Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #396
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 11/2/2003 11:57 AM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2003 : Issue 396
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  Benny questions                       [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  Jack Benny themes                     [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  Remley's face and laugh               [ JackBenny@[removed] ]
  Musical War Of The Worlds Reco        [ Twizoner@[removed] ]
  Godfrey's network break               [ Lee Munsick <leemunsick@[removed] ]
  CBS the what?                         [ Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed]; ]
  Can anyone confirm this?              [ "Jerry Lewine" <Radiojer@Speakeasy. ]
  OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK               [ "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed] ]
  11-3 births/deaths                    [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 13:42:24 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Benny questions
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Matthew Bullis and Joe C. wrote:
Hello, just wondering some more things about the Jack Benny program. Was
Don Wilson really fat, like he was portrayed? Also, was Jak really voted
the dog catcher of the county? Since I'm listening to the program in
chronological order, when do we get the new sponsor after Jello, and when
does the orchestra change to the Sportsmen quartet's first broadcast?

The answer to two of your questions are as the following.

Don Wilson was heavy . Some would call him rotund. His shape made it easy
to do a lot of "fat jokes"
Don was heavy, but not really as heavy as portrayed on radio.  I believe that
he was about 6'1 and 230 pounds.  Phil Harris also told me himself that he
didn't drink as much as they portrayed, nor was Dennis as naiive.  As for
[removed]  Many of the characterizations were exaggerations of the
underlying
actor.

I am not aware of Jack actually being elected dog catcher of any county.
Sounds like a joke to me (but one that can take on a life of its own, like the
story of Jack being stopped by a Secret Service Agent and queried about his
violin case).
The last program for Jello was on 5-31-42. Grape Nuts Flakes sponsored
the program from 10-4-42 until 6-4-44.  Lucky Strike took over as the
sponsor on 10-1-44 until the final program on 5-22-55.
Correct.  On your question about the orchestra changing, Bob Crosby took over
for Phil Harris on 9/14/52.  However, I don't know that the orchestra changed
much as Mahlon Merrick had been doing the actual conducting for some time.
The Sportsmen Quartet first appeared on 9/29/46 in the format that we
generally
remember them.  However, they also played an uncredited role in an earlier
show, perhaps as far back as 1942.  I'd have to get my detailed notes on
[removed] else want to jump in with exact information?

--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]

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Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 13:43:20 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Jack Benny themes
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Derek Tague wrote:

it only presents two versions of "The Jack Benny Program" from the
Lucky Strikes ([removed]) years. This is all well  and good, but I'd like
to know what the openings/closings were to the lesser known Jell-O "Bennys"
from the 1930s.

Hi Derek,

Would you believe that there weren't any?  Or to be exacting, it was
"J-E-L-L-OOOOOO!"

The show started with the five-note Jell-O call, Don announcing, "The Jell-O
Program starring Jack Benny, with Mary Livingston, Phil Harris and his
orchestra.  The orchestra opens the program with (insert song title here)."
The song
changed every week, and often was a number taken from a current movie.  Ask
me in a couple months when they started announcing any other cast members than
Jack, Mary, and Phil.  And yes, I'm aware of how I spelled "Livingstone"
[removed] that time, the scripts spelled it "Livingston".

As for the closer, Phil would play out with various number (which was never
back [removed]), Don would do the closing commercial, and Jack would
say (assuming the show wasn't running long) "That was the last number of the
Xth program in the new Jell-O series", he'd do a 15-second blackout (gag)
with a
cast member (usually Mary), then the orchestra would play three notes, and
you'd hear the Jell-O call again.  Don would do closing announcements ([removed],
"Kenny Baker appears on this program courtesy of Mervyn LeRoy Productions,
this
is the National Broadcasting Company") over the audience applause and fade out.

I find it funny how just about any OTR buff can identify the medley of Yankee
Doodle Dandy and Love in Bloom as Jack's opening radio theme, and Hooray for
Hollywood as the closing theme.  However, these didn't get used until the
Lucky Strike days.

--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]

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Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 13:44:12 -0500
From: JackBenny@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Remley's face and laugh
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On the Frankie Remley comments, I bought a bunch of pictures off Ebay that
purported to be Jack with Lawrence Welk.  There were even scans of the item,
[removed], you know [removed] close enough for scientific examination.

Once I got the photos, I started going over them and realized it was actually
Jack with Frankie Remley.  Confusing Remley with Welk is sort of
understandable (at least in these pictures), although Remley looks fairly
darkly tanned.

