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		====  INFO SECTION UPDATED 8/19/95  ====
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	    [removed]   Volume 95 : Issue 436


Articles in this issue of [removed]:

	 Jack Benny & early TV
	 essential programs and dementia
	 "required" core shows
	 Re: Essential programs
	 Re: Jack Benny Tribute
	 The OTR Top 40????
	 "It pays to be Ignorant"
	 "Essential" list of shows
	 When Radio Was

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

Date: Wed, 6 Dec 1995 22:04:13 -0800 (PST)
From: roy547@[removed] (Roy Trumbull)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jack Benny & early TV
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

With regard to early television techniques:
I was in NYC in 1953 and saw Mr. Peepers with Wally Cox
done live. The sets were side by side so that he could go
through a door into the next room and be picked up by
the camera on the other side of the partition. The set
fronts were all open. I also saw the Original Amateur
Hour with Ted Mack and it was just one open set with the
cameras crawling about. 
It was well into the 60s before the zoom lens was in wide
use. The cameras on the Benny Special were authentic in
that they had a multiple lens arrangement. One lens would
be rotated into place by the operator with a range to
provide the required shot. They were probably black and
white models (monochrome) as a color camera of that era
was much larger. Eventually they shrunk down to that size
when color went from 4 tubes to three and a zoom lens was
used.
Having the freedom to move about the stage would have
given much of the feel of vaudville to both performer and
audience. But television is the medium of the close-up;
long shots aren't very good on TV. So its interesting that
both TV and radio thrive on intimacy to draw us in.

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

Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 03:07:55 -0600 (CST)
From: Bruce Toews <bruce@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: essential programs and dementia
Message-ID: <[removed]@[removed]>

I consider myself a true collector, and it is my view (just mine, maybe, 
but mine nonetheless) that an essential program is a program which you 
enjoy. A true appreciation of the hobby means that you try to collect 
those programs that you enjoy. The converse, of course, is that you enjoy 
all those programs which you collect. I, for example, would limit my 
collection to Jack Benny, Fibber McGee and Molly, the Bickersons, the 
Life of Riley, Life with Louigi (SP???), some carefully-chosen Suspense, 
etc., because I enjoy those. Someone else might have a different tast, 
and would limit their selections accordingly. Other people truly enjoy 
collecting for the sake of collecting. I think that's one of the beauties 
of this hobby as opposed to, say, stamp collecting. I mean, how long can 
you truly enjoy a good stamp? On the other hand, I can whip out one of my 
Jack Benny tapes, and even though I've heard it many times, I still enjoy 
it. No offense intended, by the way, to stamp collectors. You guys notice 
something in stamps that I don't, and more power to you for it.

A quick note about Dr. Demento, since it has nothing to do with OTR. He's 
on On-The-Radio Productions now, Westwood One dropped the show about four 
years ago.

Bruce

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

Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 08:47:45 -0500
From: stevecap@[removed] (Steven Capsuto)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: "required" core shows
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

>programs, Leinengen vs. the Ants and Three Skeleton Key. What else? I Love
>Adventure? Adventures by Morse? If so, which ones?

I agree on both of those ESCAPE broadcasts, but if you're looking for Morse
adventure shows, the "required" one, to my mind, is I LOVE A MYSTERY: "The
Thing That Cries in the Night."


>Westerns, crime & detective shows, kids' shows, soaps, quizzes, etc. Of
>course, the list grows and grows. But what is *essential*? 

Pretty much anything from GUNSMOKE is essential - prefereably ones which
survive in excellent sound quality, since the many layers of sound design
are part of what makes the show work (in addition to the writing, direction,
acting, etc. -- also top-notch.)

Other good starting points that even grab the attention of non-OTR fans --
AMOS 'N ANDY (The French Car), SCREEN GUILD ("Arsenic and Old Lace"), LUX
RADIO THEATER ("The Maltese Falcon"), JACK BENNY (Jack's 40th Birthday).
This is just off the top of my head.  I'm sure that if I glanced at my
cassette shelves, some truly basic titles would leap out.

