------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 01 : Issue 143
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Sorry Wrong Number -- Today ["Jeff Geddes" <jeffg@[removed];]
Re: OTR COMPARISON; UK VS. [removed] [Joe Mackey <wmackey@[removed]]
Movie Version of Gunsmoke Episode ["Stewart Wright" <stewwright@worldn]
Re: Alice Darling [Ken Dahl <kdahl@[removed]; ]
Life of Riley movie = 1949 [KENPILETIC@[removed] ]
Australian OTR ["Bruce Guthrie" <BruceGuthrie@bigpo]
TONY RANDALL & OPERA ["Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed]; ]
Re: Life Of Riley [Ken Dahl <kdahl@[removed]; ]
Radio Program Theme Music [Elmer Standish <elmer_standish@telu]
Sorry, Sorry Wrong Number's Not My F [GEORGE WAGNER <gwagneroldtimeradio@]
Need Photos of Matt Crowley, Franc H [GEORGE WAGNER <gwagneroldtimeradio@]
Answers For The Man ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
Tony Randall [danhughes@[removed] ]
Re: BBC Radio [Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
Jack Grimes? ["jstokes" <jstokes@[removed]; ]
Bob Hawk ["Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed]]
Re: Tony Randall [StevenL751@[removed] ]
Telephone-like quality [John Henley <jhenley@[removed]]
Carl Froelich Jr. [John Henley <jhenley@[removed]]
"Due to Technical Difficulties" [Duane Keilstrup <duanek9@[removed]; ]
Naked Leiningen [John Henley <jhenley@[removed]]
Alice Darling ["Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];]
RE: Alice Darling ["Lee, Steve (DEOC)" <slee@[removed].]
Buck Jones ["Doug Carroll" <stangle@[removed]]
Alice Darling ["[removed] Wolfe" <rjrmemorabilia@yahoo.]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 21:48:49 -0400
From: "Jeff Geddes" <jeffg@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Sorry Wrong Number -- Today
All,
This talk about SORRY WRONG NUMBER being updated for today reminds me of a
rather unnerving news story that was on the CBC EVENING NEWS about a week ago
on TV.
(apologies for a few inaccuracies here and there)
There was this youg native american lady living on a reserve in
[removed] She had just divorced her husband a little while ago, and had
a restraining order put on him. Well, later that year this lady had made a
call to 911, saying that her X husband had forced his way into the house, and
wanted to talk with her. Claiming to go out to get a case of beer, he left
while she called 911, she said.
The 911 operators were being very, very impolite to her, and asking her what
he was doing at her house, [removed] They thought it was a joke. The lady had
to hang up.
About two hours later another call was made to 911 by the same lady, claiming
that her X husband was just outside the door and that she needed some help
quickly. The 911 operator said a car would be on its way ASAP. Well, 15
minutes later, her X husband was still waiting outside the door for her to
let him in, and she made one final call the the 911. Right before she could
state what she had called for, the phone was disconnected on her side.
911 operators decided to trace the call and make sure everything was alright.
When they returned the call, a man answered and when asked if there was a
problem he said "no, [removed] I don't know what you're talking about.
There's no problem!"
Just to be sure, the police were sent over, and they discovered the body of
the woman, and her X husband was nowhere to be [removed]
So, I guess SORRY WRONG NUMBER would work out, even today, almost too
frighteningly easily!
jeff
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 21:49:24 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <wmackey@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: OTR COMPARISON; UK VS. [removed]
Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 21:23:20 -0400
From: "Ian Grieve" <ian@[removed];
Subject: OTR COMPARISON; UK VS. [removed]
The BBC is very aware of the popularity of the old shows and sells Videos
and cassettes to people like us who are interested in nostalgia. Hence they
are very jealous of protecting that market.
Are they ever! A few years ago the BBC "found out" several web sites
were offering The Goon Show (a favourite of mine) and the web owners
received "cease and desist" notices, threats of legal action, etc.
(Hmmm, where was this heard before?) Suddenly the sites either
disappeared or merely offered written info on the Goons. Even a lot of
pictures disappeared, which were apparently BBC copywrited, unless they
were other pictures of the cast. After a few months news the shows were
up again slowly began showing up via the grapevine. Now its back to the
old days of shows offered on various sites.
