Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #182
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 5/29/2004 8:29 PM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2004 : Issue 182
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      5-30 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      BBC Radio 4                           [ benohmart@[removed] ]
      Re: Jack Benny ads                    [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]
      Re: Reagan on OTR                     [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]
      OTR Appearances by Ronald Reagan      [ "Ron Vanover" <rvanover@[removed] ]
      It's (really) time now for Mr. Keen,  [ <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
      Joan's memory                         [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
      Well, ah well, my fellow [removed]  [ Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed]; ]
      Thank you, Jay!                       [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
      on speed/ some obscure shows listed   [ "Tim Hughes" <rekokut@[removed]; ]
      Gunsmoke and Frontier Gentlemen cros  [ Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed]; ]
      Re: FOB                               [ Don Shenbarger <donslistmail@sbcglo ]
      Re: Ronald Reagan on OTR              [ "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed]; ]
      Ronald Reagan on [removed]             [ "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 16:36:16 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  5-30 births/deaths

    May 30th births

    05-30-1891 - Ben Bernie - Bayonne, NJ - d. 10-20-1943
    bandleader: (The Old Maestro) "Ben Bernie Orchestra"; "Musical Mock Trial"
    05-30-1892 - Raymond Clapper - LaCygne, KS - d. 2-1-1944
    commentator: (Killed During WWII) "News and Commentary for White Owl Cigars"
    05-30-1896 - Whispering Jack Smith - The Bronx, NY - d. 5-13-1950
    singer: "Whispering Jack Smith"
    05-30-1899 - Ruth Perrott - d. 1-6-1996
    actress: Prudence Rockbottom "Meet Me at Parky's"; Dottie Brainfeeble "Vic
    and Sade"
    05-30-1901 - Cornelia Otis Skinner - Chicago, IL - d. 7-9-1979
    actress: Mary "Johnny Presents"
    05-30-1902 - Stepin Fetchit - Key West, FL - d. 11-19-1985
    comedian: "Hollywood Hotel"
    05-30-1906 - Norris Goff - Cove, AR - d. 6-7-1978
    actor: Abner Peabody "Lum and Abner"
    05-30-1908 - Mel Blanc - San Francisco, CA - d. 7-10-1989
    actor: Professor Pierre La Blanc "Jack Benny Program"; August Moon "Point
    Sublime"
    05-30-1909 - Benny Goodman - Chicago, IL - d. 6-13-1986
    bandleader: (King of Swing) "Camel Caravan"; "Victor Borge Show"
    05-30-1911 - Douglas Fowley - NYC - d. 5-21-1998
    actor: "Hollywood Hotel"
    05-30-1917 - Peter Leeds - Bayonne, NJ - d. 11-12-1996
    actor: Eugor "Rogue's Gallery"; "Bob Hope Show"; "Stan Freberg Show"
    05-30-1923 - Jimmy Lydon - Harrington Park, NJ
    actor: Jimmy "Young Love"
    05-30-1936 - Keir Dullea - Cleveland, OH
    actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"

    May 30th deaths

    04-03-1894 - Dooley Wilson - Tyler, TX - d. 5-30-1953
    actor: "Theatre of Romance"; "New World A-Coming"; "Jubilee"
    12-05-1906 - William Spier - d. 5-30-1973
    producer, director: "Advs. of Sam Spade"; "Suspense"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    For a complete list:
    [removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 17:40:21 -0400
    From: benohmart@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  BBC Radio 4

    I too would like to sing the praises of BBC Radio 4 as a Fantastic example that radio
    drama, comedy and variety are Not dead. If you can get past the British references and
    concentrate on the fun, there are true treasures here. I listen weekly, often daily.

    Ben Ohmart

    --
    Voice of The Haunted Mansion, Boris Badenov, The Pillsbury Doughboy & more
    [removed] - the official biography

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 17:41:49 -0400
    From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Jack Benny ads
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    In a message dated 5/29/04 3:48:30 PM Central Daylight Time,
    [removed]@[removed] writes:

>     I also remember from the mid-1970s Dennis Day doing a Special K
>     cereal ad  and Mel Blanc in an American Express/"Do You Know Me?" ad.
>     Otherewise, I can't think of any other on-camera ads featuring cast members
>     from "The Jack Benny Program."

