------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 113
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re: Old Time Radio in New York [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
Re: Answers for the "newbie" [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
How Many Radios [ sojax@[removed] (Roger S. Smith) ]
The Two Harlans Again [ Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed]; ]
Empire State Building 1945 tragedy [ "Phil Watson" <philwats@[removed]; ]
Re: Donora Fog [ David Easter <DavidEaster@[removed] ]
Black tape [ David Easter <DavidEaster@[removed] ]
New Mp3 models [ "Richard Carpenter" <sinatra@raging ]
How many radios ? [ KENPILETIC@[removed] ]
Gunsmoke Name Changes [ KENPILETIC@[removed] ]
RE: RADIOS IN THE HOME [ Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@doityours ]
Arsenic and Old Lace - Did televisio [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
Re: Michale's Right! Michael's Right [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
Number of Radios [ Grbmd@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 14:02:00 -0500
From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Old Time Radio in New York
I wrote:
The first place would be the RCA Building which is a mecca of Art Deco
architecture. If you can't get a TV show ticket, you can go on the NBC
tour--but you'll just have to imagine what the studio floors looked like
in the OTR days before their numerous renovations. They've even
destroyed the elevators' wonderful original mahogany interiors.
Since I wrote this yesterday I've been thinking about the irony of
this--back in the days of radio, an aural medium, the studios were
visually stunning. But when the television people came in--who were all
supposedly visually aware--they trashed those studios and turned them
into ugly utilitarian boxes.
Edgar H. Felix was the publicist for WEAF in the 20s while AT&T ran it,
and he told me about their efforts to make their studios comfortable,
homey, and stylish. NBC carried on this tradition at 711 5th Avenue, 30
Rockefeller Plaza, and Chicago's Merchandise Mart. When these buildings
opened they published a set of pictures of each studio which were all
smartly furnished. Except for the microphones you wouldn't know they
were studios. The audience studios were close to the designs of the
movie palaces of the day. They were a delight to go to, and probably to
perform in.
When I was doing some research at NBC in the late 60s and early 70s
anybody could go onto the unguarded mahogany elevators, and a smartly
uniformed operator would take you to your floor where you could
sometimes still see remnants of how the building once was. The hallways
and many of the offices still had the concentric circular
reflective-type incandescent light fixtures. A lot of wood and stylish
moldings. But if you went into a TV studio, like Toscanini's 8H,
instead of the plush interior that can be seen on the original
photographs, there was padding on the walls held in place by
chicken-wire. (I'm serious. I'm not making this up.) In the 60s
there still were a few small radio studios that hadn't yet been hacked
up by the meat-cleavers of the un-stylish, but they were probably all
trashed by the mid-70s. That's when they canceled the tours, put the
guards on the elevator banks, ripped out the elevator interiors and
replaced them with tan formica, and turned the elevators into
self-service. Come to think of it, it is also when RCA stopped using
the His Master's Voice logo picture, and NBC swiped that stupid looking
modernistic N from Nebraska Public Television.
It kinda makes you think that television people are visually impaired.
Another irony is that it seems that the only media people interested in
attractive surroundings are the MT&R. Of course, that's their
problem--they spent so much money on their buildings (is it $125 million
for the LA building and $55 million for the NYC building?) that the
glitziness of the surroundings draws attention away from the fact that
their collection is not all that it is cracked up to be. (It also drew
money away from more deserving archives.)
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 14:02:22 -0500
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Answers for the "newbie"
At 1:12 PM -0500 3/23/02, Michael Biel is rumored to have typed:
OK, I'll say it--I assume some of you were expecting me to bring this up
again when Hal gave this first-hand description of how OTR programs
REALLY were performed. This is one of the reasons why many convention
re-creations and NTR productions never get it quite right.
Of course they don't "get it right" - they aren't _trying_ to get it
"right," they are trying to present visually something that was originally
aural. My guess is that most theater shows were also more "in front" than the
usual studio show, based only on a few photographs I've seen.
The actors work around the problems gracefully, and the audience enjows
the performances more than if they were maneuvering around trying to face
each other on those flimsy risers.
You'll see what I mean in
Cincinnati next month, Hal.
Hal's been a guest of other conventions before and has performed in
recreations, specifically the Newark FOTR [removed] have video evidence of him
walking out of a recreation because someone insulted him. (I think someone
called him [removed] ;)
Charlie
[removed] Truth-In-Advertising, he came back. Eventually.
