Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #450
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 11/22/2002 4:59 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2002 : Issue 450
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Chickenman                            [ "Marcus Antonsson" <[removed] ]
  Adventures In Research                [ "Shawn A. Wells" <swells@[removed] ]
  Black radio                           [ Frank Absher <fabsher@[removed]; ]
  the pickup: small town USA            [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
  Re: TV, radio news, etc.              [ Ga6string@[removed] ]
  Radio ventriloquist                   [ Marklambert@[removed] ]
  The Cinnamon Bear                     [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
  an answer?                            [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
  Beverly Washburn                      [ "JP" <bickersons@[removed]; ]
  My new car and XM Radio               [ John Francis MacEachern <johnfmac@a ]
  Eddie Bracken                         [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
  Oh, yes ~ the blues                   [ "William Harper" <whhsa@[removed] ]
  Man Without a Name                    [ "Richard Sutherland" <rssuth@hotmai ]
  Re: Cynics Choice on Malcolm Radio    [ JSmith4994@[removed] ]

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

Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 19:57:58 -0500
From: "Marcus Antonsson" <[removed]@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Chickenman

Hi Gang,
I just got in a bunch of tapes from this show. I think it's very funny, but
i'd really like some facts on it. I suppose they're from the 60s or 70s. The
episodes are only about 2 and a half minutes each. Can any one of you supply
me with more info? actors, writers, dates and so on? Any help apreciated very
much!

Best to all!

Marc Antonsson

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

Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 21:16:03 -0500
From: "Shawn A. Wells" <swells@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Adventures In Research

For those of you that e-mailed me with an interest in this series, I
have finished transferring a couple of them for the 'Direct From
Transcription' series # 3.  As I was working on these, I noticed that on
episode # 146 'The Gas That Won't Burn', the story revolves around the
use of Helium, and the story is a re-creation of the Hindenburg
Disaster. The interesting part is that the actor playing the role as the
news reporter almost sounds as if he is going to literally break into
laughter at the 'pivotal' moment.

Shawn A. Wells
The Old Time Radio Shop [removed]

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

Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 22:04:24 -0500
From: Frank Absher <fabsher@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Black radio

This is only slightly off-topic, but I need help.
I tried to buy "Black Radio", a set of 13 discs from Radio Smithsonian and
was told the radio production branch has been dismantled and the products
are no longer available.
Does anyone have the series, and if so, would you be willing to copy the
discs (for a fee) so I could use them in the classroom?

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

Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 22:05:01 -0500
From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  the pickup: small town USA

	Yesterday, I drove from Long Island to Mountain Ridge Summit, a small
town near Gettysburg PA to pick up 600 copies of "WORDS AT WAR." I did
fairly well finding my way there, although it was a long drive.  I pulled
into a gas station to ask directions to the street on which the warehouse
is located and found a man just getting into his pickup truck. "Do you
know where such and such street is?" I asked him. "Do you mean "such and
so Street," he replied. I had been slightly off on the name of the
street. "You must be coming to pick up your 600 books." Beth Larson is
waiting for you. Go to building "C," he told me with an ever so slight
smirk on his face.

	Ah to live in a small town where everybody knows what's going on.

	Howard Blue

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

Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 22:39:13 -0500
From: Ga6string@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: TV, radio news, etc.

I enjoyed Lee Munsick's post on JFK coverage, etc., and I'd like to add my
two cents' worth.

(By the way, Lee, I'm a Virginia native myself -- born and raised in
Charlottesville, did my undergrad at James Madison, and my wife's a [removed]
grad from Marion. I've settled in Georgia now, though.)

Lee mentioned his annoyance at commercials and promos during news broadcasts,
and I second that emotion. But he also mentioned that he missed the 9/11
coverage, and I don't know if he realizes that the networks suspended
virtually all advertising or promotion of any kind for, what, a couple of
days, I think? Continuous news. Period. I felt the coverage was outstanding
-- not sensational or hyperbolic, although of course it didn't need to be,
the events were dramatic enough. It was the most effective broadcast media
moment I've seen in my lifetime (I'm 42). Funny how Gary Condit and Chandra
Levy were instantly no longer newsworthy. (I'm talking primarily about TV,
although radio news was pretty effective too, IMHO.)

By comparison, I recently aquired some OTR WWII news broadcasts, and was
struck by the degree of bias and filtering that obviously was taking place in
news coverage and reporting. There was, literally, no bad news about the war
in these programs I heard -- you'd think we'd have won it in a week, from
what you were hearing -- and no criticism or coverage of critical viewpoints.
Hmmm.

