------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2001 : Issue 399
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
WJSV [ William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
Big Jon & Sparkie [ "JLF" <infom@[removed]; ]
more offspring [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
OTR references [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
MP3 on DVD Players [ "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@earthl ]
Bea Benaderet's son [ "Robert Paine" <macandrew@[removed] ]
FRED ALLEN [ HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
Fred Foy/ SGT. PRESTON and the Wolf [ HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
RE: My Jack Benny Problem [ "James Horn" <jhorn@oldtimeradiohom ]
Mad Magazine cardboard records [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
Kraft Music Hall [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
Rio Volt 250 [ "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed]; ]
Minoritys and Tracy [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
Acorns from the tree [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
Re: Perry Como replaced? [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Today in Radio History [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 17:06:23 -0500
From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: WJSV
We sure started up a lot of confusion about WJSV. First let me explain.
According to the FCC rules a particular owner could only actually own
five stations in each category, AM, FM, and TV. CBS basically owned WABC
(WCBS) in New York, WEEI in Boston, WBBM in Chicago, KMOX in St. Louis,
and KNX in Los Angeles. That totals five. I do not know how this works
out legally with partial ownership of other stations. In recent years
that ruling seems to have gone the drain as I know of owners owning 80 or
more stations. Also I have heard stories about CBS owning a percentage of
WTOP. How much of this is assumption and how much is truth, I do not
know. I did visit the WJSV studios in the Earle Theater Building about
1942.
While with CBS I worked out of our Washington facility at 2020 M Street
many times. It was well known at CBS that it was always a favorite
assignment, as I had made many friends there. Sort of a second home.
Happy memories.
Bill Murtough
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 17:06:37 -0500
From: "JLF" <infom@[removed];
To: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Big Jon & Sparkie
There are 97 episodes of Big Jon & Sparkie available on a download site.
There are episode titles but no dates. The shows originated in Cincinatti
and are the m-f "fifteen" minute shows. The file directory is obviously not
in chronological ordeer.
Does anybody have a log of these shows showing the proper order? Thanks.
JLF
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 18:59:39 -0500
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: more offspring
Well, the discussion is finally coming around to a basic truth: if you want
to find talented offspring, look in country music. You'll find any number
of stars and supporting musicians whose parents and grandparents were
professional musicians. Lessee: Lorrie Morgan's father was a famous guitar
player, the Tubb family probably still has a kid in the business, Patty
Loveless has a famous name, and there are several groups that comprise both
parents and their kids.
Jimmy Thudpucker, a rock star in _Doonesbury_ once pointed out that country
is where rock music went in the 1970's.
M Kinsler
And don't forget Shania Twain's famous great-grandfather.
512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 740 687 6368
[removed]~kinsler
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 20:49:20 -0500
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OTR references
Mike Biel commented:
OTR in BC, the comic strip, that is. Today's (Thurs) BC comic strip has
an OTR reference that might (unfortunately) have a lot of kids asking
their parents for an explanation of the joke.
This reminds me of my awareness of changing times related to OTR. There is
a cafeteria chain in the eastern midwest (Indiana, Ohio mostly) that used
to have a dish special called a "Jack Benny" that was a lower cost entree
that came with smaller portions. Recently, they began to sort of upscale
their image to appeal to younger people too (the chain has good food, but a
reputation as "appealing to older folks"). In doing so they renamed their
Jack Benny special to a non-descriptive "value plate." I guess some people
did not understand the reference.
Too [removed]
Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 22:30:09 -0500
From: "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: MP3 on DVD Players
My son gave me a nice Panasonic
DVD/CD player for Xmas, one
that also plays MP3 recordings. I
have never been a big collector of
OTR on MP3, but the recent talk
about MP3 recordings has inspired
me to ask this question. I do have
a few such recordings and I wonder
why the CDs from one dealer will
play and those from another dealer
won't. When I put in MP3 CDs
from the latter, I get an on-screen
message that the player will not
play the disc. Both dealer's CDs
will play in my PC, though. Can
anybody suggest why this is?
Harry Machin, Jr.
harbev5@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 23:50:31 -0500
From: "Robert Paine" <macandrew@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Bea Benaderet's son
I think the actor you referred to is Jack Bannon, Bea Benaderet's son by her
first marriage. He also appeared on Petticoat Junction several times, once
as a biker.
Bea was mentioned by Orson Welles as being in the cast (maybe as Mrs.
Cratchit?) on the 12/24/39 Campbell's Playhouse presentation of "A Christmas
Carol".
