Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #104
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 3/17/2002 8:36 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 104
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      4 Archie [removed]!              [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      For all lone ranger fans              [ Jer51473@[removed] ]
      The Decoder Ring Lives On             [ "Vince Long" <vlongbsh@[removed]; ]
      "Arsenic and Old Lace"                [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
      LONE RANGER LUNCH BOX                 [ Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@doityours ]
      Re: The Andersons and Mama Bloom      [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Glow in the Dark premium              [ nikurashi@[removed] ]
      Nonpremiums                           [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
      Atomic!                               [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
      Mixing 'em Up                         [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
      Pat Weaver                            [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
      Fractured Fairy Tales                 [ Tsunami1000@[removed] ]
      1930 Census                           [ nicoll <nicoll@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 17:37:16 -0500
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: 4 Archie [removed]!

    Permit me to relate to 4 postings in this one response.
    That way. it will undoubtedly save eyesight, electricity, and wear and tear
    on my two typing fingers.

    Ian Grieve, (The Awfully Awesome Astute Aussie), was nice enough to list the
    20 "Archie" episodes that he has. If you are wondering why I call Ian
    Astute, I now quote him.

>     I must admit to enjoying the show along with my son, so if anybody has other
>     episodes, I would be interested in listening.

    I rest my case. :)  Ian goes on to [removed]

>     Hey Hal, if you could date those last four episodes for me it would be great
>     :)

    HELP!!!!You gotta be kidding me Ian. I'm lucky to be able to remember the
    name of the character I played, much less a date that a specific episode
    ran. :) [removed]"Step right [removed] ya What i'm Gonna Do" (To be read like
    the famous "Circus Barker" spiel). When I get  a chance, I will see if I
    have copies of those episodes (courtesy of Ted Davenport who sent me a bunch
    a long time ago), and I might be able to tell you an approximate date.
    [removed] year! Barring [removed] you settle for what century?

    Actually, I have recently been in very friendly communications with the Head
    Honcho's of Archie Comic Publications. Lucky for me, it turns out that I
    have "Friends" there. Wonder of [removed] company is now being run by
    the sons' of the original founders, who remember being brought to the
    Broadcasts by their Fathers when they were little children. Hopefully, they
    can give me the name of someone there who has keys to the Archives, and who
    can look up some information for me, and fill in missing blanks.

>     I hope you will be including a log of all the episodes for the show at the
>     back of your book, just for the otr people.  Not that I want to add to your
>     workload and elay the book any further.

    You will not be adding to my workload at all Ian. I'll simply use the
    [removed] credit you. Or will you be suing me for Plagiarism if I do?
    :)

>     [removed]
>     Archie_46-10-19_Plumbing [removed]
>     Archie_47-03-15 The Red Cross [removed]
>     Archie_47-08-09 Taking a [removed]
>     Archie_47-12-13_Christmas [removed]
>     Archie_48-06-12_Archie has a [removed]
>     Archie_48-07-17 Mr Andrews Wallpapers a [removed]
>     Archie_48-08-07 Suffering from the [removed]
>     [removed]
>     Archie_48-09-04_The Big [removed]
>     [removed]
>     Archie_48-09-18 Archie's in [removed]
>     Archie_48-12-14_Job at the [removed]
>     [removed]
>     [removed]
>     [removed]
>     [removed]
>     [removed]
>     [removed]
>     [removed]

    Anybody else want to add to this "Log" and get there name in the book also?
    :) But Ians' name will be at the top.

    Thank you so much Ian. [removed] to another response.

    Jim Widner posted:

>     I am not sure if the rights are still owned by NBC or Archie Comics
>     Publications, Inc. but I suspect it is not the actors who hold those rights.

    I have already covered that "travesty of justice" in the same issue of the
    Digest which contained this posting by Jim. (Great minds think alike).

    Jim's comments mirror exactly what I [removed] the wonderful "Oracle of
    OTR", Elizabeth, also covered it in the issue that immediately preceded my
    comments on the subject. Honest, Elizabeth, I didn't read your posting, then
    try to look smart by paraphrasing it. I simply remembered what you had said
    about the subject a long time ago. Our postings must have crossed in the
    mail.

