Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #11
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 1/9/2003 3:03 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2003 : Issue 11
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      [removed]                      [ "Danica L. Stein" <danicas@baymoon. ]
      Erle S. Gardner Collection            [ John Henley <jhenley@[removed] ]
      [removed] Cruiser                          [ Richard Carpenter <sinatra@ragingbu ]
      Looking for examples                  [ "Randall F. Miller Jr." <rfmillerjr ]
      OTR on holiday                        [ "david rogers" <david_rogers@hotmai ]
      RADIO VERSION OF PERRY MASON          [ CHET <voxpop@[removed]; ]
      Indians Radio History                 [ "Brian Johnson" <CHYRONOP@worldnet. ]
      Re: Converting Real Audio to other f  [ Shenbarger@[removed] ]
      Sound effects                         [ "[removed]" <ddunfee@[removed]; ]
      Perry Mason and the Indians           [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
      OTR Shop                              [ "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed]; ]
      1942 Radio in NYC                     [ "Randall F. Miller Jr." <rfmillerjr ]
      Radio ratings                         [ "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed] ]
      Re: A&A Logs                          [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Re: Inner Sanctum Mysteries, [removed]    [ "Michael Ogden" <michaelo67@hotmail ]
      Charge for admission?                 [ Richard Pratz <[removed]@[removed]; ]
      Perry Mason                           [ "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 18:57:59 -0500
    From: "Danica L. Stein" <danicas@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  [removed]

    Thanks to everyone who answered my inquiry about Sen-Sen! I got lots of
    replies with various descriptions of the flavor (like soap?!!) and even
    pictures of the package and a Web page where you can order some. Now that my
    curiosity is piqued, I'm dying to try some. However, the Web page that
    offers Sen-Sen for sale only sells it in packages of 12. Can I ask a favor
    of anyone who can obtain it easily--would you be willing to send me one
    pack? Email me privately. I'll reimburse!

    I recently heard one of the Fibber McGee and Molly shows where Sen-Sen is
    mentioned. A delivery man (I forgot what he delivered; maybe a telegram?)
    brings something to the McGees. Fibber tips him, and the delivery man takes
    the money and says sarcastically, "Oh good, I'm all out of Sen-Sen."
    Audience laughter.

    I must experience this product.

    Danica

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 19:10:17 -0500
    From: John Henley <jhenley@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Erle S. Gardner Collection

    Ron Staley informed us

>     It should interest folks to know that the Old time radio series Perry
>     Mason is at the University of Texas at Austin, transcriptions and scripts
>     of same.

    and this is true.

    The Harry Ransom Center (formerly the Humanities Research Center)
    at UT Austin houses much of the Erle Stanley Gardner Collection, including
    his papers, some personal items, and copies of all his books in their various
    translations.  And also, as I am informed by the curator of our Historic
    Music Recordings Collection, there are transcription discs from the radio
    show, and furthermore, what he describes as "unedited copies" of the
    TV series.

    As I said, the HRC has "much" of the collection.  The rest of it is a few
    minutes' walk away in the Flawn Academic Center, where, on the fourth
    floor, you can view Gardner's study. Some time after he died, his study -
    furnishings and all contents as of the day he died - was installed at that
    location and is there still.  It's inside an enclosure and I don't know who can
    have access to the interior, or how; the rest of us have to look in (small)
    windows.  But if you do so, you will see, residing on his bookshelves, part of
    the incomparable Gardner Mystery Library - his personal copies of mysteries
    written by his contemporaries.

    Alas, the Ransom Center staff has not yet published an online Finding
    Aid for the Gardner Collection, so finding out about any specific thing in
    it requires contacting a curator there.  The HRC is strictly a research
    archive.

    In addition to the Gardner, it also has the Ellery Queen Collection of
    mystery novels, which may be an even larger collection.

