Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #94
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 3/24/2007 8:50 AM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2007 : Issue 94
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Shadow episode                        [ Dan <teac35@[removed]; ]
      Re: THE GREEN HORNET [removed]         [ jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns) ]
      OTR Singer Dies                       [ Richard Pratz <[removed]@[removed]; ]
      The Green Hornet and The Shadow       [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Re: Julius La Rosa                    [ Michael Hayde <mikeh0714@[removed]; ]
      Birds?                                [ "RadioAZ@[removed]" <radioAZ@bas ]
      Wanted First Nighter                  [ Tony Baechler <tony@[removed]; ]
      Re: Groucho: live or tape?            [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
      3-24 births/deaths                    [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
      You Bet Your Life                     [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
      LBJ swearing-in                       [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:14:28 -0400
    From: Dan <teac35@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Shadow episode

     The other day I was talking with a friend who had
    told me that there is an episode of The Shadow where
    he had to enter a building (as the shadow) that had a
    automatic door (much like grocery stores today)
    outfitted with an electric eye.

     I am curious if such a show exists. If so, what would
    the title be?

    Many Thanks!
    Dan

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:37:48 -0400
    From: jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns)
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re:  THE GREEN HORNET [removed]

    In the script that was kicking around for years--

    The one that apparently was going to serve at least as the basis for the
    ultimately nixed George Clooney movie--

    An interesting element was that it opened with a Lone Ranger sequence in
    the old West--

    But without metioning the Ranger, or Tonto, by name!

    (Presumably, because the film rights to the RANGER, were held by another
    entity.)

    Most of the rest of the screenplay was essentially unremarkable, with,
    as I recall, some confusing action sequences, and too much of a pat
    [removed]

    I'm sure HORNET fans are familiar with the BLACK MASK movie (was that
    the title?), of a few years ago, now in heavy rotation again, on cable.
    It was interesting in that the star was dressed very much like Kato--

    Whom you got to see in an abundance of "modern" action sequences.

    Jim Burns

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:38:01 -0400
    From: Richard Pratz <[removed]@[removed];
    To: "OTR (Plain Text Only)" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OTR Singer Dies

    OTR singer Carol Richards died March 16, 2007 of heart disease in Vero
    Beach, Florida. Born Carol June Vosburgh June 6, 1922 in Harvard, Illinois,
    she is best remembered for the recorded version of the Christmas classic
    "Silver Bells" she made with Bing Crosby. Her [removed] Times obit mentions she
    regularly appeared on Don McNeill's Breakfast Club, but she was also heard
    on other radio programs including The Pepsodent Show starring Bob Hope, The
    Bing Crosby Show, The Martin & Lewis Show, The Lux Radio Theater, the Chase
    & Sanborn Hour starring Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy and others. Ms.
    Richards also found work dubbing the singing voices for stars in several
    movie musicals. She was 84.

    Rich

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:48:20 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  The Green Hornet and The Shadow

    Jim Widner commented about the screen rights licensed to Columbia/Sony.

    There has been an attempt to bring THE GREEN HORNET to the big screen for
    the past decade (possibly more) with Universal taking the helm for a large
    number of years.  I have two film scripts that were written and never
    produced, one on a silly merit and the other quite well.  The version that
    might have had George Clooney as Brit Reid and Jet Li as Kato would have
    been excellent.

    Kevin Smith, a comic book fan about my age or a couple years younger (the
    silent Bob from Jay and SIlent Bob) had been working on a screen version of
    THE GREEN HORNET for some time but the folks at the studio didn't like his
    ideas and he's no longer involved with the project.  (Of course, we can all
    name movies the studios butchered from the original material - cough, cough,
    WILD WILD WEST, cough, cough)....

    As for THE SHADOW, there has been some reports that Universal is optioning
    to do a second screen version and a different take on the invisible crime
    fighter (much like they did a different take on BATMAN recently -
    recommended by the way).  So cross your fingers that a second rendition
    comes to light.

