Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #70
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 2/14/2003 11:29 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2003 : Issue 70
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Twilight Zone CD                      [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
      [removed] new distinction            [ Derek Tague <derek@[removed]; ]
      Hal and Burlesque                     [ Bob Scherago <rscherago@[removed]; ]
      MP3 Disc                              [ "Bob & Lois Reynolds" <boblo1@allte ]
      Jerome Hines 1921-2003                [ leemunsick@[removed] ]
      Top Ten? When?                        [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
      Re: Women as Announcers               [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Harry Niles                           [ bruce dettman <bdettman@[removed] ]
      Who Was Sam Hayes?                    [ Bob Fells <rfells@[removed]; ]
      OTR CAT reliability                   [ "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed] ]
      OTR Time Machine                      [ lawrence albert <albertlarry@yahoo. ]
      OTR time [removed]                  [ "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed] ]
      Questions from Alabama                [ "Miriam Hipp" <radthea@[removed]; ]
      OTR book donations                    [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Gangbusters question/WJZ              [ "Michael DeLisa" <mike_delisa@hotma ]
      Twilight Zone                         [ "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@neb. ]
      time machine                          [ Grams46@[removed] ]
      OTR Time Machine                      [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 09:09:01 -0500
    From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Twilight Zone CD

    <<Bob Bratcher received his CD demo from Carl [removed]

    I, too, received his mailing  promptly.  Very well done demo
    program with Lou Diamond Phillips in the title role.  Stacy Keatch, host and
    narrator is excellent with the inflections of
    speech like Rod Serling would have done. This production
    (and I'm assuming the whole series) kept my rapt attention
    right til the last minute.  The title, "A Kind Of Stopwatch" also has great
    SFX and music beds to add to the drama.

    We all could suggest local radio stations for Carl to reach
    who might consider programming the series, say late-night on an AM station
    to give it that "old time radio" appeal once again?  And the stations can
    make some revenue, too.

    An aside:  Focus On The Family Radio Theater reported in Radio World  that
    they are airing a new radio theater production, January to April, a version
    of Jan Karon's series
    "At Home In Mitford"  (quote) "...so listeners will experience the power of
    dramatic audio [removed]"
    Now, The Twilight Zone certainly does that!!  Thanks, Carl.

    Russ Butler  oldradio@[removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 09:09:06 -0500
    From: Derek Tague <derek@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  [removed] new distinction

    Hi Gang:

       As always, Michael Hayde lives up to his sobriquet "Mr. Dragnet" with his
    recent posting detailing the transition from Barton Yarborough as Ben Romero
    to Ben Alexander as Frank Smith.  Bravo!

       However, I would like to point out that "Dragnet" now has a new
    distinction: it has aired on radio and/or television in every decade since the
    1940s. Hear me out:
    1940's: started on radion in 1949.
    1950's: was all over the airwaves.
    1960's: revived with Harry Morgan.
    1970's: 60's revival ended in 1970.
    1980's: 1989 revival w/ Jeff [removed]
    1990's: ...which ended in 1990.
    2000's: new revival w/ Ed O'Neill.

       I realize that there's cause for argument and that this may be "pushing the
    envelope"  being that "Dragnet" only aired for a few months in the 40's, 70s,
    80s, & 90s [who knows? maybe the new incarnation'll only last a few months in
    this decade]. Plus, there's always that old argument about whether decades
    actually start in the years ending in "one' or "zero."
       Well, I don't  care. I'm a big fan of "Dragnet" and am willing to latch on
    to this milestone even if it means recognizing the seldom
    acknowledged 1989-1990 syndicated version. After all, there have been retired
    baseball players  who have been given the honour  of having one "at-bat" when
    a new decade comes around just so they can have the distinction of saying
    they've played in one additional decade.

    A Mark VII [removed]

    Derek Tague

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 11:52:59 -0500
    From: Bob Scherago <rscherago@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Hal and Burlesque

    Irene Heinstein wrote:

>     "Re: Hal and his visits to the
>     burlesque houses . . . when I was a high school student
>     in Westchester in the 50s, it was common knowledge
>      . . . the "boys" in our HS went to Jersey for burlesque
>     shows."

    I too lived in NJ and went to NY to drink (on rare
    occasions) but I remember auditioning for the NJ All-
    State Band in Newark, and afterward going to Minsky's
    Burlesque. I know it's off-topic, but if Hal talked
    about it, it must be ok!

    Bob Scherago

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 11:53:19 -0500
    From: "Bob & Lois Reynolds" <boblo1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  MP3 Disc

    I, Irene purchased a set of disc from a fellow in  NY state on E-Bay and
    they did not play on the 3123- I contacted the fellow and told me to look at
    the disclaimer (his material will only play ona dvd player on the computer.
    Rather bulky if you would like to listen in your car.

