Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #358
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 12/23/2007 4:18 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to: [removed]@[removed]

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                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2007 : Issue 358
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Jack Westaway                         [ Karl Schadow <bluecar91@[removed] ]
      Segregated Seating in Radio Studios   [ <vzeo0hfk@[removed]; ]
      Paddy O'Cinnamon and Christmas        [ crow8164@[removed] (Dennis Crow) ]
      Trodding the (ethereal) Boards        [ Wich2@[removed] ]
      Merry Christmas                       [ "Walden Hughes" <walden1@yesterdayu ]
      12-23 births/deaths                   [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
      Bob & Ray                             [ "randy story" <hopharrigan@centuryt ]
      Re: WFAN Philadelphia help?           [ "R. R. King" <kingrr@[removed]; ]

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    Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:20:20 -0500
    From: Karl Schadow <bluecar91@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Jack Westaway
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    >From The Microphone (New England's Weekly Radio Newspaper) of January 8, 1938:
    A new adventure show for children, called "Under the Sea With JACK WESTAWAY"
    is heard on the MBS-WGN network each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 [removed]
    The story in serial form deals with adventures of a young deep sea diver who
    has more than his share of trouble in his chosen profession. Written by a
    Chicago radio writer the story will be based on fact and will contain the
    authentic adventures of many of the world's greatest divers and distribute
    under-water lore of a conservative nature. Dan Sutter as "JACK WESTAWAY" and
    Louise Fitch as "MARY RIVERS" will be the hero and the heroine of the story.
    Both are members of the acting staff of WGN, Chicago.

    In the Chicago Tribune it is listed as Jack Westaway. The serial started in
    January 1938 and ended sometime in the summer 1938. Just how many other Mutual
    stations aired it remains to be determined. It was not aired over WOR in New
    York.

    ---Karl Schadow

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    Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:52:36 -0500
    From: <vzeo0hfk@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Segregated Seating in Radio Studios

    Bethany asked about the possibility of segregated seating in radio studios.

    Although I have researched about radio during the Jim Crow era, I have not
    come across specific evidence to come up with a definitive answer. However,
    the likelihood of more than the very occasional instance of blacks wanting
    and trying to come see a normally lilly white cast of broadcasters is very
    low, especially in the many parts of the country where one version or another
    of Jim Crow was in effect. Perhaps there is a slight correlation with the
    fact that at FOTR there is also only an occasional African American attendee.

     On the other hand, WAMC which was a progressive New York city station that
    broadcast the racially tolerant New World A' Comin, would likely have had no
    racial restrictions in whatever seating  it might have provided for a
    broadcast.

    Howard Blue

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    Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:53:10 -0500
    From: crow8164@[removed] (Dennis Crow)
    To: [removed]@[removed] (Old Time Radio Digest)
    Subject:  Paddy O'Cinnamon and Christmas

    As you prepare Monday to tuck Paddy away for another year, may it be known
    that all people have a silver star in their hearts.  Chuck Schaden, author of
    "The Cinnamon Bear Book," put it best when he said, "our living room was
    filled with shimmering lights of the Christmas tree and, as I sat before the
    radio, my imagination was filled with the sights and sounds of a childhood
    Christmas. Judy and Jimmy and the Cinnamon Bear searched for that silver star
    every Christmas --- and every Christmas they  found it.  MY SILVER STAR is
    the fond memory of their adventures."

    May it be for you, and continue to be.  A very "beary" Christmas from my
    household. I hope "The Cinnamon Bear" has pushed a Christmas nostalgia
    button!  Paddy would be very grateful.

    Dennis Crow

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    Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:54:00 -0500
    From: Wich2@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Trodding the (ethereal) Boards

>     From: Joe Mackey _joemackey108@[removed]_

    (mailto:joemackey108@[removed])

    1934  - The Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, was read by
    Lionel  Barrymore on The Campbell Playhouse on CBS. The reading of the
    tale became an  annual radio event for years to [removed];

    Dear Joe-

    Not to be a nudge, as I likely made this point before, [removed]

    Lionel did indeed perform "The Fifth Gospel" at Christmastide for years -  17
    times over 19 years, by most counts. And several of those, from the
    Campbell/Mercury version in 1939 onwards, blessedly exist to this day, by way
    of
    transcription.

    But I doubt very much that the first, in 1934, involved Lionel READING
    either the novella, or an adaptation thereof. Rather, it was in all
    likelihood a
    fully dramatized, and fully cast, Play for Radio.

    There really is a major difference.

    Merriest,
    -Craig "sometime Scrooge" Wichman

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    Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:10:54 -0500
    From: "Walden Hughes" <walden1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Merry Christmas

    Hi Everybody,

    just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  Take care,

    Walden Hughes

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

    Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:59:12 -0500
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  12-23 births/deaths

