Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #242
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 8/22/2007 9:25 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2007 : Issue 242
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      BBC Archives website                  [ Graeme Stevenson <graemeotr@[removed] ]
      Vocal Quality and Homosexuality       [ Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@sbcgl ]
      Inside Duffy's Tavern                 [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
      Gangbusters                           [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
      Gangbusters                           [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Bess Flynn                            [ Frank McGurn <[removed]@sbcglobal. ]
      early (1929) Amos and Andy TV         [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
      Fibber McGee and Company              [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
      JB's makeup man                       [ "W. Gary Wetstein" <wgaryw@pacbell. ]
      Charlie Flynn and Gene Twombly        [ Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed]; ]
      8-22 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
      Myron (Mike) Wallace                  [ Don Dean <drdn8ioj@[removed]; ]
      #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ charlie@[removed] ]
      Some assistance, please               [ Ken Stockinger <bambino032004-otr@y ]
      Twinkle                               [ "Laura Leff" <president@[removed] ]
      A&A controversy video                 [ "bobb lynes" <iairotr@[removed]; ]
      Arch Obler's Yesterday, Today, and T  [ "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:18:45 -0400
    From: Graeme Stevenson <graemeotr@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  BBC Archives website
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    Best way to see this website is to go to the main BBC site at [removed]
    and in the search box type in 'archive trial'. The site also includes an
    interview with Simon Rooks, Head of BBC Sound Archives.

      Graeme Stevenson  Editor : Tune into Yesterday   ORCA / UK

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    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:23:03 -0400
    From: Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Vocal Quality and Homosexuality

    I really cannot see the relationship between a man
    having a high-pitched voice, and homosexuality.  I
    think there is no relationship.

    However, the subject reminds me of an OTR performer
    who had a beautiful, deep voice, announcer Art Hannes
    (not to be confused with radio director Art Hanna).
    This is how he responded to a question at a SPERDVAC
    convention many years ago.

    After doing a re-creation, Art was asked how he
    acquired that beautiful deep timbre.

    "In our family, we attribute our very deep voices to
    our father.  Of course, my sister was not happy about
    that, at all!"

    Stuart Lubin

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:23:21 -0400
    From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Inside Duffy's Tavern
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    As a tremendous "Duffy's Tavern" fan, I cannot , for the life of me, think of
    anytime during the extant episodes where the action took place outside of the
    tavern, with the exception of the Christmas-themed episode "Miracle in
    Manhattan." There are references to Archie and other characters having been at
    the ballpark, the movies, the racetrack, the Y, burlesque shows, et. al., but
    these usually happen prior to or following the narrative of the episodes
    themselves.

    Can anybody out there "where he the elite meet to eat" think of an episode
    taking place outside the confines of "Duffy's Tavern"?

    Yours in the ether--

    Derek Tague speaking, Duffy ain't here

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:23:44 -0400
    From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
    To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Gangbusters

    I've been in this hobby for over 30 years and still am amazed at the
    longevity of certain OTR terms in the media, most of  which are used
    now by writers who are unaware of the origin, and read by equally
    ignorant subscribers, even  though they apparently get the point.

    Example: in this Sunday's edition of The Washington Post, front page
    of their "Outlook" section, is a lengthy article by Misha Glenny,
    described as a former BBC correspondent and author of "Mc Mafia: A
    Journey Through the Global Underworld." Glenny's article is a
    detailed summary of the failure of the [removed] and its allies to put a
    damper on the opium production throughout the world.

    One of Glenny's major paragraphs begins with this sentence:

    "Despite the presence of 35,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan, the drug
    trade there is going gangbusters."

    Jack French
    Editor: RADIO RECALL
    <[removed]>

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:24:09 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Gangbusters

    Adding one more to Jack French's Gang Busters posting . . .

    I've heard the word used MANY times over the past year.  Thought I find it
    moe amazing . . . last week at a horror/sci-fi convention, one of those
    events that gather a bunch of youngsters who have an interest in Freddy
    Krueger movies, I saw a kid who didn't look much younger than 18 - he wore a
    shirt that read " 'taint funny McGee".

