Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #270
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 9/20/2007 7:57 PM

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

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2007 : Issue 270
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Vintage radio program magazines       [ Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed] ]
      Adv. of the Abbotts log needed        [ Chargous@[removed] ]
      9-20 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
      Re: Can You Top This                  [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed] ]
      Dell Four Color Comics                [ Steve Lewis <stevelewis62@[removed]; ]
      OTR comic books                       [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
      Can You Top This?                     [ Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@sbcgl ]
      "The Great Radio Sitcoms," by Jim Co  [ Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@sbcgl ]
      Adv. of the Abbotts - more previousl  [ Chargous@[removed] ]
      Can You Top This?                     [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
      Can You Top This                      [ Frank McGurn <[removed]@sbcglobal. ]
      Words IN Pictures                     [ Wich2@[removed] ]
      Swearing on OTR Shows                 [ Kevin Bristol <citadel92@[removed] ]
      TALLULAH BANKHEAD VS BETTE DAVIS      [ "belanger" <belanger@[removed]; ]
      Dick Tracy on Radio                   [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Can you top this?                     [ Bob Beckett <bobbyb1324me@[removed] ]
      Can You Top This?                     [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
      re: old-time radio comic books        [ MarkJusticeWLGC@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:06:59 -0400
    From: Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Vintage radio program magazines

    Some 30 years ago a comic book dealer in Winnipeg offered quite a lot of
    vintage radio magazines for sale.  I contacted him, made an offer, and bought
    them all for $[removed]  I didn't do anything with them other than storing them
    in a
    safe place.

    A few months ago I decided to scan the magazines.  It's a very time-consuming
    procedure, as I'm trying to convert the images to an attractive package, and
    it's
    cost me a bit of money as well, because I required a couple of expensive
    software
    programs.

    This is what I'm doing:

    1: I scan each page using a program called "Scan-n-Stitch".  Most pages take
    two
    scans which are then stitched together to create one image.  Two-page spreads
    take
    eight scans.

    2. Once all pages of a magazine have been scanned to a folder, I then
    go to Paint Shop Pro to tidy things up.  I trim off extraneous borders and
    remove
    scribbling and blemishes if possible.  I even remove the crossword puzzle
    answers
    that have been filled in by previous owners.

    3. I then use a program called "Convert Image to PDF" to create a PDF file of
    the scanned magazine.

    I've just now completed the collection of 51 Movie - Radio Guide issues and am
    beginning to work on the large stack of Radio Guide magazines. That project
    will
    take a few months to complete.  Here's what's in that stack:

    1935 - Every weekly issue from June 29th to December 28th
    1936 - Every weekly issue
    1937 - 3 issues
    1938 - 3 issues
    1939 - 4 issues
    1940 - 3 issues

    I'm wondering how many of you have a collection of vintage magazines, however
    small
    it may be. The preserving and sharing of these is in my opinion a necessary
    factor of
    our hobby that should not be ignored.  I'd like to encourage anyone who can
    add to
    the project to consider getting involved.

    Al Girard

    *************************************************************

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

    Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:07:02 -0400
    From: Chargous@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Adv. of the Abbotts log needed

    HI,

    I'm the guy who released the 13 eps of the Adv. of the Abbotts - I was
    interrupted by my microgroove stylus breaking, and I was too cheap to get
    another for a while, until spurred on by a recent 16" micro buy - anyway,
    I'll dub the remaining 4 or 5 eps., including What's My Line? TV
    soundtracks on the reverse - what I need is the log that someone posted
    when I initially released the episodes.  I checked OTTER, but it bears no
    relation to said log - the titles and sequences are way different.

    Travis

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

    Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:07:04 -0400
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  9-20 births/deaths

