Subject: [removed] Digest V01 #216
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 7/5/2001 9:10 AM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                          The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                             Volume 01 : Issue 216
                       A Part of the [removed]!
                               ISSN: 1533-9289

                               Today's Topics:

     Art Linkletter's Fireworks           ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
     Dianne Weist?                        [Kubelski@[removed]                   ]
     Who was best? Archie or Henry?       [Jer51473@[removed]                   ]
     REPS Showcase IX                     [Kubelski@[removed]                   ]
     Re: My Monk Movie Contribution       [Kenneth L Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]]
     The Good Doctor Pillay               [hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];    ]
     Two more Name Of the Rose OTR ending ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
     Jughead                              [nicoll <nicoll@[removed];       ]
     Reader                               ["Tim Taylor" <tt327@[removed];  ]
     Three Skeleton Key                   [lawrence albert <albertlarry@yahoo.]
     Archie Movies                        [[removed]@[removed]        ]
     Heartbeat Theater ,Ave Maria Hour an [Paulurbahn@[removed]                 ]
     Gracie Allen                         ["A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro]
     Anthony Boucher                      ["Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@earthl]
     Re: What's a Gildersleeve            [John Mayer <mayer@[removed];        ]

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 11:43:17 -0400
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Art Linkletter's Fireworks

    In honor of the Fourth of July, a fireworks story.

    In Art Limklertter's autobiography, Confessions of a Happy Man, he
    relates the story of one time he was doing a radio broadcast of a
    fireworks display.  [Why anyone would bother to do that is beyond me, but
    that's something else.]  As I remember it, he was doing the broadcast as
    a "man on the street" sort of thing, but the scheduled display either
    fizzled or was delayed past the broadcast time.  So he ad-libbed a
    description of some really spectacular displays.  That is, until a man
    within earshot said, loud enough to be picked up on mike, "That man's
    crazy.  I don't see anything."

    Happy Fourth!

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 11:43:15 -0400
    From: Kubelski@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Dianne Weist?

    If Dwight Weists' daughter is Dianne Weist, then she should be familiar to
    many - she stars in the current NBC Drama, "Law & Order," a New York produced
    show that has featured guest appearances by such OTR stars as Arthur
    Anderson, Ruth Last and the late Abby Lewis.

    Sean Dougherty
    kubelski@[removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 12:35:21 -0400
    From: Jer51473@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Who was best? Archie or Henry?

     Just an opinion of course, realizing the expected predjudice of Mr. Stone,
    but really, wasnt Archie directed more at children or at least teenagers
    while Henry was directed more at teenagers maybe, but also at adults?. The
    time slots seem to bear this out, Archie Saturday in the [removed] and Henry ,in
    not only  prime time, but if memory serves me correctly, at nine or
    nine-thirty. The Aldrich Family was one of our very favorites(parents and
    kids) while Saturday morning wasnt a good listening time for my parents or
    for me as i took advantage of this time to play cowboys, football, baseball,
    or basketball. I loved Archie Comics, but dont remember listening to the
    radio show very often. As an adult, i still listen to Henry, but only have
    one program of Archie. Maybe i need to expand on Archie. After all, i never
    listened to Phil Harris as a kid, but now he has moved slightly above Benny
    in my eyes. It would be interesting to hear from others on the Digest
    concerning the the comedy of each show and the targeted audience. I have a
    feeling that  there was more character developement of the adults on    Henry
    and both sides (teenagers vs adults) of situations were presented, while on
    Archie the adult action or reactions were just the expected obstacles to
    overcome. I think Henry came on Thursday nights, but I know it was a
    weeknight and the late time frame had to mean it was directed at adults to a
    large degree. Comments please! Be honest Harlan. Only kidding of course. I do
    realize that the "best" show doesnt necessarily have anything to do with age
    level of the intended audience, but how do you see it?

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 12:35:18 -0400
    From: Kubelski@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  REPS Showcase IX

    I just got back from trip to the REPS Showcase IX in Seattle (June 29-30) and
    I'd like to salute everyone involved - it was a great show start-to-finish
    and fun time all-around.