    If anyone would like to learn more about this archive:
    [removed]

    John Henley

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 19:17:23 -0500
    From: Richard Carpenter <sinatra@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  [removed] Cruiser

        A few weeks ago, a reader mentioned buying
    Chrysler's retro PT Cruiser -- a car that seems to fit
    right in with the old time radio hobby. I remember
    mentioning at the time that while I, too, would like a
    Cruiser, I had a perfectly good car and there was no
    need for me to buy another for years.
         Today I bought a PT Cruiser (turbocharged, no
    less).
         My "FDR in 1944" bumper sticker is already on
    order, and I will affix a copy of the WWII gas
    rationing sticker to the window. You can be certain
    that OTR tapes and CDs will play in the car. You can
    also be certain that buying the car was act of
    insanity on my part, but you know something -- I don't
    care!

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 19:17:54 -0500
    From: "Randall F. Miller Jr." <rfmillerjr1@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Looking for examples

    One of my collegues at the radio station where I work also moonlights in a
    local theatre group.  He is looking for some old radio stuff.
    I was wondering if you could provide some radio programs, preferably from
    1942 or one or two years either way, that would get us through the evening
    and then be morning radio, too.  I think I don't care if one is from NBC,
    one is from Mutual.  If you have some suggestions for what would be on the
    air at non-network times (music programs, wake-up programs) in 1942 in New
    York City, I'd appreciate it.  And if you have any suggestions for a
    sign-off and a sign-on, that would be nice, too.  You will be thanked for
    your contributions in the program.

    The programs won't be too hard, but does anyone have any idea on any morning
    shows from NYC circa 1942.  Not the whole show just a clip.  Also does
    anyone have any knowledge of any radio sign-ons or sign-offs from that era.

    Thanks in advance

    Your help is always appreciated, you are welcome to reply privately to:
    Randy Miller
    rfmillerjr1@[removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 19:18:16 -0500
    From: "david rogers" <david_rogers@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR on holiday

    Next week my wife and I are off to China for a holiday. I am in the middle
    of compiling cds for taking shows in mp3 format to listen to while we are
    away. My idea of making special travel cds is that if I damage or lose them
    then I still have the originals.
    I am therefore, asking for suggestions of what other people enjoy listening
    to while travelling. Do you find it good to listen to a number of different
    shows or longer serials? Are there any shows in particular that you have
    enjoyed? etc.
    On a seperate issue you may have noticed a complete silence from certain
    Australian contributors to this digest regarding England's recent thrashing
    of Australia in the cricket. I would hardly call this "playing with a
    straight bat", would you? The reason that English people are such good
    losers is that we have had more practice. Just kidding.

    Love as always, David Rogers

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 19:18:24 -0500
    From: CHET <voxpop@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  RADIO VERSION OF PERRY MASON

    re radios' version of perry mason ...didn't  lamont johnson play perry
    at one time or am i way off base here?
    chet norris

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 19:34:15 -0500
    From: "Brian Johnson" <CHYRONOP@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Indians Radio History

    WTAM - 1929-31 (Home Games Only)
    WHK - 1932-44
    WGAR - 1947
    WJW - 1948-49
    WERE - 1950-1972
    WWWE (now WTAM) - 1973-91
    WKNR - 1992-97
    WTAM - 1998-Present

    Note: There was no local radio for the 1945 season (supposedly for network
    commitments) and none in 1946 until the sale of the club to legendary owner
    Bill Veeck (as in 'Wreck'). On June 28, 1946 Veck sold the rights to that
    days' game to FOUR different stations: WGAR with Jack Graney and Bob Neal,
    WJW with Earl Harper, WHK with Don Campbell and WTAM with Tom Manning.

    For those who care about TV games: WEWS (1948-49, 56-60), WXEL (CH. 9 now on
    CH. 8) (1950-55),
    WJW/WKJW (1961-1979), and my old stomping grounds WUAB (1980-2001). Last
    season baseball in Cleveland became a "cable-only" sport. The team's current
    owner, Larry Dolan, is the brother of Cablevision Chairman, Chuck Dolan. The
    latter Dolan also owns Rainbow Communications, the holding company of
    (SURPRISE!) the Fox SportsNet affiliate in town.

