Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #84
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 3/8/2004 6:54 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2004 : Issue 84
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  CD to MP3                             [ Dick Judge <dickjudge@[removed]; ]
  A Little Dim Sum                      [ Wich2@[removed] ]
  Andrews Sisters                       [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
  Victor Arden                          [ William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
  Andrews Sisters                       [ <welsa@[removed]; ]
  Re: Sherlock Holmes and The Final Pr  [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
  Re: In Times Like These               [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
  "In Times Like These"                 [ "RBB" <oldradio@[removed]; ]
  Sherlock Holmes on TCM                [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
  Lud Gluskin                           [ SIrvinProd@[removed] ]
  Re: In Times Like These               [ "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed] ]
  Frank Nelson                          [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  I admit it                            [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  Gunsmoke episode                      [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
  RE: Impulse Noise Reduction System    [ OTRDSIEGEL@[removed] ]
  More on "Say Goodnight Gracie"        [ Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed] ]
  Sherlock Holmes 'Hebraic Breastplate  [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
  Neat video                            [ "Harry R. Keller" <hrkeller@earthli ]
  Jack Benny Dec 7th                    [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 09:52:51 -0500
From: Dick Judge <dickjudge@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  CD to MP3

Hello out there:

I know this question has been asked many times in the Digest but I guess I
wasn't paying too much attention, [removed]

Is there a user-friendly program to convert Standard CDs to an MP3 format?
Something that is free/shareware? Or one that could be sampled and tested
before having to buy it?

If you like you can contact me off-line.

Thanks.

dickjudge

MEMORIES OF RADIO/Dick Judge

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 12:03:02 -0500
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  A Little Dim Sum

From: Mark J Cuccia <mcuccia@[removed];

  Harry (Bartell) was a long-time radio/TV (and I guess movies too)
Hollywood "extra".

Ouch - whereever Harry is, you just raised his hackles!
As someone who's labored on both sides of that designation, I can assure you
that Harry's career rose far above the level of the "extra" - especially in
the two broadcast media. (And I'll take this chance to add my voice to the
chorus of those folks who were proud to have shared threads with Mr. B. in
this forum, and touched to have received pleasant off-list notes from him.)

From: Alan/Linda Bell <alanlinda43@[removed];

I was watching the Simpsons tonight and the "yeeesss" character showed up
briefly, obviously patterned after Frank Nelson of the Jack Benny Show

The character's a semi-regular in the second tier of the Simpsons supporting
cast, always treated lovingly.

From: "evantorch" <etorch@[removed];

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.

As a fellow B & R fan, I too was a little taken aback by Koch's letter there
a few issues back (although to those of us familiar with his great work in
MAD magazine, his claim should have at least sounded plausible.) The more
recent extended article there establishes his bona-fides pretty authoritively
- and makes me almost as uncomfortable with Bob & Ray, as I am with Bob Kane
for his now-acknowledged mistreatment of Bill Finger's place in the
development of BATMAN.

Best,
Craig

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 12:03:26 -0500
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Andrews Sisters

Kenneth Clarke asked

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)?

Patti Andrews was the blonde and the one that was usually in the middle and
also the one that took the solos. She is still living.

George Aust

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 13:54:37 -0500
From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Victor Arden

Ron Sayles in today's listiong of bith dates mentioned an old friend,
Victor Arden. I worked with Vic  many years ago dubbing recorded music
into transcribed Hummert programs. However I remember when as a teenager
in the 1920's and 1930's listening  on NBC on Sunday to "Ohman and Arden"
as a oiano duo. Also, while at KNX I broadcast Phil Ohman's dance band
from the Beverly Hills Hotel (?) in California. A couple of nice guys.

BILL MURTOUGH

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 13:54:59 -0500
From: <welsa@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Andrews Sisters

Patti is still living.  Here's the rundown:

     LaVerne  Sofia Andrews  Red Hair  Born 07/06/1915 dead 05/08/1967 ( age
51)
     Maxene  Angelyn Andrews   Brunette Hair  Born 01/03/1918 dead
10/21/1995 ( age 77)
     Patty  (Patricia) Marie Andrews  Blonde Hair       Born 02/16/1920
alive   (age 84 )

All three were born in Minneapolis and attended North High School there.  My
father was in the same class as Maxene.  Whenever the sisters visited troops
during WWII they would try and spend private time with the guys from
Minnesota.

I heard a few years back that they are still to this day the biggest selling
girl group in recording history.  But I suppose that could have been
surpassed by now.

