Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #161
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 4/17/2003 5:18 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2003 : Issue 161
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Satellite Radio update                [ John Francis MacEachern <johnfmac@a ]
  Easter shows                          [ Richard Carpenter <sinatra@ragingbu ]
  Little Girl Lost on GANGBUSTERS       [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Hollywood Walk of Fame                [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Charlie McCarthy 10-30-38             [ "Christian Blees" <christian-blees@ ]
  It's all my fault :-)                 [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
  Hoarding                              [ TedOTR@[removed] ]
  Al Jarvis                             [ "Thomas Mason" <batz34@[removed] ]
  Re: Free OTR?                         [ Mark Stratton <cty57251@centurytel. ]
  OTR Pets And Animals                  [ Grams46@[removed] ]
  Gay Characters                        [ Grams46@[removed] ]
  Classical music AFRS                  [ tomhood <thood@[removed]; ]
  The House of Pets                     [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  April 18th Birth Dates                [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  Mp3 and Opera                         [ "Don Belden" <[removed]@[removed]; ]
  First disc jockey ? And for Elizabet  [ "Phil Watson" <philwats@[removed] ]
  WWII Radio Stations in San Francisco  [ "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed]; ]
  Cincinnati's attendance               [ "Bob Burchett" <haradio@[removed] ]

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 12:13:58 -0400
From: John Francis MacEachern <johnfmac@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Satellite Radio update

Hi All,

If you remember, back in November I bought a new car and
installed satellite radio, I told you all, I would report in
with my reactions, after a month;  sorry I'm so late, but
the report is good.

First a word about my car, I bought a black PT Cruiser, it's
great, I love it and have no complaints.  It has generated
quite a lot of comments, all positive;  unfortunately, the
most common seems to be "So, where's Al Capone?".  Still, I
achieved my goal of having a car that at least looks like it
came from my favorite era.  If only I could afford a real
'39 [removed]

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all the list
members who helped me in my quest to get a C gas rationing
sticker for my windshield.  I get lots of questions about
it, once informed, most people think it's cute.  I must
admit, I've been very surprised, a lot of older folks
comment on my car, saying it looks like something from their
younger days, but so far, not a single person has recognized
the sticker for what it is.  Now, I have to work on getting
an FDR in 44 bumper [removed]

Back to satellite radio.  There are two companies offering
satellite radio, XM and Sirius.  I chose XM for two reasons;
they're cheaper, $[removed] per month vs. &[removed] and they offer
two channels of OTR while Sirius offers only one.  I have
not been disappointed.  Specifically regarding the OTR
channels: there are very few repeats, that I've noticed.
Sometimes they even play shows with all the original
commercials.  One station is strictly OTR while the other
has modern drama as well, lots of CBC stuff.

I enjoy it so much, I seldom listen to regular radio while
driving.  Even though we can all play tapes or CD's of our
favorites in the car, it's cool to hear new stuff in real
time (even if it is 50 years old) when you turn it on. It's
like it must have been back then, when you turn on the
radio, you don't know what you'll here.  (They actually have
a web page with weekly listings, but I don't usually check
it.) I've listened to more OTR in the past few months than I
would ever have done normally.

It does have a minor problem.  A list member, whose name I
can't recall, has been advocating for years to have OTR
played in short 5 or 15 minute segments, during rush hour,
for those too busy for a 30 minute of 1 hour show.  Now, I
fully understand his point.  I can't tell you how many
countless times, I've arrived at my destination, only to sit
in the car for 10 to 15 minutes because I need to hear the
ending of the show.  Oh, such sacrifices we have to make for
our hobby!

Seriously, I thought that hearing OTR played crisp and clear
through a great stereo would entice my friends to get
interested in it.  Alas, that has not happened, when they
get into my car, they do want to hear the satellite radio,
but only the music stations.  No converts yet.

I would also add that one of their comedy stations plays a
lot of clips of OTR, but that station is not exclusively
OTR;  Bob Hope could be followed by Jeff Foxworthy or Bill
Cosby, ect.  While I don't want to turn this post into a
commercial, I should also mention that they have another
station that plays only music from the 1940's, not to
mention the other 97 stations that they offer.  There's
something for everyone.

So, I commend it highly for those that can afford it.
Remember, if you don't have a new car that's equipped with
the receiver, you will have to have special stuff installed
at Circuit City type places, as I had to, costing between
$200-$300, then the monthly fee of $[removed]  I think it is
well worth it.

