------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 467
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Third Man Theme [ leemunsick@[removed] ]
Grand Central [ William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
zither [ "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@earthli ]
Re: Warners and CBS 1928 [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
Hal is live on Yesterday USA this Fr [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
The Third Man Theme [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
Struts and Frets and Dwight Hauser [ "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed]; ]
WOR New York [ Grbmd@[removed] ]
Cinnamon Bear [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
visit with Santa [ vigor16@[removed] ]
Lorraine Diehl's wonderful book [ "Jackie Lannin" <jackquack@[removed] ]
Big Finish audio [ ""Cynthia \"ChibiBarako\""" < ]
Liberty station in [removed] [ "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@sbcglob ]
Australian Culture [ "david rogers" <david_rogers@hotmai ]
FILM CLIPS [ "Ian Grieve" <austotr@[removed]. ]
Today in radio history [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:52:27 -0500
From: leemunsick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Third Man Theme
For Ruk77, seeking info on the song "The Third Man Theme": This was
written by European zither player Anton Karas, I believe in 1949. It was
given great popularity through constant use in the 1950 Orson Welles/Joseph
Cotten film "The Third Man", as played in the film and on a commercial
recording by Karas. Welles reprised his role in the radio series for BBC
in the 1951-52 series of half-hour shows, which were syndicated in the [removed]
in 1952. I believe they are all available.
The characters first appeared in the book by Graham Greene, who also wrote
"The Quiet American" and "Our Man In Havana" among others. The film made
of "The Quiet American" featured an outstanding international cast,
including Audie Murphy, Michael Redgrave and Claude Dauphin. This year saw
a re-make with Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser.
The movie "Our Man in Havana" starred Alec Guinness in a quietly-humorous
outing, following on the heels of his hysterically funny series for Ealing
Studios, including "The Lavender Hill Mob". "Our Man" had an outstanding
British cast including Noel Coward, Maureen O'Hara and Ralph
Richardson. It also boasted delightful performances by two great American
performers, Ernie Kovacs and Burl Ives!
The "Third Man Theme" recording--boosted by the phenomenal success of the
film--became a huge success. The Karas discs reached the coveted Number
One spot on the Hit Parade, and stayed there for 11 weeks in
1950! Coincidentally, Guy Lombardo and his orchestra issued their own
cover record, and it had exactly the same success: No. 1 for 11 weeks that
same period.
There were a number of cover records which also did well. Freddy Martin's
orchestra got to No. 17, RCA Victor's Hugo Winterhalter made No. 21,
Decca's Victor Young bumped into him at No. 22, and Owen Bradley's version
was right behind at No. 23. As one can imagine, the television series
prompted a renewal of interest not only in the film's characters, but in
the theme recordings. Popular "niche" performer Ruth Welcome also had
success with her zither recordings of this and other tunes, as well as
several fascinating outings with the Cymbalom, another European folk
instrument.
Anton Karas wrote the music. There are words, which I suspect were added
after the initial popularity of the hit records, all of which were
instrumentals. The lyricist was one Walter Lord!
Now that poses an interesting historical question: Could this be the same
Walter Lord who wrote the Titanic best-seller book "A Night To
Remember"? It was on this book that was based the box office smash film of
the same name. Lord also wrote an excellent television
adaptation. Narrated by Claude Rains, it aired on the Kraft Television
Theatre. It's a fascinating, incredible example of live television
production in the late 1940s. Sitting through it at the Chicago Museum of
Broadcasting, I was dumbfounded at how such a huge cast could move so
quickly, through so many scenes. The "special effects" were also
phenomenal and amazingly done, as long shots from the film were
painstakingly worked into the live scenes.
Walter Lord wrote a number of other excellent historical works, among them
"Day of Infamy" and "Midway: The Incredible Battle". But my question
is: was it that Walter Lord who write the lyrics for "The Third Man
Theme"? We may never know!
Lee Munsick
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:52:32 -0500
From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Grand Central
Candy Jens in discussing interview programs mentioned that an interview
program called "Twentieth Century" originated at Grand Central station in
New York. I think she was referring to "Bob Elson on the Twwentieth
Century" which actually originated from the terminal in Chicago. The Leo
Myerhoff Agency handled the commercial Krank Shave Cream account. During
the summer of 1946, while broadcasting the dance bands from Catalina
Island, I also aired the summer replacement for the "Century", "Cliff
Johnson on Catalina Island". Leo spent some time with us there. An
interesting character. There were two railroad terminals in Chicago, one
for eastern trains, another for western trains. Travelling from New York
to Los Angeles, one had to take a cab from one terminal to the other, as
I well remember.
