------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 145
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Some Comments from a Lurker [ "Randall F. Miller Jr." <rfmillerjr ]
new OTR books [ benohmart@[removed] ]
Butterfly McQueen as Mary Livingston [ "David Golumbia" <dgolumbi@mindspri ]
cd/mp3 players [ Kurt E Yount <blsmass@[removed]; ]
Re: Where's Wetzel [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
re: Great Gildersleeve [ benohmart@[removed] ]
Elizabeth's April Fool's joke and th [ Michael Shoshani <shoshani@[removed] ]
Re: "Prof." Pearson [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
In praise of Elizabeth [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
april fools joke [ "Michael Leannah" <mleannah@charter ]
OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK Schedule for [ HERITAGE4@[removed] ]
historical stuff [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
REMINDER: OTR panel discussion CUNY [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
Tickets [ JayHick@[removed] ]
April 7th Birth Dates [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Re: Elizabeth's great find [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 18:07:43 -0500
From: "Randall F. Miller Jr." <rfmillerjr1@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Some Comments from a Lurker
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
1. Elizabeth's April Fools joke. I throughly enjoyed the joke. It was well
done and very funny. I do not think that you really need to yell April Fool
at the end of every joke of that time, especially when it is in print. Did
anyone happen to listen to NPR's All Things Considered on April 1st. The last
segment of the second hour (East Coast) was ten minutes of an interview with
members of the Library of Congress searching for the "ultimate sound transfer
medium" something that would be around and usable in 50 to 100 years. They
settled on Lacquer Discs at 78 rpm. They were discussing how tedious it was
dubbing a CD to many 2:30 discs, but that they would always be able to be
played even if all you had was a thorn or "could sharpen a rock". The last
line of the story was they were working at a feverish pace 24 hours a day 7
days a week and expected to be done by April 1, 2015 (or some other quite
distant year). That story had me completely fooled until I was relating it to
a co-worker and realized that I had been had.
Elizabeth keep up the good work. What are you going to do next year.
2. Harry Bartell's last column. I am very sorry to see that happen. I
really enjoyed them. At no time did I feel that you lacked any creditiblity
when it came to the "technical" side of Radio, or that you had some how had an
incomplete take on the subject because you did not spend your youth listening
to what we now call OTR. I, for one would never question any of your
comments. I was not there. They were your recollections, not mine. You are
more than welcome to your opinion of certain people. That is what makes life
so interesting. I would like to see more of your recollections. I enjoyed
each one of them.
Randy Miller
Senior Engineer WITF-TV/FM Radio Pennsylvania
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 18:08:07 -0500
From: benohmart@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: new OTR books
Just a word to let you all know about the new otr books that are coming from
BearManor Media, which you can pre-order now at [removed]
(credit
cards now accepted).
The Baby Snooks Scripts - complete show scripts from Maxwell House Coffee Time
and Good News. Never before published, they also include never-heard scripts,
often
being original drafts that are significantly different from the final
scripts. Out in August.
Information Please - Martim Grams Jr.'s definitive book on the famed quiz
show will be
out in September of this year, and will of course include the usual Grams
attention to
detail and trivia.
Walter Tetley - the first biography of this little actor will have NEVER
BEFORE SEEN
radio credits and photos, as it was written with the aid of Tetley's own
scrapbooks. Out
in December.
Private Eyelashes - Jack French's long-awaited book on radio lady
crimefighters will be
out in January.
Scenes For Actors and Voices - Daws Butler, voice of most of Hanna Barbera's
cartoons (including Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, Quickdraw
McGraw),
wrote these scenes for the actors in his voice workshop. His most famous
student was
Nancy Cartwright, voice of Bart Simpson. Daws also gives vocal exercises and
advice
on the craft. The lengthy Foreword by Corey Burton (who works extensively for
Disney,
its theme parks and has tons of cartoon credits) is a wealth of information
on how to
become a voice actor today.
Gildy's Scrapbook - the companion piece to the official biography of The Great
Gildersleeve by Charles Stumpf and Ben Ohmart. Letters, articles and photos
on the
series and its players, including an introduction by Hal Peary's son Page.
You can pre-order now and get free US shipping on everything. Enjoy!
