Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #47
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 1/31/2003 5:54 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2003 : Issue 47
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Dragnet and the creative process      [ "Jim Widner" <widnerj@[removed]; ]
      Poetry                                [ "welsa" <welsa@[removed]; ]
      Bob Hope CDs                          [ Allen J Hubin <ajhubin@[removed]; ]
      Unable To Initialize MP3 error        [ otrdigest@[removed] ]
      multiple [removed]                  [ "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed] ]
      Jack Webb- comedian?                  [ "Garry Lewis" <glewis@[removed] ]
      Paul Harvey with Larry King           [ leemunsick@[removed] ]
      Bob Hope CDs                          [ HK Hinkley <parpark280@[removed]; ]
      Bob Taylor, WWVA, Lee Moore and anot  [ John McCourt <jop_mccourt@[removed] ]
      Digger O'Dell                         [ "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed] ]
      Re: "Mary, Merry, Marry"              [ Edward Loyer <eloyer@[removed]; ]
      Trading                               [ dantrigg422@[removed] ]
      what show would you like to see brou  [ Tedshumaker@[removed] ]
      Digger O'Dell                         [ james h arva <wilditralian@[removed] ]
      Dragnet                               [ "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed] ]
      Father Coughlin                       [ "Tom van der Voort" <evan@[removed] ]
      Cliff Norton                          [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
      OTR at Sams clubs                     [ lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed]; ]
      enjoyable website with some otr sign  [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
      Re: Grand Ol' Opry                    [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]
      Duffy's Tavern                        [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 09:20:58 -0500
    From: "Jim Widner" <widnerj@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Dragnet and the creative process

    John Henley comments on the upcoming Dragnet:

>     In my observation, persons who try to resurrect bygone
>     entertainments, while making it clear that they don't respect
>     their sources, seldom produce anything more than a bad joke.

    I have to begin by first stating I haven't read Michael Hayde's book
    yet. I have seen several "previews" of the new Dragnet and am not
    basing these comments upon them.

    But I think in fairness to Mr. Wolf, I have to disagree with John's
    comments. I don't think John's is a condition one can apply to
    productions be them on television or radio where some element of the
    original source is being used. At worst, this tv movie/series uses the
    title and starring character's name and general setting ([removed], Badge
    number, etc.). At best, the production will have its own merits and
    shouldn't necessarily be judged upon whether it was true to the
    original or not.

    There always seems to be two camps in productions such as these: those
    who feel every element of the original must be preserved - one must act
    as Joe Friday - and remain true to the "just the facts" style.  The
    other group uses a basic starting point of the original but goes off on
    its own creating (hopefully) an entertaining production in its own
    right.

    I can tell you right now based upon his comments, that John will be
    disappointed. The film is closer to the current trend in crime programs
    with its attempt at more realism - bodies dead several days in the open
    are just that - corpses that probably have been exposed to the night
    critters that work to bring nature back in line, etc.

    I believe that Ed O'Neil's performance will probably be a sort of
    demanding, in your face, at times character portrayal - most likely not
    true to Jack Webb's creation, but possibly an excellent acting
    portrayal nonetheless (Mr. O'Neil's other serious dramatic roles have
    been quite good in my opinion).

    As much as I enjoy the radio Dragnet for its characters and even the
    Jack Webb TV Dragnet for its somewhat unorthodox characterizations, but
    that didn't stop me from enjoying the Dan Ackroyd Dragnet spoof.

    I am ususally open to anyone who wants to give a new creative push to
    old material. I recently wrote an introduction to a Moonstone Press
    graphic novel of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar that will be published
    around June. In looking at the work in production, I had some mixed
    feelings about the depictions based upon my love the radio show. But it
    didn't stop me from realizing that here was another creative
    interpretation of the "man with the action-packed expense account."
    And a rather good one too.

    For me, one of the things I disagree with among nostalgia nuts like
    myself, is judging a new creative interpretation of a past creative
    work solely upon the idea that if it "ain't like the original" it can't
    be good. In fairness to John, I know that is not what he probably
    meant, but it is how I interpreted what he said.

