Subject: [removed] Digest V2001 #250
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 8/3/2001 9:03 AM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2001 : Issue 250
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Dennis Day and the theme from 'Bambi  [ MaryVi@[removed] ]
  Frank Maxwell                         [ "igsjr@[removed]" <igsjr@[removed]; ]
  Andy Russell                          [ JJJ445@[removed] ]
  Shows That Made You Cry               [ ArtsMilitaria@[removed] (Arthur Fun ]
  "Calling All Cars" Artist Added       [ Conrad Binyon <conradab@[removed] ]
  Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920  [ Tom Kleinschmidt <otr1962@[removed] ]
  CALL LETTER BATTLE OF THE NBC O&O's   [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
  The digital leap                      [ Ga6string@[removed] ]
  OTR PARODYS: AN ALBUM AND ON TV SHOW  [ "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed]; ]
  Rehashed Gas                          [ "Harold Zeigler" <hzeigler@charter- ]
  THE SHADOW, ETC.                      [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
  Date                                  [ "schickedanz" <schickedanz@[removed]; ]
  Charles McGraw turns up in the unlik  [ "igsjr@[removed]" <igsjr@[removed]; ]
  Firesign Theatre OTR parodies         [ "igsjr@[removed]" <igsjr@[removed]; ]
  Sophisticated Kids?                   [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
  Minidisc format                       [ "stephen jansen" <stephenjansen@ema ]
  Gildersleeve                          [ Marklambert@[removed] ]
  Re: OTR Parody                        [ "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@hotmail ]
  WEVD                                  [ maugenbraun@[removed] ]

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 11:50:48 -0400
From: MaryVi@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Dennis Day and the theme from 'Bambi'

Hello all,
I'm not sure if it was here that I saw the question regarding Dennis Day and
Bambi's theme song, 'Love is a Song', but I just came across some information
about it on the Internet Movie Database site, [removed]
According to the information at the site, it was written by Frank Churchill
and Larry Morey, and it was performed by Donald Novis

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 11:51:35 -0400
From: "igsjr@[removed]" <igsjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Frank Maxwell

[removed] Wolfe wrote:

The actor with the voice that so closely resembles Frank Lovejoy is
named Frank Maxwell. He appears as a bookie in an episode of "X MInus
One" and if you didn't know any better you'd think it was Frank
Lovejoy.

I think [removed] may be on to something [removed]'ve seen Maxwell in movies
like [removed] (1950) and THE INTRUDER (1961), and his voice is very
similar to Lovejoy'[removed]

Ivan

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 11:52:30 -0400
From: JJJ445@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Andy Russell

Andy Russell had a total of eight songs that got within the top twenty
between 1944 and 1948 for the fledgling Capitol record label.

His first big hit was "Besame Mucho," it hit the charts in April of 1944 and
got as high as #10. He followed it up with a bigger hit, "Amor," in May of
the same year. It was on the charts for eight weeks and reached the #5 spot.
His highest ranked song was "laughing on the Outside" (Crying on the Inside).
 It reached the number #4 position in May of 1946.  That was the same year he
became a regular on Your Hit Parade.

John Jensen
Federal Way, WA

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 11:52:53 -0400
From: ArtsMilitaria@[removed] (Arthur Funk)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Shows That Made You Cry

Poindexter recounted listening to a drama that made him cry.  The only
time that happened to me, it was a comedy.  Anyone who is a Great
Gildersleeve fan will know exactly which show I mean.  It's the final
episode in a story line involving a foundling infant that Gildy was
caring for and was planning to adopt.  In a very tender finale to the
story, the father appears and, after wrestling with his conscience,
Gildy decides the right thing to do is to set aside his own feelings and
return the child to its father.  I was so overcome by the story and by
Hal Peary's performance that I wept as I haven't in years.

Regards to all,
Art Funk

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 11:51:49 -0400
From: Conrad Binyon <conradab@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  "Calling All Cars" Artist Added

Although these two "Calling All Cars" players may look different
they're really the same actor.

He is:

[removed]

A few more to list.

CAB
--
conradab@[removed] (Conrad A. Binyon)
   From the Home of the Stars who loved Ranches and Farms
     Encino, California.