    I do have a question for any SHADOW authorities (if they know the answer).
    I was going through an old magazine from the 1970s and there was an
    announcement that a SHADOW TV pilot has been filmed and was due to air on TV
    but apparently it never aired on network television.  I know nothing about
    this other than what was in print (and what I typed is all I know) so does
    anyone know anything about this?

    Martin

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:50:09 -0400
    From: Michael Hayde <mikeh0714@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Julius La Rosa

    Concerning Julius LaRosa's personal website, Frank
    McGurn wrote:

>     This web site is Julius's own story and his
>     conclusion is that Godfrey is /was not a nice
>     man. He was fired on the air.

    To this I would simply say that LaRosa, like any
    performer, recognizes the value of publicity.

>     I heard that broadcast
>     Arthur said in essence that Julius was
>     to big for britches and had lost
>     his humility.

    I, too, have heard that broadcast - a couple of years
    ago, Jack French played it for the Metro Washington
    OTR Club.  It is exactly as Lee Munsick described it
    in his recent post - no more, no less.  The "lost his
    humility" comment, as Lee noted, came a day later when
    reporters caught Godfrey in a foul mood.  It was all
    over the press for the next several days.  (I'd even
    say several YEARS.  I have a 1956 TV GUIDE where, in
    discussing that year's crop of "little Godfreys", the
    article's headline lets us know that they have
    "Humility Galore.")

    Michael

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:36:41 -0400
    From: "RadioAZ@[removed]" <radioAZ@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Birds?

    I just received a new catalog from Radio Spirits and it is offering a set
    called Scariest Shows Ever.  Included in the contents, says the ad, is the
    Lux Radio Theatre from July 20, 1953.  The title of the show?  The Birds.

    IMDb only list one movie by that title, and of  course it was the Alfred
    Hitchcock classic from 1963--ten years later.

    The Lux Logs do show that The Birds was indeed done on that date.  It
    starred Herbert Marshall.

    What movie was Lux doing in 1953?

    Ted

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:37:45 -0400
    From: Tony Baechler <tony@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Wanted First Nighter

    Hi all,

    It's been a long, long time since I've posted here.  I'm years worth
    behind on the digest.  I'm posting here because I really need to find
    a show as soon as possible and I really hope someone hear can
    help.  I asked a dealer and he couldn't help me.  I don't want mp3 at
    all.  I would prefer audio CD or open reel but I would take cassette
    if I had to.  Probably reel is the best for me right now since I'm
    equipped to transfer it to digital and do restoration.  I am willing
    to trade if necessary although I would rather buy or borrow.  I've
    just recently got a bunch of really nice musical programs transferred
    for trade including some Bing Crosby Chesterfield shows.

    I'm looking for any episodes of The First Nighter from 1940 or
    earlier.  My grandpa will be turning 80 years old in April and he
    remembers watching the show live in Chicago when he was growing
    up.  He was in the audience.  We narrowed the date range down to
    around 1940.  I think I remember hearing a show from that year but it
    was in compressed audio and I no longer have it.  The dealer is long
    out of business.  I would ideally like to find two shows to fit on a
    CD but I'll take what I can get.  If someone has a stash of 1930's
    and early 1940's shows, that would be wonderful!  I would prefer the
    best quality possible but again I'll take what I can get as long as
    it isn't mp3, RA, or other compressed audio.  If you have raw wave
    files, I can provide an ftp upload server.  I can provide samples of
    my trading material on request.  I no longer trade in mp3, only audio
    CD and wave files.

    Thanks to anyone who can help or give me any leads.  I really need
    these shows as soon as possible so I can get them transferred and put
    on CD by his birthday.  I'm not really equipped to handle cassette
    but I'll work with it if I have to.  I really appreciate any help with this!

    [removed]  I have been reading _Suspense, Twenty Years of Thrills and
    Chills_, 1st edition.  I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't
    have it.  It's an outstanding reference with lots of history and trivia.
    - ---------
    Tony Baechler
    Baechler Productions

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

    Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:38:11 -0400
    From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Groucho: live or tape?

