------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2011 : Issue 11
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
This week in radio history 16-22 Jan [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Green Hornet a radio serial? [ "danhughes@[removed]" <danhughes@jun ]
Green Hornet movie [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Ma's earliest days [ "otrbuff" <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
Fred Foy & Jack Benny [ Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed] ]
Ma Perkins riddle solved [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
1-16 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Re: New Adventures of Michael Shayne [ "Jan Bach" <janbach@[removed]; ]
Re: o [ Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed] ]
MA PERKINS [ "Thomas Heathwood" <HeritageRadio@m ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:52:20 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 16-22 January
From Those Were The Days -
1/16
1939 The shrill siren call of radio's I Love a Mystery was heard for
the first time as the show debuted on NBC's West Coast outlets.
1/17
1938 Francis X. Bushman was the star of the program, Stepmother, which
debuted on CBS. The show continued on the air for the next four years.
1/18
1929 New York Daily Mirror columnist Walter Winchell made his debut on
radio, broadcasting a blend of political commentary and celebrity gossip
to "Mr. and Mrs. [removed]" His quick jabbing, penetrating manner
became his trademark. And so did wearing his fedora hat.
1937 CBS introduced listeners to Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories for
the first time. A complete story was told in five, 15 minute episodes
which aired Monday thru Friday each week. Aunt Jenny was played by Edith
Spencer and later, by Agnes Young. The show continued on radio until
1956 and was sponsored over the years by Spry shortening and Lux soap.
Aunt Jenny's whistling canary, for those of you ready to inquire, was
played by animal imitator, Henry Boyd.
1/20
1954 The National Negro Network was formed on this date. Some 40 radio
stations were charter members of the network.
1/21
1927 The first opera to be broadcast over a national radio network was
presented in Chicago, IL. Listeners heard selections from Faust.
1946 The Fat Man debuted on ABC. J. Scott Smart, who played the portly
detective, weighed in at 270 pounds in real life.
1/22
1956 Raymond Burr starred as Captain Lee Quince in the Fort Laramie
debut on CBS. The program was said to be in "the Gunsmoke tradition."
Joe
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:52:36 -0500
From: "danhughes@[removed]" <danhughes@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Green Hornet a radio serial?
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Both the New York Times and the Washington Post seem to think the radio Green
Hornet was a serial: NY Times: “The Green Hornet, based on an ancient
and much-adapted radio [removed]"
Washington Post: "The movie somehow manages not to marginalize or insult
Kato, a character who in the early "Hornet" radio serials ..." Have I missed
something? ---Dan, [removed]
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Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:53:34 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Green Hornet movie
Someone commented:
However, someone connected with the film deserves credit for paying homage to the source not once, but twice.
In one short scene there is an image of the Lone Ranger. And then as the end credits start,
there is one on the screen all by itself which reads "Based on the Green Hornet radio series,
created by George W. Trendle." They probably had to do that, but regardless of the reason it was nice to see.
George W. Trendle Jr., the owner of The Green Hornet, Inc., was an executive producer, hence the credit for
the creation of the radio show. It was in the contract to produce the series. Classic Media owns the rights to
The Lone Ranger and wanting to avoid any connection to The Lone Ranger (and avoid a lawsuit), the name of
Britt Reid's father, Dan Reid, was changed for the movie. But it appears they did work out a deal to feature
Lone Ranger merchandise in the background. My wife caught it, I didn't. You have to look carefully.
The Green Hornet movie is not based on the radio program, but rather the television incarnation. So if you
are going in expecting to see the radio version, and faithful, you'll be disappointed. Best way to view
the movie is to go in with no expectation and enjoy it for what it's worth.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:54:12 -0500
From: "otrbuff" <otrbuff@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Ma's earliest days
It won't change anything but just so we're all clear -- Ma Perkins
originated over WLW on August 13, 1933. In "The Great Radio Soap Operas" in
great detail I traced the fascinating history of that daytime drama's humble
start. When a serialized domestic comedy titled The Puddle Family failed to
stir detergent-buyers within range of WLW's 50,000-watt voice, hometown
soapmaker Procter & Gamble began to look for an alternative that "could" get
the job done. Larry Milligan, an account executive with an ad agency,
proposed a continuing narrative that would focus on a "helping hand"
protagonist -- a self-reliant widow whose family and friends leaned heavily
on her. She would be Oxydol's "own" Ma Perkins, the matriarch not only of
the Perkins brood but vicariously of the mythical Midwestern hamlet of
Rushville Center, and in some respects, of the world. Her wise counsel
would keep many a wanderer tethered to his roots in the 27 years ahead.
