Subject: [removed] Digest V2008 #47
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 2/19/2008 9:34 AM

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

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2008 : Issue 47
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Re: Ed Wynn                           [ Larry Husch <lshusch@[removed]; ]
      Re: Captain Salty?                    [ Michael Ogden <michaelo67@[removed] ]
      re: Hound of the Baskervilles         [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
      Re:Ed Wynn                            [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Re: News Clips WW-2                   [ Don Shenbarger <donslistmail@sbcglo ]
      Urgent search for a Ford Hour broadc  [ "Francis Crociata" <[removed] ]
      ILAM - help!                          [ Chargous@[removed] ]
      Re: Ed Wynn                           [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Used Audio cassettes for sale         [ Fred Berney <fsberney@[removed]; ]
      Sherlock Holmes and the Library of C  [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
      2-19 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:44:18 -0500
    From: Larry Husch <lshusch@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Ed Wynn

    Bob Jennings wrote:

>     Uh, I believe Joe MacKey made a typo in his historic events
>     postings. Ed Wynn signed on as a radio star in 1932, not 1922. There
>     were no national networks in 1922, or sponsors interested in
>     broadcasting nationwide yet.

    Apparently this has been discussed before on Old Time Radio Digest.
    Check out the webpage,
    American Radio Drama 1921-1922, at
    [removed] where there are quotes from
    several newspaper articles which discuss the Ed Wynn program.

    Larry Husch

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:44:58 -0500
    From: Michael Ogden <michaelo67@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Captain Salty?

    Freddy by way of Sondra by way of David Ballarotto asked about a certain
    series:

>     ...a radio show he used to listen to as a [removed] He keeps thinking the
>     name was Captain [removed] He said it
>     took place on a ship and "bad" things always happened on this ship. The
>     captain was peg-legged, and you
>     could hear his peg leg dragging behind him, and it was "scary" to a
>     youngster in the late 1930's.

    Well, just as a suggestion: possibly it might have been a serial by Fran
    Striker. In the early 30s before he created the Lone Ranger and the Green
    Hornet, Striker was mainly known for his weird-mystery serials. One of these
    was THE PHANTOM PIRATE, which dealt with a ship trapped in the Sargasso Sea
    and plagued by the ghost of an evil sea captain. It was released as a
    transcription series in 1934 under the title THE GHOST SHIP, and could very
    well have still been making the rounds of local stations in the latter part
    of the decade. Unfortunately, no episodes are known to exist.

    I wonder what state and town Freddy was living in when he heard this series.

    Mike Ogden

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:21:16 -0500
    From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  re: Hound of the Baskervilles

    A comment on the Rathbone/Bruce 6 part Hound of the Baskervilles,
    broadcast in 1941. I've listened to the 18 minute fragment of episode
    5, the only part that survives. Much of the suspense in the book (one
    of my favorites, incidentally) derives from the fact that Holmes is
    offstage for much of the action. Watson knows there is a weird,
    solitary figure out on the moors--someone who is not the insane
    murderer Seldon, who is also loose on the moors. Watson eventually
    learns that this mysterious figure is Holmes himself. In the 1941 radio
    version, however, they dispense with this mystery (and thus kill the
    suspense) by making it clear that Holmes is the mysterious stranger on
    the moors. When I heard this, I figured this change was driven by the
    necessity of having a lead actor who had to show up sometime. They
    simply couldn't go two or three weeks without Basil Rathbone, the star
    of the show, making an appearance! I recognize the necessity of the
    change, but it's still regrettable. (Don't get me started about Bruce's
    bumbling interpretation of Watson, which is sometimes funny but really
    not appropriate for this story in particular.)

    I think I've listened to most of the main "Hound" adaptations--the
    1960s Hobson and Shelley and the 1970s Kevin McCarthy/CBSRMT versions
    come to mind. I've got the 1990s Merrison and Williams version, but I
    haven't yet heard it--I'm saving it, I suppose. They all have their
    merits (as well as their weak points). I have great hopes for this new
    version--with three episodes, it sounds like you've got the time to do
    the story justice! (And I can't imagine a Holmes story better suited
    for radio. The hound always looks a bit silly on the screen, but the
    right howl in your ear can give you goosebumps.)