Also on the notes about Frankie's laughing at everything, here's a short
excerpt from a letter Jack wrote to Remley.  Knowing that Frankie laughed at
just
about everything (I have another letter where Jack was saying that he wished
he'd have had Frankie around to "laugh up those jokes for me") is essential to
understanding this teasing from Jack:

"Next - LAUGH once in a while.  Never in my life have I seen such a sour puss
as you possess.  GAD-what a kill-joy!  Why you can't even muster up a little
smile after hearing one of the funniest stories ever told.  It's important Rem
to show a little reactionb&no one gives a damn about a dead-pan."

--Laura Leff
President, IJBFC
[removed]

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Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 13:44:58 -0500
From: Twizoner@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Musical War Of The Worlds Reco
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Martin Grams Jr. wrote the following about Jeff Wayne's musical version of
the War Of The Worlds:

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS musical from 1976 with Richard
Burton is top of the line.  I know the conception of turning this sci-fi
novel
into a musical seems ridiculous, but it was pulled off VERY successfully.
It
comes highly recommended!

I'll second Martin's recommendation.  I first heard this album when it was
broadcast in it's entirety on a NYC AM radio station in the mid 70's (1976?) -
staying up late (for a 9 or 10 year old) to listen.  Listening to this for the
first time was quite an experience.   I went out and bought the 2 LP set
shortly thereafter.  The music is wonderful, especially the Moody Blues'
Justin
Hayward' singing "Forever Autumn". Richard Burton fans will no doubt be quite
pleased with his superb narration.  It really captures the grandeur and mood
of
[removed] Wells clasic story.

I just listened to it again this week and it still is quite powerful.  I also
listened to the Orson Welles Mercury Theater version of the WOTW.   Too bad I
didn't go to Princeton tonight to take in the Martian costume contest and
radio play recreation.  Did anyone on the list go to see these events??

Mike Kerrigan

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Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 13:45:37 -0500
From: Lee Munsick <leemunsick@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Godfrey's network break

Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; posted here as follows:

Godfrey, hired by CBS for local programming, was given his network
opportunity following his description of the Roosevelt funeral.

Dave Walter responded:

Not true. Godfrey was, as I recall, the morning host on WJSV Washington when
CBS bought the station in the '30s, so Columbia hadn't hired him per se. The
network later convinced him to move to WABC New York, and while there, he
was given his first network exposure in '43 as announcer for Fred Allen's
"Texaco Time" show. For whatever reason, he only lasted a handful of weeks
in that position. This was over a year and a half before the Roosevelt
funeral procession description.

If I may, you're both right, in a larger sense.  The FDR airing (which
he considered an abyssmal, embarrassing fluff) did result in the network
opportunity at CBS that directly led to Arthur Godfrey's huge subsequent
career.  It is also true that he was grabbed by WJSV's GM and CBS VP
Harry Butcher, and was doing well there in the early 1930s, including
when he suffered his horrific head-on traffic crash in 1931.  Long
before the FDR funeral procession in 1945.

Mr. Godfrey did pop up on various shows including the forementioned Fred
Allen outing, as a CBS staff announcer, as he had been earlier at NBC in
Washington.  An earlier outing was a short-lived twice-weekly afternoon
CBS show called "Manhattan Parade".  He took over for Harry Frankel for
a time as "Singin' Sam, the Barbasol Man".  In 1937 he was on the
then-new "Professor Quiz " program, but Godfrey didn't feel that series
was right for him, and he remained only the first season.   But none of
those was outstandingly successful, and certainly didn't bring Mr.
Godfrey the fame and fortune which we recall today.

It was indeed Frank Stanton who heard Godfrey, heard about the reaction
to his FDR bit, and asked him to come to New York to discuss a program
opportunity on the CBS network.  Dr. Stanton, number two to William
Paley, remained Mr. Godfrey's mentor for years after. It was "Doctor
Frank" who suggested that Arthur Godfrey release Julius LaRosa on the
air, just as Mr. Godfrey had hired the young singer on the air to begin
with.  Note I say "release" and not "fire", because Julie had been
begging Mr. Godfrey for months to release him from their handshake
contract.  He was not fired, and most anyone listening to the morning
radio segment when it took place will aree that "It certainly didn't
sound like a firing!"

The Stanton-Godfrey 1945 discussion resulted in "Arthur Godfrey Time",
the weekday program which began in the afternoon, but was quickly moved
to its across the board morning slot familiar to many of us.  It became
the foundation of the truly giant Arthur Godfrey broadcasting career
from then until 1972.  At its peak it ran 90 minutes Monday through
Friday, with an edited, taped, abbreviated recap aired at various times
on weekends over several years.  Its finale came in 1972, down to a
half-hour, and the final radio network entertainment show of its type to
remain on the air.

