Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #155
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 4/26/2002 1:05 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 155
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Re: Theodore Sturgeon and radio       [ Gerry Wright <gdwright@[removed]; ]
      Theodore Sturgeon                     [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
      Theodore Sturgeon on radio            [ Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed]; ]
      Converting MP3 files                  [ bruceglazer@[removed] ]
      Theodore Sturgeon on radio            [ "Alan R. Betz" <abetz@[removed]; ]
      Earth Abides                          [ ericandsusie@[removed] ]
      Commercials                           [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
      Re: Cincy Convention                  [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
      Gildersleeve Project                  [ BrianWest2@[removed] ]
      radio people behind the TV scene      [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
      Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Cincinnati through a teenager's eyes  [ Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed]; ]
      Cincinnati: Where was Peg Lynch?      [ Russ Pfister <rpfister@[removed]; ]
      New Dragnet series?                   [ Kubelski@[removed] ]
      Judy and Corliss                      [ Grbmd@[removed] ]
      The Omphalos still exists             [ "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@earthl ]
      Re: Vinton Hayworth                   [ "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; ]
      Crosby and recording                  [ Alan/Linda Bell <alanlinda43@yahoo. ]
      Contributors                          [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
      Some Undated Dennis Day Episodes      [ Wboenig@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 17:41:06 -0400
    From: Gerry Wright <gdwright@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Theodore Sturgeon and radio

    Derek Tague asked:

>     Does anybody out there know if the great science-fiction writer
>     Theodore Sturgeon ever wrote for radio, or if his printed works were ever
>     adapted for the radio?

    At leat three of his stories were adapted for the X Minus One series:

    07-03-56 -- 58
    Mr. Costello, Hero
    Story: Theodore Sturgeon
    Script: George Lefferts

    07-24-56 -- 61
    Stars Are The Styx
    Story: Theodore Sturgeon
    Script: Ernest Kinoy

    01-09-57 -- 83
    Saucer Of Loneliness
    Story: Theodore Sturgeon
    Script: George Lefferts

    09-05-57 -- 110
    Saucer Of Loneliness
    Remake of the 01-09-57 program (with different cast members)
    Story: Theodore Sturgeon
    Script: George Lefferts

    Gerry Wright
    ZoneZebra Productions
    San Francisco

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

    Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 18:53:05 -0400
    From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Theodore Sturgeon

    Derek Tague asks:

>     Does anybody out there know if the great science-fiction writer Theodore
>     Sturgeon ever wrote for radio, or if his printed works were ever adapted
>     for the radio?

    Many of his works have been adapted over time:

    Beyond Tomorrow: Incident At Switchpath 4/11/50 (Story: "The Sky Was Full
    of Ships")
    Tales of Tomorrow: "The Stars Are the Styx"  1/29/53
    X Minus One: "Mr. Costello, Hero" 7/3/56
    X Minus One: "The Stars Are the Styx" 7/24/56
    X Minus One: "A Saucer of Lonliness" 1/9/57 and a remake 9/5/57
    2000x: Hurricane Trio
    WBAI Radio "The Girl Had Guts" and "The Skills of Xanadu"

    Also on television:
    Out There: Mewhu's Jet 12/9/51
    Star Trek: "Amok Time 1967
    Twilight Zone: "A Matter of Minutes" 1985/86 season

    Harlan Ellison tells an interesting story about Sturgeon attempting to
    publish a story in a "legitimate" magazine forum about a woman and
    loneliness. He tried a number of literary magazines but was rejected every
    time. Finally, he sent it to Horace Gold at Galaxy, but Gold said it wasn't
    science fiction. He'd publish it if it had flying saucers in it. So he
    re-wrote the story and called it "A Saucer of Loneliness" and it was
    published as such. I think this is why it is one of my favorite Sturgeon
    short stories adapted to radio. It goes beyond the basic SF aspect of theme
    to a more universal element of the human condition.

    Jim Widner
    jwidner@[removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 18:51:58 -0400
    From: Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Theodore Sturgeon on radio

    Derek Tague asked if anybody knows whether
    science-fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon ever wrote
    for radio, or if his printed works were adapted to the
    medium. I don't know if he wrote specifically for
    radio, but some of his stories were dramatized on X
    Minus One. I don't recall which, however. I'd have to
    listen to those episodes I have and see who they
    credit as the writer and/or from what original source
    the story was adapted.