    I actually have that Dennis Day Kellogg's ad on tape. It dates to 1978 or so.
     Dennis also appeared with Jack in a 1960s Texaco ad in which Jack drives his
    Maxwell to a Texaco station and buys one gallon of gas from an attendant
    played by Day.

    Dixon

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 17:42:04 -0400
    From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Reagan on OTR
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    In a message dated 5/29/04 3:48:30 PM Central Daylight Time,
    [removed]@[removed] writes:

>     Did Ronald Reagan
>     ever do any OTR work? I'm assuming he must have made some appearances,
>     considering his work on radio in the Midwest before he came to Hollywood,
>     but
>     I haven't heard any.

    I'm sure a few others will show a list by date of Reagan's many appearances
    on "Lux Radio Theatre," "The Colgate Sports Newsreel" and "Suspense," but two
    things:  first of all, I don't remember right off which one it is but one of
    the Lux shows Reagan appeared in, featured him re-creating a play-by-play bit
    from his Iowa days.  It's a great, historic piece of sound that may be the
    only
    existing recording of Reagan doing that.  Which brings me to my question:  the
    station in question, I think it was WHO, actually did a retrospective about
    Reagan's radio days about the time he took office in 1981.  Does anyone have a
    copy of that?  I would love to know what was in it.

    Dixon

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 17:42:17 -0400
    From: "Ron Vanover" <rvanover@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  OTR Appearances by Ronald Reagan

    On Friday, May 28, 2004 [removed]@[removed] wrote:

>     Did Ronald Reagan ever do any OTR work?

    I have three programs in my collection that feature Ron Reagan.  He
    substituted for Bill Stern on the Colgate Sports Newsreel twice (January 2,
    1948 and July 29, 1948) and was a guest on Hi Gang on March 18, 1949.

    Ron Vanover
    Ron's 20:1 OTR Trading Post
    [removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 17:44:12 -0400
    From: <otrbuff@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  It's (really) time now for Mr. Keen, Tracer
     of Lost Persons

    As promised, "Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons," was released last week by
    McFarland & Co. ([removed] and 800-253-2187 M-F except holidays).
    I went by McFarland's headquarters while on a Carolina vacation last week
    and my editor pressed a copy in my hot little hands.  So those who ordered
    prepublication books should have their very own copy in a short while.

    Mr. Keen, you will recall, was broadcasting's most durable detective,
    running 18 years (1937-1955) in 1,960 installments via thrice weekly, weekly
    and nightly formats.  Only two individuals permanently played Mr. Keen over
    that long epoch, Bennett Kilpack and Philip Clarke.  Jim Kelly was Keen's
    inimitable sidekick Mike Clancy for the full 18-year run.  These and chief
    writer Larry Klee, longtime announcer Larry Elliott, directors Martha Atwell
    and Richard Leonard, recurring cast members Ned Wever, James Meighan and
    several more, plus producers Frank and Anne Hummert are profiled in the
    364-page volume.  Photographs of most of them enhance the text.  Even Bob
    and Ray's parodies of the show are highlighted verbally and visually.

    In addition to seven chapters on the history of the aural sleuth the book
    features a chronology of the Keen series in addition to notes, bibliography,
    index and a radio episode guide detailing most of the 1,960 presentations,
    some including cast names, and all with pertinent details of the broadcasts
    (synopsis, date, time, network, sponsor, principals, case titles).

    The book is available at $69 (including shipping and handling) and hopefully
    will fill a void in the collections of all who maintain an interest in radio
    drama, especially those drawn to the detective genre.  An incredible amount
    of research went into compiling this treatise including not only acquiring
    most of the scripts but also interviewing the offspring of several of the
    show's cast.  The anecdotes shared with me have never appeared in print
    before and provide some intuitive insights about radio's backstage life.  I
    trust readers will find it as educational as it is entertaining.

