Subject: [removed] Digest V2007 #362
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 12/27/2007 7:17 AM
To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to:
[removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2007 : Issue 362
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  The Great Debaters                    [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
  RE: "Three Men" / "Uninhabited"       [ Michael Ogden <michaelo67@[removed] ]
  Re:"Night Beat" record set            [ rand@[removed] ]
  Favorite Christmas [removed]        [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
  Re: Out of the mouths of babes        [ Michael Hayde <mikeh0714@[removed]; ]
  Charlie McCarthy                      [ Jim Harmon <jimharmonotr@[removed] ]
  The earliest movie about radio        [ Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed]; ]
  12-27 births/deaths                   [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
  Edgar Bergen's Dummies on radio       [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]

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

Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:14:59 -0500
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  The Great Debaters

Me and the missus went to see Denzel Washington's "The Great
Debaters" at our local  movie theater last night. The climax of this
compelling film, supposedly based on a historical event, is the first
debate between a team from the all-Black Wylie College and a white
university team in the [removed] This happens on the Harvard campus in
1935. It is also broadcast as a "remote" by the local NBC radio in
Boston for nation-wide airing. (It is not recorded; it goes out live
so the relatives and associates of the Negro team are listening to it
in Texas.)

Since the script takes liberties with some of the facts ([removed] the
actual debate took place between Wylie College and University of
Southern California) I suspect this NBC broadcast element of the
script was also invented.  Any body know for sure?

Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
<[removed]>

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

Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 11:12:10 -0500
From: Michael Ogden <michaelo67@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  RE: "Three Men" / "Uninhabited"
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R. R. wrote:

I'm not sure where the title "Uninhabited" comes from. Does anybody
know? It's not used in the episode itself and doesn't really match the
content of the script. Perhaps an LO episode entitled "Uninhabited"
was scheduled to air but, for some reason, was replaced by a
rebroadcast of Cooper's holiday-appropriate story? That's just a
guess, though.

That's exactly what happened. "Three Men" appears to have been--for whatever
reason--a last-minute substitution. The publicity that was sent out to the
newspapers indicated that "Uninhabited" would be broadcast, and was described
thusly:

"Arch Oboler, noted melodramatist of the air waves, enters the realm of the
thought-provokers this week with a new play called 'Uninhabited'... Herein Mr.
Oboler deigns to suggest what would happen if all the war-minded dictators,
munitions makers and international profiteers were congregated on a small
island in the South Pacific and allowed to work out their own profit-seeking
destinies."

>From the description, one wonders if perhaps NBC might have yanked the script
from airplay because of the specific political theme. We know that there was a
lot of wimpishness among network suits in the mid-to-late Thirties about the
presentation of anti-fascist sentiments, and that Oboler had to typically
couch his in vaguer or more allegorical terms, [removed] "Genghis Khan" or "Homus
Primus" (aka "And Adam Begot").

Incidentally, "Three Men" was also broadcast on LIGHTS OUT the following year,
on December 21, 1938. At that time it was described as "a story of
reincarnation, which has become a LIGHTS OUT Christmas tradition. The play
deals with the strange experience of three officers, a Frenchman, an
Australian and an [removed]"

Also, let us not forget that in Cooper's script the American officer is, in
fact, an African-American (played, I believe, by Harold Peary). Credit's
certainly due to Cooper for this pioneer presentation in radio drama of the
idea of racial tolerance and universal brotherhood.

Mike Ogden

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Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 11:23:56 -0500
From: rand@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re:"Night Beat" record set

Michael asked for some additional information on the 45 rpm record set of
an episode of "Night Beat" that I recently found.

The label is blue with silver letter with says "NIGHT BEAT - An NBC
Production" at the top and "starring FRANK LOVEJOY" at the bottom.  Along
the bottom edge of the label it says "The National Broadcasting Company -
A Service of Radio Corporation of America".  The label has the number
EO-CX-342 on side one, 343 on side two, etc.

The matrix numbers are the same as the numbers on the labels - EO-CX-342
through 347.  There's an "I" in the label runoff area near the matrix
number and also an "A2" near the 12 o'clock position.  The area around the
spindle hole slopes gradually for about a 1/2 inch.

I'm aware of the color-coding of the singles and these appear to the be
same blue vinyl used for the pop series and I'm also aware of the push for
RCA's changers at the time (I used to have a small console with one of the
changers).  Yes, they could be fast, but it does give you a short break in
a longer program.

These probably weren't aimed at someone with broadcasting equipment, but
likely at an advertising agency or actual corporate rep, so it's no
surprise to see it pressed on 45's in that context, especially with RCA's
push to equip homes with the changers.  Again, I'd be curious if other NBC
series had box sets issued as promos as well - I bet a full set would be
tough to track down if others were issued.  If they were issued a little
later, it might have been something done to keep advertising interest
going in radio as more advertisers were spending money on television so
the time period would be interesting to know.

