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

[removed] Digest				Volume 96 : Issue 293

Table Of Contents: 

	 No sponsors for CBS or anyone else
	 Re: Beulah
	 Ozzie's Job(s)
	 Ghost Train
	 Meeting fellow interneters at FOTR
	 A second half-century
	 Vic & Sade
	 Burke & Hare revealed
	 A pause for station identification
	 Who Was the Actor . . .
	 Crime Classics

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

Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 13:35:31 -0600
From: Chet Cox <CHCOX@[removed]>
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: No sponsors for CBS or anyone else
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

<<Hi. I have noticed, when listening to many programs from the fifties, 
that the commercial spots would, more often than not, be filled with 
public service announcements or ads for shows, with little or no 
commercial advertising. This was particularly true with CBS. Any thoughts 
on this?

Bruce>>

You'll probably hear more (and faster) from the Truly Knowledgable Ones
on this digest list, but I'll throw my hat in the ring and speculate that
sponsors were fleeing dramatic (and comedy and variety -- you know what
I mean) radio in large flocks for TV.  (In the late 40s and throughout the
50s, instead of "old-fashioned" one said "audio."  Instead of "innovative"
one said "video."  Such short thinking is not uncommon for the human
[removed])

Oddly enough, so _many_ people have stated that OTR committed suicide
- John Houseman blamed network execs for throwing their entire resources
into television and pushing OTR into a grave - that I've been looking at
ratings.  It appears that the general public was abandoning radio in hordes
just as quickly as sponsors were.  Talk shows and DJs seem to have been
the only thing SO cheap ([removed] - one performer and twice as many
commercials) that as many stations survived as do done did.  And
whenever a new attempt at radio is tried on a national level (CBS Mystery
Theatre, etc) it meets with, at best, a lukewarm reaction.  TV evidently has
had such unfanthomable numbers (and resultant amount of money) that it
takes tens of millions of people to make a difference in entertainment.

So I'd like to ask our Much More Knowledgable Than Me People on this
list -- What are your theories for the "death" of OTR?  Hey, we'll even
entertain Area 51 conspiracy theories for this question.  (Come to think of it,
right about the time those alien bodies were supposed to be found, OTR
started losing its [removed]  <Twilight Zone music>)

*jeep!
~~~~Chet
---------------------------------------------------
quote of the day: "In California, everyone goes to a therapist, is a therapist,

or is a therapist going to a therapist."  --Truman Capote (Chet sez:  Capote
was too optimistic.)

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

Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 15:42:07 -0400
From: Udmacon@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Beulah
Message-ID: <960821154207_462153214@[removed]>

WRVO-FM, Oswego-Syracuse NY ran a Marlin Hurt "Beulah" show last night, and
it was particularly fascinating that he also played Beulah's boyfriend Bill
on the show. What a voice range! Sad to read that Hurt died in his wife's
arms in March 1946 at age 40.

BILL KNOWLTON: "BLUEGRASS RAMBLE", WCNY-FM, SYRACUSE NY

ps: Am reading, and enjoying, a fleamarket-rescued copy of Fred Allen's "Much
Ado About Me." Anybody know how I can obtain his "Treadmill to Oblivion"?

Aside to Lois Culver: Since this is supposed to be a list service on oldtime
radio; is it really appropriate to disparage (or for that matter, praise)
Ronald Reagan's political life when we're talking about his radio career?
Isn't that what news groups are for?? 

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

Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 13:44:44 -0600
From: Chet Cox <CHCOX@[removed]>
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Ozzie's Job(s)
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Michael explained "Ozzie Nelson:  On radio, Ozzie was occasionally
referred to as a band
leader (and Harriet Hilliard as the singer with his band).  In the film,
"Here Come the Nelson's," Ozzie worked in an ad agency.  No mention
was
made of his occupation on TV (it may have been
producer-writer-director-star of a sitcom). "

Might add that Ozzie told (on many a TV and radio talk show) that their
background "bible" for their TV writers was that Ozzie was (of all things) a
brain surgeon, but that it would never be mentioned.  Before they'd come
to TV, the band leading had retreated more and more into the background
until it became obvious that it just didn't reflect the sort of wholesome,
whitebread family they portrayed.  So Ozzie just "on a whim" declared that
he was a brain surgeon and that was that.

But it leaves one with a frightening image.  Imagine lying on the operating
table and, just before going under, looking up into the face of Ozzie Nelson
with a scalpel.
*jeep!
~~~~Chet
---------------------------------------------------
quote of the day: "In California, everyone goes to a therapist, is a therapist,

or is a therapist going to a therapist."  --Truman Capote (Chet sez:  Capote
was too optimistic.)

