------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2006 : Issue 27
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Product placement [ "kierniesky" <kierniesky@[removed] ]
1-25 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
mrs calabash [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
Bergen and McCarthy [ Randy Watts <rew1014@[removed]; ]
Jeeps and Jungle Jim [ "HARLAN ZINCK" <zharlan@[removed]; ]
#OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig [ charlie@[removed] ]
Research In Australia [ "Austotr" <austotr@[removed]; ]
Various Follow-Ups [ JimBourg@[removed] ]
Resolved Mysteries [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
re: Repeats [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
West, Alexander, Godfrey,Wwells, 193 [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 23:52:12 -0500
From: "kierniesky" <kierniesky@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Product placement
I recently heard a Yours Truly Johnny Dollar episode that had what sounded
like a "product placement" in the modern sense of the term. In the episode,
Johnny Dollar arrived at the Ben Franklin Hotel in Philly, and he referred
to it as comfortable and convenient place to stay. This was different than
the Fibber or Benny-type ad inclusions, since it was so matter of fact. I
wonder if it was a commercial product placement, particular since the
episode was late 50s or early 60s when sustaining was typical for radio
drama. Was money or service paid for this comment?
-Nik Kierniesky
Gettysburg
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 23:46:20 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 1-25 births/deaths
January 25th births
01-25-1874 - Somerset Maughan - Paris, France - d. 12-16-1965
writer: " Somerset Maughan Theatre"
01-25-1878 - Ernest Alexanderson - Uppsala, Sweden - d. 5-14-1975
engineer: Possibly first voice ever heard on radio 12-24-1906
01-25-1901 - Mildred Dunnock - Baltimore, MD - d. 7-5-1991
actress: "Theatre Guild On the Air"
01-25-1910 - Portland Hoffa - Portland, OR - d. 12-25-1990
comedienne: (Wife of Fred Allen) "Fred Allen Show"
01-25-1916 - Les Crutchfield - d. 10-6-1966
writer: "Escape"; "Fort Laramie"; "Gunsmoke"
01-25-1920 - Fred Pinkard - d. 8-3-2004
actor: "Destination Freedom"; "Hello, Sucker"
01-25-1920 - Roy Rowan - d. 5-10-1998
announcer: "Escape"; "Gunsmoke"; "Rogers of the Gazette"; "Young Love"
01-25-1923 - Rusty Draper - d. 3-28-2003
country singer: "Dude Martin's Radio Ranch"
01-25-1924 - Speedy West - Springfield, MO - d. 11-15-2003
steel guitarist: "Grand Old Opry"; "Tennessee Ernie FordShow"
January 25th deaths
03-03-1921 - Diana Barrymore - New York, NY - d. 1-25-1960
actress: "Crime Does Not Pay"
03-21-1918 - Cliff Norton - Chicago, IL - d. 1-25-2003
actor: Connie the coolie "Terry and the Pirates"; "American Novels"
03-24-1867 - Harry Neville - Launceston, Tasmania, Australia - d.
1-25-1945
actor: Mr. Fielding "The O'Neills"
04-07-1893 - Irene Castle - New Rochelle, NY - d. 1-25-1969
actress: Best Dressed Woman "Life of Irene Castle"; "Twenty Questions"
04-30-1916 - Robert Shaw - Red Bluff, CA - d. 1-25-1999
choral director: "Radio Hall of Fame"; "American School of the Air"
06-03-1924 - Ted Mallie - d. 1-25-1999
announcer: "The Shadow"
08-19-1902 - Colleen Moore - Port Huron, MI - d. 1-25-1988
actress: "Whatever Became of . . . ."
