Subject: [removed] Digest V2012 #196
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 12/23/2012 10:18 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2012 : Issue 196
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      This week in radio history 23-29 Dec  [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      The other side of [removed]        [ mschmid@[removed] ]
      12-23 births/deaths                   [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]

    ______________________________________________________________________

        ADMINISTRIVIA:

    We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the
    communication below, expressing at the same time our great
    gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends
    of The Sun:

    Dear Editor, I am 8 years old.
    Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
    Papa says "If you see it in The Sun it's so."
    Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus?
             Virginia O'Hanlon
             115 West Ninety-fifth St.

    VIRGINIA, Your little friends are wrong. They have been affected
    by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except
    they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible
    by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or
    children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere
    insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world
    about him, as measured by the intelligence of grasping the whole of
    truth and knowledge

    Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love
    and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and
    give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would
    be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as
    if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then,
    no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should
    have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with
    which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

    Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!
    You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on
    Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa
    Claus coming down what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus but
    that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things
    in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you
    ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no
    proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the
    wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

    You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside,
    but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest
    man, not even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever
    lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance,
    can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty
    and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world
    there is nothing else real and abiding.

    No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand
    years from now, Virginia, nay ten times ten thousand years from now,
    he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

       -- Editorial page of the New York Sun, September 21, 1897

     From our entire family to yours - Annie, Katie (who knows perfectly well
    there is a Santa Claus, since she's seen him - see
    [removed] ), and yours truly; no matter what you
    are celebrating at this truly amazing time of the year, Happy Holidays!

    ______________________________________________________________________

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

    Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:11:17 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 23-29 December

     From Today in history, the NY Times

    12/23

    In 1928, the National Broadcasting Company set up a permanent, coast to
    coast network.

     From Today's Almanac --

    In 1947, the transistor was invented, leading to a revolution in
    communications and electronics.

    12/24

    1906   Professor Reginald A. Fessenden sent his first radio broadcast
    from Brant Rock, MA. The program included a little verse, some violin
    and a speech.  (This is a disputed event according to some sources -ed).

    1944   The Andrews Sisters starred in the debut of The Andrews Sisters'
    Eight to the Bar Ranch on ABC. Patty, Maxene and LaVerne ran a fictional
    dude ranch. George "Gabby" Hayes was a regular guest along with Vic
    Schoen's orchestra. The ranch stayed in operation until 1946.

    12/25

    1931   Lawrence Tibbett was the featured vocalist as radio came to the
    Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. The first opera was Hansel
    und Gretel, heard on the NBC network of stations. In between acts of the
    opera, moderator Olin Downes would conduct an opera quiz, asking
    celebrity guests opera related questions. The program's host and
    announcer was Milton Cross. He worked out of the Met's Box 44.

    1937   Arturo Toscanini conducted the first broadcast of NBC symphony
    orchestra over NBC.

    1939   The Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, was performed by
    Lionel Barrymore on The Campbell Playhouse on CBS.  The performance of
    the tale was an annual radio event for years, before and after.

    1942   The longest, sponsored program in the history of broadcasting was
    heard on NBC Blue network. The daylong Victory Parade's Christmas Party
    of Spotlight Bands was heard over 142 radio stations. The marathon
    broadcast was sponsored by Coca Cola.

    12/26

    1953   Big Sister was heard for the last time on CBS. The show had been
    on the air for 17 years. Big Sister was the ongoing story of Sue Evans
    Miller and her relationship with her big sister, Ruth Evans. Actresses
    who played big sister Ruth over the years: Alice Frost, Nancy Marshall,
    Marjorie Anderson, Mercedes McCambridge. Little Sister Sue was played by
    Haila Stoddard, Dorothy McGuire, Peggy Conklin and Fran Carlon.

    1954   One of radio's most popular programs, The Shadow, lurked around
    the airwaves for the last time. Vigilante crime fighter Lamont Cranston
    battled greed and corruption since 1930. "Who knows what evil lurks in
    the hearts of men? The Shadow [removed]"

    12/27

    1932   Radio City Music Hall, in New York City, opened. It was the
    largest indoor theatre in the world. The gala grand opening show was a
    six hour extravaganza that lost half a million dollars within three
    weeks. The theatre has since been renovated to recapture its original
    decorative charm. An Art Deco cathedral of entertainment, it seats more
    than 6,200 people and is still a must see for those visiting New York.
    During the holiday season, audiences continue to get a kick out of
    seeing the world famous Rockettes perform in precision on Radio City
    Music Hall's nearly 10,000 square foot stage.

    1939   The Glenn Miller Show, also known as Music that Satisfies,
    started on CBS. The 15 minute, twice a week show was sponsored by
    Chesterfield cigarettes and was heard for nearly three years.

    1940   Singer Al Jolson and actress Ruby Keeler were divorced after 12
    years of marriage. They had separated a year earlier; but Jolson talked
    Keeler into co starring with him in the Broadway show, Hold on to Your
    Hats. She left the show before the opening and then left the marriage.

