Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #249
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 7/3/2002 2:44 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 249
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Radios                                [ Tim Johnson <tjnknox@[removed]; ]
      Mark Trail                            [ Mleannah@[removed] ]
      ILAM: The "complete", original TOV?   [ jhcollins@[removed] ]
      Kosher Coca Cola                      [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
      #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ lois@[removed] ]
      Re: Shreevy                           [ Thomas Butts <trbutts@[removed] ]
      Nickodell's Restaurant - Hollywood    [ "Lois Culver" <loiseula@[removed] ]
      Soda: 12-oz. bottles                  [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
      Jack Benny ~ To Be or Not to Be       [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
      Jeff Chandler                         [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
      Today in radio history 7/3 and 7/4    [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      RE: I Love a Mystery                  [ Jim Mayor <jmayor@[removed]; ]
      Mayor of the Town                     [ JayHick@[removed] ]
      -30- and Straight Arrow               [ "William Harper" <whhsa@[removed] ]
      Talent Raids                          [ "[removed] George" <yourstruly@[removed]; ]
      re Shreevy                            [ "Thomas Mason" <batz34@[removed] ]
      Thanks to REPS                        [ "Harlan Zinck" <buster@[removed] ]
      Mary Noble, Mary Backstayge           [ Larry Josephson <larry@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 00:05:14 -0400
    From: Tim Johnson <tjnknox@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Radios

    I mentioned in yesterday's post that I would say more about the radio that I
    "grew up with".  Sometime in late '47 or early '48 my dad bought or was
    given in exchange for bookkeeping services a new radio-phonograph
    combination.  It was a GE model 304 (table model).  I was 3  years old at
    the time.  I played the few records we owned on that phono many, many times.
    An uncle says that I could play a record mentioned by him from the record
    stack long before I learned to read.  I remember his asking, "How does he do
    that?"  I don't know how I did it, but I certainly remember the records,
    some of which I still have.
    This was the first radio in our home since my birth in '44.  I have
    advertisements that show the price of the radio was $110.  That was a lot of
    money to pay for a radio in 1948.  The ads also mention that this table
    model has the same chassis as the consoles, except for the FM model.  The
    speaker was smaller, of course.  I remember radio from that early age and
    remember listening to Big Jon and Sparky ("No School Today") on Saturdays
    along with "Let's Pretend", The Buster Brown Gang, and a locally produced
    "Bugs Bunny Club".  There was also an adventure series with Sparky that was
    broadcast in the afternoons after school hours.  Weekdays, I "took my nap"
    while my mother listened to the soaps.  I remember those soaps as well or
    better than the kids' shows.  Most of you can name them, so I won't.  We
    listened religiously, rarely missing an episode.  At night I vaguely
    remember listening to Red Skelton, thinking it was Red Skeleton.
    In November of '51 we moved to a community just north of Knoxville.  It was
    after this move that I really began to listen to more than just the kid
    shows and the soaps.  Particularly in the evenings the family would listen
    to "One Man's Family", "Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys", "Hopalong
    Cassidy", "Red Ryder", and in later years NBC Monitor with "Bob and Ray".
    Weren't they hilarious.  I remember so well the "swimming across America"
    story.
    As I mentioned in a previous post, I stumbled across The Cinnamon Bear while
    scanning the band after school one afternoon in '53.  I didn't miss many
    episodes after that day right on up through the late 50's.  WBIR had already
    dropped power by the time TCB was broadcast and on cloudy days, I had to
    turn the radio different directions to pick up the signal.
    Then, I turned 11 and AM radio began to change dramitacally.  Yes, I admit
    that I loved those early Top 40 shows, and locally, The Nifty Fifty on WNOX
    990.  Soon most stations were primarily pop music stations with fewer and
    fewer "shows".  This was also when I discovered late night radio.  Most of
    the local stations dropped power or went to "patterns" after sunset, so a
    lot of that listening was to the stronger stations from the big cities.  A
    lot of what I heard was baseball games, but a few talk shows were on the air
    by then, too.
    So, without going into a lot more detail, I have many fond memories of that
    radio.  Unfortunately, in the 60's moisture in the form of high humidity
    from all those years without air-conditioning finally took its toll and the
    power transformer died.  I think I may have changed one tube in the 50's,
    and that was all the "repairs" needed until that fateful day the transformer
    went west.  When my father died in March of '80, my mother moved in with us
    and many belongings were sold in a garage sale.  I admit to a lapse in
    judgement in telling that the radio went, too.  I haven't forgiven myself
    for that one!
    A couple of years ago, I found a model 304 via the internet, after a search
    of nearly two years.  I plan to have it restored.  Although it isn't THE
    radio I grew up with, it certainly makes me feel good when I walk through
    the living room and see it on the very same table that ours sat on when new.
    Maybe some of you have similar "love stories" to tell about radios you grew
    up with.
    If you enjoy music of the 20's through the pre-rock 50's, you might enjoy
    listening to my station on the internet.  You just might hear some of those
    records I played on the GE as a very young boy.
    [removed].  It is strictly a hobby and not intended to
    compete with the professional stations.
    Tim Johnson

