Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #65
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 2/27/2005 4:19 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2005 : Issue 65
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Let's Pretend part II                 [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      The Shadow of BILL JOHNSTONE          [ Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@earthlin ]
      Duffy's Tavern                        [ Illoman <illoman@[removed]; ]
      Ed Sullivan Entertains and ABC Radio  [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
      recreations of sports                 [ "Mike Hobart" <zines50@[removed]; ]
      Let's Pretend Book & Martin Grams     [ "HOWARD BLUE" <khovard@[removed]; ]
      Bill Johnstone                        [ "HOWARD BLUE" <khovard@[removed]; ]
      2-27 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      ON A NOTE OF TRIUMPH                  [ "HOWARD BLUE" <khovard@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2005 20:10:09 -0500
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Let's Pretend part II

    Patrick asked:

>     I have assembled a large collection of let's pretend and I am trying to sort
>     them all out.
>     I have also had some trouble locating web references to the Lps which were
>     cut. I have located Stereo Dimensions Records #101 and TeleGeneral107 and
>     120.
>     If anyone has additional information or could point me to web references it
>     would be greatly appreciated.
>     I have contacted the Reference section of the NY Public Library for some
>     information from the "Billy Rose Collection" but I have not yet had an
>     answer.

    The staff at Billy Rose can help you out, but you have to be there as they
    don't perform much along the services for people who are not present to look
    at the collections.  Their research staff doesn't service for people outside
    the library.  if you travel to the library, they'll let you have access to
    what you want to know.

    Secondly, the collection you are probably referring to is the Nila Mack
    papers, and you'll find nothing about the LP records you described.  Not in
    that collection, at least.

    For all the information you'd want to know about the LP Records and the
    dates and sponsorship issues of LET'S PRETEND, I recommend Arthur Anderson's
    book on the subject, available at [removed].  That'll help you
    out greatly.  David Goldin's page on LET'S PRETEND was recently revised
    about eight months ago as a result of the publication of the book (Dave had
    a preview of the log months before the book got published) and he used all
    available references to put an accurate date on the episodes he previously
    only had a month and year or no date at all.  it's still not 100% complete,
    but his list does date most of the circulating shows accurately.

    If you want a copy of the LP records available on CD, Fred Berney and his
    wife Ellen on this Digest [removed] actually has many of the children
    records available on CD and he may just have LET'S PRETEND.  Worth checking
    out because he also has Great Gildersleeve narrating LP records, and other
    OTR-related CDs.
    Martin

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

    Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 10:19:29 -0500
    From: Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  The Shadow of BILL JOHNSTONE

    on 2/26/05 7:10 PM, [removed]@[removed] at
    [removed]@[removed] wrote:

>     My current question is this-was Bill Johnstone, the fabulous radio actor of
>     "The Shadow" fame (as well other great supporting character roles too
>     numerous to mention), the same person who played on the TV soap opera "As
>     The World Turns" in the original 1956 cast, playing Judge James Lowell until
>     1978?

    ***The William Johnstone who starred as Judge Lowell for 23 years on AS THE
    WORLD TURNS was indeed the same fine actor who starred in radio's THE
    SHADOW, THE LINEUP and THE WHISTLER (during the 1948 national summer season)
    and played supporting roles on THE LUX RADIO THEATRE, DRAGNET and Jimmy
    Stewart's THE SIX SHOOTER.  During the latter years of his TV run as he
    patriarch of the Lowell family, Bill would occasionally have lunch with his
    former SHADOW castmates, Ken Roberts and Dwight Weist, who were both
    announcing other CBS soap operas in the same building.

    One of my great disappointments is that I wasn't able to get Johnstone to
    perform in my first SHADOW cast reunion at the 1983 FRIENDS OF OLD-TIME
    RADIO CONVENTION.  Both Ken Roberts and Dwight Weist tried to get him to
    attend the reunion, which also featured Margot Stevenson and Gertrude
    Warner, Sidney Slon, Jackson Beck, Arnold Moss, Arthur Anderson, Dick Osgood
    (a veteran of the 1930-31 DETECTIVE STORY cast) and organist Rosa Rio.

    What's out there on Bill Johnstone at the moment is pretty sketchy, though I
    did three long phone interviews with him that I've incorporated in a planned
    book on THE SHADOW, a follow-up to THE SHADOW SCRAPBOOK.  Meanwhile, I
    recommend fans of Mr. Johnstone's work watch for TV airings of MY FAVORITE
    SPY, in which star Bob Hope is receives strong support from radio-Shadows
    John Archer and Bill Johnstone (portraying government agents in the same
    scenes) and frequent Shadow-villains Arnold Moss and Luis Van Rooten.
    --ANTHONY TOLLIN

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

    Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 10:20:47 -0500
    From: Illoman <illoman@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Duffy's Tavern

    On Saturday, February 26, 2005, at 08:11 PM,
    [removed]@[removed] wrote:

>     1941 - Duffy's Tavern debuted on CBS.

