From:	SMTP%"[removed]@[removed]" 31-OCT-1995 17:57[removed]
To:	otr@[removed]
CC:	
Subj:	[removed] Digest V95 #344

 
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SEE INFO SECTION AT END OF THIS DIGEST FOR UNSUBSCRIBE AND OTHER INFORMATION. 
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	    [removed]   Volume 95 : Issue 344


Articles in this issue of [removed]:

	 Sparky associates, Subject lines
	 Peter Potter/Make Believe Ballroom
	 Longevity of recordings
	 Christmas Shows
	 75th Anniversary of Radio
	 Courtesy to OTR writers
	 Texas Rangers is a lame show
	 Disappointed so many collectors still using reels

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

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 95 07:59:43 est
From: lee_maschmeyer@[removed]
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Sparky associates, Subject lines
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

I sent this in last week but I think it got caught by the crash.  My 
apologies to anyone who has already seen [removed]

Last night I got out my Sparky records.  Here is what I found out:

All four Sparky records (Sparky and the Talking Train, Sparky's Magic 
Piano, Sparky's Music Mix-up, and Sparky's Magic Baton), along with Rusty 
in Orchestraville, starred the same person: Henry Blaire, noted in one of 
them as "the talented Hollywood child actor".  

All except the Magic Baton were written by Alan Livingston.  The Magic 
Baton was by Robert(?) Wilheim.

Alan Livingston produced and directed all five records.

All had music by Billy May.

Talking sounds were "by Sonovox".

The announcer in the Magic Piano was Vern Smith.  The main other speaking 
part in Rusty (it might just have said Henry Blaire with:) was Billy 
Bletcher.  (A guy with a great big voice like that called Billy?)

The piano in the Magic Piano was played by Ray Turner.

Sparky's Magic Baton is an album with pictures (though no tabs to cause 
animation as with a book of the Talking Train remembered by someone 
earlier).  There is no text in this book.  I am blind and obviously have no 
personal experience, but I thought all the other records with pictures I 
had come across also had the text so the kid could read along with the 
story.

NO other cast member was mentioned!

To my ears (critical within their range, but with no measurable high 
frequency hearing which is where voices differ), the father in Talking 
Train sounds more like Billy Bletcher than the announcer (Marvin Miller as 
someone else said).  If Miller did play more than one part, perhaps it was 
the train conductor (though I never would have guessed it).  The father 
seems to have been minimally closer to the mic, or to have had a more bassy 
mic.

------------ New subject ------------

I would like to make a request of all list members.  Please include all 
topics in a message on the subject line.  When I have an active project 
here at work, I can only skim the digests, and I do so by looking at the 
list of subjects at the beginning of each issue.  If a topic is not 
mentioned in this list, I quite likely will not see it.  If I see something 
I'm interested in, I scan for that subject specifically and don't look at 
the rest of the stuff.

thanks very much.  I would hate to miss part of a good discussion because 
it was not mentioned in a subject.

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

Date: 31 Oct 95 11:00:12 EST
From: Frank Kelly <[removed]@[removed]>
To: Oldtime Radio Digest <otr@[removed]>
Subject: Peter Potter/Make Believe Ballroom
Message-ID: <[removed]@[removed]>

Here's most of the answers to the questions on the above subjects.
Peter Potter hosted a show called Juke Box Jury where new records where judged
by teenagers, I think.  I'm not sure i ever heard the show.  I believe it was a
New York show and I grew up in the Philadelphia area.  The show's catch phrase
was: Is it a_HIT_or a miss?

Make Believe Ballroom was arguably the most famous DJ show ever.  It was hosted
by Martin Block starting almost from the signon on of WNEW New York.  In later
years it was hosted by William B. Williams who coined the appellation The
Chairman of the Board for Frank Sinatra--probably in reaction to the King, Duke,
and Count of standard popular music.  Jonathan Schwartz, still heard on WQEW as
earlier posted, may have hosted the MBBR after William B's death a few years
ago.  When WNEW died :-(, it seemed like the MBBR died with it. But no!

The MBBR lives on at a high school station, WSHR Lake Ronkonkoma Long Island New
York [removed] hosted by a man named Marsh Davis.  WSHR, one of the funkiest radio
stations in the country, broadcasts mostly music of the thirties and forties
without commercials or even intros.  Occasionally they will do an aircheck of  a
band remote.  They used to do OTR every day at 5PM but shut it off without
explanation a few months back.  If, in addition to OTR you are into other
artifacts of the forties as I am, WSHR is a jewel.  Unfortunately it can only be
heard in western Suffolk County Long Island.

I have a copy of WNEW's 50th Anniversary book at home which has more info on the
MBBR, but I'm sending this posting from a hotel room in Taipei Taiwan where I'm
on a business trip, so I can't consult it.

