Subject: [removed] Digest V01 #201
From: <[removed]@[removed]>
Date: 6/23/2001 3:10 PM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                      The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                         Volume 01 : Issue 201
                   A Part of the [removed]!
                           ISSN: 1533-9289


                           Today's Topics:

 Gunsmoke's Kitty                     ["John A. Southard" <jsouthard@[removed]]
 Radio Spirits Promotion              ["George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@hotm]
 Secret Squadron Funding              ["Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@]
 Straight Arrow residuals             ["Lois Culver" <lois@[removed];  ]
 Long-Ago Newspaper Clippings         ["Lois Culver" <lois@[removed];  ]
 Re: SUSPENSE                         [OTRChris@[removed]                   ]
 Residuals? What's that?              ["[removed]" <[removed]]
 Union rules                          ["Ed Ellers" <ed_ellers@[removed];    ]
 Straight Arrow Pow Wow               [Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];       ]
 Straight Arrow and Lois Culver       [Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];       ]
 Jim Burnette, [removed]                 [Jack A French <otrpiano@[removed]; ]
 Dragnet Book                         [Larry Gassman <lgassman@[removed]]
 I Love a Mystery                     ["Mike Kerezman" <philipmarlowe@eart]
 What's  the first thing to go?       [hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];    ]
 JOLSON ON RADIO                      [Owens Pomeroy <george_arlis@[removed]]
 Gunsmoke                             ["Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@earthl]
 Teresa Brewer/Bold Venture           ["Diane Hutchins" <hutchins@[removed]]

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

Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 18:34:19 -0400
From: "John A. Southard" <jsouthard@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Gunsmoke's Kitty

I agree with those who say Kitty was a protitute on the radio version of
Gunsmoke. Most bar girls of the old west were prosttutes and the show prided
itself in being a realistic drama. During the late 1970's I was working in
Germany for the [removed] Army and our only American entertainment was AFN Radio.
Frank Brazee had a old radio show on every day. One broadcast was a
rehearsal skit of Gunsmoke, which was never aired as a show. It was what
Kitty and Matt did behind closed a closed bedroom door. As I remember it,
Matt had trouble taking off his gunbelt which led to a lot of double
entendres and cast snickering. It was a lot of juvenile action.
Kitty did not own the Longbranch as she did in the TV version.  The name
Longbranch saloon came from an actual Dodge City saloon owned by a killer
named Luke Short.
John Southard
jsouthard@[removed]

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

Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 18:34:24 -0400
From: "George Tirebiter" <tirebiter2@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Radio Spirits Promotion

Hello All,

I'm reluctant to bring up anything else about Radio Spirits, but I just got
the RSI Summer catalog and on page 2 there is a sweepstakes announcement.
First prize is a 1941 Shadow "Blue Coal" ring.  Second through fifth prizes
are RSI gift certificates. Why mention this? The announcement says the
sweepstakes is open to "PEOPLE PLACING AN ORDER"from now until Sept 15. It
was always my understanding that if a business operates a sweepstakes it has
to be open to EVERYONE, regardless if they purchase anything or not.  Even
Publishers Clearing House (which I think is an "ethically challenged"
operation in a lot of ways) doesn't make you buy anything to participate.
Anyone have definative information on the legality of RSI's promotion?

George

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

Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 18:34:22 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Secret Squadron Funding

A Joseph Ross, speaking of Captain Midnight, asked some Digests ago,

What I'd like to know about Captain Midnight is how the Secret Squadron
was funded.  <snip> I assume that only the government could have afforded
to pay for that setup.  Did they ever say on the radio how the Secret
Squadron was funded?<<

Yes, on the first two Ovaltine shows.  Note that the TV incarnation was
so dissimilar from the radio version that what I say applied only to the
OTR (canonical) program.

