Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #40
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 2/6/2005 12:39 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2005 : Issue 40
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Re: Cincy Convention                  [ Christopher Werner <werner1@globalc ]
  Gotham Radio Players' SAM SPADE recr  [ StevenL751@[removed] ]
  This week in radio history 6-12 Febr  [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
  Howard Hughes                         [ Rentingnow@[removed] ]
  2-6 births/deaths                     [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  KNX Los Angeles in the 50's           [ StuartLubin@[removed] (Stuart Lubin ]
  re: Doc Gamble--Arrowsmith            [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
  Jack Benny's Anaheim                  [ "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@sbcglob ]
  Arrowsmith                            [ "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm ]
  NBC's "other" networks                [ "Steven Jones" <stevpj@[removed]; ]
  Portland Hoffa                        [ DanHaefele@[removed] ]
  Okay okay okay                        [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  Upton Lewis Sinclair                  [ Steve Kostelecky <doyasteve@[removed] ]
  2-7 births/deaths                     [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:51:43 -0500
From: Christopher Werner <werner1@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Cincy Convention

Stephen Jansen asked for something else to do after close of day at the
[removed]

About 20 years ago I had the good fortune of attending a convention (motor
winding rather than OTR) held in downtown Cincinnati at their convention
center. I will have to say that it was one of the most pleasant business
trips I ever experienced. Why?

The city planners of Cincinnati had enough sense to connect all the
hotels/restaurants/businesses in the downtown area with a 2nd story
walkway. The average pedestrian does not need to cope with waiting for
traffic lights or polite drivers to cross the street to visit the many fine
and historic establishments located downtown (the Red Squirrel multi-decker
sandwich shop being one of them). In addition a pleasant walk south, across
the bridge over the Ohio river, and you are in Covington, Kentucky (hence
the CVG designation of the airport) which is a pleasant German village.
There is a reasonable German restaurant (not even close to my wife's or
mother-in-law's cooking) a glockenspiel/clock tower and a nice view of
Cincinnati for the photo buff.

Keep in mind that the OTR convention is held at a location on the
northern-most expressway/beltway about 15-20 miles away from downtown. But
if you don't mind the drive to and from the convention hotel, I would
suggest staying downtown and enjoy the ambiance. The Hyatt is great, but
there is a Clarion and several other choices (seemed to be about 10
different ones) all connected to the walkway.

All that being said, my one and only experience with the convention (two
years ago) was filled with evenings of joyful comradery with the dealers
and convention attendees. Just hang out with Bob Burchett, Charlie Summers,
Hal Stone, or one of the many fine conference organizers and you'll find
out where all the attendees disappeared to.

Enjoy.

Chris.

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:54:02 -0500
From: StevenL751@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Gotham Radio Players' SAM SPADE recreation

In case you missed it when we recreated this  lost episode of SAM SPADE back
in October, I'm very pleased to announce that,  courtesy of Barbara Watkins,
our performance will be rebroadcast this coming  Monday night/Tuesday morning
on "Don't Touch That Dial!"

The  Gotham Radio Players
present

THE ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE
"The  Picture-Frame Caper"

This Monday Night / Tuesday Morning
12:00  midnight (Pacific) / 3:00 AM (Eastern)

Head on KPFK
[removed] FM Los  Angeles
[removed] FM Santa Barbara County
Webcast worldwide at  [removed]

The Gotham Radio Players and Wildroot Cream Oil  (again and again the choice
of men, and women and children, too!) are pleased to  bring back to the
airwaves the greatest private detective of them all, Sam  Spade, in a
long-lost
adventure that hasn't been heard since it's original broadcast more than 54
years ago.