Me
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 14:43:18 -0500
From: sojax@[removed] (Roger S. Smith)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: How Many Radios
In reply to Jim Yellen's question in issue 111 as to how many radios
in the household in the old days, I will offer the following. I was
born in 1931 so I qualify for the old days. We had only one radio (a
Zenith console) in our home well into the mid to late forties. At that
time a small radio appeared in the kitchen. The Zenith was very
expensive at the time and I can't believe to this day that my dad spent
that kind of money, but he did the very same thing with a tv. In the
sixties my dad gave me that Zenith (which I dearly loved) and as it was
not working I had it in my workshop tinkering with it. I had removed
the speaker and had it on my workbench. My wife and I departed for
somewhere leaving our huge dog Tramp in the garage. Well Tramp had to
see where we were going so he jumped up on the workbench and inserted
his huge paw into the speaker. Now comes the worst thing I ever did in
my life. I was so mad that I packed everything into the garbage. To
this day I still can't imagine that I was that stupid. The speaker
could have been re-coned. Yep as we age we get smarter. In the very
late forties everything changed and we had a radio in most every room in
the house. So long for now, Roger.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 18:22:51 -0500
From: Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Two Harlans Again
My fellow Harlan, Hal Stone, writes:
My Characters' name in the play that I was hired to do was "Harlan". My
folks took the
easy way out, and stuck me with that name. At age 8, I hated it. I thought
it was "sissy"
sounding. (Sorry, my fellow Digester friend, Harlan Zinck) :)
That's OK, Hal - I felt the same way when I was eight. Even now, I've often
thought to changing to Hal myself if only to avoid having to spell "Harlan"
for the entire world; combine it with "Zinck" and see what kind of odd
spells you end up with! :-)
BTW - back to OTR - awhile back I promised Hal that I would send him at
least a copy of the caracature done of himself and Bob Hastings as Archie
and Jughead; these were part of a packet of about 40 5" x 7" color drawings
given away by NBC in about 1948, I believe as part of the studio tour.
Alas, when I dug out my set, I found that four drawings from the set I
purchased via eBay were missing when they arrived and, of course, among the
four was the one of Archie and Jughead. (Ain't that always the way?)
If anyone reading this Digest has these drawings and would be willing to
share one with Hal, even temporarily, I'm sure he'd appreciate it - in
fact, I know he would. Might even buy you a drink at the next OTR
convention, eh Hal?
Harlan
Harlan Zinck
First Generation Radio Archives
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 18:24:27 -0500
From: "Phil Watson" <philwats@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Empire State Building 1945 tragedy
A few weeks ago there much some discussion here about the Empire State
Building accident when a B-25 bomber flew into an upper floor. I had never
heard of the incident but tonight the BBC here in England ran a documentary
about the building of the skyscraper, including an interview with a 93 year
old retired construction worker who was in the crew. There was a long
segment about the accident, with newsreel footage, new interviews with those
involved in the accident and with their relatives.
It was very strange seeing 1931 film of two small children opening the ESB
followed by an interview with an elderly monk who said he couldn't recognise
himself as one of them in the film. There was even an excerpt from This Is
Your Life featuring, I think, the widow of the pilot. A fascinating
programme.
Apologies for the non-OTR post.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 18:26:13 -0500
From: David Easter <DavidEaster@[removed];
To: "Old-Time Radio Digest (E-mail)" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Donora Fog
Dick Backus wrote:
On October 31, 1948, a "killer" fluoride fog enveloped the town of Donora,
Pa, (south of Pittsburgh), killed twenty people and left hundreds ill. I
vaguely remember hearing a radio program sometime in the late 40's or early
50's dramatizing this event. I'm not sure if this was locally produced or on
something like "Cavalcade of America" or "March of Time" Does anyone
remember this program?
While I am not aware of the program he is referring to it may be important
to set the record straight. There was no evidence that fluoride was
responsible for the deaths in Donora. The Public Health Service blamed a
temperature inversion and air pollution from a [removed] Steel plant. Most of the
deaths were from heart attacks (which could have been brought on by the poor
air quality, temperature, panic or some other factor.) While fluoride was
present in the air, it was only one of many pollutants. In the intervening
decades, the anti-fluoridation people have tried to focus the blame in
Donora on fluoride without much success (disregarding innuendo). The
allegations were revived in 1998 by Chris Bryson who wrote an article
entitled "The Donora Fluoride Fog: A Secret History of America's Worst Air
Pollution Disaster" for Earth Island Journal. This article has been posted
on many environmentalist sites.
David L. Easter
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 18:26:34 -0500
From: David Easter <DavidEaster@[removed];
To: "Old-Time Radio Digest (E-mail)" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Black tape
While not directly OTR related, I am looking for some guidance.
I have a cassette (commercial, music) from the early 1980's that was made
with "black" tape and it squeals.
I would really like to salvage this tape (read: backup to CD). I have
attempted to bake it in the kitchen oven (not having access to a convection
oven) with no success.
I am open to suggestions.