Macandrew
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:23:46 -0500
From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: FRED ALLEN
Per Joe Mackey's recent reminder -
Peter & The Wolf was a great job by [removed] The Bell Telephone Hour in 1953.
I am
going to put it remaster to a regular CD for folks interested.
Tom Heathwood -
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:24:16 -0500
From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Fred Foy/ SGT. PRESTON and the Wolf
When I was producing Fred Foy's "Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch" CD, I remember
asking him about an incident that occured on SGT. PRESTON in a script
concerning wolves. It was an on-air blooper where one of the characters was
supposed to say,
"Thats my wolf" but instead said "That's my wife" which effectively
paralyzed the
entire cast and production staff, with the director dropping from sight in
the control room window. Fred says he has no idea [removed] was able to
continue the narration while others around him were dropping like flies.
Unfortunately, Fred has no date for that show. I wonder if any of the WXYZ
experts might have a clue as to
which show that was. The SGT. PRESTON log shows a few different shows with
"wolf" or "wolves" in the episode title. I am sure Fred would like to know
too.
Tom Heathwood
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:26:08 -0500
From: "James Horn" <jhorn@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: My Jack Benny Problem
In response to the Following:
From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
Subject: my jack benny mp3 problem
<snip>
The set was 7 cd's, with 680 "shows" (as mentioned 45 of those were
duplicates, and other "shows" included an incredibly poor quality copy of
the audio from the "Love Letter To Jack Benny" television special.
I bought the set from Old Time Radio Home, on ebay for $[removed] Avoid
this set at all costs.
I really do not understand where the 45 duplicate shows come in, I believe
there are 690 shows with no duplicates, maybe 1 or 2, but I think I weeded
them all out. As for the quality, I have sold HUNDREDS of these shows
with-out one complaint. Most of our business are repeat customers. I have no
bad blood for your post just simply would appreciate an email before posting
the comment AVOID this set at all costs. As for substandard recordings, we
work hard at restoring the best quality possible, sometimes it is very
difficult when you are dealing with 60 year old shows. Guess that's what I
get for trying to help the OTR community with preserving memories.
Thanks and God Bless
Restoring memories.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:26:25 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Mad Magazine cardboard records
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 01:09:18 -0500
From: "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed];
I remember getting the disc entitled "It's a gas!" -- a stereotypical
sixties guitar and drum rock tune punctuated by belching and the words
"it's a gas!" Oh, to be ten years old! I wish I still had my copy.
I think I still have mine. And, a few years ago, MAD included it on a
CD, along with a couple of other tunes which, I assume, were also on
records at some time. The CD also contained a computer-format index to
the magazine's entire run.
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
15 Court Square, Suite 210 lawyer@[removed]
Boston, MA 02108-2503 [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:29:45 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Kraft Music Hall
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 10:21:50 -0500
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
A few years later, Perry Como also had on NBC a half hour variety show,
Wed. Night's. As I recall, it was called "the Kraft Music Hall".
Perry Como had an hour-long TV show on Wednesday night under that title.
Apparently that title had previously been used on radio, but during the
1950s, Kraft sponsored the "Kraft Television Theater," which consisted of
live TV drama. Then, in the 1958-59 season, they revived the Kraft Music
Hall title for a half-hour show staring Milton Berle. Perry Como at this
time was doing a variety show on Saturday nights.
Kraft then made a deal with Perry Como, by which he took over the
Wednesday night slot, running for an hour. Ignoring the fact that Milton
Berle's show the previous year had been called the Kraft Music Hall,
Perry Como's first Kraft Music Hall show began showing a radio studio,
with a silhouette of Bing Crosby, and the announcer's voice over saying
that at some specified date, "Bing Crosby closed the doors to the Kraft
Music Hall." Someone (I forget who) came out and gave Perry Como the
keys, supposedly on behalf of Bing.
I don't know much about the radio version of Kraft Music Hall and would
appreciate seeing some postings on the subject.
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
15 Court Square, Suite 210 lawyer@[removed]
Boston, MA 02108-2503 [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:34:59 -0500
From: "Doug Leary" <doug@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Rio Volt 250
After reading so many positive comments about the Rio Volt 100, my Christmas
present to myself this year was the new improved model 250. Without having
actually used the 100 I can't address the differences, but I am thoroughly
happy with the 250.
Enthusiastic praise:
The sound quality is great and the anti-skip feature seems to work very
well. I have walked around for hours with it slung on the shoulder strap and
have yet to hear it skip. It plays all mp3 speeds I have tried from 32 to
128. Navigation amongst files and folders is easy and the LCD screen is very
readable.