BILL MURTOUGH
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:52:37 -0500
From: "joe@[removed]" <sergei01@[removed];
To: "OTR List" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: zither
The theme for the Third Man was indeed played on a zither, and interesting
that it was brought up, just a few days ago I was in the classical record
shop across the street from my house and say a zither CD played by Anton
Karas himself, whose record provided the movie and radio show music.
Included were the Third Man Theme and Cafe Mozart Waltz, and many others.
Joe Salerno
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:52:42 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Warners and CBS 1928
A bit more regarding the dealings between Warner Brothers and CBS in the
dark days of [removed]
This deal had actually been negotiated between Major J. Andrew White and
the Warners in the summer of 1928, several months before William Paley
bought into the struggling network. Ike Levy, the Philadelphia dentist
who was co-owner of station WCAU and an early investor in CBS, told
author Robert Metz in 1975 that the Vitaphone contract -- for $750,000
worth of time -- undoubtedly saved the network. "Had that contract come
three days later," Levy recalled, "there would have been a sherrif's
notice on the door."
It's often claimed that Paley's money and Paley's business instincts were
what ensured the survival of CBS. Paley and the internal CBS publicity
machine encouraged the development of this theory over the years, and in
the long term it's probably true. But as can be seen from this example,
there was a *lot* of blind luck involved: had White not convinced the
Warners to buy, there would have been no CBS for Paley's brains and money
to save. When you take a close look at what was going on at CBS during
1928, there are many instances where the network just barely dodged the
bullet.
It might also be noted that Ike Levy and his brother Leon played a
critical and unsung role in CBS's survival: William Paley was their
brother-in-law. The Paley family's Congress Cigar Company first began
experimenting with radio advertising over WCAU, and it was the company's
success there that led to its advertising over CBS. It was then that the
Levys went to near-bankrupt CBS president Jerome Louchheim and mentioned
that they had a brother-in-law with a lot of money and an interest in
broadcasting who just might be able to help with CBS's financial
[removed]
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:52:48 -0500
From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Hal is live on Yesterday USA this Friday
night
Hi Everybody, Hal Stone is Frank Bresee and my special live guest this
Friday night 12-6-02 on the Yesterday USA Radio Network. The show will
start at 7-30 PM West Coast time, and around 15 minutes later Hal will join
us live. You can here the show on the internet at [removed].
Click on listen on line, then you have three choices to hear the audio. I
would suggest using the Live 365 player which has the best sound, and its
take around 2 minutes to down load it if you do not already have the player
install on your computer. You can also use real audio if you would like.
You can also hear the program on cable TV channel, low power AM and FM radio
stations. A list of those outlet is at the web site [removed].
Another option is to hear the show off WGN audio sub carrier off a big
satellite dish. Take care,
Walden Hughes
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:53:07 -0500
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Third Man Theme
Ruk 77 asked about "The Third Man Theme" from the show Harry Lime. This
theme was written and played by Anton Karas for the movie "The Third
Man" starring Orson Welles. It is indeed perfomed on a zither, in this
case an electric instrument which has quite a different sound than the
more traditional acoustic zither heard more often in folk music from
Germany and Austria.
The recording of it was I believe on the London label (Decca in England)
and was very popular in the summer of 1950 being on the "Your Hit
Parade" survey for 20 weeks! It rose at one point to the number two
postion. Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians also had a popular "cover"
record of the tune.
George Aust
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:52:59 -0500
From: "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Struts and Frets and Dwight Hauser
What a nice tribute Harry Bartell wrote to Dwight Hauser in his column!
Dwight was a very talented writer who got chopped to pieces with the big
Communist scare. He maintained all along that he never was a Communist. He
got together with some of the other out-of-work, mainly, actors around
Hollywood, but never was anything said that gave him the idea that it had
anything to do with Communism. He didnt even suspect anthing like that
until the count-down and the Blacklist came out and he was listed among the
other Communist members. From there on, his career fell apart and sometimes
it was a chore to feed his wife and five children -- all delightful people!
