Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #328
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 10/12/2004 3:05 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2004 : Issue 328
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Radio Happenings, SPERDVAC CONVENTIO  [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
  Helen Holden Update                   [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
  Nora Charles Maiden Name              [ William Harker <wharker@[removed] ]
  Supplement #3                         [ JayHick@[removed] ]
  More News on Captain Midnight Paperb  [ skallisjr@[removed] ]
  William B Tanner commercials          [ Arthur Moore <arthuradio@[removed]; ]
  Re: Joan Leslie                       [ OTRGURU@[removed] ]
  Live 365                              [ Thom Bray <tb@[removed]; ]
  Propagation and baseball              [ "Andy" <oomspine@[removed]; ]
  when radio was                        [ knight555@[removed] ]
  new Luke Slaughter                    [ Ruk77@[removed] ]
  OTR License plates                    [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
  OTR vanity license plates             [ "Frederick S. Hillman" <fshillman@6 ]
  Johnny Dollar                         [ DanHaefele@[removed] ]
  Is it live or is [removed]                [ "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed]; ]
  License plates and Jack's playing     [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  benny and isaac stern                 [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
  License plates                        [ "bobb lynes" <iairotr@[removed]; ]
  OTR License Plates                    [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 16:48:41 -0400
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Radio Happenings, SPERDVAC CONVENTION 2004

Hi,

Thought I'd share the latest issue of my Radio Happenings with you. It
contains the most up-to-date information on the SPERDVAC convention.

If anyone not on my list wishes to subscribe, just let me know. It's free
and usually deals with radio-related activities in the Los Angeles area.

Barbara

SPERDVAC will hold a 2004 Old Time Radio convention to celebrate its 30th
year of preserving the golden age of radio and to honor those people who
made it such a great medium. It will take place at the Hacienda at LAX, 525
N. Sepulveda Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245. Hotel room rates have been lowered
to $57 plus taxes. For room reservations call 1-800-421-5900 and mention
SPERDVAC.

Mark the dates on your calendar: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 12,
13 and 14, 2004.

Following is the tentative schedule:

Friday, November 12:
   1:00 to 2:00 pm   Panel-"OTR club round table"

   2:15 to 3:15 pm   Panel- author Jack French talks about OTR"s
                             Feminine Sleuths

   3:30 to 5:00 pm   Singers/Music Panel moderated by Walden
                             Hughes with guests Beryl Davis, Connie Haines

   6:30 to 9:00 pm   Banquet and Re-creations:

                             1. MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER "Five Miles Down"
                             with Harlan Ellison, Frankie Thomas, Jan
                             Merlin, Tommy Cook, Walter Koenig and Stefan
                             Rudnicki, directed by Anthony Tollin.

                             2. DUFFY"S TAVERN recreation directed by Hal
                             Stone and Barbara Watkins, with Ben Cooper,
                             Dick Van Patten, Bob Graham (recreating his
                             ORIGINAL ROLE), Gary Owens, and Hal Stone

Saturday, November 13:

   9:00 to 10:15am   Book Panel with Jim Harmon, Frank Bresee,
                             Hal Stone, Jim Cox, Jack French, Laura Leff,
                             Frankie Thomas, Jan Merlin

  10:30 to 12 noon   Panel-"Al Jolson & Eddie Cantor Remembered"
                             with Dave Greim and Michelle Malik

   1:00 to 2:00 pm   New Frequency-(old & new re-creations)

   2:00 to 3:15 pm   Panel-"Bob Hope, Thanks for the Memories"
                             with Frank Bresee and others

   3:30 to 5:00 pm   Singers/Music Panel (guests to be announced)

   6:30 to 9:00 pm   Banquet and Re-creations:
                             [removed] HORN BLOWS AT MIDNIGHT 30 Minutes To
                             Curtain re-creation starring Eddie Carroll as
                             Jack Benny, with Gladys Holland, Hal Stone,
                             Sy Prescott, Judith Anton, Stuart Lubin, Bill
                             Morris, Doug Herman, Barbara Watkins, Elena
                             Beth Kaye and Bobb Lynes, directed by Barbara
                             Watkins.

                             [removed] ALLEN SHOW with Harold Gould, Herb
                             Ellis, Janet Waldo, Robert Easton, Charlotte
                             Rae, and announcer John Harlan, directed by
                             Gregg Oppenheimer.