    Kermyt

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:20:21 -0500
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re:Ed Wynn

    On 2/18/08 10:40 AM [removed]@[removed] said:

>        Uh, I believe Joe MacKey made a typo in his  historic events postings.
>     Ed Wynn signed on as a radio star in 1932, not  1922.  There were no national
>     networks in 1922, or sponsors interested  in broadcasting nationwide yet.

    The 1922 broadcast was a one-shot local broadcast over WJZ in Newark, and
    Wynn was so traumatized by mike fright that he refused to consider
    broadcasting again until Texaco talked him into it -- with a big barrel
    of cash -- in 1932. By that time the musical theatre was in such an utter
    state of Depression-induced collapse that he didn't have much choice if
    he wanted to keep working.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:53:18 -0500
    From: Don Shenbarger <donslistmail@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: News Clips WW-2

    On 2/18/2008 Wayne Johnson wrote:

>     What I am in need of is news clips (30 seconds or less) of progress made in
>     the European theater of WW2 especially D-Day +1 and for the month following,
>     reports concerning the Battle of the Bulge and also any news bulletins of
>     the Korean conflict.

    Many WW-2 recordings in MP3 format are available from "The Authentic
    History Center". One CD deals with D-Day and the remainder of 1944,
    "CD006: WWII: D-Day-Dec. 1944". Go to [removed] and
    click on the CDs icon. A table of contents is available on that page
    for this disc. There are recordings of both D-Day and June 7th from
    the CBS News Room in New York as well as many other recordings.

    Other CDs include news reports from other times.

    Don

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:54:26 -0500
    From: "Francis Crociata" <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Urgent search for a Ford Hour broadcast 1/24/1937
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    I am looking for one particular Ford Radio Hour (it may have been called the
    Ford Symphony Hour, Ford Music Hour at the time).  It is the program of
    January 24, 1937--on which the concert pianist Josef Hofmann (1876-1957)
    played--and the "Ford Symphony" (aka Detroit Symphony, GM Symphony etc. etc)
    was conducted by Victor Kolar.  The program also included selections sung by a
    chorus and a talk by W. J. Cameron, a Ford VP.  The program aired on WABC in
    New York from 9-10 PM EST-but was broadcast nationwide on a network.

    I've come across quite a few Ford Hours from the 36-37 season--in fact,
    several from this particular month, but not the one I'm after.  The Hofmann
    items are the last remaining known examples of his radio performances-and are
    needed for the last of the nine volume "Complete Recordings of Joseph
    Hofmann."

    I can promise a reasonably generous reward (based on condition) for either the
    opportunity to buy transcription discs or to have access to them.  In the
    latter case, they would be handled with the utmost care by an internationally
    known archival sound technician.

    Many thanks!

    Francis Crociata

    39155 11th Ave

    Zephyrhills, FL 33542

    813-469-5570

    PS My apology if this isn't the first time my search has come to your request.
    As the deadline nears, you may again.

    PPS I join this list specifically to put forward this request, but find I
    avidly read every issue.  Great list serve!

      *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
      ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:55:15 -0500
    From: Chargous@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  ILAM - help!

    Does anyone have a decent copy on reel, or better yet, CD,  of 8/30/50
    "Murder in Turquoise Pass"?  Ift's one of the hard-to-find episodes and is
    likely undated.  It's the one where the Spanish bandit walks into the camp
    and holds them up, and brags about how great he is.  The copy I've heard in
    the past was very muffled. 8/31 is the episode where a fake military
    officer shows up at the door and demands the surrender of Ballard and his
    party.  Jack pretends to be cowed by them and "surrenders" the Ballard party.

    I found and transferred my copy of 8/31, another hard-to-find episode.  It
    was from a cassette.  It's in a bit better sound, maybe VG, and I managed
    to get rid of most of the hum.

    The same cassette also had a few of the scarcer eps. of Hop Harrigan - the
    two audition eps. and an ep with with the plastic plane.  I haven't
    finished correcting the volume on the last two of these, but unfortunately,
    it had dropouts.

    Goldin lists a few more earlier 1942 eps in Poor and Fair/Good condition,
    with recent collection numbers.  I haven't seen any of those.

    Travis

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:55:42 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Ed Wynn

       Bob Jennings wrote --

     > Uh, I believe Joe MacKey made a typo in his  historic events postings.
    Ed Wynn signed on as a radio star in 1932, not  1922.  There were no
    national networks in 1922, or sponsors interested  in broadcasting
    nationwide yet.