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 23:23:11 -0400
From: "Stewart Wright" <stewwright@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Movie Version of Gunsmoke Episode
The Gunsmoke episode "The Ride Back" later became a motion picture in
1957 under the same title. It starred Anthony Quinn and William Conrad.
Conrad's character in the movie was Sheriff Chris Hamish. Conrad was also
the producer of the film. Noted radio writer and director Antony Ellis
wrote both the radio and screen plays.
Visit the "Gunsmoke" Phorum at:
[removed]
Stewart
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 23:40:21 -0400
From: Ken Dahl <kdahl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Alice Darling
The first time the character Alice Darling appeared on Fibber McGee and Molly
was on 10/5/43. The title of the show was called Taking In A War Worker. It
was during World War II and it was the patriotic duty of every American to
provide housing for the many thousands of people who were on the move in this
country seeking jobs in defense plants. Fibber and Molly were very
patriotic. Alice moved in with the McGee's and began, as i recall, working
in an aircraft plant. I can't say for certain but i think the Alice
character remained on the show until the war was over which was in 1945.
Ken Dahl
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 23:40:19 -0400
From: KENPILETIC@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Life of Riley movie = 1949
Hi Gang - May 10, 2001 - Thursday - 10:30 PM cdt
In issue 142, Tyrone Settlemier asks:
> Could one of our Riley fans inform me
> what year this film came out?
The year was 1949. I remember taking my little twin lens reflex
camera to the movie theatre. I had been listening to "The Life
of Riley" every week for almost four years when the movie came out.
I was about 12 years old a the time, and had no idea what any of
the radio characters looked like - so when the movie was announced
I eagerly waited for it to come to town.
I had recently received a "spartus" twin lens reflex camera. I think
it used 127 film. I was certain I could take a picture of the movie and
have a photograph of Riley and the gang - particularly "Digger" O'Dell.
Well, I got a seat in the front row of the balcony with a clear view of
the screen, and there was even a rail where I could steady my camera
for "time pictures".
To make a long story short -- it didn't work. All pictures were 'black'.
I was so concerned with taking pictures that I actually didn't pay much
attention to the story. I have no idea what the movie was about.
I guess I'll have to wait for it to come to TV or DVD or something.
1949 was a great year of discovery for me.
Happy Taping -- Ken Piletic - Streamwood, Illinois
kenpiletic@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 00:12:12 -0400
From: "Bruce Guthrie" <BruceGuthrie@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Australian OTR
Firstly, thanks to Ian Grieve for his reply, and I'll look forward to
the book info.
I'll have a dig around at Screensound out of interest (ie, no $ to
spend!)
Owens Pomeroy asked abouy Australian versions of US OTR shows
Subject: SPEAKING OF AUSTRALIAN SHOWS. . .
Speaking of Australian (and South African)versions of American
OTR
shows, our tape library has Both AUS. & SA versions of the following
shows:
Sherlock Holmes (both) The Fat Man (AUS>) and One Man's Family
(AUS.). THe
shows are not US imports but are completely new showswith settings
and
situations geared to the local scene. They have entirely different
cast
members from the US versions.
It is really remarkable to hear Mother & Father Barber, Jack,
Hazel &
Nickey (One Man;s Family)and Brad Runyon (The Fat Man), speaking
with a
decidedly Australian accent. I wonder if any of the other "imports"
from
the US did the same thing?
Certainly The Shadow was re-cast and re-recorded in Australia - there
are a few copies of Oz Shadow shows around. The versions I've heard
were more along the lines of a detective show than the US Shadow.
Superman was done the same way, with a well known Australian voice,
Leonard Teale, in the lead role (never heard any).
Blokes like Peter Finch and Rod Taylor also worked in Australian OTR,
and I remember Rod Taylor in a show that was re-cast from a US
version - can't recall the show at the moment.