09-10-1898 - Adele Astaire - Omaha, NE - d. 1-25-1981
dancer, actress: (Fred's Sister) "Magic Key"; "Savings Bond Campaign"
10-15-1921 - Robert Rockwell - Chicago, IL - d. 1-25-2003
actor: Philip Boynton "Our Miss Brooks"
10-30-1906 - Paul J. Smith - Calumet, MI - d. 1-25-1985
music: "The Eddie Bracken Show"
12-03-1902 - Bill Slater - Parkersburg, WV - d. 1-25-1965
emcee: ""Uncle Jim's Question Bee"; "Twenty Questions"; "Dunninger Show"
12-24-1922 - Ava Gardner - Grabtown, NC - d. 1-25-1990
actress: "So Proudly We Hail"; "Prudential Family Hour of Stars"
xx-xx-xxxx - Jean Juvelier - d. 1-25-1981
actress: Madame Babette "Arnold Grimm's Daughter"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 23:52:37 -0500
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: mrs calabash
There must be twelve different stories about "Goodnight Mrs Calabash,
wherever you are." On the basis of no evidence whatsoever, I think I know
what the real truth is.
There was no Mrs Calabash, or at least nobody of that name known to Mr
Durante. He was a song writer and a comedian, and he listened for poetic
language and patterns and rhythms, many of which must have originated in his
mind.
He would have heard the term calabash, which I think is a type of tobacco
pipe, and stored it away until the rhythmic, distinct, and funny phrase 'Mrs
Calabash' formed in his marvelous brain. After that, it was just a matter
of seeing where it would fit in his routine.
I've done the same sort of thing, far less artfully, in my own writing and
speaking. My Natalie and I frequently make up silly phrases to make each
other laugh. I imagine most people here do, too.
M Kinsler
512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 43130 740-687-6368
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 01:14:21 -0500
From: Randy Watts <rew1014@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Bergen and McCarthy
This blog has some nice pics of Edgar Bergen and
Charlie McCarthy, as well as an interesting old trade
ad for a post-radio success reissue of Edgar and
Charlie's Vitaphone one-reelers. It's in the Tuesday,
January 24th entry, underneath a piece titled "It's a
Wonderful World in Color."
[removed]
Randy
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 02:01:42 -0500
From: "HARLAN ZINCK" <zharlan@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jeeps and Jungle Jim
Alan Chapman writes:
A friend, who collects military army jeeps, has been trying to find an
old song by the Andrews Sisters which was, "Little Bow Peep has lost her
Jeep."
I think I've heard the Andrews Sisters version on a 78, but I don't believe
it's available on CD. There is, however, a couple of CDs which may still be
in print containing a delightful version by Spike Jones and his City
Slickers, with a vocal by Del Porter and Willie Spicer at the Collidophone:
"Musical Depreciation" on the Naxos Nostalgia label and a 3-CD set titled "
The Victory Collection: The Smithsonian Remembers When America Went To War."
There may well be others, too.
RadioAZ@[removed] writes:
OK, fellow travelers of the ether, I have just finished listening to the
strangest conglomeration of a show I have ever heard. It starts out as
"Jungle Jim." But soon, a strange object lands in the jungle and who
should
emerge from it but Flash Gordon, Dale and Dr. Zharkov. Anyone have any
idea
of a date for this mess?
I've not heard this show, but I believe I can explain why it exists.
Both Jungle Jim and Flash Gordon were comic strips carried by the Hearst
Newspaper Syndicate in the 1930s. Both were adapted into syndicated
15-minute "strip" shows - that is, shows designed to be played on a
five-days-a-week basis, and both were produced and sponsored by the Hearst
Newspaper Chain. The radio shows advertised Puck, the Comic Weekly, which
was the Hearst's comic section. Usually the 16" disks on which they were
distributed had one of these two series on one side of the disk and an
episode of "Front Page Drama," another Hearst-sponsored show, on the
reverse.
Why they decided to "cross-pollinate" the two shows at some point, I have no
idea. But I expect someone thought it was a good idea at the time -- sort of
the same notion as a similarly lame brained TV movie that came out in 1987
titled "The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones."
Some things were simply never meant to happen!
Harlan Zinck
First Generation Radio Archives
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 02:12:00 -0500
From: charlie@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!
