------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 458
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Thoughts [ Midmitvguy@[removed] ]
a Very odd otr request [ benohmart@[removed] ]
Secret Messages and Jean Shepherd [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
Re: Christmas shows without Christma [ "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed]; ]
Weekends with Walden Hughes [ BryanH362@[removed] ]
Skippy [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
skippy [ chris chandler <chrischandler84@yah ]
Re:Durant Program [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
Re: Final Benny Radio Show [ "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed]; ]
Percy Crosby's Skippy [ Bhob Stewart <bhob2@[removed]; ]
Two queries [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
Re: Durant Motor Company [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
Andrew Tietjan [ "Don Frey" <alanladdsr@[removed] ]
MP3s and Mary Benny [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
The Cinnamon Bear [ "Norman & Karen Schickedanz" <schic ]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 10:42:02 -0500
From: Midmitvguy@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Thoughts
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Just read Ron Sayles birth/death page for today Dec 26th and saw that
Jack Benny passed way today in 74. I normally commute an hour to work
one-way,
so today I will select my favorite Jack Benny episode to honor him. I was not
fortunate to grow up in front of the warm glow of a radio, but was luck
enough to have someone in my family who was into old radio. Being only 12 at
the
time and not realizing what I was listening to. All I remember is that my
uncle would come up from the Detroit area with his tape player and I would
lay on
the floor and listen to the wonderful stories he would bring on cassettes.
Today my collection is so enormous that I can't keep track of them.
While talking with a colleague at work, finding out that he knew the
Beamer family (Brace's) and the next time he went back to northern Michigan he
would get in touch with them and tell them about me, hopefully I can get with
them and talk about the Detroit era of radio shows. Well, back to work. May
all
of you with e-shot of this list have a very safe and fun holiday season.
Dave
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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:09:45 -0500
From: benohmart@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: a Very odd otr request
Is there anyone here, or someone who knows someone offlist, who is a marriage
counsellor or psychiatrist/psychologist? I'm trying to get my Bickersons
biography done
within the next 3 months, and would like a professional opinion to quote on
the
Bickersons characters and its comedy. Email me if you can help. THANKS!
Ben Ohmart
The Paul Frees biography
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:11:17 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Secret Messages and Jean Shepherd
Charles Sexton, speaking to the Ralphie story, observed,
While I love the Christmas Story movie, the scriptwriters must have written
the scene of Ralphie decoding Annie's secret message to provide another laugh
in that marvelous film. A message of a couple of words about tomorrow's
adventure without knowing anything about what had preceded it wouldn't bring
much response from the audience. A message that touted the Sponsor's
product, however, was sure to bring a guffaw or two.
Well, actually, they did it because Jean Shepherd created it. I've heard
one monologue where "Shep" was reminiscing on the supposed event. He'd
related that his family was poor and couldn't afford Ovaltine, though he
really wanted a Decoder Pin. Finally, he found a used Ovaltine container
and was able to send off for one. The first message he deciphered was
the plug for Ovaltine, according to his story.
But it wasn't credible. A six-word message was longer than the usual
two- to four-word form. Also, "Ovaltine" contains eight letters, far
longer than most words. As mentioned, every message enciphered for the
Captain Midnight program was involved with the following episode; I'm
certain that Little Orphan Annie was likewise, based on my visit to
Ovaltine headquarters. (It's worth mentioning that in the monologue I
heard the story in, "Shep" enthusiastically speaks of the Harold Grey
comic-strip character, The Asp, and described him minutely. However, his
description didn't fit The Asp; rather, it fit Punjab, another Grey
character. If he could make _that_ mistake, one should question his
credibility anent Little Orphan Annie in general.)
The problem is that for anyone who hasn't heard the show, it provokes a
good guffaw, but spreads an inaccuracy. In the cosmic scheme, I suppose,
it makes little difference as to whether such an event happened, but this
diminishes the integrity of the real OTR history.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:12:36 -0500
From: "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Christmas shows without Christmas songs
"Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed]; asked the musical question:
I have noticed that on a lot of the Christmas episodes of
OTR shows the subject matter might be Christmas but
many times the music will not be Holiday related.
Was there a reason for this?
Just to name three prominent examples that tend to go against the
questioner's foundation, the annual Christmas programs of Fibber McGee &
Molly (The King's Men's "A Visit From St. Nicholas"), Amos & Andy (Amos' "The
Lord's Prayer") and Jack Benny (Dennis Day's "Ave Maria") were all known for
their holiday-related songs, while Bing Crosby's programs often carried
holiday-themed music throughout the entire Advent season.
