Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #308
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 8/8/2002 7:38 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 308
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Robert Hall and Robert Hope           [ "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed] ]
      Robert Hall Jingle                    [ "Arte" <arte@[removed]; ]
      Robert Hall-Spare Me                  [ "Dave DiSisto" <ddisist1@[removed] ]
      Re: Song of the South                 [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
      re:more on the "truth" about celebri  [ Eric J Cooper <ejcooper2002@[removed] ]
      Song of the South                     [ Jack Harris <jack@[removed] ]
      Yankee broadcasts of Earle Combs/Bab  [ "rlctm" <rlctm@[removed]; ]
      Bob Hope                              [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
      Bob Hope, the person                  [ Jer51473@[removed] ]
      GODFREY & TALENT                      [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
      ROBERT HALL                           [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
      Sports' Broadcasting Pioneer Is No M  [ "james hunt" <jameshunt@[removed] ]
      "Obnoxious" OTR jingle                [ "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed] ]
      "Dear Abby"                           [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
      Bob Hope on Radio                     [ "jsouthard" <jsouthard@[removed]; ]
      Ellery Queen                          [ "jsouthard" <jsouthard@[removed]; ]
      Schumann-Heink                        [ Bob Fells <rfells@[removed]; ]
      Mystery Is My Hobby, and assorted no  [ "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-self ]
      Jungle Jim Gerald?                    [ Ga6string@[removed] ]

    ______________________________________________________________________

        ADMINISTRIVIA:

           My buddy Martin Grams, Jr. really started something last
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           My initial reaction is not to put the list through arguing
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                    -- cfs3

    ______________________________________________________________________

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 21:49:03 -0400
    From: "Mark Kinsler" <kinsler33@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Robert Hall and Robert Hope

    Bob Hope made funny movies and he was a good stand-up comedian.  Possibly
    his greatest talent as a visual comic was his ability to make outrageous
    costumes work.
    But as one commentator in maybe 1960 noted, Hope never had that 'inner
    wound' that allows the audience to sympathize with a comedian's persona.
    I'm not surprised to hear that he was unpleasant to work with.

    I read once that Bob Hope worked in vaudeville with Fred McMurray.  True?

    As for Robert Hall, I suspect that anyone over the age of 50 cannot begin to
    forget the three singing commercials.  Dunno if Les Paul and Mary Ford did
    any of them, but it certainly sounds quite plausible.  I'll leave it to
    someone who understands music notation better than I to discuss the melody.
    But I'll do my bit to drive everyone my age totally nuts by inserting into
    their heads the lyrics that I remember to two of the classic RH commercials,
    to wit:

    School bells ring
    And children sing
    It's back to Robert Hall this year

    Mother knows
    For better clothes
    It's back to Robert Hall this year

    You'll save more on clothes for school
    Shop at Robert Hall!

    --and--

    We're doing our Christmas shopping
    At Robert Hall this year

    We're saving on clothes for Christmas
    la da da da da [removed]

    (don't remember the rest, but you'll all be hearing the melody in your heads
    for weeks!!!!  Hahahahahaha!!!!!

    M Kinsler

    sorry

    512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 740 687 6368
    [removed]~kinsler

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 21:49:19 -0400
    From: "Arte" <arte@[removed];
    To: "OldRadio Mailing List" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Robert Hall Jingle

    I can't write or read music, but I can sing the Robert Hall
    jingle:

    "When the values go up up up
     And the prices go down down down
     Robert Hall this season
     Will show you the reason
     Low overhead
     Low overhead"

    I remember hearing it before I moved out of Chicago in 1955.
    Phil, send me your phone number & I'll sing it for you.

    Remember Arnold Stang's admonition not to touch his suit?
    "Keep your hands off the merchandise. I got it at Robert
    Hall."

    Arte
    [removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 22:26:00 -0400
    From: "Dave DiSisto" <ddisist1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Robert Hall-Spare Me

    Peter Kinder says "Robert Hall: not my favorite memory of 50's radio"

    I just have to say it is one of my favorite memory, both the "When the
    values go up-up-up and the prices go down-down-down" and, especially "We're
    doing our Christmas shopping at Robert Hall this year."

    A Christmas season doesn't go back that there isn't a group of us several
    times in the office singing that Christmas commercial jingle.

    How I wish Robert Hall was still in business so I could hear those jingles.

    Dave DiSisto
    ddisist1@[removed]

    [removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 23:18:37 -0400
    From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Song of the South

    If anyone buys the PAL version of Song of the South, we do have the
    equipment to convert it to NTSC standards and the quality looks as good as
    any of Disney's tapes.

