Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #446
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 11/19/2002 3:02 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 446
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Re: Tape to CD (book to follow)       [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
      Re: Who said that?                    [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
      Kennedy assasination coverage`        [ "Henry Brugsch" <henry@listentohear ]
      Satellite Radio                       [ William Harker <wharker@[removed] ]
      Harry and Abby                        [ Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed]; ]
      Film conversions to video             [ leemunsick@[removed] ]
      Re: Graham Newton                     [ Elayne Beneford <elayne@[removed]; ]
      Re: Tape to Audio CD                  [ Shenbarger@[removed] ]
      Actor Larry Dobkin                    [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
      Re: JFK Coverage                      [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Just a fluke?                         [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
      Gene Nobels, Hoss Allen, John "R" Ri  [ "Ben Holland" <ben@spotlandproducti ]
      Late Thank You's                      [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
      OTR on TV--HELP!                      [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 10:54:41 -0500
    From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Tape to CD (book to follow)

>     a) recommend software?

    If you are using a PC, my suggestion is Cool Edit. [removed]
    It is shareware and you can download it for free and use it until you
    decide to buy it.

>     b) tell me if I should first copy the tape to the hard drive, and then burn
>     the file, or try to go straight from tape to CD in real time?

    Connect the output of your tape deck to the input of your sound card. If
    you card has an aux or line in, use that instead of the Mic in. In
    preferences in Cool Edit select your sound card as the recording device.

    You will want to record to your hard drive and then burn to your CD.
    Although recording can be done directly to the CD, there are less chances
    for errors and bad discs if you go to your hard drive first.

    Record to the hard drive. Save the file as Windows PCM (.WAV) (I can hear
    Charlie screeming MP3, MP3, but for now save it as WAV)

    Cool Edit allows you to do some enhancement of the file. If the original
    audio tape has any problems, you can run it through an equalizer or remove
    hum or other constant noises, but if it generally sounds good and you don't
    have any experience with noise reduction software, then just leave it along.

>     c) pass along any tips or tricks

    Cool Edit allow you to turn on a Monitor Record Level. Do that. Run a test
    and keep the highest level from going above -3. Some other might recommend
    not going above -10. The main thing is that at no time do you want the
    levels to go above 0 or show up in the RED area to the right of 0.

    Use the line output of your tape deck. If you are working with a portable
    unit that only has an earphone output, then adjust the level control on
    your tape deck to about 25% above minimum.

    Double click on the speaker button in your task bar and up will come a
    group of volume controls. One of these should be the line input volume. Set
    it at about half way. Then adjust the volume on the tape deck to bring the
    level where you want it.

    If you are just working with a tape deck that has no volume control, then
    adjust the volume control on your computer to where you want it.

    Once you have recorded the material, save it. Then use Cool Edit to clip
    off the beginning and end of the sound clip so that all you have is where
    the program material starts. IOW, you are removing the dead air at the
    beginning of the sound clip and at the end.

    I've forgotten which CD burner you have, but I'm hoping you said you had
    one. Use whatever software that came with the burner to burn the CD.

    You don't need to buy any special audio CDs. Any good brand of CD-R will
    work. If you want to play the CD back in a standard audio CD player, then
    you will burn an audio CD. If you own an MP3 CD player, you may (stop
    drooling Charlie) want to make an MP3 disc. In this case, you will need to
    convert the WAV file to MP3. At this point, 100 people will now jump in and
    give their opinion as to which encoding format and setting to use. This
    could take a whole day, so all I'm going to say is that if you are making
    an MP3 disc, you will want to set your software to make a DATA disc. Then
    you drop in the MP3 file.

    If you are going to play this on an audio CD player, then you set your
    software to make an audio disc and you drop in the WAV file or files.

    This should get you started. If you really need more help, email me
    directly, since we could fill up the entire digest on just this subject.

    Hope this helps.

    Fred
    [removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 10:57:23 -0500
    From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Who said that?