    Rick Keating

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

    Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 18:52:55 -0400
    From: bruceglazer@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Converting MP3 files

    Hi, all!

    A recent posting asked about the availability of software
    that could transfer MP3 (CD) files to regular CD's (for
    playback in a car's CD player).  I am sure that there are
    others, out there (including myself), who would also be
    interested in knowing the answer.  Can anyone assist,
    please?

    BRUCE

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 08:06:16 -0400
    From: "Alan R. Betz" <abetz@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Theodore Sturgeon on radio

    In Digest volume 2002, issue 154, Derek Tague (derek@[removed]) asked if
    any of Theodore Sturgeon's work appeared on radio.  My listing for X
    Minus One gives three programs adapted from his stories:
      03Jul56 Mr. Costello--Hero
      24Jul56 The Stars Are The Styx
      09Jan57 Saucer of Lonliness

      Regards to all, Alan.

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 08:06:49 -0400
    From: ericandsusie@[removed]
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Earth Abides

    Hi all,
    I just relistened to a show that I would have to recommend as the best
    of a very good series. The show is a two parter on Escape called "Earth
    Abides". Anybody else have a favorite?
    Aint OTR great?
    Eric Hardy

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 08:07:38 -0400
    From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
    To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Commercials

    I have to agree with Hal Stone.  Well, I don't have to, but I do.

    For many years there has been more creativity and humor in many TV
    commercials then on the programs themselves.   Admit it, some commercials
    are excellent.   It doesn't mean I enjoy having programs interrupted; no one
    does but it's a fact of our economic life.   (I just wish they only
    interrupted once in every half hour like they used to.)  Watch the annual
    awards show for commercials (Clios) and you'll find yourself thoroughly
    enjoying watching good commercials nonstop for an hour or two, from all
    around the world.  The Clios used to be given out in SF every year and they
    got a lot of SF media attention which is why I'm familiar with them.
    Tickets were hard to come by.

    The young actor who does the Dell computer commercials has become
    tremendously popular and received the kind of high profile exposure that can
    make things happen for his acting career.   Surely that's not a bad thing.
    Good for him.   If he has some talent he'll now have the opportunity to
    build a career and doing those Dell commercials paid his rent while he was
    an unemployed NY actor.

    I'm just as annoyed at the number of interruptions that I experience as a
    PBS watcher because they can't pay for their programs without subscriber
    contributions.

    Plugging the sponsor in radio was a given.   I learned not to dunk my Lipton
    teabag in and out from Arthur Godfrey.

    I thinks it's amusing that so many of our big stars go off to Japan and
    Europe to make commercials and lots of big bucks, but refuse to do the same
    in this country.

    I love to play the voice over game.   Hal, do you have any info about where
    we can go to find out who the voices are in some of the current commercials.
    Some of them are at the tip of my consciousness but I can't pull them out.

    Irene
    IreneTH@[removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 08:07:53 -0400
    From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Cincy Convention

    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];

>     It was fun playing "Oogie" on that show, and "Walter" on "Our Miss
>     Brooks". But don't  you think it's strange that all the parts they
>     gave me to do called for a squeaky voiced Character?  Sheesh! I can
>     play deep voiced sexy parts too. (I think!) Hal(Harlan)Stone > Jughead

    That's why you were ALSO given the role of announcer for the two Ethel
    and Alberts, so you could prove to an astonished world that your voice
    HAD changed.  Say, with that deep voice I bet you could do commercials!
    Ever try? :-)

    Michael Biel  mbiel@[removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 08:08:08 -0400
    From: BrianWest2@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Gildersleeve Project

    David rodgers wrote in a couple of days ago about this poject and being able
    to download from it. since I am relatively new to this, does anyone know
    where I can go to download any programs? thanks.

    Brian West

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 08:08:22 -0400
    From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  radio people behind the TV scene

    Reading Hal last post about TV commercial got me thinking who else beside
    Hal that had a radio background wore behind the Scene in doing TV
    commercials.  I can think of Stan Freberg who has an advertising agency was
    both behind the scene and out in front, but there you would think that
    others would have gone the same route.    I can think of radio performers
    who later directed TV shows and films.

