Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #114
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 3/14/2003 4:03 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2003 : Issue 114
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      RE: OTR Film Documentaries            [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
      Ovaltine Factory                      [ "konibaloni" <konibaloni@[removed] ]
      March 13th Birthdays                  [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Re: Amos n Andy Cliffhanger           [ "JETurk" <jeturk@[removed]; ]
      Today in radio history 3/13-14        [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Shrimp Boats                          [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
      Re: "Archies" Dad                     [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      Shrimp boats are [removed]            [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
      Re: Orphan Annie CD Set               [ Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed]; ]
      Old Radio Talk Shows                  [ "Penne Yingling" <bp_ying@[removed] ]
      March 14th Birthday                   [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      LOA matrixes                          [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
      Hal's Book                            [ Don Strong <donsplace@[removed] ]
      Spoken Word Radio Commentators        [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 18:59:20 -0500
    From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  RE: OTR Film Documentaries

    Alan Bartenhagen pointed us to the Prelinger Archives,
    a massive warehouse of newsreels and other ephemerial
    films. He listed a few films of interest to the OTR
    community, but I noticed they have a specific index of

    radio-related images, including several that focus on
    the role of radio in WWII. Here's the link:

    [removed];cat=Media:%20Radio

    Kermyt Anderson

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

    Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 18:59:23 -0500
    From: "konibaloni" <konibaloni@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Ovaltine Factory
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    In Digest 107, David Buswell mentioned the Ovaltine factory in Villa Park, IL.
    He wondered if it's still there.  The building itself is, but not as a
    factory.  It was closed and boarded up for many years while plans of housing
    and retail space were discussed.  From what my friend Ken tells me, a portion
    of the building has been torn down and the rest has been or is in the process
    of being rehabbed for retail and condo space.

    Another interesting thing is the Villa Park post office near the factory.  It
    was built to handle all of the mail requesting the Ovaltine premiums.  A new
    Villa Park Post Office has been built near Roosevelt Road and Aardmore, and
    the old one still stands, but it is not open to the public.  I'm told it's
    used for sorting or storage or something.

    There is a Villa Park Historical Society just west of Villa AV on the south
    side of the Illinois Prairie Path.  It used to be the Villa Park depot for the
    Chicago-Aurora Railroad.  The Historical Society has an impressive display of
    Ovaltine related items, including premiums and ... OTR memorabelia.  It was so
    cool!  I highly recommend it to anyone in the area who is into OTR.  I could
    have spent the whole day there.  The Historical Society is seasonal, and I
    believe they re-open in mid April.

    I really enjoy this Digest, and am happy to finally contribute!!!

    Koni Shaughnessy

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

    Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 18:59:30 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  March 13th Birthdays

    If you born on March 13th, you share your birthday with:

    1873 - Nellie Revell - Springfield, Illinois
    1901 - Paul Fix - Dobbs Ferry, New York
    1905 - Olga Albani - Barcelona, Spain
    1908 - Paul Stewart - New York City
    1910 - Sammy Kaye - Lakewood, Ohio

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

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

    Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 18:59:35 -0500
    From: "JETurk" <jeturk@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Amos n Andy Cliffhanger
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    Lanny Gilbert <morsefan1@[removed]; wrote:

>     I have been trying
>     (quite unsuccessfully) to find two episodes of the 30-minute Amos and Andy
>     program. The show dates are most likely 12-23-51 and 2-25-47.

    Lanny, I have one of the episodes you are looking, but not the other

    AA - 51-12-16 - [removed]

    The title gives you a clue as to how it comes out.  It is a 7 MB file, so
    Email is out. I can get to you via Dropchute or the OTRHub, if you are on
    either. Otherwise, I can mail it to you.  Regards, Jake

    jeturk@[removed]
    Dropchute id - jeturk@[removed]
    OTRHub id - JakeTurk

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

    Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 18:59:37 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Today in radio history 3/13-14

>     >From Those Were The Days --

    3/13

    1923 - A great improvement in radio receivers was advertised. The new
    models had a concealed speaker and eliminated the need for headphones,
    which were considered a nuisance because they were so heavy to wear and
    messed up hairdos. The new radios were also said to have a 'foolproof'
    design.

    3/14

    1937 - Fred Allen and Jack Benny met in one of the biggest publicity
    gags ever. It was called, "The Battle of the Century."  The two
    comedians locked horns in the ballroom of the Hotel Pierre, exchanging
    torrid insults that were heard by the second largest audience in the
    history of radio. The 'feud', incidentally, lasted for the next 12
    years.