Ted

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 13:55:38 -0500
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re:  Sherlock Holmes and The Final Problem

Jay H wrote:

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

And the site where I found the 1/18/33 listing of "Murder by Proxy" (The
Final Problem) was the website of 'The Sherlock Holmes Society of London'.
They list 'Her Majesty's Wine Cellar' as having been broadcast on 2/22/33.

This, of course illustrates one of the big problems of collecting OTR.
Someone finds a date, might not really be capable of confirming it, others
copy the file and the information, correct or not, goes out and becomes
considered as authoritative.  This is mostly true of the older, harder to
find programs such as early Sherlock Holmes.

When I do a search at a file-sharing HUB the same file will come up from the
many people who copied it from the first person who offered it and so the
wrong information is perpetuated.

-Irene

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 13:58:34 -0500
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Re:  In Times Like These

Deric asks:

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.

At the following website of the Merlin Catalog which is the Missouri
Education and Research Libraries Information Network,  you can listen to a
clip of 'In Times Like These' from the 'GI Jive' series broadcast on June 6,
1944, with Harry James orchestra, and Kitty Kallen on vocals.  However it
was interrupted at :50 into the clip with a D-Day Announcement and the clip
picked up about 30 seconds later, but enough time left for you to hear a
good part of the song.

[removed]+times+like+these+(D-Day+announcement)/tin+times+like+these+d+day+announcement/-5,-1,0,B/frameset&FF=tin+times+like+these+d+day+announcement&1,1,

-Irene

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 13:59:01 -0500
From: "RBB" <oldradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  "In Times Like These"

<<Deric asked about "In Times Like These" (Sammy Fein - Arthur Freed) >>

Kitty Kallen was singing this song with the Harry James Orchestra during a
remote broadcast from The Astor Hotel Roof Garden restaurant in NYC on June
6, 1944.

It was one of those popular, late-night "music for your listening and
dancing pleasure" broadcasts when it was interrupted on station WOR in NYC
with the announcement of the Allied invasion of Europe.

When I interviewed Kitty Kallen on my radio program in 1990, and I played
this historic broadcast excerpt, she said that they knew nothing in the Roof
Garden venue about the invasion nor the broadcast interruption until they
all decended to the hotel lobby after the show and everyone was buzzing
around.

D-Day was announced on WOR at 12:45 [removed] in NYC, but it was dawn on the
French beaches.

The historic broadcast excerpt of Kitty singing the prophetic lyrics (3 min
17 sec) with the WOR announcement is on a promotional (not for sale) CD by
The Maltese Record Company titled "Kitty Kallen, I've Got A Crush On You."

It also includes a two-minute broadcast with Kitty on The Dave Garroway
radio show of February 1, 1948 (probably in Chicago at WMAQ before Dave went
to host the NBC-TV Today Show in NYC) - also other hit music tracks Kitty
recorded in the 40's and 60's with Harry James,etc. - 12 tracks in all.
Producer is Kitty's husband, Budd Granoff.

She also has a two-CD set on Sony Music Special Projects, "The Kitty Kallen
Story" (ASK 48978) released in 1992 with almost all of her hits and an
interesting life story booklet, pix, etc.  It does not have the 1944 excerpt
from WOR.

-Russ Butler  oldradio@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 15:39:30 -0500
From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Sherlock Holmes on TCM

Turner Classic Movies is showing a bevy of Sherlock
Holmes movies tonight (Monday) and into the wee hours
of Tuesday. Looks like a few worth taping!
Kermyt

8:00 PM  The Hound Of The Baskervilles (1959) Sherlock
Holmes investigates the haunting of an isolated
British estate by a murderous canine. Peter Cushing,
Christopher Lee, Andre Morrell. D: Terence Fisher. C
86m. LBX

9:30 PM Murder at the Baskervilles (1941) Sherlock
Holmes returns to Baskerville Hall to track down a
stolen racehorse. Arthur Wontner, Ian Fleming, Lyn
Harding. D: Thomas Bentley. BW 65m.

10:45 PM Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942)
Sherlock Holmes fights to keep a new bombsight design
from the Nazis. Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Lionel
Atwill. D: Roy William Neill. BW 68m.

12:00 AM Sherlock Holmes and the Woman in Green (1945)
Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of seemingly
unrelated murders. Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce,
Hillary Brooke. D: Roy William Neill. BW 67m.

1:15 AM Sherlock Holmes in Dressed to Kill (1946)
Sherlock Holmes sets out to find why people are
killing each other over a seemingly inexpensive music
box. Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Patricia Morison. D:
Roy William Neill. BW 72m.

