------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2002 : Issue 363
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Lone Ranger questions [ "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@neb. ]
jump the shark [ Ruk77@[removed] ]
OTR: The Next Generation [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
Re: The World's Greatest Old Time Ra [ Ga6string@[removed] ]
Twilight Zone Radio Shows [ "Shawn A. Wells" <swells@[removed] ]
what did the Waltons listen to? [ vigor16@[removed] ]
Re: The Waltons and OTR [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
And now the news, [ "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed] ]
mini quiz [ "jay ranellucci" <jayran33@hotmail. ]
Golden Age of OTR fandom [ SanctumOTR@[removed] ]
20 Questions Confusion [ Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@erols ]
Re: Mini0Quiz [ SanctumOTR@[removed] ]
Re: Dragnet [ "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; ]
CBS is 75 [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
Re: ... 20 Questions ... [ "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed] ]
Van Deventer [ "rcg" <revrcg@[removed]; ]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 13:54:30 -0400
From: "Ryan Osentowski" <rosentowski@[removed];
To: "old time radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Lone Ranger questions
Hi all:
I have had a great time listening to a Lone Ranger tape set I purchased from
Radio Spirits about six months ago. These programs are from 1938 and star
Earle Grasar. I notice there is less gunplay in these shows and the Lone
Ranger uses his brains to outwit the criminals more often than his guns,
very much like his modern counterpart, the Green Hornet. Brace Beemre had
the best voice for the job, but Mr. Grasar could hold his own. However,
hearing these shows has inspired me to ask a few questions. I notice that
in some of the shows when we get to the curtain falling point, they used the
theme music from The Shadow as a bridge. Did they stop using this music
when The Shadow went on the air? Also, one episode features two characters
named Boliver and Hacksaw. I've heard these two characters in a later
episode with Beemre. Were they recurring characters? There was one actor
who appeared in almost every Grasar show and he had a very heavy, raspy,
gravely voice. He wasn't Paul Hughes because Hughes wasn't around there
yet, but he had a rough voice that was similar. Does anyone know who I'm
talking about? He also played Gunigan in the earlier Green Hornet shows.
The music in the Grasar shows seems to be the same musical themes used in
the later Beemre programs, but the arrangements seem different. Where did
they get the music for the earlier and later shows? In the Grasar years,
Tonto's horse is named White Feller. When did he change it to Scout and
what was the story behind it? How did the sound effects men produce the
sounds of horses in the programs? It can't be cocoanuts!
By the way, does anybody have the complete transition series from 1941 on
tape? If so, I'd be glad to buy copies or trade for them. Also, I'm
looking for Lone Ranger programs from 1946. If anyone has them, please
Email me privately.
Thanks.
RyanO
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:09:33 -0400
From: Ruk77@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: jump the shark
one show I would like to add to the 'Never Jumped the Shark' list is Molle
Mystery Theater. this to me is one of the best mystery shows ever and i wish
there were more availible. Must agree that on Phil Harriss when Elliott Lewis
couldn't play 'Remley' anymore was definately a jump the shark moment.
the Mysteriuos Traveller Jumped the shark when they went from live organ
music to Transcribed full orchestra. another show i wish there were more of.
what do you think is the most under rated OTR show?
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:10:07 -0400
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OTR: The Next Generation
If it's any consolation, I've been getting quite a lot of new members over
the past year who are commenting along the lines of "I'm only (20-35) years
old, but I love Jack Benny. I was introduced to him through (my parents,
seeing a special on him, a friend, stumbling upon a tape in the
store/library, etc.), and he's really funny."
There's a part of me that has to laugh at this, as I myself am 33. I was
decidedly "uncool" in high school, being into OTR and not interested in
"Flashdance" or Devo or Miami Vice or whatever the latest craze was. Now it
seems that some people of my vintage are coming around to my interests.
*casual shrug and knowing smile*
I wonder if the growing isolation of people and use of the Internet might
provide a vehicle for the continuation of OTR. You don't need to be in a
group to listen to OTR, you can do it while cocooning. The Internet puts so
much information at your fingertips, it is possible that the casual surfer
might encounter something on OTR at a greater rate than the casual consumer
found a Nostalgia Lane LP at their local retailer.
Someone stumbled across a clip of Jack working with Bob Hope on a recent
special, hit our Web site, and asked simply, "I've seen this little bit of
Jack Benny and thought he was great. Where should I start to learn more
about his work?" What a wonderful [removed] one that I've hardly gotten
because the people that come to the IJBFC generally already have some
knowledge of his work. And I envy them being able to discover his work for
the first time.
OTR will continue beyond the generation that heard it first hand, and
ironically, it will be the latest technology that makes it so.
