Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #226
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 7/27/2005 8:03 AM
To: [removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2005 : Issue 226
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  7-26 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  "Mr Goodjohn and Mr Badjack"          [ absarka_prime@[removed] ]
  Filling in the Blancs                 [ "Mary L. Wallace" <mlwallace57@hotm ]
  Surprise! This Is Your Life!          [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
  Kinescope Kovacs, Grainy Godfrey      [ Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@earthlin ]
  Arthur Anderson                       [ "[removed]" <asajb2000@ ]
  This Is Your Life                     [ Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed]; ]
  CBC Newsman David Halton Retires      [ Christopher Werner <werner1@globalc ]
  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ charlie@[removed] ]
  Another request for [removed]    [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]

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

Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 08:23:20 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  7-26 births/deaths

July 26th births

07-26-1856 - George Bernard Shaw - Dublin, Ireland - d. 11-2-1950
playwright: "Wisconsin College of the Air"; "George Bernard Shaw Speech"
07-26-1894 - Aldous Huxley - Godalming, Surrey, England - d. 11-22-1963
writer: "Columbia Workshop"
07-26-1896 - Charles Butterworth - South Bend, IN - d. 6-13-1946
comedian: "Fred Astaire Show"
07-26-1897 - Paul Gallico - New York City, NY - d. 7-15-1976
writer: "Author's Playhouse"; "Keep 'Em Rolling"; "Radio City Playhouse"
07-26-1899 - Danton Walker - Marietta, GA - d. 8-8-1960
broadway columnist: "Forty-Five Minutes on Broadway"; "Twin Views of the News"
07-26-1901 - Serge Koussevitzky - Vyshni Volocheck, Russia - d. 6-4-1978
symphony conductor: "Boston Symphony Orchestra"
07-26-1902 - Gracie Allen - San Francisco, CA - d. 8-27-1964
comedienne: "The Adventures of Gracie"; "The George Burns and Gracie Allen
Show"
07-26-1903 - Donald Voorhees - Allentown, PA - d. 1-10-1989
conductor: "Show Boat"; "Cavalcade of America"; "Telephone Hour"
07-26-1907 - Galen Drake - Kokomo, IN - d. 6-30-1989
commentator: "Galen Drake"
07-26-1909 - Vivian Vance - Cherryvale, KS (Raised: Independence, KS) - d.
8-17-1979
actress: Ethel Mertz "I Love Lucy"
07-26-1911 - Buddy Clark - Dorchester, MA - d. 10-1-1949
singer: "Your Hit Parade"; "New Carnation Contented Hour"
07-26-1914 - Erskine Hawkins - Birmingham, AL - d. 11-11-1992
bandleader: "Apollo Concerts"; "Big Band Themes on the Air"
07-26-1918 - Stacy Harris - Big Timber, Quebec, Canada - d. 3-13-1973
actor: Jim Taylor "This is Your [removed]"; Carter Trent "Pepper Young's Family"
07-26-1919 - Virginia Gilmore - El Monte, CA - d. 3-28-1986
actress: "The Ford Theatre"
07-26-1921 - Jean Shepherd - South Chicago, IL - d. 10-16-1999
host: "The Jean Shepherd Show"
07-26-1921 - John de Lancie, Sr. - Berkeley, CA - d. 5-17-2002
principle oboist: "Phildelphia Symphony Orchestra"
07-26-1922 - Blake Edwards - Tulsa, OK
writer: "Lineup"; "Richard Diamond, Private Detective"
07-26-1935 - Walter Winchell, Jr. - New York City, NY - d. 12-25-1967
radio news writer

