Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #65
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 2/24/2007 4:19 AM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2007 : Issue 65
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Hal again                             [ "Laura Leff" <president@[removed] ]
      Hal Stone                             [ "Kirby, Tom" <Kirby@[removed]; ]
      Hal Stone's career                    [ wboenig@[removed] ]
      38 states and half of Canada          [ "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed]; ]
      Cincy Convention                      [ hopharrigan@[removed] ]
      photo of hal stone                    [ Grams46@[removed] ]
      Hal Stone                             [ "Michael Leannah" <mleannah@charter ]
      Hal Stone                             [ "Austotr" <austotr@[removed]; ]
      The Frances Langford Show             [ Larry Maupin <mpn_lrry@[removed]; ]
      Hal Stone and Frank Martin            [ Ken Greenwald <radio@[removed]; ]
      2-24 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:47:29 -0500
    From: "Laura Leff" <president@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Hal again
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    Have to chime in here on the Hal Stone memories.  Some time back, Hal and I
    developed a good-natured (ala Benny-Allen) ribbing on the Digest.  It was a
    pleasure to finally meet him first at FOTR, then again at SPERDVAC.  And I'm
    sure few in attendance will forget the well-planted bomb in his story about
    auditioning for Jack, which elicited open-mouthed gapes between Charlie and me
    (not for the obvious reason, but because of an inside joke between us on the
    same subject).

    Thought I was going to see Hal in June at REPS.  Although I won't see him, I'm
    sure he'll be there anyway.

    --Laura Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

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    Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 08:41:06 -0500
    From: "Kirby, Tom" <Kirby@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Hal Stone

    I never got to meet Hal in person. I kept telling myself that one
    of these times, I was going to actually manage to make it to one
    of the OTR conventions and see him in person. I learned a lesson
    on procrastination the hard way.

    I've conversed with him via e-mail, and at least have his wonderful
    book to remember him by, along with all those episodes of Archie
    Andrews.

    My condolences to his family and his many friends.

    -- Tom Kirby

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:56:56 -0500
    From: wboenig@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Hal Stone's career
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    In January 2006 the Radio Collectors of America (Boston's OTR hobbyist club)
    was fortunate enough to secure an interview with Hal Stone over the telephone.
    As Recording Secretary for the RCA, I had the responsibility ... no, make that
    the privilege ... of providing a summary of the interview for publication in
    our monthly newsletter.  While my words cannot capture the warmth and
    excitement that we all felt in coversing with Hal, I nonetheless offer my
    notes to all who may want to know more about his life and career.  (See
    below)

    Wayne Boenig

    ---- Interview summary starts here ----

    Tonight the Club interviewed Hal Stone, whose most notable radio role was that
    of Forsythe P. "Jughead" Jones on Archie Andrews.  Stone was born in 1931
    on Long Island to parents who were not in any way associated with show
    business.  He began his career at age three as a print advertising model for
    children's products.  He described his childhood as "basically normal"
    in a hometown that was somewhat rural at the time.  He attended a Catholic
    grade school, where his mother has a little clout with the nuns, allowing them
    to accommodate his work schedule.

    Stone had an offer to appear on Broadway at age eight, but the money was less
    than he was getting doing his modeling work.  He was later hired by The
    Chicago Company for better money, where he got to work with Lillian Gish.  He
    did some radio work on Life With Father around then as well.  Later, he played
    the youngest son on Vick's Family Of Five, as well as an occasional spot on
    Let's Pretend while still doing stage work (which was more consistent).  He
    also worked with Billie Burke.

