Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #295
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 9/9/2004 10:18 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2004 : Issue 295
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Lost radio shows available on CD      [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Candy Matson                          [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
      Walden Hughes 09/10-11-12             [ BryanH362@[removed] ]
      Beryl Davis at the SPERDVAC conventi  [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
      Fred Howard                           [ <whhsa@[removed]; ]
      Tonight Show                          [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
      Fibber and Molly Question - Wanted t  [ David <martindb@[removed]; ]
      Information Please - Post 1945?       [ David <martindb@[removed]; ]
      Re "Information Please" and "Gracie   [ David <martindb@[removed]; ]
      Sgt. Preston                          [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]
      Jack Benny and Ben Franklin           [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
      I'm Blushing                          [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      9-10 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
                                            [ "bobb lynes" <iairotr@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 22:54:16 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Lost radio shows available on CD

    For those that might be interested, Audio Classics Archive has just released
    some new broadcasts that have been "lost" recordings until recently.  ACA
    holds thousands of uncirculated shows and among this month's releases is the
    missing Luke Slaughter broadcast # 6, 42 broadcasts of Unit 99 (no shows
    circulating that I can find), and a uncirculated Lux Radio Theatre
    (11/27/50).  I heard from a first-generation source that if collectors show
    an interest in these, other uncirculated shows might follow.  Their site is
    [removed]

    Martin Grams, Jr.

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 22:54:48 -0400
    From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
    To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Candy Matson

    Kenneth Clarke asks about radio's best lady sleuth, Candy Matson, and
    whether her series ever made it to television or movies.

    The answer is no.

    The radio series debuted on NBC from San Francisco on June 30, 1949.
    It would remain on the network until May 12, 1951 when it ended, after
    a run of 94 episodes. Although the show was done live, Monty Masters
    had an airchecks made of every show for two reasons: he hoped to
    syndicate the series in Canada later (this did not materialize) and NBC
    shipped one disk to Hawaii each week to be aired on their network
    affiliate one week later.

    Over the years, most of these disks have been lost or broken so only 12
    remain. This dozen, plus the audition show of April 4, 1949 and an
    attempted reprise of 9-21-52 ("The Fortune Teller."), constitute the 14
    in circulation. Candy never made it to television or the silver screen.
    However all 94 radio scripts are in the Special Collection of Thousand
    Oaks Library, near Los Angeles.

    I gave Candy Matson an entire chapter in my book, "PRIVATE EYELASHES:
    Radio's Lady Detectives" if anyone wishes to learn what happened to the
    cast and crew members after the series ended.

    Jack French
    [removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 22:55:21 -0400
    From: BryanH362@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Walden Hughes 09/10-11-12

    Just a reminder of Walden Hughes weekend  program heard Friday , Saturday and
    Sunday
    at  10:30 pm   EDT/ 7:30 PDT.   In general the show runs about 5 1/2  hours
    each night.
    It can be heard via the internet at [removed]  .

    Highlights heard this weekend are:

    Friday

    A.  Frank Bresee interviews  interviews Jack Bailey former host of  " Queen
    for a day ".
    B.  Frank  also interviews  Red Baker.
    C.  a mix of OTR

     Saturday
     A.  Classic Interviews:  John Dunning interviews  Elliot Lewis.
     B.  Classic Interviews part 2: Richard Lamparski interviews Jimmy Fiddler
     C.  YUSA interview with James Arness (heard previously )
     D.  through out the evening a mix of OTR

    Sunday

    A.  Michael Biels talk (topic unannounced) .
    B.  Laura Leff presents  Jack Benny !  This week its the Bob Hope show from
         12-6-49 . Benny was the guest.
    C.  a mix of OTR including  Fred Allen,  Fibber McGee and Molly,
         Great Gildersleeve,  Lux Radio Theater and One Man Family
     D. More Classic Interviews: Richard Lamparski  with the superman radio cast .
         Clayton  Budd Collyer, and Joan Alexander.

