------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2007 : Issue 342
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re: TV to Radio [ Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@earthlin ]
What was this OTR show? [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Seven down, one to [removed] [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
Re: TV To Radio [ "ASURoadDevil@[removed]" <az2pa@[removed] ]
Putting some matters to rest [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
Re: Bongs without chirps [ George Tirebiter <tirebiter2@hotmai ]
Johnny's [removed] [ "Grant" <shorten@[removed]; ]
12-6 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
Re: Bongs without chirps [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
Time Marches Backwards [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
WNBC [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
Columbia Broadcasting System [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 13:33:25 -0500
From: Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: TV to Radio
on 12/5/07 12:18 PM, Larry Gassman wrote:
I was surprised that noone got Hopalong Casidy long time ago.
I'm not certain that HOPALONG CASSIDY really qualifies, since the radio
series predated the video episodes that were actually filmed for TV. The
earlier TV episodes were cut down from earlier theatrical B-movies.
--Anthony Tollin
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 13:38:47 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: What was this OTR show?
Here's a stumper for everyone. In April of 1959, one TV producer wrote to
another asking about whether or not they want to adapt an old-time radio
drama for their series.
He wrote:
Do you remember a radio play that was in most of the anthologies of ten years
ago, that had to do with the men who ran the control room which manipulated,
electronically, the atomic war heads that he United States had in orbit?
These men had a direct line to the President's desk. They had photographic
and radio tracking mechinery whereby they knew where each armed satellite was
at any given moment. The play opens with their discovery, photographically,
that there are, suddenly, seven or eight more presumably armed satellites in
orbit. From what country? In the middle of the tension, growing out o the
discovery of the strange, new satellites in orbit, the green light suddenly
comes on beside the word, "Tokyo." Similar control panels at the desks of
Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Premieres through-out the world light up
beside Tokyo. Who has attacked? In the few moments during which atomic
warfare must be fought, each ruler is very much on his own. The phone does
not ring, but a light indicating attack goes on beside Moscow at the same
time the Tokyo light turns green. The official word at the end of the story
comes through - the United States not having attacked yet - that the signal
revealing attack on Tokyo, partial destruction, then the final destruction
was caused by an earthquake.
I know of some radio programs that have a similar plot but nothing with these
details. While the name of the TV program that considered adapting this is
of no consequence to the question I am about to ask, this is intersting. My
question is this: Does anyone know the name of this radio drama, what radio
program it was broadcast on, airdate, author, etc?
Martin Grams
mmargrajr@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 14:09:18 -0500
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Seven down, one to [removed]
A tip of the hat to Digesters Larry Gassman and Bob Slate for
correctly naming HOPALONG CASSIDY as the seventh TV series that
preceded the radio version.
One [removed] panel show, and sorry, Bob, it's not JUVENILE JURY.
(It's not even a kid-oriented panel show.)
Stay [removed]
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
<[removed]>
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 16:18:07 -0500
From: "ASURoadDevil@[removed]" <az2pa@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: TV To Radio
jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed]; wrote:
So we're still missing two series. In the spirit of Christmas giving,
I'll provide some clues to the remaining duo. One was a kids' western
adventure and the other was a popular panel show.
Would the latter be WHAT'S MY LINE? In its CBS radio incarnation, it was
said to present an entirely different program from the one aired on CBS
television on Sunday nights whereas, in its AFRTS incarnation, it was simply
the soundtrack from the TV kine. I have copies of the latter to verify their
existence, but whatever "knowledge" I have of the former is entirely based
on other people's writing.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 16:56:48 -0500
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Putting some matters to rest
A. Joseph Ross ponders:
BTW, "Strike it Rich" was another quiz show that was on both radio
and television. What was the sequence for that one?
Somebody hasn't been reading his chapter of "Strike It Rich" in my tome The
Great Radio Audience Participation Shows ([removed]).
Strike It Rich went on CBS June 29, 1947 persisting as a Sunday evening
half-hour feature through April 30, 1950. A few weeks earlier, through
April 28, 1950, a CBS 4 o'clock weekday matinee version ran alongside the
weekly broadcasts. Beginning May 1, 1950 through Dec. 27, 1957 NBC carried
it weekday mornings at 11 o'clock.
