------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2008 : Issue 43
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Sperdvac Ballot and Election [ BryanH362@[removed] ]
Sherlock Holmes [ Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed]; ]
Something about The Shadow [ Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed]; ]
Duffy's Tavern [ "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@attorneyross. ]
True Railroad Adventures [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
Broadcast of Jewish Service on Nazi [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
Jack Benny's Golden [removed] [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]
Jack Benny Longines [ <sojaq2@[removed]; ]
Andy Devine [ Bob Slate <moxnix1961@[removed]; ]
Speaking of Sherlock Holmes [ lawrence albert <albertlarry@yahoo. ]
Jack Benny Longines Symphonette Albu [ Bob Slate <moxnix1961@[removed]; ]
Jack Benny Longines Symphonette prod [ "kierniesky" <kierniesky@[removed] ]
Re: Radio Static Eliminators [ Kevin Bristol <citadel92@[removed] ]
Kendall's, and other accents [ K & J Hammel <haml@[removed]; ]
Jauuary 2008 deaths [ Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed] ]
Sherlock Holmes in Kenosha! [ "Cynthia (ChibiBarako)" <chibibar ]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:26:06 -0500
From: BryanH362@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Sperdvac Ballot and Election
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I had received my Sperdvac Ballot Monday and have been so busy that I had
not had a chance to sit down and read the candidates statements. I quickly
opened my ballot upon reading Dennis Crow's post where he mentioned -
within the candidate statements this time is the stuff of high drama:
embarrassing luncheons, imperiled cargo, and a bloodless coup. There is passion,
fury, and spiraling conflict!
I didn't realize that there was such a conflict brewing and upon reading the
candidate statements it's still not clear to me what underlying issue is
causing this great divide. Dan Haefele, Ken Greenwald an Dave Struthers have
done a fantastic job building up the Sperdvac rental libraries. They have done
so for many years and continue to add programs to the Sperdvac libraries to
this day. There does not seem to be any indication that the current board has
hampered the efforts of the acquisition team. There have been just as many
new shows added to the libraries this year as any other year , if not more so.
But then I don't see that the acquisition team is accusing the current
board of that either. The acquisitions team does direct a few specific shots at
Don Aston due to the fact that he is also a dealer in Old Time Radio Shows.
The candidates opposing Aston do not really detail why they feel that this
has proven to be a conflict. Instead they spin a tale of intrigue and make
accusation of improprieties that appear to be a clear example of dirty politics.
For instance in Dave Struthers' candidate statement he strongly questions
the advisability of electing to the Sperdvac Board someone whose profession is
selling radio programs. A few statements later he mentions the fact that OTR
shows originating from Sperdvac are quickly for sale. He also states that
members should please help keep the Sperdvac collection intact by electing
Board candidates who would not cart these items off to another location or place
others in charge of their care. Is Dave trying to imply that a board member
is using his position to steal Sperdvacs shows that can be turned around and
offered for sale and further that other Board members are being complicit or
at the very least reckless?
This isn't very nice since those close to Sperdvac know that nothing of the
sort is going on. The acquisition team holds the keys and controls access to
the storage facility. And certainly one would have to be a complete fool to
become a Board member just so that they could rent a show from the library in
order to copy the program and offer it for sale in their catalog. You don't
have to become a board member to do that.
It was also my understanding that at times when the acquisition team had
indicated a desire to go out and purchase shows to be added to the Sperdvac
libraries Aston has said to them "You don't have to purchase those shows, I
can give you the shows from my collection." The way Don Aston is being
portrayed appears to be character assassination. This is truly unfortunate. In
many of the candidate statements there is also a lot of trashing of the latest
Sperdvac event that occurred in November (The Jack Benny luncheon). The event
is characterized as an embarrassment to Sperdvac by Dan Haefele. While
there were a few problems, the luncheon was filled with outstanding radio
personalities in great radio sketches who alone can make any event great.
For many years, Sperdvac, the leading old time radio club , based in the
heart of Hollywood, has not had an Old Time Radio Convention. With local access
to most of the old time radio personalities and a war chest of funds that
other old time radio organizations could only dream about, people could never
understand why Sperdvac had gone out of the Convention business. Many felt
that THIS was an embarrassment to Sperdvac. There is a faction in Sperdvac
who are against putting on old time radio conventions. I don't understand
the reasoning behind this thinking and neither did Don Aston, Walden Hughes,
Frank Bresee and Jim Harmon who were elected into office with the promise of
bringing back the convention and events to Sperdvac. Which they promptly did.