    We don't sell the tape, but if you send us a PAL version, we can convert
    it. As I recall it runs about 90 minutes and our charge to convert 90
    minutes to or from PAL is $[removed] plus shipping.

    Fred
    [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 00:14:01 -0400
    From: Eric J Cooper <ejcooper2002@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  re:more on the "truth" about celebrities

    Bing Crosby is another name for the "list". Everyone knows about the his
    relationship with his family and especially his kids. But I would agree
    with Cliff Martin, who cares, because Bing was one of the finest
    entertainers we ever had

    Eric Cooper

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 00:35:49 -0400
    From: Jack Harris <jack@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Song of the South

    I had this film about 20 years ago on 16mm. I sold the film but transferred
    it to video. Then about 10 years ago I bought a Japanese laser disc import.
    The quality is great and they have a choice between and English and
    Japanese soundtracks. The only thing is all the songs are in English even
    on the Japanese track so they put Japanese subtitles during the songs. This
    is not that big of a deal to me. I might suggest anyone really wanting an
    excellent copy of the movie to find an import.
    Another bit of info more on the otr [removed] Lee did the voice of
    Brer [removed] might recognize him as he is also Algonquin J. Calhoun
    on Amos n' Andy. To me he is one of the reasons they should bring back all
    the Amos n' Andy tv shows. Also Spencer Williams and Tim Moore are other
    great [removed] [removed]

    Jack

    for dive videos and computers
    visit [removed]

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 01:12:35 -0400
    From: "rlctm" <rlctm@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Yankee broadcasts of Earle Combs/Babe Ruth

    Baseball broadcasts have been a recent thread in the digest so I have a
    question related to early New York Yankees broadcasts. I am a mid-life
    career change person and I'm back in college in Richmond, Kentucky working
    on a masters degree in education. One of my professors is the wife of the
    grandson of Kentuckian Earle Combs, the Hall of Fame centerfielder
    (1924-1935) of the Yankees. Combs batted lead-off and played centerfield for
    New York world champions of 1926-27-28 and 32. Otr always being on my mind,
    I asked my professor if her husband had any audio of Mr. Combs playing in a
    baseball game. She replied that he did not, and that to her knowledge, the
    only recording he or the family has of Mr. Combs is a speech or interview
    given in the 60's. I have the circulating broadcast of the 09-20-34
    Yankees/Tigers game broadcast by WWJ in Detroit. This game is purported to
    be the oldest complete game transcription extant (I'm sure a digester will
    prove that wrong) and the announcer is WWJ's Ty Tyson. I re-listened to the
    game tonight to see if Earle Combs played in it; alas, he didn't. Ben
    Chapman was the starting centerfielder. Mr. Chapman was thrown out in the
    8th inning for disputing a call (he kicked the ground!, imagine today's
    players--the batboy and the ball girls would have to finish the game with
    that kind of umpire tolerance!). I waited in anticipation of Combs--the
    future Hall-of-Famer--going in for Chapman, but alas the immortal Murrel
    Hogg (?sp) relieved Chapman. No Combs. My question to the digesters is
    this--does anyone know of a surviving game transcription or partial
    recording of Mr. Combs playing for the Yankees? We're really talking about
    surviving Babe Ruth game recordings here as Combs was the lead-off hitter
    and crossed home plate for many years ahead of the Babe after one of Ruth's
    homerun blasts. Also, I believe Mr. Combs was a coach for the Detroit Tigers
    for several years--I don't know the exact years, but I would assume late
    30's through the 40's. Perhaps a game interview with him somewhere survives,
    or maybe a Bill Stern interview or even a variety or game show appearance.
    Any help would be appreciated--I would love to present my professor and Mr.
    Combs' grandson audio of him in some baseball capacity. One broadcasting
    tidbit I gathered from the transcription--Mr. Tyson both announced the
    game--and--served as stadium public-address announcer! At one time he
    announces a pinch-hitter to the crowd and keeps the stadium mike on (you can
    hear the echo in the background) and says after the announcement to the
    radio audience (and the crowd) "The score's 11 to 7 in favor of the
    Yankees--a Natural!" The Detroit crowd probably didn't like that little
    attempt at humor. I wonder if this double-duty was common in early
    broadcasting? Seems as if it could get quite confusing as far as turning the
    stadium mike on and off. Lastly a non otr related question (sorry)--was this
    Ben Chapman the player who was killed by a pitched ball--the only death from
    a thrown ball up to the present? DiMaggio would come in '36; I think I'm
    confusing this Ben Chapman with another Chapman. I would guess DiMaggio's
    arrival would be a good enough reason to disappear forever from Yankee
    baseball two years later as it seems Ben Chapman did. Randy Collins--old
    college brownnoser.