Ben
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 19:30:10 -0500
From: "David Golumbia" <dgolumbi@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Butterfly McQueen as Mary Livingstone's maid
Hello,
A couple of months ago I posted a request for information regarding
Butterfly McQueen's role as Mary Livingstone's maid on the radio Jack Benny
program. Since then, I have been able to confirm that she does in fact
appear on programs between October 1943 and May 1944, since these programs
are widely available, and she identifies herself by name as Butterfly
McQueen in a November 1943 episode. In fact, I recommend this string of
programs, as McQueen's performance as Rochester's niece who becomes Mary's
maid is quite funny and effective.
By looking in the Jack Benny archives at UCLA, I found both Butterfly
McQueen's 5-year contract with Jack Benny, and a subsequent contract
negating this one issued in May 1944, just after the close of the radio
season for the year. The latter contract clearly indicates it was McQueen's
preference to drop from the show, and maintains Benny's interest in keeping
the role going, up to and including McQueen changing her mind after signing
the termination contract.
However, despite many efforts, I've yet to find anyone who seems to know
much about the circumstances regarding her departure from the show, and
there seems to be nothing in Benny archives regarding it. I do not know of
an Eddie Anderson archive that might contain more information, since he
appears to have played a role in her getting the position on the Benny show
(as he helped her get her part in Cabin in the Sky, where Anderson had a
prominent part). Does anyone in OTR-land know where to go next? I've also
tried looking to historians of Hollywood and black actors in Hollywood
(since McQueen did subsequently reprise her maid role briefly in Mildred
Pierce and Duel in the Sun, before retiring it permanently), but also
without success, and any tips or thoughts would be most appreciated.
David Golumbia
dgolumbi@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 19:37:20 -0500
From: Kurt E Yount <blsmass@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: cd/mp3 players
I have to tell you that I was accused of perpetrating an April fools joke
of my own concerning the CD/MP3 player discussed a couple of days ago on
this list. Well, I called Penneys and they don't carry electronics in
most of their stores. I am in Orange California and don't seem to be
able to find a store that carries them. Also the sale is apparently
over. If I hear anything more I will write back, since I think this is
something many people are interested in. Here is something I found
later. its a great CD MP3 player
If the # below is not the sale price, which is now $20, the customer
service rep will find it for you.
DigiTech CD MP3 Player
catalog #
QF680-0366B
phone #
1-800-222-6161
I hope this will help somebody who needs this kind of player. Kurt
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 20:32:31 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Where's Wetzel
On 4/5/03 6:32 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:
Has anyone done any research to find the heirs of this person and contact
them? I think any information regarding any previous attempts to research
this would be enlightening.
Perhaps Elizabeth (or anyone else) could add some light to this.
There are three Maurice Wetzels listed in the Social Security Death
Index, but unfortunately none of them are our man. One was born in 1912,
but would be too young for our purpose. The other two were born in 1895,
but the only solid lead I have on Maurice S. Wetzel of Chicago -- his
listing in the 1930 U. S. Census -- shows his age to be thirty at the
time of enumeration. Unless he was lying about his age to the enumerator,
he's five years too young to be either of the Wetzels listed in the SSDI.
He could be still alive -- extremely doubtful, but possible. Or, his
death might never have been recorded by the SSA, which often happened
with deaths before 1962.
His wife Estelle was also 30 years old, and while it's more likely for a
woman to live to age 103 than a man, I still wouldn't bank on this
possibility. But when the census taker visited their home at -- on
4/21/30, they reported a daughter by the name of Marjorie, age 1 1/2
years. There could be other children born later on, but it was far less
common for women to give birth after the age of 30 during the Depression
years than it is today, so it's also possible that Marjorie was an only
child. And it's very possible -- even likely -- that she's still alive.
Where she is, however, is something of a blind alley at the moment.
There's no public access yet to census information after 1930, making it
difficult to trace the family's whereabouts, and without some idea of
Marjorie Wetzel's married name -- assuming she married and changed her
name -- it's almost impossible to trace her whereabouts today. There's no
trace of "our" Estelle Wetzel's movements or eventual death in any of the
databases I have access to. And without some positive documentation of
either Wetzel's death, it's impossible, except by blind chance, to locate
an obituary or any other data that would narrow the search for heirs.
So, that's where I stand at the moment - the trail's gone cold.
