Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #244
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 7/26/2004 4:18 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2004 : Issue 244
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      bubbles silverman and rinso           [ "Robert Angus" <rangus02@[removed]; ]
      Bill Randle                           [ damyankeeinva <damyankeeinva@earthl ]
      Mary Livingstone salary               [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
      lsmft                                 [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
      Allen's Alley                         [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
      More on Moore                         [ "Tom van der Voort" <evan@[removed] ]
      Black Dahlia murder case              [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
      [removed] "Speed" Riggs auctioneer         [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]
      7-27 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Perpetuating the ol' Page drop Myth   [ Conrad Binyon <conradab@[removed] ]
      Sam Edwards / OTR in the News         [ seandd@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 20:24:21 -0400
    From: "Robert Angus" <rangus02@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  bubbles silverman and rinso
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    Has anybody out there got a copy of the Rinso jingle of the early 1940s as
    sung by Beverly Sills ("Rinso white, Rinso bright, happy little washday
    song")?  I'd love a copy.

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

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

    Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 21:54:18 -0400
    From: damyankeeinva <damyankeeinva@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Bill Randle

    I am saddened to learn of the death of Bill Randle.  Although he was mostly
    identified with Cleveland radio,  I listened to Bill when he was broadcasting
    in New York City, in one of his periods away from Cleveland. In the 1960s I
    was working in Cleveland, heard him on the air, called, and then stopped in
    to see Bill at WERE. We became friends [removed] was like that.

    I visited or called to speak with him on several other occasions. I was
    always greeted like an old friend, at that moment the most important person
    he knew. I have known only a few people with that incredible personality
    trait.  One of the others was my late friend Lon Clark, of Nick Carter fame
    and so many other broadcasts.  Another fine, warm, decent, helpful gentleman.

    Bill Randle was indeed a true gentleman.  He wanted to be (and each time was,
    quite a bit) helpful to me in researches for my book about Arthur Godfrey,
    still in the works. Randle had a huge respect for Mr. Godfrey. Not
    surprising; they were on competing stations at the same time, and Randle like
    anyone else in that time slot figured there was nothing they could do really
    to compete with Arthur Godfrey in the ratings.

    I think he held his own very well.  They met and became friends, and Randle's
    personal fondness for Mr. Godfrey went beyond that of a friendly competitor.
    I know he was proud to be in the same business.

    Over the years I spoke with Bill every once in a while.  Unfortunately, he
    had returned to Cleveland, and didn't come east to New York, at least not for
    any length of time.  I was in New Jersey and did not get back to Cleveland.
    I truly regret that.  He was a joy to be with, just as he was to hear.  He
    was invariably kind, pleasant, and always most informed and informative. On
    several occasions Randle and I talked for a very long time, our conversation
    during records he was airing, interrupted for his on-air comments.

    Many listeners, especially away from Cleveland, probably didn't know that he
    held another job at the same time he was a broadcaster.  In Cleveland and in
    New York, he was a professor in local universities.  There's another whole
    group of people who benefitted from contact with him.  All those degrees
    weren't for nothing, you know. A brilliant, highly educated student and
    teacher, yet a very down to earth guy with no pretensions, despite his
    incredible and enviable career.

    That career was unique, in many ways.  For one thing, he helped so many folk
    on their way in the entertainment business, just like our mutual friend
    Arthur Godfrey.  If you'd like to know more about this affable, brilliant
    gentleman, run a Google search for Bill Randle.  There are a number of fine,
    'though totally incomplete, inadequate tributes.  For one thing, all they
    address are his radio and music careers.  But then, that's plenty!

    I feel honored and proud to have known Bill Randle and been able to sit as
    his feet, so to speak, and bask in his sunshine.

    Lee Munsick

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

    Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 23:21:45 -0400
    From: JackBenny@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Mary Livingstone salary

>     Other than any prescribed AFRA minimums (which =anyone= with  a
>     speaking part on a scripted series received, amateur or "professional"),  it
>     would be a surprise if Sadye/"Mary" drew a regular salary, if only  because
>     of the favorable tax treatment on income received through a  corporation
>     (either the CBS-era "Amusement Enterprises" shell or whatever  other entity
>     Jack's business manager used before that) in the (bad old) days  of 90% top
>     marginal tax rates on personal income.

    I can't guarantee what the exact salary paid to Mary was, but there is a
    story about her working without salary in the Marcia Borie biography of  Benny.

