Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #41
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 2/2/2002 9:52 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 41
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      New Adventures Of Nero Wolfe          [ "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-self ]
      Re:Tammy Grimes                       [ hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed]; ]
      Reel-to-reel tape recorders for sale  [ "David L. Easter" <david-easter@hom ]
      James Arness                          [ "George Coppen*" <gacoppen@[removed] ]
      Glenn Miller/Fort Knox                [ George Aust <austhaus1@[removed] ]
      the evolution of Dragnet              [ "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@neb. ]
      Re: boxing on radio                   [ Brent Pellegrini <brentp@[removed] ]
      Transcriptions and Syndication        [ Roo61@[removed] (Randy Watts) ]
      Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      OTR Boxing Recordings                 [ "[removed]" <swells@[removed]; ]
      Arthur on Law & Order                 [ Kubelski@[removed] ]
      Bing's White Christmas                [ JJJ445@[removed] ]
      request for help - Kay Thompson       [ alo <alo@[removed]; ]
      Boxing memories                       [ User310378@[removed] ]
      CBS Radio Mystery Theater             [ GreenIFire@[removed] ]
      Re: No "Live Only" Rule at Mutual     [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
      White Christmas                       [ "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@earthl ]
      The Name of the Lone Ranger           [ "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@earthl ]

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:29:13 -0500
    From: "Rodney w bowcock jr." <rodney-selfhelpbikeco@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: New Adventures Of Nero Wolfe

    Thanks to our friends at the First Generation Radio Archives, I've been
    listening to quite a bit of the New Adventures Of Nero Wolfe, with Sidney
    Greenstreet.  And I have a couple of questions.

    1)  Why did the show last less than one season?  It's pretty well
    written, with a good "name" in the starring role.  I can't figure it out.

    2)  Why so many different Archies?  I know of at least 6 different actors
    who played the role during the 26 week run.  Why wasn't anyone willing to
    stick with the role?  Since Harry Bartell played Archie in some episodes,
    he may know more about this than others.

    rodney.

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:30:41 -0500
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re:Tammy Grimes

    I have been biting my tongue, reluctant to comment about the recent spurt of
    Tammy Grimes postings. But ....fools rush in, where angels fear to tread.

    I didn't want to post anything on the subject of Tammy, for one good reason.
    My "mommy" always [removed]"If you can't say anything nice about
    [removed]'t say anything at all".

    But then again, I didn't always follow "Mothers" advice, so I might as well
    vent my spleen.

    I will start off by [removed] was excellent in the  Broadway production
    of "Unsinkable Molly Brown". But perhaps word got out that she was extremely
    difficult to work with, so maybe Hollywood passed, and went with Debbie
    Reynolds in the part instead. Maybe her incredible ego came to the fore and
    she asked for too much money. Besides, The Hollywood moguls (Or is it
    Mongrels), are always hedging their bets with what they hope will be a
    better Box Office draw.

    Maybe that triggered something in Tammy, (the rejection) and she became
    bitter. All I know, based on personal experience, is she was extremely
    "difficult" to work with when I directed her in some commercials many, many
    years ago, long after her Broadway success. It sometimes happens that
    "fading" stars put on airs, and act "ornery" because it somehow makes them
    feel important once again. Maybe she felt that "doing commercials" was
    beneath her stature. Whatever the reason, it was one of the most unpleasant
    experiences of my Directorial career.

    As for her "accent"..In my humble [removed] was an "Affectation". Again,
    in my humble opinion, (albeit fairly credible, considering the 48 years I
    spent in Show Business), Tammy Grimes was loaded with affectations.

    But she was wonderful as Molly Brown. a real "Tour de Force". But if she
    went downhill after that, I would hazard a guess that she only had herself
    to blame.

    I don't thing anyone who reads the digest has heard me "dis" anyone before.
    Maybe that's because I have such fond memories of all the Great (and Near
    Great) performers that I worked with over many years.

