Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #274
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 7/19/2002 1:35 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 274
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Doggie Diner                          [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
      Are Radio Networks Doomed             [ "Dave DiSisto" <ddisist1@[removed] ]
      Magic                                 [ "Arthur Emerson" <milart@[removed]; ]
      Magic Historyq                        [ "Nemesis@[removed]" <nemesis@[removed] ]
      Mp3 Boombox                           [ ecrasez@[removed] ]
      Community radio [removed]           [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
      Harry Bartell                         [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
      Suspense question                     [ AandG4jc@[removed] ]
      magician response                     [ "Jackie Lannin" <jackquack@[removed] ]
      Stan Freberg                          [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
      Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      New technology & OTR?                 [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
      little people in otr                  [ bloodbleeds@[removed] ]
      Re: FDR Jokes                         [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      OTR actor spotting                    [ John Henley <jhenley@[removed] ]
      Nostalgia                             [ W4CU@[removed] ]
      Re: Big Jon and Sparkie               [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
      graf spee                             [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
      OTR show in Detroit area Sunday       [ Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed]; ]
      OTR Magicians                         [ "Scott Eberbach" <seberbach@earthli ]

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 00:33:32 -0400
    From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
    To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Doggie Diner

    John Mayer wrote about novelty commercial buildings.

    While off topic it nonetheless is another expression of the value many place
    on our history and their attempts to preserve part of that history.

    The Doggie Diner doesn't qualify in the commercial building category, but
    its sign clearly become an icon for many in San Francisco.

    Outside each Doggie Diner there was a 7-foot tall fiberglass dog's head,
    that of a red dachshund, wearing a white chef's hat and sporting a blue tie.
    Very kitschy and very lovable.

    The Doggie Diners opened in 1949 and went out of business in 1986.  Of
    course they had a very special place in everyone's memories.

    One head survived at a Doggie Diner across from the SF Zoo and continued to
    grace the restaurant/food stand under new ownership now called The Carousel.

    In 2000 A Nursery/gardening center next door to the Carousel bought the
    property and announced that it was going to take the sign down and  donate
    it to a museum.

      Then the uproar [removed] SF Board of Supervisors responded to the rally
    of members of the Ocean Beach Historical Society and others to save the
    sign.   The Board of Supervisors declined to make the sign an official City
    landmark but agreed to take over ownership and keep it where it was until
    2005.  The Nursery reluctantly agreed.

    Then last year the sign fell during a storm and the saga continued.  The Dog
    lost his nose and demolished a phone booth in his fall.  Fans were angry
    that the City had done nothing about the rusty pole the Dog was on and the
    City with volunteers from the Painters Union restored the Dog and mounted it
    on a new pole, all spiffed up.   There was a man in Emeryville, in the east
    bay who has 3 signs (that make many personal appearances) and that helped in
    the restoration

    The Dog looks better then ever and during the public ceremony restoring the
    sign on Sloat Blvd where it had always stood the Nursery next door guarded
    its entrances.   :))  Next time you visit SF be sure to check out the dog.

    Irene

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 00:33:49 -0400
    From: "Dave DiSisto" <ddisist1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Are Radio Networks Doomed
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    Unfortunately, radio networks are probably doomed.  However, I would point out
    the Clear Channel owned WGY, Schenectady, NY, this week had a report from San
    Diego from their newsperson there with the closing tag, "Clear Channel News".
    And Fr. Mike does remember correctly that there was an ABC FM network.  I
    believe the other three were, ABC Information, Entertainment and Directions.

    Web site: [removed]

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    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 00:34:11 -0400
    From: "Arthur Emerson" <milart@[removed];
    To: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Magic

    As to Jack Lannin's quest for magicians on OTR, I know of only five series
    of "Magicians on Radio".  "Chandu, the Magician" was the longest running -
    "The Magic Detective, starring Blackstone" has over 70 episodes - "Mandrake,
    the Magician" is a radio version of the comic character - and "Thurston, the
    Magician" out of Chicago for Swift & Co. is the most elusive.  "Dunninger"
    on radio is another series although his TV shows are more well known than
    the OTRs.  I have written monographs on the first two and would be happy to
    help your project in any way.  Contact me off line.  Arthur Emerson

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 00:34:38 -0400
    From: "Nemesis@[removed]" <nemesis@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Magic Historyq

    Get "The War Magician."  It's the story of Jasper Maskelyne (sp?).  A
    British stage magician who, in WW II, disappeared Alexandria Harbor, the
    entire Suez Canal, created an entire tank [removed]  Fascinating!
    His father developed the typing keyboards we use now, although probably not
    the 'scroll up' and 'down [removed]'
    Linda T.

