------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2005 : Issue 122
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Re: Listening, a Lost Art [ Steve Lewis <stevelewis62@[removed]; ]
Corwin on the golden age [ Richard Carpenter <newsduck@[removed] ]
Johnny Dollar [ "Jim Harmon" <jimharmonotr@charter. ]
war news [ "William Vest III" <tsukasasan@hotm ]
Cincinnati meeting [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
unknown Jack Benny Items [ <cooldown3@[removed]; ]
Cincinnati Banquet Photos Request [ Booksteve@[removed] ]
History of Vaudeville in City Journa [ Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed] ]
Arthur Godfrey at FDR funeral [ "Steve Dillie" <sjdillie@[removed] ]
War of the Worlds related stuff [ "Mark Lambert" <marklambert@[removed] ]
Best Bet for Bringing Back Audio Dra [ John Mayer <mayer@[removed]; ]
Fred Allen [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
johnny dollar in 15 minutes [ "Kurt E. Yount" <blsmass@[removed]; ]
Howie Wing [ "Austotr" <austotr@[removed]; ]
RE: Mary Pickford [ "Ken Lanza" <klanza@[removed]; ]
4-18 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:54:27 -0400
From: Steve Lewis <stevelewis62@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Listening, a Lost Art
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At 12:25 AM 4/17/2005, you wrote:
Dimensional listening, as Susan Douglas calls it, seems to be largely a
lost skill.
Alan
Can you explain, then, the popularity of audiobooks? I'm a long time OTR
fan (60 years duration) but if I put on a book that someone is reading to
me, even with sound effects and perhaps even multiple voices, I strain so
hard to follow the plot, so that I don't miss anything, I don't enjoy
it. I dare not put one on in the car -- I'd be the one falling
asleep. Not so OTR, even the long LUX shows.
Best
Steve
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:54:42 -0400
From: Richard Carpenter <newsduck@[removed];
To: Old Radio <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Corwin on the golden age
Watching a DVD of "Empire of the Air," I was
intrigued by Norman Corwin's comment that radio
enjoyed one of the briefest golden ages in history --
10 years or maybe 15 at most. When I thought about it,
I realized he was right: In my view anyway, the golden
age began in the mid to late 1930s and ended in the
early 1950s when TV took over. Too brief a time, but
thank goodness so many shows survive on recordings.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:55:13 -0400
From: "Jim Harmon" <jimharmonotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Johnny Dollar
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Hello -- In response to Kermyt Anderson, I listened to Johnny Dollar in its
last days as a five-a-week serial. My situation was such that due to an
extremely tough time financially when I was an unemployed teen-ager and my
mother was a nurse at an old folks home, we couldn't afford to have a TV and
radio was all the broadcast entertainment we had. Earlier, when we did have
a TV, I had not completely given up radio and had still listened to The
Shadow, The Lone Ranger and Sky King. (Other favorites like Tom Mix and
Sherlock Holmes were already gone.)
In the Mid-West where my home town of Mount Carmel, Illinois was located,
the Dollar program came on at seven in the evening on CBS, around 1954. It
was a busy time for what was left of radio. At six thirty, the Lone Ranger
came on, reduced to a 25 min. program so as, I presume, to save sponsor
General Mills some money buying time each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. When
the final "Hi Yo Silver" rang out at about 7:22 before the final commercial,
preview, and credits I turned from ABC Radio to NBC and so heard about the
last half of the quarter hour One Man's Family. I didn't have a recorder to
tape one of these shows and hear that one later. Sometimes I heard the whole
Family episode on Tues. or Thurs., but sometimes I also heard another
adventure show like the Green Hornet or the Silver Eagle (Sgt. Jim West of the
Mounties). It was 45 minutes of dedicated listening to what little was left
of the radio I loved.