David L. Easter
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 18:27:04 -0500
From: "Richard Carpenter" <sinatra@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: New Mp3 models
I really don't work for Rio but here I am again,
mentioning their products. For those who have been
waiting for an even lower price for a portable MP3
player that supports the OTR format, there is now the
Rio Volt SP-50, which lists for $70 but goes on sale at
Best Buy tomorrow for $60 after a $10 rebate. And for
those waiting for a complete stereo system with MP3,
there is now the 120-watt Rio shelf system, with AM-FM,
reverse cassette and audio and MP3 CD capability. What
really attracts me is the big LCD display, with seven
colors to switch between! I tried to tell my wife that
although we had just bought a stereo, this one is much
nicer, and .... She just gave me what has come to be
known as The Look.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 18:27:39 -0500
From: KENPILETIC@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: How many radios ?
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Hi Gang - March 23, 2002 - Saturday 3:15 PM cst
In a recent issue of the "otrdigest", Jim Yellen inquires,
"... how many radio sets did the average family have during the
Golden Age .... Can those who were there share with their memories
of radios around the house ..."
In our house when I was very young we had ONE radio. It was a
Glorytone (cathedral style) with a 10-inch electrodynamic loud speaker.
This radio was loud enough to be heard in all four rooms of our house.
When I was about 8 or 9 years old my dad won a Philco 5-tube
AC-DC Superhet on a punch board. This radio was placed in the
kitchen. About a year later a big puff of smoke came out of the
old Glorytone and we were back to ONE radio again.
The demise of the old Glorytone could not have been connected
with my poking around inside of it a few days [removed]
Happy Taping & See You in Cincinnati --
Ken Piletic - Streamwood, Illinois
kenpiletic@[removed]
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------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 18:27:52 -0500
From: KENPILETIC@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Gunsmoke Name Changes
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Hi Gang - March 23, 2002 - Saturday 3:15 PM cst
In a recent issue of the "otrdigest", refering to "Gunsmoke",
William Manahan asked why the names of characters were not
changed from the Radio version to the Television version, .
At least one of the names DID change. I have a recording of
an interview between Parley Baer and Jim Beedle. Parley
tells Jim about an interesting ad-lib during a radio "Gunsmoke"
program.
Parley in his character of "Chester" was absolutly certain about
something he was about to tell Matt. His line was supposed to be
somthing like "Sure as shootin'...." Parley didn't like the line so
he substitured "Sure as my name is Chester Wesley Proudfoot ..."
This nearly broke Bill Conrad up. Bill laughed and repeated, "Chester
Wesley Proudfoot?"..... This was the first time Chester's last name
(and middle name, too) was ever mentioned. From then on, Chester
was Chester Proudfoot on the radio version of Gunsmoke.
When the TV version of Gunsmoke aired, they changed Chester's
last name to "Goode". The producers of the TV show thought that
if they used the name "Proudfoot" they would have to pay a royalty
to Parley Baer.
My great concern is that they did not offer any of the TV parts to the
actors who created them on radio. There was much bitterness about
this. According to Parley, the producers had a so-called "audition"
for the TV parts, but never really wanted to hire any of the original cast.
Some speculate that there was no film in the cameras during the
audition.
Personally, I think the radio cast would have been great on TV if
they had been given the chance.
Happy Taping, & See You in Cincinnati --
Ken Piletic - Streamwood, Illinois
kenpiletic@[removed]
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 18:28:08 -0500
From: Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@[removed];
To: "Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: RADIOS IN THE HOME
Jim Yellin asked about the number of radios in the home during the Golden
Era. Well, we had a "master radio" in our living room (or parlor, as it was
called in them days), a floor model Majestic High Boy short wave. Then in
the kitchen we had a Philco Cathedral model that we listened to during supper
hour and which mom listened to the "soaps" during the day, and there was a
table model RCA in my bedroom. Then,later on when the battery operated
portables came out, We purchased two. One for the den and one for the
basement workshop.
Can you imagine what it was like in my home with dad listening to Amos & Andy
in the parlor, and mom listening to a big-band remote in the kitchen while
washing dishes and me, upstairs listening to the Lone Ranger? Really great!
Kevin Michaels
PS: I wish to thank Michael Biel and Elizabeth for the correction n Singin'
Sam. When you get my age, "the little gray cells" (as Piorot would always
say) sometimes do not work properly.
KM
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 18:30:10 -0500
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Arsenic and Old Lace - Did television do
airchecks as radio did?
Approved: ctrn4eeWlc
"John DiMezzes" <jadm1@[removed]; stated:
That was Raymond Massey made up to look "Karloffish" in the film version.
