------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2008 : Issue 12
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Victor Borge [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
Full stag party recording [ "Laura Leff" <president@[removed] ]
Una Merkel, Penny Singleton, Irene R [ T B <claudettefan@[removed]; ]
Listening to Boston Blackie on my so [ andre <andre66@[removed]; ]
Re: Whistler films [ illoman@[removed] ]
Victor Borge [ Frank McGurn <[removed]@sbcglobal. ]
1-14 births/deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
Victor Borge [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
Earliest known Shadow recording? [ Tony Baechler <tony@[removed]; ]
Radio & The Jews [ "John Eccles, Jr." <jeccles@earthli ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:54:54 -0500
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Victor Borge
If you are looking for biographical info about Victor Borge, I urge all of
you, DO NOT read Rudy Vallee's autobiographies. Vallee says the meanest,
nastiest things about Borge in, I think, his third autobiography, but might
also have some more nasty stuff in the second one. I'm not kidding. DON'T
READ THOSE BOOKS.
Victor Borge's name was really Borge Rosenbaum. There's one routine where
his father finds him "sitting in front of a roaring fire -- and we didn't
have a fireplace. 'Borge!' my father said. He always called my by my last
name!" Well, turns out that Borge is a very common first name in Denmark.
When I visited Denmark in 1983, my Danish friend and I stumbled across a
junk store that had a second floor just filled with 78s. It was so
frustrating to me because I had no way of knowing the era or the contents of
the records. There were a lot that had the name Borge on them but my friend
kept on saying it was a band leader or a singer. Never the Borge I wanted.
Years later when a large record warehouse outside of Indianapolis was
closing, I went thru their wholesale stock of European folk dances--multiple
copies of each-- and took one of each different one. A couple of weeks
later when I went thru them at home I discovered one was not a folkdance,
but was a comedy routine about a restaurant on Danish HMV by Borge
Rosenbaum. Yes, it WAS him, but if I had looked closely at the label when I
was in the warehouse there might have been 50 more copies. No music, no
funny sounds. Just a six-minute stand-up routine.
The news that he wrote his autobiography only in Danish sounds very typical
of him. When I was in Denmark in 1983 he was appearing for one night only
at the beautiful Tivoli Gardens. Completely sold out. But when the four of
us were again near Tivoli the afternoon of the concert, we checked and found
that someone had just returned ONE ticket. So I went alone -- I'm still not
sure what my wife, my friend, and my friend's wife did that evening. I had
always been interested in knowing what the routines like Phonetic
Punctuation would sound like in Danish. but since EVERYONE in Denmark speaks
English (it's true! English is a requirement for High School graduation!) I
figured that most of the performance would be in English. WRONG! About
five minutes into it, he said "For those of you who do not understand Danish
and thought that I would probably be performing in English, the joke is on
you because this is the only sentence that will be in English." And it was!
He did that concert as a love affair with his native country. It was the
only concert he was doing in Denmark that year, and he rarely had a chance
to perform there, so he wanted to thank his countrymen. When I met him
years later he told me he remembered that concert because it was special.
He had to escape Denmark, not because he was Jewish (which he was) but
because he had been doing skits and jokes that were openly anti-Nazi. If he
had been a private person, or had stuck to just mutely playing the piano, he
would have been safe. Denmark protected their Jews. In fact, when it was
discovered that the Nazis were about to round up all the Jews in Denmark on
Oct 1, 1943, during that week the Danes smuggled ALL of the Jews in the
country (except a few dozen who wouldn't go) over to Sweden in small fishing
boats. In 1969 Borge recorded a charity LP of this story ("The Legend"
Thanks to Scandinavia Scholarship Fund TS-1), and there is an inspiring
museum about this right near the Little Mermaid statue. (The fund still
operates and has a web site.)
Ed Kindred's story of meeting him after a performance was also typical. I
had found out he would be speaking at the National Press Club during the
time I would be in Washington, and I brought with me the empty covers of his
albums, an almost complete collection. I was able to get up there as
everybody was leaving, and he was laughing and joking and signing programs.
But when he saw my albums he had a wide grin and called his manager over to
show them to him. I had both of his early 78 albums from the 1940s, several
of the 45 and LP reissues of those, as well as the more common best sellers
from the 50s, and his kids album and his concert album, and his European
issues from the 60s. I also had the album that he HATED. It was an issue
of the talking book narration of his My Favorite Intermissions book. These
were not supposed to be issued as records, and he never received payments,
but he autographed it anyway!
