------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2001 : Issue 347
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Philco pushbuttons -- THANKS! [ Marklambert@[removed] ]
Skip Signals [ "Bill Orr" <billorr6@[removed]; ]
"Skip Wave" [ "Donald & Kathleen Dean" <dxk@nfoli ]
Lucille Fletcher [ James Herman <californiajamesh@yaho ]
FOTR Convention [ "[removed]" <swells@[removed]; ]
Listen to Red's Pledge any time [ "Doug Leary" <dleary@[removed]; ]
Tape Versus CD Storage [ "jstokes" <jstokes@[removed]; ]
Skip Wave Broadcast [ Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed]; ]
CD-Rs again [ "Doug Leary" <dleary@[removed]; ]
Re: FOTR (and Anthony Tollin) [ "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; ]
Today in Radio History [ Joe Mackey <joemackey5@[removed]; ]
hop SKIP jump [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
Sky's nephew [ otrbuff@[removed] ]
The Convention [ RFMiller@[removed] ]
Re: "Skip" [ Udmacon@[removed] ]
Re: Major Armstrong [ Udmacon@[removed] ]
The Archer's [ badaxley@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 22:32:19 -0500
From: Marklambert@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Philco pushbuttons -- THANKS!
Thanks to everyone who suggested places where my
friend might be able to get pushbuttons for his Philco
radio! You're the best!
Mark
marklambert@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 23:05:58 -0500
From: "Bill Orr" <billorr6@[removed];
To: "OTR" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Skip Signals
Hello all,
As a ham operator and retired broadcast engineer, I can relate to Mr.
Pomeroy's remarks re: skip.
>From here in Tulsa, I get most of my OTR shows from WBBM and KMOX. I also
listen to computer-related talk shows from WGN and WLS. I listen to other
talk shows from KOA, WLW, WJR, WBBM, WHAS and occasionally others when the
skip is good (and it does vary). Thank goodness for skip or I would be have
to be content with 24-hour R&R, C&W, religious, sports or ultra conservative
talk. No offense to anyone out there, but 7/24 of any of it gets old.
Tulsa doesn't even have a commercial classical music station!
Being retired has distinct advantages in being able to be awake most of the
night listening to my trusty Sangean "CC Radio".
Regards,
Bill Orr,
Tulsa, OK
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 23:36:00 -0500
From: "Donald & Kathleen Dean" <dxk@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: "Skip Wave"
In Digest #346 Owens Pomeroy mentioned someone in Cleveland receiving
his program even though it was well out of his stations broadcast range.
When I showed the letter to the station engineer, he said it was a "skip
wave<" which is a not too unusual occurance in broadcasting if the weather
is sbsolutly clear, and no interference, a signal will get through to a
distant station without a short-wave band. I wonder if anyone on the
thread
has had a similar experience of receiving broadcasts outside of your
listening area?
The station engineer was correct. I remember back in 1963 I was listening to
my
mobile CB unit and heard this fellow talking. I made contact with him and
found
that he was mobile in Los Angeles, Calif. and he was making it all the way
to
central Ohio. Not bad for only 5 watts output power. Also in January 1973
I was watching television. As I recall at this time there were no cable TV.
All
we could pick up was the network stations out of Columbus, Ohio. However,
this particular night reception was extremely good. I was picking up a
picture
on almost every channel. I watched this one newscast till I could pick up
the
call letters. I was quite stunned when I found that it was coming from
Miami,
Florida. The picture quality was almost as good as those coming out of
Columbus, however most of these "skip" stations only lasted about 10 minutes
and then started fading out.
Don Dean - N8IOJ - Fredericktown, Ohio
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 23:35:47 -0500
From: James Herman <californiajamesh@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Lucille Fletcher
Ryan Osentowski asked;
I have heard a couple of scripts on Suspense,
written by Lucile Fletcher. I've heard, "The Hitch-hiker,"
and "Sorry, Wrong Number." I am impressed with her
style and ability as a writer. Can someone give me a
list of otherthings she has written?
Yes. She wrote: "My client Curly" which was broadcast
on The Columbia Workshop. It was later turned into a
movie in 1944 as "Once apon a time" with Cary Grant.
