Subject: [removed] Digest V01 #215
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 7/4/2001 9:10 AM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                          The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                             Volume 01 : Issue 215
                       A Part of the [removed]!
                               ISSN: 1533-9289

                               Today's Topics:

     Allen Versus Benny                   ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
     Independents Independence            ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
     Gracie on "Information Please"       [Dan Riedstra <[removed]@wcom.]
     Heartbeat Theater                    [Barth Wysong <stargazerbw@[removed]]
     Re:  Benny-Allen Feud                [GOpp@[removed]                       ]
     Re: The Name of the Rose             [Garry Lewis <glewis@[removed]]
     Thanks to Harlan [removed]             ["Tim Lones" <tallones@[removed]; ]
     Archie and Henry                     [PFornatar@[removed]                  ]
     UK Radio Celebrities on CD           ["Robert Fells" <rfells@[removed];   ]
     Jughead, dear Jughead                ["Dr. Gavin Pillay" <gavinp@[removed].]
     HAL STONE'S COMMENTS ON HENRY ALDRIC ["Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed]; ]
     Real origins of Benny-Allen feud     ["greg przywara" <orsonwelles3@home.]
     The eleventh hour                    ["Marcus Antonsson" <[removed]]
     What's a gildersleeve?               ["George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm]
     Chicago radio                        ["Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];]
     Re: Benny-Allen                      [Eric Cooper <ejcooper2001@[removed];]
     Artie "Mr. Kitzel"  Auerbach         ["Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed]]
     ad feud                              [Michael Berger <intercom1@attglobal]
     Goldman obit                         [Ga6string@[removed]                  ]
     Jack Lemmon                          ["B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail.]
     #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig [lois@[removed]                  ]

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 11:34:21 -0400
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Allen Versus Benny

    Ivan, speaking of the contrast between the humor of Jack Benny and Fred
    Allen, notes,

>     I'm not sure this is being fair to [removed]'s show was not free
>     from the topical humor of its day ....

    True enough, but much of the Benny show's humor is more universal ([removed];
    less topical) than that on the Allen show.  This is easily demonstrated
    by playing a sample program of each comedian's to a modern-day person
    who'd previously heard neither broadcast.

>     I kind of blushed at the one poster who said that a person would have
>     to be a history major to get most of the references on Allen's show

    Well, that's an overstatement; but if one didn't live through the era, it
    might be difficult to understand most of the allusions.  But why blush?

>     I never imagined that the reason I get such a kick out of Allen's show
>     is due to some lofty academic accomplishment on my part

    Robert Burns spoke to the basics when observing that we cannot see
    ourselves in the perspective of others.

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 11:34:38 -0400
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Independents Independence

    John Mayer, speaking of the RSI rights controversy, notes,

>     I suspect if the dealers he puts on notice were to offer to retail
>     Radio Spirits tapes for Amari and company, he would not dismiss the
>     proposal out of hand.

    Of course RSI wouldn't.  In an earlier communication, if memory serves,
    he made just that suggestion.  It would be something like an associate
    dealership.

    However, if this were to take place, then two thoughts: would such an
    "association" be restricted only to programs that RSI can show it has
    exclusive rights to?  If so, then RSI would be revealing which shows it
    had exclusive rights to whichever dealer it's dealing with -- which is
    what's been a point of contention.  If, on the other hand, the dealership
    has to become an "associate" like unto a franchise, then the dealer would
    lose his or her independence.

    There have been observations that RSI may be trying to corner the OTR
    market.  Either arrangement, IMHO, would be a step in that direction.

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 11:35:20 -0400
    From: Dan Riedstra <[removed]@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Gracie on "Information Please"

     Kenneth Clark wondered:

>     I heard that Gracie Allen made several appearances on "Information
>     Please" as a guest panelist.  By all reports, she did very well.
>     Does anyone have some dates on these programs?

    Yes, Gracie appeared a couple of times on Information Please, and as I
    recall from listening to those programs she held her own very well. One
    exact date I was able to find is 6/20/1939.

    Dan Riedstra

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 11:34:45 -0400
    From: Barth Wysong <stargazerbw@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Heartbeat Theater

    I have the privilege of meeting with writer Bob Juhren (Suspense, Radio
    Mystery Theater)next week and would like to get some information on some of
    his works.