    December 23rd births

    12-23-1873 - Burns Mantle - Watertown, NY - d. 2-9-1948
    writer: "Best Plays" based on Mantle's theatrical yearbook
    12-23-1887 - John Cromwell - d. 9-26-1979
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    12-23-1893 - Anne O'Neal - St. Louis, MO - d. 11-24-1971
    actor: Cynthia Veryberry "Grapevine Rancho"
    12-23-1903 - Helen Troy - San Francisco, CA - d. 11-1-1942
    actor: Telephone Operator "It Happened in Hollywood"
    12-23-1903 - Milton Alfred - d. 9-xx-1968
    sportscaster: WICA Ashtabula, Ohio
    12-23-1907 - Don McNeill - Galena, IL - d. 5-7-1996
    host: "Breakfast Club"
    12-23-1911 - James Gregory - The Bronx, NY - d. 9-16-2002
    actor: Captain Vincent Cronin "21st Precinct"
    12-23-1913 - Anton M. Leader - Boston, MA - d. 7-1-1988
    director: "Eternal Light"; "Murder at Midnight"; "Suspense"; "Words
    at War"
    12-23-1922 - Jack Lloyd - Duisburg, Germany - d. 5-21-1976
    actor: "Armstrong Theatre of Today"; "The Joan Davis Show"
    12-23-1922 - Ruth Roman - Boston, MA - d. 9-9-1999
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Hollywood Sound Stage"
    12-23-1923 - Ray Kemper - Lankershim, CA
    sound effects: "Gunsmoke"; "Voyage of the Scarlet Queen"; "Fort Laramie"
    12-23-1924 - Floyd Kalber - Omaha, NE - d. 5-13-2004
    news correspondent: NBC; News Anchor for WMAQ and WLS in Chicago
    12-23-1931 - Kenneth Methold - Sussex, England
    writer: "Sweet Singing the Choir"; "All Suspect"
    12-23-1943 - Harry Shearer - Los Angeles, CA
    actor: Member of the Beavers "Jack Benny Program"
    12-30-1884 - Hideki Tojo - Tokyo, Japan - d. 12-23-1948
    prime minister: War Time Broadcasts
    xx-xx-xxxx - Dr. Jacob Tarshish - d. 12-23-1960
    rabbi: "The Lamplighter"

    December 23rd deaths

    01-03-1909 - Victor Borge - Copenhagen, Denmark - d. 12-23-2000
    comedian, pianist: "Victor Borge Show"; "Kraft Music Hall"
    01-04-1889 - Pat Kelly - North Queensland, Australia - d. 12-23-1967
    announcer: "Dog Heroes"; "Getting the Most Out of Life"
    01-20-1912 - Paula Stone - NYC - d. 12-23-1997
    moderator: "Leave It to the Girls"
    02-08-1886 - Charlie Ruggles - Los Angeles, CA - d. 12-23-1970
    comedian: "Texaco Star Theatre"; "Suspense"; "This Is My Best"
    04-02-1892 - Marjorie Child Husted - d. 12-23-1986
    First radio voice of Betty Crocker
    04-02-1920 - Jack Webb - Santa Monica, CA - d. 12-23-1982
    actor: Joe Friday "Dragnet"; Pete Kelly "Pete Kelly's Blues"
    04-06-1924 - Mimi Benzell - Bridgeport, CT - d. 12-23-1970
    singer: "Jack Pearl and Mimi Benzell"; "Railroad Hour"
    05-14-1890 - Carlton Brickert - Martinsville, IN - d. 12-23-1943
    actor: David Post "Story of Mary Marlin"; Howard Thurston "Thurston
    the Magician"
    07-01-1901 - Irna Phillips - Chicago, IL - d. 12-23-1973
    actor, writer: Mother Moran "Today's Children"; "The Guiding Light";
    "Road of Life"
    10-25-1924 - Billy Barty - Millsboro, PA - d. 12-23-2000
    comedian: "Spike Jones Band", "James Melton Show"
    11-04-1901 - Helene Dumas - Brooklyn, NY - d. 12-23-1986
    actor: "Jane Arden"; "Eno Crime Club"; "Short Short Story"
    11-11-1911 - Patric Knowles - Horsforth, Yorkshire, England - d.
    12-23-1995
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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    Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 12:48:27 -0500
    From: "randy story" <hopharrigan@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Bob & Ray
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    Hello, OTR fans.
    I have recently become enamored of the work of Bob Eliot and Ray Goulding. Is
    there a definitive work on their career(s) and work? Are there any complete
    logs of their shows? I read a great article about the two of them in a fairly
    recent Nostalgia Digest and began listening to a lot of their stuff. it is
    really is wonderful and I want to know and hear more if possible. Can anyone
    out there help me in locating more materials about/ by this great team?
    Much thanks,
    Randy Story

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    Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:55:50 -0500
    From: "R. R. King" <kingrr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: WFAN Philadelphia help?

>     I have an autograph I'd like to know more about.  It looks like
>     "Artie Bittorig", and from the inscription it looks like he played a
>     character name King Cheerio on WFAN radio.  Was King Cheerio
>     a character on a children's show?  ...

    Here's Mr. Bittong's obit as it appeared in the 21 December 1945
    Chester (PA) Times:

    ARTHUR 'ARTIE' BITTONG

    Funeral services for Arthur "Artie" Bittong, 68, of 130 Chatham road,
    Upper Darby, known to thousands as "King Cheerio" of the early days of
    radio, will be held 2 p. m. Monday in the Robert J. Mannal Funeral
    Home, 6925 Frankford avenue, Philadelphia, with interment in Oakland
    cemetery.

    Inveterate joiner and clubman and  friend of many of Philadelphia's
    great, Mr. Bittong died at his home on Thursday after suffering from a
    heart ailment for the past eight months. He had organized the
    "Cheer-Ups" in 1925 on Station WCAU, the days when crystal sets were
    the vogue.  Purpose of the organization was to bring a little humor to
    shut-ins, a feature of the program being a cowbell which was clanged
    whenever he initiated a new member over the air. In the six or seven
    years of its life, the club grew to 50,000 members. In its day it was
    one of the most popular programs on the ether waves, spreading out
    into innumerable performances in hospitals, sanitariums and benefits
    for organizations of individuals assailed by tragedy.

    Mr. Bittong rose to high offices in the Tall Cedars. Eagles, Moose,
    Shrine, the Welsh Society and was widely known as an able after dinner
    speaker and close friend of city officials.

    In business life, he was associated with the Valspar Corporation and
    served that firm as local general manager for 25 years. He is survived
    by his wife, Mamie, and a stepdaughter, Mrs. Dorothy Southworth of New
    York City.

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #358
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