------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 167
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re: Questionable commercials [ "Eric N. Wilson" <enwilson@[removed] ]
The Whisperer [ Richard Fisher <w9fjl@[removed]; ]
SINATRA ON OTR [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
.ra files to .wav [removed] [ C D <cpdemas@[removed]; ]
NBC Chimes [ danhughes@[removed] ]
another side of frank fay [ leonardfass@[removed] (Leonard Fass ]
Re: The Whisperer [ Gerry Wright <gdwright@[removed]; ]
NBC's 75th [ Eric J Cooper <ejcooper2002@[removed] ]
Buck Ryan detective serial [ "Jamie Kelly" <[removed]@[removed] ]
Re: MediaBay Releases First Radio Sp [ SanctumOTR@[removed] ]
are they a live [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
Today in radio history [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
No Thanks to NBC [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
Sherlock Holmes Forum [ "Gareth Tilley" <tilleygareth@hotma ]
NBC = "Nothing But Cathode!" [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]
Re: NBC 75th other comments [ Eric J Cooper <ejcooper2002@[removed] ]
Thank You and mp3 bitrates [ Chris & Carla White <cncwhite@ricon ]
Medical OTR [ AJ Wright <MEDS002@[removed] ]
RE: .ra files to .wav [removed] [ "James Gray" <jgray4@[removed]; ]
Re: Tape to CD [ "James Gray" <jgray4@[removed]; ]
mp 3 player [ Hellenfran@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 May 2002 19:21:44 -0400
From: "Eric N. Wilson" <enwilson@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Questionable commercials
So does anyone else have a nominee for most outragious
OTR commercial?
The number one LOONIEST ad to modern ears, and one that I'm sure will be
popular:
"More doctors smoke Camels than any other brand!"
Let's also not forget the packs sent to veterans' [removed] anyway,
the runners-up would have to include the Ironized Yeast tablet ad (around
1941 or 42) that tells how women who eat yeast tablets get more
dates. There's also one for a premium ring from Orphan Annie ([removed]),
where Pierre Andre tells kids who might have sent their aluminum seals from
their Ovaltine for the LAST premium that they're going to need another jar
ANYWAY, so why not ask mom to get you another one now? You just don't get
that level of hard sell in commercials that last under 3 minutes.
-Let's restrict nominees to radio, shall we? I
wouldn't want one of Hal Stone's TV commercials
accidentally nominated. The ensuing verbal barrage
from Mr. Stone might be enough to melt down my
computer's [removed]
Oh no, we can't have [removed] matter how tempting that would be to see. :)
--Eric Wilson
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 May 2002 20:36:32 -0400
From: Richard Fisher <w9fjl@[removed];
To: OldRadio Mailing Lists <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Whisperer
In today's digest someone asked about this show. I have shows 1-13 from
Radio Memories and the dates are from 07/08/51 for the 1st show through
09/30/51 for the 13th. These shows are in a bookshelf edition.
The following information is from the "Encyclopedia of American Radio
1920-1960 by Luther Siess (McFarland). "Variety called the programs
plots far fetched" Cast members include: Betty Moran, Bill Conrad, Earl
Lee, Torry Bennett, Janet Scott, Betty Lou Gerson, and Paul Freese.
Announcer was Donald Rickles (25 min Sunday 5:00 - 5:30 PM NBC 1951.
Carlton Young played the main character.
Surely the announcer Donald Rickles is NOT the beloved Don Rickles of TV
fame (or is it).
I assume the 13 shows from Radio Memories are the entire run.
Dick
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 May 2002 22:26:12 -0400
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: SINATRA ON OTR
Featured on the current A Date With Sinatra show are two OTR appearances.
The premier episode of Rocky Fortune, and a visit to The Jack Benny
program.
[removed] <:-)
A DATE WITH SINATRA
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 May 2002 22:26:18 -0400
From: C D <cpdemas@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: .ra files to .wav [removed]
Streambox Ripper ([removed] or [removed], NOT [removed]) will
convert from .ra to .mp3 in one step.
CPD
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 May 2002 22:27:32 -0400
From: danhughes@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: NBC Chimes
The story has been told before, but I'm not sure as succinctly as in this
Puzzler I got today (I get one every day, and this is the first that was
OTR related:
* * * BrainEmail Daily Triva * * *
What was the first audible trade mark?
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Like Trivia? Join the BrainEmail trivia list today!