Sam Spade goes Hollywood, when  beautiful screen star Lois Beyrou hires him
to protect her from a stalker.   But all is not as it seems.  Before this
gruesome caper is over there's  lots of stealing and shooting, not to mention
a
punctured beret.  Thrilling  adventure!  Love-crazed madness!  Killer on the
loose!  It's an  "In-Between" picture, not good enough for movies and too
good for
 television.  So break out that bottle of Missionary's Downfall, and join us
this coming Sunday, as Sam dictates to Effie the case he calls "The
Picture-Frame Caper," or "Hollywood is Cracked Up to Be What It Is!"

The Gotham Radio Players were formed in 1991 by a group of  enthusiasts for
the heyday of radio drama. Our mission is to bring new  productions of classic
radio programs of the 30's, 40's, and 50's to the  airwaves of the new
millennium, as well as showcase original scripts written by  the emerging
audio
dramatists of today. Now under the leadership of producer Max  Schmid and
director
Steven Lewis, the Gotham Radio Players are featured  regularly in live
performances on WBAI-FM, at the annual "Friends of Old-Time  Radio"
Convention, and
at other personal appearances in the New York City  metropolitan area.

Thanks, Barbara!!

Steve Lewis
director

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:54:10 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otrd <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  This week in radio history 6-12 February

 From Those Were The Days --

2/6

1943 - Frank Sinatra made his debut as vocalist on radio's Your Hit
Parade this night. Frankie had left the Tommy Dorsey Band just four
months prior to beginning the radio program. He was described as,
"...the biggest name in the business."

1950 - NBC first broadcast Dangerous Assignment. The show starred Brian
Donlevy in the role of soldier of fortune, Steve Mitchell.

2/8

1924 - John Joseph Carty of the Bell Telephone System spoke in Chicago,
IL. His speech was carried across the nation on the first coast-to-coast
radio hookup. An estimated 50-million people heard the speech.

2/11

1940 - NBC presented The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street for
the first time. The famous Blue network series included several
distinguished alumni -- among them, Dinah Shore and Zero Mostel. The
chairman, or host, of The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street
was Milton Cross. He would say things like, "A Bostonian looks like he's
smelling something. A New Yorker looks like he's found it." The show
combined satire, blues and jazz and was built around what were called
the three Bs of music: Barrelhouse, Boogie Woogie and Blues.

2/12

1924 - Calvin Coolidge, known by many as the 'Silent Cal', made the
first presidential political speech on radio. The speech originated from
New York City and was broadcast on five radio stations. Some five
million people tuned in to hear the President speak.

1924 - The Eveready Hour became radio's first sponsored network program.
The National Carbon Company took the honor of being the first sponsor of
a network show.

1940 - Mutual presented the first broadcast of Superman. The identity of
the man from planet Krypton was unknown to listeners for six years. The
secret eventually leaked out that Superman's voice was actually that of
Bud Collyer.

Joe

--
Visit my home page: [removed]~[removed]

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:54:37 -0500
From: Rentingnow@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Howard Hughes

Saw "Aviator" last night.  In the film Hughes was testifying in a  Senate
hearing right after or during a psychotic episode (obscessive compulisve
disorder and germ phobia).  It shows him getting the best of the committee.

Was this broadcast on radio?  The film does show cameras,  presumably movie
as the hearing would seem to predate TV.   Since cameras were allowed at the
hearing I would assume that it was broadcast  on radio.  A superficial search
indicates it was broadcast. Do any of the  recordings exist on the web?

Larry Moore

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:54:44 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  2-6 births/deaths

