 
	********************************************************
                      ------   # NOTE #   -------
SEE INFO SECTION AT END OF THIS DIGEST FOR UNSUBSCRIBE AND OTHER INFORMATION. 
		====  INFO SECTION UPDATED 8/19/95  ====
	********************************************************

	    [removed]   Volume 96 : Issue 22


Articles in this issue of [removed]:

	 Remember WENN, Who, Where, What
	 Is RealAudio useable for OTR?
	  3rd Man/Welles/Harry Lime
	 George Burns
	 Call Letters
	 The Shadow on the Silver Screen
	 (no subject)
	 Jimmy Scribner's Johnson Family
	 many thanks
	 Two Black Crows
	 The Johnson Family
	 Re: Advice needed (for rebroadcasting OTR getting material.

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

Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 16:15:53 -0500
From: KENPILETIC@[removed]
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Remember WENN, Who, Where, What
Message-ID: <960116161552_43699174@[removed]>

Hi Gang -                       January 16 - 1996 -- Tuesday 3:11 PM cst

---- First Topic ---  Remember WENN  ---
-
For those who do not subscribe to the AMC guide, the programming 
schedule for "Remember WENN" is a little hard to follow.   Basically, 
there are Ten half-hour programs. The first two were shown back-to-back 
on Saturday, January 13.  These same two programs will be repeated on 
WEDNESDAYS.  On January 17, episode 1 -- On January 24, episode 2.  Then 
on January 31, both episode 1 & 2 will be shown again back-to-back.  The 
broadcast times will be 8 PM and 1 AM (Thursdays) Eastern Time. Next 
month, February, they plan to broadcast episodes 3 & 4 in roughly the 
same manner.  Net result, there should be plenty of opportunity for all 
of us to watch/tape it.   I understand that the idea is to broadcast two 
programs a month, so the series should run through May. 

----- Next Topic ---  Radio Stars in the Movies -----

Still on AMC, there will be a full-day of OTR movies on Wednesday, 
January 31 starting at 6 AM eastern Time.  Actually, the "repeat" begins 
at 1 AM.  Movies include "Heavenly Days" (Fibber & Molly), The Four 
"Gildersleeve" movies back-to-back, "Whoopie" (Eddie Cantor), "Blondie", 
"Money From Home" (Martin & Lewis), "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man" 
(Edgar Bergen and WC Fields), "The Big Broadcast of 1938" (Bob Hope and 
WC Fields), "Burns and Allen Shorts", Remember WENN episodes 1 & 2, 
"Room Service" (Lucille Ball and the Marx Brothers), "Buck Benny Rides 
Again" (Jack Benny), and finally "Road to Singapore" (Bob Hope and Bing 
Crosby).

Yes, we probably already have some or all of these on videotape, but I'm 
planning to start my machine early and tape the whole thing so that I'll 
have everything in one place. 

----- New Topic ----  Blue Coal ----

The "Shadow" was sponsored by Blue Coal only in some parts of the 
country.  Bear in mind that it would make no sense to sell coal to 
people who live in the desert.  Also, here in Illinois we had many coal 
mines that mined Bituminous coal which was sold throughout the Midwest.  
Blue Coal was from Pennsylvania and was Anthracite.  Although some 
applications required Anthracite, most heating in this part of the 
country was done with the local Bituminous which was cheaper.  Hence, 
Blue Coal did not sponsor the Shadow in this part of the country 
either.  

---- New Topic ---- Government Surplus Tape ----

T. Bray asked for opinions on Government Surplus Ampex 641.   
In my opinion, this is perhaps the best tape you can buy for recording  
and archiving otr programs - and it's inexpensive.  I believe that the 
government always orders top quality products.  Remember - this tape was 
purchased and used for government projects.  The tapes were bulk-erased 
and sold as surplus.  These are not rejects.  They are used (tested).  I 
have never had any problems with these tapes.  Sometimes the reels break 
or separate, sometimes the tape is wound unevenly.  These are not 
defective tapes.  When I get one, I merely wind it on to another reel.  
Have no fear when you purchase these tapes.  They are more than adequate 
for otr collecting, and should last a long, long time. 

----- New Topic  ----  Harry Lime ----- 

Lord Lyndon inquired about "The Third Man" on the radio.  Yes, there was 
indeed a THIRD MAN radio program.  It was also known as "The Lives of 
Harry Lime".  Welles' portrayal made the character "likeable".  Check it 
out.  It's a good series.  