    At 05:56 PM 11/18/02 -0500, you wrote:

>     [ADMINISTRIVIA: Complaints should be sent to Gary Yoggy.  --cfs3]

    And Charlie told me he never editorializes.

    Fred
    For the best in Old Time Radio Shows [removed]

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: Wasn't an editorial, was a disclamer. Gary made me do it, so
    why should I get all the complaints?  ;)  --cfs3]

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 10:58:16 -0500
    From: "Henry Brugsch" <henry@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Kennedy assasination coverage`

        Bill Orr asks about the Kennedy assasination recollections. Here's the
    odd thing about it. I was in college at the time. That afternoon, was in a
    friend's room, and we were joking about something.
    There was a knock on the door, and this guy asks what we are so hilarious
    about. We got hot under the collar, what was all this about. He just simply
    said, "turn on the [removed]" My friend reached over, and flipped the set on.
    There it all was, the sombre reportage, and the rest. Personally, I never
    thought to turn on the radio. Boston had very fragmented network coverage.
    At least, this was my perception at the time.
    The instinct, for what ever reason was to reach for the [removed], and I am
    blind. Shows you what faith I had in radio, still do. I have found radio
    news coverage of that time, at least in the Boston area amateurish, poor,
    and not very convincing.
    Usually, actuality news was done by a guy sitting in a phone booth, the
    station running a record whilst he phoned a description of what he had just
    seen.
    It seemed to me, either wrongly, or rightly, that radio simply lacked the
    facility or the will to do great news presentation.
    The only acception I can think of in those days, was WHRB, the Harvard
    college station.
    They had a full-going half-hour documentary on their summer riot of 1962, or
    '63, can't remember which, that was recorded with a Phillips (Norelco to
    North Americans) reel-to-reel machine.
    I know the machine, it looked like hell, but made phenomenal quality
    recordings at 1 &7/8s. I couldn't get over the quality of the recordings.
    I rang up the station to find out what they were using, and was very
    surprised.
    None of the major Boston stations, (far as I knew) were doing anything like
    this.
    Memory is getting flaky, but probably NPR was up to the kind of standard I
    am talking about.
    Henry Brugsch
    [removed]
    mailto://henry@[removed]
    phone: +441562820090

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 10:58:25 -0500
    From: William Harker <wharker@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Satellite Radio

    Has anyone listened to either the XM or Sirius satellite radio
    services?  Both have OTR channels.  Any opinions as to which offers the
    better OTR?

    Bill Harker
    wharker@[removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 12:10:36 -0500
    From: Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Harry and Abby

    Harry worked with Abby?  When?

    I did afternoons at a CBS radio affiliate (WAMA, Selma, AL) in the
    mid-70's, and we carried Dear Abby every afternoon.  One afternoon she
    sounded like she had lost all her teeth, and from that day on she just
    couldn't talk right.  Harry, if you were around then, what is the story
    there?  This musta' been 1974 or 1975.

    ---Dan

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 12:30:07 -0500
    From: leemunsick@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Film conversions to video

    A couple of years ago, when I was new to the Digest, I mentioned that I had
    obtained a 16mm film commercial featuring Arthur Godfrey.  I was looking
    for someone who could transfer them to video reasonably.  I got such a
    response from a kindly reader, and put the response aside.  I  have just
    obtained another such tiny reel of 16mm material, and of course now I can't
    locate the letter.

    So, dear kindly readers, if anyone can do this transfer to video, I'll
    appreciate it if any of you could contact me off-Digest.  Thanks so much!

    Lee Munsick
    leemunsick@[removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 13:14:33 -0500
    From: Elayne Beneford <elayne@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Graham Newton

    Jay Hickerson wrote:

>     George Nester in New York is looking for the address and/or phone number of
>     Graham Newton who lives near Toronto in Canada.

    Jay there are three Graham Newton's close to Toronto.

