Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #78
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 3/8/2007 8:29 AM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2007 : Issue 78
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      "Golden Age of Radio" and "A One Nig  [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed] ]
      A show query                          [ hopharrigan@[removed] ]
      Comicbook Marketplace/Gemstone publi  [ Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed]; ]
      Cassette storage boxes and "J" cards  [ "wr k" <wrk41@[removed]; ]
      Burns and Allen                       [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
      Cy Harrice                            [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
      OTR Donations                         [ Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@sbcgl ]
      Old Dutch commercials                 [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
      3-8 births/deaths                     [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
      Remembering Roger Hill                [ "Paul Thompson" <beachcrows@sbcglob ]
      David Sarnoff Library photos          [ <verotas@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 11:52:12 -0500
    From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  "Golden Age of Radio" and "A One Night Stand
     with the Big Bands"

    The latest "Golden Age of Radio" programs with Dick Bertel
    and Ed Corcoran, and "A One Night Stand with the Big Bands"
    with Arnold Dean can be heard at [removed].

    Wach week we feature four complete shows in MP3 format
    for your listening pleasure or for downloading; two "Golden
    Age of Radios" and two "One Night Stands." The two WTIC
    programs are on different pages for more flexibility.

    We present new shows every week or so. The current four
    programs will be available on line at least until the morning of
    March 14, 2007.

    Program 40 - July, 1973 - Gale Storm and Barbara Britton

    This week's guests were primarily stars in other media, but
    there will be plenty of talk about old-time radio.

    Gale Storm's career encompasses much more than her TV role
    as "My Little Margie;" she has maintained a very successful
    recording career, in addition to her radio, motion picture, theatre,
    night club, and television performances.

    Barbara Britton acted in numerous films in the late 1940s and early
    1950s, including the westerns The Virginian (1946), Albuquerque
    (1948), and Ride the Man Down (1952). She also acted in the
    early 3-D adventure Bwana Devil (1952). She temporarily put her
    film career on hold when she was cast in the NBC comedy/mystery
    TV series Mr. & Mrs. North, returning to films when NBC
    canceled the series in 1954.

    Program 41 - August, 1973 - Roger Bower

    Bower joined radio station WOR in New York in 1928, and worked
    there for 24 years; during that time, he also produced and directed
    programs for other stations, including CBS and NBC. At WOR
    Bower produced, directed, acted, and created sound effects. During
    his years at WOR, Bower directed several thousand radio and
    television programs, including: You Can't Take It With You, The
    Treasure Hour of Song, Famous First Facts, Name Your Poison,
    Say It With Words, Mystery Sketches, Music Pastels, and Court
    of Literary Justice.

    "A One Night Stand with the Big Bands" with Arnold Dean

    Program 37 - August, 1974 - George T. Simon and Glenn Miller -
    Part 2

    The subject this week is a continuation of Arnold's conversation about
    Glenn Miller, with George T. Simon, author of The Big Bands and
    Simon Says: The Sights and Sounds of the Swing Era, and the
    foremost authority on the Big Band Era. Simon helped Glenn Miller
    organize his first band, played drums in it, and fostered Miller's
    reputation through his writing for Metronome, The New York
    Herald Tribune, and other leading publications. He went on to
    become a leading expert on the music of the swing era and the big
    bands. He wrote several other acclaimed books, including The Sinatra
    Report (1965), as well as copious articles, liner notes for recordings,
    and occasionally even song lyrics for the likes of Duke Ellington and
    Alec Wilder.

    Program 38 - September, 1974 - Teddy Wilson (Part 1)

    Part 1 of  2 parts. Theodore Shaw Wilson (1912-1986) was the most
    important pianist of the swing period. He grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama,
    and briefly studied music at Talladega College.

    After working in Chicago with Jimmie Noone, Louis Armstrong, and
    others he moved in 1933 to New York to join Benny Carter's band.
    He played informally with Benny Goodman in 1935 and officially
    joined Goodman's trio the following year, thereby becoming one of
    the first black musicians to appear prominently with white artists.