He had just started releasing his own videocassettes and he gave me a
keychain with the logo of him carrying a piano-shaped suitcase, and he took
my address. Once in a while I got flyers when there was a new issue, but
never a free copy!
And no, I did not have the guts to ask him why Rudy Vallee hated him so
much.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:55:16 -0500
From: "Laura Leff" <president@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Full stag party recording
Hi all,
I'm sure someone here has this. We have someone interested in the full
recording of the notorious stag party where various people, including Jack,
George Burns, and Art Linkletter, worked blue. I only have the clips of
George and Jack. Can anyone provide a good copy of the full recording?
Thanks in advance!
--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:56:12 -0500
From: T B <claudettefan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Una Merkel, Penny Singleton, Irene Ryan
I am currently researching the actresses Una Merkel,
Penny Singleton, and Irene Ryan and would appreciate
any details on their work in radio, copies as well as
radio logs, data, etc.
Does anyone know the story behind Penny Singleton's
leaving/returning/leaving the BLONDIE radio program
over the years? Has anyone worked on a log for the
show? Are there any known copies of broadcasts of her
1950 program THE PENNY SINGLETON SHOW?
Irene Ryan worked quite a bit with Bob Hope on the
radio, can anyone help with show dates she worked on?
Other radio appearances?'
Feel free to contact me directly or comment on the
oldtimeradio emails. I am fairly new to the world of
OTR but enjoy it tremendously and think there are many
more "new" fans to be made out there, especially among
classic movie fans.
Thanks in advance, T. R. Bourgeois
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:57:08 -0500
From: andre <andre66@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Listening to Boston Blackie on my sony walkman
A big thank you to everyone who emailed me to point me in the direction of
the various sites where i can download free MP3's. I have several hours on
my walkman and am really enjoying it!
Thanks again
Andre
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:48:48 -0500
From: illoman@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Whistler films
> Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 12:46:49 -0500
From: Wich2@[removed]
But the radio series did not always use the same lead actor for each
episode, did it?
Best,
-Craig W.
No, Craig it did not. The Whistler is one of my all time favorite OTR series,
but like most OTR series, it had it's share of great episodes, and some real
stinkers. Unfortunately, the Whistler films I have seen are all stinkers.
It's a shame they couldn't have made the films anthologies, utilizing some of
the better scripts from the radio shows. They could have made something very
special.
Mike
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:49:25 -0500
From: Frank McGurn <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Victor Borge
For the past 3 editions of OTR Digest Victor Borge has been a topic. All
I read was about abut his concerts TV performances,and where he lives
(Did you know he had a Cornish Hens) ,but Victor was on radio. In 1942
he appeared on Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall 4/16/42 and 3/12/42 .
Fibber McGee & Molly had him on their the last show for 1944-45 . They
introduced Victor as their replacement for the summer of 1945. Victor
had good support on the summer program with Billy Mills & His Orchestra,
Vocals: Pat Friday and Harlow Wilcox.
He appeared on AFRS "Command Performance" # 189 8/30[removed] He did more
radio, but I have just referred to programs I have
Victor has is own show from Sept. of 1946 until June of 19 47, "The
Victor Borge Show. withe Benny Goodman & His [removed]
Also a few other radio shows.
Victor did his piano bit and of course his famous punctuation with his
voice on radio. I thought he was/is great, but his humor was made for TV
and the stage, not radio. I did enjoy the show I have and he was very
funny, He is a great physical comedian and when you put his vocal humor
with the physical you have a terrific performer.
Frank McGurn
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:41:58 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 1-14 births/deaths
January 14th births
01-14-1863 - R. F. Outcault - Lancaster, OH - d. 9-25-1928
writer: Buster Brown based on Outcalt's comic strip
01-14-1882 - Hendrick Van Loon - Rotterdam, Holland - d. 3-11-1944
journalist: "Very Truly Yours"; "Information Please"
01-14-1891 - Maurice Black - Queens, NY - d. 1-18-1938
tuba: "The Clicquot Club Eskimos"
01-14-1892 - Hal Roach - Elmira, NY - d. 11-2-1992
film producer, actor: Hollywood Hotel"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
01-14-1894 - Mary "Bubbles" Kelly - Chicago, IL - d. 6-7-1941
actor: (Ex Jack Benny girlfriend) "Honolulu Bound"
01-14-1896 - Seymour Simons - Detroit, MI - d. 2-12-1949
orchestra leader: "Romantic Rhythm"
01-14-1899 - Carlos P. Romulo - Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines - d.
