------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2005 : Issue 185
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
12-inch "transcriptions" [ Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@earthlin ]
Ed Bishop dies [ Max Schmid <mschmid@[removed]; ]
Re: "Buddy Discs" [ Martin <watchstop@[removed]; ]
Stoned to Death [ "Jim Harmon" <jimharmonotr@charter. ]
Re: scariest show [ mikeandzachary@[removed] ]
Stop the Music [ Andrew Steinberg <otrdig1@[removed] ]
Radio Shows done In Other Countries [ Bob Slate <moxnix1961@[removed]; ]
Oscar Wilde on OTR [ "Jack Feldman" <qualitas@millenicom ]
radio show that was done in the USA [ Grams46@[removed] ]
ITTA3 [ benohmart@[removed] ]
The price is going up [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
USA shows redone in other countrys [ "Austotr" <austotr@[removed]; ]
"The Riot That Never Was" [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
Re: Scariest show [ Paul Gough <paulgough@[removed] ]
Scariest Show [ tomheston@[removed] (Irish Tom) ]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 12:33:01 -0400
From: Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: 12-inch "transcriptions"
A response to Richard Fisher's query about "12 inch ETs" and why they were.
Thanks, Richard - enjoyed your posting. It sounds that you think that these
12" recordings came before or in the middle of the era of the 16" ETs.
Obviously I don't have dates for your 12" gems as you gave none, but I think
what you're looking at, whether termed ETs or not, are "LP" recordings made
the same way that thousands of other LPs were made commencing in the late
1940s first by Columbia as Lp and then cross-licensed with RCA Victor (to
swap the 45 ability) and then others. This is what you refer to as the
"vinyl" recordings of the postwar era. Sadly, I see dealers especially on
eBay now referring to any recordings prior to CDs as "vinyl", which of course
is ridiculous, doubly so as I guess the CDs themselves are vinyl. 78 rpm
recordings for the most part were NOT vinyl (DJ issues often were). But
then, on the other hand, neither were they "shellac".
It became obvious to everyone in broadcasting that the Lp system developed by
Columbia was far superior to the 16" monsters, and did away with the need for
16" turntables, arms, etc. The 16" transcriptions were standard size groove
(some were hillandale (vertical) cut, others lateral) whereas the Lp records
were microgroove with slower RPMs, which enabled them to get a lot more on
their Lp recordings than the previous 78s of the same size. Later
engineering combined the lateral and vertical methods to come up with stereo
sound in one groove, improving on Emory Cook's (Cook Laboratories - Sounds of
Our Times records) system which utilized two separate bands about 1-1/2"
apart on the same side. Certainly a novel, seminal innovation, unfortunately
wholly impractical.
At least one of the well known "live" Mystery Theatre type shows and the
Mutual version was distributed to various radio stations on 12" Lps. They
were sent out one week's worth of 5 records at a time, in the typical plain
hinged "box set" album form used by Columbia, Westminster, Vox and other
record labels for long works like full operas, etc. Each 1-hour show was
pressed on two 12" sides. In the case of the Mystery Theatre shows at least,
the boxes clearly instructed the stations that the records had to be
destroyed after aired.
I know about those at least from personal experienced. I had a weekend
program on a New Jersey independent that aired the shows, which included
national advertising commercials and space for local inserts. Thus income
for everybody. I found several weeks' worth of the sets tossed into a trash
bucket, and grabbed them, asking the weekend engineer to please save any
future ones. Unfortunately, not long after this, the station was sold to
"Cousin Brucie" Morrow who discontinued that and most everything else then on
the stationl, preferring to have his fans listen just to him throughout the
broadcast day/week/ad nauseum. I have no idea how many previous weeks'
worth of the program had indeed gone to the landfill, but I treasure those in
my archives.