And, topping off the 30th Anniversary Convention on Sunday, November 14:
   9:00 to 11:30 am  Brunch with ART LINKLETTER

ALL SPERDVAC HONORARY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO BE GUESTS
ON A DAY OF THEIR CHOICE so many others not listed above will be present.

There will be a printed program, with space for ads,
congratulations, messages, etc. For rates, contact Bobb Lynes at
iairotr@[removed]

The dealers room will be open Friday and Saturday with lots of radio-related
and entertainment world memorabilia for sale. For Dealers" Room information,
contact Glenn Mueller, 18716 East Aguiro St., Rowland Heights, CA 91748,
or email: DurangoKid@[removed]

Convention registration forms and prices are available at
[removed] or by calling (Toll-Free) 1(877)251-5771.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR CONVENTION REGISTRATION HAS BEEN MOVED
BACK TO OCTOBER 16, 2004 THIS YEAR SO MAKE PLANS EARLY!

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 18:03:30 -0400
From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Helen Holden Update

I interviewed Nancy Ordway Jameson on the telephone today at her home
in Key West, FL where she has lived for the past 30 years. In the past
half-century, she has had no contact with any one in radio broadcasting
so she was delighted that the OTR community recalls her at all. She
called her appearance in my new book, PRIVATE EYELASHES, as "providing
some much needed excitement in my life."

Her father, a retired Army officer, had resettled in the Nation's
capitol in the late 1930s where many of his relatives were born and
raised. (Nancy, however, was born in the other [removed]
state.) In her 20s she was active in local theater and found "spot
jobs" at area radio stations. "Helen Holden" started out as a soap
opera on WOL-AM in the District on December 9, 1940 and aired only as a
local program. There were no auditions for the show, which was pre-cast
by writer and director, Dan Beatty. All of the cast and crew members
were local DC talent, including Nell Fleming (who played Helen's aunt)
and Robert "Bob" Pollard as well as the announcer, Frank Blair.
Flemming was originally from Australia and spoke with a British accent.

On February 23, 1941 Mutual picked up "Helen Holden" to air nationwide
with three other 15 minute shows, comprising a one-hour slot. That trio
was "We Are Always Young", "Edith Adams' Future", and "The Johnson
Family", all of which were produced at other Mutual affiliates in other
cities. By May 1941, "Helen Holden" had the best Hooper ratings of the
four but for some strange reason, Mutual decided Nancy was not
attractive enough for radio. She was asked to improve her appearance
and even pluck her eyebrows. "I said 'Hell, no' to them" Nancy told me,
and the next thing she knew, Frances Brunt had replaced her in the
lead. The series would run until March of 1942 and by that time, Frank
Blair was the co-writer.  "Any crime solving on the series must have
occurred after I left" Nancy says now.

Nancy did less acting work after that and spent the remainder of WW II
as a supervisor in the Code Room of the Air Transport Command, which at
that time was located at Gravely Point, just across the Potomac near
National Airport. Today at age 90, she is a well known and respected
citizen of Key West, where she spent over 22 years as a volunteer of
the Oldest House Museum there, half of that period as its director.

Jack French
[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 18:03:57 -0400
From: William Harker <wharker@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Nora Charles Maiden Name

As I was almost certain one could not find Nora Charles' maiden name in the
original _Thin Man_ novel (as Hammett's last full-length novel, he had
returned to the first-person narrative), I immediately went to the
screenplay he wrote for the movie _After The Thin Man_.

In one of the early scenes of the screenplay, a policeman is questioning
Nora, who has just had a telephone conversation with her cousin, Selma
Landis.

The cop asks, "'Mrs. Charles, I'll have to ask you who you were talking to
on the phone.'

"Nora, puzzled:  'My cousin, Selma Landis.'

"Abrams:  'She married?'

"Nora:  'Yes.'

"Abrams:  'What was her name before she was married?'

"Nora:  'Forrest, the same as mine.'"

So, her name was Nora Forrest.

Bill Harker

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 18:04:11 -0400
From: JayHick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Supplement #3

My third supplement is now printed.  I will have it available at the
convention.  For those not going, it is $[removed] plus $[removed] P&H.  Jay Hickerson,
Box
4321, Hamden, CT 06514.  For those coming Wednesday, don't forget the wine and
cheese Wednesday evening.  There is no extra charge for that.  Jay

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 18:04:34 -0400
From: skallisjr@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  More News on Captain Midnight Paperback Version

On Columbus Day (well, the "official" holiday, a Monday) I received a
package from my publisher, McFarland.  It included a note which says in
part, "the 'official' date of publication is January 2005."

