------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 82
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Jack Benny Book [ "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed] ]
pre-war tape [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
Mechanics of the OTR time machine [ "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed] ]
Mary Lee Robb! [ Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed]; ]
Jack Webb a joke? [ "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed] ]
Re: time machine [ zbob@[removed] ]
Wire recorders [ Richard Pratz <[removed]@[removed]; ]
Howard Blue's Book [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
quotation [ vigor16@[removed] ]
New Lone Ranger movie on the WB [ Paulurbahn@[removed] ]
another Whistler [ "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@neb. ]
2-20 Birthdays [ SanctumOTR@[removed] ]
Hello folks, I'm new to OTR [ "Scott L Lindquist" <potluckplayers ]
Cleaning up audio. [ Roger Lorette <roger@[removed]; ]
Re: WB's Lone Ranger [ Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed] ]
2-21 Birthdays [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Re: OTR and RealOne Player [ "Dr. Gavin Pillay" <gavinpillay@mwe ]
Travel back in time to record [ "Bob & Lois Reynolds" <boblo1@allte ]
Re: The Whistler [ "jay ranellucci" <otrfan@[removed]; ]
Re: KFI/KECA [ "jay ranellucci" <otrfan@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 19:14:54 -0500
From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jack Benny Book
In #78, Ben wrote:
There are lots more ideas possible, and in
fact, I'd like to hear ideas from you rather
than just take something from this brief list
of samples.
...and if you'd like to contribute. I'd like
to solicit different topics from [removed]
can be between 1000 to 4000 words,...
This sounds pretty cool. I'd like to see an essay on the relationship
between the JB show and the various sponsors, including Jello, Lucky Strike,
and Grape Nuts. Some shows/stars became really closely associated with their
sponsors, and the JB show is a powerful example of this. However, they did
it twice, with two very different sponsors - Jello and Luckys. This seems to
be relatively unique.
I'd love to try writing this myself, but I've never written anything before
and wouldn't even know where to start. Well, I guess one would start with
[removed] I'd need mentoring.
-Chris Holm
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 19:15:12 -0500
From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: pre-war tape
Tape recording did exist before WW2. The oldest surviving tape that I am
aware of dates from about 1936 - and consists of orchestral selections
conducted by, are you ready for this? - Thomas Beecham, a British conductor
of great renown. It was recorded by German engineers for BASF. Anybody
remember BASF tape?
I'm working from memory here, but as I recall the concept is actually of
Danish origin. Vladimir Poulsen I believe, and the spelling may be
incorrect, experimented with recording on wire. His results were limited, he
did not employ bias in his device. There is evidence that he was on the
right track however, as he had in his laboratory a 100kHz AC generator. Bias
is a high freq alternating current applied to a signal during the tape
recording process. Poulsen was doing this about 1901 or 1902.
Joe Salerno
Video Works! Is it working for you?
PO Box 273405 - Houston TX 77277-3405 [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 19:15:20 -0500
From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Mechanics of the OTR time machine
In #80, Stephen Kallis notes:
But here's the rub: to get everything we'd want,
it would take decades. So for the sake of a
"practical" discussion, maybe we ought to limit
ourselves to some relatively small collection of
programs.
True, but remember we're using a time machine, so we could speed things up
a bit. Consider we go back in time to tape Jack Benny. We arrive on Sunday
night, at 6:59, set out our recording device (I'm saying we go digital, maybe
with a massive hard drive array), press record just in time for 7:00. We can
then get back in our time machine, leaving our recorder, and jump ahead to
7:29. We'll be there just in time to press stop at the NBC chimes (or the
CBS announcer if it's a later show). So we've recorded a half hour show, but
it's only taken us about 2 minutes.
Using this process, we could press record at the beginning of a broadcast
day, jump ahead to the end of the day to press stop, and then jump ahead to
the beginning of the next [removed] all the while leaving our recorder in the
1940's (or 20s, 30s, 50s, etc). At two minutes a broadcast day, we could
record an entire broadcast year in about 3 hours of our lifetime.
Once we're done, we can then distribute the recordings in day-long chunks
to the members of the digest. How many people are on this list? 1500? If
even less than a third participate, and they take a week to process, catalog,
rate, and file their broadcast day, we could have an entire network broadcast
year archived in less than a week. In less than a year, we could do four
entire broadcast decades for a single network.
We would just have to make sure we leave our recorder in an inconspicuous
place. Imagine the trouble we could cause our history if some RCA engineer
found our device and ushered in the era of digital computers decades too
early.