>     As much as I'd love to see our buddy Hal get in on this action, I doubt he
>     could be much help. Hal, did your contract specify you to have some right
>     to some continued royalty?

    Like I said previously [removed] [removed] you might consider me "The
    Fly in the Ointment" because of the way my early contracts read. It seems I
    do have a "voice" in the matter.

>     BTW, looking forward to seeing you in Cincy this year!

    Great!! You Going? Look forward to meeting you there Jim.

    NEXT ITEM:

    Kevin Michaels posts;
     >

>     In issue # 100, Elizabeth was discussing the availability - or lack thereof -
>     of the Archie Andrews Program:  According to 'Handbook Of Old-Time Radio' by
>     Jon Swartz (the best source on the scene today for its accuracy, IMHO) there
>     are 16 Episodes available for collectors.

    Unfortunately, [removed] Ian Grieves posting disproves the accuracy of that
    source. (See Above). Sorry Mr. Swartz. :)

    If I may, let  me drop my "tongue in cheek" approach to my postings, and be
    serious for a moment. I need to set the record straight. I AM NOT AN OTR
    HISTORIAN. To be perfectly honest, all I was, when I was growing up, was a
    big fan of many of the famous programs of the late 30's, early 50's.
    Coincidentally, (and simultaneously), by a strange quirk of fate, I happened
    to be a Child Actor that was fortunate enough to be moderately successful as
    a performer on (and in) OTR. It was an interesting and fascinating 15 year
    period for me. But in truth, I was quite blase about it, and didn't stop to
    keep detailed records of any kind.  All I have are my memories, and a
    "scrapbook" of memorabilia that my parents maintained.  When Radio succumbed
    to Live TV, I folded my performing "Tent" and went into the Production side
    of Television. I was about 25 at that time.

    I resurfaced into the world of OTR after a 25 year career as a TV Director.
    (Primarily because Bob Hastings (Archie), told Jay Hickerson where to find
    me, and I was invited to an FOTR Convention) Since then, I have been
    "rediscovered" as it were, and thoroughly enjoy sharing my memories with all
    the nice folks that inhabit the OTR Hobby.

    That [removed] me address the issue of the many "Reference" books written
    about Radios' Golden Age. I am ashamed to [removed] don't even own one of
    [removed] you folks are way ahead of me. (Note to Jay Hickerson: I will
    rectify that when I come to the NY/NJ Convention this year) Have an
    inscribed copy waiting for me, [removed] (Do I get a discount?) darn, there
    I go [removed] into the clown role again.

    Anyway, I went to the library recently to do a little research for the book
    I'm writing (to refresh my memory of the people I knew and worked [removed]),
    and found John Dunnings' huge reference work. Frankly, I was a bit
    disappointed to find only one reference for me in it, (The Archie Show), but
    I can understand that. Most of the other parts I played as a child,
    teenager, and young adult, were "one shots" on a whole bunch of other shows,
    and not deserving of a mention. But then again, I had running parts on other
    series, or at the very least, occasional appearances on the same show. In
    those instances, I see where Dunning may list a certain Character as played
    by "Peter Fernandez and others". [removed] I guess I often fell into the
    category of "others". Then too, it would have been impossible for him to
    list every performer who ever appeared on any Anthology program, like
    "Theatre Guild of the Air". His book primarily concerns itself with cast
    "Regulars" and more memorable OTR stars. (NOTE: I also discovered he wasn't
    very flattering with his comments about the "Archie" show). Hey
    [removed] [removed] was designed to appeal to kids. And we did it
    successfully, according to the ratings.

    I mention all this to indicate that it would be virtually impossible for the
    The OTR Researchers to get everything right, and not have "any" errors and
    omissions. I laud the works of Dunning, Hickerson, Frank Bresee/Bobb Lynes,
    and even Jon [removed] brings us full circle.

    Kevin Michaels (remember him?) He's the one that prompted the preceding long
    [removed] went on to say about "Archie".