And that's what hard-core research is really like. It's not as glamorous
or exciting as finding big piles of transcriptions, and it's also pretty
darn frustrating sometimes. But somebody's gotta do it.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 21:04:03 -0500
From: benohmart@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: re: Great Gildersleeve
Thanks for your compliment on the Great Gildersleeve book. It was fun to do. We may
come out with an expanded version in a couple years.
Shirley Mitchell is indeed still alive. I'm sorry I don't have a recent address for her. She
was at the last Sperdvac convention though.
Ben
The Walter Tetley book:
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 21:04:21 -0500
From: Michael Shoshani <shoshani@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Elizabeth's April Fool's joke and the
aftermath
After reading various responses, both congratulatory and incensed, I
am finally moved to make the following observation:
Elizabeth, like The Shadow, has the power to McLeod men's (and
ladies') minds.
Michael Shoshani
Chicago IL
...and if that find DOES turn up, I want to see Elizabeth with the
discs on a Fox, Hearst, or Pathe newsreel!
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 21:05:05 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: "Prof." Pearson
On 4/5/03 6:32 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:
I think I'd have caught on in the next-to-last paragraph. Karl Pearson
helping out? If my War of the Worlds memory is correct, the dear man was
at the observatory in Chicago which detected the Martians heading our
way. Amazing how he's still around after all these years, no?
I wish I'd thought of an angle as clever as this, but actually Karl is a
real person -- a longtime transcription disc collector in suburban
Chicago who is a fellow transfer technician with the First Generation
Radio Archives. We've been friends for several years, and have often
discussed "what if" finds like this. (And he was kind enough to be the
first person to send me congratulations after seeing the post. And after
realizing he'd been had he got right into the spirit of the thing,
suggesting a long list of potential additions to "the Find.")
Karl does excellent work, by the way -- he's got a new CD set out, "Big
Bands from Coast to Coast" that contains some really wonderful band
remotes from 1934-1960, available on the "AudioFile" label.
PS-Elizabeth, what will you do for an encore?
Finish answering the barrage of emails that resulted from this little
escapade. Those who are still mad at me over this can seek solace in the
knowledge that I'm serving my [removed]
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 22:26:11 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: In praise of Elizabeth
Not to keep beating a dead horse, in re: to the recent flap about
Elizabeth's April Fool joke, I at first was starting to believe it but
then started thinking, "wait a minute" then got it about half way
through and the line at the end were the shows would be available 4/1/04
clinched it for me and I had a good laugh.
Then the bombing started with people complaining they thought it was
real (a good April Fool gag should really seem to be real or a "it could
happen" reasoning to it). Personally I think Elizabeth did a grand job
in making it all seem so true.
As for those who complain "I didn't read the digest until the day
after". Well, it was posted on the first, and if someone doesn't read
it until a day or more later that's not the fault of the poster.
I am reminded of the old line, "lighten up people".
I can only imagine how Elizabeth must feel at some of the comments
made. Sheesh, when I do the today in radio history bits if I make a
mistake (no matter how minor) do I hear about it! But those are mostly
in private e-mails, not in public to the entire list.
So Elizabeth you have my support and thanks for the laugh.
Joe
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2003 22:26:33 -0400
From: "Michael Leannah" <mleannah@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: april fools joke
There are some names of this list that stand out before others. In the
past when I would see a posting by Elizabeth, I would take it seriously.
Before April 1st, why would I have done anything otherwise? I am not
knowledgable in the area of OTR "archaeology"--in the matter of old radio
discoveries, I wouldn't know what is and what is not farfetched. Uncovering
old material from the 1920s sounded pretty exciting to me.
Elizabeth is no less an authority on this list than my doctor is to me
on medical matters. Thank goodness my doctor doesn't play April Fools jokes
when he gives me his diagnoses.
I am disappointed that the cache doesn't exist. In that sense, the joke
wasn't at all funny. I am glad, however, that some people enjoyed it.
Mike Leannah
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003 15:44:30 -0400
From: HERITAGE4@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK Schedule for Week
of: 04/06/03
Here's our shows for this week - high-end streaming audio 24/7 At:
[removed]
SAME TIME, SAME STATION with Jerry Haendiges
1. TONIGHT AT 8:30 2/16/45 "The Old Stage Door Keeper: Earl Lee"
starring: Monty Margetta, Natalie Masters, Marsh Keats.
2. CANDY MATSON 1/2/50 "NC9-8012" stars Natalie Masters.
3. THOSE MAD MASTERS 3/18/49 "World Speed-Writing Contest"
with Natalie and Monty Masters.