    He mentioned that he wrote a script for Heartbeat Theater a Salvation Army's
    Radio series.  I can't find a reference to the series. Anyone know about
    this show?

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 12:12:17 -0400
    From: GOpp@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re:  Benny-Allen Feud

>     For me, the feud reached its absolute peak on Allen's 5/7/41 program,
>     styled "A Salute To Jack Benny." The entire hour is set aside as a
>     tribute to the start of Benny's tenth year in radio -- but Allen goes to
>     absurd lengths to avoid actually mentioning his name.

    One of the more obscure salvos in the Fred Allen-Jack Benny feud came in
    1937, during an appearance by Fred Allen and Portland Hoffa on a
    little-remembered program called "Hollywood Mardi Gras" (which replaced
    Fred Astaire's "Packard Hour" when Astaire quit at the end of the 1936-37
    season). At the time, my dad, Jess Oppenheimer, was a "weekends-only" gag
    writer for the Benny program, sitting  in on the Saturday afternoon cast
    reading and contributing lines to punch up the script. As my father
    explained in his memoirs:

    Because my duties on the Jack Benny program left my weekdays free (and
    didn't pay enough to take care of the rent), I needed another job.  Y&R
    assigned me to the writing staff of the Packard Motor Car Co.'s new
    program, a variety show called "Hollywood Mardi Gras," hosted by Lanny
    Ross, a popular tenor, and featuring comedians Walter O'Keefe, and
    Charlie Butterworth.  Don Wilson was the announcer, moonlighting (as was
    I) from his duties on the Jack Benny program.  Each week the show
    featured big-name guest stars.  On our first show, we had Amos 'n' Andy.
    A week later, our guests were Fred Allen and his wife, Portland Hoffa.
    Fred had been "feuding" with Jack Benny for almost a year, and it was
    still going strong, much to the delight of the listening audiences of
    both of their programs.  (Once, when Jack was a guest on Fred Allen's
    program, Jack was talking about his ad-libs, and Allen interrupted him,
    saying "You couldn't ad-lib a belch after a Hungarian dinner!"  Jack shot
    back, "You wouldn't dare say that if my writers were here.")  Having Fred
    Allen on the Packard program put me in the unusual position of being a
    writer for Jack Benny and for Fred Allen at the same time.  If anything,
    being on both sides of the fight just added to the fun.  On the Packard
    show, Allen wasted no time letting the audience know how he felt about
    Jack:

        PORTLAND: Want a peanut, Mr. Wilson?
        ALLEN:  Don's no elephant.
        WILSON:  Oh!  Portland doesn't mean any harm, Fred.  Everybody's been
    kidding me about my size lately.  I'm on a program Sunday night with a
    fellow.  You know who I mean.
        PORTLAND:  I know!  Jack [removed] comedian.
        ALLEN:  Listen, Portland.  I don't mind you mentioning names, but you
    don't have to go into details.

    (From "Laughs, [removed] Lucy: How I Came to Create the Most Popular
    Sitcom of All Time" by Jess Oppenheimer, with Gregg Oppenheimer
    ([removed]))

    - Gregg Oppenheimer

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 12:56:54 -0400
    From: Garry Lewis <glewis@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: The Name of the Rose

>     My entry, for what it's worth, is a follows. As Monk William is leaving the
>     ruined abbey, we hear one monk say!

>     "Who was that strange Monk wearing a mask under his hood?

    "I don't know, but there's this buzzing sound all around us. An with
    you please tell
    that monk to knock it off with that coronet playing. Gee, I wonder
    where he got that black beauty of a mule?"

    			yours greenin' yall,}:^)>>

    				Garry
    --
    Grain is a three dimensional problem.

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 12:57:46 -0400
    From: "Tim Lones" <tallones@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Thanks to Harlan [removed]

    Hal,
         Have just finished reading the response you made to the Doctor who had
    written about whether "Jughead" and "Homer" were the same [removed] to
    smile about that [removed] grew up reading Archie Comics (And watching the TV
    series) And though I have only heard one Archie [removed](The one where Mr.
    Andrews is trying so hard to get some rest on a Saturday)..I want to say
    that I really appreciate your insight as to what OTR was really like. I met
    you once in Lois Culver's chat [removed] be there more often but I work
    Thursday [removed] always enjoy your [removed] them coming!