After the saga began to air in a test run, sales of Oxydol in Midwestern
supermarkets received an overnight infusion -- grocers couldn't keep it on
their shelves -- and the P&G brass knew it had found a winner. To
capitalize on its newfound cash cow, arrangements were made to transfer the
series to NBC in Chicago starting December 4, 1933. From there it would be
broadcast coast-to-coast and eventually heard in several more
English-speaking nations. Frank and Anne Hummert, radio's most prolific
producers, were engaged to oversee the new narrative when it moved to the
Windy City. Whether the counting system in place starts with December 4 or
August 14 is open to conjecture.
A question on this forum has come up in regard to program 423. Martin Grams
speculated that it "might" be the first or second broadcast in Jay
Hickerson's book. Without going back to listen, if Ma refers in #423 to
son-in-law Willie Fitz as a "no-account scalywag" then it probably is the
first or second broadcast starting Dec. 4. In time 23-year-old namesake
actress Virginia Payne put her foot down, insisting to producers and writers
that Ma required a much softer attitude instead of the edgy woman she was
then portraying who lived her life as an unapologetically spiteful divider.
That wasn't the Ma most of us remember, who became -- I'd bet the rent --
the most warmhearted, beloved figure in zillions of crafted plots swirling
about dishpan dramas. Her wisdom as the town sage, according to one
comparison, qualified her to be "Just Plain Bill in skirts."
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:54:22 -0500
From: Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Fred Foy & Jack Benny
In one of the Fred Foy interviews I'm enjoying,
he talks about MCing a USO show with Jack Benny,
that was recorded.
Does this exist anywhere?
thanks,
rob
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:54:29 -0500
From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Ma Perkins riddle solved
Larry Maupin<mpn_lrry@[removed]; commented:
On the [removed] under the category
"soap opera" (scroll down the right-hand side of the page to find the
category) is an episode of Ma Perkins ... In an accompanying article
Randy indicates that the show is from a transcription disc labeled "Pgm
#423"
You clicked on the wrong link. Click on "Ma Perkins" because there are
TWO episodes there, 423 and 424.
the announcer makes an interesting statement. He says.
"And so we meet her for the first time. Ma Perkins, in person."
But in the closing he says: "You'll love Ma Perkins every day as thousands of
other women have already learned to love her."
The characters and setting are introduced with a degree of detail
that seems to assume no familiarity with the show on the part of listeners.
The same is true about in pgm 424.
No date, commercials, or station or network identification is included.
Likewise, but your also see the recording studio info on the label.
Following Randy and Martin Grams' replies, I was about to launch into
some speculaton of my own, when I decided on my way back to the computer
to look in my 40 year old card file of notes for my PhD dissertation.
PAYDIRT!
On page 52 of the April 15, 1935 issue of Broadcasting is: "Augmenting
its NBC-WEAF series, "Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins", Proctor and Gamble Co.
Cincinnati, on April 1 began to spot transcriptions of the program on
WWL, KMOX, WIOO, WJAX, WFLA, WRVA, WHAM, WFBL, and KRLA. In all but two
of the cities the transcribed program is synchronized with the network
broadcast, being on the air at the same time. RCA Victor produced the
transcriptions, and Blackett-Sample-Hummert Inc. Chicago, handles the
account"
NOW I can speculate with authority. It is not the Canadian airings
from 1941, although Randy's speculation that it was possibly a
syndication disc or a rehearsal rather than the actual network broadcast
is quite good. Thus those statements by the announcer might not have
been heard on the network airing of the episodes.
Dave Goldin's guess of August 1935 is good, but I think we can safely
say that these are rehearsals before, or dubs of, the RCA Victor
syndication discs recorded for April 1 and 2 airings. Lacquer coated
discs had been introduced nationally in Oct 1934 (some from July 34 also
exist) but it took a while before studios converted over to them. March
and April 1935 would be more likely for an uncoated disc rather than
August, although it is still possible.
These labels state they are copies, and it is likely this uncoated
aluminum disc are dubbings of the RCA Victor pressings which would have
been on Victrolac Vinyl with matrix numbers identifying them, so Randy
is correct in speculating that this uncoated aluminum disc was not an
actual syndication disc but was a copy made for reference.
Martin mentioned that Jay Hickerson lists the first two episodes of Dec
4 and 5, 1933 in circulation, but unless those two episodes do actually
ALSO exist, it is probable that some dealer over the years speculated
that these programs were the first two because of the intro, and either
he did not have the disc or he also ignored the episode numbers AND the
CLOSING announcement about other women already loving Ma.