    1968   The Breakfast Club signed off for the last time on ABC, after 35
    years on the air.

    12/28

    1941   The Helen Hayes Theater, on CBS, was called the first casualty of
    World War II. Lipton Tea dropped sponsorship of the program as it
    prepared for shortages in tea imports from India.

    12/29

    1945   The mystery voice of Mr. Hush was heard for the first time on
    Truth or Consequences, hosted by Ralph Edwards. The feature was intended
    as a spoof of giveaway shows. However, the idea was taken seriously and
    lasted five weeks before fighter Jack Dempsey was identified as Mr. Hush
    for a prize of $13,500.  ($16,6458 in 2011 dollars).

       Joe

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

    Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:14:02 -0500
    From: mschmid@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  The other side of [removed]

    Here are two of my favorite Christmas shows, for those allergic to treacle.

    Molle Mystery Theater "The Man in the Velvet Hat" #64  12-19-44
    (exists in AFRS version on Mystery Playhouse) in which a homicidal
    maniac uses bible verses to commit mass murder for the holidays.

    TOMORROW October 17, 1956 - a 60-minute Civil Defense special based on
    the book by Philip Wylie, starring Orson Welles. A crazy mix of
    Americana, patriotism and cold war paranoia.

    "Coley Bordon stood alone looking out of the window of his former
    office - people were already starting to die down there. The streets
    were packed solid with cars and trucks, and people were running across
    the tops of the sardined the autos to 'get out of there". He saw a
    tiny purple doll of a young woman fall, and a hundred people instantly
    using her body as a step to the tops of the cars. Here and there a
    round scarlet blob was a department store Santa Claus, clawing for his
    life. The siren moaned to stillness, but there was no peace."

    "Coley Bordon closed his eyes - it was no good closing his ears".

    Somebody cue up Weird Al's "Christmas at Ground Zero"!

    Actually, this shows starts around Thanksgiving, so you can add it to
    my Thanksgiving favorites too.

    This may arrive too late for you to tune in live, but the following
    Christmas show is available for two weeks after the broadcast in the
    archives at [removed] If you like, you can get advance notice for both
    of my shows on my facebook announce page [removed]
    - I update it twice a week for the show on [removed] (heard at
    11 am on Saturday), and the broadcast show on WBAI-NY [removed] FM (streams
    live at [removed]).

    Sunday night from 7 to 9 pm on WBAI [removed] FM and streaming live on the
    web at [removed] - our Christmas Extravaganza featuring three shows
    I've never aired before, and one old favorite.

    I checked out the favorite shows of members of this digest to find
    ones I had never heard before, and on Sunday I'll share some of them
    with you.

    We begin with MATINEE THEATER, which apparently was a continuation of
    the series DANGEROUSLY YOURS starring Victor Jory (The Shadow in movie
    serials). From December 24, 1944 "A Stable In
    [removed]" Two old coots don't much care for Christmas
    until a stranger tells them the story of Mary and Joe. Sponsored by
    Vicks, with Martin Gabel, Jackson Beck, and John Brown.

    Next up, for fans of bathroom reading at your grandfather's house,
    it's THE RADIO READER'S DIGEST sponsored by Hallmark Cards. Frank
    Sinatra stars in "Room For a Stranger" from December 19, 1946 from CBS
    station WBBM, Chicago. A soldier has only 24 hours to meet up with his
    girlfriend before his Christmas pass is canceled. Hosted by Richard
    Kollmar (radio's BOSTON BLACKIE after Chester Morris left, and, with
    wifey Dorothy Kilgallen, co-host of Dorothy and Dick).

    Since no Schmid Christmas show is complete without a darker element,
    we hear next an early episode (#15) from the Larry Thor version of
    BROADWAY IS MY BEAT from Dec 24, 1949 "Nick Norman, Santa Claus" A
    recently released jailbird agrees to play Santa for the kids at the
    Police Athletic League. Trouble follows, of course. Great cast, great
    writers, great director, great everything - one of my favorite OTR
    series! With Larry Thor, Howard McNear, Gil Stratton, Shepard Menken,
    Peggy Webber, and Charles Calvert as Tartaglia. Elliott Lewis -
    producer, director, Alexander Courage (composer), Wilbur Hatch
    (conductor), Written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin.

    Finally, a new Christmas favorite from THE MARRIAGE, an NBC series
    written by Ernest Kinoy (adapter of many shows on X-1) and starring
    the husband and wife team of Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. From Dec
    20, 1953, it's episode #12 in which Liz gets a Christmas job in a
    department store and gets a new point of view on the holiday. With
    Bryna Raeburn, Denise Alexander, David Pfeffer, Ann Thomas, Sylvia
    Davis, Kermit Murdock, and Norman Lloyd. As my pal Dave Kenney [removed]
    "Good Stuff!"

    Tune in - Don't Miss It! Sunday night at 7pm on WBAI.