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 00:05:32 -0400
    From: Mleannah@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Mark Trail

        My local newspaper, The Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Press recently removed Mark
    Trail from its pages. It reappeared about two weeks later and seems to be
    there to stay. Seems there was quite an outcry when it was dropped. Yes, it
    is slow and predictable. But when I called the editor to speak about the
    incident, I was told that fans young and old alike had called or written in
    support of it. I'm glad some editors still consider it worthy of having a
    place in the world. The radio show isn't bad either. Little kids can still
    enjoy it. It isn't The Lone Ranger or Superman, but it has its place.

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 00:27:04 -0400
    From: jhcollins@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  ILAM: The "complete", original TOV?

    Is anyone familiar with the Radiola double LP version of "Temple of
    Vampires"? The jacket claims to have the "complete story" (although edited
    down to under two hours), as heard on the Mutual Network, Jan. 2-27, 1950.
    Could this recording include excerpts from the missing episodes 8-15 and
    18, or would that be too much to hope for?

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 00:27:29 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Kosher Coca Cola

>     Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2002 13:39:31 -0400
>     From: "Scott Rogers" <srogerssprint5@[removed];

>     I have also heard that in some of the larger cities Coke
>     distributed through Kosher stores is made with cane sugar during Yom
>     Kippur.

    Not quite.  Yom Kippur is a fast day, and those fasting will not have Coke or
    anything else.
    However, corn syrup, being a grain product, is not permitted on Passover
    because it might
    contain levening.  Therefore, Coca Cola labelled as being kosher for Passover
    is made with
    cane sugar.

    --
    A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
     15 Court Square, Suite 210                 lawyer@[removed]
    Boston, MA 02108-2503           	         [removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 04:52:03 -0400
    From: lois@[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 five years, same time, same channel!

    Our numerous "regulars" include one of the busiest "golden years" actors in
    Hollywood; a sound man from the same era who worked many of the top
    Hollywood shows; a New York actor famed for his roles in "Let's Pretend" and
    "Archie Andrews;" owners of some of the best OTR sites on the Web;
    maintainer of the best-known OTR Digest (we all know who he is)..........

    and Me

    Lois Culver
    KWLK Longview Washington (Mutual) 1941-1944)
    KFI Los Angeles (NBC) 1944 - 1950
    and widow of actor Howard Culver

    (For more info, contact lois@[removed])

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 10:50:13 -0400
    From: Thomas Butts <trbutts@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Shreevy

>      Shadow question

>     Ken Clarke had a question . . .
>     Does the name  "Shreevy" mean anything to you?

    I remember "Shreevy" in the Green Hornet and I also seem to recall a
    character of
    the same and occupation - cab driver - in an episode of Nero Wolfe starring
    Francis X. Bushman circa 1946 and several times in "The Saint" with Vincent
    Price.
    I think he was played by Larry Dobkin in the Saint.  Is my memory correct and
    is
    there any reason why three different shows would have the same character?

    Tom Butts
    Dallas, TX

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 10:51:05 -0400
    From: "Lois Culver" <loiseula@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Nickodell's Restaurant - Hollywood

    Aww, George [removed] you missed the REAL Nickodell's!  It was the first
    one, tucked away on a little street in Hollywood where we hung out with all
    the radio people in the 40's and into the early 50's.  The Nick's to which
    you refer was the larger, less intimate one on Hollywood Blvd, next to KHJ.
    The second never had the flavor of the first - the food was the same, but
    the service, the ambience, the people, never!  Nickodell's #1 was overseen
    by Nick himself, a rotund Greek who walked thru greeting customers and knew
    what everyone ate and drank.  He had waiters and waitresses (yes they were
    waitresses then, not waitpersons) but mostly waiters -  our favorite
    Martin(?), who knew the [removed] suddenly appear just when you decided
    you had had enough martinis, take your order for your steak and disappear
    until time to serve it.  All the customers (radio people with a few picture
    people thrown in) knew each other and crowded to the bar every night.  It
    was in that setting that I knew Jeff Chandler and others of the radio
    community. You were there, and running up bar tabs, every evening you could,
    as that's where you madethe contacts which could turn into a job.
    Lois Culver
    KWLK Radio (Mutual) Longview, WA 1941-44
    KFI Radio (NBC) Los Angeles CA 1945-47, 50-53
    Widow of Howard Culver, actor

