Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #218
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 5/28/2003 10:44 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2003 : Issue 218
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Sid Collins                           [ "mike ray" <mikeray42@[removed]; ]
      Familiar Voices                       [ "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed] ]
      actor Elliott Reid & WORDS AT WAR     [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
      The Man with Bogart's Face - radio p  [ EKUD@[removed] ]
      familiar voices                       [ DIANEK9331@[removed] ]
      Ed Begley                             [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
      Frank Gallop                          [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
      May 29th birthdays                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Bob Hope bbirthday show on Yesterday  [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
      Clearance for NBC Monitor             [ n0zezgfd@[removed] ]
      Re: Charles Dickens on radio          [ passage@[removed] ]
      Gus Gray, Special Correspondent       [ Osborneam@[removed] ]
      YTJD                                  [ "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@neb. ]
      Dickens                               [ "Phil Watson" <philwats@[removed] ]
      Philco Home Recording                 [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
      John Dawson                           [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
      Pat Boone and Arthur Godfrey          [ leemunsick@[removed] ]
      Indianapolis 500 on radio             [ Tim Cronin <tc1001@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 13:55:40 -0400
    From: "mike ray" <mikeray42@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Sid Collins

    Hi Gang:
    Recently our good friend Bill Orr talked about the Late Sid Collins the Voice
    of the Indianapolis 500. Sid was for many years the Sports Director at WIBC
    in Indianapolis (my hometown). Sid was also my first
    boss in radio (1969). He was a perfect gentleman, and just about the kindest
    person I think I've ever known. If you were in need he would be there for
    you, and help you in anyway he could. Sid was an immaculate dresser, I don't
    ever remember seeing him in anything less than a sharp to spectacular suit.
    My shift was from Midnight to 6AM, and many nights at 2 or 3 in the morning I
    would see Sid come in the station (2835 N. Illinois) with some race car
    driver doing interviews in the production room, or he would be editing and or
    grading the broadcast of the last race he did. He worked tirelessly promoting
    the 500 and or any worthy Indianapolis charity. A few years down the road, I
    think about 1974 Sid developed some type of terminal illness. It had always
    mattered to Sid that he look his best at all times, and since this
    abnormality was changing his appearance, it was a bit more than he could
    stand, so he took his life. But the Sid I remember was the guy who could tell
    one great race story after another. Many times at the station or at the
    Speedway on West 16th Street Sid would be holding court, with dozens of race
    people hanging on every word. One time at the Speedway when Sid was right in
    the middle of one of those Bull sessions racer Joe Leonard  asked Sid who the
    greatest race car driver he had ever seen. Without the slightest hesitation
    Sid said, [removed] Foyt. Just as Sid said Foyt's name, none other than [removed] Foyt
    walked by and heard what Sid had said. Foyt says, "Sid, that's a bunch *&%$.
    Give me one reason for why you would say such *&%$." Sid's replay was, "There
    are no words to describe perfection. You just know it when you see it." Foyt
    looked at him for what seemed to be a very long pause, (at this point there
    must have been about 50 people standing around looking at this) then shook
    his head and said, "That works for me." The whole place broke up in laughter.
    Sid was a master behind the Mic. He always kept things going, even if nothing
    was happening. He also had just about the best team of announcers that

     anyone could have hoped for. There was Jim Shelton in turn #4, Hoody Bell in
    turn #2, Chuck Marlowe in the Pits. He also had Bernie Herman, Jerry Baker,
    and many more I could name if my old brain was working better. For the entire
    month of May, my mind goes back to many great memories of times and people
    who had an effect on my at that great Speedway; Art Pollard, Ronnie Duman,
    Wally Dallenbach, Mel Kenyon, Chuck Rohdie, Dick Mittman, Jim Shelton, and my
    friend Sid Collins.
    Best regards,
    Mike Ray

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 13:55:47 -0400
    From: "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Familiar Voices

    I can't believe that no one mentioned the most easily recognized voices in
    radio, all stars from the same series: Jack Benny, Don Wilson, Mary
    Livingston Benny, Eddie-Rochester-Anderson and my favorite (whose name I
    can't spell) Bea Benaderit.  Laura, you let me down on this one.