     >SIDE NOTE:  The show was a 15minute

>     format on Mutual beginning on 5/31/'43, with Jack Grimes (of 'Let's Pretend'
>     fame) as Archie.

    And Cameron Andrews as "Jughead" I might add.

>     It went to a 30 minute format Saturday afternoon program in 1945. (Is this

    correct, Hal?, if not blame it on Jon Swartz!)

    OK [removed] guess I have to. Just to prove my memory isn't totally shot.
    Mr. Swartz is most accurate with his mentioning of the show originally
    airing on Mutual. But I don't think it lasted two years.

    I began playing "Jughead" on NBC either late 1944, early 1945. I remember I
    was 13 when I started, so that would have made it within that period. It was
    originally on NBC's blue network. maybe that's where the confusion begins.
    Maybe we switched to the Red in 1945.

    And no, it was not on in the afternoons, ever. It may have originally been
    10:00 AM Saturday, but eventually moved to 10:30 AM. (Never the afternoon).
    And then for a  brief period during the run of the show, we were on Thursday
    evenings as a summer replacement. (The Scholars say it was as a replacement
    for "The Great Gildersleeve"). Hastings and I were laboring under the
    impression for many years that we were replacing Perry Como. And something
    has come to light during my research which might have given us that
    misconception. (I'm saving that for my book). :)

    OK Kevin, Jim, Elizabeth and [removed] I go out and play now!

    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    Jughead

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 17:37:23 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Today in radio history

      From Those Were The Days --

    1933 - Comedian Phil Baker was first heard on network radio when The
    Armour Jester was heard on the NBC Blue network. Baker rapidly rose to
    the top of the radio ratings.

      Joe

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

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 17:37:57 -0500
    From: Jer51473@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: For all lone ranger fans

     There is a great movie playing on encore westerns this month. I just watched
    it and it was highly entertaining. No, its not about the lone ranger, but is
    definitely copied from the idea. The lead character wears a white suit and is
    a defender of justice. His beginnings are shown as he is trained by a mentor.
    The movie is "The Legend of the Golden Gun" and will replay tonight (sunday)
    at 10 and also on march 21 and 22. The acting is much superior to the LR and
    has hal holbrooke and robert armstrong as support. There are cameos of
    custer, sitting bull,wyatt earp, buffalo bill, sundance kid. Actually custer
    plays a major role as somewhat of an egotistical jerk ala Douglas MacAuthur.
    This is not my opinion of either, but hollywoods portrayal in this movie is
    not to be mistaken. No indian fighting though, just good old good vs evil.
    The only sex is two little pecks on the lips. Their is even a sidekick for
    the "golden gun" riding a pinto. Good clean action with good plot and bits of
    sad emotion.

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 17:38:29 -0500
    From: "Vince Long" <vlongbsh@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: The Decoder Ring Lives On

    I love the mix of old radio and new technology.  The recent discussion about
    decoder ring premiums jumped out since I see the term "decoder ring"
    frequently in computer programming discussions.

    When computer data is moved from one place to another it is frequently
    encoded and decoded, sometimes for security reasons, sometimes to allows
    different systems to share the data.  The computer programs that handle this
    are occasionaly referred to as the "decoder ring," the "secret decoder
    ring," or the "magic decoder ring."

    I did a web search and found the names of Captain Midnight, Captain Marvel,
    and even the Lone Ranger, associated with computer-related decoder rings.

    BTW, a Google search for "decoder ring" and  "captain midnight" together
    yields over 200 hits.

    On another "old radio meets new technology" theme, there's an amusing
    rewrite of the Abbott and Costello "Who's On First?" routine as they might
    do it today if Lou had a Windows computer:

    [removed]#a1087

    Vince

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 17:38:46 -0500
    From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: "Arsenic and Old Lace"

              I recently saw the movie "Arsenic and Old Lace" on
    television.  It was great!  It started me to wonder whether
    a version of it was ever broadcast on radio or not.
    Possibly on Lux Radio Theatre, Mercury Theatre on the Air,
    or some similar program.

              Should anyone know where I can get a copy of this
    program, should it exist, contact me off list at kclarke5@[removed].