-Chris Holm
Yes, I know I'm being silly, but it's [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 19:17:27 -0500
From: Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Mary Lee Robb!
The daughter of Mary Lee Robb has just become active in OTR, and I
appreciate the honor of being allowed to introduce her to this group.
Mary Lee Robb was Marjorie on Gildersleeve for many years. She was also
in the Penny Singleton Show, with co-actors Jim Backus, Gale Gordon, and
Bea Benaderet.
Her daughter (Sandy) is happy to pass our questions along to her mother,
and she will answer them forthwith. (Maybe even thirdwith). Here are a
few that have already been thrown her way:
"What years did she do the part?
*Hmmm (SS: we need to check that, lol, probably 48 through 53 or
54)
Did she work only with Hal Peary or with Willard Waterman as well.
*Both
Did she have the feeling that what she was doing at the time would
develop into a Radio Classic?
* No, but we knew that what we were doing was fun. I would have done
it for free. We knew it was funny. It was a spin-off; I think maybe
it was one of the first spin-offs, of a great show, of a funny show.
Did she have any part in the making the 4 "Gildy" Movies?
*No, I was too old to play the part. (SS: plus you just had me!)
Was the gal who played Birdie Lee Coggins as nice a person off mike
as she appears in the series?
*Lillian, she was heavenly, heav-en-ly. We all used to go and sit in
her dressing room. She didn't come to ours, we all had nice dressing
rooms, but we always went to hers. She was wonderful. I invited her
to my wedding. As I was walking up the aisle, I heard her crying, "My
baby's gotten married!"
What did you have to do with Lum & Abner? (Note: that was my question
<g>)
*I had the first female role. I had two lines: "I do." and "Don't
cry, Papa." I got paid $45. For the part, I had to join the Union,
which was okay because you had to be in the Union to really get the
parts. It cost $75 to join the Union. I thought, I made $45, but it
cost $[removed]'s not right here. LOL
That was really fun, and I hope you guys will ask more questions. Go
ahead and post them on the Group, if no one minds.
Sandy"
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 19:18:08 -0500
From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jack Webb a joke?
In #80, Michael Hayde wrote:
I suspect they're deliberately omitting Webb's name
because of the wholesale cheapening of his legacy that
has gone on since the Aykroyd-Hanks movie was released.
Jack Webb is a joke to the under-40's that run the
industry. Lucky for them there WAS a Jack Webb, or
none of 'em would have jobs today!
If I appear to be steamed, it's because I am.
I'm sorry, but I have to respectfully disagree with your interpretation.
I'm under 40 (significantly under)... and though it's true that I'm not in
the industry, I don't feel that Jack Webb is a joke. I love the Dragnet
radio AND TV shows, and I really love Pete Kelly's Blues and some of his
other radio work. Dragnet revolutionized the police drama in the way it
presented police work and in the way it presented ordinary people. The sound
effects on Dragnet are incredible, and with the exception of Gunsmoke, are
unrivaled by any past OR modern radio production. All of this is IMHO of
course.
However, I believe that many on this list would agree that Webb's delivery
(sincere as it is), is so serious and straight laced that it practically begs
to be satirized. It is no accident that Stan Freeberg was able to satirize
Dragnet on TWO SEPARATE occasions, and have both be incredibly popular and
big sellers. Would anyone argue that Stan Freeberg thought that Jack Webb
was a joke??? I don't think many would.
I believe it's the same with the Akroyd-Hanks movie. It's a comedy, and a
[removed] it's not supposed to be true to the original Dragnet. You can like
the movie or not, that's [removed] but it should be judged on its own merits,
not on how it honors the memory of Saint Webb.
I've said it before on this list, and I'll say it again: "things [removed]
this isn't either good or bad, IT JUST IS!" Every show has its time. I love
Gunsmoke, and part of me wishes that it was still on the air. Another part
of me wonder that after over 50 years, would it really be that good?
Probably not.
I love OTR, but I don't believe there are any shows or figures in OTR that
are so holy that others (OTR or contemporary) can't have some fun with them.
And I don't believe that the new Dragnet doesn't credit Jack Webb as part of
a grand conspiracy to destroy his good name. Ignorance is probably a better
explanation than malice.
-Chris Holm
who apologizes for the rant, and thanks you for your patience.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 19:18:14 -0500
From: zbob@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: time machine
If I had a Time Machine, I'd first go forward a few years and pick up a
pocket video camera/DVD recorder combo, when they are really small. The I'd go
back to the radio studios and photograph the shows in progress - see how
Orson "Clouds men's minds", maybe ride with Britt and Kato, certainly visit
Gosden and Correll and see how they change characters by different microphone
angles, as admirably described by Elizabeth. I'd be invisible, as there has
been no mention anywhere of "What is that funny telephone booth in the corner,
and WHO is in it??". . . . . Good listenin', Bob
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 19:18:20 -0500
From: Richard Pratz <[removed]@[removed];
To: "OTR (Plain Text Only)" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Wire recorders
Can't resist posting my wire recorder recollections (short version).
