Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #40
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 2/6/2005 12:39 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2005 : Issue 40
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Re: Cincy Convention                  [ Christopher Werner <werner1@globalc ]
      Gotham Radio Players' SAM SPADE recr  [ StevenL751@[removed] ]
      This week in radio history 6-12 Febr  [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Howard Hughes                         [ Rentingnow@[removed] ]
      2-6 births/deaths                     [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      KNX Los Angeles in the 50's           [ StuartLubin@[removed] (Stuart Lubin ]
      re: Doc Gamble--Arrowsmith            [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
      Jack Benny's Anaheim                  [ "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@sbcglob ]
      Arrowsmith                            [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
      NBC's "other" networks                [ "Steven Jones" <stevpj@[removed]; ]
      Portland Hoffa                        [ DanHaefele@[removed] ]
      Okay okay okay                        [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
      Upton Lewis Sinclair                  [ Steve Kostelecky <doyasteve@[removed] ]
      2-7 births/deaths                     [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:51:43 -0500
    From: Christopher Werner <werner1@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Cincy Convention

    Stephen Jansen asked for something else to do after close of day at the
    [removed]

    About 20 years ago I had the good fortune of attending a convention (motor
    winding rather than OTR) held in downtown Cincinnati at their convention
    center. I will have to say that it was one of the most pleasant business
    trips I ever experienced. Why?

    The city planners of Cincinnati had enough sense to connect all the
    hotels/restaurants/businesses in the downtown area with a 2nd story
    walkway. The average pedestrian does not need to cope with waiting for
    traffic lights or polite drivers to cross the street to visit the many fine
    and historic establishments located downtown (the Red Squirrel multi-decker
    sandwich shop being one of them). In addition a pleasant walk south, across
    the bridge over the Ohio river, and you are in Covington, Kentucky (hence
    the CVG designation of the airport) which is a pleasant German village.
    There is a reasonable German restaurant (not even close to my wife's or
    mother-in-law's cooking) a glockenspiel/clock tower and a nice view of
    Cincinnati for the photo buff.

    Keep in mind that the OTR convention is held at a location on the
    northern-most expressway/beltway about 15-20 miles away from downtown. But
    if you don't mind the drive to and from the convention hotel, I would
    suggest staying downtown and enjoy the ambiance. The Hyatt is great, but
    there is a Clarion and several other choices (seemed to be about 10
    different ones) all connected to the walkway.

    All that being said, my one and only experience with the convention (two
    years ago) was filled with evenings of joyful comradery with the dealers
    and convention attendees. Just hang out with Bob Burchett, Charlie Summers,
    Hal Stone, or one of the many fine conference organizers and you'll find
    out where all the attendees disappeared to.

    Enjoy.

    Chris.

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:54:02 -0500
    From: StevenL751@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Gotham Radio Players' SAM SPADE recreation

    In case you missed it when we recreated this  lost episode of SAM SPADE back
    in October, I'm very pleased to announce that,  courtesy of Barbara Watkins,
    our performance will be rebroadcast this coming  Monday night/Tuesday morning
    on "Don't Touch That Dial!"

    The  Gotham Radio Players
    present

    THE ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE
    "The  Picture-Frame Caper"

    This Monday Night / Tuesday Morning
    12:00  midnight (Pacific) / 3:00 AM (Eastern)

    Head on KPFK
    [removed] FM Los  Angeles
    [removed] FM Santa Barbara County
    Webcast worldwide at  [removed]

    The Gotham Radio Players and Wildroot Cream Oil  (again and again the choice
    of men, and women and children, too!) are pleased to  bring back to the
    airwaves the greatest private detective of them all, Sam  Spade, in a
    long-lost
    adventure that hasn't been heard since it's original broadcast more than 54
    years ago.