              Here are some trivia questions for you:

              (1) What famous actor showed his comic prowess on Broadway
    in "Arsenic and Old Lace"?  (Hint: The year was 1941)

              (2) How many total 'gentlemen callers'  were killed by the
    final
    curtain?

    Kenneth Clarke

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 17:39:00 -0500
    From: Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@[removed];
    To: "Radio  Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: LONE RANGER LUNCH BOX

    If any Lone Ranger fan is still interested in the LR Luch Box offer, you can
    order it on line at the following link which is dedicated to B-Westerns:
    [removed]  Click on the right hand column where you
    will see the lunch box picture. It is the General Mills address and can be
    purchased for $[removed] (pretty steep, IMHO).

    Kevin Michaels

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 17:42:10 -0500
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re: The Andersons and Mama Bloom

    On 3/17/02 5:15 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:

>     I have acquired two programs that I know absolutely nothing about, I am
>     hoping that someone out there can be of some help. The first is "The
>     Anderson Family". One of its featured players is Walter Tetley. The other
>     is a soap opera called "Mama Bloom's Brood". All I know of that one is that
>     it was done in 1934.

    Both of these were syndicated programs. "The Anderson Family" was
    recorded in Hollywood for a company called "Cardinal Productions" in
    1946, and was in distribution well into the 1950s. It was a generic
    sitcom in the "Ozzie and Harriet"/Daddy's-a-dummy-but-we-love-him format.

    "Mama Bloom's Brood" was a shameless ripoff of "The Goldbergs," recorded
    in Hollywood by the Radio Transcription Company of America, Ltd. It was a
    comedy serial about Mama and Papa Bloom, their son Sidney, and their
    daughter Sarah. No documentation has been found on the cast, but it
    probably included the usual suspects -- Lindsay McHarrie, Elvia Allman,
    Ken Niles, etc. etc. etc. -- who appeared in most of the Transco dramatic
    serials of the thirties. About a years' worth of episodes were produced,
    and the entire package was reissued ten years later by Bruce Eels and
    Associates, so these turn up fairly often. "The Goldbergs" itself was off
    the air when this show was first produced, so it may have been intended
    to usurp the Jewish Dialect Serial niche left vacant when Molly and Jake
    and Sammy and Rosie were cancelled by Pepsodent in 1934.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 18:36:05 -0500
    From: nikurashi@[removed]
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Glow in the Dark premium

    I'm almost afraid to bring this up for fear of being told that it's only my
    faulty memory acting up  and  that it's just another example of an OTR
    fable, BUT I know I sent away for and received a "sparks in the night" ring
    from the Buck Rogers radio show. It must have been over fifty years ago, but
    I think it was billed as an atom smasher ring. Anyway, if you held it close
    in the dark, you would be treated to  an unending display of random sparks.
    Now. if anyone can prove that there was never a Buck Rogers, or that his
    show never offered this premium, don't bother. Regardless of any such proof,
    I know that I once had the ring.

    Warren Jones

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 19:08:12 -0500
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Nonpremiums

    George Aust recalls,

>     When I was a kid (back in prehistoric times) I had a Lone Ranger
>     holster with the [removed] Silver who was rearing back, and chaps and a
>     cowboy hat. <snip> This would have been somewhere around 1940/1941. I
>     also don't remember where these items came from, but I doubt that they
>     were radio premiums.

    Probably dime-store items.  There were many radio-related items available
    outside the OTR premium venue.  Daisy, the manufacturer of air rifles
    (including the Red Ryder Carbine), manufactured several Bucjk Rogers
    items, for instance.  I had a Model U-235 Atomic Pistol, which Daisy
    made, and which I'd occasionally "zap" while listening to Buck Rogers on
    radio.  Not a premium like the Buck Rogers Ring of Saturn, but
    contemporaneous with it.

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 19:08:34 -0500
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Atomic!