Prior to this, many programs were distributed to hundreds of radio stations
on reel-to-reel tape recordings. This was a very expensive way to do
things, but a lot of stations after WWII especially non-network outlets,
simply did not have 16" TTs. Religious programs in particular were sent
round-robin to a list of stations. The list and a set of mailing labels were
included in the sturdy, belted mailing packages, the same type as those used
to send motion picture reels through the mail. Thus any given verbally
un-dated program might be aired on different stations over a matter of a
month or two, before the last station sent it back to the originating
production office, which undoubtedly erased the tapes and recorded new
programs, starting the round-robin again. Quite an inventory, to say the
least. Some of these packages contained one tape, some several. Difficult,
costly, and liable to be interrupted when one or more taped programs would go
astray, forgotten aside, or simply have the tapes re-recorded for something
else by a nasty station along the way. Just think, some of my more brilliant
news reports may have been preserved for posterity, recorded over the words
of wisdom and comfort uttered by a now-forgotten gospel preacher. Thus, some
station on the 50s chain-letter system wouldn't receive its copy. Clearly,.
the Lp route was the way to go.
BTW, if readers think that "ETs" came only as 16-inchers, think again. The
original recordings using the term were RCA "electrical transcriptions", the
second or even third attempt at "Long Playing" records, well before WWII. As
most of them were literally sort of libraries of music, transcriptions
copied from multiple earlier orchestral recordings, the quality was not good,
and they were not commercially successful. It was they that introduced the
use of the 33-1/3 "speed" (actually rotation rate), but they used "standard
grooves".
But even they were not the first "Long Play" recordings. Thomas Edison's
recording output was severely limited with his "2 Minute" cylinders. His
competitor Columbia "solved" the problem to a minor extent by putting out
longer cylinders which expanded the repertoire somewhat. Either system
required the "home entertainment theatre" of bygone days to obtain a new,
more expensive "talking machine", whether an Edison "Phonograph" or Columbia
"Graphophone". Clever, weren't they? The physically larger cylinders
eventually wound up relegated to use as dictating blanks. Edison responded
by switching from "wax" which it was not, but is described by engineers as a
sort of "industrial soap". He moved on to a form of plastic like Bakelite
which was molded, not actually recorded. This was in a way a far more
important technology leap than initially thought, as it enabled many more
copies to be made from one recording session, unlike the constant repetition
of recording previously required when a given record became a hit seller.
Imagine Elvis Presley having to come back to record "Blue Suede Shoes" over
and over, dozens of times.
Ultimately, when our friend Al (for Alva) was grudgingly persuaded to issue
discs (I've discussed this here before, and his reasoning against doing so)
his people including son Theodore issued Long Play "Re-Creations" (the Edison
term for entertainment recordings) which, like the later RCA Victor versions,
were true transcriptions, copies; of earlier records, which for the same
reasons, were not commercial successes. I believe that either one or both of
the Edison/RCA versions were made in 10" and 12" depending on the length of
the recorded work.
These attempts make grist for the collectors' mills (pardon the allusion) as
the longer-playing cylinders, Edison long play discs, and RCA "Electrical
Transcriptions" especially the latter two of which there were very few made,
are highly desired rarities fetching big money among afficionados of early
recorded history. So you see, the 16" giants and the subsequent 12" Lp
versions were the great-grandchildren of a long trend. I won't even go into
the 10" and 7" Lps. Yes, Virginia, there were such.
Hope this helps folks figure this out. Richard, if you can somehow date your
discs, I think you'll find that the programs are from a later time period
than you previously envisioned, probably mid 50s or so. If you need help, I
suspect friend Mike Biel will be able to date from the numbers which are
stamped into the recording surface near the label, and the pressing numbers
on the labels themselves. Tally ho!
Bestus, Lee Munsick That Godfrey Guy
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 12:41:01 -0400
From: Max Schmid <mschmid@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Ed Bishop dies
Sorry if this has been noted already. As usual, I found out about this on
the Mystery Science Theater list.
Bishop was often cast as the lead in BBC radio dramas featuring an American
protagonist, notably several times as Phillip Marlowe.
Some bio links:
[removed]
[removed]
Obit:
[removed]
[ADMINISTRIVIA: The obit in The Telegraph actually mentions his star
turn in the 1960's cult favorite, "UFO" :
[removed];sSheet=/portal/2005/06/11[removed]
--cfs3]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 12:40:25 -0400
From: Martin <watchstop@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: "Buddy Discs"
Elizabeth McLeod writes so many valuable messages here, and finally I
must add my thanks. And am I the last person to discover all the
riches from her marvelous website?