On the first Ovaltine show, Captain Midnight was recruited by a high
government official, who was never named.  this official said that he was
forming "a Secret Squadron" to fight espionage and sabotage rampant
through various parts of the United States (this took place in late 1940:
World War II had already started, but the United States was officially
neutral; however, its neutrality leaned in the direction of the UHK).  He
wanted Captain Midnight to head it.  Thus, the Secret Squadron was a
government-funded organization.

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 21:36:32 -0400
From: "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Straight Arrow residuals

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr. asks:

As the widow of Howard Culver, who played Straight Arrow, is Lois Culver
getting any compensation from RSI/MediaBay for sales of Straight Arrow
tapes and/or CDs?

Surely, you jest, Stephen! :)  No, the cast and crew of Straight Arrow were
paid for their work on each show by the Advertising Agency, and that was the
end of it. If anything, Nabisco should be getting compensation for the use
of the show, as it is their property.  Since there are so few extant copies
of the show, I hardly think I'd get rich off residuals, in any case!

Lois Culver
KWLK Radio (Mutual) Longview, WA 1941-44
KFI Radio (NBC) Los Angeles CA 1945-47, 50-53
Widow of Howard Culver, actor

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

Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 21:36:34 -0400
From: "Lois Culver" <lois@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Long-Ago Newspaper Clippings

Citizen News (Hollywood), Monday June 19, 1944

RADIO (By Zuma Palmer)
Howard Culver, narrator on "We Deliver the Goods", and Isabel Jewell of "I
Love a Mystery" will be interviewed on "Open House" KNX at 4[removed]
Warren, Metropolitan baritone, will sing "the Blind Ploughman", "Di
Provenza" from "La Traviata", and the "Battle Hymn of the Republic", KFI at
5:30.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 21:37:35 -0400
From: OTRChris@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: SUSPENSE

at the time of this broadcast, the Suspense show was being
recorded for some reason on instantaneous 16* acetates. Those copies began
with program #9 and continued through #55, and, I believe, reside with the
Pacific Pioneers Broadcasters. I don't know if this is the KIRO collection.

I do know that as a sustaining program KIRO was more than willing to delete
SUSPENSE from its Tuesday/Wednesday  Night line-up . Particularly in the
early weeks .
They did record it often and play it late at night . I think I have seen a
newspaper log
that indicated an 11PM KIRO airing at times . Was it Saturday Night?  I
cannot recall.
However, by 1943 it was being regularly aired in its Tuesday Night spot at
6:30 PM .
That certainly isn't 55 weeks later which would indicate that KIRO was not
recording all of these shows to simply be able to time shift . Why they
recorded the first 55 ?
Who knows??? It has been written that part of the KIRO collection was simply
for historical purposes for later generations. We may have simply been all
too lucky that
the recording of the days schedule for so many weeks included  SUSPENSE .

-Chris

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

Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 21:37:32 -0400
From: "[removed]" <[removed]@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Residuals? What's that?

On Fri, 22 Jun 2001 18:52:17 -0400, hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
wrote:

Will, back in them thar days, the concept of residuals was nonexistent.
One was paid for doing the show, and that's all she wrote. usually
scale,
unless you were a Lead or "Star", and even then, the amount varied,
depending if the Program was "sustaining" or "sponsored".

Did you contract to perform in a recording as well as a broadcast?  If
not, and especially if the original employment contracts forbad or
limited use of recordings (or rebroadcasts, as network union contracts
apparently did), then it would appear that the claimed owners of these
shows have no more right to market them without your consent than
they do if the shows contain underlying copyrighted works (such as
copyright-protected original short stories, plays, movies, or music).

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

Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 22:18:33 -0400
From: "Ed Ellers" <ed_ellers@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Union rules

<[removed]@[removed]; wrote:

No, that's not all there is to it (in many cases):  The owners of the
underlying copyrighted material must agree to use of their original stories
and [removed]

Yes, indeed, unless *all* of those copyrights have also lapsed.