Is this what the division in Sperdvac is all about? One faction wanting to
have events and conventions and the other believing that all of the club's
resources should be put into acquisitions for the rental library? For this
reason there is such desperation that we have come to candidate statements with
personal attacks? I wish the candidate statements were more clear on these
points instead of the space being filled with personal attacks. The treasured
personalities from Old Time Radio are becoming fewer and fewer. If we want
to enjoy and honor them at events and conventions, now is the time. While
the recordings of the radio shows will be around long after I am gone, most
likely the personalities of old time radio will not be. The acquisition team
does a great job and I want to thank them for their devotion to the club and
their many volunteer hours. At the same time kudos to Walden and Frank, Don
and Jim, who have brought back a chance to mingle with fellow radio fans and
spend time with personalities such as Janet Waldo, Shirley Mitchell, Fred Foy,
Beverly Washburn, Joan Benny and many more by bringing back the convention
to Sperdvac. So many of us have a treasured life time of memories because of
the old time radio conventions.
We should get behind and support the people at Sperdvac who work so hard to
bring these conventions to life. Let's not attack their hard work as being
an embarrassment to Sperdvac. Instead offer assistance where you know that a
little help could be used to avoid the troubled spots. The Sperdvac board
has seven members. We have a choice to make to elect to office seven people to
control the largest old time radio club in the country and yet we know very
little from the candidate statements to make a decision. Oh, we know who
and what some candidates don't like. We know very little about the direction in
which some candidates want to take the club. It looks like this year our
votes may make a real difference. Sperdvac members may want to call each
candidate and have them clarify their position on matters . In that way a member
can truly select the candidate who plans on taking Sperdvac in the direction
that the member agrees with.
Regards,
Bryan
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Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:20:49 -0500
From: Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Sherlock Holmes
Cambell Connell asked, and I quote:
I love the Rathbone-Bruce Sherlock Holmes radio shows. The shows from
1945 and 1946 generally begin with a message that they are broadcast
to our soldiers overseas via shortwave and "worldwide via the
facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service." I would think that the
way the shows were broadcast on the AFRS was via transcriptions. My
question is, does anyone know whether it is possible that the
government still possesses copies of the old transcriptions that are
sitting in a government warehouse somewhere? If so, they might have
lost Sherlock Holmes and or other old radio shows. Has anyone ever
tried a freedom of information act request?
Thanks!
The broadcasts from that period were released to the public by The Baker
Street Associates. I was creative director of that company and put the entire
project together, which included special introductions before each half hour
broadcast. Lots of work, but a joy to do. Obviously much research was done by
me and my associates to get all rights cleared and to see just how many of
the Sherlock Holmes we could track down. To the best of my knowledge, after a
lot of searching, the only other shows that are available are located in the
Lilly Library. They are releasing a series of CDs from the 1948/1949 season.
Most of the shows released by The Baker Street Associates cover the period
from 1945, 1946 (the ET discs are in our archives) and, following that, we
have released the 1947 season from ET discs at the Lilly Library that were
once owned by Edith Meiser, who originated the series in 1930 and continued
co-producing all the way up to 1948/1949.
There have been rumors, and I cannot verify this, but a large collection of
Sherlock Holmes shows that were once given to Northwestern University have,
in turn, been given by them to The Library of Congress. If that is the case,
then we can "kiss goodbye" to those shows, as the Library lets very little
out, but takes in a great deal.
Any one can contact The Library of Congress to obtain a copy of any radio
show, provided they have credentials from an accredited college or university
or can prove that they are writing a book about that show or series of shows.
The cost of obtaining a copy from their stored collection of radio shows is
very high. I believe this is to discourage anyone from "collecting" a series
of broadcasts from them.
Just like the end of the film Raiders of The Lost Ark, whatever is stored in
that huge government warehouse usually disappears forever (with a few
exceptions, of course).
I hope this helps.
Ken Greenwald
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:21:46 -0500
From: Ken Greenwald <kgradio@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Something about The Shadow
My friend Harvey Tow once had an OTR show in Los Angeles.
He played a lot of radio shows during the 70s when there were few broadcasts
of OTR.
Like me, Harvey is a big fan of The Shadow, and recently he emailed me this
story that I thought all of you might be interested in:
"Ken,
While perusing, I recalled my meeting with MY Shadow, sometime around '70 or
'71, I think.
Do you remember Clark Race? He was a jock at KMPC. In the wee hours, he
would play clips of OTR. I contacted him and told him of my collection, etc.
