Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #284
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 10/5/2007 4:18 PM

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

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2007 : Issue 284
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Petri Wine                            [ "RadioAZ@[removed]" <radioAZ@bas ]
      Petri wines                           [ Ed Kindred <kindred@[removed]; ]
      Moire on "SITCOMS"                    [ Frank McGurn <[removed]@sbcglobal. ]
      Petri Wine                            [ James H Arva <wilditralian@[removed] ]
      10-5 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
      Re:Sherlock Holmes sponsor            [ Don Shenbarger <donslistmail@sbcglo ]
      Petri Wine                            [ Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed]; ]
      Situation Comedy                      [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
      Jack Benny Impersonator Reviewed in   [ seandd@[removed] ]
      Petri Wine                            [ Bob <hrkeller@[removed]; ]
      Captain Midnight                      [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 18:38:17 -0400
    From: "RadioAZ@[removed]" <radioAZ@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Petri Wine

    Matthew Cox wondered if Petri Wine is still available.  A brief internet
    search was inconclusive.  It appears that a consortium called Allied Grape
    Growers may own the label.  But I'm not sure they are marketing it.  But I
    have a good friend on the Napa Valley industry.  I will ask him and let you
    all know when I hear fom him.

    Matthew wondered if Petri had gone the way of Two Buck Chuck.  What way did
    that go?  We can still get Two Buck Chuck here in the Phoenix area.

    Ted

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    Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 19:50:46 -0400
    From: Ed Kindred <kindred@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Petri wines
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    I was a little young to consider drinking Petri but it was probably a jug
    wine like the checkered red labeled Vino da Tavola
    and that ilk.  Would not have put it in same category as Robert Mondavi
    but more like earlier Gallo before they got class.

    The following is an excerpt from:

    [removed]

    You then will have to scroll down to the history of Petri
    Under the Petri brand a full line of sound standard-quality table,
    sparkling, and aperitif and dessert wines is marketed:
    Table wines:
    RED: Burgundy, Zinfandel, Chianti, Claret, Barberone, and Sweet Burgundy;
    WHITE: Sauterne, Dry Sauterne, and Haut Sauterne, Chablis, Rhine Wine, and
    Muscat Wine;
    ROSE: Grenache Vin Rose;
    Sparkling wines (bulk process) : Champagne (medium sweet) and Sparkling
    Burgundy;
    Aperitif and Dessert wines: Pale Dry Sherry, Cocktail Sherry, Sherry, and
    Cream Sherry; Port, Ruby Port, and Tawny Port; Marsala, Muscatel, Tokay,
    White Port, and Angelica; Dry and Sweet Vermouth.
    A featured table wine is the Vino Rosso Pastoso, one of the earliest wines
    of the mellow red Italian type produced, which is marketed under the Marca
    Petri label. Other Petri wines are: Light Sweet wines (Petri Party wines)
    : red and white; Berry wines: Blackberry, Currant, Loganberry, and
    Strawberry
    Sorry Charlie, my current Lotus notes does give me a plain text option
    Ed Kindred

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    Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 22:14:02 -0400
    From: Frank McGurn <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Moire on "SITCOMS"

    I try to a man of a few word, but sometimes it difficult. So I feel that
    my definition of Sitcom is very close to correct.
    I have fairly large collection of OTR programs and I have listened to
    every one in my collection. I feel that I can tell a SITCOM from another
    type of programs.

    Elizabeth stated:

>     Although Correll and Gosden were the first performers to present character
>     comedy on radio, "Amos 'n' Andy" wasn't a sitcom in the sense that we
>     understand it today --as emphasized in my own book on the subject, it was
>     a primarily dramatic serial with humorous undertones.

    Isn't that the definition of  Sitcom ? Radio or television comedy series
    that involves a continuing [removed] always thought Amos & Andy was very
    funny with unreal situations. Dig out  some episodes and listen to them
    also Fibber McGee & Molly.

    Jim Cox and others have written many great books, I'm told, but being
    very old guy on a limited income and can't afford to buy any the various
    books on OTR, and unfortunately none of the authors that are mentioned
    in the Digest, are not in our public library or our library District,
    that covers several counties in northern Illinois. So I have to rely on
    my good judgment and references sources to figure out what is a sitcom.

