Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #259
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 7/1/2003 9:16 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2003 : Issue 259
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Mr Keen                               [ "mike kerezman" <philipmarlowe@cfai ]
      Say Goodnight Gracie at the Helen Ha  [ Christopher Werner <werner1@globalc ]
      Re: A kill and Godiva, [removed]'  [ Christopher Werner <werner1@globalc ]
      clear channel stations                [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
      Katherine Hepburn on radio            [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
      Katharine Hepburn on the radio        [ Art Chimes <achimes@[removed]; ]
      July 2nd birthdays                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      REPS Report                           [ otrbuff@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 17:09:58 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Today in radio history

       From Those Were The Days --

    1934 - The Federal Communications Commission, as mandated in the
    Communications Act of 1934, replaced the Federal Radio Commission as the
    regulator of broadcasting in the United States.

       Joe

    --
    Visit my homepage: [removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 17:23:25 -0400
    From: "mike kerezman" <philipmarlowe@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Mr Keen

    I was just wondering if there is log of Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons
    shows available on the net anywhere. I have several Mr. Keen shows in my
    collection with no dates and was wanting to properly re-label them.

    Mike Kerezman Jr

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

    Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 17:25:33 -0400
    From: Christopher Werner <werner1@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Say Goodnight Gracie at the Helen Hayes
     Theater NYC

    Last night (6/30) I was privileged to enjoy Frank Gorshin in a solo 90
    minute performance of "Say Goodnight Gracie" at the Helen Hayes Theater on
    44th St between 7th and 8th Avenue in Manhattan. Because of the holiday
    Friday, an additional show was scheduled for Monday night (Broadway
    theaters are closed Mondays). I got there early, chatted with the guard
    from the neighboring building who informed me that the Schubart Theater
    owns either 11 or 19 of the Broadway Theaters but only has performances in
    5 of them due to the drop in tourism and the economy. While we were
    speaking, Frank Gorshin stepped out of the theater and headed for Sardi's
    restaurant on the other side of this guard's property and realized that it
    was Monday and the restaurant was closed and so chatted with some of us on
    the sidewalk [removed] well enough background.

    The show begins with a thick mist on stage and George Burns confronting God
    after living over 100 years. He then has to perform one more time - and
    that sets the stage for the telling of his life story. The monologue is
    supported by appropriate music of the period (Love in Bloom dominated much
    of it, though the Fog music sounded a lot like Suspense) as well as
    projected photos of his childhood, early career and of course Gracie. He
    covers his hustling for money as a young boy, his barbershop/vaudeville
    beginnings and how he met Gracie. Then the story focuses on their early
    success and his efforts to get her to *not* marry another fellow but choose
    him instead. Successful as they were, he speaks of their adoption, health
    problems, and eventual loss of his loving wife. About the first hour covers
    history prior to their Radio Show including their Movie careers. With 30
    minutes left he extolls the joys of their Radio days, his long time
    friendship with Jack Benny and eventually his debut on Television. Several
    film and TV clips are shown as well as his influence on Jack Benny's acting
    style (hiding the violin evolving into Benny's arm and hand gestures). He
    also covers his later acting career in the Sunshine Boys, Oh,God and TV
    guest work.

    As a whole I thought Rupert Holmes did a marvelous job of writing the
    'play' and Gorshin does an outstanding job of playing George Burns. I was
    all excited about this being a perfect evening activity at the FOTR
    convention in October until I asked about group rates and was informed that
    the show will close on Broadway on August 24th. It will go on the road,
    however, covering Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Wilmington DE, Palm
    Beach FL and 21 other cities.  [removed] has more
    information (I still can't believe they give .net domains to non-network
    related businesses, sigh)

    So keep an eye out for a performance in a city near you - it is worth every
    penny you spend to see it. Highly recommended!

    Chris

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

    Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 17:23:45 -0400
    From: Christopher Werner <werner1@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: A kill and Godiva, [removed]'t you?

    At 11:08 PM 6/30/2003 -0400, Derek wrote:

> >     As for providing a female liberrian, er, librarian with a box of candy,
> >     I've found that a family-size bag of M&M's will do the job just as nicely.
> >     There's no need to spend your reearch money on a Whitman's Sampler, or a
> >     package courtesy of Ms. Farmer or Mr. Stover.

    Having a wife who *IS* a librarian (Medical, Legal, Academic, or
    Engineering/Special), I will vouch for the fact that she is highly
    motivated by chocolate. Doctors or Lawyers who provided 'thank you' baskets
    of fruit, candy, chocolate, baklava, etc. are always favored. Being from
    Germany, she finds the brands mentioned above to be too [removed]

>     ..to which Elizabeth McLeod [removed]
>     On the other hand, don't think they can't *tell* if you're cheaping out.
>     Anything short of Ghiradelli or Godiva, and you might as well hang a sign
>     around your neck that says "I'm A Piker." (Me, I prefer caramels. And not
>     those cheap ones in the polybag from the supermarket, either.)

