------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2006 : Issue 309
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Newspapers [ "RadioAZ@[removed]" <radioAZ@bas ]
Old Time Radio Clubs [ jim beshires <beshiresjim@[removed] ]
Re: Christmas Carol-Ernest Chappell [ Brent Pellegrini <brentpl@rocketmai ]
anyone have a [removed] Wodehouse [ Gary <yraginnh@[removed]; ]
Dick Stark [ "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed]; ]
Kindly Assist for the sake of my chi [ Mrs Jewel Taylor <jewel_tayl7@yahoo ]
Inner Sanctum door [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Elliott Lewis [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
John Brown, blacklisted [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
11-9 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
Re: Old RCA Radio info. [ "Bill Harris" <nbcblue@[removed]; ]
Re: John Brown and Elliott Lewis [ "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed] ]
John Brown [ mmartini@[removed] ]
Cold War stuff [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 20:44:44 -0500
From: "RadioAZ@[removed]" <radioAZ@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Newspapers
Following Tuesday's elections there were several states for which I was
interested in checking results. So I went to websites of various newspapers
in those states.
I was discussing this with a group of friends at lunch today and I told them
which papers I checked. One person asked me how I knew the names of so many
newspapers. "Good question," thought I. And in a flash it hit me. I
learned the names of newspapers as a kid from a radio show that each week
would broadcast a story from newspapers around the nation.
That's as far as my mind went. I could not remember the name of show I can
remember listening to shows from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, the St. Louis
Post Distpatch, the Louisville Courier (now called the Courier-Journal) and
many more. But not the actual name of the show. Can anyone help out this
blocked mind?
Funny, isn't it? Just by being there we learned so many things from radio.
Some of them even useful!
Ted
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 20:47:08 -0500
From: jim beshires <beshiresjim@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Old Time Radio Clubs
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X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Hi,
'The Old Radio Times' would like to carry information, etc from any of the
old time radio clubs, serial clubs, or any other nostalgia club. What ever
you'd like to have others know about -
We have over 2,000 readers.
E-mail me with your information.
Jim Beshires
Fans of OTR - please check out the OLD TIME RADIO RESEARCHERS GROUP
[removed]
MEMBER: ASSOCIATION OF OLD TIME RADIO GROUPS
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 20:46:57 -0500
From: Brent Pellegrini <brentpl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Christmas Carol-Ernest Chappell
I've mentioned this before. I have a four record set of Ernest Chappell et tal
doing the Christmas Carol. If anyone in Seattle has the means to copy the records to tape
or other media you are welcome to borrow them and give me a copy in return. I prefer mp3.
The players are Chappell, Eustace Wyatt, Dick Van Patten, John McGovern,John Gibson,
Richard Gordon, Shirling Oliver, Bud Collier, Craig Mcdonnell, Helen Brown,
Larry Robinison, Eveyln Devine, Lesley Woods, James donnelly andoriginal music by
Lew White.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 20:49:19 -0500
From: Gary <yraginnh@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: anyone have a [removed] Wodehouse?
I am reading a biography of PG Wodehouse (Plumie to
his coterie of chummies)((the creator of Jeeves and
Wooster)). During WWII he was interned in France and
Germany. After his release (right before his 60th
birthday) he made a series of recordings for the
Germans which were play over short and long wave to
America and to Great Britain. There was some
controversy at the time, but nothing ever came of it.
I am wondering if anything survived that one could
listen to or if anyone has any knowledge of the
broadcasts. I understand that ABC and CBS refused to
run the talks. All the Best, Gary in NH
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 20:50:06 -0500
From: "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Dick Stark
Bill Knowlton wrote:
I knew him as Marine Col. Stark.
Ohhhh, that Dick Stark. I never knew him ... other than as "Your
narrator has been Lt. Col. Dick Stark, [removed] Marine Corps
Reserve." He was the host of a public service program we played
down here in Texas, "Spectrum USA." It was programming on the
cheap ... a kind of "Amos 'n' Andy Music Hall" in which he played
popular music of the day (the 1960s) or other music associated
with the theme of that particular season - which did make it
interesting. One year it was a kind of "That Wonderful Year" a la
Garry Moore, featuring music of whatever year he was spotlighting
... another year, this was 66-67 and the 50th anniversary of the
National Park Service, the shows "visited" various national
parks.
I still have one LP - pardon me, transcription - from early '67
that was about Carlsbad Caverns ... the music included the Batman
Theme (I guess in honor of the bats that live there), also
Abilene, A Lover's Concerto, etc. The week before, the place of
honor was the Statue of Liberty and the music for that show was
all patriotic - Battle Hymn of the Republic, America the
Beautiful (by the Marine Band), God Bless America, etc.