    Has anyone come up with the program where I gave a brief plot story?? Bob
    Reynolds  boblo1@[removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 11:53:50 -0500
    From: leemunsick@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Jerome Hines 1921-2003

    I was stunned and sorry to learn of the passing of Jerome Hines, at age
    81.  This internationally renowned operatic basso was not only an
    incredible talent who for many years lived in my home state of New Jersey,
    he was an outstanding teacher and perhaps more important, encourager, of
    many other talents.  For years, he operated a school in Newark, New Jersey,
    finding talents among inner city youngsters as well as more affluent
    performers from the suburbs.  He taught and tutored,  then arranged
    performing venues, and fought to find spots for his proteges in the
    indescribably competitive world of professional solo musicians and singers.

    Tall, lean and with a perhaps expected but still astounding sonorous
    speaking voice, he was a gracious and charming guest and host, friendly,
    agile, gregarious, and pleasant, loving to have people around him, telling
    one and all to call him "Jerry".  My wife Charlotte (a trained opera singer
    herself) and I were welcomed several times to his home, where he was wont
    to pad around in socks or bare feet.  Perhaps this was to pare down his
    impressive height just a tad.  I knew but have forgotten just how tall he
    was, certainly at least six feet six, and remarkably vital and young
    looking.  To our delight, he would happily burst into song when a
    conversational remark would remind him of some musical flight.

    When seeing him in recent years, someone not recalling that his career ran
    back to the 1940s, would not have guessed his true age.  He was 19 at his
    debut in 1940.  Jerry joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1946, remaining a
    mainstay there for 41 years.   His career was active very late in his
    life.  Jerry appeared at Boston's Bel Canto Opera in 2001 as the Grand
    Inquisitor in ''Don Carlo'' .  He stated that at age 80, this was his last
    operatic performance, tossing off that "I'm really too young for this role".

    Jerry was a frequent guest on many radio and television programs, sometimes
    performing with his wife, extremely talented and lovely, vivacious operatic
    soprano Lucia Evangelista.

    He was extremely religious in his later years.  Jerry would happily
    autograph a photograph or record for a fan, or one of the several books he
    wrote over the years, always adding a notation directing the receiver to a
    specific book and verse in the Bible.  This devotion was perhaps in
    reaction to his numerous health problems including cancer, having a son
    afflicted with his own problems, and praying for a miracle to end his
    beautiful and talented wife's suffering with Lou Gehrig's disease.  Sadly,
    that miracle did not come.   Despite her almost total paralysis, unable to
    speak or move more than a couple of fingers, Lucia Evangelista remained
    beautiful right into her last years.  She would blink her flashing eyes and
    smile at us visitors.  She succumbed in 2000.  Undoubtedly a blessing for
    her, but I'm sure it hastened Jerry's demise.

    Jerome Hines told us that despite his beloved career in opera and music, he
    would prefer to be remembered as a [removed] of his books delved
    into an entire new concept in math, which he developed and promulgated.  I
    think that wish will probably not come true.  That contribution, while
    described as brilliant by other mathematicians, will remain overshadowed by
    his outstanding operatic career.  He would have considered a Nobel Prize in
    Mathematics a far greater legacy than being accepted universally as one of
    the greatest operatic bass performers of all time.

    Jerry Hines was born (in Hollywood, California), originally named Jerome
    Heinz.  I believe he was not related to one of the 57 varieties of wealth
    and fame, so he made his own.   During World War II, his manager suggested
    the change in spelling to Hines, to remove the German connotation which was
    understandingly unpopular at that time.

    Jerry Hines was a noble and decent and kindly person, as well as one of the
    greatest talents of the 20th Century, or any time.  We are fortunate that
    many of his broadcast appearances and commercial recordings remain for us
    and posterity.  He shall be missed by many, who were and are blessed with
    the opportunities to observe and enjoy his delightful personality and many
    talents.  Our thoughts go out to his four sons and eight grandchildren.

    Lee Munsick

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 11:54:22 -0500
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Top Ten?  When?

    "rcg" notes,

>     I enjoyed the program each week. I thought that it was well written and
>     provided many laughs. As for some elitist naming it "one of the ten worst
>     OTR shows", that is strictly one person's opinion. Top ten and bottom ten
>     lists of anything simply reflect personal tastes.

    This brings up a point worth expanding upon.  "Best," "worst," and
    anything in between are inherently subjective.  "Favorite" explains the
    subjectivity.  I have always pointed out that Captain Midnight is my
    _special_ show (which goes outside favorite).  Elizabeth McLeod's special
    show is Amos 'n' Andy.  Jim Harmon's, according to his books, is ILAM.
    But special shows aside, it's difficult to narrow favorites down to a top
    few.

