Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #261
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 9/10/2007 9:28 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2007 : Issue 261
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      9-10 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
      OTR actors                            [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Re: public service announcements      [ Grams46@[removed] ]
      PPB Archives and Talent Agents        [ Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed]; ]
      Re: Death of President Roosevelt      [ "thomas heathwood" <HeritageRadio@m ]
      Re: War of the Worlds - new renditio  [ "Glenn P.," <C128User@[removed]; ]
      contacting celebrities                [ Ben Ohmart <benohmart@[removed]; ]
      contacting actors                     [ <vzeo0hfk@[removed]; ]
      Cooking Shows                         [ Bill Knowlton <udmacon1@[removed] ]
      "It don't mean a thing, if it ain't   [ Wich2@[removed] ]
      Remembing Red Skelton                 [ "Mark Kratzner" <hollywoodhoosiers@ ]
      Phyl Coe Mysteries                    [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2007 22:48:37 -0400
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  9-10 births/deaths

    September 10th births

    09-10-1879 - Jess Pugh - Andersonville, IN - d. 1-22-1962
    actor: Scattergood Baines, "Scattergood Baines"
    09-10-1885 - Carl Van Doren - Hope, IL - d. 7-18-1950
    author/lecturer: "New York Philharmonic Orchestra"; "Words at War"
    09-10-1886 - Sam Taub - NYC - d. 7-10-1979
    sportscaster: "Madison Square Boxing Bouts"
    09-10-1898 - Adele Astaire - Omaha, NE - d. 1-25-1981
    dancer, actor: (Fred's Sister) "Magic Key"; "Savings Bond Campaign"
    09-10-1900 - Francis Craig - Dickson, IN - d. 11-20-1966
    bandleader: "Spotlight Revue"
    09-10-1900 - Joseph Bentonelli - Sayre, OK - d. 4-4-1975
    operatic tenor: "Kraft Music Hall"; "Vick's Open House"
    09-10-1902 - Jim Crowley - Chicago, IL - d. 1-15-1986
    football all-american: (One of the Four Horsemen) "Kate Smith Hour"
    09-10-1904 - Emery Deutsch - Budapest, Hungary - d. 4-16-1997
    conductor: "Arabesque"; "Let's Pretend"
    09-10-1904 - John V. Aspe - d. 1-xx-1973
    tenor: WHN New York, New York
    09-10-1904 - Lyle Van - Troy, NY - d. unknown
    newscaster: "Lyle Van and the News"
    09-10-1907 - Alvin Childress - Meridian, MS - d. 4-19-1986
    actor: "New World A-Coming"
    09-10-1907 - Fay Wray - Alberta, Canada - d. 8-8-2004
    actor: Rosemary "Keeping Up with Rosemary"
    09-10-1909 - Raymond Scott - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-8-1994
    conductor, composer: "Your Hit Parade"; "Chicago Theatre of the Air"
    09-10-1909 - Ruth Yorke - NYC
    actor: Jan Arden "Jane Arden"; Belle Owen "Life Can Be Beautiful"
    09-10-1915 - Edmund O'Brien - Brooklyn, NY - d. 5-9-1985
    actor: Johnny Dollar "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"
    09-10-1915 - Vivian Della Chiesa - Chicago, IL
    singer: (America's Great Lyric Soprano) "American Album of Familiar
    Music"
    09-10-1916 - Dorothy Lowell - NYC - d. 7-1-1944
    actor: Sunday Brinthrope "Our Gal Sunday"; Linda Clark "Hilltop House"
    09-10-1917 - Jean Ruth Hay - Philadelphia, PA - d. 9-18-2004
    disc jockey: "Reveille with Beverly"
    09-10-1920 - Vivian Block - Brooklyn, NY
    actor: "Let's Pretend"; Ann Weston "Wilderness Road"; "Coast to Coast
    on a Bus"
    09-10-1922 - Emily Vass - Greenville, SC
    singer: (The Vass Family) "The Lady Next Door"; "Kraft Phenix Program"
    09-10-1934 - Charles Kuralt - Wilmington, NC - d. 7-4-1997
    sportscaster: "Junior Sports Parade"; "Sports Final"