    After six months on the air for Jell-O (so this would have been early  1935),
    Jell-O was not yet moving, and the entire cast was asked to take a pay  cut.
    Mary insisted that neither she nor Jack should take a cut.  She  explained,
    "I won't allow it to get around town that you've taken a cut in  salary.  It
    would be bad for you.  I can't let that happen,  Jack."  She suggested that
    both
    she and Jack work without salary at all,  rather than accept a pay cut.
    (Imagine how that would have struck many  people during the Depression!)  For
    that, the rest of the cast got the same  salary.

    Two months later, Jell-O was a roaring success.  A party was thrown at  the
    Benny's house to celebrate.  To quote Marcia Borie, "At the end of his
    speech,
    [a General Foods executive] reached into his pocket and took out a  check,
    which he presented to Mary.  It was made out for a very large  sum--the
    combined
    regular salary which Jack and Mary had given up for a total of  eight weeks."

    So I don't think Mary was working for scale.

    --Laura  Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 23:23:36 -0400
    From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  lsmft

    In the International Code we had to learn for Boy Scouts, I think LSMFT is:

    .[removed] ... -- ..-. - or

    di dah di dit    di di dit   dah dah   di di dah dit   dah

    The dit is a short tone, the dah is a long tone.  This is the preferred way
    to learn code because it associates a multi-syllabic word with each letter.

    Of course, I could never learn code to save my life.  And the 'F' might be
    wrong.

    M Kinsler

    WCBS insisted on having teletype sounds behind their 24/7 news broadcasts
    long after news services started using computer communications.

    512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 43130 740-687-6368
    [removed]~mkinsler1

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

    Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 23:24:03 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Allen's Alley

>     Listening to a 1948 Fred Allen Show, in which all the Allen's Alley
>     characters now appear as Fred and Portland walk down 'Main Street,' I
>     wondered why he decided to dump the Alley format, as the banter is about
>     the same and  just changing the locale didn't seem to add anything.

    Well, I've heard Fred Allen's last show, and they were walking down Main Street in that one.
    I always assumed that this was the only show in which they did that.  Were there others?

    --
    A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
     15 Court Square, Suite 210                 lawyer@[removed]
    Boston, MA 02108-2503           	         [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 12:14:09 -0400
    From: "Tom van der Voort" <evan@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  More on Moore

         Although Victor Moore was known primarily for his work as a comic foil
    on such programs as 'The Jimmy Durante Show', he also was a talented actor.
    For those who want to see him at his finest, I recommend the movie "Make Way
    for Tomorrow", directed by Leo McCarey who would later showcase Bing Crosby
    in "Going My Way" and "The Bells of St. Mary's".  In this depression-era
    drama, Moore and Beulah Bondi played an elderly couple who loved each other
    deeply but were forced to separate because of economic pressures.  Moore,
    who was sixty at the time, was absolutely brilliant.
     Tom van der Voort

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

    Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 14:20:00 -0400
    From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Black Dahlia murder case

    I missed this the first time around but it will be repeated tonight
    (3:30-5:30 AM Pacifice time Tuesday morning). The famous Black Dahlia murder
    case in Hollywood is discussed in a two-hour interview with KPFK's Roy of
    Hollywood and Steve Hodel (whose brother Mike hosted  "Hour 25", a sci-fi
    program on KPFK for many years. Listen at [removed] FM in southern California or
    streaming at [removed]   Steve discovers that his father was the
    murderer! Here is Roy's description of the broadcast:

    3:30-5:30 "Black Dahlia Avenger" by Steve Hodel.   By popular demand, we
    rebroadcast this amazing interview from July 13 with author Steve Hodel,
    who was a homicide detective for the LAPD and retired after 23 years of
    service.  However he was was drawn by his training, almost against his
    will, into the solution of this most notorious murder case in Hollywood
    history.  (For older listeners, Steve is the younger brother of the late
    Mike Hodel)  Program available from Pacifica Radio Archives, 1 (800)
    735-0230, [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 15:08:19 -0400
    From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  [removed] "Speed" Riggs auctioneer

    Yeah, I remember Mr. [removed] "Speed" Riggs as the
    Lucky Strike auctioneer on the old "Kay Kyser's
    Kollege of Musical Knowledge" program.  I don't
    know when it was on the air, but do remember Kay
    Kyser announcing him on the air.