Bob Cockrum
Grand Prairie, Texas
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 08:42:24 -0500
From: Mrs Jewel Taylor <jewel_tayl7@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Kindly Assist for the sake of my children and
[removed]
My Dear ,
With all sincerity and humility it is with deep pains i write you this
message of wishful assistance to my predicament. I am Mrs Jewel Taylor the
estranged wife to the former president of Liberia who was asked by unanimous
decision by the international community to step down from the corridors of
power due to his illicit involvement in the in-humane tyranny in the war torn
country.
I write you this mail under duress and as a result of my recent decision to
better the lives of i and my children. I have made a decision which i know
might not be good in the sight of man but the present situation has led me to
this decision to better the lives of my children. Currently now i have
decided to make do with the sum of $30m (Thirty Million United States
Dollars) in which i am a beneficiary to,and have decided to relocate with
your assistance to your private account the said sum.
My decision was reached when i could not conceive the thought that after the
United States Government has promised to let my husband go free based on the
condition that he should step down Mr. Collin Powell stated in a press
briefing that he would be indicted by the court in Netherlands to face
charges on war crimes,
this is what led to my decision as God Knows that i was never in support of
his involvement in the indecent maltreating of innocent people.
This decision is hard for me to make but i just have to make it for the sake
of my children's future.
Currently the said sum was lodged in a safety deposit box in a financial
Institution which i will disclose to you as a matter of commitment to me and
this plea for assistance. I currently have the deposit certificate and can
draw up a change of beneficiary mandate to effect you as the beneficiary to
the funds. I am a trained economist by profession and it is in this line that
i will want you to take note that your services for assisting me will be
compensated to the best of my ability.
Now my questions are:-
1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust?
I have this to look forward to so i would like you to keep this project close
to your heart just as myself pending when we reach the conclusive end of this
project. I will want you as a matter of confidentiality to respond through
this mail and
also include your telephone number as well so that i can give you a call if
the need arises as we are currently on political asylum now in West Africa.
Once i get your confirmation that you can be of assistance i will bring you
into a clearer picture of the situation at hand.
View this site to see a picture of me:
[removed]
I look forward to your response with great hope of assistance from your good
self. You are free to get in touch with me and my Son Chucky.
I remain Yours Truly,
Mrs Jewel Taylor
+234-80-2836-3255
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 08:43:04 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Inner Sanctum door
Dale Clark commented:
I did some background on this and found that the creaking door from ISM
was not copyrighted, but was trademarked.
It may have been trademarked as well - I did not check into the trademark.
But the sound of the creaking door, as I described in a previous post, was
copyrighted. I took a trip by train to [removed] and in the copyright office to
verify this registered copyright and got my proof with ease. (Though it did
cost me $40+ bucks for travel, plus food expenses and two hours signing up
for permission at the copyright office to do searches through their office.)
It was most certainly copyrighted. Date of registration was posted in a
previous posting. If there is a date available for when Himan Brown applied
for the trademark, I would be interested in knowing what that date was to
see if he trademarked the door before of after he had it copyrighted.
Martin Grams, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 08:43:49 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Elliott Lewis
> Elliott Lewis who was involved with 937 OTR shows according to
> [removed] and John Brown with 646 shows listed had to be two
> of the most often used actors in old time radio.
Goldin's index is ONLY for reference use to the recordings available in the
archives, not what was actually broadcast. Lewis did far more than 937 OTR
shows. Only 937 were listed because that's all Goldin has with Lewis' name
mentioned. Case in point, look up I LOVE A MYSTERY and you'll find that he
isn't listing every episode broadcast, only what recordings he has so I
wouldn't take "involved with 937 OTR shows" as a fact. Should be "at least
937 broadcasts and many more."
Jim Widner is correct in stating that Lewis was also a writer, producer and
director. And while he was producing and directing shows, he also dubbed
small one-liners in many productions as an actor without credit on the air.
Attempting to list all of Lewis' radio credits would take forever as new
entries to his credits would be added to such a list continuously, as would
almost any other actor in radio biz.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 08:45:24 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: John Brown, blacklisted
Stuart Lubin commented:
Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that, at one time in his
career, he lost a lot of work because he had been blacklisted as a Communist
by the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
Lubin is correct. Blame it on the notorious RED CHANNELS book that started
Brown's decline in radio acting - a small chapter of OTR that is rarely
documented. And Brown was not the only radio actor hurt from this book.
Background info:
Red Channels: The Report of Communist Influence in Radio and Television was
an anti-Communist tract published in the United States at the height of the
so-called "Red Scare." Issued by the right-wing journal COUNTERATTACK on
June 22, 1950, the pamphlet-style book named 151 actors, writers, musicians,
broadcast journalists, and others in the context of purported Communist
manipulation of the entertainment industry. Some of the 151 were already
being denied employment because of their political beliefs, history, or mere
association with suspected "subversives"; Red Channels effectively placed
the rest on the industry blacklist.