2:30 AM Sherlock Holmes in Terror by Night (1946)
Sherlock Holmes signs on to protect a priceless
diamond from jewel thieves. Basil Rathbone, Nigel
Bruce, Alan Mowbray. D: Roy William Neill. BW 60m.

3:30 AM The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes (1970) The
legendary sleuth becomes involved with a mysterious
Frenchwoman while investigating the Loch Ness monster.
Robert Stephens, Christopher Lee, Genevieve Page. D:
Billy Wilder. C 125m. LBX

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 15:39:47 -0500
From: SIrvinProd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Lud Gluskin
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

Does anyone know when Lud Gluskin shifted from the New York music department
of CBS to become the West Coast Music Director? A 10/27/1939 RADIO GUIDE
article on Gluskin lists him as "Music Director of CBS' Western Division," so
obviously it happened sometime before October 1939. I am particularly trying
to
determine if THE LIFEBUOY PROGRAM, CBS, Tuesday, 10/25/1938, Al Jolson, [removed],
Harry Einstein as Parkyakarkus, Martha Raye, Announcer: Tony Ruffner, Music:
Lud
Gluskin, originated from New York or Los Angeles. If Gluskin was already based
on the West Coast, that could provide the deciding clue. Anyone know
conclusively?

Thanks!
Sam Irvin

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

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 15:40:27 -0500
From: "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: In Times Like These

      Deric asks:

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.

     Deric didn't mention the composer's name(s)  but if he means the song
written by
Ralph Freed and Sammy Fain, the song was in the 1944 movie "Meet The People"
(with Dick Powell).  (The Internet Movie Database has missed this song, by
the way, in
their list of facts for this film.)  So the song was performed in its era in
this movie.

   -- Phil C.

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 16:31:09 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Frank Nelson

Alan Bell writes:

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?

Well, Frank Nelson's appearances on the Benny show go all the way back to
June 1, 1934.  He played various characters over time, including football
announcers, sound man Virgil Reimer, etc.  However, if you discount the fact
that he
doesn't say "Yessss" in this exchange, I peg Jack's first encounter with that
character as being 12/14/41, where Nelson plays a floorwalker when Jack is
doing Christmas shopping.

--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 16:31:54 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  I admit it

Conrad Binyon asked:

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?

And you know what's sad?  ***I*** did it myself after writing that, just to
remember how similar the sound is!

--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 16:55:07 -0500
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Gunsmoke episode

Can anyone identify the title and date of the Gunsmoke show that aired on
KSURF (Los Angeles) on March 5th? Matt releases two men from jail, Jim
Kendall (Candel?) and Lee Binders. Then Chester sees a circular that states
Kendall is wanted for stagecoach robbery and murder. He's arrested. Binders
hires Jack Haney to get him out of jail.

Thanks,
Barbara

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 16:56:02 -0500
From: OTRDSIEGEL@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  RE:  Impulse  Noise  Reduction  System

   Collectors who do any transfers of transcription discs to tape, cassette
or CD format and who wish to eliminate the clicks often found on these discs
may be interested in acquiring a device commonly known as a "de-clicker".
    I have been asked to offer such a device, an Impulse Noise Reduction
System manufactured by SAE (Scientific Audio Electronics) Model # 5000 A for
the "best price" ofered (plus shipping) The device comes mounted in an
attractive wooden encasement for easy storage and mounting near one's
equipment.
    If your interested, please contct me.
Dave Siegel

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 18:51:43 -0500
From: Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  More on "Say Goodnight Gracie"

The reviews continue to roll on for "Say Goodnight Gracie," this time from
Chicago and Phoenix.

Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]

In true vaudeville tradition, Gorshin goes on with Burns
Chicago Tribune (subscription), IL - Mar 7, 2004
By Chris Jones. Of all the hundreds of times Frank Gorshin has said
good night to Gracie on Broadway and beyond, it's a fair bet ...

Give the man a cigar
Arizona Republic, AZ - Mar 6, 2004
Frank Gorshin never met George Burns. There's some evidence, though, that
Gorshin
is channeling the comedian, who died March 9, 1996, at the tender age of
100. ...

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 19:18:53 -0500
From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Sherlock Holmes 'Hebraic Breastplate'

Mike Ogden wrote:

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.