----- New Topic  ----- I Love a Mystery ----- 

Barry M. wrote that he doesn't recall "I Love a Mystery" at all.  I'm 
58, just a couple years older than Barry. The reason WE don't remember 
listening to "I Love a Mystery" on the radio is that it was broadcast at 
or near the same time that "The Lone Ranger" was broadcast on another 
station.  Us kids listened to The Lone Ranger while our parents and 
other "old people" listened to ILAM. 

----- New Topic  ----- Blast From The Past -----

I just received "Blast From The Past", Eric Rhoads' new book, in the 
mail.  Excellent photographs throughout.  Since it just arrived, I 
didn't get a chance to count the pictures, but there must be close to 
2000 pictures on the 463 pages.  This is good place to see what those 
old time radio people looked like.  Many photographs are "new" to me.

---- New Topic ----- Arch Oboler -----

"The Devil and Mr. O" was a relatively recent program (newer than 
1960).  I was able to record it directly off the air from the FM station 
that broadcast it.  Although I have not played the tape(s) in recent 
years, I remember Arch Oboler personally introducing each episode, and I 
recall one program called "Neanderthal" (no "the", no "man").  Oboler 
liked short titles.  Many of the episodes in "The Devil and Mr. O" were 
plots from Oboler's other radio plays.  Whether they were the same 
performances (from recordings) or if they were newly acted, I don't 
know.  I'm sure "Neanderthal" is somewhere in my collection, and it 
should be in relatively good sound quality.   If someone needs a "sound 
upgrade" let me know and I'll check the sound on my copy. 

That's all for now.

Happy Taping -- Ken Piletic - Streamwood, Illinois 
kenpiletic@[removed] 

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

Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 16:08:33 -0600 (CST)
From: lgroebe@[removed] (Larry Groebe)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Is RealAudio useable for OTR?
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

When you consider that RealAudio is compressed at a ratio of something like
50 - 1 (60 KB/minute) it's really doing a remarkable job. You can fit about
24 minutes of RealAudio (a complete Lone Ranger episode w/o commercials)
onto a single floppy disk. I know, I did it this weekend.

Unfortunately, the quality is, as a result, only fair. You can understand
every word, but it's not really even AM quality, all claims to to the
contrary. There's just not enough data left in the encoded file to make it
sound any better.

RealAudio [removed] is now in testing, and it makes a BIG difference. I encoded
the same "Lone Ranger" in both RA1 and RA2 formats, and RealAudio 2 is,
unquestionably, twice as good. Completely listenable, even for music. Better
than good AM  - still not as good as FM. It isn't magic - RealAudio 2 files
are about twice as large as RealAudio 1 files. (The Lone Ranger came in at
[removed] MB, vs [removed] MB in the original RA1 format.)

Once we all get RealAudio 2 players, I think we could be very comfortable
with this as a medium of exchange. 

ONE COOL NOTE: Dallas' local nostalgia station, KAAM - has just announced
they're now simulcasting fulltime over the Web via streaming RealAudio.
Since they air Carl Amari's "When Radio Was" weeknights at 8pm CST, we can
now all launch our Web Browsers and "tune in" over the net. (also
recommended, Jim Lowe's Big Band show on Sunday nights from 7 until midnight.)

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

Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 19:59:00 GMT
From: [removed]@[removed] (Marty Tabnik)
To: otr@[removed]
Subject:  3rd Man/Welles/Harry Lime
Message-Id: <96011613504628008@[removed]>

ll> From: LordLyndon@[removed]
ll> Message-ID: <960112221054_114934011@[removed]>

ll> Never heard of a series based on this story.  The film (1949)
ll> THE THIRD MAN, based on the novella by Graham Greene, has been
ll> a favorite of mine for years. Since the question has been raised,
ll> please inform if there was a series.

ll> But, as the Lime character was killed near the end of the film,
ll> and he WAS a villain, albeit charming and enigmatic, I fail to
ll> see how a popular series of any kind can have been [removed]

Yes, there WAS a Harry Lime radio series after the film,
THE THIRD MAN.