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

Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 17:09:07 -0700
From: PETER GRECO <pgreco@[removed]>
To: radio digest <otr@[removed]>
Subject: Ghost Train
Message-ID: <[removed]@[removed]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi,
Larry wrote asking about some shows he heard as a [removed] one about the
ghost train sounds like it may have been the Locomtive Ghost heard on 
the Mysterious Traveler.
Just a footnote its great having the digest up and running [removed]

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

Date: Thu, 22 Aug 96 00:46:10 UT
From: "Bruce Rosenberger" <BR3D@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Meeting fellow interneters at FOTR
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

I recently attended the NSA (3D) convention in Rochester NY and they had a 
novel idea for identifying fellow "interneters". At the registration table 
they had small stickers with the '@" symbol available for us to attach to our 
badges. It's great fun putting the the names with the faces (even if I did get 
a little depressed to find out I was one of the older members at a mere 40!)
What do you think Jay? (and other members of FOTR committee?)

Bruce M. Rosenberger

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

Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 21:02:49 -0400
From: JRayb71827@[removed]
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: A second half-century
Message-ID: <960821210247_265550123@[removed]>

   First, my thanks to Steve Hiss for a recent posting remarking on my 50
years in broadcasting.  August 12th was the proud day and I'm pleased to
announce an on-going effort to help keep the great OTR memories alive.  In
addition to my OTR stage presentation that I do around the country, I also
have my OTR newsletter, "Thrilling Days of Yesteryear."  Now, starting
Saturday, September 7th, I'm going to air a 5-hour, once-a-week program on
Denver's leading nostalgia station, KEZW, AM-1430.  It will feature big band
music, along with at least five OTR programs each week.  All going well, the
station plans to have me to expand it to the same time period on Sundays,
hopefully before the end of the year.  So,  then we'll be offering 10 hours
weekly of great stuff from the Golden Age of Radio.  I realize it won't reach
most subscribers on the Digest but it's a beginning step that could lead to
syndication that may someday reach some of your markets.  As usual, I'll
welcome any input you might care to offer and will be pleased to make use on
my program, "Reminiscing with John Rayburn," of any appropriate material.
 Cross your fingers as I head into my second half-century in a wonderful
business.

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

Date: Thu, 22 Aug 1996 10:08:23 +0900 (JST)
From: ROY WAITE <rwaite@[removed]>
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Vic & Sade
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

More on Vic 'N' Sade:

I just realized that I have here on my shelf a video of Vic "N" Sade.  Here
is what is written on the video case:

QUOTE:  686. Vic "N" Sade (c. 1957-USA) WNBQ-TV, Chicago with Bernadine
Flynn, Art Van Harvey, Eddie Gillilan.  An all-time radio favorite in a
strange half-hearted translation to television.  The three performers (the
entire cast of the radio show) are pictured sitting at desks with microphone
and script book in front of them.  A simple radio program with television
cameras looking over the actor's shoulders.  Absolutely rotten television
values, but a highly amusing program solely because of the superb
characterizations and classic writing of Paul Rhymer.  The legion of Vic 'n'
Sade fans from radio won't be disappointed.  Vic is seen considering some of
the merchandise offered in the catalogue of the "Sacred Stars of the Milky
Way". 15 minutes.  UNQUOTE

Note that Bill Idelson does not appear, but Eddie Gillilan takes the part of
Rush.  When you watch this episode it soon becomes apparent that the players
do seem, for the most part, have their scripts memorized, for they only
occasionally glance at it for reference, although Art Van Harvey seems to
rely on the script more than the others.  I wonder if anyone knows:  was
this video made as a pilot for a possible TV series?  None of my directories
indicate that Vic "N" Sade ever appeared on TV.  

I bought this some years ago from Reel Images, Box 137-M, Monroe, CT 06468,
who would be happy to send you their catalog, no doubt.  

I have no financial interest in this firm, but I wanted to pass this
information on, as someone recently posted some questions about Vic 'N'
Sade, a series which I have now become obsessed with!