True, there were other shows that shied away from holiday music, largely
because they would not fit within the program's format. Can you imagine Sgt.
Friday or Ed "Archie" Gardner leading a group of carolers? Or a sloppy,
sentimental, Christmas-music-themed, Very Special Episode of the Henry Morgan
show? Or Raymond Johnson and the Lipton Tea girl in a few choruses of "Baby,
It's Cold Outside"? To say nothing of Teddy Barbour's annual rendition of
"Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer"?
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:12:48 -0500
From: BryanH362@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Weekends with Walden Hughes
Where? Yesterday USA
When ? 10:30 pm EST/ 7:30 PST Fri, Sat , Sun.
[removed] for live streaming.
Highlights for this weekend include :
Friday 12-26-03 Frank Bresee interview's Gloria Jean.
Saturday 12-27-03 replay of Frank Bresee's interview with Les Tremayne.
Sunday 12-28-03
Replay of interview with Kenny Guardner singer with the Guy Lombardo band ,
and also Al Pierson the current band leader of the Guy Lumbardo band .
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:15:05 -0500
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Skippy
While preparing "Frank and Anne Hummert's Radio Factory: The Programs and
Personalities of Broadcasting's Most Prolific Producers" which McFarland &
Co. released earlier this year, I did some extensive research into the
juvenile series titled Skippy, one of the Hummerts' 125 identifiable
airwaves series. There are several mentions of the program in my book. The
concise summary of it reads:
"Based on Percy Crosby's animated newspaper strip, the serial focuses on
Skippy Skinner and his young friends. Skippy's physical and ethical traits
magnify the wisdom and courage he exhibits as their leader. Trouble finds
these kids, although it usually overtakes them in humorous fashion. 1932,
NBC; 1932-1935, CBS."
Initially penned by Robert Hardy Andrews, one of the Hummerts' earliest and
most prolific scribes, and later by Roland Martini, Skippy was a Tom Sawyer
character perceived as "a less neurotic Charlie Brown." Andrews depicted
him as "a rascal, ever testing his parents' patience by figuring out
honorable ways of fooling them without actually lying." Promotional plugs
assured the parents of radio fans that the program was "a great
character-building force free from objectionable situations." Despite that
claim, not all listeners were as enchanted as the children and General
Mills:
"A Scarsdale woman told a meeting of her Parent-Teacher Association that
'Skippy' was a dangerous and degrading form of entertainment, and newspapers
everywhere printed her charges. A panel of psychologists hired by Hummert
pooh-poohed the Scarsdale lady's fears and said that the loud and
rambunctious adventure serial was a good thing for America's over-cloistered
young. A kidnapping sequence in the story aroused criticism. Although it
was written long after the Lindbergh case, indignant ministers and editorial
writers denounced it as an attempt to profit by exploiting a tragedy. A new
story line was instantly devised, and Andrews wrote twenty-five scripts in
five days to catch up. Percy Crosby, who had been moaning and wringing his
hands over his mild little character's lost innocence, breathed easier. But
'Skippy' was not to last much longer. General Mills was disturbed when they
heard that Andrews was not only a newspaperman but a writer of books; the
chances were they had a drinking fellow and a bohemian on their hands, and
this might get to the listening women and distress them. To forestall old
wives' tales and young mothers' fears, Andrews had himself photographed
eating Wheaties and sliced bananas with the child actors of 'Skippy.'"
Skippy Skinner stood out among "his fellow small boys." His body and
ethical character were strong, a combination that positively enhanced the
wisdom and courage he so aptly demonstrated beyond his years. His cohorts
included Sooky Wayne, Jim Lovering and Carol (who, oddly enough, had no
known surname). The kids' specialty was in engaging trouble, although the
series took a humorous twist rather than a serious one most of the time.
Needless to say, the fearless foursome probably appealed to more boys than
girls in Radioland.
Rejected for the narrative's lead, actor Charles Flynn was to turn up in an
even more important Hummert fixture a while later (Jack Armstrong, the
All-American Boy). The title role of Skippy was instead awarded to Franklin
Adams, Jr., Francis Smith appeared as Sooky, St. John Terrell as Jim and
Patricia Ryan as Carol. David Owen directed.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:16:31 -0500
From: chris chandler <chrischandler84@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: skippy
Can you help? I was given the nickname Skippy
because my mother listened to a radio program with
that charecter. I was born in 1946. Can you help me
ID the program?