A weekly [removed]
For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
Network, the channel name is #OldRadio. We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
over nine years, same time, same channel! Started by Lois Culver, widow
of actor Howard Culver, this is the place to be on Thursday night for
real-time OTR talk!
Our "regulars" include OTR actors, soundmen, collectors, listeners, and
others interested in enjoying OTR from points all over the world. Discussions
range from favorite shows to almost anything else under the sun (sometimes
it's hard for us to stay on-topic)...but even if it isn't always focused,
it's always a good time!
For more info, contact charlie@[removed]. We hope to see you there, this
week and every week!
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 07:54:58 -0500
From: "Austotr" <austotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Research In Australia
G'Day folks, its been a while since I posted.
The documenting of Australian OTR has moved into another phase. The
database of Australian Serials and Series has passed the 5,300 mark. At the
moment we are concentrating on two areas. The first is logging all the
episodes for those series/serials and that is progressing very well. The
2nd is taking advantage of the State Library of Victoria, who has updated
their microfiche equipment and instead of having to photocopy pages from
magazines etc and pay per page, we can now dump each page to a memory stick
for free. This has meant that Moris Sztajer has been able to grab complete
issues and we now have some complete years in digital form. It is our
intention to continue to collect all of the issues.
None of our Institutions have the documentation on-line so it is all
accessed in person.
I am copying and pasting articles and photos from the magazine scans to hard
drive and naming each item so they can be added to our database in the
corresponding entry.
I am enjoying reading about the people and the shows and lots of tidbits of
information I had not known. I am also grabbing items that I know are of
interest to other people who have made enquiries with me over the years.
Most are members of this list and they know who they are.
I thought that I might remind people who have an OTR special interest which
may be linked to Australia in some way, to let me know so that I can keep an
eye out for information which may be of interest to them. I was reminded of
this today with the Spike Jones Jeep song being mentioned on the list. In
1955 Spike and his Band travelled Australia. In the issue I am working on
at the moment, Spike has been approached to make some Radio shows while he
was here, but no decision had been made at the time of that publication in
April 1955. Spike did however appear as a guest artist on several of the
popular radio shows of the time. One in particular was Jack Davey's AMPOL
Show and a great time was had by all. I am going to have to find out if
that one survived.
Ian Grieve
Moderator
Australian OTR Group
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 09:27:57 -0500
From: JimBourg@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Various Follow-Ups
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In a message dated 1/24/2006 10:54:54 [removed] Central Standard Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:
Some "Johnstons" are pronounced "Johnson" as in the upscale shoe chain
"Johnston & Murphy."
Trust me, Johnston & Murphy" is properly pronounced sounding the "T".
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 10:17:53 -0500
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Resolved Mysteries
A few days ago I posted about a dilemma I was experiencing over sorting out
the
details in the life/lives of one or two persons in radio named George Putnam.
Much confusion abounds in published texts about that name as the incidents --
and even the names -- of the two men (provided there were two) were transposed
and picked up by successive sources. After futile trys, in desperation, I
figured somebody on this list must know something. It turned out somebody did.
My thanks to Irene Heinstein, a tenacious and meticulous researcher, who
delved
into the mystery deep enough to be able to uncover and sort out exactly what
transpired. Suffice it to state that there were two George Putnams but,
unlike
most references claim, only one was born in Minnesota, yet both were on the
air
in New York and Los Angeles at the same time! I've been able to separate the
similarities and differences in their careers, thanks to Irene, in a
forthcoming
book and I want to publicly applaud her efforts -- and the contributions of
several other digesters who tried to unravel the mystery. You are indeed a
fantastic group and I sing your praises routinely. Thanks for being there for
all of us who attempt to get it right and preserve data for present and future
generations.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 13:33:46 -0500
From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: re: Repeats
Roger Keel wrote, wondering whether the following types of repeats were
ever performed:
1. A direct repeat of the original transcription disk complete with
original commercials. Did the producers of the various radio shows
keep the master copy of the transcription disk for any amount of time?