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 00:35:24 -0400
    From: ecrasez@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Mp3 Boombox

    Fyi,

    I apologize if someone previously posted about this, but I finally found
    a boombox that plays my OTR mp3's. I took several cd's with me to Best
    Buy, and the RCA RCD128 played everything I tried. Most of the shows are
    recorded at 32kbs, and I've had no problem whatsoever. It has a remote
    control and a jack for headphones (very important for me). During
    playback, the filename scrolls across, but during pause or stop you can
    only see about the first 16 characters of the file. The unit has a
    "Smart Trax" feature, with which I'm not too familiar. Programming
    cannot be done in mp3 playback, but you can still use the other
    functions (repeat, shuffle). Oh, yeah - it cost $99+, and sounds great
    depending on the quality of the show of course.

    I can provide further info if anyone needs it.

    Bob S.

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 00:35:59 -0400
    From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Community radio [removed]

    Several years ago, a friend of mine who was a communications professor at
    Bemidji (MN) State University and also manager of the two radio stations
    owned by BSU resigned his position to take the general manager position of a
    community radio station in Wisconsin.  At that time (late 1970s), he told me
    a little about community radio.  I have lost track of him so can't ask him
    the questions.  Here are a few:  What is community radio?  Is it something
    like public radio (NPR, PRI)?
        In the latest discussions of commercial radio networks as well as public
    radio networks, I am wondering if there is reason to hope that community
    radio might put us in touch with some things that we used to expect from
    commercial and public radio?

    Ted Kneebone/1528 S. Grant [removed], SD 57401/605-226-3344
    OTR: [removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 00:36:26 -0400
    From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
    To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Harry Bartell

    Harry Bartell said he wasn't important enough to be paid for doing
    commercials.    Modest man.  I read the following at The Sherlock Holmes
    Society of London website.   They were discussing 'The Laughing Ghost' in
    their section on the American Holmes programs.

>     This is the first show of Rathbone's final series as Sherlock Holmes, and
>     also the first appearance of new announcer Harry Bartell. Bartell and Nigel
>     Bruce appear to have had a real affection for one another, as is shown by
>     their byplay, which is filled with genuine warmth. Bartell also plays a
>     small role in the episode, joining guest cast Joe Kerns, Paul Freeze,
>     Elizabeth Harrover and Gloria Jordan.

    Is it true, Mr. Bartell that you and Bruce had a real affection for one
    another?

    And while we've all been picking your memories I'm curious as to what your
    memories of Sidney Greenstreet (as Nero Wolfe) are.   Was he really as much
    of a complainer as has been written.   I read somewhere that the reason
    there were so many Archies was because if ratings were low he blamed it on
    whoever was playing Archie at the time instead of himself (who most held
    accountable).

    The fact that you played Archie is a major plus in my book.   I have been a
    fan of the Nero Wolfe mysteries forever and am really enjoying the series on
    A&E.   I'm looking to obtain the radio series; I've only heard a few.

    ~Irene
    IreneTH@[removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 01:44:16 -0400
    From: AandG4jc@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Suspense question

    I know that I asked this question some time back but it seems that I may have
    got no reply to it. Or I could have missed a digest. My question is about a
    certain episode of "Suspense". It had a blind detective named Captain McClain
    in it. Does anyone know the name of that particular episode. You help would
    be greatly appreciated.
    Allen

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 01:44:27 -0400
    From: "Jackie Lannin" <jackquack@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  magician response

    Hello to all-
        I want to thank all of the people on and off line who gave me some great
    information and goodies about magicians on the radio.
        This is going to make some fun classes even more enjoyable for the kids.
    Having some history makes things more real and authentic.
         Again, thanks for all your input and generosity-
           this is a wonderful list-Jackie

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 02:31:51 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Stan Freberg

>     Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 22:25:54 -0400
>     From: Alan/Linda Bell <alanlinda43@[removed];

>     Actually, the record, A Child's Garden of Freberg, came first. (And it
>     was the compilation of several previously released singles.) I know
>     because it was the first record I ever bought. (and I still have it!)
>     I'd practically memorized it by the time his show hit the air.