    Tammy Grimes is not one of my favorite people. [removed] said it and I'm
    glad.

    But that's a story for my TV book, not the one about the OTR years.

    Hal(harlan)Stone
    "Jughead"

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:30:53 -0500
    From: "David L. Easter" <david-easter@[removed];
    To: "Old-Time Radio Digest (E-mail)" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Reel-to-reel tape recorders for sale

    Several years ago I sold some excess old-time radios to a local collector.
    He called today because he has acquired 2 reel-to-reel tape recorders and
    wanted to know If I was interested. Unfortunately, I have not been actively
    collecting for several years and my 3 Sony's are still in good order.

    If anyone is interested, email me and I can put you in touch with him.

    He says he has a Sony TC-630 (condition in question; currently lacking a
    power cord) and a Teac A1200U (seems to be in good working order).

    David L. Easter
    Email: David-Easter@[removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:31:20 -0500
    From: "George Coppen*" <gacoppen@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: James Arness

    As a fan of Gunsmoke, I thought I would bring the fact that James Arness has
    written his autobiography to the attention of other fans. In the book he
    explains the time he spent in the Third Infantry Division  in  WWII and how
    he got his permanent limp that became his signature walk as Marshall Dillon.
    Also another matter of interest for Western Fans living in the Fairfax,
    Virginia area, the NRA National Firearms Museum will be hosting a display
    entitled "Real Guns of Reel Heroes" including firearms used by John Wayne,
    Charlton Heston, Steve McQueen, Chuck Conners [removed] mid-March to
    December.

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:31:31 -0500
    From: George Aust <austhaus1@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Glenn Miller/Fort Knox

    Stephen Davies has a great memory in recalling the Fort Knox reference
    in a Glenn Miller broadcast.  However it was neither a wartime broadcast
    nor was it from Fort Knox!  It was a February 5th 1941 broadcast over
    CBS from New York.  In announcing the tune "Sentimental Me" Glenn said
    that it was "for the soldiers at Fort Knox, Kentucky". It was Dorothy
    Claire singing the song however.
         As far as Paul U's original request about a Coca Cola Spotlight
    Band show broadcasting from Fort Knox, that rang a bell with me. I have
    quite a few of those shows but they are scattered about and listed by
    the bandleader's name not the Coca Cola name. Something I'll have to do
    something about one of these days. In the mean time I'll see what I can
    find.

    George Aust

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:32:37 -0500
    From: "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@[removed];
    To: "old time radio" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: the evolution of Dragnet

