Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #415
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 10/23/2002 8:34 AM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 415
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      New London School Disaster            [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
      Jazz and Classical Music Satire       [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
      McFarland Books                       [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
      Re: taping of FOTR talks              [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
      McFarland books                       [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Phone-age                             [ Ga6string@[removed] ]
      RE: Breaking Stories                  [ Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed]; ]
      #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ lois@[removed] ]
      Telephones                            [ "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed] ]
      1931 Frankenstein series              [ "Ian Grieve" <austotr@[removed]. ]
      1931 Frankenstein series              [ Jamie Kelly <jamie77@[removed] ]
      Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      THE FIFTH HORSEMAN                    [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Today's New York Daily News           [ Kubelski@[removed] ]
      Telephone Exchange data base          [ "Dandrea, Chris" <ChrisD@[removed] ]
      Old-Time Phone Service                [ dougdouglass@[removed] ]
      Re: Frank Gorshin AS George Burns, o  [ jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns) ]

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 21:08:21 -0400
    From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  New London School Disaster

    I received this request recently at my web site. If anyone can be of help,
    please email the poster directly at "Allan McCormack"
    <mccormack_allan@[removed]; :

    "I'm researching the history of the radio coverage of the New London school
    disaster, a major news story of 1937 (300 children killed), for the writer
    of a major book soon to be published. Through the day of March 19, 1937,
    national radio carried 24-hour coverage of the disaster. If anyone knows if
    any of these broadcasts were recorded and still exist I thought perhaps the
    writer might contact the owner with a view towards listening to them.
    However, I have no evidence that any such recordings exist, and hope that
    if you have a moment you might email me if you have heard of or know where
    these broadcasts might be."

    Jim Widner
    jwidner@[removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 21:09:30 -0400
    From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Jazz and Classical Music Satire

    Dave Palmer asked:

>     I have been racking my brain, on those days when I can find it, trying to
>     remember the name of a radio program that played Jazz music, but the intro's
>     were done in the style of a high brow classical music program.

    And Ron Tilton answered:

>     The show in question is "The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street",
>     which was first heard on the Blue Network on Feb. 11, 1940 and served as
>     a springboard for several performers, such as Dinah Shore and Zero
>     Mostel, who went on to become stars.

    Actually I recalled (merely from my collection - I wasn't around then) the
    program that "...Basin Street" grew from - "Bughouse Rhythm" of which I
    have one copy. This was a fifteen minute west-coast program from around
    1936.  In the episode I have, the host makes comparisons to Cab Calloway's
    Minnie the Moocher to hi-brow classical pieces. It is done with tongue so
    thoroughly in cheek that you almost take it seriously.

    Jim Widner
    jwidner@[removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 21:09:51 -0400
    From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  McFarland Books

    George Aust asks about specific McFarland Radio-related books.

    George, I have looked through (but don't own)

    Encyclopedia of American Radio 1920-1960. By Luther [removed]

    If one is a serious researcher, this book might be worth having. I feel
    there are other combinations of books that might fill in for this book. It
    is a rather thick book wherein you can look up either individuals or shows
    related to radio. Information on individuals is perhaps useful, but even
    that is somewhat sketchy. You can imagine how many volumes such topics
    under one book title would be required to really do it justice.

    The copy I looked at was at the Library of Congress which has many of the
    McFarland Radio books that deal with broader topics for researchers (yes,
    they also have Dunning and Hickerson).

    The problem with many of these books is that they are static, often prone
    to error, and simply cannot be all encompassing. That is what I like best
    about Jay Hickerson's book. It is dynamic and either supplements or new
    editions come out yearly.

    Personally, if I was going to be stranded on a desert island and had to
    choose among many of the books related to OTR - especially for research - I
    would choose Hickerson for solid regularly updated information and
    Dunning's latest for general commentary of many radio series.

    Of course, if I was stranded on a desert island, I guess I'd have to figure
    some way for Jay to get the supplements to me!!!

    Jim Widner
    jwidner@[removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 21:39:41 -0400
    From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: taping of FOTR talks

    Jay has asked me to video tape the convention. We have made up an order
    form which can be picked up at our room at the convention. For those not
    attending, email me with an address and I can mail you the form.