    Well, I will have to admit that I believe I read about the live shows in
    two places. The first was an interview with John Guedel in the Freedonia
    Gazette in 1981 (at least I thought I read it [removed] don't have that
    issue, so I am trying to verify through some other sources), and the
    second source and maybe not as reliable is that John Dunning talks about
    live shows early on.  I know there are errors that pop up in Dunning,
    but I suspect he is also responsible for those comments to appear
    throughout the web.

    I am hoping I will get some confirmation from the Guedel interview, but
    it was years ago that I read it, so I cannot say for sure that was where
    I saw it.

    If anyone has input, I would certainly welcome it. I appreciate the
    cross-checking. Meanwhile I'll keep checking my sources.

    Jim Widner

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

    Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2007 09:40:29 -0400
    From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  3-24 births/deaths

    March 24th births

    03-24-1867 - Harry Neville - Launceston, Tasmania - d. 1-25-1945
    actor: "Sherlock Holmes"; "John's Other Wife"
    03-24-1885 - Joseph Granby - Boston, MA - d. 9-22-1965
    actor: Mead Connors "We Are Always Young"
    03-24-1895 - Paul Specht - d. 4-11-1954
    bandleader: Made very first broadcast of dance Music 9-20-1920 WWJ
    Detroit
    03-24-1902 - Sir Lancelot - Cumuto, Trinidad, West Indies - d. 3-12-2001
    calypso singer: "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy"
    03-24-1902 - Thomas E, Dewey - Owosso, MI - d. 3-16-1971
    presidential candidate: "Jack Benny Show"; "Racketbusters Roundtable"
    03-24-1906 - Julian Funt - d. 4-8-1980
    writer: "Young Doctor Malone"
    03-24-1910 - John V. Ambrose - d. 11-7-1995
    sportscaster: WTAG Worcester, Massachusetts
    03-24-1910 - Richard Conte - Jersey City, NJ - d. 4-15-1975
    actor: "Theatre Guild On the Air"; "Hallmark Playhouse"; "Hollywood
    Star Playhouse"
    03-24-1915 - Bill Bivens - Wadesboro, NC - d. 1-15-1984
    announcer: "Fred Waring Show"; "Vox Pox"
    03-24-1918 - Bill Aya - d. 10-xx-1985
    sportscaster: KEVE Seattle, Washington
    03-24-1928 - Sue Bennett - Indianapolis, IN - d. 5-8-2001
    vocalist: "Your Hit Parade"
    03-24-1928 - Vanessa Brown - Vienna, Austria - d. 5-21-1999
    panelist: "Quiz Kids"

    March 24th deaths

    01-10-1882 - Olive Higgins Prouty - Worcester, MA - d. 3-24-1974
    writer: "Stella Dallas" based on Prouty's novel without her approvals
    02-03-1910 - Nelson Case - Long Beach, CA - d. 3-24-1976
    announcer: "Hour of Charm"; "New Carnation Contented Hour"
    02-08-1828 - Jules Verne - Nantes, France - d. 3-24-1905
    pioneering science fiction writer: "Mercury Theatre"; "This Is My Best"
    03-08-1891 - Sam Jaffe - NYC - d. 3-24-1984
    actor: "Fannie Hurst Presents"; "New World A-Coming"; "Cavalcade of
    America"
    03-10-1927 - Dick Alarie - d. 3-24-2000
    sortscaster: WPCT Putnam, Connecticut
    03-20-1922 - Ray Goulding - Lowell, MA - d. 3-24-1990
    comedian: "Bob and Ray Show"
    03-21-1893 - Aileen Stanley - d. 3-24-1982
    vocalist: (The Victrola Girl) "RCA Thesaurus Music Hall Varieties"
    04-01-1914 - Philip Yordan - Chicago, IL - d. 3-24-2003
    screenwriter: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    04-26-1907 - Holland Engle - Wheeling, WV - d. 3-24-1988
    announcer, emcee: "Ladies Fair"; "Variety Fair"
    05-18-1893 - Jean Goldkette - Patras, Greece - d. 3-24-1962
    bandleader: "The Studebaker Champion Program"
    06-17-1914 - John Hersey - Tientsin, China - d. 3-24-1993
    author: "Bell for Adano"; "Hiroshima"
    07-30-1914 - John Meston - Pueblo, CO - d. 3-24-1979
    writer: "Gunsmoke"; "Escape"; "Fort Larmie"
    08-04-1890 - Carson Robison - Near Chetopa, KS - d. 3-24-1957
    singer: "Eveready Hour"; "Dutch Masters Mimstrels"
    10-26-1904 - Igor Gorin - Ukraine, Russia - d. 3-24-1982
    singer: "The Voice of Firestone"
    11-15-1881 - Franklin Pierce Adams - Chicago, IL - d. 3-24-1960
    panelist: "Information, Please"
    11-22-1906 - Howard Petrie - Beverly, MA - d. 3-24-1968
    announcer: "Jimmy Durante Show"; "Judy Canova Show"
    xx-xx-1901 - Clyde Kittell - Bemus Point, NY - d. 3-24-1955
    announcer: "Hello Peggy"; "Name Three"

