Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #73
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 2/25/2002 3:00 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 73
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      GEORGE EDWARDS FRANKENSTEIN           [ "Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed] ]
      09-21-39 question                     [ "dick wamser" <snapp@[removed]; ]
      Re: What's in a Name? - Westernb Ele  [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
      Re: musical idents                    [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed] ]
      GM Radio                              [ "Ed Ellers" <ed_ellers@[removed]; ]
      Re: VOA/USIA                          [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed] ]
      Voice of America                      [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
      CBSRMT: "Journey into Terror"         [ "Murphy, Michael J" <michaeljmurphy ]
      Re: The "Stone" boys                  [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      Yo-Yo, [removed]                         [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
      She Ain't got no yo-yo                [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Bob Cook's CBSMT                      [ llewis@[removed] ]
      "Happy Trails"                        [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
      new web site 5 dollar movies          [ "[removed]" <tandt@[removed]; ]
      SUSPENSE FINDS ??                     [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
      WRUL Shortwave                        [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
      Little Orley                          [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
      Great Radio Audience Participation S  [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
      NPR and "business influence"          [ "Donald Skuce" <donskuce@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:25:05 -0500
    From: "Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: GEORGE EDWARDS FRANKENSTEIN

    As I announced last week, in Australia we have formed an Australian OTR
    Group based on preserving Australian otr as well as educating people
    (particularly Australians) about our colourful radio history.  As a person
    who knew so little about the subject 2 years ago, I learn more each day.
    One of the questions I posed to the members last week was the 1931 date
    somebody has applied to Frankenstein and I received a lot of information
    back, this is the result.

    The Digest is filled with knowledgeable people and maybe more importantly
    interested people and from time to time I have contributed slightly, but now
    I would like to clear up some misconceptions regarding the dating of the 13
    part George Edwards production of Frankenstein, currently in circulation.  I
    once read on a website, a story of how the series was discovered in the
    basement of a New York radio station and is being restored.  I would like to
    contact the people involved in this project if anybody has the contact
    details.  I do not know if the 'discovery' story is correct, however the
    date of 1931 is almost certainly incorrect.

    Whilst it is possible that the play may originally have been produced for
    theatre at that time by George Edwards, certainly it would not have been
    recorded at that time.  I include some facts here to support this:

    During the 1931-32 period, George Edwards was not producing any recordings,
    but doing live radio plays (usually historical)out of station 2BL.

    General transcription production did not occur until about 1934-36 in
    Australia.

    The serial, 13eps x 15min. was recorded in Sydney in the Columbia/EMI
    Homebush studios at approx April 1938 and the serial was aired over station
    2UW shortly thereafter.

    George Edwards himself declared Darby and Joan his first serial and we know
    the very first 16" transcription disc pressed by Columbia/EMI in Australia
    was an episode of George Edwards serial,
    Darby and Joan and was recorded on May 27 1935.

    This show, and a lot of other George Edwards productions were sold to the
    USA through the selling agent at the time Oswald P. Sellers.

    If no other information comes to light to show that this was some sort of
    special recording, then I would suggest that the series be dated 1938 and
    not 1931.  I want to find the restorers to see how they dated the show as
    1931 with a 1932 broadcast in New York and to see if there is any supporting
    documentation.  Certainly 1938 is documented.

    Ian Grieve

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:25:33 -0500
    From: "dick wamser" <snapp@[removed];
    To: "otr" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: 09-21-39 question

    Hello all.  Still 'way yonder behind.  I was listening to the Original
    Amateur Hour from 09-21-1939 this afternoon.  I've only had it here since
    1995? <G>

    I was interested in the identity of the individual who played the piano for
    the performers. He/she sounded as if there was alot of talent beneath those
    fingers. Also was wondering if anyone has followed up on the fate of the
    performers. Especially the seven-year-old and the Electrician's Mate in the
    Navy.  I know this is asking quite a bit, but there are plenty of dedicated
    researchers out there.  Thanks in advance.

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:28:14 -0500
    From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Re: What's in a Name? - Westernb Electric

    Chris Werner writes:

>     Actually Bell Labs were split up further. The portion of the labs that
>     produced the switches and other hardware did go to [removed]

    I always thought that "Western Electric" was the division of AT&T that
    produced the telephone products that we used for years. I remember that the
    telephones (that we had to *rent* from the phone company) were heavy, and
    of high quality. They seldom broke. Matter of fact, "Ma Bell's" telephones
    were the murder weapons in quite a few radio/movie/early TV mystery and
    detective shows.
    Since there was basically no competition, there was little innovation in
    the product: the basic unit was black, heavy, and unlikely to wear out.
    I may be wrong, but I thought that, as part of the Deregulation order,
    ATT&T had to open up the market for consumer hardware to competitors, which
    led to today's proliferation of cheap telephone devices, priced $10 and up.