    Just seeing Herb Ellis, Harry Bartell and Sam Edwards zing each other for a
    half-hour on the Dragnet panel (and then take it out in the hall afterwards)
    made the 3,000-mile trip worthwhile.

    But that doesn't count the "cold-read" public rehearsal of "Yours Truly
    Johnny Dollar" in which mis-ordered pages and Mr. Edward's trouble with the
    small print made the show even better!

    Forget the stunning recreation of "Three Skeleton Key," starring Elliott Reid
    and Mr. Bartell in original roles (scheduled with some wit for directly after
    lunch) and announced by Seattle-resident Chris Conrad, son of the great
    William Conrad, who was very gracious in conversations about his father's
    work during the convention.  In fact, he tried to play "can you top this" on
    William Conrad performances with me.  Not to embarrass him, but we ended up
    agreeing that I should send him a tape of a program he hadn't heard of.  I
    think that means I won.

    It was exceptionally cool to note that he also thinks "Hamlet Revisited" is
    one of the best shows his father ever did.

    Ray Erlenborn was hilarious in his audience participation animal sound game
    show (sorry folks, you had to be there for that one).  After seeing him so
    many years at conventions in Newark, it was great to see him perform again.

    Illuminating and entertaining interview segments with Elliott Reid, True
    Boardman and Dick Van Patten rounded out the first day, which closed with a
    great Frontier Gentleman recreation starring Mr. Reid and an informal panel
    discussion with many of the weekend's guests.

    A fine "Vic & Sade" recreation opened Saturday morning, with a nice tribute
    to "Uncle Fletcher" Merrill Mael, who passed away in the last year and had
    appeared at the convention several times.

    A nod to "new time radio" was a recreation of "Adventures In Odyssey," a
    syndicated children's program directed by Dick Beals that packed in an
    audience of children from the area who were excited to meet their radio
    heroes.  That was something to see -- and it makes you wonder if we're a
    little too pessimistic about the new generations being interested in radio.
    This room full of little kids hung on every word.

    One REPS member was able to bring in his swing band, complete with vocalist,
    for an hour of vintage music in midday.

    Arthur Anderson, sans his familiar ukulele (as well as Alice), did his
    singing commercials act after dinner on Saturday, joined by special guest
    Dick Beals.  He then played a Fibber and Teeny bit with Peggy Jordan, an
    actress and granddaughter of Fibber McGee & Molly.  One of the great things
    about OTR conventions is the sheer joy in performing the old stars have and
    Arthur definitely leads that category.  The fun he has on stage is contagious.

    The convention closed with a clever recreation of True Boardman's Silver
    Theater script "Child, Save my Fireman," which had originally starred Jimmy
    Stewart.  Stewart was admirably imitated for the script.

    One great element from the Saturday night dinner with the stars was the
    awarding of special recognition to the year's outstanding performer.  It was
    arranged for all of the previous winners (from memory, Dick Beals, Ray
    Erlenborn, Harry Bartell, Art Gilmour and Sam Edwards, apologies for any
    mistake) to walk from table to table until they reached this year's winner,
    Herb Ellis.  Mr. Ellis broke down at the podium accepting the award, matching
    many in the audience (including Doug Young, a West Coast child star who was
    sitting next to me).

    It seems like so much more than you could pack into just a day and a half --
    a great show with great talent.  Co-chairs Mike Sprague and Joy Jackson (and
    their forty volunteers) should be thrilled with the result.  That they were
    able to raise money for so many guests and the generous performance spaces
    (three rooms were used for panels and recreations, in addition to the dealer
    room) with minimal dealer tables to sell and a single silent auction was
    remarkable.

    Sean Dougherty
    Old Time Radio Tourist
    kubelski@[removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 12:50:57 -0400
    From: Kenneth L Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: My Monk Movie Contribution

    After the monk leaves the abbey and goes on his way,
    two  other monks are conversing:

    Monk 1:Did you see who said that, brother?

    Monk 2:Why no, brother, I did not.

    Then a voice is heard, coming from out of nowhere:

    "The weed of crime bears bitter fruit, crime does not pay.
    The Shadowy Monk knows!"