    Jim Cox

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 17:45:38 -0400
    From: JackBenny@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Joan's memory

    Irene Heinstein writes:

>     I was occasionally surprised by some of Joan's answers.
>     One caller asked her why Phil Harris left the show.   She answered that she
>     thought it was because he got his own show, seemingly unaware that Phil
>     continued on the show for a number of years after he started his own show.
>     Another caller asked if her parents had been married in NJ, she said no, but
>     wasn't sure where they did get married.   Someone asked if her mother had
>     been born in Canada.   She said, no, Seattle, but failed to mention that her
>     mother had lived in Canada, which seemed like a logical addition to the
>     answer.  I think a lot of people are confused about that, assuming that
>     since Mary first met Jack in Canada, that she was born there.  She couldn't
>     remember the names of the singers other than Dennis Day.

    Hi Irene,

    I do have a copy of that show, but thanks very much for the offer.  I had a
    radio/tape recorder running in my bedroom while I was on the phone on hold in
    my parents' bedroom awaiting to go on the air.

    Something that I have to remind myself from time to time is that I am a
    researcher and historian of all things Benny, while the people involved were
    just
    living their lives.  I read Jack's sections of "Sunday Nights at Seven" and
    find errors, or information that conflicts with other sources.  Some things I
    know outright to be wrong, like an assertion that Eddie Anderson's character
    was
    called "Rochester Van Jones" from the first mention of the name.  Others, like
    his story of meeting Mary, are diametrically opposed to portions of Mary's
    own story of meeting Jack.  I'm sure that they were both remembering things in
    their own way, and they both think they're telling the truth.  It's a
    real-life
    Rashomon.

    Joan and I were once being interviewed simultaneously by a major newspaper.
    She told a story about a dog they owned named Wolfgang, and the kicker was, "I
    went from being Jack Benny's daughter to Wolfgang's mother.  When am I going
    to be ME?"  I know this is a big problem for many celebrity children, always
    living in their parents' shadow.  So while knowing the names of ALL the
    vocalists on the Benny show is important to me, it's not to her.  And I
    respect that.

    Most of her additions to Jack's text in "Sunday Nights at Seven" were based
    on her own personal memories, like driving down Sunset Boulevard with her
    father on Sunday mornings and starting the car with a kiss.  Those were
    memories
    that were just shared by her and her father, so they're an important piece of
    the puzzle in better understanding "Jack the man".  Fortunately, we
    researchers
    can fill in the other details.

    --Laura Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 17:46:16 -0400
    From: Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Well, ah well, my fellow [removed]
     on OTR

    Did Ronald Reagan do OTR?

    Yes. He appeared in at least two episodes of Suspense:
    Circumsancial Terror." and "One and One's a Lonesome."
    Back in the 1980s, when Reagan was president, Metacom
    released a 60 minute cassette featuring those two
    episodes. The cover art featured a drawing of a
    tough-looking Reagan in need of a shave.

    In the former, Reagan's character is arrested for
    murder shortly after returing to a store to apologize
    for threatening the (now dead) owner a few minutes
    earlier; in the latter, his character plots with his
    boss's wife to get rid of him and take over the
    business.

    He also appeared in "Stars Over Hollywood" and
    "Academy Theatre" according to a Google search.

    Reagan also did sports broadcasts early in his career,
    but that's not quite the same thing as appearing as an
    actor.

    Rick

    [removed] Even though I've never been a Reagan fan, I had
    considered sending him a copy of that tape when he was
    President, but never did. I imagine someone probably
    did at one point, thinking he might get a kick out of
    it.

    Unrelated to OTR, but I understand Reagan really
    enjoyed the scene in "Back to the Future", where the
    Doc Brown of 1955 asks Marty who's president in 1985:

    "Ronald Reagan."

    "Ronald Reagan?! The actor?! Who's vice president?
    Jerry Lewis?"

    Reagan, so the story goes, would have the
    projectionist stop the film and replay that scene.

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 17:46:31 -0400
    From: JackBenny@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Thank you, Jay!

    I wanted to publicly thank Jay Hickerson for his expression of support for
    "39 Forever, Second Edition".  Many of you know the debt I owe to Jay for
    helping to bring the IJBFC to where it is today, and his original radio log
    provided
    a major basis for the original edition of "39 Forever".  So having his
    "thumbs up" on the current book is just about the best endorsement I could
    have
    wanted.  Thank you very, very much.