    Herb Harrison

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:37:43 -0500
    From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re: musical idents

    Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; writes:

>     ". . . Worldwide radio stations often still have "Interval Signals" which
>     are musical themes or sounds that they play over and over and over and over
>     between transmissions to help people identify the stations and be tuned
>     in for the start of the transmissions.  Radio Australia used a music box
>     playing "Waltzing Matilda" . . ."

    The Voice of America has used for years, and continues to use, "Yankee
    Doodle."

    Bob Scherago
    International Broadcasting Bureau
    Washington, DC

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:23:32 -0500
    From: "Ed Ellers" <ed_ellers@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: GM Radio

    Gayland Darnell <hankie01@[removed]; wrote:

>     I have just been given a radio manufactured by General Motors Radio
>     [removed] it is not a radio for an automobile.

    That company was originally a joint venture between GM and RCA, and later
    became part of Delco.  They did make both home and car radios -- the home
    radios were sold by Frigidaire dealers, since Frigidaire was also owned by
    GM -- and that lasted until well into the 1940s, until Delco decided to
    concentrate on car radios.

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:40:10 -0500
    From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re: VOA/USIA

    After I posted a response to Michael Biel, I read the
    following from Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];

>     . . . It was an historic day in radio broadcasting, as the Voice of
>     America (VOA) signed on for the first time on this day in 1942.
>     The worldwide, shortwave radio service, a department of the
>     United States Government, continues to beam a variety of
>     programming around the globe under the auspices of the United
>     States Information Agency (USIA).

    In fact, the USIA was disolved in 1999, and all but the radio/TV
    operations were absorbed by the Department of State. A new entity,
    the International Broadcasting Board, was formed, which encompasses
    VOA Radio and TV, Radio and TV Marti, Radio Free Asia, Radio
    Free Europe, Radio Liberty, and others. It is overseen by the
    Broadcasting Board of Governors.

    Bob Scherago
    International Broadcasting Bureau
    Washington, DC

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:24:41 -0500
    From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Voice of America

>     It was an historic day in radio broadcasting, as the Voice of America
>     (VOA) signed on for the first time on this day in 1942.

    On February 23rd, a friend who is host of Communications World at the Voice
    of America  broadcast his show centered around the 60th anniversary of the
    inception of this broadcasting giant. His show (which I haven't heard yet)
    was to feature clips of early VOA broadcasting, etc. It isn't posted yet,
    but you will be able to hear the broadcast if you missed it at:

    [removed]

    via download or streaming audio.

    Jim Widner
    jwidner@[removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:55:19 -0500
    From: "Murphy, Michael J" <michaeljmurphy@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: CBSRMT: "Journey into Terror"

    To the gentleman who wrote me the other day about the CBSRMT episode
    "Journey into Terror," I hope you're reading this. Please write me back. I
    have the episode, but I foolishly lost your e-mail address.

    Best,

    Mike Murphy
    michaeljmurphy@[removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 10:38:00 -0500
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re: The "Stone" boys

    Kevin Michaels posted;

>     I read with great interest, Mr. Hal Stone's synopsis of his radio career and
>     being identified mainly with the "Jughead" role on Archie Andrews.

    Hey [removed] so formal. Call me Hal like everyone else does. :)

>     This reminds me of another Stone who was identified with only one role in his
>     radio career.  Ezra Stone, who portrayed Henry Aldrich for many years.  In
>     the book about his life,  he, too, wore many hats; Actor, Director
>     (TV,Stage),
>     It seems that EZRA STONE & HAL STONE almost had twin careers in Show Business.

>     Hal, were you related?  Did you know Ezra, and did you ever work with him

    either in radio, stage or movies?

    As you might imagine, Kevin, I've been asked that question many times over
    the years. Ezra and I are no relation, even distantly. And yes, I did work
    with him in Radio. I appeared on the CBS "Henry Aldrich" program a few
    times, but once I got the part of "Jughead" on NBC, I think I was considered
    as being from "the Enemy Camp" and wasn't used again after that. Perfectly
    understandable, in my opinion.

    Ezra was much older than I was, so we had little or no social exchanges. As
    a matter of [removed] considered him a bit aloof. Jack Kelk (Homer) seemed a
    little more outgoing and friendlier to other young performers when they
    appeared on their program. As was House Jamison, who played the "Father". I
    seem to recall that the part I played on "Aldrich" was a teenage character
    named "Biff". And I also seem to recall that the Director was Frank Papp, a
    super nice guy, who I worked for on many other Radio programs.