He invited me down and I would bring tape.
One day he told me that he had invited Bret Morrison to be interviewed.
Would I like to come over? Hah! I was there before the phone hit the floor.
Bret and his son, Ed were trying to gain entry at the only door leading to
the studios. Having been there, I showed him where the "door bell" was
located and we were soon inside.
Somewhere, I have the aircheck of that interview. His son and I sat in the
small studio while Clark did his interview.
Afterward, Ed asked if I wanted to copy the tapes that they had. I obviously
told him that I would and he mailed 'em to me. About six reels, I recall.
Bret didn't get any airchecks while he did the role. Those tapes were sent
to him by fans, like us.
I think that I also gave him some shows, on cassette, which he thanked me for
as that format was much easier for them.
Bret Morrison and Ed were two very nice people. Bret and Ed were at that
time living in Palm Springs."
h
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:19:38 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <joe@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Duffy's Tavern
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:11:29 -0500
From: Charlie Summers <charlie@[removed];
From: [removed] Bookhagen <JohnGunnPI@[removed];
My question is, Archie from Duffy's Tavern; what is his last name?
I think his last name is Manager. His middle name is The. Same as
The Lone Ranger's first name. ;->
(I know, there are people who think the Lone Ranger's first name is
John, but some people will believe anything. Some people even think
that Ross Perot was Frank Perdue in disguise. Feh!)
--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed] [removed]
92 State Street, Suite 700 Fax [removed]
Boston, MA 02109-2004 [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:48:22 -0500
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: True Railroad Adventures
An antique railroad fan in the Metro Washington OTR Club recently
gave me a copy of an advertisement he found in a 1933 Lionel Train
Catalog. It describes an NBC show that company sponsored called "True
Railroad Adventures" and its premise was little Jimmy climbing into
the cab where veteran engineer, Mike Bolan, would tell him another
true story of the courage and bravery of the railroad men. It was
apparently 15 minutes in length.
The series was aired by over 50 NBC stations throughout the US twice
a week, Wednesdays and Sundays, at different times. It ran from at
least 11-5-33 to 12-20-33 and maybe beyond. It would appear to be set
up to increase juvenile interest in purchasing Lionel train sets in
time for Christmas, but hey, let's not be cynical here.
I've checked with some Lionel fans and railroad collectors and no one
has heard of any surviving audio copies. Any Digester ever run across
a copy or have one squirrelled away in his (or her) dusty archives?
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
<[removed]>
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:49:08 -0500
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Broadcast of Jewish Service on Nazi soil, 1944.
After the Allied Forces invaded Europe on D-Day, Rabbi Sidney Lefkowitz
who came in through Omaha Beach performed the first Jewish Service in
liberated Germany on September 16th, 1944. Then on October 29th, 1944,
he performed a Jewish Service on the site of a former synagogue that had
been burned to the ground. The service was broadcast via NBC and does
appear to exist. You can see a video that was created by the American
Jewish Committee of the Rabbi and hear a portion of this fascinating
broadcast complete with artillery sounds in the background via YouTube at
[removed]
Jim Widner
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:49:21 -0500
From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jack Benny's Golden [removed]
Just checked my cassette copy of the Longienes Golden Memories of Radio for
the date. The date on the album was 1966. The full title [removed]
"Jack Benny presents the Treasury of Golden Memories of Radio." Issued
by the Longienes Symphonette Society in 1966. Jack Benny and Frank Knight
are the narrators.
I recall that there was another single disc of famous radio themes, played
by the Longienes Symphonette. Probably conducted by Michel Piastro.
Ted Kneebone / 1528 S. Grant Street, Aberdeen, SD 57401
Phone: 605-226-3344 / OTR: [removed]
St Marks: [removed] /
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:50:02 -0500
From: <sojaq2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jack Benny Longines
In answer to Norm Schickedanz's question in Digest #42 as to when this albumn
was produced, I checked my copy and found nothing. There are not even any
record markings to help, the first record has only the scribe LWS 513, I
doubt if this would even help Dr. Biel. You mentioned that you thought it was
the late 60's or early 70's. I would put it as the mid to late 70's. Sorry
that I could not be of more help. Roger Smith
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:38:07 -0500
From: Bob Slate <moxnix1961@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Andy Devine
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Besides appearing on radio on Jack Benny's show in the late 1930's( Hiya
Buck!), he also was a character on the late 1940's Lum n' Abner Show
sponsored by Frigidaire. He also was Roy Roger 's sheriff sidekick ,"Cookie
Bullfincher" in the RepublicWestern movie series around 1947 to 1948.