    --Laura Leff
    President, IJBFC
    [removed]

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 22:16:50 -0400
    From: "Tim Hughes" <rekokut@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  on speed/ some obscure shows listed on Goldin

    Hi,

    I apologize if this has been addressed so far (I did a search of digests
    back to 2002, and I didn't see anything), about speed, or offspeed.  Did you
    notice that a lot of OTR is offspeed?  While transferring reels, I noticed
    that even very good sources were offspeed.  Fixed they were ok, but that's
    the problem.  A lot of people leave it as-is.  I've found this to be
    especially true with mp3 encodes (I've noticed that about 75% or more are 30
    or more seconds offspeed, usually slow).  Same goes for cassette or reel.
    Network shows are usually pretty easy to fix.  Syndicated shows are harder,
    since it isn't a "fixed" time base, and one has to rely on pitch.  I always
    note how much speed I changed from the original in my wavefile, for
    reference purposes.  Speed is a simple problem that everyone could do, and
    would make circulating shows a lot better, given a little care.  OTR is like
    baseball; there's some fundamentals to follow; 1) right speed  2)
    low-generation 3) good equipment (a transcription transfer on old equipment
    is usually crap).  4) don't edit out programming (even the AFRS music
    filler).  5) label it right/don't leave out information. (I've been guilty
    of typos sometimes on #5).  I also HATE when people don't put down program
    numbers or AFRS numbers! grrr.

    I've also started something in my archiving; I've been doing a text file
    with descriptions (if it's transcription, that information,) and since
    Goldin has good story descriptions, I put in the Goldin descriptions.  For
    my bedside CD/mp3 boombox, I make a separate folder and put an encode in
    that (usually 80/44) so I can listen to it there (it doesn't play .wav).

    By the way, does anyone know if the mp3/CD RCA stereo plays different
    bitrates?  I would like 32 functionality as well, since I listen to Jean
    Shepherd sometimes, and the low-quality encodes are the only thing I can
    find him in.

    Also, I've noticed a lot of interesting obscure shows listed in Goldin.
    Does anyone have "The Lady in Blue" or "Swamp Caesar" in first or second
    generation?  I have a crappy 32 encode of Lady in Blue.  Would like to find
    a copy I can keep.

    I've been listening to Mr. District Attorney lately.  Quite entertaining.
    One day, I'll have to get to the Mr. DA AFRTS Zivs I have.  Lol, for that
    fact to the couple hundred or more ETs I never have time to get to.  I also
    want to get back to the Crime and Peter Chambers I have, I'll have to look,
    I think I have all but a couple.  I wish I could find a lot of good-sounding
    Barrie Craigs!  I love William Gargan shows.  I've also been enjoying the
    40s B-movies I got at the convention.  Martin sure had some good ones!

    Thanks!

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 22:20:25 -0400
    From: Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Gunsmoke and Frontier Gentlemen crossovers

    Since "Gunsmoke" and "Frontier Gentlemen" were both
    CBS radio westerns on the air in 1958, and since John
    Dehner's "[removed] Kendell" mentioned Dodge City from time
    to time on "Frontier Gentlemen", was there ever an
    actual link between the two shows? Perhaps a mention
    of Marshall Dillon's name in "Frontier Gentlemen", or
    a passing reference to an English newspaper
    correspondent in "Gunsmoke", if not an actual
    appearance of a character from one show on the other?

    If there was no crossover, or subtle cross promotion,
    I'd be surprised, as they were both westerns for the
    same network. You'd think CBS wouldn't mind if Kendell
    told Sheriff Whomever he met Marshall Dillon in Dodge
    once, since it'd be a subtle reminder to listeners to
    listen to "Gunsmoke."

    For that matter, were dramatic (vs. comedy shows)
    crossovers common on OTR? Sure, there was the Lone
    Ranger/Green Hornet, connection, but that wasn't
    stated (and then without mentioning the LR by name)
    until the "Green Hornet episode "Too Hot to Handle" in
    1947, though the Lone Ranger's last name of Reid
    (assuming that was revealed before the airing of that
    episode) already suggested a connection. But other
    than that one example, I can't think of any.