...and the union people who helped produce the programs--who agreed to
produce broadcasts, not _recordings_ --must also approve and be
compensated.

But what if (A) all the copyrights have lapsed, and (B) the distributor does
not have a contract with that union?  I don't see how the distributor could
be forced to abide by union rules if it does not have either a contract with
the union or a contract with someone else obligating them to follow union
rules, and if all copyrights have lapsed the parties that *are* bound by
union rules (the network, the producer, etc.) no longer have any say in the
matter.

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

Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 23:19:51 -0400
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Straight Arrow Pow Wow

William Harper reported:
When we began publishing POW-WOW, we actually called it Straight Arrow
POW-WOW, but were advised by NABISCO that they owned the rights to Straight
Arrow.

Now this is where it gets confusing to me. I would have thought that
calling your publication "Straight Arrow Pow Wow" would be a trademark. I
checked the Trademark web site and found nothing for that, or just
"Straight Arrow" related to Nabisco Brands.

If Radio Spirits wants to protect their name, they trademark it (which they
have). So why couldn't you use "Straight Arrow Pow Wow." Especially, since
I see multitudes of trademarks listed using "Straight Arrow" in some form.

Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]

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

Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 23:19:43 -0400
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Straight Arrow and Lois Culver

Steve Kallis asks:

As the widow of Howard Culver, who played Straight Arrow, is Lois Culver
getting any compensation from RSI/MediaBay for sales of Straight Arrow
tapes and/or CDs?

Someone from Radio Spirits can correct me in this digest if I am wrong, but
while I have heard that Amari does sometimes make arrangements with living
actors who appeared in certain radio shows, that was mostly to help seal
his "ownership."  In other words, it was a "scratch my back, I'll scratch
yours" arrangement.

As Lois probably does not have any rights in any of the Straight Arrow
programs, other than her husband having been the character, then I suspect
that RS has not made any arrangements with her since it would be to his
advantage not to do so.

To try to balance this out, RS does not have to take the "moral high
ground" and offer her something just because her husband did a marvelous
job creating the character. RS is a business  and thus is not obligated in
any way.

As a disclaimer, I am not defending RS, but let's be realistic. He is
trying to corner a market and has the "pockets" to attempt it. As ruthless
as it might seem, he certainly has the right. I would hate to see it
happen, and I think that sometimes he makes claims he doesn't have to some
shows in order to use scare tactics to keep others out of that corner he is
trying to buy.

Certainly, no one else seems to be doing it. Or no one else has the
"pockets" to do it. People like icons of evil. For some it might be a
foreign country, or a ruthless dictator. For some foreigners it might be
the USA. For fans of old time radio, when re-broadcast was the rage it
might have been Charles Michelson. But for those same fans in the Internet
age it seems to be Radio Spirits.

Some time back, someone proposed a sort of OTR Coalition. While I am
skeptical about such an attempt, it might be the best way to challenge a
business like RS. On its own turf. RS certainly can't prevent it and would
be forced to have to deal with it. For fans like us, we are just irritants
that can be brushed aside no matter loud we cry.

Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]

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

Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 00:08:29 -0400
From: Jack A French <otrpiano@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Jim Burnette, [removed]

We regret to inform the OTR community of the death of Jim Burnette, the
founder of the Metropolitan Washington OTR Club. He died recently at his
home in Florida.

In 1984, Jim, then an employee at the Pentagon in Washington, DC founded
our radio club, with three other members he recruited at the Pentagon. For
the first year, he served as President, Editor, and Program Chairman.
Although he was legally blind for most of his adult life, his enthusiasm,
dedication, and love of OTR never faltered.

Jim was a frequent attendee at OTR conventions, including those in Newark
and Cincinnati.  He will be missed by the 240 members of MWOTRC and his
many friends in this hobby throughout the [removed]

Expressions of sympathy can be mailed to his widow, Deby Burnette, at 2400
Sunrise Drive, Sebring, FL 33872.