Although my Uncle Walt owned a home wire recorder that made him the hit of
1950's parties in Western Springs, [removed] first professional
experience with one came 44-years ago at the first radio station for which I
worked, a little 1,000 watt teapot ABC affiliate, KBUR in Burlington, Iowa.
What a celebration when that place eventually increased its power to 10,000
[removed] that's another story for another time. Much of the equipment at
that radio station was antiquated even for 1959. But the wire recorder in
the control room I remember vividly. It was mounted on a large floor rack
that sat next to the control board. KBUR ran several phone-in programs and
one of my duties as News Director (a staff of two) was to fill in during the
lunch hour for "Problems and Solutions".....a show that dealt mainly with
lost dogs and cats. I should have read my job description more closely! You
have a lost animal? Phone "Problems and Solutions." Can't get beet juice out
of your white shirt? Phone "Problems and Solutions." Anyway, to achieve a
5-7 second delay in that live phone-in show, Cletus (love that name), the
lone KBUR engineer, devised an ingenious solution (at least it was ingenious
to this 22-year old neophyte). Two pulleys were mounted on the ceiling of
the control room and a continuous loop of wire tied together with a knot
that clicked when it passed over the playback head, ran off the left hand
spool of the rack-mounted wire recorder, up to the ceiling pulleys, and back
down onto the right hand [removed] physically achieving the delay! This
continuous loop of a strand of wire broke more than [removed] it was
unparalleled CHAOS!! I laugh now, but it was no laughing matter then. The
day KBUR chucked its wire recorder in favor of tape, was a joyous day
indeed. To go from wire recorders in 1959 to computers in 1999 (my
retirement), was a fun ride I wouldn't have traded for anything.
Rich
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 19:26:18 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Howard Blue's Book
I just read Howard Blue’s book "Words at War" for the second time, it is that
good. I am at a loss as to why his book has not created the same kind of buzz
on this list as Hal Stone's book has. It is a serious work that everyone
should read, not just by people who love Olde Tyme Radio, but by everyone. It
is the finest book on the subject of radio and World War II that I have read.
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Make your day, listen to an Olde Tyme Radio Program
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 19:30:01 -0500
From: vigor16@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: quotation
Hi all,
My wife and I were talking, tonight, and we somehow remember, probably an
Old Time Radio personality, who called his sweetheart or wife "my little
possum" (or blossom) something like that. Does anybody remember who
that may have been. As I recall, I think it was a running trade mark.
Thanks,
Deric
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 20:16:02 -0500
From: Paulurbahn@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: New Lone Ranger movie on the WB
Martin Grams, Jr. wrote:
The pilot movie is definately aimed toward a younger audience as the Lone
Ranger and Tonto are both played by teenagers. As they use to say on 42nd
Street, "sex sells," but this is road kill. The only plus side I can see
coming from this movie, is that it will make me, personally, enjoy and
appreciate the original radio and TV shows even more.
Martin brings up a problem I have noticed. I show a picture of the Lone
Ranger (a drawing) when i do local history talks. If my audience is senior
citizens they know who it is. High School age or lower have no idea.
The TV shows are not even shown during viewing periods traditionally viewed
by the younger generation. The last movie was a flop, so something must be
done.
In order for anyone in the future generations to have any reason to seek out
the old shows and movies they first have to be introduced to the character.
Maybe the new movie with teenagers in it will open a door, that is otherwise
shut.
We need to spread new seed in order to raise a new crop of fans.
Paul Urbahns
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 20:28:45 -0500
From: "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@[removed];
To: "old time radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: another Whistler
Let us not forget that Marvin Miller doubled as Signal Oil announcer and The
Whistler while Bill Foreman was in the army for about six months. He also
occasionally substituted for Foreman when he was away in the late 40's and
early 50's.
RyanO
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 21:05:11 -0500
From: SanctumOTR@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: 2-20 Birthdays
In a message dated 2/20/03 6:30:26 PM, Ron Sayles writes:
The following people were born on February 20th.
