Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #113
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 3/28/2004 9:30 AM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2004 : Issue 113
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Re: Bishop Sheen                      [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      Re: Blue Ribbon Town                  [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]
      Re: Commercials                       [ Cnorth6311@[removed] ]
      "I Can't Stand Jack Benny [removed]"  [ "Kris Stone" <anaheim47@[removed] ]
      Irene is Irenee                       [ LSMFTnolonger@[removed] ]
      Mel Blanc/Clark Gasoline Radio Comme  [ "Dan and Beverly Wildt" <dwildt@wi. ]
      Re: I Can't Stand Jack Benny          [ "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed]; ]
      3-28 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Welcome. Jim Harmon                   [ "Dave J." <[removed]@[removed]; ]
      An Ovaltine Surprise                  [ "Dave J." <[removed]@[removed]; ]
      She's not asking for much, is she?    [ Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed] ]
      Irene/Irenee                          [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
      Andy Griffith Radio Program           [ Jmeals@[removed] ]
      Irene                                 [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
      Hamlin Garland Broadcast              [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
      National Recording Registry           [ Art Chimes <achimes@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 08:58:54 -0500
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Bishop Sheen

    I thought I might as well weigh in on this Bishop Fulton Sheen thread.

    I maintained in earlier posts that many TV sets were sold due to folks
    wanting to watch Milton Berle in their own homes, rather than imposing on
    neighbors.

    But that was not the case in my home. When my (fanatically) Irish Catholic
    mother somehow discovered Bishop Sheen, we THEN got our first B&W set.

    But I can tell you all one thing that I don't think has been posted yet
    about him. He had INCREDIBLE TV "presence". He was almost mesmerizing.

    I'm not speaking as a fan of his when I was a kid, but as one who became a
    TV Director in later life and realized what effect great "eye contact" has
    on getting the message across. One never felt Bishop Sheen was talking into
    the lens of a camera. The man had the most intense dark eyes, that
    penetrated right into those of the viewer. He was speaking to "you", and you
    alone.

    Word was out that even Non Catholics watched him, just because he was
    fascinating to watch, had a great sense of humor, and never boring.

    Incidentally, switching gears now, just wanted to let all you Digesters know
    that I'll be away from the Computer for about a month, so I won't be
    lurking, posting, or answering questions over that time period. Dorothy and
    I are heading to Elmira NY where I'll be the appearing in a few radio
    productions for the Elmira Little Theatre. Then, on the way back home, we
    will be attending the Cincinnati OTR Convention, and Hastings and I will
    have some more fun doing Bob and Ray routines.

    Talk at you later.

    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    Jughead

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

    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 08:59:23 -0500
    From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Blue Ribbon Town
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    In a message dated 3/26/04 9:25:15 AM Central Standard Time,
    [removed]@[removed] writes:

>     Also available is an MP3 download of the Blue
>     Ribbon Town broadcast of February 5, 1944 which was broadcast from Milwaukee
>     in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer.

    Is this the incident in which Groucho claimed to have gotten the company's
    president drunk on a competing beer, specifically Miller High Life?  It
    supposedly cost him the series.  If so, that might be one of Groucho's last
    shows for
    Pabst.

    Dixon

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    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 10:38:22 -0500
    From: Cnorth6311@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Commercials
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    Something that constantly amazes me is the fact that even though I hate most
    all TV commercials, and find myself muting them while they are on, if I
    purchase an OTR show, and the commercials have been deleted, I somehow feel
    cheated.
    I also hate it when someone cuts out the openings and closings of shows, such
    as Terry and The Pirates. I know it was nonsensical gibberish, but it was
    part of the show, and part of the charm of those shows. Please, leave the
    shows
    in tact. Just because you don't like the commercials is no sign everyone else
    doesn't like them either. Maybe I am way off base in this, and if there is a
    logical explanation for this practice, I would love to know what it is.