Lee also mentioned, in reference to TV, being "bewildered and offended by all
the whirling, darting, waving, sliding, pop-up, brightly colored, annoying
video distractions on the screen these days." I take some reassurance in
hearing this, because I've felt in the last year or two that television and
movies have become hyperactively edited, for lack of a better term, with
ridiculously fast cuts that only register in your mind's eye AFTER they've
left the screen, with severe moving camera shots and (on movie previews, for
example) strobe effects. It can be virtually unwatchable. I had to shade my
eyes at the movie theater recently -- the previews were nauseating,
literally, and phenomenally loud.

I wonder if this sort of presentation will be the standard which my
three-year-old daughter accepts and embraces. I'd love to get her into OTR
children's shows, but she's still at too restless an age, apparently. Best I
can do at the moment is "comfort TV," such as the "Beverly Hillbillies,"
which draws a straight-up "G" rating, and certainly takes its time. :^)

Sincerely,
Bryan Powell

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

Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 22:39:30 -0500
From: Marklambert@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Radio ventriloquist
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I heard a radio commercial today for AAA Motor Club auto insurance.
The announcer says:  "Presenting, the world's first ventriloquist on
the radio!"

I e-mailed them today and asked if they'd ever heard of Edgar Bergen
and Charlie McCarthy.  I realize they were just trying to make a
humorous radio commercial,  but I just couldn't stand it!

--Mark
marklambert@[removed]
[removed]

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Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 22:39:53 -0500
From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  The Cinnamon Bear

THE CINNAMON BEAR adventures have already started anew in Portland, Oregon
-- on KBVM-FM [removed]  This children's serial has been heard in Portland
every year since it was first syndicated in 1937.   I hope it is playing
somewhere in your neighborhood. Please let me know if it is.

And remember, if you are lucky enough to have the tapes, you need to play
the first 15 minute segment on November 29.  That way, you can listen to an
 episode a day until Christmas Eve, when the adventure ends in an exciting
climax.  As I said before, THE CINNAMON BEAR is the ultimate OTR
experience.  You will recognize all the voices.  You will enjoy the music.
I guarantee that you will be caught up in the story. And your small
children will love it!

Dennis Crow

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

Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 23:17:47 -0500
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  an answer?

Rick asked:

"It was raining and 10 guys are under one umbrella.
None of them got wet but then a guy walked up and
[removed]".

Why do you have an umbrella open inside the house? (???????)

Barbara
AKA "BJ" for the Raven

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

Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2002 12:43:46 -0500
From: "JP" <bickersons@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Beverly Washburn
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If my memory serves, there was some discussion about Beverly Washburn
recently.  I was surprised to see her on an episode of the ABC soap General
Hospital.  After some Google checking, anyone interested may see her on Nov.
25 and 26.  She plays a neo-natal nurse.

Ruby

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Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2002 12:44:33 -0500
From: John Francis MacEachern <johnfmac@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  My new car and XM Radio

Hi All!

I've always wanted to have an antique car from the 1940's,
so that I could ride around listening to my OTR;  if I ever
win the lottery, I'll buy one.  Lacking the money for that
but needing a new car, I did the next best thing, I bought a
black PT Cruiser (it's a new Chrysler designed in retro
style to look like a forties sedan).  I picked it up last
Wednesday, I brought a tape with me, so as soon as I left
the dealership, I was listening to Fibber and Molly,
visiting the Auto Show!  It was so cool!!!

I drove straight from the dealership to Circuit City and had
XM Radio installed.  Fifteen minutes after I left them, I
was listening to Suspense, the first time I had ever heard
it over the air.  I was in heaven!

Now, I did not buy on impulse, I researched both the car and
radio purchased thoroughly beforehand.  My choice of XM was
simple, they're cheaper per month but more importantly, they
offer two channels that would interest us, in addition to
the Radio Spirits channel they offer Sonic Theater which has
book readings, more OTR and CBC NTR.  Since I've only had
the car for a few days, I'm new to this service, but I sat
in my driveway listening for a few hours Thursday night, I'm
very impressed.  If my initial excitement wears off and I
find the stations lacking in content, I'll let you guys
know.  Of course, none of us spend our entire time listening
to OTR, the unit I bought comes with 18 preset buttons and
in my short time I've already managed to fill them up with
stations of interest.  It cost me $225. for the unit and
installation and $10 per month for the service, if you can
afford it, I would definitely recommend it.