Just send an email to: trivia-subscribe@[removed]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Since NBC is celebrating its 75th anniversary I thought this would be
appropriate.
The NBC chimes became the first audible service mark in 1950 when NBC
filed with the [removed] Patent office.
Bong
Bong Bong
The following is from the Patent Office register:
Serial Number : 72-349496
Type of Mark: SERVICE MARK
Mark Drawing Code: (6) NO DRAWING
Description of Mark: THE MARK COMPRISES A SEQUENCE OF CHIME-LIKE
MUSICAL NOTES WHICH ARE IN THE KEY OF C AND SOUNDED THE NOTES
G, E, C, THE "G" BEING THE ONE JUST BELOW MIDDLE C, THE "E" THE ONE
JUST ABOVE MIDDLE C, AND THE "C" BEING MIDDLE C, THEREBY TO IDENTIFY
APPLICANT'S BROADCAST SERVICE.
Owner Name: NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC., THE
Owner Address: 30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA NEW YORK NEW YORK
10112 CORPORATION DELAWARE 9
Some other NBC chime trivia . . .
Some say that the musical notes G E C stood for General Electric
Corp. which owned a part of RCA and NBC back during the inception of
the tones. There are actually 4 different stories on how the tones
began, so it is difficult to say with certainty that the General
Electric story is the correct answer. The source below lists the
4 different stories with an exhaustive research on the tones.
At one time there was a fourth tone. It was used to page certain key
executives back to network headquarters for serious events. It was
also used during WWII for major news events, such a Pearl Harbor,
in order to cue the affiliates.
NBC discontinued the use of the chimes in 1971.
[When GE bought RCA (and NBC) a few years ago they actually bought
back RCA (and NBC)!]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sources: [removed]
---Dan
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 May 2002 23:22:23 -0400
From: leonardfass@[removed] (Leonard Fass)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: another side of frank fay
elizabeth's fine notes don't mention another side of frank [removed] his
alcoholism led to his being off the stage for a number of [removed]
he returned to the stage in the late 40*s playing elwood p. doud in
"harvey" mary coyle chase's first broadway play. fay was sober then, but
elwood never was, but fay's excellent timing (like jack benny,
elizabeth) made you believe in him and made you believe you could really
see harvey who was invisible to most folks.
after each performance frank fay gave a curtain speech which melted any
audiences hearts that weren't melted by then.
a twist of fate i got to see the performance twice, once at the old
theater in central city, and once at at the old broadway theater in
denver, now like most of denver's movie palaces but one, gone.
frank fay remains after all these years as a treasure in my mental
scrapbook.
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 May 2002 23:23:01 -0400
From: Gerry Wright <gdwright@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: The Whisperer
Randy Story asked about the history of the short lived series "The
Whisperer"
It was broadcast on NBC as a summer show from 8 July to 30 Sept. 1951
for a total of 13 episodes. Starring Carleton Young as attorney Philip
Galt, aka "The Whisper" with Betty Moran as Ellen Norris, Philip's nurse
with support by such Hollywood radio stalwarts as William Conrad and
Paul Frees. The series was based on stories and characters created by
Stetson Humphries. The premiere episode was "Tea Time for Teenagers" and
were not talking Earl Grey.
Gerry Wright
ZoneZebra Productions
San Francisco
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 01:36:04 -0400
From: Eric J Cooper <ejcooper2002@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: NBC's 75th
Well, I have only seen the first hour of the alleged anniversary special
of the National Broadcasting Company. Someone forgot to tell the
producers that the year 1990 was only 10 years ago, not 75. Trying to
make something "relevant" to your audience by ignoring most of the past
is the reason people are not learning from history today. I will look at
the other two hours tomorrow. I hope that NBC Radio gets more than two
minutes.
disappointedly,
Eric Cooper
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 01:36:09 -0400
From: "Jamie Kelly" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Buck Ryan detective serial
I have come across 2 12 inch BBC 78rpm discs of a detective series called
"Buck Ryan" a thriller serial in 6 episodes. The discs I have is episode 4
called "the Shadow" Each episode is 15 minutes long and the discs are dated
1944.
It would of been fun being a TT operator in those days!!