12-15-1985
diplomat: "Information Please"
01-14-1901 - Bebe Daniels - Dallas, TX - d. 3-16-1971
actor: "Life with the Lyons"; "Louella Parsons"
01-14-1904 - George McCoy - d. 12-22-1976
1930's broadcaster: (Pioneered the radio talk show)
01-14-1906 - William Bendix - NYC - d. 12-14-1964
actor: Chester A. Riley "Life of Riley"
01-14-1908 - Russ Columbo - Camden, NJ - d. 9-2-1934
singer, bandleader: "Russ Columbo Show"
01-14-1909 - Joseph Losey - La Crosse, WI - d. 6-22-1984
director: "Words at War"
01-14-1911 - David Gothard - Beardstown, IL - d. 8-2-1977
actor: Gil Whitney "Romance of Helen Trent"; Nick Charles "The Thin Man"
01-14-1914 - Harold Russell - North Sydney, Canada - d. 1-29-2002
world war II hero, actor: "A Salute to the [removed]"; "NBC University
Theatre"
01-14-1915 - George Ansbro - Brooklyn, NY
announcer: "Young Widder Brown"; "Waltz Time"
01-14-1915 - Mark Goodson - Sacramento, CA - d. 12-18-1992
producer, director: "Portia Faces Life"; "Stop the Music"
01-14-1917 - Billy Butterfield - Middleton, OH - d. 3-18-1988
bandleader: "The Dixieland Music Shop"; "Eddie Condon"s Jazz Concert"
01-14-1919 - Andy Rooney - Albany, NY
writer: "Red Skelton Show"; "Arthur Godfrey"
01-14-1920 - George Herman - NYC - d. 2-8-2005
newsman: CBS news writer
01-14-1929 - Billy Walker - Ralls, TX - d. 5-21-2006
c/w singer: "Columbia's Country Caravan", "Country Music Time"
01-14-1931 - Caterina Valente - Paris, France
singer: "Guard Session"
01-14-1938 - Jack Jones - Hollywood, CA
singer: "Steve Lawrence Show"; "Guest Star"; "Stars for Defense"
01-14-1943 - Holland Taylor - Philadelphia, PA
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
January 14th deaths
01-27-1921 - Donna Reed - Dennison, IA - d. 1-14-1986
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Star and the Story"; "Silver Theatre"
02-13-1916 - Albert Harris - London, England - d. 1-14-2005
conductor, composer: "Four-Star Playhouse"; "NBC University Theatre"
02-24-1904 - Tim Graham - Kansas - d. 1-14-1979
actor: "Plays for Americans"
04-13-1886 - Willie Howard - Paramus, NY - d. 1-14-1949
comedian: (Howard Brothers) "Folies De Paris"; "The Royal Vagabonds"
06-12-1919 - Uta Hagen - Gottingen, Germany - d. 1-14-2004
actor: "Big Show"
06-14-1917 - Paul Monash - NYC - d. 1-14-2003
writer: "Molle Mystery Theatre"
06-18-1903 - Jeanette MacDonald - Philadelphia, PA - d. 1-14-1965
singer: "Nobody's Children"; "Vicks Open House"; "Campbell Playhouse"
08-19-1889 - Don "Uncle Don" Carney - St. Joseph, MO - d. 1-14-1954
host: "Uncle Don"; "Friendship Village"; "Dog Chats"
08-21-1896 - Marie Blake - Philadelphia, PA - d. 1-14-1978
actor: (Sister of Janette MacDonald) "Lux Radio Theatre"
08-22-1922 - Shelley Winters - St. Louis, MO - d. 1-14-2006
actor: "Hollywood Star Preview"
09-17-1902 - Esther Ralston - Bar Harbor, ME - d. 1-14-1994
actor: Martha Jackson "Woman of Courage"; Kathy Marsh "Portia Faces
Life"
09-17-1915 - John Witty - Bristol, England - d. 1-14-1990
Began radio broadcasting for the BBC in 1944
09-28-1916 - Peter Finch - London, England - d. 1-14-1977
actor: Australian Radio
10-05-1924 - Barbara Kelly - Vancouver, Canada - d. 1-14-2007
actor: "Vanity Fair"; "Breakfast with Braden"
12-11-1910 - Samuel Kurtzman - d. 1-14-1998
writer: "The Bob Hope Show"
12-25-1899 - Humphrey Bogart - NYC - d. 1-14-1957
actor: Slate Shannon "Bold Venture"; "Stars in the Air"; "Streamlined
Shakespeare"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:48:54 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Victor Borge
Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:51:31 -0500
From: "Jan Bach" <janbach@[removed];
Has anyone remarked yet that Denmark's loss was our gain, that Borge
had to leave his homeland in a hurry because the Nazis had put a
price on his head for the musical comedies he wrote making fun of
the Third Reich?