Good listening.
Roy

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

Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 23:02:26 -0400
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]>
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Burke & Hare revealed
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>The first was a story about two grave robbers, called Burke and
>Hare.  This was a true story and it chronicles the doings of
>said Burke and Hare.  The episode was entitled, appropriately
>enough, "If a body need a doby call Burke and Hare'.  Does 
>anyone know what program this might have been on?
>

This was an episode of Crime Classics, a series which ran from June, 1953 to
June, 1954. It was notable (to me) for some of its qwerky titles. For
example, the full title of the episode you speak of was:

If A Body Needs A Body, Just Call Burke and Hare

and was broadcast originally on 12/2/53. 

I have a log and will try to get it posted.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Widner                      INTERNET: jwidner@[removed]
Dayton, OH                      WWW: [removed]
COMPUSERVE: 74566,3041          
AOL: JimWidner                            

                                                 

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

Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 23:52:48 -0400
From: bilj@[removed] (Bill Jaker)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: A pause for station identification
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

To answer a few queries about the origin of old-time radio call letters:
WJZ became WABC on Sunday, 1 March 1953.  The NBC Blue Network was sold in 
1943 but continued to identify itself as the Blue till about 1945, so the 
New York CBS station then called WABC felt the discomfort of bearing another 
network's initials for only about a year.

WNEW in New York was not named for comedian Ed Wynn.  This persistent bit of 
folklore may have originated in the fact that in 1934 WNEW purchased the 
studios of Ed Wynn's Amalgamated network, which failed after a month on the 
air in October, 1933.  WNEW did attempt to revive the network but abandoned 
the plan quickly.  By that time Ed Wynn was broke and so bitter about radio 
that he dropped out of the medium for the next few years.

WJZ named for Jacob Zimmerman?  I've been doing a lot of research into New 
York radio and haven't encountered the gentleman.  

In fact, if you're curious about how those old call letters were assigned 
there's an excellent article by Thomas White on Barry Mishkind's radio 
history home page.  To find it, ask your computer to jump to:
   [removed]
Tom's topic is primarily 3-letter calls, but this is the best history I've 
seen of call letter policy.  Highly recommended, if you're interested.  (Not 
recommended if the subject already bores you).

On another exciting [removed] The reference to FM on "Remember WENN" was 
thoroughly accurate.  By 1939 there were several experimental FM stations on 
the air, it was being hailed as the next breakthrough in radio and getting 
quite a bit of publicity.  But the character who mentions it sounds like 
he's never really heard an FM transmission.

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

Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 22:20:19 -0700
From: mcracken@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Who Was the Actor . . .
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

It is fun reading about the many things that happened some time ago in the
OTR era.  I  have a question about the male actors that played in many of
those drama shows.

First, on The Adventures of the Falcon, Inspector Corbett is always at the
scene of the crime with the Falcon.  At times Corbett sounds like Humphrey
Bogart, and other times like an early Peter Falk.  Anyone know who was the
voice of Inspector Corbett.

The other question is about the actor that plays the villanous "boss" on
many dramas.  He has a deep raspy gruff voice and sounds like a Broderick
Crawford.  I heard him just recently on a Sgt. Preston of the Yukon show
where he played the whaling ship captain that found a box from a sunken ship
and sailed his ship into the ice.  Many of the crew left and Sgt. Preston
came onboard and investigated. He was Captain Osborn in that show.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Dick

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

Date: 22 Aug 1996 01:54:32 GMT
From: kg@[removed] (KEN GREENWALD)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Crime Classics
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

This one's for George S. Cole and Larry Lewis:
George --- you are 100% correct. The radio show Larry Lewis remembers so well
is "If a body meeds a body, just call Burke and Hare." It was broadcast as
one episode of CRIME CLASSICS on December 2, 1953.
Larry --- I dubbed that show directly to tape from the original CBS Network
ET's (electrical transcriptions). These ETs were originally recorded directly
from the studio where the show was being aired LIVE, so the sound is a direct
line, full fidelity recording. 
Since you remember this show so well, I will be only too happy to send you a
copy off my 1st generation master tape. I rate this show at my highest
rating, which is  E+HiFi. There is some disc damage in the last 10 minutes of
the show, but this does not deter my rating.
Since this show runs only a half hour, there would be room for another radio
show on a cassette. I will gladly add another broadcast, such as the
wonderful "Diary of a Madman," from ESCAPE, starring Ben Wright, in a
tour-de-force job of superb acting. 
All I ask is that you post to my e-mail address where I can send the
cassette.
Simple as that.
Ken G.




--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V96 Issue #293
*******************************************