    You can find the three names by going to [removed]
    and putting in his last name, first name and province of Ontario.

    You can use this to find anyone in Canada.

    Elayne

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 13:14:58 -0500
    From: Shenbarger@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Tape to Audio CD

    In a message dated 11/18/2002 4:53:29 PM Central Standard Time, Chris Holm
    writes:

>     I would like to copy some tapes to CD.  They
>      don't have to be great, I just want a few for the car.  Can someone
>     recommend
>      a good way of doing this?

>      I would like to use my computer, so I don't have to buy any new hardware.
>      I've got a [removed] GHz P4, with an 80 gig harddrive, 12X CD burner, and Sound
>      Blaster Audigy Platinum sound (so I've got all sorts of sound inputs).  Can
>      someone:

>      a) recommend software?

>      b) tell me if I should first copy the tape to the hard drive, and then burn
>      the file, or try to go straight from tape to CD in real time?

>      c) pass along any tips or tricks

    Copy the tapes to your hard disk first and save them as a WAV file using
    44,100 samples/second rate, 16 bits/sample, stereo (or two channel in some
    software).

    Although you have what looks like several sound inputs, you probably have
    only one input on the back (or some newer computers on the front) of the
    computer called "AUX" or "Line Input". On some systems this is marked with a
    simple symbol that may look like a set of small circles with an arrow
    pointing toward the center. This is where you connect your tape player.

    Cables and adaptors are available from Radio Shack. You need a stereo cable
    at the computer. If the tape player you use does not have a stereo output,
    you need to get a "Y" type cable adaptor that will split the mono signal. You
    may need adaptors to convert from RCA audio jacks on your recorder to the
    mini jack cable that goes to the computer, if your tape player uses those.

    You can probably use any tape player with a "monitor" or headphone output but
    component type players with genuine line outputs will be a better electrical
    match. What ever you use you can adjust the volume with the computer's
    recorder control if there is no adjustment on the tape deck.

    Hum may be a problem if you have a tape player that plugs in the wall. If you
    are using a boom box that can run on batteries, try using battery power.
    Otherwise, experiment--try pluging the tape player into the same outlet as
    the computer and other things until the hum is as quiet as you can get it.
    Long cables have a habit of picking up hum. I record from a sound system
    using 70 feet of cables and have never been able to completely eliminate it.

    Check the software installed with your sound card for a WAV editor, you most
    likely have one. You may be able to access this through the standard audio
    player or you may have to start it by itself. Most wave editors include a
    recording feature; use that and learn how to control it. Play with short
    files until you get used to how it works. Sometimes you have to create a "new
    file" to light off the recorder functions, in which case it may ask you to
    specify a length. Pick a length that is a little extra long and trim it later
    in the editor. Select the 'Line Input" for the sound source and adjust the
    volume using whatever level meter the software has.

    If the wave editor-recorder you have does not include volume controls, you
    can access the general control through the Windows Volume Control icon. It is
    under Options, Properties, Recording. You will find a box to select the Line
    Input, set it's volume and adjust the balance between right and left channels
    if necessary.

    You must save your file as a stereo file with the parameters shown at the top
    of this message as those are the only parameters that will make standard
    audio CD's. If you use anything else, your burner software will try to
    convert the file on the fly which may result in artifacts on the CD due to
    interruptions in the data stream.

    You can make changes to the audio WAV file in your wave editor to shorten the
    ends of the recording, cut things out, fade in and fade out, add silence, and
    adjust the volume. Most editors include those options. I recommend you play
    with these things using a short file and in your first efforts limit your
    fiddling to trimming your recordings and fading in and out on the ends.