    Fred
    [removed]

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 23:03:34 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  McFarland books

    George asked about the following McFarland [removed]

    Encyclopedia of American Radio 1920-1960. By Luther [removed]
    Not bad, but the half of the entries only list one line of info, and barely
    gives any researcher anything to go on.  Look up an obscure sports announcer
    and you'll probably find it, but all you'll get is "sports announcer, birth
    date, radio station" and that's it.  Not much info.

    Radio Programs 1924-1984; A Catalog of over 1800 Shows. By Vincent
    Terrace
    Not bad, but I've seen most of the info elsewhere and John Dunning's Guide
    is pretty much a fatter version of this book.

    Radio Stars; An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers,
    1920 through 1960. By Thomas A. Delong
    This is a wonderful book.  Sadly, youw on't find every supporting actor or
    actress as I've not been able to find a few when I've looked them up, but
    when there is someone like Lurene Tuttle or Hans Conried, there is a wealthy
    bit of info for each, and many photos.  This has been a help on occassion
    when I do research.

    The other books George lists I've never seen, but McFarland does offer other
    books on radio, dozens at least.
    Martin

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 23:34:15 -0400
    From: Ga6string@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Phone-age

    Ed Howell writes:

>     ...radio [removed] removed the dial from the phone to
>     prevent our calling [removed] I just lifted the handset to get the dial tone
>     and
>     then clicked the hangup switch the proper number of times for each number
>     and
>     never had any trouble getting the person I was calling.

    If you happened to see the new movie, "Red Dragon," with Anthony Hopkins, et
    al, you'll notice that Hopkins' character, Hannibal Lector (sp?) uses this
    same technique to make an outside call.
    Bryan Powell

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

    Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 23:34:36 -0400
    From: Harlan Zinck <buster@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  RE: Breaking Stories

    Thomas Bray writes, in part:

>     In TV, comedies were almost all gang written in a "writer's room."  Hour

    drama

>     was "broken" (outlined) sometimes by the whole writing staff, and then
>     assigned to a writer.  I have also been on staffs where I would pitch my
>     story to the exec producer, get notes, and write my draft.

>     Does anybody know how it was done in radio?

    To begin researching the ways that comedy was written in radio, your best
    bet is to start by reading Jordan R. Young's excellent book "The Laugh
    Crafters: Comedy Writing in Radio and TV's Golden Age." Over the course of
    about ten years, Young interviewed some of the legendary writers of radio
    and early TV comedy, people like Parke Levy, Paul Henning, Charlie Isaacs,
    Irving Brecher, Bob Schiller and Bob Weiskopf, Hal Kanter, and many others.
    It's not textbook history, mind you, but it really brings to life the days
    of writing comedy for radio and its stars. I first read it when it came out
    in 1999 and read it again every year or so, just because its so
    entertaining. Makes you feel like you're chatting with the writers
    themselves, many of whom have since left us.

    BTW, speaking of writers, aren't Harry Bartell's columns wonderful? Many
    thanks, Mr. Bartell, for sharing your memories with us. You're an excellent
    writer *and* performer. So, when's your book coming out?

    Hey, you know, if *Jughead* can write *two* of [removed]

    (Your turn, Hal!)

    Harlan

    Harlan Zinck
    First Generation Radio Archives
    [removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 04:52:03 -0400
    From: lois@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!

    A weekly [removed]

    For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
    Network, the channel name is #OldRadio.  We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
    and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
    over five years, same time, same channel!

    Our numerous "regulars" include one of the busiest "golden years" actors in
    Hollywood; a sound man from the same era who worked many of the top
    Hollywood shows; a New York actor famed for his roles in "Let's Pretend" and
    "Archie Andrews;" owners of some of the best OTR sites on the Web;
    maintainer of the best-known OTR Digest (we all know who he is)..........

    and Me

    Lois Culver
    KWLK Longview Washington (Mutual) 1941-1944)
    KFI Los Angeles (NBC) 1944 - 1950
    and widow of actor Howard Culver

    (For more info, contact lois@[removed])

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: We all wish Lois a speedy recovery from her recent
    hospital stay!  --cfs3]

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

    Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 09:52:41 -0400
    From: "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Telephones

