
 SEE INFO SECTION AT END OF THIS DIGEST FOR UNSUBSCRIBE AND OTHER INFORMATION. 
	  	         === Last Update 1/17/95  ====





	    [removed]   Volume 96 : Issue 140


Articles in this issue of [removed]:

	 Cassette Sound Quality
	 cheap OTR cassettes
	 Buck a tape
	 introduction
	 Freberg usa
	 Groovy Riddle
	 More on Cincinnati
	 Jack Benny Routine
	 Tape-To-Tape Sound Quality
	 RE: tape prices
	 cassette prices
	 OTR Want List!
	 Jack Benny and the Colemans
	 OTR on Shortwave-Update
	 Dealer prices
	 Stan Freberg's United States of America
	 memphis area radio stations

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 11:06:01 -0500 (CDT)
From: fkorb@[removed]
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Cassette Sound Quality
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Hi! to all digest readers,

I was a little irritated by the remarks made by a commercial dealer
who was not at Cincinnati about degraded sound quality vs price. Since
when does the sound quality go down when the price is lowered. It
makes sense to me that if it is good at $[removed], it should be still as
good at $[removed] If this is the route that some dealers choose to end
their sales with, so be it. I have seen many a collector come to these
conventions solely to buy cassettes, but due to lack of funds and high
priced cassettes, were not able to buy all they wanted. Allowing
prices to be lowered to the point that all can afford, will provide
good advertising for the vendor even if he absorbs a loss. I don't
think that the few dealers that lower their prices will dilute the
sound quality of many collectors by any great percentage. What will
prevail will be the interest of the collector to buy more even at the
regular price when they can afford it. 
I have purchased cassettes from professional dealers, not
hobbist/collector dealers and was disappointed with the quality. You
would think that professional dealers would supply the best sounds
around, but that is not always the case. I have seen small collector
dealers put out some mighty good sound on cassettes. Price does not
always dictate the best. I don't care how good the source is, if the
equipment is not used properly, the quality is bad. So a dollar
cassette can be better than a five dollar one at times. 
If the dealer that was not at Cincinnati is so worried that he is
being undersold and lesser priced cassettes are flooding his customer
base, he should have sent a representative to sell his product. Many
of the professional dealers were the ones that lowered their prices,
not some collector that puts OTR on cassettes in his garage. The
important thing is that the OTR sounds are being spread to many
collectors and not only to those who can afford the higher priced
cassettes.

Fred Korb - Secretary


Oldtime Radio Collectors and Traders Society (ORCATS)

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 12:05:58 -0500
From: John Henley <jhenley@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: cheap OTR cassettes
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Jim Widner wrote, in response to Bob Burnham:
>I have to add that a lot of the hobby of otr has both
>survived and thrived because of these "lesser" dealers you refer to.

My two cents on this:  I've been collecting OTR steadily for a decade now. 
If I had not discovered a small vendor who offered 60 minute tapes for $3
each, I probably would not have pursued the hobby, because the other
catalogs I got at that time had prices that really made me pause and think.
Some of my favorite items to this day, came from that small vendor,
including a few that I've never seen in any other catalog.  The sound
quality on his tapes was HIGHLY VARIABLE to say the least - but, I reckon
that's what equalizers are for, and luckily I had one.
A small irony - sometimes, the smaller vendors dub their stuff, major hiss
and all, onto good quality blank cassettes, whereas while Radio Spirits et
al. has superior sound quality, the cassettes themselves don't inspire
great confidence in their durability.

John Henley
jhenley@[removed]
ph  (512) 495-4112
fax (512) 495-4296

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 13:10:46 -0700
From: Mike Hamm <[removed]@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Buck a tape
Message-id: <[removed]@[removed]>

I learned from a Cincy convention regular that dropping the price of 
cassettes to one dollar DURING THE LAST HOUR OF THE CONVENTION is
practically a tradition.  These are not cheapo cassettes in poor sound.
One dealler told me that whenever he gets a cassette order during the
year, he makes 2 extra copies (realtime, not high speed) that he keeps
just to take to conventions.  These dealers bring hundreds, if not 
thousands, of cassettes to a convention, and would rather sell them at
a lower price than take them back home.