    In the 1970's WTIC decided that there was a market in
    the evening for long-form shows that could be packaged
    and sold to sponsors. Two of those shows were "The
    Golden Age of Radio" and "A One Night Stand with the
    Big Bands."

    Dick Bertel had interviewed radio collector-historian
    Ed Corcoran several times on his radio and TV shows,
    and thought a regular monthly show featuring interviews
    with actors, writers, producers, engineers and musicians
    from radio's early days might be interesting. "The Golden
    Age of Radio" was first broadcast in April, 1970; Ed was
    Dick's co-host. It lasted seven years. "The Golden Age
    of Radio" can also be heard Saturday nights on Walden
    Hughes's program on Radio Yesteryear.

    Arnold Dean began his love affair with the big band
    era in his pre-teen years and his decision to study
    the clarinet was inspired by the style of Artie Shaw.
    When he joined WTIC in 1965 he hosted a daily program
    of big band music. In 1971, encouraged by the success
    of his daily program and "The Golden Age of Radio"
    series, he began monthly shows featuring interviews
    with the band leaders, sidemen, agents, jazz reporters,
    etc. who made major contributions to one of the great
    eras of music history.

    Bob Scherago
    Webmaster

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 15:24:38 -0500
    From: hopharrigan@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  A show query

    Hi, folks.
    My sixth graders and I just finished a class reading of Avi's fun book about
    growing up as a child of radio, WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN, ANYWAY?. I have many
    of the shows mentioned in the book, but there is reference to a program
    called THE SILVER FOX. I can find it referenced nowhere and I am curious to
    know if such a show ever existed or if Avi simply made it up for the book's
    sake. The book, by the way, is a fun read. Yes there are some errors
    regarding OTR, but I have found it entertaining for me and my students as
    well as a good way to get into an OTR unit of study.
    Anyone know about the SILVER FOX radio show?
    Let me know,
    Randy Story
    West Plains, MO
    PS
    Martin Grams is right about the Comic Book Marketplace Jan., 2005 issue
    regarding radio heroes. They publish this less than a block from my house,
    but the owner is a bit eccentric and hard to contact except through the mail
    address. If you have no luck there, try calling Dirt Road Comics in Willow
    Springs, [removed] any comics store for that matter as many of them carry the
    publication.

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 15:25:03 -0500
    From: Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Comicbook Marketplace/Gemstone publishing

    Martin Grams mentioned Comic Book Marketplace,
    published by Gemstone publishing (which also publishes
    the annual Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide). I don't
    know if Comic Book Marketplace itself has a website,
    but Gemstone Publishing does. It's
    [removed].

    Rick

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 15:25:29 -0500
    From: "wr k" <wrk41@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Cassette storage boxes and "J" cards
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from text/html

       There have been a few queries about cassette storage boxes but, so far
       none about "J" cards to insert into [removed] Anyone know a source for
       [removed] Preferrably unlined and precreased, in either white or
       [removed] Of course, you can make your own from index cards, using
       either the lined side or the plain side; but, accurate creases can be
       a [removed] The advantage of the
       "J" card is they provide room for additional information re the
       programs on the [removed]!

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

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 15:26:24 -0500
    From: <otrbuff@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Burns and Allen

    An inquisitive Kenneth Clarke observes:

>     I've got some of the "Burns and Allen Show" episodes from early
>     [removed]  I remember one member the cast who played
>     Blanche Morton's husband had the name of Hal.  The only one I could
>     remember who played the role was Fred Clark.  Who was this actor?

    Blanche's husband and George's accountant, Harry Morton, was played in order
    by:  Hal March, John Brown (until he was blacklisted by the "red scare"),
    Fred Clark and Larry Keating.  On the episode when Keating took over,
    incidentally, Burns candidly explained that Clark had asked for too big a
    raise and was replaced.  Burns used to spar with announcer Harry Von Zell
    over money issues on the air as part of the act, you may recall.  It got
    plenty of laughs.  One wonders if there was a basis for it.  Burns had a
    best friend named Benny.  Naw, it was just part of the act.