    Thanks to Mark Kinsler for his piece on telephone systems-very interesting.
    Also to Lee Munsick for his telephone story about the touch tone telephone.
    When we first started getting touch tone telephones a friend told me that
    the touch tone was so much superior to the dial phone and that he hated to
    use a dial type phone anymore as it seemed to take forever to dial a number.
      I laughed at him for being so lazy and impatient.  After I got a TT phone
    I realized that he was right
    and I became lazy and impatient.
    I have a telephone story that I can tie in with radio:
    On March 27, 1964 (Good Friday), Alaska had one of the biggest earthquakes
    ever recorded.  It hit south coastal Alaska cities, towns and villages very
    hard.  It was also very strong here in interior Alaska, but didn't do much
    damage.  My Mother called the long distance operator to make a call to her
    parents in North Carolina to tell them that we were all OK.  The operator
    said that all undamaged lines were busy and she would call my Mother back
    when her call was ready.  About 8 hours later the operator called back and
    said that her call was ready.

    The earthquake almost completly destroyed Anchorage. No power, water or
    telephone services, nothing.  The only way news of the amount of damage was
    gotten to the outside world was by the efforts of ham radio operators.  Ham
    radio operators now get free auto licenses with their call letters as
    license numbers-they were real heros.
    A young radio announcer from Fairbanks, Steve Agbaba, was living and working
    in Anchorage then.  He managed to power up a low powered radio station using
    power from auto batteries.  He broadcast emergency information and helped
    re-unite hundreds of people separated by the devastation for several days
    without sleep.  Years later he moved back to Fairbanks to open his own
    station and I am proud to say that I became one of his many friends, my
    brother was his chief engineer. As a side note: his partner in the radio
    station was a man named Ed Parsons.  Ed was honored by the cable television
    operators organization for engineering and building the first cable
    television system, he did that in the early 1950s so his new bride could
    watch TV since they moved to an area that didn't have a TV station.  When
    Steve Agbaba passed away, the Governor ordered the state flag flown at half
    mast, brings a tear to my eye to think about it.

    Roby McHone

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

    Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 09:52:50 -0400
    From: "Ian Grieve" <austotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  1931 Frankenstein series

    In issue 413 Bill Jaker asked about Frankenstein.

    Bill, George Edwards had his own group of actors called the George Edwards
    Players and his own production company, George Edwards Productions.  George
    was Australian and was known as 'the man of 1,000 voices'.  He played most
    of the parts in his early productions like Frankenstein, Dr Jeckyl, Afloat
    with Henry Morgan, Marco Polo and hundreds of  other of his series.  As time
    went by though, he played fewer parts.  In the 1930's and 40's he had many
    shows broadcasting each day.  Prior to transcription, at the end of his
    productions, the announcers would read out the parts played by George
    Edwards as the audience were always trying to work out the voices (probably
    had side bets).  Unfortunately none of the recordings I have heard have
    listed the parts he played.  The Australian OTR group are researching his
    productions and purchase the old Wireless Weekly, Listener In magazines from
    that period and go through looking for mentions of George Edwards and other
    productions.  We have a massive database and many years more work ahead of
    us.  If you want to learn more about George Edwards, or other Australian
    Shows, just send me an email.

    I lost a few emails a few months ago, so if anybody is awaiting replies or
    trades, please let me know.

    Ian Grieve
    Moderator
    Australian OTR Group

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

    Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 09:53:16 -0400
    From: Jamie Kelly <jamie77@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  1931 Frankenstein series

    In issue 413 of the digest, Bill Jakes asked about information on the 1931
    Frankenstein series.
    I recall Ian Grieve moderator of the Australian OTR group which I am also a
    member, posting details to this group about this series and George edwards
    some months back so I'm sure he will add to my comments.

    The first recordings on 16 inch transcriptions in Australia were recorded
    in May 1936 by a production house called FEATURADIO. At the same time   the
    first pressing at EMI Columbia Home Bush Sydney was of a George Edwards
    serial called David and Dawn. George Edwards productions started in sydney
    Australia in 1932 and he established a group of actors with him as the
    Starr of the george Edwards Players. His Sunday night plays were broadcast
    live round Australia and He was known by the radio industry and listening
    audience alike as the man of a thousand voices as you can tell if you
    listen to many of his productions. He played most of the parts in his
    productions to avoid costs. In the 1930's Sumner Lock Elliot wrote most of
    the scripts for George Edwards Productions later joined by Mory Francis.

    I don't know how this series got logued as a BBC series as it's Australian
    and dates from 1938. Sadly no discs exist in Australia of this series but
    we are very thankful it was one of the many exported Australian radio
    programmes that was sold overseas and we in Australia can still hear and
    enjoy one of our early radio pioneer greats.