July 26th deaths

01-21-1921 - Manya Starr - New York City, NY - d. 7-26-2000
writer: Allegedly fired by Anne Hummert for asking about God, "Who's going to
play him?"
03-18-1860 - William Jennings Bryan - Salem, IL - d. 7-26-1925
lawyer: Scopes Monkey trial
03-20-1913 - Kenny Gardner - Lakeview, IA - d. 7-26-2002
singer: "Guy Lombardo Show"; "Lombardoland [removed]"; "Your Hit Parade"
05-04-1927 - Terry Scott - Watford, England - d. 7-26-1994
actor: "Junior Choice"; "Great Scott, It's Maynard"; "Hugh and I"
05-07-1919 - Eva Peron - Los Toldos, Argentina - d. 7-26-1952
actress, hostess: "Radio Argentina"; "Radio Belgrano"
07-24-1911 - Jane Hoffman - Seattle, WA - d. 7-26-2004
actress: "The Author's Studio"
09-09-1887 - Raymond Walburn - Plymouth, IN - d. 7-26-1969
actor: "That's My Pop"
11-18-1901 - Dr. George Gallup - Jefferson, IA - d. 7-26-1984
statistician: "Living 1948"
xx-xx-1889 - Gene Byrnes - New York City, NY - d. 7-26-1974
comic strip cartoonist: "Reg'lar Fellers" based on his comic strip
xx-xx-1899 - Reed Brown, Jr. - Texas - d. 7-26-1962
actor: Capt. Gordon Wright "Roses and Drums"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 09:03:55 -0400
From: absarka_prime@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  "Mr Goodjohn and Mr Badjack"
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X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

   A friend who knows that I collect OTR recently wrote me and asked:

   "Years ago someone in the UK sent me a reel-to-reel tape of a radio drama
called "Mr Goodjohn and Mr Badjack" - very spooky and surreal. But lacking
any data as to the source. Must have been BBC, but I have never been able to
find out anything about it."

   Can anyone here identify this reference?  I've never heard of it myself.

Curt Phillips

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Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 14:09:59 -0400
From: "Mary L. Wallace" <mlwallace57@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Filling in the Blancs
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In the July 4 Digest (#201), Jordan Young answered Derek Tague's question
about whether or not Mel Blanc wrote "Big Bear Lake" by saying that it was
unlikely because Eddie Maxwell told him that Mel had put his name on "Ugga
Ugga Boo Ugga Boo Boo Ugga" but had nothing to do with it.  Jordan further
explained that many stars put their names on songs they didn't [removed] was
"part of the game."

With all due respect to Jordan, I emailed Noel Blanc about this and he told me
that Mel was indeed a co-writer of "Ugga". (In fact, Mel told Walt Mitchell
and myself that other people who didn't write it put *their* names on it!)
Also, Noel happened to be vacationing at Big Bear Lake when I emailed him
because he said that he and his mother watched Mel write "Big Bear Lake" "in
this very cabin."

I hope this is the definitive answer to Derek's question.

Don't forget to order the Mel Blanc cd from
[removed]<[removed];

Mary Lou Wallace

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

Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 16:47:59 -0400
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Surprise!  This Is Your Life!

Lee Munsick reminded us that "Normally 'This is Your Life' guests were not
told about their involvement in
the program until escorted onto the stage of the program, already in
progress."  There were only two instances where guests were informed in
advance -- and the first time this happened Edwards cancelled the guest and
put together a different show in three days.  But the other time a guest
knew in advance was Edwards' decision, and was for a very good reason.   It
was for Eddie Cantor who had a very serious heart condition, and the
program opened with Edwards explaining to the audience why the guest was
not going to be ambushed and was already sitting on stage.  The show was
still being done live, and there was no advance publicity to the public.
In later years when they attempted to syndicate the program, they
discovered that pre-recording the shows would lead to the failure of the
series.  Sure, the guests were surprised.  Perhaps even more surprised than
during the live days because these shows could now be done at any time of
any day of the week.  But because the individual local stations could not
resist publicizing the identity of the guest in advance, the viewers lost
the chance to play along in the suspense in the first few minutes.  They
also were able to pick and choose whether to watch depending on whether or
not they were interested in the guest.  Edwards had often said that the
best programs were about non-celebrities who had led extraordinary lives.
But since these non-names had no publicity drawing power, the syndicated
series could not do this type of program.

The most famous of the live programs with reluctant guests was the one with
Lowell Thomas.  I saw the program live and thought it was hilarious.  When
Edwards said "Lowell Thomas, This is your life" Thomas replied with
something like "The hell it is" and tried to escape.  His sarcastic remarks
continued throughout the program, not directed to his friends but to
Edwards.  I would have thought Edwards would have been embarrassed and
furious, and so I was astonished when I saw the program being re-run later
that season.  It turns out that Edwards says that this is one of his
favorite shows.  It is not in the first box set -- neither is Cantor -- but
we all hope they will put these both in the next set.