    Take care,

    Walden Hughes  of

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 08:08:38 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Today in radio history

      From Those Were The Days --

    1921 - Weather broadcasts were heard for the first time on radio when
    WEW in St. Louis, MO aired weather news.

    1931 - NBC presented Lum and Abner for the first time. The popular
    program continued for 24 years on the air, not all of them on NBC. In
    fact, all four networks (CBS, ABC, Mutual and NBC) carried the program
    for a period of time. In 1936, when Waters, Arkansas, changed its name
    to Pine Ridge.

    1932 - The Texaco fire chief, Ed Wynn, was heard on radio’s Texaco Star
    Theater for the first time.

    1937 - The initial broadcast of Lorenzo Jones was heard over NBC radio
    this day. Karl Swenson played the lead role for the entire run of the
    serial. And quite a run it was. Lorenzo Jones was on the air until 1955.

      Joe

    --
    Visit my home page:
    [removed]~[removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 08:08:49 -0400
    From: Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Cincinnati through a teenager's eyes

    My daughter Karen (17 years old) has posted her Cincinnati diary on our
    family website:

    [removed]~dan

    Click on the "2002 Cincinnati REPORT" link on that page.

    ---Dan

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 08:09:11 -0400
    From: Russ Pfister <rpfister@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Cincinnati: Where was Peg Lynch?

    M family and I had another wonderful weekend at the Cinci convention.
    My wife and I started attending with either the 3rd or 4th con and now
    we're bringing the kids.  I spent most of my money buying tapes of Peg
    Lynch's series Couple Next Door and Ethel and Albert.  In fact, The
    Couple Next Door is the series of choice for long car trips.  My
    8-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son love them, as does my wife.  (Our
    9-month-old doesn't seem to care one way or the other.)  I experimented
    with a lot of 'kids' shows -- Superman, Let's Pretend, Cinnamon Bear --
    and some other comedies, but the kids didn't sit up and take notice
    until I played The Couple Next Door.  They look forward to the
    convention just to hear (and see) the Ethel and Albert recreations.

    Which leads to my question:  Where was Peg Lynch?  Bob Burchett
    mentioned that Esther Geddes and Tyler McVey couldn't make it for
    reasons that had nothing to do with their health, but that left me
    worried about Ms. Lynch.  Is she okay?  Even though she couldn't be
    there, I'm glad her work was represented.  The Ethel and Albert
    recreations with Rosemary Rice and Bob Hastings were still great fun.
    We all enjoyed the Date with Judy and Archie recreations, too.  The kids
    are into reading Archie comic books now, so they were really looking
    forward to the show.  Hal Stone's wearing of the Jughead hat and
    sweatshirt was a nice touch.

    Speaking of Bob Hastings, there's a guy who really crosses generational
    lines.  He was talking to my family  before the afternoon show and my
    wife was trying to explain his credits from television.  We, of course,
    knew Mr. Hastings from McHale's Navy when we were growing up, but our
    kids have never seen it.  But when Mr. Hastings mentioned that he did
    the voice for Commissioner Gordon on the Batman animated series from the
    90s, my daughter's eyes lit up.  "I can't wait to tell my friends I met
    a real TV star!"

    I'll remind her to mention that she met Archie Andrews, too.

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 09:04:07 -0400
    From: Kubelski@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  New Dragnet series?

    The New York Post is reporting that the producers of "Law and Order" and
    working on an updated version of Dragnet.

    Law and Order is ALREADY an updated version of Dragnet, but whatever.

    Hopefully they'll keep casting fine actors like Arthur Anderson in the new
    series. A link to the Post story follows.

    Sean Dougherty
    Kubelski@[removed]

    [removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 09:41:35 -0400
    From: Grbmd@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Judy and Corliss

    Trinapreston3 said:

>     I read somewhere that, "A Date With Judy" had a television show in
>     the early 1950s as did "Meet Corliss Archer".  Nothing is found about
>     "A Date with Judy" TV show.  I did find out that "Meet Corliss Archer "
>     is available on video.  Do anyone remember "A Date With Judy" TV show?
>     If you do, share your memories or any information you may have to my
>     questions.

