------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2007 : Issue 39
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
In the mood for a mystery? [ wmcclain@[removed] ]
2-3 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
Re: Mr. Keene [ "Jan Bach" <janbach@[removed]; ]
Communist otr [ "RyanO" <rosentowski@[removed]; ]
Names [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
Console organs and Paul Taubman [ <verotas@[removed]; ]
the Hummerts and public domain tunes [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
This week in radio history 4-10 Febr [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Anti-Communism on the air [ "karl tiedemann" <karltiedemann@hot ]
Killing Farnsworth [ Steve Carter <scarter2@[removed]; ]
Barney Beck Remembered in New York D [ Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed] ]
Vital statistics on Barney Beck [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
WLS Barn Dance Seminar In Nashville [ "Bill Knowlton" <udmacon1@[removed] ]
Hollywood and the Red Smear [ <vzeo0hfk@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:34:50 -0500
From: wmcclain@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: In the mood for a mystery?
Dear Old Time Radio Digest Population at Large,
In the mood for a mystery? I'm afraid that I have relatively little
background in radio history, but so far this particular puzzler has
confounded far wiser heads than I!
I am currently researching the radio broadcast of the Marian Anderson
concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, and am attempting to
determine, to whatever degree is possible, how many radio stations
would have been broadcasting it. I knew it was broadcast on NBC Blue,
but I was curious as to whether any of the affiliates did not air the
concert or if it appeared on any regional or international networks.
Based on the information on the NBC collection at the Library of
Congress, it appeared that information might be contained, at least to
some extent, in the WJZ corrected traffic sheets from that day (April
9, 1939), so I sent a request to the library for the relevant entry.
Here is what I received:
"5:00 Recital (Marian Anderson's name is inked in by hand above the
word "recital") (s-WRC) WJZ BASIC STE NTN HOS MS BS NOW SWT BSW [removed]"
...along with the note that the abbreviations appeared to be call
letters for stations carrying the program. Cross-referencing this with
my list of NBC blue affiliates failed to sustain this assumption, so I
requested more information from the LOC, and later the FCC, the
National Association of Broadcasters, and the radio collections at
several libraries.
No one is entirely sure what to make of it. We have eliminated call
letters for stations, and they do not appear to reflect any likely
short-hand for any of the regional networks then active. We do at
least have some ideas--WJZ is clearly WJZ and WRC is probably the NBC
Red affiliate in [removed] (which incidentally did not air the concert). As
for the rest of the letters the current best guess, courtesy of
Michael Henry at the University of Maryland, is that the letters are
some kind of routing codes. Based on that, we think that perhaps BASIC
refers to the main NBC Blue network and perhaps the other letters are
regional designations--however, as of yet, we haven't been able to
find really strong evidence to bear this hypothesis out!
So, is there anyone out there who has spent some time with their nose
pressed in 1930s era traffic sheets who might be able to finally
resolve this mystery, please help! I would me enormously grateful!