It had been my recollection that the Caesar's Hour take-off had been done
the week after the Thomas program, but this might not be true.  What I DO
know is that when Edwards saw the take-off, he immediately postponed his
scheduled program and quickly put together a new one -- for Carl Reiner!
They ambushed Reiner without his toupee, and I think his reaction was to
say "If I knew you were doing this, I would have worn my hair!"   This
shows what a great sport he was.  He had never appeared in public without
his toupee but it didn't really bother him.  I remember that he loved doing
the show, and, of course, he was able to milk the hair incident for one of
the funniest episodes of "The DIck Van Dyke Show."

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

Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 17:20:38 -0400
From: Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Kinescope Kovacs, Grainy Godfrey

My thanks to friend Joe Ross, who commented here that

Back in the days when many television markets didn't have as many stations
as there were networks, it was common to see network programs by kine in
those markets.  The delay was often for several weeks.  I remember seeing
Christmas shows in January.

That wasn't the only reason for mixed-up programs - primarily it was because
they weren't actually connected to their respective networks.  There are
still many markets which do not directly receive all the networks, often even
more than one station!  For us to get broadcast signals here in south-central
Virginia would require a constantly available antenna turning rotor, with
positions for each different network, as the network stations are to the
west, north, east and south of us.  In fact, we can't get any!  Welcome to
the 21st century! To cap it off, we're in some kind of black hole at our
house, and don't even get the nearest station from Lynchburg, only around 35
miles to the west, and at a higher elevation than we.

Thank goodness for the time of the kinescope system, which allowed stations
country to air programs before coaxial cable spanned the nation.  And before
videotape came along, and made it possible for broadcasters to save programs
presented live rather than on film.  Without them we would not today be able
to watch such early shows as with Sid Caesar, Ed Sullivan, Ernie Kovacs,
Arthur Godfrey, etc.   Also I Love Lucy,other Desilu programs, Dragnet, You
Bet Your Life, and numerous others which were captured on film first, edited
and then aired.

Unfortunately, when I laughed myself silly c. late 40s watching Ernie Kovacs
in his first early morning TV programs on Channel 3 in Philadelphia, there
was no copying done by any system.  I've often felt that his improvisations
then were far better than most of his later network shows, which is what we
can see of Kovacs today.  It was there that he used the split-screen system
to duel with himself, set up the tilted-table-and-camera skits which became a
Kovacs hallmark over the years, and so many other things that hit him as he
did his show, wandering around WPTZ's prop warehouse in Philly.  Ingenious!
Marvelous!

Arthur Godfrey's shows were kinescoped and sent round-robin across the
country.  Thank heavens - every once in a while one pops up somewhere, and
some dealer makes videos available, so that's the only way we today see his
TV shows.  One just appeared on eBay and I've written the winner and asked
for a copy.  Because the bidding got way past my budget, but I can give him
back some of his cost, in return for adding another show to my archives - I
hope!

This is probably all technically illegal, just like the early, unlawfully
imported Brit recordings by The Beatles, which of course in time made them
hugely popular here, and even more hugely wealthy.  And like all the
circulating OTR shows, without which we would not have our memorable hobby,
there would be no OTR conventions, organizations and publications, and good
folk like Charlie Summers and Jay Hickerson wouldn't know what to do with
their spare time!  Hee hee.

Like all broadcasters during that kinescope delay period, Mr. Godfrey was
asked by the ubiquitous network vice-presidents not to mention things like
"enjoy today's Easter Parade", "Erin Go Bragh today" (in a definite Irish
brogue), or even "Happy Turkey Day", let alone "Merry Christmas".  I often
wondered what the nets did about the Christmas programs virtually every show
did every yuletide.  Godfrey didn't worry about it - just went ahead and said
what came into his mind, because the shows were done on or just before their
respective holidays.