    Roby McHone
    Fairbanks, Alaska

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 13:55:53 -0400
    From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  actor Elliott Reid & WORDS AT WAR

    I just received a very nice letter from Elliot (Ted) Reid whose
    appearances  at FOTR, Sperdvac & other conventions many attendees have
    cherished. After reading WORDS AT WAR, Ted writes:

    "I like your dividing  into various sections ([removed]"The Writers," "The
    Actors" and so on) the various aspects of your book.  It is thus
    eminently readable and-always-interesting!  Your wonderfully researched
    book is a very important addition to books ( much-needed!)  that tell the
    truth of those sad and shameful times."

    A reminder: I'm now selling copies of WORDS AT WAR for $[removed], $9 below
    the retail price  Please see my web site for ordering instructions

    Howard Blue

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 14:22:00 -0400
    From: EKUD@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  The Man with Bogart's Face - radio play Rich
     Little

    The radio Premiere of The Man with Bogart's Face
    A comedy by Andrew Fenady
    May 18, 2003
    1:30 pm and 5:00 pm performance
    Starring Rich Little, JoAnne Worley, Samantha Eggar, Ian Abercrombie Linda
    Henning, Beverly Garland, Marvin Kaplan, Tom Williams, Leslie Easterbrook,
    William Windom, Robert Legionaire, John Bliss, and H. M. Wynant
    Musical score by Kenneth Stange

    To order tickets or for general information call (213) 683-3422 or (800)
    200-8868, or e-mail us.
    CART performances take place at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in North
    Hollywood.
    The address and phone number for the hotel is:
    4222 Vineland Avenue
    North Hollywood, CA 91602-3399
    Toll Free 1-800-Beverly
    Phone 818-980-8000
    For those not in the LA area, check out the NPR schedule for the CART public
    radio broadcast schedule. Select shows soon to be broadcast on XM radio.
    Look for 2002 Season Shows to soon be released on tape

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:29:59 -0400
    From: DIANEK9331@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  familiar voices

    We cannot forget Elliot Lewis. His voice is fairly easy to pick out in most
    shows.
    Diane

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:30:54 -0400
    From: otrbuff@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Ed Begley

    Robert Angus writes in digest #217:

>     "Why is it that in the discussion of familiar voices (and just about every
>     other discussion on this list) the name Ed Begley NEVER comes up?
>     WTIC/Hartford alumnus Begley probably appeared in more cops-and-robbers shows
>     out of New York in the 1940s than any other actor, as a hard-boiled detective,
>     cop and occasional bad guy before going on to make movies like Inherit
>     the Wind."

    Ed Begley is referenced on 14 pages of my book "Radio Crime Fighters"
    (McFarland, 2003).  He appears on three pages of my book "The Great Radio
    Soap Operas" (McFarland, 1999).  Lots of other OTR authors play him up
    extensively.  Dunning mentions him 19 times; Tom DeLong includes his
    biography; Terrace references him on 10 pages.  He may not be the hottest
    topic on the digest but he certainly hasn't been overlooked by radio
    historiographers.

    Jim Cox

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:31:05 -0400
    From: otrbuff@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Frank Gallop

    Pardon the intrusion:  So many posters in the last day or so have written
    about Frank Gallup.  I have never seen his name spelled in any context
    previously but as Gallop.  Have I erred?

    Jim Cox

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:32:21 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  May 29th birthdays

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB HOPE, MAY YOU GIVE US ENJOYMENT FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS!

    If you have a birthday on May 29th, you not only share it with Bob Hope, but
    you share it with other luminaries such as:

    05-29-1892 - Mario Chamlee - Los Angeles, CA - d. 11-13-1966
    singer: Tony "Tony and Gus"; "Arco Birthday Party"; "Swift Garden Party"
    05-29-1894 - Beatrice Lillie - Toronto, Canada - d. 1-20-1989
    commedienne: "Beatrice Lillie Show"
    05-29-1903 - Bob Hope - Eltham, England (R:  Cleveland, OH)
    actor, comedian: Taxpayer "Quick and the Dead"; "Bob Hope Show"
    05-29-1909 - Dick Stabile - Newark, NJ - d. 9-25-1980
    bandleader: "Martin and Lewis Show"
    05-29-1909 - Mary Jane Higby - St. Louis, MO - d. 2-1-1986
    actress: Joan Davis "When a Girl Marries"; Nora Drake "This is Nora Drake"
    05-29-1913 - Iris Adrian - Los Angeles, CA - d. 9-21-1994
    actress: Abbott and Costello Show"
    05-29-1914 - Stacy Keach, Sr. - Chicago, IL (R: Milwaukee, WI) - d. 2-13-2003
    producer-director: "Tales of the Texas Rangers"
    05-29-1918 - Herb Shriner - Toledo, OH - d. 2-24-1970
    comedian: "Camel Comedy Caravan"; "Herb Shriner Time"

