------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2004 : Issue 83
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
OTV and OTR [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
Andrews Sisters [ kclarke5@[removed] ]
OTR in Kansas City [ "Nicoll" <nicoll@[removed]; ]
Re: The Final Problem [ JayHick@[removed] ]
In times like these [ vigor16@[removed] ]
Laura's Question and mine [ Conrad Binyon <conradab@[removed] ]
Rudy Valee Variety Show [ wa5pdk@[removed] ([removed] L.) ]
Louie Van Rooten [ William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
Nobody Died [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
Some Thoughts on the 1945 Code-O-Gra [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
Ann Landers and Dear Abby [ Mark J Cuccia <mcuccia@[removed]; ]
Jim Cox [ chris chandler <chrischandler84@yah ]
1st Frank Nelson appearance? Yeeeees [ Alan/Linda Bell <alanlinda43@yahoo. ]
Bob and Ray--Tom Koch [ "evantorch" <etorch@[removed]; ]
Re: Early Sherlock Holmes [ "Michael Ogden" <michaelo67@hotmail ]
THE CLASSIC RADIO SHOWS [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
3-8 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 13:39:11 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OTV and OTR
Penne Yingling, speaking of and Penne Yingling, notes,
Just as we're now able to obtain copies of most OTR shows, we're able as
time goes on, to obtain copies of the older TV shows. <snip> These are
not expensive at all; however, some - like Perry Mason and Alfred
Hitchcock - are a little high for my bank account at the moment. But,
they'll come down in price eventually. I still prefer the old radio
shows, though, since you can put those on & go about doing other things.
With TV, you have to stay put or miss something, maybe.
In some bargain racks, one can find DVDs of some of the old TV shows,
including You Bet Your Life, which was more or less "simulcast" on OTR
and OTV (there were differences, because radio couldn't stand the
silences while Groucho mugged for the camera and audience). These can be
found on the bargain racks in many budget stores at $[removed] or less.
As far as watching versus listening, it's perhaps better to recall that
in the days of OTR, pre-television, the visual entertainment was a
usually weekly visit to the local movie emporium, whereas radio was the
primary entertainment resource. As it happened and happens, dramatic and
other OTR programs freed up sight so that one *could* do other things
while listening to favorite shows. (My late father could multitask and
often read a book while listening to a program and be entertained by
both.) With television, to be sure, one looks, which ties up the
primary human sense, that of sight. In our house, we have several
television sets all tuned to the same station so if there's something
we're really interested in following, we can "set hop" as we're doing
other things.
But pitting early TV with OTR is an exercise that we've done many times
before.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 13:39:23 -0500
From: kclarke5@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Andrews Sisters
Are there any Andrews Sisters still living? I was just
just wondering. I don't need to know where they're living or
anything, just which one (Patti, Maxine or Laverne)?
BTW, which one was which? As I understood it each one
had a different hair color (one blonde, one redhead, and one
brunette). Is this just an urban myth, of sorts, or not.
BTW, thanks for the call letters to the radio station
which carry OTR programs. I'm looking forward to checking them
out!
Wishing you the best in OTR,
Kenneth Clarke
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 14:03:09 -0500
From: "Nicoll" <nicoll@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: OTR in Kansas City
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X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Kenneth you're lucky - I was listening to KFEQ 680 St. Joseph, which
about 60 miles north of Kansas City, and they reported they were going
air 5 hours of OTR every Sunday at 7pm. Will Nicoll
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------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 14:05:18 -0500
From: JayHick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: The Final Problem
In a message dated 3/7/04 1:43:47 PM, Irene writes:
There was a program on 5/19/32 but it is usually noted as 'Title Unknown'.
According to a Log by Gordon Kelley in 1990, 5/19/32 is titled "The Final
Problem" and 1/18/33 is entitled "Her Majesty's Wine Cellar" Jay
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 14:23:55 -0500
From: vigor16@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: In times like these
Hi all,
Does anybody know of a radio program where the song "In times like these"
may have been performed on. I went to the author's home bage that said
it was written during WW11, so I thought I'd see if I could find it
performed in its era.