UN-like the other broadcasters, and as was his wont, Mr. Godfrey ignored the
instructions from above.  Indeed, he would explain to his audience that the
veeps had asked him not to mention "today is Hallowe'en", since some of the
home lTV audience would be watching closer to Thanksgiving (which by those
years had settled back into its former place).  So he would say something
like, "I hope your kiddies have a wonderful time trick-or-treating today.
But don't let them eat all that candy, or they won't have room for tonight's
big turkey dinner".  Big laughs and applause from the studio audience.  All
of this, of course, to the delight of that Godfrey audience and the larger
one out in the hinterlands.  He rarely missed an opportunity to razz the
network bigwigs.  However, he quite respectfully withheld such treatment when
referring - often fondly and always with great deference -  to William Paley
and Frank Stanton, whom he had on his programs on special occasions.

In referring to the lesser-level network brass, Godfrey would frequently
donate a "Bronx cheer".  Isn't that a wonderful appelation?  I have no idea
where it came from, except perhaps baseball games?  I'm certain that someone
here can inform us!      Bestus, Lee Munsick

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

Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 20:10:21 -0400
From: "[removed]" <asajb2000@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Arthur Anderson

One of my favorite animated shows; Courage the
Cowardly Dog was a show my oldest son and I watched
together (along with The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter and
Johnny Bravo).  I happened to watch read some
biographical information about the Courage show.
Halfway through, the guy who did the voice of Eustace
died and giess who replaced him?
Our own Arthur Anderson.  I would assume it's the
Arthur Anderson we all know and love.  I realized the
voice was different (like Grandpa on the Rugrats) but
didn't know it was him.

Andy

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

Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 22:44:02 -0400
From: Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  This Is Your Life

Normally "This is Your Life" guests were not told about their
involvement in the program until escorted onto the stage of the
program, already in progress.  ...  One can understand why a lot of
the unhappy guests truly did not like all this.

I wonder if anyone ever flatly refused to appear.  And I wonder what Ralph
Edwards would have done if they had.

There was one instance I know of when the subject of a "This Is Your
Life" program flatly refused to appear.  And what did Ralph Edwards do?
He told his staff to drop their secret plan to present his life story.

On the other hand, there was at least one instance of the victim -- er,
subject -- learning in advance and showing up anyway.  I seem to
remember some Hollywood actress coming on, exuding glamour and ready for
the show of her life, in more ways than one.

                                                      --Bill Jaker

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

Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 00:34:39 -0400
From: Christopher Werner <werner1@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  CBC Newsman David Halton Retires

Although a CBC TV newsman for over 40 years, David Halton began his career
as a radio news reporter. In a brief interview on CBC Radio 2 today he
recalled how the early tape recorders were battery operated and ran for 3
minutes. One would be in the middle of an interview with someone to say,
hold on a minute - as one furiously cranked the battery charger to prepare
for another 3 minutes of recording.

He is retiring from Newscasting (he has been the Washington DC
correspondent in recent years, but was in Paris early on, and covered the
first Isreali/Egyptian war (6-day war) in 1967 among other events.

The CBC News program, The National will be featuring his career tomorrow
night. One of the morning CBC radio programs will highlight his career as well.

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

Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 02:12:00 -0400
From: charlie@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!

A weekly [removed]

For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
Network, the channel name is #OldRadio.  We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
over nine years, same time, same channel! Started by Lois Culver, widow
of actor Howard Culver, this is the place to be on Thursday night for
real-time OTR talk!

Our "regulars" include OTR actors, soundmen, collectors, listeners, and
others interested in enjoying OTR from points all over the world. Discussions
range from favorite shows to almost anything else under the sun (sometimes
it's hard for us to stay on-topic)...but even if it isn't always focused,
it's always a good time!

For more info, contact charlie@[removed]. We hope to see you there, this
week and every week!

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

Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 10:04:53 -0400
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Another request for [removed]

Folks;

   Another request for OTR help came in this morning, regarding the great
Studs Terkel:

We've got plenty of recordings from later in his career, but I was
hoping you could help us locate earlier recordings.  The earlier the
better.  I'm especially interested in "Studs' Place," but I'm not picky
at this point.

   If anyone has any early broadcasts of Studs Terkel (particularly in MP3,
since it's too late to ship CDs or tapes), please contact me ASAP, since
there's a real time crunch! Thanks!

         Charlie

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #226
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