Bruce
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 00:12:10 -0400
From: "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: TONY RANDALL & OPERA
This is a story Tony Randall related on the Carson Show. There was an
Opera that Randall wanted a recording of that was not available anywhere in
NY. It so happened that the Opera in question was coming to the Met and
Randall purchased tickets to matinee performance. He was determined to get a
recording of this opera so bad that he hid a cassette recorder inside a
brief case with a hole bored in the end and plugged up. When the opera
started, Tony said he merely pulled the plug out, pushed the mike into the
hole and got his recording of his Opera.
Now whether there was any truth to this yarn or not, i can not say, but
when he told it he maintained a straight face throughout the telling - so -
it could be true, or a Randall practical joke. Who knows?
******************************************************************
As far as Randall's attitude about his Radio career, I can believe Lois
Culver. Because we approached him for an Award at one of our Banquets for
Radio Personalities, and he turned us down flat. He also will not attend
any of the Friends Of Old Time Radio Conventions either. He still lives in
Manhattan, at least he did before he got married, in the same apartment
building that John Lennon lived in.
Owens Pomeroy
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 10:19:15 -0400
From: Ken Dahl <kdahl@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Life Of Riley
I recall seeing the movie with my parents in New York City in April of 1949.
We were from out West on a visit and i recall my parents were in shock when
they had to pay such high prices for movie tickets. They felt like they were
victims of a legalized stick up.
Ken Dahl
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 10:19:11 -0400
From: Elmer Standish <elmer_standish@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Radio Program Theme Music
If this has not been published before, the listings should be of
real interest to those interested in Theme Music and Titles.
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 10:19:13 -0400
From: GEORGE WAGNER <gwagneroldtimeradio@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Sorry, Sorry Wrong Number's Not My Favorite
Am I entirely alone here, or are there others who
have trouble enjoying "Sorry, Wrong Number" due to the
technical absurdity or even impossibility of the basic
plot device?
The possibility of being patched into a
conversation between two thugs plotting a murder must
be one in three zillion at best, let alone it being
YOUR OWN murder which is being planned
In fact veteran telephone company employees tell
me that the entire telephone scenario as it was
presented here was not technically possible in the
first place.
This is NOT a criticism of SUSPENSE, otherwise
one of my favorite series.
Ditto Agnes Moorehead, one of the great radio
(and other media) actresses. I had a crush on her
during my younger life which never seems to have
entirely gone away.
Ditto, Lucille Fletcher. I love her other work,
especially "The Hitchhiker" with Orson Welles.
I'm going away now - am I allowed to come back?
George Wagner
GWAGNEROLDTIMERADIO@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 10:19:07 -0400
From: GEORGE WAGNER <gwagneroldtimeradio@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Need Photos of Matt Crowley, Franc Hale
I've always loved Matt Crowley's (Jungle Jim,
Batman, Mark Trail) no-nonsense, authoritative voice,
but have no idea what he looked like. Can anyone on
the list suggested where I might find a photograph or
two?
And likewise Franc ("Shanghai Lil") Hale. Now
THERE was a sexy voice! I'd really like to know what
she looked like.
Thanks!
George Wagner
GWAGNEROLDTIMERADIO@[removed]
poetdreamerscholar@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 10:19:05 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Answers For The Man
Speaking of The Answer Man, Bhob Stewart observes,
Supposedly, there were three questions the Answer Man could not answer:
How many buffalo
would it take to fill the Grand Canyon? Do birds dream? Unfortunately, I
am unable to recall the third question. Does anyone know what it is? Do
you think these questions could be answered today?<<
Well, I can't speak for that third question, but as for the other two, i
suspect that one's unanswerable and the other isn't. If birds sleep the
way mammals do, then the REM condition would be present if they dream.
What? Birds can't swivel their eyes in their sockets? [I knew that :-)]
Well, the equivalent would be tiny movements of a bird's head. On that
basis, they don't seem to dream; at least, our cockatiels don't. But
seriously, this could probably be found out using miniaturized
instrumentation for electroencephalography (EEG).