Thanks much,
Make a new friend every day
Deric
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 15:09:33 -0500
From: Conrad Binyon <conradab@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Laura's Question and mine
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X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Laura Leff asked Dan:
"Hey, do you know how they make the sound of a match strike?" He said that
he didn't, and I demonstrated by tearing a little piece of paper in half.
Don't know how impressed he was, but I thought it was pretty cool.
And MY queastion is: I wonder how many folks after reading the above reached
for and tore in half a little piece of paper to notice how similar the sound
was to that of a striking match?
CAB
---
conradab@[removed] (Conrad A. Binyon)
Encino, CA
Home of the Stars who loved Ranches and Farms
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------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 16:14:08 -0500
From: wa5pdk@[removed] ([removed] L.)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Rudy Valee Variety Show
I have been impressed with the large number of radio personalities who
got their initial break by being of the Rudy Valee show. I first
noticed this when I prepared my Bob Burns and Friends Radio Humor site.
After that, I kept reading how various big name stars were introduced to
a national audience in this manner.
I remember when Rudy's trademark was a megaphone which he used in the
days prior to the stage microphone. He was perhaps the first of the
bobby sox idols.
During WW2, Rudy served in the Coast Guard. I do not recall his name
mentioned much in the years after that.
Just a passing observation,
~Ralph
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 19:01:45 -0500
From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Louie Van Rooten
I see the name of Louie VanRooten pop up as being in the cast of old time
radio shows and thought you might be interested in who he was. During my
high school years( I graduated in 1933) I was the lighting director for
the Chagrin Valley Little Theater in my home town, Chagrin Falls,Ohio.
Our productions were presented in the re-decorated opera house in the old
town hall. (I think we did four producions each season). All amateur
[removed] Louie was a Cleveland, Ohio architect, and lived in
Brecksville, Ohio. During our production nights he would stay over with
my girl friends family. His stellar role was as Pancho Villa in Lulu
Vollmer's "The Bad Man". She attended the production one evening. I think
that I first met up with him again was while I was at CBS-Hollywood. By
that time he was a full time actor. When he retired he reverted to his
original calling and designed and built his dream home. I think that it
was in Maine. A charming and well liked person. He died many years ago.
Bill Murtough
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 19:01:52 -0500
From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Nobody Died
George Aust <austhaus1@[removed]; asked about the
Lights Out episode "Nobody Died". George, you probably
have the 12/16/39 episode of Arch Oboler's Plays,
starring Jay Novello. Oboler recycled scripts across
shows quite frequently, and later collectors often
seem to label any Oboler show "Lights Out," even
though many of them aren't. (Something they tack on a
Lights Out intro to the show, which makes it even more
confusing.) This is why you're not able to find
"Nobody Died" in 1939 for any Lights Out logs.
Hope this helps,
Kermyt
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 22:19:47 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Some Thoughts on the 1945 Code-O-Graph
In 1934, somebody connected with Ovaltine or its advertising agency got
bitten by the cryptography bug, In that year, the Radio Orphan Annie
Secret Society was born, and along with a membership pin showing a
portrait of Annie with the pupilless eyes of Harold Gray's original. In
the accompanying handbook was a cipher scheme, where numbers were to be
exchanged for letters, using a very elementary scheme that could be
memorized easily. And from that modest start, a series of "decoder pins"
evolved.
In 1935, the first of these pins appeared. a modest circular item
identifying the Radio Orphan Annie Secret Society. The pin was circular,
with concentric letter and number scales. From that time through the end
of Ovaltine's sponsorship of Little Orphan Annie, there was a new ROA
Decoder Pin each year.
The first year of its sponsorship of Captain Midnight, the tradition
continued, with even greater success. Rather than Decoder Pins, the
cryptological premiums were called Code-O-Graphs, but the cipher scheme
was the same as their predecessors.