    Ron Sayles

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

    Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2007 09:43:21 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  You Bet Your Life

>     To: [removed]@[removed]
>     Subject:  Re: Groucho: live or tape?

>     I also thought Groucho's show was transcribed in advance from the very
>     beginning, and that's actually why it started out on ABC, because they
>     were the most tolerant network of pre-recorded series at that point.

    According to director Robert Dwan in "As Long As They're Laughing,"
    John Guedel took the pilot transcription to all three networks (not
    Mutual?) and were turned down.  Then he got Elgin American interested
    in sponsoring the show, and Elgin bought the time on ABC because it
    was the least expensive of the networks.

    Arthur Marx, in "Life with Groucho," says the same and adds that
    Groucho and Guedel were disappointed to be on ABC, "a nationwide
    network, but one that was finding it difficult to capture listeners
    from the other two."  But they went with what they could get.

    On the recording issue, Dwan says that in 1947, it was the rule at
    all three networks (again, what about Mutual?) against broadcasting
    recorded programs.  There were some exceptions, and one was Bing
    Crosby.  According to Dwan, when Groucho signed to go on ABC, "Guedel
    was in the network offices the next morning.  If Crosby could record,
    why not Groucho?"  Dwan says that Guedel wasn't so worried about
    scandalous or dirty material as he was afraid that Groucho might get
    so entranced with talking to the guests and telling old Vaudeville
    jokes that he wouldn't get around to playing the quiz game.  He says
    that the first show was recorded on acetate records three days before
    it was scheduled to be broadcast.  It lasted an hour and had to be
    edited down.

    Arthur Marx says that before Groucho agreed to go through with the
    show, he insisted on two conditions:  (1) that the quiz had to be
    completely honest, and (2) that the show should always be
    transcribed, even if a sponsor bought it.  Groucho, according to his
    son, felt it was foolish and even dangerous to put an ad lib show on
    the air live because you couldn't tell what a contestant might say,
    and Groucho himself often said things which he later regretted.

    Getting the history right in all its details isn't easy, especially
    when it's 60 years later.  The people who are still alive to remember
    don't always remember with complete accuracy (for example, Arthur
    Marx says the pilot transcription was done at NBC, while Dwan and
    other sources say CBS).  And documentary evidence may be missing or
    ambiguous.

    Which is why, when Jim Widner a few days ago said that the early "You
    Bet Your Life" shows were done live, I asked him where he got his
    information from.  I've never heard this before, but if he's got some
    new (to me) information about this, I want to know about it.

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

    Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2007 09:43:32 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  LBJ swearing-in

>     Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 19:43:26 -0400
>     From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];

>     No that's not all.  You will notice in the picture there is a
>     dictating machine microphone.  The audio of the oath was recorded on a
>     Dictabelt that is now in the LBJ Library.

    I was referring to photography or video of the swearing-in, but I
    should have been clearer.  I remember hearing the Dictabelt recording
    played on the radio.

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

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #94
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