A little newspaper research in the above listed syndication cities might
tell us if the Broadcasting article means that the STORY is to be in
sync with the network day or if only the BROADCAST TIME need to be in
sync. I think it is probably the story. just like with the Amos 'n'
Andy syndication in 1928 and 29 when the recorded script had to be on
the same day as the live WMAQ airing. That would mean that these Ma
Perkins recordings were made weeks BEFORE April 1 and 2, 1935 for airing
on that date. If we had the actual syndication discs, the RCA Victor
matrix numbers would tell us that, just like we know the recording dates
of most of the 1929 Amos 'n' Andy syndication recordings because they
were done in batches and most of the recording sheets survived. MATRIX
NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT, AND RAND'S LABEL PHOTOGRAPHS FOR NON-PRESSED
DISCS ARE FANTASTIC HELPS.
So, I think the question is solved. These are dubs of the syndication
discs recorded for airing April 1 and 2, 1935 or a sample recorded
before that date to sell the project. They would be the first
SYNDICATED episodes, not the first episodes.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:54:36 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 1-16 births/deaths
January 16th births
01-16-1878 - Harry Carey, Sr. - NYC - d. 9-21-1947
actor: "Lincoln Highway"; "Suspense"
01-16-1890 - Lloyd Bacon - San Jose, CA - d. 11-15-1955
film director: "Screen Guild Theatre"; " Screen Director's Pla
01-16-1895 - Irene Bordoni - Ajaccio, Corsica, France - d. 3-19-1953
singer: (The Coty Playgirl) "The RKO Hour"
01-16-1895 - John B. Kennedy - Quebec, Canada - d. 7-22-1961
commentator: "Collier's Hour"; "RCA Magic Key"
01-16-1901 - Sid Silvers - Brooklyn, NY - d. 8-20-1976
actor: Beetle "Phil Baker Show"; "Jack Benny Program"
01-16-1907 - Alexander Knox - Strathroy, Ontario, Canada - d. 4-25-1995
actor: "Document A/777", BBC
01-16-1907 - John Hiestand - Madison, WI - d. 2-5-1987
announcer: "Amos 'n' Andy"; "Cinnamon Bear"; "Feg Murray Show"
01-16-1909 - Ethel Merman - Astoria, NY - d. 2-15-1984
singer" "Ethel Merman Show"; "Home Front Matinee"
01-16-1910 - Dwight Weist - Palo Alto, CA - d. 7-16-1991
actor: Mr. District Attorney "Mr. District Attorney"
01-16-1910 - Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean - Lucas, AR - d. 7-17-1974
baseball broadcaster: (Baseball Hall of Fame) "Game of the Day"
01-16-1914 - Don Ettlinger - Detroit, MI - d. 8-6-2000
writer: "Railroad Hour"; "Our Miss Brooks"; "Doctor Fights"
01-16-1914 - Roger Wagner - Le Puy, France - d. 9-17-1992
chorale director: "It's Time for Johnny Mercer"; "America Sings"
01-16-1916 - Joe McMichael - Minneapolis, MN - d. 2-12-1944
singer: (The Merry Macs) "Bing Crosby Show"; "Fred Allen Show"
01-16-1916 - Norval Taborn - d. 1-23-1990
singer: (The Vagabonds) "The Breakfast Club"
01-16-1917 - Brainerd Duffield - Boston, MA - d. 4-5-1979
writer: "The Ford Theatre"
01-16-1917 - Buddy Lester - Chicago, IL - d. 10-4-2002
comedian: (Brother of Jerry Lester) "Connee Boswell Show"
01-16-1920 - Elliott Reid - NYC
actor: Biff Bradley "Pepper Young's Family"
01-16-1922 - Lina Romay - NYC - d. 12-17-2010
latin singer: "The Bing Crosby Show"; "The Dick Haymes Show"
01-16-1923 - Roy Lanham - Corbin, KY - d. 2-14-1991
guitar: "Plantation Boys"
01-16-1924 - Allen Swift - NYC - d. 4-18-2010
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
01-16-1924 - Katy Jurado - Guadalajara, Mexico - d. 7-5-2002
actor: "George Fisher Interviews the Stars"
01-16-1928 - Pilar Lorengar - Zaragoza, Spain - d. 6-2-1996
soprano: "Ondas Infantiles"
01-16-1929 - Popeye the Sailor - d. will live forever
cartoon character: "Popeye"
01-16-1947 - Michale Falconer Anderson - Aberdeen, Scotland
author of radio plays
January 16th deaths
02-12-1888 - Victor Kolar - Budapest, Hungary - d. 1-16-1957
conductor: "Ford Sunday Evening Hour"
02-16-1911 - "Curly" Noland - Tennessee - d. 1-16-1993
bass: "The Swift Jewel Cowboys"
03-15-1927 - Carl Smith - Maynardville, TN - d. 1-16-2010
country singer: "Grand Ole Opry"; "Cas Walker's Radio Show"
03-23-1905 - Sidney Walton - Mississippi - d. 1-16-1958
announcer: "Arthur Tracy, Street Singer"; "Changing Times"
03-24-1907 - Martin Kosleck - Barkotzen, Germany - d. 1-16-1994
actor: "Treasury Star Parade"