I found this at a Goodwill in Burlington, NC and, on occasion, I find
promo records or similar material that came from Burlington Mills, Western
Electric or other local businesses.  (A find at another shop, for example,
was a vinyl 78 of a rousing song called "Woven Into the Life of America"
that was given to employees of Burlington Mills and pressed by RCA Custom
records.)

I have to admit a certain fondness for RCA's early "color coded" 45's and
little box sets - I've tried to find one record of each color, but the
orange and purple have eluded me or been out of my price range.

Randy

--
Randy A. Riddle
Mebane, NC [removed]

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

Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:00:32 -0500
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Favorite Christmas [removed]

This is my list of favorite Christmas radio programs:

    "White Christmas of Archie Nicotine."  CBC, 12/26/82.  My mother was the
wife of an Episcopalian priest.  She did a lot to help Dad, but she never
had to deal with all of this -- during one Christmas!
    "Holiday visit."  A couple starts to drive to Runyonville, OH, but winds
up in Taylortown.  Where is Taylortown?  CBS Radio Mystery Theater.  CBS,
12/25/80.
    "Christmas carol" by Dickens.  Lionel Barrymore plays Scrooge, as he did
annually for many years.  CBS, 12/24/39.
    "Cricket on the hearth" by Dickens.  Another "Scrooge", even worse than
the first one. NBC, 12/24/45.
    Quiet, Please "Berlin 1945."  ABC, 12/26/48.  Wyllis Cooper at his best.
    "Very private miracle."  CBS Radio Mystery Theater, 12/24/74.  And who
will play Santa this year?
    Columbia Workshop "The day they gave babies away."  CBS, 12/46.  This
would never work today without the blessing of the Dept. of Social Services,
but it was OK in "olden times."
    Our Miss Brooks "Magic Christmas tree."  CBS, 12/48.

    And as the years go on, I add to this list.  Have a happy Christmas, and
a new year full of delight and wonder!

Ted Kneebone /  1528 S. Grant Street, Aberdeen, SD  57401
Phone: 605-226-3344 / OTR: [removed]
St Marks: [removed] /

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

Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 13:51:01 -0500
From: Michael Hayde <mikeh0714@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Out of the mouths of babes

I'm saddened to hear of Jack Linkletter's passing.
While I'm aware of his unintended contribution to the
creation of "Kids Say the Darndest Things," I shall
always associate Jack with TV's "Hootenanny"
(1963-64).  My father audiotaped several shows, and
they are among my most prized possessions.  When I
finally tracked down a videotaped kinescope of a
"Hootenanny" about four years ago, the first thing I
did was send a copy to Jack.  He was most gracious,
and grateful to have received something he hadn't seen
in 40 years.  He told me he'd received more questions
about (and requests for) that series than nearly
anything else he'd done.

My heart goes out for Art, and the rest of the
Linkletter family.

Michael

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

Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:50:57 -0500
From: Jim Harmon <jimharmonotr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Charlie McCarthy
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Edgar Bergen definitely had Charlie McCarthy on his lap for every radio show
and public appearence. When I interviewed him about 1970 there were the radio
specials of the 100th Anniversary of Chase and Sanborn and the 101st. Besides
that, Bergen was doing a number of commercials for radio. Since it was audio
only, and he was supplying the voices in a studio without audience, I asked
"Did you have Charlie there when you do those jobs?" Bergen looked completely
blank for a moment. "How could Charlie be in those appearences if Charlie was
not there?" Then he realized that he could have only done the voices,
theoretically. "No. I always use Charlie. My timing would be off without him."
I don't know if he used a printed script during the show. An experienced
performer like him could have memorized the script. (I know Jay Jostyn as Mr.
Distict Attorney memorized his script just so there would be no problems.) I
do know Bergen told me [removed] Fields had to have his script printed out by hand
in big letters on the cardboard stiffeners that came back in dress shirts
from the laundry because of his falling, perhaps blurry, eyesight. Another
possibility for Bergen, he could have had his script on a music stand and
turned for him by an assistant, the way some concert pianists have a page
turner for their music. -- JIM HARMON

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Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 23:05:35 -0500
From: Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The earliest movie about radio

    The question has arisen:

On 12/16/2007Jim Hilliker asked whether there was an earlier Hollywood movie
to feature radio as part of the plot than the 1925 Our Gang film called
"Mary, Queen of Tots"

which featured a short scene showing Uncle John
Daggett of KHJ radio in Los Angeles, with the radio
station as part of the plot of the movie,

I expected that people would pile on with the answer like they did for
the question about that great German actor Bayerische Rundfunk (to say
nothing of his lovely and talented sister Osterreichischer).

The movie wasn't really about "broadcasting" and it wasn't a Hollywood
production.  Broadcasting as we know it was still a decade away and
Hollywood was mostly orange groves, but in 1909 the Vitagraph Company of
Brooklyn, NY made a film about the heroic action of radio operator Jack
Binns.  On 23 January 1909 the liner [removed] Republic collided with another
ship off the New Jersey coast.  Radioman Binns signalled for help and
stayed at his post for 48 hours.  Thanks to the wireless all aboard were
saved, and the world came to appreciate the value and potential of the
new invention.

