Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #280
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 8/26/2004 12:37 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2004 : Issue 280
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Davis, Leonard, Raby                  [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
  This Is My Best                       [ otrdig2@[removed] ]
  Doohan                                [ <nemesis@[removed]; ]
  ARE YOU A BOBBY DARIN FAN?            [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
  ITTA3                                 [ benohmart@[removed] ]
  Eddie Green                           [ "jazmaan@[removed]" <dmf273@ya ]
  Mickey Rooney                         [ Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed] ]
  Sam McGee and Jean Shepherd           [ KENPILETIC@[removed] ]
  Mickey Rooney                         [ Udmacon@[removed] ]
  Re: James Doohan                      [ "J. Alec West" <OTR@[removed]; ]
  a nice, refreshing beverage           [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]
  Andy Hardly [sic]                     [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  Getting the picture                   [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  Oops                                  [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  going to war                          [ Michael Berger <intercom1@attglobal ]
  Kathryn Grayson                       [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
  Mickey Roonney and other notes        [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
  Phyl Coe                              [ Jandpgardner@[removed] ]
  In Search of "Dracula" broadcast      [ "GARY SMULLEN" <tsegs@[removed]; ]
  Mickey Rooney and fleeting fame       [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
  re: pregnancy on radio and TV         [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
  Georgia Ellis                         [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:32:08 -0400
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Davis, Leonard, Raby

If you'd be able to assist in some pretty heavy research, I'd be grateful.
I'm searching for the birth and death dates and/or places for musician
Stanley Davis and director Richard Leonard and to confirm whether John Raby
died in 1957 (as some list it) or 1975 (as listed by others).

If it's possible for anyone on this list to shed any light into any of these
dark corners, please contact me directly and soon.  Many thanks.

Jim Cox
otrbuff@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:32:36 -0400
From: otrdig2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  This Is My Best
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There is an episode of This Is My Best titled "Babes in the Woods" (starring
Jack Benny) with a given date of 45-5-29 available. It is a re-broadcast to
troops overseas. Logs indicates that the This Is My Best episode of 45-5-29
was called "Please,Charlie". Does anyone know if this is the same show (I
don't think so), or if the date is wrong?

Andrew

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Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:32:52 -0400
From: <nemesis@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Doohan

Thanks to Mr. West who kindly responded to my James Doohan question with
great information and an actual radio show.
Linda T.

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

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:33:13 -0400
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  ARE YOU A BOBBY DARIN FAN?

Then come to [removed]
and join me in my tribute to the only threat Sinatra ever [removed] have
some unreleased tracks Bobby did with Billy May, when he signed with
[removed] does his Mr. Happy thing on Alabamy Bound--all kinds of
train [removed] [removed]

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

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:33:44 -0400
From: benohmart@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  ITTA3

Hi all. Just wanted to mention for Jim Harmon that he'll be editing It's That Time Again 
3, which is a 'meets' book this time around. You know - The Whistler Meets Amos n 
Andy, that kinda thing. Though I tend to think dramas will meet dramas and comedies 
will meet comedies. But it's completely in Jim's charge - so don't even ask me about 
doing stories! It's his baby. If you've contributed to past books or want to try your hand 
this time around, email him at jimharmonotr@[removed] and he'll tell you about what's 
taken already, the lavish money you'll make, and other details. 

Ben Ohmart

Old radio. Old movies. New books.
[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:34:01 -0400
From: "jazmaan@[removed]" <dmf273@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Eddie Green

Anybody got any biographical information on Eddie Green?   I've recently become an Eddie Green fan
thanks to his several appearances on "Jubilee."   What really sold me was his comedy duet with
Jubilee host, Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman on "One Meatball".   And on the same show he does a
hilarious monologue about his mother-in-law moving in.  An ancient subject to be sure, but Eddie
manages to bring some spark to it!

Anyway, I've scoured the internet and learned that he was a regular on Duffy's Tavern as "Eddie
the waiter" and on "Amos n Andy" as "Stonewall".   Internet Movie Database says he appeared in the
film version of "Duffy's Tavern" and in a few other films.  But they don't have a photo of him.  

Does anyone have any other biographical info about this black radio comic?