Jack French
MWOTRC

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

Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 10:36:27 -0400
From: Larry Gassman <lgassman@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Dragnet Book

Three years ago, John and I aided Michael Hayde in his research for a new
Drag Net book which will be out shortly.
We are planning an interview with him which should air shortly on the
various radio shows we host.
Earlier this week, he wrote John a note which may be of interest to you.
Larry Gassman

- -----
As you may know, the book is now finished and will be shipping one week
from today.  It is titled "MY NAME'S FRIDAY: The Unauthorized but True
Story of DRAGNET and the Films of Jack Webb" and is published by
Cumberland House in Nashville TN (also known for "The Abbott and Costello
Story," "The Addams Chronicles" and "The Munchkins of Oz").

I thought I'd pass the following information on to you, in hopes that it
could be posted wherever you thought it would be most helpful.  Thanks
again for all your help, past and future - and, naturally, you and Larry
are properly thanked in the Acknowledgements of my book.

= =============================
I'll be hosting a brief "Dragnet" discussion at the REPS Showcase IX in
Seattle WA on Saturday June 30, at 9:45 am.  I'll be joined by Herb
Ellis, Harry Bartell and Sam Edwards.

On July 13, I'll be giving a "Dragnet" presentation at the monthly
meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Old Time Radio Club, in Arlington
VA.  This will include excerpts from classic "Dragnet" radioplays as well
as the 1953 TV episode "The Big Break."  For more information, contact
Jack French at otrpiano@[removed].

On Sunday, July 15, I'll be interviewed by Ed Walker for "THE BIG
BROADCAST."  The program will include the radio version of "The Big
Break" from December 1950.  You can hear it on [removed], WAMU-FM in the
metropolitan Washington [removed] area, or via streaming audio at [removed].

I will also (tentatively) be co-hosting (w/Derek Tague) a "Dragnet" panel
at the Friends of Old-Time Radio Convention in Newark NJ on Saturday,
October 27.  More details to follow in the near future.

Meanwhile, my book "MY NAME'S FRIDAY: The Unauthorized but True Story of
DRAGNET and the Films of Jack Webb" should be on store shelves within the
next two weeks.  This is the definitive story - and I can tell you that
Leonard Maltin read an advance copy and loved it.  If isn't in your local
bookstore, please ask for it!

Sincerely,
Michael J. Hayde
Manassas, VA

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

Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 10:36:24 -0400
From: "Mike Kerezman" <philipmarlowe@[removed];
To: "Old Time Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  I Love a Mystery

Does anyone why I've seen ILAM particularly The Temple of the Vampires
listed as 20 episodes w/ several missing episodes but in other places I've
seen it listed as 15 episodes. The version I have from Carl Froelich, Jr has
15 episodes with episodes 9 , 10, and 13 missing. In other places I've seen
it listed as 20 episodes with larger number of missing episodes. The version
I have susposedly runs from Jan 2 thru Jan 20 1950. I've also heard of this
serial with a recreation of lost episodes mixed in. Any info would be
appreciated ?

Sincerely,

Mike Kerezman

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

Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 11:13:10 -0400
From: hal stone <dualxtwo@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  What's  the first thing to go?

I "sit" corrected. I'm too tired to "Stand"!

My thanks to two Digest pals for setting the record straight. My chat room
buddy "Kenneyfan" saves my butt. She e-mailed me privatelyŠ obviously to
save me some embarrassmentŠ and brought the following to my attention.

<Hi Hal,

<I noticed in your posting to the Digest today that you spelled your radio
<father's name Arthur COLE. In all of the books and magazines I have from
<that time period as well as those recently written about radio it's spelled
< KOHL.
<snip>
< Thought I would mention it to you in case someone brings it up. But of
< course you knew him so maybe there is a reason behind your spelling?