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 01:42:35 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Bob Hope

>     Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 10:03:44 -0400
>     From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];

>     I realize I'm treading on very thin ice here. Bob Hope is considered
>     to be a "National Treasure". But I think that's due primarily to all
>     the USO work he did to entertain our troops during the "Wars". (Three
>     of them as I recall).

    I count four:  World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf.  I
    remember his Vietnam and Persian Gulf tours, and I've heard plenty about
    his World War II tours.  I don't remember him going to Korea, but I'd be
    surprised if he skipped it.  I remember in the early 1950s hearing his
    weekly radio show, and it always came from a federal installation
    somewhere, if not a military base then a VA hospital.

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

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 11:10:45 -0400
    From: Jer51473@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Bob Hope, the person

     You know old bob is in no position to defend himself from public attacks and
    opinions and somehow there is something wrong, imo, to cut the man up with a
    negative opinion of him. He is an american institution whether you like him
    or not and has served this country well in times of great need. For every
    person that doesnt like him, regardless of why, there are thousands that
    adore the guy. He was not one of my own favorites, but i sure appreciated him
    as an entertainer and his love for this country. Maybe i wouldnt have liked
    him personally if i had known him, but maybe he wouldnt have liked me either.
    My opinion of him certainly would not have determined whether he was "a good
    guy or bad guy" and neither would his of me. I look to entertainers to
    entertain me and care less about opinions about their personal traits unless
    they include factual information about low morals and/or criminal type
    behavior at which point i refuse to be entertained. Ill leave the judgement
    of their "off screen" personalities to their friends, family, and co-workers
    and take them with a grain of salt. I do think such opinions should not be
    made public as they are just that, opinions.

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 11:11:31 -0400
    From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  GODFREY & TALENT

    <<...[removed] reputation of  Arthur [removed];>

    Gordfrey was in incredible and constant pain from the auto crash that
    almost took his life.
    The side effects of the pain killers he took caused many people to
    believe he was drunk.

    Re 'pain in the butt' -- on this week's Sinatra show Gordon Jenkins
    comments, "I am a talent worshipper--I don't expect people of great
    talent to be the same as my corner grocer."

          [removed]
          A DATE WITH SINATRA

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 11:11:40 -0400
    From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  ROBERT HALL

         A     A  G  G      A  G     C    E
    "When the values  go up - up - up
      B    C   D  D   E    D         C        A
    And the prices go down - down - down
    C  A      B    B   G  D
    Robert Hall this season
      G     B    B    G  A   B
    will show you the reason
    C   C G   D      B  D G C
    low overhead, low [removed]"

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 11:11:11 -0400
    From: "james hunt" <jameshunt@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Sports' Broadcasting Pioneer Is No More!

    I have just read the obituary of Chick Hearn, longtime  former Radio-Tv,
    play-by-play man for the
    The Los Angeles Lakers-considered by many a legend in field- in today's New
    York Times.

    [removed].

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 12:35:58 -0400
    From: "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  "Obnoxious" OTR jingle

       In his posted response to my request on the Digest for the melody of a
    certain OTR jingle (Robert Hall Clothes), Peter Kinder "can't imagine" why
    I'd be interested in a jingle that he found so "obnoxious" forty-odd years
    ago.  He obviously posted with tongue in cheek but nevertheless his comments
    have inspired me to express the following:

       I like to hear OTR that interests or fascinates me and that very often
    includes stuff I listened to as a kid.  Whether or not such OTR is
    considered (by others or myself) to be "dull", "dated, "obnoxious", or
    you-name-it.  And whether or not it brings back unpleasant memories of mine.
      (Many events and experiences in my youth bring back unpleasant memories
    but they can fascinate me now and I don't want to forget them.)

       Thanks to all who have responded to my request, off-line and on.

      -- Phil C.

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 13:57:11 -0400
    From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  "Dear Abby"

    I am not a regular reader of "Dear Abby," now written by her daughter,
    Jeanne Phillips, but the headline today caught my eye.  It featured the
    familiar name of Edward G. Robinson, whose 1930 appearance in "Little
    Caesar" won him screen immortality.  Phillips apparently had a previous
    column where anecdotes were shared about how nice a guy Robinson was.  This
    column  was a follow-up.

    Evidently, Robinson touched dozens of  ordinary people, going out of his
    way to be kind and  considerate. Folks spoke of him giving them a lift in
    his limousine, relinquishing his seat in an airplane so an elderly
    passenger would be more comfortable,  accompanying  his seat-mate  to meet
    her party at the airplane gate instead of just offering an autograph, and
    so on.

