------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 01 : Issue 98
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Kid's Shows ["tas richardson" <tasrichardson@spr]
Script [JayHick@[removed] ]
WSM Grand Ole Opry Back to Ryman! [Udmacon@[removed] ]
Lone Ranger books ["J. Randolph Cox" <cox@[removed]]
Frank Buck's "Bring em' Back Alive" [Richard Fisher <w9fjl@[removed]; ]
RE: Which came first? ["Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-self]
Last $ and Re-Enactments [Gordon R Payton <thescifiguy@[removed]]
"Minnie Pearl & Rod Brasfield" [Udmacon@[removed] ]
Barney Beck ["Bob Burchett" <haradio@[removed]]
Phil Harris Jr. [Bill Harris <billhar@[removed]; ]
Re: Forgiving errors [Bill Harris <billhar@[removed]; ]
Re: Lone Ranger Book ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
Memory and Mistakes ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
#OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig [lois@[removed] ]
WWII Correspondents ["Nancy Edwards" <nsedwards@mindspri]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 11:23:10 -0500
From: "tas richardson" <tasrichardson@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Kid's Shows
Stephen was wondering how I managed to listen to both Superman and Jack
Armstrong as they were on at the same time where he was. Well, I grew up in
the resort town of Banff in the Canadian Rockies, and would have been
listening to the Canadian Broadcasting station in Calgary. In those days
the CBC picked up most of the popular adult and kid shows from the [removed]
networks. There would be a block of 15 minute kid programs from probably
3:30 till 5 PM each weekday. Superman, Jack Armstrong, Terry & the Pirates,
and Capt. Midnight were regularly on and the other two slots were taken up
by various other programs, such as Tarzan, Tom Mix, Little Orphan Annie,
Dick Tracy etc., which seemed to change over the years.
Sometime in the 1950's, or perhaps the 60's, the CBC dropped the [removed] shows,
and went to all Canadian content. Of course this hasn't applied to [removed],
where many [removed] and a few [removed] shows are carried on the Canadian networks.
Tas
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 11:23:13 -0500
From: JayHick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Script
Friends of Old-Time Radio Script Contest
The Ninth annual original script writing contest is now open. We would like
an original 30 minute script which must be based on any of the great radio
programs of the past, such as Jack Benny, Life of Riley, etc. The only
difference this time is that they must be a comedy and must be 30 minutes in
length. The script can have the characters originating in their original era
and time or you can update the time to today. If you have entered before and
you have not won in 2 years, please enter again.
The script must have all music and sound cues as well as all the spoken
material. Try to arrange it in script form so it doesn’Äôt have to be
retyped.
It must be double spaced and have large enough type.
The prize for the best script will be $200 and will have its live performance
at our 2002 convention on Thursday evening after dinner. We would like you
to attend our convention to participate but it is not mandatory. There will
be some rehearsal time. Scripts must be submitted by August 1, 2001. Send
to Dave Zwengler, 319 Plymouth Rd., North Brunswick, NJ 08902 (732) 940-7639.
Return receipt is not necessary. A distinguished panel of old-time radio
buffs including Arthur Anderson will pick the winning script. They must be
very readable. All are eligible so please spread the word.
Winners have been Michael Giorgio, James Nixon, Edgar Russell, III, Donald
Dortmund, Joel Senter, Arlene Osborne and Michael Leannah. This year’Äôs
winner was K E Bibeau.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 11:23:15 -0500
From: Udmacon@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: WSM Grand Ole Opry Back to Ryman!
Grand Ole News!
According to the Associated Press, the 75 year old WSM Grand Ole Opry will
return to the historic Ryman from November 2001 thru February 2002!!
The Grand Ole Opry was at the "Mother Church Of Country Music" from 1943
thru 1974. Now it's back on a part-time basis mainly due to the
revitalization of downtown Nashville and the Ryman's close proximity to the
new Country Music Hall of Fame.
As Uncle Dave Macon would say: "HOT dog!"