    September 10th deaths

    01-31-1923 - Joanne Dru - Logan, WV - d. 9-10-1996
    actor: (Sister of Peter Marshall) "Lux Radio Theatre"
    04-01-1923 - Bobby Jordan - NYC - d. 9-10-1965
    actor: (The Dead End Kids) "Texaco Star Playhouse"; "Wheatenaville
    Sketches"
    04-12-1907 - Ivan Ditmars - Olympia, WA - d. 9-10-1997
    music: "Advs. of Frank Race"; "Dr. Christian"; "Escape"
    04-18-1924 - Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - Vinton, LA - d. 9-10-2005
    singer, guitarist: "Newport Jazz Festival"
    05-12-1912 - Everett Clarke - d. 9-10-1980
    actor: Flamond "Crime Files of Flamond"
    05-26-1905 - Fred MacKaye - Hackettstown, NJ - d. 9-10-1980
    actor, director: Monk Rice "Point Sublime"; "Lux Radio Theatre";
    "Romance"
    06-19-1932 - Pier Angeli - Cagliaru, Saradinia - d. 9-10-1971
    actor: "Louella Parsons Show"
    08-06-1881 - Leo Carrillo - Los Angeles, CA - d. 9-10-1961
    actor: Pedro "Grapevine Rancho"; "Four Frightened People"; "Good News
    of 1939"
    10-02-1914 - Charles Drake - Bayside, NYC - d. 9-10-1994
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Screen Director's Playhouse"
    10-16-1893 - Wilfred Lytell - NYC - d. 9-10-1954
    actor: Doc Barron "Just Plain Bill"; "Wings Over America"
    12-09-1905 - Dalton Trumbo - Montrose, CO - d. 9-10-1976
    writer: (member of infamous Hollywood Ten); "Arch Oboler's Plays"
    12-13-1904 - George Baxter - Paris, France - d. 9-10-1976
    announcer: "Grand Central Station"; "The Career of Alice Blair"
    12-30-1885 - Ed Jerome - NYC - d. 9-10-1959
    actor: Harry Blackstone "Blackstone, the Magic Detective"; Gregory
    Allen "Rich Man's Darling"

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2007 23:43:05 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR actors

    Lee Munsick commented:
    The reps instantly figure there is nothing in it for them and toss the
    request without
    consulting their client.  A number of such clients found this extremely
    annoying, and in one case I was told that rep was being fired because of
    this
    stuff.

    I have met a number of actors who have fired their agent or agents (some
    actors have more than one agent).  This is much more common than you would
    think and not an isolated incident.  I personally attempt to avoid agents as
    Lee is on the money.  Many times agents disregard a letter or request
    because there is nothing in it for them.  Heck, I know an agent who last
    year attempted to have her added to the bill ("you want my star, you have to
    pay for me to attend also") and wanted first-class airfare instead of coach,
    etc.  When the star was later informed that the invitation was withdrawn
    because the convention organizers could not deal with the agent, the actor
    fired her.

    It works both ways.

    Best suggestion is (in this order):
    1.  Find out if they have an "official" web-site.  I've contacted actors
    personally through that means.  If you're a fan, they may not reply
    personally but if you are a researcher or prominent convention organizer/TV
    producer, etc., you might get a reply.
    2.  Contact SAG, etc. and/or their agent if that's the only address you can
    find.
    3.  Do a 411 (don't use the phone - that costs too much).  You can use the
    internet to do a 411 and find someone.  You would be REALLY surprised who is
    listed in the phone book.  Do your research - women change their last names
    when they get married and knowing their married name improves your chances.