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 20:44:05 -0500
    From: Shenbarger@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Converting Real Audio to other formats

    In a message dated 1/8/2003 4:05:05 PM Central Standard Time, Paul Urbahns
    writes:

>     I have some OTR shows in RA and RAM format. Is there a program that will
>      convert these to MP3 or WAV files?

    >From time to time programs and plugins show up that can do this. Real takes
    them out of circulation as quickly as they can. It is a violation of their
    terms of use to convert any Real file to any non-Real format. Although Real
    is a dandy streaming system for audio and video over the Internet, their
    one-way attitude about using files compressed in their file formats makes
    them bottom on my list of favorite software.

    Most programs that can generate MP3 or WAV format files will let you select
    the input source. You can select the stereo mixer as the input to your
    "recorder" and play the Real file in real time. This will send the audio
    output from the sound card's analog output to the recording software's input
    and generate a file in the recorder's format.

    Don Shenbarger

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: THe important thing to remember, however, is that the file
    won't sound any better. Even as a high-bitrate MP3, it'll still sound like a
    RealAudio file.  --cfs3]

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 20:44:21 -0500
    From: "[removed]" <ddunfee@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Sound effects

    I'm interested if someone could discuss the art of making the sound effects
    which are such a central part of otr.  Were some of them recordings, such
    as the sound of car enjines reving up, braking [removed]  Did the actors watch
    the sound effect people to coordinate dialog with their activity, or the
    other way round; or could they even see each other?  When we hear such
    things as doors closing, are they full size doors or just scaled down
    pieces with latches [removed]  When we hear people speak as though from a
    distance did they stand away to make the effect or were their mics just
    turned down?  How were reverberant sounds as though in a very large space
    created, mic and speaker in a bathroom?  I have always assumed almost all
    the music was live, but was perhaps some of the oft repeated parts, such as
    openings, recorded?  For any recorded effects, how did they keep the record
    free from ticks and pops and other such distortions?  Who chose what and
    how effects were done?  It seems that just as with other such things,
    quality varied.  Some of the effects were too intrusive and drew attention
    to themselves, not unlike visual effects often done apparently just to show
    them off.  Are there any web resources which might discuss these things?

    Thanks,

    Dan

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 20:45:14 -0500
    From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Perry Mason and the Indians

    Two topics:

    When I was growing up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio in the 1950's, the
    Cleveland Indians announcer was a gravelly-voiced gentleman named Jimmy
    Dudley.  I haven't seen his name in the discussion of the team's broadcasts,
    and I was wondering where he fit into the story.

    The story has it that Raymond Burr was Erle Stanley Gardner's personal
    choice to play Perry Mason on television.  In so many ways, that show, like
    many others in the 1950's, _were_ radio shows: the elocution of every actor
    on that show was utterly flawless, and the pictures weren't really necessary
    to understand the show.  Other shows didn't need pictures, either: Life of
    Reilly could have been a radio script.

    On the other hand, there were some performers who were so visual that it's
    just a bit surprising that some had successful radio careers.  I mention
    this because yesterday evening I spent some time listening to the audio
    clips on the [removed] (I think) website.  Among other interesting
    stuff was a short monologue by Ernie Kovacs.  It was, in general, terrible.
    That man _had_ to be seen.  So did Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, and Red
    Skelton, part of whose radio show I heard on Yesterday USA recently.  Jack
    Benny's show seemed to work better on radio than on TV.  Same for George and
    Gracie.

    Of course, talent is talent, and it is fascinating to see how these various
    geniuses were able to adapt their acts to the various media.

    M Kinsler

    Who lives down the road from a perfectly innocent restaurant named "The Pink
    Cricket" and always thinks that its name belongs in a Perry Mason plot.