    When a production that is so much a part of a person's creation as
    Dragnet is to Jack Webb, or Amos 'n' Andy is to Gosden/Correll, or
    Fibber is to Jim Jordan, does it mean that any creation after it based
    upon those same characters will only pale in comparison?  I certainly
    hope not nor should one automatically judge a work upon those
    conditions.

    Jim Widner
    jwidner@[removed]

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: In fairness, I should also note that I have the current issue
    of TV Guide on my desk as I type this, and Mr. O'Neill did NOT make the
    comments attributed to him by Mr. Henley. Daniel Moyer, coauthor of, "Just
    the Facts, Ma'am" was quoted as saying Mr. Webb, "read his lines off a
    [removed] wanted everything to be dry." Mr. O'Neill was quoted only
    once, in the second-to-last paragraph, saying, "We have a crime and we want
    to solve the crime, and that is all we consume ourselves [removed] don't get
    into drinking or marital problems," in the short, two-page article.  --cfs3]

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 10:23:31 -0500
    From: "welsa" <welsa@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Poetry

    In terms of radio poetry, let us not forget Ted Malone.  I think his show
    was called something like "Between the Bookends", but I don't guarantee
    that.  Not only did he read poetry ont he air, he also helped listeners find
    poems.  They would write in with some snippet of a memory, probably from
    childhood, and Malone would find the entire piece anf read it on air.

    Oneof his most famous seraches was for Eddie Cantor.  Cantor wrote in about
    a poem he remembered from school and gave Malone a few lines.  When Malone
    finally found thepiece, it turned out to be propse, not poetry.

    Cantor's response:  When something affects me like that piece did, it's
    poetry!

    Malone published a few books containing many of the poems he used on air.  I
    am pleased to have two of them in my library.

    Another Ted

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 10:24:02 -0500
    From: Allen J Hubin <ajhubin@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Bob Hope CDs

    For Ellsworth Johnson:

    I bought the Bob Hope CD package at our local
    Sam's Club (suburban St. Paul, MN).  It has 12
    CDs, with ISBN 1-57019-533-1.  Bar code number
    is 7 4875443462 6.  Copyright 2002 by Hope
    Enterprises.

    Al Hubin

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 10:23:43 -0500
    From: otrdigest@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Unable To Initialize MP3 error

    I bought an OTR disc in MP3 format. One of the files
    gives me an error of "unable to initialize" when I try
    to play it on my computer, but it plays on my portable
    MP3 player fine. Is there any way to get it to play on
    my computer?

    Andrew Steinberg

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 11:15:35 -0500
    From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  multiple [removed]

    I've been listening to the discussion on accents changing through time with
    great interest, both because of the subject matter and a personal interest in
    the way people reason.  Several people have offered possible causes of this.
    Some have argued that the consolidation of broadcasting and the loss of
    regional programming caused all radio/TV to have an accent neutral voice.
    Some have mentioned increased mobility of populations and loss of community.
    Others stated that intellectual laziness and declining education are to
    blame.  It seems to me - a disinterested bystander - that this reasoning is
    backwards.  In each case it seems like the person started with some facet of
    modern society or modern broadcasting they didn't like, and then tried to
    associate it with the changing accent phenonmenon.  Instead of starting with
    a effect and looking for the causes, they started with a cause and then cast
    about for some bad effects to associate with it, in order to justify their
    opinons.

    I would like to offer another possible hypothesis.  It is that there is no
    single identifiable cause for shifting accents and speech patterns.  Language
    is a complex thing, and lots of little events affect it in ways that are
    impossible to predict.  (I wonder if anyone ever applied the techniques of
    chaos theory to the evolution of spoken language?)  Anyway, language is not
    static.  It changes constantly.  This is neither bad nor good.  It just is.
    Someone wiser than me once said "The dictionary is a historical document, not
    a legal document."  I agree.  Just because we as a society used to speak a
    certain way, it doesn't mean we have to keep speaking that way.