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

    Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 22:55:33 -0400
    From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Beryl Davis at the SPERDVAC convention

    Hi Everybody,

    Beryl Davis will be one of my guest at the SPERDVAC convention  on Friday
    11-12-04 afternoon panel starting at 3-30 PM.  Beryl was the daughter of a
    big band leader from England.  At 13 years old she was the singer with
    George Sharing that travel in France before England went to war with
    Germany.  She has many stories about working on the BBC during the war plus
    working in theatres that was being bomb by the Germany.  Beryl was Glenn
    miller last singer on his finial show on 12-12-44.  She was the only English
    civilian to be assign to the US Army to travel with the miller band.  Bob
    Hope brought her to the USA to make guest shots on his radio show.  Beryl
    became Frank Sinatra co-star of Your Hit Parade from 12-6-47 until November
    of 1948.  She took over for Doris Day.  Beryl along with Connie Haines,
    Rhonda Fleming, and Jane Russell had a gold record with the song Do Lord.
    Beryl, Connie and Jane travel around the world for 35 years.  Connie Haines
    will join us via telephone on the Friday panel.  Connie was the singer with
    Tommy Dorsey, and the Abbott and costello show.  I hope to announce soon
    with some more guests for this panel.  This
    sPERDVAC convention should be one to attend.  Go to [removed] to
    print out order form.  Take care,

    Walden Hughes

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 01:22:31 -0400
    From: <whhsa@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Fred Howard

    Dear Folks;
    Peace.
    The search is intensifying. I am learning about Gwen Delano, Ted Robertson,
    Milton Charles, plus others that made Straight Arrow such a memorable radio
    show through the kindness of OTR fans, especially in California. But I
    cannot find any substantiating info on Fred Howard. I know that Fred and Nat
    Vincent made up The Happy Chappies and wrote songs, one being When the Bloom
    is on the Sage (Round up time in Texas) from which the music for the
    Ralston's Tom Mix radio theme song was derived. From all indications Fred
    was a Californian. Parley Baer told me years ago his real name was Fred
    Wright, but as there was already a personality with the same name Fred
    decide to use Howard as his last name I would like to learn more about this
    talented man. Any little information is helpful.
    Manituwah
    Bill

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 01:22:57 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Tonight Show

>     Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2004 13:05:09 -0400
>     From: "Michael J. Hayde" <michaelhayde@[removed];

>     The complete sequence is: Tonight Show with Steve Allen until January
>     1957, then "Tonight: America After Dark" for six months, then Jack Paar
>     until Spring 1962, then Johnny Carson in October with several guest hosts
>     filling in the months between.

    "Tonight: America After Dark" was hosted by Jack Lescouli.  The multiple guest hosts during
    the interregnum between Jack Paar and Johnny Carson included Groucho Marx.  I wish I'd
    been able to see that!

    --
    A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
     15 Court Square, Suite 210                 lawyer@[removed]
    Boston, MA 02108-2503           	         [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 08:22:22 -0400
    From: David <martindb@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Fibber and Molly Question - Wanted to make TV
     F&M show?

    I have read that Jim and Marion Jordan were reluctant to make a TV
    version of the F&M show due to their dislike of the visual medium.
    However4, when I saw them in "Now we're talking", they appear to be at
    ease with the camera and much better actors than Edgar Bergan.

    So, what is the truth behind the TV F&M?  I know that by the 50s,
    Marion was not well, so was this a factor?

    Thanks

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 08:22:32 -0400
    From: David <martindb@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Information Please - Post 1945?

    I read tat Information Please lasted into the 1950s, but have only
    seen recording of the show from 1938-1944.  Are the post 1945 shows
    available?   Would love to listen to them if I can find them!

    Thanks

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 08:22:52 -0400
    From: David <martindb@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re   "Information Please" and "Gracie Allen"

    I have observed  the "Gracie Allen " shows on  usenet.

    I have also listened to  them and they are OK.  She walks a fine line
    between her character and a woman of average intelligence.  Even the
    moderator questions when she will get back into character!

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 08:24:00 -0400
    From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Sgt. Preston
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

     Wed, 8 Sep 2004, my pal Martin Grams, Jr.  wrote:

>     In 1980  [Don] Sherwood brought another old radio character to life on the
>     comic pages, Sgt. Preston of the Yukon, illustrated by Sherwood for the
>     Wrather Corp., then presently owners of the Lone Ranger Television, Inc.,
>     which ran in newspapers throughout the United States.