And Jim Yellen Clifengr3@[removed] added:
I think you'll find that the Karloff role in the movie was played by
Raymond Massey made up to look like Karloff.
However, there is probably a filmed version of the 1962 Hallmark Hall of Fame
version starring Karloff and Tony Randall. Apparently, Hallmark no longer
owns rights to their earlier tv productions, for reasons not known to me.
Possibly there is a copy at UCLA; their web page states, "The UCLA Film and
Television Archive holds over 300 programs aired under
the HALLMARK HALL OF FAME banner."
An earlier 1955 production on _Best of Broadway_ on CBS starred the dream
cast of Boris Karloff as Jonathan Brewster and Helen Hayes, Billie Burke and
Peter Lorre. What I wouldn't give to see that version, but it seems unlikely
that any filmed copies exist. How sad. Did tv shows do airchecks as radio
did? If so, there might be some faint hope of finding a copy.
Well-known OTR author Martin Grams is especially interested in locating
either of these; he has seen film excerpts of one of them. If anyone has any
information, please write me and/or post it here. Well, okay, the OTR
connection is tenuous, but there WAS a radio drama version, so, [removed]
Also, while I'm at it, Leonard Fass is eager to locate the OTR Textron
Theater version of "My Little Boy," starring Helen Hayes. Dunning barely
mentions Textron Theater, under the heading Helen Hayes Theater; he says it
ran from Sept. 8, 1945 (ten days before I was born), to March of '46. Anybody?
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 18:35:19 -0500
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Michale's Right! Michael's Right
Hi Michael!
Hi Michael!
Since you rated *TWO* postings, (duplicates) I had to acknowledge both. :)
OK, I'll say it--I assume some of you were expecting me to bring this up
again when Hal gave this first-hand description of how OTR programs
REALLY were performed. This is one of the reasons why many convention
re-creations and NTR productions never get it quite right. <SNIP>
[removed] are absolutely correct.
I beg your pardon, but it would be farmore interesting, effective,
and entertaining to see the actors facing each other and playing off each
other. And the stage would be far more efficient and less crowded.
Once [removed]!
And if they'd set up the room with the stage on the narrow wall instead on
one side of the wide wall--and then place the sound effects table at the
adjacent corner so they and the actors could communicate with each
other--everybody in the audience would even have better sight lines.
Ya know what [removed] Maybe us OTR actors should strike for better working
conditions! :)
You'll see what I mean in Cincinnati next month, Hal.
(Oh Good. I'll finally get to meet you). But I know exactly what you mean
Michael. I've attended enough OTR [removed] doing it the less than
authentic way. Perhaps our society have become so visually oriented (Due to
TV) that the audience wants to "see" the [removed] just "listen".
I assume the room is set up "Wide", rather than "narrow" for a better
(closer) view. That also stops people from harping that their seats are no
good, (way in "back" of the "longer" room) if it was set up lengthwise.
But you are 100% correct that the actors would probably prefer playing
opposite each other, or shoulder to shoulder, like we did in the old days.
particularly a comedy show where we could actually be physical and
inter-relate and "mugg" to our hearts content. And also, don't forget, it
would focus the audiences' attention to a limited area, so theu wouldn't
have to miss interaction that takes place on a spread out stage.
I particularly liked working on the same Mike next to Rosemary Rice. I could
put my arm around her waist without getting my face slapped! :)
But in all [removed] NBC studio's that housed a live audience was set
up to maximize viewing. The width of the audience section was no wider than
the stage, and had a fairly steep incline. The stage was on the 6th floor.
The audience area climbed all the way up to the 7th floor.
Perhaps all that would be needed is a higher stage if the room was set up as
you suggest. (Just make sure there is a safety net in front to catch us
doddering oldtimers) :) I'd be [removed] I'm not sure about Hastings. :)
See you there (Whichever way the room is set up).
Now, I hope I haven't miffed convention organizers by heartily endorsing
your [removed] (I'm glad I already have my plane ticket for Cincinnati) :)
Regards
Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead
NOTE TO ADMINITRIVIA: I think the framastan, on the occuling fristad in the
new server need a good kick. No more duplications, please. It causes eye
strain. :)
[ADMINISTRIVIA: Ok, ok, so I screwed up. I answered Dr. Biel's posting, and
accidentally resent it to the list with my answer. But then, aren't you glad
I'm so fair that any time I disagree with anyone they get twice the space? ;)
--cfs3]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 23:46:17 -0500
From: Grbmd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Number of Radios
Jim asked:
So I was [removed] many radio sets did the average family have during
the Golden Age? Was it just the one? Did you have to be "rich" to have more
then one?
In my house, when I was a kid growing up in the Forties, we had three radios:
one in the kitchen, one in the living room, and one in my bedroom.
Spence
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #113
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