-Bill McClain
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:34:58 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 2-3 births/deaths
February 3rd births
02-03-1883 - Clarence Mulford - Streator, IL - d. 5-10-1956
creator of Hopalong Cassidy
02-03-1890 - Charles Correll - Peoria, IL - d. 9-26-1972
actor: Andrew Brown "Amos 'n' Andy"
02-03-1890 - Larry MacPhail - Cass City, MI - d. 10-1-1975
baseball executive: "Information, Please"; "Bill Stern Colgate Sports
Newsreel"
02-03-1894 - Norman Rockwell - NYC - d. 11-8-1978
artist: "The Breakfast Club"
02-03-1895 - Carl Kroenke - San Francisco, CA - d. unknown
actor: Alec Furguson "Houseboat Hannah"; Dr. Glassman "Ma Perkins"
02-03-1895 - Nick Kenny - Astoria, NY - d. 12-1-1975
columnist, songwriter: Reader of inspirational verse
02-03-1902 - Lillian Hardin Armstrong - Memphis, TN - d. 8-27-1971
pianist: "New Orleans Creole Jazz Band"
02-03-1903 - Martin Block - Los Angeles, CA - d. 9-19-1967
announcer, disc jockey: "Make-Believe Ballroom"; "Chesterfield Supper
Club"
02-03-1907 - James Michener - NYC - d. 10-16-1997
author: "You and the World"
02-03-1907 - Paul Laven - d. 5-1-1950
writer: "The Bob Hope Show"
02-03-1910 - Nelson Case - Long Beach, CA - d. 3-24-1976
announcer: "Hour of Charm"; "New Carnation Contented Hour"
02-03-1915 - Bill Miller - Brooklyn, NY - d. 7-11-2006
piano, conductor: "Frank Sinatra"; "Jim Hawthorne Show"
02-03-1915 - Helen Hall - d. 2-15-1984
hostess: "One Woman's New York"
02-03-1918 - Joey Bishop - The Bronx, NY
actor: "Monitor's Salute to Jimmy Durante"
02-03-1919 - Janet Logan - Eldon, MO - d. xx-xx-1965
actor: Stella Moore "Girl Alone"; Clara Blake "Romance of Helen Trent"
02-03-1922 - Russell Arms - Berkely, CA
singer, actor: "Have Gun, Will Travel"
02-03-1924 - Leslie Stevens - Washington, [removed] - d. 4-24-1998
film director: "Stagestruck"
02-03-1925 - John Fiedler - Platteville, WI - d. 6-25-2005
actor: Homer Brown "The Aldrich Family"
02-03-1926 - Shelley Berman - Chicago, IL
actor: "Family Theatre"
02-03-1928 - Frankie Vaughan - Liverpool, England - d. 9-17-1999
singer: "Al Jolson Centenary"
02-03-1932 - Peggy Ann Garner - Canton, OH - d. 7-21-1982
actor: Esther Smith "Meet Me in St. Louis"
02-03-1933 - Suzan Ball - Jamestown, NY - d. 8-5-1955
actor: Intermission Guest "Lux Radio Theatre"
02-03-1950 - Morgan Fairchild - Dallas, TX
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
February 3rd deaths
01-03-1905 - Anna May Wong - Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA - d. 2-3-1961
actor: "Campbell Playhouse"; "Hollywood Hotel"
01-04-1916 - Lionel Newman - New Haven, CT - d. 2-3-1989
conductor, composer: (Brother of Alfred) "Hollywood Star Time"
01-05-1893 - Ace Brigode - Illinois - d. 2-3-1960
bandleader: "White Rose Gasoline Show"; "Jersey Cereal Show"
01-18-1896 - Art Kassel - Chicago, IL - d. 2-3-1963
bandleader: "Kassels in the Air"; "Elgin Campus Revue"
01-28-1911 - Donald Briggs - Chicago, IL - d. 2-3-1986
actor: Frank Merriwell "Advs. of Frank Merriwell"
03-06-1900 - Jay C. Flippen - Little Rock, AR - d. 2-3-1971
actor: Sergeant "Rookies"
03-18-1916 - Jody Gilbert - Fort Worth, TX - d. 2-3-1979
actor: Rosa "Life with Luigi"
04-01-1904 - Sid Field - Birmingham, England - d. 2-3-1950
comedian: Freelance
04-30-1923 - Al Lewis - NYC - d. 2-3-2006
actor: hosted weekly radio program on WBAI-FM New York
05-26-1893 - Edward MacHugh - Dundee, Scotland - d. 2-3-1957
singer: "Gospel Singer"
06-14-1900 - June Walker - Chicago, IL - d. 2-3-1966
actor: (Mother of actor John Kerr) "The Rudy Vallee Show"
09-07-1936 - Buddy Holly - Lubbock, TX - d. 2-3-1959
singer: "Sunday Party"; "Buddy and Bob Show"
09-30-1891 - Fabien Sevitzky - d. 2-3-1967
director: "The Indianaoplis Symphony Orchestra"
10-24-1930 - J. P. "Big Bopper" Richardson - Sabine Pass, TX - d.
