Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #224
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 7/25/2005 7:03 AM
To: [removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2005 : Issue 224
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  superman fights the kkk               [ joelsiegel@[removed] ]
  7-24 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  Laurel & Hardy, Hazel Bishop Beauty   [ Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@earthlin ]
  Jackson Beck                          [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
  Oops!                                 [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
  7-25 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2005 10:18:25 -0400
From: joelsiegel@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  superman fights the kkk

in the new book Freakonomics, there is a chapter on
a man who infiltrated the KKK (in Atlanta) and passed
all of the secret handshakes, words and rituals to the
people who produced Superman on the radio.
Superman not only fought the Klan but Klan members
were aghast when they saw their own children making
fun of the Klan. Membership plummeted.
The year would have been 1946.
Do any of these episodes exist?

Joel Siegel
[removed]@[removed]

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

Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2005 10:18:34 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  7-24 births/deaths

July 24th births

07-24-1802 - Alexandre Dumas - Aisne, France - d. 12-5-1870
writer: "The Count of Monte Cristo" based on Dumas' novel
07-24-1853 - William Gillette - Hartford, CT - d. 4-29-1937
actor: Sherlock Holmes "Sherlock Holmes"
07-24-1875 - Frank Moulan - New York City, NY - d. 5-13-1939
comedian: :Roxy and His Gang"
07-24-1878 - Lord Dunsany - London, England - d. 10-25-1957
writer: "The Columbia Workshop"
07-24-1890 - Basil Ruysdael - Jersey City, NJ - d. 10-20-1960
announcer: "Beggar's Bowl"; "Your Hit Parade"; "Cavalcade of America"
07-24-1898 - Amelia Earhart - Atchinson, KS - d. 7-2-1937
aviatrix: "Amelia Earhart"
07-24-1901 - Mabel Albertson - Lynn, MA - d. 9-28-1982
actress: (Sister of Jack Albertson) "The Phil Baker Show"
07-24-1904 - Delmer Daves - San Francisco, CA - d. 8-17-1977
movie writer/director: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
07-24-1907 - Glenn Riggs - East McKeesport, PA - d. 9-12-1975
announcer: "Musical Varities"; "Hop Harrigan"; "Boston Blackie"
07-24-1911 - Jane Hoffman - Seattle, WA - d. 7-26-2004
actress: "The Author's Studio"
07-24-1911 - Raymond Edward Johnson - Kenosha, WI - d. 8-15-2001
actor: Raymond your host "Inner Sanctum Mysteries"; Don Winslow "Don Winslow
of the Navy"
07-24-1913 - Hollace (Vivien) Shaw - Fresno, CA - d. 3-2-1976
singer: "Blue Velvet"; "Vic Damone and Hollace Shaw Show"
07-24-1914 - Frank Silvera - Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies - d. 6-11-1970
actor: "X Minus One"
07-24-1914 - Vicent Bogert - New York - d. 11-28-1978
writer: "Duffy's Tavern"
07-24-1916 - Bob Eberly - Mechanicsville, NY - d. 11-17-1981
singer: (Jimmy Dorsey Band)
07-24-1919 - Jerry Wayne - Buffalo, NY
vocalist: Lover "Happy Island"; "Your All-Time Hit Parade"
07-24-1921 - Billy Taylor - Greenville, SC
host: "Mildred Bailey Show"; "Bing Crosby Show"; "Genius of Duke"

July 24th deaths

01-12-1892 - Ed McConnell - Atlanta, GA - d. 7-24-1954
host, actor: Smilin' Ed McConnell Show"
03-05-1920 - Virginia Christine - Stanton, IA - d. 7-24-1996
actress: "Confession"; "Gunsmoke"
03-23-1917 - Oscar Shumsky - Philadelphia, PA - d. 7-24-2000
violinist: "Voice of Firestone"
04-02-1934 - Brian Glover - Sheffield, England - d. 7-24-1997
actor: George Hackett "An American Werewolf in London"; "[removed]"
05-14-1914 - Foy Willing - Bosque County, TX - d. 7-24-1978
singer: (Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage) "Roy Rogers Show"
07-14-1904 - Isaac Bashevis Singer - Radzymin, Poland - d. 7-24-1991
yiddish storyteller: "Earplay"
07-18-1872 - Fred Sullivan - London, England - d. 7-24-1937
actor: Kirby Willoughby "Arnold Grimm's Daughter"; Mitchell Frazier "Story of
Mary Marlin"
09-08-1925 - Peter Sellers - London, England - d. 7-24-1980
comedian: Hercules Grytpype-Thynne, Major Dennis Bloodnok, others "Goon Show"
10-22-1905 - Constance Bennett - New York City, NY - d. 7-24-1965
interviewer, panelist: "Constance Bennett Calls on You"; "Leave It to the
Girls"
12-13-1905 - Jay Jostyn - Milwaukee, WI - d. 7-24-1977
actor: Max Tilley "Life of Mary Sothern"; Mr, District Attorney "Mr. District
Attorney"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2005 10:21:52 -0400
From: Lee Munsick <damyankeeinva@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Laurel & Hardy, Hazel Bishop Beauty Box

