Subject: [removed] Digest V2004 #401
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 12/20/2004 12:03 PM

To: [removed]@[removed]

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2004 : Issue 401
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                 [removed]
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Copyrighted Sounds and OTR Movies     [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      12-20 births/deaths                   [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Claude Rains answer                   [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      CLAUDE RAINS MOVIE                    [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
      Christmas OTR                         [ "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed] ]
      Radio Guides                          [ JayHick@[removed] ]
      Sgt. Preston records                  [ "Jim Harmon" <jimharmonotr@charter. ]
      Barrymore as Scrooge                  [ <adf3@[removed]; ]
      Plot re bad, bad broadcaster's alibi  [ Philip Chavin <pchavin@[removed]; ]
      WEAF in 1920?????                     [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
      Claude Rains OTR Movie                [ "Philip Railsback" <philiprailsback ]
      Favoirte Christmas Program            [ "Randall F. Miller Jr." <rfmillerjr ]
      Fiction about Radio                   [ Bhob <bhob2@[removed]; ]
      The Clock Radio Series                [ Trinapreston3@[removed] ]
      War of the Worlds                     [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]

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

    Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:02:18 -0500
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Copyrighted Sounds and OTR Movies

    Rodney Bowcock is correct in stating that the only two "sounds" ever
    registed with a copyright by the [removed] Copyright Office in [removed] is indeed the
    NBC Chimes and the Creaking Door.  How they were copyrighted, however, is
    another subject all together.

    Rodney also commented:

>     To be safe, I'd double-check any information that you get from Nachman's
>     book, as it has an abnormal amout of errors.

    I second the motion.

    Lastly, Rodney also recommend:

>     I recommend the Abbott and Costello film "Who Done It".  Not only does it
>     take place in a radio studio, but it's one of their funniest films, and you
>     get to see one of the few film appearances of Walter Tetley.

    Definately one of their best and highly enjoyable.

    Martin Grams, Jr.
    [removed]

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

    Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:02:29 -0500
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  12-20 births/deaths

    December 20th births

    12-20-1889 - Ernest La Prade - Memphis, TN - d. 4-20-1969
    conductor: "Collier's Hour"; "Orchestra of the Nation"
    12-20-1898 - Irene Dunne - Louisville, KY - d. 9-4-1990
    actress: Susan Armstrong "Bright Star"; "Family Theatre"; "Hallmark Hall of
    Fame"
    12-20-1900 - Ted Fio Rito - Newark, NJ - d. 7-22-1971
    bandleader: "Presenting Al Jolson"; "Wonder Show"; "Jack Haley Show"
    12-20-1905 - Albert Dekker - Brooklyn, NY - d. 5-5-1968
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    12-20-1906 - Marion Talley - Nevada, MO - d. 1-3-1983
    singer: "Ry-Krisp Presents Marion Talley"
    12-20-1907 - Al Rinker - Tekoa, WA - d. 6-11-1982
    singer (member of The Rhythm Boys) "Paul Whiteman Presents"
    12-20-1918 - Audrey Totter - Joliet, IL
    actress: Millie Bronson "Meet Millie"; Bonnie "Bright Horizon"
    12-20-1923 - Charita Bauer - Newark, NJ - d. 2-28-1985
    actress: Mary Aldrich, "Aldrich Family"; Bert Bauer, "The Guiding Light"
    12-20-1931 - Mala Powers - San Francisco, CA
    actress: "Stars Over Hollywood"