    Stone auditioned for the role of Jughead at age 13; the laugh was his
    creation, after being told quite clearly to avoid sounding like Homer Brown.
    The original Archie was Charlie Mullin, until he got drafted in 1944.  Bob
    Hastings was a B-29 bombardier who was rotated out of service at that time,
    and he took over the role for the duration of the series.  Arnold Stang had a
    brief stint as Jughead in 1951 when Stone was in the service (serving in
    Newfoundland), but Stone resumed the role in 1952.  The show began as a
    15-minute local NYC show in 1943 on WOR radio, with Jackie Grimes in the title
    role.  NBC bought the show within a year and changed the cast.  The role of
    Fred Andrews was filled by as many as six different actors over the years -
    Vinton Hayworth, Ian Martin, Raymond Edward Johnson (a 13-week fill-in),
    Arthur Q. Bryan (also a short-term fill-in), and the longest tenured actor,
    Arthur Cole.  Doris Grundy was the first Betty for one year, before Rosemary
    Rice took over that role.  Gloria Mann and Jane Webb both played Veronica.

    During its prime years, the show aired on Saturday mornings, with rehearsals
    on Wednesdays.  It also ran as a summer replacement for The Great Gildersleeve
    in 1948 and 1949.  Major sponsors of the show were Swift Premium Franks and
    Kraft.

    Stone also had a few "one shot" appearances on shows such as Death Valley
    Days, Dr. Christian, and several soap operas.

    When Archie Andrews ended in 1953, Hal was back from the Air Force, and he
    decided to go to college (which was an idea he hated in high school).  His
    aspiration was to be a television director.  He spent three years in Michigan
    on a local station, but he feared that his relatively high level of experience
    there might lead to a promotion into management, which he did not desire.  He
    then returned to New York, just about the time that the use of videotape was
    becoming an accepted practice.  In New York, he specialized in producing
    commercials, which was a very profitable business.

    At the prompting of another OTR fan, Stone wrote his radio memoirs "Aw,
    Relax Archie b& Re-lax!", which is available through Bear Manor Media of
    Boalsburg, PA ([removed]); someday he may finish his incomplete
    book on his television career.  He lists among his radio friends the likes of
    Bob Hastings, Rosemary Rice, Donald Buka, Ben Cooper, and the late Jackie
    Kelk.

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    Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:57:10 -0500
    From: "Tim Lones" <tlones1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  38 states and half of Canada

    Regarding  the statement that "Clear Channel" stations  can be heard in 38
    states and Half of [removed] has been a joke in local  broadcasting
    circles over the years that WERE-AM 1300 Cleveland's signal was so weak that
    it could be heard On '38 streets and half of Canton"..I happen to live in
    the part of Canton you can't hear [removed]

    Tim Lones
    Canton, Ohio

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 11:01:24 -0500
    From: hopharrigan@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Cincy Convention
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from text/html

       Hello, folks. With the sadness of recent events regarding Hal, I
       almost forgot to post a request for a room mate in order to cut costs
       at the Cincy Convention in April. How about it? Anyone willing to
       share a non-smoking room with me this year? Derek Teague can offer a
       reference as to my room mate strengths/ weaknesses:) Maybe Derek wants
       to room with me(?). [removed] Let me know off list as soon as
       possible, please. Money is tight as always. Later, Randy Story (who
       will miss Hal Stone's great warmth and support)

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    [ADMINISTRIVIA: While we're on the subject of rooms, I'd appreciate off-list
    references for other hotels in the immediate area, so I can post a list of
    suggestions on the Nostalgic Rumblings blog. I'm interested in anything that
    isn't the Ramada Plaza (we're not planning on staying there this year after
    the strong dissapointment of last year's stay), including the efficiency a
    few blocks down, I believe, Rt. 4 which had a sign for weekly rates. Please,
    folks, off-list, since this is _really_ off-topic. Thanks!  --cfs3]

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:19:27 -0500
    From: Grams46@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  photo of hal stone

    there is a pretty good picture of hal stone  at
    [removed]

    may God rest his  soul.

    peace from kathy
    support our troops; end the war
    john 3:16

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: Yes, I know I should have my tribute posting to Hal up by
    now, but I don't. I've been going through hundreds of pictures, and a bunch
    of audio and video, too. If not today, by the end of the weekend. I promise
    lots of photos, a fistfull of video, some audio, and a couple of stories most
    of you haven't heard. --cfs3]

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:41:17 -0500
    From: "Michael Leannah" <mleannah@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Hal Stone

    I met Hal at the FOTR Convention in 2005, which I attended with my daughter.
    It sure was hard telling her the news yesterday. How kind he was to her, to
    me, to everyone.