BILL KNOWLTON, "BLUEGRASS RAMBLE, WCNY-FM: Syracuse, Utica, Watertown NY.
Sundays, 9 pm est: [removed]
(since 1973) Sundays, 9 pm est: [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 13:05:29 -0500
From: "J. Randolph Cox" <cox@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Lone Ranger books
There were 18 Lone Ranger books signed Fran Striker, published between 1936
and 1956 from Grosset & Dunlap. (Gaylord Dubois' name appears on some
printings of the first one) Some of these were reprinted in paperback by
Pinnacle Books. All are collectible and some may even be valuable. Some are
based on stories used on the radio series
Dan Hughes mentions similarities between parts of one of the Lone Ranger
books and one of the Whitman Roy Rogers books -- _Roy Rogers and the Gopher
creek Gunman_ is signed "Don Middleton" which has been identified as a
pseudonym used by Fran Striker.
Randy Cox
cox@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 13:52:40 -0500
From: Richard Fisher <w9fjl@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Frank Buck's "Bring em' Back Alive" radio show
I remember very clearly hearing Frank Buck's "Bring em' Back Alive"
radio program in 1939(?) I also had one of Frank Buck's real ivory
initial rings (it really was ivory!!!). Tom Tumbusch shows the premium
in his Radio Premium book along with other Frank Buck premiums and lists
1939 as the year. There were also Frank Buck premiums offered during the
1934-1938 time frame.
The year 1939 sounds right to me as I would have been 9 years old then.
Just spent 3 hours going through the microfilm of the Cincinnati
Enquirer radio log at the library and could not find the program listed.
Since I lived in Columbus, Indiana and was about equidistant between
Louisville, Ky., Indianapolis, Indiana and Cincinnati, Ohio it had to
have been broadcast either out of Louisville or Indianapolis. My memory
says Indianapolis.
Jay Hickerson in his marvelous listing of radio programs does not list
the show except being broadcast in the 1932 time frame and I being 2
years old then doubt I was ordering radio premiums. No other reference
book such as Dunning lists it as being on after 1932. Could Jack
Armstrong or some other show have sent out Frank Buck premiums?
Tumbusch seems to indicate that their was a Frank Buck show in this time
period. I know Jack Armstrong offered the Explorer's Sun Dial Watch a
Frank Buck premium as Frank Buck was printed on the face of the watch.
However this was in 1949.
Can anyone confirm that the program was in fact on the air in 1939 and
what network it was on. Also any information on how long (dates) it was
on during this period and sponsor would be most interesting.
This question has bothered me for some time and I may have to drive to
Indianapolis and see if the Indianapolis Star is on microfilm in the
library for the 1939 year.
Three or four programs from the 1932 period are available. A really
great kids show - full of action and adventure and staring a real life
hero Frank Buck.
Dick
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 15:58:23 -0500
From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RE: Which came first?
The good senator came [removed] Mel Blanc claimed that the Senator
had nothing to do with his creation of Foggy in 1946. Personally, I find
that a little hard to believe considering all of the Radio references in
WB cartoons.
In 1943's Daffy The Commando, a german general in a phone booth is heard
saying "[removed] (spelling is a guess) I want you
[removed] is that you Mert?" I also recall a Daffy cartoon
where he is chased by a little man who sound suspicously like Peavy the
druggist.
I think things like this are hilarious, but saying that Kenny Delmar had
no inspiration for the Foghorn Leghorn voice is questionable to say the
least.
Rodney
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 16:53:51 -0500
From: Gordon R Payton <thescifiguy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Last $ and Re-Enactments
I was listening to a SPERDVAC video tape I had gotten of the 1997
re-enactment of the X Minus One show, Surface Tension. During some
discussion at the end, a cast member recollects that the last Johnny
Dollar broadcast out of New York was the last broadcast of a network OTR
mystery/crime fighter show. He went on the describe the last scene, where
a bad guy is threatening to detonate "enough TNT to blow up New York
City" unless Johnny cooperates. Johnny doesn't and the broadcast ended
with an [removed] end credits. Later, for West Coast airing, the
announcer was made to come back and give the proper closing. Does anyone
have this broadcast?