    This reminds me of a funny joke Anthony Tollin told at last year's FOTR (the
    joke had been one of his journalist father Gale Tollin's favourites):

    "I'll have you know I happen to be the King in my family!...Have you met my
    wife Sergeant Preston?"

    Bah-dum-bump!

    Sniffing too much ether,

    Derek Tague

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

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 13:19:19 -0400
    From: JackBenny@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Jack Benny and Ben Franklin

    [removed] intoned in his well-known fashion:

>     Well, there was a TV episode in which Don Wilson was Ben
>     Franklin.  Jack was Alexander Hamilton (and I think Dennis
>     Day was Aaron Burr).

    And there was also a show where a guest star (can't remember who at the
    moment) observed the similarities between Jack and Ben Franklin, and had
    stagehands dress up Jack in requisite 18th century clothing and powdered wig.

    --
    Laura Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 13:22:08 -0400
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  I'm Blushing

    Wow! What extremely generous comments regarding my book that were just made
    by Al Girard and Steven Thompson.

>     I was under the impression that the book had sold out long ago. I don't
>     understand why there are still copies available, but since there are, I want
>     to let the list know how much I enjoyed my copy.  It's a wonderful read,
>     (SNIP) If you enjoy books about OTR, you won't find a more enjoyable book.

    My sincere thanks Al. Then Steven [removed]

>     please allow me as a totally and completely disinterested party to add  that
>     it was the single most entertaining book I've read all year (and I manage a
>     bookstore!) and one of the most genuinely informative OTR books to come along

    in ages (and I have an entire bookcase of OTR books!)

    I wonder if you folks realize how meaningful it is for one's creative
    efforts to be singled out for such high praise. My deepest gratitude to all
    who have told me that they enjoyed reading it. More about that in a moment.
    But first, to respond to Al's comment about the fact that there are still
    copies available, here's the straight scoop. Of the 1,000 copies printed,
    about 50%  were sold to subscribers of the Digest, and about 40% at various
    FOTR Conventions. Quite a few copies were sold to Hastings (Archie),
    Rosemary (Betty) and Jane Webb (Veronica). I guess they liked the fact that
    I had nothing but good to say about them, so they purchased them for family
    and friends. :) There are actually about 60 copies remaining, and I'll be
    taking a bunch with me to the upcoming FOTR Convention in NY/NJ.

    But in case you won't be going there, and want to get your own inscribed and
    autographed copy, here's the address again to obtain the ordering info.

    [removed]

    Now, getting back to my sincere appreciation for the compliments and praise.

    Growing up as a kid actor in show business, I appeared in quite a few stage
    plays (Broadway and in touring companies). I learned at a very early age,
    during curtain calls, just how much "applause" could mean to a performer.
    It's pretty heady stuff, and possibly quite addictive. When, as a teenager,
    I got the part of "Jughead" on "Archie Andrews" on NBC, the "Applause" kept
    coming. We were fortunate to perform our broadcasts in front of fairly large
    studio audiences, and we enjoyed their applause, knowing that our work gave
    people (youngsters primarily) entertainment and pleasure.

    However, going into TV production following my Radio career, audience
    applause became a thing of the past, (with no great loss) since it was
    supplanted by very nice financial rewards. Obviously, a far more tangible
    form of recognition and appreciation.

    When I happily retired from "Show Business" at age 50, and dropped out of
    sight in Florida, I still pursued creative activities and concentrated on my
    long standing interest in Art, primarily painting and Sculpting. Quite
    honestly, I gave little thought to what I had achieved as a performer in my
    past life, and didn't miss hearing the applause. That is, until one day, Bob
    Hastings told Jay Hickerson (of FOTR fame) where I could be found.

    To make a long story short, I was "rediscovered", and became a "celebrity"
    of sorts once again. As least as far as all you wonderful people in the OTR
    hobby are concerned. And you know something? It was fun hearing "applause"
    again following our various recreations. I was eventually invited to all the
    other major OTR Conventions, and am having a ball. Although the pay for
    performing is lousy (Zero) the rewards are substantial. The "Applause" and
    appreciation from the OTR fans is compensation that this old actor
    thoroughly enjoys. That, and meeting and making lots of new friends.