    Mike Leannah

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:04:46 -0500
    From: "Austotr" <austotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Hal Stone
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    The news of Hal's passing was a shock.  It is hard to understand how someone
    you have never met and had minimal contact with could have such an impact, but
    I see it was the same with others on the Digest.  While I was desperately
    juggling customers and trying to work out which room and server the IRC was in
    for Hal's wake yesterday, I was going through back issues of the Digest for
    2002 which was when I had it sent to my work email.   Hal and I used to have
    fun with each other, his term was 'zingers' and he coined the 'Awesome Aussie'
    description.  We emailed a few times offlist and I taught him some Australian
    words and their meanings, directed him to some sites where he was checking out
    words.  I don't know why I didn't keep that up.  You get busy and sometimes
    the fun things get forgotten and then you regret it as I am now.

    When I first started collecting OTR and learning about it, mp3 was a dirty
    word amoungst the more knowledgable OTR people, but Hal focused on the person
    and made me feel welcome.  Elizabeth was another from the 'serious' side of
    OTR who concentrated on the information and not the format and could be found
    on newsgroups taking the time to explain why or how something had happened.  I
    managed to get through all my school years without finding a single teacher
    who inspired me.  Probably that was as much my fault as theirs, but you feel
    cheated when you talk to someone who can name a teacher who took the time to
    dig deeper with an explanation to the student and the lightbulb over the
    student's head went on and suddenly everything was understood.  My reports
    always contained "should try harder".  I wish students could write report
    cards on their teachers because every one of my teachers should have tried
    harder.  I coasted because they pushed me, it would have been different if
    they led me.

    My point in all this is that Hal could talk to a person, even by email, and
    push the right buttons to get through to them.  He had the ability to reach
    each person and make them feel a little special.  I will miss a person I have
    never met.

    I treasure Hal's book and the inscription he wrote in it.

    It is no doubt too soon to mention it, but I hope to one day read the rest of
    Hal's biography, I hadn't asked him in a long time how the 2nd book was coming
    along.

    Ian Grieve
    "Awesome Aussie" and loving it!

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    Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 18:01:01 -0500
    From: Larry Maupin <mpn_lrry@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  The Frances Langford Show

    Frances Langford has been mentioned here a few times
    recently, including the fact that she had her own
    show.  Thirteen episodes of "The Frances Langford
    Show" are available for download at
    [removed].

    Larry Maupin

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 20:54:41 -0500
    From: Ken Greenwald <radio@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Hal Stone and Frank Martin

    Hello, good people:
    How strange to just start getting to know Hal Stone on the OTR
    Digest, and then have him leave us so suddenly. I remember Hal as
    Jughead on radio, but never had the pleasure of meeting him in
    person. I've been away from radio for a number of years, involved in
    filmmaking, and only recently returned to the OTR Digest. I missed a
    lot of Hal's postings, but I soon picked up on what he had to say. I
    always delighted in what he had to [removed] Now, even that bit of
    enjoying Hal is gone. I think highly of all those who made radio
    great. Hal is one of those. Thank you, Hal, for just being there for
    [removed]