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 12:35:14 -0500
From: Mark Reesor <heronimous@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: introduction
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

I just subscribed to OTR Digest and am enjoying it very much. I've been an
avid fan of otr, especially the great comedy shows, since hearing a Jack
Benny show on a local radio station when I was 10 (I'm 35 now). It was the
funniest thing I had ever heard and made the so-called comedy tv shows and
comedians elsewhere look so lame. I was hooked immediately but until
recently getting access to shows was a hit and miss proposition. I managed
to find a local radio station that had an otr show and started buying tapes
by the case! The show was cancelled though and I only learned recently --
through the net -- that I was not alone in my interests. It's great reading
the digest and filling in my spotty knowledge of otr. I have yet to find
anybody interested in otr in this area -- mind you, that's not always such a
bad thing. All those great comedy lines can be recycled again with none the
wiser -- though I noticed that people over 'a certain age' would often look
a little puzzled; one lady I used to work with once gave me a long look and
then asked "just how old are you, Mark?! I even used to adapt scripts to use
as skits during stage shows in high school. You don't find that kind of
quality much anymore so they always stood out as the funniest thing going. I
have a couple questions I'm hoping some of you veterans can answer for me.

1/ I have parts of one show by Henry (?) Morgan where he does a hilarious
send-up of his sponsor (Schick Eversharp Razors -- "don't just rush out and
buy one, think it over"). I understand he used to do this quite frequently
and the sponsor learned to love it because sales increased. Does anyone know
anything more about him -- I'd love to know more -- and where one can get
his shows.
2/ I saw a mention of Stan Freeburg; apparently he has a radio show? Anyone
have more information? I managed to get some shows from his short-lived
radio series on a record a few years ago -- incredibly funny and innovative
-- and adapted his 'Old Man River' for a community variety show -- worked
very well; I substituted a boat horn for the censor's buzzer, which kept
everyone on the edge of their seats! 
3/ Read Burgan mentioned the DART and SOUND FORGE as useful for removing
noise from old records. Where can one get these programs and what is
necessary to run them?

I could go on but I fear this is plenty long-winded already. A little
personal info -- I'm a newspaper reporter/photographer working in the
Toronto (Ontario, Canada) area and used to work as an editor at 'Newsradio,'
which was a radio voice/wire service serving some 200 private radio stations
in Canada until it closed in 1990. I'm interested in all aspects of otr and
am thrilled to find people who share my interest/hobby/passion!

heronimous@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 14:41:25 -0400
From: stevecap@[removed] (Steven Capsuto)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Freberg usa
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

>supposed to be the first of a series, but there were enough angry reactions
that
>the project never went any further. Anyone out there who can add to or clarify

According to the jacket notes on my vinyl copy, "Stan has been doing
historical satire for many years, and regular listeners to the 1957 Freberg
CBS radio series will no doubt remember his riotous take-offs on such
illustrious figures as Washington, Custer, Paul Revere, Betsy Ross, and
Barbara Frietchie.  Now he has expanded this idea into a full-length
"history spectacular," and this album (sub-titled 'The Early Years') is the
first volume of a four-album [removed]"

Of course, the discussion of a four-album set may have been whimsical or
sarcastic.

BTW, was that Freberg I saw playing a store manager on last night's ROSEANNE?
___
Steven Capsuto, Philadelphia
stevecap@[removed]
WEB page: [removed]~[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 14:12:20 -0600
From: Richard Veit <Richard_Veit@[removed]>
To: OTR Digest <otr@[removed]>
Subject: Groovy Riddle
Message-id: <[removed]@[removed]>

                       Subject:                               Time:1:12 PM
  OFFICE MEMO          Groovy Riddle                          Date:4/17/96

Oooops! In Issue 133 I posted a riddle about the number of grooves on an LP.
Several of our sharp-eyed readers have correctly pointed out to me that
somehow I managed to misquote the riddle. Without thinking, I left out the
important phrase "...on each side [removed]" The riddle should, of course, read as
follows:

Question: "How many grooves are there on each side of a standard, 12-inch,
33-rpm LP record?"
Answer: "Just one. It spirals around itself."