The show debuted on CBS-TV weekday mornings at 11:30 on May 7, 1951, that
network's initial attempt to offer sustained entertainment programming
before noon according to TV historian Wesley Hyatt. When the tube version
transferred to 4 o'clock on CBS, an audiotape was made of the live telecast
and replayed the following morning for an NBC Radio audience. Both series,
plus a third -- a weekly primetime effort telecast from July 4, 1951 to Jan.
12, 1955 on NBC-TV -- were underwritten completely by
Colgate-Palmolive-Peet, by then primarily for its newest innovations:
mar-vel-ous Vel dishwashing powder and fab-ulous Fab laundry detergent.
Can't you still hear those distinct inflections rolling off the lips of
Ralph Paul even now?
So that's the story of the time sequences for Strike It Rich on radio and
TV.
At the end of his epistle, A. Joseph adds:
I'm drawing a complete blank on the panel show
When Jack French first posted his "contest" the first show I thought of was
What's My Line? But I figured 100 people would supply the title so I said
nothing.
I should have spoken up a couple of weeks ago.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 18:19:28 -0500
From: George Tirebiter <tirebiter2@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Bongs without chirps
Jim Cox wrote:
Now, on another matter, I distinctly recall hearing Arthur Godfrey
reportone late 1940s morning on his "Time" show that "We're not allowed to
say"'This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System' any more ... we
aresupposed to say 'This is the CBS Radio Network.'" Does anybody recall
thatswitchover? Apparently it still holds true today as nobody on the air
(tomy knowledge) regularly identifies the programming -- whatever is left
ofit -- as Columbia Broadcasting System-originated.
I believe the corporate name of what was formerly the Columbia Broadcasting
System has been formally changed to CBS, Inc. A few years ago Andy Rooney,
while berating his employer for something which now excapes me, famously said
on 60 MINUTES: "CBS used to stand for the Columbia Broadcasting System, now
it doesn't stand for anything." Come to think of it, that may be the last
time anyone used the phrase "Columbia Broadcasting System" on CBS radio or
television.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 20:37:49 -0500
From: "Grant" <shorten@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Johnny's [removed]
For years I've wondered what the final word in Johnny Roventini's famous
phrase, "Cal-l-l for-r-r Phil-lip Mor-ray-ssss, R________" was. It always
sounded to me like "Raaa-yent".
Thanks,
Grant
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 22:15:25 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 12-6 births/deaths
December 6th births
12-06-1887 - Lynn Fontanne - Waterford, England - d. 7-30-1983
actor: "Theatre Guild On the Air"; "Biography In Sound"
12-06-1888 - Will Hay - Stockton-on-Tees, England - d. 4-18-1949
comedian: British Radio
12-06-1893 - Alma Platts - d. 7-xx-1970
actor: "The World's Great Novels"
12-06-1895 - Lou Little - Boston, MA - d. 5-28-1979
football coach: "Football Forecasts"; "Friday Night Quarterback"
12-06-1896 - Ira Gershwin - NYC - d. 8-17-1983
songwriter: "Lady in the Dark"; "Jolson Story"; "Barkleys of Broadway"
12-06-1898 - Eric Sagerquist - Karlstad, Sweden - d. 9-11-1944
orchestra leader/violinist: "First Nighter"; Romantic Melodies"
12-06-1898 - Gunnar Myrdal - Gustafs, Sweden - d. 5-17-1987
1974 nobel prize winner in economics: "United Nations Today"
12-06-1900 - Agnes Moorehead - Clinton, MA - d. 4-30-1974
actor: Margo Lane "The Shadow"; Marilly "Mayor of the Town"
12-06-1903 - Hugh Farr - Llano, TX - d. 3-17-1980
singer: (Sons of the Pioneers) "The Roy Rogers Show"
12-06-1904 - Elissa Landi - Venice, Italy - d. 10-21-1948
actor: "I'm An American"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
12-06-1904 - Eve Curie Lubouisse - Paris, France