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

    Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:14:29 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  12-23 births/deaths

    December 23rd births

    12-23-1805 - Joseph Smith - Sharon, VT - d. 6-27-1844
    founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Many
    programs based on his life
    12-23-1873 - Burns Mantle - Watertown, NY - d. 2-9-1948
    writer: "Best Plays" based on Mantle's theatrical yearbook
    12-23-1887 - John Cromwell - d. 9-26-1979
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    12-23-1893 - Anne O'Neal - St. Louis, MO - d. 11-24-1971
    actor: Cynthia Veryberry "Grapevine Rancho"
    12-23-1903 - Helen Troy - San Francisco, CA - d. 11-1-1942
    actor: Sally "Cecil and Sally"
    12-23-1903 - Milton Alfred - d. 9-11-1968
    sportscaster: WICA Ashtabula, Ohio
    12-23-1907 - Don McNeill - Galena, IL - d. 5-7-1996
    host: "Breakfast Club"
    12-23-1909 - Maurice Denham - Beckenham, England - d. 7-24-2002
    actor: "Return of Sherlock Holmes"
    12-23-1911 - James Gregory - The Bronx, NY - d. 9-16-2002
    actor: Captain Vincent Cronin "21st Precinct"
    12-23-1913 - Anton M. Leader - Boston, MA - d. 7-1-1988
    director: "Eternal Light"; "Murder at Midnight"; "Suspense"; "Words at
    War"
    12-23-1922 - Jack Lloyd - Duisburg, Germany - d. 5-21-1976
    actor: "Armstrong Theatre of Today"; "The Joan Davis Show"
    12-23-1922 - Ruth Roman - Boston, MA - d. 9-9-1999
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Hollywood Sound Stage"
    12-23-1922 - Scott Vincent - d. 5-31-1979
    announcer: "The Jimmy Dean Show"
    12-23-1923 - Ray Kemper - Lankershim, CA
    sound effects: "Gunsmoke"; "Voyage of the Scarlet Queen"; "Fort Laramie"
    12-23-1924 - Floyd Kalber - Omaha, NE - d. 5-13-2004
    news correspondent: NBC; News Anchor for WMAQ and WLS in Chicago
    12-23-1931 - Kenneth Methold - Sussex, England
    writer: "Sweet Singing the Choir"; "All Suspect"
    12-23-1933 - Emperor Akihito - Tokyo, Japan
    emperor of japan: Appeared on NHK radio
    12-23-1939 - Antonio Damarko - Chilie
    writer: "Funny Tragedies"
    12-23-1943 - Harry Shearer - Los Angeles, CA
    actor: Member of the Beavers "Jack Benny Program"

    December 23rd deaths

    01-03-1909 - Victor Borge - Copenhagen, Denmark - d. 12-23-2000
    comedian, pianist: "Victor Borge Show"; "Kraft Music Hall"
    01-04-1889 - Pat Kelly - North Queensland, Australia - d. 12-23-1967
    announcer: "Dog Heroes"; "Getting the Most Out of Life"
    01-20-1912 - Paula Stone - NYC - d. 12-23-1997
    moderator: "Leave It to the Girls"
    02-08-1886 - Charlie Ruggles - Los Angeles, CA - d. 12-23-1970
    comedian: "Texaco Star Theatre"; "Suspense"; "This Is My Best"
    04-02-1892 - Marjorie Child Husted - d. 12-23-1986
    First radio voice of Betty Crocker
    04-02-1920 - Jack Webb - Santa Monica, CA - d. 12-23-1982
    actor: Joe Friday "Dragnet"; Pete Kelly "Pete Kelly's Blues"
    04-06-1924 - Mimi Benzell - Bridgeport, CT - d. 12-23-1970
    singer: "Jack Pearl and Mimi Benzell"; "Railroad Hour"
    05-03-1905 - Sebastian Shaw - Holt, England - d. 12-23-1994
    actor: "For Elise"
    05-14-1890 - Carlton Brickert - Martinsville, IN - d. 12-23-1943
    actor: David Post "Story of Mary Marlin"; Howard Thurston "Thurston
    the Magician"
    07-01-1901 - Irna Phillips - Chicago, IL - d. 12-23-1973
    actor, writer: Mother Moran "Today's Children"; "The Guiding Light";
    "Road of Life"
    08-15-1925 - Oscar Peterson - Montreal, Canada - d. 12-23-2007
    jazz pianist: "Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum"
    10-25-1924 - Billy Barty - Millsboro, PA - d. 12-23-2000
    comedian: "Spike Jones Band", "James Melton Show"
    11-04-1901 - Helene Dumas - Brooklyn, NY - d. 12-23-1986
    actor: "Jane Arden"; "Eno Crime Club"; "Short Short Story"
    11-11-1911 - Patric Knowles - Horsforth, Yorkshire, England - d.
    12-23-1995
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    12-08-1892 - Dr. Jacob Tarshish - d. 12-23-1960
    rabbi: "The Lamplighter"
    12-30-1884 - Hideki Tojo - Tokyo, Japan - d. 12-23-1948
    prime minister: War Time Broadcasts

    Ron

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2012 Issue #196
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