    Easily my favorite OTR comedy show. I have one episode where Jimmy
    Durante basically runs the show. Archie is no where to be found,
    although Jimmy talks to him on the phone in this episode. This wasn't
    when Ed gardner had his tonsils out, though. Does anyone know why Ed
    missed this show?

    Mike

    [removed]~illoman

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

    Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 10:21:06 -0500
    From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Ed Sullivan Entertains and ABC Radio Archives

    Seth Paridon mentions looking for the program Ed Sullivan Entertains of
    September 27, 1943 on WABC Radio and asked of anyone know where to find the
    ABC radio archives.  Well, the ABC discs were split between the National
    Archives (news type stuff) and SPERDVAC (entertainment type stuff) but that
    won't help you.  In 1943 WABC was still the call letters of the flagship
    NYC station of the CBS network.  The NYC station of The Blue Network, later
    known as ABC, was still known as WJZ.   The call letter changes took place
    several years later.

    Michael Biel   mbiel@[removed]

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

    Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 10:21:18 -0500
    From: "Mike Hobart" <zines50@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  recreations of sports

    In Australia, cricket matches were treated the same way.   Before outside
    broadcasts were common, announcers would re-create matches from other states
    or other countries by using telegrams sent by correspondents at the game.

    I've seen old newsreel footage of it being done and it's surprising to see
    how serious the ABC announcers were during the broadcast.   I guess they
    knew there were millions listening and they couldn't afford to fumble.

    My grandfather bought a radio for the first time so he could listen to the
    test match being played in England and broadcast overnight in Australia.   I
    suppose that they would have been re-created, but it wouldn't have been
    known publicly at the time.

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

    Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 10:51:33 -0500
    From: "HOWARD BLUE" <khovard@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Let's Pretend Book & Martin Grams

    Re  Martin [removed] comments about the new version of Arthur Anderson's
    wonderful "Let's Pretend" book.

    While touting the book,  Martin identified Derek Tague as one of the two
    fans who contributed to the log in the new version but failed to identify
    himself as the other contributor. I've long admired Martin's ambition and
    research efforts.

    But it would have been more appropriate and ethical if while touting the
    book Martin disclosed his own interest in it as a contributor.

    Howard Blue

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

    Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 13:36:03 -0500
    From: "HOWARD BLUE" <khovard@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Bill Johnstone

    Bill Johnstone also played the role of a kindly chaplain in the series,
    Chaplain Jim produced by the Hummerts.

    The following is an excerpt from my book, WORDS AT WAR (Scarecrow Press,
    2002) ( see [removed] )

    Chaplain Jim focused on a fictional religious chaplain, a kindly young man
    who served in both Europe and in the Pacific theater of the war.  . . The
    Hummerts conceived of Chaplain Jim as a show for a special audience. They
    directed it at the little educated, anxious ones who could not quite
    understand why Uncle Sam had taken their loved ones and sent them to faraway
    places. Most of the young soldiers whose families were the show's target
    audience had never been outside the limits of their home towns or counties
    prior to being drafted. Chaplain Jim was designed to put their loved ones at
    ease. The notion that there was someone else to whom a troubled soldier
    could turn besides an often unsympathetic sergeant was a source of comfort
    to mothers and wives.

    Chaplain Jim, the character, became a real "Living Friend" in the minds of
    thousands. They were encouraged to write to him personally to tell him their
    problems. Many did so. They complained of not hearing from their loved one
    in the service--or of feeling stranded or deserted even if they were
    receiving letters. The Adjutant General's office answered each letter. It
    also frequently put a follow through to military channels. It is difficult
    to statistically calculate the show's success. But Edward Kirby claimed that
    the show and the follow up prevented tens of thousands of homes from
    breaking up. He similarly credited it with preventing numerous soldiers from
    going AWOL or committing other acts of disobedience. There was one aspect of
    listener reaction that could be measured quite objectively. The "Chaplain"
    was so real to so many listeners each week that they sent him candy, home
    made cookies and donations of cash to carry on his work.