writer: (Daughter of Marie Curie) "This I Believe"
12-06-1909 - Lyn Murray - London, England - d. 5-20-1989
conductor: "Chesterfield Presents"; "Your Hit Parade"; "Ford Theatre"
12-06-1913 - Karl Haas - Speyer-on-the-Rhine, Germany - d. 2-6-2005
musician, broadcaster: "Adventures in Good Music"
12-06-1913 - Oswald Hoffman - Nebraska - d. 9-8-2005
preacher: "The Lutheran Hour"
12-06-1916 - Elmore Balthis - d. 10-31-1989
newscaster: KCOK Tulare, California
12-06-1920 - Dave Brubeck - Concord, CA
jazz musician: "Dave Brubeck with the Paul Desmond Quartet"
12-06-1920 - Howard Atwell - d. 3-20-2002
disk jockey: WVPO Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
12-06-1924 - Wally Cox - Detroit, MI - d. 2-15-1973
comedian: "[removed] Steel Hour"; "Wally Cox Show"
December 6th deaths
01-03-1911 - Al Sack - NYC - d. 12-6-1947
orchestra leader: "Beula Show"; "Tony Martin Show"; "Frank Morgan Show"
01-07-1908 - Eliot Daniel - Massachusetts - d. 12-6-1997
music: "Fabulous Dr. Tweddy"; "The King's Men"; "Rudy Vallee Show"
01-11-1910 - Izler Soloman - Minneapolis, MN - d. 12-6-1987
conductor: "Design for Living"; "Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra!
01-29-1885 - Leadbelly (Huddie Leadbetter) - Louisiana - d. 12-6-1949
jazz musician: "Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin street"
02-02-1893 - Len Doyle - Toledo, OH - d. 12-6-1959
actor: Harrington "Mr, Distric Attorney"
03-22-1899 - Douglas Stanbury - Canada - d. 12-6-1980
baritone: "Roxy's Gang"; "Kraft Music Hall"
05-23-1912 - John Payne - Roanoke, VA - d. 12-6-1989
actor: "Hollywood Star Preview"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
05-31-1908 - Don Ameche - Kenosha, WI - d. 12-6-1993
actor, singer: John Bickerson "Bickersons"; Captain Hughes "Jack
Armstrong"
08-01-1910 - Jerry Mann - NYC - d. 12-6-1987
singer: (The Jerry Mann Voices) "Manhattan Merry-Go-Round"
09-12-1897 - Walter B. Gibson - Germantown, PA - d. 12-6-1985
creater of "The Shadow"; writer for "The Avenger"
09-24-1921 - Edward Bryce - Allenport, PA - d. 12-6-1999
actor: Captain Strong "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet"
10-13-1917 - Burr Tillstrom - Chicago, IL - d. 12-6-1985
actor, puppeteer: "The Northerners"; "Kukla, Fran and Ollie"
11-01-1942 - Michael Zaslow - Inglewood, CA - d. 12-6-1998
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
11-03-1909 - James Reston - Clyde Bank, Scotland - d. 12-6-1995
new york times columnist: "University of Chicago Round Table"; "Meet
the Press"
11-23-1915 - Ellen Drew - Kansas City, MO - d. 12-6-2003
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Screen Guild Theatre"; "Suspense"
12-26-1874 - Leon Rothier - Rheims, France - d. 12-6-1951
opera singer: "The Metropolitan Opera"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 22:17:15 -0500
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Bongs without chirps
>From otrbuff@[removed] :
One of the things I recall best about my early
days as a TV viewer was the bongs that came
at the top of every hour of CBS programming
as a new feature was introduced -- seemingly
-- identical to the bongs we still hear on CBS
Radio today a second or so following the
infamous, inevitable chirps. There were no chirps on TV
The chirp is an automation start pulse. It can be used by stations to
switch equipment, but it actually was used in the network control room to
start cartridge machines. The producer of the newscast who sits in the
studio alongside of the newscaster had a toggle switch on the table to sound
the chirp. The chirp before the bong might start the jingle. The chirp
before the ads starts the ads. They had a bank of three sets of four cart
machines for the ads, one machine for each of four segments of the country.
If there were split-ads that were heard in only part of the country there
might be different ads in the machines on the same bank. If the ad was
nationwide there was an identical cartridge in each of the four machines.