    Sam Spade goes Hollywood, when  beautiful screen star Lois Beyrou hires him
    to protect her from a stalker.   But all is not as it seems.  Before this
    gruesome caper is over there's  lots of stealing and shooting, not to mention
    a
    punctured beret.  Thrilling  adventure!  Love-crazed madness!  Killer on the
    loose!  It's an  "In-Between" picture, not good enough for movies and too
    good for
     television.  So break out that bottle of Missionary's Downfall, and join us
    this coming Sunday, as Sam dictates to Effie the case he calls "The
    Picture-Frame Caper," or "Hollywood is Cracked Up to Be What It Is!"

    The Gotham Radio Players were formed in 1991 by a group of  enthusiasts for
    the heyday of radio drama. Our mission is to bring new  productions of classic
    radio programs of the 30's, 40's, and 50's to the  airwaves of the new
    millennium, as well as showcase original scripts written by  the emerging
    audio
    dramatists of today. Now under the leadership of producer Max  Schmid and
    director
    Steven Lewis, the Gotham Radio Players are featured  regularly in live
    performances on WBAI-FM, at the annual "Friends of Old-Time  Radio"
    Convention, and
    at other personal appearances in the New York City  metropolitan area.

    Thanks, Barbara!!

    Steve Lewis
    director

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:54:10 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 6-12 February

     From Those Were The Days --

    2/6

    1943 - Frank Sinatra made his debut as vocalist on radio's Your Hit
    Parade this night. Frankie had left the Tommy Dorsey Band just four
    months prior to beginning the radio program. He was described as,
    "...the biggest name in the business."

    1950 - NBC first broadcast Dangerous Assignment. The show starred Brian
    Donlevy in the role of soldier of fortune, Steve Mitchell.

    2/8

    1924 - John Joseph Carty of the Bell Telephone System spoke in Chicago,
    IL. His speech was carried across the nation on the first coast-to-coast
    radio hookup. An estimated 50-million people heard the speech.

    2/11

    1940 - NBC presented The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street for
    the first time. The famous Blue network series included several
    distinguished alumni -- among them, Dinah Shore and Zero Mostel. The
    chairman, or host, of The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street
    was Milton Cross. He would say things like, "A Bostonian looks like he's
    smelling something. A New Yorker looks like he's found it." The show
    combined satire, blues and jazz and was built around what were called
    the three Bs of music: Barrelhouse, Boogie Woogie and Blues.

    2/12

    1924 - Calvin Coolidge, known by many as the 'Silent Cal', made the
    first presidential political speech on radio. The speech originated from
    New York City and was broadcast on five radio stations. Some five
    million people tuned in to hear the President speak.

    1924 - The Eveready Hour became radio's first sponsored network program.
    The National Carbon Company took the honor of being the first sponsor of
    a network show.

    1940 - Mutual presented the first broadcast of Superman. The identity of
    the man from planet Krypton was unknown to listeners for six years. The
    secret eventually leaked out that Superman's voice was actually that of
    Bud Collyer.

    Joe

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

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:54:37 -0500
    From: Rentingnow@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Howard Hughes

    Saw "Aviator" last night.  In the film Hughes was testifying in a  Senate
    hearing right after or during a psychotic episode (obscessive compulisve
    disorder and germ phobia).  It shows him getting the best of the committee.

    Was this broadcast on radio?  The film does show cameras,  presumably movie
    as the hearing would seem to predate TV.   Since cameras were allowed at the
    hearing I would assume that it was broadcast  on radio.  A superficial search
    indicates it was broadcast. Do any of the  recordings exist on the web?

    Larry Moore

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:54:44 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  2-6 births/deaths