    Most importantly, respect their privacy.  If you get an address that is 100%
    guaranteed and you don't get a reply, leave it at that.  Some people get WAY
    too many letters and cannot answer them all.  If they agree to chat by phone
    for an interview, keep it brief and to the point, and one call only.  People
    have family lives.

    And keep it private.  They don't need their address or contact info slapped
    up on the web for all to see.  If an author or convention promoter asks for
    their info, by all means give it to them, but your next door neighbor and
    the people you work with at your daily 9-5 don't need that info.

    Reminds me of the time I asked two convention promoters once why they don't
    get so-and-so as guests.  (This was way many years ago.)  They told me they
    didn't have their contact info.  I gave it to them and half of the people I
    suggested they ended up getting as guests withint the next year or two.
    Later, when I learned that they had contact info for Turhan Bey, I asked if
    they could share his address because he did a radio pilot that the intention
    was he was going to be a regular star on the weekly series.  I was hoping
    Bey would know how he got the gig, and why the series never came to be.  I
    even had a copy I wanted to mail to him with the invite letter.  They
    wouldn't give me the address, stating "we have to respect other people's
    privacy."  Without saying a bad word or anything, I simply said, "okay, no
    problem," walked away and never gave them a bit of info any more.  Course,
    they don't operate a convention anymore as they lost a lot of support
    throughout the years after so I'm not surprised . . .

    Martin

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

    Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:11:14 -0400
    From: Grams46@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: public service announcements

    from "R. Steven Smith" gracchi@[removed]

>     ..... I find these PSAs  fascinating not infernal. PSAs on safe driving tips,
>     fire prevention and  civil defense give us a nice perspective into life
>     during the Cold War and  perhaps the over simplistic idealism of the times.
>     In addition the AFRTS PSAs  on state history, USAFI, patriotic civics and
>     American Folklore are little  jewels that I enjoy running across every time
>     I hear them.

    i LOVE those public service announcements.    they  are much more interesting
    and informative than cigarette ads  proclaiming more doctors smoke their
    brand than any other, etc.
    i first discovered psas when my father was stationed in japan  1957-1960.
    they were filler for commercials on the far  east network.   i do believe my
    love of history can be partially  attributed to the psas on fen.

    peace from kathy
    support our troops;  end the war
    john 3:16

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

    Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 07:55:05 -0400
    From: Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  PPB Archives and Talent Agents

    Michael Biel mentions the taking over of the PPB Radio Archives by the
    Thousand Oaks Library. Since I worked at the PPB Radio Archives from 1975
    till now, I think I have a bit more info on what might be happening. Though
    the article states that the TO Library is going to get all of the PPB
    Archives this may not be true. Yes, PPB is negotiating with the TO Library
    but no final decision has come down on this. Most of the scripts and paper
    work will be going to the Thousand Oaks Libary, but the actual ETs are still
    in the PPB Archives and will probably stay there long after the new TO
    building is built. At present PPB is working on how to get everything cleaned
    up from the PCB mess when the LA Dept. of Water and Power generator burned
    out. The ET room is separate from the rest of the archives and does not seem
    to have high levels of PCB. The PPB Board of Directors are contemplating
    every angle to preserve and save the archives, and (so far) involving the TO
    Library is only one of the ways. Marty Halperin, head of acquisitions for PPB
    has not given me any further word on final decisions. Thus, everything is
    still up in the air and the article is a little premature on what will happen.
    Stay Tuned ..... Same Time, Same Station for further info sometime in the
    future.

    Though there has been a great deal of comment on how to get "in touch" with
    radio actors, etc. through their agents and managers, one thing has not been
    mentioned (and I should have mentioned this before, but forgot): When
    contacting an agent or a manager, sending mail is not the best way. I forgot
    to mention that it is important to get the Agent/Manager's PHONE NUMBER! It
    is much better to talk to the agent on the phone than to send a letter.
    Personal contact, even if on a telephone, makes it more intimate and allows
    you to "guage" how receptive the agent/manager is to you ideas and your
    wants. This also allows the agent/manager (who is protecting his and his
    clients interest) to "guage" how genuine YOU are. If your good at
    negotiating, then there will be a give and take from both on the phone and
    you will usually get what you want.