  The movie was released shortly after the incident, but Jack Binns
didn't appreciate all the attention he was receiving.  He sued Vitagraph
for invasion of privacy and collected $12,500.

Three years later he was hired as radio operator aboard the new ocean
liner the [removed] Titanic but decided to turn down the offer.
                                                     -- Bill Jaker

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

Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 23:05:43 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  12-27 births/deaths

December 27th births

12-27-1879 - Sidney Greenstreet - Sandwich, England - d. 1-18-1954
actor: Nero Wolfe "Advs. of Nero Wolfe"; "Hollywood Star Preview"
12-27-1891 - Martha Backes Bardill - d. 3-xx-1976
soprano: KYW Chicago, Illinois
12-27-1893 - Ann Pennington - Camden, NJ - d. 11-4-1971
actor: "Good News of 1938"
12-27-1896 - Arch Ward - Irwin, IL - d. 7-9-1955
sports journalist: Weekly program of sports news with Harry Wismer
12-27-1896 - Louis Bromfield - Mansfield, OH - d. 3-18-1956
author: "Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show"
12-27-1898 - Hilda Vaughn - Baltimore, MD - d. 12-28-1957
actor: "Columbia Presents Corwin"
12-27-1900 - Pauline Alpert - d. 4-11-1988
"Whirlwind Pianist": "Log Cabin Inn"; "Rhythm and Rhyme"
12-27-1901 - Marlene Dietrich - Berlin, Germany - d. 5-6-1992
actor: Mlle. Madou, "Cafe Istanbul"
12-27-1906 - Oscar Levant - Pittsburgh, PA - d. 8-14-1972
panelist, pianist: "Information, Please"; "Kraft Music Hall"
12-27-1910 - Harry Saz - d. 6-9-1994
director: "Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge"
12-27-1911 - Anna Russell - London, England - d. 10-18-2006
opera singer: "The Nutcraker Suite"
12-27-1914 - Jack Latham - Washington - d. 1-1-1987
announcer: "The Man Called X"; "Wake Up, America"
12-27-1916 - Cathy Lewis - Spokane, WA - d. 11-20-1968
actor: Jane Stacy "My Friend Irma"; Kathryn Milford "Great Gildersleeve"

December 27th deaths

02-19-1902 - Kay Boyle - St. Paul, MN - d. 12-27-1992
writer: "NBC Presents: Short Story"
02-26-1891 - Alan Bridge - Pennsylvania - d. 12-27-1957
actor: "The Eddie Bracken Show"
07-22-1908 - Amy Vanderbilt - Staten Island, NY - d. 12-27-1974
etiquette expert: "Jack Benny Program"
08-04-1908 - Wally Maher - Cincinnati, OH - d. 12-27-1951
actor: Dan Murray "One Man's Family"; Archie Goodwin "Advs. of Nero
Wolfe"
09-27-1917 - James Andelin - Provo, UT - d. 12-27-2006
actor: "Arnold Grimm's Daughter"; Og, Son of Fire"; "Houseboat Hannah"
11-11-1930 - Hank Garland - Cowpens, SC - d. 12-27-2004
guitarist: "Jim Reeves Show"; "Country Music Time"; "Country Style
[removed]"
11-22-1899 - Hoagy Carmichael - Bloomington, IN - d. 12-27-1981
singer, composer: "Hoagy Carmichael Show"; "King's Men"

Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:05:33 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Edgar Bergen's Dummies on radio

Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2007 17:26:06 -0500
From: "Joe" <jpostove@[removed];

I don't know, but I would think that he would use the dummies for the
benefit of the studio audience (how disappointing it would be to
attend a Chase and Sanborn Hour and not see Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer
Snerd and the rest).

Indeed, when kids came to the studio audience of Bob Smith's local
"Triple-B Ranch" show on WNBC, they didn't see the character that
Smith called "Elmer" and they called "Howdy Doody."  It was radio,
there was no puppet, and Smith just talked in a different voice.
Smith heard their disappointment and decided to try television, so
the kids could "see" Howdy Doody.

And, while we're on the subject, 27 December 2007 marks the 60th
anniversary of the premiere telecast of "Puppet Playhouse," starring
Howdy Doody, on NBC.  There had been a big blizzard in the Northeast
the day before.  Kids were home and underfoot.  And in the few homes
that had television, in the four cities (New York, Philadelphia,
Schenectady, and Washington, [removed]) that had NBC-TV affiliates, the
kids were quiet and content for one whole hour.  Television had
demonstrated its value as a baby-sitter.

--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
 92 State Street, Suite 700                   Fax [removed]
Boston, MA 02109-2004           	         [removed]

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2007 Issue #362
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