Subject: [removed] Digest V2001 #411
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 12/27/2001 9:03 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2001 : Issue 411
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Re: Looking for My Favorite Husband   [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Today in Radio History                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      OTR Book                              [ "Thomas Mason" <batz34@[removed] ]
      Re: Fathers of Radio                  [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
      Franklin MacCormack                   [ "Arte" <arte@[removed]; ]
      Big Sister                            [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
      Vaughn deLeath                        [ William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
      Bob Bailey-Born to play this role     [ Mike Ray <MRay@[removed]; ]
      Christmas gifts                       [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 00:37:14 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re: Looking for My Favorite Husband

>     Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2001 23:02:52 -0500
>     From: "[removed]" <swells@[removed];
>     Subject: Looking for My Favorite Husband

>      Accordin to Hickerson, you may have a vary difficult time tracking them
>     down. He states that only 63 known episodes are in circulation. Now that
>     doesn't mean that, that is all that exist, but it would render any that are
>     not circulating rather difficult to obtain.

       In addition to that the same show will will numerous titles and
    dates.  I have a copy of the original log compiled by Gregg Oppenheimer,
    son of Jess, (also a list member) and comparing his log against shows
    I've found here and there the differences are outstanding.  I stand by
    Gregg's list.  Dates will be off, dupe shows with different dates and
    titles, etc.  Its all very confusing.
       Joe

    --
    Visit my home page:
    [removed]~[removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:12:24 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Today in Radio History

      From Those Were The Days --

    1939 - The Glenn Miller Show, also known as Music that Satisfies,
    started on CBS radio. The 15-minute, twice-a-week show was sponsored by
    Chesterfield cigarettes and was heard for nearly three years.

    1968 - The Breakfast Club signed off for the last time on ABC radio,
    after 35 years on the air.

      Joe

    --
    Visit my home page:
    [removed]~[removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:14:03 -0500
    From: "Thomas Mason" <batz34@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: OTR Book

    I was looking through the pages of the weekly Comic Buyers Guide and came
    across an ad for a book entitled "Radio's Greatest Years" written by Frank
    [removed] revised second edition. It seems to cover the entire spectrum
    of OTR and even has a forward by Norman Corwin.  It is full size 8 1/2" by
    11" and has over 264 pages.
    Anyone know anything about this book?  The price is right at $[removed],
    considering what books go for nowadays.
    Tom Mason

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

    Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:15:08 -0500
    From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re: Fathers of Radio

    On 12/26/01 11:05 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:

>     With all respect to Fessenden and Marconi and
>     Tesla and Edison and even Nathan Stubblefield, the
>     REAL "Father of Radio" is indisputably Dr. Mahlon
>     Loomis, who broadcast Morse code radio signals as far
>     back 1865, during the closing days of the Civil War,
>     and who in 1876 (or possibly 1877) broadcast the
>     world's first radio-telephone messages.

    While Loomis (as well as Tesla and Stubblefield) may have succeeded in
    transmitting signals without wire, they weren't transmitting *radio.* All
    of these experimenters were working with simple low-frequency electrical
    fields, not the generation and transmission of Hertzian radio waves.
    Their signals were broadband, brute-force electrical transmissions, not
    tuned radio-frequency signals -- and had no more to do with the basic
    principles of radio than a string stretched between two tin cans has to
    do with the principles of the telephone.  While it is possible to
    transmit signals by the Loomis/Tesla/Stubblefield methods, there's no way
    to *tune* these signals -- rendering the system essentially useless as a
    means of mass communication. It was an interesting scientific novelty --
    but the limits of the basic theory would have prevented it from ever
    growing beyond that.

    Loomis secured a patent in 1872 for what he called "conductive wireless
    transmission," but whether or not this system actually worked as well as
    he claimed is very much disputed. The complete text of the patent can be
    viewed at Thomas White's Early Radio website, at
    [removed]~[removed]. The salient feature of the
    patent is, in Loomis's own words:

    "The utilization of natural electricity from elevated points by
    connecting the opposite polarity of the celestial and terrestrial bodies
    of electricity at different points by suitable conductors, and, for
    telegraphic purposes, relying upon the disturbance produced in the two
    electro-opposite bodies (of the earth and atmosphere) by an interruption
    of the continuity of one of the conductors from the electrical body being
    indicated upon its opposite or corresponding terminus, and thus producing
    a circuit or communication between the two without an artificial battery
    or the further use of wires or cables to connect the co-operating
    stations."

