------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 348
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re: Crosby/Hope Fued [ Michael Edwards <medwards_47@yahoo. ]
LAB Re-Opens in New Facility [ Michael Henry <mlhenry@[removed]; ]
Re: "Unscrupulous??" [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
Racial References [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
Re: ONe Man's Family [ HRRMIKES@[removed] ]
Mr Bartell "Struts and Frets" [ John Henley <jhenley@[removed] ]
Re: "Archie" questions [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
Re: William Benton and A&A [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
HARD TIMES [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
Re: Hard Times, by J Breslin [ "John Davis" <wolfpackfan@[removed] ]
Martin and Lewis [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
KRNT Des Moines iowa [ Katherine Baer <KBaer@[removed]; ]
Harry Bartell column [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
Jim Harmon & Alan Buntz [ "jay ranellucci" <jayran33@hotmail. ]
Maxwell House Coffee Time Sheet Musi [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
Re: Shafter Parker and his Circus [ Gerry Wright <gdwright@[removed]; ]
Computer is [removed] [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
Re: "Who's On First" [ kenwyn@[removed] ]
Mark K. and 'Hard Times' [ "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed] ]
LET 'Jimmy Breslin'='Studs Terkel' [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 11:36:40 -0400
From: Michael Edwards <medwards_47@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Crosby/Hope Fued
Sayeth Ron Sayles:
I admit that feud in the case of Crosby and Hope was
a poor choice of words. I meant feud in the
friendliest of terms, much like the Benny/Allen feud.
Even with that, thanks for all the input.
Don't feel bad, Ron. It was pretty clear that you
were asking (to me, anyway) how the on-screen rivalry
between Hope and Crosby developed, something I had
been curious about myself. Not sure why so many chose
to take you literally.
Michael Edwards
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:10:54 -0400
From: Michael Henry <mlhenry@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: LAB Re-Opens in New Facility
After years of planning and months of moving, the Library of American
Broadcasting is finally in its new home. The LAB, formerly known as the
Broadcast Pioneers Library, was brought to the University of Maryland in
1994 and for eight years was located in a 10,000 square foot faciliity
on the Ground floor of the Hornbake Library. We are now on the 3rd
floor in a 25,000 square foot facility. This additional space and
larger reading room will allow us to catalog our material and provide
research access to it like never before. We will also have space for
exhibits and other public programs.
For those of you who may not be familiar with the LAB, we are a research
library at the University of Maryland dedicated to the history of radio
and television broadcasting. For over thirty years, we have collected
material covering the entire history of broadcasting, including books,
periodicals, photographs, scripts, personal collections, audio
recordings, film/video recordings, anything and everything relating to
radio and television history. We serve a wide variety of researchers:
high school and college students, professional and amateur historians,
documentary film makers, and the broadcast industry. We are open for
research Monday thru Friday, 10am-5pm. For more information about our
resources, please visit our website: [removed]
Thanks
-Michael Henry
Library of American Broadcasting
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:11:49 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: "Unscrupulous??"
George M. Kelly quotes --
"I am reminded of Amos and Andy, two unscrupulous characters of the
1930s radio days with a totally dishonest lawyer friend by the name of
Algonquin J. [removed]
Well, for starters, Algonquin J. Calhoun didn't appear in the radio
series until 1949 -- he had nothing to do with the A&A of the 1930s.
By no stretch of anyone's imagination could Amos have been considered
"unscrupulous." He was arguably the most upstanding and idealized "Solid
Citizen" character ever to emerge from the radio era.
Andy was never really "unscrupulous" either -- his greatest weakness was
the desperate sense of insecurity which led to his need to be seen as
"Andrew H. Brown, President," and this sometimes led him into ill-advised
ventures. But he was never without scruples.
The Kingfish -- maybe. He was, after all, a sort of ambiguous
villian-figure in the original 1930s series. But he also had a decent
side, which often came out when least expected.
There are only two long-term 1930s A&A characters who I'd define as
genuinely unscrupulous: Pat Pending -- a fast-talking shady
inventor/stock promoter, and Prince Ali Bendo -- a phony crystal-gazer
who used his activities as a front for a blackmail racket. Both Pending
and the Prince eventually went to prison for their crimes -- and both
emerged from incarceration as reformed men. (After Pat Pending got out of
jail, he became a publicity agent -- which is as wry a bit of satire as
Correll and Gosden ever pulled [removed])
There were other characters who were even more unscrupulous, but these
were hard-core criminals/villian figures like Earl Dixon, Spud Cook, or
Jack Dixon -- who were only around for one storyline, and ended up either
in prison or "run out of town."