February 6th births

02-06-1888 - Bennett Kilpack - England - d. 8-17-1962
actor: Mr. Keen "Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons"; "James Benson "David Harum"
02-06-1888 - Lucille Gleason - Pasadena, CA - d. 5-18-1947
actress: "Jimmy Gleason's Diner"
02-06-1895 - Babe Ruth - Baltimore, MD - d. 8-16-1948
baseball legend: "Advs. of Babe Ruth"; "Here's Babe Ruth"
02-06-1899 - Ramon Novarro - Durango, Mexico - d. 10-30-1968
actor: Freelance
02-06-1903 - Claudio Arrau - Chillans, Chile - d. 6-9-1991
classical pianist: "New York Philharmonic"; "Music America Loves Best"
02-06-1911 - Ronald "Dutch" Reagan - Tampico, IL - d. 6-5-2004
panelist, actor: Hollywood Byline"; "Lux Radio Theatre"
02-06-1913 - John Lund - Rochester, NY - d. 5-10-1992
actor: Johnny Dollar "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar"; Chaplain Jim "Chaplain Jim"
02-06-1914 - Thurl Ravenscroft - Norfolk, NB
singer: (Member Sportsmen Quartet) "Jack Benny Program"
02-06-1917 - Zsa Zsa Gabor - Budapest, Hungary
actress: Intermission Guest: "Lux Radio Theatre"
02-06-1943 - Fabian (Forte) - Philadelphia, PA
singer: "NASA Special Report"

February 6th deaths

01-06-1912 - Danny Thomas - Deerfield, MI (Raised: Toledo, OH) - d. 2-6-1991
actor: Amos "Bickersons"; Postman "Fanny Brice Show"
01-19-1922 - Guy Madison - Pumpkin Center, CA - d. 2-6-1996
actor: Wild Bill Hickok "Wild Bill Hickok"
01-26-1913 - Jimmy Van Heusen - Syracuse, NY - d. 2-6-1990
composer: "Amos 'n' Andy"; "Frank Sinatra Show"; "Command Performance"
03-09-1902 - Robert St. John - Chicago, IL - d. 2-6-2003
newscaster: 1943-46, NBC, weekdays at 10 [removed]
05-15-1905 - Joseph Cotten - Petersburg, VA - d. 2-6-1994
actor: Matthew Bell "Private Files of Matthew Bell"; "Mercury Theatre on the
Air"
06-13-1917 - Si Zentner - NYC - d. 2-6-2000
jazz and big band trombonist: "Si Zentner and His Orchestra"; "Guard Session"
09-07-1893 - Roscoe Karns - San Bernadino, CA - d. 2-6-1970
actor: "Hollywood Hotel"
12-29-1898 - Pat Padgett - Atlanta, GA - d. 2-6-1990
comedian: January "Show Boat"; Pat "Model Minstrels"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 15:54:57 -0500
From: StuartLubin@[removed] (Stuart Lubin)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  KNX Los Angeles in the 50's

I am very happy to respond to Cliff O.'s inquiries about Mel Baldwin, a
staff announcer at KNX, Los Angeles, the local affiliate of CBS. What I
am going to write
is accurate, but I cannot vouch for the "what-came-before-what" time
sequences.

Steve Allen's local show was heard from 12:05 AM (after the news) until
1:00 AM. Believe it or not, it was a nightly (M-F) audience show, and
Steve was marvelous, as he always was, in everything he ever did.  There
was never a problem getting into that show.  (My big problem at age 15
was getting home afterwards without being stopped by the curfew police!)
I do not remember Mel Baldwin announcing that show. Usually it was
another KNX staff announcer, Tom Hanlon, who sat at a table, fighting to
stay awake. Either after or before Steve Allen had the show, that time
slot and format were ably handled by another great Los Angeles radio
personality, Jim Hawthorne.

In the 50's, the late evening chores at KNX were shared by both Mel
Baldwin and Tom Hanlon.  Hanlon hosted "Merry Go-Round", in which the
audience called in each night with the answer to a question, and the
daily winners appeared live on the show on Friday nights. I was a winner
one week,  and Mel Baldwin was sitting in for Tom Hanlon on that night.

Other things that Mel Baldwin did for KNX into the 60's:  the first
telephone call-in talk-show that I ever heard :"Opinion, Please".  Each
caller was allowed three minutes. Baldwin never discussed any issues
with them. He just let them talk until the three minutes were up.
Baldwin also hosted "Music Till Dawn" for an airline company.  I believe
it went on from 12:00 midnight till 5:00 AM.  There was also a time that
"Gunsmoke" radio and TV announcer, George Walsh, also hosted "Music Till
Dawn".