As for Lime having been "killed near the end of the film", here's
what narrator Welles [in character as Lime] said at the opening
of each episode after the announcer intoned "Presenting Orson
Welles as 'The Third Man'":
        [SFX: Gun shot]
        That was the shot that killed Harry Lime.  He died in a
        sewer beneath Vienna, as those of you know who saw the
        movie THE THIRD MAN.  Yes, that was the end of Harry Lime.
        But it was not the beginning.  Harry Lime had many lives.
        And I can recount all of them. How do I know?  It's very
        simple: 'Cause my name is Harry Lime.
                [transcribed from "Pearls of Bohemia"]
Remember, we never ackCHOOlee see Lime take the bullet or Lime's
dead body.  Nor would this have been the first time that, uh, er,
"reports of [Lime's] death had been exaggerated".

Keep in mind how very fond Holly Martins was of Harry Lime.  And,
yes, I *do* recall (and have both the prerecorded video *and*
the script) the horrors that Holly learned about Harry.
<try saying THAT three times! heh heh>
---
 * SLMR [removed] * Kennedy, vodka, & water -- A Fuzzy Recollection!*RichHall

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

Date: Tue, 16 Jan 96 18:36:12 -0500
From: "MACHARG, KEN" <kmacharg@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: George Burns
Message-ID: <7036FC30017E1B00@[removed]>

 George Burns too ill to attend 100th birthday bash
    LOS ANGELES, Jan 16 (Reuter) - Comedian George Burns has
decided he is not well enough to attend an elegant Beverly
Hills party being thrown in honour of his 100th birthday, a
spokeswoman for the event said on Tuesday.
    "He decided he was not feeling up to it and made the
decision this morning not to attend," spokeswoman Christy
Salcido said. She said Burns, who turns 100 on Saturday, was
not seriously ill but "Some days are better than others for
him and this is not one of his better days."
    The dinner party at the Four Seasons Hotel was to go on
without its famous guest on Tuesday night. "He wanted the
party to go on without him," Salcido said. The event was to be
videotaped so he could watch it later, she added.
    The party was to double as a fundraiser for Cedars-Sinai
Medical Centre and to mark the naming of the Burns and Allen
Research Institute at the centre. Burns and his late wife,
Gracie Allen, were major donors to the hospital and two
streets near the hospital have been named after them.
    Among those due to attend the party were actress
Ann-Margaret, screenwriter Larry Gelbart, who wrote Burns' hit
movie "Oh God", and singer Tony Martin, as well as Burns'
longtime manager, Irving Fein.
    The wisecracking, cigar-puffing comedian, who has
entertained audiences in every form of showbusiness this
century from vaudeville to television and movies, has been
ailing since July, 1994, when he slipped and fell while taking
a shower at his home in Las Vegas. The fall resulted in a
buildup of fluid on his brain that had to be removed in a
90-minute operation two months later to relieve the pressure.
    Burns' frailty earlier caused to him to cancel
performances celebrating his centenary at the London Palladium
and Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.




NNNN

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

Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 18:23:23 -0800
From: AndyBlatt@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Call Letters
Message-ID: <960116182212_22603444@[removed]>

Joe Mackey writes that WSAZ (Charleston/Huntington, WV) was rumored to stand
for "Worst Station from A to Z"...The station was home to some hardworking,
dedicated newspeople with an eye toward making it big in broadcasting.  (WABC
channel 7 has WSAZ's Jim Dolan).  Actually, worst station is probably
WTAP-TV, Parkersburg.  I'm not sure if this is still the case, but it was
housed in a former garage.  They picked-up their signal from WHIZ in
Zanesville because they couldn't get their satellite dish/receiver to work.
 Finally, when NBC went all-satellite and cut the phone lines to their
affiliates, they picked-up their feed from WTOV, Wheeling/Steubenville.  I
can imagine the anger from 'TAP when every quarter hour brings a nice giant
"9" on their screen (from 'TOV).  Isn't small-market TV wonderful?  Btw, it's
rumored that WLWT in Cincinnati stands for "lowest wages in Television".

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

Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 21:35:09 -0500
From: Charles Mazza <flash@[removed]>
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Shadow on the Silver Screen
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

I'm looking to purchase the Shadow movies from the late 30's and early 40's.
Can someone point me in the right direction, i'm unaware of any dealers that
carry this material. I've supplied a list of the films listed on the
Shadow's WWW page. Check it out, the sound clip is great fun
[removed]

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

THE SHADOW WAS ALSO IN FILM:

     The Shadow Strikes (1937) 
     International Crime (1938) 
     12 chapter Shadow serial (1940) 
     The Shadow Returns (1946) 
     The Shadow - Behind the Mask (1946) 
     The Missing Lady (1946) 
     
Regards

[removed]
                   Comic Book Collector's Net-solution

e-mail: flash@[removed]     	www: [removed]~[removed]

Over 30,000 comic books available at the deepest discounts on the net.
Golden Age, Silver Age, Modern Age and Graphic novels too. All lists
available at my web site.