Let's say Calhoun, as his friends call him, is a city attorney.
Calhoun knows the more cases he has, the more money he will make and is
not beyond 'kicking back' a percentage to get more cases.
The Kingfish did occasionally have kickback deals with various shady
types -- at various times, he was in league with both Pat Pending and
Prince Ali Bendo, but he later came to regret his involvement with both
of these operators. In the case of the Prince, the Kingfish actually took
direct action to help a teenage boy who faced a jail term after being
used as a pawn in one of the Prince's schemes, at least partially
redeeming himself for his prior involvement with the Prince.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:13:49 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Racial References
Ron Sayles notes, speaking of the times,
The racial and ethnic slurs were staggering. When listening, I cringe.
Especially the prolific use of the "Jap." I do not blame radio, I blame
the times. Yes, the Japanese were our enemies, but what about the
thousands of upright citizens on the west coast who were placed in
concentration [removed];<
Before I comment on the slurishness of the term, I want to point out that
despite that I was living at Fort Kamehameha on 7 December 1941 at the
tender age of four and a half, and thus was involved in and survived the
attack, what follows is not in reaction to that experience.
In the 1940s, a lot of terms that are now considered slurs weren't then.
Those who were inhabitants of the island of Honshu and environs were
routinely called "Japs" and "Nips" as well as "Japanese." Not to
derogate them, but because those terms were quick references to the
people, just as "Brit" is a short way to say "citizen of the United
Kingdom," "Aussie" is short for "Australian," and "Yank" is short for
"citizen of the United States."
However, times can change the meaning of a word: perhaps the best example
is the word "gay," which used to mean carefree and happy rather than a
sexual orientation. The recorded word, of course, cannot alter itself,
so later generations may find a word objectionable now when it wasn't
then.
Now the internment of U. S. citizens of Japanese descent was wrong and,
with 60 years' hindsight, was far from the United States' finest hour.
But that is different from what term you call a country's inhabitants.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:36:47 -0400
From: HRRMIKES@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: ONe Man's Family
Matt asked where he could find more One Man's Family and we would immodestly
suggest The One Man's Family Family, the club devoted to keeping this great
show visible and appreciated. There is a large cassette lending library, a
quarterly newsletter (Family Ties), several OMF related videos and more. We
have also had 4 reunions of former cast members in conjuction with the OTR
conventions in Newark, Los Angeles and Seattle.
Membership info can be found at [removed]
Mike Sprague
The One Man's Family Family
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:37:27 -0400
From: John Henley <jhenley@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Mr Bartell "Struts and Frets"
I expected to see us fall all over ourselves with delight
over Charlie's describing the upcoming treat in store for
us from Harry Bartell.
Well, I didn't see such this morning, so let me fall all
over _myself_ : This is the best news to come out of the
OTR Digest and its immediate ancestor that I've heard
since Elizabeth first talked about the unearthing of
"Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel" episodes. I can hardly
wait.
Harry Bartell is the first OTR personality, NOT also a
motion picture star, that I became thoroughly familiar
with; nowadays my wife and I can often be heard to exclaim
"Say, there's Harry!" when listening to various programs
both new and old (new/old to me and her, I mean).
So, Harry, a giant THANK YOU! in advance.
BTW, as a guitar player by avocation, I really like the
title you've chosen for the series. ;-)
John Henley
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:39:09 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: "Archie" questions
Rodney w bowcock jr. just posted
I have a couple of questions for our friend Hal Stone.
a) I've been listening to Archie Andrews quite a bit lately (and *no*,
I'm not a glutton for punishment. I think it's a really good show!) and
I've heard at least one episode where Mr Andrews was played by Arthur Q
Bryan. Do you have any remembrances of working with him?
You betcha, Rodney. Actually, Arthur Q. played Mr. Andrews for the 13 week
period when the program moved to primetime as the summer replacement of "the
Great Gildersleeve". And yes, I do have remembrances of working with him.
(Some printable, others not). I cover that in my soon to be released book.
b) The audience is *really* loud and rowdy sounding. Were there any
special microphone tricks done to achieve that sound, or were all of the
kids fed sugar pills and espresso before they entered the studio?
