Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #154
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 5/4/2004 10:18 AM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2004 : Issue 154
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Lone Ranger Radio Days                [ "Phil Stallings" <redryder@midwest. ]
  Mayor of Doodyville                   [ Matthew561@[removed] ]
  Jack's Maxwell                        [ seandd@[removed] ]
  Hindenburg corrections                [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
  Radio Doody                           [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
  Millicent Upington?                   [ kclarke5@[removed] ]
  Lucy's Radio Ratings                  [ chris chandler <chrischandler84@yah ]
  Gossip columnists on OTR              [ kclarke5@[removed] ]
  Herbert Hoover sound                  [ Katherine Baer <KBaer@[removed]; ]
  5-4 births/deaths                     [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  Jack's Maxwell                        [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  Lucy was indeed a radio star          [ Jer51473@[removed] ]
  Howdy Doody                           [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
  Bob Hastings record                   [ Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 13:50:19 -0400
From: "Phil Stallings" <redryder@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Lone Ranger Radio Days

Just a note to remind ya'll of Lone Ranger Radio Days coming up
May 15th.  Mt. Carmel, IL (the birthplace of Brace Beemer) is
hosting the event.  Fred Foy will be in attendance and will again
appear as The Lone Ranger as we do a live broadcast of "Burly
Scott's Sacrifice" in the evening.  Other guests will be Barbara
Beemer Daniel, Brace's daughter.  Her husband Sinclair will be
there and give an interview at the chuck wagon lunch at noon
along with Joe Southern (The Silver Bullet newsletter), Terry
Salmonson and Lee Felbinger.  You can read all about it on the
website .. A Tribute to Brace Beemer .. [removed]
Phil Stallings - redryder@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 13:50:52 -0400
From: Matthew561@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Mayor of Doodyville
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In a message dated 5/3/2004 11:17:11 AM Central Standard Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:

I don't remember Dilly actually being mayor

Mr Fluster was the [removed]'t he?

Matthew

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Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 13:51:05 -0400
From: seandd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Jack's Maxwell

There is an antinque car museum in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia that has a
Maxwell on display that notes that "it would be familiar to any fans of the
Jack Benny program."  I believe it was a 1922 but I'm sure Laura and our
other scholars will confirm that the actual model year of the car was not
consistent throughout the series.

I remember it being a 1912, myself.

Sean Dougherty
Clifton, NJ

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

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 13:52:00 -0400
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Hindenburg corrections

From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
5/6 1937 - A student of history, a broadcaster or anyone interested
in news coverage, will remember this day and the words of NBC's
Herbert Morrison. "Oh, the humanity!" Morrison's emotion-filled historic
broadcast of the explosion of the dirigible, Hindenburg at Lakehurst,
NJ, became the first recorded coast-to-coast broadcast as it was
carried on both the NBC Red and NBC Blue networks from New York City.

Good, but not quite correct.  The broadcasts of the recording originated in
Chicago, not New York City, and naturally occurred on May 7, the day AFTER
the accident.  Morrison was not an employee of NBC, he was an employee of
WLS Chicago, owned by the Prairie Farmer and affiliated with NBC Blue.
This became an important distinction because he could not convince NBC to
put him on the air the night of the accident because they didn't know him
from Adam.  It is also why he took  the recordings back to his home base in
Chicago rather than bringing them to NBC in New York.

It was not "the first recorded coast-to-coast broadcast" for several
reasons.  First of all, only a segment of the recording was played on the
two broadcasts.  The recorded segment was introduced live by Morrison and
Bob Brown.  Thus only a portion of the broadcasts were recorded.  (I knew
Bob late in his life but he never mentioned to me that he had done that
broadcast--oh the questions I could have asked!)

Secondly, the two NBC networks heard this recorded segment at two separate
times.  Red minus WEAF plus WJZ got it at 11:38-11:45 AM Eastern, and Blue
minus WJZ plus WEAF got it at 4:30-4:45 PM Eastern.  I have a recording of
that latter broadcast.  Bill Jaker reports that Morrison remembers a third
and maybe a fourth broadcast that day, and it is possible that there was an
additional West Coast and/or Hawaii repeat that would not have gone thru
New York City headquarters and therefore would not appear on the official
NBC NYC logs which I have photocopied.  Because the two feeds we know of
were not regularly scheduled programs, we do not have the usual typed list
of stations that aired them, so we can only assume that they may have been
coast-to-coast.  It may not have been simultaneous.