    Sincerely,
    Tim Lones
    East Sparta, Ohio

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 13:22:44 -0400
    From: PFornatar@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Archie and Henry

    I used to listen to Archie and Henry when I was a kid and never mixed them
    up. For me, at least, there was never mistaking the programs or the actors.
    Henry of course had several actors if I remember correctly. But the two
    shows, IMO were different and aimed at different groups. My mother and father
    would listen to the Aldrich Family along with us, but never would bother with
    Archie because he was "cool" to us and not to them.  It's wonderful to know
    that some of those actors are on this list. Thanks for your comments.
        Paul Fornatar

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 14:06:43 -0400
    From: "Robert Fells" <rfells@[removed];
    To: "old time radio" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  UK Radio Celebrities on CD

    The usual disclaimers apply here:  The British label ASV has issued a
    wonderful CD called "25 Vintage Radio Celebrities, 1929-1940."  The
    performers were all popular over the UK airwaves during the 30s and, to this
    American at least, most are long forgotten.  But this makes the CD all the
    more a joyful discovery because of the sheer talent of these individuals.  A
    few are still names to conjure with like Paul Robeson, Gracie Fields and
    Richard Tauber.  But most others fall into what I would call "the George
    Arliss category":  great talent, unjustly neglected.

    The recordings were commercially made and none appear to be airchecks but
    the sonic quality has its compensations even if these are re-creations from
    the time period.  Most entertaining are two numbers that refer to
    broadcasting.  One is by Carroll Gibbons and the Savoy Hotel Orchestra
    called "On the Air."  The second is called, "We Can't Let You Broadcast
    That!" performed by Norman Long who is described as first broadcasting from
    Marconi House in 1922.  This CD is another reminder of the fragile nature of
    radio broadcast preservation and the amount of talent we've lost.  Highly
    recommended!

    Bob Fells

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 14:06:39 -0400
    From: "Dr. Gavin Pillay" <gavinp@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Jughead, dear Jughead

    Thank you Mr. Stone, for your lengthy explanation.
    Personally, after listening to both shows, I definitely am
    an Archie Andrews fan.
    (Especially since I grew up reading the comics! :-)

    [you notice the use of emoticons]

    It's just such a great pity , that there are so few shows in circulation
    for a program that ran for 10 years.
    Surely there are some of you out there with reels hidden away
    at the bottom of some wardrobe :)
    Even commercially available one's would be welcome.
    (and yes .. I have been following the recent thread on archie shows :)

    Regards,

    OTRGavin

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 15:18:18 -0400
    From: "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  HAL STONE'S COMMENTS ON HENRY ALDRICH

    Hey, Hal, what an original answer to the question posed on the digest about
    The Aldrich Family.  Let me tell you, there is a place for you in the
    stand-up comic field.  And there is a Comedy Club  here in Baltimore called
    "The Comedy Store"  in the heart of our beautiful Inner Harbor Tourist
    Attraction area, that auditions "young," "new" talent every month.

    I hope some of this wit will be in the new book.

    Owens Pomeroy

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 15:46:54 -0400
    From: "greg przywara" <orsonwelles3@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Real origins of Benny-Allen feud

    Jack Benny's autobiography clearly states that the Benny-Allen feud had very
    little to do with any real animosity between the two stars, it was just
    something cooked up by Benny's writers, most likely to just sell more Jello.

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 17:19:54 -0400
    From: "Marcus Antonsson" <[removed]@[removed];
    To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  The eleventh hour

    Hi all!
    First, thanks to Elizabeth and all others who answered my question about the
    Benny/allen fued. Your a great bunch of people.

    Now, here's another one for you. Last sunday evening, I tuned into YUSA via
    the internet and heard the last minutes of a show called "The eleventh hour".
    It seemed to be some kind of a mystery show, but I've never heard of it
    before. The actors spoke with (at least it sounded like that to me) English
    accents. Anyone know anything about this show?

    Thanks in advance!

    Marc (please call me that) Antonsson

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 18:07:38 -0400
    From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  What's a gildersleeve?

    Hello All,

    Bob Fabris wrote:

>     I was watching the A&E showing of a gala of W. C. Fields movies last month,
>     and in two films, he makes the comment: "I am a gildersleeve".  What means
>     this??? Some carny or show-business talk?

