Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #84
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 3/5/2002 8:33 AM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2002 : Issue 84
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Rehearsals                            [ William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed]; ]
      Cleese on The Goon Show               [ Kubelski@[removed] ]
      Jim Mellor asked [removed]             [ "vegan" <vegan@[removed]; ]
      OTR autographs                        [ danhughes@[removed] ]
      ERIC BAUERSFELD                       [ PURKASZ@[removed] ]
      Suspense 1 hour weekly                [ "bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed] ]
      Command Performance show on film      [ "bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed] ]
      CBSRMT                                [ bruceglazer@[removed] ]
      Hubbub                                [ John Henley <jhenley@[removed] ]
      AFRS DISCS                            [ Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@doityours ]
      Re: Lone Ranger Pilot                 [ Mark Stratton <[removed]@[removed]; ]
      Postage Stamps                        [ "vegan" <vegan@[removed]; ]
      STAR WARS                             [ Glenn Alexander <glenn31313@[removed] ]
      MP3 cd players                        [ Glenn Alexander <glenn31313@[removed] ]
      Re: Rio customer service              [ Ga6string@[removed] ]
      Appreciation of OTR and Face and Voi  [ Conrad Binyon <conradab@[removed] ]
      portable mp3 players                  [ WILLIAM BROOKS <webiii@[removed]; ]
      RE: Broadcast Research                [ "Marvin R. Bensman" <MBensman@memph ]
      Radio City Playhouse Question         [ Roger Lorette <roger@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 15:16:45 -0500
    From: William L Murtough <k2mfi@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Rehearsals

    I do not want to dispute Hal Stone but as I recall some directors did
    record rehearsals. However, it would be on disc at that time. The only
    one that I actually was involved in was Hogie Carmichael. This was not
    an audience show but was done with Hoagy sitting at a small table in KNX
    studio four, the organ studio. After doing the dress rehearsal, he came
    into the control, bringing his "jug" with him, and we had a "nip"
    together while we listened to the playback. Radio Recorders on Santa
    Monica Blvd. did most of our disc recording. We maintained  at least six
    or more tie lines from our Master Control room to their main recording
    room, which had a long line of disc recorders which they had built in
    their own shop. At that time they also made 78's for Capitol Records,
    before Capitol had their own building in Hollywood. They had a large
    studio for that purpose. They would record our morning shows such as
    Arthur Godfrey, deliver them to Columbia Square to be played back in the
    afternoon from our Studio six, which had been equipped with transcription
    machines Up to then the only tunrtables were in the station break studio
    as recordings were not fed to the network. There was only one exception
    that I recall. I think that I posted the time that the Godrey Morning
    show was fed "by carrier pigeon".

    Bill MUrtough

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 15:17:20 -0500
    From: Kubelski@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Cleese on The Goon Show

    British comedian and corporate seminar leader John Cleese recently published
    this obituary on Spike Milligan and The Goon Show.  While the few highlights
    of the Goon Show I've heard don't suggest what he wrote (it was kind of
    nonsensical and certainly not up the to the standards that Peter Sellers
    would achieve on his own or, for that matter, Monty Python's Flying Circus),
    I thought his comments might be of interest to the list.

    [removed];sSheet=/opinion/2002/03/03[removed]

    Sean Dougherty
    Kubelski@[removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 15:17:59 -0500
    From: "vegan" <vegan@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Jim Mellor asked [removed]

    Jim Mellor asked about:
                  Ann Worth Housewife: Starred Joan Vitez & Harriett Russell
    Livingston. This was popular in Detroit Mi area but unknown across the rest
    of the country.
                  True Romance: On CBS 1929

    Robert Dezendorf      Florida

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:20:04 -0500
    From: danhughes@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: OTR autographs

    Any autograph experts in this group?

    I was at an auction of autographs collected in the mid-1830's, and one
    that sold was by Burns and Allen.  But that's all it was--a 3 x 5 card
    with "Burns and Allen" written on it.  Did George sign like this for both
    of them?  Or did Gracie?

    (By the way, I bought an autograph of Lum, signed with his real name, and
    two of Abner, signed "Abner Peabody" instead of the actor's real name.
    And I almost got a steal on a Jimmy Durante autograph because he signed
    "Schnozzola Durante" and most other bidders couldn't figure out who it
    was.  Alas, my dollar bid soon rose to $35 when a lady in the front row
    took a closer look at it).