On the buffalo question, it could only be answered once one's determined
the exact (or "official") volume of the Grand Canyon, and established the
precise volume of an average buffalo. These "how many can fit" questions
are phony anyway, because they assume whole, incompressible, objects
being used to "fit into" the larger object; in real life, it wouldn't
work that way.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 10:20:54 -0400
From: danhughes@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Tony Randall
Fred Berney wonders why Tony Randall won't talk about ILAM. I remember
reading somewhere that he is downright scornful about radio. He was
quoted as saying that radio acting wasn't acting at all. Words to the
effect that any idiot can stand at a mike and read from a script. He
seemed bitter that he had wasted his time with the medium.
---Dan
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 10:20:52 -0400
From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: BBC Radio
Does anyone know if the BBC broadcast any of its radio drama programs over
the Internet and if so, what is the URL?
Fred
For the best in Old Time Radio Shows [removed]
New e-commerce page [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 10:20:51 -0400
From: "jstokes" <jstokes@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jack Grimes?
Many years ago, I listened on Saturday mornings to "Let's Pretend." There
was an actor named Jack Grimes. Did he ever appear on any other radio
shows or movies?
Jim Stokes
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 10:20:48 -0400
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Bob Hawk
I remember listening to Bob Hawk's "Thanks to the Yanks" program on CBS.
Seems like it was a quiz program. Each week Camels sent tons of cigarettes
to our Yanks in various "theaters of war." (ET meant European Theater and
PT meant Pacific Theater.)
For several years during WW2, WNAX, Yankton, SD honored farmers by
hosting Midwest Farmer Days. Five farm families from the 5-state area (SD,
ND, MN, IA, NE) served by the 5000 watt station were nominated and brought
to Yankton for a week of festivities. One of the families was selected by a
panel of judges to be the representative midwest farm family. Famous radio
personalities were brought to Yankton. The ones I remember were the Lone
Ranger, Ma Perkins, and Breakfast in Hollywood, but there were more.
Sometimes the network program originated in Yankton. State and federal
politicians were there, too, with long, boring speeches!
Bob Hawk came to Yankton in 1943 to participate in the dedication of the
then "World's tallest radio tower."
Those were the days when radio could hold a festival and thousands of
people would come to a small South Dakota town especially to see some real
radio stars!
Ted Kneebone / 1528 S. Grant St. / Aberdeen, SD 57401 / 605-226-3344
tkneebone1@[removed] | OTR: [removed]
[removed] |
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 10:20:46 -0400
From: StevenL751@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Tony Randall
In a message dated Thu, 10 May 2001 10:06:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 00:16:23 -0400
From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Tony Randall
Does anyone know why Tony Randall won't talk about his role on ILAM?
I don't think it's just ILAM that Randall doesn't like to talk about, it
seems to be his entire career on radio. He did do an interview with Max
Schmid for the "Golden Age of Radio" some years ago (which Max recently
replayed), and in it Randall basically says that he didn't consider
performing on radio to be "acting", he just saw it as reading lines from a
script. He said that he didn't think it took any special skills or
techniques, and he just sounded bored about the whole thing. Sounds like he
just considered it beneath him, and he thinks he has more important things to
talk about these days.
Steve Lewis
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 12:40:47 -0400
From: John Henley <jhenley@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Telephone-like quality
Robert Paine said,
In the early to mid 70's, some Mutual affiliates must have depended on "C"
lines as the voice quality was approximately that of a regular telephone.
Without knowing whether that's technically correct, I know
exactly what he's talking about. A few weeks ago I asked if anyone
could help me remember the name of a Mutual newscaster from
approximately that time period; while no one was able to help,
I'm reminded that's precisely how I heard that newscaster, day
after day - like the station was simply patching through a phone
call. One day, I can still remember, I was visiting another town
- probably my grandmother's - and here came this fellow's
newscast on a Dallas station, coming through loud and clear and
almost of FM quality. His voice was even deeper than I had
thought.
Of course, for whatever technical reason, the Friday night
high school football games (also basketball, baseball etc) that
people in my part of the country are so crazy about still
sound as if they're coming through the cheapest phone lines.
John Henley
jhenley@[removed]
ph (512) 495-4112 fax (512) 495-4296
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 12:40:49 -0400
From: John Henley <jhenley@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Carl Froelich Jr.
If anyone on our list is a customer of Carl Froelich Jr.,
would you please contact me by private e-mail? Thanks.