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

Date: Tue, 16 Jan 96 19:28:16 0000
From: gary cohen <cohen@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: (no subject)
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

I'm looking for Howdy Doody on Triple B Ranch 1947. Do these shows
exist? Also any Doody radio appearances. Thought I'd try here to start 
my search. 

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

Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 20:23:59 -0500
From: Ted McKay <tmckay@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Jimmy Scribner's Johnson Family
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

For Bill Hansbury, who asked about Jimmy Scribner's Johnson Family.  I'm
depending on my memory for [removed] I believe what follows is
accurate:

The Johnson Family was created by Cincinnatian Jimmy Scribner late in
the 1930's, and originated in the Hotel Alms studios of WKRC here in
Cincinnati.  WKRC, originally owned by The Kodel Radio Corporation, was
later sold to CBS which operated it as an O&O station for several years.
CBS sold the station to the Taft Family's Times Star newspaper interests
about 1937.  After CBS sold the station they (CBS) moved their
Cincinnati network affiliation to WCKY, 1530 KC, and WKRC became an
affiliate of Mutual Broadcasting System.  Scribner probably began his
Johnson Family broadcasts sometime between 1938 and 1939.  I don't know
how long the Johnson Family remained on the network, but I do remember
hearing it about 4:15 in the afternoon when I was a staff announcer at
MBS affiliate WTIP in Charleston, WV in 1946.  In addition to Mama and
Papa Johnson Scribner created the voices of Sister Lucy, Leroy and
countless others.  Mama kept Papa in line by wielding her trusty frying
[removed] sound of it hitting Papa on the head remains fresh in my
memory even today.  Since my wife's maiden name was Johnson, any mention
of "her" frying pan always brought forth a laugh in our family!  Papa
Johnson's [removed]"Oh Mama, PLEASE don't hit me with that frying
[removed]"  always seemed to me be an echo of Brer Rabbit's pleadings: (in
the Uncle Remus Stories) "...do what you like, Brer Bear, but PLEASE
don't throw me into that briar patch!"  The Johnson Family was not quite
as sophisticated as Amos 'n Andy, and was probably even closer to the
stereotype of blacks held by most whites at the time.  Although I never
met Scribner, I did see him perform on stage several times during the
early war years here in Cincinnati.  Trying to find some up-to-date
material I searched the Cincinnati Public Library's online service
(CINCH) without success.  A visit to the Radio/TV Department at the
Cincinnati Historical Society (Ms. Cynthia Keller - (513) 287-7030)
might yield better results.  I do remember that when we were closing the
old WKRC studios in 1959 we came across a few 16" acetates of old shows
including some of The Johnson Family.  I'm sorry to say that most of us
in the business didn't have the foresight to save old shows of any kind,
many of which were recorded from the networks for replay after
Cincinnati Reds or other special live local broadcasts.  To us, old
shows were just that: "OLD shows," and since the ET's had served their
purpose they were simply thrown away much the way one might toss out
yesterday's paper.  When the tape recorder came into widespread use in
the late 40's we were overjoyed, because we could use a single reel of
tape over and over without accumulating so much junk!  Many of the early
shows that we listen to today were probably found by kids rummaging
around in garbage piles in the alleys in back of stations and networks,
and in all honesty it's a wonder ANY of the shows survived. 

Ted McKay
Cincinnati, OH

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

Date: Tue, 16 Jan 96 22:33:16 PST
From: gcoppen@[removed]
To: "@[removed]":otr@[removed]
Subject: many thanks
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

                                             Jan 16th,1996

Many thanks to all that sent Arlele Osborne's address on to me.

She has now found me, while I was looking for her.

                    Thanks again
                        George

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

Date: Tue, 16 Jan 1996 18:50:50 -0800
From: mgsully@[removed] (Mike Sullentrup )
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Two Black Crows
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Dear Folks at the Old Time Radio Digest:

I have been searching for recordings by a group called the Two Black 
Crows (George Moran and Charlie Mack) for several years with no luck.  
Your source of information was recommended to me by Sue Hamilton at 
Adventures in Cassettes.  Can you help?  Please respond. Thanks.        