    September 20th births

    09-20-1869 - George Robey - London, England - d. 11-29-1954
    music hall singer: "Music Hall"
    09-20-1885 - Jelly Roll Morton - Gulfport, LA - d. 7-10-1941
    jazz musician, songwriter: "Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin
    Street"; "Americana"
    09-20-1896 - Si Wills - Pennsylvania - d. 10-3-1977
    writer: (Husband of Joan Davis) "Joan Davis Time"
    09-20-1898 - Charlie Dressen - Decatur, IL - d. 8-10-1966
    baseball manager: "Tops in Sports"; "Brooklyn Dodgers Locker Room
    Interviews"
    09-20-1899 - Elliot Nugent - Dover, OH - d. 8-9-1980
    actor: "Best Plays"; "United States Steel Hour"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
    09-20-1911 - Frank De Vol - Moundsville, WV - d. 10-27-1999
    conductor: "Rudy Vallee Drene Show"; "Sealtest Village Store"; "Dinah
    Shore Show"
    09-20-1912 - John W. Loveton - d. 1-17-1997
    director: "The Shadow"; "Mr. and Mrs. North"; "Court of Missing Heirs"
    09-20-1915 - Joe King - Birmingham, AL
    announcer: "Songs By Morton Downey"; "Walk A Mile"
    09-20-1917 - Red Auerbach - Brooklyn, NY - d. 10-28-2006
    legendary baskeball coach: "The Inside Track"
    09-20-1918 - Gordon Heath - NYC - d. 8-27-1991
    actor: "New World A' Coming"; "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
    09-20-1918 - Peg Phillips - Everett, WA - d. 11-7-2002
    actor: "Studio One"; "The Big Show"
    09-20-1919 - Francis Heflin - Oklahoma City, OK - d. 6-1-1994
    actor: (Sister of Van Heflin) "Aunt Jenny"; "Big Sister"
    09-20-1924 - Michael Hardwick - Leeds, England - d. 3-4-1991
    author: Adapted Sherlock Holmes for radio
    09-20-1925 - Joan Barton - d. 8-27-1976
    actor: Cashier "Meet Me at Parky's"
    09-20-1928 - Dr. Joyce Brothers - NYC
    psychologist: "Monitor"
    09-20-1929 - Anne Meara - NYC
    actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
    09-20-1937 - Tom Tresh - Detroit, MI
    baseball player: "Tops In Sports"

    September 20th deaths

    03-12-1912 - Paul Weston - Springfield, MA - d. 9-20-1996
    conductor: "Chesterfield Supper Club"; "Paul Weston Orchestra"
    03-22-1913 - James Westerfield - Nashville, TN - d. 9-20-1971
    actor: "Mystery Theatre"; "Gunsmoke", "Have Gun,Will Travel"
    04-25-1909 - Karl Farr - Rochelle, TX - d. 9-20-1961
    singer: (Sons of the Pioneers) "The Roy Rogers Show)
    07-18-1893 - Richard Dix - St. Paul, MN - d. 9-20-1949
    actor: "Eveready Hour"
    08-16-1899 - Glenn Strange - Weed, NM - d. 9-20-1973
    singer, actor: "Arizona Wranglers"
    08-28-1910 - John F. Holbrook - Cameron, WI - d. 9-20-1978
    announcer, director: "The Bickersons"; "The Dinah Shore Show"
    10-10-1918 - Paul Dubov - Illinois - d. 9-20-1979
    actor: Frank Race "Advs. of Frank Race"
    11-11-1909 - Rad Robinson - Bountiful, UT - d. 9-20-1988
    singer: (Member of the King's Men) "Fibber McGee and Molly"; "King's
    Men"
    12-11-1882 - Fiorello La Guardia - NYC - d. 9-20-1947
    NYC mayor: "Douglas Corrigan Parade"; "This Is New York"; "Reads the
    Funnies"
    12-30-1894 - Vincent Lopez - Brooklyn, NY - d. 9-20-1975
    bandleader: "Luncheon with Lopez"

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:52:31 -0400
    From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Can You Top This

    In reply to the question from Paul V. Fornatar about "Can You
    Top This?" ". . .Does anyone remember this show. I do fondly.
    I've hunted for it but can't seem to find anything. . ."

    Our website features a program with Peter Donald, who was
    the joke teller on the show, and who discusses the program.
    We also play an excerpt.

    Go to [removed] Click on "The Golden Age of
    Radio" then select Program # 43.

    Bob Scherago
    Webmaster

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:52:18 -0400
    From: Steve Lewis <stevelewis62@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Dell Four Color Comics

    Martin Grams asked:

>     Are there any web-sites that document Dell's Four Color comics other
>     than Disney comics?  They published a few old-time radio subjects and I
>     cannot find an archive on-line other than disney stuff.  Anyone have any
>     leads?

    There must be a better one, but have you seen
    [removed] ?  It's about Dell Comics in general,
    with links to many that appeared in the Four Color series, of which there
    were about 1300 or more.

    Contact me offlist, and I might be able to come up with some alternatives.

                                     Steve

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:52:45 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR comic books

>     Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:19:29 -0400
>     From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];

>     Are there any web-sites that document Dell's Four Color comics other
>     than Disney comics?  They published a few old-time radio subjects and
>     I cannot find an archive on-line other than disney stuff.  Anyone have
>     any leads? Martin

    All the Tom Corbett, Space Cadet comic books, including 11 from Dell
    and three from Prize Comics, are summarized with cover art at
    [removed] .  This site has all sorts of
    great stuff about Tom Corbett and Space Patrol, including material
    about the radio and TV shows and the Tom Corbett novels and newspaper
    comic strips.