       Well, yes and no.
       According to Dunning, "He was the first performer to bring an entire
    comedy show to the microphone.  The date: Feb. 19, 1922.  The place:
    WJZ, Newark."  (pg. 219).
       I wrote nothing about a network.  My copy for that day was:
          1922 - Ed Wynn became the first big-name vaudeville talent to sign

          on as a radio talent. Previously, top talent had not considered
          radio a respectable medium.
       It wasn't until April, 1932, he went on any network, and then as The
    Fire Chief, for Texaco.
        Joe

    --
    Visit my homepage: [removed]~[removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:49:09 -0500
    From: Fred Berney <fsberney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Used Audio cassettes for sale

    For those of you who still use audio cassettes, I've got a bunch for
    sale. These are used tapes. We use to record conventions and business
    meetings and always had an over run of tapes. It has been over 10
    years since I offered that kind of service and I'm trying to clean
    out the storage area.

    I've sold these before and they do go kind of quickly. So if you are
    interested, please email me directly.

    Basically these are cassettes that still have the original recording
    on them. Most are tabs out, which means if you want to record on
    them, you'd have to cover the hole on the back with something like
    adhesive tape. They are a mixture of C-62s and C-92. Voice quality
    tape, which makes them excellent for OTR use.

    They are boxed in boxes of 100 to a box. Cost is 5 cents per tape.
    That comes out to $[removed] per box. Plus shipping. Shipping cost depends
    on where you live. Since they contain material on the tape, I can
    probably ship them by media mail and save you some money.

    I just did a count and I have 25 boxes.

    I've sold these before and they do go kind of quickly. So if you are
    interested, please email me directly.

    Fred
    Check us out for old time radio & TV shows & Movie Serials
    [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:51:43 -0500
    From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Sherlock Holmes and the Library of Congress

    From: Michael Ogden <michaelo67@[removed];

>     According to the OCLC database, the LOC has the
>     following (all from the Richard Gordon-Leigh Lovell
>     or Louis Hector-Leigh Lovell years):
>     "The Empty House"--Oct. 5, 1932--73775-1
>     (matrix number)
>     "His Last Bow"--Oct. 12, 1932--73807-1, 73808-1

    [etc. etc.]

    My assumption is that this is the series sponsored by G. Washington Coffee.
    I had heard that this series was recorded on 14-inch RCA Victor pressings,
    and it is exciting to see this series of matrix numbers.  They fit EXACTLY
    into the RCA Victor matrix numbers.  For example, the two numbers that
    follow "His Last Bow" is Walter O'Keefe's wonderful two-sided record of "The
    Man On The Flying Trapeze" Victor 24172, recorded on Oct 13, 1932.  Right
    before this program on 73802-4 is President Coolidge's speech "My Fellow
    Countrymen" on Oct 11, 1932, which the discography does not note as either
    being issued or existing as test pressings.  The Holmes programs probably
    have matrix prefix FS which is what I saw in Victor's files for a series of
    Chevrolet programs recorded the previous month.

    Cambell Connell asked concerning the mid-40s series
    announced as being aired on AFRS

> > >     My question is, does anyone know whether it
> > >     is possible that the government still possesses
> > >     copies of the old transcriptions that are sitting
> > >     in a government warehouse somewhere? If so,
> > >     they might have lost Sherlock Holmes and or
> > >     other old radio shows. Has anyone ever tried
> > >     a freedom of information act request?

    No need for that.  What they have is not being kept secret.  As is noted
    above, alot is cataloged on line.
    [removed]

    From: Ken Greenwald

>     The broadcasts from that period were released to the
>     public by The Baker Street Associates. I was creative
>     director of that company and put the entire project
>     together, which included special introductions before
>     each half hour broadcast. Lots of work, but a joy to do.
>     Obviously much research was done by me and my
>     associates to get all rights cleared . . .

    I am glad that you show concern on clearing rights.  This is a major concern
    of the Library of Congress, and centers on the discussion that follows.

>     There have been rumors, and I cannot verify this,
>     but a large collection of Sherlock Holmes shows
>     that were once given to Northwestern University
>     have, in turn, been given by them to The Library
>     of Congress.