    One show I enjoy thoroughly is Mr Keen.  In a critical sense, the show is
    terrible.  Yet it was very popular, and I suspect that most of those
    tuning in didn't do so for the reasons I enjoy it.  (I love the really
    terrible, truly campy, dialog.)  There are other shows I would have
    listened to if they'd been broadcast opposite Mr. Keen, such as the Phil
    Harris - Alice Faye show, the Jack Benny Show, and The Adventures of Sam
    Spade.  But fortunately, with recordings, I can hear whichever show I
    want when I want.

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 11:54:48 -0500
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Women as Announcers

    On 2/14/03 9:24 AM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:

>     Was it difficult for Women to be accepted on Radio, both by management and
>     audience?

    There was a lot of conventional wisdom which suggested "audiences don't
    like or trust women as announcers" and "only male voices can speak with
    authority," and while there were a considerable number of women working
    successfully as announcers at the local level during the 1920s, this
    attitude made it very difficult for women to break into announcing at the
    network level. There was a great deal of fanfare in 1935 when World War 1
    entertainner Elsie Janis was appointed to the NBC-New York announcing
    staff, but she didn't last long. Probably the most successful female
    announcer at the national level was Rosaline Greene, who began her career
    in the 1920s, became well-known as the voice of "Lady Esther" in the
    1930s, and was on the announcing staff of WOR as late as 1945.

    One radio fan magazine awarded Greene their "Most Perfect Female Voice"
    title in the early 1930s -- and it was exactly her sort of low, smooth
    voice which was preferred for women working as announcers. (This is, by
    the way, still pretty much the rule in radio. In these days of squealing
    twentysomething pop divas, it's one of the few places we contraltos get
    any respect.)

    I'd strongly recommend Donna Halper's recent book, "Invisible Stars -- A
    Social History of Women in Broadcasting." She goes into much detail on
    the accomplishments of the many women who had successful careers in both
    network and local radio during the OTR era.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 11:54:57 -0500
    From: bruce dettman <bdettman@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Harry Niles

    Could someone porovide me with some background material on the series
    "The Adventures of Harry [removed]"

    B. Dettman

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 11:55:18 -0500
    From: Bob Fells <rfells@[removed];
    To: Old Time Radio <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Who Was Sam Hayes?

    Long before I became an OTR fan, I was an old movie buff.  The other
    night I was watching a 1934 Warners film, Twenty Million Sweethearts, a
    musical about radio crooners starring Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers.  I
    noticed a bit actor that I had seen for years in films of this vintage
    invariably playing the role of a radio announcer.  A little research on
    the Internet Movie Database indicated this actor was Sam Hayes and he
    played radio announcers in films from the mid 1930s right through to his
    death in 1958.

    My question to the group here: Was Sam Hayes just an actor or was he he
    a genuine radio announcer who moonlighted in films?  Any info is greatly
    appreciated.

    Bob Fells

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 12:18:08 -0500
    From: "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR CAT reliability

      Just want to say I also have had no problems with any CDs from OTRCAT.
    He puts together some of the best  CDs which are not available anywhere
    else. I spent the whole Christmas season playing his Christmas CDs which
    were loaded with Fibber McGee and Molly and Great Gildersleeve shows during
    Christmas season.
    Andrew Godfrey

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

    Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 12:20:26 -0500
    From: lawrence albert <albertlarry@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR Time Machine

>     Question of the day: You have a time machine that enables you to go
>     back to the OTR era with a state-of-the-art tape recorder. What "lost"
>     show(s) would you go back in time to record?

      That's one of the toughest questions in this hobby.
    For myself I think I'd try to recover all those
    missing Sherlock Holmes radio shows. Following that I
    be looking for all the lost Lux Radio Theatres. Then
    I'd go for the Fred Allens and the Alexander Woolcot
    series The Town Crier. I'd follow that up with all of
    the Edward R. Murrow I could get my hands on. After
    that, for me it's a toss up. No wait, I just thought
    of one. The very first episode of Dragnet.

              A little complusive
              Larry Albert

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 01:18:03 -0500
    From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OTR time [removed]

    I think you're missing a great opportunity by using that time machine to just
    go back and record shows.  I would also send away for all of those premiums.
    It means I'd have to stay back in time for 6-8 [removed] and consume lots of
    Kelloggs Pep and Rich Chocolate Ovaltine, but it would be worth it.