Frank Kelly, Greenport New York

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

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 13:59:37 GMT
From: "Robert M. Bratcher Jr." <bratcher@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Longevity of recordings
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

I don't think this got through (For some reason) so here is a second try.
There has been much dicussion about how long our OTR recordings will last. I
speak from my own experience with cassettes and some open reel tapes. I have
had some prerecorded cassettes go bad on me either jamming up or squealing
however the blank tapes I have bought with a very few exceptions has held up
very well. My self recorded cassettes go back about 15 years. They have been
kept in the hard plastic cases at normal home temperatures in those Radio
Shack 60 cassette carry cases. Some have been played a lot while others
played very little. Now please don't swamp me with a catalog order there is
none since my OTR collection is only about 10% of my tapes. The rest is
classical music off the radio, some live recordings made with a stereo or
mono portable recorder in my lap at concerts I have attended the others are
LP's borrowed from librarys. I guess I have some 300 or so tapes. What open
reels I have play just fine today with no squeals. I'm either very lucky or
tapes going bad doesn't happen quite that often. My OR's are Scotch, Maxell,
TDK, a little Ampex with some Reaves Soundcraft, Irish and Audiotape along
with a reel or two of other brands. Most of the reels were bought used. I
have play tested several of them recorded anywhere from 5 to 30 years ago
with no problems. The bulk of the tapes are Mylar with the older ones being
Acetate. Again very few of my cassettes or open reels have gone bad due to
age. Maybe they will last another 20 or so years. Only time will tell. By
the way most of my ORs are tapes of my SWLing since 1974 with a small amount
of prerecorded fare mostly classical and some used sermons that someone else
made in a church along with other home recorded (off the radio) classical
music. Yes I'm way off topic (otr that is) so please forgive me I just
thought I would relate my experience with tapes. No way will I copy it to
other formats. Too expensive plus I just don't have the time!

Robert M. Bratcher Jr.
E-mail to:
bratcher@[removed]
Beam me up Scotty!
(I'm a real Star Trek fan)
AND one heck of an old radio nut.
Just love those tube type Boatanchors!

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

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 16:06:50 -0500
From: celtic@[removed] (Stuart Joseph)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Christmas Shows
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

>
>Any other thoughts, suggestions or ideas about Holiday shows?
>I'm working on my Christmas supplement now, and could use some
>inspiration!
>
>Bob Burnham; BRC Productions; [removed] Box 2645; Livonia, MI 48151
************************************************************
Dear Bob, 
What about Lionel Barrymore's "Christmas Carol?"
_________________________________________________________________
Stuart Joseph 
Celtic Cultures
RR 2 Box 164
Houghton Brook Road
Putney, VT 05346 [removed]
(802) 387-KILT (5458) (voice)
(802) 387- 4831 (fax, but call first, so I can turn on computer)
e-mail: celtic@[removed]
Web page catalogue: [removed]~celtic/
Your source of all things Celtic-- if it's Celtic, we'll get it!

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

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 1995 16:39:07 EST
From: DFEQ02A@[removed] (MR JOSEPH ANDOLINA JR)
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: 75th Anniversary of Radio
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

I've seen the recent postings of the 75th Anniversary celebration 
that was broadcast on radio this past Sunday.  To my kinowledge, my 
area (Seattle, WA) did not carry a feed.  I was wondering if anybody 
on this digest recorded it and would be willing to trade ( or other 
arangements) a copy of the two hour broadcast?  I for onbe would love 
to hear it since I was "deprived".

Joe

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

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 95 11:54:24 EST
From: platecap@[removed] (Bob B)
To: otr@[removed]
Cc: platecap@[removed]
Subject: Courtesy to OTR writers
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

My article currently being written for the PRINTED version of Old Time
Radio Digest (not affiliated with this list) talks about collectors
reactions to what they read in print and also how they respond.

I imagine this article won't see print for a few months at least, but
thought I'd throw a few comments out as my thoughts are being
crystalized.

This is partially in response to a controversy that I stirred
unintentionally from an article written over a year ago.  It's hard to
believe that people can get angry at you for writing POSITIVE things,
but it's absolutely true and further underlines the power of writing.

Unfortunately, at least two editors in the old time radio printed media
don't respect or understand that power.  That's unfortunate.

With old time radio shows, the copyright of the shows themselves is a
grey area.  Many times, we don't know who (if anyone) may have any
residual rights to the programs.

With the written word both on paper and electronically in 'net pubs such
as this one, there is NO QUESTION that the writer that created that
article or post (if anyone) can claim his own copyright on those words.
In hobby pubs, they can be rather loosely maintained, but it's common
knowledge that someone is not going to do something like reprint a
digest issue without asking permission of someone.

