Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #218
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 5/28/2003 10:44 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2003 : Issue 218
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Sid Collins                           [ "mike ray" <mikeray42@[removed]; ]
  Familiar Voices                       [ "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed] ]
  actor Elliott Reid & WORDS AT WAR     [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
  The Man with Bogart's Face - radio p  [ EKUD@[removed] ]
  familiar voices                       [ DIANEK9331@[removed] ]
  Ed Begley                             [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
  Frank Gallop                          [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
  May 29th birthdays                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  Bob Hope bbirthday show on Yesterday  [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
  Clearance for NBC Monitor             [ n0zezgfd@[removed] ]
  Re: Charles Dickens on radio          [ passage@[removed] ]
  Gus Gray, Special Correspondent       [ Osborneam@[removed] ]
  YTJD                                  [ "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@neb. ]
  Dickens                               [ "Phil Watson" <philwats@[removed] ]
  Philco Home Recording                 [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
  John Dawson                           [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
  Pat Boone and Arthur Godfrey          [ leemunsick@[removed] ]
  Indianapolis 500 on radio             [ Tim Cronin <tc1001@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 13:55:40 -0400
From: "mike ray" <mikeray42@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Sid Collins

Hi Gang:
Recently our good friend Bill Orr talked about the Late Sid Collins the Voice
of the Indianapolis 500. Sid was for many years the Sports Director at WIBC
in Indianapolis (my hometown). Sid was also my first
boss in radio (1969). He was a perfect gentleman, and just about the kindest
person I think I've ever known. If you were in need he would be there for
you, and help you in anyway he could. Sid was an immaculate dresser, I don't
ever remember seeing him in anything less than a sharp to spectacular suit.
My shift was from Midnight to 6AM, and many nights at 2 or 3 in the morning I
would see Sid come in the station (2835 N. Illinois) with some race car
driver doing interviews in the production room, or he would be editing and or
grading the broadcast of the last race he did. He worked tirelessly promoting
the 500 and or any worthy Indianapolis charity. A few years down the road, I
think about 1974 Sid developed some type of terminal illness. It had always
mattered to Sid that he look his best at all times, and since this
abnormality was changing his appearance, it was a bit more than he could
stand, so he took his life. But the Sid I remember was the guy who could tell
one great race story after another. Many times at the station or at the
Speedway on West 16th Street Sid would be holding court, with dozens of race
people hanging on every word. One time at the Speedway when Sid was right in
the middle of one of those Bull sessions racer Joe Leonard  asked Sid who the
greatest race car driver he had ever seen. Without the slightest hesitation
Sid said, [removed] Foyt. Just as Sid said Foyt's name, none other than [removed] Foyt
walked by and heard what Sid had said. Foyt says, "Sid, that's a bunch *&%$.
Give me one reason for why you would say such *&%$." Sid's replay was, "There
are no words to describe perfection. You just know it when you see it." Foyt
looked at him for what seemed to be a very long pause, (at this point there
must have been about 50 people standing around looking at this) then shook
his head and said, "That works for me." The whole place broke up in laughter.
Sid was a master behind the Mic. He always kept things going, even if nothing
was happening. He also had just about the best team of announcers that

 anyone could have hoped for. There was Jim Shelton in turn #4, Hoody Bell in
turn #2, Chuck Marlowe in the Pits. He also had Bernie Herman, Jerry Baker,
and many more I could name if my old brain was working better. For the entire
month of May, my mind goes back to many great memories of times and people
who had an effect on my at that great Speedway; Art Pollard, Ronnie Duman,
Wally Dallenbach, Mel Kenyon, Chuck Rohdie, Dick Mittman, Jim Shelton, and my
friend Sid Collins.
Best regards,
Mike Ray

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 13:55:47 -0400
From: "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Familiar Voices

I can't believe that no one mentioned the most easily recognized voices in
radio, all stars from the same series: Jack Benny, Don Wilson, Mary
Livingston Benny, Eddie-Rochester-Anderson and my favorite (whose name I
can't spell) Bea Benaderit.  Laura, you let me down on this one.