    [removed] sorry.  Now back to our regularly scheduled radio related discussion
    already in progress.

    Thank you for the feedback I recieved on Halls of Ivy references.  Despite
    some info in books devoted to Ronald Coleman, I can find no books dedicated
    entirely to the Halls of Ivy.  Perhaps some of our scholars here could write
    one (Martin [removed])?  I know I'd buy one - maybe two.  I'd try writing it
    myself, but I feel that I lack the talent.  (As an engineer, I'd be more
    likely to build you a radio than write a book about radio.)

    Speaking of OTR books, I'm finally catching up on my reading.  I've made it
    through the first five chapters of Howard Blue's "Words at War."  It's
    fascinating.  If you haven't ordered a copy, I strongly encourage you to do
    so.  It is well written, filled with information, and thuroughly sourced.  As
    soon as I finish this one, I'll have to order Hal Stone's book and
    BearManorMedia's "It's that Time Again."  We're lucky to have so many great
    OTR books published last year.  Hopefully, 2003 will be equally rich!

    -Chris Holm

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 11:15:05 -0500
    From: "Garry Lewis" <glewis@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Jack Webb- comedian?

    Last night, I was watching a Biography Channel on Jack Webb. They said that his first show
    on [removed] radio was a comedy program(before Pat Novak for Hire). They even played a very
    small clip from one show- so some must have survived. Anyone know about this program and
    if a sample might be available?

                            yours DRAGging the NET,
                                                    Garry D. Lewis

    We are born naked, wet, and hungry. Then things get worse.

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 11:18:22 -0500
    From: leemunsick@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Paul Harvey with Larry King

    What a marvelous program!  One incredibly young looking
    octogenarian,talking with a very healthy heart-attack victim.  There's hope
    for us all!  I'm so glad there is a Paul Harvey Drive next to his studios
    in Chicago!

    I'll bet there are a lot of younger viewers (and perhaps some older ones
    unfamiliar with the radio business) who are asking each other, "What the
    heck is 'Rip and Read'?"

    Stay with us [removed] 50 years anyway.

    And that is [removed]"Rest of the Story"

    Lee Munsick, longtime fan, and former rip-and-reader from way back!

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 11:51:10 -0500
    From: HK Hinkley <parpark280@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Bob Hope CDs

    Here in McAllen Tx it took three trips to Sams before finding the Bob
    Hope set.  There is was in a bin with several other RSI boxed sets.  A
    guy could bust his budget!

    Still nothing at the local Target.  I keep looking.

    Back to lurking,   HK

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 12:33:03 -0500
    From: John McCourt <jop_mccourt@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Bob Taylor, WWVA, Lee Moore and another
     appeal for help

    Bob Taylor's letter has emboldened me to also make an
    appeal to you all. I am completely new to OTR and have
    nothing, as yet to trade. I have joined every list I
    can find in the hopes of finding some OTR shows of
    Country, Folk, Western Cajun and Traditional material
    but no one seems to have any. Please, if anyone on the
    list has any that they would be willing to send me
    please contact me, I am willing to pay all expenses
    involved.

    Back to WWVA, although I live in Northern Ireland I
    have heard of the show and have commercial records by
    some of those who appeared there, including Lee Moore
    (and his wife Juanita) and Doc Williams. Many years
    ago my wife and I brought Doc & Chickie to Belfast for
    a show and we stayed in touch for a number of years.
    We visited them in Wheeling and, although not
    fortunate enough to see a show, Doc showed us around
    and introduced us to some of the artists, including
    Juanita.

    Bob, if you are fortunate enough to obtain any
    material would you be willing to share it with me?

    Regards,
    John McCourt.