Just my [removed]

John Mac

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 12:14:07 -0400
From: Richard Carpenter <sinatra@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Easter shows
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 It's kind of late to ask but does anyone know of a collection on MP3 or
whatever of old-time radio shows with Easter themes?

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Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 12:14:20 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Little Girl Lost on GANGBUSTERS

I received this query from Sandy Bausch at bausch@[removed].
If anyone can help her, please contact her.  My schedule got busy at the
moment to dig up what I can - I figure there's a lot of people on this
digest who might be able to help her more than I at the moment.

Martin:
I am looking for information on a GANGBUSTERS broadcast that would have been
put over the air-waves the week of July 16, 1952. What is important is not
the story but the all points bulletin that was presented. I am investigating
the disappearance of a 10 year old girl from that time and recently a
witness came forth remembering that a GANGBUSTERS show had a bulletin at the
end that matched the car she had seen in the area about the same time as the
10 year old girl went missing. It has been fifty years now this is the first
bit of new information.
We are hopeful you can provide us some information or at least a trial to
follow to find this broadcast.  Any help you can provide would be greatly
appreciated.
Thank you.
Sandy Bausch
bausch@[removed]

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 12:14:31 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Hollywood Walk of Fame

There are many OTR celebrities who have had their name grace the famed
Hollywood Walk of Fame - one of particular interest for me is documented in
a book entitled HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME: 2000 SENSATIONAL STAR MAKERS AND
LEGENDS by Samantha Hart.  As much as the book appears to be intresting, I
am only interested in one entry so I've been trying to see if my local
libraries have a copy and they don't.  (Hey, I buy about 50 books a year
(more than half about OTR) so I'm entitled to say "no, I don't want to buy a
book" every once in a while.)  Does anyone have a copy or have access to
this book that can look up an entry for me?  I'll be more than glad to send
a couple bucks their way for the assistance.
Martin Grams, Jr.
mmargrajr@[removed]

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 12:14:47 -0400
From: "Christian Blees" <christian-blees@[removed];
To: "OTR digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Charlie McCarthy 10-30-38

Dear friends,

I'm looking for the Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy show that ran against
the famous "War of the worlds" broadcast on Oct. 30th, 1938. As far as I
know this particular show has been discovered some time ago - is there
anybody out there who is willing to dub a copy for a German OTR
collector? I do need this show very urgently! If would like to trade but
could also send money via paypal. Please mail me off list. Thank you.

Christian

Christian Blees

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 12:15:46 -0400
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  It's all my fault :-)

George Wagner reported that sales at his table at Cinc this year were off
90% because of poor attendance.  Might I be so bold as to take a large part
of the blame, because two of your most loyal and best customers, my
daughter Leah and I, had to suddenly change plans in order to attend the
Alan Lomax memorial symposium in NYC that same weekend.  In fact, it seemed
EVERYTHING was going on that weekend.  We also had to miss the meeting of
the Mid-South Antique Radio Club, and the Lexington Stamp Club sale.  There
was nothing going on the weekend before or this coming weekend (although
Leah and I are attending the Met Opera this Sat nite!) but boy were things
hopping last weekend.  But never fear, Leah and I are planning on attending
Cinc next year (and FOTR this fall) so if you keep bringing old records and
weird videotapes, we might get your sales up again--and see all our old
friends we missed seeing last week.

Michael Biel  mbiel@[removed]

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 13:46:30 -0400
From: TedOTR@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Hoarding
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The worst trait, and many,many in our hobby share this, is that they sit on
recordings and don't share them. This is completely unfathomable to [removed];<

There are many reasons for this and you just can't make a general statement
like this.  I have many shows that I just can't release.  I received them
from collectors and THEIR condition was that I do not sell or trade them.
That is their right as the material was in their possession.  What they have
in mind is to get some good trades for the material.  That is one reason.
Another reason is that I have had to pay a lot of money for some shows.  I am
sure that you can understand if I had to pay $200 for one show (this has
happened quite a few times) I am not going to offer it for sale for a few
dollars only to see it posted on someone's site for free and everyone can
benefit from the $200 I had to pay for it.  I will not release it until I am
sure that I will recover what I have invested.  If some people think that is
wrong, well, that is their opinion but it won't change my actions.  I don't
feel that it is my responsibility to bear the financial burden for everyone
that wants the material for no charge or effort on their part.  I have spent
thousands and thousands of dollars, countless hours of my time on my
collection.  In my opinion, it is just that - my collection.  Behind my
family, it is the most important thing I have done in this life.  I am now
trying to decide where it will go after I am gone.  I want it to go where
everyone that needs access to it will have it, but that is AFTER I am gone.
While I am here I will use the uncirculating material to trade for more
uncirculating material.