--
Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:10:24 -0400
From: Ga6string@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: The World's Greatest Old Time Radio Shows
Rick Keating posted comments in reference to the offer from "The World's
Greatest Old Time Radio Shows." I got that offer, too, as many of us probably
did, but I wasn't interested because I probably have most of the shows they'd
be sending to me.
I did send them a note, though, to say that I -- and perhaps many others --
would be interested in the radio "cards" that apparently accompany the tapes,
if I could get them without having to join the club or buy the tapes. Haven't
heard anything in reply.
Bryan Powell
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:11:08 -0400
From: "Shawn A. Wells" <swells@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Twilight Zone Radio Shows
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/related
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was multipart/alternative
Greetings All!
I just received in my set of 'Collection 1' and 'Collection 2.' I am
really enjoying these. I have listened to the first episode and I plan
on 'tuning in' later tonight for one of my all-time favorite Twilight
Shows, "A Kind Of Stopwatch." Anyway, if you buy both sets you get a
pretty good discount. If you don't know, the website is
[removed] <[removed]; .
The Usual Disclaimer applies here: I am in no way associated with Falcon
Picture Group, etc, etc.
Shawn
[server removed an attachment of type image/jpeg which had a name of
[removed]]
*** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
*** as the sender intended. ***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:11:28 -0400
From: vigor16@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: what did the Waltons listen to?
Hi,
Couldn't help replying to this one.
The pilot, I thought, they listened to Fibber McGee and Molly, wrong
Christmas episode though, I believe.
On Dec. 8, 1941, they listened to FDR.
One episode, can't remember which one, they listened to Joe Lewis fight,
think it was "The fighter".
One episode has Olivia asking John boy if he wanted to listen to Lux
Radio theatre,
There was one where they listened to Bergan and McCarthy when they
encountered a deaf girl early in the run.
Wow: Did that ever tax my memory. I'm sure there are more, but may have
to search my Walton collection to find them.
Deric
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:12:27 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: The Waltons and OTR
On 9/18/02 2:22 PM OldRadio Mailing Lists wrote:
I haven't seen any of "The Waltons" repeats in ages, but I do know that in
the pilot--the TV movie "The Homecoming"--they listen to Bergen & McCarthy.
Later, in their parody of the show, MAD magazine did a gag in which one of
the Waltons' children proudly proclaims that it's the only thing they get on
their radio.
This was actually an obvious in-joke -- since Grandpa Walton was played
in "The Homecoming" by Edgar Bergen himself. However, the joke was
actually on the producers -- "The Homecoming" was set in the winter of
1933, and Bergen and McCarthy didn't make their first radio appearance
until the winter of 1936.
There were a couple of other radio mentions that I recall from "The
Waltons" -- in the episode in which John-Boy just happens to be in
Lakehurst NJ to see the Hindenburg explosion, one of his siblings later
mentions that they "heard all about it on the Blue network." In another
episode, the family finishes dinner and heads into the living room "to
listen to Amos 'n' Andy." However, no clips are heard -- although one of
the brothers can be seen furiously tuning the radio thru squeals of
static.
My grandparents used to sneer at "The Waltons," -- never failing to point
out that, compared to what they themselves had gone thru during the
Depression, the Walton family lived in luxury.
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:12:48 -0400
From: "Roby McHone" <otr_alaska@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: And now the news,
I recently started re-reading "And Now the News, 1945" by Robert W. Hobler.
It is a great book for history buffs, which I think most OTR people are. It
is written as if it were a short newscast for each day of the year 1945.
Each day starts off with the important events of the day (mostly war news)
and then goes on with radio programs that will be on that day or movie news
or notice of a sale at Macy's. Mr. Hobler made a good choice in picking
1945 because so many momentous events happened then,lots of important
battles and the surrender of both Germany and Japan.
I don't think the book is in print anymore, but you might check with Hal
Stone he may have access to some of them.
Roby McHone
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:12:55 -0400
From: "jay ranellucci" <jayran33@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: mini quiz
If I could "Put Something In The Pot, Boy", I'd say JACK KIRKWOOD.
Jay
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:13:51 -0400
From: SanctumOTR@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Golden Age of OTR fandom
In a message dated 9/18/02 1:15:47 PM, my friend Derek Tague writes:
<< then the 1970s were "the Golden Age of Radio Fandom." Consider this:
in the 70s, OTR-themed books were published by mainstream publishers instead
of scholarly houses like McFarland; OTR vets like Kate Smith, Jack Benny,
George Burns, Rudy Vallee, [removed] would show up on TV variety shows and be
receptively welcomed; "The CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"
reigned on syndicated radio; phonograph record companies like Radiola and Mark
56 were thriving by releasing OTR records; >>
***Yes, but Radiola and Mark 56's LPs were few and far between and usually
priced at around $[removed] for two half-hour shows, while Radio Spirits
collections are usually available at Sam's Club and Costco for 50¢ to 70¢ per
show. And they didn't come with my little historical booklets. Repeat 20
and 30 hour collections of a single radio series was unheard of (especially
dubbed directly off the original transcription discs like RSI's SUPERMAN
collections).