    ---Dan

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:21:20 -0500
    From: PURKASZ@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: ERIC BAUERSFELD

        Just read George Wagner's letter about BLACK MASS.
        I was working at KPFA in Berkeley in early 1964 when Eric was  producing
    these wonderful Lovecraft works for radio. I had been a Lovecraft reader by
    then for many years.
        I was house announcer and general factotum to the beleaguered Pacifica
    station during a difficult time. I remember him well. Prowling through the
    halls with script and reels of tape. Jere Alan Brian and myself wanted to be
    involved.
        It thrilled me then to be able to assist him in some of the endeavors and
    I may even have played a voice or two, my memory sags here.
        It was wonderful. Now I hear about them being exposed to yet another
    generation of listeners and it gladdens my radio heart.
        Anyone know if Eric is still around?
        I remember him as a tireless wiry guy with a gleaming bald dome and
    riveting eyes.
        Tell me someone knows where he is.
                     <A HREF="[removed],+Michael+C.">Michael
    C. Gwynne</A>

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:21:34 -0500
    From: "bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed];
    To: "" old-time radio digest ">" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Suspense 1 hour weekly

    Hi all,
    I was listening to a Suspense show yesterday while baking and the announcer
    said something like, "starting next week Suspense will be on 1 hour weekly."
    How long did this last?
    I've seen a couple 1 hour shows but they were spread over 2 weeks.
    Bill

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:21:47 -0500
    From: "bill Scherer" <bspro@[removed];
    To: "" old-time radio digest ">" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Command Performance show on film

    Hi all,
    A week or so ago I was watching Turner Classic Movies and they showed a film
    of a Command Performance starring Bob Hope.
    How many of these were filmed and can they be purchased anywhere?
    Bill

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:21:59 -0500
    From: bruceglazer@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: CBSRMT

    After the many complaints about Bob Cook's
    "unfinished" CBS Radio Mystery Theater, has anyone
    found a reliable CBSRMT website that contains complete,
    good quality episodes?

    BRUCE

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:24:13 -0500
    From: John Henley <jhenley@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Hubbub

    The esteemed Hal Stone wrote:

>     ...cast members would gather around, slightly off-mike, and
>     mutter, murmur, or generally speak to each other in low tones to create the
>     "atmosphere" of a large group of people. Sometimes unintelligible nonsense.
>     Engineers sometimes referred to it as "room tone". Some actors would simply
>     keep mumbling "Walla Walla" with different inflections, rather than ad lib
>     specific dialogue.

    Which reminded me:  I can't think which title it is just now,
    but there's an episode of The Shadow in which, during a
    "hubbub" moment, Alan Devitt can clearly be heard saying, quote,
    "talk talk talk talk talk" as he steps up to the mic to deliver a line
    of dialogue that's intended to be heard over said noise.

    That was an educational moment for me.
    John Henley

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:24:46 -0500
    From: Kevin Michaels <kmichaels@[removed];
    To: "Radio  Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: AFRS DISCS

    When I did volunteer work at our local NPR Station in the early 1970's, we
    received almost daily 12 & 16 inch transcription disce of AFRS Programs to be
    aired on our station. After they were aired, they were to be returned to the
    AFRS or junked, but as usual at our station we never returned them and they
    were "junked". The station Manager, knowing I had an interest in radio asked
    me if I wanted any and to take what I wanted before they were junked. I had
    quite a bit of material to choose from, produced by the AFRS themselves.
    Such shows as Bill Cullen Presents, Navy Hoe-down, Men In Blue (Air Force
    Show) Salute To Veterans, Dixie Jamboree, (C&W Show with popular stars of the
    day).  So I guess-this is how a lot of the AFRS discs got into circulation
    one way or the other.

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:25:55 -0500
    From: Mark Stratton <[removed]@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Re: Lone Ranger Pilot

>     "To the WB Network:  Please do NOT produce a Lone Ranger series if you cannot
>     present the characters as they were created and intended by Fran Striker.

    I understand your feelings on this but I would humble disagree.  I've been a fan of
    the Lone Ranger for many, many years.  My first exposure to him was the B&W
    Television series in reruns.  In fact, the first LR TV show I saw had John Hart as
    the Lone Ranger, and not Clayton Moore!

    The TV version was lily white, with no room for humanity.  Earle Greaser's
    portrayal was a bit more of an Avenging Angel, then he softened.  Brace
    Beemer's version was of a Compassionate Man, trying to do his part.

>     It would be a great disservice to the writers and actors who worked so
>     diligently to produce one of the great fictional characters of radio,
>     television and the movies.  Please do not alter the character's age, origin,
>     [removed]

    I don't think they could alter any of the origin.  I don't recall because I've not seen
    the Klinton Spilsbury LR movie in some time, but I think they got the origin right
    for the most part.  That movie was more plagued with bad acting than anything else.

>     Am I being old-fashioned in trying to maintain the character from the 40s and
>     50s?  Aren't somethings best left alone?

    Every generation has it's own take on things.  Sometimes its a good thing, sometimes
    it's not.  Batman went through a series of years where the character was stagnated
    and not as originally created.  This changed, and the pendulum has swung again.

>     I recall the four issue LR comic
>     series from Topps Comics and the 1980 LR movie as being serious misguided
>     attempts to revive the character for an 80s and 90s audience.

