Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #334
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 10/30/2005 11:18 AM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2005 : Issue 334
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Re: Ruffled feathers                  [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
      Skuperman a Crypto-Commie?            [ "thomas" <evander800@[removed]; ]
      So long (to write!), and thanks for   [ Wich2@[removed] ]
      Frank Readick SHADOW recording        [ Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@earthlin ]
      Re: Free Cigarettes                   [ Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@earthlin ]
      KKK -- today?                         [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
      Passing [removed]                    [ Wich2@[removed] ]
      the eternal light                     [ "Kurt E. Yount" <blsmass@[removed]; ]
      Great Radio Heroes                    [ "Jim Harmon" <jimharmonotr@charter. ]
      Re: Seeking book [removed]            [ "Bruce R. Glazer" <bruceglazer@veri ]
      This week in radio history 30 Octobe  [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Mugsy, [removed]                         [ jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns) ]
      Re: Cigarettes as currency            [ Brent Pellegrini <brentpl@rocketmai ]
      10-30 births/deaths                   [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 14:03:30 -0400
    From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Ruffled feathers

    On Friday, October 28, 2005, at 04:01 PM, Ron Sayles wrote:

>     My definition of a reference work is a book that you might read once,
>     and then put it back on the shelf and go back to it only if you need
>     some information about a particular program. Books by DeLong, French,
>     Harmon, Grams, Smith, Billips & Pierce and Dunning fall into this
>     category.

    Ouch, the unkindest cut of all!

    While my fellow authors can produce factual books like mine, all of our
    books "might be read once" only to be retired to the back shelf, in the
    unlikely event one needs to check a dusty fact. This will certainly be
    news to the dedicated fans of Jim Harmon, Thomas DeLong, Martin Grams,
    Jr., readers who thought they were genuinely enjoying their fascinating
    works.

>      I know that many books can fall under both reference and pleasure.
>     Jim Cox has that distinction.

    In elevating only Jim Cox to demi-god status, Ron back-peddles into
    even deeper water.  I suspect even my buddy Jim will feel uncomfortable
    in these lofty heights, looking down on lesser-authors who can merely
    write dry, fact-filled OTR reference books that nobody reads for
    pleasure.

    Harmon's "The Great Radio Heroes," DeLong's "Quiz Craze," and Grams'
    "Information, Please" are certainly as entertaining as they are
    factual, according to most OTR fans and reviewers.  My own offering,
    "Private Eyelashes" has been reviewed by over two dozen OTR and mystery
    critics, most of whom described it as fun, factual, and entertaining.
    That included Ron Sayles, who reviewed my book in May 2004, and
    declared "is not a dry account of logs and  dates" but one that "once
    you start reading it, you will find it impossible to put it down."

    Either his memory, or my skills, have diminished in the past 18 months
    (probably [removed])

    Jack French
    Editor: RADIO RECALL

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 14:03:53 -0400
    From: "thomas" <evander800@[removed];
    To: "old_time_radio" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Skuperman a Crypto-Commie?
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

         I note that after taking on the KKK-inspired Clan of the Fiery Cross,
    Superman addressed a world peace organization (actually it was Batman,
    disguised as Superman).  Sounds like a Communist front group to me. In view of
    J. Edgar Hoover's interest in civil rights activists such as Martin Luther
    King as Communist sympathizers, I wonder if the FBI compiled a file on Clark
    Kent.
       Tom van der Voort

      *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
      ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 14:06:21 -0400
    From: Wich2@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  So long (to write!), and thanks for all the
     (fishy) fun!

    (A Simon Jones [removed])

    Dear  Fellow-FOTR'ers:

    Sorry to take a week to write this post-mortem  (actually, it's as much
    post-partem!); it's been catch up time - and there's  another reason, noted
    [removed]

    First of all, to Jay Hickerson, "The  Founder of the Feast:"
    Again, CONGRATULATIONS! It was a wonderful  Convention; one of the very best
    that I can recall in over a decade of  attendance. And again, THANKS, for
    allowing me to join the Vets on mic; for an  actor like meself, there is
    little
    sweeter than receiving "thumbs up!" from  folks the likes of Don Buka, Bill
    Owen, Jeff David, Lynne Rogers, & Arthur  Anderson.