For those thinking of Christmas presents, it's orderable now at the
publisher's Website. [removed] -- and I've been assured
that it will ship before its official date, in time for the holidays.

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 18:05:01 -0400
From: Arthur Moore <arthuradio@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  William B Tanner commercials
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If anyone would be interested in a collection of William B Tanner radio
comercials and jingles from the 60's and 70's. On LP's and in good condition
with index books. Please contact Arthur at arthuradio@[removed]
also have a radio control board in operating condition used in the 50's

Arthur Moore
Announcer
WWWJ 1360 AM
WBRF [removed] FM

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 18:07:15 -0400
From: OTRGURU@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Joan Leslie

How I envy George Aust who  said in Digest # 327 that he got "a big long hug"
from Joan Leslie, one of my all-time favorite movie stars.

I guess it must be all over between Joan and me.  I fell in love with her
when I was 10 years old and did, finally, get to meet her in person about 20
years ago.  She smiled, we talked briefly and it was wonderful -- but I never
got
a hug.

I'm crushed, but will still carry a torch.

Chuck Schaden

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 19:40:26 -0400
From: Thom Bray <tb@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Live 365

( I posted this on Saturday but I believe it was lost in cyberspace.
Forgive me if this is a [removed])

Hello All:

I've been considering making a playlist of OTR at live 365, but I
really don't want it to be an exercise if nobody bothers to listen to
OTR "webcasts" there.  I know a few helpful listmembers, at great time
and personal expense have their own streaming content off of personal
websites.  My question is: does anybody here use Live365 to
listen/broadcast  OTR content? I'd love to hear opinions: pro/con.  If
the list moderator wants replies off list, then please contact me at
the above email.

Kind Regards

Thom Bray

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 19:41:01 -0400
From: "Andy" <oomspine@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Propagation and baseball

    Baseball broadcasts today are remarkably similar to those of the golden
age.  Propagation patterns of the major stations with the most power have
not changed much.  However, more stations are broadcasting now, and those on
the same channel as the big oldies or those on adjacent channels but close
to your residence city will interfere with the signal you hear.
Another factor, if you notice fewer long distance baseball broadcasts, is
that broadcast right change.  For a very long time, WJR Detroit at 760 on
the dial had the Detroit Tiger rights.  About 3 years ago, WXYT at about
1260 on the dial outbid WJR for the rights.  WXYT has a weaker signal on a
more crowded channel.  WJR can still be heard at great distances, but has no
Tigers.
KMOX still has Cardinals and WSB still has the Braves, and should be
listenable to much the same extent as previous decades.  I don't know if
KDKA has the Pirates yet.
WGN at 720 should be a catch for the Cubs in many places.  However, although
I could hear WGN well in South Dakota, 700 miles away, I don't know if it
reaches the east coast.  Antenna patterns are sometimes directional, to
protect other stations on the same frequency.  The FCC responsibility is to
assure that new stations do not disrupt existing stations.
KOA, 850, is good for the Rockies throughout most of the west.
OTR and baseball are definitely related.
Andy Ooms
Pine, AZ

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 19:41:13 -0400
From: knight555@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  when radio was

hello. does anybody know if "When Radio Was" or similar otr show, is airing
anywhere in the NY tri-state area any more and if so, what the schedule
is?  I used to pick it up on WICC (Ct) but haven't heard it in some
time.  I am on Long Island.  thanks.   MJS

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 21:58:28 -0400
From: Ruk77@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  new Luke Slaughter
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A couple of weeks ago someone had metioned a sight that released a new Luke
Slaughter show. Can someone help me with that sight? I want to buy it and hear
a new show from one of my favorite [removed] all

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 21:59:28 -0400
From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  OTR License plates

Dan Hughes asks for input for those who have OTR related vehicle plates.

In VA, personalized plates are $ 20 plus whatever the base cost is,
[removed] for an automobile, $ 38 plus the twenty. There is no price break
for a number at the end, as in Illinois, nor is their a reduction the
second year, when all you are paying for is the tiny sticker labels (of
month and year) to cover the issue dates. So my theory is, if VA is
going to charge me full price every year, I want a new set every year.

This year I have STR8 ARO. In prior years, my car has had: DR IQ, INFO
PLS, SKY KNG, BOX 13, EZ ACES, X MINUS 1, MR KEEN, OTR FAN, RENFRU, LUV
OTR, and P NOVAK. In order not to waste them, each year I donate my old
ones to the banquet raffles at Newark FOTR convention, together with a
cassette of the shows represented by the plate.