Roby McHone
Fairbanks, Alaska

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 13:55:53 -0400
From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  actor Elliott Reid & WORDS AT WAR

I just received a very nice letter from Elliot (Ted) Reid whose
appearances  at FOTR, Sperdvac & other conventions many attendees have
cherished. After reading WORDS AT WAR, Ted writes:

"I like your dividing  into various sections ([removed]"The Writers," "The
Actors" and so on) the various aspects of your book.  It is thus
eminently readable and-always-interesting!  Your wonderfully researched
book is a very important addition to books ( much-needed!)  that tell the
truth of those sad and shameful times."

A reminder: I'm now selling copies of WORDS AT WAR for $[removed], $9 below
the retail price  Please see my web site for ordering instructions

Howard Blue

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 14:22:00 -0400
From: EKUD@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The Man with Bogart's Face - radio play Rich
 Little

The radio Premiere of The Man with Bogart's Face
A comedy by Andrew Fenady
May 18, 2003
1:30 pm and 5:00 pm performance
Starring Rich Little, JoAnne Worley, Samantha Eggar, Ian Abercrombie Linda
Henning, Beverly Garland, Marvin Kaplan, Tom Williams, Leslie Easterbrook,
William Windom, Robert Legionaire, John Bliss, and H. M. Wynant
Musical score by Kenneth Stange

To order tickets or for general information call (213) 683-3422 or (800)
200-8868, or e-mail us.
CART performances take place at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in North
Hollywood.
The address and phone number for the hotel is:
4222 Vineland Avenue
North Hollywood, CA 91602-3399
Toll Free 1-800-Beverly
Phone 818-980-8000
For those not in the LA area, check out the NPR schedule for the CART public
radio broadcast schedule. Select shows soon to be broadcast on XM radio.
Look for 2002 Season Shows to soon be released on tape

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:29:59 -0400
From: DIANEK9331@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  familiar voices

We cannot forget Elliot Lewis. His voice is fairly easy to pick out in most
shows.
Diane

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:30:54 -0400
From: otrbuff@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Ed Begley

Robert Angus writes in digest #217:

"Why is it that in the discussion of familiar voices (and just about every
other discussion on this list) the name Ed Begley NEVER comes up?
WTIC/Hartford alumnus Begley probably appeared in more cops-and-robbers shows
out of New York in the 1940s than any other actor, as a hard-boiled detective,
cop and occasional bad guy before going on to make movies like Inherit
the Wind."

Ed Begley is referenced on 14 pages of my book "Radio Crime Fighters"
(McFarland, 2003).  He appears on three pages of my book "The Great Radio
Soap Operas" (McFarland, 1999).  Lots of other OTR authors play him up
extensively.  Dunning mentions him 19 times; Tom DeLong includes his
biography; Terrace references him on 10 pages.  He may not be the hottest
topic on the digest but he certainly hasn't been overlooked by radio
historiographers.

Jim Cox

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:31:05 -0400
From: otrbuff@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Frank Gallop

Pardon the intrusion:  So many posters in the last day or so have written
about Frank Gallup.  I have never seen his name spelled in any context
previously but as Gallop.  Have I erred?

Jim Cox

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:32:21 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  May 29th birthdays

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB HOPE, MAY YOU GIVE US ENJOYMENT FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS!

If you have a birthday on May 29th, you not only share it with Bob Hope, but
you share it with other luminaries such as:

05-29-1892 - Mario Chamlee - Los Angeles, CA - d. 11-13-1966
singer: Tony "Tony and Gus"; "Arco Birthday Party"; "Swift Garden Party"
05-29-1894 - Beatrice Lillie - Toronto, Canada - d. 1-20-1989
commedienne: "Beatrice Lillie Show"
05-29-1903 - Bob Hope - Eltham, England (R:  Cleveland, OH)
actor, comedian: Taxpayer "Quick and the Dead"; "Bob Hope Show"
05-29-1909 - Dick Stabile - Newark, NJ - d. 9-25-1980
bandleader: "Martin and Lewis Show"
05-29-1909 - Mary Jane Higby - St. Louis, MO - d. 2-1-1986
actress: Joan Davis "When a Girl Marries"; Nora Drake "This is Nora Drake"
05-29-1913 - Iris Adrian - Los Angeles, CA - d. 9-21-1994
actress: Abbott and Costello Show"
05-29-1914 - Stacy Keach, Sr. - Chicago, IL (R: Milwaukee, WI) - d. 2-13-2003
producer-director: "Tales of the Texas Rangers"
05-29-1918 - Herb Shriner - Toledo, OH - d. 2-24-1970
comedian: "Camel Comedy Caravan"; "Herb Shriner Time"

Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hometown of [removed] Kaltenborn and Spencer Tracy

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:32:33 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Bob Hope bbirthday show on Yesterday USA

Hi Everybody,

I am going to host around a 9 hour live broadcast to celebrate Bob Hope
birthday on Thursday 5-29-03 on Yesterday USA at [removed]
starting a noon West Coast time.  Take care,

Walden Hughes

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:33:23 -0400
From: n0zezgfd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Clearance for NBC Monitor

On Sunday afternoons and evenings during the summer of 1970, WHO, Des
Moines (50,000 watt, Clear Channel Voice of the Middle West), cleared
Monitor.  It would usually be 4:00 PM or so before we joined Monitor
because of Minnesota Twins baseball.  If we did not have baseball,
Monitor was joined at 1:00 PM and carried through most of the afternoon
and early evening.  I was the staff announcer/control board operator on
duty during the summer and fall of 1970.

If I recall correctly, on Sundays we stayed with Monitor until 9:00 PM
Central Daylight time.  At 9:00 PM WHO broadcast a thirty minute Billy
Graham program and then a program by the Central College Choir from
Pella, Iowa.  At 10:00 PM we'd go to NBC Network News, followed by ten
minutes of local news, weather and sports.

The Monitor schedule at WHO continued, again as I recall, through the
mid-1970s and the demise of the program.

By 1971 I had moved to the WHO news department.  One night in either 1973
or 1974, Guy LaBoe (sp.) who was doing sports on Monitor had an exclusive
story that had an Iowa angle.  I called New York, talked to LaBoe in an
effort to get more information so I could follow up, and as I recall he
hung up on me (how dare some fellow in Iowa question his expertise and
reporting).

Interestingly, this was an attitude that I found existed at NBC in the
1970s.  NBC Radio did not really seem interested in working with its
affiliates or receiving information from them.  NBC Television was a
little bit better about working with affiliates.  When I moved to a CBS
Radio affiliate, the difference was night and day.  CBS producers would
call us looking for story ideas and angles.  My monthly CBS stringer
check was always a welcomed arrival in my mail box.

George F. Davison, Jr.
N0zezgfd@[removed] (Please put a zero between the N and the z, otherwise
your e-mail will come back to you and will not be received by me.)

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 18:10:20 -0400
From: passage@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Charles Dickens on radio

Frank Thomas asked:

does anybody have a list of or know where i can go to find a list of
radio > shows based on charles dickens [removed]

Check [removed]  There's a dozen or
so shows cited.

Frank

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 18:10:48 -0400
From: Osborneam@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Gus Gray, Special Correspondent

In OTR Digest #217. Gerry Wright says:

I recently acquired four episodes of a show titled "Gus Gray, Special
Correspondent" the episodes are from a serial titled "The Case of the Nine
Ivory Buddhas" The shows sound like they might be a British series. Any
information on the show is greatly appreciated.

The show is Australian, from the 1930s.  Only four episodes
exist, #11, #12, #15 and #16.

Unfortunately, that's all I know about the show!
Hope that helps!