Red Channels provided little that may be construed as evidence for its
assertions that Communists "dominate" American television and radio. It
relied on nonspecific declarations from such sources as FBI director J.
Edgar Hoover and an editorial in BROADCASTING magazine; provocative quotes
from former Soviet premier V. I. Lenin, who at that point had been deceased
for over twenty-six years; and blind items of a style familiar from tabloid
gossip columns.
The book hurt many people and their careers - even when the performer was
innocent. Many people were shocked to find out that their name was listed
in the book, having not been informed in advance. It was suspected that
members of the Hollywood elite were leaning toward Communism and as a
result, had the book NOT been published, someone other than McCarthy would
have begun a witchhunt through Hollywood.
Radio actors, producers, directors, writers, etc. found it difficult to get
a job once the book went public, until they cleared their names, most often
by testifying in McCarthy's hearings. Then they went back to work. A lot
of producers and studios just did not want their name soiled by hiring those
listed in the book.
John Brown was one of many in the radio biz whose name was listed.
Want to know who else was listed in the book? You might be surprised!
Himan Brown - yes, THE Himan Brown
Ralph Bell, actor who had been at FOTR and for Law and Order fans, a judge
for two episodes. Bell recounted to me at FOTR that one year that he
couldn't get a job for almost two years and even during the late-1990s, he
still had people who turned him down for jobs because he name was actually
still branded.
Norman Corwin, he needs no introduction
Howard Duff
Ben Grauer
Arthur Gaeth
Henry Morgan
Paul McGrath (host of Inner Sanctum)
Joseph Julian
Leon Janney
Dashiell Hammett (another Sam Spade connection)
Arnold Perl
William N. Robson, who wrote and directed a number of anti-Communist
episodes of SUSPENSE after the Red Channels book came out.
Robert Louis Shayon
Lesley Woods
Paul Stewart
Orson Welles
There were others but this is just a sample of who's who in the book, and
almost all of the names listed had difficulty getting jobs for a short time
because they were branded. John Brown was one fo the lucky few who still
got jobs after being listed and working on clearing his name by testifying.
I believe Bear Manor Media has intentions of publishing a biography on John
Brown in the future and I am sure there will be more details into Brown's
career and the Red Channels book.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 08:48:20 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 11-9 births/deaths
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November 9th births
11-09-1883 - Edna Mae Oliver - Malden, MA - d. 11-9-1942
actor: Miss Tuttle "Remarkable Miss Tuttle"
11-09-1886 - Ed Wynn - Philadelphia, PA, - d. 6-19-1966
comedian: (The Perfect Fool) Fire Chief "Ed Wynn Show"; King Bubbles
"Happy Island"
11-09-1893 - John P. Medbury - New York - d. 6-29-1947
writer: "Burns and Allen"; "Captain Flagg and Sergeant Quirt"
11-09-1895 - George D. Hay - Attica, IN - d. 5-9-1968
host: (The Solemn Old Judge) "Barn Dance"; "Grand Ole Opry"
11-09-1895 - Lou Lubin - Pittsburgh, PA - d. 1-30-1973
actor: Shorty "Amos 'n' Andy"
11-09-1899 - Mezz Mezzrow - Chicago, IL - d. 8-5-1972
jazz clarinetist: "BBC Jazz Session"; "For Your Approval"; "Americana"
11-09-1906 - Muggsy Spanier - Chicago, IL - d. 2-12-1967
cornet: "This Is Jazz"; "Eddie Condon's Jazz Concerts"
11-09-1909 - Kay Thompson - St. Louis, MO - d. 7-2-1998
singer: "Fred Waring Show"; "Your Hit Parade"; "Tune-Up Time"
11-09-1913 - Hedy Lamarr - Vienna, Austria - d. 1-19-2000
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
11-09-1916 - Norwood Anderson - d. 5-6-2005
disk jockey: "Town and Party Line" WFTC Kingston, North Carolina
11-09-1922 - Dorothy Dandridge - Cleveland, OH - d. 9-8-1965
actor, writer: "Beulah Show"
November 9th deaths
01-01-1889 - Charles Bickford - Cambridge, MA - d. 11-9-1967
actor: "Radio Hall of Fame"
02-11-1920 - Billy Halop - NYC - d. 11-9-76
actor: Bobby Benson "Bobby Benson Adventures"; Dick Kent "Home, Sweet
Home"
03-15-1898 - Everett Mitchell - Austin, IL - d. 11-9-1990
annnouncer, host: "National Farm and Home Hour"; "Voice of the Farm"
03-18-1869 - Neville Chamberlain - Birmingham, England - d. 11-9-1940
inept british prime minister: "peace for our time"
04-26-1890 - Edgar Kennedy - Monterey, CA - d. 11-9-48
actor: "Screen Guild Theatre"; "Radio Reader's Digest"
07-07-1890 - Tom Powers - Owensboro, KY - d. 11-9-1955
commentator: "Central City"
07-29-1887 - Sigmund Romberg - Nagykanizsa, Austria-Hungary - d.