    Ken Greenwald

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

    Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 07:58:32 -0400
    From: "thomas heathwood" <HeritageRadio@[removed];
    To: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Death of President Roosevelt
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    Following up questions of a couple of weeks ago in Issue 248 re: The radio
    announcements of the death of President Roosevelt - I located this definitive
    answer by Elizabeth McLeod, from a few years ago:

    "White House press secretary Steve Early alerted the wire services by
    conference call at 5:47 pm EWT on the 12th -- more than two hours after the
    President had passed away -- and the first bulletin moved over INS before he
    had finished his first sentence. ("FLASH -- WASHN -- FDR DEAD") AP and UP
    waited until Early was finished, and at 5:49 fed their own flashes.

    These flashes went on the air almost instantly on each of the networks. NBC
    broke into "Front Page Farrell," CBS interrupted "Wilderness Road," Blue/ABC
    broke into "Captain Midnight," and Mutual's bulletin interrupted "Tom Mix."
    For the most part, it would appear that the kids of America were the first to
    learn of the President's death!"

    Tom Heathwood - Heritage Radio Theatre / The Olde Tyme Radio Network

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    Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 07:59:06 -0400
    From: "Glenn P.," <C128User@[removed];
    To: Old-Time Radio Mailing List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: War of the Worlds - new rendition

    I am definitely a "War Of The Worlds" Panic Broadcast fan (and can quote
    long stretches of the show from memory) but I have absolutely NO interest
    in seeing it made into (of all things!) a rock album. I have very little
    interest in rock unless it's of the Simon & Garfunkle variety.      :)

    But thanks for the "heads-up" -- presumably there are SOME people here
    who will be [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:54:18 -0400
    From: Ben Ohmart <benohmart@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  contacting celebrities

    I've left a few messages on [removed] and once it did
    lead to a good thing - eventually, contact info for
    Judy Canova's daughter. But my best way of finding
    people was to pay for an online people search (they
    aren't That much) which is Much better than the free
    people search that [removed], etc. has. And of course
    asking people Here and other mailing lists can help a
    lot too.

    Some celebrities, and families of, are actually listed
    in the phone book. Did you know that Daws Butler was
    in the phone book all his life? Of course once you get
    to them, you have to hope they answer! Phone calls
    work much better than writing. The only Big person I
    could never get to cooperate in any of my books was
    Stan Freberg.

    Ben Ohmart
    New books on the old stuff
    [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:54:30 -0400
    From: <vzeo0hfk@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  contacting actors

    One more thing about contacting actors--

    Depending on how well known the person is, they may delay replying a long
    time. After months of waiting, I gave up hope of hearing from Olivia de
    Havilland for whom I had some questions when I was researching a book. Then
    almost a full year after I wrote to her, I received a reply.

    Howard Blue
    [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:44:35 -0400
    From: Bill Knowlton <udmacon1@[removed];
    To: "radio, oldtime" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Cooking Shows
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    I grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York; famous for radio people being
    residents in the 1920s, and Helen (Boop-Boop-a-Doop) Kane too!!

    I was recently doing research in "Jackson Heights News" editions of the '20s
    and noted that there were many references to broadcasts being done by resident
    cooks Ida Bailey Allen and Alma Kitchell. I think Alma was also on early NYC
    [removed] KNOWLTON, "Bluegrass Ramble," Sundays: 9 pm to midnight (EDST)
    over WCNY-FM ([removed]) Syracuse, WUNY ([removed]) Utica, WJNY ([removed]) Watertown NY,
    also: [removed]

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    Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:19:09 -0400
    From: Wich2@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  "It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that - "
     ("bling?")