Arlene Osborne

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 21:10:07 -0400
From: "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@[removed];
To: "old time radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  YTJD

In response to the question about Jack Dawson on YTJD, the writer's name was
actually John Dawson.  His real name was E. Jack Newman and I'm not sure why
he wrote under the pen name of John Dawson for the Johnny Dollar series, but
he was a well-known writer of radio scripts.  Jack Johnstone,
producer/director of the five-part JDollar shows, also wrote some stories
for the series and one script that he penned, "The Ricardo Amerego Matter,"
he wrote under the name Sam Dawson.  The other two major writers for the
five-part shows were Les Crutchfield and Robert Rife.  Tony Barrett also
penned two scripts and Adrian Jeandeau (sp) wrote the final five-part
program.  Not sure how any of these writers would be connected to Chandler
or Hamit, though I suspect that they were all familiar with the two since
both writers were quite popular for the time.
RyanO

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 21:11:48 -0400
From: "Phil Watson" <philwats@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Dickens

Frank Thomas asked about radio dramas based on Dickens stories - there are
over 200 listed on [removed] - search on the name. It's a
great site for researching BBC drama, and has details of over 361,000 BBC
shows of all sorts.

Regards from England
Phil

[ADMINISTRIVIA: This is a pretty good time to remind everyone that the
primary focus of this mailing list is OTR produced in the United States.
--cfs3]

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 21:11:54 -0400
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Philco Home Recording

Thanks to everyone who answered my plea for help in playing the 10"
Philco home recordings that I've come across.
I played the Red Skelton disc and it was indeed recorded at 78 rpm and
played just fine on my turntable.  Since I've heard other home recorded
discs I was surprised at how good this one sounded.  No one would ever
have confused it with a professionally recorded transcription, but it
was quite clear.  There was only a moderate amount of surface noise that
I suspect could be cleaned up if it were worth the effort, but there is
a constant background noise in the lower midrange that was somewhat
annoying.  However the recording itself was quite clear and distortion
free.
Each side ran about 4 mins and contained more or less a complete skit
one side of  "The Mean Little Kid" and one side of "Clem
KadiddleHopper"  and had part of  an unknown (David Rose?) orchestra
playing "Brazil". After the approx. 4 minutes there was a live
recording  that was cut all the way to the edge of the label. I suspect
that they were sailors since my friend was in the Navy at that time
(1943). They were doing comedy bits and using very salty language.  I
couldn't play all of this part because my turntable arm picks up as it
gets to a certain point.

Michael Biel who was kind enough to reply to my post says that the discs
are steel and that the brown edge that I'm seeing is rust. I certainly
will bow to him on this point, but they are very light weight and
flexible and not what you would expect from a steel core. Also I was not
able to get any rust to come off when I rubbed the edge on my t shirt.

Anyway I'm going to play the rest of the records soon, I think that
there are about 8 or 9 of them.  I don't think that any of the others
are OTR. One of them is a 7" inch disc of a different brand that was
sent to my friend from his parents during the war. I also knew his
parents and brother so this might be interesting.

George Aust

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 21:12:14 -0400
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  John Dawson

William Harker asked:

I am curious as Hammett (and Chandler) are favorites of mine and both
traveled the Hollywood writer's "circuit." Jack Dawson is not mentioned in
any of the biographies or letter volumes I own of either Hammett or Chandler.

As I recall, John Dawson is a pseudonym for the writer E. Jack Neumann.

Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 21:12:24 -0400
From: leemunsick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Pat Boone and Arthur Godfrey

Russ Butler asked about Pat Boone on the Arthur Godfrey programs.

Pat Boone won on "Arthur Godfrey and His Talent Scouts" in 1955, while he
was still Charles Eugene Boone, studying at a college in Denton,
Texas.  The school started out as North Texas State Normal School, but is
now the University of North Texas, with a respected School of Music.

Like many other regulars on the Arthur Godfrey programs, when young Boone
was well received by the Godfrey studio audience and then his listeners, he
was asked by Mr. Godfrey to join the regular Godfrey cast.  Pat Boone
succeeded Julius LaRosa as the "boy singer" on the Godfrey programs.

LaRosa had been asked to join "the Little Godfreys" on the air in the same
way, about two years before.   Like LaRosa, Boone's stay was just under two
years.  Boone left the programs at his request, so he could go on to bigger
and better things.  Again, just like LaRosa.  Except that Mr. Godfrey, not
wanting to be burned again, did not make the departure into a "swan song"
event.  Pat Boone just moved onward.  Both Julie LaRosa and Pat Boone had a
series of best-selling recordings, but in time LaRosa's career took a
downturn, while Boone's continued upward and onward for years.