    Loomis used a combination of large puddles of salt water and wired kites
    to conduct electrical charges from point to point. As can be seen, the
    essential feature of true radio -- the generation and transmission of a
    tunable RF carrier wave which can be modulated to carry information -- is
    not a part of Loomis' idea. His theory is similar to the theories pursued
    by Tesla and Stubblefield, but had little to do with the work done over
    the 19th Century by Michael Faraday, James Clerk Maxwell, Henrich Hertz,
    Oliver Lodge, Alexander Popov, John Stone Stone, Reginald Fessenden
    (probably the first person to successfully transmit voice by actual
    Hertzian radio waves) and, yes, Guglielmo Marconi. No one individual can
    be designated the "Father of Radio," but these scientists definitely had
    more to do with its development than the conductive/inductive theorists.

    Elizabeth

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

    Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 10:15:18 -0500
    From: "Arte" <arte@[removed];
    To: "OldRadio Mailing List" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Franklin MacCormack

    I grew up listening tom Franklin MacCormack on WGN's
    "Meister Brau Showcase"
    (midnight - 6am).

    His reading of Browning's "How Do I Love Thee" is classic.

    Another interesting note: Franklin suffered a massive heart
    attack and died while on the air.
    Not sure of the date, but I think it was in the early 70s.

    He had been an actor and announcer on several OTR programs.
    I've heard in name in the credits of "Little Orphan Annie"
    an "Heartbeat Theater" among others.

    "And the [removed] burning."

    Arte

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

    Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 11:52:10 -0500
    From: otrbuff@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Big Sister

    Actually, there were five -- not four -- actresses who played the part of
    Big Sister.  The list given in Thursday's digest omitted the name of the
    most durable thespian to portray her, Grace Matthews.  She assumed the
    role on June 24, 1946 when the drama made a rather unusual (though not
    unprecedented) shift from one soapmaker to another.  When, after a
    decade, Lever Brothers canceled, Procter & Gamble was waiting in the
    wings to pick it up, carrying it -- with Grace Matthews in the role of
    Ruth Evans Wayne -- for the duration of the washboard weeper, through
    Dec. 26, 1952.  And while Thursday's post noted that the serial
    surrounded Wayne and her relationship with her younger sibling, Sue Evans
    Miller, make that two younger siblings.

    Actually, Ruth was a mother hen (in the absence of deceased parents) who
    clucked more around her younger lame brother Ned ("Neddie" in earliest
    days).  While he may have been physically distorted, he and Sue came
    across to the radio audience as mental weaklings.  Fans tuning in over a
    protracted period must have felt neither could ever mature well enough to
    be capable of running their own lives.  They were lucky to have Ruth to
    address their worries and heartaches.  Whether she did them a good turn
    by allowing the twosome to run to her for advice on everything is
    debatable.  She left little for them to figure for themselves.  But then,
    in the early years, without her assistance, there would have been no plot
    -- and no drama.  (Incidentally, Sue was also played by Helen Lewis, in
    addition to four other actresses named Thursday.)

    Neddie was eventually restored to physical health by the brilliant young
    surgeon Dr. John Wayne, who was fond of Ruth.  They married and that's
    when the real troubles began for the heroine.  Up to then it had been
    mere child's play.   But that's another story.  Suffice it to say that
    John, ever mindful of pretty legs, eventually had a torrid affair with
    Hope Evans, Neddie's young wife, his own sister-in-law.  You can see that
    it all dissolved into a mixed-up mess.  If ever a series required a
    counselor-in-residence, it was this one, and Big Sister inevitably filled
    the bill.

    Meanwhile, the actress Grace Matthews also played leads on The Brighter
    Day, Hilltop House, Soldier's Wife and The Story of Dr. Susan.  For a
    while she was Margo Lane on The Shadow and had a recurring role on Just
    Plain Bill.  She was in the cast of television's The Guiding Light
    (1968-69).  In the 1970s she appeared sporadically on The CBS Mystery
    Theater.  Matthews was born in Toronto, Canada Sept. 3, 1910 and died May
    15, 1995 at Mount Kisco, N. Y.

    Jim Cox

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

    Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 12:16:38 -0500
    From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Vaughn deLeath

    About 1939 while I was at WMCA in New York I was the engineer on a talk
    show with Vaughn. This was after her singing career. She sat at a table
    in small studio 4 as I recall. I was using an RCA 44-BX mike suspended
    from an extension to an RCA floor stand. This was superior to the usual
    desk mount as the talent had room for their script to lay on the table.
    As I started to set up the mike, Vauhgn arose from her chair and stepped
    back, explaining that she had been hit in the mouth at another station
    when the engineer set up the microphone. I remember her as being a very
    pleasant lady.

