Subject: [removed] Digest V2003 #331
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 9/3/2003 8:40 AM

To: <[removed]@[removed];

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

                                The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                                  Volume 2003 : Issue 331
                             A Part of the [removed]!
                                     ISSN: 1533-9289

                                     Today's Topics:

      Woman of the Year                     [ Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed]; ]
      Gildersleeve trivia                   [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      BRAIN TEASER                          [ Chet <voxpop@[removed]; ]
      Information Please                    [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      Lights Out! on television             [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
      9-4 Births/Deaths                     [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
      Re: Schlepperman played by Sam Hern?  [ "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed]; ]
      Golden Radio Buff                     [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
      A Question about Failing CD's         [ Musiciantoo47@[removed] ]
      RHAC Librarian address                [ Christopher Werner <werner1@globalc ]
      interview replay                      [ "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed]; ]
      Gildersleeve Movies                   [ "Tim Lones" <timl2002@[removed] ]
      Printing CD Directories               [ Jim Kitchen <jkitchen@[removed]; ]
      Radio Spirits                         [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
      Re: Bob Hastings                      [ Fred Berney <berney@[removed]; ]
      Adolph Valesco, violinist at LA stat  [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]
      Ed Walker's interview re WORDS AT WA  [ Howard Blue <khovard@[removed]; ]

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 11:09:53 -0400
    From: Kermyt Anderson <kermyta@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Woman of the Year

    Kenneth Clarke asked:

>     Which MGM movie used the OTR program "Information
>     Please" in it?  (One of the main characters was the
>     guest panelist.)

    "Woman of the Year," starring Spencer Tracy and
    Katharine Hepburn, released in 1942. (Hepburn was the
    IP panelist.) Here's a follow-up question: one of the
    actors shown listening to Information Please in that
    scene was soon to become a major radio star in his/her
    own right. Who was this person, and what was the radio
    show?

    Kermyt

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 11:10:49 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Gildersleeve trivia
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from text/html

    David asked:

>     I was reading an article about this radio show and they stated that
>     there were multiple movies made with these characters.  Have they been
>     released or are shows on cable?  Eg. I have never seen them on TCM,
>     etc.

    If I am not mistaken, the character of Gildersleeve was played by Hal
    Peary in six movies.
    Look Who's Laughing (1941)
    Here We Go Again (1942)
    The Great Gildersleeve  (1942)
    Gildersleeve's Bad Day (1942)
    Gildersleeve on Broadway (1943)
    Gildersleeve's Ghost  (1944)

    On a trivial note:  The character of [removed] Gildersleeve was spoofed many
    times with the famed line "You're a haaard man, McGee" but there was
    actually one animated Warner Bros. short that actually featured the
    character of Gildy in a spoof.

    I recently watched some of the 1950s TV series of Fibber McGee and Molly
    with Bob Sweeney and Cathy Lewis as Fibber and Molly.  Harold Peary
    showed up a couple of times on the show but he was not Gildy!  Peary
    played the role of Mayor LaTrivia.  The character of Gildersleeve was not
    featured on the TV show at all, but I'm not too surprised because
    Williard Waterman was playing the role of Gildersleeve in the 39 Hal
    Roach-produced The Great Gildersleeve television shows and there was
    probably a licensing with the character of Gildersleeve at the time.
    Interesting?

    Martin Grams, Jr.

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    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 11:12:22 -0400
    From: Chet <voxpop@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  BRAIN TEASER

    from keneth clarke

>               Which MGM movie used the OTR program "Information
>     Please" in it?  (One of the main characters was the guest panelist.)

    could it be CHAMPAGNE FOR CEASAR??
    chet norris

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 11:13:07 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Information Please

>               Here's a brain teaser for you:
>               Which MGM movie used the OTR program "Information
>     Please" in it?  (One of the main characters was the guest panelist.)

    WOMAN OF THE YEAR (1941) with Spencer Tracy and Katherine Kepburn.
    Information Please is broadcast over the radio while Tracy is in a bar
    during the opening scenes.
    MG

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 11:58:17 -0400
    From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Lights Out! on television

    Mahl Wagner asked:

>     Martin Grams Jr. recently mentioned:
>     Lights Out on TV: EPISODE #95   "ZERO HOUR"    Broadcast on July 23, 1951
>     I have done several searches for this on video or DVD and been unsuccessful.
>     Would someone have more information on how to obtain this video?

    That episode is not available on VHS or DVD, sorry.  Many television museums
    like the MUSEUM OF TV and RADIO in CA and NY have copies of LIGHTS OUT
    television programs available for viewing if you pay them a visit.  The
    Museums will not allow permission to have copies made of anything in their
    inventory, sorry.  (this is also sad because the same Museum in NY and CA
    has three episodes of QUIET PLEASE not available in circulation!)