There were two early Code-O-Graphs, the 1941 and 1942 models. Unlike the
ROA Decoder Pins, they were undated. Radio premiums were manufactured in
bulk before being offered, and such was the case of the 1942
Code-O-Graph. The entry of the United States into World War II put
restrictions on materials, particularly copper, an ingredient in brass.
Many radio premiums were made of brass, including the Code-O-Graphs.
Little Orphan Annie, picked up by Quaker Puffed Wheat Sparkies, issued
two "decoders" before going off the air. These were made of cardstock
rather than metal, though.
Apparently, Ovaltine decided to retain the 1942 model than to go to a
nonmetallic Code-O-Graph, so cipher messages, called Secret Squadron
Signal Sessions, continued to employ the 1942 unit. This went on for the
1943 and 1944 seasons, but then in 1945, a new Code-O-Graph was issued.
But the 1945 unit was different from its predecessors in some interesting
ways. It was the first Code-O-Graph with a date. It was the first to
use a new cipher setting scheme. It was the first to incorporate a
plastic element in its design. And, as history would have it, it was the
only Code-O-Graph manufactured in World War II.
But what of the copper shortage? The 1945 Code-O-Graph was not made out
of brass. According to the manual, it was made out of a special alloy.
But the "special" metal used for the body of the badge could be picked up
with a magnet. It was covered with "gold" paint, which gave it a vaguely
brassy appearance
At about the same time as Ovaltine came out with the 1945 Code-O-Graph,
the company switched from tin containers to glass jars. It might be a
coincidence, but could it be that the company diverted much of its
allocation of sheet steel for its tins to manufacture Code-O-Graph
bodies?
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 22:21:22 -0500
From: Mark J Cuccia <mcuccia@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Ann Landers and Dear Abby
Regarding the inquiry of Dear Abby and her announcer Harry Bartell, I am
sorry to read of his recent passing (and also that of Jan Minor). Harry
was a long-time radio/TV (and I guess movies too) Hollywood "extra".
Jan Minor was a New York "regular extra" on radio and TV, including many
soap operas in the 1950s era. I know that she appeared in the premiere of
the NBC Radio "Radio City Playhouse" in the late 1940s, that episode
called "Long Distance". And Jan Minor played Madge the manucurist for
YEARS in Colgate-Palmolive-Peet's commercials for Palmolive Dishwashing
Liquid.
As for Dear Abby and Ann [removed]
Dear Abby started on CBS Radio in the early 1960s, weekdays. It ran from
31-December-1963 thru 27-December-1974 (eleven years). I don't know if
Harry Bartell was her announcer for the entire run or not.
Shortly after her sister "Ann Landers" (Mrs. Esther Pauline Friedman
Lederer) passed away two years ago (June 2002), the original "Dear Abby"
aka Abigail van Buren (in real life Mrs. Pauline Esther Friedman Phillips)
officially retired, turing over everything regarding the syndicated
newspaper column to her daugher Jeanne Phillips, who had already been
helping her mother write the column for YEARS, and also helped out her
mother's CBS Radio programs of the 1960s and early 1970s.
Identical twin sisters Ann and Abby both were sort of like rivals not only
in their newspaper columns, but also with radio. "Dear Abby van Buren" was
heard on the CBS Radio Network for eleven years (throughout the 1960s and
early 1970s), but "Ann Landers" was also regalarly heard on the NBC Radio
Network in the 1960s. I don't know if she had a regular weekday "Emphasis"
feature, but she did have segments heard on the weekends [removed] "MONITOR".
So, when Dear Abby left CBS Radio at the end of December 1974, CBS Radio
Mystery Theater had been on CBS Radio for close to a [removed] Monitor still
had about another month of weekends on NBC Radio (thru the end of January
1975)... and Godfrey had already left CBS Radio not yet three years
previously (Godfrey had his last broadcast on CBS Radio at the end of
April 1972).
Mark J. Cuccia
mcuccia@[removed]
New Orleans LA CSA (in the LAND of DIXIE!)