    February 6th births

    02-06-1888 - Bennett Kilpack - England - d. 8-17-1962
    actor: Mr. Keen "Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons"; "James Benson "David Harum"
    02-06-1888 - Lucille Gleason - Pasadena, CA - d. 5-18-1947
    actress: "Jimmy Gleason's Diner"
    02-06-1895 - Babe Ruth - Baltimore, MD - d. 8-16-1948
    baseball legend: "Advs. of Babe Ruth"; "Here's Babe Ruth"
    02-06-1899 - Ramon Novarro - Durango, Mexico - d. 10-30-1968
    actor: Freelance
    02-06-1903 - Claudio Arrau - Chillans, Chile - d. 6-9-1991
    classical pianist: "New York Philharmonic"; "Music America Loves Best"
    02-06-1911 - Ronald "Dutch" Reagan - Tampico, IL - d. 6-5-2004
    panelist, actor: Hollywood Byline"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
    02-06-1913 - John Lund - Rochester, NY - d. 5-10-1992
    actor: Johnny Dollar "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"; Chaplain Jim "Chaplain Jim"
    02-06-1914 - Thurl Ravenscroft - Norfolk, NB
    singer: (Member Sportsmen Quartet) "Jack Benny Program"
    02-06-1917 - Zsa Zsa Gabor - Budapest, Hungary
    actress: Intermission Guest: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    02-06-1943 - Fabian (Forte) - Philadelphia, PA
    singer: "NASA Special Report"

    February 6th deaths

    01-06-1912 - Danny Thomas - Deerfield, MI (Raised: Toledo, OH) - d. 2-6-1991
    actor: Amos "Bickersons"; Postman "Fanny Brice Show"
    01-19-1922 - Guy Madison - Pumpkin Center, CA - d. 2-6-1996
    actor: Wild Bill Hickok "Wild Bill Hickok"
    01-26-1913 - Jimmy Van Heusen - Syracuse, NY - d. 2-6-1990
    composer: "Amos 'n' Andy"; "Frank Sinatra Show"; "Command Performance"
    03-09-1902 - Robert St. John - Chicago, IL - d. 2-6-2003
    newscaster: 1943-46, NBC, weekdays at 10 [removed]
    05-15-1905 - Joseph Cotten - Petersburg, VA - d. 2-6-1994
    actor: Matthew Bell "Private Files of Matthew Bell"; "Mercury Theatre on the
    Air"
    06-13-1917 - Si Zentner - NYC - d. 2-6-2000
    jazz and big band trombonist: "Si Zentner and His Orchestra"; "Guard Session"
    09-07-1893 - Roscoe Karns - San Bernadino, CA - d. 2-6-1970
    actor: "Hollywood Hotel"
    12-29-1898 - Pat Padgett - Atlanta, GA - d. 2-6-1990
    comedian: January "Show Boat"; Pat "Model Minstrels"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:54:57 -0500
    From: StuartLubin@[removed] (Stuart Lubin)
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  KNX Los Angeles in the 50's

    I am very happy to respond to Cliff O.'s inquiries about Mel Baldwin, a
    staff announcer at KNX, Los Angeles, the local affiliate of CBS. What I
    am going to write
    is accurate, but I cannot vouch for the "what-came-before-what" time
    sequences.

    Steve Allen's local show was heard from 12:05 AM (after the news) until
    1:00 AM. Believe it or not, it was a nightly (M-F) audience show, and
    Steve was marvelous, as he always was, in everything he ever did.  There
    was never a problem getting into that show.  (My big problem at age 15
    was getting home afterwards without being stopped by the curfew police!)
    I do not remember Mel Baldwin announcing that show. Usually it was
    another KNX staff announcer, Tom Hanlon, who sat at a table, fighting to
    stay awake. Either after or before Steve Allen had the show, that time
    slot and format were ably handled by another great Los Angeles radio
    personality, Jim Hawthorne.

    In the 50's, the late evening chores at KNX were shared by both Mel
    Baldwin and Tom Hanlon.  Hanlon hosted "Merry Go-Round", in which the
    audience called in each night with the answer to a question, and the
    daily winners appeared live on the show on Friday nights. I was a winner
    one week,  and Mel Baldwin was sitting in for Tom Hanlon on that night.

    Other things that Mel Baldwin did for KNX into the 60's:  the first
    telephone call-in talk-show that I ever heard :"Opinion, Please".  Each
    caller was allowed three minutes. Baldwin never discussed any issues
    with them. He just let them talk until the three minutes were up.
    Baldwin also hosted "Music Till Dawn" for an airline company.  I believe
    it went on from 12:00 midnight till 5:00 AM.  There was also a time that
    "Gunsmoke" radio and TV announcer, George Walsh, also hosted "Music Till
    Dawn".