    --
    A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
     92 State Street, Suite 700                   Fax [removed]
    Boston, MA 02109-2004           	         [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:52:57 -0400
    From: Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Can You Top This?

    Paul V. Fornatar asks if anyone remembers the show.
    If you are old enough, you definitely would because it
    was one of the most popular shows during the time it
    ran.  Listeners would write their jokes to the show,
    and each joke would belong to a category, or theme.
    The performer who read listeners' jokes actually
    dramatized the reading.  Audience laughter was
    measured by "laugh meters" which were run on the same
    principle as "applause meters", to measure the best
    audience reaction.  Three professional joke tellers
    would then each tell a joke in that category.  They
    were Harry Hirshfield, Senator (not a real senator)
    Ford, and Joe Laurie, Jr. Audience reaction was
    measured, and prizes were awarded to successful joke
    submitters from home, thus "topping" the professional
    comedians.  The three above mentioned were
    unrehearsed, not having previous knowledge of the
    categories. Thanks for reminding me of a show that I
    thought had been long since lost in my fading memory.

    Stuart Lubin

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:53:08 -0400
    From: Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  "The Great Radio Sitcoms," by Jim Cox

    All Jim's work is flawless.  The above book will be
    yet another major contribution to this great hobby.
    Jim, you do not have to be proactive or anticipate
    criticism.  Anyone who has ever read your books have
    to know that you do not make glowing mistakes.

    Stuart Lubin

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:53:32 -0400
    From: Chargous@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Adv. of the Abbotts - more previously unreleased
     episodes

    Well, I got the dates straightened out, I guess the OTTER log did have the
    same log as the one I was asking for. I was confused by the OtterPlus
    [removed]  (Hickerson's book lists the series as starting 1/2/55 and that's the
    date the AFRTS discs start.  OTTER lists a '54 season too.  Is that correct
    - anyone know?

    Anyway, the news is that after a long delay (me being too cheap to get
    around to buying a replacement microgroove stylus), I have finally dubbed
    the last of the episodes I have of the Adventures of the Abbotts and have
    some new episodes. By the time this reaches everyone, they will be
    available on usenet ([removed]).

    For those that don't have usenet, I uploaded them to mediafire (one zip
    file contains the mp3's).  The download link for Abbotts are:
    [removed]  (download is pretty self-explanatory
    - don't click on the ads).

    Bonus: the flip sides of the Adv. of the Abbotts: what are probably TV
    soundtracks of What's My Line.  [removed]

    Enjoy,
    Travis

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:53:51 -0400
    From: <otrbuff@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Can You Top This?

    Paul V. Fornatar inquires about "Can You Top This?":

>     Does anyone remember this show. I do fondly. I've hunted for it but can't

    seem to find anything. Anyone know anything about this show with Joe Laurie
    Jr.
    Senator [removed]

    But of course, Paul!  Open my book, "The Great Radio Audience Participation
    Shows" ([removed], 800-253-2187), and turn to chapter 6.  You'll
    find a complete introspection that delineates all the personnel associated
    with the show (Roger Bower, Ward Wilson, Peter Donald, Ed Ford, Harry
    Hershfield, Joe Laurie Jr., Charles Stark, et al.), data about the ratings,
    when and where the show aired, factual information, lots of anecdotal
    behind-the-scenes stuff, some typical gags used on the air and how audiences
    interacted with the show, the clever ripostes of those sterling personnel,
    brief biographies of each, the program's impact on its genre, and a
    wonderful photo showing panelists Donald, Ford, Laurie and Hershfield
    cracking up (well, it was difficult to get a dour-faced Ford to smile a
    whole lot, but three out of four seemed to be having a ball!).

    And Jay Hickerson's current guide informs us that at leat 27 Can You Top
    This? shows are out there in circulation somewhere.  Check with your nearest
    dealer if you can't locate some on somebody's website.

    Hope this helps.

    Jim Cox

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:53:43 -0400
    From: Frank McGurn <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Can You Top This

    Paul Fornatar Asked about :Can You Top This"

>     Does anyone remember this show. I do fondly. I've hunted for it but can't
>     seem to find anything. Anyone know anything about this show with Joe Laurie
>     Jr.

     I remember very well it was on the for about 14 or 15 years  on ABC,
    Mutual and NBC for various sponsor. Colgate was the sponsor in the
    1940's when the show was at it most popular time. There are about 50
    episodes listed in the "Old Time Radio Researchers" program log. So
    there are episodes [removed] have a couple.
    In the early 40's it was Saturdays at 8:30 PM  as a preteen I thought it
    was great. In those days there was not a lot of programing that I really
    liked, on Saturday nights,  so Can you Top This was great.