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 14:37:27 -0400
From: Tom Kleinschmidt <otr1962@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Encyclopedia of American Radio, 19201960

Hello All,

	I just got a new catalogue from McFarland Publishing
and a title caught my eye that I donít remember
hearing about or seeing discussed on the digest. The
details are:

Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920ñ1960  by Luther
F. Sies

ISBN: 0-7864-0452-3
912pp. bibliography, indexes $135 library binding ([removed]
x 11) 2000

	Does anyone have any comments on this? How does it
compare with Dunning,etcÖ Is it worth the hefty price
tag?


Tom

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 14:37:30 -0400
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  CALL LETTER BATTLE OF THE NBC O&O's

NBC's TV station in Los Angeles also switched its call, from KNBC to
KRCA

I was working for KNBC radio [O&O] in San Francisco when they took our
call letters for 5 in LA, and we ended up KNBR.

       Sandy Singer
A DATE WITH SINATRA
[removed]

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 14:37:24 -0400
From: Ga6string@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The digital leap

OK, guys and gals, I'm ready to take the plunge. I've always been a resolute
cassette guy, as far as my OTR programs, but I'm ready to look into the best
way to commit my collection to a digital format.

There are a couple of reasons for this. First, I'm concerned about my
cassette collection deteriorating over time and use. I've listened to some of
my old Radio Yesteryear tapes lately and they don't sound so good, leaving me
to wonder if they always sounded this way, or if they are in fact degrading.
I don't have anywhere near the collections that some of you have, but even
so, I've got a lot of money invested in this stuff, and I want it to last!

Another reason is that I've recently gotten a couple of discs of shows in
.mp3 format (with a few programs in Real Audio) and I'd like to identify the
best way to transfer those programs (selected ones, anyway) to a permanent,
portable digital format, one that I can listen to anywhere.

I've noted the posts regarding mp3's, Rio Volt, minidiscs, etc. with
interest, but I must admit I haven't been taking notes.

I won't go into further detail on-list, but I'd be very happy to communicate
off-list with some of you who've already gone through this process, to learn
how you did it and what suggestions you might have.

Thanks,
Bryan Powell

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:37:25 -0400
From: "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  OTR PARODYS: AN ALBUM AND ON TV SHOWS

I am surprised no one mentioned Vaughn Meader and his Album that does a
fantastic parody of the Kennedy Family back in the 1960's and especially his
radio press conference cut. A real gem!  I notice someone has the album for
sale on ebay and the top bid now is $100.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Also 3 (pardon the expression) TV shows did OTR parodys.  WKRP in
Cincinnatti did a take off on WOTW called "Those Strange Green Creatures
>From Outer Space" (a real riot) * Frasier did a OTR show for the anniversary
of his station called "Nightmare Inn" and on an Odd Couple show one season,
Felix talked Oscar into doing an OTR show on his sports program.  All three
were a credit to OTR. I taped all three of these shows and they are funnier
each time I view them.

(Note: when Oscar asked Felix if he ever had any Radio experience, he
produces his AFRA (American Federation Of Radio Artists) Union Card, which
IMHO, was sort of an inside joke for all the OTR Fans viewing, don't you
think?)

Owens Pomeroy

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:37:45 -0400
From: "Harold Zeigler" <hzeigler@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Rehashed Gas

	Hi Anybody,
   Two years ago while coming back from the Newark Convention with "THE" Bob
Burchett, we stopped off in New Jersey for gas and as we were sitting in the
car , the attendant came out and filled our tank and checked the oil and
water and then he even washed the windshield!
    I leaned over to Bob and said "Bob ,I think we've driven into
the"Twighlight Zone!"
    We since have driven into many" Twiighlight Zones" on our trips to and
from Newark. Remember the famous exit for the frontage road to the Holiday
Inn?
    And now I hear Ted Davenport will be traveling with us. Sorry,Ted.
				Till Next Time,Harold

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:37:56 -0400
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  THE SHADOW, ETC.

The audience of 2001 is more sophisticated than the audience of 1945.

This may be true, BUT the children of 2001 still scare as easily, and I
dare YOU to listen to any of these shows alone, in a totally darkened
room at the stroke of midnight.

       Sandy Singer
A DATE WITH SINATRA
[removed]

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:38:07 -0400
From: "schickedanz" <schickedanz@[removed];
To: "Old-Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Date

Hello out there in Radioland.

I just picked up a two-album copy of "Remember the Golden Days of Radio."
Narrated by Jack Benny and Frank Knight, it was produced by the Longines
Symphonette Society.  There's no date on it.  Can anyone tell me when it
dates from?  The album numbers are SY 5183 (LW 447) and SY 5184 (LW 448).

Thanks.