"The Man With The One-Track Mind", "Carmilla", "Alf",
"The All-American Fly" all broadcast on The Columbia
Workshop in 1940.
She also wrote these stories for Suspense: "The Diary
Of Sephronia Winters", "Fugue in C Minor", "Night
Man", "Dark Journey", "The Thing In The Window", and "The
Search For Henri Lefevre."
=====
Meet Jack, Doc, and Reggie of I Love A Mystery at
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 23:39:07 -0500
From: "[removed]" <swells@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: FOTR Convention
I too would like to thank all those involved with the 2001 [removed]
Convention. I dropped by for a day, ( had other commitments), and was able
to speak to some of the great people who were there. I met Jay Hickerson,
and picked up a copy of his book, Ed Carr, Ted Davenport, etc, etc. Had a
really nice time speaking with them and learning from them. I was really
amazed at the amount of "goodies" available. Granted I only bought Jay's
book, and not any OTR, mostly due to the vast collection I already have,
but it was really neat to look at all the stuff though.
Thanks Again,
Shawn A. Wells
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 23:39:54 -0500
From: "Doug Leary" <dleary@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Listen to Red's Pledge any time
just surf to this website and listen:
[removed]~[removed]
Doug Leary
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 10:49:02 -0500
From: "jstokes" <jstokes@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Tape Versus CD Storage
In the tape versus CD storage question, tape wins. That's a
no-brainer. I can prove that tape is superior. I have my 1964-65 tapes
recorded on Scotch 111 acetate of my radio "Science Spotlight" radio shows
on KUOM, Minneapolis. Once in a while just for fun, I'll take out a show
and play it back. It plays back P-E-R-F-E-C-T-L-Y. There is just a bit
of hiss from the dub. But it is so slight, that I just turn down the
treble a bit and it sounds wonderful.
The shows were recorded at 7 1/2 ips, full track, on an Ampex 600, on
which I made my edits, which are full of a zillion splices. Then I dubbed
the 15 minute show at 7 1/2 ips, full track to an Ampex 300, from which it
was broadcast to the approximately three or four people who ever listened to
the show. The show featured interviews with UofM scientists, which were
recorded in their offices on campus.
All my old time radio shows as well as the zillions of radio spots and
radio shows I did are, ultimately, on open reel tape. I transfer my
cassette shows on to open reel, eventually. Although, I am wearing of
that, and have stopped collecting old shows. Nowadays, I just listen.
PROPER STORAGE, THE SECRET TAPE LIFE!
Now then. I store ALL my open reel tapes
"tails out."
That is absolutely essential. All of us old-time radio
producer/engineers know, you store tapes "backwards," which we call "tails
out," and then we rewind them and play them forward to listen to them.
However, if you happen to store your tapes "heads out," that is, not
rewound, then woe to you. You will get print-through. You get less
print-through with some tapes. But there is no tape will not print
through.
And fer-gosh-sakes spend the few extra pennies for 1200 foot roll, [removed]
mil tape (speaking of 7-inch reels). Don't store your tapes on 1800 foot
roll, [removed] mil tape. The extra length will s-t-r-e-t-c-h on you over time.
And it will print-through faster than [removed] mil, if you store your tapes
"heads-out" (IE-WRONG!)
So, you will store your tapes on 1200 foot, 7-inch reels, or better yet,
on 10 1/2-inch reels like the big boys. Just make sure you buy [removed] mil
tape. And don't buy any metal tape. Buy standard play, [removed] mil good old
polyester. You're going to have to hunt a bit for it. But it's still out
there. I don't sell tape. But I have a lifetime supply of it and then
some, of the good tape.
And don't be a cheap ass and record on both sides of the tape. You are
again asking for trouble with print-through. Spend the extra pennies and
record your shows ONLY on ONE SIDE of the tape fer-gosh-sakes.
Try to avoid recording on 3 3/4 inches. Record at least on 7 1/2 ips.
Anything less than 7 1/2 ips speed invites drop-out and hiss.
So you have a whole buncha tapes now, boobala! Find a cool, un-humid
place to store them. It is not critical that you have archival storage
conditions. That's a bunch of effete hogwash. I store mine down in a
musty, but not damp,. basement. Watch the moisture though! Heat won't
hurt tapes either. Moisture is a bad factor, though.