    I can, however, think of Jack and Fred subtly
    promoting each other's shows through their feud;
    mentions of both Dennis Day's and Phil Harris' shows
    on the Jack Benny program; Gracie Allen popping up
    EVERYWHERE looking for her brother (though I've yet to
    actually hear any program where that happens); and
    Fibber McGee and Molly promoting "The Great
    Gildersleeve" when Hal Peary launched his spin-off
    show (not to mention Peary appearing as Gildy on
    "Fibber McGee" when Jim Jordan was out with Pneumonia.
    And other examples.

    But I'm not aware of any adventure, mystery, suspense,
    western, detective, etc. shows mentioning characters
    from another show on the network, or featuring an
    appearance by same. If that's the case, I wonder why
    that was? They've done it on TV from to time (The "Law
    and Order"/"Homicide" crossover comes to mind). Was
    radio perhaps less ratings-driven than TV, or is it
    simply that no one thought of doing something like
    that?

    Rick

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 22:21:14 -0400
    From: Don Shenbarger <donslistmail@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: FOB

    At 03:52 PM 5/29/2004, Russ Hudson wrote:

>      In ocean transport, if the terms of sale state "[removed]
>     Wherever," it is usually clarified with specifics as to who is paying
>     for what.

    That is a correct statement. Beyond that, the FOB point is usually the
    point where title changes hands and the shipment becomes the property of
    the receiver of the goods. With regard to ocean shipping the point can be
    Free Along Side (FAS) as somebody pointed out, as the load crosses the rail
    of the ship or onboard the ship, assuming the FOB point is at the seaport.
    Most industrial shipments are FOB dock at the point of manufacture. This
    makes things easy to deal with as final invoices and shipping documents for
    letters of credit can only be issued after fulfillment of the contract
    including any shipping provisions.

    For most of us the only thing to know is that shipping of consumer goods is
    typically the responsibility of the buyer. Sellers offer us various
    shipping options and the option for insurance as a convenience to deliver
    the goods, but the shippers are in the employ of the buyer generally. And
    that is why when there is a problem with goods damaged in shipment, the
    buyer has to file claims with the shipper for the damage. When the cost of
    shipping is included or otherwise "free", confusion may arise as to where
    title passed and whose goods were damaged.

    Don Shenbarger

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 22:22:37 -0400
    From: "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Ronald Reagan on OTR

    sweetedit@[removed] asked:

>     I was listening to an episode of Burns and Allen this morning on the way to
>     work with Jane Wyman as a guest, and it made me wonder: Did Ronald Reagan
>     ever do any OTR work? I'm assuming he must have made some appearances,
>     considering his work on radio in the Midwest before he came to Hollywood, but
>     I haven't heard any.

    I have one RR OTR appearance in my files -- and, coincidentally, it comes
    from the same series as the one on which you were listening to the former
    President's first wife: Burns & Allen, from 25 Jan 50. (Will be posting
    said file later today to the usual groups.)

    The GOLDINdex lists more than =500= radio and radio-related appearances by
    the Great Communicator:

    [removed],+Ronald&ArtistNumber=28536

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

    Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 22:23:16 -0400
    From: "Ted Kneebone" <tkneebone1@[removed];
    To: "Old Time Radio Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Ronald Reagan on [removed]

    Someone asked about Ronald Reagan on radio.  When I first came to the SD
    School for the Blind in 1980 as librarian, I came across a considerable
    collection of OTR that had been dubbed to cassette by our State Library.  In
    this collection were quite a few radio programs in which Reagan starred.  I
    have not yet dubbed these from talking book format to standard cassettes,
    but he was on several anthology-type shows like Lux Radio Theater and Screen
    Guild Players. It seems to me that at one point he was the star of "Death
    Valley Days."  I saved these programs, and if anyone is interested, I will
    check to see what programs I have.
        In a way, it is kind of ironic that these shows were preserved -- since
    President Reagan was probably the first president to cut the appropriation
    to the American Printing House for the Blind.  We were then allowed a
    specific amount for each blind, visually, or physically impaired student
    enrolled.  I think that quota system is still in effect, and it applies also
    to blind adults.

    Ted Kneebone/1528 S. Grant [removed], SD 57401/605-226-3344
    OTR: [removed]

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #182
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