Ted Davenport

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Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 13:46:47 -0400
From: "Thomas Mason" <batz34@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Al Jarvis

Al Jarvis was one of the first local names here in Los Angeles to have a
daily television show.  He consumed most of the afternoon (1PM-5:30PM) with
a marathon show on Channel 13 which was called KLAC-TV at the time (now
KCOP).  He was in a sort of homey setting and just talked about what was
going on in the [removed]  He played off a "gal Friday" who was a very
young
Betty White.
Tom Mason

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 14:35:13 -0400
From: Mark Stratton <cty57251@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Free OTR?

I believe that old radio programs should be available to all and sundry
without charge. If those that spend hours and hours extracting the perfect
recording from tape feel the need to charge for that time, then I believe
they're not in the hobby for the right reaosns.

This is one of the few "hobbies" where there is a vocal group that says
anyone charging money for product is a vulture and "not in the hobby for
the right reasons."

What utter hogwash.  Beliefs aside, think about this for a minute if you
will;  I also collect comic books.  Have for years.  You want to read my
comics.  Fine.  I have no problem with that.  Come over to my house and
help yourself.  They belong to me, I can do with them what I wish.  I
paid for them.  I'll share the pleasure of reading my comics with you.

You want me to give you my comic books because you don't think I should
charge money for them.  Because, by charging money for them means "I'm
not in the hobby for the right reasons."  It's the same principle.  It
"sounds" more extreme because people don't just give away a collection
they've worked years to build.  Spent lots of money on to build.  But
the principal is the same.  It's what you expect people to do with OTR.

Now, if a person CHOOSES to give away copies (electronic or otherwise)
of his/her collection, that's all well and good.  I've been the
recipient of much free OTR.  Very grateful for it too.  But I would
never presume to tell someone that they can't sell what they have.  I
certainly wouldn't call them vultures or cast aspersions on their
motives for selling.  That's hardly fair.

The worst trait, and many,many in our hobby share this, is that they sit on
recordings and don't share them. This is completely unfathomable to me.

Perhaps the knowledge that if they did, it would be all over the
internet within 24 hours?  And that the time, money and effort that was
expended by them has come to naught?  I have no problem understanding
why some don't wish to share what they have.  What boggles my mind is
that people like you feel entitled to their belongings.  That you feel
inclined to call them names and question their morales, values and
ethics by wishing to keep what is theirs.  You have no moral or ethical
claim to any OTR that is out there that you didn't pay for or weren't
specifically given.  To think otherwise is lunacy.

This is a discussion whose roots are mired in greed.  Greed from the
people who EXPECT free OTR.  I'm not against free OTR.  I think it's
wonderful.  Absolutely terrific.  I never would have discovered some
series that way.  But by the same token, I have no thoughts that anyone
who makes money from the sale of OTR is a scum sucking leech "in the
hobby for the wrong reasons."  Nor am I particularly stupid for having
spent money for OTR in the past.  As I am sure I will in the future.

Sharing is great, but it's a choice.  Not a mandate.

Just my tuppence,

Mark Stratton

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 14:35:25 -0400
From: Grams46@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  OTR Pets And Animals
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lynn wagar <philcolynn@[removed];
 writes:
Any one who'd like to jump in
and join me, list your favorite OTR Pet or Animal and
the show they started in.

from kathy:
my favorite was lum's pet turkey from lum and abner's thanksgiving show.

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Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 14:35:55 -0400
From: Grams46@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Gay Characters
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 "Allen Uebele" <auebele@[removed];  asks:
Can anyone think of any other portrayals in OTR of effeminate males or
masculine females that could fit the stereotype of a homosexual?

from kathy:
clarence in myrt and marge.