    Listeners would send in a joke that Peter Donald would read in his
    inimitable manner. Then the panel of Joe Laurie, Jr, Senator Ed Ford and
    Harry Hershield would tell joke on the same topic as the listeners
    topic. The audiences reaction was recored on a laugh meter. If the panel
    didn't get more laughs than the joke read by Peter Donald  The lister
    was sent $[removed], $[removed] in later [removed] Wilson was the Emcee or Host
    of the show.

    In the last years of the show (1950's) There were a lot of repeats and
    many  sponsors. In my opinion the show had run out of gas, TV was
    getting all the listeners/viewers in those [removed]

    Frank McGurn

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:54:18 -0400
    From: Wich2@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Words IN Pictures

    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];

>     Are there  any web-sites that document Dell's Four Color comics other than
>     Disney  comics?

    Martin-

    You may already know this; but the best overall site I know of is The Grand
    Comic Book Database:
    _[removed]_ ([removed])

    See you soon, God willing,
    -Craig W.

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:54:42 -0400
    From: Kevin Bristol <citadel92@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Swearing on OTR Shows

    Yesterday while in the car I was listening to X Minus 1- The Light from
    10/24/1957. Near the end of the episode they actually said "jack-ass". I
    was really, really surprised by this. Granted, I've heard "a-hole" on
    radio programs today but even that seems like it's cutting it close with
    the new FCC regulations in place thanks to Janet Jackson's wardrobe
    malfunction. Insinuating the wrong thing on the radio today leads to
    large fines.

    I have a hard time thinking that the FCC back in 1957 thought "jack-ass"
    was OK to say on a radio show.

    Does anyone else find this odd? Does anyone know, or remember, if other
    shows ever let a little curse word slip out? I've been listening to as
    much OTR as I can since I discovered it back in December of last year
    but I can honestly say this is the first time I have ever heard a swear
    word on the shows that I listen to.

    Thanks,
    Kevin

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:55:11 -0400
    From: "belanger" <belanger@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  TALLULAH BANKHEAD VS BETTE DAVIS

    While hosting THE BIG SHOW in 1950, Tallulah Bankhead often mentioned Bette
    Davis's name with mocking disparage as a way of getting a laugh. I assume it
    was predicated on the fact that Davis had given Broadway a try, and because
    she starred in the movie ALL ABOUT EVE, which Bankhead thought was based on
    her own career. Apparantly Bankhead even considered suing Warner Brothers
    over it. Was there any real animosity between Bankhead and Davis, or were
    they actually friendly toward each other?

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:23:54 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Dick Tracy on Radio

    A friend of mine asked if I knew if Ralph Byrd, the screen Dick Tracy,
    played the role on radio.  I did not know the answer but it actually had my
    curiosity.  Anyone know if this is so?
    Martin

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:26:00 -0400
    From: Bob Beckett <bobbyb1324me@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Can you top this?
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

>     Does anyone remember this show. I do fondly. I've hunted for it but
>     can't seem to find anything.

    Hi all,
      In response to Paul's query into Can You Top [removed], I'm sure many otr
    fans fondly remember this show. I own a number of copies of the show on
    cassette. The jokes are extremely CORNY but are delivered with great good
    humor and gusto by the panel of jokesters. You should be able to easily buy
    copies at various OTR sellers like Radio Spirits, etc.

      Bob B.

      *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
      ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:27:24 -0400
    From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
    To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Can You Top This?

    Paul Fornatar asks for details on this series and availability of
    audio copies.

    This variety-game show was on the air from January 1940 to July 1954.
    It was on several different networks (Mutual, NBC, ABC) at various
    times, usually weekly.

    Audio copies do exist; 27 different shows at last count and most
    internet OTR dealers have some of these in stock. Most are from the
    1940's.

    The book "Can You Top This?" came out in 1945 published by Blue
    Ribbon Books and went through several editions. In addition to bio's
    of the key comedians on the show, it has hundreds of the jokes they
    told on the air. Most used-book dealers have copies of this book for
    sale at reasonable prices.

    Jack French
    Editor: RADIO RECALL
    <[removed]>

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

    Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:54:26 -0400
    From: MarkJusticeWLGC@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  re: old-time radio comic books

    In a message dated 9/19/2007 11:06:30 [removed] Eastern Daylight Time,
    [removed]@[removed] writes:

>     Are  there any web-sites that document Dell's Four Color comics other  than
>     Disney comics?  They published a few old-time radio subjects and  I cannot
>     find an archive on-line other than disney stuff.  Anyone have  any leads?

    Martin:

    Have you tried the Grand Comics Database? You can search by publisher,
    title, artist, writer, etc.

    --Mark

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #270
    *********************************************

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