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

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:34:33 -0400
From: Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Mickey Rooney

I used to work for the public relations firm that represented Father
Flanagan's Boy's Town.  Mickey Rooney starred in the movie based on the
orphanage/foster care program based in Omaha, Nebraska.

Word around the office was that he demanded a hefty sum to participate in
publicity for the 50th anniversary of the movie and was "difficult" to work
with to boot.

He also plays the old folks home circuit down south.  This is a deal where
old time actors get paid to entertain at retirement communities.  In a
profile of the circuit in The Wall Street Journal a few years back, it was
specifically noted about Rooney that he had showed up at one community
without an act and just kind of rambled on stage for a while and then left
and was subsequently banned from that facility for insulting his audience.

He's one guy from the golden age of radio I have never, ever heard anything
good said about that didn't filter through a studio publicist.

Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:34:45 -0400
From: KENPILETIC@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Sam McGee and Jean Shepherd
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Hi Gang -

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the fact that Jean Shepherd
read "The Cremation of Sam McGee" several times on his WOR radio
program.
It was in listening to Jean that I first heard of Robert Service, although
I had heard of "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" someplace in the distant
past.
Anyhow, Shepherd recorded many of the Robert Service poems on an LP.
I have a copy of this disc somewhere in my dusty archives.  It was Jean
Shepherd's readings of the Service Poems that first got me interested in
Alaska.
You might check out this record, and also Shepherd's radio programs, which
are widely circulated in the OTR community.  By the way, I drove to Alaska
last year, partly because of Shepherd's many programs about it -- but I never
got to Nome (maybe next time).  I want to see that lone parking meter that
Shepherd talked about.

Happy Taping --  Ken Piletic - Streamwood, Illinois

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Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:35:44 -0400
From: Udmacon@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Mickey Rooney

When Mickey Rooney came here to Syracuse to star in a week-long run of "Sugar
Babies," one of his requirements was to get ESPN on a TV set in his dressing
room. At that time, the only place that had cable TV in downtown Syracuse was
an apartment building two blocks away.

So-o-o-o, the producers had to arrange for a cable to be run from that
building all the way down the street and into his dressing room window.

That cable remained in place, crossing over a busy downtown street, for
several years!

And seeing it all that time made me think of Mickey Rooney's appearance in
Syracuse and the "star" that he still was.

OTR content: Mickey appeared in our 1928 Loew's State Theatre (now the
"Landmark"). And at one time there was a Syracuse radio station in the
adjacent office building (help me out somebody; was it WSYR? or WFBL??)

BILL KNOWLTON: "Bluegrass Ramble," WCNY-FM ([removed]) Syracuse, WUNY ([removed])
Utica; WJNY ([removed]) Watertown NY. On the web: [removed]. Sundays: 9 pm to
midnight EST (since 1973)

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

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:36:28 -0400
From: "J. Alec West" <OTR@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: James Doohan

Linda wrote:

According to his bio, James Doohan appeared in a lot of radio before
he became Scotty on Star Trek.  Do any of the list members know of
any shows he might have appeared in?

I replied to Linda privately ... but since no one else replied to the
list on this topic, I thought I'd fill in the blanks.

James Doohan (and William Shatner, for that matter) both got their start
in radio on the CBC's flagship program, "Stage Series."  Doohan was in
at least two of the radio-plays ... one titled "You Never Had It So
Good" with Howard Milson, Toby Robbins, Lloyd Bochner, and Alan King ...
and one titled "The Investigator" (aired 5/30/54) with John Drainie and
Barry Morse.  However, I'm uncertain as to whether Doohan made any
appearance on [removed] radio programs.  At the time those CBC radio-plays
were done (1954), he'd already played in two television series ... first
in episode 130 of the [removed] series "Tales of Tomorrow" (1951) and later
in the Canadian series, "Space Command" (1953) where he was a regular in
33 episodes, playing character Paul Mitchell.  And, a year after his CBC
radio-plays aired, he starred in his first short film titled "Strike In
Town."

But back to radio ... specifically, "The Investigator."  As I understand
it, this was one of the most controversial radio-plays ever aired on
radio ... in either Canada _or_ the [removed]  It was written by Reuben Ship,
a Canadian-born writer who was writing for radio in California ... until
Joseph McCarthy found out he once belonged to the Communist Party.  He
was summoned before the Un-American Activities Committee and deported
back to Canada.  "The Investigator" was Ship's way of "getting even."