    512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 740 687 6368
    [removed]~kinsler

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 22:08:34 -0500
    From: "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed];
    To: ""old-time radio digest">" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OTR Shop

    Hey all,
    Just wanted to take a quick moment and tell you all that if you are looking for a place to
    get High quality MP3's of OTR shows at a very good price, try the OTR Shop.
    [removed]
    I bought some shows for my boys from there for Christmas and they were great to deal
    with.
    They answered all my questions promptly and the shows came to me extremely
    promptly as well.
    As usual the usual disclaimer applies--I don't own or work for them.  <g>
    Just want to give credit where credit is due and hopefully send some business their way.
    Great job OTR Shop.
    Bill

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 22:08:41 -0500
    From: "Randall F. Miller Jr." <rfmillerjr1@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  1942 Radio in NYC

    One of my collegues at the radio station where I work also moonlights in a
    local theatre group.  He is looking for some old radio stuff.
    I was wondering if you could provide some radio programs, preferably from
    1942 or one or two years either way, that would get us through the evening
    and then be morning radio, too.  I think I don't care if one is from NBC,
    one is from Mutual.  If you have some suggestions for what would be on the
    air at non-network times (music programs, wake-up programs) in 1942 in New
    York City, I'd appreciate it.  And if you have any suggestions for a
    sign-off and a sign-on, that would be nice, too.  You will be thanked for
    your contributions in the program.

    The programs won't be too hard, but does anyone have any idea on any morning
    shows from NYC circa 1942.  Not the whole show just a clip.  Also does
    anyone have any knowledge of any radio sign-ons or sign-offs from that era.

    Thanks in advance

    Your help is always appreciated, you are welcome to reply privately to:
    Randy Miller
    rfmillerjr1@[removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 22:08:47 -0500
    From: "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Radio ratings

      These are some questions for those who were performing or had some part in
    production of OTR back in the 40's and 50's.
      Were radio ratings as critical as TV ratings are today? Did the producers
    pay much attention to the ratings? Were shows taken off the air prematurely
    because of bad ratings? Did the sponsors pressure the producers if ratings
    dropped?
      Just interested in the importance of ratings back then.
      Andrew Godfrey

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 22:21:40 -0500
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: A&A Logs

    On 1/8/03 5:10 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:

>     Hi Everybody, a friend ask me to help him find a log of radio shows of Amos
>     and Andy, and Abbott and Costelo.  Can any body help?

    You'll find extensive A&A logs on my "Amos 'n' Andy In Person" website,
    [removed]~[removed]. Detailed summaries for more than
    1750 consecutive nightly serial episodes aired from 1928 thru the end of
    1933 are available at [removed]~[removed], and a
    log of the half-hour weekly sitcom version can be found at
    [removed]~[removed].

    The sitcom log is not complete -- information is still missing from the
    last two seasons, but information from 1943-44 thru 1951-52 is both
    complete and authoritative. Additional listings for the serial era will
    be added as the script summaries are completed.

    An extensive listing of documented A&A guest appearances on other
    programs is also available, and is being expanded as additional guest
    shots are discovered.  A&A completists will also find the first detailed
    log ever compiled for Correll and Gosden's last project, the 1961-62
    animated series "Calvin and the Colonel." This log is drawn from original
    production records, and includes both airdates and original studio
    production numbers.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 14:44:18 -0500
    From: "Michael Ogden" <michaelo67@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Inner Sanctum Mysteries, [removed]

    Well, it looks like it's "jump in the fray" time on this side of the old
    "squeaky door" as I rush to post a possible correction to Martin's comments
    concerning the original title of INNER SANCTUM MYSTERIES. Martin stated:

>     The name of the program, from the very start was INNER SANCTUM >MYSTERY,
>     because when Himan Brown came up with the concept of the show >in late
>     1940, he contacted Simon & Schuster who was then publishing a >series of
>     monthly mystery novels under that by-line, asking if he >could borrow the
>     name "Inner Sanctum Mysteries" from them.

