Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #401
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 12/30/2005 3:35 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2005 : Issue 401
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  NYT Article Mentions Gotham Players!  [ seandd@[removed] ]
  Amos and Andy Dates                   [ george aust <austhaus1@[removed]; ]
  RE: A&A and Ray Kroc and WEBH         [ "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed] ]
  Benny stamp                           [ "Linda T." <nemesis@[removed]; ]
  Page Drop Reference                   [ Henry Howard <audiotheater@spamcop. ]
  Books on "The Goldbergs"              [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
  Joy Davidman                          [ JayHick@[removed] ]
  Books on "The Goldbergs"              [ James Meadows <walthamus@[removed]; ]
  Bobby Benson had Eight Voices         [ jack and cathy french <otrpiano@ver ]
  12-30 births/deaths                   [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  The Phantom on OTR                    [ "Roger Keel" <rlkeel@[removed]; ]
  Mr. Holland's opus                    [ "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 17:12:22 -0500
From: seandd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  NYT Article Mentions Gotham Players!

This is an article on modern radio drama, and as such is off topic, but it
does mention digester Steven M. Lewis' Gotham Radio Players as an outstanding
group of moder radio actors, so I think Charlie will let it pass.

Actually a lot of people on this list or whom we have met at FOTR over the
years are mentioned in here.

Dramtic radio can never come back to what it was - but it's nice to see so
many groups succeeding at making it something for now.

Hat tip to non-digester and Gotham Player Melissa Kalt for noticing this
story as I had missed it.

Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]

[removed]

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

Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 17:13:25 -0500
From: george aust <austhaus1@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Amos and Andy Dates

Elizabeth Posted

8/9/37 -- Amos, Andy, and the Kingfish are on a road trip to Maine. I own
the original Electro-Vox disc for this program. The First Generation
Radio Archives has a transfer done before I acquired the transcription,
and will presumably be released by them at some point.

I have a Radiola cassette which lists a show with guest Walter Huston, but it
is dated 8/9/36. Is this the same show with a wrong date?

also

4/3/39 -- First CBS program. Disc in the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters
collection. Released on LP by Goldin in 1982.

I have a cassette also on Radiola entitled "The Marriage Of Andy Brown" that
is dated 4/1/39. Is this show the same as above but with a wrong date?
I have no reason to doubt Elizabeth of course, but I just want to clear up
any wrong dates that I have.

Thanks
George Aust

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

Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 17:15:12 -0500
From: "Druian, Raymond B SPL" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  RE: A&A and Ray Kroc and WEBH

 In its latterday years, WEBH was a small station at the Edgewater Beach
Hotel in Chicago, until the permanent residents were given about two hours to
move out when the hotel was sold to a developer who was to tear it down and
replace it with high-rise apartments. Do any of you folks know it that's
where the station was from the beginning? I know that toward the end, the
only time that I listened in, it concentrated on ethnic programming.

Thanx,

One-Eyed B. Ray

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

Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 21:14:10 -0500
From: "Linda T." <nemesis@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Benny stamp

Even our Bakersfield Californian has finally discovered the stamp.

Linda T.

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

Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 21:15:37 -0500
From: Henry Howard <audiotheater@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Page Drop Reference

Not to start the whole discussion over, but listening to the BBC
program "Based On The Book"

[removed][removed]
[removed]

Brian Johnson  (studio manager) remembers a certain actress dropping
her entire script into the collection of individual pages dropped by each cast
member as they read through the script.

Without having to do a west coast feed, I could see this more likely
at the Beeb.

Interesting 56 minute program about serials of classic books and the
development as program material.

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

Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 21:16:00 -0500
From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Books on "The Goldbergs"

David if you go to

[removed]

and type in "Gertrude Berg" in the box for author you'll find out about how
you can buy used copies of Berg's 1961 autobiography MOLLY AND ME (some very
cheap); a scarcer and more expensive 1931 book called THE RISE OF THE
GOLDBERGS that is apparantly a novelization of the radio scripts and even
something called THE MOLLY GOLDBERG JEWISH COOKBOOK.  I've never read any of
these books, so I can't comment on them.