There sure is a reason [removed] And a darn good one. I'm losing my mind. But if
the truth be known, over the many years that I worked with Arthur, I don't
think I ever saw his name "spelled". All I remember is when the announcer
gave the cast credit at the end of the program, he always said, "Mr. Andrews
was played by Arthur Cole". I never "heard" him say Arthur Kohl. :)

Seriously, the entire cast's name was on the front page of every script,
opposite the part they were playing. I guess I never bothered to look
closely at the spelling. I usually "doodled" on the first page, after making
sure my name was still listed opposite the part of "Jughead". :)

What's that they say about "Type Casting"?  Sorry for the "teenage years"
goof folk's. And thanks again [removed], for the input.

Now for my second "Ooops, Sorry" posting.

Bill Phillips sent me a nice note about "Irish Cops" in Riverdale, (The
setting for the Archie Andrews Show") when I jokingly referred to Walter
Kinsella's brogue when he played a cop on the show. He also saidŠ

Oh, feel free to quote me if you like.)

So, Bill, I will!

Bob Montana (1920-1975), in 1941, created the "Archie Comic Strip"
depicting his days as a student at Haverhill High School (HHS). Montana was a
member of HHS class of 1939. HHS is called Riverdale High in the comics
presumably because of the influence of the Merrimack River.
"The Thinker" stills sits outside at HHS's front entrance. The main
characters, Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and Reggie are all based on
Montana's real-life friends at HHS and their teenage adventures.
<SNIP>
So, in Northeastern Massachusetts, an Irish cop would hardly be out
of place, right? Clearly what you thought was a New York Irish accent
was actually a South Boston accent!

Au Contraire, [removed] Pants! :)

Since Mr. Montana had nothing whatsoever to do with the "Archie" Radio
Program scripts, I'd bet Bob Hastings last dollar that Carl Jampel, who
wrote all of the scripts (well over 500) didn't have a clue where the town
of Riverdale was supposed to be. Otherwise, he would have "Jughead" say
something like, "Hey Archie; Paak the Caar over here while we go "Egg" Teddy
Kennedy's house!" :)

One good natured "Tweak" deserves another.

Warm regards,
Hal(Harlan)Stone

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

Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 12:29:36 -0400
From: Owens Pomeroy <george_arlis@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  JOLSON ON RADIO

"America's Greatest Entertainer" really did not need
to have a radio show.  He did not need the exposure,
being the highest paid entertainer at that time.
Radio, being what it was, scooping up all the talent
from films & Broadway, appproached Jolson to appear on
Radiob -  not he approaching them.  He was offered a
deal he just couldn't refuse from Lux Radio Theatre,
to recreate his role in The Jazz Singer, years after
he played it on film.  And he was also offered the
opportunity to portray himself in the Lux Radio
versions of "The Jolson Story & "Jolson Sings Again!"
(who else could have done it)?

Like was said in an earlier posting. Jolson's radio
career was medicore, to say the least, and Broadway
and films was the mediums where he really excelled
where the audience could see him.  In his Eulogy for
Jolson at his funeral, His long-time friend, Georhge
Jessel closed with these words nas true today as they
were then: ". . . Gteat entertainers come once in a
lifetime - but a Jolson comes but once!"

Owens Pomeroy

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

Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 13:06:38 -0400
From: "Harry Machin, Jr." <harbev5@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Gunsmoke

On the topic of prostitution in Dodge City (Gunsmoke),
I never heard any radio episode that indicated Kitty was
"for hire."  But, I'm sure many of you who saw the early
half-hour, black & white TV Gunsmoke will remember
seeing men and women going upstairs together (but
always in the background).

Harry Machin, Jr.

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

Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 13:14:30 -0400
From: "Diane Hutchins" <hutchins@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Teresa Brewer/Bold Venture

I was wondering if anyone had any information on the radio appearances of
Teresa Brewer(I'm spelling it like it sounds).  Also, does anyone know if
there
is a Bold Venture log on the web?

Nathan Hutchins

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V01 Issue #201
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