    Kenneth Clarke

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 14:25:19 -0400
    From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  The Good Doctor Pillay

>     From: "Dr. Gavin Pillay" <gavinp@[removed];
>     To: <[removed]@[removed];
>     Subject:  Jughead, dear Jughead

>     Thank you Mr. Stone, for your lengthy explanation.
>     Personally, after listening to both shows, I definitely am
>     an Archie Andrews fan.

    Dear, Dear Dr. Pillay:

    First off, please call me Hal.

    (Whew!) Am I ever pleased that you did not take my attempt at humor as a
    putdown. And now that you admit publicly (in your considered opinion) which
    was the better of the two shows, it proves to me that you are possessed with
    a great sense of humor, have discriminating taste, and obviously, never grew
    up?:)

>     (Especially since I grew up reading the comics! :-)

    See what I mean!

>     [you notice the use of emoticons]

    Bless you Dr. Pillay. :)

>     It's just such a great pity , that there are so few shows in circulation
>     for a program that ran for 10 years.
>     Surely there are some of you out there with reels hidden away
>     at the bottom of some wardrobe :)
>     Even commercially available one's would be welcome.

    Ah, my good Doctor. I have a cure for you.

     > (and yes .. I have been following the recent thread on archie shows :)

    Obviously, you have been much too busy, and have not been following the
    "Thread" close enough. I prescribe a few days rest, take one aspirin a day,
    and contact Ted Davenport @ Radio Memories
    [removed].

    Recent postings and private E-mail all extol what a neat guy he is, a super
    OTR fan, and a reputable dealer. He has copies of the program available (I'm
    not sure how many), but it's a place to start.

    By the way, would you mind messaging me privately. I'd love to learn more
    about your background. Are you native to South Africa, or are you from the
    States originally?  What's your field. Etc?  I've long been interested in
    the history of that Country. And I thought James Michner's book about it was
    absolutely facinating.

    Besides, one never knows when I might need some free medical advice. After
    all, I just hit the big 7 Ought . (You don't specialize in Sexual
    disfunction by any chance, do you?)  :)

    You sound like a real neat guy. Thanks for being a good sport.

    Regards,

    Hal(JUGHEAD)Stone

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 14:47:10 -0400
    From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Two more Name Of the Rose OTR endings

    Monk 1:  Brother William seems rather mysterious in his travels.
    Monk 2:  True.  What he told us thrilled us a little and chilled us a
    little.

    +++++

    Monk 1:  Brother William's best work went mainly unseen.
    Monk 2:  Yes, but he knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men.
    Monk 1:  True.  He showed that the weed of crime bears bitter fruit.
    Monk 2:  And that crime does not pay.
    Monk 1:  Now let us to our labors with the spinning wheel.

    +++++

    Tune in tomorrow ....

    Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 15:21:07 -0400
    From: nicoll <nicoll@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Jughead

    I would like to hear Hal Stone has to say on the origin of the name
    "JUGHEAD."

    Will Nicoll

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 17:05:22 -0400
    From: "Tim Taylor" <tt327@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Reader

    Hi everybody:

    I've been lurking on this list for a while but haven't written in before.

    I'm an academic working on a book about music and advertising. This will
    start (after a bit of prehistory) with radio which for me is the interesting
    part of the whole (eventual) book. All this will take a lot of research
    since I have to examine a lot of archives and track down old radio magazines
    which are hard to find, as all of you probably know!

    In the meantime, as a side project that is helping with my research, I am
    compiling a reader with some colleagues on music and technology (mainly,
    gramophone, radio, and electronic music and instruments). I'm handling the
    radio portion and have a draft up on my website. It's not complete (there
    are some magazines I haven't been able to see yet) and it's too long now.
    The address is [removed]~tt327/[removed]. Note that the
    URL is case-sensitive. You need the Adobe Acrobat reader, which is free from
    Adobe at [removed].

    The idea for this reader is not simply to put together all possible
    articles, or articles that tell a more technical history. Everything is
    there because it somehow gives a glimpse into what people were thinking
    about, arguing about, and how generally they were conceiving of radio in its
    everyday usages and in their everyday lives. This is my main interest as a
    cultural historian.