Best,
George

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

Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 21:18:54 -0500
From: JayHick@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Joy Davidman

Dear Mr. Hickerson,

Your name and email address were given to me by Karen J. Fishman, of the
Library of Congress.  (See below) I have forwarded to you my initial email
query to her, and her response.  I am desperate to find this sound recording
and hope that, if it still exists, you might help me locate it.
I am also looking for other recording that feature Joy Davidman.  She was a
poet and communist in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and participated in
many readings and symposiums in New York City -- some of which were at Town
Hall.  I have dates of only a couple of these events.  I am unschooled in
searching for old sound recordings -- do you have any suggestions, or can
you point me in the right direction?

I have been researching the life of Joy Davidman for several years, and have
developed that unique intimacy between biographer and subject; yet, while I
know Joy so well, I have never heard her voice.  Any voice recording would
be invaluable.

Thank you, and Happy New Year.

Best,

Abby Santamaria

- --------- Forwarded message ----------

From: rsrc@[removed] <rsrc@[removed];
Date: Dec 28, 2005 11:19 AM
Subject: Library Question - Answer [Question #1225770]
To: [removed]@[removed]

Hello Abby Santamaria

Question History:

Patron: Dear Librarian,

I am hoping you might help me find an old recording.  The following editor's
letter was printed, along with a photo, in the November, 1943, issue of
Click Magazine:

"Smart, these CLICK folks!  Bill Gresham of your editorial staff came over
to WOR-Mutual with his wife the other night and carried off the cash and
honors on 'The Better Half,' the quiz show I ride herd on.  When the studio
cameraman snapped our pictures my head was still in a whirl from hearing
Bill beat out the answers.  And his better half was right in there pitching
too.  Tom Slater, Mutual Broadcasting System, New York City."

This is all the information I have to go on.  I do not have the date of the
broadcast, but assume it would have been between June and October, 1943.
I am working on a biography of Joy Davidman (Gresham), Bill's "better
half."   (Bill is the writer "William Lindsay Gresham.")   Your help in
finding a recording of this quiz show would be deeply appreciated.

Best,

Abby Santamaria <[removed]@[removed];

_ __________________________________________

Librarian 1: This email is in response to your request for information
concerning an audio recording of "The Better Half" featuring Bill Gresham
and Joy Davidman Greshman.

The Library has many recordings from "The Better Half" in its WOR
Collection, but unfortunately, only one from 1943 and that is dated January
11.  We do though have many recordings from 1942, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947 and
1948.

As you know, "The Better Half" was broadcast on the Mutual network from 1942
until 1950.

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

Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 21:30:46 -0500
From: James Meadows <walthamus@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Books on "The Goldbergs"

"Can anyone tell me if any books have been written on
"The Goldbergs"?"

   I used to have a copy of a memoir by Molly Berg,
which I regret having let go. A quick look at
[removed] shows two books by Molly Berg --- "Molly
and Me", and "The Rise of the Goldberg". Also a Molly
Goldberg cookbook. The volumes may be out of print,
but there seem to be used copies for sale.

-- Jim Meadows

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

Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 21:31:47 -0500
From: jack and cathy french <otrpiano@[removed];
To: OTRBB <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Bobby Benson had Eight Voices

Even big fans of "The Cowboy Kid" are probably unaware that eight
different kids played him on the air. I'd like to set out the data we
know about these "Bobby Benson's" and see if it will encourage
researchers to help us track down the missing three. In setting forth
this info, I've credited some of the OTR researchers who have already
helped me regarding some of these radio performers.

#1)  Richard Wanamaker.  When the series debuted on WGR, the CBS
affiliate in Buffalo, NY in November 1932 under the title "H-Bar-O
Rangers." a 11 year old boy, who had been active in local radio, got
the lead. He was on all 78 episodes, airing 3 times weekly until March
1933.  Wanamaker continued his radio and stage work through college,
getting a drama degree from Ithica College. Unable to find work as an
actor, he went into retail business in the Buffalo area. At the age of
41, he died in 1961 of complications from abdominal surgery.
(Thanks to Jerry Collins of Lancaster, NY)

#2)  Billy Halop.  In fall of 1933, CBS moved the production to New
York City where radio actor Billy Halop was cast as "Bobby," and his
sister, Florence, got the role of "Polly." He was the lead in over 600
shows, usually 5 times a week, until he got a role in the Broadway show
"Dead End" and he left the radio cast to join stage rehearsals in fall
of 1935.  After about a year on Broadway, many of the cast were brought
to Hollywood to film the "Dead End" movie. Halop made a lot of B
movies, usually with the same gang of tough kids. When he died in
November 1976 at the age of 56, he was living in relative obscurity.