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Hometown of [removed] Kaltenborn and Spencer Tracy

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:32:33 -0400
    From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Bob Hope bbirthday show on Yesterday USA

    Hi Everybody,

    I am going to host around a 9 hour live broadcast to celebrate Bob Hope
    birthday on Thursday 5-29-03 on Yesterday USA at [removed]
    starting a noon West Coast time.  Take care,

    Walden Hughes

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 15:33:23 -0400
    From: n0zezgfd@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Clearance for NBC Monitor

    On Sunday afternoons and evenings during the summer of 1970, WHO, Des
    Moines (50,000 watt, Clear Channel Voice of the Middle West), cleared
    Monitor.  It would usually be 4:00 PM or so before we joined Monitor
    because of Minnesota Twins baseball.  If we did not have baseball,
    Monitor was joined at 1:00 PM and carried through most of the afternoon
    and early evening.  I was the staff announcer/control board operator on
    duty during the summer and fall of 1970.

    If I recall correctly, on Sundays we stayed with Monitor until 9:00 PM
    Central Daylight time.  At 9:00 PM WHO broadcast a thirty minute Billy
    Graham program and then a program by the Central College Choir from
    Pella, Iowa.  At 10:00 PM we'd go to NBC Network News, followed by ten
    minutes of local news, weather and sports.

    The Monitor schedule at WHO continued, again as I recall, through the
    mid-1970s and the demise of the program.

    By 1971 I had moved to the WHO news department.  One night in either 1973
    or 1974, Guy LaBoe (sp.) who was doing sports on Monitor had an exclusive
    story that had an Iowa angle.  I called New York, talked to LaBoe in an
    effort to get more information so I could follow up, and as I recall he
    hung up on me (how dare some fellow in Iowa question his expertise and
    reporting).

    Interestingly, this was an attitude that I found existed at NBC in the
    1970s.  NBC Radio did not really seem interested in working with its
    affiliates or receiving information from them.  NBC Television was a
    little bit better about working with affiliates.  When I moved to a CBS
    Radio affiliate, the difference was night and day.  CBS producers would
    call us looking for story ideas and angles.  My monthly CBS stringer
    check was always a welcomed arrival in my mail box.

    George F. Davison, Jr.
    N0zezgfd@[removed] (Please put a zero between the N and the z, otherwise
    your e-mail will come back to you and will not be received by me.)

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 18:10:20 -0400
    From: passage@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Charles Dickens on radio

    Frank Thomas asked:

>     does anybody have a list of or know where i can go to find a list of
>     radio > shows based on charles dickens [removed]

    Check [removed]  There's a dozen or
    so shows cited.

    Frank

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 18:10:48 -0400
    From: Osborneam@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Gus Gray, Special Correspondent

    In OTR Digest #217. Gerry Wright says:

>     I recently acquired four episodes of a show titled "Gus Gray, Special
>     Correspondent" the episodes are from a serial titled "The Case of the Nine
>     Ivory Buddhas" The shows sound like they might be a British series. Any
>     information on the show is greatly appreciated.

    The show is Australian, from the 1930s.  Only four episodes
    exist, #11, #12, #15 and #16.

    Unfortunately, that's all I know about the show!
    Hope that helps!

    Arlene Osborne

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 21:10:07 -0400
    From: "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@[removed];
    To: "old time radio" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  YTJD

    In response to the question about Jack Dawson on YTJD, the writer's name was
    actually John Dawson.  His real name was E. Jack Newman and I'm not sure why
    he wrote under the pen name of John Dawson for the Johnny Dollar series, but
    he was a well-known writer of radio scripts.  Jack Johnstone,
    producer/director of the five-part JDollar shows, also wrote some stories
    for the series and one script that he penned, "The Ricardo Amerego Matter,"
    he wrote under the name Sam Dawson.  The other two major writers for the
    five-part shows were Les Crutchfield and Robert Rife.  Tony Barrett also
    penned two scripts and Adrian Jeandeau (sp) wrote the final five-part
    program.  Not sure how any of these writers would be connected to Chandler
    or Hamit, though I suspect that they were all familiar with the two since
    both writers were quite popular for the time.
    RyanO

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 21:11:48 -0400
    From: "Phil Watson" <philwats@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Dickens

    Frank Thomas asked about radio dramas based on Dickens stories - there are
    over 200 listed on [removed] - search on the name. It's a
    great site for researching BBC drama, and has details of over 361,000 BBC
    shows of all sorts.

