Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #84
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 2/23/2003 3:03 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2003 : Issue 84
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      The Whistler                          [ Wiliam L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
      2-22 Birthdays                        [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Ring Lardner Playhouse                [ Clifengr3@[removed] ]
      Book, "Radio Comedy"                  [ ddunfee@[removed] ]
      Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      earliest news reports about Adolf Hi  [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
      Re:Literary tastes                    [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      Lesley Woods                          [ MParise874@[removed] ]
      Looking [removed]                        [ "welsa" <welsa@[removed]; ]
      Next generation                       [ Chip Melsh <chip20877@[removed]; ]
      re: who are these people?             [ Donna Halper <dlh@[removed]; ]
      cornell woolrich                      [ Kurt E Yount <blsmass@[removed]; ]
      39 Forever                            [ Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed] ]
      Re: Time Machine                      [ Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed] ]
      Cavalcade of America                  [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      OTR Time Machine.                     [ gad4@[removed] ]
      RE: What's on my time machine agenda  [ Shakehip@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:10:07 -0500
    From: Wiliam L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  The Whistler

    I have been fascinated with the comments about "The Whistler" and
    surprised how widespread the listeners are due to the fact that, as I
    recall it was only broadcast West  of the Mississippi river. This was due
    to the oil company sponsoring the program, Union Oil as I recall, did not
    have outlets East of the river. My only association was that, after a
    stint in KNX master control, I would, on my way home, stop at Radio
    Recorders on Santa Monica Blvd. as the CBS engineer for the transcribed
    playback (delayed) feeding the Arrzona network (CBS). My old friend,
    George Allen, who was the producer of "The Whistler", was actually a KNX
    deparment head. I never did understand that situation. A nice guy and a
    good friend. I think he formerly came from New York, which probably was
    the reason for our friendship.

    Another comment. CBS started using transcribed repeats while I was at KNX
    (between 1945 and 1951) which most likely is the source of many of the
    recordings now available. The talent and the ad agencies did order
    recordings but it was not necessarily the"norm". Consequently I am amazed
    that so many discs are available. Those that have extraneous studio noise
    prior to the show indicate that the feed to the recording company was
    "patched" to a multiple of the studio output, which would not be the
    "norm". For example, Radio Recorders had a "bridge" out of KNX master
    control's outgoing channels, The TC (Transcontinental), the PAC (the
    Pacific Network), (the Arizona network, and "Local"(KNX AM and FM).
    Actually the master control switching panel had six channels, each one
    having four outputs. The fact that some recordings have studio "chatter"
    prior to the start of the program would indicate that it was probably a
    feed of the dress rehearsal, bridged off the studio ouput. The air show
    would not be live to the network untill the engineer threw his line key
    at "straight up" which on the clock would be the start of the actual
    program. However it would be quite possible for the studio engineer to
    "patch" a feed via a spare tieline to a recording company via one of his
    "tielines".having used that route to record and playback his rehearsal.
    We engineers quite often had different ways of doing things. Consequently
    it is dificult to comment on certain happenings. For example, some of the
    guys ran with their mater gain control at a high setting so that their
    individual gain controls only had a small movement to open them. Others,
    like myself, operated with a lower master gain setting so that we had a
    smoother operation movement of the individual "pots". Whether we were
    working in Master Control or studio control rooms we were individuals and
    had our own ways of doing things.

    Bill Murtough

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:10:29 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  2-22 Birthdays

    The following people were born on February 22nd.

    1905 - Robert Weede - Baltimore, Maryland
    1907 - Robert Young - Chicago, Illinois (Reared in California)
    1907 - Sheldon Leonard - New York City
    1910 - Gene Hamilton - Toledo, Ohio
    1915 - Dan Seymour - New York City

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Make your day, listen to an Olde Tyme Radio Program

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:10:39 -0500
    From: Clifengr3@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Ring Lardner Playhouse
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    Does anyone have any information on a comptemporary radio show called RING
    LARDNER PLAYHOUSE?

    There's an ad in the local newspaper here in Norther New Jersey that says:
    ATTENTION RADIO BUFFS
    CLASSIC RADIO DRAMA IS BACK
    THE RING LARDNER PLAYHOUSE
     Sundays 2-3 p, WVNJ 1160 AM
    Relax and Enjoy the theater of the imagination.

    I hadn't heard anything about this show previously, so I'll be tuned in to
    see what it's about. Does anyone know about this? Thanks

    Jim Yellen

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    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:10:54 -0500
    From: ddunfee@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Book, "Radio Comedy"

    Concerning:

    TITLE:  Radio comedy / Author Frank Wertheim.