    I had the great pleasure of meeting Frank Martin back in 1983. A
    recreation of a Suspense radio broadcast was being videotaped at the
    studios of Capitol Records in Hollywood. I was one of the video
    cameramen as well as a coordinator of the video side of the event.
    Fletcher Markle was the director. The cast included Les Tremayne,
    Virginia Gregg, Jack Kruschen, Frank Nelson, Byron Kane, Vance
    Colvig, and the irrepressible Lurene Tuttle. I videotaped 20 minutes
    of the entire cast "woodshedding." For those not in the know,
    woodshedding is simply a radio actors term for rehearsing. Now,
    here's the point of all this: No one knew that Frank Martin was going
    to be on the show. Jack Kruschen was going to be involved in the
    announcing, along with Frank Nelson. Everyone went about their
    business and then, when it came time to do the actual rehearsal,
    everyone found their seat or, if at the mike, their exact position.
    As the rehearsal began, in ambled Frank Martin. Everyone was happily
    surprised, for everyone in the cast had worked with Frank. He was,
    after all, the announcer on SUSPENSE for a good number of years and
    all the actors in the studio had worked with him on that great radio
    show back when .....
    It was wonderful to see everyones excitement over Frank. He had been
    informed about the recreation and wanted to be a part of it. In order
    to do so, he had to drive all the way from Solvang, California (where
    he lived) to Hollywood. AND, it was a very exciting recreation.
    Everyone did well and the recreation came across better than expected.
    Bear in mind that, back in 1983, there were few radio recreations
    being done; and this was a very special one, with most of the top
    Hollywood radio actors/actresses around.
    After the recreation, everyone spent time answering questions from
    the audience (which was packed). When the evening ended, Frank Martin
    went back to Solvang where, for so many years after radio died, he
    had become a lawyer, and was doing quite well.
    Those interested in seeing this Suspense recreation and the final
    edited videotape, contact SPERDVAC and ask for the "WORLD OF
    DARKNESS" tape. It's for rent. You won't regret it. Especially the
    after recreation question and answer period.
    Ken Greenwald

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 23:44:20 -0500
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  2-24 births/deaths

    February 24th births

    02-24-1876 - Victor Moore - Hammonton, NJ - d. 7-23-1962
    comedian: (The Lothario of the Lumbago Set) "Jimmy Durante Show"
    02-24-1885 - Bert Lytell - NYC - d. 9-28-1954
    actor: Jimmy Valentine "Alias Jimmy Valentine"; Jeb Stuart "Roses and
    Drums"
    02-24-1885 - Chester Nimitz - Fredericksburg, TX - d. 2-20-1966
    admiral of the Navy: "Navy Day Program"; "We the People"; "This is
    the Navy"
    02-24-1890 - Marjorie Main - Acton, IN - d. 4-10-1975
    actor: "Columbia Presents Corwin"
    02-24-1895 - May Singhi Breen - NYC - d. 12-19-1970
    singer: (The Ukulele Lady) "Sweethearts of the Air"
    02-24-1904 - Tim Graham - Kansas - d. 1-14-1979
    actor: "Plays for Americans"
    02-24-1914 - Zachary Scott - Austin, TX - d. 10-3-1965
    actor: "Suspense"; "Encore Theatre"; "[removed] Steel Hour"; "Screen Guild
    Theatre"
    02-24-1917 - Peggy Wall - Spokane, WA
    actor: Blue Howard "Betty and Bob"; Lois Colton "Romance of Helen Trent"
    02-24-1919 - Betty Marsden - Liverpool, England - d. 7-19-1998
    actor: Daphne Whitehigh, Buttercup Gruntfuttock, et al "Round the Horne"
    02-24-1921 - Abe Vigoda - NYC
    actor: "You Are There"
    02-24-1922 - Steven Hill - Seattle, WA
    actor: "Treasury Salute"; "Up For Parole"
    02-24-1923 - Fred Steiner - NYC
    music: "On Stage"; "This Is Yor FBI"
    02-24-1946 - Barry Bostwick - San Mateo, CA
    actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"