#3)  Unknown Los Angeles actor.  The popularity of the series on CBS
necessitated a second production on the West Coast. CBS, in connection
with the Don Lee Network, set up production in Los Angeles, where their
cast used the same scripts that were being aired in NYC.  It is not
known how long this arrangement continued, but it was at least through
the 1933-34 season.
(Thanks to Jim Jones of Utah)

#4)  Unknown NYC actor:  Although Billy Halop left the radio series for
Broadway, the radio show continued on CBS in New York until December
1936.  So someone else was playing "Bobby Benson" for the last 15
months it was on CBS. Like the LA actor who had the role, his identity
has not yet been discovered.

NOTE:  Of the more than 700 episodes aired, no audio copies have ever
been found, although two scripts are available.

#5)  Ivan Cury.  In June 1949 the series was resurrected on Mutual
under the title of "Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders."  Cury, who
was born in June 1937, had plenty of radio experience when he won the
lead. He played the role on both radio and a local TV show until his
parents objected to all the unpaid personal appearance tours. He left
the series, probably about the summer of 1951, and found better paying
jobs, including the son on "Portia Faces Life."  He stayed in the
broadcast business in his adult life, doing TV production in LA and
teaching communications in college. Ivan has attended both FOTR
convention and the SPERDVAC one.

#6)  Bobby McKnight:  To take the load off Ivan on the personal
appearances as "Bobby", Mutual found a young boy singer, Bobby
McKnight. His most extensive appearance tour was 14 countries in Europe
in the spring of 1951. When Ivan left the series, McKnight took over at
the mike also.  However within a few months, his voice started to lower
into maturity, so a replacement was quickly found. Since McKnight was
about the same age as Ivan, one can assume he's still alive and well.
If so, no one has located him yet, and I've spent years trying.

#7)  Clive Rice.  A native of Surrey, England, Rice was born in January
1941.  Under his professional name of "Clyde Campbell" he took over the
role of The Cowboy Kid from McKnight, probably in the fall of 1951 and
held the role until the radio version went off the air in June 1955. He
was also on a local TV version. After HS, he had a long Navy career and
is now retired in Roanoke, VA.  He's attended OTR conventions in Newark
and Cincinnati.

#8)  Rosemary Rice.  (No, that's not a misprint)  The older sister of
Clive Rice (no relation to OTR star Rosemary Rice) she occasionally
came with him from Stamford, CT to do his show in Manhattan. On one
occasion, Clive developed a severe nose bleed minutes before the show
was to go out live. She grabbed his script, joined the surprised cast
at the mike, and delivered his lines until he got over the nosebleed.
It was the only known time a girl played "Bobby Benson."

Jack French
Editor: RADIO RECALL

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

Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 23:11:23 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  12-30 births/deaths

December 30th births

12-30-1884 - Hideki Tojo - Tokyo, Japan - d. 12-23-1948
prime minister: War Time Broadcasts
12-30-1885 - Ed Jerome - New York, NY - d. 9-10-1959
actor: Harry Blackstone "Blackstone, the Magic Detective"; Gregory
Allen "Rich Man's Darling"
12-30-1894 - Vincent Lopez - Brooklyn, NY - d. 9-20-1975
bandleader: "Luncheon with Lopez"
12-30-1899 - Michael Raffetto - Placerville, CA - d. 5-31-1990
actor: Paul Barbour "One Man's Family"; Jack Packard "I Love A
Mystery/Adventure"
12-30-1900 - Everett Marshall - Lawrence, MA - d. 4-xx-1965
singer: "Broadway Vanities/Varieties"
12-30-1903 - Owen Crump - d. 2-13-1998
producer: " The Grouch Club"
12-30-1911 - Jeanette Nolan - Los Angeles, CA - d. 6-5-1998
actress: Nicolette Moore "One Man's Family"; Mrs. Hudson "Advs. of
Sherlock Holmes"
12-30-1912 - Hugh Griffith - Marianglas, Anglesey, North Wales - d.
5-14-1980
actor: "Under Milk Wood"
12-30-1912 - Nancy Coleman - Everett, WA - d. 1-18-2000
actress: Alice Hughes "Young Dr. Malone"
12-30-1914 - Bert Parks - Atlanta, GA - d. 2-2-1992
emcee, announcer: "Break the Bank"; "Stop the Music"; "Double or
Nothing"
12-30-1922 - Bert Holland - d. 3-8-1980
actor: Emmett "Shorty Bell"
12-30-1927 - Bernie Barrow - New York, NY - d. 8-4-1993
actor: "Golden Door"
12-30-1931 - Skeeter Davis - Dry Ridge, KY - d. 9-19-2004
country/western singer: "Grand Old Opry"
12-30-1936 - Sandy Koufax - Brooklyn, NY
baseball legend: "Tops In Sports"