I do have the 'Hebraic Breastplate' episode from 11/11/34.   It is announced
as 'Hebraic Breastplate' although 'Jewish Breastplate' is also mentioned in
the episode.  It is also announced as the first in a new series of Holmes
stories.  One reference noted that Hector played the role for 29 episodes.
This matches other log records; 8 episodes for 33-34, beginning 11/11/34
and 21 episodes for 1935, ending 5/26/35

The end comments are no help, Joseph Bell simply stating  that next week
Watson will bring us another Holmes Story.  (and also plug G Washington
coffee :))).   This series of SH was the last one sponsored by G Washington
coffee.

At the start of the 1936 series the program moved to Mutual and the sponsor
became Household Finance.   That coincides with Mike's info that Gordon
returned in 1936.  Do you suppose Mutual met Gordon's salary demands, which
NBC wouldn't?

Listening to 'Hebraic Breastplate'  I can hear it is clearly not Gordon.
The prior Sherlock Holmes series with Gordon and Lovell ended on 6/14/33 and
this Mutual series began almost a year and a half later on 11/11/34 still
with NBC and G Washington coffee.
Therefore I am pretty sure it is Hector-Lovell.

I've received a couple of off-group messages from people interested in
getting this episode and will be glad to share it.

I don't have streamload, but am on 'Phil's Place' hub which is free and
'Magic Waiter' which is not.     If neither of these sources for downloading
are available to you I can send it on a CD (along with other material to
fill it up).

Thanks, Mike for clarifying the two 1936 programs which two logs claim
(including the SH Society of London) were Hector and West and upon which I
based my file naming.   In listening to those two 1936 episodes however, it
is clearly Gordon and West and not Hector and West.

Irene

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 19:52:04 -0500
From: "Harry R. Keller" <hrkeller@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Neat video

I wanted to pass on to list members that I received a neat OTR DVD from
[removed] last week - "Up in the Air" starring Mantan Moreland, Frankie
Darro, Majorie Reynolds and others. It is a murder mystery set in a radio
station (think "Who Done It? or "Radioland Murders." It is pretty
entertaining, though I did wince watching Frankie Darro and Mantan Moreland
doing a blackface Amos  & Andy-type routine.

Nevertheless for $5 (if you buy five DVDs they are $5 each) it was worth
the price of admission.

They also offer a DVD version of Gene Autry's "Phantom Empire" serial where
part of the plot revolves around his making broadcasts from Melody Ranch.

Bob Keller
Waukesha, Wisc.

Jamie, Bob, Tardis, & Sherman

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

Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 20:53:43 -0500
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Jack Benny Dec 7th

Someone asked when the news bulletins about Pearl Harbor occured during
the Jack Benny Program on Dec 7th 1941.
I was curious myself so I got out three different recordings that I have
of that show.  The first one was from Redmond Nostalgia and the quality
was fair with quite a bit of surface noise. The first bulletin occured
during Dennis Day's song a medley of "You Are Everything I Love" and
"All The Things You Are"about 10 minutes and 15 seconds into the
program. This was an announcement that all the Police and Sheriff's were
on 12 hour duty and urging all citizens to remain calm and cool and that
all volunteers should report to their police and fire stations for
duty.  There was no indication where this announcement was coming from,
but at one point the announcer did mention *the county* making me
believe that this was a local bulletin possibly from KFI in Los Angeles.
There was a second bulletin during the orchestra's number at 21 minutes
into the show. This sounded like a network announcement  about the
Japanese (notice the full length of that name for the benefit of those
with extreme sensibilities about such things) taking over the Shanghai
electric station and also an announcement from New York, followed by "we
now return you to Hollywood". There was no KFI identification at the end
of the show but there was several seconds of dead air followed by an
announcer saying that programs would be interupted  for war bulletins.

The second tape I listened to was from Radio Yesteryear, part of the set
of ten straight hours of broadcasting on NBC Red network. These
recordings were made on Memovox plastic discs and the quality is
terrible, but should have provided us with a chance to hear what was
being sent out by the network in New York. But as it turns out that is
not what was on the tape at all. It was another recording (probably from
KFI ) with improved quality of sound with the exact same bulletins.
That is a real disappointment as we were promised the NBC Memovox
recordings. Now we have nothing to compare to. The following program The
Fitch BandWagon with Horace Heidt from Hollywood was back to the same
poor quality as the other Memovox recordings. This probably means that
all the other shows in that set have been replaced by better quality
recordings where they existed. Big disappointment!
The third recording that I have was on MP3 CD and turned out to be the
same recording again.
Does anyone know if a different recording exists of the Jack Benny show
on that historic date?

George Aust

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #84
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