    As I stated before, I did not set out to write a book about my early
    performing career. I was in the process of writing a book (an expose of
    sorts) of my years directing TV commercials, and about the idiots from the
    advertising agencies that were my "clients". Not to mention the strange
    group of performers and Show Business "Stars" that I worked with.

    Coincidentally, around that same time, I joined the ranks of OTR Digest
    subscribers.  When Charlie Summers and I became friends, he asked to see
    some of the drafts I had written about the TV years. He followed that up by
    practically insisting that I should include stories about my earlier career
    as a Radio Performer. I politely declined, saying that I felt reverential
    about my years as a radio performer, and totally sarcastic and extremely
    negative about the insanity of my TV Commercial production experiences. Two
    totally different literary approaches and/or styles of writing.

    But with encouragement from quite a few OTR fans, the TV book was set aside,
    and to show my appreciation for how nice the people in the OTR Hobby have
    been to me, I wrote "Aw!!! Relax [removed]". The reason was not so
    much for any material gain, but for what I hoped would bring these die hard
    OTR fans some pleasure, enjoyment, and the inside scoop about performing on
    Radio. Based on the positive "reviews", I seem to have succeeded in that
    creative effort, and nice comments are as good as "applause" any day of the
    year. I know I succeeded as an actor and as a TV director. It's gratifying
    to discover that I seem to have also succeeded as an author. :)

    Hal(Harlan)Stone
    Jughead

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 15:36:03 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  9-10 births/deaths

    Sepember 10th births

    09-10-1898 - Adele Astaire - Omaha, NB - d. 1-25-1981
    dancer, actress: (Fred's Sister) "Magic Key"; "Savings Bond Campaign"
    09-10-1904 - Emery Deutsch - Budapest, Hungary - d. 4-16-1997
    conductor: "Arabesque"; "Let's Pretend"
    09-10-1907 - Alvin Childress - Meridian, MS - d. 4-19-1986
    actor: "New World A-Coming"
    09-10-1907 - Fay Wray - Alberta, Canada - d. 8-8-2004
    actress: Rosemary "Keeping Up with Rosemary"
    09-10-1909 - Raymond Scott - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-8-1994
    conductor, composer: "Your Hit Parade"; "Chicago Theatre of the Air"
    09-10-1915 - Edmund O'Brien - Brooklyn, NY - d. 5-9-1985
    actor: Johnny Dollar "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"
    09-10-1920 - Vivian Block - Brooklyn, NY
    actress: "Let's Pretend"; Ann Weston "Wilderness Road"; "Coast to Coast on a
    Bus"
    09-10-1934 - Charles Kuralt - Wilmington, NC - d. 7-4-1997
    sportscaster: "Junior Sports Parade"; "Sports Final"

    September 10th deaths

    01-31-1923 - Joanne Dru - Logan, WV - d. 9-10-1996
    actress: (Sister of Peter Marshall) "Lux Radio Theatre"
    04-01-1923 - Bobby Jordan - NYC - d. 9-10-1965
    actor: (The Dead End Kids) "Texaco Star Playhouse"; "Wheatenaville Sketches"
    06-19-1932 - Pier Angeli - Cagliaru, Saradinia - d. 9-10-1971
    actress: "Louella Parsons Show"
    08-06-1881 - Leo Carrillo - Los Angeles, CA - d. 9-10-1961
    actor: Pedro "Grapevine Rancho"; "Four Frightened People"; "Good News of 1939"
    10-02-1914 - Charles Drake - Bayside, NYC - d. 9-10-1994
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Screen Director's Playhouse"
    12-09-1905 - Dalton Trumbo - Montrose, CO - d. 9-10-1976
    writer: (member of infamous Hollywood Ten); "Arch Oboler's Plays"
    12-30-1885 - Ed Jerome - NYC - d. 9-10-1959
    actor: Harry Blackstone "Blackstone, the Magic Detective"; Gregory Allen "Rich
    Man's Darling"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 19:21:39 -0400
    From: "bobb lynes" <iairotr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:

    Hi, folks,
    Whew!  How many more unsolicited praises of Jug's book are we going to have
    to endure?
    Seriously, it is a GREAT memoir (well worth the high price he's charging).
    Which reminds me, I've still got copies of Frank Bresee & my self-published
    book "Radio's Golden Years" for sale at $20 each (autographed, postpaid).

    Bobb

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #295
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