Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #405
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 11/9/2003 1:59 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2003 : Issue 405
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Lum and Abner and "Wonderful World"   [ Ehutchison@[removed] ]
      A Comedy of Errors?                   [ Wich2@[removed] ]
      Baking Tapes Vs Cd's?                 [ Faulknerian189@[removed] ]
      Red Winds                             [ "Paul M. Thompson" <beachcomber@com ]
      Lum and Abner                         [ "Charles Sexton" <csexton@[removed] ]
      dylan thomas                          [ "Kurt E. Yount" <blsmass@[removed]; ]
      Re: Lum and Abner- "Wonderful World"  [ StevenL751@[removed] ]
      Great idea. Thanks!                   [ RickEditor@[removed] ]
      Bill Stern vs Paul Harvey             [ Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed] ]
      Wonderful World                       [ "Paul M. Thompson" <beachcomber@com ]
      OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK               [ "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed] ]
      Bill Stern and dolls                  [ "George M. Kelly" <gkelly1@[removed] ]
      Abbott & Costello--The Saga Continue  [ "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@comc ]
      baking tapes                          [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
      Quiz Show - Twenty Questions          [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Wonderful World!                      [ "Micheal Leannah" <mleannah@charter ]
      Re: "Wonderful World"                 [ Timothy Clough <timothy@[removed]; ]
      Re: Lum and Abner Wonderful world     [ "Greg Willy" <gregw@[removed] ]
      Agnes Moorehead request               [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Bill Stern Disclaimers                [ <fc90030@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 23:45:48 -0500
    From: Ehutchison@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Lum and Abner and "Wonderful World"
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
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    To find the origin of this phrase the reader needs to go back to February of
    1942 and listen to the story line involving Diogenes Smith.  It is probably
    the golden age of the series' 20 year run, and makes for great listening.

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

    Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 23:46:16 -0500
    From: Wich2@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  A Comedy of Errors?

>     From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];

      November 9th births

      11-09-1889 - Claude Rains - London, England - d. 5-20-1967
      actor: "Streamlined Shakespeare"; "This Is War!"; "Presenting Claude Rains" <

    Dear Ron & Folks-
    PRETTY sure that Rains was not in the late 30's "Streamlined Shakespeare"'s,
    but rather in the CBS competing Bard series?
    BY THE WAY - has anybody found clean, uncut (not truncated re-broad's) copies
    of Jack Barrymore's "Streamlined"'s? I spoke to someone (maybe one of the
    Gassmans?) years ago, when an NBC cache was [removed]
    Anyone care about a really well-done series of plays, by the world's greatest
    playwrite, containing the last great work of the man considered one of his
    best moden interpreters?

    Hmmm?

    Best,
    Craig W.

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

    Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 23:46:43 -0500
    From: Faulknerian189@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Baking Tapes Vs Cd's?
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    I hope to God 20 years from now we, those who collect and store name brand
    Cds in perfect conditions, shall ever have to worry about "baking tapes."
    Baking a cd, of course, will be the perfect ruin.  Perhaps there may be
    problems of
    which we now, this day, have no conception, but I still believe care of a CD
    collection, will produce, 50 years hence, no such problems the reel-to-reels
    have had.  However, new things crop up all the time, and I am sure the last
    word has not yet been heard about CD formats.  There may someday be new
    formats.
    And new, unheard-of problems today.  But I was a former reel-to-reel
    collector; thus, I am familiar to reel problems over time, and considering
    good
    quality, high encode Mp3, I wonder how I ever lived without them!  Jim Faulkner

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

    Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 23:47:46 -0500
    From: "Paul M. Thompson" <beachcomber@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Red Winds

    Bill Murtough made an interesting observation when he recently
    posted a comment about the wildfires in California. He said:

>     ......you hear a perpetual goof everytime this situation occurs.
>     The newscasters refer to the winds from the East which fan the blazes
>     as Santa Anna winds. Incorrect!  The proper term is Santana which is
>     a hot, dry wind from the East, a word in native Indian [removed]