Also, I'm putting the finishing touches on my first new catalog in two
years, and I've included a category which lists various re-enactments
that were done at out SPERDVAC and FOTR conventions and other places. I'm
missing some from the conventions and would very much appreciate it if
someone could supply me with the following videos(or audios) from the
Newark FOTR conventions:
1977 The Shadow
1985 Suspense: Sorry, Wrong Number
1988 The War of the Worlds
1990 Mercury Theater: Dracula
Corwin's: The Plot to Overthrow Christmas
1991 Buck Rogers
1992 X-1: Chain of Command
1993 Tom Corbett
The Mysterious Traveler
1994 Lights Out: The Bark of a Dead Dog
The Shadow
1995 Lights Out: One Day It Rained Blood
1996 Larry and John Gassman's "Who's On First?" skit
Mysterious Traveler: The Last Survivor
The Canterville Ghost
1997 X Minus One: Zero Hour
1999 Arlene Osbourne's original Shadow script performance
The Witch's Tale done by the Gotham Radio Players
I also don't have any kind of a listing of what re-enactments were done
at SPERDVAC conventions. Can anyone provide me with something like that?
I am interested in videos or just audios of ANY re-enactments that have
been done by ANY organization, no matter how bad the performance or
sound/video, please contact me if you have any to share.
Gordon R. Payton
The Scifi Guy
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 17:02:13 -0500
From: Udmacon@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "Minnie Pearl & Rod Brasfield"
In 1955, I was quite startled to realize that Pearl and Brasfield stole
jokes from the major comedy shows that aired earlier in the week. How, I
wondered, did they get away with this? Years later, I decided it may not
have been theft at all: Perhaps they were sold the jokes by writers who
never told them the sources -- or maybe they heard the jokes three or
four steps removed (with the sources being dropped in the retellngs).
Does anyone have any information about the Pearl and Brasfield routines?
Well I think I do. I believe that in the autobiography of Sarah Ophelia
Colley Cannon ([removed] "Cousin Minnie Pearl"), she relates that the scripted
routines she did on NBC with Rod Brasfield were provided by Prince Albert
Smoking Tobacco's advertising agency each week. I'm pretty sure the agency
was in New York City, and the gag writers for Minnie and Rod were probably
there too. IMHO they wrote great stuff for the two beloeved Opry members.
Bill Knowlton, "Bluegrass Ramble," WCNY-FM: Syracuse, Utica, Watertown NY
(since Jan. 1973). Sundays, 9 pm est: [removed] (with Windows Media Player)
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 17:30:07 -0500
From: "Bob Burchett" <haradio@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Barney Beck
Some of you may or not know that Barney is in a care
center with alzheimer's disease. His birthday is the
5th of April. A card may help cheer him up. You can
sent it in care of: Beth David Residence 80 West Broadway
Long Beach, NY 11561.
Had some great times with Barney at the Cincinati
Convention with his sound effects workshops. When he
started to come it made us more than a "mash unit"
convention. He will be again missed by us all this year
in Cincinnati the third week in April.
Bob Burchett
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 18:59:51 -0500
From: Bill Harris <billhar@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Phil Harris Jr.
Just saw this in our weekly town newspaper. Phil Harris Jr. of Keller, Tx died
Thursday, March 13, 2001 at a hospital in Kilkenny, Ireland. He was 65. A
memorial
service will be held March 24 at the Ann Seton Catholic Church in Keller. He
was
born March 18, 1935 in Los Angles, Ca. After completing four years of military
service in the U. S. Air Force he joined the Federal Aviation Administration
as an
air traffic controller. He was currently the program manager, Systems
Requirements
Office at the Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Phil Harris and Alice Faye. He is
survived
by his Wife, Joan C. Harris of Keller and two daughters, two sisters and
several
grandchildren.
I never knew Phil Harris Jr. lived just a few blocks away.