While no name is mentioned anywhere in the radio-play to identify who
"the investigator" is, the actor who plays him sounds a lot like
McCarthy.  The play is a fantasy of sorts.  The investigator dies in a
plane crash and is transported to an area just outside of Heaven.
There, he finds out that to get in, he himself must undergo an
"investigation" ... and be judged by certain historical figures.  It's a
lot of fun, has an unexpected twist of fate in the middle, and a
humorous ending to boot.

I heard that when it aired, it became so popular they made it into an LP
record.  McCarthy was reportedly furious over it.  But Dwight Eisenhower
called his entire cabinet into a meeting where he _played_ it for them
... and chuckled through the entire presentation.

Anyhoo, I have the show in 64k-mono MP3 format.  If anyone wants it,
contact me off list.

[removed]  If anyone knows what "roles" Doohan played in either of those CBC
radio plays, please drop me a line.  While Doohan's name is mentioned as
an actor at the end of "The Investigator," they did not identify his
role in it.

Regards,
J. Alec West

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

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:51:13 -0400
From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  a nice, refreshing beverage
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In a message dated 8/25/04 6:15:33 PM Central Daylight Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:

Well, I'll admit that some Petri and Holmes does sound good, but I think I
would prefer Halls of Ivy and a couple of cans of Schlitz beer.

Shucks, I'd be happy just to have a Coke and listen to "The Spike Jones
Show."  Or a cup of Maxwell House and listen to Burns and Allen.

Dixon

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Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 23:58:04 -0400
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Andy Hardly [sic]

George Aust writes:

Rooney hardly looking up said "yeah, yeah yeah", in a very  disgusted tone
and
went on walking.

I had the opportunity to interview Mickey Rooney backstage at a performance
of "Sugar Babies".  I use the term interview very loosely.  I was  ushered
into his dressing room, I shook his hand, he started talking, I turned  on my
tape recorder and set it down near him, he kept talking, and when he was  done
talking, I was ushered out of the dressing room.  I barely said  anything,
except an occasional "right" or "uh huh".  I wanted to ask him  about working
with
Jack Benny (big surprise).  But he wanted to talk about  how bad it is that
there aren't fan clubs for people that he thought were huge,  like Wallace
Beery.  So that's what he did.

--Laura  Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 23:58:29 -0400
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Getting the picture

Also on the topic of getting into pictures where  you don't really belong, I
may have told this story here previously.  Some  years ago, I was snapping
pictures in front of Jack's Beverly Hills home, 1002  North Roxbury.  I then
turned to go back to my car, and up drove the  celebrity home tour bus.  As I
came
walking down the bricks to the front  door, I saw almost every head in the
tour bus whip out a camera and snap photos  of me.  They must have thought I
was
the owner (I wouldn't mind being  that, of course) or SOMEBODY.  But
somewhere in the world are about 20  people with photos of me in front of
Jack's home.

--Laura  Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 23:58:40 -0400
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Oops

Thanks for the correction on the Maxwell vs.  Pontiac genealogy.  I had been
misinformed, but you've put me straight as a  Pierce-Arrow.

--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]

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

Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 01:44:47 -0400
From: Michael Berger <intercom1@[removed];
To: otr <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  going to war

Re Chris Chandler's query about going to war moments
among radio personalities, didn't Red Skelton announce
he was going into the service on the evening of D-Day?
Within the context of that emotional day, it had its
own impact.

Michael Berger

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

Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 01:45:06 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Kathryn Grayson

Hi Everybody,

I had the opportunity today to help co-host an interview with Kathryn
Grayson today at Frank Bresee studio.  I gave her copies of all her Lux
Radio show today.  I know she would like to find more of her radio
appearances.  Does any one have any leads?  Take care,

Walden Hughes

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

Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 01:45:47 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Mickey Roonney and other notes

Hi Everybody,

I thought I could bring a little more background on Mickey Rooney and Pat
boone meeting that George Aust saw.  Pat Boone own a record company and
Mickey sell his cd with an autograph for $25 after his show.  He been
married for over 30 years to Jane and her son run appearances.  I been
trying to find the complete copy of MGM Musical Comedy There starring Mickey
Rooney and Kitty Kallen Babes on Broadway on 3-12-52.  All I have is just 33
minutes of this broadcast.  Mickey told me he had no transcription of any
his radio shows, and Jane I notice was very interest in finding copies of
Mickey stuff.  I also notice that on Ron Sale post that 8-26-68 is the death
date of Kay Francis.  I understand she left a large amount of money to help
out the Braille Institute to help out the blind.  Take care,