    I believe there was another record containing bits from his radio show.  I
    seem to recall,
    when I heard it, that it included a bit where he was trying to sell his show
    to a sponsor.

    --
    A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
     15 Court Square, Suite 210                 lawyer@[removed]
    Boston, MA 02108-2503           	         [removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 12:15:33 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Today in radio history

      From Those Were The Days --

    1948 -- Our Miss Brooks, starring Eve Arden and Gale Gordon, debuted on
    CBS this day. Arden played the role of Connie Brooks. The program stayed
    on radio until 1957, running simultaneously on TV from 1952 to 1956.

      Joe

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

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 12:16:05 -0400
    From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  New technology & OTR?

    Conrad Binyon <conradab@[removed]; writes:

>     Can you imagine what the plots of some of the OTR shows could have been
>     if the technology had been then available ,.and of what we now know about
>     how this darn things work?

    What if The Shadow & Margot Lane had cell phones instead of that creaky old
    shortwave radio set?
    Some adventures would have ended sooner because the police would have
    responded quicker, in response to 911 calls from our hero/heroine.
    Then again, maybe the series might have been shorter if Mr. Cranston had
    been killed in one of the early episodes, due the fact that he was
    confronting his potential killers in a cell phone "dead zone", where he was
    not able to call Margot for help!

    Herb Harrison

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 12:16:22 -0400
    From: bloodbleeds@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  little people in otr

    I was curious if there have been any series or single shows that had little people/midgets in
    the lead. Most midget roles seem to be Very small (no pun intended), and I was curious if
    any of them had 'significant' roles.

    Thanks.

    Ben

    The Bickersons Script book!
    [removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 12:17:27 -0400
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: FDR Jokes

    On 7/19/02 12:52 AM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:

>     Our researching friend could probably be quite safe in checking out most
>     every joke told about every President from FDR on, and every first lady
>     starting with Eleanor.

    I'd think, though, if you're thinking of the jokes that I'm thinking of,
    that there's absolutely no way any such material would be allowed on the
    air. Most of the anti-FDR jokes from the 1930s -- and *all* of the
    anti-Eleanor jokes -- would seem to fall quite squarely under the
    prohibition on "obscene and off color jokes" and "language of doubtful
    propriety." (Anyone who thinks that grotesquely filthy jokes about a
    sitting president began with Clinton or Kennedy hasn't dug far enough.
    Actually, even going back to FDR isn't far enough: some of these same
    jokes were told about Lincoln.)

    It's interesting that while neither CBS nor NBC expressly prohibited
    joking references to the President in their official network policies,
    you will rarely, if ever, find the President   specifically made the
    focus of humor in OTR. The networks were scared to death of anything
    controversial in entertainment programs, and kept a very tight rein on
    comedians to ensure that they wouldn't say anything that would offend
    supporters of a particular politician, whether the President himself or
    someone running against him. The days of a Carson, a Leno, or a Letterman
    riffing on Presidential foibles were decades in the future -- and there
    was nothing comparable to that sort of humor in the OTR era.

    That's not to say that there wasn't politically-tinged humor in OTR --
    but it gave the President himself a wide berth. One of the most unusual
    routines is an Olsen and Johnson bit on the Rudy Vallee show during the
    summer of 1932, in which the comedians run over the candidates for the
    Presidency -- Hoover, Roosevelt, and Norman Thomas -- and discard them
    all, proclaiming that the only candidate worthy of the job is Mickey
    Mouse. And then there's the "Keep Him Out of the White House"
    anti-Presidential campaign run by Stoopnagle and Budd in 1936, in which
    Colonel Stoopnagle offers plenty of valid reasons not to elect himself to
    the office. These routines managed to comment on political issues of the
    day without directly attacking or mocking any real-life politician.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 12:18:12 -0400
    From: John Henley <jhenley@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR actor spotting

    When going through my before-work morning routine, I
    catch the weather forecast on the NOAA channel, then if
    I have a couple of spare minutes I like to see if anything
    interesting is on AMC (which sure isn't what it used
    to be) or, more likely, on TCM.

    This morning, when I tuned to TCM, they had just started
    a Vitaphone short subject.  I missed the title and cast; the
    story was being introduced by some old-fashioned title
    cards.  It took place in a mythical land called "Elyria"
    and began - mind you, this was a one-reel comedy - with
    a fellow trying to hang himself.