    There are free-for-the-download alternatives to using your built-in wave
    editor. My favorite is "dBpowerAMP Music Converter " and it's add-on
    "Aauxilary Input".  Install DB Power Amp first and then the Recorder. There
    is a volume control in the Line Input function, but it is a preset type and
    cannot be varied during recording. There is no editor with this software. DB
    Power Amp adds a function to your Windows "right click" function in the
    Explorer that permits conversion between WAV and MP3, etc. There are several
    free codecs for downloading to make these conversions. You can find all of
    these at [removed]

    If you don't have a wave editor or can't find out where it is on your
    computer or need help getting DB Power Amp to wrok, write to me privately and
    I will try to help figure out what you can do. Include in your subject line
    OTR Help With Audio so I don't toss your mail with the spam.

    To burn your CD, put a blank CD-R disc into your burner and in the burning
    software select the option to make an Audio CD. Select the WAV files your
    want to put on your CD. I recommend you close (or finish) the CD, whatever
    your burning software calls it. I recommend you use the software that is
    installed on your computer for CD burning so long as it gets the job done. Do
    not switch to Roxio or Nero or Brand-X arbitrarilly or without consideration
    for the pitfalls and risk of a burner that needs a guru to get working again.

    Regarding CD-R materials. They are vulnerable. The coded surface is actually
    on the top of the plastic and covered with a reflective layer and lacquer.
    The reflective layer does not bond well with the dye layer so tricks and
    durable protective coatings are useful to ensure good results. Some brands
    are good, some are not. I really don't have a good handle on what's best
    here. I have had some discs delaminate. If you are going to use your CDs in
    an auto player that uses a slot and a motor to load the disc, you might want
    to look into how tough the coatings are. There are lots of thoughts on the
    Internet on this subject and at least one manufacturer who claims to make
    tough coatings.

    Don Shenbarger

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 13:14:43 -0500
    From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Actor Larry Dobkin

              I was saddened to hear about the death of actor
    Larry Dobkin.  I remember hearing him as Ellery Queen
    and on some episodes of  "This Is Your FBI".  He was
    also in many other radio programs as well as many
    television programs.

              He was one of the most flexible actors I've ever
    seen.  He could play the villainous roles and the hero
    with ease.  He will be missed.

    Kenneth Clarke

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 13:29:12 -0500
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: JFK Coverage

    Chris Chandler wrote:

>     TV usually gets most of the kudos for its handling of
>     this story, but comparing what I watched this weekend
>     to the radio assassination coverage I've acquired over
>     the years, I have to say the radio stuff is by far
>     better--faster, more facile, more broad-ranging and
>     sure.

    I'm inclined to agree  -- but at the same time I want to draw attention
    to the one correspondent in all the JFK coverage who kept his composure
    and his professionalism more completely than any other: NBC's TV
    co-anchor Bill Ryan.

    Contrast Ryan's performance with that of his NBC colleagues Chet Huntley
    and Frank McGee. Huntley was clearly too shaken by the events of the
    afternoon to broadcast coherently -- and I'd suspect this had much to do
    with his early disapperance from NBC-TV's continuing coverage. McGee
    comes across as tetchy, short-tempered, and unprepared -- watch how
    visibly irritated he gets while trying to make the telephone-pickup gizmo
    work while he's talking to Robert McNeil in Dallas. It reminds me a great
    deal of Frank Reynolds' embarassing on-air meltdown during the Reagan
    shooting of 1981. (Notice also the occasional curls of cigarette smoke
    wafting up from the lower left of the screen, from McGee's
    poorly-concealed cigarette. At least once the camera cuts back to the
    studio too soon, and we see McGee sneaking a fast puff in an effort to
    calm his nerves.)

    Thru all the chaos, Ryan is steady, composed, and reassuring -- reporting
    the crisis clearly and cleanly and without melodramatics. Ryan was, I
    believe, only a local correspondent at this stage of his career,
    associated with the local WNBC-TV news staff -- and was only pressed into
    service because he happened to be on hand when the news broke. But he
    clearly outclassed all of the more established network air talent on that
    afternoon.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 14:10:36 -0500
    From: otrbuff@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Just a fluke?

