Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #95
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 3/25/2005 11:18 AM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2005 : Issue 95
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Soupy [removed] Michael T. Wright   [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
      Re: WOR Moves                         [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed]; ]
      3-25 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Thurl Ravenscroft                     [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
      Re: 1440 Broadway                     [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Science Fiction: films with radio ti  [ Jim Widner <widnerj@[removed]; ]
      Lucky Strike comedy commercials       [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
      39 Forever Second Edition at Cincy    [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
      RADIO SCI-FI                          [ "randy story" <hopharrigan@centuryt ]
      Walden Hughes YesterdayUSA Program    [ BryanH362@[removed] ]
      Re: exceedingly early radio]          [ Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed]; ]

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    Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 12:52:02 -0500
    From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Soupy [removed] Michael T. Wright
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    My pal Kathy O'Connell of WXPN Radio in Philadelphia gave a nice
    extensive plug for Soupy Sales's involvement in the upcoming "Pia-asco"
    and "Doo-Dah Parade" annual  nostalgia events in Ocean City, NJ.

    To register for this unique Ocean City offering, contact the Public
    Relations Office,
     609-525-9300, stop at City Hall Annex, 901 Asbury Ave. or email
    mtsoifer@aol

    I'd like to add that my good friend Michael Townshend Wright is
    likewise an annual participant in the Doo-Dah festivities.
    Michael is comparatively younger guy than folks from
    the OTR era,  but he has performed in various NTR productions
    on NPR as well as at various FOTR conventions in recent years.
    He's a great mimic known for his impersonations of Arthur
    Tracy and Rudy Vallee (both of whom Michael befriended in
    the latter portions of their respective lives) as well as his on-the-
    money Bob Hope.

    I've known Michael for over twenty years now, having worked with
    him on local TV shows such as "The New Jersey Comedy Shop" and
    the venerable "Uncle Floyd Show." In fact, he was the friend who was
    sitting in the audience for me when I washed out on the "Who Wants
    to Be a Milllionaire" quiz programme.

    So if anybody reading this intends on attending the aforementioned
    events in Ocean City to see Soupy Sales and/or Carol Channing,
    do yourself a favour and seek out the talents of my pal Muchael
    Townshend Wright. Had he been born 50 years earlier, MTW would've
    either been a radio crooner or a top burlesque comic.

    As Michael's idol Rudy Vallee would've sang, "Goodnight, sweetheart."

    Derek Tague

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    Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 14:11:40 -0500
    From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: WOR Moves

    Bill Knowlton (udmacon@[removed])  writes:

>     . . .  WOR's move from 1440  Broadway . . . 1440 Broadway
>     hosted three generations of John Gamblings, the Mutual Network
>     in its glory days, Jean Shepherd, Mary Margaret McBride (as the
>     first "Martha Deane"), producer/announcer Roger Bower, Arlene
>     Francis, Bob & Ray and so many, many others. . .

    My first introduction to the backstage of radio was in
    the WOR/Mutual studios in the late '40's. My father and
    uncle had their accounting office at 1440, and one day
    my father took me to the office with him. I guess he
    needed a baby sitter (I was probably around 7 or 8) so
    he took me down to the station, and I sat in the studio
    for a couple of hours watching a real live record show.

    I guess that's where I got the bug, and made a career
    in broadcasting.

    Bob Scherago
    [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 15:21:17 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  3-25 births/deaths

    March 25th births

    03-25-1867 - Arturo Toscanini - Parma, Italy - d. 1-16-1957
    conductor: "NBC Symphony Orchestra"
    03-25-1887 - Raymond Gram Swing - Cortland, NY - d. 12-22-1968
    commentator: "Voice of America"
    03-25-1892 - Andy Clyde - Blaingowrie, Scotland - d. 5-18-1967
    actor: California Carlson "Hopalong Cassidy"
    03-25-1897 - John Laurie - Dumfries, Scotland - d. 6-23-1980
    actor: James Fraser "Dad's Army"
    03-25-1901 - Ed Begley - Hartford, CT - d. 4-28-1970
    actor: Walt Levinson "Richard Diamond, Private Detective"; Charlie
    Chan "Charlie Chan"
    03-25-1901 - John Earl Fetzer - Decatur, IN - d. 2-21-1991
    broadcast pioneer: "WKZO Fiftieth Anniversary Broadcast"
    03-25-1903 - Binnie Barnes - London, England - d. 7-27-1998
    panelist: "Leave It to the Girls"; "Breakfast with Binnie and Mike"
    03-25-1903 - Frankie Carle - Providence, RI - d. 3-7-2001
    bandleader, pianist: "Pot o' Gold"; "Treasure Chest"
    03-25-1906 - Margaret Daum - Pittsburgh, PA - d. 2-23-1977
    singer: "American Album of Familiar Music"
    03-25-1908 - Philip Reed - NYC - d. 12-21-1996
    actor: Ross Barrington "Society Girl"; Brian Wells "David Harum"
    03-25-1908 - Sir David Lean - Croydon, Surrey, England - d. 4-16-1991
    screenwriter, film director: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    03-25-1909 - Jay Blackton - NYC - d. 1-8-1994
    composer, conductor, pianist: "Stu Erwin Show"; "Broadway Showtime"
    03-25-1916 - Jean Rogers - Belmont, MA - d. 2-24-1991
    actress: Elaine Dascomb "Those We Love"
    03-25-1919 - Jeanne Cagney - NYC - d. 12-7-1984
    actress: (Sister of James Cagney) "Movietone Radio Theatre";
    "Suspense"
    03-25-1920 - Howard Cosell - Winston-Salem, NC - d. 3-23-1995
    sportscaster: "Speaking of Sports"
    03-25-1921 - Nancy Kelly - Lowell, MA - d. 1-15-1995
    actress: "Cavalcade of America"; "Free Company"; "Suspense"