    I enjoyed the LR series for what it was.  Tim Truman's take on the characters.  It
    was critically lauded in comics circles and publications for bringing some more dimension
    to the characters.  Tonto and the Lone Ranger were/are very flat, two dimensional
    characters as portrayed in the OTR and TV series from the 40's/50's. In that mold,
    if they were presented like that today, it would either be percieved as satire, or
    ignored.

    A hero today needs to be a bit flawed.  Capable of making a mistake and learning
    from it.  Matt Dillon comes to mind as a Hero for all ages.  His heart was in the right
    place, but he was human.  It showed and that's what made the show succeed.

>     A similar
>     television effort would probably destroy all future interest in the
>     character.  There have been far too many such projects in recent years
>     involving the Shadow, Batman, the Green Hornet, the Green Arrow and Jim
>     Phelps of Mission [removed]

    I love the recent Green Arrow revival done by Kevin Smith.  Very true to the GA
    that was done by O'Neill/Adams back in the late 60's.  The Shadow movie suffered
    from not knowing which Shadow it was.  Was it the Pulp Shadow?  The Radio Shadow?
    The Shadow from the Comics?  The plot was loosely based on a couple of pulps, with
    the Radio Shadow used as the Character.  Bad Idea, interesting [removed] a creative
    flop.  I really liked the first couple of years of the Green Hornet comic.  There was more
    than a nod to the original, and newer, harder hitting stories were brought into the (then)
    present.  They too suffered from great ideas, but poor execution.

    I would rather wait and see what they do with the LR, and then make my judgements,
    than start getting uptight ahead of time.

    BTW, at this moment I'm currently listening to "Sixty Days for Life".  The last Earle
    Greaser LR [removed]

    Cheers,

    Mark Stratton
    (young OTR Fan)

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:27:45 -0500
    From: "vegan" <vegan@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject: Postage Stamps

    Thanks to Michael Biel issue #83 for the information on past postage stamp
    issues. My only question is whether or not (with the exception of Tesla)
    they were being honored for their "stage & screen" work or as the pioneers
    of radio's early years. Perhaps he would know if their recognition paid
    adequate tribute to OTR.

    Robert Dezendorf     Florida

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:27:54 -0500
    From: Glenn Alexander <glenn31313@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: STAR WARS

    Hi I understand that there was a radio serial produced
    based on this movie, does anyone have any information
    about it or where to obtain it. Thanks

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:28:12 -0500
    From: Glenn Alexander <glenn31313@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: MP3 cd players

    Hi all my daughter has an mp3 cd player and when i
    tried to play a disk of radio shows it would play it
    for approximately 1 minute then nothing but static,
    she said it was because of the memory. are there any
    mp3cd players that will play cd's with radio shows on them?

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:28:48 -0500
    From: Ga6string@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Re: Rio customer service

    "JLF" writes:

>     So far RIO hasn't even responded to any of my e-mail questions! Think I'll
>     send the RIO back too!

    Before I bought my Rio 90, I tried REPEATEDLY to contact Rio by e-mail to
    answer some questions I had, and kept getting the same automated tech support
    reply. My e-mails became increasingly sarcastic but it didn't matter because
    no one was reading them. Let's just say their customer service is INADEQUATE.
    Eventually, I bought the 90 anyway, because I had to get a portable MP3
    option, and it's been OK, but if I had gotten more information or a better
    vibe from them, I certainly would have invested in one of the more expensive
    models.

    I also bought the Philips Expanium AZ1155 "boom box," which I like a little
    better than the Rio Volt, but the Philips box does not have headphones or any
    line out capability (what were they thinking? how much more could it have
    cost them?).

    Thanks,
    Bryan Powell

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:36:28 -0500
    From: Conrad Binyon <conradab@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Appreciation of OTR and Face and Voice

    In the Digest Harry Bartell wrote:

>     Every good [removed] "see" the setting, his costume,
>     and the appearance of the people he's talking to. He has
>     also created an appearance and a voice quality for the
>     character he's playing. And he is conscious of whatever
>     sound patterns affect the way he reads his lines.

    Harry Bartell mentioning the radio actor "seeing" got me to
    thinking about the times I experienced, say in doing my role of
    "Butch" on "Mayor of the the Town," my 'second' person using the
    'three person' analogy.