    I just finished reading the talking book version of the above.  It was
    quite good, imo.  Interesting was that the reader did a credible
     job of imitation of the various voices as he read from scripts used to
    illustrate various points being made about shows/actors.  This is a 70'ish
    publication, have others opinions of it?  I would suggest it as a general
    history of the subject, at least covering many of the best known shows and
    stars.  Does anyone know if the author did other otr books?

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:11:04 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Today in radio history

>     >From Those Were The Days --

    2/22

    1954 - ABC radio's popular Breakfast Club, program with longtime host,
    Don McNeill, was simulcast on TV  beginning this day. The telecast of
    the show was a bomb, but the radio program went on to break records as
    the longest-running program on the air.

    Birthday's  --

    1907 - Robert (George) Young, actor, Father Knows Best, many other radio
    shows, died July 21, 1998

    1907 - Sheldon Leonard (Bershad) actor, died Jan 10, 1997

    2/23

    1927 - [removed] President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill into law that
    created the Federal Radio Commission, "to bring order out of this
    terrible chaos." The president was speaking, of course, of the nation's
    then unregulated radio stations. The commission assigned frequencies,
    hours of operation and power allocations for radio broadcasters across
    the [removed] The name was changed to the Federal Communications Commission
    (FCC) on July 1, 1934.

      Joe

    --
    Visit my home page:
    [removed]~[removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:12:02 -0500
    From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  earliest news reports about Adolf Hitler

    A journalist is seeking information about radio reports or dramas
    concerning Adolf Hitler prior to 1933. Please contact me ASAP if you have
    information about this.

    Howard Blue

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:13:02 -0500
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re:Literary tastes

    My friend Ron Sayles just posted:

>     I just read Howard Blue?s book "Words at War" for the second time, it is that
>     good. I am at a loss as to why his book has not created the same kind of buzz
>     on this list as Hal Stone's book has.

    At first, I wasn't sure how to interpret Ron's posting. My initial reaction
    was that the positive response my book ("Aw, Relax Archie, Relaxx!") was
    getting from my fellow "digesters" was somehow not warranted. :)

    Then I remembered Ron had sent me a very nice e-mail after he read my book.
    And I quote;

>     On another note, I really did enjoy your book very much. I love recollections
>     of people who have been in the business. I particularly enjoy your writing
>     style. It is more of conversational style with your joking around and all.

    Perhaps that might explain some of the "buzz", Ron. The subject matter of my
    book is TOTALLY different than Howard's. As is the writing style that you
    seemed to enjoy.  And the scope is much broader. Then too, it was intended
    to "entertain" and "enlighten" the reader, as opposed to "educate" and
    "enlighten". Digesters seem to enjoy hearing first hand accounts of what it
    was like to be a Radio Actor back in the glory days of OTR. That's not to
    say that later day "researchers" can't find topics that people are also
    interested in hearing about, like all those books written by Jim Cox and
    Martin Grams. In the final analysis, a book about Radio shows during the war
    years, and rehashing the "Blacklist", (however well written), might not
    appeal to as broad an audience as I tried to target.

    Ron went on to say;

>     Do you know if Bob Hastings bought your book?

    At the time Ron asked that question, I had already sent Bob a free copy.
    (One of very few freebies). :)  He couldn't read it because of the major
    injury to his nose. It was too painful for him to wear glasses.

>     Speaking of Bob, do you know how he is doing?

    I'm happy to give you an update Ron. I just talked to him (phone) 2 days
    ago. The major surgical repair job is finished, the swelling gone, but he
    still feels a "Tightness" in the area. He still has internal healing to
    undergo. But I'm happy to report that he plans (so far) on attending the
    Cincinnati Convention in April.

    Now, how 'bout these apples????  You asked if Hastings bought my book. HA!
    He liked it so much, the cheapskate actually broke down and bought 4 copies,
    and had me send them to his 4 grown kids. I'm working on him to buy some for
    all his Grandkids also. Then I could retire all over again.  :)

>     I like Bob very much.

