------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2010 : Issue 38
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
re: Jim Harmon & It's that time agai [ Ben Ohmart <benohmart@[removed]; ]
NEW-time radio [ Joseph Webb <drjoewebb@[removed]; ]
Corrections [ Bill Knowlton <udmacon1@[removed] ]
First OTR book [ KC0PWA <oldradiotimes@[removed]; ]
For the Masses,. Comrades! [ Wich2@[removed] ]
2-27 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Was Jim Harmon First? [ Robert Everest <erest@[removed]; ]
Clark Kent phone booth [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
Jim Harmon, OTR pioneer [ bobb lynes <iairotr@[removed]; ]
Off-speed programs [ "Bob Roach" <rroach4@[removed] ]
1960 tv documentary about Radio Free [ Graeme Stevenson <graemeotr@[removed] ]
This week in radio history 28 Feb to [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
RE: tape speeds [ "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed]; ]
Clark Kent's phone booth [ "Michael Leannah" <mleannah@sbcglob ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:09:36 -0500
From: Ben Ohmart <benohmart@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: re: Jim Harmon & It's that time [removed]
I enjoyed publishing the series, and Jim was great as Captain. Alas, the
sales just weren't very good. I thought the last volume, all mysteries, would
help, but Jim and I had no plans for a 5th edition. Now of course if someone
here is pals with Stephen King and James Patterson, I say on with the show!
Indeed, didn't someone here say that King's mom played organ on some radio
[removed]
One thing I liked about Jim was that he was very down to earth. Very easy
going and always an enthusiastic professional.
Ben Ohmart
Old radio. Old movies. New books.
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:10:23 -0500
From: Joseph Webb <drjoewebb@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: NEW-time radio
This report surprised me the other day -- it's a video report about new radio dramas. It was quite interesting -- and encouraging
Here's the video
[removed]
Here's the site of the director/producer they profile, Final Rune Productions
[removed]
Here is a general page about radio drama revival
[removed]
There's a lot more going on than I ever suspected. I had not heard of any of these before the WSJ story.
[ADMINISTRIVIA: Please send responses directly to the poster, thanks. --cfs3]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:09:54 -0500
From: Bill Knowlton <udmacon1@[removed];
To: oldtime radio <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Corrections
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
"He correctly identifies the first paid radio commercial as the
Queensland Corp".
I hope not. It was the QUEENSBORO Corp. <g>
"Grand Ol' Op'ry." Aint that. It's "Grand Ole Opry."
BILL KNOWLTON
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:10:30 -0500
From: KC0PWA <oldradiotimes@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: First OTR book
A couple months ago I looked into this same question that Derek asks and came
to the same conclusion, that Buxton and Owens should be considered the first
"hobbyist" book, though of course there were many great volumes before that.
I also used his premise that the book should look at dramatic radio as a (I'm
going to rattle chains here) "dead" entertainment genre, thus eliminating
many of the quality contemporary accounts written through the 50s. I also
wanted it to be a book that was widely used and referenced by fans of the
time, so I went back and looked through all the hobby fanzines I have from
the early 70s to try and get a feel for what books were actually being
accessed by hobbyists back then. Buxton and Owens wins under that criteria. I
thought it strange that Barnouw was rarely, if ever, mentioned, but his would
not have been volumes you could pick up at the local bookstore I suppose. One
I don't think I've seen mentioned was A thirty-year
history of programs carried on national radio networks in the United States,
1926-1956 by Harrison B. Summers which came out in 1958, then again in '71.
I've not seen this original version and rarely see it mentioned in the old
fan literature so it wouldn't meet my criteria or Derek's post-'62 criteria
either. Fun question,
Ryan Ellett
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:11:19 -0500
From: Wich2@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: For the Masses,. Comrades!
From: Michael Biel _mbiel@[removed]_ (mailto:mbiel@[removed])
Derek Tague has challenged us to come up with OTR books prior to Jim
Harmon's 1967 "Great Radio Heros" and Buxton & Owens' 1966 "Radio's
Golden Age" but after the Sept 30, 1962 date he picks as the end of the
golden age ... (LIST HERE) ... And every single one of these books belongs
on any OTR researcher's
bookshelf.
Michael provides a worthy list indeed; but they largely tend towards the
scholarly. I can't speak for Derek, but I wonder if he might be thinking
more of "popular" texts?