    December 20th deaths

    01-28-1887 - Artur Rubinstein - Lodz, Poland - d. 12-20-1982
    pianist: "Music America Loves Best"; "Telephone Hour"; "Concert Hall"
    02-27-1902 - John Steinbeck - Salinas, CA - d. 12-20-1968
    novelist: "Radio Hall of Fame"; "Lux Radio Theatre"; "Screen Director's
    Playhouse"
    05-09-1914 - Hank Snow - Liverpool, Novia Scotia, Canada - d. 12-20-1999
    country singer: "Grand Ole Opry"
    05-11-1912 - Foster Brooks - Louisville, KY - d. 12-20-2001
    disc jockey: "Foster Brooks Show"; "Melody, Inc."; "Million Dollar Ballroom"
    05-14-1936 - Bobby Darin - NYC - d. 12-20-1973
    singer: "The Bobby Darin Show"; "Cancer Crusade"; "Vocies of Vista"
    06-12-1914 - William Lundigan - Syracuse, NY - d. 12-20-1975
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"; announcer in early radio
    07-21-1863 - C. Aubrey Smith - London, England - d. 12-20-1948
    actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
    08-15-1901 - Ned Washington - Scranton, PA - d. 12-20-1976
    songwriter: "Dick Aurandt Show"
    09-09-1900 - James Hilton - Leigh, Lancashire, England - d. 12-20-1954
    host: "Hallmark Hall of Fame/Hallmark Playhouse"; "Ceiling Unlimited"
    10-24-1904 - Moss Hart - The Bronx, NY - d. 12-20-1961
    panelist: "Who Said That?"
    --
    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

    Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:03:05 -0500
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Claude Rains answer

    Philip Railsback asked:

>     I have in my mind a movie I saw on the late show when I was kid.  It starred
>     Claude Rains.  He played a radio performer or DJ who uses his radio job as
>     an alibi for murder.  I cannot remember the name of the movie and can't find
>     it on the internet.  Anybody else remember this? I do remember that I liked
>     it quite a bit, but other than an image of Rains climbing out a window to
>     committ a murder while a record plays, that's about
>     all I do remember.  And that last part may be completely wrong.

    I believe Philip's memory consists of two mediums altogether.  Rains was
    only featured in one murder movie concerning a radio station and that was
    THE UNSUSPECTED.  Though the plot he is referring to isn't the same plot.

    However, Episode #385 of THE WHISTLER was broadcast on September 11, 1946
    entitled "Brief Pause for Murder" (one of the few episodes of the series
    that exist in collector's circulation but not in great superb sound
    quality).  The story dealt with a radio host who uses his live evening
    program as a method to establish an alibi.  Ensuring his alibi, he informed
    the local police that he was going to do something special for them, and
    then that afternoon pre-recorded his show in the studio.  Later that
    evening, he started the record, without leaving any evidence that the show
    was pre-recorded, crawled out the window and down the street, caught up to
    his wife (she was alone in the house listening to his show and of course was
    shocked to see him there in person).  He strangled her to death and just as
    he completed his task, he hears very clearly his own voice over the radio
    speaker and the record apparently hits a skip . . . hits a skip . . . hits a
    skip . . .

    I believe Philip is recalling both the movie (Claude Rains) and the Whistler
    (plot) as one feature.
    Martin Grams, Jr.

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

    Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:03:32 -0500
    From: PURKASZ@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  CLAUDE RAINS MOVIE
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    In a message dated 12/18/2004 12:15:19 PM Eastern Standard Time,
    [removed]@[removed] writes:
    Philip Railsback writes

>     I have in my mind a movie I saw on the late show when I was kid.  It
>     starred
>     Claude Rains.  He played a radio performer or DJ who uses his radio job as
>     an alibi for murder.  I cannot remember the name of the movie and can't
>     find
>     it on the internet.  Anybody else remember this?

        I remember it very well.
        A nice little gem called, "The Unsuspected" from 1947. Also folks, don't
    forget the Edward G. Robinson sleeper called, "The Glass Web" which also has a
    radio backdrop.
        If I've missed any please let me know.
                Michael C. Gwynne

      *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
      ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

    Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:05:12 -0500
    From: "Andrew Godfrey" <niteowl049@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Christmas OTR

      The Truth or Consequence Christmas show mentioned about the veteran being
    reunited with his friends in Tennessee and then having his dad, mom and
    girlfriend meeting him in person at the VA hospital in Long Beach,
    California really was an inspiration to me. It was reality radio at its best
    as it made Christmas more special than ever after listening to this show.
    Andrew Godfrey

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

    Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:05:21 -0500
    From: JayHick@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Radio Guides

    I am down to 87 Radio Guides from 1934 - 1943 and 23 Radio Mirrors from 1936
    - 1960.  I also have Stand By, The Prairie Farmer's Radio Weekly (most issues
    from 6/29/35 - 1/30/37).  Let me know if you interested in some or all.  Jay
    Hickerson