    HI all:
    I just got a few Dragnet shows in a cassette pack.  They spanned the years
    the show was on the radio, from 1949 to 1956.  Listening to them inspired me
    to write an overview of the evolution of the show.
    When Dragnet first came on the radio in June of 1949, it was really no
    different than any other detective program on the radio.  The only
    difference was that the show featured the cops as heroes, instead of the
    usual private dic.  Still, the show was over-dramatized.  Jack Webb sounded
    like Pat Novak in a uniform and Barton Yarborough's Ben Romero sounded a lot
    like Doc Long.  The programs were more action-oriented than the later shows,
    but this robbed it of the lack of authenticity and substance that was it's
    later trademark.  The one thing that stands out about the early shows was
    the use of a larger cast of supporting actors.  Jack Webb would come to rely
    on about eight or ten actors that he would use in every program.  You cannot
    hear a single episode without encountering the likes of Jack Kruschen, Harry
    Bartell, Vic Perrin, Virginia Gregg, Stacy Harris, Herb Ellis or Sam
    Edwards, among others.  This only makes sense, since all of these were very
    accomplished actors.  But earlier on in the series, you can hear the likes
    of Parley Baer, Paul Frees, William Conrad, Bill Johnstone, Jeff Chandler,
    Frank Lovejoy and even Harry Morgon in a couple of broadcasts.  The use of
    these actors dwindled as the show aged.  It was also interesting to meet
    certain regular characters in the early shows.  Raymond Burr played Cpt. Ed
    Backstrand and Peggy Webber played Joe's mother, which added a nice human
    touch to the character from time to time.
    Another interesting fasset of the program was the character of Sgt. Joe
    Friday, himself.  In the early programs, he was a mild-mannered, humble cop
    who did his job.  But if you listen carefully, you could detect a streak of
    kindness underneath the professional exterior.  It was also interesting to
    note the interaction of Joe and Ben as partners and friends.  They obviously
    had a mutual respect for one another, but they also held that kind of
    unspoken affection for one another that is typical of two men working
    together.
    When Fatima Cigarettes took over sponsorship in late 1949, the program
    became a bit more laid back and authentic.  Romero lost some of his southern
    twang, the sound effects and acting became more convincing and Joe Friday
    became less hard-boiled.  This was when the show really came into it's own
    and started winning awards and gaining fame.  One aspect of the show that
    stands out during the early years was the use of sound effects.  Dragnet was
    probably the most superior program in the use of sound, equaled only by
    Gunsmoke.  In almost every episode, you can tell the script is written with
    emphasis on sound.  Often times, Joe and Ben will question a suspect or
    witness while they are in the midst of some chore or activity, whether it be
    pressing clothes, polishing silverware, shaving, operating a movie
    projector, doing the laundry, etc.  In an episode called, "The Big
    Gangster," Joe and Ben are involved in a bar brawl that lasts over 60
    seconds.  Often times, it was customary for radio characters to exchange
    dialogue while they were exchanging blows, but not so here.   The sound
    effects men and actors did a marvelous job of letting the sound tell the
    story for the audience.  The only inconsistency in this was when the cops
    would enter a restaurant.  I never could understand why you never hear the
    sound of a crowd when they are dining.
    It is my opinion that the show was at it's best from the beginning of 1950
    up until the death of Barton Yarborough in December of 1951.  At that point,
    a noticeable change occurred on Dragnet radio.  One reason for this was
    probably due to the death of Yarborough, but another major factor had to be
    the transition of Dragnet to television.  Webb and his stable were no longer
    free to focus their entire effort on the radio show.  It is apparent that
    the radio show got the worse end of the deal.  Joe Friday went through a
    series of partners, starting out with Barney Phillips as Sgt. Ed Jacobs, and
    ending with Ben Alexander as Officer Frank Smith.  During this time, Sgt.
    Friday became more self-righteous and moral.  He and his partner would often
    collar a suspect and give him a long-winded speech, resulting in the suspect
    breaking down and confessing.  The interaction between Friday and Smith
    became less like two men who had a bond of mutual respect and equality.
    Smith seemed to play more of a role built for comic relief, unlike Ben
    Romero who carried more of the weight of the show.  Friday also moved out of
    his mother's home and got an apartment of his own, taking away another
    personal element of the character.  The upside to the radio series at this
    time was the technical sound effects.  I don't know what methods were used,
    but the sound patterns in the later Dragnet programs make the shows.  When
    the officers are outside, the traffic sounds realistic and not as if it were
    being played on a record.  There were hints of these advanced sound patterns
    from the later Romero episodes, but they fully blossomed in the final radio
    shows.
    Overall, Dragnet was an excellent pioneer of police drama and has rightfully
    earned it's place in the entertainment hall of fame.
    RyanO

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:33:19 -0500
    From: Brent Pellegrini <brentp@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Re: boxing on radio

    my grandfather used to tell me about when he had all the boys over to his
    house in Salt Lake City to listen to a Joe Louis fight on the radio. Must
    have been the 1930's.  The fight started. he went into the kitchen to get
    a beer. he came back. the fight was over. Louis ka'od his opponent.

    +++_SI^@)y
    TLUFp<1pyN4&

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:33:58 -0500
    From: Roo61@[removed] (Randy Watts)
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Transcriptions and Syndication

    When pre-recorded programming was syndicated to stations on
    transcription discs, was a disc used by more than one station, or was a
    disc played by a single station and then destroyed?