    To the rest of FOTR's "spine:" Sean, Derek, Max, Charlie, Anthony, Fred, Ed,
    Bill S., Bart C., at al: Job Well Done. VERY Well  Done.

    To the Directors, thanks for calling on me:
    Arthur, for the  sheer joy we all had onstage, reveling in each other's
    delight at tasting Norman  Corwin's delicious words of THE PLOT TO OVERTHROW
    [removed]
    Bill Nadel,  for elevating this Midwestern Protestant to the height of one of
    the very  greatest Hebrew Kings, in LIGHT OF THE [removed]
    Barbara Watkins, for the fun  of playing (and that's the word!) her brat
    brother in A DATE WITH JUDY - with  the bonus of Bobb Lyne's goofy "Oogie"
    (and,
    the added honor of becoming a Dave  Warren [removed])
    And Gary Yoggy, for the supplying me with the sport of  spieling Schlitz's
    suds, in THE HALLS OF IVY.

    Great also, to put faces on  email tags (if for too short a moment!): Michael
    Gwynne, Elizabeth McLeod,  Stuart Lubin, and Lee Munsick; and, to meet new
    on-mic partners in crime, like  the delightful Dave Parker. Fun, too. to catch
    up with "repeat offenders," too:  Mike Antonucci, "Bambino" and
    all-of-you-who-know-who-you-are!

    (To  off-stage folks, here's a secret about the on-stagers: the best of them
    do not  approach the work, from Table Read, through Mic Dress, to "On Air," as
    if they  were doing some kind of desiccated, museum-style performance, in
    tribute to a  dead medium. They give their all to create a fresh audio
    performance, just as  they did decades ago, or might next week - remember, a
    lot of
    these folks aren't  totally retired. Mister Lister Stone is one of these
    Pros; and
    it makes it a joy  to play a scene with them.)

    And so, as spoken of by Arthur Anderson &  Fred Foy in their appearance on
    "The Leonard Lopate Show" last week, and as  written of in Steve Lewis' essay
    in
    the terrific Anniversary Booklet: here's to  not the past only, but the
    Future!
    Humans have visited the Theater of the  Mind since the first hunters came to
    the night fires to tell of the day's  adventures; as long as they still have
    ears - and imaginations - they will  continue to do so.

    "Audio Drama is (not) dead - long live audio  drama!"

    If Charlie will let me mention one bit of evidence of same,  here's an invite
    to my Quicksilver Radio Theater's FRANKENSTEIN : MODERN  PROMETHEUS -
    [removed]. We're "opening act" for another  show that
    I'm
    sure you recognize; & we have seals of approval from the
    recently-mentioned-on-list Don Glut and Leonard Maltin.

    COME TO FOTR  31!!!

    All the best - and Happy Halloween!
    -Craig Wichman

    [removed] -  And, on a personal note, thanks to those of you who expressed kind
    words last  weekend, re: my ailing tabby, Eugene (the Jeep). He was "sent
    home"
    Sunday  morning.

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 14:48:32 -0400
    From: Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Frank Readick SHADOW recording

    on 10/29/05 1:07 PM, Kermyt Anderson asked:

>     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?

    ***It was indeed from the recently-unearthed 1931 Universal short, "Burglar
    to the Rescue," which has been restored and was screened last year at
    Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre.  It was adapted directly from the script of
    one of the 1930-31 broadcasts of STREET & SMITH'S DETECTIVE STORY PROGRAM
    and arrived in theatres while the second issue of THE SHADOW MAGAZINE was
    still on newsstands.  Outside of the opening and closing signatures on the
    Orson Welles SHADOW programs, it appears this single short (not serial) is
    all that remains from Frank Readick's five-year run as The Shadow.  The
    second 1931 Universal short, "Trapped," was filmed in Hollywood and featured
    someone other than Readick as the voice of The Shadow ... POSSIBLY Charles
    Middleton or future SHADOW radio-cast member Arthur Vinton.