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 10:51:42 -0400
    From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Soda: 12-oz. bottles

    Ga6string@[removed] writes:

>     I recently listened to a tape of an OTR
>     program (can't remember the program or the brand of soda) in which the
>     advertisement mentioned that the drink was now available in a big, new 12
>     ounce bottle, so that you could enjoy two -- that's right, two!! -- servings
>     per bottle. Times, as they say, have changed. :^)
>     Bryan Powell

    I remember that jingle from "The (Paul?) Whiteman Show", a TV big-band
    program when I was a kid - frequently interrupted by the "Please Stand By"
    notice from the local [removed]
    It referred to Pepsi's 12 ounce bottle, vs. Coke's standard 7 ounce bottle.
    I remember seeing smaller Pepsi bottles into the mid-'50's, so maybe Pepsi
    sold both at the same time.
    In any case, us kids couldn't afford the "premium" drinks: Coke, 7-Up &
    Pepsi sold for 7 cents each, plus 2 cents deposit, while Nehi, Royal Crown
    Cola and 10*Up sold for only a nickel.

    Herb Harrison

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 10:53:12 -0400
    From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
    To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Jack Benny ~ To Be or Not to Be
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    FYI for anyone in this group who hasn't seen the anti-Nazi farce 'To Be or Not
    to Be' TCM, The Turner Classic Movies channel has a weekly program, hosted by
    Rob Reiner, called 'The Essentials', featuring films that 'everyone should
    see', and this Sunday they are showing Jack Benny's finest film costarring
    Carole Lombard (her last film) and directed by Ernst Lubitsch.

    Jack is perfect in this role.  It will be shown at 6:00 pm EDT

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

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 10:53:19 -0400
    From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
    To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Jeff Chandler

    Mention was made of Jeff Chandler's death in 1961 at age 42.   His death
    shocked Hollywood and became a big issue, with more than 150 actors
    petitioning for an investigation into his medical care.   After what was
    expected to be routine surgery for a herniated disc he hemmoraghed and then
    began the fight for his life which ended after 5 weeks.     An artery had
    been nicked during surgery.  He developed blood poisoning.   He received 55
    pints of blood over that period and underwent a couple of more surgeries.

    Eventually there was a malpractice settlement in the amount of $200,000
    awarded to his 2 young daughters.

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 10:53:38 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Today in radio history 7/3 and 7/4

      From Those Were The Days --

    7/3

    1939 - Blondie was first heard on CBS.

    1940 - Abbott Costello debuted this day in with their network radio show
    on NBC as Fred Allen's summer replacement.

    1945 - Victor Borge was first heard on NBC as the summer replacement
    slot for Fibber McGee and Molly.

    Birthdays

    1906 - George Sanders d. Apr 25, 1972

     7/4

    1951 - Jack Webb switched from his Dragnet role of Sgt. Joe Friday to
    that of Pat Novak in Pete Kelly's Blues, which debuted on NBC radio. The
    program aired for the summer.

      Joe

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

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 10:56:41 -0400
    From: Jim Mayor <jmayor@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  RE:   I Love a Mystery

     > A friend of [removed] is looking for any magazine and digest articles
    about the show from any OTR publications.

    Most of my old newsletter, The A-1 Gazette, is online
    [[removed]].  Given a bit of time I
    could scan all of them.

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: Slowly but surely, I hope to get the stories from the
    complete run of the newsletter posted. But since I haven't yet gotten the
    pics from the Cincy con posted, it may be a little [removed]  ;)   --cfs3]

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 10:56:50 -0400
    From: JayHick@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Mayor of the Town

    I have the sheet music "So Waits My Heart" based on the musical theme of
    Mayor of the Town.  Music was written by Lionel Barrymore and words by Dailey
    Paskman.  Jay

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 10:57:13 -0400
    From: "William Harper" <whhsa@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  -30- and Straight Arrow

    Dear Folks;
    Peace be with you.
    I promised ages ago to give an address where one could buy a great copy of
    the movie -30-, that starred the following:
    Richard Bakalyan as Carl Thompson
    James Bell as Ben Quinn
    Whitney Blake as Peggy Gatlin
    William Conrad as Jim Bathgate
    Joe Flynn as Hy Shapiro
    Louise Lorimer as Bernice Valentine
    David Nelson as Earl Collins
    Nancy Valentine as Jan Price
    Jack Webb as Sam Gatlin
    Dick Whittinghill as Fred Kendall
    and Howard Culver as Walt Ashton
    You can contact Sheryl Aumack at 1-310-641-5947 or at
    seamaidpress@[removed]
    Tell Sheryl Bill Harper sent you!
    Manituwah,
    Bill

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 11:23:17 -0400
    From: "[removed] George" <yourstruly@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Talent Raids

    When CBS made its talent raid on NBC for stars like Jack Benny and Amos &
    Andy, were there any shows that CBS tried to get that decided not to leave
    NBC? Did CBS try for Fibber McGee & Molly?