As Harry said, Dwight was an avid fisherman. He and Howard Culver would
disappear into the Sierra for days at a time looking for the very best
fishing holes. One day at Lake Sherwood, where the Housers [removed]
wasnt sure he had the right house. and no one was [removed] he looked in the
garage in the freezer, found it was full of the right kind of fish, so we
unpacked two kids and the dog and went around the house to the lawn to wait
for their arrival.
Dwight deserved better in life.
Lois Culver
Widow of Howard Culver, actor
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:57:12 -0500
From: Grbmd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: WOR New York
In a message dated 12/4/02 12:22:59 AM EST, candyj@[removed] writes:
As a lirttle kid (40s) my day started out with John B. Gambling and The
World's Greatest Little Orchestra - besides music, weather, and chitchat,
he
reported on school closings!
Yes, I'm afraid, I'm only old enough to remember.
As a kid, I too listened to Gambling, and I've recently found on "Joey
Reynolds" (to my dismay) that the Gambling I listened to has his *grandson*
broadcasting to people now-a-days. Doesn't *that* make you feel old.
Anyway, those of us who enjoy old-time radio (OTR) are always glad to find
others who remember, and who are willing to share their memories. Even if it
*does* make us feel us old.
Yours for OTR,
Spence
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:53:12 -0500
From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Cinnamon Bear
I've been listening to the Cinnamon Bear episodes and I was surprised to
hear a reference in one of the first few programs to 33 1/3 rpm! I
forget what it was now that they said was running at that speed, but
that had to be a very obscure and inside reference in 1937. Isn't that
right? I think that the only people who would know about it would be
proffesionals in the broadcast industry at that time. Any comments?
Also if I remember right, there is still a mystery about who played
Jimmy in the series. Now I certainly don't know the answer to that but
each time I hear Jimmy's voice I think about recordings that I had as a
youngster (about 1942) and in fact still have, on the Blue Bird label
called The Regular Fellas at the Circus". Now I believe that the
Cinnamon Bear was recorded in Los Angeles and it seems to me that The
Regular Fellas had somewhat of a New York accent although I haven't
listened to it in 55 years or so, but that is how I remember it.
Yet there is something very similar to the voices from these two
different stories. It seems to me that Michael Biel mentioned something
about The Regular Fella's a few years ago. Maybe he would know if
there is any possible connection or perhaps it's that alot of young boys
sound somewhat alike.
George Aust
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:57:18 -0500
From: vigor16@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: visit with Santa
Hi everyone,
I am more a radio person, though vintage tv is related at times but this
one throws me. I got in a discussion with a friend about the Cinnamon
Bear and my friend Nancy asked me to find out about a program,
apparently, syndicated, called "A visit with Santa Claus" which was an
early television program that had the jolly fellow reading letters from
children in a Howdy Dudey form and culimated in the Christmas Eve episode
where Santa made his famous ride from the end of the show, I guess. She
wanted to know as much about the show and if any tapes were out there on
videotape. She says that she thought it was taped, because it was rerun
a couple years as a Saturday morning filler. It would be highlighted by
Santa having trouble with elves puppets and a Clarabelle like clown.
Does any of this sound familiar. Some of it does to me, but very little.
She also says that she, somewhere, in her grandmother's attic have a
picture of the Santa that she got in the mail.
I'm am beginning to be amazed at how much we forget. Never mind, how
much we remember. As she was telling me, it had snatches of familiarity,
but I can't place the show. She says it was an after school type show,
obviously to entice the little tykes. She also thought it had toy
sponsors, which sounds like a plot to me. Must have been post McCarthy
era. If you've ever heard of this, let me know, also if any tapes. She
is a real nastalgia buff. Tryibng to get her family into CB, but kids
are video oriented.
By all, Merry Whatever you celebrate,
Deric
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:57:25 -0500
From: "Jackie Lannin" <jackquack@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Lorraine Diehl's wonderful book
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain
Dear Mr. Diehl,
I was just in New York City on the 21st. I attended a wonderful award
ceremony sponored by the group CityLore.
It was at the Museum of the City of New York to honor peope that have
contributed to the ongoing culture and flavor of New York. A few of the high
points for me personally were Mr. Peter Sokolov performing "Bei Mir Bist Du
Schoen", the fine bialys from the Ross family (award winners) and the lovely
display of the Horn and Hardart Automat memorabilia and photographs.