      Joe

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

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

    Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 19:05:43 -0500
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Shrimp Boats

    Al Girard asks,

> >     Dad and I listened to Fibber McGee and Molly and Jack Benny.  Why does

    the song the Shrimp Boats are a Coming also make me think of those long
    ago Sunday Nights?<<

    Probably because it was very popular in those days, and was on Your Hit
    Parade for some time.  It was presented on variety shows.  I think it was
    even sing on The Jack Benny Show.

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 19:08:00 -0500
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: "Archies" Dad

    Don Frey asked;

>     A question for Mr. [removed]
>     Listened to two Archie's the other day and on one the great Arthur Q Bryan
>     was Mr Andrews (taking a bath) and on the other Cliff Hall played the part
>     (TV
>     comes to the house.) Does Mr. Stone remember anything about these two
>     gentlemen and does he know if either played the part in other shows from the
>     series. Thanks, in advance.

    Your welcome, Don. (in advance) :)

    Funny you should ask. (well, not "funny" funny, but strange)

    When I wrote my book recently, I was relying on my memory. (I won't do that
    anymore). :)

    I distinctly recalled that there were 5 actors to play the role of "Mr.
    Andrews" when the show was on NBC.

    The first: Vinton Hayworth. (remember, I discussed his patriotism recently)

    The 2nd was Ian martin, who left for a stage role.

    The 3rd was Arthur Kohl (for a long span)

    Followed by Arthur Q. Bryan (FOR JUST 13 WEEKS)

    Then Arthur Kohl came back to the show, and lasted in the part until it went
    off the air. (Another long span)

    I also mentioned that Ray Johnson of Inner Sanctum fame played the part for
    two episodes as a substitute. (I don't remember the reason, but remember how
    impressed I was working with "Raymond, your Host".

    HOWEVER!!! In reviewing some of the tapes of the shows that fans had sent me
    (in preparation for a recent radio program interview) I was dumbfounded to
    hear 3 strange voices in the role of "Mr. Andrews". None of whom I
    recognized as I sat listening to it. I wasn't able to identify them until
    the credits at the end of each episode.

    After looking at the dates of the broadcasts  I believe I reconstructed a
    possible explanation.

    By that point in time, Arthur Kohl had been playing the "Father" for a long
    spell, (even all through the Swift Sponsorship period). Then, somebody
    pulled a fast one on him. When Kraft selected the "Archie" show as a night
    time 13 week summer replacement for Gildersleeve, the powers that be,
    (probably the Ad Agency), wanted to use Arthur Q. Brian for the fathers part
    instead. (It wouldn't surprise me if Arthur Q. had a friend at the agency
    out in California), and got in tight with him during the period when Arthur
    Q. appeared on Gildersleeve. I guess Arthur Q. wanted to stay employed over
    the summer and was willing to travel to New York to do the show. At 500
    bucks a pop, I can't say I blame him. (That's what I was paid as co-star of
    a prime time show). Sigh!!! At least for 13 weeks. (Then back to the
    sustaining non sponsored pay scale). :(

    When Arthur Kohl learned that his contract was not going to be renewed for
    that 13 week period, and that Arthur Q. was coming east to play the part, he
    probably left in a huff. (Can't say I blame him either), and they needed
    someone to fill the void for those three weeks until we switched to Wed.
    nights as "Gildy's" replacement. That switch to wed. nights for Kraft
    occurred on the week following these three episodes.

    On 5/21/49  Cliff Hall played the father
       5/28/49  Bill Griffith   "       "
       6/04/49  Carl Weber      "       "

    If I can be brutally honest, I don't think any were right for the part, and
    were used primarily as a temporary stop gap measure.

    However, Bill Griffith was a great guy, and practically a regular on the
    show, playing a variety of roles over the years. If I'm not mistaken, on the
    one episode he played the father, he only showed up for a few lines at the
    very end of the program. I get the feeling that the script was written to
    minimize the Father's part, so that the change of voice wouldn't be that
    noticeable when Arthur Q. was heard in weeks to come.

    When our thirteen weeks as a Wed. night summer replacement were up, and we
    went back to Saturday mornings, and Arthur Q. returned to LA, I guess NBC
    sweetened the deal and got Arthur Kohl to come back to the cast. He
    undoubtedly swallowed his pride. After all, regular running parts were not
    that easy to come by.