The bongs were automatically sounded by a clock, but the chirps were
manually hit.
My questions in regard to this innovation are:
When did the bongs cease ... and why?
I don't know when they ceased but it probably was soon after the networks
began being satellite distributed. An hourly time signal could be half a
second or more off due to multiple satellite bounces. Now digital
processing can delay things 5 or 10 seconds. And since many talk stations
use delay, some put the newscasts thru the delay as well. While there is
some time delay with wireline networks, it would rarely be more than maybe
1/10 second.
Now, on another matter, I distinctly recall hearing
Arthur Godfrey report one late 1940s morning on
his "Time" show that "We're not allowed to say
"'This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System'
any more ... we are supposed to say 'This is the
CBS Radio Network.'" Does anybody recall that
switchover?
Just as Michael Shoshani, Elizabeth and I have used the few existing
recordings of early NBC broadcasts to pin down the variations and
changeovers of the different forms of chimes, so can the recordings of CBS
be used to see when the changeover took place. The reason for it is
obvious. There was ALSO a CBS Television Network, and it also could be
considered the Columbia Broadcasting System. But I think that besides
having two different names now, it emphasized without actually saying it
that there was also a CBS TV network.
Apparently it still holds true today as nobody
on the air (to my knowledge) regularly identifies
the programming -- whatever is left of it -- as
Columbia Broadcasting [removed] Cox
This is because there is no Columbia Broadcasting System anymore. That name
does not exist anymore. The parent company became "CBS, Inc." sometime in
the 80s, and starting then they never referred to "Columbia Broadcasting
System" anywhere within the company.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 23:23:54 -0500
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Time Marches Backwards
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
I got some wonderful news this morning. Another stash of very early
syndication discs has been turned up by record collectors. We heard earlier
this year of Brad Kay's find of 16-inch Columbia discs from 1931 and 32, now
several record collectors have started giving us details of 140 National Radio
Advertising Co. discs from 1929 thru maybe 30 or 31. It includes all the
Deems Taylor spoken announcements for the 1929 Bond Bread Radio World Tour
broadcast and many of the music discs of that important broadcast, including
two of the four discs conducted by John Philip Sousa. These two finds, along
with the Transco discs being released by First Generation, and the nine
Pallophotophone film recordings from 1929 WGY have perhaps doubled the
quantity of existing recordings of pre-1933 radio in just this year.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 09:36:52 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: WNBC
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 14:18:23 -0500
From: "Michael Muderick" <michael@[removed];
Later in 1946, NBC came to an agreement with a small station in New
Britain CT to relinquish that city's initials from its call letters
and on November 2, 1946 at 5:30p, WEAF presented its last
broadcast, entitled "Hail And Farewell," and at 6p turned into
WNBC.
And, as Robert Paine has already pointed out, sometime in the early
1950s, NBC changed its New York stations to WRCA, WRCA-FM, and WRCA-
TV and put the WNBC call letters on a UHF station in New Britain,
Channel 30. That continued until around 1960 or 61, when they
changed the New York stations back to WNBC. They did something
similar with their Los Angeles stations, changing them to KRCA, and
then back to KNBC.
And someone asked about the changeover of WABC in New York to WCBS
and the change of WJZ to WABC. WABC becaue WCBS the same day that
WEAF became WNBC. But it wasn't until 1953 that WJZ became WABC.
Then Westinghouse, which had once owned WJZ, re-claimed the three-
letter callsign for its Baltimore TV station, which is WJZ-TV to this
day.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 09:36:38 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Columbia Broadcasting System
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 08:12:05 -0500
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
I distinctly recall hearing Arthur Godfrey report one late 1940s
morning on his "Time" show that "We're not allowed to say "'This is
CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System' any more ... we are supposed
to say 'This is the CBS Radio Network.'" Does anybody recall that
switchover?
I seem to remember hearing "CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System" on
television. And the emblem they flashed on screen did NOT include
the eye, which came later. My parents bought our first TV in late
1949. I don't know when the corporate name change first took place,
but it's now CBS, Inc.
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
92 State Street, Suite 700 Fax [removed]
Boston, MA 02109-2004 [removed]
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #342
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