    Yes, Godiva, Ghiradelli, Lindt, Ritter-Sport, Balsen, and even a Kit-Kat
    bar (in leu of Duplo) are all highly acceptable (even better if accompanied
    by Breyers, Haagen-Daz, Moeven-Pik or Dove Bar Ice Cream).

    To which Derek responded:

>         Point taken, Liz; however, do you think if I could afford to buy ANYBODY
>     Godiva Chocolates, I would need to supplement my income by taking on
>     free-lance research jobs?

    SO, the real question here is: "Is *Derek* willing to do research for
    chocolate?"

    Hmmm.

    Chris

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

    Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 17:22:51 -0400
    From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  clear channel stations

    A. Joseph Ross writes, about a reason that we can't pick up clear channel
    stations from far away:

>     It also could be that the AM band is much more crowded now, the FCC has been
>     licensing stations on channels that were once "clear" channels, and former
>     daytime-only
>     stations now have nightime authorization.

    Good thing that the FCC allowed more local stations to stay on the air
    longer, so we could hear local programming later.
    Bad thing that the FCC and Congress allowed "network consolidation": Now we
    can hear the same canned programs on most stations in our markets, piped in
    from 100's or 1000's of miles away.

    Herb Harrison

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

    Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 17:22:28 -0400
    From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Katherine Hepburn on radio

    I did a quick Google search. Looks like [removed] didn't do much radio. This is
    what I found that seems relevant:
    * **

     From a Lux Radio Theatre site
    <[removed];:

    Lux's extravagant productions were a huge success. Renowned director Cecil
    B. DeMillewhose films were synonymous with spectaclewas brought in to host
    the show. Stars were routinely paid up to $5,000 to appear and over 50
    actors, musicians and technicians were on hand every week for productions
    which ranged from "The Thin Man" to "The Jazz Singer" to "The African Queen."

    Before the show left the air in 1955, DeMille and subsequent hosts William
    Keighley and Irving Cummings welcomed nearly every major movie and radio
    star to the Lux microphone, including Cary Grant, Claudette Colbert, Bing
    Crosby, Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Judy Garland, Roy Rogers and
    Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.

    * **
     From a Cary Grant site <[removed];:

    <[removed]~[removed]#Radio>The Philadelphia
    Story
    The Lux Radio Theatre
    (Special victory show for [removed] Government) 7/20/1942
    Katherine Hepburn
    Lt. James Stewart
    Ruth Hussey
    Virginia Weidler

    * **
     From the same Cary Grant site:

    Lady Esther Screen Guild Players "The Philadelphia Story" w/ K. Hepburn, J.
    Stewart. CBS 3/17/47
    (I assume "Lady Esther" was a brand name/sponsor.  [removed])

    * **
    Hope this helps.

    Herb Harrison

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

    Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 17:58:32 -0400
    From: Art Chimes <achimes@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Katharine Hepburn on the radio

    My friend Dave Goldin's valuable web site, [removed],
    returned the following listings for Katharine Hepburn. Apparently the
    great film star did relatively little work on radio.

    Arch Oboler's Plays: "Suffer Little Children" September 16, 1939, NBC.

    Lux Radio Theatre: "The Philadelphia Story" July 20, 1942, CBS.

    Tribute To Ethel Barrymore. August 15, 1945, ABC.

    The Story Of The Big Mo. October 30, 1945, Mutual. Broadcast from the
    battleship [removed] Missouri.

    Theatre Guild On The Air: "Little Women" December 23, 1945. ABC.

    Lady Esther Screen Guild Theatre: "The Philadelphia Story" March 17, 1947,
    CBS.

    The Right To Live. May 18, 1947, NBC. Sponsored by United Jewish Appeal.

    Lux Radio Theatre: "Undercurrent" October 6, 1947, CBS.

    The Spencer Tracy Story. Excerpts from Tracy's films. 1948, MGM
    syndication. Air trailer.

    Two Lines. October 19, 1948, CBS. American Cancer Society fund appeal.

    Stagestruck: "How The Stage Helped Make Hollywood History" April 18, 1954,
    CBS. Mike Wallace (host).

    Biography In Sound: "Meet Ethel Barrymore" March 20, 1955, NBC.

    Also included are a few latter-day items, including rebroadcasts of old
    Hepburn material and a couple of her appearances on the Dick Cavett Show.