    I welcome the input any of you might have on this, or any help you might be
    able to offer on the larger project of music and advertising.

    Thank you! And happy 4th.

    Tim Taylor

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 17:05:21 -0400
    From: lawrence albert <albertlarry@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Three Skeleton Key

     To anyone who calls themselves a fan of OTR they have
    heard or at least know about that incredible radio
    play "Three Skeleton Key (Que -Keys). This play first
    appeared on ESCAPE in the late forties and was
    repeated, not only on that show but on SUSPENSE as
    well. It is one of the MOST bone chilling things ever
    aired on OTR. Two of the leads in the original were
    Harry Bartell and Elliott Reed. If you haven't heard
    it find it and listen.
     That aside, this past weekend in Seattle at The Radio
    Enthusiasts of Puget Sound Showcase #9, Harry and
    Elliott recreated their roles, along with Herb Ellis,
    in this famous play. Harry told me he had grave doubts
    about doing this, and mayhap he'll explain why in a
    future digest. His fears however, proved groundless.
    He and his fellow cast members were more than up to
    the challenge. A were the sound people the music and
    not the least the director Frank Buxton.
     Harry brought the same charm and insanity to his role
    of Auguste that was so wonderful in his portrayal of
    over fifty years ago, but with even more panache.
    Elliott Reed was excellent in a very difficult role as
    Jean (French for John) as actor and narrator. herb
    Ellis was not in any of the OTR broadcasts, but he
    should have been. He copied none of his predecessors,
    William Conrad and Jeff Cory, but created a totally
    original Louis of his own. In the end they received a
    stand ovation from an audience of over 200. For me it
    was a master class in radio acting and the lessons
    will not lost or go unused.

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 17:05:19 -0400
    From: [removed]@[removed]
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Archie Movies

    Here's a question - There were a couple of Aldritch movies made following on
    from the radio show.  Given the comments Hal has made about how Archie and
    Aldritch battled it out for top position, where there ever any Archie movies
    ?  Or even plans for such ?

    Paul

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 23:51:19 -0400
    From: Paulurbahn@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Heartbeat Theater ,Ave Maria Hour and Your
     Story Hour

    In a message dated 7/4/01 11:10:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
    [removed]@[removed] writes:

>     Barth Wysong wrote:
>     Heartbeat Theater a Salvation Army's Radio series.  I can't find a reference
>     to the series. Anyone know about this show?

    I do know the show started Mar 4, 1956 and was still running in 1992
    according to Radio Yesteryear's excellent but discontinued catalog to their
    collection titled, "Golden Age Of Radio" available from our friends at Radio
    Spirits for about $5. Heartbeat Theater was a weekly drama syndicated to
    local radio stations  who donated on half hour time on Sunday mornings
    (mostly) to air it. Based on true situations within the Salvation Army best I
    can remember.
    I have a few disks with the following shows.
    Show 621  Jan 21, 1968  A Date With Hope
    Show 622 Jan 28, 1968  What To Do About Willie
    Show 623 Feb 4, 1968   Incident At An Unfriendly Border
    Show 624 Feb 11, 1968  What Coul I Give My Parents
    Show 625 Feb 18, 1968 The Second Time Around
    Show 626  Feb 25, 1968 The Waiting Time
    Show 627   March 3, 1968   The Tea Party
    Show 628   March 10, 1968   Roger Blake's Long Night
    Show 629   March 17, 1968   The Answer
    Show 630  March 24, 1968    World Full Of Strangers

    Another show about the same time was The Ave Maria Hour on from 1935 to 1968
     recorded and transcribed by Columbia Transcriptions for The St Christopher's
    Inn, Garrison, New York. I have a few of those disks also.

    Finally don't forget one on my personal favorites of the period was "Your
    Story Hour" with Uncle Dan and Aunt Sue. It was mailed from Medina Ohio on
    reel to reel tape in the late 60s whereas the other two were pressed on
    disks. The disks were thrown away, Reel to reels were supposted to be
    returned for reuse.
    Paul Urbahns

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 23:51:15 -0400
    From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Gracie Allen

>     Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 11:35:20 -0400
>     From: Dan Riedstra <[removed]@[removed];

>     Yes, Gracie appeared a couple of times on Information Please, and as I
>     recall from listening to those programs she held her own very well. One
>     exact date I was able to find is 6/20/1939.