    Amazing.
    Martin

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:25:54 -0400
    From: Frank McGurn <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Bess Flynn

    I have been reading posting  in the digest about "Bess Flynn" I never
    heard of her I read she had  a Charles who played Jack Armstrong for
    years. The Radio actress I knew of was Bernardine Flynn , who was Sade
    of Viv and Sade, and She had a son Charles. So I was  confused (as
    usual) . So I went the bible of OTR John Dunning's "On The Air".I think
    I have strightened out in my old mind, because in Chicago I never
    remember her being refered to as "Bess", only "Bernardine"

    I started with the Index and found Bess and Bernardine both listed so
    copied all the pages for each. Guess what almot all the page listed for
    each name are the same. When I went to the pages listed  only
    Bernardine  is reference and no mention of Bess, With the  exception of
    a 1931  show Bess was listed s a writer and only one as an actress along
    with her son [removed]

    Bernadind, alias Bess was a busy actress. I remenber on several
    ocassions Chuck Schaden interviewed her and they talked about "Vic & Sade.

    Frank McGurn

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:27:02 -0400
    From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  early (1929) Amos and Andy TV

    The latest entry of the early-talking picture blog "Vitaphone
    Varieties" ([removed]) features some discussion of
    television as it was envisioned in 1929, when the product was thought
    by many to be "just around the corner." They feature an illustration
    featuring two people watching Amos and Andy on a very primitive
    television set. The author does not discuss Amos and Andy at all, but
    it is labeled "AA+TV+[removed]", implying to picture dates from 1929.
    Does anybody know anything about this? It's a drawing, not a
    photograph, so I presume it's an artist's rendition of what television
    would look like, presumably from a magazine. (It's rather garish
    picture, incidentally.) The original photo is here:
    [removed]
    AA+TV+[removed]

    Where there any plans to put Amos and Andy on the television, had it
    actually materialized in the early 1930s? Or did the artist just select
    them for the image because they were one of the top radio shows of the
    time? Does Elizabeth know anything about the provenance of this image?

    Kermyt

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:27:46 -0400
    From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Fibber McGee and Company

    A Joseph Ross wrote:

>     Here's a question, though, about "Fibber McGee and Company."  When
>     Molly was gone from the show because of illness, how did they explain
>     her absence in story terms?  Did they have her visit her mother?  Or
>     was she ill in the story, too?

    In episode I was referring to (2/7/39) Fibber makes a passing reference to
    the fact that the show has been different "since Molly got sick", so I guess
    they acknowledged it.  I've heard a couple of other shows from this time
    when there was no reference at all to Molly.

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:28:57 -0400
    From: "W. Gary Wetstein" <wgaryw@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  JB's makeup man

    Chris Holm wrote:

>     This shook loose a couple of vague memories.  One was a Jack Benny
>     program, which included a bit of dialog between Jack and what I believe
>     was a make-up guy (movie or stage make-up).  If I remember correctly,
>     the character was even called something like [removed] but that can't
>     be right, can it?

    oh, you're remembering correctly, all right-- this was from the 4/23/39 show.
    i particularly love twinkle's entrance line:
    "Hello, Mr. Benny.  Are we ready for our daily tussle with Father Time?"

    --wgw

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:29:10 -0400
    From: Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Charlie Flynn and Gene Twombly

    Hello!
    Dennis Crow mentioned Charles [removed] which reminded me that Charles Flynn
    was at a SPERDVAC convention and I directed him and Boris Aplon (Captain
    Midnight's Ivan Shark) in a recreation of a Sherlock Holmes adventure called
    "The Dog That Howled In The Night." Charlie played Homes and Aplon was Dr.
    Watson. It was fascinating to see all of the cast sitting around joking and
    [removed] then ..... when it was time to rehearse, how absolutely
    professional they became. Charlie always asked questions about the character,
    what I wanted, how best to interpret (in his own way) the Sherlock Holmes he
    could portray. And he did everything with a warm heart and great energy. In
    this recreation he played a quieter Holmes compared to Rathbone's edgy type
    of Holmes. Bob Easton doubled up on roles in the script, changing his voice
    into two distinctly different people. After the show Charlie came over to me
    and, a smile on his face, asked me if he did a good job! Of course he did! He
    felt reassured when I told him it went well. He said he hadn't done much
    radio in years and felt a little rusty.
    As an aside, Frank Thomas joined me on stage before the recreation to tell
    stories about his early days with the actors he knew who were then playing
    Holmes and Watson on the radio. All in all, a wonderful time had by all. I
    believe you can get a copy of that recreation from the SPERDVAC library.

    As for the Jack Benny show where there was a reference to a "fay" makeup man
    by the name of Twinkle or [removed]
    I believe the character  you are thinking of was Gene Twombly, Jack Benny's
    sound effects man. Twombly actually was Benny's sound effects man and Benny
    occasionally mentioned him on the show. Benny asked Twombly to put a slightly
    fay sound into Jack's sound effect walk on the radio show. Twombly came up
    with the perfect tonality for Bennys walk and Benny was absolutely delighted
    with it. Twombly was married to Bea Benedarette. And they did have children.
    As far as I have heard, it was a good marriage. You probably know this
    already: --- Bea went on to be the star of TVs Pettycoat Junction.