Similarly, 1970s OTR fans didn't have the benefit of the wonderful logs
prepared by people like Jay Hickerson, Terry Salomonson and the late Ray
Stanich or even my Shadow log until THE SHADOW SCRAPBOOK came out in 1979.
And they also didn't have books like Dave Holland's wonderful book on THE
LONE RANGER or the SUPERMAN radio scripts book published a year or so back
and available in major bookstores.
Yes, we had THE SHADOW comic book from DC (only 12 issues in the 1970s) but
we didn't have the wonderful hardcover collections of the SUPERMAN and BATMAN
and SPIRIT newspaper strips, nor the wonderful DC Archive editions of classic
comic books from the 1930s throu 1960s, nor hardcover runs of L'ILABNER or
the complete TERRY & THE PIRATES. Okay, that's not OTR but it's still
wonderful collections of nostalgia. --Anthony Tollin
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:15:24 -0400
From: Jack & Cathy French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 20 Questions Confusion
Lee Munsick writes:
Dunning agrees with me, as to the use of "only his last name on the air",
but says his first name was Fred, not Robert! The alias "Bobby McGuire" is
totally new to me, as is the real first name according to Philip Chavin's
posting. Dunning does also list Bobby McGuire as a panelist, as well as
Nancy Van Deventer (presumably the missus), which should have told me that
"Van" was not Deventer's first name. Could it be that Bobby McGuire was a
different person?
NOT! Lee is misquoting Dunning. In both "Tune In Yesterday" and "On The
Air", Dunning makes very clear the relationship of the panelists, and
how their names were modified so the radio audience would not know that
most of them were from the same family.
The usual panelists were Fred Van Deventer (father), Florence Van
Deventer (mother, who used her maiden name, Renard, on the program),
Nancy Van Deventer (daughter, age 16, seldom on the show), Robert (or
Bobby) Van Deventer (son, who used his maternal grandmother's name,
McGuire.)
So Bill Slater the announcer, would introduce the panel: "Fred Van
Deventer, Florence Renard, Bobby McGuire, and Herb Polesie" . Polesie,
a close friend of the Van Deveners, and the producer of the show, was
the only non-family member on the panel.
Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:15:45 -0400
From: SanctumOTR@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Mini0Quiz
In a message dated 9/18/02 1:15:47 PM, Philip Chavin writes:
OK, the quiz: What zany, deep-voiced comedian starred in several OTR
***Sounds like Jack Kirkwood to me. "Put some money in the pot, boy."***
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:23:14 -0400
From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Dragnet
Harry Bartell answered a question about DRAGNET rehearsals:
The no-rehearsal syndrome did not happen often <snip>. If it did occur,
actors never knew there would be no rehearsal.
Wait a minute, Harry! Four years ago, when I asked you about doing the
radio show, you told me, quote: "Rehearsals were practically non-existent.
You sat around and drank coffee and talked, and then you did the show."
So who should I believe: you, or you? ;-)
Seriously, please keep those columns coming - wonderful reading!
Michael
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:23:31 -0400
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: CBS is 75
Extracts from the September 1927 issue of Radio Digest:
"COLUMBIA SYSTEM READY TO GO -- MAJ. WHITE ASSEMBLES PERSONELL
"Beginning Sunday afternoon September 18, the competitive element in
nation-wide broadcasting enters by way of the 16 carefully selected high
powered radio stations included in the Columbia Broadcasting System's
network, which covers the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.
"In spite of the fact that this is still a day of pioneering in Radio,
the new Columbia chain enters as a lusty full strided youth, and a well
manned organization, and a wealth of musical and entertainment experience
as a background.
"JUDSON TAKES CHARGE
"The musical experience and resources of Arthur Judson, outstanding
American musical impresario, and who has charge of the musical end of all
Columbia chain programs, has made itself felt. Mr. Judson, who has a
lifetime contract with Maurice Van Praag, said to be one of the finest,
if not the finest judge of musical talent in the world, instructed Van
Praag to assemble a Radio symphony orchestra which would include
twenty-two soloists and which would set a new standard in musical
excellence for orchestras of this [removed]
"To direct this orchestra, Howard Barlow, brilliant young American
conductor and composer, and a particularly brilliant musical arranger,
was selected.
"DON VOORHEES CONDUCTS SPECIALTIES
"Don Voorhees, who has the record for the longest unbroken orchestra run
on Broadway, and who has been musical director for Earl Carroll since the
second edition of the Earl Carroll Vanities, has been put in charge of a
dance and specialty orchestra.