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    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 12:15:44 -0500
    From: "Kris Stone" <anaheim47@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  "I Can't Stand Jack Benny [removed]"

>     If I recall correctly, actor Peter Lorre was one of the judges in the "I
>     Can't Stand Jack Benny Because . . ." contest.

    ...Fred Allen was another judge in the "I Can't Stand Jack Benny [removed]"
    contest.

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

    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 13:28:12 -0500
    From: LSMFTnolonger@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Irene is Irenee

    Am I the only Digest reader who watches "Masterpiece Theatre" on PBS?

    In the late 1960's, they ran a miniseries called "The Forsyte Saga." Now
    in the 2000's, they have remade a new version of "The Forsyte Saga."
    Both versions were British productions.

    In both versions, the main character is Soames Forsyte and the love of
    his life is wife/ex-wife Irene. In both versions, whenever you see her
    name spelled, it is "Irene," but it is always pronounced by all
    characters are "Irenee."

    Greg Jackson, Jr.

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

    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 14:33:20 -0500
    From: "Dan and Beverly Wildt" <dwildt@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Mel Blanc/Clark Gasoline Radio Commercials
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    I am seeking Mel Blanc/Clark Gasoline radio commercials from 1960-61.
    At that time, Clark Oil and Refining Corp. (a Midwestern gasoline company)
    was one of the prime radio sponsors of the then-Milwaukee Braves baseball
    radio broadcasts.  During this period, whenever it was Clark's turn to
    broadcast their one-minute spot between innings, Mel Blanc voiced commercials
    for Clark portraying two characters named "Fizbee" and "the Chief."

    The premise of these ads was that the Chief was Fizbee's boss at Clark Oil,
    a blustery blowhard who was always coming up with hare brained schemes to
    promote Clark gas.  Fizbee was a meek, mild mannered Every Man, who always
    managed to save the Chief from his ridiculous ideas.  The spots were quite
    humorous. Cartoon renderings of the characters also appeared on Braves'
    scorecards and pocket schedules and on Clark road maps, calendars,
    promotional drinking glasses, decals, trading stamp booklets, etc.

    I have managed to collect about fifty of these great old commercials, but
    since the Mel Blanc/Clark campaign lasted for two years and was changed every
    thirteen weeks or so, I am positive there are dozens more.  For example, I
    specifically recall that one Clark commercial featured Blanc's old Jack
    Benny Program co-star, Dennis Day, and another featured Frank Nelson.

    Does anyone have any suggestions or leads on how to locate some more of
    these Mel Blanc/Clark Gasoline radio commercials?

    Thanks,
    Dan Wildt
    Greenfield WI

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    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 14:49:06 -0500
    From: "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: I Can't Stand Jack Benny

>     If I recall correctly, actor Peter Lorre was one of the judges in the "I
>     Can't Stand Jack Benny Because . . ." contest.

    Along with Goodman Ace and (supreme judge) Fred Allen, the latter of whom
    also announced the names of the various contest winners on the 27 Jan 1946
    Lucky Strike Program.

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

    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 15:51:42 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  3-28 births/deaths

    March 28th births

    03-28-1890 - Paul Whiteman - Denver, CO - d. 12-29-1967
    conductor: "Kraft Music Hall"; "Burns and Allen"
    03-28-1892 - Philip Loeb - Philadelphia, PA - d. 9-1-1955
    actor: Jake Goldberg "The Goldbergs"
    03-28-1896 - Virginia Rea - Louisville, KY - d. 1941
    singer: Olive Palmer "Palmolive Hour"; "Rubinoff and His Orchestra"
    03-28-1902 - Dame Flora Robson - Brighton, England - d. 7-7-1984
    actress: BBC Radio "Streets of Pompeii"
    03-28-1907 - Jon Dodson - Richland, MO - d. 1963
    singer: (Member of the King's Men) "Fibber McGee and Molly"; "King's Men"
    03-28-1912 - Frank Lovejoy - The Bronx, NY - d. 10-2-1962
    actor: Randy 'Lucky' Stone "Nightbeat"; Bill Weigand "Mr. and Mrs. North"
    03-28-1921 - Sir Dirk Bogarde - London, England d. 5-8-1999
    actor: "A Christmas Carol"
    03-28-1924 - Freddie Bartholomew - London, England - d. 1-23-1992
    guest: "Anchors Aweigh"
    03-28-1925 - Jerry Walter - IL - d. 2-11-1979
    actor: Gil Perry "Island Adventure"