This could be Cliff's son "Skippy" from One Man's
Family, though I'd hate to ask about your mother's
mindset if so! :) Skippy was born Andrew in the late
'[removed] mother died in childbirth, and Cliff refused
to have anything to do with the child, or even call
him by his given name. Hence the nickname.
Like most of the Barbour grandchildren, Skippy was a
minor presence in the narrative for most of the
[removed] occasionally served as a "spoiler" for his
father's romances. As he grew into adulthood, Andrew
(no longer Skippy) became much more important to the
story--as the only true Barbour heir, he had a special
place in Father Barbour's affections, and the old man
was devastated when Andy fell in love with a woman who
could bear no children. The end of the Barbour line
had apparently arrived.
Andrew also served as a link between Cliff and his
family after Cliffie "moved to Scotland"--the actor
who played him had died, and the character was never
heard on the air again. Andrew's occasional presence
served as a reminder Cliff was supposedly still alive.
chris
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:17:21 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re:Durant Program
On 12/26/03 10:12 AM [removed]@[removed] wrote:
[removed]
In brief, this was a series called "Durant Heroes Of The World," which
ran from the winter of 1929 thru the spring of 1930. It featured dramatic
sketches based on the lives of famous historical personalities, along
with musical interludes under the direction of Dana S. Merriman (best
known for his musical setting of "In Flanders Field," a favorite at
Armistice Day pageants during the 1920s.) The acting talent came from the
NBC-New York stock company, and the program was announced by
diction-award-winner Alwyn Bach.
You could find program-by-program details on it by checking the WEAF logs
and NBC Master Books at the Library of Congress, which contain much
specific information on NBC's New York-originated programming.
No recordings exist.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:19:34 -0500
From: "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Final Benny Radio Show
"William Schell" <bschell@[removed]; asked the following about Plainfield's
finest:
In earlier posts on the final Jack Benney radio show it was mentioned Mary
Livingston dubbed her lines. Exactly what does this mean? Thanks
Jack's wife was not a professional performer by any stretch, and it was only
a combination of dire need and convenience that got her in front of a
microphone in the first place (the show needed a crazy female fan from
Plainfield, NJ in 1933, and none of the auditioners filled the bill; Sadye
Marks was in the studio that night and was pressed into service, astounding
Benny's staff with her performance).
Over the years, Sadye's nervousness and insecurity over her lack of
professional experience manifested itself in a number of ways. The one that
is relevant here is the case of "mike fright" which she developed over the
years. There were the numerous and infamous line fluffs, of course, but there
were also hysterical illnesses which kept her away from the studio for weeks
at a time. (At least twice, these "attacks" were so sudden, she was replaced
by her actual sister, the real-life "Babe" Marks.)
By the early 1950s, her fears were so severe that she could no longer appear
before an audience. The character was so important to the program, though,
that there was never a serious thought of dropping or recasting her. The
availability of then-modern recording technology, in conjunction with the
successes of pre-recorded and edited shows like those of Bing Crosby and
Groucho Marx (prior to which, nearly all sponsors and/or networks demanded
their shows air live), allowed Benny to keep Mary =and= keep his wife in the
role.
To do this, another actress was hired to perform the "Mary Livingstone" lines
for a studio audience (Dunning's "Tune In Yesterday" suggests these were
"unnamed actresses", but Jack and Sadye's daughter Joan has since asserted
that she was the primary "unnamed"). this performance would be handed to
Hilliard Marks (Sadye's brother and, by this time, Jack's producer) who would
then bring Sadye in to a private studio where he would direct her performance
of Mary Livingstone's lines to be spliced into the broadcast tape in place of
those recorded in front of a live audience.
By the last radio season, though, Sadye's fears were so strong that she often
could not even be coaxed into these dubbing sessions. Sometimes her
unwillingness to work in a given week was known in advance and the writers
were able to get her out of a particular show. Other times, though, she would
become skittish before or even =during= a dubbing session, forcing Hilliard
to use the undubbed version unless Jack and some combination of friends and
staff could get her to change her mind.