    [removed] George

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 11:40:54 -0400
    From: "Thomas Mason" <batz34@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  re Shreevy

    The cab driver that took Lamont and Margo all around town was indeed Shreevy
    (sp?)  He had a disctinct Brooklyn accent and repeated what he said in bits
    of sentences.  I am sure if there was such a character in the pulp novels,
    that his association with the Shadow would be explained, but in most of the
    radio shows I remember, he was just a standard fixture and sort of comic
    [removed]
    Tom Mason

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 12:31:12 -0400
    From: "Harlan Zinck" <buster@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Thanks to REPS

    A quick note of thanks to all of the nice folks of the Radio Enthusiasts of
    Puget Sound for the great job they did organizing their 10th anniversary
    Showcase this past weekend. It was a pleasure to spend time with so many
    people who love radio and want to celebrate it. The Archives had a couple of
    tables in the vendor room and, thanks to the layout of the convention space
    and the informal atmosphere of the Showcase in general, I had the chance to
    meet and visit with many of the interesting folks who contribute to this
    Digest -- as well as the opportunity to meet some of the legendary names
    associated with OTR.

    As a fan, I was very privileged to meet Frank Buxton, Larry Albert, Norma
    Jean Nillson, Phil Harper, and Art Gilmore, and finally connect up in person
    with Harlan #1, Hal Stone (whose equally delightful wife Dorothy was a
    pleasure to chat with between sessions). Special thanks to Terry Campbell,
    who organized the silent auction; the Glaspeys, two tireless and delightful
    volunteers with a basement full of disks (just like me!); and Joy Jackson
    and Paul Feavel, who have been so welcoming to the Archives and me over the
    past few months. A great time was had by all and the REPS crew deserves a
    great deal of praise for putting together this wonderful event every year.

    Now that its all over, perhaps Mike Sprague can slow down and take a breath
    (though I somehow doubt he ever does this - he's quite the whirlwind).

    If you missed #10, be sure to plan now to attend Showcase #11 in 2003. I
    guarantee you'll have a memorable weekend - I know I did!

    Harlan

    Harlan Zinck
    First Generation Radio Archives
    [removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 16:16:32 -0400
    From: Larry Josephson <larry@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Mary Noble, Mary Backstayge

    In reply to Dick Wamser:

    While I don't have much information on Mary Noble, Backstage Wife* (other
    than overhearing it in in my mother's kitchen),  I do know quite a bit
    about Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife, Bob & Ray's most beloved soap opera
    parody. Mary Backstayge was a feature of their WOR radio show, which ran
    from 1973 to 1976.

    I have been Bob & Ray's producer for 21 years and counting.  My company,
    RadioArt collects, curates and publishes 21 Bob & Ray albums (so far) on
    CD, cassette and video, including seven that are mostly Mary
    Backstayge.  The MB episodes are somewhat discontinuous, since we have so
    far not been able to obtain a complete set of them.    You can read more
    about our collection on the Bob & Ray website, [removed].

    We have an ongoing project to collect everything Bob & Ray ever did in any
    medium: radio, television, film, commercials (real & parody) books and
    collectibles.  If you have any Bob & Ray in your collection that you would
    be willing to loan us for The Bob & Ray Permanent Archive, please send me
    an email to larry@[removed].  RadioArt is a project of the
    not-for-profit, tax exempt Radio Foundation, Inc.  All of our Bob & Ray
    material is licensed from their company, Goulding Elliott Greybar
    Productions, Inc.

    Write if you get work, hang by your thumbs.

    -Larry Josephson,
    Producer,
    Bob & Ray

    _ __________________________________
    *As you may know, there are many standard works on OTR, including those by
    Jay Hickerson and Gerald Nachman.  I don't think any of these list every
    episodes and the dates thereof, but perhaps some website does.  SPERDVAC's
    archives include broadcast dates, so you should contact them,
    [removed]  or call 1-877-251-5771
    -Larry

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #249
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