Thirdly, because Mutual did not have a prohibition against the use of
recordings, they may have had aired some coast-to-coast recorded
broadcasts.

Fourth, all that can be claimed is that this was the first time NBC
KNOWINGLY broke the rule against playing recordings (other than incidental
sound effects).  Ironically, several times later that month they
unknowingly aired recordings during "Empire's Homage" at the end of the
Coronation of King George VI, and several of Lowell Thomas' programs from
Europe.  They were furious when they found out about Thomas' programs, but
I have never found any evidence that either they nor CBS ever found out
about the coronation ceremony recordings.  These we know were aired
simultaneously coast-to-coast.

Finally, we can't forget that there had been recorded syndicated broadcasts
since 1928.  Some of them were heard on more stations than NBC and CBS
combined.  They may not have been simultaneous broadcasts, but there are a
couple that were designed to be nearly simultaneous--including the Amos 'n'
Andy series because each episode had a specific air date.  While
syndication might not have the glamour of network, it was an important part
of radio and deserves mention.

Michael Biel   mbiel@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 13:52:22 -0400
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Radio Doody

From: "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed];
Here's this week's lineup:
SAME TIME, SAME STATION with Jerry Haendiges

HOWDY-DOODY TIME (segment)
8-9-42 NBC's adaptation of their TV tapes for Saturday morning
kid's radio     Features Buffalo Bob Smith

Undoubtedly a typo, probably 1952 not 42.  It should also be noted that the
radio series was NOT a reworking of the soundtracks of the TV show, it was
a separate production done specifically for radio.  Frankly, except for not
being able to gaze longingly at Judy Tyler, I liked the radio series better
than the TV show.

Michael Biel   mbiel@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 13:52:35 -0400
From: kclarke5@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Millicent Upington?

       I don't remember ever hearing anything
on "Fibber McGee and Molly" regarding a character
named Millicent Upington.  I believe the character's
name was Abigail Upington. I have a tape with this
character on it.  Hopefully, this will help with
your search.

Another OTR fan,

Kenneth Clarke

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

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 13:53:25 -0400
From: chris chandler <chrischandler84@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Lucy's Radio Ratings

Gregg Oppenheimer [removed]

according to my father, the popularity of My Favorite
Husband grew and grew, and it did indeed become a
hit ->though by no means on anything like the scale
of "I Love Lucy."

"Husband" was a middling radio success, but never a
solid hit on the scale of "My Friend Irma" or "Life
With Luigi", the two major CBS standouts of the
late-40s sitcom boom.  "Irma" benefitted from a
Monday-night "Lux Radio Theatre" lead-in; "Luigi"
seems to have caught fire, quite unexpectedly, on its
own.

"Husband" was moved all over the broadcast schedule,
often airing in fringe time periods--and/or on
Saturday evenings, which were dominated by NBC's Judy
Canova, Dennis Day, and country music features.  A
move to early Sunday evenings in 1950, which could
have been a major break, didn't last very long.

It's interesting to ponder the logic of which CBS
stars were moved full-time to TV and when, often at
the behest or cajoling of CBS exec Harry Ackerman.
George Burns and Gracie Allen, for example, made the
jump quite early, in 1950--and quit radio altogether.
The move came after a disappointing 1949-1950 radio
season.  It's not difficult to see the
cause-and-effect.

The same scenario might have played out in the case of
"My Favorite Husband".  "Our Miss Brooks" and "My
Friend Irma" didn't jump to video until 1952, and both
continued simultaneous radio production.  "Husband",
however, segued to video in 1951, and left
radio--where it quite frankly may not have had much
future.  I'd be grateful for any insight Gregg might
have on this transition period.