    What I mean is, in television it was standard practice for 16mm film
    prints to be passed from one station to another until they wore out.  Is
    that how radio discs were handled, or did each station airing a
    transcription series get a brand new disc each time?

    Randy

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:34:05 -0500
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Today in radio history

      From Those Were The Days --

    1946 - The Mutual Broadcasting System presented Twenty Questions first
    time on radio. Bill Slater was the master of ceremonies. The show moved
    to t--------n in 1949.

      Joe

    --
    Visit my home page:
    [removed]~[removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:34:24 -0500
    From: "[removed]" <swells@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: OTR Boxing Recordings

    Greetings! Well, without actually phyically checking the reels, I do recall
    seeing some Ali vs. Liston, Ali vs. Patterson fights from the 60's somewhere
    here in my collection. I am sure I have others, but this "rings a bell."

    In Ref: Pay Download Sites
    Get'em Charlie!!

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:34:52 -0500
    From: Kubelski@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Arthur on Law & Order

    I caught Arthur Anderson's act on tape last night - lucky I didn't watch the
    show when it was on, now I can save it.

    He was great in the small part -- he a lot more lines than a typical
    "neighbor" on Law & Order and did very well with the part.  Of course, FOTR
    regular attendees have seen the estimable Mr. Anderson play so many roles
    over so many years we should be surprised he didn't just take Jerry Orbach's
    badge and steal the rest of the show.

    Sean Dougherty
    Kubelski@[removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:36:44 -0500
    From: JJJ445@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Bing's White Christmas

    The Vintage Jazz Classics CD, "Bing Crosby's The Christmas Songs" (VJC
    1817-2) feature songs from great fidelity wartime Christmas radio broadcasts
    and has an interesting December 24, 1944 version of White Christmas backed by
    the King's Men and Paul Whiteman and bracketed appropriate comments from
    Orson Welles. There is also a later version from December 25,1946 with Bing
    singing without vocal backup.

    Interestingly enough the Bing Crosby "White Christmas" so familiar to
    millions is the the re-recorded version he made on March 19, 1947 and not his
    1942 version. I'm sure Decca felt the fidelity on the later date was superior
    and so used it for release on their millions of LPs and now, CDs.

    On the MCA double CD release "Bing Crosby: The Voice of Christmas" you can
    once again compare the two versions and also hear the "A" take from May 29,
    1942 where Bing flubbed the word "your" at the very end of this unissued
    take. The "B" version was the one released from that session and featured on
    wartime 78s.

    John Jensen
    Federal Way, WA

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:36:57 -0500
    From: alo <alo@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: request for help - Kay Thompson

    Hello folks,

    Does anyone know of any radio shows that Kay Thompson took part in?
    (Especially those in circulation, but any info would be very helpful.)

    I know she was involved in Tune-Up Time in 1939, but am unaware of any
    available broadcasts.

    According to MacKenzie, she did Command Performance #309, and Mail Calls
    #56, #66, #294. Would any of those be out & about somewhere?

    As always, any help appreciated,
    Amanda

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:37:17 -0500
    From: User310378@[removed]
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Boxing memories

    The current discussion of boxing on radio reminded me of something we did at
    one of our OTR meetings in Cincinnati a few years ago.  I belong to Radio
    Listeners Lyceum (RLL), and one of our members is Bill Nimmo, long time radio
    and television personality now living in Cincinnati but who gained most of
    his experience and fame while working out of New York City.  One of Bill's
    gigs was doing the Pabst Blue Ribbon commercials in the 1950s for the
    television bouts broadcast live from NY and other east coast cities.  He told
    us he was known as Bill the Bartender in those days.  A few months after I
    joined RLL, I had a chance to get a video tape featuring a few fights from
    the '50s that supposedly even included the Pabst commercials.  I wasn't
    particularly interested in the fights themselves, but I was currious as to
    whether, just by chance, they might feature Bill the Bartender.  I received
    the tape and checked it out and sure enough, there he was, a little thiner,
    and with much darker hair, but unmistakably our Bill.  We showed the tape at
    the next meeting without letting Bill know what was going to happen, and I
    wish you could have been there.  A truly magical moment in honor of a very
    nice man.