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 12:37:20 -0500
    From: "Russ Butler" <oldradio@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Digger O'Dell

    <Gregory Walker asked about 'ol [removed];

    "The Life of Riley" with William Bendix featured the black humor character
    of Digger O'Dell, The Friendly Undertaker (..."I'll be the last person to
    let you down!")  - and to my knowledge, this radio character was the only
    "undertaker" or Funeral Director ever on the air in OTR.  (Now there's "Six
    Feet Under" on HBO, but that's quite different black humor and it's on
    television)

    Typically in the radio script, Digger would creep up behind Riley who was
    out for an evening walk, and Riley says in an anxious voice: "Wh-o-ose
    there?" and the reply: "It's only me, Digger O'Dell, The Friendly
    Undertaker" in a soothing deep voice.  Presumably, he was also out for a
    stroll in the night air. They have a brief conversation and at the end,
    Digger says to Riley:  "Well, I guess I'd better [removed] on!"   Can
    you picture thisscent  with hooting owls, crickets and walking footsteps
    sound effects?  Tis the power of imagination.  Priceless OTR.  Jackie
    Gleason played "Riley" on radio when Bill Bendix was filming The Babe Ruth
    Story
    in 1948.

    There is a 1945 "Duffy's Tavern" movie with Bing Crosby and an all-star
    cast, a long list of very familiar names, including Bill Bendix that was
    written by the late-Norman Panama (who died just recently) and Melvin Frank,
    based on characters created by Ed Gardner who played "Archie" as he did on
    the radio, ...."'cause "Duffy, ain't here!"  The film is a musical comedy,
    the radio show was just a comedy.

    Russ Butler  oldradio@[removed]

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 14:02:10 -0500
    From: Edward Loyer <eloyer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: "Mary, Merry, Marry"

    Curiously, growing up in mid-Michigan "Mary, Merry, and Marry" were all
    pronounced the same way.  AND, we drank "melk", paying a "neckle" for a
    small bottle of it.  Perhaps explains why I feel so comfortable on those
    small islands in Casco Bay.  Ed Loyer

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 14:24:03 -0500
    From: dantrigg422@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Trading
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    The Way I See It:  If you want to trade radio shows thats ok, as long as
    thats what you want to do. I have always bought my tapes, CDs ect. Thats just
    the way I do things.
    If you are going to sell for profit you sure should tell folks that's what
    you are going to do. I think the OTR hobby will roll along irreguardles. but
    I'm one of those folks that beleive you get what you pay for, and what goes
    around comes around.

    Dan

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

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 15:27:47 -0500
    From: Tedshumaker@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  what show would you like to see brought back

    A pilot show of  Yours Truly Johnny Dollar was made in the 1950's but was
    never picked up as a series. I think it would have made the transition easily.

    Ted

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 15:28:00 -0500
    From: james h arva <wilditralian@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Digger O'Dell

    31 JAN 03

    To George Walker --

    	A, yes -- "Hello, Duffy's Tavern - where da elite meet tuh eat - Duffy
    ain't here."  Digger O'Dell, however, was a regular on Fibber McGee and
    Molly, though ... I think.

    Regards,

    Jim Arva

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 16:53:34 -0500
    From: "Irene Heinstein" <IreneTH@[removed];
    To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Dragnet

    Bill Harker wrote:

>     I doubt the people responsible for and acting in the new version of
>     Dragnet
>     are aware of its importance beyond having created an "image" and being a
>     money-maker.

    If anyone but Dick Wolf was responsible for the new Dragnet I might agree
    with you, but as a very big fan of "Law and Order" there is a good chance it
    will be a quality show, but maybe not to diehard Dragnet fans.    You can be
    sure that Dick Wolf is very aware of Dragnet's importance.

    As for casting:   I think that Miguel Ferrer (Rosemary Clooney's son) would
    have been a good choice.  Not only is he a good actor but he even bears some
    resemblance to Jack Webb.