All that said, it's very easy to see whey the CBS
brass would have been high enough on the show to keep
it alive in some form.  The Oppenheimer-inspired
changes in the show--morphing Cugat to Cooper,
livening Lucy up a bit, etc--had improved the
proceedings very considerably, even though the scripts
still occasionally tended toward overwrought
second-act farce.  And Lucy grew tremendously as a
sitcom performer within a very short time, by 1950
she's easily holding her own with Frank Nelson, Gale
Gordon and the rest.  No small trick.  :)

[removed]  Hey nobody has mentioned Lucy's first major
radio gig, in the recent thread on her radiography.
She was a regular on the 1938 CBS Wonder Bread variety
show, co-starring with Jack Haley, essentially (and
ironically) playing the role that Eve Arden played in
the Haley broadcasts a few years later.  It's fun to
listen to her in some of these very early comedic
efforts.

chris

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

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 14:00:20 -0400
From: kclarke5@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Gossip columnists on OTR

       Someone asked me once if Lucy's co-star
Richard Denning ever acted on TV.  The only
part which comes immediately to mind is that
of the Governor on "Hawaii Five-O".  From the
photos I've seen of him during his OTR days,
he still looked pretty good!

       I know Hedda Hopper had an OTR show
called both "The Hedda Hopper Show" and/or
"Hedda Hopper's Hollywood".  She did interviews
with various celebrities and reported the latest
gossip from Hollywood. I've also heard that her
feud with Louella Parsons was almost as famous
(infamous?) as the one between Jack Benny and Fred
Allen.

       My questions are: What caused the feud between
these two gossip columnists, if indeed it ever existed?
Did Louella Parsons have a radio show as well? Who
was its sponsor?  Which columnist enjoyed a greater
popularity?  I believe she had a cameo appearance on
one of the "I Love Lucy" episodes where their characters
went to California.  I've heard that Hedda was well
known for her obsession with hats.  Is this true or
just some myth?

Another OTR fan,

Kenneth Clarke

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

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 14:22:09 -0400
From: Katherine Baer <KBaer@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Herbert Hoover sound

I am trying to track down a radio broadcast of Herbert Hoover on Nov 11,
1931.  He was dedicating the DC WWI Memorial and John Phillip Sousa came out
of retirement to conduct the Marine Corps band.  Supposedly it aired on NBC
or CBS or both.

If anyone has this audio or any leads it would be greatly appreciated.
Apparently the memorial has been sadly neglected and one of reporters is
doing a piece on it.  Thanks again.

Katherine

Katherine Baer
Broadcast Librarian
National Public Radio
202-513-2064
kbaer@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 15:38:47 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  5-4 births/deaths

May 4th births

05-04-1886 - Earl Lee - KS - d. 6-2-1955
actor: Fred Thompson "One Man's Family"
05-04-1903 - Luther Adler - NYC - d. 12-8-1984
actor: Peter Gentle "Mystery Without Murder"; "Greatest Story Ever Told
(1938-39)"
05-04-1909 - Ed Max - GA - d. 10-17-1980
actor: Mr. Gallagher "Voyage of the Scarlet Queen"; Executioner Blotto
"Cinnamon Bear"
05-04-1909 - Howard Da Silva - Cleveland, OH - d. 2-16-1986
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Forecast"; "Suspense"
05-04-1924 - Gene Klaven - Baltimore, MD - d. 4-8-2004
new york morning personalty: "Klaven and Finch"; "Klaven in the Morning"
05-04-1927 - Terry Scott - Watford, England - d. 7-26-1994
actor: "Junior Choice"; "Great Scott, It's Maynard"; "Hugh and I"
05-04-1929 - Audrey Hepburn - Brussels, Belguim - d. 1-20-1993
actress: "[removed] Story"; "Stagestruck"

May 4th deaths

02-05-1893 - Carlton Coon - Rochester, MN - d. 5-4-1932
bandleader: (Coon-Sanders Nighthawks) "Florsheim Frolic"
06-10-1898 - Norman Brokenshire - Murcheson, Ontario, Canada - d. 5-4-1965
announcer: "Music That Satisfies"; "Theatre Guild on the Air"
10-23-1931 - Diana Dors - Swindon, Wiltshire, England - d. 5-4-1984
actress: "Earplay"
11-23-1915 - John Dehner - Staten Island, NY - d. 5-4-1992
actor: Paladin "Have Gun, Will Travel"; [removed] Kendall "Frontier Gentleman";
"Gunsmoke"
--
Ron Sayles
For a complete list:
[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 17:47:13 -0400
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Jack's Maxwell

Dan Hughes writes:

In about 1990, when we made our first pilgrimage to Waukegan, a motel
employee told us that he owned one of Jack's Maxwells and was slowly but
surely refurbishing it for future display.  He was going to show us some
photos but he didn't have them with him and we told him were just there
for one day so could not return the next day to see them.
Maybe he was putting us on, but at the time it seemed quite plausible.
He was very excited that we were Benny fans, and he said that many
Waukeganites were unaware of the comedian.