2-3-1959
Early Rock and Roll disc jockey
10-25-1912 - Al Lewis - d. 2-3-2002
director-writer: "Our Miss Brooks"
11-21-1902 - Frank Hursley - d. 2-3-1989
writer: "American Women"; "Cousin Willie"; "Those Websters"; "The
Truitts"
11-30-1890 - Ramsey Hill - Georgetown, Guyana - d. 2-3-1976
actor: "Escape"; "NBC University Theatre"
12-16-1895 - Andy Razaf - Washington, D. C. - d. 2-3-1973
lyricist: "Music for Millions"
Ron Sayles
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:35:14 -0500
From: "Jan Bach" <janbach@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Mr. Keene
Hello again --
I have enjoyed the discussions about Mr. Keene, Tracer of Lost Persons, and
the themes used to introduce the program. I had no idea the program had such
a long run. I find it hilarious in its need to describe so blatantly all the
things the radio audience can't see: "Oh, no, don't shoot me with that gun
you are holding," etc.
I would take issue with the statement that Mr. Keene was "one of the most
famous characters of American fiction," and that he appeared "in one of
radio's most thrilling dramas." But I do enjoy them, in perhaps the same way
I enjoy Pat Novak for Hire -- except that Pat's writers intentionally
colored his language with humorous similes that could never be taken
seriously, while Mr. Keene's writers presumably were dead serious about the
plots they put him through (I don't remember ever hearing anything slightly
resembling a joke or pun on the show).
Notice two other things about Mr. Keene -- Mike Clancy's relationship to Mr.
Keene was constantly changing -- from his gofer to an assistant, associate
or partner. And just how many cases Keene investigated were missing persons
cases? The only person usually missing was the murderer of whomever was
found stabbed or shot in the first five minutes of every show!
Jan Bach
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:35:30 -0500
From: "RyanO" <rosentowski@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Communist otr
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On the subject of Communism in fictional otr, I can think of three more
examples. The two obvious ones are the spy shows, The Man Called X., and
Dangerous Assignment.
The Falcon also turned from the mystery genre to espionage before it went off
the air in 1952. For most of the Les Damon run, Mike Wearing was a private
detective who solved your average mysteries based in New York City. But then
he got orders to return to American Intelligence and wound up flying all over
the world to various countries to chase Communists. The murder mystery angle
didn't change as someone would always wind up dead and The Falcon would dig up
the real killer, but the shows were more political in nature. The series took
a turn for the worse when this happened, in my opinion.
There was also a series produced by William N. Robson in 1951 that starred
Lamont Johnson. I don't know the name of it, but Robson talks about it in the
Gunsmoke documentary.
RyanO
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Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:36:11 -0500
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Names
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With all the discussion going on about Alan Reed, I was reminded that he also
acted under the name "Teddy Bergman." This got me to wondering if there were
any other OTR performers who changed their professional names mid-career, or
who acted under various names. I'm not talking about nickname variants like
James/Jimmy Stewart or Robert/Bob Cummings [supposedly, he used "Robert" for
drama and "Bob" for comedy]. The only other person who comes to my mind is a
name I saw recently on Prof. Sayles's birthday almanac, viz. Marie Blake
(Jeannette McDonald's sister) who was using the name "Blossom Rock," by the
time she played the grandmother on TV's "The Addams Family." Maybe, also,
Harriet Hilliard Nelson, who was originally "Hilliard" when she was Ozzie's
band's girl-singer, but lated adapted to her married name when the Nelsons got
their own sitcom, qualifies.
Did Mary Livingston(e) ever use her real name "Sadye Marks" professionally?
Any others?