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 22:21:48 -0500
From: chris chandler <chrischandler84@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jim Cox
I know he's a friend of many here on the Digest, so
thought I'd pass along word the OTR author Jim Cox has
fallen suddenly and very seriously ill. He's in a
hospital here in Louisville; was in intensive care for
several days, but has since been moved to a private
room. I saw him this weekend, and he is in rough
shape.
If anybody wants to send along a get well greeting,
feel free to email it to my address above, and I'll
take them to him in a few days.
chris
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 23:03:14 -0500
From: Alan/Linda Bell <alanlinda43@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: 1st Frank Nelson appearance? Yeeeeesss?
I was watching the Simpsons tonight and the "yeeesss" character
showed up briefly, obviously patterned after Frank Nelson of the Jack
Benny Show-- er, I mean, Program. Anyway, this is a little obscure,
but does anyone know (Laura?) when his first Benny appearance as the
yeeesss-man was?
Alan
--
_______________
Alan/Linda Bell
Grand Rapids, MI
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 00:31:45 -0500
From: "evantorch" <etorch@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Bob and Ray--Tom Koch
I am, if not the biggest Bob and Ray fan on earth, at the very least in the
top 10.
I am puzzled more than disturbed I think by the assertion in the Sperdvac
newsletter that as much of their material as was claimed was not spontaneous
but written by Tom Koch. I really don't argue with this since I don't know
the answer, but somehow the sheer volume of attribution in the column
bothers me. Perhaps it's only my illusions fading a bit, but the real issue
of how much was spontaneous (and the legend is a great deal--as in being
paid to sit in at MONITOR in case of a failure of prerecorded material) and
how much was writen or ad-libbed should be set to rest by Bob Elliot, Chris
Elliot etc.
Evan Torch, MD
Atlanta
etorch@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 00:34:44 -0500
From: "Michael Ogden" <michaelo67@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Early Sherlock Holmes
Concerning the question of the number of early (pre-Rathbone) Sherlock
Holmes episodes in circulation, the following is a clarification of points
raised by previous posters:
The correct title of the 1/18/33 episode is indeed "Murder by Proxy." The
confusion over the title of "The Final Problem" arose because whenever on
the early series they would do an Edith Meiser original that in any way
involved Professor Moriarty, they would acknowledge "The Final Problem" as
the source, since that is the only Holmes story in which Moriarty actually
appears. (He's referred to but not seen in THE VALLEY OF FEAR and "The Empty
House.")
The episode of 5/19/32 was "The Missing Leonardo Da Vinci" and it likewise
falls into this same situation. In fact, a press release for the broadcast
stated: "What happens when Sherlock Holmes finally comes face to face with
the notorious Professor Moriarty will be revealed- The story, which concerns
the theft of a famous Da Vinci, is an adaptation of the story entitled 'The
Final Problem'." There is a version of "The Missing Leonardo Da Vinci" in
circulation, but it's from the Rathbone era and, as I recall, is incomplete
and in rather poor sound.
Now, as to the 11/11/34 episode "The Hebraic Breastplate," it was the first
show of the 1934-35 season. Edith Meiser started off the new series,
uniquely, with several adaptations of Conan Doyle stories that were NOT
Holmes adventures in their original form. The opener was originally titled
by Doyle "The Jew's Breastplate." The following week she adapted "The Lost
Special," another non-Holmes-although some Sherlockians believe that the
story does feature a peripheral appearance by the Great Detective. And on
December 2 yet another non-Holmes Doyle, "The Sealed Room."
The 34-35 season saw Louis Hector replacing Richard Gordon in the role of
Holmes. Hector had previously appeared in the series in various roles,
including that of Professor Moriarty. Reportedly Gordon refused to do this
series because of a dispute over a salary cut that the network wanted him to
take. He had grown accustomed in previous seasons to being paid a handsome
wage for his services. Particularly was this true during the 1931-32 season
when he was broadcasting the Holmes show three times a week-West Coast on
Monday, East Coast on Thursday, and a series of repeats from the 1930-31
season on Wednesday.