___
Steven Capsuto, Philadelphia
stevecap@[removed]
WEB page: [removed]~[removed]

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

Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 11:47:14 -0500
From: Jblackie@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Essential programs
Message-ID: <951207114713_127442089@[removed]>

In a message dated 95-12-07 10:14:05 EST, Alan Bell writes:

>I would be interested in knowing what other collectors consider
>"essential," that is, programs any collector/appreciator of OTR should have
>or at least be familiar with. I know there is a great deal of leeway, given
>personal taste and so on, but one must expect any aficianado of the subject
>to have at least a nodding acquaintance with a certain core of broadcasts.
>Kind of like classical music fans being familiar with the so-called "basic
>repertoire."

I'll bite.  But you'll NEVER get a concensus, here, I'm willing to bet!

***** I started my list first, then came back up here to propose catagories :
 ******

Sci/Fi (no juvenile shows, please) - 

Horror - Programs that were designed ONLY to evoke horror.  Some Suspense or
             Escape might fit, but the SERIES were not geared ONLY to horror.

Drama - (self explanatory)

Crime Drama - The crime fighters/detectives

Western -  (self explanatory)

Comedy - (self explanatory)

Juvenilia - [removed] Big Jon & Sparky, Jack Armstrong, Superman (?)

One of a Kinds-  Those series that have only 1 or 2 available tapes that MUST
be heard.

After thought: (How about "Stinkers?"  Those SO BAD, you HAVE TO hear them?)


******************************************************************************
**********************


My votes are [removed]

(in the order of my own brain activity)

Sci/Fi - 
  If You Was a Monklin - X Minus 1
  The Roads Must Roll - X Minus 1
  The Embassy - Dimension X
 
Western-
  Gunsmoke - The New Hotel (rehersal) [this could be under comedy, as well]
  Fort Laramie - Massacre
  Lone Ranger - The Return of Butch Cavandish

Drama-
  Suspense - House in Cypress Canyon
  Suspense - Three Skeleton Key
  Escape - Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge
  Big Town - The Harding Factory Fire Trap
  Mercury Theatre - Dracula

Crime Drama-
  Sam Spade, Detective  - Betrayal in Bumpus Hell
  The Shadow - The Gibbering Things
  The Shadow - House of Horror
  The Shadow - The Little Man Who Wasn't There
  Philip Marlowe - The Kid on the Corner

Horror-
  Theater 10:30 - The Screaming Skull (Newer OTR)
  Lights Out - The Dark
  Inner Sanctum - Corridor of Doom
  Inner Sanctum - The Wailing Wall
  Quiet Please - The Thing on the Fourble Board
  Weird Circle - The Thing in the Tunnel

Adventure-
  I Love a Mystery - Bury Your Dead, Arizona
  Adventures by Morse - Dead Men Prowl

Comedy-
  (sorry, no expertise or opinions either, from me. But I DO love the
Bickersons!)

Juvenilia -
  ????? (Nothing for me, thanks!)

One of a Kinds-
  Latitude Zero - Discovery

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

Date: Thu, 07 Dec 1995 11:22:11 -0600
From: "Andrew C. Green" <acg@[removed]>
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Jack Benny Tribute
Message-Id: <[removed]@dlogics>

Kubelski@[removed] (unsigned) writes:
>Also, several clips on the show I had never seen before, and that really
>impressed me given my devotion to Jack's work.  One question, if that Marilyn
>Monroe show exists someplace for them to take clips from, how come the Museum
>of TV & Radio doesn't have it and how come no company has ever issued a
>cassette for purchase?

Good point. And, for that matter, how come no one is rebroadcasting the
Benny shows? "I Love Lucy" in all its variations has been rebroadcast
ad nauseum for years, yet the Benny show, also produced for years and
years, is nowhere to be seen. I'd have thunk that a network such as
Nickelodeon would have picked it up, at least for a short while, as part
of its "Nick at Nite" rotation of old, restored shows. Given the wide
availability of his radio programs, I'm puzzled as to why his television
work seems to be buried.