After the 1955 radio season, Sadye called it quits. Other than four filmed
episodes of the Benny TV series (in which she agreed to appear on the
condition that they be filmed in Europe, so she could get a fashionable
summer vacation out of the deal), Mary's only subsequent public appearance
was a single Tonight Show spot with family friend Johnny Carson in the late
1970s.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:24:10 -0500
From: Bhob Stewart <bhob2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Percy Crosby's Skippy
NEWSDAY article (11/10/02) traces the tragic events of SKIPPY creator
Percy Crosby's life: [removed]
The long-running legal battle of Percy Crosby's daughter vs. Skippy
Peanut Butter: [removed]
[removed]
Cover of 1934 comic book used as a radio show giveaway:
[removed]
Bhob @ VINTAGE NEWSPAPER COMIC STRIPS @
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:25:04 -0500
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Two queries
I have received a couple of queries to my web site. If anyone can help,
please email directly to the query:
"Who was the radio character "Skippy"? I was born in 1946 and mom gave me
the nickname because of a radio soap opera she listened to. Thanks for any
help you can provide.
From: Albert Latson <alatson@[removed];"
" I am looking for information on "The Old Professor" who did some
wonderful bits "Lil bo peep" and "Grammas Lye Soap" can you help?
From: Harry Crisson <hbcris@[removed];"
Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:57:02 -0500
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Durant Motor Company
At 10:11 AM 12/26/2003, Rick Botti wrote:
"Nation-wide radio program every Sunday at 7 [removed] (Eastern
Standard Time) through WEAF, New York and 39 associated
stations of the National Broadcasting Company."
This program was called "Durant Heroes of the World" and featured
biographies in dramatic form of famous people. The information comes from
Harrison Summers book. It was a 30 minute program over NBC on Sundays at
7:00 [removed] and appears to have lasted only one year nationally (at least).
Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 13:28:02 -0500
From: "Don Frey" <alanladdsr@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Andrew Tietjan
I would appreciate any help in locating shows by organist Andrew Tietjan
who did do some work for CBS in 1942. My understanding is that he had some
organ
recitals programs during that year, before being drafted into the army. E.
Power Biggs took over the series at that time. Mr. Tietjan's son, Peter, is
eager to locate any tapes or recordings.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 13:41:57 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: MP3s and Mary Benny
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Kurt Yount asked?
Did anybody ever come out with a definitive Jack Benny series on MP3?
The IJBFC audio library has endeavored to collect as many of the best-quality
MP3s available. The whole library takes nine CDs. I don't know that I'd
call it the definitive collection, as we're always looking to improve.
However
it is pretty good. For more information, go to [removed], then
Programs, then IJBFC Library.
And Bill Schell asked:
In earlier posts on the final Jack Benney radio show it was mentioned Mary
Livingston dubbed her lines. Exactly what does this mean? Thanks
As Mary had developed quite bad stage nerves, she wanted to quit the show
(the exact year on this is a matter of debate). However someone (some sources
say it was her brother, Hickey Marks, but I have my doubts on that) came up
with
the idea that she could record her lines at home and then have them edited
into the show. So she would sit in her room or the library, and her cues
would
be fed to her by Hickey or George Balzer. In the actual performance, her
standin would occasionally be Joan Benny, or script secretary Jeanette
Eyemann, or
another actress.
This has given rise to a few interesting points. One is that there are two
copies of the 5/22/55 [removed] with Mary, and one without. Another is
that in these dubbed shows, Mary has very few lines and (if you're listening
for it) you can hear the difference in sound dynamic between her lines and
everyone else's. On one of the shows, the standin blew a line ("they were
walking
in on their heads") which got a tremendous audience reaction. So in recording
her lines, Mary was forced to intentionally blow the line.
And the final strange note is that while some biographies indicate that Mary
did this "from then on" (when the decision was made), that doesn't seem to be
true and it only happened from time to time. A CBS employee in the 50s
recalls Mary being in the live performances that she saw, and there's enough
vocal
overlap that there's little or no way that Mary could have been dubbed in many
of the shows. Ask me in a year or so about which ones were and weren'[removed]'s
part of a big chunk of research I've got in progress.
--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 14:40:28 -0500
From: "Norman & Karen Schickedanz" <schick@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Cinnamon Bear
Hi, all.
I finished listening again to "The Cinnamon Bear" two days ago. I enjoyed
it as always. I'm wondering which character or characters in the series you
like best.
My favorites are the Inkaboos, particularly the high-pitched-voice King
Blotto and the low-pitched-voice Assistant Executioner. Of course, the kids
portraying Judy (Barbara Jean Wong) and Jimmy (unkown) did a great job
(about how old were those two actors, do you think, when they recorded the
show?).
To be a scrooge, this time around I found the Santa Claus character to be
annoying after awhile - too much of a goody thing. I suppose kids enjoy
him.
Peace,
Norm Schickedanz
Tucson
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #458
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