In the 1970s I had the honor and delight to be asked to join the "Sons of the
Desert", the international Laurel and Hardy fan club.  Actually, that
description hardly suffices.  The group had chapters called "tents" around
the English-speaking world, and many of them did lots of very good things in
their areas, by way of honoring the memory of "the boys".

For instance, there was a tent in the Connecticut State Prison, appropriately
called the "Pardon Us" tent.  All the "tents" were named after individual L&H
films.  In "Pardon Us", Stan and Ollie were convicts (by mistake, of course).
The real New England prison had a fine reputation for its tent, helping
inmates mend their ways, and find common ground in which to invest time and
interest doing civic deeds and the like.

The "Mother Tent" in New York City - from which the worldwide "Sons of the
Desert" organization sprang,held an annual major bash in a giant hotel
ballroom in Manhattan.   This was pretty much a dress-up affair, but also a
source of a great deal of wonderful humor and fellowship, commensurate with
the tent's charitable activities.  I got to know a number of marvelous people
in the Sons, including cartoonist Al Kilgore and then not-so-well known
Leonard Maltin.  Years later I ran into Leonard at a SPERDVAC meeting in LA
and he lit up when I went up to him and reminded him that the last we'd seen
each other was at a Mother Tent banquet.

Every year the Mother Tent at its annual dinner invited members of the
"Pardon Us" tent.  They arrived suitably dressed with a couple of prison
staff, and had their own table or two.  They were warmly welcomed and had a
wonderful time.  Prison officials told us there had never been any question
about any of the inmates trying for a break as they had too much respect for
"Sons of the Desert", the Mother Tent, the members, their prison for letting
them participate, and for the memories of Laurel and Hardy.

It was while at "the Sons" that I learned of the "This Is Your Life" episode,
and through members that I obtained a copy.  The reference to Hazel Bishop
Beauty Box" in my subject line is to Ralplh Edwards' sponsor, make of
cosmetic items.  The "Beauty Box" was a package of such offered to the
public, and the main subject of the commercials in that particular program.
It was said that when "the boys" failed to appear, Edwards' had to carry on
alone and ad lib "for a while".  I think "while" generally means a short
time, and this was no short time (the taped copies are from the live
presentation).  Edwards is clearly anxious - eventually nearly panicking - as
he darts glances to offstage minions to find out what's going on.  He
reiterated "Hazel Bishop Beauty Box" again and yet again, as did his
announcer Bob Warren did variations on the basic planned commercial to give
Edwards a chance furiously to ask what was going on.  He probably wished that
night that he'd never started this idea on live television.

Normally "This is Your Life" guests were not told about their involvement in
the program until escorted onto the stage of the program, already in
progress.  Most of the time friends had taken the special guest or guests out
to dinner that night, and surprisingly diverted to the stage door for their
appearance.  One can understand why a lot of the unhappy guests truly did not
like all this.  I think Buster Keaton's reaction was much the same as Laurel
and Hardy.

I was told by "Sons" senior members in the know, that the reason for the
delay was indeed the reluctance not just of Stan but also Ollie, to appear
unprepared anywhere.  Apparently there was some furious argument, and the
escorts had to tell the pair what was actually going on, which made things
worse.  They did NOT want to do it.  While the result was poignant and
touching, it is also sad, as obviously the boys - especially Stan - did not
look good, and were clearly unhappy and ill at ease.

I think the real reasons for the reluctance by Stan and Ollie were somewhat
between those given here before and in any case quite understandable.  In any
case, if the reader can obtain a copy of the program, it is well worth
watching, especially if you are a fan of L&H, of early live television, even
of Ralph Edwards.  How that man survived years of "Truth or Consequences" and
then "lThis Is Your Life" without getting killed, I'll never know.  Guess
we're all little devils.  They even named a town in New Mexico for him (sort
of).   Bestus, Lee Munsick

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

Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2005 17:38:20 -0400
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Jackson Beck
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since we've lost the great Jackson
Beck.