The owner of Waukegan's Bertrand's Bowling Alley used to own a Maxwell that
purported to be the Jack Benny Maxwell, and I've spent a good bit of time over
the years trying to track its effluvium.  Here's the gist.

There are a few Maxwells around the country that aspire to the title of "Jack
Benny's Maxwell".  It seems that when Jack was to make local appearances,
management would sometimes call ahead to make contact with a local Maxwell
owner.
 Then at some appropriate time, Jack could be transported from place to place
in "his" Maxwell, often driven by the car's local owner.  In Phoenix, I think
the Maxwell picked Jack up at the airport.  In Waukegan, Jack rode in it
during one of the local parades honoring him.  A local Benny fan was good
enough
to send me some large reproductions of articles and photos from the Waukegan
News-Sun about the car.  Eventually, Mr. Bertrand's sons sold the auto to a
private collection in Wisconsin.

I'm not aware of any other Waukegan Maxwells, but I'll ask.  That motel
employee wouldn't have been at the former Travelodge, would he?  I was put up
there
when I was one of the featured guests at the 1987 Benny celebration, and he
gave me a tour of the then-closed Genesee Theatre.  He purported to own the
theatre, but I've since discredited that claim and no one seems to know who he
was or how he got me into the theatre.

--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 20:39:16 -0400
From: Jer51473@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Lucy was indeed a radio star
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But the term can be used very loosely. It gets down to ones own opinion as to
what a star is. Imo, she was certainly not a major star, in fact if it wasnt
for her tv success her name would have been forgotten by most people by now.
She was really no more of a star than her radio husband, richard denning. In
fact denning starred in mr and mrs north in addition to "Husband" and did as
well or  better in movies than ball did. But she did have her own show
,although
her image  didnt approach that of  the big stars of radio like benny, burns
and allen, skelton, hope, crosby, f. allen, magee and molly [removed] As far as
ladies of radio she took a back seat to girls like judy  canova, eve arden,
joan
davis, ann sothern, alice faye and many more. I was just watching steve allens
"the golden days of radio", which was filmed in the seventies. Dozens and
dozens of radio stars were mentioned, but lucy was not. This , of course is
in no
way an official notice as to who was a star and who was not, but it was
interesting. Btw, i took exception to some of the names they did use, but an
opinion
is like a head, everyone has one.

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Date: Tue, 4 May 2004 00:49:25 -0400
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Howdy Doody

Date: Sun, 2 May 2004 18:12:42 -0400
From: Grams46@[removed]

was dilly the mayor of radio doodyville or tv doodyville?

TV Doodyville for sure.  I don't really know that much about radio Doodyville.

Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 03:14:36 -0400
From: "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed];

HOWDY-DOODY TIME (segment)
8-9-42    NBC's adaptation of their TV tapes for Saturday morning kid's
radio Features Buffalo Bob Smith 

This date cannot be correct.  Bob Smith was still in Buffalo in 1942.  He came to New York 
in 1946 and started the Howdy Doody TV show in December 1947.  The date should 
probably be 8-9-52.

-- A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed] 15 Court Square, Suite 210 lawyer@[removed] Boston, MA 02108-2503 [removed] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 May 2004 11:48:18 -0400 From: Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed]; To: [removed]@[removed] Subject: Bob Hastings record Somebody on the list may be interested in this: I found a guy who has the COVER of the Bob Hastings children's album for sale for three bucks postpaid. No record, just the cover. I assume it has a picture of Bob but I've never seen it. Might be nice to have Bob sign it next time you see him. For details contact Joe at nixit@[removed]. ---Dan, who this winter bought an autographed photo of Bob Hastings, only to have it lost in the [removed] -------------------------------- End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #154 ********************************************* Copyright [removed] Communications, York, PA; All Rights Reserved, including republication in any form. If you enjoy this list, please consider financially supporting it: [removed] For Help: [removed]@[removed] To Unsubscribe: [removed]@[removed] To Subscribe: [removed]@[removed] or see [removed] For Help with the Archive Server, send the command ARCHIVE HELP in the SUBJECT of a message to [removed]@[removed] To contact the listmaster, mail to listmaster@[removed] To Send Mail to the list, simply send to [removed]@[removed]