    Frank McGurn

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 22:15:37 -0400
    From: James H Arva <wilditralian@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Petri Wine

    I see that Matt Cox was wondering if anyone has a bottle of Petri Wine in
    his cellar.  Well, I can come close to that ... I have an empty Petri
    Tokay bottle on the mantle in my office.  The front label says ...

    "Imperial Stock -- Petri -- California -- White Tokay -- Bottled by Petry
    Wineries at Escalon, California -- Alcohol 20% by volume."  The back
    label says, "This seal of quality is your assurance that this wine is
    pure grape wine.  To protect its perfection, this Petri Wine was bottled
    and sealed at the famous Petri Wineries, located in the heart of
    California's rich vineyards.  This assures that the pride and the skill
    of America's foremost family of vintners stands behind this bottle of
    Petri Wine.  PETRI WINERIES - Escalon, California"

    Superimposed over that at about a 20-degree angle is, "Pure Grape Wine".

    This bottle has a Pennsylvania tax seal on it.  At 20% alcohol, that must
    have been akin to Kikapoo Joy Juice!  No wine would naturally come up
    with more than 12 or 13% alcohol without the yeast dying in its own
    excrement, which is, essentially, what stops the fermentation ... except
    for true Spanish sherry, which has a very special regional airborne yeast
    that deposits itself on the grapes, and that goes up to as much as 17%.
    To get 20%, the wine has to be artificially "fortified" (as they call it)
    by being blended with additional alcohol.  This stuff must have been a
    Bowery favorite.

    Yes, although I've never actually tasted Petri Wine, I have a suspicion
    that any wine company whose advertisements described their product as
    "clear" ... and "fresh-tasting" ... and "swell" ... and made suggestions
    as to what kind of wine went best with meatloaf ... were not creating a
    product for the same consumer market as Rothschild's.  I have many of
    those advertisements on recorded episodes of, "The New Adventures of
    Sherlock Holmes", done my Harry Bartell and his predecessors, and they
    are all a trip, every one!

    Harry did only the fall 1945 to spring 1946 season, after which Basil
    Rathbone left the show because he thought he was becoming typecast.  This
    caused Petri Wine to drop their sponsorship, but they had sponsored it
    for several years before Harry came aboard as the announcer.  Rathbone
    was replaced by Tom Conway in the fall of 1946.  The new sponsor was
    Kreml Hair Tonic.  In the show's last days, it was Clippercraft Clothes
    for Men.  Prior to Petri Wines, "The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"
    had been sponsored by Bromo-Quinine Cold Tablets.  The very first shows
    of the original "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" (without the "New") were
    sponsored by G. Washington Coffee, who's president -- a fellow
    Sherlockian himself -- was talked into coming forth with the backing by
    Edith Meyser.

    Tom Conway had also replaced his real-life brother, George Sanders, in
    the movie series, "The Falcon", because he, also, felt that he was
    becoming typecast.  Tom took over for George in the movie, "The Falcon's
    Brother", in which The Falcon gets hisself killed off, and his brother
    takes up the eternal torch of justice.

    Regards,

    Jim Arva

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 22:15:45 -0400
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  10-5 births/deaths