"Red Nichols, popular for his phonograph record and Radio work, heads a
specialty musical group.
"Chamber music groups, a string quartet, and several dance orchestra
units are included in a list that already totals 80 musicians and groups
under exclusive contract.
"The signing of these artists and organizations represents an innovation
in the field of nation-wide radio broadcasting as a result of the
Columbia chain's policy, which sells not only the chain over which the
program is broadcast byt also the program itself, together with an
adequate staff of Radio showmen, continuity writers, directors and
technical experts, to insure that the programs will justify the slogan
which the Columbia chain has set for itself. The slogan is: "Always
entertainment on every Columbia hour." [Note -- there were no dramatic or
comedy programs on the schedule.]
"Major J. Andrew White, dean of broadcasters and builder of the first
Radio station designed to furnish free entertainment to Radio set owners,
as Vice-President of the Columbia chain brings to the Columbia network an
experience dating back into Radio's very earliest days, and brings also
his pioneering spirit which has in the past been responsible for so many
of the forms of Radio entertainment so popular today.
"MYSTERY ANNOUNCER
"A new personality will make its debut before the millions of Radio's
audience with the opening program in the person of a man whose identity
will be concealed behind a black mask and who will be known only as The
Voice of Columbia.
"The Voice of Columbia is a discovery of Major White's. Fooling around
with an indoor microphone one evening, this man, who happens to hold a
high place in the commercial world, began broadcasting. A few experiments
followed, and the Major decided that this nimble wit and affable voice
would simply have to go on the air. [Note -- the mystery-man gimmick was
quickly dropped, and the "Voice of Columbia" became simply Frank Knight.]
"FIVE STUDIOS READY SOON
"Work has progressed to the finishing stages in the three new indoor and
two outdoor studios for WOR, which is the key station to be used by the
new Columbia chain. [Note -- these studios were still uncompleted at the
time of the initial CBS broadcast, and in fact network master control ran
from a makeshift control facility set up in the WOR men's room.]
"No announcement as to the sponsors of the programs have yet been made,
except in the case of the Columbia Phonograph company, which will have
the hour between 9 and 10 o'clock each Wednesday evening. [Note -- there
*were* no other sponsors willing to buy CBS time until early 1928, and
this nearly sank the network before it could get established.]
"The list of stations in the new chain are WOR New York; WEAN,
Providence; WNAC, Buffalo; WFBL, Syracuse; WMAK Buffalo; WCAU,
Philadelphia; WJAS, Pittsburgh; WADC, Akron; WAIU, Columbus; WKRC,
Cincinnati; WGHP, Detroit; WMAQ, Chicago; KMOX, St. Louis; WCAO,
Baltimore; KOIL, Council Bluffs; WOWO, Ft. Wayne."
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 17:23:45 -0400
From: "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: ... 20 Questions ...
In #362 Lee Munsick requested clarity re indentifying the panelists on
the OTR series 'Twenty Questions'. They were (to about 1949, anyway): Fred
VanDeventer (also a newscaster; sometimes referred to as "Van"); his wife
Florence ("Rinard" - maiden name) VanDeventer; their son Robert ("Bobby
McGuire") VanDeventer (McGuire being the name of his maternal grandmother, I
understand); their daughter Nancy (on the show occasionally); and Herb
Polesie (directed 'It Pays to Be Ignorant', by the way).
Robert VanDeventer, known on the show as Bobby McGuire, will be a guest
speaker at the FOTR convention next month, as I posted recently.
-- Phil C.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 18:51:40 -0400
From: "rcg" <revrcg@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Van Deventer
There seems to be quite a mix-up in regards to the Van Deventer's on the
"Twenty Questions" program. Let's clear it up.
There were four regular panelists on each show in addition to one guest
panelist each week. Of the four regulars, three of them were Van Deventer's.
Fred was the husband of Florence Rinard. Fred and Florence were the parents
of Bobby, who used the last name of McGuire on the show. But all three,
Fred, Florence, and Bobby were, in fact, Van Deventer's. This is only a
guess but, perhaps the reason that Florence used her Maiden name and Bobby
used a totally fictitious name was to keep the program from sounding like
what, in fact, it was, namely, an almost all Van Deventer vehicle.
In addition to being the owner of the "Twenty Questions" show and one of the
program's panelists, Fred was also a newsman for Mutual and had, for several
years, a fifteen minute, Sunday afternoon news and commentary program that
aired somewhere around 1:15 PM ET.
The fourth panelist was a real nice guy, Herb Polaise, who was also pretty
good at comedy adlibs. The host for most of the programs' run was the old
sports announcer, Bill Slater. The program was sponsored for many years by
Ronson lighters.
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #363
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