Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #100
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 3/28/2005 3:01 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2005 : Issue 100
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  New WOTW/Quicksilver radio            [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
  Twilight Zone DVD                     [ seandd@[removed] ]
  Post OTR-era OTR actors               [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
  Re: SFX & "Show Biz"                  [ Hal Stone <otrjug@[removed]; ]
  Re: "The Horror [removed]"            [ jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns) ]
  Zacherly                              [ "John DiMezzes" <jadm1@[removed] ]
  Mrs. Roosevelt's margarine ad         [ Jodie Peeler <raisingirl@mindspring ]
  John Zacherle                         [ "[removed]" <asajb2000@ ]
  Re: WOR Horror Reader - Brother Theo  [ Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@earthlin ]
  Best sound effects                    [ Jer51473@[removed] ]
  Re: Best Sound Effects - "The Lineup  [ Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@earthlin ]
  last nbc announcer? & best sound eff  [ "Joseph" <drjoewebb@[removed]; ]
  "Best," sound effects.                [ <fc90030@[removed]; ]
  Girl ghoul                            [ Bhob <bhob2@[removed]; ]
  "Couple on "My Favorite Husband"      [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]
  Re: John Zacherley                    [ Brent Pellegrini <brentpl@rocketmai ]
  "Nightbeat"                           [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]
  SFX: The Lone Ranger, and Location R  [ Richard Fish <fish@lodestone-media. ]
  HORROR READER???                      [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 10:15:51 -0500
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  New WOTW/Quicksilver radio
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Hi Gang:

My good buddy Jim Widner, "the Sultan of [removed]," mentioned the upcoming Steven
Spielberg/Tom Cruise version of [removed] Wells's "The War of the Worlds":

Coming on June 29th is Steven Spielberg's take on the [removed] Wells classic
War of the Worlds. The film follows more the original film with Gene
Barry rather than the book or radio drama and stars Tom Cruise in a sort
of updated Barryesque role.  Hopefully, Speilberg won't disappoint.

Incidentally, some key scenes of this new WOTW were filmed in in the Ironbound
section of Newark, a section  to the east & south of Newark's Penn Station (so
called "Ironbound" because it's bordered on all sides  by RR tracks),  which
is now largely a Portuguese & Brazilian enclave (great
restaurants!).Ironically, one of the main thoroughfares that runs through this
neighbourhood is Raymind Bulevard (named after a one-time mayor of Newark),
which, of course, is mentioned in Orson Welles' WOTW.

Speaking of the "Mercury Theatre," I'd like to say to my pal Craig Wichmann,
artistic director and "anchor" of the NYC-area OTR/
[removed] [modern audio drama]  re-creation group the Quicksilver Radio Theatre:
Hey, I finally get it! (It took me a  while). "Quicksilver" is an alternate
name for the chemical element "mercury," and, hence, Craig's repertory
company's name was devised as a in-joke  and in tribute to Orson and his
fellow "Mercurians."

Clever.

Yours in the ionosphere,

Derek Tague

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Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 10:16:07 -0500
From: seandd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Twilight Zone DVD

This review of the upcoming DVD release of The Twilight Zone television series mentions OTR stars Agnes Morehead and Jack Benny, both of whom appear in the set.

Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]

[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 10:16:42 -0500
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Post OTR-era OTR actors
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It's me again;

With the recent discussion of the passing of one-time OTR comedy writer and TV
sitcom mogul
Paul Henning, I was reminded that I read somewhere (probably here) that Mr.
Henning's daughter
Linda Kaye Henning, who played one of the daughters on her dad's show
"Petticoat Junction," is quite
involved in a group (possibly Peggy Webber'[removed])) that stages OTR
re-creations. I also know that
William Windom, likewise, involves himself in the furtherance of the lost art
of audio dramatizations.

Would somebody "flesh out" the details of Ms. Henning's and Mr. Windom's
retro-OTR careers? Also,
what other "post-OTR era" actors from 1960s-1970s TV are also active in
OTR-related pursuits?
Although, Ron Sayles is quite remarkable in digging up OTR credits on
virtually any performer, I'm
talking about folks primarily known for TV.

Thanks in advance from the ether!

Derek Tague

[removed]:  I know this is going to sound sacrilegious, but I can think of one lone
example in which the
TV version of a particular show was actually better than its OTR counterpart:
"Green Acres" was
actually funnier than "Granby's Green Acres," but that might be an unfair
comparison being that
the Eddie Albert version lasted six years, and "Granby's" was a limited series
heard as a summer
replacement.