The mid-'60's was a flowering of that kind of genre writing. True, there
were books that treated of radio before Jim Harmon's; of fantasy film,
before Don Glut's; and of comic books, before Dick Lupoff and Don Thompson
edited together the contributions of many in ALL IN COLOR FOR A DIME. But
these
later folk were in the vanguard of, to paraphrase the old saw, "popular
books at popular prices!"
It's a bit analogous to how folks like George Gamow, and later Carl Sagan,
brought higher physics to a wider audience.
Best,
-Craig W.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:11:26 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 2-27 births/deaths
February 27th births
02-27-1873 - Enrico Caruso - Naples, Italy - d. 8-2-1921
tenor: On 12-13-1910 made experimental broadcast with Lee DeForest
02-27-1880 - Georgia Burke - Atlanta, GA - d. 11-28-1985
actor: Lily "When A Girl Marries"
02-27-1888 - Lotte Lehmann - Perleberg, Prussia, Germany - d. 10-24-1976
soprano: "Command Performance"; "Concert Hall"; "Here's to Veterans"
02-27-1891 - David Sarnoff - Minsk, Russia - d. 12-12-1971
executive: National Broadcasting Company"
02-27-1891 - Rubey Cowan - Brooklyn, NY - d. 7-28-1957
head of radio talent for NBC
02-27-1892 - William Demarest - St. Paul, MN - d. 12-28-1983
actor: Mr. Cobb "Cobbs"; "Eddie Bracken Show"
02-27-1893 - Maurice Spitalny - Tetieff, Russia - d. 10-28-1986
conductor: Music director for KDKA Pittsburgh
02-27-1894 - Frank Munn - The Bronx, NY - d. 10-1-1953
singer (The Golden Voice of Radio) Paul Oliver "Palmolive Hour"
02-27-1894 - Upton Close - Kelso, WA - d. 11-14-1960
commentator: "Events and Trends of the Week"; "Close-Ups of the :News"
02-27-1897 - Marian Anderson - South Philadelphia, PA - d. 4-8-1993
singer: "Ford Evening Sunday Hour"; "Telephone Hour"; "New World A'
Coming"
02-27-1899 - Ian Keith - Boston, MA - d. 3-26-1960
actor "The O'Neill Cycle"
02-27-1902 - Gene Sarazen - Harrison, NY - d. 5-13-1999
golf legend: "Tops in Sports"
02-27-1902 - Joe Tarto - d. 8-24-1976
musician: "The Ipana Troubadors"
02-27-1902 - John Steinbeck - Salinas, CA - d. 12-20-1968
novelist: "Radio Hall of Fame"; "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Screen
Director's Playhouse"
02-27-1903 - Reginald Gardiner - Wimbledon, Surrey, England - d.
7-7-1980
actor: "Document A/777"
02-27-1904 - Elisabeth Welch - NYC - d. 7-15-2003
actress, singer: "Soft Lights and Sweet Music"
02-27-1905 - Franchot Tone - Niagara Falls, NY - d. 9-18-1968
actor: "Arch Oboler Plays"; "Free Company"; "Knickerbocker Playhouse"
02-27-1907 - Kenneth Horne - England - d. 2-14-1969
comedian: "Round the Horne"; "Ack Ack Beer Beer"; "Beyond Our Ken"
02-27-1907 - Mildred Bailey - Tekoa, WA - d. 12-12-1951
singer: (Rockin' Chair Lady) "Mildred Bailey Show"; "Camel Caravan"
02-27-1909 - Carl Frank - Weehawken, NJ - d. 9-23-1972
actor: Jerry Malone "Young Dr. Malone"; Bob Drake "Betty and Bob"
02-27-1910 - Joan Bennett - Palisades, NJ - d. 12-7-1990
actor: "Ford Theatre"; "MGM Theatre of the Air"; "Skippy Hollywood
Theatre"
02-27-1912 - Ralph Camargo - Glendale, CA - d. 1-15-1992
actor: "X-Minus One"; "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"
02-27-1913 - Irwin Shaw - NYC - d. 5-16-1984
author: "Columbia Workshop";"Studio One"; "The Gumps"
02-27-1914 - S. Carl Mark - NYC - d. 7-4-2000
host: "Mutual Goes Calling"
02-27-1915 - Donald Curtis - Cheney, WA - d. 5-22-1997
actor: Michael Shayne "Michael Shayne"
02-27-1917 - George Mitchell - Falkirk, Scotland - d. 8-27-2002
gospel music: "Cabin in the Cotton"
02-27-1920 - Jose Melis - Havana, Cuba - d. 4-7-2005
bandleader: "Arthur Godfrey"s Talent Scouts"; "Arthur Godfrey Time"