    Actually, I think it's quite likely that an episode of the 1935 transcribed
    SHADOW serial that starred Carl Kroenke and was produced and syndicated by
    MacGregor and Sollie will eventually turn up.  That 15-minute SHADOW series
    continued in syndication for at least seven or eight years, both stateside
    and abroad.  Same with the 1934 MacGregor and Sollie DOC SAVAGE series.
    Unfortunately, I suspect that the CBS and NBC SHADOW shows starring Frank
    Readick were never transcribed, outside of the standard opening and
    closings. --ANTHONY TOLLIN***

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 16:08:08 -0400
    From: Anthony Tollin <sanctumotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Free Cigarettes

    on 10/29/05 1:07 PM, [removed]@[removed] at
    [removed]@[removed] wrote:

>     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

    ***I've read in the past that the tobacco companies had done research and
    discovered that it took only four cigarettes to create a nicotine-withdrawal
    craving for more ... hence all the free giveaways. --Anthony Tollin***

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 18:59:58 -0400
    From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  KKK -- today?

    Are there KKK groups still active in the USA?

    I recall hearing a few radio shows of the 40s-50s either mentioning the KKK
    by name or characterizing them as hate groups.  One was a Sherlock Holmes
    program.

    Ted Kneebone.  OTR website:  [removed]
    Democrats: [removed]
    1528 S. Grant St., Aberdeen, SD 57401 / Phone: 605-226-3344

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 19:00:16 -0400
    From: Wich2@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Passing [removed]

    From: Kermyt Anderson  kermyta@[removed]

>     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?)<

    Dear  Kermyt-

    Thanks for FOTRing - come again!

    The answer to your  question is bittersweet, of course; but there IS a
    positive answer. I  speak now with nothing but the very highest respect for
    the
    actual Vets of  the '30's and '40's (no, wait; I speak with LOVE, as well, as
    I'm
    blessed to consider several of them friends.) But there IS hope for the
    coming  years.

    Folks like Jon Provost, Will Hutchins, Kevin Scullin, Barbara  Watkins, Bobb
    Lynes, Joe Bevilaqua, etc., have done yeoman like work at the  mics in Newark.
    And, with a unique training: they've been brought into the fold  by folks
    like Arthur Anderson, who was "present at the creation," and Bill  Nadel, Ms.
    Watkins, Gary Yoggy, and Anthony Tollin, who learned at the  feet of those who
    were.

    So, OTR is poised uniquely among fandoms: as  giants of the Silent Screen
    have already gone to well-deserved rewards, and  those of the Golden Age of
    Comics are now following, they leave no  real "apprentices." Not so, OTR - and
    ESPECIALLY, FOTR.

    FOTR can  indeed remain, for the foreseeable future, a trusted place where
    audio  drama is done as Classic Era Radio Drama was done. Where people now in
    diapers  will be able to come, and know,

    "THIS is the way it  WAS."

    Sincerely,
    -Craig Wichman

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 19:58:00 -0400
    From: "Kurt E. Yount" <blsmass@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  the eternal light

    I am wondering how many episodes of the eternal light there were and if
    and how many exist, hopefully on MP3.  I used to listen to the Eternal
    Light on KFI I think on Sunday nights.  Thanks.  Kurt

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 19:58:59 -0400
    From: "Jim Harmon" <jimharmonotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Great Radio Heroes

    I'd like to thank everyone who had a good word for my 1967 book (still in
    print from McFarland) "The Great Radio Heroes" for being a significant book on
    old time radio.
        I believe I have Jack French and Steve Kallis to thank the most for
    elaborating the most on the subject and for advancing my other books, "Radio
    Mystery and Adventure" (the former) and "Nostalgia Catalogue" (the later).  I
    also appreciate all those people whom I do not know personally who had
    something good to say for my work.
        I notice a number of people say I wrote a nice book, one fondly
    remembered, but that I did no scholarship in it.  My late close friend, the
    great science-fiction writer, Kris Neville, once told me that in 1966 (the
    year I wrote the book, a year before publication) I did a job of research that
    probably no one else in the country could have done.   (He was also a
    professional researcher.)   In those days, any professional writer given the
    assignment of doing a book on radio drama would probably have not known how to
    proceed.  Publisher Jeremy Tarcher had the concept of doing a book on the
    subject but he had to look hard to find someone he thought he could do it.
    He found me through an article on my hobby in the old Los Angeles
    Herald-Express by Art Ronnie.
        In those days, there were no clubs like Friends of Old Time Radio or
    SPERDVAC, at least not organized with vast audio and text libraries.   There
    were no depositories of scripts and episode guidelines like the Thousand Oaks
    Library.   Other books on radio generally only dealt with shows for the
    intelligencia, not the general public.   I had to do it from scratch.   Much
    of what I researched was not written down, but required delving into the
    memories of people, some older than myself.   One great source was the late
    brilliant science fiction essayist, Redd Boggs, who could remember nearly word
    for word such shows from the early thirties as Buck Rogers, Orphan Annie, Jack
    Armstrong, Witch's Tales, etc.
        I went "where no man had gone before".   In the back of every radio book
    somewhere there is usually a line indicating "Great Radio Heroes" as one
    resource among many.   The ones that don't have such a line may be picking up
    the information from a book that does give me credit, second hand.
        Maybe "minds regarding our earth, cool and calculating" would not call
    what I did research, but it was a lot of work.
        JIM HARMON