"Arthur Godfrey Time" led to "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts", first on
Tuesday, then Monday evenings.  Both were soon simulcast, and remained
huge successes on both media.  It was not by coincidence that when CBS
reluctantly agreed to air "I Love Lucy", that it was scheduled following
the Monday night "Talent Scouts" program, to take advantage of the huge
Godfrey audience.  The success of the first two Arthur Godfrey shows on
TV resulted in the boffo Wednesday night "Arthur Godfrey and His
Friends" TV-only outing, an entirely new variety show every week.
Except for the weekend encore edition, all of these were done live, a
brutal schedule for Mr. Godfrey and his substantial cast.

There were some lagniappes along the way, such as the first commercial
color television program on CBS-TV, and the intriguing Tuesday and
Thursday night 15-minute CBS-TV programs called "Arthur Godfrey and His
Ukulele".  This  ran one season and did just what it sounds like:  it
gave ukulele instructions to whomever would listen and fret away their
worries with him.  There must have been quite a few plucking along; not
surprising as Mr. Godfrey's peak daily audience totalled 80 Million
folk!  The timing was perfect, coupled with the development of a plastic
ukulele made by luthier Mario Maccaferri, which produced quite
creditable sound and sold for $4 or $5, depending on which year of its
incredible success.  Millions of them were sold!  Maccaferri became a
millionaire, but Mr. Godfrey refused to accept a cent for his part in
the promotion of the ukulele, arguably the largest in its several
"rebirths", one of which is going on today.

So Dave Walter was technically correct that Arthur Godfrey's career did
not start with his involvement in the broadcast of the FDR funeral
procession in Washington.  It started when "Red Godfrey" was goaded by
[removed] Coast Guard friends, into appearing on a late-night local amateur
program on WFBR in Baltimore.  Or one could argue that it started when
enlistee Godfrey went to radio school in the service and got his
technical training which made him a radio engineer and, incidentally, a
"ham" radio operator (K4LIB).

But Sandy Singer was pretty much correct too, with his observation that
it was that FDR broadcast which really got the Godfrey ball rolling.
Like most successes, Godfrey's was not an overnight sensation.  It took
lots of hard work, talent, and good old American stick-to-it-iveness on
the part of Arthur Godfrey and CBS.

I say kudos to you both, and thanks for giving me this opportunity to
fill in the cracks!

Lee Munsick

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

Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 13:48:00 -0500
From: Bill Jaker <bilj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  CBS the what?

I think it would be neat on Nov 2nd if the
CBS Radio hourlies could conclude at the 3 minute format break with the
news person saying * This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System*, in
stead of *This is CBS News*. That CBS ID has not been heard since 1951!
Blessings to you [removed] Michael Paraniuk.

I also think it would be neat.  Just ask anyone under about the age of
25 what the letters CBS stand for?  In this part of the country some
will even confuse it with a drugstore chain.

--Bill Jaker

[ADMINISTRIVIA: It's unlikely they would do so; if my failing memory serves,
the Columbia name was sold many years ago. CBS currently and legally stands
[removed] Hopefully, others more versed in the technicalities can
explain more completely.  --cfs3]

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

Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 13:49:43 -0500
From: "Jerry Lewine" <Radiojer@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Can anyone confirm this?

[removed] know this is mostly a TV question, but someone sent me this and I'm
curious if anyone can confirm or deny it.

Thanks,

Jerry Lewine,
CE, KHJ, Los Angeles, retired

. .....................

Subject: Captain Kangaroo, Lee Marvin, and Mister Rogers

Quite a few of us grew up with Captain Kangaroo, as you or your children
probably did. I knew nothing of his background only that his show was both
entertaining, educational, and as kids, we looked forward to it with great
anticipation. Captain Kangaroo turned 76 recently, which is odd, because
he's never looked a day under 76. (DOB 6/27/27)

It reminded me of the following story. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried
in a grave alongside 3 and 4 star generals at Arlington National Cemetery.
His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else.
Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time,  why does
he rate burial with these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer:

I always liked Lee Marvin, but did not know the extent of his Corps
experiences. In a time when many Hollywood  stars served their country in
the armed forces, often in  rear-echelon posts where they were carefully
protected,  only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond
promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo
Jima. There is only one higher naval [removed]  the Medal Of Honor. If that
is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his
sergeant with an even greater show of bravery.

Dialog from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson: His guest was Lee Marvin.

Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that  you were a
Marine in the initial landing at Iwo [removed] and that during the course of
that action you earned the Navy Cross and  were severely wounded."