Funny line! No, Rodney, no gimmicks used, other than a few microphones hung
high over the audience area. And I don't think the sound engineer "juiced"
the audience reactions. I think the "rowdiness" might be attributed to Bob
Hastings and I making faces, using exaggerated body language, and all sorts
of devices to make sure the kids would have a good time during the
broadcast. I guess you could say we encouraged them to let loose. Shameless
clowning around on our part. But it worked. The show was very popular among
the young set, and had the highest Saturday daytime rating for years. (At
least that was the propaganda that NBC put forth. :)
Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 12:40:50 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: William Benton and A&A
On 9/6/02 10:49 AM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:
There's also a story by and about William Benton, of the Benton and Bowles
ad agency. In it, he claims to have had great influence on the development
of network radio and regrets how it all turned out. His was the Pepsodent
account that sponsored Amos 'n' Andy.
Benton was the Lord and Thomas executive who noticed the popularity of
A&A in Chicago in late 1928 or early 1929 -- it was he who first used the
illustration of "walking down the street and hearing the program coming
from every open window" which has since become one of the standard images
associated with A&A. As his story goes, he discussed his experience with
Lord and Thomas president Albert Lasker -- and they agreed that A&A might
be just the program for the Pepsodent Company. Benton and Lasker then
took the idea to Pepsodent advertising manager Harlow Roberts, and from
there to NBC.
Benton claims all this happened in May 1929. However, there are some
aspects of his story that don't totally check out.
In 1932, Harlow Roberts wrote a detailed piece for Broadcasting magazine
discussing Pepsodent's experiences in radio as sponsors of A&A and "The
Goldbergs." According to Roberts, when he and the Lord and Thomas people
approached NBC about placing A&A on the network, they were strongly
discouraged -- NBC sold time in half-hour and hour units only, and did
not accept fifteen-minute programs. They also didn't accept "strip"
programming -- that is, programs heard across the board at the same time
each weeknight. Both of these issues had to be overcome by energetic
argument on the part of Roberts and the agency -- and Roberts claims in
his article that it took a full eight months to convince NBC to sell them
the time.
Since A&A premiered on NBC in August 1929, if Roberts' account is
correct, this would indicate that the proposal was first taken to NBC not
in May 1929 -- but in December 1928! And, one might suggest that, given
that A&A was aired in Chicago at 10 pm, and Chicago winter nights are not
known for balmy temperatures, it would have been highly unlikely for
Benton to hear A&A coming out of a succession of open windows while out
for a stroll in December.
Years later, Charles Correll recalled that he and Gosden became aware
that NBC was making discreet inquiries about them months before they were
ever officially approached by the network -- NBC's sales department was
keeping a close eye on "Amos 'n' Andy" as early as 1928 because the
network was finding it difficult to clear the 10 pm time slot on many of
its affiliates -- because those stations had contracted to carry the
syndicated A&A recordings at 10 pm. So it may be that their hard line
with Roberts may have been a stalling tactic -- hoping that the A&A
threat would die out before they had to take steps to counteract it.
After all, NBC was working for a "prestigious" image in the late 1920s,
and a low-key dialect serial about two working-class black men sandwiched
between direct commercials for toothpaste was hardly in keeping with that
image.
In any event, while William Benton was certainly involved in the early
discussions between Pepsodent and Lord and Thomas, he was far from being
a major figure in the A&A story -- Harlow Roberts, Albert Lasker, and
Niles Trammell of NBC all had more prominent roles in bringing the
program to the network.
Elizabeth
(All that said, I strongly second the recommendation for "Hard Times" --
one of the best books on the Depression ever written.)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 13:41:22 -0400
From: PURKASZ@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: HARD TIMES
Mark:
I read your account of Jimmy Breslin's book with great interest. I have
always liked Jimmy's writing and look forward to reading that one.
As to Yip Harburg's story about the networks trying to dissuade anyone
from playing that great Depression son, "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" I
would like to hear the whole story, would you please tell more?
Gwynne
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 14:00:37 -0400
From: "John Davis" <wolfpackfan@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Hard Times, by J Breslin
"Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed]; wrote -
I'm currently reading "Hard Times," by Jimmy Breslin. It's a compendium
of
I was thinking "Hard Times" was written by Studs Terkel. The full title of
the Turkel book is "Hard Times - An Oral History of the Great Depression".
Is this the book you're talking about or a different one?
=====
John Davis wolfpackfan@[removed]
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 15:11:46 -0400
From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Martin and Lewis
I've been hearing a lot about various 'feuds' between
some radio performers. The one between Jack Benny and
Fred Allen is well known. I've also heard recently about one
which may, or may not, have existed between Bob Hope and
Bing Crosby. I've also heard about a feud between Dean Martin
and Jerry Lewis. Is it true? Does anyone have any details?
Did it exist during their time on radio or later?
Were there ever any feuds between female performers? If so,
who were they? My neighbor mentioned one which existed
between Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons. Is this true or was it
just a publicity stunt?