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Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 10:17:43 -0500
From: Hal Stone <otrjug@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: SFX & "Show Biz"

There is no question or debate that radio Sound Effects were an extremely
important aspect of the "industry". Without SFX, much of the reality of plot
situations and action would fall way short of believability.

Now, maybe I'm telling tales out of school, but the men (and a few women)
responsible for creating and implementing Sounds effects fell into two
categories. At least as far the actors were concerned.

98 percent of these "artists" were journeymen Pros. The other 2% were
prima-donnas.

This particularly anomaly, (SFX practitioners seeking "stardom") manifested
itself primarily during Studio Audience broadcasts.

It has recently been documented here in the Digest that during, and
following, OTR Convention recreations, many people are fascinated by the
sound effects equipment. And quite understandably. That was true back in the
glory days of OTR as well.

However, in the good old days, there were some SFX personnel, (who shall be
nameless), who became enamored of the attention directed at them during
these live studio audience broadcasts, and "Played" to the audience. This
manifested itself by their creating many of the effects with great
flourishes, and exaggerated body movement. This really irked many of the
performers on the show. They felt it distracted from the flow of the script,
and continuity of the dialogue.

I hasten to add, I'm not speaking for myself concerning this resentment on
the part of some of the performers, but I certainly was aware of the
problem, heard numerous complaints from actors over the years, and often saw
some of the SFX personnel "Ham it up" a bit too much.

These few "Standouts" obviously were bitten by the "Show Biz" bug, and
considered themselves to be "performers", and not technicians. I guess some
folks would consider SFX to be an art form. Certainly, one would prefer
working with a "talented" SFX man. But a few carried it to extremes when the
"spotlight" was on them.

Just thought I'd add another "insider" slant to this recent thread about
SFX.

Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:25:55 -0500
From: jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: "The Horror [removed]"

I suspect that Lee Munsick is remembering the late, great, Brother
Theodore.

Much later in life, Theodore made a splash as a semi-regular guest, with
David [removed]

For years, up until the time of his death, I think, Brother Theodore,
would do his one-man show, Saturday nights--was it at midnight?--at the
13th Street Repertory Company Theatre, in [removed]

Jim Burns

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:26:11 -0500
From: "John DiMezzes" <jadm1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Zacherly

To add a little bit to Lee Munsick's memories of Zacherly, the TV channel in
Philadelphia was WCAU, Channel 10.  When he began his ghoul impersonation in
Philly, he was called Roland (Roe-lahhnd), not Zacherly.

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: [removed] / Virus Database: [removed] - Release Date: 3/27/2005

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:26:32 -0500
From: Jodie Peeler <raisingirl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Mrs. Roosevelt's margarine ad

hello all --

A. Joseph Ross wrote:

I seem to remember that Eleanor Roosevelt did a margarine commercial
in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

IIRC, David Ogilvy wrote in his classic "Ogilvy on Advertising" that
hiring Mrs. Roosevelt for the commercial was one of the worst ideas he'd
ever had.  People remembered Mrs. Roosevelt but forgot the product.

I seem to recall "Ogilvy on Advertising" has a still from the ad.
However, since my copy's at my office and I'm not at work today, I can't
cite specifics with absolute metaphysical certitude.

Jodie Peeler

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:26:53 -0500
From: "[removed]" <asajb2000@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  John Zacherle

John Zacherle is still around, frequenting fan and
horror-show conventions (he's nearly 90 now).
He was the host of the horror movies on TV and
following that he worked on radio on WPLJ when it was
album-rock (1970's-1980's).  He obviously goes way
back, when the drop ins during the move breaks were
done live.

Andy Blatt

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:27:45 -0500
From: Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: WOR Horror Reader - Brother Theodore?

on 3/28/05 9:19 AM, Herr Munsick wrote:

There was a deliciously evil sounding monologist who held out in some New
York night spot.  <<SNIP>>  As I recall, his venue was perhaps more
akin to the coffee houses of the 60s.

***It sounds to me as if my ol' buddy Lee is recalling the
delightfully-macabre Brother Theodore, who continued to perform his bizarre
one-man monologues well into the 1990s.  I attended his final performance
with Forrest J. Ackerman (FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND's legendary
Ackermonster).  I seem to recall that Theodore mentioned a radio background
when we talked after the show.