    One reference I have (Alex McNeil, "Total Television") says that "A Date With
    Judy" was on ABC Television in three segments or seasons:  from 6/2/51 to
    2/23/52, from 7/15/52 to 10/2/52, and from 1/7/53 to 9/30/53.  Patricia
    Crowley played Judy in the first version and Mary Linn Beller in the second
    and third.

    Also, McNeil says that "Meet Corliss Archer" was on CBS Television in two
    segments:  from 7/13/51 to 8/10/51, and from 1/26/52 to 3/29/52.  (How's that
    for quick cancellation?)  Then in 1954 it went into syndication.  Lugene
    Sanders played Corliss in the network versions and Ann Baker in the
    syndicated version.

    Spence

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 13:27:03 -0400
    From: "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  The Omphalos still exists

    I thought someone might be interested to know that the
    omphalos (the "world-navel," thought to be the center of
    the world by the ancient Greeks) actually exists at the site of the
    ancient temple(s) at Delphi, Greece.  It is a large circular
    (and rounded) shaped stone with a hole ground into the
    top so that certain smoke producing leaves could be
    burned there and inhaled by the Oracle.  It must have been
    some good stuff, since it (at least supposedly) allowed the
    Oracle (a female, of course) to have visions of future events.
    This omphalos is not within a temple, as you might suppose,
    but further up the side of a mountain from the temple(s)
    below.  I had a good look at the omphalos in 1973, when
    I spent 9 days in Greece, on a tour of most of the ancient
    cities.  It does remind you of a navel, if you have a good
    imagination.  I am assuming that this "world-navel" is still
    where it was when I saw it.

    Harry Machin, Jr.
    harbev5@[removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 13:28:14 -0400
    From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Vinton Hayworth

    Hal Stone wrote a lengthy, impossible-to-excerpt dissertation on actors
    doing commercials, in response to my view that Vinton Hayworth's Buick ads
    on "The Berle-Buick Hour" represented a "comedown" for the man.

    Perhaps "comedown" wasn't the right word.  How about "insult"? (Just
    kidding, Jug!)

    Obviously I recognize the desire for work that all actors (heck, all PEOPLE)
    must have.  I also know that, as a whole, the commercial industry is
    necessary and does, at times, demonstrate a welcome brilliance.  In no way
    did I intend my comment to be a blanket condemnation of the industry or the
    participation of "names" in it.  It just seemed to me, in *this* instance,
    that Vin Hayworth - an actor possessed of dramatic and comedic ability
    equally impressive and convincing - was being wasted as he stood in front of
    a nice car and read cue cards.  This is, of course, a critique that is five
    decades removed from the event.  I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to assume
    Mr. Hayworth felt the same as I do.

    I hope I've reduced this mountain to the molehill it was in the first place.

    Michael

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 13:27:21 -0400
    From: Alan/Linda Bell <alanlinda43@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Crosby and recording

    A few days ago, references were made to Bing Crosby's use of tape for
    editing his program, though the show itself was air from a disc.
    Apparently this was widely known, because I just came across this
    dialog on the Jack Benny show, April 4, 1948:

    Jack: 	I did him [Crosby] a big favor. I was on his show a couple of
      	weeks ago and it isn't easy to be on his show. The needle
    	scratches.
    	[Big laugh]

    Alan

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 13:27:59 -0400
    From: otrbuff@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Contributors

    Flipping through "Say Goodnight, Gracie," my newest McFarland volume, I
    was touched by a significantly large number of individuals who are mostly
    from this list that contributed to the book or were quoted in it, leaving
    a lasting impact on readers as well as the history of OTR.  Among them:
    Henry Brugsch, Chris Chandler, Dennis Crow, Jack French, Jay Hickerson,
    Tom Hood, Warren Jones, Ted Kneebone, Bill Knowlton, Laura Leff, Chris
    Lembesis, Patrick Lucanio, Ted Meland, Barry Mishkind, Charles Niren,
    Andy Ooms, Ken Piletic, James Snyder, Jim Wood and Stewart Wright.
    Thanks to all whose contributions add to the permanent records and whose
    experiences and observations provide insights we might not otherwise
    have.  The tome, subtitled "The Last Years of Network Radio," focuses on
    the 1950s and is available from McFarland at 800-253-2187, online at
    [removed].  Its intent is to fill a prominent void that has
    existed in the annals of OTR.