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

    Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 16:14:00 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  2-27 births/deaths

    February 27th births

    02-27-1880 - Georgia Burke - Atlanta, GA - d. 11-28-1985
    actress: Lily "When A Girl Marries"
    02-27-1888 - Lotte Lehmann - Perleberg, Prussia, Germany - d.
    10-24-1976
    soprano: "Command Performance"; "Concert Hall"; "Here's to Veterans"
    02-27-1891 - David Sarnoff - Minsk, Russia - d. 12-12-1971
    executive: National Broadcasting Company"
    02-27-1892 - William Demarest - St. Paul, MN - d. 12-28-1983
    actor: Mr. Cobb "Cobbs"; "Eddie Bracken Show"
    02-27-1894 - Frank Munn - The Bronx, NY - d. 10-1-1953
    singer (The Golden Voice of Radio) Paul Oliver "Palmolive Hour"
    02-27-1894 - Upton Close - Kelso, WA - d. 11-14-1960
    commentator: "Events and Trends of the Week"; "Close-Ups of the :News"

    02-27-1902 - Gene Sarazen - Harrison, NY - d. 5-13-1999
    golf legend: "Tops in Sports"

    02-27-1902 - John Steinbeck - Salinas, CA - d. 12-20-1968
    novelist: "Radio Hall of Fame"; "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Screen
    Director's Playhouse"
    02-27-1903 - Reginald Gardiner - Wimbledon, Surrey, England - d.
    7-7-1980
    actor: "Document A/777"
    02-27-1905 - Franchot Tone - Niagara Falls, NY - d. 9-18-1968
    actor: "Arch Oboler Plays"; "Free Company"; "Knickerbocker Playhouse"
    02-27-1907 - Kenneth Horne - England - d. 2-14-1969
    comedian: "Round the Horne"; "Ack Ack Beer Beer"; "Beyond Our Ken"
    02-27-1907 - Mildred Bailey - Tekoa, WA - d. 12-12-1951
    singer: (Rockin' Chair Lady) "Mildred Bailey Show"; "Camel Caravan"
    02-27-1909 - Carl Frank - d. 9-23-1972
    actor: Jerry Malone "Young Dr. Malone"; Bob Drake "Betty and Bob"
    02-27-1910 - Joan Bennett - Palisades, NJ - d. 12-7-1990
    actress: "Ford Theatre"; "MGM Theatre of the Air"; "Skippy Hollywood
    Theatre"
    02-27-1913 - Irwin Shaw - NYC - d. 5-16-1984
    author: "Columbia Workshop";"Studio One"; "The Gumps"
    02-27-1915 - Donald Curtis - Cheney, WA - d. 5-22-1997
    actor: Michael Shayne "Michael Shayne"
    02-27-1923 - Dexter Gordon - Los Angeles, Ca - d. 4-25-1990
    saxophonist: "Newport Jazz Festival";"White House Jazz Festival"
    02-27-1927 - Guy Mitchell - Detroit, MI - d. 7-1-1999
    singer: "Stars On Parade"; "1957 March of Dimes Galaxy of Stars"
    02-27-1932 - Elizabeth Taylor - London, England
    actress: "Theatre Guild On the Air"; "Lux Radio Theatre"

    February 27th deaths

    01-20-1899 - Joseph Buloff - Vilnius, Lithuania - d. 2-27-1985
    actor: Barney Glass "House of Glass"
    02-25-1908 - George Duning - Richmond, IN - d. 2-27-2000
    composer: "Bud's Bandwagon"
    04-16-1918 - Spike Milligan - Ahmednagar, India - d. 2-27-2002
    comedian: Eccles the Idiot, Miss Minnie Bannister, Count Moriarty
    "Goon Show"
    06-01-1915 - John Randolph - NYC - d. 2-27-2004
    actor: "New World A' Coming"; "A Date with Judy"
    06-16-1885 - Tom Howard - County Tyrone, Ireland - d. 2-27-1955
    comedian: "It Pays to Be Ignorant"; "Sunday Night Party"
    07-14-1901 - George Tobias - NYC - d. 2-27-1980
    actor: "Cavalcade of America"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
    10-14-1893 - Lillian Gish - Springfield, OH - d. 2-27-1993
    panelist: "Arthur Hopkins Presents"; "Texaco Star Playhouse";
    "Suspense"
    12-31-1897 - Orry-Kelly - Kiama, New South Wales, Australia - d.
    2-27-1964
    costume designer: Intermission Guest "Lux Radio Theatre"
    12-31-1914 - Pat Brady - Toledo, OH - d. 2-27-1972
    sidekick, stooge: "Roy Rogers Show"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 16:14:27 -0500
    From: "HOWARD BLUE" <khovard@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  ON A NOTE OF TRIUMPH

    I'm still trying to identify any recreations of Norman Corwin's ON A NOTE OF
    TRIUMPH that may have been done since the original broadcastin May 1945.
    Please contact me at Khovard@[removed]" My thanks to Richard Fish for
    informing me of what he knew about some (including a couple which are being
    planned for May)

    (And my thanks to Jim Widner for posting the first query on my behalf under
    the subject "Howard Blue"--I'm reposting on the hope that some of you who
    might not have read the posting under that heading will see this one)

    HB

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #65
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