    Jim Cox

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 15:26:41 -0500
    From: <otrbuff@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Cy Harrice

    I'm grateful to my chum Doug Douglass for keeping us informed with obscure
    items that those of us who don't live in or near New York would otherwise
    miss.  Some of it is sad news, such as the passing of Cy Harrice on Feb. 14,
    appearing in last Sunday's NY Times.  Harrice was the guy who closed those
    Pall Mall commercials with "And ... they are mild!"  Remember that voice?
    Here's what I said about him in his entry in "Radio Speakers" recently
    released by McFarland:

    HARRICE, CY.  b. Mar. 1, 1915, Chicago, Ill.  Announcer.  Series:  The
    Adventures of the Abbotts (1955); The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (ca. mid
    1950s); The Adventures of the Thin Man (ca. 1940s, 1950); The Big Story
    (1947-1955); A Brighter Tomorrow, aka The Gabriel Heatter Show, aka Behind
    the Front Page, aka Gabriel Heatter Comments (1946-1948); Cavalcade of
    America (1950-1953); Crime Cases of Warden Lawes (1946-1947); Ethel and
    Albert (ca. late 1940s); Grand Central Station (ca. 1940s, early 1950s); The
    Kaiser Traveler, aka The Burl Ives Show (1949); National Barn Dance
    (commercial spokesman, 1936-ca. 1942); Quick as a Flash (ca. late 1940s,
    early 1950s); The RCA Victor Show (1945-1946); Uncle Ezra (commercial
    spokesman, 1936-1939); Walter Winchell's Journal (ca. 1950s); What Makes You
    Tick? (1948).  Aphorism:  And . they are mild!

                While enrolled at his hometown's Northwestern University in
    1936, Cy Harrice became a commercial spokesman for Miles Laboratories and
    its Alka-Seltzer distress reliever on a couple of WLS-originated network
    features:  the National Barn Dance on Saturday nights and Uncle Ezra on
    weeknights.  Harrice affiliated full time with WLS in 1940, branching into
    copywriting, newscasting and programming.  Gaining that valuable experience,
    in 1942 he transferred his loyalty to rival station WGN, becoming the latter's
    chief on-air newsman.  Three years later he departed the Windy City for New
    York City to become a freelance announcer.

                With only a brief time to prepare, he was once pressed into
    acting opposite Ginger Rogers for a 1950s Cavalcade of America broadcast.
    Harrice later confessed:  "Acting wasn't my bent.  My specialty was selling
    over the air."  He was the second voice the listeners heard on signature
    Pall Mall cigarette commercials during radio's heyday, beginning in 1946 and
    extending into television with a total 24-year run.  The first voice-usually
    belonging to announcer Ernest Chappell-finished the recurring sales pitch
    with:  Outstanding!  Cy Harris added a rich, resonant baritone, immediately
    following Chappell with:  And . they are mild!  Harrice was identified with
    several other major broadcasting underwriters for lengthy periods, too,
    including E. I. Dupont, General Motors and Procter & Gamble.  After radio's
    golden age passed, Harrice syndicated a half-minute series to local stations
    titled What's the Good Word?

    Jim Cox

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 15:27:26 -0500
    From: Stuart Lubin <stuartlubin6686@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR Donations

    Thank you for your warnings about donating OTR material to
    general libraries.  Now, someone knowledgeable must please tell
    us where TO donate materials, if you do not want to sell them.
    What about the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills?
    Isn't there a similar museum in Chicago?  Anything like that in
    NY?

    If I had material to donate, I would NOT donate it to SPERDVAC.
    SPERDVAC, while most volunteers are wonderfully devoted and
    hard-working people, suffers from too few volunteers, and too
    many items are acquired but not put into circulation. Pacific
    Pioneer Broadcaster, formerly located in the heart of Hollywood
    at the site of the old NBC Radio studios, used to collect
    material, but their location is "contaminated" now, and no one
    is allowed in there.

    If someone knows of an organization that treats OTR researchers
    with dignity and allows them access to OTR materials, please
    weigh in, so donors will know whom to go to.  Thank you.