    I believe Bill is correct about the proper term but perpetual goof is
    an understatement.  Right or wrong, they were called Santa Anas
    as far back as the 1930's. Raymond Chandler's short story Red Wind
    in the January 1938 issue of Dime Detective Magazine opened with
    "There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot
    dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl
    your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin [removed] "  This was
    also the opening for NBC's first episode of  The Adventures of Philip
    Marlowe starring Van Heflin on June 17, 1947 and repeated again
    by Gerald Mohr in the CBS series debut on September 26, 1948.

    Proof that if you repeat something often enough it becomes accepted
    is that recent dictionaries now include the term Santa Ana (winds).

    Paul Thompson

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:35:37 -0500
    From: "Charles Sexton" <csexton@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Lum and Abner
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    There was a question a few days ago about the use of the phrase "Wonderful
    World" on the Lum and Abner show.  It originated with a con man by the name of
    Diogenes Smith who came to Pine Ridge in early 1942.  Like the philosopher of
    old, he claimed to be searching for an honest man to whom he would give
    $10,000.  This got all the towns people to love their neighbors, do good to
    their feller men and generally be nicer to the women folk, kids and dogs.  In
    reality, Diogenes was part of a counterfeiting gang and the cash prize was
    only a ruse to keep the townsfolk from snooping into his real purpose for
    being in town.  He constantly greeted everyone with the comment "Wonderful
    World,' even after he eventually was found out and was on his way to jail.
    Cedric Weahunt liked the phrase so much that he adapted it as his own and
    continued to use it for a couple of more years.

    Charles Sexton

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:36:06 -0500
    From: "Kurt E. Yount" <blsmass@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  dylan thomas

    I know it isn't American radio specifically but you can't forget Under
    Milkwood, which was meant to be a radio play specifically.  I could be
    wrong on this and probably am, but it is my feeling that the version that
    exists (I assume only on vinyl) was done in America.  (Please don't quote
    me on that), but it is a very different play.)  Richard Burton also did a
    version of it, although I assume that was all in England.  UnderMilkwood
    is a very clever play with very subtle humor and some stuff that is out
    and out funny and some stuff that is out and out embarrassing these days,
    but it is still extremely interesting for all that.  If you can find a
    copy, check it out.  I have just heard it on the radio out here (I think
    KCRW) but maybe it is on MP3 somewhere.  While I am on the subject, there
    is another play starring Alec Guiness called Dylan which is also worth
    listening to and on which he does an extremely good immitatioin of Dylan
    Thomas, and of course there is A Child's Christmas in Wales which is one
    of the best Christmas stories I know.  Kurt

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:36:28 -0500
    From: StevenL751@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Lum and Abner- "Wonderful World"

    In a message dated 11/8/2003 11:05:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,
    [removed]@[removed] writes:

>     A little while ago, I started listening to Lum 'n Abner. Arbitrarily, I

    started listening to the

>     15 minute serial episodes that were from the spring of 1942. Quite

    frequently, characters

>     will say "Wonderful World!" to each other instead of "hello" or "goodbye".

    You should listen to the "Diogenes Smith" storyline from February and March
    1942, which will give you the explanation.  It's been a while since I listened
    to these episodes, but from what I recall Diogenes Smith is a con-man who
    comes to Pine Ridge and convinces the citizens that they need to be better
    people.
     He uses the phrase "Wonderful World" as a greeting and it catches on.  After
    he leaves the characters continue using the phrase for a time, especially
    Cedric who is still using it years later.

    Steve Lewis

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:37:17 -0500
    From: RickEditor@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Great idea. Thanks!
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    Gary Smullen wrote:

>      To the reader who is interested in listening to his MP3's
>     and CD's on a
>     catehdral-style repro, I have an idea. I have several models, and all have a
>     cassette slot. I use a Sony CD/MP3 player with an auto adapter, which slips
>     into the cassette slot. Works like a charm.