It probably had more to do with his being Jewish. His name at birth
was Borge Rosenbaum. According to Wikipedia, he was playing a concert
in Sweden when the Nazis occupied Denmark and managed to escape to
Finland. He returned to Denmark once during the occupation, disguised
as a sailor, to visit his dying mother. See
[removed]
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
92 State Street, Suite 700 Fax [removed]
Boston, MA 02109-2004 [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 01:55:04 -0500
From: Tony Baechler <tony@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Earliest known Shadow recording?
Hi all,
This is mostly for the Shadow experts here but I'm interested in any
discussion. What is the earliest known recording of an actor portraying
the character of the Shadow on radio? I'm not specifically referring to
the Shadow series, although that of course started on radio in 1930.
Rather, I'm referring to any series which features any actor playing the
part of the Shadow, either as just a voice, a regular character, or a
narrator. I'm aware of the 09-26-37 first regular episode of the series
but are there any recordings older than this? I wouldn't be at all
surprised to eventually see earlier Shadow broadcasts put into
circulation but I'm not limiting myself to just the Shadow series.
The oldest known recordings I've found are the June 2 and June 9, 1933
Jack Benny episodes. They feature Ralph Ash playing the voice of the
Shadow, including the laugh. The June 2 episode only has him speaking a
few lines at the end but he's there. Are there any earlier recordings
than that? What about other recordings between 1933 and the 09-26-37
first regular Shadow episode? Can anyone fill in background on Ralph
Ash who only appears in a few early Jack Benny episodes and apparently
on no other series, at least according to Goldin?
For those interested, Terry over at [removed] has
the Jack Benny shows in question as well as some others from 1932 and
1933. I recommend him for good service and a generally high quality
product. Those particular shows have sound problems however. Thanks
for any information and interesting discussion you might have.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:27:19 -0500
From: "John Eccles, Jr." <jeccles@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio & The Jews
I recently finished reading Dave & Susan Siegel's book, Radio & Thew Jews,
and would like my fellow digesters to know how much I enjoyed it. To my
knowledge it is the only book of its kind that deals with the media's
treatment of a particular religion.
What I found of particular interest was the authors' awareness of the gradual
erosion of the stereotypes as radio progressed from the 30s to the 50s.
Abie's Irish Rose had more pronounced stereotypes while one could listen to
Meet Millie and have no idea that the main characters were Jewish. I think
WWII and the awareness of the Holocaust casued this erosion. After the full
extent of the madness was known, I do not think the American people were
willing to tolerate the broad caricatures that prevailed in vaudeville and
early radio.
I also enjoyed reading about different reactions that Jewish people had to
the same program. Some registered strong objections in the case of "Abie's
Irish Rose" to what they THOUGHT they heard. That was most interesting and I
think goes to prove that you can not get a uniform recation from any group of
people, whether of a certain religion or ethnic group.
There was so much in the book that I had absolutely no knowledge of and I
found it illuminating. I had no idea there was a concerted effort on the
part of difference Jewish organizations to present programs that diffused
Jewish stereotypes like "Americans All, Immigrants All" and "The Eternal
Light." That these and other programs met with varying degrees of success
says more about the time than the people involved with the programs.
Many digesters may laugh at this, but, as an aside, I have been listening to
OTR since I was 6 years old. I am now 41. It was not until I was in my
mid-teens that I realized the character of Mr. Kitzel was a Jewish
stereotype. I simply had no frame of reference for this type of dialect
humor and just laughed at his jokes about his wife and mother-in-law.
The Siegels did a wonderful job placing these shows in a historical context
and showing how the stereotypes evolved over time and gradually faded as with
"Meet Millie." Rather than just reciting cold facts (program titles,
boradcast dates, etc.) you can actually trace the development of Jewish
characters in mainstream media through the book.
Perhaps the book's greatest contribution is in preserving and commemorating
many of the early programs that had Jewish characters, showing how they were
portrayed, and the reactions to them, both positive and negative. Most of
these programs I never heard of and their efforts literally rescued them from
oblivion and helped create a word picture of the time. In a more general
sense I think that is radio's great gift to history, which the Siegels were
able to tap into. Its immediacy and reflection of the time in which it
occurred. Most of these programs were done live and represent like nothing
else can a true record of people's thoughts and attitudes at the time of the
broadcast.
I heartily recommend this book and hope other digesters take the time to read
and enjoy this fascinating book.
John Eccles, Jr.
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2008 Issue #12
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