Subject: [removed] Digest V2017 #1
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 1/5/2017 10:18 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to: [removed]@[removed]

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                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2017 : Issue 1
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      This week in radio history 25-31 Dec  [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Re: Mae West                          [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      This week in radio history 1-7 Janua  [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      OTR on BBCRadio4extra                 [ "jsalerno@[removed]" <jsalerno@ ]

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    Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2017 00:19:08 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 25-31 December

    12/25

    1931 - Lawrence Tibbett was the featured vocalist as radio came to the
    Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. The first opera was "Hansel
    und Gretel", heard on the NBC network of stations. In between acts of
    the opera, moderator Olin Downes would conduct an opera quiz, asking
    celebrity guests opera-related questions. The program's host and
    announcer was Milton Cross. He worked out of the Met's Box 44.

    1937 - Arturo Toscanini conducted the first broadcast of "Symphony of
    the Air" over NBC.

    1939 - The Charles Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol", was read by
    Lionel Barrymore on "The Campbell Playhouse" on CBS.

    1942 - The longest, sponsored program in the history of broadcasting was
    heard on the NBC Blue network. The daylong "Victory Parade's Christmas
    Party of Spotlight Bands" was heard over 142 radio stations. The
    marathon broadcast was sponsored by Coca-Cola.

    1949 - Dick Tracy got married on Christmas Day. The comic strip hero
    married Tess Trueheart. The couple later became parents of a daughter.
    The little girl's name was Bonnie Braids.

    12/26

    1954 - One of radio's most popular programs, "The Shadow", lurked around
    the airwaves for the last time. Vigilante crime-fighter Lamont Cranston
    battled greed and corruption since 1930. "Who knows what evil lurks in
    the hearts of men? The Shadow [removed]"

    12/27

    1932 - Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City. It was the largest
    indoor theatre in the world.  The gala grand opening show was a six-hour
    extravaganza that lost half a million dollars within three weeks. The
    theatre has since been renovated to recapture its original decorative
    charm.  An Art Deco cathedral of entertainment, it seats more than 6,200
    people and is still a must-see for those visiting New York. During the
    holiday season, audiences continue to get a kick out of seeing the
    world-famous Rockettes perform in precision on Radio City Music Hall's
    nearly 10,000-square-foot stage.

    1939 - "The Glenn Miller Show", also known as "Music that Satisfies",
    started on CBS. The 15-minute, twice-a-week show was sponsored by
    Chesterfield cigarettes and was heard for nearly three years.

    1940 - Singer Al Jolson and actress Ruby Keeler were divorced after 12
    years of marriage. They had separated a year earlier; but Jolson talked
    Keeler into co-starring with him in the Broadway show, "Hold on to Your
    Hats". She left the show before the opening and then left the marriage.

    12/28

    1941 - "The Helen Hayes Theater", on CBS, was called the first casualty
    of World War II. Lipton Tea dropped sponsorship of the program as it
    prepared for shortages in tea imports from India.

    12/29

    1945 - The mystery voice of Mr. Hush was heard for the first time on the
    radio show, "Truth or Consequences", hosted by Ralph Edwards. The
    feature was intended as a spoof of giveaway shows.  However, the idea
    was taken seriously and lasted five weeks before fighter Jack Dempsey
    was identified as Mr. Hush -- for a prize of $13,500.  ($179,679 in 2015
    dollars).

    12/30

    1936 - The famous feud between Jack Benny and Fred Allen was ignited.
    After a 10-year-old performer finished a violin solo on "Town Hall
    Tonight". Mr. Allen said, "A certain alleged violinist should hide his
    head in shame for his poor fiddle playing."  It didn't take long for Mr.
    Benny to respond.  The humorous feud lasted for years both comedian's shows.

    1942 - "Mr. and Mrs. North" debuted on NBC. Joseph Curtin played Jerry
    North and Alice Frost played Pam.  A typical episode would find Pam
    leading Jerry on what seemed to be a wild-goose chase as they tracked
    down criminals. Pam always ended up being right and leading police to
    the criminals.  The theme song for the show was "The Way You Look
    Tonight".  Sponsors included Woodbury soap, Jergens lotion and Halo shampoo.

    12/31

    1929 - Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played "Auld Lang Syne".  It
    had been the band's theme song long before 1929.  However, this night
    was the start of a New Year's Eve tradition as Lombardo's famed
    orchestra played at the Hotel Roosevelt Grill in New York City to usher
    in the new year.