    February 24th deaths

    01-10-1927 - Johnnie Ray - The Dalles, OR - d. 2-24-1990
    singer: "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show"
    01-24-1904 - Franklyn Baur - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-24-1950
    tenor: "Palmolive Hour"; "Voice of Firestone"
    02-02-1936 - Arthur Lyman - Kauai, HI - d. 2-24-2002
    vibes: Won talent contest on Honolulu  radio, station KGMB
    02-25-1904 - Marion Claire - Chicago, IL - d. 2-24-1988
    singer: "Chicago Theatre of the Air"
    02-29-1916 - Dinah Shore - Winchester, TN - d. 2-24-1994
    singer: "Eddie Cantor Show"; "Dinah Shore Show"
    03-05-1921 - Milt Kamen - Hurleyville, NY - d. 2-24-1977
    satirist: "Voices of Vista"; "Here's to Veterans"
    03-16-1897 - Conrad Nagel - Keokuk, IA - d. 2-24-1970
    actor, emcee: "Silver Theatre"; "Passing Parade"
    03-16-1906 - Henny Youngman - London, England - d. 2-24-1998
    comedian: (Take my wife, please) "Kate Smith Hour"; "Radio Hall of Fame"
    03-25-1906 - Jean Sablon - Nogent-sur-Marne, France - d. 2-24-1994
    baritone/composer: (French Troubadour) "Shell Chateau"; Magic Key of
    RCA"
    03-25-1916 - Jean Rogers - Belmont, MA - d. 2-24-1991
    actor: Elaine Dascomb "Those We Love"
    04-10-1922 - Marian Richman - California - d. 2-24-1956
    actor: "Tell It Again"
    04-26-1906 - [removed] "Albert" Alexander - Winthrop, MA - d. 2-24-1967
    moderator: "Goodwill Court/Court of Human Relations"
    05-20-1920 - George Gobel - Chicago, IL - d. 2-24-1991
    comedian, actor, singer: (Lonesome George) Jimmy "Tom Mix"
    05-29-1918 - Herb Shriner - Toledo, OH - d. 2-24-1970
    comedian: "Camel Comedy Caravan"; "Herb Shriner Time"
    06-01-1915 - John Randolph - NYC - d. 2-24-2004
    actor: "New World A' Coming"; "A Date with Judy"
    06-04-1924 - Dennis Weaver - Joplin, MO - d. 2-24-2006
    actor: Look Magazine Commercial "Have Gun, Will Travel"
    06-06-1918 - Martin Esslin - Budapest, Austria-Hungary - d. 2-24-2002
    Head of radio drama for the BBC
    06-14-1894 - George Hall - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-24-1959
    orchestra leader: CBS network
    07-01-1908 - Alvino Rey - Oakland, CA - d. 2-24-2004
    bandleader: "Horace Heidt and His Brigadiers"
    07-21-1924 - Don Knotts - Morgantown, WV - d. 2-24-2006
    actor: Windy Wales "Bobby Benson's Adventures"
    08-01-1910 - Walter Scharf - NYC - d. 2-24-2003
    music director: "Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show"
    08-08-1921 - Webb Pierce - West Monroe, LA - d. 2-24-1991
    singer: "Louisiana Hayride"
    08-17-1896 - Alms Lawton - Woolwich, England - d. 2-24-1982
    actor: "I Love Adventure"; "NBC University Theatre"
    09-02-1898 - Arthur Young - Bristol, Gloucestershire, England - d.
    2-24-1959
    actor: Junior Fitz "Ma Perkins"; Son "The Baxters"
    09-02-1902 - Henry J. Taylor - Chicago, IL - d. 2-24-1984
    commentator: 'Your Land and Mine"; "News Commentary"
    09-29-1910 - Virginia Bruce - Minneapolis, MN - d. 2-24-1982
    actor: Susan Read "Rexall Summer Theatre"
    10-25-1901 - Daniel Landt - Scranton, PA - d. 2-24-1961
    singer: Landt Trio, "Doc Pearson's Drug Store"; "Bob Hawk Show"
    12-24-1906 - Franz Waxman - Konigshutte, Germany - d. 2-24-1967
    composer-conductor: "Good News of 1939"

    Ron Sayles

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #65
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