Kenneth Clarke
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 15:12:07 -0400
From: Katherine Baer <KBaer@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: KRNT Des Moines iowa
Desperate cry for help!!!
A producer at NPR is looking for archival tape from KRNT that aired in 1945.
Two reporters from KRNT went to the Trinity Nuclear test site for the first
atomic detonation and then aired several stories about it. Does anyone have
access to these reports or have any leads in tracking them down? Any help
would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Katherine Baer
Broadcast Librarian
National Public Radio
(202)513-2064
kbaer@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 15:36:43 -0400
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Harry Bartell column
What great news that Harry Bartell will be sharing his valuable memories
with all of us. Thanks for arranging that, Charlie.
Now, if we could get Bob Edwards to have a weekly chat with him on NPR's
'Morning Edition' as he did with Red Barber then Harry's recollections would
reach an even greater audience.
~Irene
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 18:07:53 -0400
From: "jay ranellucci" <jayran33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jim Harmon & Alan Buntz
Hi Everyone,
Just listened to "How To" on X-1 from 4-3-56. Mention is made at end of
show that in this month's issue of Galaxy Magazine, is a story "Name Your
Symptom" by Jim Harmon. The [removed] Is this the same Jim Harmon who
wrote "The Great Radio Heroes"?
Also I was struck by the similar vocal sounds of Alan Buntz, who was the
star of this episode, to Karl Swenson. Has anyone else noticed this?
Thanks Jay
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 19:16:17 -0400
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Maxwell House Coffee Time Sheet Music
If there's anyone on this list who collects radio sheet music I have one to
offer free to the first person who contacts me.
The music is the "Theme Song of Maxwell House Coffee Time" entitled "You
and I", "composed and featured by Meredith Willson" whose picture is on the
cover. Publication date is 1941.
~Irene
IreneTH@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 19:17:32 -0400
From: Gerry Wright <gdwright@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Shafter Parker and his Circus
Russ Butler forwarded a question from his friend Vic who remembered
hearing the radio show "Shafter Parker and His Circus" over the Don
Lee-Mutual network in San Luis [Obispo]
>From John Dunning's book "On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time
Radio": "Shafter Parker and his Circus," juvenile adventure serial.
Broadcast 1939-40, Don Lee Network, West Coast only. 1941, Mutual, brief
national hookup. Cast: Hal Berger as Gen. Shafter Parker, owner of a
circus who, with his sister Dolly (played by Dale Nash, aka Mrs. Berger)
braved the wilds of Africa to get animals for his show.
This show grew out of an earlier show, "The In-Laws." Hal Berger, a
baseball announcer in season ... created the title character in 1930.
... Though a thriller, violence was downplayed, and no character was
ever killed on the show. Berger wrote a balance between circus and
safari life and kept the comedy element high.
Gerry Wright
ZoneZebra Productions
San Francisco
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 19:17:44 -0400
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Computer is [removed]
Just got my computer (cpu) back from the shop. It had been waiting 3 weeks
for a new motherboard. That's the reason for my silence. Next silence will
be because I am taking my annual train trip to California. Back home near
the end of September.
Ted Kneebone/1528 S. Grant [removed], SD 57401/605-226-3344
OTR: [removed]
Kids radio: [removed]
Kids radio: [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 19:33:49 -0400
From: kenwyn@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: "Who's On First"
I remember a Lum & Abner routine that I believe pre-dated Abbott & Costello's
"Who's On First" that was the same type of routine. It dealt with Lum writing
a letter to a "Dear Abby" type lovesick advice columnist for Cedric. It had
all the elements of "Who's On First" and was a truly funny routine.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 19:33:58 -0400
From: "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Mark K. and 'Hard Times'
Mark K's posting in #347 was about the book titled 'Hard Times', an oral
history of the great depression. Three (hard) times Mark named the author
as Jimmy Breslin.
But the author of that book was Studs Terkel.
-- Phil C.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 23:56:43 -0400
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: LET 'Jimmy Breslin'='Studs Terkel'
I'm currently reading "Hard Times," by Jimmy Breslin. It's a compendium of
experiences of people who survived the Great Depression, and there's a good
deal about network radio in it.
Well, I shouldn't have posted while I was sleepy. Substitute "Studs Terkel"
for Mr Breslin. God forbid I should have walked twenty feet to actually
look at the book. It was published in 1970, I find. Well worth reading.
Mark Kinsler
well, they both have gravelly voices.
512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 740 687 6368
[removed]~kinsler
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #348
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