All the best to you, Elizabeth!
--Martin Fass
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 13:05:02 -0400
From: "Jim Harmon" <jimharmonotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Stoned to Death
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Hello -- I'm sure a number of Digest followers will confirm this information
but I'll add my pass at it.
The story of the woman who winds up stoned to death after having her name
drawn in a lottery is from the literary classic short story "The Lottery" by
Shirley Jackson. It was dramatized on radio a number of times. I don't have
a prepared list -- who do you think I am, Martin Grams Jr. or Jack French?
>From memory, I believe it was on Escape, NBC Short Story, and others.
It is an interesting study in psychology as the woman eagerly anticipates
the pleasure of stoning someone to death -- until she herself draws the fatal
"black ball". Such "death lotteries" were common in Aztec culture and other
ancient societies. I don't believe the practice survived into anything like
contemporary times. But Jackson's story follows the science fiction format
of "what if".
By the way, I have a collection of my own science fiction stories,
"Harmon's Galaxy", trade edition $15. It contains a story advertised on "X
Minus One" as for sale in the current Galaxy Magazine but unfortunately not
dramatized on the series. There are also some stories of special interest to
OTR fans such as a story of a certain Masked Man from the Old West who lives
on into the 20th Century. Anyone interested can contact me at
jimharmonotr@[removed].
-- Jim Harmon
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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 14:33:06 -0400
From: mikeandzachary@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: scariest show
There was an annual gathering where a person was chosen by lot to be
killed to ensure good luck and crops for the coming year.
It sounds like "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. I think NBC SHORT
STORY did a version of it. I have a Caedmon version read by -- if I
remember correctly -- Maureen Stapleton.
Mike
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 14:33:20 -0400
From: Andrew Steinberg <otrdig1@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Stop the Music
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I saw a reference that on the radio show 'Stop the Music, listeners called in
to the show. I believe that people at the show actually called people at
home. Which is right?
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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 14:33:56 -0400
From: Bob Slate <moxnix1961@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio Shows done In Other Countries
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At the moment I can think of only [removed] is "the Fat Man" and I believe
,"It's A Crime Mr. Collins."The Fat Man had an Australian version and the
same for "It's A Crime Mr. Collins."
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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 14:33:47 -0400
From: "Jack Feldman" <qualitas@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Oscar Wilde on OTR
Does anyone know of any Plays by Oscar Wilde that have been adapted for
radio and have available scripts?
Jack
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 14:35:35 -0400
From: Grams46@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: radio show that was done in the USA and also
done in Australia
In a message dated 6/17/2005 9:18:39 [removed] Pacific Standard Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:
Does anyone know of a [removed] or radio show that
was done in the USA and also done in England or Australia
there was a one man's family radio program broadcast in Australia. i am
not at my home so i can't check the tapes for the dates.
peace from kathy
support our troops - end the war
john 3:16
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 15:58:07 -0400
From: benohmart@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: ITTA3
For those interested in the It's That Time Again series of books (new stories
of old-time
radio shows), ITTA3 is coming this November. This is a special one - the
first "meets"
book. For instance: The Whistler meets Mysterious Traveler, and Sea Hound
meets
Scarlet Queen. So, have a look at the list of stories at
[removed]
Ben Ohmart
Old radio. Old movies. New books.
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 15:58:35 -0400
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The price is going up
The new 2005 Performing Arts catalog of Scarecrow Press arrived today and
I'm thinking we may have reached a new plateau in OTR for the price of
books. One advertised there, "Swingin' on the Etherwaves: A Chronological
History of African Americans in Radio and Television Broadcasting,
1925-1955," by Henry T. Sampson, retails for $[removed] It is 1288 pages in
two hardbound volumes but that's still pretty hefty for the average Joe.
I'm thinking there may have been another text produced in recent years in
this price range. But most of us hoped that we were seeing the upper
echelons of sticker shock when Luther Sies' "Encylopedia of American Radio,
1920-1960" was released a few years ago at $135, if I'm recalling correctly.
Evidently not so. It may come as no surprise that OTR isn't just for
paupers any more.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 18:34:38 -0400
From: "Austotr" <austotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: USA shows redone in other countrys
In issue #184 John Ruklick asks
Does anyone know of a [removed] or radio show that
was done in the USA and also done in England or Australia? Or the reverse;
shows that were done over seas, then done in the USA.