    This statement is in complete variance to what Himan Brown himself said
    several years ago in a published interview. According to Brown, the original
    name of the series was, indeed, THE CREAKING DOOR. Under the CREAKING DOOR
    title he recorded an audition disc which he played for Harry Hoyt, the
    president of Carter Products, in hopes of obtaining sponsorship.

    "Mr. Hoyt was terribly taken with everything," Brown recalled. "He liked THE
    CREAKING DOOR, except that he said, 'What kind of a title is THE CREAKING
    DOOR?' It seemed to him to lack character, class. The fact that it said what
    it was didn't sit right with him. He said, 'You'd better give me another
    title before I really make my mind up.'"

    Brown remembered that he had just recently seen an ad for the Inner Sanctum
    Mysteries book series in the latest issue of "The New Yorker," so he said,
    off the top of his head, "How about INNER SANCTUM MYSTERIES?" Hoyt was
    immediately enthusiastic about the suggestion, so Brown hotfooted it over to
    the Simon and Schuster offices to see what arrangement he could work out
    with them for the use of the name.

    I suspect that Brown continued to have a preference for his original  title.
    And there was a certain degree of confusion generated from the very
    beginning, as some of the earliest advertising (such as the ad that ran on
    1/14/41 in the New York World-Telegram) printed "CREAKING" in larger letters
    than "INNER SANCTUM." (The ad copy read: "Join the MYSTERIOUS CIRCLE of the
    INNER SANCTUM. LISTEN FOR THE CREAKING DOOR."
    So it was a common mistake long before there were any OTR reference books;
    as Brown told his interviewer, "People kept calling it 'The Creaking Door'."

    Concerning the Australian INNER SANCTUM program, the series originally ran
    from January 28, 1952 until May 4, 1953. But it ran that entire time under
    the INNER SANCTUM title, so whatever legal issues may have arisen did not
    immediately affect the show's moniker. It was only when Macquarie revived it
    in the late Fifties that it was renamed THE CREAKING DOOR. (The Australian
    DOOR series ran from November 19, 1958 until November 18, 1959.)

    The South African CREAKING DOOR ran on Springbok Radio from December 6, 1964
    until November 7, 1965, and then again from January 1, 1966 until December
    28, 1968. None of the South African scripts appear to have been derived from
    the American INNER SANCTUM.

    Mike Ogden

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 14:44:32 -0500
    From: Richard Pratz <[removed]@[removed];
    To: "OTR (Plain Text Only)" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Charge for admission?

    The 2nd edition of "The Big Broadcast, 1920-1950" by Buxton/Owen states that
    "The National Barn Dance" which debuted from Chicago Sept. 30, 1933 on NBC,
    was one of the few radio shows to charge admission. This is a concept I had
    never thought of before, and poses a couple of questions in my mind. What
    other programs charged admission, and why didn't more do it? Wouldn't the
    public pay to see big radio stars, or were the depression era times just too
    prohibitive for doing so? Weren't there enough folks willing to plunk down
    money to see radio folks perform than, say, going to a movie? Just curious.

    Happy New Year!      Rich

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 14:44:53 -0500
    From: "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Perry Mason

    Since we have been on a Perry Mason thread (both radio and Television), I
    don't feel too off subject in mentioning this:  I'm suprised that no one has
    mentioned that there were several Perry Mason movies made.  I can't remember
    the name of the star, but he was very suave and sophisticated.  In the movie
    version, Perry Mason was as much a detective as he was a lawyer and would do
    almost anything to get his client cleared.  I remember one movie where he
    drank a deadly poison, in court, to prove that his client couldn't have done
    it because the poison wasn't poison.  As he left the courtroom, he jumped in
    a waiting taxi and was taken to a hospital where a waiting doctor
    administered an [removed] just in time, another five minutes would have
    been too late.

    Roby McHone
    Fairbanks, Alaska

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #11
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