BTW, Brother Theodore ([removed] Theodore Gottlieb) also portrayed Nazi agent
Fairbright in Orson Welles' 1946 film THE STRANGER.  He also appeared
onscreen alongside radio-veteran Gerald Mohr in THE LONE WOLF IN MEXICO, and
voiced Gollum in two animated TV films, THE HOBBIT (1977) and THE RETURN OF
THE KING (1980). --Anthony Tollin***

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:27:53 -0500
From: Jer51473@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Best sound effects
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had to be the action programs, especially westerns, as sound effects were
much more vital than in soaps, sit coms, [removed] Along with action programs,
sound
effects were also vital for good suspense programs. I cant remember any
program that i listened to that was unsatifactory or that excelled to me. The
content was what got and still does get my attention. I guess westerns in
particular
require outstanding effects and i had no problem with the lone ranger, tom
mix, six shooter, and maybe a couple of others. I never listened to gunsmoke,
have gun, etc., as to me that was the tv era and i listened to only the "old"
established radio programs during the early tv days. I have tried these
westerns
in recent years, however, but to me they are tv, not radio. There is too much
real otr out there for me to go that route.

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Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:28:27 -0500
From: Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re: Best Sound Effects - "The Lineup"

on 3/28/05 9:19 AM, Larry wrote:

There was another police drama like Dragnet with equally incredible sound
effects. <SNIP> When first heard it I thought I was listening to [removed]
but Joe Friday was [removed] remember that? I want to say it was
The Lineup, but I'm not sure that's [removed]

***It definitely sounds as if you're recalling THE LINEUP, a superb CBS
series that starred former-Shadow Bill Johnstone, was frequently scripted by
Blake Edwards and aired from 1950 through 1953 on radio and from 1954
through 1960 on television.  It was basically CBS' DRAGNET clone, and
probably featured many of the same sound effects artists as GUNSMOKE.  BTW,
the TV version of THE LINEUP actually outlasted the network run of the
DRAGNET TV series. The stories on THE LINEUP TV series (and possibly the
radio show as well) were based on actual cases of the San Francisco Police
Department, just as DRAGNET's were based on [removed] cases. --Anthony
Tollin***

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:29:47 -0500
From: "Joseph" <drjoewebb@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  last nbc announcer? & best sound effects

isn't don pardo the last staff announcer (did he depart this world when i
wasn't paying attention or have i just not watched saturday night live for a
long time?

gunsmoke had the best sound effects by far. it helped that the show was in
the 1950s and had all toe trials and errors of those who preceeded them, as
well as much better technology than their predecessors had.

of course, the best sound effects equipment was mel blanc :)

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:30:05 -0500
From: <fc90030@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  "Best," sound effects.

I have to agree with many who have praised, "Gunsmoke," "Dragnet," and
other OTR dramas. But, I am amazed, amused, and astounded that no one
has so far mentioned the number one radio sound effect of all time.  Yes, I'm
aware that saying that is something that could be considered exagerating. ;:
You see, I am also confident that as soon as I state it nearly everyone
reading
this post will agree with me. The absolute number one and greatest sound
effect achievement in the history of radio [removed]
....FIBBER  MCGEE'S HALL CLOSET!

The regular, "little," sound effects at 79 Wistful Vista were pretty doggon
good too.
Regards,
Frank Coopersmith

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:29:33 -0500
From: Bhob <bhob2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Girl ghoul

[removed] I suspect the novelty grew thin when the same kind of
costume and approach was successfully taken over by a series of female
copiers around the country, many of whom utilized variations on his name
or such as Vampira, etc.

When John Zacherle launched his Zacherley character on WCAU in 1957,
that was four years after Maila Nurmi won a 1953 LA masquerade ball in
her creepy costume and was spotted by Hunt Stromberg Jr. She then began
horror hosting as Vampira on KABC early in 1954, followed by articles
about her in NEWSWEEK (May 1954) and LIFE (June 1954). Nurmi, now 84
years old, was portrayed by Lisa Marie in Tim Burton's ED WOOD (1994).
[removed]

I can't remember where I read this: Nurmi and James Dean, during a
late-night date at Googie's restaurant, devised a hipster fish
character, and that sketch then passed through sevveral hands to become
Charlie the Starkist Tuna.

Bhob @ NEWSPAPER COMIC STRIPS (1900-1950) @
[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:43:35 -0500
From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  "Couple on "My Favorite Husband"

     I just want some validation on some OTR I have.
Someone just stated, as fact, that the married couple
on OTR's "My Favorite Husband" were ALWAYS named George
and Liz Cooper.  I told him that it started out as George
and Liz Cugat, but the names were changed later to
George and Liz Cooper.  I even have a few eps of this
program where they were the Cugats.

     I still recall them being refered to as the couple
'who lived together and liked it'.  Isn't this true as
well?  I just thought I'd write and see which one of
us has the correct info.

     When was this program on the air?

As always,

Kenneth Clarke

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:06:45 -0500
From: Brent Pellegrini <brentpl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: John Zacherley

I have an old 45 from when I was a kid by this guy called
Dinner with Drac or something to that effect.