John, too many to list. The answer in regard to Radio series/serials would
be many hundreds. Several Decades worth.
In the early days of radio in Australia, [removed] Radio transcriptions were
brought in and played directly on air until early 1940's. This
understandably caused concern with local actors and writers and others. The
Australian Government imposed Protection laws to protect local industry from
being culturally swamped by the [removed] and to nurture a local industry So
then the scripts were purchased from the [removed] and altered to match local
conditions and local actors performed the scripts. It went the other way as
well. Australia sold shows to the [removed], [removed], South Africa, Canada, Asia,
Pacific Islands, West Indies and other places. South Africa also made their
versions of shows originating in the [removed] and Australia, but particularly
shows originating in the [removed]
The same restrictions applied to books. It may only have been paperback
books that had their import from the [removed] banned, but books are still
republished in most countries rather than imported in bulk. There are
differences as books are also altered to suit local conditions. Pulp
Westerns were popular and were written locally. Some were resold to the
[removed] Larry and Stretch a pulp western series of over a thousand books by
Marshall Grover is sold in the [removed] as Larry and Streak by Marshall McCoy. I
didn't even know these were Australian until about 8 years ago. Same
happened with the Detective, Mystery and other genres.
Canada has similar laws. The [removed] has a dominate commercial culture that can
have negative impacts on other cultures due to its size. So the only
protection is to make sure all the cultures can exist together.
Television came along after the restrictions were in place and were probably
ready to be lifted. Yes there were and are rules governing percentage of
local content in broadcasting, but apart from quiz shows and current
affairs, I can't think of television series that were remade in Australia.
Mind you I am only seeing the picture from this side. Television tends to
licence ideas to other countries. 60 Minutes, Who Wants to be a
Millionaire?, Wheel of Fortune etc
Tell your research friend to either email me direct or via the forum on
[removed] and I would be happy to help him out. Its an
interesting subject and I have much to learn about it as well.
Ian Grieve
Moderator
Ausrtralian Old Time Radio Group
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 22:45:38 -0400
From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "The Riot That Never Was"
Thanks to whoever mentioned here earlier this week that there was going to
be a documentary on BBC Radio 4 about the 1926 BBC broadcast about a riot
(really a revolution) in London that was thought to be real by some
listeners just like War of the Worlds in the US 12 years later. There is a
page here
[removed]
where you can listen to the documentary and (even better) listen to a
re-creation of the broadcast. Presumably this will be available until next
Thursday as it is typical for BBC stuff to be available for a week. The
re-creation only runs 11 1/2 minutes and the documentary indicates the
original broadcast was 17 minutes long, but apparently the discrepancy is
accounted for by the shortening of the music fills between "bulletins" to a
few seconds each in the recreation.
The broadcast itself isn't scary, it's funny. The thing is obviously a
satire and its laughing out loud funny. I won't give any of the jokes here
because you should hear them for yourself, but it is an early example of the
kind of comedy familiar from The Goon Show or Monty Python.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 22:46:42 -0400
From: Paul Gough <paulgough@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Scariest show
".dan." at <ddunfee@[removed]; wrote:
I don't recall the show or series but it was about a small town somewhere
in the midwest apparently in the 19th century. There was an annual
gathering where a person was chosen by lot to be killed to ensure good
luck and crops for the coming year.
Don't recall hearing this on OTR, but I do remmeber a
TV version and the story. This is "The Lottery" by
Shirley Jackson.
I get the digest, so apologies if a duplicate post.
Paul Gough
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 22:47:28 -0400
From: tomheston@[removed] (Irish Tom)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Scariest Show
Sure, the scarey show "dan" asks about was "The Lottery," by Shirley
Jackson. The short story was printed in the New Yorker Magazine on June
28, 1948. Curiously, the story begins "On June [removed]" Unfortunately,
I cannot reveal when or where the chilling tale was broadcast on radio,
because then I'd have to -- well -- you know what. Also, because I
don't know. But it was great.
Tom Heston
Slan agus Go n-eiri an Bothar leat.
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #185
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