    I remember reading, in the 1950s, shortly before Gracie's retirement, that
    Gracie was in real life quite intelligent and not at all as ditsy as the
    character she portrayed.

    But then, this shouldn't surprise us.  We already know that Jack Benny
    wasn't really a cheapskate.

     A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
     15 Court Square, Suite 210          lawyer@[removed]
     Boston, MA 02108-2503           [removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 23:51:17 -0400
    From: "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Anthony Boucher

    The email from Phil Watson concerning
    Anthony Boucher (& Harry Bartell) brought
    back memories of meeting Boucher at a
    private party given in his honor back in 1951.
    I was attending a Science-Fiction Convention,
    Westercon IV, held in San Francisco.  I was
    fortunate enough to "know some people who
    knew some people" who were giving the party.
    I found Boucher (pronounced so that the "bouch"
    rhymes with "ouch!") to be quite an interesting
    and creative man, well-known as the editor of
    The Magazine of Fantasy & Science-Fiction
    and author of imaginative fiction.  (I mention the pronunciation, since my
    science-fiction reading
    friends back in Kansas had all been saying
    "boo-'shay.")  Despite my continued love of
    science fiction, I have never had the opportunity
    to attend another SF "Con."

    I own a copy of "The Lost Adventures of
    Sherlock Holmes" which was published in
    1989 by Mallard Press, New York, N. Y.
    The book only contains 13 (in short story
    form) of the radio shows broadcast back in
    the mid-40s over the Mutual Broadcasting
    System.  Mr. Watson listed the 13 shows by
    the titles given in Ken Greenwald's book.
    The actual titles of the radio shows were
    sometimes slightly different from the titles
    Greenwald gives.

    I have cassette recordings of 16 of these shows,
    broadcast, and much later sold, by Simon &
    Schuster, Inc. (copyrighted in 1989).  Seven of
    these recordings are not among those shows
    listed in Greenwald's book.  For any interested
    collectors, these seven (with broadcast dates)
    are:  The Unfortunate Tobacconist (4/30/45);
    The Paradol Chamber (5/21/45}; The Viennese
    Strangler (4/9/45); The Mystery of the Vanishing
    White Elephant (10/8/45); The Case of the
    Limping Ghost (9/3/45); The Waltz of Death
    (4/29/46); and Colonel Warburton's Madness
    (9/10/45).

    A blurb on the packaging (8 shows a package)
    claims that there were 213 of these shows written
    and broadcast over an 8-year period.  If this is
    correct, then perhaps there are collectors who
    have some of them.  Perhaps Mr. Bartell can
    speak to this question.  He would know how
    many shows he was involved with.  I don't know
    whether Boucher & Green wrote all 213 scripts.
    They did write at least those mentioned in the
    Greenwald book and the seven I listed above.
    Whether the tapes I have are still available from
    Simon & Schuster Audio, I can't say.

    I apologize for the length of this contribution to
    the OTR Digest, but felt that there would be
    subscribers out there who might find it of value.

    Harry Machin, Jr.

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

    Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2001 09:52:44 -0400
    From: John Mayer <mayer@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: What's a Gildersleeve

    Bob Fabris wrote:

>     "I am a gildersleeve".  What means this???

    Unable to find this one in my Webster's Unabridged or online, but the
    word certainly calls to mind the special robes Chief Justice Rehnquist
    designed for himself. It is, though, I find, an actual surname.

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V01 Issue #216
    *******************************************

    Copyright [removed] Communications, York, PA; All Rights Reserved,
      including republication in any form.

    If you enjoy this list, please consider financially supporting it:
       [removed]

    For Help: [removed]@[removed]
    To Unsubscribe: [removed]@[removed]

    For Help with the Archive Server, send the command ARCHIVE HELP
      in the SUBJECT of a message to [removed]@[removed]

    To contact the listmaster, mail to listmaster@[removed]

    To Send Mail to the list, simply send to [removed]@[removed]