    Thanks, Gary, definitely an option.
    rick selvin
    philadelphia

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:48:27 -0500
    From: Al Girard <24agirard24@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Bill Stern vs Paul Harvey

    I've heard that Paul Harvey creates his stories in much the
    same way that Bill Stern did his, and I've been told that the
    endings to his "Rest of the Story" items are pure fiction.

    If you'll pardon the pun, is there any truth to that?

    Al Girard

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 10:59:04 -0500
    From: "Paul M. Thompson" <beachcomber@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Wonderful World

    Doug Berryhill said:

>     I started listening to Lum 'n Abner 15 minute serial episodes that
>     were from the spring of 1942. Quite frequently, characters will say
>     "Wonderful World!" to each other instead of "hello" or "goodbye".
>     I was wondering if there was a list member out there who could
>     explain the significance of the [removed]

    Around February 1942 a shady con artist by the name of Diogenes
    Smith came to Pine Ridge and initiated the phrase while giving
    out "Wonderful World" buttons as part of his quest to find an "honest
    man" and reward him with a $10,000 gift which later turned out to be
    a big scam. The daily storyline ran several months. Cedric took a big
    fancy to the phrase "Wonderful World" never missing an opportunity to
    use it and thereby making sure others remembered to use it also.

    Paul Thompson

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 10:59:14 -0500
    From: "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK

    Hi friends

    Here is this week's line-up for the week of 11-9-03 on my Olde Tyme Radio
    [removed] Featuring Tom Heathwood's "Heritage Radio Theatre," Big John
    Matthews and Steve Urbaniak's "The Glowing Dial" and my own "Same Time, Same
    Station" broadcasts, being broadcast on demand 24/7 in high quality
    streaming RealAudio at [removed]

    Past archived broadcasts are also available there.

    We look forward to seeing you there!

    	Jerry

    Here's this week's lineup:

    SAME TIME, SAME STATION with Jerry Haendiges

    HOUSE OF MYSTERY
    8-3-47  "A Gift from the Dead"
    HOST/STORYTELLER: John Griggs as "Roger Elliott - The Mystery Man"
    ORGANIST: Al Fanelli

    BEAU BRUMMEL
    1932  Audition Show  "The Duchess' Stolen Letter"
    Stars Hanley Stafford as Beau Brummel

    LUX RADIO THEATER
    Episode 732  1-29-51  "Treasure Island"
    Stars: James Mason and Bobby Driscol and Nigel Bruce
    Host William Keighley
    ---------------------------------------------------

    HERITAGE RADIO THEATRE with Tom Heathwood

    KRAMP HOLIDAY RECIPE
    "The Heritage Loaf for July 4th"
    A spoof on the old Kraft TV recipe show

    THE FRANK MORGAN/FANNIE BRICE SHOW
    "Frank is in Time Magazine and Snooks Is In a School Play"

    SUSPENSE
    CBS 10-11-45    "Beyond Good and Evil"
    Joseph Cotten stars in this superb thriller

    FIVE MINUTE MYSTERY
    Syndicated   "Did Son Kill Father?"
    --------------------------------------------------

    THE GLOWING DIAL with Big John and Matthews and Steve Urbaniak

    STRANGE WILLS
    Syndicated    Episode 27    "The Silver Buckles"

    DICK COLE
    Syndicated    Episode 7   1942    "Laura Gets Jealous"

    BUNCO SQUAD
    Audition    4-20-50    "The Case of the Bookworm"

    THE HUNTERS
    CBS Audition    11-29-48    "You Take Ballistics"

    COCA COLA TOP NOTCHERS
    NBC    3-19-30    "Ty Cobb Interviewed"
    -----------------------------------------------------

    Please feel free to contact me with any questions or requests for upcoming
    shows.

