Subject: [removed] Digest V2020 #13
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 5/7/2020 10:18 AM

To: [removed]@[removed]
Reply-to: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2020 : Issue 13
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      This week in radio history 22-28 Mar  [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      This week in radio history 29 March   [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      This week in radio history 5-11 Apri  [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Amplify Headphones                    [ Fred Berney <fsberney@[removed]; ]
      This week in radio history 12-18 Apr  [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      This week in radio history 19-25 Apr  [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      This week in radio history 26 April   [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      This week in radio history 3-9 May    [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
      Writing for radio                     [ Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed]; ]

    ______________________________________________________________________

        ADMINISTRIVIA:

    I have to apologize to everyone. Things have been understandably
    hectic at Chez Charlie, but that's no excuse for me not noticing the
    server shut down. Over a month ago.

    I will be manually injecting the messages (which are all safely
    stored) today.  --cfs3

    ______________________________________________________________________

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

    Date: Wed, 6 May 2020 14:00:24 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 22-28 March

     From Those Were The Days --

    3/22

    1948   The Voice of Firestone was one of the first commercial radio
    programs to be carried simultaneously on both AM and FM radio stations.

    3/23

    1940   Truth or Consequences was first heard on radio. Ralph Edwards
    produced and hosted the [removed] The show was originally heard on only
    four CBS stations. Later, NBC picked up the show where it eventually
    became the most popular of all radio audience-participation stunt shows.

    3/24

    1932   Belle Baker hosted a radio variety show from a moving train ... a
    first for radio broadcasting. The program originated from a Baltimore
    and Ohio train that chugged its way around the New York area. The
    broadcast was heard on WABC in New York City.

    1935   After a year as a local show from New York City, Major Bowes
    Original Amateur Hour was heard on the entire NBC network. The show
    stayed on the air for 17 years. Later, Ted Mack took over for Bowes and
    made the move from radio to television.

    3/25

    1943   Jimmy Durante and Garry Moore premiered on network radio. The
    pair replaced the popular Abbott and Costello following Lou Costello's
    heart attack. Durante and Moore stayed on the air for four years.

    3/27

    1943   Blue Ribbon Town was first heard on CBS.

    3/28

    1941   Louella Parsons hosted Hollywood Premiere for the first time on
    CBS. The gossip columnist introduced famous guests who appeared in
    dramatized stories.

    1944   WQXR in New York City, owned by The New York Times newspaper,
    banned singing commercials from its airwaves as of this day.
    Understandable, since the station has always been the classical music
    voice of Manhattan and there aren't many classical singing commercials.

    Joe

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

    Date: Wed, 6 May 2020 14:00:35 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 29 March to 4 April

     From Those Were The Days

    3/29

    1932   Jack Benny appeared on radio for the first time. He agreed to
    join then newspaper columnist, Ed Sullivan, on his interview show.

    1937   The serial, Our Gal Sunday, debuted. The question, "Can this girl
    from a small mining town in the West find happiness as the wife of a
    wealthy and titled Englishman?" was asked each day for next 22 years.

    3/30

    1936   The serial Backstage Wife made a move across the dial from the
    Mutual Broadcasting System to NBC. Once there, the program continued to
    air for the next 23 years.

    1945   The Dreft Star Playhouse was heard for the final time. The show
    had been paying up to $3,000 per week ($42,347 in 2018 dollars) to
    attract name talent.

    3/31

    1937   Phil Harris recorded one of his best-known songs, That's What I
    Like About the South.

    1953   Cavalcade of America was heard for the final time on network
    radio. It had been the longest running show of its kind. Cavalcade of
    America presented dramatized events in American history for 18 years.

    4/1

    1941   The first contract for advertising on a commercial FM station
    began on W71NY in New York City.

    1949   The first all black cast variety show, Happy Pappy was presented
    on WENR TV in  Chicago, IL.

    4/2

    1947   The Big Story was first heard on NBC. It stayed on the air for
    eight years.

    4/3

    1939   Mr. District Attorney was heard for the first time on NBC. The
    serial about the 'champion of the people' was originally a 15 minute
    nightly program. In June of 1939, the program went to a half-hour weekly
    format. Mr. District Attorney aired until 1952.

    1942   People Are Funny was first heard this day on NBC
    1949   Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis debuted in an NBC.

    4/4

    1938   After seven years of singing on the radio, Kate Smith began a new
    noontime talk show.

    Joe

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

    Date: Wed, 6 May 2020 14:00:45 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 5-11 April

     From Those Were The Days

    4/6

    1931   Little Orphan Annie, the comic strip character developed by
    Harold Gray, came to life on the NBC Blue network.

    1942   We Love and Learn premiered on CBS. The serial featured Frank
    Lovejoy as Bill. The program would continue until 1951.

    1945   This is Your FBI debuted on ABC.

    4/8

    1941   Earle Graser, the eight year voice of the The Lone Ranger, died
    in an auto accident. Brace Beemer, previously the show's announcer, took
    over the title role.

    4/11

    1921   The first live sports event on radio took place this day over
    KDKA.  Pittsburgh sports writer, Florent Gibson, gave an account of the
    action in the lightweight boxing match between Johnny Ray and Johnny Dundee.

    1943   Nick Carter, Master Detective debuted on Mutual.

    Joe

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

    Date: Wed, 6 May 2020 14:01:57 -0400
    From: Fred Berney <fsberney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Amplify Headphones

    A. Joseph Ross, [removed] stated

>     but my father once told me of a makeshift speaker that his family used.
>     They would put the earphones in a wooden bowl, and that amplified the
>     sound of the earphones enough so that they could all sit around the
>     table and listen.