    In the first read through of the script, I conjured up the scene
    being done, just as I'd do reading it in a novel. If the Mayor,
    as described by the announcer's intro into the drama,
    was sitting on the porch swing and he stopped me, as Butch,
    walking up the steps entering the front door, I made up that
    scene in my mind's eye. I'd picture Lionel Barrymore (cause that
    was the face I knew fit the voice) sitting on that front porch
    swing.  I continued the entire scene that way having it play out
    as I visualized all the actions.  If the scene was in the
    kitchen.  That's what I had in my thoughts, my version of the
    Mayor's kitchen.  He didn't have a water cooler standing by the
    wall 'cause I didn't put one there.  (Didn't have one at home so
    it wasn't in my scheme of things)  Of course if in the story my
    character knocked it down or banged into it. It'd be there all
    right.  The scene in my imagination was identical each time I
    reread the script, like seeing a movie for a second time, or
    reading the same passage of book over again.  If in a scene I
    was relating an action in the drama story's past I'd make up
    that scene as well.  It too never changed.  My 'first' person,
    as Harry Bartell describes it, took care of the technical aspects
    of speaking the lines as I read them, doing scene fade ins and
    outs as were required, or being attentive to specific director
    cues marked in the appropriate line of the script which sourced
    of all my mental gymnastics.

    I can't say I ever used the critical 'third' actor person very
    much during my day of OTR roles.  I sure do nowadays, as
    experience and age has honed me a bit. I sometimes hear one or
    more lines I've emoted and know I would have read them a bit
    differently could I do them over again.

    To answer, as did Hal, my activities as an actor on radio, and
    in films, never spoiled my appreciation of viewing films, or
    listening to a good radio show, where I'd continue to let
    my imagination fill in the scene around whatever dialog and
    sounds I was hearing.  It's still the same today.  I like OTR
    as a fan myself.

    A question for Dennis and other readers of the Digest. Does
    your viewing of say a picture of Bob Bailey as "Johnny dollar"
    change the visualized image you carried of 'Johnny' prior to
    seeing Bob's real face?  Does Chester A. Riley of "Life of Riley"
    look in your images of the show the same as did William Bendix
    you saw in the Paramount picture "The Hairy Ape?"

    CB
    --
    conradab@[removed] (Conrad A. Binyon)
       From the Home of the Stars who loved Ranches and Farms
         Encino, California.

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 19:37:00 -0500
    From: WILLIAM BROOKS <webiii@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: portable mp3 players

    I too had problems with an Emerson mp3 player. I then found an RCA
    player and it too was no good. I even took a disc of mp3 shows with
    me before I made the purchase and found almost all brands lacking. I
    finally got a RIO VOLT 100 and it works flawlessly. I then got a RIO
    VOLT 250. This one is the real deal. Not only does if play perfectly,
    it has several features that I like. 1. a resume feature that lets
    you stop the player mid-show then resume playing later at the same
    spot in the same show. The player will "remember" at least 10 discs
    this way. 2. an automatic shut off feature, that lets you set it to
    play for 1 to 60 minutes,   your choice, then shut itself off. 3. a
    feature that lets you set the sound quality much like an equalizer.
    There are several other features on the 250 that are great.
         My advise-----don't be too cheap, try a RIO VOLT 250. Then go the
    the RIO web site and you can download  an extensive operating manual
    for the 100 or 250. You can also download upgrades for the different
    models directly into the [removed], I tried several portable mp3
    players and found the best one to be the RIO VOLT 250, hands down.

           To Hal Stone-----when you were a guest at REPS in Seattle last
    November I was in the hospital having had surgery that Saturday
    morning. I got the note you sent me. Thanks a bunch, it meant a lot
    that you took the time to say Hi. Hope to be seeing you again at
    another convention either here in Seattle or in [removed]
    You're a real friend. Thanks again

    Bill Brooks
    webiii@[removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 21:43:13 -0500
    From: "Marvin R. Bensman" <MBensman@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: RE: Broadcast Research

    I'm looking for published research which has utilized broadcast, video,
    audio, film etc. as a primary source of information.  In other words,
    the  researcher has gone into a broadcast or film archive and come out
    with published research.  Can you provide me with references worth
    checking.

    Professor Marvin R. Bensman, [removed], [removed]

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

    Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 21:46:42 -0500
    From: Roger Lorette <roger@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject: Radio City Playhouse Question

    As I write this I've been listening to some episodes of "Radio City
    Playhouse" and I notice a discrepincy in the numbering of the episodes.  This
    series actually announces the show number (or attraction number) at the
    beginning of each show.  The problem developes after show #21 "Strange
    Identity"  then at what is called show #22 in the series "Correction" all the
    popular logs call this episode #23 and this numbering remains "off" by one
    for the remainder of the series.  I do not have the episode in my collection
    that is logged at Jan 03, 1949 called "A Matter of Life and Death" as
    attraction #22 but my guess is that this show never made it to air but was
    left in the sequence by the Frank Passage logs and others who picked up the
    Jan 10th show as attraction #23 and so on.

    I ask this because I was trying to get my titles as accurate as possible but
    at the same time I wouldn't want my titles to be contrary to all the others
    out there.

    Any thoughts?

    Roger Lorette
    roger@[removed]

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #84
    ********************************************

    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]