4. OFFICIAL DETECTIVE 11/29/56 "The Case of the Murdered Bridegroom"
HERITAGE RADIO THEATRE with Tom Heathwood
1. GUEST: Martin Grams, Jr., author of the brand new book about INNER
SANCTUM MYSTERIES.
2. INNER SANCTUM MYSTERIES CBS 11/16/45 Boris Karloff stars in "The
Wailing Wall"
3. THE COLGATE SPORTS NEWSREEL with BILL STERN NBC
12/31/48 - The New Year's Eve show, with guest, George Raft.
Enjoy !! Tom & Jerry
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003 15:44:42 -0400
From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: historical stuff
Andrew Godfrey writes, regarding historical stuff that gets thrown away by
unknowing "tossters":
When Spike Jones died, most of his stuff (excluding radio and TV
shows)--scrapbooks, photos, personal papers, memorabilia etc--ended
up in the dumpsters at St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Los
Angeles. By pure chance a couple of guys who happened to be rapid
Spike Jones fans stumbled on it and rescued much of it.
I shop at thrift stores from time to time, and I see lots of vinyl records
and cassette tapes for sale, due to the switch to digital disk media.
I've bought a few records and tapes for my own listening pleasure because
they were [removed]
I wonder if anybody here has made some real "finds" at thrift stores. They
don't have to be "lost episodes" or anything - just maybe records or tapes
of artists or shows that they hadn't heard before, or "collections albums"
that originally sold for $30 in 1978 that you found at the Salvation Army
store for $[removed]
Just curious,
Herb Harrison
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003 15:44:59 -0400
From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: REMINDER: OTR panel discussion CUNY New
York: April 9
This is a reminder about the panel discussion with four of all-time
radios most distinguished and articulate actors(again co-sponsored by
AARP The Magazine). I will be delighted to see or meet any of the
digest's subscribers.
It will be held at the Graduate Center of the City of University of New
York this coming Wednesday April 9--1:30-3 PM. The panel will consist of
ARTHUR ANDERSON, MASON ADAMS, TERI KEAN, and DONALD BUKA
The panel will consider radio's dramatic effects on American culture
during the Golden Age of Radio. This will include a look at how radio
informed and entertained and how it helped create support for the war
effort throughout World War II. Finally, the panel will consider radio's
important role in shaping American race relations, family dynamics and
relations between the sexes.
Admission is $15 or $10 for AARP members
Howard Blue
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003 15:45:08 -0400
From: JayHick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Tickets
Can anyone help Rick? His email is <oldtix@[removed];
I'm a fan of OTR, with a special emphasis on collecting paper ephemera for
the [removed] programs, advertising signs, premiums, magazines, etc.
Of particular interest to me are tickets from the actual broadcasts. My
collection now contains over 1100 from radio, spanning the years from 1930 to
1958. Have you any knowledge of other collectors, or sellers, of tickets
with whom I might correspond/buy/trade?
Thanks so much for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Rick Payne
974 Ridge Crest Drive
Gahanna, Ohio 43230
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003 15:45:18 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: April 7th Birth Dates
If you were born on the 7th of April, you share your birthday with:
04-07-1895 - Bert Wheeler - Paterson, NJ - d. 1-18-1968
04-07-1897 - Walter Winchell - NYC - d. 2-20-1972
04-07-1908 - Percy Faith - Toronto, Canada - d. 2-9-1976
04-07-1915 - Billie Holliday - d. 7-17-1959
04-07-1928 - James Garner - Norman, OK
04-07-1933 - Wayne Rogers - Birmingham, AL
04-07-1934 - Ian Richardson - Edinburgh, Scotland
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Make your day, listen to an Olde Tyme Radio Program
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003 17:11:59 -0400
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Elizabeth's great find
From: "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed];
It continues to amaze me that Jack Benny has over 800 shows that
were saved while Bob Hope only had 76.
It continues to amaze me that some people still believe that unless a
program is out there in the trading circuit--often in a seventeenth
generation dub--and thus can be added to his personal collection, it has
not been saved. It was discussed in this digest not too long ago that in
all probability ALL of Bob Hope's programs exist in his personal collection
and many of them are in the NBC collection at LC. I got a list of 250
programs when I searched for "Bob Hope Show" on the SONIC search at the
Library of Congress.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #145
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