    About six years ago the Sci-Fi Channel was optioned to broadcast episodes of
    LIGHTS OUT!  During the later hours of 3 - 5 am (Friday night, Saturday
    morning, EST) as part of a two-hour RETRO TV line-up.  They broadcasted a
    variety of vintage television programs like SCIENCE FICTION THEATER, MEN
    INTO SPACE, THE INVISIBLE MAN, TALES OF TOMORROW and LIGHTS OUT.
    Regrettably, from what I read in a magazine, the heads at Sci-Fi felt most
    people wouldn't care about those vintage shows - one reason why they
    broadcasted the shows on later night TV.  The programs were also edited.  A
    drama consisted of 25 or 26 minutes without commercials during the 1950s on
    TV but when I was recording the shows off Sci-Fi Channel, I took out the
    commercials on a few Sci-Fi put in and it turned out to be cut.  The LIGHTS
    OUT! broadcasts they showed were 22 minutes in length instead of 25 or 26
    which means they cut scenes out of the drama to make room for today's
    commercials.

    The magazine I read also mentioned that Sci-Fi was offered many more titles,
    but they cut their budget in half by only purchasing half the episodes.
    Among the LIGHTS OUT television shows was one starring Billie Burke, one
    with Raymond Massey, and even "Cat Wife" with Boris Karloff was offered but
    those were part of the half that Sci-Fi did not choose to purchase.
    (Incidentally, the "Cat Wife" episode with Boris Karloff was not a repeat
    performance of his radio broadcast of the same name - the television version
    was a different story (Dorothy L. Sayers) that happened to have the same
    title.)

    Martin Grams, Jr.

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 13:39:46 -0400
    From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  9-4 Births/Deaths

    September 4th births

    09-04-1891 - Sam Lanin - Philadelphia, PA - d. 5-5-1977
    bandleader: "Ipana Troubadors"; "Benrus Ticksters"
    09-04-1895 - Jack Miller - Dorchester, MA - d. 3-18-1985
    conductor: "Kate Smith and Her Swanee Music"; "Aldrich Family"
    09-04-1898 - Charlie Cantor - Worchester, MA - d. 9-11-1966
    actor: Clifton Finnegan "Duffy"s Tavern"; Levy Soloman "Abie"s Irish Rose"
    09-04-1898 - Harry Salter - Bucharest, Romania - d. 3-5-1984
    conductor: "It Pays to Be Ignorant"; "Lanny Ross Show"; "Mr. District Attorney"
    09-04-1912 - Jan Savitt - Petrograd, Russia
    bandleader: "Fitch Bandwagon"; "Rhapsody in Rhythm"
    09-04-1918 - Paul Harvey - Tulsa, OK
    commentator: "Paul Harvey News"; "Speak Your Mind"
    09-04-1928 - Dick York - Fort Wayne, IN - d. 2-20-1992
    actor: Billy Fairfield "Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy/Armstrong of the
    SBI"
    09-04-1930 - Mitzi Gaynor - Chicago, IL
    singer, actress: "Juke Box Jury"

    September 4th deaths

    06-02-1915 - Walter Tetley - NYC - d. 9-4-1975
    actor: Julius Abbruzio "Phil Harris/Alice Faye"; LeRoy Forrester "Great
    Gildersleeve"
    12-20-1901 - Irene Dunne - Louisville, KY - d. 9-4-1990
    actress: Susan Armstrong "Bright Star"; "Family Theatre"; "The Hallmark Hall
    of Fame"

    Ron Sayles
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Hometown of [removed] Kaltenborn and Jay Jostyn

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 15:30:21 -0400
    From: "Brian L Bedsworth" <az2pa@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Re: Schlepperman played by Sam Hern?

    "Matthew Bullis" <matthewbullis@[removed]; wrote:

>     Hello, I'm listening to the early run of the Jack Benny programs,
>     and the character of Schlepperman is identified in one of the
>     New York broadcasts as Sam Hern. I thought that someone named
>     Art somebody played Kitzel. I can't think of his last name right now.
>     He sounds the same.

    Sam Hearn had a long career portraying the "Schlepperman" character on
    various programs; from my own collection, I can verify that, following his
    association with the Benny program, Hearn was featured on both the Abbott &
    Costello and Kenny Baker shows into the late 1940s.

>     By the way, when does Schlepperman change and we get Kitzel? Can
>     someone give me a program date where we first hear Kitzel?

    Schlepperman falls into disuse on the Benny program when the
    Josefsberg/Tackaberry/et al writing team shows up in the fall of 1942; the
    "goofy character" slot is filled for the remainder of the war mostly by
    Jack's "boarder", Mr. Billingsley.

    Artie Auerbach's "little hot dog vendor", Mr. Kitzel, first shows up on the 6
    Jan 1946 Benny program and remains with Jack through the end of the radio run
    and into the TV era.