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

    Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:05:45 -0500
    From: "Jim Harmon" <jimharmonotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Sgt. Preston records
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    Hello -- I sent for the complete set of 4 Sgt. Preston records when Quaker
    offered them in 1952, and I still have them.  The three records of dramatic
    vignettes are as Paul Urbahns describes them.  The fourth bonus record has the
    music for Preston's theme with words added, sung by a vocal group, a quartet,
    I presume.   The obverse has a national song of Canada, "The Mapleleaf
    Forever" by the same group.
        I even recall the lyrics to the "Challenge of the Yukon" song.   Without
    trying that by now scratchy old record, and realizing I may be off a word or
    two, it went something like this: "Snowflakes are falling, adventure is
    calling, the Yukon is Deep in Snow.  Gold-seekers weary, from days long and
    dreary now rest by the campfire's glow.  (Something, something) ... who would
    steal a man's gold. Then through the night, as in days of old, there comes a
    cry to challenge the bandits bold. ON, KING!  (Something, something) ... with
    faithful King, he'll fight for you, and help you meet the Challenge of the
    Yukon.  For only when you are a man among men, does the Yukon welcome you!"
        These records were actually the start of my radio collection, the first
    old time radio show I had in recorded form.  Earlier I had some record albums
    similar to dramatic radio, but not actual broadcasts.  As a boy, I bought
    Errol Flynn in "The Three Musketeers" record album, and another one of
    "Treasure Island" with Basil Rathbone.   The closest to radio was Lionel
    Barrymore in "A Christmas Carroll" but this was a special version for records,
    not from radio.   The Lone Ranger records came out slightly before the Sgt.
    Preston ones.   I saw them in a record store window but I had assumed they
    were full length albums on that newfangled 33 1/3 RPM for which I did not have
    a player, and whose price I couldn't pay.  I was just a kid.  So it wasn't
    until years later I caught up with the Lone Ranger records.
        All the kid shows went off even before the last few night-time shows on
    radio, and I played those Sgt. Preston records many times, wishing I had
    similar records of Tom Mix, Jack Armstrong and many others.   It would be many
    years before that came to pass.
        Over fifty years since beginning my radio collection, I have just now in
    2004 obtained through
    Karl Schadow and Jack French script adaptations of one of my last missing
    favorites, the eerie "Peter Quill".   There are no known recordings of the
    show even yet, but these episodes in story form are close.  Those Preston
    records weren't complete shows, either, but still pretty darn nice.
        -- Jim Harmon

      *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
      ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

    Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:06:03 -0500
    From: <adf3@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Barrymore as Scrooge

    This may be slightly off topic, but I have always been curious as to why MGM
    cast Reginald Owen as scrooge in their 1938 film version of "A Christmas
    Carol" instead of Lionel Barrymore who was under contract to the studio.
    Did Barrymore ever portray Scrooge on film or television?

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

    Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:06:27 -0500
    From: Philip Chavin <pchavin@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Plot re bad, bad broadcaster's alibi

       There've been some postings re a plot in movies and
    on OTR in which a radio broadcaster commits murder and
    uses his radio show performance as an alibi.  This
    plot was also used on The Whistler radio show several
    times (for example, in Sept.'46 and, apparently, in
    Sept.'49).  Called "Brief Pause for Murder", I think
    it went something like this:  A radio newscaster gets
    a recording made and has his ex-con engineer play it
    on the live broadcast, making it sound as tho the
    newscaster was broadcasting live, as usual. During the
    recording's playback the newscaster drives home and
    strangles his wife.

      -- Phil C.

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

    Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:35:19 -0500
    From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  WEAF in 1920?????

>     12/20, 1920 - WEAF, in New York City, aired the first broadcast
>     of a prize fight from ringside.

    This would be impossible because WEAF did not go on the air until 1922.

    Michael Biel   mbiel@[removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 00:27:53 -0500
    From: "Philip Railsback" <philiprailsback@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Claude Rains OTR Movie

>     You may be thinking of "The Falcon's Alibi" with Tom Conway from 1946.  The
>     disc jockey who uses a pre-recorded show as an alibi is played by Elisha
>     Cook, Jr.