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 20:37:30 -0400
    From: "Bruce R. Glazer" <bruceglazer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re:  Seeking book [removed]

    Although this may be a little off-topic, has anyone read,
    "How I Escaped from Gilligan's Island : And Other Misadventures
    of a Hollywood Writer-Producer," by William Froug?  If so, I
    would be interested in your opinion(s) before I dare to purchase it.

    Bruce

    [removed];sourceid=39917910&bfpid=0879728736&bfmtype=book

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

    Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 20:45:26 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 30 October to 5
     November

     From Those Were The Days --

    10/30

    Orson Welles, known to radio audiences as The Shadow, presented his
    famous dramatization of [removed] Wells' The War of the Worlds on CBS's
    Mercury Theater at 8 [removed]

    10/31

    1942 - One of the great wartime shows premiered. CBS debuted Thanks to
    the Yanks, starring Bob Hawk. It became one of the most popular of the
    wartime programs.

    11/1

    1937 - The first broadcast of Hilltop House was aired on CBS; while on
    NBC, the comic strip character Terry and the Pirates debuted.

    11/2

    1931 - Myrt and Marge was heard for the first time -- on CBS. The
    program centered on two chorus girls who competed for the same parts and
    the same men. The creator and writer (Cliff Thomas wrote some) of the
    series, Myrtle Vail, also played the role of Myrt; and the original
    Marge was performed by Vail's daughter, Donna Fick. Three other
    performers played the part when Donna died giving birth. Myrt and Marge
    continued for 11 years.

    11/5

    1934 - The first broadcast of The Gumps was heard on CBS. Wilmer Walter
    played Andy Gump, Agnes Moorehead was Gump's wife, Min, and Jackie Kelk
    was son, Chester. Karo syrup and Pebico toothpaste/tooth powder sponsored.

    1950 - "The greatest stars of our time on one big program" was the
    introduction by actress Tallulah Bankhead, who opened the 90-minute Big
    Show on NBC. It was a big show all right. The peacock saw red as losses
    exceeded a million dollars in the three years the program was on the air.

    Joe

    --
    Visit my home page:  [removed]~[removed]

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

    Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:12:17 -0400
    From: jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns)
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Mugsy, [removed]

    I'm devestated to read Derek Tague's news that Mugsy, has passed [removed]
    As Derek alluded to, many of Mugsy's skits and bits on HE UNCLE FLOYD
    SHOW had what could certainly be considered an OTR flair.

    (And, what with the holiday, I'm suddenly fllashing on the "Mr. Spooky"
    [removed])

    Although as has been noted here, I was on a few UNCLE FLOYD SHOWS, I was
    a fan of the shows,  much earlier, and for far longer.

    Mugsy was one of that wonderfully talented bunch.

    And now that my mind is reeling a bit, I just recalled that he DID a
    radio humor show, for a while there, in New [removed]

    On the set, Mugsy was fun, kind, and professional.

    I couldn't begin to count the number of laughs I got, while watching him
    on the other set, the one in all of our living rooms.

    Jim Burns

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

    Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:11:58 -0400
    From: Brent Pellegrini <brentpl@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Cigarettes as currency

    Don Shenbarger said

>      "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."