    I was just about to turn 18 years old at the time, so I guess all that mess
    went over my head back then. That's why I was so surprised to hear different
    actors in the role when I finally got to listen (after 50+ years) to some of
    the shows I had recently acquired.

    So to be totally accurate, over the 9+ years of the program, a total of 8
    actors played "Mr. Andrews", but three were hired for just one episode, and
    Ray Johnson for two.

    As for that part of your [removed] "if I remember anything about the two
    gentlemen you mentioned", let's just say I remember lots about the 5 primary
    actors who played that role, and cover their careers, (with photographs), in
    my book "Aw! relax [removed]!!

    Dare I mention how to obtain a copy? :)  simply go to

    [removed]

    Regards
    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    Jughead

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

    Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 19:30:13 -0500
    From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Shrimp boats are [removed]

>     Not sure if you can answer my question, but I hope you can.  When I
>     was around 5 - 6 years old, Sunday nights were a special time I spent
>     with my Dad.  Mom worked Sunday nights, my older siblings were off doing
>     their thing, and Dad and I listened to Fibber McGee and Molly and Jack
>     Benny.  Why does the song the Shrimp Boats are a Coming also make me
>     think of those long ago Sunday Nights?

    Probably because it was featured on the television version of The Hit Parade
    ('Your Hit Parade'?) for so long that everyone grew utterly sick of hearing
    it.  My mother claims that the damn song kept selling well, and that the
    selections heard on the TV show were picked on the basis of record sales.
    Thus they had to keep featuring it.  Every week, they had to come up with a
    new way of singing "Shrimp Boats" and dancing to it.  Male solo, female
    solo, male/female duet, mixed chorus, etc, etc, on and on through the
    McCarthy Era.

    Jack Benny's TV show was also scheduled on Sunday night.  Dunno about
    Fibber's TV show.

    Like many of the subscribers to this list, I didn't grow up listening to FDR
    and Jack Benny whilst watching the warm glow of the great Zenith console
    radio.  Most of what I know about these performers came from the cool
    monochrome glow of the 21" RCA TV set in the 1950's.  We knew a lot more
    about Stu Erwin than Jack Benny back in my early days.

    M Kinsler

    whose students are far too young to have experienced TV cigarette
    advertisements, test patterns, or monochrome TV shows, but they all somehow
    seem to have memories of these.

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

    Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 20:23:46 -0500
    From: Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Orphan Annie CD Set

    Michael Biel writes:

>     Another clue as to how the recordings were made could have been gathered
>     from the matrix numbers of the discs, but for some reason the First

    Generation

>     Archive is not putting this information in the notation column of their

    website

>     indexes.  This is surprising, considering the discussions we have been

    having over

>     the years.  So guys, give us the list of the matrix numbers matched with the
>     program numbers and air dates, and perhaps we might see a recording

    session pattern

>     as we did with the Amos 'n' Andy discs."

    We don't post all of our database info on our website, Mike, primarily due
    to space/cost considerations. But that doesn't mean that we don't
    diligently keep track of such data. Here 'tis:

    "Little Orphan Annie" - World Broadcasting (extension spotting)

    #1018	C-27X2-1L (matrix obscured by disc damage)
    #1019	C-2767-1L
    #1020	C-2766-1L
    #1021	C-2775-1L
    #1026	C2793-1L
    #1027	C2794-2L
    #1038	C-2851-2L
    #1039	C-2863-2L
    #1066	C-3025-1L
    #1067	C-3027-1L
    #1068	C-3028-1L
    #1069	C-3029-1L
    #1534	C6749A11LAT
    #1535	C6761C1L (run out info obscured by label)
    #1536	C6766C1L
    #1537	C6767C1L
    #1538	C-6770C1L
    #1539	C-6779C1L
    #1554	C6895C3L

    The matrix info for two additional shows - #1164 & #1165 - is not
    immediately at hand, but I'll check and get back to you with it. All of the
    disk labels have been digitally scanned, but they have not yet been posted
    to the website. All in good time, my pretty, all in good time. ;0)

    My thanks to Joe Salerno, who risked temporary blindness to notate all of
    the above matrix information. This is normally my job, which explains why I
    keep having to change my prescription for eyeglasses as well as that 100
    watt light bulb above my desk.

    Mike also writes:

>     I've just printed out my 1936 Decoder Badge, so I'll get to work decoding

    the secret messages.