I was with my sister and we immediately saw Lorraine Diehl's terrific
little book at the entry to the exhibit. I told my sister that I had read
about the book on this list and was very excited to see it. I am going to
purchase a copy immediately and would recommend it to anyone who has any
historical or sentimental interest in the history of the Automat.
The next day, I had lunch with a group of friends that are fans of the late
Jean Shepherd- talk about a terrific week!
Have a good weekend all- Jackie
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:57:34 -0500
From: ""Cynthia \"ChibiBarako\""" <cvc@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Big Finish audio
Funny Maureen should mention Big Finish audio. I just got back from a
local Doctor Who convention, where I purchased one of their audios
entitled Invasion From Mars. (Doctor Who is a time traveler, and in
this case ends up in New York on October 31, 1938.) I haven't heard any
of the other audios so I can't comment on quality otherwise, but anyone
who wants to try Invasion from Mars should be warned that it contains
hackneyed accents and more than a few stereotypes (not to mention
inadvertent Stan Freberg references). Once the real story gets going
it's okay, but the first part of the story is some rather self-conscious
cleverness. After listening to this CD set, I hereby apologize to all
British people for foisting my horrible pseudo-British accent on them.
Like I say, I don't intend that to be a review of Big Finish as a whole,
as I haven't heard an adventure set where everybody uses British
accents.
Cynthia
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:57:42 -0500
From: "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Liberty station in [removed]
Pam Warren's listing of KGFJ-1230 in Los Angeles broadcasting "Major League
Baseball" in March of 1951 is interesting. Wouldn't this have been spring
training and not during the regular season? I'd sure like to know what
games/teams they were sending out over the airwaves.
It's also interesting, since a friend of mine checked a collection of
Broadcasting Yearbooks and Radio Annuals for the answer to my question. She
found that in 1951 and 1952, KMPC-710 in Los Angeles was listed as the
Liberty Broadcasting System affiliate. However, I still don't know who the
[removed] affiliate was from 1948-'50, or even if Liberty was carried in Los
Angeles during those years.
Of course, this business of re-creating baseball games on the radio via
coded messages over Western Union wires goes way back to the 1920s. I'm not
sure who did it first, but in the summer of 1927, KFWO radio in Avalon on
Catalina Island (Katalina For Wonderful Outings) did an experiment for
Southern California baseball fans. KFWO owner Major Lawrence Mott was a
good friend of William Wrigley, Jr., who owned Catalina Island and the
Chicago Cubs baseball [removed], from July 27-August 14, they decided to
have KFWO re-create Cubs games from Wrigley Field as they were played.
Lawrence Mott did the announcing of the games himself, but likely without
any sound effects of the game, crowd, etc. Cost of the telegraph wire from
Chicago to Catalina was said to be $200 per hour. Radio Doings magazine
said "this probably is the first time that private telegraph service over so
great a distance has been utilized for the benefit of but one radio
station."
Jim
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:58:12 -0500
From: "david rogers" <david_rogers@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Australian Culture
I do not expect this to make it to the digest but here goes anyway. This is
in response to the cricket comment on the OTR Digest.
(Remeber that I write this as an Englishman with an Australian wife)
Dame Edna Everage once said: "Do you know why Australians are so good at
sport? The complete absence of any intellectual pursuit."
While we were in Perth, WA visiting my wife's family, a Kiwi asked me: "What
is the difference between an Australian and a tub of yoghurt? The yoghurt
has more culture."
You may notice that I neither said, nor agree with either of the above
comments. I am just repeating what I heard.
Love as always, David Rogers
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:58:33 -0500
From: "Ian Grieve" <austotr@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: FILM CLIPS
Folks I meant to pass this information on a couple of weeks ago and forgot.
At [removed] you can access film clips of historical events and
download them for free. I counted 8 of Jack Benny and 33 of Bob Hope,
including the famous Golf game mentioned in his book.
There are some great early comedy skits, otr and non otr, it is fun just
picking a word and doing a search :) The Brits have done a fantastic job
putting this site together.
Ian
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 10:58:42 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history
>From Those Were The Days --
1936 - Bing Crosby took over as host of The Kraft Music Hall. Jimmy
Dorsey led the Kraft Orchestra.
1952 - Mutual radio broadcast The Green Hornet for the final time. The
show left the air after 15 years on Mutual, NBC and ABC. The Green
Hornet reappeared in 1966, this time on t---------n.
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #467
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