    There was a time when Kent cigarettes could get you anythng in Romania.
    Brent

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

    Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:25:38 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  10-30 births/deaths

    October 30th births

    10-30-1751 - Richard Brinsley Sheridan - Dublin, Ireland - d. 7-7-1816
    writer: (Inventor of the Malaprop) "Great Plays"
    10-30-1879 - Eily Malyon - London, England - d. 9-26-1961
    actress: Lady Greystroke "Tarzan"
    10-30-1885 - Ezra Pound - Hailey, ID - d. 11-1-1972
    poet and traitor: "Italian Propaganda Broadcast"
    10-30-1896 - Bill Terry - Atlanta, GA - d. 1-9-1989
    sportscaster: WAGA Atlanta
    10-30-1896 - Ruth Gordon - Wollaston, MA - d. 8-28-1985
    actress: "Lincoln Highway"; "Meet Mr. Weeks"; "Orson Welles Theatre"
    10-30-1906 - Paul J. Smith - Calumet, MI - d. 1-25-1985
    music: "The Eddie Bracken Show"
    10-30-1908 - Patsy Montana - Hot Springs, AK - d. 5-3-1996
    yodeling country singer: "WLS Barn Dance"
    10-30-1910 - Francia White - Greenville, TX - d. 10-22-1984
    singer: "Palmolive Beauty Box Theatre"; "Fred Astaire Show"; "Telephone Hour"
    10-30-1911 - Milton Lieberthal - d. 6-5-1989
    writer: "The Sheriff"
    10-30-1914 - Ruth Hussey - Providence, RI - d. 4-19-2005
    actress: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    10-30-1915 - Fred Friendly - New York, NY - d. 3-3-1998
    writer, director: "Hear It Now"; "Who Said That?"; "Quick and the Dead"
    10-30-1918 - Joan Banks - New York, NY - d. 1-18-1998
    actress: Arline Harrison Manning, "Portia Faces Life"; Carlotta Lagorro
    Armour, "Today's Children"
    10-30-1923 - Hershel Bernardi - New York, NY - d. 5-9-1986
    actor: "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"
    10-30-1924 - Norman Bird - Coalville, England - d. 4-22-2005
    actor: Major Burnaby "The Sittaford Mystery"
    10-30-1927 - Joe Adcock - Coushatta, LA - d. 5-3-1999
    baseball player: "Baseball: An Action History"
    10-30-1939 - Sammy Ogg - Lexington, VA
    actor: Little Beaver "Red Ryder"; Donnie Henderson "Beulah"

    October 30th deaths

    02-06-1899 - Ramon Novarro - Durango, Mexico - d. 10-30-1968
    actor: Freelance
    08-01-1906 - Judd McMichael - Minneapolis, MN - d. 10-30-1989
    singer: (The Merry Macs) "Bing Crosby Show"; "Breakfast Club"; "Fred Allen
    Show"
    08-12-1912 - Sam Fuller - Worcester, MA - d. 10-30-1997
    producer, director: "The Aldrich Family"; "The Jack Carson Show"
    08-28-1924 - Peggy Ryan - Long Beach, CA - d. 10-30-2004
    dancer, actress: "Mail Call"; "Bob Hope Show"; "Proudly We Hail"
    09-09-1873 - Max Reinhardt - Baden, Austria - d. 10-30-1943
    film director: "Texaco Star Theatre"
    10-14-1907 - Pert Kelton - Great Falls, MT - d. 10-30-1968
    actress: Agnes "Magnificent Montague"; Lolita "We Are Always Young"; "Milton
    Berle Show"
    10-27-1908 - Josephine Antoine - Boulder, CO - d. 10-30-1971
    singer: "Contented Hour"
    11-24-1911 - Kirby Grant - Butte, MO - d. 10-30-1985
    singer, actor: "Gatewood to Hollywood"; "Hollywood Barn Dance"
    12-05-1886 - Rose Wilder Lane - De Smet, SD - d. 10-30-1968
    writer: (Daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder) "Hallmark Hall of Fame"; "Helen
    Hayes Theatre"
    12-26-1921 - Steve Allen - New York, NY - d. 10-30-2000
    comedian, actor, singer, composer and anything else you might mention: "Steve
    Allen Show"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #334
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