Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #333
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 10/29/2005 12:07 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2005 : Issue 333
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      More kudos for FOTR 2005              [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
      Rex Stout                             [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@j ]
      Smoking glamorized                    [ "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed] ]
      free cigarettes                       [ "mike karp" <mkarp@[removed]; ]
      Re:OTR books                          [ Jim Widner <widnerj@[removed]; ]
      NBC Series "The Eternal Light"        [ Jim Widner <widnerj@[removed]; ]
      Still in the ether                    [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
      Re: Stetson Kennedy and Superman - M  [ "R. R. King" <kingrr@[removed]; ]
      Re: Stetson Kennedy and Superman - M  [ Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed] ]
      Re:Re: small cigarette packs          [ Don Shenbarger <donslistmail@sbcglo ]
      10-29 births/deaths                   [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:49:09 -0400
    From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  More kudos for FOTR 2005

    This is coming a little late, but I'd like to chime in with my praise
    for FOTR 2005. This was the first radio convention I've ever attended.
    (How I wish I'd gone 20+ years ago, when I first started collecting
    OTR! Alas, I was just a kid then, and I never knew any of these
    conventions existed until I joined this list a few years back.) It was
    a real treat putting faces to names, both for performers and many
    people who post on this list as well. And it was fun meeting a lot of
    the dealers, including those folks who write and publish a lot of the
    new great books coming out.

    The highlight, of course, was the recreations. I won't dwell on these
    since they've already been discussed, but did anybody else think that
    Jeff David's Shadow sounded uncannily like William Johnstone? Not the
    laugh, not his Lamont, but his speaking voice for The Shadow.

    Everything else about the recreations was great. I knew and expected to
    see great performanced from Simon Jones, Hal Stone, Fred Foy, etc., but
    I was unprepared for how much I enjoyed Donald Buka and Will Hutchins,
    both of whom gave wonderfully over-the-top performances. Meeting and
    chatting with Simon Jones (and getting him to sign my 24 year old copy
    of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first time I've ever asked
    for an autograph) was a real treat.

    My involvement in the convention was somewhat limited by the presence
    of our 13 month old son, Keaton--many of you who won't remember me or
    my wife probably recall seeing Keaton practicing his walking skills in
    the hallways. He listens to OTR every day in the car, but so far hasn't
    shown any preference for any particular show or genre.

    One quick question: Anthony Tollin played an early recording of Frank
    Readick as The Shadow, from 1931 or 32. He didn't identify the source.
    I think I recall an early serial film with Readick as narrator turning
    up recently; presumably this was the source of the recording? Or (hope
    against hope) has a pre-Welles Shadow episode turned up?

    If I wore a hat, I'd definitely take it off in honor of Jay Hickerson's
    success with this convention. He must have tremendous energy levels. My
    wife and I figure he must have been younger than we are now when he
    started these annual meetings, yet he must have more energy now, 30
    years on, than we currently do! So thanks, Jay, for doing it for us!

    On a final note, last night we popped the "30 years of FOTR" DVD into
    the player and watched for a bit. I highly recommend this to everybody,
    whether they've attended conventions or not. In fact, those who've
    never attended might get the most out of it, since it gives them a
    great idea of what these are like. The only sad thing, of course, is
    seeing all these faces that are no longer with us. (If it takes me
    another 22 years to attend a convention, who's going to be left to
    perform?)

    Kermyt

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

    Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 17:57:02 -0400
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr" <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Rex Stout

    Kenneth Clarke asks,

>     On the most recent mailing list, I noticed the name of Rex Stout listed
>     on the births/deaths list.  His credits listed him as the creator of Rex
>     Stout.  I'm a bit [removed]'t the creator of Nero Wolfe?