    -Chris Holm

    I'd definitely stop by my Skelly Oil dealer and pick up the Captain Midnight
    premium that was a map of the country with all of the airline routes on it,
    with information on all of the airlines and their planes!

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 01:19:27 -0500
    From: "Miriam Hipp" <radthea@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Questions  from Alabama

    I have been reading this Digest for three years and thought it was time to
    utilize this forum to get some answers to questions I have and ask if anyone
    can help me locate some shows.

    First, I have become quit interested in the actor Canada Lee and to my
    understanding he was on several radio shows. Does anyone have any idea what
    shows they were and if those shows are available? I know of a show that was
    a Salute to Canada Lee that was aired June 9, 1941, Mutual. If it is out
    there. I would appreciate a copy.

    Does anyone have the broadcast of Orson Welles and [removed] Wells the day after
    the famous broadcast of ?War of the Worlds?? If not on tape,  the film
    version will serve my purpose just as well.

    Now to a question and the answer will hinge on me winning a friendly wager.
    On the show ?Beulah? did a man by the name of Marlin Hurt originate the role
    of Beulah? In the later years of the show did Hattie McDaniel portray that
    same role?  Did this show go to film?

    I absolutely love the subject matter and am working hard to begin and
    organization dedicated to OTR and NTR in my hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.
    I am the type of person who likes to know what I am talking about so you
    will see many a post from me with many questions pertaining to all things
    OTR.

    Is there anyone out there interested in having  an OTR conference or
    convention in the Southeast, Alabama or Georgia to be exact? I am interested
    in seeing if there would be a big enough response to warrant an attempt to
    go forward with this project. I am open to ideas and suggestions to what and
    who you would like to see at something like this. You can contact me
    off-list.

    Keep your ears to the airwaves
            Miriam
    Birmingham ?Audio? Theatre
      radthea@[removed]
          205/324-0684

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 01:19:35 -0500
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR book donations

    A library in California that houses a nice sized collection of OTR material
    such as scripts and correspondence has been gathering reference books for
    their library shelves.  I have been contacted by one of their librarians
    that they are in need of one book I wrote and are looking for any others
    they don't have.  This is a donation - not a solicitation - so if anyone
    happens to have any OTR logs or books they created or wrote and would like
    to have them donated to help build their already vast library of OTR
    material, let me know and I will pass on the address and name of the
    library.
    Martin

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 01:19:56 -0500
    From: "Michael DeLisa" <mike_delisa@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Gangbusters question/WJZ

    Hi Guys --

    I am the nutcase who collects boxing-themed OTR shows -- my list and
    collection is growing!  Thanks. (Here is a list taht I need to update
    --[removed]).

    I recently discovered that former champion James J. Braddock appeared on the
    episode called "The Case of the Jersey Butcher Bandits."

    My question is -- can anyone provide a broadcast date? (I think it is
    somewhere around 1938).

    In addition, starting Dec 11, 1936, New York's WJZ (NBC Blue?) broadcast a
    3-part show called "My Battle with Life" that also starred Braddock.  This
    program was written by Jack Kofoed and Stella Unger.

    Can anyone suggest a resource for that -- anything -- transcript, newspaper
    reviews, anything!

    Mike DeLisa

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 01:20:40 -0500
    From: "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@[removed];
    To: "old time radio" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Twilight Zone

    Hi all:
    I heard the free sample of the New Twilight Zone radio series.  I must say
    that I am impressed.  New radio drama still hasn't found a way to sound as
    natural as it should, but this is a good effort and I enjoyed the story.
    Now if only someone would create a radio drama from the action series, "24,"
    I'd be a happy man.
    RyanO

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 01:21:29 -0500
    From: Grams46@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  time machine
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." iscreve@[removed] asked:

>     Question of the day: You have a time machine that enables you to go back
>     to the OTR era with a state-of-the-art tape recorder. What "lost" show(s)
>     would you go back in time to record?

    every single episode of vic and sade from the first air date to the last.
    from kathy

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

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

    Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 01:21:49 -0500
    From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OTR Time Machine

    Given the opportunity to use a time machine I'd go back to the year 1941
    and record for 24 hours a day the programing on the four networks.  One
    day in the spring, one day in the summer and one day in the fall in
    order to get a feel for the kind of programing that they offered in
    other than prime time hours.

    I'd also like to pick out two ot three interesting local stations and
    record their offerings. Why 1941?  I think it was a very interesting
    year in history and in the arts and would like to experience as much of
    it as I could.  So much has been lost.  Of course December 7th is pretty
    well documented but there is still more that I'd like.  Did anybody ever
    discover a source for the Mutual Pearl Harbor recordings?

    And as far as coming back in that time [removed] who says I'd want to!

    George Aust

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #70
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