    In all honesty, I think Ezra had a much more notable Directorial career than
    I did, (Stage  & Motion Picture), but I can't complain.  I made a nice
    living Directing dumb TV commercials over a 25 year period.

    I hope that doesn't sound like shameless bragging on my part.  To quote the
    great line from the film "Jerry McGuire"... "Show me the money"!!!  And the
    work was a heck of a lot "steadier" than the vagaries of the acting
    profession. (One can't spend "credits"). But they do help to lead to other
    assignments.

    Many TV notables were seduced by the money to be made Directing TV
    commercials. Stan Freeberg (spelling), The "Fonz" Henry Winkler, Spike Lee,
    [removed] list is endless.

    But [removed] one thing I missed out on when I quit "performing" were [removed]
    Residuals. :)

    Thanks for asking.

    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    Jughead

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 10:38:52 -0500
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Yo-Yo, [removed]

    Joseph Onorato asked,

>     Subject: "I ain't got no yo-yo"
>     any help on this song?  I kinda remember hearing it on radio ...40's
>     most [removed]   japanese [removed] maybe lyrics had  "you got no yo-yo too".

    Actually, it was an Americanized version of the Japanese song that
    translated as "China Night."  In Japanese, the first words, phonetically,
    were,

    "Shee-ay-ah-no yoro"

    When I was living in Japan (my father was stationed there), that first
    line was transformed to

    "She ain't got no yo-yo."

    I first heard it in Sendai, Japan, in 1952.

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 10:47:57 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: She Ain't got no yo-yo

    In reference to Joseph Onorato. I believe the Japanese style song with the
    words "She ain't got no yo-yo" in reality is "Shina no Yoro". The spelling may
    be wrong, but that is the Japanese song "China Night".  Shina meaning China
    and Yoro meaning night. The  R in  Japanese sounds like and L so you would
    pronounce yoro, yolo. When you say Shina no Yolo it sounds like she ain't got
    no yo-yo. I am almost positive that is the song being referred to. I was in
    Japan 45 years ago and I have a very scratchy copy of it, if Joseph is
    interested I could send him a copy.
    --
    Ron Sayles

    Make your day just a little better,
    Listen to an Old Time Radio Program.

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 11:30:31 -0500
    From: llewis@[removed]
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Bob Cook's CBSMT

    Bruce Glazer wrote concerning the problems with downloading CBSMT files from
    Bob
    Cook's site.  I  too have had that problem.  I have attempted several times to
    download and I also get about 17 minutes of each episode.  I have e-mailed
    twice
    to the address listed at that site, but I have received no response.  These are
    large files, and at first I thought that I might have some local limit on the
    size of downloaded files, but that is not so.

    Although Bruce apparently was attempting to play the files on the fly using
    Quicktime, I was doing a straight download and playing the files back through
    either Real Player or Microsoft Media Player.  I noticed that although the file
    sizes were listed at 9 -12 MB on Cook's site, I was getting about [removed] MB for
    each file, no matter what the original file size was.  After downloading
    several
    files I decided to played one and discovered that only about a third of the
    program was there.  Further checks indicated the same thing.

    This site is a very valuable site for those interested in CBSMT, I hope that
    the
    problems can be resolved.

    Larry Lewis

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 11:59:03 -0500
    From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: "Happy Trails"

    Sometimes we begin thinking that our OTR hobby is beginning to fade away
    into a kind of nostalgic oblivion.  Every time I ponder that awful thought,
     something happens to make me think that OTR  will never really die.

    What a treat, then,  it was to hear the children of the world at last
    night's Olympic closing sing "Happy Trails," a song I have always
    associated with the radio program of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.  I watched
    the crowd, old and young alike, sing the words of that song as the camera
    panned their faces.

    I wonder how many in our generation were hearkening back to their childhood
    and the magic of Roy and Dale.   I wonder how many had shared the words of
    that song with their own children.

    Dennis Crow

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 12:47:45 -0500
    From: "[removed]" <tandt@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: new web site 5 dollar movies
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    ran across a web page hes offering old movies for 5 dollars + shipping
    seems like a bargain anyone buys any charlie chan, monster flicks ect  i hope
    they make me a copy ...
    [removed]
    sorry it this is off subject terry

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

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 13:10:27 -0500
    From: PURKASZ@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: SUSPENSE FINDS ??