    Rex Stout created Nero Wolfe, but he also created Rex Stout.  I created
    Stephen Kallis, Jr., too, with help from my parents.  :-)

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 17:57:18 -0400
    From: "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Smoking glamorized

      Ted Kneebone made a good point about how smoking was being touted as a fun
    thing to do and giving free cigarettes really showed how far tobacco
    companies went in pushing their product. I remember listening to an OTR
    commerical that said 9 out of 10 doctors recommend Lucky Strikes which today
    would be major news if doctors were to recommend cigarettes today. You can't
    help but wonder how many have died from smoking since the 40's. It would be
    an astounding number I am sure.
    Andrew Godfrey

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

    Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 18:04:54 -0400
    From: "mike karp" <mkarp@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  free cigarettes
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    I remember geting those free little cigarette packs in airplanes with each
    meal served, and in the army every k ration had ,aside from the meal, a little
    cigarette pack
    mike karp

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 01:54:49 -0400
    From: Jim Widner <widnerj@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re:OTR books

    Ron Sayles wrote:
    "I knew that when I came out with my top ten, or is it twelve, olde
    tyme radio books I would ruffle some feathers. I have done just that.
    But, remember my disclaimer, I only listed books that I didn't
    consider reference works. "

    I have to agree with Ron, here. When referring to OTR books, one needs
    to be cognizant of the classifications here. Though actually, Ron, based
    on the above statement you made, you SHOULD have included Jim Harmon's
    book, which I don't consider a reference work, but rather a reminiscence.

    Reminiscences
    I think Jim Harmon did well (though it is dryer, I also like his
    McFarland book, "Radio Mystery and [removed] [not going to write one
    of those long McFarland titles]) and Gerald Nachman's "Raised on Radio" etc.

    Reference: (These fit also sometimes into Scholarly - I don't mean to
    take anything away from the authors, btw - the purpose is usually to
    chronicle the serial or genre)
    Jim Cox's books, Marty Grams Jr.'s books, Jay Hickerson, my own book on
    Science Fiction, etc.

    Scholarly: (these sort of also fit into reference, but go beyond to
    other purposes
    Elizabeth's Amos 'n' Andy book (More than about the serial, but also
    about social mores)
    Howard Blue's Words at War
    Susan Douglas
    Michelle Hilmes
    and others.

    So listing a top ten (or twelve) is to me somewhat an exercise in
    futility other than letting others know what might be out there.

    Disclaimer: I know I left some people off, possibly. That was not
    intended as a snub, but just to give an idea in the email of my
    thoughts. One could go on for a long time listing many of the books out
    there.

    Jim Widner

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 01:54:57 -0400
    From: Jim Widner <widnerj@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  NBC Series "The Eternal Light"

    Wanted to mention that my friend Eli Segal, former professor of
    Broadcasting and now media producer and radio historian, has written a
    book about the radio series "The Eternal Light."

    Eli's father had been a cantor on the radio series and Eli has a lot of
    inside information and insight into the series. In the beginning the
    series was written by the excellent radio writer Morton Wishengrad,
    whose equally excellent "Battle for the Warsaw Ghetto" was performed at
    last year's FOTR by the Gotham Radio Players, starred Alexander Scourby
    and was directed by Frank Papp, who was involved in many radio serials
    as director and producer.

    The forward to the book is by Dave Goldin and it is published by
    Yesterday Press.

    Eli, I might point out, was a great help to me and Meade Frierson when
    we wrote our book on Science Fiction on Radio. Eli was the producer of
    the radio series Future Tense.

    Jim Widner

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 01:56:11 -0400
    From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Still in the ether
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    It's going to take me some time to catch up on about two weeks of Digests, but
    I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everybody who helped make this
    year's FOTR the success it was. I'm still around.  My pal Jim Cox commented to
    me off-list that I've been uncharacteristically quiet lately. That shaving
    cream pie delivered by Soupy Sales hasn't affected my typing skills, or lack
    thereof.

    The convention, the time I took off to unwind from it,  & a birthday  this
    past Wednesday which I spent with conventioneers Brian Gari, Janet Cantor
    Gari, Cynthia Pepper, Joe Franklin, and Jerry Stiller,  have all taken their
    toll. I'm exhausted. At least we'll all be getting an extra hour of sleep this
    weekend.

    It was a nice promotional "in-store" at Tower Records. Brian even announced my
    birthday & gave me a free copy of the new Eddie Cantor DVD he was promoting.
    Now all I ned to do now is get around to acquiring  a DVD player.