THEME UP, ESTABLISH, AND FADE FOR --
UNCLE JIM -- "Well, that's today's tape tip. Follow old Uncle Jim's advice
and you will have great listening to your old time radio shows till
Judgement Day. Just be sure you have a good tape recorder. Make that
several tape recorders. And there's no telling when they'll stop making
110 volt AC, so you'd better invest in batteries, too. (LAUGHS) Oh
land's sake a-goshen. Old Uncle Jim was just kidding you about
electricity. But anyway, it's time for me to go.
THEME UP FOR THE CLOSE.
ANNCR -- This is the OTR Radio Network!
###
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 10:49:41 -0500
From: Bill Harris <radioguy@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Skip Wave Broadcast
Owens Pomeroy commented:
When I showed the letter to the station engineer, he said it was a "skip
wave" which is a not too unusual occurance in broadcasting if the weather
is sbsolutly clear, and no interference, a signal will get through to a
distant station without a short-wave band. I wonder if anyone on the thread
has had a similar experience of receiving broadcasts outside of your
listening area?
This is not an uncommon occurrence on the AM band during night
time. Radio waves travel great distances via sky wave due to
ionospheric propagation. The ionosphere is an ionized layer that
resides at a height of about 60 miles above the earth. The height
can vary quite a bit and the layer is composed of several
different layers of varying densities of ionization. Radio waves
that leave an antenna will be composed of the ground wave, line of
site wave and the sky wave. The angle of the sky wave depends upon
several factors, frequency being one of them. The angle can be
such that the sky wave is refracted as it hits this ionized layer
and bent back to some distant point on the earth. Frequencies
beginning with the AM broadcast band and up to around 30 Mhz
generally have a sky wave angle that can be refracted. The higher
in frequency you go the steeper the sky wave angle and there is a
critical angle where the signal will not be refracted but will
penetrate the layer and go out into space. This is why you do not
hear transmissions in the VHF, UHF and higher frequencies (like
the FM band 88-108 Mhz) at great distances, these frequencies are,
for all practical purposes, line-of-site.
During the daytime the absorption in the ionosphere is high and
lower frequencies, such as the AM band frequencies are absorbed
and there is no refraction. That is why one does not hear distant
stations in the AM band during the day, but can be heard at night
and this propagation has nothing to do with the troposphere which
generates local [removed] skies, ect. Ever notice how a
local station comes in very clear with no interference during the
day, but at night there is often a whistle (heterodyne) on the
signal? That is because of some other distant station very close
to the same frequency is being received via sky wave. BC band sky
wave propagation will be more noticeable at the higher end of the
band than the lower. A signal can take several hops to travel
great distances. This phenomenon is how ham radio operators
communicate with other hams half way around the world, often with
only a few watts of transmitter power.
The ionosphere and the amount of ionization is affected by
activity on the sun. During high sun spot activity the ionosphere
tends to be more heavily ionized and skip conditions can be very
good. During these conditions even some VHF frequencies may
exhibit sky wave propagation. I have even received distant
television stations via this phenomenon. The sun spot activity
increases and decreases on an approximate eleven year cycle. The
current cycle has peaked and is now on the down side headed for
the minimum.
In the early days of radio, enthusiasts would often sit up late at
night to see how many distant station they could receive. This
gave one bragging rights down at the local radio club as to who's
receiving apparatus was the best. There was a time when high
powered stations would have a 'quite time' (drop their carrier for
a short period) so these DXers (distant listeners) could hear and
log the weaker stations. BC Band DXing is still a hobby among some
today.
In the movie Contact, the opening sequence starts out as if the
movie patron is being propelled away from earth. As the earth
fades in the distance you hear snippets of old radio shows as if
one is catching up with these long ago radio signals. This would
be quite impossible for anything broadcast on the AM BC band the
frequency is so low (long wavelengths) that these signals never
penetrate the ionosphere, thus never travel into space. The only
signals still traveling out there are the VHF/UHF and higher
frequencies which do penetrate this layer.
Bill Harris
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 10:49:51 -0500
From: "Doug Leary" <dleary@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: CD-Rs again
Looking for a truly archival storage medium? Try Redundancy! One of the
nifty magic things about this digital age is that the ease of transmission
makes preservation by proliferation a viable archiving method. You can
ensure the survival of your OTR collection long after your media
deteriorates, simply by sharing it with as many people as you can. The more
copies of a program exist, the stronger the "gene pool" so to speak.