    Dear Hearts:
        I have returned from two months in Europe and boy are my ears tired!
        The disco phase has just hit them it seems. Couldn't even find a nice
    quite pub in London or a bar is Paris without the din and throb.
        I did miss my radio shows as I brought none with me and that has keened
    me up more than ever.
        Question.
        Have there been any "discoveries" or recent "finds" in the area of
    Suspense, or Inner Sanctum since December of last year?
        I am eager to get back into the world of downloading so if there are,
    please let me know and I will try to remember how to do all this magic.
        You are all the best people and I missed you, though I did read an
    occasional issue on line at a dusty and noisy cyber Cafe.
        It was impossible to write as the French, Italian, and English keyboards
    have all been altered to suit them and their mysterious typing proclivities!
        Apparently the Norwegian keyboards are the most fun!
        Glad to be back!
                        Michael C. Gwynne

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 13:15:09 -0500
    From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: WRUL Shortwave

    Dr. Beil posted that worldwide broadcasters have "Interval Signals":  I
    remember WRUL Worldwide, a commercial shortwave station used Anton Dvorak's
    "Going Home" refrain from "The New World" symphony as their sign-off as they
    changed frequencies.

    WRUL had ornate studios in a luxurious Boston brownstone apartment building
    on Commonwealth Avenue complete with heavy drapes and an observation deck
    for guests and advertisers to watch their live, 45-minute broadcasts in the
    late-
    1940's, early-1950's.  Very impressive, real radio!

    Russ Butler  oldradio@[removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 13:48:16 -0500
    From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Little Orley

    For the fans of Little Orley, I can report two sources of his stories and
    songs.  One set can be ordered from Pennsylvania State University Libraries,
    Fred Waring's America.  These were the stories recorded in the NBC studios,
    1949-1950.  I don't have the Penn State URL, but I think it easily accessed
    on the internet.  My CD was made by Digi-Rom of New York City.
        The other three CDs are available from Uncle Goose Toys: Phone,
    888-774-2046.  URL is:   [removed]    The first two are from the
    Vocalion LPs and have the CD numbers LO - 1 and LO - 2.  The third set of
    stories was taken directly from ETs of the Fred Waring broadcasts of 1946-47,
    and is LO - 3.  Each of the three sells for $15.
        These are three treasures in my collection!  I was a teenager when I
    heard some of these delightful stories by "Uncle Lumpy" Hugh Brannum.  And
    even at 67, I still delight in the humor of Little Orley.
        No, I was not hired to say this and receive no compensation whatever,
    except the sheer joy of listening to these stories again!

    Ted Kneebone
    1528 S. Grant St., Aberdeen, SD 57401 / 605-226-3344
    OTR:  [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 14:30:18 -0500
    From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Great Radio Audience Participation Shows

    Jim Cox's new book called Great Radio Audience Participation Shows (McFarland
    & Co., 2001) is a trip down Nostalgia Lane and full of information that often
    left me saying, "I didn't know that!"    (Subtitle:  Seventeen Programs from
    the 1940s and 1950s.)
        Chapters include the seventeen shows listed in the table of contents, but
    each chapter also tells about other similar programs.  For example, Can you
    top this? also deals with It pays to be ignorant.  Before reading the book, I
    knew I would be especially interested in the chapters on Dr. IQ and Dr.
    Christian.  After reading it, I would have to say that the chapters on
    Welcome travelers and You bet your life/Groucho Marx were every bit as
    fascinating.
         Well written and researched, Jim has done yet another service for us
    collectors and traders, and to the history of radio broadcasting.  For each
    chapter, the reader will find the vital stats like idea for the show,
    producers, directors, announcers, writers, musicians, sfx, sponsors, ratings
    and airdates.
        The exhaustive appendix of audience participation shows (p. 217-236)
    takes care of those who remember a show that Jim did not cover in the 17 main
    chapters.  And his chapter notes and bibliography are helpful should readers
    want to do further research.
        I don't own any stock in McFarland and have not received any compensation
    to write this review.

    Ted Kneebone
    1528 S. Grant St., Aberdeen, SD 57401 / 605-226-3344
    OTR:  [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 16:12:44 -0500
    From: "Donald Skuce" <donskuce@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: NPR and "business influence"

    I read with interest the informative post from Mr. Biel
    regarding NPR and the FCC.  He posted:

>     Ever since the Nixon administration started the enforced over-dependence
>     on corporate underwriting for Public broadcasting, even these outlets
>     are not free from the influence of the business environment

    Some American's believe that the greatest influence on NPR is the hard left
    slant of it's management, editors, and on the air personalities.  If you listen
    to NPR regularly you can't deny their political bias.  I've heard nothing from
    NPR that would lead me to believe that they're taking their marching orders
    from some massive corporation.  The influence that I hear would appear to
    emanate much more from a college or university faculty think tank.

    I don't want or intend to turn this into a political thread but some
    statements need clarification.

    All the best to all of you,

    Don Skuce

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: This thread ends here.  --cfs3]

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #73
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