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Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:39:11 -0500
From: lawrence albert <albertlarry@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Speaking of Sherlock Holmes
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This March marks the tenth anniversary of the Jim French produced radio
series featuring new and classic adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr.
Watson. To honor the occasion we are going to produce a three part version of
The Hound of the Baskervilles to be aired over three consecutive weekends on
Imagination Theatre. I think this will be the first American produced version
of the tale to air nationally in many years. However, I'd like to sure about
this before I release any publicity and I'm asking anyone on the digest if
they can supply me with information about U. S. produced Hound radio shows
both OTR and NTR. Any and all help will be appreciated.
Thanks
Larry Albert
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Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:38:58 -0500
From: Bob Slate <moxnix1961@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jack Benny Longines Symphonette Album
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The Longinette Symphonette OTR Album came out in 1967 or 1968. I bought it
when it first came out. And I still have the same excellent [removed] prize it
because it was probably the first records released on OTR. Everytime I look
at it, it brings back many nostalgic [removed] is a real gem!But, I will
look at it tonight and I will make sure of the date for you.
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Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:01:17 -0500
From: "kierniesky" <kierniesky@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jack Benny Longines Symphonette production date
There are no dates on the original recordings or packaging, but I do recall
reading a while ago that it was produced in 1964. It probably was not
produced earlier than 1963, since a Longines Symphonette zip code was on the
record. Sorry I can't provide more details.
-Nik Kierniesky
Gettysburg
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:03:30 -0500
From: Kevin Bristol <citadel92@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Radio Static Eliminators
It is believed that tinfoil balls in the wheel covers (not the hub caps) can
confuse police radar. There is no proof that this works, but it could cause
other problems.
This was actually proven to be false on Mythbusters. Tinfoil on the hub caps di
d nothing to thwart the radar gun. In fact, every "trick" to confuse a radar gu
n was busted on the show.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:03:52 -0500
From: K & J Hammel <haml@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Kendall's, and other accents
Odd that the topic of accents should come up just when I was listening to
"The Adventures of the Scarlet Cloak".. a show which borrowed a lot from
Zorro. The Mexican accents were pretty [removed] the inevitable
seniorita, when thanking the hero for saving her, says to him,
"Grassy-ass, (Gracias).
The rest was downhill from there. Her 'uncle' sounded more Transylvanian
than Mexican. Got me wondering if accents were considered important in
these shows. I do know there were actors that specialized in them, but
don't know if the general public felt this was important or not. Any
comments?
Kathy H.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:04:05 -0500
From: Ronald Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Jauuary 2008 deaths
January deaths
05-09-1923 - Johnny Grant - Goldsboro, NC - d. 1-9-2008
emcee: (Honorary Mayor of Hollywood) "Jubilee"
xx-xx-1927 - Waring Jones - Minneapolis, MN - d. 1-10-2008
announcer: Armed Forces Radio
xx-xx-1914 - Shuichi Fujikura - Tokyo, Japan - d. 1-11-2007
emcee: "Niju-no-Tobira"
04-11-1913 - Bob LeMond - Hale Center, TX - d. 1-13-2008
announcer: "Romance of the Ranchos"; "Sweeny and March Show"
02-18-1922 - Allan Melvin - Kansas City, MO - d. 1-17-2007
actor: "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts"; "Arthur Godfrey Time"
08-16-1929 - Lois Nettleton - Oak Park, IL - d. 1-18-2008
actor: Patsy Dennis "Brighter Day"
09-05-1939 - John Stewart - San Diego, CA - d. 1-19-2007
singer: (Kingston Trio) "Stars for Defense"; "Guest Star"; "Guard
Session"
02-17-1924 - Margaret Truman - Independence, MO - d. 1-29-2008
coloratura: "The Big Show"; "The Railroad Hour"; "Authors in the News"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:04:40 -0500
From: "Cynthia (ChibiBarako)" <chibibarako@[removed];
To: "Digest Old Time Radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Sherlock Holmes in Kenosha!
[removed]
Saturday, February 16 at 1:00 PM at the Kenosha Public Library, Southwest
Branch (7979 38th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53142-2129)
"Crime is Common, Logic is Rare: An Afternoon with Sherlock Holmes"
Two radio plays, Silver Blaze and The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
(adapted for radio by Nita Hunter and Chuck Wolbers) will be presented.
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2008 Issue #43
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