    Along came an Elyrian soldier, dressed like a Prussian officer,
    saying "here, you can't do that." He was a medium-size fellow
    with a slight paunch.  After a few lines of dialogue, I thought
    his voice seemed familiar; then his face, under a tall soldier hat
    and walrus mustache, started to look familiar. I got close to the TV
    and [removed]

    It was Ray Collins.  He who played Lt. Tragg for years on the
    "Perry Mason" TV show, but of course more pertinent to this
    list, he who worked extensively with Orson Welles in the Mercury
    Theater (you know, the network guy who broadcast from
    the rooftop until the gas got him, in War of the Worlds).

    A prop calendar that appeared right after I recognized Collins
    dated the short to 1930.  So this was 27 years before Perry
    Mason, 11 years before "Citizen Kane," and a good 6 to 7 years
    before the Mercury Theater.  In fact, his future boss, Welles,
    would have been only 15 years old at this point.

    I love it when things like this happen.  You never know who will
    turn up in early-talkie short films.
    John Henley

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 12:18:37 -0400
    From: W4CU@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Nostalgia
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    Had a severe attack of nostalgia last night and wonder how many pople
    remember two network sustainers.  First the Chamber Music Society of Lower
    Basin Street (NBC?).  Music by Henry "Hot Lips" Levine and the barefoot
    Philhamonic.  Then there was (CBS?} Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm with the John
    Kirby sextet (John K,Billy Kyle, Buster Bailey, Chatrlie Shavers, Russ
    Procope, O'Neill Spencer) and narrated by the Great Canada Lee, who also made
    a kids record called "Jazz Band".
    Flow Gently was a great show, and certainly worthy of sponsorship, but, too
    bad.  John Reinke w4cu@[removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 12:18:53 -0400
    From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Big Jon and Sparkie

    A friend of mine has formed a group to put up a web page dedicated to Big
    Jon and Sparkie. The page us still under construction, but the first page
    is up. You can find it at

    [removed]

    The audio sample is in MP3 and it didn't play on my computer when I clicked
    it on. I'll suggest that they change it to Real Audio. In the meantime,
    book mark this page for future updates.

    Fred
    [removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 12:19:37 -0400
    From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
    To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  graf spee

    Dave Walter picked up a mic and announced to the listening audience:

>     On Side One, there is a
>     recording of (allegedly) the actual New York radio bulletin announcing the
>     scuttling of the Graf Spee. On it, an announcer switches to a reporter who
>     is supposedly in Montevideo. No network or station ID is given, and the
>     reporter's sign-off ("Goodbye, ladies and gentlemen") sounds fairly odd.
>     However, the source recording sounds aged enough to be from that period.
>     Does anybody (Dr. Biel or Ms. McLeod, perhaps?) have any further info on
>     this item?

    I can't comment on the specific recording you refer to Dave but I have heard
    a live news broadcast of this same event so I know that authentic
    documentation does exist. It is possible that the version on the LP was
    edited to omit the station ID, for what reason I know not,  but speculate
    that the producer didn't want to risk copyright accusations from the station
    or network of origination. What I heard was from NBC.

    Joe Salerno

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 12:19:56 -0400
    From: Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR show in Detroit area Sunday

    This coming Sunday (July 21)  at 7:30 [removed] the Detroit
    Symphony Orchestra and a group called Five by Design
    will be performing "Radio Days" at the Meadow Brook
    Music Festival (on the campus of Oakland University).
    The performances will include  songs like "Sentimental
    Journey" and "Chatanooga Choo Choo" and re-inactments
    of segments of vintage OTR shows.

    I won't be there because I have previous commitments,
    but I thought some others might want to know about it.
    The numbers to call for tickets ($14- $56) and more
    information are 313-576-5111 or 248-645-6666.

    Rick

    [removed] This is an outdoor concert.

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

    Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 12:20:08 -0400
    From: "Scott Eberbach" <seberbach@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OTR Magicians

    Hi All!
    Not much I can add to Arlene's list of magicians in OTR except for the
    following:
    Let us not forget the incredibly fat magician "The Maestro" from ILAM's Bury
    Your Dead, Arizona.  I believe that Dunning's book lists a show done by the
    great illusionist Howard Thurston that was done in the 1930s.

    Scott

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #274
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