    1940 - As a result of a dispute between the radio networks and ASCAP
    (the American Society of Composers and Publishers), the radio industry
    was prevented from playing any ASCAP-licensed music. The ban lasted for
    ten months. An ASCAP competitor, BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) made
    giant strides, expanding to include 36,000 copyrights.  Many radio
    stations had to resort to playing public domain songs, such as marches
    and operas, to keep their stations on the air.  Even kids songs were
    played over and over again until the ban was lifted. One of the most
    popular songs to be played was "Happy Birthday to You"; which was
    performed in many different languages just to get past the ban.  The
    original song is now, in fact, a copyrighted piece of music, though it
    wasn't at the time.

    1947 - Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys, and Dale Evans were hitched
    in marriage. They rode off into the sunset together for over fifty years.

    Joe

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

    Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2017 00:19:18 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Mae West

     >> 1937   The Federal Communications Commission was a bit upset with NBC.
     >> The FCC scolded the radio network for a skit that starred Mae West.

     > When you listen to the routine today, as I have, it's hard to tell
    what the fuss was about.

        The way I heared it Johnny, one feller said to another feller, "It
    wasn't the script but her delivery".
        During rehearsal she played it straight, but when on air she used
    her well known delivery that made something completely innocent sound a
    little less so.  :)

     > In any event, Mae West didn't write the skit,

       No she didn't, Arch Obler wrote it.

     > the people who hired her to play the part of Eve knew her movie
    character and couldn't have been surprised by her reading of the part.

       I totally agree.
       Joe

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

    Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2017 00:19:37 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 1-7 January

    1/1

    1923   The very first radio broadcast of the Rose Bowl was beamed in Los
    Angeles over KHJ.

    1925   Lucrezia Bori and John McCormack of the famous Metropolitan Opera
    in New York City made their singing debuts on radio this day. The
    broadcast over WEAF encouraged others to sing on radio.

    1927   The very first coast to coast network radio broadcast of the Rose
    Bowl was made. Graham McNamee provided the play by play on NBC.

    1930   The Cuckoo Hour, was heard for the first time on the NBC Blue
    network.

    1/2

    1921   The first religious broadcast on radio was heard, as Dr. [removed] Van
    Etten of Calvary Episcopal Church preached on KDKA radio in Pittsburgh,
    Pennsylvania.

    1959   CBS dropped the curtain on four soap operas. Our Gal Sunday, This
    is Nora Drake, Backstage Wife and Road of Life all hit the road for good.

    1/4

    1928   NBC debuted one of radio's first variety shows. The Dodge Victory
    Hour starred Will Rogers, Paul Whiteman and his orchestra and singer Al
    Jolson. The cost to produce this one show was $67,600 ($946,791 in 2015
    dollars).

    1932   NBC Red presented The Carnation Contented Hour. The show
    continued on network radio for 19 years as a showcase for top singers
    and musicians.

    1935   Bob Hope was first heard on network radio as part of The Intimate
    Revue with Jane Froman, James Melton and the Al Goodman Orchestra.

    1/5

    1935   We proudly remind you that Phil Spitalny's All Girl Orchestra was
    featured on CBS this day on the program, The Hour of Charm.  (ed  And
    who can ever forget Evelyn and her magic violin?)

    1940   The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) got its very first
    demonstration of FM radio. The new medium, free of interference, static,
    and noise in thunderstorms, was developed by Major [removed] Armstrong. The
    first FM transmitter was put in operation in 1941.

    1/6

    1941   A young actor appeared for the first time in a new program on CBS
    titled, The Home of the Brave. Along with others in the cast, this was
    Richard Widmark's radio debut.

    1950   Ronald Coleman starred as the president of Ivy College in The
    Halls of Ivy.

    1974   CBS radio returned to dramatic programming at night with the
    first broadcast of Radio Mystery Theatre, hosted by [removed] Marshall. The
    program debuted on 218 CBS network stations.

    1/7

    1926   A famous marriage that endured for many years is remembered this
    day. It's the wedding anniversary of George Burns and Gracie Allen who
    were married by a Justice of the Peace in Cleveland, Ohio.

    1940   The gate to Gene Autry's Melody Ranch opened.  "The singing
    cowboy" would entertain on CBS radio for the next 16 years, other than
    1942-45 when he was in the Army Air Corps.

    1941   The NBC Blue network presented the first installment of Inner
    Sanctum.

    1950   Ernest Tubb made his first appearance at The Grand Ole Opry in
    Nashville, TN. Ernest also did a 15 minute radio program each day that
    became very popular in West Texas. So popular, in fact, that he bought
    the radio station that had aired the program for years and years: KGKL
    in San Angelo, Texas.

    Joe

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

    Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2017 00:19:51 -0500
    From: "jsalerno@[removed]" <jsalerno@[removed];
    To: OTR List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OTR on BBCRadio4extra

    A variety of programs. Decent sound.

    Start here (Mystery Theater):

    [removed]

    --
    Joe Salerno

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2017 Issue #1
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