John Henley
jhenley@[removed]
ph (512) 495-4112 fax (512) 495-4296
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 17:04:56 -0400
From: Duane Keilstrup <duanek9@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: "Due to Technical Difficulties"
As we used to hear on OTR, "Due to technical difficulties beyond our control
...," Yesterday USA's web site will shut down for 24 hours or so for
upgrading. At this point we do not know exactly when this will occur, since
we do not control this aspect of our web site.
We do want all to know that YUSA will return to offer OTR around the clock
with more efficiency and better service.
Meanwhile, up to the time of and following "shut down," our programming will
continue as usual, including Bill Bragg's Sunday Night Show at 7:30 [removed] EDT
with a Classics & Curios featuring Al Jolson singing "Mammy." We are at
[removed] on your "internet stream dial."
Thank you for your patience.
Perhaps this has been discussed here earlier at some point, but I wonder if
there are any stories to tell about times of "technical difficulties beyond
our control" during OTR programs in progress or when unusual or human
problems were included under "technical difficulties."
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 17:04:54 -0400
From: John Henley <jhenley@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Naked Leiningen
Bob Keyer mentioned that a synopsis of the film
"The Naked Jungle", to quote, "sure sounds like 'Lenigan's Ants'."
"The Naked Jungle" is indeed a film version of
"Leiningen Versus the Ants" and if I recall correctly,
Heston's character retains the name Leiningen.
But the story did not originate with radio; it began
as a short story, by one Carl Stephenson, published
in Esquire magazine in 1938.
John Henley
jhenley@[removed]
ph (512) 495-4112
fax (512) 495-4296
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 17:04:52 -0400
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Alice Darling
Alice Darling moved in with Fibber, and Molly on 10-5-43. She was played by
Shirley Mitchell. Who told me that she knew that role was just temporally
one. The last show I found with Alice was on 1-1-46.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 17:04:50 -0400
From: "Lee, Steve (DEOC)" <slee@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: Alice Darling
Hotel rooms, boarding houses, and private rooms to let were at a premium
During WW II. This was especially true for cities that had a military
connection such as a training facility or a war supply production plant.
Defense plants and other factories hired the homefront women to take over
the work formerly handled by the men in uniform.(Rosie-the-Riveter was the
national caricature for the times) Alice Darling, portrayed by Shirley
Mitchell, played a boy crazy,just-out-of-high school,semi-airhead type
character. She rented a room from Fibber and Molly for a couple of seasons.
I always enjoy the episodes that involve her minor character.
Steve Lee
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 17:04:49 -0400
From: "Doug Carroll" <stangle@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Buck Jones
I live in Vincennes, Indiana, the birthplace of both Red Skelton and
cowboy movie star Buck Jones. I've heard that Buck Jones once did a
radio program but I've never been able to find any information on this
program. Does anyone have information on a Buck Jones radio show? I
collect OTR and have more than 60 hours of Red Skelton and I would
love to find some programs for Buck Jones. Also, Brace Beemer was
born near here in Mount Carmel, Ill., and lived in Vincennes for a
couple of years before heading to Indianapolis and then on to Detroit
to become the Lone Ranger. I collect his LR shows as well. Any help on
the Buck Jones program would be greatly appreciated.
Doug Carroll
Vincennes, Indiana
stangle@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 17:15:34 -0400
From: "[removed] Wolfe" <rjrmemorabilia@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Alice Darling
The basic reason "Alice Darling" became a member of
the "McGee" household is because they lost most of
their cast to military service. Gale Gordon was in the
Merchant Marine and Bill Thompson left right after
him. With their departure they lost "Mayor LaTrivia,"
"Horatio K. Boomer," "Wallace Wimple" and "Mr. Old
Timer" all in one big swoop. To fill the void the
character of "Alice Darling," an employee of a war
working plant was created and Shirley Mitchell played
her. But she wasn't treated as well as she could've
been because the minute both Gale Gordon and Bill
Thompson finished their stints in the service "Alice
Darling" was written off the show and all of the
regular residents of "Wistful Vista" returned.
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V01 Issue #143
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