    Since I was in charge of the Northwestern collection between 1969 and 1972 I
    can tell you that there were no Sherlock Holmes programs in the collection.
    Now, a large number of ETs were improperly removed from Northwestern later
    that decade and many of those donated to LC by a third party.  There is a
    possibility that there were Holmes programs included in the OTHER discs
    donated by that same party, and that is something that could be determined
    by looking at LC's paperwork of this donation.

> >     If that is the case, then we can "kiss goodbye"
> >     to those shows, as the Library lets very little
> >     out, but takes in a great deal.

    Elizabeth and I (and others) have commented before on this very
    short-sighted possessiveness attitude.  It is as if you can't have it in
    your own collection it doesn't exist.  It does.  It is being preserved in
    the best possible form.  It will be there for you to hear any time you want
    to.  And it will be there hundreds of years from now, something none of us
    can guarantee for our own collections!!!  Stop throwing a hissy fit just
    because you can't easily get your own copy.  It is a reference library, not
    a circulating library.  Do you complain because you can't get your own
    dinosaur bone from the Museum of Natural History??????????  How about a moon
    rock from the Smithsonian???  You go to the museum to see the dinosaur.  You
    go to the museum to see some moon rocks.  Go to LC to hear what you want to
    hear.

>     Any one can contact The Library of Congress to
>     obtain a copy of any radio show, provided they
>     have credentials from an accredited college or
>     university or can prove that they are writing a
>     book about that show or series of shows.

    Not quite true.  You can go there and listen to them,
    [removed]
     but obtaining copies requires permissions from the copyright holder.
    [removed]   If you are the representative
    of an organization like the Baker Street Associates that can negotiate the
    copyright permissions, it might be easier.  If you can demonstrate that
    there are no copyrights on the materials -- and they often can tell you if
    this is the case -- you can also get copies made.

>     The cost of obtaining a copy from their stored
>     collection of radio shows is very high. I believe
>     this is to discourage anyone from "collecting"
>     a series of broadcasts from them.

    Not at all.  Their charges are comparable to that of any regular
    professional recording studio.  I have said this before here, their
    recording laboratory is not supported by tax dollars.  It has to pay its own
    way just like any professional recording studio.

>     Just like the end of the film Raiders of The Lost
>     Ark, whatever is stored in that huge government
>     warehouse usually disappears forever (with a few
>     exceptions, of course). I hope this helps.  Ken Greenwald

    This attitude does NOT help.  It is far more likely that recordings in
    private collections disappear.  I have noticed that every once in a while
    there are questions on the digest about the whereabouts of the OTR
    collection of a deceased collector whose catalog listed some otherwise
    unfound programs.  And the whereabouts of the original discs of the majority
    of circulating programs are unknown.  At least at LC most of their programs
    are from the original discs which are maintained safely in the collection.

    As mentioned, LC is very concerned with protecting the rights of the
    copyright holder.  I have pointed out to my friends there that it does seem
    strange that photocopy machines are freely available to violate copyrights
    of printed materials while they zealously guard sound and video recordings.
    If you have complaints about the copyright law, I can assure you that the
    people at LC likewise have complaints because they do not want to have these
    restrictions on their patrons.  Don't complain to me.  Don't complain to
    them.  Complain to YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND SENATORS.  THEY were the ones who
    passed the laws and/or can change them.  And it is THEIR library.  The
    Library of CONGRESS.

    Michael Biel  mbiel@[removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:52:46 -0500
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  2-19 births/deaths