Ah, but a 7:15, after Johnny Dollar, there came on a serial sitcom, My Son
Jeep. I know some talented radio actors worked on the show, but I never
liked sitcoms on radio or TV, except maybe
Gildersleeve on radio, and Mary Tyler Moore on TV. My listening was over for
the day, and I would go read a book, or even write a book.
-- Jim Harmon
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Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:55:27 -0400
From: "William Vest III" <tsukasasan@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: war news
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This is probably a silly question but I'll ask anyway. I realize in the 40's
that broadcasting was limited (as far as the news was concerned). However, was
there ever radio broadcasts from the war? More specifically from the front
lines? I was watching The Memphis Belle, yet again, and was curious if there
were any broadcasts in flight. I would say no but I thought I would ask the
more knowledgeable.
I know about Edward R. Murrow and his famous newscasts from the London
rooftops. That's close, but I mean from the front lines. I doubt they could
have done it with the infantry with the technological limitations. Perhaps it
was "phoned in" and relayed to the air?
Wm. Vest III
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:56:39 -0400
From: <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Cincinnati meeting
Well, it's all over for another year. The Cincinnati OTR event was another
good one, despite cautious traipses around yellow-taped floor disasters in
the headquarters hotel that barred patrons from the lobby area (reminiscent
of a crime scene), telephone jacks with no telephone connected, baseboards
missing, unpainted walls, a sign pointing to a whirlpool that had been
covered over, and air conditioning in public areas often on "low" or
"non-existing," yes -- despite all that -- it was a fabulous weekend.
The re-creations were splendid and, while others might complain about the
brevity of some sessions (about 28 minutes total programming Friday night,
45 minutes Saturday afternoon, and a couple of hours or more including
dinner on Saturday night), I didn't get the impression anybody was perturbed
over having more time to buy and fellowship. Nor the fact that there were
but 3 radio "stars" on the program, all returnees of vintage years. The
dealers' room continues to be the big attraction in Cincinnati, according to
the veterans.
I mused over the experiences there once it ended and came to a conclusion
perhaps some others share: that the strength of this event is not in its
programming per se, but instead in that very matter of fellowship, the
opportunities to rub elbows with people of like persuasion from far and near
who share a love for OTR. They feed off each other, and make for a pleasant
reverie. I'm thankful Bob Burchett and Robert Newman continue to collect us
and give us a venue where we can share the things that are important to us.
The minor inconveniences really don't count; I think a good time is still
had by all.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:56:51 -0400
From: <cooldown3@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: unknown Jack Benny Items
Hi All,
I have had a few unlisted Jack benny items show up in a recent trade I made.
Two items from December 1948 which were concerning Jacks hop tp another
station. One appears to be an unbroadcast special, made for the cbs execs as
a preivew show demonstrating what he is capable of, another seems to be a
transcription circulated among station owners detailing their stradegy with
the recent acquisition of both Amos & Andy and jack Benny. Can anyone here
on the list shed any light on these two items?
Thanks,
Patrick
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:58:07 -0400
From: Booksteve@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cincinnati Banquet Photos Request
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On Saturday, my wife Rene and I were priviliged to become the second (and
third, respectively) winners of the Dave Warren Award at the Cincinnati
Convention. If anyone has any photographs of us accepting our awards last
night, I
would dearly love copies at _Booksteve@[removed]_ (mailto:Booksteve@[removed]) .
Thanks in advance.
My wife was tearful, my son was mugging and posing in front of the stage in
his excitement and I was pretty much speechless. Now those who know me will
tell you that I tend to make a speech at the drop of a [removed] though
almost nobody I know wears hats! I end telephone conversations with
brilliant,
life-affirming, uplifting speeches! On stage, without a script, I found
myself
quite literally speechless. I sent an email this morning to Carolyn Senter
thanking her for introducing us to Dave Warren in 1988. Her lighting the fire
and Big Dave's stoking it kept us coming back each year. The convention and
it's family of guests--and they truly have become family--are important to
us.