    Regards from England
    Phil

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: This is a pretty good time to remind everyone that the
    primary focus of this mailing list is OTR produced in the United States.
    --cfs3]

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 21:11:54 -0400
    From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Philco Home Recording

    Thanks to everyone who answered my plea for help in playing the 10"
    Philco home recordings that I've come across.
    I played the Red Skelton disc and it was indeed recorded at 78 rpm and
    played just fine on my turntable.  Since I've heard other home recorded
    discs I was surprised at how good this one sounded.  No one would ever
    have confused it with a professionally recorded transcription, but it
    was quite clear.  There was only a moderate amount of surface noise that
    I suspect could be cleaned up if it were worth the effort, but there is
    a constant background noise in the lower midrange that was somewhat
    annoying.  However the recording itself was quite clear and distortion
    free.
    Each side ran about 4 mins and contained more or less a complete skit
    one side of  "The Mean Little Kid" and one side of "Clem
    KadiddleHopper"  and had part of  an unknown (David Rose?) orchestra
    playing "Brazil". After the approx. 4 minutes there was a live
    recording  that was cut all the way to the edge of the label. I suspect
    that they were sailors since my friend was in the Navy at that time
    (1943). They were doing comedy bits and using very salty language.  I
    couldn't play all of this part because my turntable arm picks up as it
    gets to a certain point.

    Michael Biel who was kind enough to reply to my post says that the discs
    are steel and that the brown edge that I'm seeing is rust. I certainly
    will bow to him on this point, but they are very light weight and
    flexible and not what you would expect from a steel core. Also I was not
    able to get any rust to come off when I rubbed the edge on my t shirt.

    Anyway I'm going to play the rest of the records soon, I think that
    there are about 8 or 9 of them.  I don't think that any of the others
    are OTR. One of them is a 7" inch disc of a different brand that was
    sent to my friend from his parents during the war. I also knew his
    parents and brother so this might be interesting.

    George Aust

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 21:12:14 -0400
    From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  John Dawson

    William Harker asked:

>     I am curious as Hammett (and Chandler) are favorites of mine and both
>     traveled the Hollywood writer's "circuit." Jack Dawson is not mentioned in
>     any of the biographies or letter volumes I own of either Hammett or Chandler.

    As I recall, John Dawson is a pseudonym for the writer E. Jack Neumann.

    Jim Widner
    jwidner@[removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 21:12:24 -0400
    From: leemunsick@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Pat Boone and Arthur Godfrey

    Russ Butler asked about Pat Boone on the Arthur Godfrey programs.

    Pat Boone won on "Arthur Godfrey and His Talent Scouts" in 1955, while he
    was still Charles Eugene Boone, studying at a college in Denton,
    Texas.  The school started out as North Texas State Normal School, but is
    now the University of North Texas, with a respected School of Music.

    Like many other regulars on the Arthur Godfrey programs, when young Boone
    was well received by the Godfrey studio audience and then his listeners, he
    was asked by Mr. Godfrey to join the regular Godfrey cast.  Pat Boone
    succeeded Julius LaRosa as the "boy singer" on the Godfrey programs.

    LaRosa had been asked to join "the Little Godfreys" on the air in the same
    way, about two years before.   Like LaRosa, Boone's stay was just under two
    years.  Boone left the programs at his request, so he could go on to bigger
    and better things.  Again, just like LaRosa.  Except that Mr. Godfrey, not
    wanting to be burned again, did not make the departure into a "swan song"
    event.  Pat Boone just moved onward.  Both Julie LaRosa and Pat Boone had a
    series of best-selling recordings, but in time LaRosa's career took a
    downturn, while Boone's continued upward and onward for years.

    Both singers have been thankful to Mr. Godfrey for giving a strong impetus
    to their careers.  Pat Boone parlayed his success at the recording mike and
    other singing venues, into financial success.  He is a major broadcasting
    executive, operating from his office in Los Angeles.