    On a No School Today show Big Jon told a story of how his father or a
    relative of his did just that. I'll have to find that time and figure out a
    way to post it somewhere.

    Fred

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

    Date: Wed, 6 May 2020 14:29:27 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 12-18 April

     From Those Were The Days

    4/12

    1932   The thrill comedy, Joe Palooka, which would also be a popular
    comic strip, made its debut on CBS.

    1935 - "Your Hit Parade" premiered.

    4/17

    1933   Backed by the On the Trail portion of the magnificent Grand
    Canyon Suite, Johnny Roventini, pillbox hat and all, uttered the words
    "Call for Philip Moooorrrrris" for the first time on radio. The famous
    phrase was said in perfect B flat pitch and tone to perfectly match the
    accompanying music. This "Call for Philip Morris" phrase became one of
    the most famous in all of advertising.

    1935   People gathered around to listen for the first time to what would
    become the ultimate horror show on NBC, Lights Out.

    Joe

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

    Date: Wed, 6 May 2020 14:29:34 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 19-25 April

     From Those Were The Days

    4/19

    1924   The WLS Barn Dance began airing on WLS.

    4/20

    1935    Your Hit Parade was first broadcast.

    1947   Fred Allen didn't find things so funny when censors cut him off
    the air during his broadcast. Allen was telling a joke about a mythical
    network vice president when he was suddenly taken off the air. One
    moment [removed]

    4/21

    1940   Take It or Leave It, was first heard on CBS on this day. Bob Hawk
    offered contestants a top prize of $64 ($1,183 in 2019 dollars).  No,
    there were no lovely parting gifts or consolation prizes.  Losers just left.

    1949   The prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for Broadcasting was
    presented to You Bet Your Life star, "The one, the only, Groucho
    (Marx)." This was the first time the honor had been awarded to a comedian.

    4/22

    1940   The first all Chinese commercial radio program was broadcast over
    KSAN in San Francisco, CA.

    1946   Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenburg arrived at WEAF in New York City
    with an entertaining morning show called, Hi, Jinx.

    4/24

    1949   Dick Powell starred in Richard Diamond, Private Detective on NBC.
    The show stayed on the air for four years.

    1955   X Minus One, a show for science fiction fans, was first heard on NBC.

    1959   The final broadcast of One Man's Family was heard on NBC after
    being on the air 27 years.

    4/25

    1938   Your Family and Mine, a radio serial, was first broadcast.

    Joe

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

    Date: Wed, 6 May 2020 14:29:41 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 26 April to 2 May

     From Those Were The Days

    4/27

    1921   Weather broadcasts were heard for the first time on radio when
    WEW in St. Louis, MO aired weather news.

    1931   NBC presented Lum and Abner for the first time.

    1932   The Texaco fire chief, Ed Wynn, was heard on Texaco Star Theater
    for the first time. Wynn, a popular vaudeville performer, demanded a
    live audience to react to his humor if he was to make the switch to
    radio. The network consented and Wynn became radio's first true superstar.

    1937   The initial broadcast of Lorenzo Jones was heard over NBC.

    4/28

    1947   Studio One on CBS was first broadcast. The show was full of great
    stars, but no sponsors. CBS dropped Studio One after a year on the air.

    4/30

    1945   "How would you like to be queen for a day!" That opening line,
    delivered by host, Jack Bailey, was first heard on Mutual on this day.
    The first Queen for a Day was Mrs. Evelyn Lane.

    1945   Arthur Godfrey began his CBS morning show. His theme was Seems
    Like Old Times. Arthur Godfrey Time ran until this very same day in
    1972. Godfrey's show used live talent and not records. His popularity
    with listeners was the major reason that several sponsors gave Godfrey
    the freedom to ad lib their commercials and, from time to time, joke
    about the products as well.

    5/1

    1931   Singer Kate Smith began her long and illustrious radio career
    with CBS on this, her birthday.  The 22 year old Smith started out with
    no sponsors and a paycheck of just $10 a week ($170 in 2019 dollars) for
    the nationally broadcast daily program. However, within 30 days, her
    salary increased to a more respectable $1,500 a week ($25,581 in 2019
    dollars).

    Joe

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

    Date: Wed, 6 May 2020 14:29:49 -0400
    From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
    To: otr-digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  This week in radio history 3-9 May

     From Those Were The Days

    5/5

    1935   The program, Rhythm at Eight, made its debut. The star of the
    show was 24 year old Ethel Merman. Though Merman would become a legend
    years later, she didn't fare so well on radio. Her show was taken off
    the air after 13 weeks and Miss Merman returned to her first love, Broadway.

    5/6

    1937   A student of history, a broadcaster or anyone interested in news
    coverage, will remember this day and the words of NBC's Herbert
    Morrison. "Oh, the humanities!" Morrison's emotion filled historic
    broadcast of the explosion of the dirigible, Hindenburg at Lakehurst,
    NJ, became the first recorded coast to coast broadcast as it was carried
    on both the NBC Red and NBC Blue networks from New York City.

    5/9

    1936   Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy started their own radio show on
    NBC only months after they had debuted on Rudy Vallee's program.   [removed]
    Fields, Don Ameche and Dorothy Lamour were a few of the stars that
    helped Bergen and the little blockhead, McCarthy, jump to the top of
    radio's hit parade.

    Joe

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

    Date: Wed, 6 May 2020 14:30:00 -0400
    From: Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Writing for radio

    For those who are interested, the May issue of "The Writer" has an article on
    writing for radio.

    Rick.

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2020 Issue #13
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