    March 25th deaths

    01-15-1899 - Goodman Ace - Kansas City, MO - d. 3-25-1982
    comedian, writer: "Easy Aces"
    02-25-1906 - Warren Hymer - NYC - d. 3-25-1948
    actor: "Screen Guild Theatre"
    05-06-1899 - Billy Cotton - London, England - d. 3-25-1969
    bandleader: "Wakey Wakey!!"
    05-10-1921 - Nancy Walker - Philadelphia, PA - d. 3-25-1992
    actress: "Mail Call"
    06-01-1905 - Robert Newton - Shaftesbury, England - d. 3-25-1956
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    08-16-1915 - Gloria Blondell - NYC - d. 3-25-1986
    actress: Gerry Booker "I Love A Mystery" Gloria Dean "Hollywood
    Mystery Time"
    09-27-1887 - Pat "Uncle Ezra" Barrett - Holden, MO - d. 3-25-1959
    actor: "National Barn Dance"; Uncle Ezra "Uncle Ezra"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 18:28:03 -0500
    From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Thurl Ravenscroft
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    Hi Gang:
    Laura Leff, teh queen of Kubelskyana, posted:

>     I had the pleasure last year of interviewing Thurl Ravenscroft, one of the
>     founding members of the Sportsmen.  <snip>

    I betcha the interview was "G-r-r-r-reat!" I betcha. It's nice to see that
    Thurl is still getting work, and hopefully residuals, from Kellogg's.

    "Getting ready to meet the saints!"

    Derek Tague

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    Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 18:51:45 -0500
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: 1440 Broadway

    On 3/24/05 12:51 PM [removed]@[removed] wrote:

>     The New York Post's Liz Smith took note this past Sunday of WOR's move from
>     1440  Broadway to a "Beautiful old landmark building" at 111 Broadway near
>     Wall street. Think of it! 1440 Broadway hosted three generations of John
>     Gamblings, the Mutual Network in its glory days, Jean Shepherd, Mary Margaret
>     McBride (as the first "Martha Deane"), producer/announcer Roger Bower, Arlene
>     Francis, Bob & Ray and so many, many others. 80 years at 1440 Broadway
>     deserves a plaque on that venerable building.

    One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet in connection with WOR's
    relocation is that 1440 Broadway was also the birthplace of CBS. When the
    network signed on the air in 1927, WOR was contracted as the New York
    outlet -- the purchase of WABC was more than a year in the future -- and
    the first CBS program originated from WOR's studios. Even more
    interesting -- and something CBS itself would probably never want to
    admit -- is that the first Columbia master control room was a jury-rigged
    setup hastily constructed in the largest available secure, empty space in
    the building: a 1440 Broadway mens' room.

    There ought to be a plaque there, too. Or at least an inscribed tile.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 21:04:53 -0500
    From: Jim Widner <widnerj@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Science Fiction: films with radio tie-in

    Being a fan of science fiction, I wanted to mention two films premiering
    in the next couple of months that also touch radio. On May 6th is the
    release of the film version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
    which moved from book to radio to television to film. Given the current
    technology in filmmaking techniques, the film looks fairly true to the
    book and radio program from the trailers I have seen.

    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.

    Trailers for both films (if you have reasonable Internet speed) can be
    viewed at

    [removed]

    [removed]

    Jim Widner
    [removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 08:03:00 -0500
    From: JackBenny@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Lucky Strike comedy commercials

    Dixon Hayes writes:

>     I wonder if the Lucky Strike people took  note of that when they had Don

    and the

>     Sportsmen working the LS/MFT ads into the plot on the Benny  show.

    They most definitely did.  Just a couple days ago I finished reading a
    document that's the best history of Amusement Enterprises that I've ever seen
    (thanks to the person who sent [removed] know who you are).  For the
    uninitiated,
    AE was the company that Jack created with MCA to produce the Benny  show and
    other properties (including Jack Paar's first show as Jack's summer
    replacement).  Part of the creation of AE was MCA's restructuring of the
    agreement
    between Jack and American Tobacco (owner of Lucky Strike).  One  of the main
    terms
    that American Tobacco insisted be included in the new contract  was making
    the middle comedy commercial a MANDATORY part of the show.  The  prior
    contract
    provided for the opening and closing commercials only (those done  in New York
    by Basil Ruysdale/Kenny Delmar/Del Sharbutt/the auctioneers/etc.),  and the
    middle commercial was optional.  So yes, American Tobacco knew  exactly what
    they were doing!