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Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 14:36:19 -0400
From: tomhood <thood@[removed];
To: OldRadio Mailing Lists <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Classical music AFRS

Hi All
In 1943 NBC discontinued broadcasting the Metropolitan Opera Staterday
[removed] took over. NBC had recorded the broadcasts each week,many of
these transcriptions survived. It would appear that ABC did not record the
broadcasts so there are only two sources for these [removed] recordings
made by opera lovers or on behalf of some of the singers and AFRS
[removed] of the private recordings are pretty dreadful but the AFRS
recordings are great. The problem is the some of the AFRS recordings have
never [removed] example is the Nov 26 1945 Lohengrin .I have it "complete"
on a dub of 78rpm transcriptions which are awful! I also have parts 1 & 2 of
the same broadcast from AFRS transcriptions which are great. To have the opera
complete on AFRS one would need at least 4 more 16" transcriptions. Most radio
collectors have no interest in "that kind of music" which is ok but the result
is few of these programs are circulating. Somewhere there is a hoard of these
discs and I don't mean the Library of Congress. Has anyone out there come
across any?
Tom Hood

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 14:45:19 -0400
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The House of Pets

I'll jump in on Lynn Wagar's OTR pet discussion.
I have a friend who lives in my home town whose wife has been looking for
any copy of a radio show she remembers entitled HOUSE OF PETS.  It's an
obscure series (though I'm sure Jay Hickerson's ULTIMATE GUIDE book has an
entry or two) so if anyone happens to have a copy of any broadcasts, please
let me know and I'll give you her mailing address.
Martin
mmargrajr@[removed]

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 15:05:57 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  April 18th Birth Dates

If you were born on the 18th of April, you share your birthday with:

04-18-1880 - Donald Crisp - Aberfeldy, Scotland - d. 5-25-1974
04-18-1882 - Leopold Stokowski - London, England - d. 9-13-1977
04-18-1898 - Gene Carroll - Chicago, IL - d. 3-5-1972
04-18-1902 - Harry Owens - O’Neill, NE - d. 12-12-1986
04-18-1907 - Miklos Rozsa - Budapest, Hungary
04-18-1912 - Wendy Barrie - Hong Kong - d. 2-2-1978
04-18-1922 - Barbara Hale - DeKalb, IL
04-18-1925 - Bob Hastings - Brooklyn, NY (Friend of you know who!)

Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Make your day, listen to an Olde Tyme Radio Program

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 15:51:27 -0400
From: "Don Belden" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Mp3 and Opera

I have recorded a number of the Metropolitan Opera productions this year to
my hard disk as *.wav files I then transfer these to CDs[*.cda]. I also
convert the wav files to Mp3 encoded at 160kbps. I have Verdi's "Nabucco" &
Wagner's "Parsifal" one CD.

The other night a group of us, who have been meeting for over thirty years
to follow librettos and listen to Opera, were at our house. I played the CD
version[*.cda] of the famous Verdi chorus "Va, pensiero" and then played the
Mp3 version from my computer through my stereo system in the room where the
group was sitting. No one knew for sure which version they were listening to
even after I repeated the test several times.

Granted this is an off the air recording, but it does suggest mp3 is not as
bad as some seem to think.

Don in Denver

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 15:51:44 -0400
From: "Phil Watson" <philwats@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  First disc jockey ? And for [removed]

In digest 160, Russ Butler suggests that Martin Block may have been the
first disc jockey in radio, in 1935, if I read his interesting posts
correctly.

However here in England the BBC's Christopher Stone started playing and
introducing records in 1927 and has been acknowledged as the world's first
"disc jockey" although of course the name came much later from across the
ocean.

I found an interesting web page which mentions him
[removed]#Popular and was surprised to see
two blacked-up minstrels who broadcast on the BBC in the 1920's & 30's.
Have you any information, Elizabeth ? (tongue so firmly in cheek I may not
be able to prise it out!)

The website suggests writer Compton Mackenzie may have actually started
playing records on radio in [removed]
It's a long page but the Popular music section's about 3/4 down.

Regards from England

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 17:24:45 -0400
From: "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  WWII Radio Stations in San Francisco.

Not much help here, but there was a
shortwave station on what because Treasure Island of the World's Fair, which
beamed short wave programs overseas.  I remember no more about it, but my
late husband Howard Culver worked out at the station several nights a week.
Lois Culver
KWLK Radio (Mutual) Longview, WA 1941-44
KFI Radio (NBC) Los Angeles CA 1945-47, 50-53
Widow of Howard Culver, actor

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

Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 19:14:35 -0400
From: "Bob Burchett" <haradio@[removed];
To: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Cincinnati's attendance
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Just got the numbers from Robert Newman
and the attendance was down 3 from last year.
Not sure where George got the idea the attendance
was so low this year.
Bob Burchett

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--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #161
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