    Jim Wood, speaking of glow-in--the-dark Tom Mix radio premiums, relates,

>     Tom Mix "Glowing Cat's Eye Ring," a gold plastic ring with a simulated
>     cat's eye as the jewel.  <snip> the ring did not require any exposure to
>     light; it glowed constantly.  <snip> .  I recall that
>     the word 'plutonium' was used in the advertising for this ring, and now
>     wonder if perhaps the long-term health of us kiddies who ordered these
>     was somehow compromised

    Probably not.  If you mean the Magic-Light Tiger-Eye Ring, it was a 1950
    premium, so plutonium was known.  It has a half-life of roughly 24,000
    years, so if indeed that was the energizing source for the ring, they
    should be virtually the same brightness now as when they were first
    issued.  Possibly someone who reads this might confirm whether the rings
    still glow.

    Radioactivity in radio premiums was exploited in the Lone Ranger
    [actually, Kix] Atom Bomb Ring of 1947.  A tiny piece of some sort of
    radioisotope was inserted into the "bomb's" body, which was a miniature
    spinthariscope.  Stared into in a closet with the cap with fins removed,
    one could get quite a light show.  But nowadays, the "bombs" are inert
    (the phosphor still glows, though, if you bombard it with ultraviolet
    light), so whatever was used had a really short half life.

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 19:08:52 -0500
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Mixing 'em Up

    Fred Berney, reminiscing about luminous OTR premiums, relates,

>     I recall a small gun, I think from Tom Mix, that had a piece that
>     glowed. This was small, a little larger than a charm that would be on
>     someone's bracelet

>     >From the description, it sounds like the Tom Mix Gun and Arrowhead Signal

    Whistle.  It is a 1948 premium, with a plastic body and a metal barrel,
    connected on a chain to an arrowhead, also of plastic.  The gun's body
    glowed in the dark.  If the six-gun was suspended on the chain, it
    pointed North, since the barrel was magnetized.

> >     Then there were Tom Mix spurs. If my memory serves me right, the spurs

    [removed];<

    Only the rowels glowed.  It is a 1947 item.

> >     Oh, there was a compass that might have been SGT. Preston or Tom Mix,

    It was triangular shaped and had a small round compass in the [removed];<

    Also a 1947 item.  It was a compass and magnifier, actually in the shape
    of a somewhat stylized arrowhead.  The magnifier was a swivel-out plastic
    lens in a yellow holder.  The basic "arrowhead" was the glow-in-the-dark
    plastic.

    The postwar Tom Mix luminous items had a strange, though not malodorous
    scent to them.  Never smelled anything quite like it.  I have a
    compassless compass-and-magnifier premium, but that odor's long gone.

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 19:40:09 -0500
    From: otrbuff@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Pat Weaver

    The news media are reporting the death at 93 of Sylvester L. (Pat)
    Weaver.  This highly creative individual, who was president/chairman of
    NBC from 1949-56, will be remembered for the inception of such innovative
    television series as Today, Tonight and Home (the latter a 11 [removed] ET
    1950s weekday hour hosted by the late Arlene Francis).  He was one of my
    heroes for instigating the long-remembered series on NBC Radio, Monitor,
    that ran from 1955-75.  That durable magazine encompassed more time
    (often 40 hours per weekend) than any other single program in the history
    of network radio.  I've elaborated on it and him in my book "Say
    Goodnight, Gracie" to be released by McFarland in a couple of months.
    His passing is a downer for all who loved Monitor, one of the most
    impressive, memorable and nonconventional experiments in the annals of
    broadcasting.

    Jim Cox

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 20:39:39 -0500
    From: Tsunami1000@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Fractured Fairy Tales

    Yes, these were aired in the late 60s and early 70s.  I first heard them on
    WPTF radio in Raleigh, NC in the morning, and later at noon.  I also picked
    up the series on other stations thoughout the state while driving about, so I
    am sure they were a nationally syndicated item.  They were., to put it
    mildly, hilarious, and I would dearly love a copy of your disc on cassette
    tape!  Thanks, JIM

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

    Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 21:00:36 -0500
    From: nicoll <nicoll@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: 1930 Census

    The 1930 Census to be released April 1 has a question about RADIO ownership.

    Will Nicoll

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #104
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