStatement of Mary Blakeî
Hollywood Theater (7/21/50)  ìShort Storyî
Hollywood Star Playhouse  (1/8/51)  ìDream Jobî
Somerset Maugham Theater  (2/10/51)  ìThe Constant Wifeî
The Woolworth Hour  (12/18/55)  with Dorothy Collins and Babby Hackett.

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 10:18:20 -0400
From: "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  MIRACLE ON 34TH. STREET RECREATION

The Golden Radio Buffs Workshop Players will presemt at their Annual
Christmas Meeting on Sat. [removed], at 7:30 pm A recreation of the Screen
Director's Playhouse Presentation of "Miracle On 34th. Street" and
"Gildersleeve's Christmas". Admission is free to Members and a $2 donation
is requested for Non-Members. For an evening of OTR Enertainment, Try to
attended this affair if you live in the MD, DE, DC & PA area. See you there!
For furthur details and directions, email me at the above address.

Owens

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 10:18:48 -0400
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Henry Morgan

Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 15:06:41 -0400
From: "J. Pope" <jpope101@[removed];

    I've been watching and very much enjoying Henry Morgan on the TV
series "I've Got A Secret." I know he was involved with OTR in some
way, but very little beyond that; can anyone give me more information?
Are there shows of his available?

He had his own radio show at some point, and I have a recording of one of
them from 4/23/50. I
know this only from checking my list.  I can't remember a thing about it.
He also was a guest
(with Jack Benny) on Fred Allen's last show, in June 1949.   From some of
the things said in that
show, I think he may have been a regular on Allen's show for awhile.

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

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 10:19:08 -0400
From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Jay Livingston

Jan Bach wrote a loving tribute to Jay Livingston yesterday.  Livingston
enjoyed a long, productive musical life, and truly deserves all the
accolades Jan gave him.

I'll never forget a rare moment at a Sperdvac Convention listening to
Livingston play the piano after the Friday banquet.  He performed many of
his best compositions --- including "Que Sera Sera" and "Silver Bells," and
told some funny show business stories.  He played and sang a wonderful
parody of the "The Mole People," a Universal-International production
which is not highly regarded.  In fact, Bill Warren in his book, KEEP
WATCHING THE SKIES (McFarland, 1982),  says this film is "undoubtedly the
worst of the Universal-International  science fiction films of the
1950'[removed] ." [p. 295]

I happened to be sitting next to William Alland, the great producer of such
masterworks as "It Came from Outer Space," whose production unit made "The
Mole People."  Alland was the producer of the movie Livingston parodied.
Neither knew each other and neither knew this moment would bring them both
together.  Alland was gracious about it, but I've always wondered what he
later said to Jay.  He was clearly uncomfortable about the unwanted
publicity for one of his films.

Dennis Crow

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 10:20:10 -0400
From: JayHick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Ultimate History

"The Second Revised Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide
to All Circulating Shows" is now available.  Details are on my web site
<[removed]>.  The cost mentioned is for new
buyers.  If you bought previous editions with supplements, contact me first
for discounted price.  I will be leaving Wednesday for our 26th annual
Friends of Old-time Radio Convention at the Holiday Inn-North in Newark.  I
hope to see many Digest Readers there.  Details for this at <
[removed]> (all lower case)

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 11:14:16 -0400
From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re:Henry Morgan

At 11:09 PM 10/19/01 -0400, you wrote:
I've been watching and very much enjoying Henry Morgan on the TV
series "I've Got A Secret." I know he was involved with OTR in some way,
but very little beyond that; can anyone give me more information?  Are
there shows of his available?

In addition to his more known radio shows, he also hosted a radio panel
program called Sez Who. I have one or two of these.

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 11:14:38 -0400
From: Udmacon@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Tello Test

Bruce Elliot and Dan McCullough did a local version of Tello Test on WOR, New
York as I recall. It appears that Tello Test was syndicated in the manner of,
say, TV's Romper Room, with each city have its own host or hosts.

Bill Knowlton, "BLUEGRASS RAMBLE," WCNY-FM: Syracuse, Utica, Watertown NY
(since Jan. 1973). Sundays, 9 pm est: [removed]

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 11:15:31 -0400
From: otrbuff@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Henry Morgan

I'm sure others will elaborate on "Jennifer's" inquiry, but Henry Morgan
was often called "the bad boy of radio."  (Some would think that better
applied to Fred Allen.)  Morgan didn't mind calling a spade a spade --
and if he disagreed with a product or sponsor, he'd likely say so on the
air (a la, Arthur Godfrey).  He was frequently in trouble with a network
and/or advertising agency.  Despite that, audiences persisted for more.