    Lee Munsick

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

    Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 23:12:39 -0400
    From: Tim Cronin <tc1001@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Indianapolis 500 on radio

    	Here's more on the history of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and
    International Sweepstakes (now that's a title!) on radio, with info from
    some old newspaper clips and from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio
    Network 50th anniversary CD, issued last year by the IMSRN and WIBC-AM
    1070, Indianapolis:
    	According to the CD, the first broadcasts were in 1922 on WHO and WLK
    (don't know if that's the Des Moines WHO or an earlier Indy-based station).
    	I do know that in 1924, WDAP Chicago, days from becoming WGN, covered
    the race from start to finish. That may have been the first flag-to-flag
    coverage. It was covered as a sports event, but "Sam and Henry"
    themselves were on hand, doing comedy routines during the duller
    stretches. Henry Ford was a celebrity guest.
    	The CD says that by 1928, NBC was covering the race with Graham McNamee
    on hand (presumably for 15 or 30-minute segments), and in the 1930s,
    Mutual took over. Whether those broadcasts were exclusive or not I don't know.
    	From 1946 through 1950, Mutual originated a series of broadcasts, with
    a 30-minute show at the start and another at the finish, and either
    brief reports or a couple of 30-minute updates in the course of the day.
    Those broadcasts were sponsored by Perfect Circle Piston Rings, an
    Indianapolis-based firm.
    	The broadcasts were anchored by Mutual's Bill Slater, but the rest of
    the crew was from WIBC, including Sid Collins, who worked the
    "southeast" turn, better known as Turn 1, in 1949, and perhaps earlier.
    In 1950, Jim Shelton took his seat in Turn 4, and remained there for decades.
    	In 1951, according to Speedway historian Donald Davidson on the CD,
    Mutual raised its rates and Perfect Circle bailed. WIBC decided to do
    the broadcast itself, and fed Mutual, using the same schedule. With
    Slater no longer assigned by Mutual, Collins was the anchor.
    	That worked, so WIBC went to the Speedway and said they no longer
    needed Mutual. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network was formed
    for the 1952 race, and still followed the same multi-segment format.
    WIBC was the flagship station.
    	Apparently, it was one thing for Mutual to do it and another for the
    Speedway to broadcast the race itself in the eyes of the other radio
    stations in town. They screamed that WIBC was getting favorable
    treatment. At the same time, the Speedway and WIBC had decided to expand
    to flag-to-flag coverage, and decided that every station in Indianapolis
    could carry the race if they contributed one announcer to the broadcast.
    	Thus, in 1953, you couldn't miss the 500-Mile Race on the radio in
    Indianapolis, and, with Collins anchoring, there were announcers
    stationed above each turn and another one or two in the pit area, the
    format still followed today.
    	In 1955, Collins came up with the station break cue, "Stay tuned for
    the Greatest Spectacle in Racing." The phrase caught on, and the 500
    became known worldwide as just that.
    	The IMSRN became the largest radio network in the world, at least on a
    one-day basis, with over 600 stations some years, plus AFRTS, and some
    years also including the CBC. Stereo broadcasting for FM stations began
    in 1988.
    	Collins anchored through 1976. Paul Page took over in 1977 and anchored
    through 1987. Lou Palmer, for years the lead pit-area reporter, was the
    anchor in 1988 and 1989, but ruffled feathers off the air and was let
    go. Bob Jenkins handled the job from 1990 through 1998. Beginning in
    1999, Mike King has been the "Voice of the 500."
    	For several decades, the network's flagship was a station in Terre
    Haute, Ind., which was owned by the Hulman family, which also owns the
    track. But in recent years, WIBC has been the flagship station, and the
    exclusive carrier in Indianapolis, though this year, 70 other stations
    in Indiana were on the network.

    	Tim Cronin

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #218
    *********************************************

    Copyright [removed] Communications, York, PA; All Rights Reserved,
      including republication in any form.

    If you enjoy this list, please consider financially supporting it:
       [removed]

    For Help: [removed]@[removed]

    To Unsubscribe: [removed]@[removed]

    To Subscribe: [removed]@[removed]
      or see [removed]

    For Help with the Archive Server, send the command ARCHIVE HELP
      in the SUBJECT of a message to [removed]@[removed]

    To contact the listmaster, mail to listmaster@[removed]

    To Send Mail to the list, simply send to [removed]@[removed]