    All of this reminded me of a program on SUSPENSE in which Edward G.
    Robinson starred.  Entitled "The Man Who Wanted to be Edward G. Robinson,"
    it originally aired October 17, 1946, and featured Robinson in his familiar
    role as a gangster.  On my copy, Robinson can clearly be heard at the
    concluding credits mimicking the announcer's pronunciation of
    "[removed]," and producing a laugh from the crew. It shows the very
    "human" side of Edward G. Robinson and underscores the anecdotes received
    by "Dear Abby."

    Dennis Crow

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 14:50:52 -0400
    From: "jsouthard" <jsouthard@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Bob Hope on Radio

    I remember Bob Hope on radio very well and most of his humor was topical
    (dated today) and double entendre. Wasn't Hope's plug pulled a number opf
    times when he got too sexual explicit for the times? I remember an incident,
    (may have been an aprocypal story) that on one broadcast Hope in his
    monologue said, "What is a fisherman's delight?  One night on Veronica
    Lake."  His lawyers then had to scour the world to find a lake named
    Veronica to keep from being sued by the movie star of the same name.
    John Southard

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 14:51:11 -0400
    From: "jsouthard" <jsouthard@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Ellery Queen

    It is great to hear that a new book on Ellety Queen's OTR days is being
    published.  Is it available now at the address given?
    I have been a huge fan of Queen and have most of the Queen novels, plus a
    few of the OTR shows in circulation. Frances M. Nevins, Jr. is a rocognized
    authority on Queen. In 1974, he authored  "A Royal Bloodline: Ellery Queen
    Author and Detective." It was published by Bowling Green University Popular
    Press in Bowling Green, Ohio.  This book neglects the radio shows.
    John Southard

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 17:13:50 -0400
    From: Bob Fells <rfells@[removed];
    To: Old Time Radio <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Schumann-Heink

    I'm hoping that somebody on the Digest can refer me to a vendor who
    sells copies of Madam Ernestine Schumann-Heink's radio broadcasts from
    1934-35.  These fifteen-minute shows were sponsored by Gerber (she was
    known as "Mother" Schumann-Heink) and although she was not in the best
    voice at some 70+ years of age, her delightful personality and wry
    comments are enjoyable.

    A couple of years ago, a kind fan on the Digest made me some cassette
    copies of the broadcasts.  I've enjoyed them so much, I was hoping that
    somebody has made them available on compact disc and - dare I hope? -
    restored sound.  Anyway, any info will be appreciated.  Thanks.

    Bob Fells

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 19:40:35 -0400
    From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Mystery Is My Hobby, and assorted nonsense

    Does anyone have any information about how many episodes are circulating
    of Mystery Is My Hobby?  I am asking for a friend.

    If you live in the Cincinnati area, the Mutual/Sears Radio Theater is now
    airing on WVXU ([removed]) on Saturday nights.  WVXU owns several other
    stations that carry the same programming, you may want to check out their
    website.  ([removed])  They also carry several other OTR programs.

    Finally, a little plug.  I have hooked up a source for rare Jack Benny TV
    shows.  To my knowledge, and to the knowledge of the esteemed Laura Leff
    last time I asked, no stations in this country are carrying the
    syndication package of this show.  I have gotten in touch with someone
    who lives in another country and is getting these shows for me.  Two
    volumes with four episodes each are available now, and hopefully, I'll
    continue adding volumes (about 1 a month or so) until the entire series
    is available.  E-mail me for more details.

    rodney.

    Past Tense Productions
    Carrying Old Radio related films, and Hal Roach shorts, for $7 per tape.

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

    Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 21:31:57 -0400
    From: Ga6string@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Jungle Jim Gerald?

    Hi all,

    I read somewhere (maybe here, a while back?) that actor Gerald Mohr briefly
    subbed in the lead role of the program "Jungle Jim." Can anyone confirm, and
    if so, do you have dates on those appearances?

    Also, I'd love to get copies of Mohr's appearances on "My Favorite Husband,"
    episodes #35, 3/11/49,"Charity Review"; #38, 4/1/49,"April Fool's Day"; and
    #45, 5/20/49,"Getting Old." I'd be happy to trade for these or pay expenses.

    I've also read that Mohr appeared on "Burns and Allen," but I've never been
    able to ID specific episodes in which he appeared. Any help on that?

    On more Mohr question: I found info that Mohr appeared on a series of 78 RPM
    recordings (Columbia 7488M), apparently a dramatic performance of the "The
    Three Musketeers," with Erroll Flynn, Sanford Bickart, Jack Edwards and
    Joseph Granby. Anyone have any info on this?

    Sincerely,
    Bryan Powell

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #308
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