03-25-1867 - Arturo Toscanini - Parma, Italy - d. 1-16-1957
conductor: "NBC Symphony Orchestra"
04-21-1923 - John Mortimer - London, England - d. 1-16-2009
author: "Rumpole of the Bailey"
05-03-1907 - Earl Wilson - Rockford, OH - d. 1-16-1987
columnist: "Earl Wilson's Broadway Column"
06-13-1908 - Carl Eastman - NYC - d. 1-16-1970
actor: "Mrs. Miniver"; "Renfrew of the Mounted"
06-26-1913 - Jack Moyles - San Francisco, CA - d. 1-16-1973
actor: Major Daggett "Fort Laramie"; Rocky Jordan "A Man Named Jordan/
Rocky Jordan"
07-03-1930 - Robert Robertson - St. Andrews, Scotland - d. 1-16-2001
actor: "Have Gun, Will Travel"
07-20-1911 - Bill Dillard - Philadelphia, PA - d. 1-16-1995
jazz trumpeter: "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts"; "Arthur Godfrey Time"
07-31-1892 - Herbert W. Armstrong - Des Moines, IA - d. 1-16-1986
preacher: "Plain Truth"; "The World Tomorrow"
09-01-1907 - Ray Barrett - NYC - d. 1-16-1973
announcer, newscaster: "Monitor"; "Talent Search, Country Style"
09-22-1875 - Guy Bates Post - Seattle, WA - d. 1-16-1968
actor: Ulysses S. Grant "Roses and Drums"
10-06-1908 - Carole Lombard - Fort Wayne, IN - d. 1-16-1942
actor: "The Circle"; "Hollywood Hotel"
10-10-1903 - Vernon Duke - Pskov, Russia - d. 1-16-1969
broadway composer: "Mildred Baily Show"; "Good News of 1940"; "March
of Time"
Ron
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:54:42 -0500
From: "Jan Bach" <janbach@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: New Adventures of Michael Shayne
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Hello again --
This link I discovered with Google,
[removed], gives
you nearly a complete picture of the Michael Shayne programs, with their
history of production, their record of cast changes, and suggestions about the
way the program changed over the years. Yes, Jack Webb was mentioned as an
uncredited supporting actor in the Jeff Chandler series, and I believe I have
heard Bill Conrad in another role in that later series. This is a much more
detailed description of the program than that supplied by John Dunning's "On
The Air," in most cases the best reference work for all things OTR.
yOurs TRuly,
Jan Bach
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Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:55:01 -0500
From: Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: o
As a few folks mentioned:
As the credits roll at the end of the movie, it says clearly "based on the
RADIO program". It also mentions the original creator of the series George
W. Trendle. I was delighted to see this when I watched it this morning.
Is there any mention or credit for Fran Striker?
Or is the radio equivalent of Stan Lee & Jack Kirby ?
rob
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:55:50 -0500
From: "Thomas Heathwood" <HeritageRadio@[removed];
To: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: MA PERKINS
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Randy Riddle has created an interesting puzzle re: Ma Perkins. His postings
of the audio of episodes 423 and 424
are truly engaging. The show started in 1933 on WLW in Cincinnati (as I
understand it) as a LOCAL show and didn't go to the NBC Network until ;later
that year.
WLW: August 14th- December 1st.
NBC December 4th and on for years and years
In 1942 it became a double network daily feature on NBC and CBS
It was also heard on MUTUAL concurrently during 1935-1936
Also broadcast on a syndicated basis, but don't have the dates. Suspect that
was in the 30's only.
Thus, the program actually could have had several "beginnings" at which time a
recap of the characters and storyline would have been appropriate. The shows
on his disk sounded like a syndicated version at first, but then I noticed
references to OXYDOL, which would seemingly eliminate that possibility.
However if it were a CANADIAN rebroadcast from disk, and OXYDOL was the
sponsor, this would fit.
I will be interested to see who offers a more definitive answer. The fact that
these shows were on an a
aluminum disk should make the puzzle a bit easier.
One question I would initially ask is: Was the original WLW show in 1933
sponsored by OXYDOL?
Tom Heathwood 1/16
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End of [removed] Digest V2011 Issue #11
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