I have an idea that the repeats of various episodes that were done
within a year of each other are just copies from the master disk. At
least, they sound that way to me.
Once transcription became commonplace, I imagine programs were still
played twice, once for each coast. So the original transcribed
recording was used twice. But, I'll bet the commercials were often done
anew. Sometimes even the music. (You'll hear shows sometimes called
"partially transcribed" for that reason.)
I understand the very last broadcast of "Sorry, Wrong Number" on
Suspense (the 8th?) was done with the recording of the previous
broadcast; [removed], Agnes did not return to the studio for it. But I'll
bet the commercials were new. (Actually it was probably sustained---I
don't have Martin Gram's Suspense book in front of me now--but whatever
announcements were done were probably new.)
2. A repeat of the original transcription disk with new commercials
added. Could this have been done?
Certainly. In addition to the examples described above, check out the
First Generation Archives release of newly-discovered Let George Do It
shows. These were transcribed for syndication, with new introductions,
and segues to commercials, added by a new party, an un-named (and in my
opinion pretty awful) host. The commercials themselves were presumably
done live, by whoever was paying for the show locally. This was common
for syndicated shows. What's slightly different about the LGDI programs
is that these were network shows, re-released for a syndicated market.
(Most of the syndicated shows that First Generation releasedd are "new"
to us, though there are a few that were already in circulation from the
network run.)
Kermyt
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 18:58:44 -0500
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: West, Alexander, Godfrey,Wwells, 1937
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One of the perks about doing OTR-related research is the wonderful
side-benefit of serendipity--finding cool things you weren't looking for. I
always advise researchers to stay focused on the project at-hand, but
sometimes the serendipitous stuff cannot be resisted. Recently at "Billy Rose"
while I was trying to chase down something that required me to spool through
microfilmed issues of VARIETY from 1937, I came across some gems.
Folks here on the Digest recently discussed the infamous Mae West/Don Ameche
"Adam and "Eve" sketch from the "Bergen-McCarthy" show. Well, apparently
VARIETY was underwhelmed, not for the moral objections one would ordinarily
expect. It seems the V. reviewer, who used the abbreviated moniker "Land.,"
thought the sketch was poorly executed, as one can see from the "Radio
Reviews,", page 32, column 1, from the issue dated Wednesday, December 15,
1937:
MAE WEST
With Don Ameche, Edgar Bergen
CHASE & SANBORN
Sunday, 8 [removed]
WEAF-NBC, New York
(J. Walter Thompson)
Mae West and Charlie McCarthy!
Bigger news than the war in China; funny just to think about; a major
event of inspired booking: crazy and clever -- the mistress of fire and the
wooden lover. America started laughing before they sat down at the ringside of
the NBC red circuit.
Perhaps inevitably such high expectations were doomed to disappointment.
Certainly the task of making good was a tough one. Cheers could easily turn
into jeers. Reaction around New York Monday morning summed up the
disappointment: they say it was an inferior imitation of Mae West by the
original.
Reaction from the church element about a Sunday night lampoon on the Adam
and Eve story and the boudoir stuff is unreported but not unexpected. Having
sampled the forbidden fruit, Adam (Don Ameche) started admiring Eve's eyes and
lips and then tapered off into meaningful silence followed by La west's
love-groan: 'oh, so that's what you want!'
The radio profession must have been near swooning, too. Program was
hip-deep in dangerous marshlands by the time the Arch Oboler skit was socked
off with that pointed innuendo. Along the way, it was made abundantly clear
that Eve-Mae was hot-bothered and cuddle-curious. Oboler re-phrased scripture
to have the first woman anxious to 'break the lease' on the Garden of Eden.
Along the way she gave out in typical Westisms a running commentary of Adam
(long, lean and lukewarm) culminating with the tempting of the snake to
trespass in the apple orchard.
Mae West versus Charlie McCarthy was what people looked forward to. But
it got mostly Mae West versus Don Ameche (and with both prone to giggle and
the whole thing, apart from anything else, not seeming too well rehearsed).