    Loved the discussion on WLAC and John R (Richbourg) and all the other
    memories several have brought back.  Here's a question for you.  Both WSM
    and WLAC operated at 50,000 watts (and still do).  How many medium-sized
    cities in the nation's heartland (or the boonies) can boast of more than
    one 50,000-watt aural powerhouse?  I'm certain there must have been
    several but that's temporarily clouded by Nashville's spectacular
    dominance in my memory.  I'm sure several readers can enlighten us.

    Jim Cox

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 14:15:00 -0500
    From: "Ben Holland" <ben@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Gene Nobels, Hoss Allen, John "R" Richbourg,
     WLAC
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    Gene Nobels was one of several legendary WLAC R&B jocks whose voices
    introduced "Race Music" to many of us "late night, under the cover" white
    kids. Gene, Herman Grizzard, John "R" (Richbourg), and Bill "Hoss" Allen were
    all white [removed] who each had their own distinctive style of jive. Although
    they weren't intentionally trying to sound black, many listeners across the
    south sure thought they were.

    The Hossman, who passed away in Feb. 1997, was still on WLAC's late night
    airwaves, playing Black Gospel Music, and hawking records for Randy's "That's
    Ah-ruh, [removed]'S Record Mart" in Gallatin, TN, right up until his
    death. And today, 5 years later, his incredible voice can still be heard in
    the Nashville market on a TV spot produced for an alcohol rehab
    [removed] that was very important to him for the last 20 years of his
    life.

    There's a terrific unofficial WLAC website that tells about these pioneers at
    this address:

    [removed]~jimlowe/[removed]

    And if you really want to know more about the WLAC crew and how they helped
    change both radio and music from OTR to NTR, there's a great book by Wes Smith
    called "The Pied Pipers of Rock 'n' Roll"  (Longstreet Press, 1989).

    Ben Holland
    ben@[removed]

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

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 15:08:10 -0500
    From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Late Thank You's

    Hi  Everybody

    I want to extend my very late thanks to everyone who answered my
    question about the Mutual Station in Los Angeles (KHJ) both on the
    digest and those who emailed me privately.
    And while I'm catching up on things I should also mention that while at
    the Sperdvac convention we very much enjoyed the performances of Barbara
    Watkins in the recreations she performed in. I didn't get to meet her at
    the time and I didn't even realize that she is the [removed] that I
    read on the digest. But then that's me walking around in a fog as usual.
    She also writes a column in the Radio Gram, Sperdvac's newsletter and is
    an excellent writer.
    I now understand that Gary Owens was there too,but again I must have
    been in my fog as I never saw him.

    George Aust

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

    Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 16:00:20 -0500
    From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR on TV--HELP!

    HELP!

    I've been having a dialogue on e-mail with one of TV's biggest
    entertainment people about the idea of my coming on his show to talk
    about "WORDS AT WAR" my new book (copies of which I be receiving this
    week) . He's a big OTR fan and would like to consider hosting me--but he
    has posed the following problems:
    I would very much appreciate any suggestions as to how I might further
    reply to his questions.

    "The problem you will run into -- everybody in tv is trying to attract a
    young audience. Another problem -- what do you show when someone is
    playing a clip of a radio show?"

    Here's how I replied.

    "I recognize the validity of your questions.

    Off the top of my head a few things come to mind:

    1. When the old time radio folks hold  their annual convention in Newark,
    the audience sits and watches the actors and the sound effects guys do
    their stuff. I could bring some folks who do we recreations.

    2. A sound effects person coming on the show and closing his dummy doors,
    breaking glass in his little Foley (sp?) kit etc. could be good visual
    stuff.  No?

    3.  For a couple of short radio clips--one might ask the audience to
    close their eyes for 20 seconds and just listen. We did that back then
    sometimes.

    In the meantime, I'm putting your questions to might panel of experts and
    assuming I get some good ideas, I'll relate them back to you.

    Howard

    Howard Blue

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #446
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