    Ken Greenwald

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:29:17 -0400
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  8-22 births/deaths

    August 22nd births

    08-22-1851 - Daniel Frohman - Sandusky, OH - d. 12-26-1940
    broadway producer: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    08-22-1879 - Edward Johnson - Ontario, Canada - d. 4-20-1959
    operatic tenor: "Metropolitan Opera"
    08-22-1893 - Cecil Kellaway - Capetown, South Africa - d. 2-28-1973
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Cavalcade of America"
    08-22-1893 - Dorothy Parker - West End, NJ - d. 6-7-1967
    author, panelist: "Author, Author"; "Information, Please"
    08-22-1897 - Eddie Dunstedter - Edwardsville, IL - d. 7-30-1974
    organist, conductor: "Gold Medal Fast Freight"; "Lineup"; "It
    Happened in Hollywood"
    08-22-1897 - Elisabeth Bergner - Vienna, Austria - d. 5-12-1986
    actor: "Radio Hall of Fame"
    08-22-1897 - Nick Lucas - Newark, NJ - d. 7-28-1892
    singer: (The Singing Troubador) "Al Pearce and His Gang"
    08-22-1904 - Don Prindle - d. 10-25-1968
    writer: "The Abbott and Costello Show"; "Niles and Prindle"
    08-22-1904 - Jay Novello - Chicago, IL - d. 9-2-1982
    actor: Sam Sabaaya "Rocky Jordan"; Glenn Hunter "One Man's Family"
    08-22-1906 - James Meighan - NYC - d. 6-20-1970
    actor: Michael Waring "The Falcon"; Peter Carver "Lora Lawton"
    08-22-1907 - Sherling Oliver - Kipling, AL - d. 8-23-1971
    actor: Dudley Trowbridge "Valiant Lady"
    08-22-1909 - Julius J. Epstein - NYC - d. 12-30-2000
    screenwriter: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    08-22-1909 - Philip G. Epstein - NYC - d. 2-7-1952
    screenwriter: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    08-22-1910 - David Victor - d. 10-18-1989
    writer: "Joan Davis Time"; "Let George Do It"; "The Mel Blanc Show"
    08-22-1910 - Lesley Woods - d. 8-2-2003
    actor: Mary Wesley "Boston Blackie"; Margo Lane "The Shadow"
    08-22-1910 - Rod Brasfield - Smithville, MS - d. 9-12-1958
    comedian: "Grand Ole Opry"
    08-22-1915 - Hugh Paddick - Hoddeston, Hartfordshire, England - d.
    11-9-2000
    actor: "Beyond Our Ken"
    08-22-1920 - Ray Bradbury - Waukegan, IL
    writer: "Bradbury 13"; "Martian Chronicles"
    08-22-1922 - Shelley Winters - St. Louis, MO - d. 1-14-2006
    actor: "Hollywood Star Preview"
    08-22-1930 - Don Parcher - d. 7-9-2006
    newscaster: WTMJ Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    08-22-1942 - Kathy Lennon - Los Angeles, CA
    singer: (The Lennon Sisters) "Music on Deck"; "Voices of Vista";
    "Guest Star"

    August 22nd deaths

    02-16-1903 - Norman Shelley - d. 8-22-1980
    actor: John H. Watson "Corner In Crime, Saturday Night Theatre"
    03-04-1892 - Helen Van Tuyl - Iowa - d. 8-22-1964
    actor: Ellen Collins "Bachelor's Children"
    04-11-1911 - Bob Dixon - Stamford, CT - d. 8-22-1998
    announcer: Edward R. Murrow: created the phrase "Listen to Murrow
    tomorrow"
    05-18-1908 - Del King - Kansas City, KS - d. 8-22-1964
    announcer: "Avalon Time"; "Tommy Dorsey's Kool Show"
    06-03-1924 - Colleen Dewhurst - Montreal, Canada - d. 8-22-1991
    actor: "Will Cather: A Look of Rememberance"
    06-17-1874 - Robert Boice Carson - Rossville, IN - d. 8-22-1941
    director of the Apollo Orchestra on KVOO Tulsa, Oklahoma
    06-21-1909 - Ted Sherdeman - d. 8-22-1987
    producer, director, writer: "Latitude Zero"; "Sad Sack"; "Sears Radio
    Theatre"
    07-28-1874 - Alice Duer Miller - NYC - d. 8-22-1942
    author: "Author, Author"
    09-23-1913 - Helen Hiett - Tazewell, IL - d. 8-22-1961
    correspondent, newscaster: "Helen Hiett News"; "News Roundup"
    11-21-1882 - Alfred White - d. 8-22-1972
    actor: Soloman Levy "Abie's Irish Rose"
    xx-xx-1910 - Lansing Hatfield - Franklin, VA - d. 8-22-1954
    singer: "Met Opera Auditions of the Air"