    Jamie Kelly

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

    Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 09:53:20 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Today in radio history

>     >From Those Were The Days --

    1932 - Fred Allen made his radio debut. His wife, Portland Hoffa, joined
    him on the CBS radio broadcast. Allen's comedy-variety program was known
    as The Linit Bath Club Revue. It then became The Salad Bowl Revue, then,
    The Sal Hapatica Revue, The Hour of Smiles, Town Hall Tonight, The
    Texaco Star Theatre and finally, someone with just a bit of sense, came
    up with The Fred Allen Show. The comedic legend stayed on radio for 17
    years.

    1950 - "The World’s Greatest Entertainer" (a billing he gave himself),
    Al Jolson (Asa Yoelson), died at the age of 64.

      Joe

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

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

    Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 09:53:52 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  THE FIFTH HORSEMAN

    Joyce asked:

>     THE FIFTH HORSEMAN
>     This eight episode 1946 series was broadcast on NBC "from Hollywood" to
>     warn Americans about the dangers of atomic war. Each broadcast  was
>     narrated by a different star, beginning with Henry Fonda, then William
>     Bendix.  About the time I was listening to Robert Young caution against
>     giving up civil liberties in anticipation of  nuclear terrorism, I
>     realized how progressive mugh of the writing was (somebody named
>     Marquis, I think).  Does anyone know the story behind these shows?  Who
>     sponsored/funded "The Fifth Horseman"?

    I know it was produced by the public service, broadcast over NBC, Thursday
    evening from 10:30 to 11 [removed], EST.  The guests included: Henry Fonda,
    William Bendix, Glenn Ford, Robert Young, Howard McNear, George Couloruis,
    William Johnstone, Charles Bickford, J. Carrol Naish, and Dane Clark.  Only
    eight episodes were produced and each set the stage (as you can see by the
    titles) leading up to a Nuclear holocaust and the eventual destruction of
    Mankind.

    1.  "Rehearsal"  7/4/46
    2.  "Dawn"  7/11/46
    3.  "Promise"  7/18/46
    4.  "Crisis"  7/25/46
    5.  "Zero . . . One . . ." 8/1/46
    6.  "Doomsday"  8/8/46
    7.  "Aftermath"  8/15/46
    8.  "Memo to Mankind"  8/22/46

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

    Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 09:54:11 -0400
    From: Kubelski@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Today's New York Daily News

    Old Time Radio's best friend in New York gives prominent coverage to the
    Friends of Old Time Radio Convention (to be held this week in Newark, [removed])
    in today's New York Daily News.

    So thank heavens once again for David Hinckley and the following article:
    [removed].
    Our own Gary Yoggy is interviewed on his AFRS panel, while Max Schmid and his
    Gotham Radio Players, Jay Hickerson and many other FOTR luminaries get their
    due as well.

    Sean Dougherty
    Kubelski@[removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 09:56:54 -0400
    From: "Dandrea, Chris" <ChrisD@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Telephone Exchange data base

    Hello all,

    I found a site that will let you look up a city and see the exchanges for
    that area.
    Fun stuff.

    Chris

    [removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 09:57:15 -0400
    From: dougdouglass@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Old-Time Phone Service

    Herb Harrison mentioned the Operators in his small town.  It was Bell
    System policy to locate the Operators in banks, the most secure building
    in any community.  The switchboard was always on the highest floor. In
    case of a flood, service would not be affected.

    The term "Prefix" was created by Pacific Bell in the early 60s when
    "All-Number Calling" was introduced.  In most of the country, the first
    three diigits are still called the "exchange".  Actually, "exchange"
    means a geographic area.
    Names like ASpinwall and
    WEllington are "Cental Offices".

    ---- Doug Douglass

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

    Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 10:04:34 -0400
    From: jameshburns@[removed] (Jim Burns)
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Frank Gorshin AS George Burns, on
     Broadway

    Had I read my PLAYBILL before posting--

    :-)

    I might not have been as pleasantly suprised as I was,to how good,SAY
    GOODNIGHT GRACIE,is.

    The play was written by Rupert Holmes, among whose many credits
    (including Broadway's (THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, from many years
    back)--

    As I'm sure many of you, here, already know--

    Is creating cable's, REMEMBER [removed]

    Best, Jim

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #415
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