Norm Schickedanz
Elmhurst, IL

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:38:47 -0400
From: "igsjr@[removed]" <igsjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Charles McGraw turns up in the unlikeliest of
 places

Mike Kerezman wrote:

I just saw Charles McGraw in the Robert Mitchum Film BLOOD ON THE MOON
(1948). He Plays a bad guy initially at the begiiining of the Movie. You
cannot miss that voice of his.

I have had similar experiences like Mike, watching McGraw appearances in
such disparate films as THE BIRDS and SPARTACUS (McGraw in SPARTACUS?
Go [removed]).

Ivan

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:39:15 -0400
From: "igsjr@[removed]" <igsjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Firesign Theatre OTR parodies

Steve Salaba wrote:

I know practically the entire "Nick Danger" side of  Firesign's "Marx
& Lennon" album by heart. Just don't ask me to recite it - I probably
will, and without stopping :)

We need to get together sometime, [removed] I take your hat and goat?

Much of FST's comedy derived from an extensive background of OTR -- the
title track from their 1976 anthology album FORWARD INTO THE PAST (which
is available on their CD anthology SHOES FOR INDUSTRY!) includes clips
from such fictional radio shows as "The Aboriginal Amateur Hour" ("Round
and round and round it goes!  Ho ho, we're on the wheel [removed]") and
"Captain Equinox".

The 1996 CD PINK HOTEL BURNS DOWN also contains a Goon Show-parody
entitled "By the Light of the Silvery," featuring the great detective
Sureshot Homeless.

Ivan

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

Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 22:39:49 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Sophisticated Kids?

Bruce Dettman, speaking of a comment made on how children were "less
sophisticated" in the days of the broadcasts, notes,

with the observation of how much more sophisticated kids are today I
couldn't help cringing. Kids are more street-wise, perhaps. They might be
more cynical and apathetic, know about sex and drugs, but I have never
understood the reference to their being so sophisticated.

Cynical is the right word.  No kids are sophisticated, ever.  That's why
they're kids.  But kids in the 1940s and 1950s had one thing that modern
kids don't: idealism.  They could buy into the idea of a Lone Ranger,
Green Hornet, and even Jack Armstrong because they reflected the ideals
they'd been brought up with.  As had their parents.  The average
breadwinner of a household back then could buy into these ideas.  While,
perhaps, The Shadow might be a reach, Captain Midnight or Sky King seemed
to be not that far removed from the ordinary.

Some ideals have eroded, but a lot are just dormant.

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 01:48:49 -0400
From: "stephen jansen" <stephenjansen@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Minidisc format

     First off, I must begin with this phrase: "AS FAR AS I [removed]", in
order to stave off any fingers being pointed at me later on.  I am pretty
sure all of my info is correct.  As far as I know.
     Okay.  I was the hugest fan of the minidisc format I knew.  The fact
that they were "digital", were easily edited, had lots of space for title
information, were re-recordable, and were nearly indestructable were all
major factors in my love of the format.  Then, one day, I got a computer
with a cd burner, and that all changed.  My favorite (and what I believe
will become a standard someday) is now mp3.
     Do not be confused in thinking that mp3 and minidisc are completely
different formats.  They are actually extremely close cousins.  Both formats
use a type of "lossy" compression, which means that during recording, some
audio information is ignored/not recorded at all.  This is dependant upon
the range of human hearing, the loudness of the audio, the competing
frequencies, and other parameters.  The encoding program decides what is
important, and throws the rest away.  That's why so much audio fits in so
little a space.  Depending on the audio quality I choose, I can fit anywhere
from 12 to 50 hours on a single cd of mp3 files.  The minidisc doesn't let
you choose audio quality, just stereo or mono (74 or 128 minutes).
     The newer minidisc recorders are now obviously allowing a lower quality
audio recording level, to allow more audio on a single minidisc.  The disc
itself, is simply a small re-recordable cd encased in a square, flat
package.
     Probably the best thing about the minidisc format is that you don't
need a computer.  But for those of us with a computer (probably everyone
reading this now), mp3 is a far more adaptable format.  OTR doesn't need a
great compression ratio because the audio isn't always that great to begin
with.  So plenty shows will fit on a cd - usually about 100!
     I use the Rio Volt mp3 cd player to listen to my OTR mp3's.  It reads
ALL those small bitrates (some other players are unable to read the bitrate
at which most OTR is recorded), shows the complete file name, playback time,
has a backlit display, and plays for about 20 hours on 2 AA batteries!
     However, for recording live real-world audio, the portable minidisc
recorder is the best choice - my Sony MZ-R30 measures about 1"x3"x4", so
it's beautifully unobtrusive, runs on battery power, handles shocks well,
and does editing and labeling of tracks just like a full-sized unit.  I
don't believe there is an mp3 portable recorder (yet!).  There are
appallingly few stand alone mp3 units (so far!), I think the recording
industry is too frightened to allow widespread use by all consumers.  They
squelched the consumer-level DAT (Digital Audio Tape) 20 years ago pretty
well.
     Hey, here's a hint for those of you who need to record a loooooooong
show. For instance, here in the Chicago area, Chuck Schaden had a 4-hour OTR
show on Saturdays, which I wasn't always able to catch in person.  So I set
up a Hi-Fi Stereo vcr to record the audio while I was gone.  Just tune in
the radio station, plug the audio cables into the vcr, and set the timer to
record on the correct date and time.  Up to six hours of recording with no
flipping tapes, trading minidiscs, or anything!  And the recording on Hi-Fi
Stereo vcr's is better than cassette, ALMOST digital quality.  By the way, I
think Mr Schaden still has his show, it's just on a smaller station which I
have real problems receiving - DARNIT!
     Well, there's my two cents worth.  I hope this was helpful.