SHAME ON those OTR club newsletters who operate otherwise!!!
If any of them had WANTED an article, all they needed to do was ask.

A tip of the hat to those clubs whose newsletter editors have always
been courteous and a pleasure to work with:  (here's the list)
Golden Radio Buffs of Maryland (On the Air); Old Time Radio Club
(Illustrated Press); Cincinnati OTR Club (Radio Listeners Lyceum); NARA
(NARA News); SPERDVAC (Radiogram), and of course, the mainstays of OTR
not affiliated with a club, the afore mentioned OTR Digest and Jay's
Hello Again. I probably left some out, but at least 2 won't make it to
this list with the current editors in place.
Another point is as a more visible writer in the OTR press, I don't
expect (or even desire) everyone (or even anyone) to necessarily agree
with comments, and in fact invite opposing comments.  What I *DO* strive
for it to make some remarks with "meat" to them, that cause OTR fans to
THINK (and respond).

Bob Burnham; BRC Productions; [removed] Box 2645; Livonia, MI 48151
voice (313) 277-3798;  fax (313) 277-3095; internet platecap@[removed]
nobody

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

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 95 11:27:18 EST
From: platecap@[removed] (Bob B)
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Texas Rangers is a lame show
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Sorry I don't share the same view about Tales of the Texas Rangers.
Mr. Keach's interest in having it removed from collectors hands is fine
with me.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, it's actually old [removed]
only recently has Keach gotten around to pestering the clubs.  He was
after dealers several years ago to pull them out.  I happily did!  No
one wanted them anyway.

Comparing "Tales" to Gunsmoke is almost a vulgar thought.
There is no show that compares to Gunsmoke.  Another really good western
is Have Gun Will Travel, and if you really have to rank them, 'smoke
would be #1 and Have Gun #2.  A lot of collectors like Fort Laramie with
Raymund Burr,also.  That's a good one, too.

Tales of the Texas Rangers is only a half notch above Pinto Pete in
Arizona which is probably one of the worlds worst westerns produced.

Many of the vendors with the slickly packaged cassettes pay ransom fees
to people like Keach, who actually think their shows are going to make
them a ton of money, and that millions will pay for it.

Guess again!  This is the 1990's and the only way the MARGINAL shows
like "Tales" will survive is if collectors actively preserve and promote
them.  Some shows are not worth our time, effort and money. This is one
of 'em. If there is an individual trying to "control" a product not many
people want, it's a guarantee that product will eventually fade into
oblivion.  Sure, you can jam it down the throat of the general public
and sell a few, but that vendor paying the royalities ultimately will be
stuck with a warehouse full of unsold inventory that he'll have to take
a loss on.

Just my [removed] for what it's worth!

Bob Burnham; BRC Productions; [removed] Box 2645; Livonia, MI 48151
voice (313) 277-3798;  fax (313) 277-3095; internet platecap@[removed]
nobody

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

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 95 12:07:58 EST
From: platecap@[removed] (Bob B)
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Disappointed so many collectors still using reels
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

One of the things that was still somewhat evident at the recent Newark
convention was the number of collectors still using 7" open reels.

The majority of active OTR people use cassettes today.
In the 1960's, the majority of OTR collectors used half-track (mono)
reels.  In the 1970's, many switched to 1/4 track reels which allowed
twice as many shows to be fit onto tape.  The 1980's saw the migration
to cassettes.  As the cassettes continue to improve in quality, we saw
cassettes become the preferred standard by the 1990's.

Today, unfortunately, there are still many people trading on reels.
If we were trading studio format reels on high quality tape, I would not
have a problem.  But 1/4 track at 3-3/4 speed still seems to be the
norm.  It is understandable that many of us (myself included) have built
up large collections of 1/4 track [removed] but to perpetuate this format
doesn't seem wise for the long term.

Of course, cassettes may not seem as durable, but if treated and stored
properly, the long term storage does not seem to be a problem.  The only
thing that might go wrong is the pressure pad come unglued -- which is
of course, repairable.

The thing that we REALLY need to be aware of is the quality aspect. 1/4
reels at 3-3/4 are bad -- cassettes are better, especially in this day.

But cassettes are ALSO on the way out!
CDs are not practical right now, and DAT (Digital Audio Tape) has its
own set of problems.

The bottom line is NOTHING lasts forever.  In the meantime, it's
probably in our best interest to use the best technology we can afford
for old time radio -- and that technology is NOT open reel quarter
tracked at 3-3/4 on government surplus tape!

Just my opinion.

Bob Burnham; BRC Productions; [removed] Box 2645; Livonia, MI 48151
voice (313) 277-3798;  fax (313) 277-3095; internet platecap@[removed]
nobody

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

    


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---- 
End of [removed] Digest V95 Issue #344
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