    Kenneth Clarke
    OTR Fan

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

    Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 15:25:01 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  7-27 births/deaths

    July 27th births

    07-27-1890 - Judith Lowry - Fort Sill, Oklahoma Territory - d. 11-29-1976
    actress: Emma 'Stevie' Stevens "Valiant Lady"; Emmy Fergusson "Welcome Valley"
    07-27-1916 - Keenan Wynn - NYC - d. 10-14-1986
    actor: Moe 'Shrevie' Shrevnitz "The Shadow"; Gregory Smith "Amazing Mr. Smith"
    07-27-1918 - Veola Vonn - NYC - d. 10-28-1995
    actress: Dimples Wilson "Blondie"; Princess Nadji "Chandu the Magician"
    07-27-1928 - Barbara Eiler - Los Angeles, CA
    actress: Babs Riley "Life of Riley"; Millie Anderson "Day in the Life of
    Dennis Day"

    July 27th deaths

    02-22-1915 - Dan Seymour - NYC - d. 7-27-1982
    actor: Danny "Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories"
    03-25-1905 - Binnie Barnes - London, England - d. 7-27-1998
    panelist: "Leave It to the Girls"; "Breakfast with Binnie and Mike"
    04-18-1907 - Miklos Rozsa - Budapest, Hungary - d. 7-27-1995
    composer: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    05-15-1909 - James Mason - Huddersfield, England - d. 7-27-1984
    actor: "James and Pamela Mason Show"; "Studio One"
    05-29-1903 - Bob Hope - Eltham, England (Raised: Cleveland, OH) - d. 7-27-2003
    actor, comedian: Taxpayer "Quick and the Dead"; "Bob Hope Show"
    08-31-1905 - Larry Elliott - Washington, [removed] - d. 7-27-1957
    announcer: "Texaco Star Theatre"; "American Melody Hour"; "Barry Cameron"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 17:38:46 -0400
    From: Conrad Binyon <conradab@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Perpetuating the ol' Page drop Myth

    welsa wrote the [removed]@[removed]:

>     My, that sure is a lot of paper on the floor of that 1924 shot.  Almost too
>     much to be scripts.  Me thinks, since the actors seem to be "acting" more
>     than was required in radio, that the paper may be there for sound effects.
>     Shuffling feet through the sand, or grass, or whatever.

    Yikes!  I'm watching "Annie" over my suscribed
    HBO/Cinemax cable channel, and there is a radio
    scene with Peter Marshall, "Bert Healy" and Albert
    Finney as "Daddy Warbucks" at the microphone
    during the nationwide search scenes for "Annie's"
    parents.  It shows them not only dropping script pages

    on the floor, but Finney, in character,  actually
    misreads parenthetically enclosed directions [removed]
    (drop page)
    over the air in his confusion.  Even the backup
    singers are holding scripts and dropping pages.  No
    wonder the idea persists that such a practice was
    universally done in  the industry.  It's in the
    movies!

    CAB

    --
    conradab@[removed] (Conrad A. Binyon)
    Encino, CA
    Home of the Stars who loved Ranches and Farms

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

    Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 17:43:30 -0400
    From: seandd@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Sam Edwards / OTR in the News

    First, let me note with sadness the passing of Sam Edwards, who I have seen
    perform many times at REPS and FOTR.  I will say that he didn't look like he
    was in very good health at REPS this year but he gamely made it through the
    show, being the guest of honor.  He sang at dinner, acted and told a moving
    anecdote of his service to our troops during WWII.  He told the story of
    serving his country with honor by writing and performing in morale-boosting
    shows.  He received a personal note of thanks from future president Reagan
    for his work in Los Angeles and was eventually attached to General Patton's
    troops.

    As the grandson of a great vaudvillian family, he was definitely one of the
    last links to that era of entertainment, a walking history lesson and very
    nice man to boot.  As Joy Jackson noted in her remembrance, he was
    quick-witted through the end, constantly breaking up panels and even
    performances with ad libs and quips.

    And now scarely a month later, he's gone.  Abby Lewis and Jeanette Nolan both
    went the same way -- delivering great starring performances at FOTR in Newark
    before dying just a short time afterwards.  I guess it's how we would all
    like to go, to be in command of your facilities and able to use them right up
    until the end.

    On a lighter note, the still-living radio veteran Alan Young has a profile in
    today's Muncie (IN) Times.

    Sean Dougherty
    SeanDD@[removed]

    ALAN Young's screen career remembered for horsing around
    Munster Times - Munster,IN,USA
    ... show was Bamboo Harvester, who was 11 years old at the ... During the
    season's run, the only time Mr. Ed ... glasses, a TV, photos of relatives
    and friends and musical ...
    <[removed]
    [removed];

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #244
    *********************************************

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