    On a personal, off-topical, note: I'd like to salute my one-time fellow "Uncle
    Floyd Show" cast-mate Craig "Mugsy" Calam, who died of lung cancer here in
    [removed]  this past Monday (24) at the age of 56. One of his obits said he was a
    fan of OTR. Local NYers/NJ-ans who might remember "Floyd" might want to check
    out these links.

    Newark "Star--Ledger," 10-26-2005

    [removed];PersonId=15511463

    Yesterday's (27) "The Record" *Bergen County, NJ:

    [removed]

    Today's (28) "The Star-Ledger" (Newark NJ).

    [removed];coll=1

    "Good health to all!"

    Derek Tague

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 02:05:38 -0400
    From: "R. R. King" <kingrr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Stetson Kennedy and Superman - Myth?

>     I'd love to hear evidence of the Pearson story if it happened ...

    Can't really help you with Superman but a quick check of
    [removed] shows that Drew Pearson, a big foe of the KKK,
    was including Klan meeting minutes in his syndicated column,
    "Washington Merry-Go-Round," circa 1946-48. And he seems to have used
    similar material on the air. Here's an example, excerpted from an
    April '48 column:

    INSIDE THE KKK

    Minutes of the Ku Klux Klan-Klavern No. 1. Atlanta, April 12-Klansman
    Autry, co-owner of the Autry-Loundes Funeral Home, launched vigorous
    attack on Drew Pearson for announcing that the Klan would burn a cross
    at Augusta. All Klansmen were urged to catch Pearson's spy.

    "I will be glad to bury the rat free of charge, courtesy of the
    Autry-Loundes Funeral Home," offered Autry.

    Grand Dragon Green bemoaned the fact that for the second successive
    week there were no applications for reinstatement or new membership in
    Klavern No. 1. despite the fact that he had just launched a membership
    drive.

    "This is a hell of a way to start a membership drive," complained the
    Grand Dragon. He said he felt safe in announcing the details of the
    Augusta cross-burning since it was now Monday and too late for Pearson
    to get it on his Sunday broadcast. He proceeded to give out detailed
    instructions, for Klansmen to meet on the road outside Augusta. ...

    Here's a longer excerpt, from May '47, which mentions Stetson Kennedy,
    the exposure of  passwords, etc.:

    MINUTES OF THE KU KLUX KLAN -Klavern No. 1, Atlanta, Ga., April 14.
    Because of leaks a new card system was announced so no Pearson agents
    can smuggle themselves inside klan meetings.

    Each Klansman will be given a card with a number and letter, such as
    N-18, while each klavern will maintain a master ledger allocating a
    number and letter to each klansman's name. The ledger will be kept in
    strictest confidence and the Kligraff (secretary) of each klavern will
    be held responsible.

    Members announced with glee that if Pearson, Stetson Kennedy or one of
    their agents, should present themselves in disguise at a Klan meeting
    they could be detected by checking the bearer's card against the
    master ledger-even if they gave the proper password.

    Klansmen were urged to write their Senators and Congressmen to oppose
    the return of Negro babies from England to the United States. These
    are the babies born of white wives when American Negro troops were in
    England.

    A city policeman rose to say that in one Atlanta police station a list
    had been posted of the fathers of these babies and he was surprised to
    see that hundreds of the babies were fathered by ex-Governor Ellis
    Arnall, Drew Pearson and Governor Thompson. The policeman kept a
    straight face and some of those present seemed to believe him.

    Cliff Vitturs spoke at length on complaints received in several
    klaverns regarding Atlanta professors and teachers making derogatory
    remarks about the klan. He urged each klansman with children attending
    Atlanta schools to find out the names of teachers who had talked
    against the klan. Vitturs claimed he has the names of several teachers
    who are devoting a few minutes each day to criticising the klan and he
    proposed having them fired.