***And one more:
1952 - Anthony Tollin, born in St. Paul, Minnesota***
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 21:05:41 -0500
From: "Scott L Lindquist" <potluckplayers@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Hello folks, I'm new to OTR
Hello everybody, I'm Scott Lindquist, the Creative Director of the Pot Luck
Players, Atlanta's only Old Time Radio Theatre Company that does recreations
of OTR for live audiences. Just wanted to say that there's nothing like the
delight we see in the faces of our audiences during our shows. The older
members of the audience frequently close their eyes, reminising about the
days when they were young and the rest of them, particularly the younger set
are amazed at hearing OTR for the first time - their jaws hang open. As a new
OTR Digest member, please feel free to give me any advice about recreating
the classics of radio.
Thanks,
Scott Lindquist
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 09:04:30 -0500
From: Roger Lorette <roger@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Cleaning up audio.
Lately I've been getting more and more interested in the process of "Cleaning
up" the audio of many shows in my collection. I've been experimenting with
the program "Cool Edit" which seems to improve most shows somewhat but I
can't ever seem to get the results I'm looking for.
I'm wondering if any of the professionals on this list would care to offer
some tips on the [removed] which is the best program to use and ideally
some hints on what filters and settings that seem to give the best results
cleaning Old Time Radio shows. Or better still, are there any websites
offering this info?
Roger Lorette
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 09:04:52 -0500
From: Rob Chatlin <rchatlin@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: WB's Lone Ranger
I saw the promo for this, and the word that pops into my mind is
Travesty.
Granted it's being updated, and dumbed down, for the hip, youthful
audience of the WB,
but that;s the proper approach for this character. What really ticked
me off was the promo
doesn't even make use of The Music. Huge mistake. The William Tell
Overture is so
permanently linked to The Lone Ranger that some people think it was
written specifically for
the show. If the music isn't used at all during the movie, let is die
a miserable, low rated death.
rob
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 09:05:01 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 2-21 Birthdays
The following people were born on February 21st.
1881 - Dr. Jonah B. Wise - Cincinnati, Ohio
1915 - Ann Sheridan - Dallas, Texas
1921 - Shirley Bell - Chicago, Illinois
1938 - Wolfman Jack - Brooklyn, New York
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Make your day, listen to an Olde Tyme Radio Program
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 13:26:54 -0500
From: "Dr. Gavin Pillay" <gavinpillay@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: OTR and RealOne Player
Philip wrote
Can any Digester offer advice and/or instructions re custom-installing a
free RealOnePlayer to result in the least-intrusive installation that's
possible? Should I first delete/un-install my current RealPlayer (-- I
never custom-installed it, by the way) and start from scratch? Many thanks
in advance.
Hi Philip,
Go to the real site. ([removed])
Download the player from there. (RealOne Player v2)
It's about 8 megs.
Then run it from the hardrive and choose custom install.
Bye
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 14:51:46 -0500
From: "Bob & Lois Reynolds" <boblo1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Travel back in time to record
When all of you go back in time to record 30's or 40's radio shows, please
take along several cast photos and have of the cast members autograph the
[removed] I will take a Rathbone & Bruce in Sherlockian outfits. Many
thanks Bob Reynolds
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 14:52:08 -0500
From: "jay ranellucci" <otrfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: The Whistler
I know this has probably been discussed before but I'd like some one to
review me either here or off digest when did Gale Gordon, Joseph
Kearns,and Bill Johnstone play The Whistler? And when Bill Foreman was
drafted, didn't announcer Marvin Miller take over the part? And if Mr. Miller
did play The Whistler, who did the announcing. And prior to Mr. Miller's
move to the West Coast who announced?
Another point, when the show was sponsored by Signal Oil they
mentioned that the show was voted the most popular West Coast show in
the eleven Western States. So my question is when did the show go
national and for how many years.
Jay
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 14:52:25 -0500
From: "jay ranellucci" <otrfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: KFI/KECA
I'll be the first to admit my memory is not the most reliable, but I remember
when KECA switched from the high end of the dial to the lower end in
1939, but I thought the Freq. was more like 1190 or 1140. Jim Hilliker's
post of 2/18/03 said they moved to 780Kc and the call letters were later
changed to KABC. However KABC is at 790Kc. When did the 10Kc shift
occcur?
All in all Mr. Hillikers comments about Earl C. Anthony were very interesting
and mentioned many things I had never heard. It's amazing how many
people on this digest are such fountains of knowledge. Thank all of you for
sharing and preserving the wonderful history and heritage our business
and or hobby. Living all my life in [removed] it wasn't til the '50s that I
learned
that ECA in KECA stood for his initials nor did I know the the EHE in KEHE
stood for the Evening Hearld Express. Again thank you all for your sharing.
Jay
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #82
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