Bill Harris
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 20:19:18 -0500
From: Bill Harris <billhar@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Forgiving errors
Dave Seigel commented:
HOWEVER, when one posts frequently and appears (by the tone of his
messages, to be somewhat of an expert on OTR)it would seem that there is a
slight obligation to be accurate or to be willing to accept the consequences
of frequent miss-staements.
Dave comments are well founded. There have been a number of statements,
posted with somewhat authority and represented as fact, when they could have
easily been researched, which would have proven otherwise. That is how urban
legends get started and continue, unless someone sets the record straight. I
appreciate those more knowledgeable who strive to set the record straight.
Bill Harris
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 21:13:25 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Lone Ranger Book
Dan Hughes, speaking of the Lone Ranger hardback books, notes,
I had one of the Lone Ranger books, and it had a comic relief scene
where a cowboy (or maybe it was a girl) tossed a cow (or a bull?) over a
fence. This exact same episode is in one of the Roy Rogers
novelizations! Who copied whom?<<
I hadn't read that book! I doubt if Arnold Schwarzennegger could toss a
bull, or even a cow, over a fence. That would be an incredibly hefty
cowboy or cowgirl to toss such a critter even over a curbstone, much less
a fence.
The likelihood is that Fran Striker wouldn't have copied any scene, much
less one that unique, from anyone.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 21:13:22 -0500
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Memory and Mistakes
Pete Greco, speaking about erroneous OTR memories, notes,
I know alot of books are put down by the "experts" as being filled with
inaccuracies, but you know what I think alot of us really want to believe
theses inaccuracies. I myself remember certain things which may or may
not be the truth,, but I am still able to enjoy the shows. <<
This brings us to the difference between history and myth. The film, The
Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, had a line in it that said, approximately,
that when the real story is at variance with a legend, "print the
legend."
But scholarship tries to preserve accuracy (sometimes there's
insufficient data for final conclusions); and while a myth may be more
entertaining, it corrupts the history. To return to an example I'm very
familiar with, I'd read memories and adaptations of the Captain Midnight
radio program. Although individual scenes might be more colorful, getting
to the original scripts enabled me to capture the true sense of the show
better than any legend.
Now what makes this more urgent is that we aren't immortal; but we hope
that, relatively speaking, OTR -- and/or its history -- will be.
Legends, faulty memories, and the like, in my opinion, adulterate what we
have. Kermit Shaffer's "blooper" records are a perfect example of this.
Sure, the legend of Uncle Don's "little bastards" comment is amusing, but
is inaccurate. If we let the legends overtake the reality, then we might
as well abandon real OTR and just entertain fantasy.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 04:52:01 -0500
From: lois@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!
A weekly [removed]
For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
Network, the channel name is #OldRadio. We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
over three years, same time, same channel!
Our numerous "regulars" include one of the busiest "golden years" actors in
Hollywood; a sound man from the same era who worked many of the top
Hollywood shows; owners of some of the best OTR sites on the Web;
maintainer of well-known OTR digest lists (we all know who he is)..........
and Me
Lois Culver
KWLK Longview Washington (Mutual) 1941-1944)
KFI Los Angeles (NBC) 1944 - 1950
and widow of actor Howard Culver
(For more info, contact lois@[removed])
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 11:05:38 -0500
From: "Nancy Edwards" <nsedwards@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: WWII Correspondents
Jim Widner suggested the books he recommended may be purchased for less
than the cost @ Library of America, and, sure enough, I found the 2-Vol.
set online at Borders for $56. Interestingly, Barnes & Noble advertised
that one vol. is coming out in paperback in May. I also agree with Jim
Widner that LOA has quality books.
Nancy Edwards
(email: nsedwards@[removed])
====================
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: WWII Correspondents
you might want to look for and purchase two
volumes from the Library of America called "Reporting World War
II" Part 1
covers 1938-1944 and Part 2 covers 1944-1946. The books are not cheap -
approximately $[removed] each though sometimes you can find them reduced, but
they are very quality books as are all of that publisher's editions.
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V01 Issue #98
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