                Jerry Haendiges <Jerry@[removed];

      [removed]  The Vintage Radio Place
      Largest source of OTR Logs, Articles and programs on the Net

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 10:59:30 -0500
    From: "George M. Kelly" <gkelly1@[removed];
    To: OldRadio Mailing Lists <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Bill Stern and dolls

    1. I'm sure most of you have seen Woody Allen's take off on Bill Stern in
    Radio Days?
    2,  I did an otr presentation yesterday at a local church, and one of the
    ladies present, said some time in the 40s she bought her daughter an Amos
    and Andy doll.  Any information about such a doll would be appreciated.

    George Kelly

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 11:00:08 -0500
    From: "Ivan G. Shreve, Jr." <iscreve@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Abbott & Costello--The Saga Continues

    fc90030@[removed] made a motion on the floor:

>     With all the comments about Abbott & Costello movies for MGM I haven't
>     seen a word about, "Rio Rita," which was certainly an MGM production or,
>     "The Time Of Their Lives." which was a huge class A success.

    If Universal continues with their plan--assuming that there is a plan, of
    course--of releasing more Bud & Lou product to DVD, I'm sure it's only a
    matter of time before "The Time of Their Lives" hits the DVD rack.  (If we
    exclude "It Ain't Hay," due to its legal limbo status, "Time" would be in
    the next batch of eight Universal vehicles.)

    But you are correct that I was remiss in mentioning the MGM A&C films--in
    addition to "Rio Rita," they are "Lost in a Harem" (my personal favorite of
    the MGM bunch--Pokomoko!) and "Abbott & Costello in [removed]"  If these
    three make it to DVD, it will no doubt be through Warner Brothers Home
    Entertainment, since they have been responsible for releasing much of the
    early MGM films (though not nearly enough, I can assure you).

> >     Let's face it Bud & Lou made their best films  earlier rather than later

    in their [removed];<

    I certainly won't argue with that.  The early films do capture the duo at
    their best, probably due to the fact that movie-making at that time was a
    new and exciting experience for them.  Later on, they became kind of jaded
    and bored with making movies--I believe the great Buster Keaton once
    remarked that Bud and Lou's approach to filmmaking (while at MGM) was "When
    do we show up and what's the story about?"  Still, one could make a strong
    case that there was still life in the A&C product even after those early
    movie hits--I think "A&C Meet Frankenstein" (1948) and "A&C Meet the
    Invisible Man" (1951) are two of their very best.

    Ivan
    ----
    We've moved! OTR Ramblings and Musings at Thrilling Days of Yesteryear:
    [removed]

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 11:00:42 -0500
    From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
    To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  baking tapes

    In our previous episode:

>     Many Thanks to all.  Baking tapes to remove squeaks works.  I am now able
>     to listen and enjoy my former squeaky reel tapes.

    Transfer them very soon to whatever media you prefer, because they won't
    remain squeakless for long.

    Joe Salerno
    Video Works! Is it working for you?
    PO Box 273405 - Houston TX 77277-3405 [removed]

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 11:08:16 -0500
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Quiz Show - Twenty Questions

    In the midst of cleaning a file gathering dust on my kitchen table, I came
    across a broadcast log for a radio quiz show called TWENTY QUESTIONS which I
    compiled a long time ago.  Although the early episodes was known to be a
    family affair, the series usually employed a guest panelist ranging from
    Broadway actors, Hollywood actors and famous singers (examples: Illona
    Massey, Ezra Stone, Helen Musselman, Richard Widmark).  I'm tweaking the
    details so the log can go up on the internet for everyone to read but I do
    have a question I'm hoping some expert (or fan of the quiz show) can help
    answer.

    For a number of consecutive years, the last broadcast of the Christmas
    season that didn't surpass the holiday (December 23, December 19, December
    22, etc.) featured Santa Claus as the guest.  No joke.  Somehow someone was
    on the series playing the role of Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.  My question is
    this.  I haven't been able to find anything, even among the Van Deventer
    letters that reveal who played Santa.  Does anyone know who played Santa
    Claus?  Same person every year or a different person each holiday?