    Dear Lee & gang-

    From: _verotas@[removed]_ (mailto:verotas@[removed])

>     There are  certain people who NEVER respond to
>     inquiries ...  I always found this  especially irksome when we
>     at FOTR were urging them to come to our weekend  near New York where they
>     could get together with friends - travel and  convention hotel and meals at
>     our expense - plus be honored in a large  convention

    But - to their way of thinking - you weren't actually PAYING  them.

    Wait! Don't get the torches and pitchforks just yet; listen:

    I have had the honor to work with many Old Pros - both at FOTR, and
    elsewhere.
    And I've been kicking around among fellow Actors in NYC for 30 years  [removed]

    That strange animal ranges in type between two extremes -

    Type 1 says: "A chance to play a role I love, and/or work with people I
    admire? Just tell me where and when!"
    (With not even a question about Time - or Pay - involved.) These folks are
    what Charles Laughton always called himself: "an Amateur, in the literal
    sense
    of the word: I do it because it is my Love."

    Type 2 says: "What does it pay?
    (And, secondarily: "How well will I be seen? How much of my time will  it
    take? I frankly don't give a goodgoddam about the "art" of the role, or  the
    others involved.")

    (Those of you folks who know me, know that I am, alas, a poor sufferer  of
    "Type 1 Disease"; my soul is fed much better by my calling than my  body!)

    But BELIEVE me, I'm speaking the truth here about both kinds;  the things
    I've attributed to "#2s" are quotes I've actually heard.

    (Some of you may recall the famous story that Stan Laurel, hardworking old
    English Music Hall Vet, was actually seething with resentment during his
    famous
     "This Is Your Life!" appearance: "This man is getting a Laurel & Hardy
    performance for FREE!")

    Again, before you scream "No!" -

    In partial defense of the #2s: sometimes it helps to remember that actors
    are just human, and acting is just a career. If YOU, as a plumber, or
    accountant, or doctor, etc., were asked: "take this job - work hard - but
    there  will
    be no salary [removed]"

    - What would your first response be?

    There's an odd tendency of many in the US (which makes my Classical Singer
    wife livid) to think that Artists don't need to earn their bread and board  by
    the sweat of their brow, like "normal people."

    All best,
    -Craig

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

    Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:21:15 -0400
    From: "Mark Kratzner" <hollywoodhoosiers@[removed];
    To: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Remembing Red Skelton
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    Coming up is the 10th anniversary of Red Skelton's death on Sept 17th. I am
    listening to Avalon Time right now. I would welcome any details on the show's
    cast. Looking for info on Jeanette and Bud Vandover 'Hercules'.

    Mark Kratzner
    Hall of Hollywood Hoosiers
    Vincennes, IN  Hometown of Red Skelton

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    Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:11:37 -0400
    From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Phyl Coe Mysteries
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           I just heard about "The Phyl Coe Mysteries" and for some reason,
    there seem to be quite a few similarities (for me at least) to "Ellery
    Queen".  Both included a mystery writer, allowed the radio audience to
    solve the crime before the main character did, and both of the main
    characters had a close relationship with the person who helped them with
    the case.  According to Jack French's book "Private Eyelashes", the "Phyl
    Coe" program was different in that the radio audience had to get a book
    from their local Philco radio dealer (the program's sponsor) and the "Ellery
    Queen" program had two celebrity armchair detectives who made their
    guesses as to the solution of the crimes before he gave the solution himself.
    Also, his book said that the victims on each program were killed in different
    ways.  On the "Phyl Coe" program, it was up to the imaginations of the
    writers
    how the victim was killed.  On the "Ellery Queen" program, they pretty much
    stuck with the usual ways.

           My question is, "Are there any more similarities/differences between
    the
    two programs?"

           Wouldn't this make the "Phyl Coe Mysteries" more confusing, having to
    wait
    for another week to see if their solution was correct?  Wouldn't today's
    OTR collectors have to get two weeks worth of eps in order to see how it
    turned
    out?

    Another OTR Fan,

    Kenneth Clarke

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    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #261
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