    In the late weekday mornings, KNX had a cooking show called the KNX Food
    News Hour. It was originally started with another staff announcer who
    became a famed cookbook author, Mike Roy. His announcer was Dennis
    Bracken.  They were a great team, with Bracken playing straight man,
    asserting that he knew nothing about cooking.  Roy passed away while
    still under contract to do the show, and Bracken continued, but he, also
    a young man, died soon afterwards.  The show continued with Jackie Olden
    and a man called "Fitz".  When Fitz died, Jackie continued the show with
    Mel Baldwin as her sidekick.  The two had great chemistry, as did those
    who preceded them.  Of course, when the format changed, Mel left, and I
    have never heard anything about him since.

    Stuart Lubin

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 19:20:24 -0500
    From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  re: Doc Gamble--Arrowsmith

    Steve Kostelecky <doyasteve@[removed]; asks :

>     I've always wondered what McGee meant when he referred
>     to Doc Gamble as "Arrowsmith." Generally Doc makes
>     some remark about McGee's laziness or girth and McGee
>     remarks: "Oh, hi, Arrowsmith." I assume it refers to
>     his status as a doctor but the only Arrowsmith I know
>     is from Upton Sinclair. Anybody know?

    Fibber is indeed making a reference to Sinclair's novel. (I've never
    read it, but I recently listened to the NBC University version,
    starring Van Heflin.) The book is a satire of medicine, science,
    idealism, and society. The character of Martin Arrowsmith is something
    of a failed idealist, a man caught between uncompromising scientific
    ideals and the complexities of practicing medicine. Fibber's use of the
    name for Doc Gamble was definitely not meant as a complement--but it
    always struck me as a rather complex and subtle insult.

    Kermyt

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 19:20:48 -0500
    From: "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Jack Benny's Anaheim

    I found a most interesting and entertaining article on the city of Anaheim
    (California) Web site about Jack Benny's connection to Anaheim and the two
    times he was named honorary mayor of Anaheim.  There's also a Johnny Carson
    connection in the story, plus a photo of the two in January of 1967, when
    Anaheim gave both comedians keys to the city, as they both appeared at the
    long-gone Melodyland Theater that month.  Here's the link, for those
    interested:

    [removed]

    Take care,

    Jim Hilliker
    Monterey, CA
    (formerly from Anaheim)

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 20:42:06 -0500
    From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Arrowsmith

    Steve wrote:

>     I've always wondered what McGee meant when he referred
>     to Doc Gamble as "Arrowsmith." Generally Doc makes
>     some remark about McGee's laziness or girth and McGee
>     remarks: "Oh, hi, Arrowsmith." I assume it refers to
>     his status as a doctor but the only Arrowsmith I know
>     is from Upton Sinclair. Anybody know?

    Um, actually ARROWSMITH was written by that "other" Sinclair of American
    Literature, Sinclair Lewis.  I confess that I haven't actually read this
    book, but I have seen the 1931 film starring Ronald Colman in the title
    role.  Dr. Martin Arrowsmith is a brilliant and dedicated doctor.  McGee is
    being sarcastic in comparing Doc Gamble to Dr. Arrowsmith.

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 20:42:39 -0500
    From: "Steven Jones" <stevpj@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  NBC's "other" networks

    I guess that most people reading this know that NBC had
    their Red and Blue network, and an Orange network on the West Coast network
    until the
    others spread across the country. But I've also seen mention of Gold, Brown,
    White and Green networks that NBC had.

    Does anyone have any information about these?
    The only bits of information I've read about them are:
    the White Network was religious in content and was also known as the
    Watchtower Network
    the Brown was originated from San Francisco when NBC ended up with three
    stations in that city after buying out a smaller network (Pacific?)
    The Gold Network became part of the Orange when NBC wanted to save line
    rental costs.