11-9-1951
composer, conductor: "An Evening with Romberg"; "Swift Hour"
08-22-1915 - Hugh Paddick - Hoddeston, Hartfordshire, England - d.
11-9-2000
actor: "Beyond Our Ken"
09-02-1909 - Adrienne Marden - Cleveland, OH - d. 11-9-1978
actor: Patrica Jordan "Story of Bess Johnson"
09-16-1881 - Jack Harvey - Cleveland, OH - d. 11-9-1954
writer: "Joan Davis Time"
10-13-1921 - Yves Montand - Monsummano Alto, Tuscany, Italy - d.
11-9-1991
singer, actor: "Rendezvouz In Paris"
10-27-1914 - Dylan Thomas - Uplands, Swansea, Wales - d. 11-9-1953
writer: "Life of the Modern Poet"; "Modern Muse"
10-29-1921 - Ed Kemmer - Reading, PA - d. 11-9-2004
actor: Buzz Corey "Space Patrol"
11-04-1918 - Art Carney - Mount Vernon, NY - d. 11-9-2003
actor: Billy Oldham "Joe and Ethel Turp"; General Dwight D.
Eisenhower "Living 1948"
11-09-1883 - Edna Mae Oliver - Malden, MA - d. 11-9-1942
actor: Miss Tuttle "Remarkable Miss Tuttle"
12-25-1932 - Mabel King - Charleston, SC - d. 11-9-1999
actor: "Camel Rock and Roll Party"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
[removed]
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 12:44:26 -0500
From: "Bill Harris" <nbcblue@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Old RCA Radio info.
Roger Keel wants to know:
I recently was given two old RCA radios and I was wondering about them.
Can any one help?
They are:
RCA Model 523
and
RCA Model QB5
I can't find any reference to an RCA model 523. Can you double check the
model number? The QB5 battery set had an optional AC power supply that would
plug directly into the battery socket. The set requires [removed] and 90 volts DC.
Model year is 1945. Battery sets of this vintage usually don't command a
very high price. Upper range, depending upon condition might be $35-$40. A
bit more if you had the AC power supply.
The capacitors need to be changed out on both sets if they are intended to
be played.
Bill H.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 12:44:35 -0500
From: "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: John Brown and Elliott Lewis
I want to thank those who posted the comments about John Brown and Elliott
Lewis. It was interesting to learn more about both of them from the
comments. Excellent point about John Brown sounding different from the Al
character on My Friend Irma and the two roles on Life of Riley. Would be
interesting to know what Conrad Binyon remembers about Brown if Mr. Binyon
was on the show at the same time. Elliott Lewis was listed as producer or
director in a lot of the shows at [removed]
Andrew Godfrey
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 12:45:22 -0500
From: mmartini@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: John Brown
Stuart asked about the the demise of John Brown, "Digger" on Life of Riley.
I spoke with John's son several years ago (I think he was a professor at
Illinois State or someplace like that) and he told me that, unlike some other
actors listed in Red Channels, his father's career never bounced back after
the communist scare. Brown ended up killing himself in the early 1950's
after a long bout with depression. The son maintained it was the
blacklisting that directly led to the act. I think he (the son) wrote about
his father in some journal or other but my notes are in a box in my basement,
so I apologize for my lack of specifics.
On an unrelated subject, Mark Magistrelli and I will spend an hour looking
back at the FDR election eve broadcast of 1944. We'll have comments from
show writer/director Norman Corwin as well as a few insights from media
scholar/historian Lawrence Lichty. Saturday night at 8-pm on WMKV-FM in
Cincinnati or (if our streaming is fixed by then) [removed]
-Mike Martini
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 12:46:41 -0500
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cold War stuff
[removed] is an irreverent web site clearly run by people who weren't
alive in the 1950's, or at least not alive enough to be aware that there was
a real threat of nuclear war. However, it has a fine trove of audio public
service announcements from those days, and if you're not offended by the
politics it's well worth a look. Navigation is somewhat weird, but almost
everything I ran across was interesting.
Here is a link to a musical jingle from a Syracuse, NY radio station in
1975. It is, in fact, a recitation of the required announcement for the
Emergency Broadcast System.
[removed]
I think this just gets you to the page, and then you select the audio link
from there.
Most of the material is from the 1950's, however, and includes one of Jack
Webb's anti-communist efforts. On the basis of a not-very-thorough
examination, [removed] seems to be a fairly good museum of the more
extreme media artifacts from those times.
M Kinsler
512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 43130 740-687-6368
[removed]
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2006 Issue #309
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