Thanks for this opportunity to set the "record" straight!
Richard J. Veit

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 15:18:24 -0400
From: JRayb71827@[removed]
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: More on Cincinnati
Message-ID: <960417151822_193041351@[removed]>

   Forgive me for not remembering who, but someone indicated that the stars'
appearance at the Cincinnati OTR convention might be their last because of
advancing years.  Perish the thought, realistic as it is.  However, in this
particular instance, there are plans for an extension.  I just talked with
Bob Burchett in Cincy and he tells me that Parley Baer and Peg Lynch have
both agreed to come back again in '97.  Hurray, that means some more "Ethel &
Albert."  A couple or so years back, Parley didn't know anything about Peg or
the show and they did three scripts at the SPERDVAC convention, with yours
truly as their announcer.  Parley came away [removed] Peg is one of
the funniest ladies he ever worked with.  Boy, he wanted to take the show on
the [removed] has, to a certain extent.  
   Bob B. already has next year's dates [removed]'ll be April [removed]
he's invited me to do a probable "Gunsmoke" re-creation with Parley.  I can
hardly wait!!!!!

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

Date: Tue, 16 Apr 96 19:20:32 -0500
From: Marty_Dzik@[removed] (Marty Dzik)
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Jack Benny Routine
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Hello Everyone!

I'm assuming that everyone who knows of OTR and Jack Benny remembers Jack's
"Si, Sy" routine.  However, I remember hearing a take-off of that using
another letter of the alphabet besides "S".  I don't remember if it was Jack
Benny or not, though.  Does anyone else remember hearing this?  If so, what
series/program was it, dates, [removed]

Thank you in advance.

Marty
marty_dzik@[removed]



--

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

Date: Tue, 16 Apr 96 19:20:54 -0500
From: Marty_Dzik@[removed] (Marty Dzik)
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Tape-To-Tape Sound Quality
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Hello,

I have a lot of OTR cassettes that are copies of copies, 2nd - 3rd generation
copies, [removed]

Has anyone "experimented" or tried to enhance the sound of the second copy
(while copying the tape) with an equalizer or maybe a sound compression unit? 
I know this is not an audio forum and this can probably turn into a big
technical explanation, of which I'm not looking to do.

There are many times when one gets a good program on tape but there is a lot
of background hiss or maybe the sound is muffled by too much bass/not enough
treble, [removed]  

If anyone has any positive ideas, you can drop me a message at:   
marty_dzik@[removed]

Thank you very much.

The Best of OTR!
Marty



--

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 17:16:23 -0400 (EDT)
From: Randy Minnehan <rminneha@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: RE: tape prices
Message-ID: <[removed]@acme>

Hi [removed]

   I couldn't let the comments by Bob Burnham pass by without [removed] I
was the one who mentioned the special $1 price that was available at the
end of the Cincy convention, and along with a bunch of others, I did buy a
bunch of them.  Quality? They were well recorded, and were basically very
good.  Remember too, these were the same tapes that earlier in the
convention were $3 a piece!  The one or two vendors that discounted their
stock to a buck a tape wanted to carry home money instead of the tapes.

   I think it's funny how many of these same vendors sell your basic C-60
cassette with two 30 minute shows for $3 each, or 10 for $25 at the
conventions turn around at sell the same tapes for $[removed]$[removed] each
through the mail, plus the customer pays for handling AND postage. Why
such a change in price?  The dealers paid $35 for the convention table and
the hassle of traveling to YOU, but they charge less?  Go figure.  And the
catalogs!  A good number of dealers want $20 for their imcomplete catalogs.

   Those things, my friend, are coming to an end.  High prices are
finished. With the likes of quality dealers such as RADIO SHOWCASE (I have
no ownership [removed] although I wish I did!) offers their huge catalog
ON LINE at Lou's www site for viewing and/or downloading for FREE!  Plus,
their prices are downright low!  Steve mentioned he is continuing his
special rate for internet users of $2 per tape!  Now, this is more like it!

   While I admire Carl Amari's efforts of bringing otr to bookstores and
the airwaves, I will not pay his $6 per cassette.

   I wonder what would happen if someone showed up at the Cincy convention
next year with all the tapes for the whole show at a buck a tape! 
Something to wonder and worry about!