VA also has a requirement that once a combination is issued, it can
never be re-issued, even if it is surrendered. So therefore, although I
would have love to have had YU 2-8209, TOM MIX, and B-BAR-B, someone
else had them first and I can never order them in the future.

Note:  To the vast majority of Americans, with no clue to OTR lore,
such plates are translated differently. When I had DR IQ, they assumed
I was a psychiatrist, with SKY KNG most thought I was a minister, and
with LUV OTR, many said, "I love that old time religion, too."

Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 21:59:55 -0400
From: "Frederick S. Hillman" <fshillman@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  OTR vanity license plates

Dan Hughes asked about OTR-related vanity license plates.  My plate is
LN RNGR 8.

Shouldn't be too difficult a code to break!

Although the 8 saves me $$ (I live in IL like a couple of Dan's
examples), the plate with no number had already been taken.  Actually, I
think our financially strapped Governor has raised the vanity rates.

Hi-Yo Silver!
Fred Hillman

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 22:00:30 -0400
From: DanHaefele@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Johnny Dollar
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In a message dated 10/10/2004 2:47:25 PM Pacific Standard Time, Roby McHone
writes:

My wife and I have been listening to the 'Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar'
series for the last three weeks or so.  <snip>  A number of the 5 part
series are
missing one of their episodes.  Where can I get complete 5 part shows or are
some of these missing episodes just not in existence?

    I was lucky enough to locate the long-missing concluding chapter of the
"Sea Legs Matter."   The complete story, along with many other Johnny Dollar
broadcasts (half hour and Monday through Friday formats) may be found in the
SPERDVAC library.  If you're not a SPERDVAC member and would like additional
information on the organization, e-mail an info request to SPERDVAC@[removed].
SPERDVAC will reply with a pamphlet, sample newsletter and a CD of shows via
U. S.
Postal Service.

Dan Haefele
DanHaefele@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 23:11:57 -0400
From: "Bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed];
To: ""old-time radio digest">" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Is it live or is [removed]

Hi all,
I have an AFRS New Year's Eve Dance Party from 1945/46 and I'm curious if
anyone knows if this was a real deal.
It's a series of big band remotes from around the country--Armstrong, Prima,
Ellington, Goodman etc.
The recordings of the bands are certainly different from the commercial
recordings of the songs played but the New Year's Eve
crowd noises sound suspiciously the same as the program moves from one area
of the country to another.
Could these have been specially recorded tunes for the AFRS?
Bill

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 23:12:20 -0400
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  License plates and Jack's playing

Dan Hughes writes:

Just curious as to how many of you have vanity license plates that  have
OTR references.

Mine is KUBLSKY.

On Jack's serious violin playing, there's a straight bit that he does with
Stuart Canin, the boy who originally played "The Bee" on Fred Allen's program
and "started" the Benny-Allen feud.  It's available from our video  library.
It's the only completely "straight" ([removed], non-comedic) violin  routine I've
seen him [removed] Jack with Stern and the Bach Double Violin  Concerto has
gags in it.

--Laura Leff
President,  IJBFC
[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 23:34:36 -0400
From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  benny and isaac stern

Jazman asked if Jack Benny could really play the violin well.  I remember
seeing a movie, maybe it was a kinescope of Jack playing the Bach concerto
for two violins with Isaac Stern -- and Jack did quite well!  There may be
other examples out there.

It was a videotaped television show, and it was exceedingly funny.  Benny
and Stern clearly liked each other and had a fine time glaring back and
forth whenever Benny screwed up.  I don't think of that show as an example
of Jack's musical skill because it was set up as a comedy sketch more than a
concert.

But it was excellent and I'd like to see it again sometime.

M Kinsler

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

Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 10:09:00 -0400
From: "bobb lynes" <iairotr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  License plates

Hi,
Dan Hughes (any relation to Walden?) asked about custom/vanity license
plates.  Mine is the same as my email address:  IAIROTR.  "I air old-time
radio" (A Barbara Watkins idea).

Bobb

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

Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 14:08:30 -0400
From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  OTR License Plates

     Yes, as a matter of fact I have noticed a few
OTR related vanity plates. Some of those I've seen
are: SHADOW, MARGO, BLAKSTN (Blackstone), BERGEN,
and IRMA (My Friend Irma).

     I never considered OTR names as possibilities
for vanity plates, but the list of possibilities is
virtually endless.

Another OTR Fan,

Kenneth Clarke

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #328
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