Both singers have been thankful to Mr. Godfrey for giving a strong impetus
to their careers.  Pat Boone parlayed his success at the recording mike and
other singing venues, into financial success.  He is a major broadcasting
executive, operating from his office in Los Angeles.

Lee Munsick

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

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 23:12:39 -0400
From: Tim Cronin <tc1001@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Indianapolis 500 on radio

	Here's more on the history of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and
International Sweepstakes (now that's a title!) on radio, with info from
some old newspaper clips and from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio
Network 50th anniversary CD, issued last year by the IMSRN and WIBC-AM
1070, Indianapolis:
	According to the CD, the first broadcasts were in 1922 on WHO and WLK
(don't know if that's the Des Moines WHO or an earlier Indy-based station).
	I do know that in 1924, WDAP Chicago, days from becoming WGN, covered
the race from start to finish. That may have been the first flag-to-flag
coverage. It was covered as a sports event, but "Sam and Henry"
themselves were on hand, doing comedy routines during the duller
stretches. Henry Ford was a celebrity guest.
	The CD says that by 1928, NBC was covering the race with Graham McNamee
on hand (presumably for 15 or 30-minute segments), and in the 1930s,
Mutual took over. Whether those broadcasts were exclusive or not I don't know.
	From 1946 through 1950, Mutual originated a series of broadcasts, with
a 30-minute show at the start and another at the finish, and either
brief reports or a couple of 30-minute updates in the course of the day.
Those broadcasts were sponsored by Perfect Circle Piston Rings, an
Indianapolis-based firm.
	The broadcasts were anchored by Mutual's Bill Slater, but the rest of
the crew was from WIBC, including Sid Collins, who worked the
"southeast" turn, better known as Turn 1, in 1949, and perhaps earlier.
In 1950, Jim Shelton took his seat in Turn 4, and remained there for decades.
	In 1951, according to Speedway historian Donald Davidson on the CD,
Mutual raised its rates and Perfect Circle bailed. WIBC decided to do
the broadcast itself, and fed Mutual, using the same schedule. With
Slater no longer assigned by Mutual, Collins was the anchor.
	That worked, so WIBC went to the Speedway and said they no longer
needed Mutual. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network was formed
for the 1952 race, and still followed the same multi-segment format.
WIBC was the flagship station.
	Apparently, it was one thing for Mutual to do it and another for the
Speedway to broadcast the race itself in the eyes of the other radio
stations in town. They screamed that WIBC was getting favorable
treatment. At the same time, the Speedway and WIBC had decided to expand
to flag-to-flag coverage, and decided that every station in Indianapolis
could carry the race if they contributed one announcer to the broadcast.
	Thus, in 1953, you couldn't miss the 500-Mile Race on the radio in
Indianapolis, and, with Collins anchoring, there were announcers
stationed above each turn and another one or two in the pit area, the
format still followed today.
	In 1955, Collins came up with the station break cue, "Stay tuned for
the Greatest Spectacle in Racing." The phrase caught on, and the 500
became known worldwide as just that.
	The IMSRN became the largest radio network in the world, at least on a
one-day basis, with over 600 stations some years, plus AFRTS, and some
years also including the CBC. Stereo broadcasting for FM stations began
in 1988.
	Collins anchored through 1976. Paul Page took over in 1977 and anchored
through 1987. Lou Palmer, for years the lead pit-area reporter, was the
anchor in 1988 and 1989, but ruffled feathers off the air and was let
go. Bob Jenkins handled the job from 1990 through 1998. Beginning in
1999, Mike King has been the "Voice of the 500."
	For several decades, the network's flagship was a station in Terre
Haute, Ind., which was owned by the Hulman family, which also owns the
track. But in recent years, WIBC has been the flagship station, and the
exclusive carrier in Indianapolis, though this year, 70 other stations
in Indiana were on the network.

	Tim Cronin

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #218
*********************************************

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