--------------------------------------------------
|Randy Minnehan - rminneha@[removed]|
--------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 19:20:44 -0400
From: Platecap@[removed]
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: cassette prices
Message-ID: <960417192043_193185968@[removed]>

I liked Jim Ouzts comment about the "bigger guys" (old time radio vendors)
helping the smaller mom and pop dealers.  That has gone on for many years.
 There *are* dealers in the hobby who often credit certain other dealers for
helping them get started.  I'm one of those who has been helped and helped
others. Certainly I have been lucky to be on BOTH sides of that situation and
it only helps the old time radio hobby as a whole.  Unfortunately, the number
of OTR vendors has declined and some of those still active keep a low
profile.

I was not criticizing the small-time folks in my previous [removed]  and agree
with Jim Widners comment that a lot of the mom & pop suppliers *do* help to
make a wider and more varied selection of shows available.

But for the General Interest collector who doesn't have that many shows who
just wants the basic shows everyone [removed]
I've heard a lot of horror stories about their being burned by a less
reputable source (and there are an unfortunate few out there who use
hydrochloric acid and sandpaper to clean their tape heads).
As a result of their first purchase or two from a poor source, they are
turned OFF by old time radio because they think *ALL* the shows in
circulation are bad sound.

If someone wants REALLY prime quality shows for next to nothing, my
recommendation is to BORROW shows from the lending libraies of the more
reputable clubs.  SPERDVAC is one of those clubs.  For those who may be new
to this list, Sperdvac stands for the Society for the Preservation &
encouragement of radio drama variety & comedy.  Their address is [removed] Box
7177, Van Nuys, CA 91409-7177.  Phone 310-947-9800.

Just my 17 [removed]
-Bob Burnham platecap@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 19:04:11 -0400 (EDT)
From: Randy Minnehan <rminneha@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: OTR Want List!
Message-ID: <[removed]@acme>

Hi [removed]

   I am currently working on a project, and am desperately seeking the
following otr shows, for which I am willing to trade at a ratio of 4:1, or
pay for in blank tapes or resonable money. Any help would be greatly
appreciated!  Here's my list:

The Adventures of Santa Claus, 2 shows available (RHAC has, but I'm not in it)
The Big Talent Hunt (Jim Backus), 1 show available 04-06-48
Bringing Up Father, 1 available "The Burglar" (audition?)
The Fabulous Mr. Manchester, 1 available, 05-06-50
Groucho Marx, 1 available "Hollywood Agents" 1938
Hint Hunt, 1 available 07-07-48
If You Had A Million, 1 available 11-12-39
It Can Happen To You, 1 available
I Was A Convict, 1 available
The Jim Backus Variety Show, 1 available 11-11-47
June's My Girl, 1 available 10-04-48 (audition)
The Killing Season, 6 available (complete run)
The Loser, 12 available (complete run)
Majestic Master Of Mystery, 7 available "The Phantom Spoilers" (complete run)
Major Hoople, 1 available
Me And Janie, 1 available 10-20-49
The Mel Torme Show, 9 available
Mickey Mouse Theatre, 2 available 01-02-38 & 03-06-38
Nothing Serious, 07-19-42
Quizathon, 1 available 03-05-49
Quiz Wizard, 1 available  09-24-43
Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom Show, 1 available 09-08-48
This Is The Mrs., 1 available 11-20-47 (audition)
The Whisper Men, 2 available 10-20-45 & 12-29-45
Who Said That?, 2 available 08-27-48 & 10-01-48
The Woody Woodpecker Show, 2 available 10-03-53 & 10-10-53
You Are The Jury, 1 available


   Okay, that's it.  Just tell me what you want for any of [removed] please
e-mail me directly.  The information that these were available comes from
Hickerson's book (which, by the way, is available through inter-library
loan, just ask your local library how to do this).

   I also specialize in unusal or hard-to-find shows, as well as
uncirulated material.  If you have *anything* that you think I might be
interested in, please contact me!  I have at least one LUM N' ABNER show and
one VIC & SADE show that have been considered "lost" or "missing" that I
should have in my hands *very* soon.  For those who have already written,
I'll be in touch, alright? Good things come to those who wait!  If you
have "rare" shows you might like to trade, please contact me.

   Big things will be happening soon!  Stay tuned.