OTR almanacker  Joe Mackeywrote, as part of his on-going "This Week In Radio
History" feature:

7/30

1937 - The American Federation of Radio Artists (AFRA) was organized. It
was part of the American Federation of Labor. The union was for all
radio performers except musicians. The union later became The American
Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) to include TV folk,
as well.

"Mr. Birthday"  Ron Sayles had an entry:

07-23-1912 - Jackson Beck - New York City, NY - d. 7-28-2004
actor: Philo Vance "Philo Vance"; Gregory Hood "Casebook of Gregory Hood"

I'd like to add that Jackson Besck was laid to rest on 07-30-2004, on the
67th
anniversary of the founding of AF (T) RA. Since Jackson was influential as
one
of this acting union's founding (his membership card number was "2"), this
has
come to represent a fitting, if somewhat ironic, tribute to his legacy.

"Look Up in the Ether!"

Derek Tague

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

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

Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2005 20:45:48 -0400
From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Oops!

In my post yesterday about Sredni Vashtar, I turned the child at the heart
of Saki's story into a girl.  Conradin is, of course, a boy.

When I apologized to Conrad Binyon,  I told him he was a good enough voice
artist to have pulled this one off.  Alas, he didn't have to.

Dennis

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

Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2005 09:04:38 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  7-25 births/deaths

July 25th births

07-25-1894 - Walter Brennan - Swampscott, MA - d. 9-21-1974
actor: Grandpa Vanderhof "You Can't Take it with You"; Judge Roy Bean "Law
West of the Pecos"
07-25-1896 - Leo Russotto - d. 1-xx-1978
musical coach and arranger: "Roxy and His Gang"
07-25-1899 - Ralph Dumke - South Bend, IN - d. 1-4-1964
actor: Willie Tompkins "We, the Abbotts"; Pat Plenty "Quality Twins"
07-25-1900 - Al Pearce - San Francisco, CA - d. 6-2-1961
comedian: Elmer Blurt "Here Comes Elmer"; "Al Pearce Show"
07-25-1901 - Lila Lee - Union Hill, NJ - d. 11-13-1973
actress: "Fleischman's Yeast Hour"
07-25-1905 - Harold Peary - San Leandero, CA - d. 3-30-1985
actor: Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve , "Fibber McGee and Molly and The Great
Gildersleeve"
07-25-1906 - Johhny Hodges - Cambridge, MA - d. 5-11-1970
alto saxophonist: "Esquire Jazz Concert"; "Duke Ellington and His Orchestra"
07-25-1907 - Jack Gilford - New York City, NY - d. 6-4-1990
comedian: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
07-25-1918 - Nan Grey - Houston, TX - d. 7-25-1993
actress: Kathy Marshall "Those We Love"
07-25-1936 - Michael Chapin - Hollywood, CA
actor: Andy 'Skipper' Barbour "One Man's Family"

July 25th deaths

01-12-1915 - Martin Agronsky - Philadelphia, PA - d. 7-25-1999
newscaster: "The ABC Morning News"
03-30-1893 - Dennis Hoey - London, England - d. 7-25-1960
actor: Edward Welby "Pretty Kitty Kelly"
04-26-1905 - Cecilia Parker - Fort William, Ontario, Canada - d. 7-25-1993
actress: "Good News of 1939"; "Mail Call"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
04-26-1912 - John McGovern - d. 7-25-1985
actor: Mike Gallagher "Highway Patrol"; Harold Wilkinson "The O'Neills"
04-29-1912 - Ian Martin - Glasgow, Scotland - d. 7-25-1981
actor: Horace Sutton "Young Dr. Malone"; Harry Archer "Meet Corliss Archer"
05-31-1903 - Blanche Stewart - Pennsylvania - d. 7-25-1952
actress: Brenda "Bob Hope Show"
07-25-1918 - Nan Grey - Houston, TX - d. 7-25-1993
actress: Kathy Marshall "Those We Love"
08-16-1932 - Marianne Moylan - Southampten, NY - d. 7-25-1990
singer: (The Moylan Sisters) (Angels of the Airwaves) "Moylan Sisters"
10-07-1914 - Alfred Drake - The Bronx, NY - d. 7-25-1992
singer: "Best Plays"; Broadway Matinee"; "Ford Festival of American Music"
xx-xx-1929 - Hope Miller - d. 7-25-1992
actress: "Let's Pretend"
xx-xx-xxxx - Ted Dale - d. 7-25-1975
orchestra leader: :Carnation Contented Hour"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #224
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