    February 19th births

    02-19-1893 - Cedric Hardwicke - Stourbridge, England - d. 8-6-1964
    actor: Sherlock Holmes "BBC Home Theatre"; Winston Churchill "These
    Four Men"
    02-19-1895 - Louie Calhern - NYC - d. 5-12-1956
    actor: "Radio Reader's Digest"
    02-19-1896 - Eddie Jackson - d. 7-16-1980
    comic: "Jimmy Durante Show"; "Mail Call"; "Big Show"
    02-19-1899 - Carl Matthews - Oklahoma Territory - d. 5-3-1959
    actor: "The Cuckoo Hour"
    02-19-1901 - William Post, Jr. - d. 9-26-1989
    actor: John Perry "John's Other Wife"
    02-19-1902 - Eddie Peabody - Reading, MA - d. 11-7-70
    banjoist: (The Banjo King) "National Barn Dance"
    02-19-1902 - Kay Boyle - St. Paul, MN - d. 12-27-1992
    writer: "NBC Presents: Short Story"
    02-19-1910 - Lionel Clouser - Shamokin, PA - d. 10-17-1942
    musician: "The Bob Crosby Show"
    02-19-1911 - Merle Oberon - Tasmania, Australia - d. 11-23-1979
    actor: "Orson Welles Theatre"; "Stars Over Hollywood"
    02-19-1912 - Saul Chaplin - Brooklyn, NY - d. 11-15-1997
    composer
    02-19-1913 - Jack Leonard - NYC - d. 6-17-1988
    singer: (Tommy Dorsey's Band) "Meet the Music"
    02-19-1915 - Dick Emery - London, England - d. 1-2-1983
    comedian: "Educating Archie"
    02-19-1915 - Fred Freiberger - NYC - d. 3-2-2003
    writer: "Suspense"; "Family Theatre"
    02-19-1918 - Fay McKenzie - Hollywood, CA
    actor: "Blue Ribbon Town"
    02-19-1921 - Chris Gampel - Montreal, Canada
    actor: "The Eternal Light"; "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
    02-19-1922 - Sandy Becker - NYC - d. 4-9-1996
    actor, announcer: Jerry Malone "Young Dr. Malone"; "Backstage Wife"
    02-19-1924 - Lee Marvin - NYC - d. 8-29-1987
    actor: "Dragnet"
    02-19-1937 - Lee Harding - Australia
    author: Several of his works adapted for radio

    February 19th deaths

    01-03-1920 - Lester Bashara - d. 2-19-1990
    newscaster: KGFW Kearney, Nebraska
    02-22-1915 - Jules Munshin - NYC - d. 2-19-1970
    actor: "MGM Musical Comedy Theatre"
    03-13-1918 - Ina Ray Hutton - Chicago, IL - d. 2-19-1984
    bandleader: "Spotlight Bands"
    03-28-1922 - Paul Bartell - Milwaukee, WI - d. 2-19-2006
    announcer, disk jockey: "Blue Baron Show"; "Fox Club"
    04-14-1913 - John Howard - Cleveland, OH - d. 2-19-1995
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Hollywood Hotel"
    04-23-1921 - Janet Blair - Altoona, PA - d. 2-19-2007
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre", "Abbott and Costello"
    05-03-1909 - Fort Pearson - d. 2-19-1989
    announcer: "Beat the Band"; "Queen for a Day"; "Hoosier Hot Shots"
    07-17-1902 - Edward Gargan - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-19-1964
    actor: "This Is Your [removed]"; "This Is Our Heritage"
    07-27-1877 - Florence Gill - London, England - d. 2-19-1965
    actor: "Uncle Walter's Doghouse"
    07-29-1892 - Lewis James - Dexter, MI - d. 2-19-1959
    vocalist: "The Mobiloil Concert"; "The Revelers Quartet"
    08-17-1900 - Quincy Howe - Boston, MA - d. 2-19-1977
    newscaster: "Quincy Howe: Comment"
    08-17-1912 - Gogo De Lys - Edmonton, Canada - d. 2-19-2003
    singer: "Carefree Carnival"; "Little Ol' Hollywood"; "Stoopnagle and
    Budd"
    08-23-1926 - Eugene Troopnick - Boston, MA - d. 2-19-2003
    actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
    08-25-1904 - Alice White - Paterson, NJ - d. 2-19-1983
    actor: Blondie Bumstead "Blondie"
    09-05-1892 - Joseph Szigeti - Budapest, Austria-Hungary - d. 2-19-1973
    violinist: "Camel Caravan"; "Elgin Christmas Party"; "Concert Hall"
    09-23-1913 - Stanley Kramer - NYC - d. 2-19-2001
    film director: "Jack Benny Program"; "Stagestruck"
    09-30-1905 - Michael Powell - Bekesbourne, Kent, England - d. 2-19-1990
    screenwriter: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    10-07-1927 - Don Rickles - Portland, OR - d. 2-19-1985
    announcer: "Nightbeat"; The Whisperer"; "The Whistler"
    10-20-1913 - "Grandpa" Jones - Niagra, KY - d. 2-19-1998
    country singer, banjoist: "Grand Ole Opry"
    12-29-1879 - Billy Mitchell - Nice, France - d. 2-19-1936
    aviator: "The World's Most Honored Flights"

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2008 Issue #47
    ********************************************

    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]