    Stuart

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 22:08:27 -0500
    From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Old Dutch commercials

    On Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at 12:07 PM, Steve Lewis wrote:

>     In preparation for an upcoming recreation the Gotham Radio Players
>     will be doing of a lost episode from the series "Nick Carter, Master
>     Detective", I am searching for a recording (or script) from that
>     series from around December 1948 which includes the commercials
>     for "Old Dutch Cleanser".

    I checked the tapes I have and the only commercial I can find is at the
    end of one episode from that era:

    "Nick Carter, Master Detective, is presented each week at this same
    time over these same stations by the Cudahee Packing Company, makers of
    Old Dutch Cleanser. Remember, when you go shopping tomorrow, get the
    cleaner preferred by more women in American than any other. When
    minutes count, always use Old Dutch Cleanser."

    I'm not sure of the year, but my father used to sing the Old Dutch
    Cleaner song commercial endlessly and drove us kids nuts.  For that
    reason, it's stayed with me.

    "Old Dutch Cleanser's got it, uh-hah.
    No other cleaner's got it, uh-ah.
    Nothing else does what it does
    To clean with twice the speed.
    It's quicker than a twinkle.
    It's a brand-new cleaning wrinkle.
    Activated Sizematyte in famous Old Dutch!"

    Jack French
    Editor: RADIO RECALL
    <[removed]>

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 22:10:58 -0500
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  3-8 births/deaths

    March 8th births

    03-08-1891 - Sam Jaffe - NYC - d. 3-24-1984
    actor: "Fannie Hurst Presents"; "New World A-Coming"; "Cavalcade of
    America"
    03-08-1893 - Victor Arden - Wenona, IL - d. 7-31-1962
    pianist and orchestra director with various radio appearances
    03-08-1899 - Gladys Thornton - Madison. Fl - d. 9-2-1964
    actor: Aunt Addie "My Son and I"; Mrs. Tasek "The O'Neills"
    03-08-1902 - Louise Beavers - Cincinnati, OH - d. 10-26-1962
    actor: Beulah "Beulah"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
    03-08-1906 - Franklyn MacCormack - Waterloo, IA - d. 6-12-1971
    announcer: "Caroline's Golden Store"; "Jack Armstrong"
    03-08-1909 - Claire Trevor - NYC - d. 4-8-2000
    actor: Lorelei Kilbourne " Big Town", Theresa Travers "Results, Inc."
    03-08-1912 - David Friedkin - d. 10-15-1976
    writer: "Bold Venture"; "Broadway Is My Beat"; "The Front Page"
    03-08-1918 - Alan Hale, Jr. - Los Angeles, CA - d. 1-2-1990
    actor: "Smiths of Hollywood"
    03-08-1918 - Sam Donahue - Detroit, MI - d. 3-22-1974
    saxaphonist, bandleader: dance band remotes
    03-08-1919 - Mavor Moore - Toronto, Canada - d. 12-18-2006
    actor: Nero Wolfe "Advs. of Nero Wolfe"; "The Crusoe Boys"
    03-08-1921 - Cyd Charisse - Amarillo, TX
    actor, dancer: Guest: "Spike Jones Show"
    03-08-1922 - Al Gionfriddo - Dysart, PA - d. 3-14-2003
    sportscaster: KONG Visalia, CA
    03-08-1929 - Betty Carter - d. 9-26-1998
    jazz vocalist: "Jazz Alive"
    03-08-1943 - Lynn Redgrave - London, England
    actor: "Artist Descending a Staircase"; "Vile Bodies"