    You have good taste. Particularly in Literature. :)

    By the way, we received the final shipment of my book, so if any of you
    folks are interested, and have yet to order a copy, now might be a good
    time. For ordering info, go to:   [removed]

    Keep in mind that although the title is "Aw Relax, [removed]!", it is
    not a definitive work about the Archie Andrews Radio program. The title is
    just a "Jughead" catch-phrase to use, since that's the role I'm best known
    for. It really covers my experiences, associations and relationships,
    growing up in the world of theatre and OTR over a 20 year time-span.
    "Archie" was only a part of the story. OOOps! I better add that I also
    reference that "Blacklist" period, since I knew some of the people involved,
    but I touch on it ever so briefly.

    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    Jughead

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:13:08 -0500
    From: MParise874@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Lesley Woods
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    I would appreciate any information on Lesley Woods, She was Mary Wesley with
    Chester Morris on the 1944 Radio program "Boston Blackie", with Staats
    Cotsworth in "Casey Crime Photographer" 1940's, "Bulldog Drummond" 1944 and
    also some soap opera's. I would like to know if she is still living, what
    other Radio, TV or movies was she in?
    I fell in love with her voice on Casey and Boston Blackie, and have never
    seen a photograph of her. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
    Also on another note, does anyone know if any Major North or (Man from G-2)
    1945  recordings exist.

    Mike Parise

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    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:13:18 -0500
    From: "welsa" <welsa@[removed];
    To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Looking [removed]

    ...does anyone on the disgest know of a radiore-creation group called
    Arizona Theatre Works?  I believe they are/were in the Phoenix area.  At one
    time their artistic director was a Wayne Watkins.  I think they may have
    been involved in other types of theater, as well--repertory, etc.  Any
    contact info would be appreciated.

    I did find a Theatre Works in Peoria, AZ, but that is not the same group.

    Thanks.

    Ted

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:13:45 -0500
    From: Chip Melsh <chip20877@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Next generation

    David wrote

>     I'm not sure what to play for them when the Jack
>     Armstrongs run out. If

    Hi David,
    The kids might enjoy "Magic Island or Planet Man",
    both serials.
    Chip

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:14:01 -0500
    From: Donna Halper <dlh@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  re: who are these people?

>     Dan asked--

>     And the final one is an early TV photo of a newslady from WNBW (now WRC I
>     believe) in Washington DC.  I can make out part of the signature--she
>     calls herself "the Duchess"--and the middle name looks like Wagner.  And
>     can anyone guess from the TV camera and the mike approximately when this
>     was taken?

    This one is fairly simple-- Esther Von Wagoner Tufty, alias "The Duchess",
    was a pioneering woman journalist in the Washington DC area.  Very active
    in American Women in Radio & TV, a passionate advocate of equal rights for
    women in journalism.  She was the founder of her own news service, and her
    articles were syndicated in hundreds of newspapers. She did some commentary
    for NBC (radio and TV) in the early 50s, and was an active journalist well
    into her 80s.  Born in 1896, she died in 1986.

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 18:14:10 -0500
    From: Kurt E Yount <blsmass@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  cornell woolrich

    First of all, I have to apologize.  I think that is how his name is
    spelled, but I haven't seen it for a while.  Has anybody put together a
    list of radio work by Cornell Woolrich/William Irish?  I know he did a
    lot of suspense work and also some Molle Mysteery Theater work, but has
    anyone put together a complete list.  I tried a number of years ago to at
    least know about everything he had written for radio, but I know now that
    I missed by a long shot.  Does anybody have any thoughts?  Kurt

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 19:41:02 -0500
    From: Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  39 Forever

    Steve Lewis and I returned today from the 39 Forever Celebration and I'm
    sure you'll be hearing from him as well as to how much fun it has and what a
    great job Laura Leff did in putting the program together.

    All of the panels on Saturday were filled with insight and great stories
    from people who knew Jack Benny and were in position to comment on his work.

    Frankly, more people should have attended.  Irving Fein, Jack's agent and
    perhaps his closet professional associate who is still alive, made a crack
    about the audience size to me while autographing my book (he also made a
    crack about how it is a paperback edition - cover price $[removed]), so while his
    heart might not have been in it, he was great on the panel.  His stories of
    Jack's generosity and what it was like to travel with him and his later
    years were priceless.

    It was worth the weekend to meet Fein, Benny writer Al Gordon and his violin
    partner Giselle McKenzie.  Jack's grandson Michael Rudolph and daughter Joan
    Benny both had some great stories about Jack on the "family" panel -
    although the host seemed clueless about how to run a panel.  He hogged a lot
    of the "mike" time for himself and kept asking questions about the artistic
    merit of the programs and how they are remembered.  Someone should have
    reminded him that this is Jack's FAMILY.  The TV critics and comedians were
    on next.