    Sounds like these movies got mixed up in my brain decades ago. I'll have to
    see them again to disentangle them.

      - Philip

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

    Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 09:12:30 -0500
    From: "Randall F. Miller Jr." <rfmillerjr1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Favoirte Christmas Program

    For me it is not Christmas until I hear the Dragnet episode The Big Baby
    Jesus.  Jack Webb, and Harry Bartell in the same episode, and a great story
    too.
    Happy Holidays
    --Randy Miller
    Senior Engineer WITF-TV/FM/Radio PA

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

    Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 09:13:24 -0500
    From: Bhob <bhob2@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Fiction about Radio

>     good fiction books or movies that those of you on the list would
>     recommend where OTR plays a significant role?

    Selected Bibliography/Filmography:

    Anderson, Edward. THIEVES LIKE US. Frederick A. Stokes, 1937. Following
    the 1930s exploits of Mississippi bank robbers, Anderson's novel was
    first adapted for Nicholas Ray's noir classic THEY LIVE BY NIGHT (1949).
    Robert Altman's THIEVES LIKE US (1974), shot on location in Canton,
    Mississippi, shows radio's role in daily life with people listening
    while engaged in other activities. Altman created an innovative
    soundtrack by using radio programs instead of background music in some
    scenes. For instance, GANGBUSTERS plays during a bank robbery, and ROMEO
    AND JULIET is heard during a love scene. John Dunning supplied the radio
    programs and is credited as "radio researcher" for this film.

    Dunning, John. TWO O'CLOCK, EASTERN WARTIME. Scribner, 2001. Reviewed by
    Jim Widner at [removed]

    Gardner, Herb. THE COLLECTED PLAYS. Applause, 2000. When Gardner wrote A
    THOUSAND CLOWNS (1965), he based the character of Murray Burns (Jason
    Robards) on Jean Shepherd.

    Harmon, Jim. IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN 2: MORE NEW STORIES OF OLD TIME RADIO.
    BearManor, 2004. Stories by Harmon, Richard Lupoff, William F. Nolan,
    Martin Grams, Jr., others.

    Keillor, Garrison. WIT: A RADIO ROMANCE. Viking, 1992. Curious
    characters take to the airwaves after a Minneapolis radio station begins
    broadcasting in 1926. A Book-of-the-Month Club selection, this novel
    stayed on PUBLISHERS WEEKLY's bestseller list for seven weeks.

    King, Stephen. THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON. Scribner, 1999. A
    nine-year-old girl, lost for days in the Maine-New Hampshire woods,
    listens to Boston Red Sox games on her Walkman. Superb storytelling and
    strong suspense make this one of King's best books ever, totally
    absorbing on every page.

    Lewis, Roger. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS (Applause, 1996) was
    adapted in 2004 for a HBO Original Movie, a psychological probe with a
    memorable, multi-faceted performance by Geoffrey Rush in the title role.
    During the opening credits, there's a remarkable (but too brief)
    recreation of THE GOON SHOW before an enthusiastic studio audience.
    Edward Tudor Pole plays Spike Milligan and Steve Pemberton portrays
    Harry Secombe.

    McNulty, John. An article by McNulty was the source for THE JACKPOT
    (1950), about a radio quiz show contestant (Jimmy Stewart) whose life is
    in ruins from problems prompted by winning. Released that same year was
    the hilarious CHAMPAGNE FOR CAESAR about genius Beauregard Bottomley
    (Ronald Colman) who keeps winning on a double-or-nothing quiz show,
    bringing sponsor Burnbridge Waters (Vincent Price) to the brink of
    bankruptcy.

    Morgan, Al. THE GREAT MAN. Pocket Books, 1956. NBC producer Morgan
    (TODAY SHOW) fictionalized Arthur Godfrey in this novel, which
    popularized the phrase "The Great Unwashed." Jose Ferrer co-scripted,
    directed and stars in the 1956 movie, which also features Jim and Henny
    Backus. Ed Wynn portrays the owner of a New England radio station.

    Ohmart, Ben. IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN: NEW STORIES OF OLD TIME RADIO.
    BearManor, 2002. Stories by Ohmart, Harmon, Grams, Stephen A. Kallis
    Jr., others.