    Regards,
    Art Chimes

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

    Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 17:23:35 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  July 2nd birthdays

    July 2nd births

    07-02-1910 - Jeff Alexander - Whidbey Island, WA - d. 12-23-1989
    conductor: "Amos 'n" Andy"; "Light Up Time"; "Tums Hollywood Theatre"
    07-02-1916 - Ken Curtis - Lamar, CO - d. 4-28-1991
    singing cowboy: "Hollywood Barn Dance"
    07-02-1927 - Brock Peters - NYC
    actor: "Earplay"

    July 2nd deaths

    01-17-1875 - Minetta Ellen - Cleveland, OH - d. 7-2-1965
    actress: Francis 'Fanny" Barbour "One Man"s Family"
    03-27-1914 - Snooky Lanson - Memphis, TN - d. 7-2-1990
    singer: "Snooky Lanson Show"; "Your Hit Parade"
    05-05-1915 - Ben Wright - London, England - d. 7-2-1989
    actor: Hey Boy "Have Gun, Will Travel"; Nicholas Lacey "One Man"s Family"
    05-20-1908 - Jimmy Stewart - IN, PA - d. 7-2-1997
    actor: Britt Ponset "Six Shooter"
    07-23-1936 - Don Drysdale - Van Nuys, CA - d. 7-2-1993
    baseball announcer: California Angels, Chicago White Sox, L. A. Dodgers
    11-09-1909 - Kay Thompson - St. Louis, MO - d. 7-2-1998
    singer: "Fred Waring Show"; "Your Hit Parade"; "Tune-Up Time"
    12-18-1916 - Betty Grable - St. Louis, MO - d. 7-2-1973
    actress: "Hollywood Showcase"; "So You Want to Lead a Band"

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

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

    Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 17:27:09 -0400
    From: otrbuff@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  REPS Report

    I've just returned from my initial foray to Seattle's Radio Enthusiasts
    of Puget Sound (REPS) Showcase, an annual OTR convention that
    traditionally imports a dozen or more Tinseltown radio legends and
    others, including some of the most talented voices still around,
    appearing in several sterling presentations.  Let me suggest to any who
    may have missed the Seattle confabs that a trip to this event will be
    well worth the effort.  It compares favorably with the better known
    conventions that draw from widespread territory like FOTR and some that
    pull beyond more defined geographical regions like Cincinnati and
    SPERDVAC.

    The re-creations were second to none.  With few exceptions, only
    professional actors were assigned roles in "Our Miss Brooks," "Mr. and
    Mrs. North," "The Cisco Kid," "Lux Radio Theater," "Escape" and other
    live performances.  If you closed your eyes it was like radio revisited,
    and most of the cast was as sharp and as impressive as in days of yore.
    No amateurs here.  Many of these same individuals (among their number
    Harry Bartell, Dick Beals, Frank Buxton, Ben Cooper, Sam Edwards, Ray
    Erlenborn, Barbara Fuller, Kathy Garver, Art Gilmore, Hal Stone, Gil
    Stratton Jr. and more) turned up on various panel presentations on
    specified topics scattered throughout the four-day conclave.  All were
    knowledgeable, personable and at times exceedingly witty.  Their stories
    were fascinating.  There was opportunity for the common man to rub elbows
    with all of them and to ask the questions about the good old days that
    they appeared eager to answer from the platform and in leisure-time bull
    sessions.

    The Seattle group is exceedingly well organized.  I was amazed to learn
    that about 50 individuals volunteered to lend a hand in putting on this
    program, even more stupefied that roughly 50 weeks a year a core of 8 or
    12 persons meets to plan in detail each year's event.  Their dedication
    is manifest everywhere.  I saw nothing that somebody hadn't thought about
    in advance and had not left to chance.  I was particularly impressed by
    the input of local members Janet and Christopher Conrad, Paul Feavel, Joy
    Jackson, John Jensen, David Selvig, Marilyn Wilt, Harlan Zinck and a
    half-dozen more who were available to pitch in at every turn.  Stewart
    Wright, who isn't a local member, contributed in numerous ways, so much
    so that he seemed to be part of the steering committee.

    Seattle offers many diversions to attract the casual visitor, if he/she
    can find time to spring loose from such captivating fare during the
    convention.  My suggestion is go a day or two early or stay over a while.
     There's not much to disappoint one with the programming and the site.
    Cheap hotel rates (continental breakfast, microwave and refrigerator in
    every room) and frequent complimentary shuttle service to/from the nearby
    convention site make it even more attractive, beyond the gracious
    hospitality of the local hosts.  You really can't go wrong here.

    REPS Showcase is held over several days the last week of June.  I would
    encourage any who have never been to put it on their schedule for a
    future year.  I know I was pleasantly surprised.  I predict you will be,
    too.

    Jim Cox

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #259
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