I well recall one day listening to him as a host of Monitor, perhaps in
the era around 1970 or late 1960s, long after he had been a "featured"
performer on his own radio series.  It has stuck in my mind all these
years -- a commercial he read for State Farm.  It was a parody of a
nursery rhyme that went:  "Ladybug, ladybug . . . fly away home . . .
your house is on fire . . . aren't you glad you insured it with State
Farm?"  I know that sounds silly (to think of).  He, too, was a silly
man, but was strongly embraced by a public who seemingly adored him and
his often irreverent and outspoken ways.

Jim Cox

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 16:32:13 -0400
From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Bill Cullen

From: Jim Cox <otrbuff@[removed];
I'd have to take exception to Sandy Singer's statement that Bill
Cullen had one artificial limb and was never shown walking on camera.
If that is true, how did he effectively preside over The Price Is
Right for nearly a decade (1956-65)?  I can't see Bob Barker not
walking as a part of his duties.  How would Cullen have escaped?

Although I've already explained the Cullen's limp was the result of a
childhood case of polio, let me also respond to this.  Cullen's version
of "The Price Is Right" was a much different program than the chaos that
the program became under Barker.  There was a sort of desklike platform
that Cullen leaned on and half sat on.  This was on the left side of the
stage at a right angle to the panel, and the set opening where he
entered was next to it.  He could take his seat with just one sideways
step.  He never moved from that spot during the program, only
occasionally changed his seating or standing position.  The same four
contestants participated during the entire program and were seated on
the stage as a panel.  The entire show consisted of bidding on items.
There were none of the plinko or roulette or wheel spinning or other
idiotic games.  It was totally based on the value of products and was a
far more interesting program than what it is now.

The biggest challenge for Cullen came when he was called upon to fill in
for the ailing Allen Ludden on Password Plus.  This program had a huge
stage which Ludden walked across during the opening and when going to
the bonus round set.  All of Cullen's programs were shown recently on
Game Show Network, and it showed that they solved the problem by just
having Cullen on the set and not showing his part of the stage until he
was introduced.  When they moved to the other set they had the
contestants go first and had the camera on them.  But still we did see
Cullen take a few steps occasionally, as sometimes also happened on I've
Got A Secret if the panel had to go off-stage.

Let's face it:  he was intimidated by his physical malady.  As
radio's fortunes ebbed in the 1950s, however, he realized that
his career could be promising before the cameras or dried up
before the microphone.

But what HE did on radio did not ebb during the 50s.  He became a
personality DJ and commentator--I listened to him every morning on
WRCA/WNBC.  He left that show only because he wanted to do more TV, and
the early morning hours prevented it.  Indeed, he had already become a
national TV celebrity BEFORE he started doing that NYC morning
program--he had been doing "I've Got A Secret" since July 1952, and
three years later started the radio show in July 1955.  If the TV work
had dried up, he could have continued very successfully in radio--and
actually he did continue to do syndicated radio features into 1988, two
years after his last TV series.
[removed]

As for being "intimidated by his physical malady" he showed that it had
no effect on his career at all.  He is quoted as saying that he didn't
want to be shown limping only because he didn't want pity--for that
would have been unnecessary.  Indeed, as time went on and Americans
became more accustomed to and comfortable with physical handicaps, this
would have been much less of a problem then it might have been when he
started in the 40s and 50s.  I don't think it would have been a problem
now.  It COULD have been back at the start of TV.  That it truely
wasn't, shows that it wasn't that big of a deal back then either.

Michael Biel  mbiel@[removed]

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 16:34:21 -0400
From: Tom and Susan Kleinschmidt <tomkle@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  CD Labels / Rehearsal Discs

Robert Fells noted:
On a related issue, I understand that while commercially stamped CDs (I'm
sure there's technical term for them) should last for 100 years or more
assuming proper storage, the life of a CD-R is projected at 10 years, or 15
years at the most. Yet another reason to copy off any particularly valuable
CD-Rs.

	The problem here is no one really knows do they? There are too many
variables in media, storage, [removed] To make blanket statements is just
ridiculous. I remember that a press release from I think 3M came out a few
years ago stating that videotapes would only have a lifespan of 15 years
maximum, guess what? I have videotapes that are 24 years old and still look
great, cassettes that are 30+ years old and sound great, and reel tapes
that are 40+ years old and sound great! I have read articles on CD Media
that covers just about every opinion pro and con about labels, storage,
life expectancy, [removed] and obviously some are right and some are wrong,
but no one can say for sure yet. I have been burning CD's now for about 4
years, I have over 1,000 CDR's and about [removed] of them have adhesive labels
on them. In all that time exactly two labels have come loose and I suspect
it is how I made the label, saturated with dark colors from an inkjet
printer. Of course 10 years from now who know, like any other media you are
taking a gamble on it's longevity.