    Reeth, Kenny. SUDDEN DISCOMFORT. Forthcoming autobiographical fiction by
    1950s-1960s radio comedian Reeth (of "Reeth and King") follows two
    comics who leave nightclubs to work as a morning radio comedy team.
    Reeth's first novel, DREAMLAND, was published as an ebook by Mystic Ink.

    Schulberg, Budd. "Your Arkansas Traveler" in collection SOME FACES IN
    THE CROWD. Random House, 1953. Arthur Godfrey is the obvious springboard
    in Schulberg's short story, filmed by Elia Kazan as A FACE IN THE CROWD
    (1957). My article detailing this subject:
    [removed]

    Shepherd, Jean. A CHRISTMAS STORY. Broadway Books, 2003. This book
    combines chapters from IN GOD WE TRUST, ALL OTHERS PAY CASH. (Doubleday,
    1966) and WANDA HICKEY'S NIGHT OF GOLDEN MEMORIES AND OTHER DISASTERS
    (Doubleday, 1971) adapted for the film A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983). Peter
    Billingsley, who played Ralphie, is currently the producer of IFC's
    DINNER FOR FIVE series of actors talking about acting.

    Stone, Robert. A HALL OF MIRRORS. Houghton Mifflin, 1967. Unemployed
    disc jockey and failed musician Rheinhardt finds work at a right-wing
    radio station in New Orleans, where he encounters a parade of people
    from America's dark side. Great opening chapter as Rheinhardt sits in a
    library silently reading music. It was filmed as WUSA (1970) with Paul
    Newman, Joanne Woodward and Anthony Perkins, but the impact of Stone's
    powerful novel was lost in the cinematic translation.

    Wakeman, Frederic. THE HUCKSTERS (Rinehart, 1946) was inspired by a
    four-part article, "The Star-Spangled Octopus," about MCA. With a
    backdrop of radio advertising, the novel sold 700,000 copies in its
    first six months and was filmed in 1947. Chuck Jones' animated THE
    DUCKSTERS (1950) actually satirizes TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES rather than
    THE HUCKSTERS.

    Woodfin, Jane. OF MIKES AND MEN McGraw Hill, 1951. Jane Woodfin was a
    pseudonym for radio scripter/children's book author Evelyn Sibley
    Lampman (1907-1980). This autobiographical novel is based on Lampman's
    radio career in Portland, Oregon, during the Depression. Lampman's
    papers are archived at the University of Oregon.

    Yellen, James J. WISTFUL RADIO CHRONICLES, THE:
    [removed]

    Bhob

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

    Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 13:57:42 -0500
    From: Trinapreston3@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  The Clock Radio Series
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    I received a radio program titled "The Clock" for a Christmas present.  I
    haven't heard it yet, but I notice some of The Clock radio series logs show
    programs from Australian's version of the show.  My question is "The Clock"
    series
    version by the Australian's the same as the American version of the series?
    Is it any good?  I also saw Inner Sanctum episodes in the same non-American
    version of the radio series.

                                                                      Trina,

      *** This message was altered by the server, and may not appear ***
      ***                  as the sender intended.                   ***

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

    Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 13:58:19 -0500
    From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
    To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  War of the Worlds

    I enjoyed Michael Ogden's post on "The War of the Worlds."  However, he
    mentions that there were no women  in the cast of the famous radio
    production of "The War of the Worlds" by Orson Welles'  Mercury Theatre
    Company.

    According to Lynn Kear who wrote an exceptionally detailed
    "bio-bibliography" of  Agnes Moorehead for the Greenwood Press
    Bio-Bibliography in the Performing Arts series,  Agnes Moorehead appeared
    as a  "screamer," in the Mercury Theater radio play.  Moorehead was a vital
    part of Orson Welles'  repertory company for "The Mercury Theater on the
    Air," and appeared in many of its productions.     [Agnes Moorehead: A
    Bio-Bibliography; Greenwood Press, 1992]

    If you listen to a recording of the show very carefully, you can pick up a
    female voice among the crowd.

    Dennis Crow

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2004 Issue #401
    *********************************************

    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]

    To Subscribe: [removed]@[removed]
      or see [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]