02-27-1921 - E. Jack Neuman - Ohio - d. 1-15-1998
writer: "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"; "Advs. of Sam Spade"; "Escape"
02-27-1923 - Dexter Gordon - Los Angeles, Ca - d. 4-25-1990
saxophonist: "Newport Jazz Festival";"White House Jazz Festival"
02-27-1927 - Guy Mitchell - Detroit, MI - d. 7-1-1999
singer: "Stars On Parade"; "1957 March of Dimes Galaxy of Stars"
02-27-1927 - Ralph Stanley - Big Spraddle Creek, VA
bluegrass singer: (The Stanley Brothers) "Farm and Fun Program"
02-27-1928 - Jimmie Maddin - d. 9-1-2006
host: "The Nighthawk Bandstand"
02-27-1932 - Dame Elizabeth Taylor - London, England
actor: "Theatre Guild On the Air"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
02-27-1934 - Ralph Nader - Winsted, CT
consumer advocate: "Meet the Press"
02-27-1954 - Douglas Campbell - Glasgow, Scotland - d. 10-6-2009
actor/director: Saturday Night "Appointment with Venus"
February 27th deaths
01-20-1899 - Joseph Buloff - Vilnius, Lithuania - d. 2-27-1985
actor: Barney Glass "House of Glass"
01-25-1958 - Linda Smith - Erith, England - d. 2-27-2006
panelist: "Just a Minute"; "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue", "The News Quiz"
02-25-1908 - George Duning - Richmond, IN - d. 2-27-2000
composer: "Bud's Bandwagon"
03-16-1889 - Elsie Janis - Columbus, OH - d. 2-27-1956
First female announcer on network radio
03-25-1924 - Harold Neal - Michigan - d. 2-27-1980
announcer: "Challenge of the Yukon"; "Green Hornet"; "Lone Ranger"
04-04-1908 - Ted McMichael - Marshalltown, IA - d. 2-27-2001
singer: (The Merry Macs) "Bing Crosby Show"; "Fred Allen Show"
04-12-1908 - Robert L. Scott - Waynesboro, GA - d. 2-27-2006
wwII fighter pilot, author: "Mail Call"; "Hop Harrigan"
04-13-1890 - Gene Rodemich - St. Louis, MO - d. 2-27-1934
orchestra leader/singer: "Manhattan Merry-Go-Round"
04-16-1918 - Spike Milligan - Ahmednagar, India - d. 2-27-2002
comedian: Eccles the Idiot, Miss Minnie Bannister, Count Moriarty
"Goon Show"
06-03-1900 - Frank Dailey - Bloomfield, NJ - d. 2-27-1956
bandleader: "Matinee at Meadowbrook"
06-16-1885 - Tom Howard - County Tyrone, Ireland - d. 2-27-1955
comedian: "It Pays to Be Ignorant"; "Sunday Night Party"
06-17-1919 - Gene De Paul - NYC - d. 2-27-1988
composer, arranger, pianist: "Bud's Bandwagon"
06-24-1909 - Milton Katims - Brooklyn, NY - d. 2-27-2006
violist, conductor: "NBC Symphony"; "Eternal Light"
07-05-1902 - Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. - Nahant, MA - d. 2-27-1985
[removed] senator: "Information Please"
07-14-1901 - George Tobias - NYC - d. 2-27-1980
actor: "Cavalcade of America"; "Screen Guild Theatre"
07-18-1906 - [removed] Hayakawa - Vancouver, Canada - d. 2-27-1992
[removed] senator: "Americana"
07-23-1918 - Anne Ayars - Los Angeles, CA - d. 2-27-1995
vocalist: "The Chicago Theatre of the Air"
07-26-1912 - Monty Margetts - Vancouver, Canada - d. 2-27-1997
announcer: "This Woman's Secret"
08-09-1910 - Snag Werris - NYC - d. 2-27-1987
writer: "The Comedy Writers Show"; "Quixie Doodles"
08-17-1932 - Johnny 'Red' Kerr - Chicago, IL - d. 2-27-2009
announcer: Chicago Bulls
10-14-1893 - Lillian Gish - Springfield, OH - d. 2-27-1993
panelist: "Arthur Hopkins Presents"; "Texaco Star Playhouse"; "Suspense"
10-28-1895 - John Boles - Greenville, TX - d. 2-27-1969
actor, singer: "Texaco Star Theatre"
11-24-1925 - William F. Buckley - NYC - d. 2-27-2008
conversative political commentator: "Larry King Live"
11-30-1906 - John Dickson Carr - Uniontown, PA - d. 2-27-1977
writer: "Suspense"; "Cabin B-13"; "Murder by Experts"
12-31-1897 - Orry-Kelly - Kiama, New South Wales, Australia - d.