    March 28th deaths

    07-04-1910 - Alec Templeton - Cardiff, South Wales - d. 3-28-1963
    pianist, satirist: "You Shall Have Music"; "Universal Rhythm"; "Alec
    Templeton Time"
    07-28-1914 - Carman Dragon - Antioch, CA - d. 3-28-1987
    conductor: "Maxwell House Coffee Time"; "Baby Snooks Show"; "Railroad Hour"
    09-13-1918 - Dick Haymes - Buenos Aires, Argentina - d. 3-28-1980
    singer, actor: Dick Haymes Show"; "Tommy Dorsey Show"; Crane Dockery "I Fly
    Anything"
    12-29-1904 - Wendell Niles - Twin Valley, MN - d. 3-28-1994
    announcer: "Bob Hope Show"; "Man Called X"; "Hollywood Star Playhouse"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    For a complete list:
    [removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 16:05:40 -0500
    From: "Dave J." <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Welcome. Jim Harmon
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    I wanted to add a special welcome to this list to Jim Harmon.
    Jim, I've enjoyed your books over the years. Every few years I pull out "The
    Great Radio Comedians," "The Great Radio Heroes," and re-read them for the
    pure fun of it.
    I hope your will contribute here often. It would be fun to hear your
    experiences in putting the books together, etc.
    Dave J., Vancouver, WA

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    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 16:18:32 -0500
    From: "Dave J." <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  An Ovaltine Surprise
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    After reading all the comments here in past weeks about Ovaltine, imagine my
    surprise to see a mention of it in Wednesday's New York Times.

    And the mention wasn't in a story about OTR, either!

    Instead it came near the end of a rave review for a restaurant, Spice Market.

    Turning to recommended desserts, the reviewer wrote: "Ovaltine kulfi is dense
    and malty, like a Snickers bar coated with spiced popcorn and funnel seed."

    I'm assuming (always dangerous) that this is our old friend Ovaltine from the
    radio ads.

     Dave J., Vancouver, WA

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    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 17:26:12 -0500
    From: Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  She's not asking for much, is she?

    I received this email message today:

> >     hi, my name is natalia, i'm from Argentina and i need some information about

    situational [removed] i visited your page and i really enjoyed it but it
    does not give me the information i need for the team work i have to present in a
    few weeks. can you help me? when i say information about it, i mean like the
    theory of the sit com, [removed], what is it?, what's their purpose?, like the history
    and the basis that it have for the authors to create it. everything you have will
    be usefull for me. i hope you can help me thank!! natalia<<

    Al Girard
    [removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 17:47:45 -0500
    From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
    To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Irene/Irenee

    Cynthia already said it.   This is a British pronunciation.  I'm not sure if
    it is currently the pronunciation but during the Holmes period and the
    period of the 'Forsyte Saga' it was surely the pronunciation.  The Forsyte
    novels were written in the first quarter of the 20th century and they
    covered the period from the 1880s to 1920.

    In that series of books I-ree-nee is spelled Irene.

    When the original BBC production of the Forsyte Saga was broadcast on PBS in
    1969 I was totally hooked and because my name is Irene, very curious about
    the pronunciation.   I eventually read the books as well and found 'Irene'.
    When I first  heard Holmes say Ireenee many years later,  it didn't surprise
    me, I knew her name was Irene.  :))

    Perhaps there's a Brit in the group who can tell us if this is still the
    pronunciation of Irene in England.