Yours in the "there,"
A Greek duet [long story, but I'm on this anagram kick]
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Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:36:23 -0500
From: <verotas@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Console organs and Paul Taubman
Jim Cox refers to the Hummerts' use of 'Console Organs' for the music in
their shows: themes, bridges, upbeats, drags, stings, etc. As a kid I
developed a thorough dislike for what I call "Hammond Organ" music, a term
which many people incorrectly - perhaps unfairly - use for all the early
electronic organs. I told anyone who would listen that they all "made me
want to go roller skating", and I didn't like that either, due to weak
ankles. I felt the Hammond was just a larger version of the Hammond Solovox,
a three-octave keyboard which could be attached under any piano keyboard and
had its own amplifier and speaker. My 5th Grade teacher played it in
conjunction with a piano. Frankly, I preferred that, than the full-blown
Hammond Organ.
Anyhoo - as a teenager I somehow had the good fortune to find myself in a
tiny studio with Paul Taubman, who provided such music for many radio and
television programs. Not just soap operas such as "Edge of Night" - he
worked well into the evening, providing the hype-music and tantalizing
intervals for quiz shows including "Concentration", "Tic Tac Dough," and
"Dough-Re-Me." as well as "Twenty-One".
Then he moved to his own venue for late work and play. Taubman owned an
establishment overlooking Central Park called the Penthouse Club, where
nightly he delighted his audiences with his organ and piano stylings. There
were at least four of his albums that were recorded at the club in the early
1960s, described as genuine lounge music".
I was entralled visiting Taubman during his daytime work. He would indicate
to me when we could talk and when not, listening to the program and cue lines
via his earphones. He'd hold up his hand, flip a switch, and suddenly "we"
were on the air - me providing lots of silence befitting the mood. Then he'd
know when to fade or cut the music.
All th is I assume in conjunction with his engineer. Off would go "our
switch" and we'd chat again. We couldn't see anything other than each other
and the engineer - nowhere near the actors in their own larger studio
probably not even on the same floor - just our own tiny area, a tad larger
than the organ and bench. I assume it was a Hammond and probably knew for
sure back then. I imagine for the TV programs (probably a bit later than the
time of my visit) that he worked with a TV monitor as well as his cans. The
whole thing I thought Amazing!
As he did so many programs and such long hours, I figured that Taubman earned
a very good living, as the reliable pro that he certainly was. He was one of
several that did this sort of thing, undoubtedly in various key broadcasting
cities across the nation, such as Johnny Saab in Washington, Arthur Godfrey's
organist with whom he teamed up for Victor Bluebird records.
Taubman had done this for so long that very seldom did he refer to or even
need scripts or program outlines, automatically providing the right kind of
music for the mood of the moment (and all, of course, Public Domain). How he
did all this I couldn't fathom, but then he had a lot of years on me, and a
wealth of experience, plus a pretty good idea of how the writers for each
show thought and wrote. Fascinating!
Don't ask me how I got there - just lucky, I guess. A half-century later I
don't recall those details, just what happened, not how. I loved it.
Lee Munsick
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:37:17 -0500
From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: the Hummerts and public domain tunes
Jim Cox wrote:
Those indefatigable, enterprising Hummerts (Frank and Anne),
incidentally, who produced the show for its 18-year run, maintained
a predilection for selecting music for their more than 125 radio
features from public domain. (Notice both of Keen's musical themes.)
I'm confused. Since Noel Coward wrote "Someday I'll find you" only a
few years before Mr Keene first aired, surely it wasn't public domain?
Kermyt
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:37:24 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 4-10 February
From Those Were The Days --
2/5
1931 - Eddie Cantor's long radio career got underway as he appeared on
Rudy Vallee's The Fleischmann Hour.
1940 - Amanda of Honeymoon Hill debuted. Joy Hathaway starred as 'the
beauty
of flaming red hair'. The program stayed for six years on NBC.
2/6
1943 - Frank Sinatra made his debut as vocalist on radio's Your Hit Parade
this night. Frankie had left the Tommy Dorsey Band just four months
prior to
beginning the radio program. He was described as, "...the biggest name
in the business."
1950 - NBC first broadcast Dangerous Assignment. The show starred Brian
Donlevy
in the role of soldier of fortune, Steve Mitchell.