2-27-1964
costume designer: Intermission Guest "Lux Radio Theatre"
12-31-1914 - Pat Brady - Toledo, OH - d. 2-27-1972
sidekick, stooge: "Roy Rogers Show"
Ron
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:11:41 -0500
From: Robert Everest <erest@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Was Jim Harmon First?
I couldn't find anything earlier than Jim's book. I've got a record
from RADIOLA of the suspense shows "Love's Lovely Counterfeit" and "The
Giant of Thermopylae" their 61st release and it says Estabished 1970. I
think they were one of the first dealer selling OTR as a business.
The books I have are from no earlier than 1973 except Jim's.
Rob
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:12:20 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Clark Kent phone booth
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2010 00:22:07 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
Because of the proliferation of cell phones and the disappearance of
phone booths, if Clark Kent were around today where could he change
into his Superman persona?
A comic book expert told me years ago that the only times Clark ever
changed in a phone booth were in the 1940s Max Fleischer cartoons.
In fact, my memory is that in the comics he changed on the Daily
Planet roof, in an alleyway, or in any available secluded spot. On
the old TV show he tended to run into an alleyway (they had stock
footage of that) or in the supply room. My big question was why he
always whipped off his glasses =before= he went into the supply room.
And why the hallway was always empty and nobody was ever in the
supply room.
Since Clark had a private office on the old TV show, sometimes he
changed there. Or, occasionally, in his own apartment.
In the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie, there's a scene where
he's looking for a place to change and stops briefly looking at one
of the then-new boothless pay phones, then moves on. But while
changing in a phone booth was a big cliche', the reality was
different.
It wouldn't really be a good place to change anyway. Too cramped and
too much transparent glass.
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
92 State Street, Suite 700 Fax [removed]
Boston, MA 02109-2004 [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:12:30 -0500
From: bobb lynes <iairotr@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jim Harmon, OTR pioneer
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Hello,
This February has been a terrible month for all of us in the OTR hobby. Frank
Bresee is in the hospital recovering from a strike, Jim Harmon is gone, and
just tonight, we learned that Ron Lackmann has passed away. Too sad for my
meager words.
Jack and Martin and others have and will add their memories of Jim Harmon to
this listing, I'm sure. For now, I'll mention this:
Jim Harmon is a true OTR pioneer, having begun airing shows way back in 1965
(on KPFK-FM in Los Angeles) on a regular schedule, every Sunday evening, for
30 minutes. He wasn't sure of legalities, so he cut commercials and only
played short excerpts, but many of us were brought back to the world of OTR by
his early efforts. All of us OTR host/historians owe Jim a great debt of
gratitude. I've enjoyed his writings and have known him since those days.
In days to come, here on the digest, I want to remember Jim with some more
comments.
I can't help but believe that he's somewhere sitting 'round a campfire with
Curley, Brace and Carlton, along with the real Tom Mix and swapping stories
with Jack, Doc & Reggie.
We'll see you on the trail ahead, [removed]
Bobb
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:12:44 -0500
From: "Bob Roach" <rroach4@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Off-speed programs
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
The gentleman discussed the fact that many recorders (people) and re-recorders
didn't bother about the accuracy of the speeds - that has always been one of
my pet peeves in buying old tapes. Now when younger people play the tapes, or
worse yet play them on OTR radio shows, they don't realize they are off-speed
because the don't know what the personality actually sounded like.