    Bruce and Dick - CAn you send me your e-mail addresses.  I came to Florida
    and left my address book at home.  Thanks

    Charles Sexton

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:37:48 -0500
    From: GreenIFire@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: CBS Radio Mystery Theater

    Is there anyone out there willing to sell or trade copies of CBS Radio
    Mystery Theaters?  I do not have ANY copies at all, but wish to begin
    building a collection.  Can anyone put these on CD's (my media preference)
    but will accept cassette tape.  I don't have much to offer in the way of
    trades, but I do have a good collection of Suspense, Jack Benny, and a few
    odds and ends, including historical speeches from old discs of Hitler,
    purchased from a historical company.  Email me please, if interested; I am
    sure we can work out some suitable arrangements.  Thanks, Jim Faulkner

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:38:05 -0500
    From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Re:  No "Live Only" Rule at Mutual

    Just noticed that my netscape ate this and never sent it out on Monday:

    From: "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@[removed]; last Sunday:

>      I'll have to check the tape I have of it, but as I recall
>     "The Roy Rogers Show" on V-E day was particularly interesting
>     to listen to because they had to have a utility announcer mixed
>     in to comment about the Nazi surrender and there was no comment
>     at all about it from Roy or his castmates during the show itself.

    News interruptions were not done from the studio where the entertainment
    program originated--maybe not even the same city--and rarely would the
    production of the show be halted or altered.  So even if the Roy Rogers
    Show was being done live it would be highly unusual if they did make a
    reference to the bulletin.  They wouldn't know they had been interrupted
    until after the broadcast, and only then if someone bothered to tell
    them.

    If a program was pre-recorded, by law it would have to be announced as
    being "Transcribed".  Check to see if this notation is said on the tape
    either at the beginning or end of the program.  But if the announcement
    is not there, this still is not a definite indication that the program
    had been done live.  The "Transcribed" announcement was sometimes itself
    inserted live, and thus wouldn't exist on the original master
    recording.  If a recording was made of the pre-recorded playback, then
    we might also hear the "live" announcer saying that the program was
    transcribed!   But since your tape DOES have the live news
    interruptions, it should also have the transcribed announcements if it
    was indeed a pre-recorded program.

    Michael Biel  mbiel@[removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:40:50 -0500
    From: "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: White Christmas

    I think the title of the song has been established by other
    postings to the Digest.  I just thought I would add that I
    have the original sheet music to "White Christmas."  The
    title words and the music of the song are by Irving Berlin.
    The copyright of the song is dated 1940.  I bought the
    sheet music a little later, with the copyright dated 1942.  I
    hope this is of some interest to somebody.

    Harry Machin Jr.
    harbev5@[removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 23:41:36 -0500
    From: "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: The Name of the Lone Ranger

    I think this topic may have been worn out, but I have missed so
    many Digests.  A recent posting said/suggested that John Reid
    was not the name of the Lone Ranger.  On page 406 of John
    Dunning's "The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio" (latest edition)
    it is stated that the Lone Ranger's name IS John Reid.  And that
    John Reid was the younger brother of Captain Dan Reid.
    What is the basis of the argument by those who say otherwise?
    Of course, I would also like to ask what is the basis for John
    Dunning's claim.  I haven't heard the episode that Dunning seems
    to be referring to when he says that John Reid was one of the
    rangers ambushed by Butch Cavendish.  It seems to me
    that this matter of names could be settled (and should have
    been settled) by listening to that particular episode.  I'm sure
    that someone will answer this question for me.

    Harry Machin, Jr.
    harbev5@[removed] .

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #41
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