December 30th deaths

05-23-1910 - Artie Shaw - New York, NY - d. 12-30-2004
bandleader: "Melody and Madness"; "George Burns and Gracie Allen Show"
06-28-1902 - Richard Rodgers - Long Island, NY - d. 12-30-1979
composer: "ASCAP On Parade"; "Jumbo Fire Chief Program"; "Chase and
Sanborn Hour"
08-22-1909 - Julius J. Epstein - New York, NY - d. 12-30-2000
screenwriter: "Lux Radio Theatre"
09-26-1894 - Glenn Hunter - New York, NY - d. 12-30-1945
actor: "Roses and Drums"
09-28-1906 - Jack Meakin - Salt Lake City, UT - d. 12-30-1982
music: "Abbott and Cosetello Show"; "Great Gildersleeve"; "Honest
Harold"
11-18-1900 - Don Quinn - Grand Rapids, MI - d. 12-30-1967
writer: "Fibber McGee and Molly"; "Halls of Ivy"
12-07-1905 - Charles Magnante - d. 12-30-1986
accordionist: "Major Bowes Capitol Family"; "Singin' Sam"; "Tony and
Gus"
12-14-1934 - Johnny Moore - d. 12-30-1998
lead singer: (Member of The Drifters) "Camel Rock and Roll Party"
12-24-1881 - Charles Wakefield Cadman - Johnston, PA - d. 12-30-1946
Composed "At Dawning," used as theme for "The Brighter Day."
12-28-1908 - Lew Ayres - Minneapolis, MN - d. 12-30-1996
actor: Dr. James Kildare "Dr. Kildare"
xx-xx-1901 - Leslie Arliss - London, England - d. 12-30-1987
actor: "CBS Radio Mystery Theatre"

Ron Sayles

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

Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 14:59:23 -0500
From: "Roger Keel" <rlkeel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  The Phantom on OTR

Hi.

As a first time poster to this digest, I want to thank each and everyone for
the information that I have gotten on OTR.

I have been a fan of OTR for about 20 years and have gathered a fair sized
collection.

I have a question that I hope someone can help me with.

I know and have copies of Little Orphan Annie, Superman, Jungle Jim, Flash
Gordon and the rest of the OTR shows based on comic strips, was there ever
an OTR show featuring The Phantom?

Have a Happy New Year

Roger Keel

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

Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 17:33:46 -0500
From: "Derek Tague" <derek@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Mr. Holland's opus
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

Hi Gang:

I was deeply saddened when "Lone Ranger" authority Jim Nixon posted here about
the recent passing of LR historian Dave Holland

 Dave was the author of "From Out of the Past: A Pictorial History of The
Lone Ranger" and
one of the foremost authorities on the history of the character on radio and
TV.

Although I had never met Mr. Holland, I do treasure his callipygian
oblong-shaped Ranger book (think about one-third the size of the current
"Calvin & Hobbes" collection). From my vantage, Jim Nixon had the utmost
respect for Dave Holland. In 2000, while I was doing some prep-work for a
panel Jim & I hosted at FOTR called "A Humorous Look at The Lone Ranger," I
had asked Jim point-blank if he was the world's leading historian/authority on
the Masked Man. Jim humbly deferred to both Dave Holland AND Terry Salomonsen
in this accord.

When I introduced Jim at the start of an irreverent survey of LR parodies
(don't fret, folks, we conspicuously  left Lenny Bruce's "Thank You, Masked
Man" out), I used an equally irreverent introduction, "This gentleman may not
be the world's leading authority on the Lone Ranger--but he ain't '4' or '5'
either."

So remember, folks, we here at the Digest have lotsa other LR historians--the
aforementioned Nixon and Salomonsen, as well as Dave Parker and Anthony
Tollin--all-too-willing to keep Dave Holland's legacy alive.

Hi-ho, Ether!

Derek Tague

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End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #401
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