I'd like to find the 5 episodes I don't have and would also appreciate any
other information on this series that anyone may have. I have no idea who
was in it Etc. The one episode I have sounds great. BBC 78rpms discs do turn
up in Australia occasionally but its hard to find complete shows as you need
4 discs for a half hour show.
we started getting BBC TS discs in Australia in 1943/1944 they were
broadcast on both commercial and ABC networks. All my 10 and 12 inch BBC
78rpm discs date between 1943 /1946. They switch to 16 inch in 1947 and LP
in 1954.
Jamie
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 02:10:51 -0400
From: SanctumOTR@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: MediaBay Releases First Radio Spirits
Compilation in MP3 Format
In a message dated 5/5/02 6:17:32 PM, [removed]@[removed]
writes:
Since one CD will cost them less than $[removed], I expected their MP3 CD of
"America at War" to sell for $[removed] or $[removed] I was wrong. They are
selling it on one MP3 CD for $[removed]
***I'm curious as to how you arrived at the cost RSI should be charging. Did
you factor in royalties to the copyright owners, or did you assume that
rights wouldn't be paid since the shows were on MP3 rather than CDs or
cassettes? I don't see how RSI (or anyone else) could charge $[removed] or $[removed]
for a 30-hour, 60-show collection and still be able to pay licensing fees to
Norman Corwin and the other rights holders. --Anthony Tollin***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 10:01:44 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: are they a live
I was working on a list of radio performers who are still with us, and two
names I am not sure of are Rosa Rio, and Dave Barry. So if any knows please
let me know. Take care,
Walden
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 10:01:53 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history
From Those Were The Days --
1937 - A student of history, a broadcaster or anyone interested in news
coverage, will remember this day and the words of NBC radio'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. (note: I
met Mr Morrison once in university when he was living in that town and
spoke to students about the event and broadcasting in general. I only
wish I wasn't a know-it-all student and realised how little I actually
knew and had the chance to do it over again).
Today's birthday --
1915 - (George) Orson Welles
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 10:03:01 -0400
From: otrbuff@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: No Thanks to NBC
It took NBC more than two-and-a-quarter hours into its three-plus-hour
marathon touting its 75th anniversary on the air to mention the word
"radio" Sunday night. Who could expect more?
General Brigadier David Sarnoff's name (the man who started it all) was
casually dropped into the broadcast considerably later, along with that
of Sylvester L. (Pat) Weaver (NBC's "revivalist" in the 1950s, although
he was only credited for Today and Tonight, forgetting about Monitor, the
most broadcast hours of any radio series). A minute of Jack Benny from
radio aired after 11 [removed] EDT, but the strong impression had been made
all evening that NBC-TV existed from the inception of the network in
1926. No Fred Allen. No McGee and Molly. No Gildersleeve. No H. V.
Kaltenborn. None of the scores of other series and names that could be
clearly identified with NBC's radio era that made the network of chimes
the competitive chain it was.
The $50,000 four-hour launch of the NBC network on Nov. 15, 1926 from the
Waldorf Astoria Hotel that drew 1,000 guests and featured numerous
celebrities wasn't mentioned. The radio network was used to finance the
launch of TV, and once the aural medium's resources, advertisers and
audiences were drained, it was fairly well abandoned. Depressingly, we
witnessed a repeat of it Sunday night.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 10:03:15 -0400
From: "Gareth Tilley" <tilleygareth@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Sherlock Holmes Forum
Hi
With Charlie's help I am now administering a Sherlock Holmes forum for the
Nostalgia website. Basically I'd like people to discuss anything to do with
Sherlock Holmes on radio from the 1930's to current day. Hopefully this
won't clash with the Jim French forum too much!
Gareth
PS Thanks for the replies regarding my recent Sherlock Holmes and Tape to CD
questions.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 10:04:14 -0400
From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: NBC = "Nothing But Cathode!"
Jell-O Again!
I was actually holding out some hope for this past Sunday's 3 hours-plus
celebration of NBC's belated 75th anniversary when the program started out
with an instrumental version of the NBC/"I Love You" chime song (discussed
here earlier). But when opening monologist Jerry Seinfeld intro'ed the first
set of clips, which focused on NBC's comedic output of the 1990's, I abandoned
all hope. "What's the deal?"
The only references to radio, "that senior electronic medium" as radio
commentator Les Kinsolving calls it, that I could detect were:
1) a passing reference to Bob Hope making his radio debut on Rudy Vallee's
"Fleischmann's Hour"; 2) a news clip segment starting with Herb Morrison's
"Hindenburg call"; and 3) an all-too-short radio segment
of Jack Benny with Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCartney--which didn't even air
until roughly 11 [removed], when the special lapsed into overtime.