I still can't believe that guys like Bob Hastings that I saw on TV as a kid
actually know my name! We saw Bob on a WONDER WOMAN rerun recently and my 8
year old son said "There's Bob again!" He even recognized Bob's voice in his
JAK AND DAXTER video game!
The first re-creation I did was in the seventh grade when SCHOLASTIC SCOPE
magazine ran the script for an episode of BEWITCHED that a group of high
school
students had written. My class acted it out and I played Darrin. The
"client" character had been played by Parley Baer. A few years ago, I sat
outside
the hotel in Cincinnati and got to actually share that story with Parley. By
the same token, though, we look forward all year to our all too short annual
visits with Dan, Kathy and Karen Hughes, Derek Tague, Jim Skyrm, Don and Mary
Ramlow and all the rest of our OTR "family."
I love being on-stage and talking in strange voices. I absolutely relish it.
But I don't do it for the applause. I do it for the camaraderie--, the
feeling of being a part of something that comes together very quickly out of
disparate voices and can entertain a crowded room with an art form that, for
all
intents and purposes, no longer exists. Soundman Barney Beck once told me I
was born thirty years too late. I'm not certain he was wrong. Thanks to
everyone for their support over the years and going forward. Again, If
anyone has
any photographs of my wife and/or I getting our awards last night, we would
be
quite grateful for copies at _Booksteve@[removed]_ (mailto:Booksteve@[removed]) .
Thanks again.
Steven Thompson
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:58:13 -0400
From: Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: History of Vaudeville in City Journal
City Journal publishes a history of vaudeville that mentions Jack Benny:
[removed]
Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:58:45 -0400
From: "Steve Dillie" <sjdillie@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Arthur Godfrey at FDR funeral
Hello,
If you are interested in hearing Arthur Godfrey's coverage of FDR funeral
online you have untill the end of Monday April 18th.
On Sat April 9th around 30 minutes of Godfrey coverage of FDR's funeral was
broadcast on Chuck Schaden's Those Were The Days show. You can listen to
this until the end of Monday April 18th on streaming audio. Go to
[removed] and click on Those Were The Days.
The whole 4 hour show is about FDR's death. You can click around if you
don't want to listen to everything.
Best regards,
Steve Dillie, [removed]
Wheeling, IL 60090-6965
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:59:08 -0400
From: "Mark Lambert" <marklambert@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: War of the Worlds related stuff
Hi, folks! Somehow, I dropped off this list a couple years ago and am
pleased I've found it again!!
Just thought I'd share some info about a couple "War of the Worlds" radio
broadcast related items. I'm not trying to sell anything here, just an FYI
for those of you, like me, who are into the Orson Welles broadcast. I'm a
WOTW afficianado of sorts, so I enjoy stuff like this that's related to the
radio play:
The British sci-fi series Doctor Who (about a time-travelling alien known
only as "The Doctor") has an audio adventure on CD that was published in
2002. Entitled "Invaders From Mars," it features the 9th regeneration of
the Doctor (Paul McGann) landing in NYC about the time of the famous
broadcast. The drama, of course, centers around aliens actually invading
the Earth at the time of the broadcast. Quite fun, and uses lots of
reproductions of parts of the original radio play. Orson Welles (that is,
an actor portraying Welles) is a central character. Details:
[removed]
My friend Max Allan Collins (author of "Road to Perdition") has written a
book with Orson Welles and Walter Gibson as characters. Here's the
description from Max's website: "What is probably the final "disaster"
novel for Berkley Prime Crime will be out in June -- THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
MURDER. It's out just in time to take advantage of the Spielberg movie,
though my book focuses on the radio "invasion" and teams Shadow creator (and
magician) Walter Gibson with Orson Welles himself. You will have fun."
The plot, generally, is that Welles is accused of murder, and Walter Gibson
is the "detective" working to solve the crime.
Anyway, just thought I'd pass these items along to other OTR and WOTW fans!