    Mr. Ransom, custodian of the Candler building, who presided as Acting
    Exalted Cyclops in Grand Dragon Green's absence, said he believed this
    anti-klan educational program is being put on without the knowledge of
    the school board. Ransom spoke at length on the danger of planting
    hate in children's minds against the klan. If this instruction were
    allowed to continue, he said, it would be impossible to get the
    younger generation to join the klan. This problem seemed to frighten
    klansmen more than anything else that has arisen lately. They listened
    even more carefully than during [an] attack on Henry Wallace.

    In recent interviews, Kennedy himself claims that he was leaking
    secret passwords to the Superman writers. But he's a pretty old guy --
    nearing ninety, I think -- and I'm wondering if fuzzy memories (and
    the lack of fact-checking by others) have confused his role. He may
    very well have been leaking "inside information" to folks like Pearson
    who used it on the air. And he may very well have contacted the folks
    behind the Superman series and had some influence on the "Fiery Cross"
    episodes. But perhaps he has misremembered and is conflating the two
    efforts. That's just a guess on my part, though.

    While reading up on all this, I ran across an interesting commentary
    on children's radio shows in the April 20, 1947 Washington Post.
    Here's four paragraphs I thought might be of interest:

    Of these late afternoon dramas for little people, Mutual's "Superman"
    has received most comment and most laurels--all in tribute to his
    year-old battle against intolerance. Praise has come to "Superman"
    from a chain of Negro newspapers, the National Conference of
    Christians and Jews, Greater New York Federation of Churches, Boys
    Clubs of America, United Parents Association of New York, Henry
    Wallace (then Secretary of Commerce) and last week an award from the
    Council Against Intolerance in America.

    "Superman's" move was brave and well-intentioned. (It could have
    caused its agency financial pangs and did drive the Grand Dragon of
    the Ku Klux Klan to try to get the sponsoring product, Pep, banned in
    his town.) But it is doubtful the results live up to the motivation.

    It is still a gun and gang show. Children care little whether the "bad
    guys" have broken the Sixth and Eighth Commandments or the Golden Rule
    as long as there's plenty of shooting. "Superman's" producers say they
    try to show that intolerance is planted and nurtured by groups with an
    ax to grind. It might have more value (though less excitement and
    consequently fewer listeners) if it dealt with intolerance as children
    consciously or unconsciously practice it themselves, rather than as it
    is practiced on a grand scale by organized adults.

    This technique of bringing the action down to the child's level can be
    dangerous when misused. It actually seems safer to have children
    listen to stories about gangland murders which they would rarely
    emulate, than to "Archie Andrews" (Saturday mornings over WRC), who
    last week got praised for setting the curtains on fire. That trick,
    any child might try.

    Hmm. So, apparently, given a choice between listening to gangland
    murder or Hal Stone, the Washington Post chooses ... murder!

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 02:18:11 -0400
    From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Stetson Kennedy and Superman - Myth?

    At 9:49 PM -0400 10/28/05, R. R. King is rumored to have typed:

>     a quick check of
>     [removed] shows that Drew Pearson, a big foe of the KKK,
>     was including Klan meeting minutes in his syndicated column

       MUCH thanks for the citations!

>     And he seems to have used similar material on the air.

       Anyone out there have audio copies of any of Pearson's programs from this
    timeframe which include this material? It would be great to hear shows
    containing this information.

>     In recent interviews, Kennedy himself claims that he was leaking
>     secret passwords to the Superman writers. But he's a pretty old guy --
>     nearing ninety, I think -- and I'm wondering if fuzzy memories (and
>     the lack of fact-checking by others) have confused his role.

       That's my concern; the New Republic article from 1947 seems to be the
    first mention of "secret passwords and rituals," which was apparently picked
    up and embellished over the years. I am _not_ trying to minimize Kennedy's
    anti-Klan work, only trying to determine if this "Adventures of Superman"
    story is accurate; and so far, it appears to be a well-intentioned myth. I
    like your proposition:

>     And he may very well have contacted the folks
>     behind the Superman series and had some influence on the "Fiery Cross"
>     episodes. But perhaps he has misremembered and is conflating the two
>     efforts.