    Jim Cox

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

    Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 13:53:06 -0400
    From: Wboenig@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Some Undated Dennis Day Episodes

    I have recently been working on expanding my collection of shows form the
    series "A Day In The Life Of Dennis Day", and in that process I have come
    across at least two, and perhaps three episodes that do not check out with
    any of this hobby's accepted sources (specifically, the website logs of Jerry
    Haendiges and David Goldin).

    The first show in question was dated 10/03/46 on the reel from which it was
    copied.  There are two indisputable facts about this show:

    a) it was the first one in the series (depending on how you define 'first'),
    and
    b) it was broadcast in the fall of 1946

    Both of these facts are derived from statements made by the announcer.

    But both JH and DG describe the story line of the first episode as having to
    do with a masquerade ball.  This is not the plot of the show which I listened
    to.  Instead, on this show, the announcer takes us back in time ("a few
    months, to July") to describe how Dennis came about to have his own radio
    show.  Jack Benny and Don Wilson both appear to wish him well, and Jack has a
    dream that, in five years, he will be a member of the cast on "The Dennis Day
    Show."

    Late in the episode, Jack says to Dennis "I'll be listening in next week when
    you go on with your first 'Day In The Life Of Dennis Day' "

    Is this perhaps something that should be described as "episode number zero"?
    And if so, did it actually hit the airwaves?  The recording does include
    Colgate commercials.

    The second episode in question is a Christmas episode, but not the widely
    circulated "Sing For A King" show of 12/25/46.  This one opens with Dennis
    singing "Christmas In Killarney", and it gives me the gut feeling that is was
    the last episode before the actual Christmas holiday.  The announcer starts
    off by saying "Well, it's been three weeks now since our warm-hearted hero
    extended his hospitality to a homeless immigrant named Rudolph Klobbermeyer
    (sp?) ..."

    Excluding 1946, the remaining possible "just before Christmas" dates are
    12/24/47, 12/25/48, and 12/24/49 (although this is built on my earlier
    assumption of it being the last show).  Based on the announcer's statement, I
    looked not only for shows on these dates, but also for shows three weeks
    before these dates.  Using that approach, I eliminated both 1947 and 1948, as
    the episodes of the first week of December in those years did not match the
    announcer's statement.  Hence my arbitrarily scientific dating of this
    episode as 12/24/49.

    The story line is that Rudolph refers to himself as a "star maker", and
    Dennis believes that this means he is a Hollywood talent scout.  In reality,
    Rudolph is just a humble craftsman who makes star ornaments for Christmas
    trees.

    So again, I will ask -- does this episode sound like it might be in anyone's
    collection, and if so, do you have a date for it?

    The last one I have titled "Dennis Becomes A Policeman".  Dennis opens with
    the song "Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue", and then we learn that Dennis is
    three weeks behind in his rent, with no prospects of raising the money.  So
    Mrs. Anderson (the landlady) gets him a job as a Weaverville policeman.
    Dennis ends up giving a ticket to Mr Weaver, the most influential man in
    town, and then stages a break-in at his mansion in order to get back in his
    good graces.

    Jerry H. titles the episode of 5/14/49 "Room Rent Due"; this is the only
    listing I could find that might remotely resemble this episode.  So again,
    suggestions as to the date are welcome.

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #155
    *********************************************

    Copyright [removed] Communications, York, PA; All Rights Reserved,
      including republication in any form.

    If you enjoy this list, please consider financially supporting it:
       [removed]

    For Help: [removed]@[removed]

    To Unsubscribe: [removed]@[removed]

    To Subscribe: [removed]@[removed]
      or see [removed]

    For Help with the Archive Server, send the command ARCHIVE HELP
      in the SUBJECT of a message to [removed]@[removed]

    To contact the listmaster, mail to listmaster@[removed]

    To Send Mail to the list, simply send to [removed]@[removed]