    Another comment. Mike Biel noted a few days ago that Mickey Katz had not
    broadcast live. The remote broadcasts from the Golden Pheasant Restaurant
    in Cleveland which I mentioned Mickey's reading of fractured fairy tales
    were all live. Too bad they were not recorded so that we could enjoy them
    again.

    Bill Murtough

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

    Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 13:03:56 -0500
    From: Mike Ray <MRay@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Bob Bailey-Born to play this role

    Hi Gang: I'm right in the middle of re-listening to the
    Yours Truly Johnny Dollar 5-part series staring Bob Bailey.
    Now I always thought, and it is widely accepted that Bailey
    was by far the best of the Johnny Dollars. The show I think
    was mediocre at best till this brilliant actor was hired by
    writer producer Jack Johnstone to play the part. but  I think
    his ability goes far beyond just being the best Dollar. This
    man had incredible attributes as an actor. Not only could Bailey
    be a tough guy when needed, (which is no big deal since all
    deceives can do that) but he also displayed a great deal of
    compassion and warmth that all the other 'detectives' seem to
    lack. His abilities as Dollar with his great range and depth gave
    me the feeling that Bailey was born to play this role. In fact I
    can't think of a single actor who was better equipped to play
    any part, like Bob Bailey was in playing the role of  Johnny
    [removed], this gave me an idea of what a top 10 list might
    look like of those actors or actresses who were born to play a
    certain role.

    1.	Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar
    2.	James Stewart as Britt Ponsit (The Six Shooter)
    3.	Eve Arden as Connie Brooks (Our Miss Brooks)
    4.	Jack Webb as Joe Friday   (Dragnet)
    5.	Orson Welles as Lamont Cranston (The Shadow)
    6.	Brace Beemer as the Lone Ranger
    7.	Parley Bear as Chester Proudfoot  (Gunsmoke)
    8.	Bennett Kilpack as Mr. Keen  (Mr. Keen Tracer of Lost Persons)
    9.	Lon Clark as Nick Carter  (Nick Carter, Master Detective)
    10.	William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy

    Honorable mention: Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday (Box 13),
    Frank Lovejoy as Randy Stone (Nightbeat),
    Fanny Brice as Baby Snooks,
    William Conrad as Matt Dillion (Gunsmoke),
    John Stanley as Sherlock Holmes,
    Bud Collyer as Superman,
    William Bendix as Chester A. Riley (The Life of Riley).
    Bob Hope (entertainer of the troops)

    I would love to see who you believe was born to play
    a certain [removed] final note. If you have not ever
    taken the time to introduce yourself to the 5-part
    series of "Yours Truly Johnny Dollar" programs you
    have missed something very special.
    Best regards,
    Mike Ray

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

    Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 20:10:51 -0500
    From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Christmas gifts

    Santa was very good to me this year, as it was an OTR Christmas. I
    received John Dunning's "On The Air" which I had wanted for a long time
    but didn't want to spend the money on myself. Also John Dunning's book
    "Two O Clock Eastern Wartime". And as if that weren't enough, I was
    given Herbert Hobler's "And Now The News 1945" which had the added bonus
    of a bookmark from our friend Hal Stone. Thank you Hal.
    Speaking of books, I just finished reading "Listening in" by Susan J.
    Douglas. I wonder if many others on this list have read it . I would be
    interested in hearing their opinions of  her work. I have definite mixed
    feelings about it. I almost quit at the begining because I have always
    had a strong dislike of anyone telling me what I think or what I feel,
    and Ms Douglas does that throughout her book assigning thoughts and
    feelings to OTR's listening audience. Sort of a psychological/
    socialogical /historical/ revisionist.(Hows that for making up a new
    term?) But over all I think that it was worth my time and I did learn
    from it. But then I have so much to learn yet, that it doesn't require a
    scholarly work to improve my meager knowlege of such a fascinating
    subject as OTR.

    Happy New Year to everyone.
    George Aust

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2001 Issue #411
    *********************************************

    Copyright [removed] Communications, York, PA; All Rights Reserved,
      including republication in any form.

    If you enjoy this list, please consider financially supporting it:
       [removed]

    For Help: [removed]@[removed]
    To Unsubscribe: [removed]@[removed]

    For Help with the Archive Server, send the command ARCHIVE HELP
      in the SUBJECT of a message to [removed]@[removed]

    To contact the listmaster, mail to listmaster@[removed]

    To Send Mail to the list, simply send to [removed]@[removed]