    October 5th births

    10-05-1879 - John Erskine - NYC - d. 6-2-1951
    writer: "Information Please"
    10-05-1895 - Waldo Mayo - d. 7-xx-1976
    orchestra leader, violinist: "Major Bowes Capitol Family"
    10-05-1902 - Robert Ballin - d. 3-xx-1977
    pianist: (Race and Ballin) WOR Newark, New Jersey
    10-05-1903 - Jimmy Ritz - Newark, NJ - d. 11-17-1985
    comedian: (The Ritz Brothers) "Hollywood Hotel"
    10-05-1904 - John Hoyt - Bronxville, NY - d. 9-15-1991
    actor: "Escape"; "Suspense"
    10-05-1905 - Harriet MacGibbon - Chicago, IL - d. 2-8-1987
    actor: Lucy Kent "Home, Sweet Home"
    10-05-1908 - Josh Logan - Texarkana, TX - d. 7-12-1988
    film/stage director: "Biography In Sound"
    10-05-1912 - Tony Marvin - Brooklyn, NY - d. 10-10-1998
    announcer: "Arthur Godfrey Time"
    10-05-1913 - Lois January - Fort Worth, TX - d. 8-7-2006
    actor: "County Fair"
    10-05-1918 - Allen Ludden - Mineral Point, WI - d. 6-9-1981
    host: "Mind Your Manners"; "College Bowl"
    10-05-1924 - Barbara Kelly - Vancouver, Canada - d. 1-14-2007
    actor: "Vanity Fair"; "Breakfast with Braden"
    10-05-1930 - Skip Homeier - Chicago, IL
    actor: "Let's Pretend"; Dickie Blake "Portia Faces Life"; "Reg'lar
    Fellers"
    10-05-1932 - Arthur Maimane - South Africa - d. 6-28-2005
    author: "The Opportunity"; "Where the Sun Shines"

    October 5th deaths

    01-08-1910 - Dick Jurgens - Sacremento, CA - d. 10-5-1995
    orchestra leader: "Summer Spotlight Revue"
    02-08-1911 - Judith Allen - NYC - d. 10-5-1996
    actor: Margo Lane "The Shadow"
    05-24-1878 - Harry Emerson Fosdick - Buffalo, NY - d. 10-5-1969
    preacher: "National Vespers"
    06-25-1899 - Arthur Tracy - Kaminetz-Podolski, Russia - d. 10-5-1997
    singer: (The Street Singer) "Street Singer"; "Music That Satisfies"
    07-13-1895 - Sidney Blackmer - Salisbury, NC - d. 10-5-1973
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    09-14-1899 - Hal B. Wallis - Chicago, IL - d. 10-5-1986
    film producer: "Tex and Jinx Show"; "Academy Award Program"; "Lux
    Radio Theatre"
    11-03-1902 - Ted Pearson - Arlington, NE - d. 10-5-1961
    announcer: "Advs. of the Thin Man"; "Cavalcade of America"; "Good
    News of 1938"
    11-05-1897 - Jan Garber - Norristown, PA - d. 10-5-1977
    bandleader: "Jan Garber Supper Club"
    11-11-1902 - Webley Edwards - Corvallis, OR - d. 10-5-1977
    announcer, host: "Hawaii Calls"
    11-22-1921 - Rodney Dangerfield - Babylon, Long Island, NY - d.
    10-5-2004
    comedian: "Voices of Vista"
    11-28-1925 - Gloria Grahame - Los Angeles, CA - d. 10-5-1981
    actor: "Hollywood Star Playhouse"
    12-05-1883 - May Davenport Seymour - Boston, MA - d. 10-5-1967
    actor: Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Porter "Against the Storm"

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 23:12:11 -0400
    From: Don Shenbarger <donslistmail@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re:Sherlock Holmes sponsor

    On 10/4/2007 matthew cox wrote:

>     During the New Adventures Of Sherlock HOlmes Harry Bartel does a
>     wonderful job describing Petri wines.  Is Petri wine still available
>     or did it go the way of Two Buck Chuck?  What was Petri?

    I have often wondered about that too. I found this reasonable answer
    on the Internet:

    "Petri Wineries (and Mission Bell Wineries at Madera, Madera County,
    are the operation and production names of Allied Grape Growers, a
    co-operative winery association composed of some three hundred
    members, owners of medium-sized or small wine-grape vineyards in the
    San Joaquin Valley. It was to this organization that Louis Petri, the
    youthful president of Petri of California, sold the Petri and Mission
    Bell Wineries in 1951, retaining the exclusive marketing rights for
    the whole of the co-operative's output. Two north coast counties
    wineries are owned and operated for the production of dry table
    wines, the Forestville Wineries at Forestville and the Northern
    Sonoma Wineries at Geyserville, both in Sonoma County."

    [removed]

    It appears this enterprise was essentially merged into Heublein, Inc. in 1959.