Walden Hughes

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

Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 07:02:20 -0400
From: Jandpgardner@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Phyl Coe
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I have been listening online to a female detective who was, I understand,
the very first female detective on radio. The show dates from 1936 and is
entitled 'Phyl Coe Mysteries' with the lady's name being Phyllis  Coe; "her
friends
call her Phyl Coe". There are no prizes for guessing  the name of the sponsor!
12 episodes of the series can be heard online and I believe that may be all
that were produced with the female lead. I believe that her gender may  have
changed for the next series and she became a man called Phil Coe, although  I
have not heard any of that series.
Each episode of the series with the lady detective lasts 15 minutes and in
that time she solves that week's mystery but does not give the solution, just
'whodunit'. Listeners are asked to send in their answer to the mystery to
have a chance at winning a (for that time) large cash prize. The solution is
not
given the following week in any of the 12 shows I have heard. Does anyone
know  where the solutions can be found well over 50 years after the series
was
broadcast?
No cast or other credits are given and, in particular, the name of the
actress playing the title character is not stated. According to the most
interesting article on 'Lady Crimefighters' by Jack French that can be found
at  Jerry
Haendiges' [removed] (and which presumably formed the basis for  Jack's
recent book on 'Private Eyelashes'), even he does not know who  played her.
Does
no-one know who played Phyl Coe?
Any information regarding this series or that with her male counterpart  will
be much appreciated.
Regards from England
John.

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Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 11:45:33 -0400
From: "GARY SMULLEN" <tsegs@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  In Search of "Dracula" broadcast

One of my favorite novels has always been Bram Stoker's "Dracula", and I
have collected as many OTR and audio adaptations as I could find over the
years. There was a great version performed by the Radio Theater of Chicago
in 1980 and broadcast over NPR on Halloween. I was only able to record part
of the broadcast and I hope someone can help me find a complete copy.
Thanks.

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

Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 11:46:04 -0400
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Mickey Rooney and fleeting fame

Hal Stone writes,

George. I never met Mickey. But I certainly know his type. I've worked with
many of them and I know the "breed". I think it's important to understand
what makes former "Big Stars" tick. They really can't help but be so self
absorbed. (At least most of them). It stems from years of adulation and
special treatment when they were big names in the business, and commanded
big money and perks. And many insulate themselves themselves from "Fans"
(who can be pesty) by remaining distant and aloof.

One of the many reasons I enjoy reading posts from Mr Stone and the other
show-business veterans in this group is the skill with which they are able
to interpret the world of celebrity to those of us down in the mailroom.

What do famous people think about?  How do they live their daily lives?  And
what (horrible to contemplate) do they think and do once they aren't famous
anymore?

These questions have motivated the entire field of celebrity reporting, the
talk shows, and the plots of shows like Burns and Allen and Jack Benny.

I don't believe they will ever be answered adequately due to the
impossibility of occupying another's mind, but it is always interesting to
learn as much as we can.

M Kinsler

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

Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 11:46:58 -0400
From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  re: pregnancy on radio and TV

Dixonhayes@[removed] wondered:

I am curious as to whether any old time radio character
was ever said to be"pregnant" as opposed to just "expecting."

The 02/28/54 episode of "The Marriage", starring
Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, is titled "Is Liz
Pregnant?" in my collection. (I have no idea if this
is the actual script title, or just a descriptive
title.) I listened to this a while ago, and I'm about
90% sure they do indeed describe her condition as
"pregnant." What really sticks in my mind, however, is
that after she tells her husband the news, she sits
down and asks him for a cigarette! (My wife and I are
expecting our first baby in about four weeks, and we
were both amused by that scene. How times have
changed!)

Kermyt

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

Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 15:31:28 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Georgia Ellis

Matthew Bullis asks the question:

Is Georgia Ellis still around?

According the SuzAnne and Gabor Barabas in their fine book" Gunsmoke, A
Complete History," Georgia Ellis died in March of 1988.

Ron Sayles

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #280
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