    For those of you who may have missed it earlier, you can print out and put
    together your own 1936 Radio Orphan Annie Secret Compartment Decoder Pin by
    visiting [removed]. You'll also find a very cool
    history of Radio Orphan Annie's decoders, thanks to Archives voluneers John
    Olsen and Joe Koomen.

    Harlan

    Harlan Zinck
    First Generation Radio Archives
    [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 22:07:31 -0500
    From: "Penne Yingling" <bp_ying@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Old Radio Talk Shows

    There's been some discussion lately regarding old talk shows.  A talk show
    that I remember back in the 70's (I believe) was one from Charlotte, NC.
    The host was Henry Bogan (spelling??) and I always said that Henry seemed
    like one of the most likable persons and that if I ever had the opportunity
    to get to Charlotte, I'd like to meet him (never did do that).  I don't
    think Henry ever spoke ill of anyone, regardless of what they said, and we
    know that some callers can be quite sarcastic.  The show was a late night
    show and Henry had frequent calls from truckers (among others) just wanting
    to chat about nothing in particular.  It was heartwarming to hear some of
    the stories people  told and confirm my belief that most people are genuine
    nice people.  This may be considered by some to be off the beaten path for
    this venue, as most mailings are relating back to older radio, but I was
    wondering if anyone else remembers Henry & if so, is he still around?   By
    the way, I am still a "radio" person - listen to "Delilah" out of Frederick,
    MD every week night until midnight.  A talk show - no violence - no bad
    words - just plain & simple life stories with some easy listening music -
    oh, life is good! Penne

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 12:47:48 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  March 14th Birthday

    If you born on March 14th, you share your birthday with:

    1912 - Les Brown - Reinerton, Pennsylvania

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

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 16:04:14 -0500
    From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
    To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  LOA matrixes

    The matrix info for the 2 Little Orphan Annie vertical World transcriptions
    is as follows:

    C-3393-2W   Orphan Annie   Prog#1164
    (On first look I thought it said "3593" and not "3393", but looking at the
    flip it certainly makes more sense if the numbers are "3393")

    C-3398-2W   Little Orphan Annie   Prog#1165

    I assume verticals and laterals were recorded simultaneously on 2 different
    lathes

    I'll need a little time to listen to answer the question about surface
    noise.

    Joe Salerno

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 16:04:59 -0500
    From: Don Strong <donsplace@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Hal's Book

    I don't often post to the Digest, but my wife bought me a copy of
    "[removed] Realax, Archie! Re-laxx!" for my birthday (ain't she great?) and
    due to a windstorm that knocked out our electricity for 18 hours, I had
    nothing else I could do but sit by the window and read it today.  Left
    me with [removed] hours to nap; once I started, I couldn't put it down!

    I want to take the time to publicly thank Mr. Stone for writing such an
    entertaining and informative tome, and for the speed with which the
    book was delivered - not to mention the heartwarming inscription on the
    flyleaf.

    Say, Hal - how's that for a low-key plug for everyone to rush out and
    buy a copy?  :)

    "Prevent truth decay - study the Bible daily"
          ---- [removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 16:05:31 -0500
    From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Spoken Word Radio Commentators

    Hi Gang:

       I'm a big fan of popular spoken-word speeches that actually have made it on
    to the Billboard Top [removed] as Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen's "Gallant
    Men."
       Two of my favourites are "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)" by Gordon
    Sinclair, whose cover version by  Detroit radio personality Byron MacGregor
    mage it to #1 on Cashbox c. 1973/74 [keep in mind, please, that I was
    interested in this piece long before its post-9/11 renewed popularity], and
    the  anti-draft card burning opus "An Open Letter to My Teenage Son" made
    popular in 1967 by Grand Rapids, Michigan, news commentator Victor Lundberg.
       I'd like to solicit from my fellow ether-ites any info on the
    aforementioned Messrs. Lundberg  and MacGregor [I know they are both
    deceased]. Also, does anybody have any background on Canadian newsman David
    Craig, who on the flipside of the original  Sinclair 45rpm single narrated "A
    Biographical Note on Gordon Sinclair"?
       Also,  I request that we just stick to the personalities in question. I am
    well aware that these ultra-patriotic speeches are not to the palate of
    [removed] just said I was a fan of this genre of recording; I am not
    necessarily endorsing their viewpoints.
       Thank you.

    Yours in the ether--

    Derek Tague

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #114
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