Best,
--Mark
Mark Lambert
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:59:22 -0400
From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Best Bet for Bringing Back Audio Drama
"David Ballarotto" <balla@[removed]; wrote:
First, far too many of the attempts at [radio narrative] revival
have tried for a straight dramatic format, either mystery or science
fiction or western or so on. The problem with that, is such
programming requires a well-trained sense of listening and a
willingness to
concentrate that modern audiences haven't really been given the chance to
acquire. >snip < So the problem becomes training the ear, which I
personally feel could best be done by pursuing radio comedy on a
larger scale.
I don't agree. Far and away the largest percentage of new audio
theater I've encountered in recent years has been comedy, or at least
was intended to be. Most of it was unbearable. (Of course, I've
never really understood what was funny about Seinfeld, though I get
The Simpsons easily enough). About half of the OTR fans I know are
young folks who seem to have no trouble listening to audio drama;
many of them are more tolerant than I am of some of the old shows'
shortcomings.
I had a weekly show for a year or so whereon I played OTR and NTR
based on my own whimsy. Almost never did I choose to play OTR comedy
as I felt that concepts of humor are just too dependent on their era
of origin. I DID play a few NTR comedies and the vignettes of WMNF,
though I was never sure if the latter fit into the genre of comedy or
drama. My audience was almost entirely young folks. I don't have any
way of knowing how many listeners I had, but I've encountered several
who recognized my voice and who said they'd enjoyed the shows.
I think the best bet for preserving audio drama and renewing
interest is by way of non-profit community stations, especially the
LPFM stations that just might come into being if [removed], a bill that
calls for the expansion of Low Power FM service, sponsored by
Senators John McCain, Patrick Leahy, and Maria Cantwell is passed.
Without the need to turn a profit volunteer DJ's that love audio
drama can air it for the select but growing audience of those able to
appreciate it. You can learn more at
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:59:49 -0400
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Fred Allen
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 00:17:43 +0000
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
1947 - Fred Allen didn't find things so funny when censors cut him off
the air during his broadcast. Allen was telling a joke about a
mythical network vice-president when he was suddenly taken off the
air. One moment [removed]
This reminds me of the famous Jack Paar walkout after NBC censored a joke about the
initials "WC" meaning "Water Closet." Sounds like Fred wasn't nearly as risque. Did Fred
walk off? How much of a controversy did this turn out to be? Did it get the headlines that
Jack Paar got?
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
15 Court Square, Suite 210
lawyer@[removed]
Boston, MA 02108-2503
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 11:59:57 -0400
From: "Kurt E. Yount"
<blsmass@[removed];
To:
[removed]@[removed]
Subject: johnny dollar in 15 minutes
As a 52-year-old guy who came to Johnny Dollar late, the 15 minute
episodes were the best. With the new find of chapter five of Sealegs
Matter that circle is now closed. It is also interesting to me that that
last chapter sounds better than the first four. Those shows hold up the
best, although the other Bailey episodes are good too, with the
occasional in-joke about who the agents were. Another great thing about
MP3 disks. Kurt
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 12:00:38 -0400
From: "Austotr"
<austotr@[removed];
To:
<[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Howie Wing
"led by ian grieve [of this list] there has been considerable research into
the background of this show which was sponsored by kellogs who hired a
person to portray "commander wing' both here, in Canada and in Australia."
G'Day Patrick, thanks for the publicity, but a couple of major corrections.
I am co-ordinating the research in Australia only and I am certainly not
leading the overall research. I came into it long after Kathy Hammel found
the six episodes where others feared to tred. Fortunately Kathy made
contact with Jack French and he not only kicked off the research but also
directed Kathy to Jerry H for recording the discs. Karl Schadow uncovered a
document indicating the series was also broadcast in Australia and that is
where I came in. Archie Hunter in Canada has had some success with the
Canadian Archives and another episode was uncovered there.
So far I remain Howie Wing discless here in Australia, but if any Howie Wing
discs survive here then one of us will find them.