Bob Roach - Dublin OH
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:13:20 -0500
From: Graeme Stevenson <graemeotr@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 1960 tv documentary about Radio Free Europe
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Hi Folks.
YouTube has a 1960 documentary, made by KCMO tv Kansas City, about Radio Free
Europe's broadcasts to the countries behind the Iron Curtain. To see it, go to
[removed] and in the search box put in the title of the film: The Eagle
Cage: Czech - German border.
Cheers ! Graeme ( ORCA / UK )
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:15:59 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: This week in radio history 28 Feb to 6 March
From Those Were The Days
3/1
1932 Radio's greatest effort of on the spot news coverage began as NBC
and CBS rushed to Hopewell, NJ to cover the kidnaping of the Charles and
Anne Lindbergh baby.
1941 Commercial FM broadcasting began in the [removed] when station W47NV
in Nashville, TN started operations on this day.
1941 Duffy's Tavern debuted on CBS.
3/2
1945 Mystery fans remember this day when they gathered around the
radio set to listen to the Mutual Broadcasting System as Superman
encountered Batman and Robin for the first time.
1952 Whispering Streets debuted on ABC, remaining on the air until 1960.
3/4
1877 Emile Berliner came up with a thing called the microphone.
1925 Calvin Coolidge took the oath of office in Washington DC. The
presidential inauguration was broadcast on radio for the very first time.
1930 'The Redhead', Red Barber, began his radio career this day.
Barber broadcast on WRUF at the University of Florida in Gainsville. He
soon became one of the best known sports voices in America.
1942 Shirley Temple had a starring role in Junior Miss on CBS. The
show, heard for the first time, cost $12,000 a week ($172,943 in 2009
dollars) to produce and stayed on the airwaves until 1954.
1951 Sir John Gielgud, starring as Hamlet, was heard on The [removed] Steel
Hour on the NBC.
1952 President Harry Truman dedicated the Courier, the first seagoing
radio broadcasting station, in ceremonies in Washington, DC.
3/6
1948 Ralph Edwards created a quiz on Truth or Consequences called The
Walking Man. After ten weeks of guesses by contestants playing the game,
it was finally revealed that Jack Benny was The Walking Man.
Joe
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:16:16 -0500
From: "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: tape speeds
Michael Biel mentions tape playback/recording speed as a culprit
for voices/music/length of programs being out of kilter. For many
of us, it wasn't a matter of not caring. It was just what we got
when we purchased programs or traded with someone and we were
stuck with it. Pitch control in the '60s and '70s wasn't unheard
of, but it was not out readily available for us average consumers
... and for those of us on tight budgets, it was expensive. I did
have the good sense, most of the time, not to trust my copies to
Radio Shack ConcerTape - that seemed to have more drop-outs than
an inner-city school.
But caring certainly is a factor - witness the stuff being sold
now that is as dirty as ever, even though the means to fix sonic
quality is available and relatively inexpensive (and I'm still on
a tight budget). It does cost in terms of time to clean some
things up.
You also have to wonder why some people didn't care early-on ...
like Fred Friendly and Ed Murrow. Correcting the speed on George
Hicks' D-Day report on the "I Can Hear It Now" album should have
been easy around CBS and Columbia Records. I knew from watching
Hicks do commercials on TV for The [removed] Steel Hour that he really
didn't sound like a Munchkin or was otherwise high on helium. The
first time I heard the D-Day report as it should have been was on
an ABC documentary - natural enough, I suppose, since he was one
of ABC's boys during the war.
Bob Cockrum
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:16:24 -0500
From: "Michael Leannah" <mleannah@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Clark Kent's phone booth
To my old (not elderly) friend, Ron Sayles--
Isn't it a fact that Superman could go back in time by flying in super speed
counterclockwise around the Earth? Perhaps he could find a phone booth using
that method. Of course, whenever he did try that stunt he ended up
frustrated because even though he could accomplish time travel, he could NOT
change the course of history. Which means he probably wouldn't be able to
change his clothes, either.
Mike Leannah
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2010 Issue #38
********************************************
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]
To Subscribe: [removed]@[removed]
or see [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]
In the event of a major mail problem, please contact the listmaster via
the web-based contact form available at [removed]
(on the sidebar) or follow/DM CFSummers on Twitter
To Send Mail to the list, simply send to [removed]@[removed]