"Yeah, [removed] I got shot square in the rear and they gave me the Cross for
securing a hot spot about halfway up [removed] thing about getting
shot up on a mountain is guys gettin' shot hauling you down. But Johnny, at
Iwo I served under the bravest man I ever [removed] We both got the Cross the
same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison.

The dumb bastard actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to
move forward and get the hell off the beach. That Sergeant and I have been
lifelong friends.

When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke
and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter, and said, 'Where'd
they get you Lee?'  "Well [removed] if you make it home before me, tell Mom to
sell the outhouse!" " Johnny, I'm not [removed] Keeshan was the
bravest man I ever [removed] Bob [removed] You and the world know him as
Captain Kangaroo."

On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on
PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would leasts
uspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr.
Rogers was a [removed] Navy Seal, combat proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five
confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long sleeve sweater to cover the many
tattoo's on his forearm and biceps. A master in small arms and hand-to-hand
combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat. He hid that away and won our
hearts with his quiet wit and charm.

America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did, they quietly go about
their day to day lives, doing what they do best.  They earned our respect
and the freedoms that we all enjoy.

Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in  your midst.
Often, they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on
your side if anything ever happened.

Just a side note, Mr. Rogers was also an ordained Presbyterian minister.

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

Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 13:50:00 -0500
From: "Jerry Haendiges" <Jerry@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  OLDE TYME RADIO NETWORK

Hi friends

Here is this week's line-up for the week of 11-2-03 on my Olde Tyme Radio
[removed] Featuring Tom Heathwood's "Heritage Radio Theatre," Big John
Matthews and Steve Urbaniak's "The Glowing Dial" and my own "Same Time, Same
Station" broadcasts, being broadcast on demand 24/7 in high quality
streaming RealAudio at [removed]

Past archived broadcasts are also available there.

We look forward to seeing you there!

	Jerry

Here's this week's lineup:

SAME TIME, SAME STATION with Jerry Haendiges

I DEAL IN CRIME
Episode 10  4-5-46  "William A. Davis, If You Please"
STARS: William Gargan as Ross Dolan
ANNOUNCER: Dresser Dahlstead
MUSIC: Skitch Henderson

PEOPLE ARE FUNNY
1-5-54  "The Con Man" Part 1
Host: Art Linkletter

THE ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE
Episode 133  4-10-49  "The Stopped Watch Caper"
Stars: Howard Duff and Lurene Tuttle
Producer/Director: William Spier
Script: Bob Tallman and Gil Doud

PEOPLE ARE FUNNY
1-12-54  "The Con Man" Part 2
Host: Art Linkletter
---------------------------------------------------

HERITAGE RADIO THEATRE with Tom Heathwood

THE NEW LUM & ABNER SHOW
CBS    1948-1949    "Lum's Insurance Business"
Chester Lauk and Norris Goff in the half-hour version of the show

GANGBUSTERS
BLUE    1942    "The Case of the Wolverine"

EXCERPT: AN EVENING WITH GEORGE BURNS
Segment of a live 1982 appearance at the Shubert Theater in New York City
and introduced by Jack Benny. George was 78 at the time.
--------------------------------------------------

THE GLOWING DIAL with Big John and Matthews and Steve Urbaniak

STRANGE WILLS
Syndicated    Episode 27    "The Silver Buckles"

DICK COLE
Syndicated    Episode 7   1942    "Laura Gets Jealous"

BUNCO SQUAD
Audition    4-20-50    "The Case of the Bookworm"

THE HUNTERS
CBS Audition    11-29-48    "You Take Balistics"

COCA COLA TOP NOTCHERS
NBC    3-19-30    "Ty Cobb Interviewed"
-----------------------------------------------------

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or requests for upcoming
shows.

            Jerry Haendiges <Jerry@[removed];

  [removed]  The Vintage Radio Place
  Largest source of OTR Logs, Articles and programs on the Net

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

Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2003 13:50:10 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  11-3 births/deaths

November 3rd births

11-03-1889 - Gustave Haenschen - St. Louis, MO - d. 3-27-1980
conductor: "Palmolive Hour"; "Show Boat"; "Saturday Night Serenade"
11-03-1913 - Harry Babbitt - St. Louis, MO
singer: "Kay Kyser"s Surprise Party"; "Kay Kyser"s Kollege of Musical
Knowledge"

November 3rd death

05-31-1901 - Alfredo Antonini - Alessandra, Italy - d. 11-3-1983
conductor: "La Rosa Concerts"; "Treasure Hour of Song"

Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #396
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