I have to say though, that the whole experience in everyone working together
in three countries researching this series has been a lot of fun. Lots of
questions remain unanswered but we are gaining. We just need to find a
couple of hundred more episodes :)
Ian Grieve
Moderator
Australian Old Time Radio Group
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 12:04:14 -0400
From: "Ken Lanza"
<klanza@[removed];
To:
<[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: Mary Pickford
She made her radio debut on the NBC-WEAF network in 1934 heading a cast of
stock players in radio versions of outstanding plays. The program was
sponsored by Royal Desserts and was heard each Wednesday at 8PM. According
to the press blurb accompanying the photo, "Miss Pickford believes radio to
be the greatest entertainment medium in the world."
Best regards,
Ken Lanza
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 12:04:26 -0400
From: Ron Sayles
<bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List
<[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 4-18 births/deaths
April 18th births
04-18-1857 - Clarence Darrow - Kinsman, OH - d. 3-13-1938
lawyer: " Scopes "Monkey" trial, WGN Chicago"
04-18-1880 - Donald Crisp - Aberfeldy, Scotland - d. 5-25-1974
actor: Jonathan Trimble "Jonathan Trimble, Esquire"
04-18-1882 - Leopold Stokowski - London, England - d. 9-13-1977
conductor: "NBC Symphony/Symphony of the Air"
04-18-1887 - Bill Hay - Dumfires, Scotland - d. 10-12-1978
announcer: "Amos 'n' Andy"
04-18-1889 - Gene Carroll - Chicago, IL - d. 3-5-1972
comedian: Lena, the maid "Fibber McGee and Moly"; "Quaker Early
Birds"; "Gene and Glenn"
04-18-1902 - Harry Owens - O'Neill, NE - d. 12-12-1986
bandleader: "Hawaii Calls"
04-18-1904 - Pigmeat Markham - Durhan, N - d. 12-13-1981
comedian: (Originated phrase "order in the court ' cuz here come da
judge) "Jubilee"
04-18-1907 - Miklos Rozsa - Budapest, Hungary - d. 7-27-1995
composer: "Lux Radio Theatre"
04-18-1912 - Wendy Barrie - Hong Kong, China - d. 2-2-1978
hostess, actress: "Detect and Collect"; "Jack Haley Show"; "Star for a
Night"
04-18-1913 - Al Hodge - Ravenna, OH - d. 3-19-1979
actor: Britt Reid/Green Hornet "Green Hornet"; "Columbia Workshop"
04-18-1918 - Page Gilman - San Francisco, CA
actor: Jack Barbour "One Man's Family"; "Memory Lane"
04-18-1918 - Tony Mottola - Kearney, NJ - d. 8-9-2004
jazz guitarist: "Gordon MacRae Gulf Spray Show"; "Burl Ives Sings"
04-18-1922 - Barbara Hale - DeKalb, IL
actress: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Screen Guild Theatre"; "This Is
Hollywood"
04-18-1925 - Bob Hastings - Brooklyn, NY
actor: Archie Andrews "Archie Andrews"; Jerry "Sea Hound"
April 18th deaths
02-28-1893 - Ben Hecht - NYC - d. 4-18-1964
panelist, writer: "Information Please"; "Jumbo Fire Chief Program"
04-04-1901 - Gay Seabrook - Seattle, WA - d. 4-18-1970
actress: Susabelle "Joe Penner Show"
07-04-1911 - Olga Druce - d. 4-18-2004
director: "House of Mystery"; "When a Girl Marries"
08-03-1900 - Ernie Pyle - Dana, IN - d. 4-18-1945
world war II correspondent: "Words at War"; "Cavalcade of America"
10-09-1888 - Irving Cummings - NYC - d. 4-18-1959
host: "Lux Radio Theatre"
12-06-1888 - Will Hay - Stockton-on-Tees, England - d. 4-18-1949
comedian: British Radio
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #122
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