    [removed]

    Another mystery to me is what happened to Clipper Craft Clothes?

    Don

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

    Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 23:58:01 -0400
    From: Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Petri Wine

    Matthew Cox writes:

>     During the New Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes Harry Bartel does a
>     wonderful job describing Petri wines. Is Petri wine still available
>     or did it go the way of Two Buck Chuck? What was Petri? Was it a
>     two buck Chuck kind of wine for your 1940's consumer? My guess is it
>     was the Mondovi of forty years ago.

    Petri Wine was owned by an Italian family. That family created Petri Cigars.
    A very popular cigar in the 1940s. Old man Petri decided to go into the wine
    business and thus, he established The Petri Wine Company. Petri was in
    competition with Roma Wines. Both were above average wines, but not the best
    one could buy. Both Roma and Petri Wines were a good cut above Thunderbird
    wine. Both Roma and Petri endeavored to create a fine wine that would be
    appreciated by the American public, but not a wine that was so expensive only
    the well heeled person could afford purchasing it. Matthew may be right -- it
    may have been the Mondovi of its time, but I do not have enough information
    on its true value in the 1 to 10 scale of fine wines.
    Petri Wines no longer exist. Nor does Roma. But the Petri Cigar Company DOES
    still exist. When I would talk to Harry Bartell during the tapings of his
    special intros to the Sherlock Holmes series, he would sometimes talk about
    Petri Wine, but never drank it. He talked more about old man Petri who was a
    bit of a curmudgeon and was very proud of his wine and his sponsoring The New
    Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
    Ken Greenwald

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

    Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 12:40:31 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Situation Comedy

>     Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 19:42:52 -0400
>     From: lizmcl@[removed]

>     As others have pointed out, "sitcom" as such is a term that wasn't
>     coined till well into the TV era,

    I remember seeing "situation comedy" in the 1950s, to distinguish the
    form from comedy shows such as Milton Berle or Bob Hope's show, or
    the Colgate Comedy Hour, which essentially used the format of the
    Vaudeville review, had a host, and acknowledged that they were a TV
    show with an audience.  I'm not sure when the shortened form "sitcom"
    began to appear, but it may have been as late as the 1970s or 80s.

    --
    A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
     92 State Street, Suite 700                   Fax [removed]
    Boston, MA 02109-2004           	         [removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 12:41:47 -0400
    From: seandd@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Jack Benny Impersonator Reviewed in Mass.
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    Eddie Carroll, whose Jack Benny impersonation will light up the Friends of Old
    Time Radio Convention (October 18-21, 2007, Holiday Inn North Newark,
    [removed]) coming shortly, is reviewed in the Salem [removed]'s playing there
    tonight, tomorrow and Sunday.  Of course, at FOTR, he'll be performing a full
    Benny script and not his standard
    act.

    [removed]

    Sean Dougherty
    SeanDD@[removed]

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    Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 12:42:15 -0400
    From: Bob <hrkeller@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Petri Wine

    I believe Petri was merged away years ago - but in 1978 I was stationed at
    Vandenberg AFB in Calif., and the first time I walked into the base package
    store, I saw a large jug of Petri sitting on a shelf.

    Naturally, having listened to Harry pitching the wine for years on those
    reprint LPs, I bought a jug. Or two. I was rather sad when I left the Petri
    distribution area for North Dakotra!

    Regards,

    Bob Keller

    Waukesha WI

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

    Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 12:41:02 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Captain Midnight

>     Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 13:37:20 -0400
>     From: Stephen A Kallis <skallisjr@[removed];

>     That being said, the following television show completely recast the
>     Captain Midnight background.  The Secret Squadron, in 1940, was an
>     organization funded by the [removed] government.  The Secret Squadron of
>     the television program was a private organization.

    I don't recall that the TV show ever specified how the Secret
    Squadron was funded.  It's hard to believe that anyone other than the
    government could have funded Captain Midnight's headquarters, jet
    airplane, and all those trappings, not to mention the cost of food,
    electricity, and jet fuel.  Perhaps, following the pattern of the
    1950s, the Secret Squadron was funded by the government covertly.

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #284
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