That falling noise was the let-down. Later there was some chit-chat with the
dummy, but the big opportunity for a touchdown was lost by the fumbles on the
field.
Sex queen and lumber king failed to saw wood as anticipated. Land.
And for all you "Dragnet" fans (you know who you are), alongside the above
review in column 2 from the same 12/15/1937 ish, "Land." also reviewed:
BEN ALEXANDER
Film Talks
15 mins.
Sustaining
Wednesday, 5 [removed]
WEAF-NBC, New York
'Talks' rather than gossip is the correct label for Alexander, former
silent screen juve, who feels this weekly quarter hour of sustainer from
Hollywood. Possessing both a nice delivery and a vocabulary that permits
change of pace and avoidance of frayed expression, Alexander has more appeal
and more salability than the obscurity of sustaining Wednesday at 5 [removed]
suggests.
His method is to talk about people rather than attempt to keep the
scandal-avid supplied with chewing morsels. He rambles on about film people
--- some stars, others not, many of them personal friends. He knows their
children's first names and the cute eccentricities of their pet pooches.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands of glamorous human beings, familiarly known
to millions of others, makes Hollywood an ever-attractive source of human
small talk. Alexander makes it easy to take. And being free of taint or
dubious intent the industry along with the listeners can say, nice going,
toots. Land.
There's "That Godfrey Guy" in Virginia who'll really dig the following from
the VARIETY of a week earlier, Wed. 12/08/1937. Reviewer "Bert." hated
everything about a Barbasol-sponsored show except Arthur Godfrey and the
unnamed organist.
ARTHUR GODFREY
Songs, Patter
15 mins.
BARBASOL
Friday, 8 [removed]
WOR-Mutual, New York
(Erwin-Wasey)
Barbasol, after a month on Mutual, has altered its program entirely.
First thought was to appeal to the heavy-bearded boys with great globules of
sex appeal---as much, virtually, as could be squeezed out over the ozone. That
show, with Mary Jane Walsh as warbler against Nat Brusilofi's orch. has been
replaced by this new one which rather adheres to the old formula of the
erstwhile 'Barbasol Man.'
Arthur Godfrey is the lone limb of talent with the exception of a Hammond
organ. Program is designed to induce the same intimate atmosphere the old
Barbasol shows evoked. It rather does just that.
It looks to have good chance to come off successfully. Godfrey's
effortless southern-Maryland drawl benefits from the crisp copy he uses, and
makes the program a restful, easy one to recline and listen to. He sings, too,
and though he has, technically, no voice, his informal and ingratiating manner
makes it pleasant. Godfrey's forte has always been graceful blurbing. He can
run 'em right in and get across his message painlessly. sales spiels are brief
and brisk.
Unbilled organist swells in and out with his music for a nice effect that
enhances the program. Bert.
Finally, a short review from page 30 of the Wed. 12/29/1937 issue of VARIETY:
[removed] WELLS
Transatlantic Talk
15 Mins.
Sustaining
WJZ-NBC, New York
[removed] Wells, shortwaved by RCA for afternoon listening on NBC blue web,
gave engrossing 15-minute talk on the heritage of the English language and the
paramount necesiity for the wider reading of books.
On the air, '[removed]' is unmistakably British. He speaks in the tenor tone
so many Englishmen display (to the slight annoyance of some [removed] dialers) and
with a marked British accent. A stimulating and understandable speaker,
howwever. Jaco.
Needless to say, it's quite remarkable that [removed] Wells was on [removed] network
radio a full ten months prior to "The War of the Worlds." For the benefit of
all the other WOTW fans and officianadoes, does anybody out there in the ether
have any info about this or any other radio speeches given by [removed] Wells from
this pre-WOTW era?
I hope you've all enjoyed this jaunt back to 1937.
"That's about the size of it."
Derek Tague
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
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End of [removed] Digest V2006 Issue #27
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