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:07:01 -0500
From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  "Nightbeat"

     Could anyone provide me with any info regarding
an OTR program titled "Nightbeat"?  I listened to an
ep of it last night and really liked it.  Are there
any specific on it?  (Who starred on it, how long did
it last, was it very popular, did it launch the careers
of any OTR performers,etc.)

     Whatever info anyone could provide would be
appreciated.

     BTW, which detective drama and/or mystery program
was the best, IYHO (in your humble opinions)?

As always,

Kenneth Clarke

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:10:26 -0500
From: Richard Fish <fish@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  SFX: The Lone Ranger, and Location Recording

I'd like to put in a word backing up Steve Kallis' kudo for the Lone
Ranger crew when it comes to SFX. I have an episode where the Ranger is
confronting the bad guys in a cabin; it's at night and there's a lamp in
the room. Good old Tonto, peering in the window, shoots out the lamp and
the Ranger makes his escape.

The SFX sequence in that is just superb -- and all on its own, not
specifically laid out in the dialog. If memory serves, you hear the
Ranger's boots cross a wooden floor littered with shards of glass, then
onto a wooden floor with no glass (the front room), then onto yet
another wooden surface (the front porch), down a step or two and onto a
hard-packed dirt surface, then onto grass, then into brush, where he
meets up with his Faithful Indian Companion who has the horses waiting,
and they mount and ride away. Such detail! The crew at WXYZ has got to
be one of the best ever.

And I've just got to say something about "Hayward Sanitarium." Steve
Jansen wrote:

Also, for a bit of ultra-realism (but not OLD time radio) give a
listen to "Hayward Sanitarium" (recorded with the binaural process,
if I remember correctly).

"Hayward" is not OTR, as it was produced in the 1990s, and I got a big
charge out of finding this mention here. Truth is, group of college
students, complete novices, took over my recording studio and created
the series while I stood around and gawked in amazement. They did let me
act, but the writing, recording and production were all theirs; it went
to NPR Playhouse twice, and is still selling on CD at Lodestone.

Steve was slightly wrong about one thing: it was not the "binaural"
process. That involves using a fake head with microphones implanted in
the ears; Tom Lopez at ZBS has done quite a bit of this. "Hayward" was
recorded on location, with a mid-side stereo microphone used like a
movie camera. Binaural recordings require headphones to be heard at
their best, but the single-point stereo mic technique is optimized for
listening over speakers -- and is fully mono-compatible.

The location-production technique, along with digital (DAT) recording,
is what gave "Hayward" its intensely detailed and (to my ears, anyway)
extremely realistic sound.

Now, a question for the group: are there any examples of location
production from the Golden Age?  I'm talking about drama or comedy (not
news!) produced with the actors outside the studio, with mics picking up
the actual sounds of the place and the players.

Norman Corwin told me he used this method once, for a single sequence in
one of his programs. In "El Capitan And The Corporal," the principals
are in a train station, trying to catch their train, and don't know what
platform it's on. They are heard running up and down stairways in the
station, and Norman said that he used a stairway outside the studio,
placing a mic at the top and another at the bottom, and had the actors
run up and down while delivering their lines. The footsteps, the
acoustic sound of the stairwell, the effort, and the breathlessness in
their lines were all completely natural.

Anybody else ever try this, back in the old days?

Richard Fish
aka Professor Hauptmann
aka Robert The Orderly
aka The Announcer

--
"Post proofs that brotherhood is not so wild a dream as those who profit
by postponing it pretend." -- Norman Corwin, 1945

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

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 15:36:20 -0500
From: PURKASZ@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  HORROR READER???
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In a message dated 3/28/2005 10:19:18 [removed] Eastern Standard Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:

I'm  sorry I can't recall the name of the first chap.  Perhaps another  reader
here can.  I have no idea what happened to him,  either!

I have a feeling Lee may be referring to the great  Brother Theodore, a New
York fixture of macabre readings and eerie one-night  appearances at coffee
Houses in the late 50s early 60s. I suppose he would also  have done some
radio.
    He did release a single LP which I also have  somewhere in a storage
vault.
    Look this guy up folks, he's quite a character and  sadly no longer with
us.
    I believe there is one appearance on TV on a  Letterman Show during a
Halloween night some years ago.
    He specialized in reading from the horror texts of  Poe and Clark Ashton
Smith then riffing off into commentary in a ghoulish  distorted 'mad
scientist' monologist with a thick Viennese accent.
    Most enjoyable when I used to play him on my radio  shows back in 1962.
    If anyone finds more recorded material by him would  you please contact
me privately?
    Thanks and good night.
                Michael  C. Gwynne

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