----------------------------------------------------
|Randy Minnehan - rminneha@[removed]|
--------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 20:27:22
From: Sherbie@[removed] (Victoria Yellen)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jack Benny and the Colemans
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

	Jack really did live next door to the Colemans, and Benita Coleman
did play herself on Jack's show. This comes from "Sunday Nights at Seven, The 
Jack Benny Story" (p. 139) written by Jack and his daughter Joan. The book 
was published in 1990 and mostly written by his daughter, but she included 
portions of an unpublished autobiography by Jack.
	I don't know if the stolen oscar show was the first appearance of the 
"your money or your life joke", but Jack's stinginess has to be the funniest
running joke on radio. Just the mention of money or the cost of something 
would get the audience tittering in anticipation. And Jack's silent pauses 
really punctuated the joke. He was a master of comedic timing.

	And remember his famous vault?

Jim Yellen

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 96 19:51:07 -0500
From: Marty_Dzik@[removed] (Marty Dzik)
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: OTR on Shortwave-Update
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Hello,

Today, I received a program guide from shortwave station WWCR, Nashville, TN. 
They list their OTR show "The Old Record Shop" airing on Mondays at 0600 UTC
(GMT) (1am CDST) on [removed] MHz and again on Fridays at 1130 UTC (6:30am CDST)
on [removed]

When I posted this the last time, I did receive a reply from a listener who
mentioned that there was another program aiting at that time.  I don't exactly
know what happened.  Could it be that 0600 UTC (1amCDST) Monday is actually
Tuesday [removed]  Maybe someone could shed a little light on this one.

Hope this helps those looking for OTR on shortwave!

The Best of OTR,
Marty Dzik
marty_dzik@[removed]



--

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 21:27:27 -0400
From: Oldtimerad@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
cc: Platecap@[removed]
Subject: Dealer prices
Message-ID: <960417212725_193272042@[removed]>

Jim Ouzts
in the previous edition of the digest expressed his opinion that $4 for a
cassette when the otr dealer presumably only paid $1 for blank tape, labels
and box is a [removed] isn't too steep a price to pay when you add in the
time involved in duplicating the tape, putting the tapes together, packaging
and shipping.
There's also utilities like electricity, gas -  that the person (especially
the smaller dealers will pay anyway) but these also ought to be figured in to
the equation.  What is an acceptable profit margin?  The average price at the
conventions is about $[removed] to $3.  By mail, the price is closer to $3 to $4.
 Neither multiple is unreasonable.  Some dealers charge 5, 6 or 7 dollars.
 Can this be considered unreasonable when one does not know exactly the
amount of expenses involved to produce the final product?  What about
equipment and maintenance?  There are a lot of factors that must be included.
 Because someone may not want to pay $4 a tape doesn't mean that because of
that, $4 is therefore an excessive amount to ask for an oldtime radio tape.

Andy Blatt

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 20:49:02 -0600
From: bigsteve@[removed] (Steve Darnall)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Stan Freberg's United States of America
Message-Id: <v01530502ad9b5c414e90@[[removed]]>

The fact that Freberg's 1961 "United States" album was also his last had
less to do with any angry reaction on the part of the [removed] than the fact
that Broadway producer David Merrick bought the rights to produce a stage
version of the album, one which would have included much of the "sequel"
material Freberg had written (and of course, any future albums would have
to wait until people had had the chance to see it on stage). According to
Freberg's autobiography, however, all he got out of the relationship was an
ulcer, and he walked away from the project. That part I know for sure; as
for further developments, I suspect that Merrick had the rights tied up for
several years, which would have made a sequel seem slightly out of context.

Too bad. It's a really funny piece of work.

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

Date: Wed, 17 Apr 1996 22:16:06 -0400
From: MTPawckett@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: memphis area radio stations
Message-ID: <960417221605_516321895@[removed]>

Howdy!! In my pursuit to find info on Krazy Kats with Ukelele Ike and George
Murray (originating out of Memphis)...I wonder if contacting local stations
that were in operation during the thirties would be fruitful.  So, regarding
[removed] opinions on this pursuit?  Does anyone know how I'd find out
what stations were broadcasting back then (I'm not sure which station carried
their show)?  Any help in this effort to trace some family otr roots (George
is my grandfather-in-law) will be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks much and th cinncy convention sounded great, sorry i missed it.

Dave Lind  MTPawckett@[removed]     {:0)

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

    


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---- 
End of [removed] Digest V96 Issue #140