Mike Sullentrup

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

Date: Wed, 17 Jan 1996 02:31:48 -0500 (EST)
From: MAX SCHMID <mschmid@[removed]>
To: airwaves <[removed]@[removed]>
Subject: The Johnson Family
Message-ID: <[removed]@[removed]>

	I have the distinction of having about 40 episodes of this series,
which is to Amos & Andy what Jerry Lewis (or fill in your own choice of 
low-brow, stupid comedy) is to Jack Benny.  If awards were given out for
setting back race relations and perpetuating stereotypes were handed out,
Jimmy Scribner would win hands down.

Sample dialog: 

Pappy:  (Steppin Fetchit voice) "Don't hit me wif dat fryin pan, Mammy!"
Mammy:  (shrill battle-axe voice) "I am gwine hit you wif dis fryin' pan, 
        Pappy!"
Grandpap: (old Steppin Fetchit voice)                
		           "She done hit you wif dat fryin pan, Pappy".

	Positively inspirational stuff.
These guys also had a lodge to hang out in, with the requisite scared-stiff
characters, loafers, and schemers.  A shining example of Americana.
	It is pretty amazing how he could switch voices and keep all 17 of
the characters straight as he went along though.
	Oddly enough, a community leader in Harlem found out that I had these
shows and wanted them all!  No accounting for taste.
	Scribner also had a kids show where he did the same thing with animal
voices.  Can't remember the title, but a friend of mine has some from discs 
he located at a Maine radio station.	
    

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

Date: Wed, 17 Jan 1996 03:32:51 -0500 (EST)
From: MAX SCHMID <mschmid@[removed]>
To: [removed]@[removed]
cc: airwaves <[removed]@[removed]>
Subject: Re: Advice needed (for rebroadcasting OTR getting material.
Message-ID: <[removed]@[removed]>

Hi Kerri:
	I have been rebroadcasting OTR since 1978 at WBAI-FM in NYC.
It is a non-commercial listener-sponsered station.  I have never been 
hassled in 17 years about playing anything (except once, and this was
not over OTR). Oh yeah, and The Cinnamon Bear, which had changed hands since
I DID THE CLEAN-UP ON KELLENBERGER'S MASTERS and was given blanket permission
to use them.  [removed] the station just ignored the bill from the new syndicator 
and didn't hear another word about it. Sorry to yell but thinking about how
people want to own and exploit broadcast history doesn't sit well with me.
	I have been in touch with many OTR producers over the years and 
they all agree: for non-commercial use, especially on a small station,
you can pretty much play what you like.  You should probably avoid such 
shows as The Shadow, since this one and a few others are actively being 
marketed, and someone is paying for the rights.  On the other hand, they
have to hear you play it, and then decide what to do.  Usually a cease-and-
desist letter, advising you of their rights and telling you not to do it 
again.  Even this is very unlikely.
	As far as where to get material - I suggest a lending library 
like SPERDVAC or NARA.  You pay a small fee to join and a very small fee 
to borrow (and copy) tapes. Or you can buy them from any number of dealers,
especially the hobbyists as opposed to the Commercial outfits like Radio 
Spirits or Metacom - you should avoid airing their tapes!  There are 
plenty of other shows and sources for what they sell.
	When you have library of your own, you can start trading with 
other collectors.  Just stress that you need excellent-sounding copies.
	As far as what will go over with a young audience; a lot of the 
comedy shows may sound dated, others sound as fresh today as they did 
then. You can't go wrong with Phil Harris, but Fred Allen's topical humor
might not be understood.  Shows like X Minus One, Escape, Suspense, and
most detective shows still go over.  Powerful historical shows, like some
Columbia Workshop programs (Fall of the City, They Fly Through the Air, Air
Raid; some Corwin shows - We Hold These Truths, On A Note of Triumph) can 
bring history to life and impart a sense of life during wartime. Mercury
Theatre and other Orson Welles shows for examples of literary adaptations.
Lux Radio Theatre for Hollywood stars.
	And if the kids find some of this stuff hokey, they can go back to
their Pearl Jam!	
	Basically, dramas probably hold up better than variety or comedy 
shows on the whole.  Classic horror and science fiction don't go out of 
style (try The Martian Chronicles, or my favorite Bradbury story from that
book adapted on X Minus One  "...And the Moon Be Still As Bright").
	I try to balance the mix, but the requests in NY, at least seem 
to bear this out.  And if you can, take calls in the studio during the show;
get audience feedback and requests.
	Good luck on your new venture.
	- Max Schmid  


		

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

    


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---- 
End of [removed] Digest V96 Issue #22