Andrew C. Green            (312) 266-4431
Adobe Systems, Inc. (formerly Frame Technology)
Advanced Product Services
441 W. Huron               Internet: acg@[removed]
Chicago, IL  60610-3498    FAX: (312) 266-4473

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

Date: Thu, 07 Dec 1995 12:27:21 EST
From: bedtime@[removed] ( DAVID ALLAN BOUCHER)
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: The OTR Top 40????
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

-- [ From: Me/Radio * [removed] #[removed] ] --

Being an old top 40 discjockey that I [removed]  and a fan of [removed]  I
got to wondering if there was a comprehensive list of 'the most
popular' OTR [removed]

Maybe a top 10 [removed] possibly the OTR top 40? 

Is there any way to gauge this????
Thoughts?

Thanks!

Dave

David Allan Boucher
Magic [removed]
WMJX-Boston

Internet Addresses: WMJX@[removed] - WMJX@[removed]

 WWW:  [removed]
 (Note: all above letters are lower case, except the 'MA'.)

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

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

Date:    Thu, 7 Dec 95 15:00 EST
From: "peter deHART" <PJD3@[removed]>
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: "It pays to be Ignorant"
Message-Id: <m0tNmV7-000YGJC@[removed]>

Hello: Really enjoying the digest and find it so infomative. I am
interested in learning if anyone can recommend a source for "It pays
to be Ignorant." I only see the series advertised infrequently and the
number of shows accessible seem to be sparse. I think that "It pays to be
Ignorant" is one of the silliest and most entertaining programs to come
out of the 1940's. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.
                                                Peter

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

Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 14:13:00 -0500
From: JRayb71827@[removed]
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: "Essential" list of shows
Message-ID: <951207140117_47363735@[removed]>

As in the ancient axiom, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," so it is in
the request by Alan Bell for a list of "essential" shows to collect.  This is
an impossibility to put together with every individual having preferences.
 Believe it or not, I know one collector who simply doesn't like Fred Allen,
that most erudite of comedians.  He DOES like the more than somewhat cornball
humor of Judy Canova.  To each his own.  From a historical standpoint, Rudy
Vallee probably introduced as many or more stars-to-be because he had one of
the earliest variety shows.  You can categorize from here to yonder and still
find it's a matter of personal taste or area of interest.  Alan did suggest
maybe a "100 shows" for an essential list and again, that's personal choice.
 That would never be enough for me because I think of the time when I'll be
even older than now and want to hark back to the Golden Age.  Even a hundred
shows would eventually wear thin.  Therefore, my suggestion is to bone up on
as many shows as possible and collect as many as finances and storage space
allow.  Read OTR newsletters for tips.  There are several very good ones,
including mine, available.  I do exchanges with several of the better ones
and could post a list of them if anyone feels that would be of value to them.
  

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

Date: Thu, 7 Dec 95 20:26 EST
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]>
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: When Radio Was
Message-Id: <m0tNrZl-000JewC@[removed]>

>I had the same problem once too.
>
>I travel enough that I want to know where and when I should tune in when
>visiting other cities or regions. I called Radio Spirits for a list of their
>stations nationwide and they wouldn't send me one for the same reasons Radio
>Joe mentioned. I find it paranoid as well. While I never heard Michelson's
>program, When Radio Was is an excellent show and they should not feel
>threatened by anyone in the least. There is nothing to fear. Very odd.
>

maybe we are enough strong that we can build a reasonable list to help others
in such situations as above.  

Here is my entry:


WSAI 1530 AM Radio (Cincinnati)  Weeknights at 11:00pm.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Widner                      INTERNET: jwidner@[removed]
Dayton, OH                      WWW: [removed]
COMPUSERVE: 74566,3041          AOL: JimWidner  
                          

                                                 

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

    


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---- 
End of [removed] Digest V95 Issue #436