    ~Irene

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 16:58:24 -0500
    From: "Tom van der Voort" <evan@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Father Coughlin

         I'm hopeful that one of our resident experts (perhaps Elizabeth McLeod)
    can enlighten me regarding the formats used by the notorious Father Coughlin
    in his 1930's diatribes against FDR, atheistic Jews, big banking, etc.
         Often the programs are an hour long. A series of programs carried on
    WHBI in Newark during 1938-39 fit this pattern.  On the other hand the book,
    "Radio Broadcasts in the Library of Congress, 1924-1941", lists several 30
    minute shows from the same time frame.
         To illustrate my confusion I will refer to the broadcast of August 20,
    1939. The GOLDINdex web site lists half of a broadcast on that date. This
    excerpt runs 1/2 hour on station WHBI. However the Library holdings include
    a 30 minute broadcast from WBAL, Baltimore, on the same day.  The listing
    does not say it is an excerpt.
         Did Coughlin syndicate his one-hour shows in a 30 minute format to fit
    some time slots or did he do two separate broadcasts?  What's going on here?
         Any thoughts will be most welcome.
    Tom van der Voort

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 17:53:54 -0500
    From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Cliff Norton

    The LA Times today reports that yet another old time radio actor has died!
    Cliff Norton died Saturday, Jan 25. He was 84.

    Unlike other obituaries recently, much of his radio career is mentioned.
    Cliff was also an honorary SPERDVAC member and attended many of our
    conventions. He was a wonderful actor and always willing to take part in our
    recreations. He will be missed. Go to [removed] and click on
    obituaries to read the full text. It's available free for seven days.

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 19:20:18 -0500
    From: lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  OTR at Sams clubs

    I was wondering if any other Sams Clubs are no longer
    selling OTR?  Our Sams stoped selling them last fall.
    Maybe it's just the smaller stores?  I would be
    interested to hear from others.  As for Costco Club
    stores, they don't carry them either.  Thanks

    Lynn

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 19:21:50 -0500
    From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  enjoyable website with some otr significance

    Have a look at [removed].  All of the black actors in
    Walt Disney's "Song of the South" were featured on Amos 'n' Andy.  Like the
    TV Amos 'n' Andy, the movie is being kept from circulation by its creators.
    There's a biography of each of the actors who appeared in the movie--both
    animated and human.

    M Kinsler
    512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 43130  740-687-6368
    [removed]~kinsler

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 19:22:05 -0500
    From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Grand Ol' Opry

>     Somebody posted a message lately about the Grand Ole Opry saying that it
>     will never be the way it was.  That is true and I have seen somewhere that
>     they  even try to get older folks or shell we say the gray haired people to
>     sit more to the back of the house.

    I've never heard *that* one before!

    I don't have much of a problem with the Opry evolving; there have been some
    improvements over the years.  For instance, drums supposedly weren't allowed
    on stage for years and Buddy Holly wasn't allowed there for that reason.  In
    fact, most references will tell you the Opry was drastically different in
    1939 than it was in the late 1920s, when mountain people seemed to come in
    off the street and just jam.  *That* had to be the finest radio to ever come
    out of the south, IMHO.  But by 1939 the audition criteria was already said
    to be so strict, it took years for Roy Acuff to even make it onstage a first
    time.

    I would think the main issues with the Opry right now are not evolution
    related as survival related.  Gaylord Broadcasting, owners of WSM, appear to
    treat the Opry like some kind of doddering old great grandfather who may have
    fought the Big War but is now just in the younger folks' way.  Hopefully this
    will end, perhaps with the Opry passing over to a different station or
    network, or even a different medium like full-time internet broadcasting.  Or
    maybe Gaylord will go bankrupt or hire a new set of management that think
    differently.

    Dixon

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

    Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 19:49:45 -0500
    From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Duffy's Tavern

>     Does anyone remember a show called "Duffys' Tavern"? It started out with a
>     guy answering the phone saying "Duffys' [removed] Duffy aint' here". One
>     of the characters on the show was "digger O'dell" the undertaker,or have I
>     got my shows mixed up.

    Digger O'Dell was Chester Riley's friend, the "Friendly Undertaker" on "The
    Life of Riley."  He was played by John Brown.

    I have heard very few episodes of "Duffy's Tavern" but I liked what I heard,
    perhaps it was the invention of what we now call in prime time "the workplace
    comedy." (Well, that and the Jot'Em Down Store from "Lum 'N' Abner.") I'm
    sure a certain nameless 1980s TV sitcom borrowed more than a few ideas from
    [removed]

    Dixon

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #47
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