In the late weekday mornings, KNX had a cooking show called the KNX Food
News Hour. It was originally started with another staff announcer who
became a famed cookbook author, Mike Roy. His announcer was Dennis
Bracken.  They were a great team, with Bracken playing straight man,
asserting that he knew nothing about cooking.  Roy passed away while
still under contract to do the show, and Bracken continued, but he, also
a young man, died soon afterwards.  The show continued with Jackie Olden
and a man called "Fitz".  When Fitz died, Jackie continued the show with
Mel Baldwin as her sidekick.  The two had great chemistry, as did those
who preceded them.  Of course, when the format changed, Mel left, and I
have never heard anything about him since.

Stuart Lubin

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 19:20:24 -0500
From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  re: Doc Gamble--Arrowsmith

Steve Kostelecky <doyasteve@[removed]; asks :
I've always wondered what McGee meant when he referred
to Doc Gamble as "Arrowsmith." Generally Doc makes
some remark about McGee's laziness or girth and McGee
remarks: "Oh, hi, Arrowsmith." I assume it refers to
his status as a doctor but the only Arrowsmith I know
is from Upton Sinclair. Anybody know?

Fibber is indeed making a reference to Sinclair's novel. (I've never
read it, but I recently listened to the NBC University version,
starring Van Heflin.) The book is a satire of medicine, science,
idealism, and society. The character of Martin Arrowsmith is something
of a failed idealist, a man caught between uncompromising scientific
ideals and the complexities of practicing medicine. Fibber's use of the
name for Doc Gamble was definitely not meant as a complement--but it
always struck me as a rather complex and subtle insult.

Kermyt

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 19:20:48 -0500
From: "Jim Hilliker" <jimhilliker@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Jack Benny's Anaheim

I found a most interesting and entertaining article on the city of Anaheim
(California) Web site about Jack Benny's connection to Anaheim and the two
times he was named honorary mayor of Anaheim.  There's also a Johnny Carson
connection in the story, plus a photo of the two in January of 1967, when
Anaheim gave both comedians keys to the city, as they both appeared at the
long-gone Melodyland Theater that month.  Here's the link, for those
interested:

[removed]

Take care,

Jim Hilliker
Monterey, CA
(formerly from Anaheim)

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 20:42:06 -0500
From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Arrowsmith

Steve wrote:

I've always wondered what McGee meant when he referred
to Doc Gamble as "Arrowsmith." Generally Doc makes
some remark about McGee's laziness or girth and McGee
remarks: "Oh, hi, Arrowsmith." I assume it refers to
his status as a doctor but the only Arrowsmith I know
is from Upton Sinclair. Anybody know?

Um, actually ARROWSMITH was written by that "other" Sinclair of American
Literature, Sinclair Lewis.  I confess that I haven't actually read this
book, but I have seen the 1931 film starring Ronald Colman in the title
role.  Dr. Martin Arrowsmith is a brilliant and dedicated doctor.  McGee is
being sarcastic in comparing Doc Gamble to Dr. Arrowsmith.

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 20:42:39 -0500
From: "Steven Jones" <stevpj@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  NBC's "other" networks

I guess that most people reading this know that NBC had
their Red and Blue network, and an Orange network on the West Coast network
until the
others spread across the country. But I've also seen mention of Gold, Brown,
White and Green networks that NBC had.

Does anyone have any information about these?
The only bits of information I've read about them are:
the White Network was religious in content and was also known as the
Watchtower Network
the Brown was originated from San Francisco when NBC ended up with three
stations in that city after buying out a smaller network (Pacific?)
The Gold Network became part of the Orange when NBC wanted to save line
rental costs.