2/8
1924 - John Joseph Carty of the Bell Telephone System spoke in Chicago, IL.
His speech was carried across the nation on the first coast-to-coast
radio hookup.
An estimated 50-million people heard the speech.
Joe
--
Visit my homepage: [removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:37:34 -0500
From: "karl tiedemann" <karltiedemann@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Anti-Communism on the air
When considering this subject one can't omit the memorable occasion on the
Phil Harris show (1/16/49, I believe) where Phil is striving to get invited
to Pres. Truman's inaugural, and Julius helpfully paints him to a Federal
agent as a [removed]
Phil desperately pleads that he's a loyal, upstanding citizen, and asks the
G-man if the latter hasn't ever heard him and his orchestra. No. "Well, I
have," shouts Julius, "and if dat ain't subvoisive, I don't know what is!!"
Karl Tiedemann
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:37:44 -0500
From: Steve Carter <scarter2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Killing Farnsworth
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I was listening to WNAR on the internet today and heard a Mysterious
Traveler that I thought was a lot of fun,
This was from 1951 and I think it was called "THE MOST FAMOUS MAN IN
THE WORLD" .
Two time travelers come from 2220 or whatever and assassinate a
politician who is going to be the first in a long line of dictators.
The people from the future complain that they can't speak freely in
their time because there are monitors that can see and hear them.
The guy they want to kill is named Farnsworth (Get it!).
I found the story and execution to be very amusing.
Steve
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Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:38:00 -0500
From: Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Barney Beck Remembered in New York Daily News
Well, even though nobody had a list of credits for Barney Beck on hand, my
mention of his passing to David Hinckley of The New York Daily News led to a
line about his passing here:
[removed]
David definitely goes out of his was to make the history of radio part of
his job - without context or official confirmation from Beck's family he
didn't have to do that.
Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:38:11 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Vital statistics on Barney Beck
Does anybody know the vital statistics on Barney Beck? His birth
date, his birth place and some shows he worked his magic on? I would
appreciate anything that I can get. Thanks.
Ron Sayles
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:38:32 -0500
From: "Bill Knowlton" <udmacon1@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: WLS Barn Dance Seminar In Nashville
I'm passing this on for those radio country music historians who might be
interested. I know I am!
The International Country Music Conference (ICMC) is pleased to share the
participants of the special Saturday, 26 May 2007 panel on "'The Hayloft
Gang' Documentary and Companion Volume: The WLS Barn Dance and The
Dissemination of Early Country Music." The panel will be chaired by Chad
Berry of Berea College and includes Michael Bertrand (Tennessee State
University), Lisa Krissoff Boehm (Worcester State College), Wayne Daniel
(Georgia State University), Kris McCusker (Middle Tennessee State
University), Steve Parry (Image Base, Inc.), and Michael Ann Williams
(Western Kentucky University). Specific registration information will be
forthcoming. ICMC 2007 takes place Thursday 24 May through Saturday 26 May.
The Board Room setting in the Massey Business Center of Belmont University
at the foot of Music Row in Nashville enhances the cordial atmosphere,
stimulating ideas, and good food. For further information contact James
Akenson at JAkenson@[removed].
BILL KNOWLTON
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 22:39:24 -0500
From: <vzeo0hfk@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Hollywood and the Red Smear
Martin Grams wrote:
I believe there are two recordings from October and November 1947 where
Hollywood celebrities gathered to offer to the radio listeners their support
on the fight against Communist.
I believe Martin may have been referring to the radio show "Hollywood Fights
Back" which the great Bill Robson and Norman Corwin directed - Bill from the
East Coast and Norman from the West Coast. However, Martin misstated the
show's purpose - it was a response to the HUAC witchhunt that tried to smear
a bunch of good people with the label "Communist." So instead of trying to
fight again the Communist menace that the right wingers were trying to
convince Americans threatened the US, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall,
Katherine Hepburn and other of Hollywoods best actors lent their voice
AGAINST the witchhunters.
Howard Blue
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #39
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