    Irene
    E-ree-nee in Greek, means 'peace'

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

    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 22:02:33 -0500
    From: Jmeals@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Andy Griffith Radio Program
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    Hello

        In a recent newsletter Mr. Allen Wilcox inquired about an Andy Griffith
    radio program he heard promoted on a Have Gun Will Travel episode.

        In the late 1950s Andy Griffith was starring in the Broadway musical
    Destry Rides Again. From June of  1959 to June of 1960 ( I may be a little
    off on
    those dates) he would stop at CBS every weeknight to do a five minute humorous
    commentary. The program was part of an hour of comedy that included The Amos
    and Andy Music Hall and Bob and Ray.

        Now, perhaps I am being a touch naive.  Mr. Griffith may have recorded
    the programs in advance and claiming that he was stopping by on the way to the
    theater could have been a convenient way to plug his Broadway show.

        I haven't heard the five minute program since it left the air but, as a
    kid, I looked forward to hearing it every evening.

    Jim Meals

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    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 22:02:53 -0500
    From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Irene

    "Nicholas Kierniesky" <kierniesky@[removed]; said:

    "Lee Munsick was wondering about the pronunciation of Irene Adler as
    'Irenee'  by Bruce's Watson in the film series. ... 'Irenee' was used, perhaps
    once or twice as a mispronunciation of Irene, and it stuck."

    Since Ms. Adler was, as I recall the story, a foreigner in England, I
    suspect the pronunciation is determined by whether the pronunciation
    of her country of origin or the Anglicized pronunciation is used.
    Assuming my memory serves correctly as to her nationality, that is.
    --

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

    Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 23:12:41 -0500
    From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Hamlin Garland Broadcast
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    A friend has asked me for an interview with Hamlin Garland, the author.  I do
    not have it but would appreciate hearing from a collector who has it and is
    willing to make a dub.  Dave Newquist is preparing program in which he will be
    talking about Garland, and wants to know what he sounded like.  Here is Dave's
    message.  Reply to me and I'll forward the message to him.  If this program is
    not available, any source of Garland's voice will be welcome.  Thanks.

    The radio program on which Hamlin Garland appeared was on the CBS Radio
    Network on a show called "Strange As It Seems."

    Garland appeared on a broadcast Sept. 14, 1939, at 11:30 [removed] EST.  He was
    discussing his book "Mystery of the Buried Crosses."   David Newquist

    Ted Kneebone/1528 S. Grant [removed], SD 57401/605-226-3344
    OTR: [removed]

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    Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 10:27:07 -0500
    From: Art Chimes <achimes@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  National Recording Registry

    The well-known (to collectors) recording of the full broadcast day of WJSV
    (now WTOP, Washington), Sept. 21, 1939, is among the historic recordings
    named this month to the National Recording Registry by a Library of
    Congress Panel.

    The recording begins with station sign-on at 6:30 [removed] and continues to
    1:00 [removed] the next morning. Highlights include network programs such as
    "Amos 'n' Andy," news coverage of World War II, an FDR address to Congress,
    commercials and Arthur Godfrey.

    The 18+ hour recording is the longest and one of the few radio broadcasts
    of the 50 recordings added to the registry this year.

    Other items of interest to radio enthusiasts include the broadcast of Game
    Four of the 1941 World Series with Red Barber and others, and the inaugural
    broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion" from 1974.

    Among the other varied additions to the National Recording Registry are:

     - William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold speech (1921 reenactment)
     - Okeh Laughing Record (1922)
     - Leadbelly: "Goodnight Irene" (1933)
     - Jelly Roll Morton interviews by Alan Lomax (1938)
     - Steam locomotive recordings by O. Winston Link (1957-1977)
     - Glenn Gould performance of Bach's "Goldberg Variations" (1955)
     - Kennedy inaugural ceremony (1961)
     - The Beatles: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967)

    A complete listing can be found at
    [removed].

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #113
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