Unfortunately, demographics dictate skewering the program's content
toward a younger audience who, by and large, are not particularly familiar
with the Golden Age of Radio. But to air a 75th anniversary program without
mention of Fred Allen, Duffy's Tavern (a true forerunner
of "Cheers"), Eddie Cantor, and, dare I say it?, Amos 'n' Andy is utterly
outrageous. How NBC can celebrate itself with never a mention of "Fibber
McGee & Molly" is totally beyond me!!!
Thanks for letting me rant,
Derek Tague
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 10:05:48 -0400
From: Eric J Cooper <ejcooper2002@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: NBC 75th other comments
Well, I wisely scanned through(rather than sit and watch) the rest of the
tape of NBCs alleged 75th Anniversary show. NBC Radio which existed
essentially from 1926 to 1986 was all but forgotten during the whole
three hours. Oh there were some very small audio clips of Toscanini and
news, but other than that you'd think from watching this extravagaznza of
nonsense that NBC was founded in 1970 and not 1926. Sad that OTR heritage
is given such short shrift. Oh well, the tape is [removed]
Eric Cooper
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 13:54:41 -0400
From: Chris & Carla White <cncwhite@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Thank You and mp3 bitrates
I want to say a couple thank yous this time around. First, thank you to Kim
Brown who recently me some otr superman episodes on cassette free of
charge. Second, I want to thank everyone who helped me learn how to convert
my otr realaudio files to mp3 and burn them onto cd. Now, I have just one
more question. What bitrates and sampling frequencies do the mp3 files have
to have to play on a portable mp3/cd player? If you know, contact me.
Thanks,
Bryant White
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 14:33:47 -0400
From: AJ Wright <MEDS002@[removed];
To: Old-Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Medical OTR
[removed] would like to tap the knowledge of everyone on this list regarding
medical topics and [removed]
*First, I'm interested in the broad [removed] there book chapters/journal
articles discussing medicine and OTR? That can be both documentaries, etc., on
real-life medical practice or fictional materials such as Dr. [removed]
*Second, I'm interested more specifically in [removed] there show
episodes with anesthesia administration in the operating room? Anesthesiol-
ogists or anesthetists as characters? Anesthetic drugs (probably gases such as
ether or chloroform) used in the commission of crimes, [removed]
Any leads on either area [removed] wright // ajwright@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 15:15:02 -0400
From: "James Gray" <jgray4@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: .ra files to .wav [removed]
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
There have been some questions about converting .ra files to .mp3 or .wav, and
I just have to throw my 2 cents in here. First of all .ra sound files have
about the same sound quality as a fingernail going across a chalkboard, so why
in heavens name would anyone want to convert them. After converting them, the
sound quality is still extremely poor.
Then someone suggested recording the .ra file onto tape and then coverting the
tape to .mp3. This is even worse. It wouldn't be so bad if these files
stayed isolated in private collections, but they make it out into the world
and onto the internet and the pool of available OTR .mp3 shows gets more and
more polluted with garbage.
Am I making any sense here? Or am I the only one who really cares? The only
hope I have is that the person(s) who developed RealAudio will be forced to
listen to .ra files for eternity after they pass on. Nuff [removed]
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 15:38:55 -0400
From: "James Gray" <jgray4@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Tape to CD
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
There are several software packages available to record data from your stereo
system onto your hard drive. Unfortunately I must complain again. Too many
people are lazy when they record from their tapes and either over modulate or
under modulate the sound and don't bother to correct it. Then their lousy
.mp3 files find there way into the world and again pollute the available pool
of .mp3 OTR files.
If you don't know what it means to over modulate or under modulate the sound,
then please don't try to convert your tapes to .mp3. On the other hand, if
you know what you are doing, and can connect the output of your stereo system
to your computer, and you really care what your mp3 files sound like, then by
all means convert your tapes.
Ok, I'm kicking my soapbox back under my desk. If after my little tirade, you
still want to convert your tapes to mp3s then contact me directly and I will
try to provide as much help as [removed]
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 19:56:59 -0400
From: Hellenfran@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: mp 3 player
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
rio volt has a micro mini stereo (EX 1000) that plays mp3 files - Im trying
to contact someone who has information on this system - Does it play low bit
rates - Does it have a built in timer? What information does it display?
etc. I would appreciate any help that can be given. Thank You.
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #167
*********************************************
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]