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

Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 01:48:51 -0400
From: Marklambert@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Gildersleeve

I don't know what Gildersleeve means literally or historically,
but -- for the record -- it certainly is not a made up name.
My in-laws have some good friends whose last name
is Gildersleeve.

Mark

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

Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 02:10:29 -0400
From: "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: OTR Parody

Steve Salaba <philmfan@[removed]; writes:

I know practically the entire "Nick Danger" side of  Firesign's "Marx &
Lennon" album by heart. Just don't ask me to recite it - I probably will,
and without stopping :)

The actual title of the Columbia Records album referenced here is HOW CAN
YOU BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE WHEN YOU'RE REALLY NOWHERE AT ALL? I just
picked up a copy of it at a local used record shoplast weekend. And, no, it
was too hot for me to have my hat and goat along at the time. :-)

Around 1981, Rhino Records issued a Firesign Theater album of an all new
Nick Danger story in a five-piece sequence, furthering the bit's obvious
inspiration from "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar." I don't recall the exact
title of the album, though, but one gag that has stayed with me these twenty
years has been the serial's being "brought to you by your Chevrolet
bottler."

I have a rather obscure comedy record by a group calling themselves"The
Conception Corporation" with a cut that parodies radio soap operas called
"Love of Grass" complete with organ music and melodramatic narration. It
contains a lot of sixties drug references, rather like Firesign Theater
used to do. Though I don't have The Conception Corporation's second album,
there is supposed to be Chapter Two of the story on it. Even though the
sixties drug jokes seem a bit dated now (who ever thought that would
happen?) its still kind of funny.

That second album (both were issued on Cotillion Records, the Atlantic
subsidiary responsible for the Woodstock albums around the same time) is
titled A PAUSE IN THE DISASTER, and indeed it does close the first side with
another episode of "Love of Grass."

There was also a third installment in this hippie-comedy-cum-OTR-parody
sweepstakes worth mentioning. At about the same time Firesign Theater was
recording for Columbia and The Conception Corporation were recording for
Cotillion, a satirical duo calling themselves The Congress of Wonders issued
a couple of albums through the Berkeley, California-based Fantasy label
(then having great success with the rock music of Creedence Clearwater
Revival and previously best known for the earliest sides of both Dave
Brubeck and Lenny Bruce). The first album, REVOLTING!, contains a 12-minute
bit about "The Stoned Ranger." I don't know if Fantasy ever got into a legal
jam over that one, but it is worth noting that it is one of the few albums
Fantasy has never reissued in any format (to the best of my knowledge).

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

Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 09:28:24 -0400
From: maugenbraun@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  WEVD

For those of you familiar with New York radio there's sad news-WEVD 1050 will
disappear at the end of the month and emerge as WESPN(?) sports radio. Someone
can correct me but WEVD has been around for decades, long a voice of for the
left and for Yiddish broacasting. So in a society ( and city) where we
supposedly celebrate diversity I now have 2 radio and 6 cable TV stations
devoted to sports and the advertisers that make it all possible. I guess I'm
going to have to become a fan of spectator sports and maybe even hoist a can of
Budweiser unless I want to feel like a complete outcast.

Mike

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2001 Issue #250
*********************************************

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