Doug Leary
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 10:50:21 -0500
From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: FOTR (and Anthony Tollin)
Martin Grams, Jr. wrote:
Jay Hickerson and his staff should be publicly acknowledged for putting on
a grand convention this past weekend. A tip o' the hat to them.
I'll gladly second that. I had a lot of fun at Showcase IX in Seattle and
expected that FOTR would have a hard time topping it. I was wrong. The
people were just as wonderful and the "Dragnet" panel just as much fun as at
Showcase, and it was doubly thrilling to be able to share it all with my
parents. I was able to snatch up some things for my next book project, and
was delighted to be in the same dealer room with (Boston)Pete Kenney, who
was a joy and kept us entertained with tapes of his streaming audio shows.
To Anthony Tollin: I'm sorry I wasn't able to hook up with you before I had
to leave on Saturday. Unfortunately, I haven't saved a Digest with your
address, so please send me an email off-list and I'll try to help with the
info you need.
Michael J. Hayde
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 10:50:45 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey5@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in Radio History
From Today's Almanac --
In 1938, Orson Welles triggered a national panic with a realistic radio
dramatization of a Martian invasion, based on [removed] Wells' "War of the
Worlds."
Joe
--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 10:50:38 -0500
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: hop SKIP jump
--I wonder if anyone on the thread
has had a similar experience of receiving broadcasts outside of your
listening area?--
When I was working for KAAM 1310 in Dallas I heard from an old friend in
Peoria, IL -- said the Sinatra show was coming in loud and clear.
Sandy Singer
A DATE WITH SINATRA
SandySinger@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 10:50:52 -0500
From: otrbuff@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Sky's nephew
A minor, but important, point of clarification: I'm remembering that Sky
King's nephew was named Clipper, not Chipper, as a poster said Tuesday.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 11:28:47 -0500
From: RFMiller@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Convention
Is there any program or description about the convention which was held this
past weekend. I could not attend, but would like to next year. My wife
would also like to attend, but she is not a real radio "nut" and she is
afraid she would be bored. I would like to convince her how much fun it
would be. Could anyone who was there describe the events?
Thanks
Off list, if you would like, but if it is on list, it might generate more
interest.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 14:06:48 -0500
From: Udmacon@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: "Skip"
Here in Syracuse NY I once picked up a pledge-a-thon coming from an FM
station--in FLORIDA!!
I called their pledge number but they did not believe me until I told them
what classical piece they were then playing.
Not on subject, but has anyone ever received TV "skip?" Fascinating!
Bill Knowlton, "BLUEGRASS RAMBLE," WCNY-FM: Syracuse, Utica, Watertown NY
(since Jan. 1973). Sundays, 9 pm est: [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 17:14:48 -0500
From: Udmacon@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Major Armstrong
An engineer at my radio station gave me the Oct 17, 2001 edition of "TV
Technology." In it is a wonderful article on Maj. Edwin Armstrong and how his
1937 FM tower in Alpine NJ is "saving" the over-the-air signals of New York
City TV.
"Armstrong's Legacy Lingers In New York" is the title of the story, and the
front page kicker reads "Meet the man who's helping save New York City
broadcasting."
So far, channels 4, 7, 11 and 13 are on Armstrong's landmark tower--easily
seen from Amtrak and Metro North communter trains--and this includes NBC.
Jerry Minter, a veteran radio engineer who knew the inventor of FM radio is
quoted as saying "The idea of NBC ending up [removed]'s kind of ironic, isn't
it? Maybe Armstrong is turning over in his [removed]"
Maybe Gen Sarnoff is too!
Bill Knowlton, "BLUEGRASS RAMBLE," WCNY-FM: Syracuse, Utica, Watertown NY
(since Jan. 1973). Sundays, 9 pm est: [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 17:37:43 -0500
From: badaxley@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The Archer's
Our local OTR club recently received several shows of a
BBC series, The Archers. Does anybody in this august
bunch know anything about this series?
Thanks,
Bob Axley
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2001 Issue #347
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