But Gordon was back at the microphone for the 1936 season, so that's him
appearing with Harold West in "The Devil's Foot" and "The Armchair
Solution."
Okay, now that that's said and done, MY question is: Where can I get a copy
of "The Hebraic Breastplate"? I had heard a rumor a while back that this
episode existed, but I have yet to see it in anybody's catalog (but
admittedly I'm not on nearly as many mailing lists as I used to be). The
existence of this show is of great significance to Sherlockians as the only
surviving record of Louis Hector's portrayal of the character. Oh, and
here's a puzzle for deep-researching Sherlockians. Screen & Radio Weekly
reported that after Hector auditioned and was notified that he had won the
role, he told Edith Meiser that he in fact had played Holmes previously on
the stage-and that Conan Doyle had seen and applauded his performance. My
research, however, has failed to uncover any evidence of Hector's stage
appearance as Holmes. So it's a new Holmes mystery-when and where did [removed]
play [removed]
Mike Ogden
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 09:52:29 -0500
From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: THE CLASSIC RADIO SHOWS
WLOB (AM 1310[removed])'s Gary Dixon said of his stations' successful OTR
broadcasts:
While I'd love to host and produce this type of programming 5 nights a
[removed] 5 to 6 or 6 to [removed] realize that most radio stations aren't
interested in interrupting their syndicated programming for an episode of
GUNSMOKE, DRAGNET or SUSPENSE (even if they could pitch the show to a local
advertiser or two)...
I might add that many local station managers don't have much choice: They
have to put on the syndicated stuff that their conglomerate-owners dictate,
since it's more "cost effective" than local programming.
JJ Jeffrey, WLOB'S owner and operations manager, is to be congratulated for
supporting his station's "counter-programming". I hope they make lots of
money by catering to their local audience.
Herb Harrison
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 09:52:37 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 3-8 births/deaths
March 8th births
03-08-1893 - Sam Jaffe - NYC - d. 5-24-1984
actor: "Fannie Hurst Presents"; "New World A-Coming"; "Cavalcade of America"
03-08-1893 - Victor Arden - Wenona, IL - d. 7-31-1962
conductor, pianist: "American Album of Familiar Music"; "America the Free"
03-08-1899 - Gladys Thornton - FL - d. 9-2-1964
actress: Aunt Addie "My Son and I"; Mrs. Tasek "The O'Neills"
03-08-1902 - Louise Beavers - Cincinnati, OH - d. 10-26-1962
actress: Beulah "Beulah"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
03-08-1908 - Franklyn MacCormack - Waterloo, IA - d. 6-12-1971
announcer: "Caroline's Golden Store"; "Jack Armstrong"
03-08-1909 - Claire Trevor - NYC - d. 4-8-2000
actress: Lorelei Kilbourne " Big Town", Theresa Travers "Results, Inc."
03-08-1918 - Alan Hale, Jr. - Los Angeles, CA - d. 1-2-1990
actor: "Smiths of Hollywood"
03-08-1921 - Cyd Charisse - Amarillo, TX
guest: "Spike Jones Show"
03-08-1922 - Al Gionfriddo - Dysart, PA
sportscaster: KONG Visalia, CA
March 8th deaths
04-20-1893 - Harold Lloyd - Burchard, NE - d. 3-8-1971
comedian: "Comedy Theatre"
06-02-1889 - Martha Wentworth - NYC - d. 3-8-1974
actress: Wintergreen Witch "Cinnamon Bear"; Nancy "Witch's Tale"
10-03-1890 - Henry Hull - Louisville, KY - d. 3-8-1977
actor: Honest Abe "Abraham Lincoln"; Nathan Hale "Roses and Drums"
11-25-1914 - Joe DiMaggio - Martinez, CA - d. 3-8-1999
baseball superstar: "Joe DiMaggio Show"
12-08-1904 - George Stevens - Oakland, CA - d. 3-8-1975
film director: "Lux Radio Theatre"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #83
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