I have a request of all of you.  Since I'm excited about
having a 40's style car, I wanted to make it really look
like one.  After a little thinking, I realized any car of
that era had one thing in common, a gas rationing sticker on
the windshield.  After an extensive web search, I could only
find one site that had images of them, but they weren't good
enough to print out and tape to the window.  If any of you
know where I could find an image of one, good enough to
print in the right size, please let me know (a C sticker
would be best, I need a lot of gas ;)  ).  Thanks!

John Mac

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

Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2002 12:45:55 -0500
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Eddie Bracken

There have been some recent posts occasioned by the passing of Eddie
Bracken.

Just thought I'd pay tribute to him, and pass along my first hand
recollection of working with a very nice guy.

It was over 40 years ago. The event, a regional feed for a major telethon.
(I don't recall which one). I was directing the local cut-away's, and the
celebrities hired to host our regional segments were Eddie Bracken, Virginia
Graham, and Leo Durocher. (Now, you'll have to agree, that's an odd
trifecta.)

For you youngsters, Leo (The Lip) Durocher was the baseball manager who
coined the phrase, "Nice guys don't win ballgames". (Right, Irene H.)

Virginia Graham was a very stout, buxom, flamboyant, (and somewhat brash)
former TV personality who made the rounds of Talk Shows.

Eddie Bracken, then in the twilight of his career, was a nice guy. Charming
on camera personality, very sincere, eager to please, and cooperative. (A
directors dream).

During a break in the action, I was standing on the set, talking to Eddie
and Virginia in a huddle, discussing what we were going to do the next time
we went live for our local segment. That's the last thing I remember.

In those days, we used "boom" mikes to pick up sound. These were dolly's,
with a high platform where the boom operator stood, and operated a mike on a
long metal telescoping metal pole that hovered over the heads of the
performers. By some quirk of fate, the boom arm slipped, and came crashing
down on my head, knocking me cold.

The next thing I remember was regaining consciousness with my head in the
ample lap of Virginia Graham who was sitting on the floor cradling me. I
could hear Eddie Bracken (kneeling on the other side of me) saying, "don't
hold him so tight Virginia, Let him breathe. Your boobs are smothering him".

True story. I guess you could say Eddie Bracken prevented my death from
asphyxiation. :)

Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead (AKA The Raven) :)

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

Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2002 12:46:19 -0500
From: "William Harper" <whhsa@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Oh, yes ~ the blues

Wow what joy to remember WLAC!  I guess we often forget that music DJ's made
up a goodly portion of OTR.
Gene Nobles made me think of Bill "Hoss" Allen, Jon "R" Richbourg, who was
with WLAC from 1941-1973 (spending some time in the service during World War
II), and White Rose Petroleum Jelly (I have an album produced by the company
that produced White Rose with 12 songs, but no Hoss.  He autographed it,
however.  One of the cuts is the White Rose ad song) and who could forget
Ernie's Record Mart.  My first musical love was Country & Western, but when
the sun went down those stations went off the air.  So I would place by jam
covered Philco into the window looking for Cincinnati, but happen on WLAC
and my life was changed.  I still have the first five 45's from a Ernie
special.  It was years before I realized that John R was saying in his
pitch, "or to me" instead of "order me" John R.  As many may know the
daytime airring was country and religious programmed for a white audience,
but let the sun go down and the night waves were filled with the best R&B.
John R always claimed that once other stations played what he was playing he
would move on to something else.  No 40 play list.  I remember in the late
60's traveling to Savannah and once again finding John R and hearing a song
that just "blew me away", but no station in my hometown had it on its play
list.
Thanks for the memories.
Manituwah,
Bill

PS Frank Bingman, narrator of Straight Arriw fame, claimed his wife may have
been the first DJ, spinner of records!

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

Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2002 14:53:21 -0500
From: "Richard Sutherland" <rssuth@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Man Without a Name

Does anybody have any information about a program called "Man Without a
Name"? I bought an old reel-to-reel tape off E-bay that had this program on
it, but have never seen this program mentioned anywhere. There is also a
program called "Timber Town" which again, I have never seen any reference to
anywhere. Unfortunately, the tape quality is abysmal, so I cant catch
accents nor names.

Thanks

Richard

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

Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2002 18:50:10 -0500
From: JSmith4994@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Cynics Choice on Malcolm Radio
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Dear Radiophiles:
I am searching for a series of great old time British comedy shows that were
broadcast out of California I believe on the Malcolm Radio networks. The show
was hosted by an English gentleman by the name of Brian Clewer. I would be
very interested as to if these are available in any format for purchase, as I
believe the show web site is no longer active. Can you help?
JSmith4994@[removed]

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End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #450
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