       I won't be able to prove that, but I can (by listening to the entire
    1946/1947 show run) at least give it some credibility, or by finding one
    episode containing passwords or rituals, prove the original story correct.

              Charlie

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 02:18:36 -0400
    From: Don Shenbarger <donslistmail@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re:Re: small cigarette packs

    On 10/28/2005, Brent Pellegrini wrote:

>     -I've got a bunch of those little cigarette packs. I think they came in
>     the mail

    They were included in Red Cross packs to POW camps in Germany and Italy
    during WW-2 along with a cigar and a bunch of other stuff. Cigarettes were
    the currency in such camps and there have been several PhDs granted on the
    microeconomics of POW money supply effects as they were smoked between
    resupply.

    Don Shenbarger

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 14:01:43 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  10-29 births/deaths

    October 29th births

    10-29-1873 - Walter C. Kelly - Mineville, NY - d. 1-6-1939
    actor: (The Virginia Judge) "The Eveready Hour"
    10-29-1891 - Fanny Brice - New York, NY - d. 5-29-1951
    comedienne: Baby Snooks Higgins, "Baby Snooks"
    10-29-1894 - Jack Pearl - New York, NY - d. 12-25-1982
    comedian: Baron Munchausen "Baron and the Bee, Jack and Cliff, Jack Pearl Show"
    10-29-1897 - Hope Emerson - Hawarden, IA - d. 4-24-1960
    actress: Henrietta Topper "Advs. of Topper"; Elsie the Cow "Happy Island"
    10-29-1901 - Akim Tamiroff - Baku, Russia - d. 9-17-1972
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    10-29-1905 - Herbert Lateau - d. 3-xx-1984
    producer: "The National Farm and Home Hour"
    10-29-1910 - Lew Parker - Brooklyn, NY - d. 10-27-1972
    actor: John Bickerson "The Bickersons" "Mennen Shave Time with Lew Parker"
    10-29-1916 - Hadda Brooks - Los Angeles, CA - d. 11-21-2002
    pianist: "Jubilee"
    10-29-1921 - Ed Kemmer - Reading, PA - d. 11-9-2004
    actor: Buzz Corey "Space Patrol"
    10-29-1925 - Geraldine Brooks - New York, NY - d. 6-19-1977
    actress: "Hollywood Fights Back"; "Voice of the Army"
    10-29-1933 - Douglas Cameron - Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
    presenter: "Today"; "double act"

    October 29th deaths

    02-18-1890 - Adolphe Menjou - Pittsburgh, PA - d. 10-29-1963
    host: "Texaco Star Theatre"; "Eternal Light"; "Hallmark Playhouse"
    02-18-1917 - Jack Slattery - Missouri - d. 10-29-1979
    announcer: "House Party"; "You Bet Your Life"
    03-12-1905 - Milton Merlin - California - d. 10-29-1966
    writer: "The Halls of Ivy"; "The Man Called X"; "Presenting Charles Boyer"
    04-08-1921 - Franco Corelli - Ancona, Italy - d. 10-29-2003
    operatic tenor: "Gala Performance"
    05-16-1913 - Woody Herman - Milwaukee, WI - d. 10-29-1987
    bandleader: (The Thundering Herd) "Wildroot Show"
    06-07-1897 - Mann Holiner - Brooklyn, NY - d. 10-29-1958
    producer, director: "Baby Snooks Show"; "Frank Sinatra Show"; "Jubilee"
    06-14-1908 - John Scott Trotter - Charlotte, NC - d. 10-29-1975
    conductor: "Kraft Music Hall"; "Philco Radio Time"
    07-04-1885 - Louis B. Mayer - Minsk, Byelorussia, Russian Empire - d.
    10-29-1957
    film executive: "Good News of 1938/39"; "Songs By Sinatra"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
    07-06-1894 - Myra Marsh - Maine - d. 10-29-1964
    actress: Dora Foster "A Date with Judy"; Mother "My Friend Irma"
    12-14-1912 - Morey Amsterdam - Chicago, IL - d. 10-29-1996
    comedian: "Morey Amsterdan Show"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #333
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