	On rehearsal discs, perhaps my memory is faulty, but I seem to I
seem to
remember an interview with some OTR performer who stated that Orson Welles
would record rehearsals on transcription discs so they could be reviewed
for script changes before the actual broadcast. Anyone else remember this?


Tom

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 16:35:53 -0400
From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Tello-Test Quiz

Dennis Crow posted his recollection of "Tello-Test", the 15 minute telephone
quiz program.

It was, as I remember, a "local" Tello-Test show was on WNAC 1260AM in
Boston in the late 1940's. Bill Hahn made the phone calls to give away money
for correct answers each afternoon.
(And, I think that Bill Hahn is still with us.)
It was sponsored locally.  WNAC was also the Mutual Network outlet then, as
well as NBC Red.

Incidentally, there is another reunion meeting of "The Media Gang"  in
Boston on October 27th where 300 get together for a luncheon.  Len Zola
lenzola@[removed]  has tracked down a roster of nearly 700 former radio (like
Bill Hahn,) tv, print, marketing, and advertising people from Boston and New
England.  An amazing, volunteer commitment by Len.  He is also looking for
help to track down addresses of others on an additional list, if you can
assist.

Russ Butler  russbutler@[removed]

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 16:29:49 -0400
From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
To: old time radio <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re:  Rehearsal Recordings

From: Robert Fells <rfells@[removed];
. . . I recall that some of the rehearsal recordings of Arturo
Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra provide better
performances than the broadcast versions.  In some cases, when
RCA issued the performance on records, they lifted portions
from the rehearsals!.   Bob Fells

I don't quite think this is the case.  The Toscanini rehearsals rarely
contain complete uninterrupted works, and even when he didn't stop the
orchestra he usually sang along, hummed loudly, and shouted
instructions.  What you are probably thinking of are the well known
differences between the broadcasts and the recording sessions that were
often held a day or two after the works had been broadcast.  By the
mid-40s many of the releases were being made from the broadcasts, which
were also being recorded by RCA Victor as well as NBC.  It has been
noted by some of the restoration engineers who have worked on the
original masters, such as Seth Winner, that the recordings made by the
NBC engineers often had better sound quality than the ones being made by
the RCA engineers right along side of them.

Michael Biel  mbiel@[removed]

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 23:02:43 -0400
From: Ron & Jeanne Crowley <rccjmc@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Guess!

During one of the series of the Lone Ranger, the letters "LRFT" were
repeatedly announced until finally they were revealed by the announcer.
Hint: It was for a "send-away" item offered for Cheerios boxtops.
Regards,
RonC (another Boston "kid")

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 23:03:05 -0400
From: michael berger <intercom1@[removed];
To: otr <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Tello-test

I think it originated at KFRC, a Mutual affiliate in
San Francisco, and I also recall that the tello-tester
was Mel Venter, an SF radio fixture in those days, and
also MC of a local version of the Breakfast Club called
The Breakfast Gang.

Michael Berger

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 23:03:44 -0400
From: Trinapreston3@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Maurice Tarplin Radio Career

I was wondering, if anyone knows any information about Maurice Tarplin.  Is
he still
alive?  what other old-time radio shows besides The Mysterious Traveler and
Strange
Dr. Weird did Maurice Tarplin performed on.  Very little is said about his
radio career.
Can someone give me some details.

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 23:04:12 -0400
From: "James B. Wood, [removed]" <woodjim@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: CDR longevity

Bob Fell mentioned:

the life of a CD-R is projected at 10
years, or 15 years at the most.  Yet
another reason to copy off any
particularly valuable CD-Rs.

Yeah, put 'em on a cassette.  I've got
a bunch of those from the late-60s that
play just fine.

Jim Wood

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 23:03:25 -0400
From: "Greg Przywara" <orsonwelles3@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  16" transcription discs

I recently purchased two 16" transcription discs online but can't fit them
on my turntable!
Does anyone know where I can find a turntable that I can play these on?

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

Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 23:04:44 -0400
From: "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re:  Bill Cullen

   Jim Cox wrote about Bill Cullen in #337.  There's a fine and extensive
web site devoted to Bill -- with much information on his radio career --
called The Bill Cullen Homepage at:
      [removed]

   (If the immediately-above doesn't work for some reason, you can go to
[removed] and search for "Bill Cullen Homepage".)

   -- Phil C.

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2001 Issue #338
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