    Martin Grams, Jr.

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 11:08:27 -0500
    From: "Micheal Leannah" <mleannah@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Wonderful World!

    To answer the question about Lum and Abner characters saying. "Wonderful
    world!" to each other as a greeting, this began when the character Diogenes
    Smith came on the scene. Diogenes posed as a man with a lot of money who was
    looking for a truly good person in Pine Ridge to whom he could bestow his
    fortune. He had everyone saying "Wonderful world" instead of hello or
    goodbye as a way of showing they were mindful of being caring and
    benevolent. Laters, after they discovered he was a fraud, most tried to
    forget about him, but Cedric Weehunt could not. He continued to say
    "Wonderful world" by force of habit. I am sure when you hear those words
    uttered, they are coming from the lips of Cedric.

    Michael Leannah
    Sheboygan, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 12:18:25 -0500
    From: Timothy Clough <timothy@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: "Wonderful World"

    <snip>

>     I was wondering if
>     there was a list member out there who could either
>     explain the significance of the catch-phrase
>     "Wonderful World" to me, or at least direct me to the
>     episode dates that I could listen to which would
>     provide the explaination.

    <snip>

>     -FIBBERMAC-

    The best date to start, I believe, is February 3, 1942. This is the
    episode where Diogenes(sp?) Smith is first introduced to the folks of
    Pine Ridge.

    I just finished listening the Diogenes Smith episodes, and am currently
    listening to the "after-effects". The whole story is great, and I hope
    you (and anyone else) enjoy it.

    Timothy Clough

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 15:00:58 -0500
    From: "Greg Willy" <gregw@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Lum and Abner Wonderful world

    That storyline begins on Feb 3, 1942 with the arrival in Pine Ridge of the
    character Diogenes Smith, an old man who carries a lantern and greets
    everyone with "wonderful world!".  This refers to his striving to create a
    Eutopia on earth by promoting honesty and kindness.  His sincerity is soon
    called into question but even after his departure from the scene this
    greeting continues to be used by some of the characters, especially Cedric,
    the most simple of the group.  This storyline is a favorite of many.  I
    think the sophisticated, poetic musings of Diogenes interacting with the
    simple, honest folk of  Pine Ridge is the best radio I have ever heard.  I
    hope others will give it a listen who have not heard it.

    Greg

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 15:01:59 -0500
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Agnes Moorehead request

    I was recently contacted by a fellow who is interested in Agnes Moorehead's
    radio appearances.  Seems he's working on a project involving Moorehead and
    is looking for copies of any recordings he can get that features Moorehead
    (Mayor of the Town, Mercury Theater, The Shadow, etc.)  I just mailed him a
    broadcast of the Phil Baker Show and a lot of SUSPENSE broadcasts but my
    collection of Moorehead radio appearances isn't justice.  If any charitable
    souls know of Moorehead recordings in their collection and would be kind
    enough to send some copies to him, I will be more than welcome to forward
    his mailing address. I myself would like to see him accomplish a great task
    of listing the hundreds of radio shows Moorehead starred or co-starred in as
    a reference.
    Martin Grams, Jr.
    mmargrajr@[removed]

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

    Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 15:02:19 -0500
    From: <fc90030@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Bill Stern Disclaimers

    It seems as if those who are upset about Bill Stern's stories and
    fables aren't listening closely to the opening of his shows.  The
    announcer refers to Stern as, "...the formost collector of sports
    stories SOME HERESAY, SOME LEGENDS, SOME TRUE, but
    ALL so interesting we'd like to pass them on to you."

    I listened to them as a kid but that was enough of a disclaimer for
    me to know they might not be true.

    It wasn't till many years later that I learned the meaning of his
    closing line, "That's the three oh mark for tonight."
    Frank Coopersmith
                                      -30-

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #405
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