    I caught that myself in THE OLD FASHIONED WAY, but I thought the line was
    "Another gildersleeve!".  This is what Fields character says in a scene
    where he is in a difficult situation with the local sheriff.  As if things
    aren't bad enough the sheriff from another county where Fields has had
    trouble walks in the room and Fields, on seeing him, says "Another
    gildersleeve!".

    George

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 21:52:54 -0400
    From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Chicago radio

    I recall listening to an presentation that Marvin Miller talking about
    Chicago radio declining at the end of World War II.  Actors and some show
    started to move to either New York, or California.  Thus I would enjoy
    reading people memories, or research about what was some of the last network
    shows coming out of Chicago beside the Breakfast Club, and what years they
    went off the air in Chicago.  Take care,

    Walden Hughes

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 23:47:18 -0400
    From: Eric Cooper <ejcooper2001@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Benny-Allen

    I believe that the musical composition THE BEE was not the same as FLIGHT OF THE
    BUMBLEBEE; I have never heard (via recordings) either comedian or anyone else refer
    to it by the latter title. The feud was not even discussed in person among the two
    for several weeks after it began. In my humble opinion, part of the real credit for
    the feud belongs to the brilliant writers of each show, aided and abetted by Benny
    and Allen's writing contributions as well (since both men closely supervised the
    writers and contributed some to the final draft). By the way, the feud lasted into
    the early television era and even shows up on a few JB tv shows in the early 50's.

    Eric Cooper

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 23:49:41 -0400
    From: "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Artie "Mr. Kitzel"  Auerbach

      Artie "Mr. Kitzel" Auerbach, that very talented dialect comedian of OTR,
    was referred to recently on the Digest and I think he deserves at least a
    few more words.
      As for his hot dog man role on Jack Benny's show, he even made a recording
    titled "Pickle In The Middle" for Mercury records.
      He was a supporting player for a while (early 1940, at least), in his Mr.
    Kitzel role, on Al Pearce's show.  On that show he would enter singing funny
    lyrics -- appropriate to that particular broadcast's theme-- to the melody
    of the song "El Rancho Grande".   I suppose his type of humor was Topical,
    not Timeless.  But, on listening to "Mr. Kitzel" on tape today -- 60 years
    later -- I find his humor:  Funny!
         -- Phil C.

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

    Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 23:49:43 -0400
    From: Michael Berger <intercom1@[removed];
    To: otr <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  ad feud

    The young violinist who served as a foil to start the Benny-Allen
    "feud"  went on to become a concert player, and was Concertmaster
    of   the  San  Francisco Symphony for many years. He's now on the
    faculty  of  the  San  Francisco  Conservatory  of  Music,  which
    apparently  has  no  email  address,  but  the  phone  number is:
    415-564-8086,  if  anyone  would  like to try for a memory or two
    from someone who was there.

    Michael Berger
    San Franciscan living in Tokyo

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 00:42:53 -0400
    From: Ga6string@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Goldman obit

    Associated Press reports that Hal Goldman, "an Emmy-winning writer who
    provided punch lines for Jack Benny and George Burns," died Wednesday of
    cancer at age 81.
    -Bryan

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 01:01:32 -0400
    From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Jack Lemmon

    The two radio shows Jack Lemmon referred to on the Charlie Rose show were
    The Brighter Day on which he played Bruce and on The Road of Life he said he
    was Butch Brent, the young Dr. Brent. I wonder if any of his performances
    survive.

    Barbara

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 04:52:00 -0400
    From: lois@[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 four years, same time, same channel!

    Our numerous "regulars" include one of the busiest "golden years" actors in
    Hollywood; a sound man from the same era who worked many of the top
    Hollywood shows; a New York actor famed for his roles in "Let's Pretend" and
    "Archie Andrews;" owners of some of the best OTR sites on the Web;
    maintainer of the best-known OTR Digest (we all know who he is)..........

    and Me

    Lois Culver
    KWLK Longview Washington (Mutual) 1941-1944)
    KFI Los Angeles (NBC) 1944 - 1950
    and widow of actor Howard Culver

    (For more info, contact lois@[removed])

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V01 Issue #215
    *******************************************

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