    Laura shrewdly ran one of the Giselle McKenzie Benny guest shots just prior
    to her appearance so her style and talent were fresh in everyone's mind when
    she came on.  She and Beverly Washburn both told anecdotes about how Benny
    used them in his traveling personal appearance tours -- including a lot of
    the politically incorrect humor he incorporated (such as a Hillbilly sketch
    in which the seven-year-old Washburn was introduced as Benny's wife).  Kay
    Linaker, co-star of Buck Benny Rides again, shared a great story of Jack
    being kidnapped by a runaway horse and missing two days work as a result.

    It was a shame the more currently famous guests (Harry Shearer, Noel Blanc
    and Sid Caesar) chose to cancel at the last minute, but I've been involved
    in a few of these things in my time and you certainly can't blame the host
    for that.  It was also somewhat regrettable that Laura chose to go through
    with "recreations" of Benny programs using amateur actors (with professional
    Benny imitator Eddie Carroll slotting in as a ringer) and minimal sound
    effects.  I think it would have been just as effective to screen more of the
    REAL Jack Benny's material.  I will say that her husband Dan does a darn
    good Rochester, however.

    I should also note that I was carried to victory in the very amusing
    "Jeopardy" parody, "Jackpardy," in which the prize amounts ranged from one
    cent to 99 cents by two knowledgeable teammates in a very fun game that
    could only have been devised by the greatest Jack Benny fans the world will
    ever know.  The final Jackpardy question was what was the brand of Jack
    Benny's "other" violin.  Yes, the entire contest was that insidious.

    I'm catching up after being in California on vacation for a week and don't
    have time to go into even more detail about the great program at the Friar's
    Club on Saturday night or the moving graveside ceremony on Sunday morning
    (it is a gift to us all that Laura and Jack share a religion so she could
    lead the service personally).

    Let's just say it was a great once-in-a-lifetime event and extremely well
    put together.  So here's a digital round of applause and best wishes for
    another event somewhere down the line.

    Sean Dougherty
    SeanDD@[removed]
    (formerly known as Kubelski@[removed])

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 19:41:12 -0500
    From: Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Time Machine

    If we could truly do this,
    I'd love to go back and get nice interviews with all actors, writers,
    directors, producers, Sound FX artists, technicians, sponsors, etc. and
    get a complete oral history of OTR.

    It would be an incredible opportunity to hear from many of the extreme
    talents who aren't with us any longer.

    rob

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 19:46:43 -0500
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Cavalcade of America

    I am updating an essay I wrote a few years ago and I would like to contact
    someone who has THE CAVALCADE OF AMERICA on mp3 format.  Reason being, about
    a year ago I was in touch with a collector who specialized in mp3 formats,
    and he was attempting to acquire the five existing episodes of CAVALCADE
    that are not in circulation, from a private library and months later, after
    dropping him a line or two, I have yet to hear from him regarding the status
    of whether or not he was successful or not.  He had mentioned in passing
    that he acquired a few episodes that were considered "lost" but since I gave
    him info about the private library, I have yet to hear from him.  Sadly, I
    cannot remember his name but I do remember he got in touch with my through
    the Digest.  If he's reading this, please contact me.

    I don't want to have the essay reprinted (it was about the 17 "lost"
    episodes of CAVALCADE) if it can be updated a little.

    Best,
    Martin Grams, Jr.
    mmargrajr@[removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 20:45:36 -0500
    From: gad4@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR Time Machine.

    Since everyone else is stating their two cents, I figured Id add a penny.;)

    If I had a time machine and could record any otr I wanted, I'd probably
    record all the missing children shows. The Annies (which Im glad to hear
    some new ones have surfaced), the Winnie The Poohs, the Disney shows, The
    Captain Midnights, the Uncle Dons, The Alley Oops, war year Supermans, etc.

    Id also bring enough tapes to handle all the missing games shows, soaps, etc.

    Now the big question (which we havent addressed yet) is if we were able to
    go back in time, what year/time would we pick?:)

    Sincerely,
    George

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 20:45:51 -0500
    From: Shakehip@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  RE: What's on my time machine agenda
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    What's on my time machine agenda>>

    Arlene, I'm under the impression that you never listened to an old episode of
    X-1 called "The Old Die Rich"....    Turned me off to time machines
    [removed] however, if I could, I'd really like to get some complete
    broadcast [removed]  they are journeys back in time !

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    End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #84
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