I've only seen the Green network mentioned once, in a book about RCA by
Robert Sobel. He also mentions the Gold and Orange, and says that there were
three other minor networks, which could be the White, Brown and one other
whose colour I've never seen mention of.

So, can anyone add to or correct anything I've said above, such as the
reasons they came into and went out of existence (were they regional like
the Organge until the Blue and Red covered the whole country, etc), dates,
stations?

It's potentially a lot of information, I know, but I thought I might as well
ask about them all in one go than do a separate post for each network.

Many many thanks.

Steve

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 20:42:51 -0500
From: DanHaefele@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Portland Hoffa
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

   After Fred Allen died, Portland Hoffa-Allen married comedy writer Joe
Rines.  She may be buried under her married name.

Dan Haefele

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

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

Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005 23:24:18 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Okay okay okay

I have posted the long-awaited photo of Jack and  Frankie Remley on
_[removed]_ ([removed]) .   Enjoy!

--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]

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

Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 13:29:40 -0500
From: Steve Kostelecky <doyasteve@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Upton Lewis Sinclair

I attributed "Arrowsmith" to Upton Sinclair my
previous post and it should have been Sinclair Lewis.
I knew I should have looked it up before I posted but
got in a [removed] have always gotten the two confused.
I read "Main Street" and "The Jungle" at the same time
so I could keep them straight and it only confused me.
Oh well.
Red-faced and stumbling,
I remain,
Steve

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

Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 14:35:05 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  2-7 births/deaths

February 7th births

02-07-1812 - Charles Dickens - Portsmouth, England - d. 6-9-1870
author: "A Christmas Carol"
02-07-1883 - Eubie Blake - Baltimore, MD - d. 2-12-1983
jazz pianist: "Ragtime"; "White House Jazz Festival"
02-07-1885 - Sinclair Lewis - Sauk Centre, MN - d. 1-10-1951
novelist: "Campbell Playhouse"; "Ford Theatre"; "Cavalcade of America"
02-07-1895 - Irving Aaronson - NYC - d. 5-10-1963
orchestra leader: Big Band Remotes
02-07-1908 - Bill Johnstone - Paisley, Scotland - d. 11-1-1996
actor: Lamont Cranston/Shadow "The Shadow"; Sam Young "Pepper Young's Family"
02-07-1915 - Eddie Bracken - Astoria, NY - d. 11-14-2002
comedian: "Eddie Bracken Show"; Dizzy Stevens "Aldrich Family"
02-07-1923 - Keefe Brasselle - Elyria, OH - d. 7-7-1981
actor: "Stars in the Air"
02-07-1924 - Hattie Jacques - Sandgate, Kent, England - d. 10-6-1980
actress: Sophie Tuckshop "It's That Man Again"; Agatha Dangelbody "Educating
Archie"

February 7th deaths

02-09-1910 - Peanuts Holland - Norfold, VA - d. 2-7-1979
jazz trumpeter, singer: "One Night Stand"; "Jubilee"; "Yank Swing Session"
02-22-1918 - Sid Abel - Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada - d. 2-7-2000
sportscaster: "Play By Play Detroit Red Wings"
06-30-1918 - Stewart Foster - Binghamton, NY - d. 2-7-1968
singer: "Stewart Foster Show"; "Galen Drake"; "On a Sunday Afternoon"
08-10-1896 - Walter Lang - Memphis, TN - d. 2-7-1972
film director: "Screen Director's Playhouse"
08-22-1909 - Philip G. Epstein - NYC - d. 2-7-1952
screenwriter: "Lux Radio Theatre"
10-18-1918 - Bobby Troup - Harrisburg, PA - d. 2-7-1999
singer, actor: "Navy Swings"; "Bobby Troup Program"; "Bobby Troup Trio"
10-31-1912 - Dale Evans - Uvalde, TX - d. 2-7-2001
actress, singer: (Queen of the Cowgirls) "Saturday Night Roundup"; "Roy
Rogers Show"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #40
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