    March 8th deaths

    03-06-1916 - Red Callender - d. 3-8-1992
    jazz bass player: "Jubilee"; "One Night Stand"
    04-19-1908 - Parke Levy - Philadelphia, PA - d. 3-8-1993
    creator, writer, director: "December Bride"; "My Friend Irma"
    04-20-1893 - Harold Lloyd - Burchard, NE - d. 3-8-1971
    comedian: "Comedy Theatre"
    04-29-1879 - Sir Thomas Beecham - St. Helens, England - d. 3-8-1961
    conductor: "Information Please"
    06-02-1889 - Martha Wentworth - NYC - d. 3-8-1974
    actor: Wintergreen Witch "Cinnamon Bear"; Nancy "Witch's Tale"
    07-08-1914 - Billy Eckstine - Philadelphia, PA - d. 3-8-1993
    jazz vocalist: "Yessiree . . .It's Mr. B!"; "ABCs of Music";
    "Julilee"; "Big Show"
    07-19-1930 - Rhoda Williams - Denver, CO - d. 3-8-2006
    actor: Betty Anderson "Father Knows Best"; "Life of Riley"
    08-17-1922 - Jack Sperling - Trenton, NJ - d. 3-8-2004
    drummer: Bands of Bunny Berrigan, Les Brown and others
    09-13-1876 - Sherwood Anderson - Camden, OH - d. 3-8-1941
    writer: "The Free Company"
    10-03-1890 - Henry Hull - Louisville, KY - d. 3-8-1977
    actor: Honest Abe "Abraham Lincoln"; Nathan Hale "Roses and Drums"
    10-15-1921 - Allan Drake - Massachusetts - d. 3-8-1986
    actor: "The Ethel Merman Show"
    11-25-1914 - Joe DiMaggio - Martinez, CA - d. 3-8-1999
    baseball superstar: "Joe DiMaggio Show"
    12-08-1904 - George Stevens - Oakland, CA - d. 3-8-1975
    film director: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    12-12-1909 - Karen Morley - Ottumwa, IA - d. 3-8-2003
    blacklisted actor: "War Town"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
    12-30-1922 - Bert Holland - d. 3-8-1980
    actor: Emmett "Shorty Bell"
    xx-xx-1918 - Kathie Kay - Glasgow, Scotland - d. 3-8-2005
    singer: "Billy Cotton Band Show"

    Ron Sayles

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2007 09:16:12 -0500
    From: "Paul Thompson" <beachcrows@[removed];
    To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Remembering Roger Hill

    Barbara Watkin's recent posting about the passing of Roger Hill
    brought back many memories. Barbara's mention that Roger was very
    active in NARA (North American Radio Archives) needs to be clarified a
    bit. Roger was responsible for the creation of NARA. At the time Roger
    was teaching high school and owned an exotic pet store in San
    Francisco. In 1972 he and two other old radio fans (attorney Francine
    Berry and husband Matthew Krin) felt that a good organization of radio
    collectors was needed and after much thought and effort on their part
    NARA was formed as an educational non profit corporation. In those
    early years of trading and collecting old radio shows, the NARA under
    Roger's guidance and with a cadre of dedicated volunteers accomplished
    some notable things. A large lending library of tapes, books, slides
    and radio related material was established for members, a large
    tribute dinner for radio legend Carlton E. Morse was held in San
    Francisco and a committee was formed to help older radio performers in
    need of assistance. In early 1974 a working alliance began with the
    California Historical Society to provide a series of old time radio
    presentations for the public at their headquarters and Time magazine
    interviewed NARA about radio programming nostalgia with a resulting
    story in an issue of Time that helped increase the public awareness of
    old time radio and collecting.

    In his time Roger Hill made a lasting contribution to the preservation
    and collecting of old radio shows. I lost touch with Roger many years
    ago but once heard that he never embraced the coming of computers. If
    true, that would help explain how he sort of faded into the background
    at a time when computers have made access to all aspects in the hobby
    of old time radio so easy and immediate.

    Paul Thompson

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2007 10:11:15 -0500
    From: <verotas@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  David Sarnoff Library photos

    I recently came across [removed] and spent some time enjoying the
    numerous photographs there.  I recommend it.

    One caught my interest.  It shows FDR seated at the desk in his White House
    Library behind a battery of microphones - NBC, CBS and ABC.  Supposedly dated
    1935.

    I questioned the date for two reasons.  First was the dark spot over his left
    eyebrow.  Seems to me from seeing lots of photos, that mark wasn't that
    obvious in 1935, but became much more so in later years.  Yet by ABC's start
    in 1947 (mike use when?), FDR was gone.  Can someone explain "that" ABC mike
    c. 1935?  I know there was an earlier network try with the name American, but
    still that mike definitely looks later to me.

    Many thanks - Lee Munsick

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #78
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