The two AA batteries that power the unit recharge whenever it is plugged
into AC. In my opinion this one feature justifies the $160 or so price tag.
Over the lifetime of this player I will save at least that much on
batteries. GREAT IDEA, RIO ENGINEERS !!! Why don't ALL battery powered
electronics recharge in this way? Never mind, rhetorical question.
The Resume feature is also very nice. When you remove an mp3 disc, the
player remembers where you were, and when you reinsert that disc it starts
up at that point. The wonderful thing is that it remembers the 5 most recent
discs, not just one, so different people can take turns listening to
different discs without losing their places.
Two kinds of headphones are included -- the over-the-head type and the
earbud type. I like the earbuds. My wife likes the over-the-head ones. What
could be more harmonious?
The removable leather-ish cover has both a shoulder strap and large belt
clip, and the bare unit has little non-skid feet for tabletop use. It comes
with a handheld controller that also has a clip, so for walking around you
can stuff the player in a jacket pocket and have the controls in your hand
or at to your side.
Criticisms:
The cover fits a little too snugly, and although there is a zipper, it
doesn't unzip far enough to open the lid far enough to change a CD. You
pretty much have to slip the unit in and out of the cover. This may
discourage people from using the cover, but without it the bare unit has no
clips or places to attach a strap.
The screen lighting is very nice for night-time use, but it shuts off very
quickly (after only a few seconds), and the sideways scrolling on the
program title is very slow. This combination means that if you want to see
the end of a title, for instance to read the episode number, you have to do
something like press the volume up/down buttons repeatedly to keep turning
the light on. Perhaps there are adjustments for this that I haven't found
yet.
Overall I give this player two big thumbs up. Thank you Santa!
Doug Leary
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:40:01 -0500
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Minoritys and Tracy
Michael Biel [removed]
While it is New York City, it
must have been difficult for any minority to get into the unions.
Perhaps Bill Murtough might have some observations on this matter, as
well as Hal, Lois, etc.
Speaking only from my personal experience, in the 15 period that I was
working in radio (10 of them full-time at NBC), I can recall no blacks as
Engineers, Directors, Studio Set-Up Men, or on the Guest Relations staff.
There was one Hispanic heritage organist (Rosa Ria) and one Greek and one
Hispanic set-up man. I can recall only 2 black actors that I worked with.
And it might be interesting to note, sadly, there were very few blacks in
the studio audience.
Other guests included Arthur Tracy(The Street Singer)
I was joking with my daughter that they shouldn't have
put Tracy on first because they will NEVER get him off!! If you had
ever met him you would know what I mean.
Alas, Michael, I know what you mean. He would sing whenever a spotlight was
turned on him. The only problem was, a dim bulb in a hallway was considered
to be a "spotlight" by Arthur. As he aged, it became almost embarrassing. I
always felt a little sorry for former stars who craved attention and
applause, and can be a pest about it. (Present company excepted, of course!)
Hal(Harlan)Stone
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:40:25 -0500
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Acorns from the tree
If the thread about offspring of celebrity performers is not limited to just
vocalists, I have a great OTR Actor "Father" and TV Actor "Son" combination
to lay on you.
Ed Begley was one of the busiest and most respected character actors in NY
OTR for many years, and went on to fame in TV as well as motion pictures.
You TV fans know who his Son is, Right?
How about this combo? I went to High School with the Son of a famous OTR
Irish Tenor, who went on to become a notorious later day Radio and TV
Shock-Jock. Can you guess who. The initials are [removed] Jr.
Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:40:51 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Perry Como replaced?
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 10:21:50 -0500
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
Subject: :Perry Como replaced?
Joe Mackey noted the other day:
1944 - The Chesterfield Supper Club debuted on NBC radio. Perry Como, Jo
Stafford and many other stars
I remember Sinatra also doing that show at some point.
According to Dunning, pg. 152, Sinatra isn't mentioned as being any
type of regular. He may have been a re-occuring guest star though.
A few years later, Perry Como also had on NBC a half hour variety show,
Wed. Night's. As I recall, it was called "the Kraft Music Hall".
Again Dunning, pg. 386, doesn't list Como as being a regular on the
show. KMH was on Thursday from 1933-49, except for the first six weeks
when it was on Mondays. The only show Como is listed as being a
regular is the Chesterfield Supper Club and as a regular singer on FM&M,
pg 246, with the Ted Weems band, during the '36-37 season.
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:40:59 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in Radio History
From Those Were the Days --
1949 - After a decade on radio, Captain Midnight was heard for the final
time. Put your secret decoder rings away now, kids.
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2001 Issue #399
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