    --Laura Leff
    President,  IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 08:03:16 -0500
    From: JackBenny@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  39 Forever Second Edition at Cincy

    Derek Tague writes:

>     In the event Laura Leff and her International Jack Benny Fan Club  cannot
>     make it, will copies of her impressive and exhaustive "Jack Benny  Program"
>     radio-log be available at somebody else's table? I've seen a  copy of Ms.

    Leff's

>     magmun opus, and it goes beyond the standard OTR-log by providing  plot
>     synopses and descriptions in addition to the standard episode title  and

    date.

    Thanks Derek for that lovely and unsolicited plug!  (I'll get you your  $20
    later.)  I wasn't planning on attending, but if someone wants to have  copies
    available, I'm open to suggestions.  Just E-mail me at  jackbenny@[removed].

    --Laura Leff
    President,  IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 08:03:36 -0500
    From: "randy story" <hopharrigan@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  RADIO SCI-FI
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    Thanks for all of the responses to my query about sci-fi on the radio. I was
    wondering if anyone on the digest has an idea as to where I can obtain a copy
    of Gordon Payton's catalogue? It seems that a lot of folks on the digest think
    that document would be a great resource for me.
    Thanks,
    Randy
    (counting the days until Cincy)
    PS
    Anyone have any good ideas for naming our new fan club for OTR here in my home
    town? Let me [removed] feel brain dead these days and my creative pilot light
    has blown [removed]

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    Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 08:03:48 -0500
    From: BryanH362@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Walden Hughes YesterdayUSA Program

    Here are some of the highlights for this weekends Walden Hughes program. As
    always the program is heard on yesterdayusa Fri , Sat and Sunday beginning at
    7:30 pm PST.
    Live streaming available from the website at [removed] .

    Friday 3-25-05

    A.  Classic Interview: Frank Breesee interview with George Jessel (from
    either late 70s
             or early 80s)
    B.  OTR to be broadcast will include Theater Guild, Screen Guild and others.

    Saturday 3-26-05

    A. Two OTR shows originally broadcast around the easter season:
        Ozzie and Harriet from 1949 and the Great Gildersleeve show from 1952
    B.  Classic Interview: John Dunning interviews Rosemary Decamp (from around
    1982)
    C.  OTR to be broadcast includes  Bing Crosby, One Man's  Framily, Quiz Kids,
         Information Please , Hall's of Ivy and a 03-27-40 of Fred Allen Fred
    Allen .

    Sunday 3-27-05

    A.  Laura Leff present's Jack Benny!  Program of 3-18-45
    B.  Mike Biel live from the YUSA studio in Richardson TX. His call in number
    is (972) 889-8255.  You can join him in the chat room and watch him on Camera
    on the YUSA web site at [removed]  .
    C.  OTR shows scheduled will be  Phil Harris and Alice Faye, Our  Miss Brooks,
    Fibber McGee and Molly, Great Gildersleeve Easter show from 1953, and Lux
    Radio Theater.

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

    Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 10:21:53 -0500
    From: Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: exceedingly early radio]

    Mark Kinsler asked:

>     Now, I know that the date and place of the first radio broadcast is an
>     endless subject for discussion, and I'm not concerned with it.

    That's wise of you, Mark.  Some years ago the National Association of
    Broadcasters appointed a committee to study the claims of
    KDKA/Pittsburgh, KCBS/San Francisco, WWJ/Detroit and WHA/Madison and
    determine which was the first radio station in the USA.  Or should that
    be the oldest?  The committee decided for KCBS on the basis of
    its ancestry as KQW and, prior to that, "Doc" Herrold's wireless station
    that was operating on a regular schedule from San Jose as early as
    1909.  However, it was later determined that the committee had applied
    its standards unevenly.  The problem arose because the US government
    ordered all but military stations to cease operation during the World
    War, so there was a break in exceedingly early broadcasting for several
    years starting in 1917.

>     What I'd like to know is the date that the earliest well-known,
>     presently-broadcasting radio station went on the air and stayed there.  I've
>     been using WOSU, Ohio State University's station, which I think began in
>     1924, twelve years after the iceberg won.

    The government did make some exceptions to the wartime silence and
    allowed the University of Wisconsin -- way inland at Madison -- to
    broadcast from its station 9XM beginning in 1917.  9XM later became WHA,
    which it is to this day.  Things were moving pretty quickly by 1924.

>     But the point of this part of my discussion is that radio technology
>     developed as quickly as computer technology did today, and I'd like a more
>     dramatic answer.  Can I get the time from Titanic to real radio down to,
>     say, eight years?  My recollection is that at least some commercial stations
>     were on a regular schedule by 1920.

    In Montreal, the Canadian Marconi Company was operating station XWA
    in 1919.  It later became CFCF.

>      Are there any that we'd recognize by call letters?  Any in Ohio?

    KDKA in Pittsburgh and WWJ in Detroit both go back to 1920.  Each is
    fairly close to the Ohio line.

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #95
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