    I've only seen the Green network mentioned once, in a book about RCA by
    Robert Sobel. He also mentions the Gold and Orange, and says that there were
    three other minor networks, which could be the White, Brown and one other
    whose colour I've never seen mention of.

    So, can anyone add to or correct anything I've said above, such as the
    reasons they came into and went out of existence (were they regional like
    the Organge until the Blue and Red covered the whole country, etc), dates,
    stations?

    It's potentially a lot of information, I know, but I thought I might as well
    ask about them all in one go than do a separate post for each network.

    Many many thanks.

    Steve

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 20:42:51 -0500
    From: DanHaefele@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Portland Hoffa
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

       After Fred Allen died, Portland Hoffa-Allen married comedy writer Joe
    Rines.  She may be buried under her married name.

    Dan Haefele

      *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
      ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

    Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 23:24:18 -0500
    From: JackBenny@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Okay okay okay

    I have posted the long-awaited photo of Jack and  Frankie Remley on
    _[removed]_ ([removed]) .   Enjoy!

    --Laura Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 13:29:40 -0500
    From: Steve Kostelecky <doyasteve@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Upton Lewis Sinclair

    I attributed "Arrowsmith" to Upton Sinclair my
    previous post and it should have been Sinclair Lewis.
    I knew I should have looked it up before I posted but
    got in a [removed] have always gotten the two confused.
    I read "Main Street" and "The Jungle" at the same time
    so I could keep them straight and it only confused me.
    Oh well.
    Red-faced and stumbling,
    I remain,
    Steve

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

    Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 14:35:05 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  2-7 births/deaths

    February 7th births

    02-07-1812 - Charles Dickens - Portsmouth, England - d. 6-9-1870
    author: "A Christmas Carol"
    02-07-1883 - Eubie Blake - Baltimore, MD - d. 2-12-1983
    jazz pianist: "Ragtime"; "White House Jazz Festival"
    02-07-1885 - Sinclair Lewis - Sauk Centre, MN - d. 1-10-1951
    novelist: "Campbell Playhouse"; "Ford Theatre"; "Cavalcade of America"
    02-07-1895 - Irving Aaronson - NYC - d. 5-10-1963
    orchestra leader: Big Band Remotes
    02-07-1908 - Bill Johnstone - Paisley, Scotland - d. 11-1-1996
    actor: Lamont Cranston/Shadow "The Shadow"; Sam Young "Pepper Young's Family"
    02-07-1915 - Eddie Bracken - Astoria, NY - d. 11-14-2002
    comedian: "Eddie Bracken Show"; Dizzy Stevens "Aldrich Family"
    02-07-1923 - Keefe Brasselle - Elyria, OH - d. 7-7-1981
    actor: "Stars in the Air"
    02-07-1924 - Hattie Jacques - Sandgate, Kent, England - d. 10-6-1980
    actress: Sophie Tuckshop "It's That Man Again"; Agatha Dangelbody "Educating
    Archie"

    February 7th deaths

    02-09-1910 - Peanuts Holland - Norfold, VA - d. 2-7-1979
    jazz trumpeter, singer: "One Night Stand"; "Jubilee"; "Yank Swing Session"
    02-22-1918 - Sid Abel - Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada - d. 2-7-2000
    sportscaster: "Play By Play Detroit Red Wings"
    06-30-1918 - Stewart Foster - Binghamton, NY - d. 2-7-1968
    singer: "Stewart Foster Show"; "Galen Drake"; "On a Sunday Afternoon"
    08-10-1896 - Walter Lang - Memphis, TN - d. 2-7-1972
    film director: "Screen Director's Playhouse"
    08-22-1909 - Philip G. Epstein - NYC - d. 2-7-1952
    screenwriter: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    10-18-1918 - Bobby Troup - Harrisburg, PA - d. 2-7-1999
    singer, actor: "Navy Swings"; "Bobby Troup Program"; "Bobby Troup Trio"
    10-31-1912 - Dale Evans - Uvalde, TX - d. 2-7-2001
    actress, singer: (Queen of the Cowgirls) "Saturday Night Roundup"; "Roy
    Rogers Show"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #40
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