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:29:49 -0400
    From: Don Dean <drdn8ioj@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Myron (Mike) Wallace
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    I seem to recall Mike Wallace announcing on the Sky King radio program when
    they were sponsored by Peter Pan Peanut butter. I beleive this was in the
    late '40's. Is this true? How long was he on that program? Or am I having a
    senior moment.

      Don Dean - N8IOJ

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:30:43 -0400
    From: charlie@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!

    A weekly [removed]

    For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
    Network, the channel name is #OldRadio.  We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
    and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
    over nine years, same time, same channel! Started by Lois Culver, widow
    of actor Howard Culver, this is the place to be on Thursday night for
    real-time OTR talk!

    Our "regulars" include OTR actors, soundmen, collectors, listeners, and
    others interested in enjoying OTR from points all over the world. Discussions
    range from favorite shows to almost anything else under the sun (sometimes
    it's hard for us to stay on-topic)...but even if it isn't always focused,
    it's always a good time!

    For more info, contact charlie@[removed]. We hope to see you there, this
    week and every week!

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:52:04 -0400
    From: Ken Stockinger <bambino032004-otr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Some assistance, please

    Hi everyone,
       I need some OTR help, so of course I'm coming to my
    Digest family. Does anyone know if any baseball or
    football games called by Graham McNamee and/or Ted
    Husing exist? If so, would you know where I might
    obtain them? Also, any suggestions on where to get my
    hands on good quality "Vic and Sade" broadcasts?
    Please contact me offline. I'm leaving on vacation
    today, so forgive my delay in replying.
      I'm going to Atlantic City so, if I hit it big at
    the casinos, there will be a little extra in your pay
    envelopes on Friday. :)
      Thanks in advance!
                               Ken

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:52:53 -0400
    From: "Laura Leff" <president@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Twinkle

    Chris Holm writes:

>     This shook loose a couple of vague memories.  One was a Jack Benny
>     program, which included a bit of dialog between Jack and what I believe
>     was a make-up guy (movie or stage make-up).  If I remember correctly,
>     the character was even called something like [removed] but that can't
>     be right, can it?  It was a real over-the-top fey performance, that was
>     pulled back at the end by line referencing the character's wife and
>     kids.  I'm sure I remember hearing this, but it seems so crazy and
>     obvious that I might be remembering it wrong.

    Nope, you're right.  The part was played by writer Ed Beloin.  Non-OTR, but
    in Jack's short "Taxi Tangles", the driver is also very effeminate.  Having
    the character say that he's married with kids doesn't necessarily mean that
    he wasn't gay, since plenty of homosexuals had to lead that sort of "double
    life" due to the social norms of the time.

    Anyone interested in this topic is highly encouraged to see and/or read "The
    Celluloid Closet".  The character of the "sissy" predates radio itself
    (since homosexuality has apparently been around just about as long as people
    have), and was honed to perfection by actors like Edward Everett Horton (a
    personal favorite in any genre/character), Joe Besser, and others.

    --Laura Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:16:46 -0400
    From: "bobb lynes" <iairotr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  A&A controversy video

    Hi all,

    Just now catching up with my back-Digests.  I noticed the posts re the TV
    special that George Kirby narrated "Amos & Andy: Anatomy of a Controversy".
      I have a nice DVD (right off a commercial VHS) copy of it.  I'll be glad
    to dub you a DVD copy for $ 15 (including shipping) .
    Send check or money order to: BOBB LYNES, BOX 561, SO. PASADENA, CA 91031.
    Bobb

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

    Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:31:26 -0400
    From: "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed];
    To: ""old-time radio digest">" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Arch Obler's Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

    Anyone got any information on this set of shows?
    I believe it came out in the late 80's? It appears to be some shows written
    by Arch Obler to get the patriot
    juices flowing in WWII.

    I hope that didn't come out sounding flip as I didn't mean it that way at all.
    I couldn't find any info on the web.  Well I found places to buy the set but
    no show listings for the 6 hour set.
    No info on how they came to be created, which is what I was most interested
    in at the moment.
    Any help is appreciated.
    Bill

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #242
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