>     Since their voices are similar, didn't the audience think it was still
>     Schlepperman and not Mr. Kitzel?

    Unlikely, since a) Schlepperman had been off the Benny show for several years
    by the time Kitzel was introduced and b) aside from employing
    Yiddish-American dialects, the two sounded almost nothing alike: Schlepperman
    had the cadence of a New York sharpie, spoke perfect (though accented)
    Americanized English, and was voiced in a mid-to-low register while Kitzel
    maintained almost a sing-song cadence, was given to Nussbaum-esque
    malapropisms, and was voiced in a far higher register.

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 15:50:19 -0400
    From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Golden Radio Buff

    Hi Everybody,

    I am trying to contact a spoke person from the Golden Radio Buff of Marilyn
    to be a guest on my Saturday night show.  If any body can help that would be
    great,

    Walden Hughes

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 16:22:32 -0400
    From: Musiciantoo47@[removed]
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  A Question about Failing CD's
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative
    X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain

    I guess my assumption is wrong; but I was thinking that as long as the
    "Plexiglass" material of a cd remains intact or has no holes or defects in its
    surface, that the aluminum reflective layer wouldn't be exposed to air,
    thereby
    preventing the deterioration of the information on the disc. Is this not
    true? I
    have made Hundreds of homemade CDs in the last 3 years and I would hate to
    think that they're gonna be unplayable in just a few years. They are all
    stored
    in the slim "half size" cases in a CD cabinet and my home has central air &
    heat. I do not put fingerprints on them, expose them to the sun, or
    deliberately
    scratch them through neglect. On a commercial CD it usually says that with
    proper care the disc should last a lifetime. Why shouldn't this apply to blank
    media also, as long as it isn't abused or exposed to air?

    Kenny

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 17:13:14 -0400
    From: Christopher Werner <werner1@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  RHAC Librarian address

    I have not received a delivery from the RHAC Library 1 (1-500) librarian
    since February and would like to send him another order. The RHAC website
    only lists the names of the Librarians but not their addresses. I sent a
    message to Don King (per the website) a week ago, but have not received an
    answer. Could one of the other members please write me privately with Ron
    Galligher's proper address so I can send him an order? Thanks.

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 19:47:26 -0400
    From: "Walden Hughes" <hughes1@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  interview replay

    Hi Everybody,

    a question was ask if Bill bragg ever consider replaying my interview during
    the two week cycle of OTR that is heard on Yesterday USA.  I know right now
    all 16 90 minutes tape are full up with [removed] and Bill has consider turning
    the week end day time line up to my collection of interview, but Bill like
    the way I am able to rerun old interview during my live shows on Yesterday
    USA.  I am open to request to rerun interviews, and I will try to make sure
    the listener whom make the request is home that day to here the show too.
    Thank you for   the idea,

    Walden Hughes

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 19:47:50 -0400
    From: "Tim Lones" <timl2002@[removed];
    To: <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Gildersleeve Movies

    Hello:
    There were at least four films featuring the Great Gildersleeve beginning
    with THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE, followed by "Gildersleeve on Broadway".
    "Gildersleeve's Bad Day" and "Gildersleeve's [removed]'t have the dates in
    front of me but they were most likely made in 1942-44.  They have been shown
    on both AMC and TCM over the [removed] was fortunate to videotape the 4 Gildy
    movies mentioned above in the same day back to back on AMC a few years
    [removed] is showing more newer movies these days so if the Gildersleeve
    movies show up at all they most likely be on [removed] that same day I
    recorded "Heavenly Days" with Fibber McGee and [removed] the tape it
    appears to be February 1996 when I recorded these films on video.

    Tim Lones

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 19:51:14 -0400
    From: Jim Kitchen <jkitchen@[removed];
    To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
    Subject:  Printing CD Directories

    Several years ago there was a thread about printing CD directories for
    our OTR MP3 discs.  Someone suggested Directory Printer ([removed])
    freeware from Visual Impact Technologies at [removed].  I
    downloaded this program, and it works for most of my MP3 directories.

    Occasionally, a Directory Printer directory differs from WinAmp and my
    RioVolt MP3 Player directories.   For example, a Yours Truly, Johnny
    Dollar Serials disc arranged in YTJD_broadcast date_ title_pt#.mp3
    prints some serials in chronological order by title and part # with
    other serials scattered about the directory.   Has anyone else
    experienced this problem?

    Would appreciate any suggestions about printing CD directories.

    Jim Kitchen

    [ADMINISTRIVIA: This question is more suited to specific computer-related
    forums than to the OTR Digest, since the solutions would not only vary based
    on personal requirements, but on operating systems and specific MP3 add-on
    hardware/software. There are many hardware-related areas on the Internet,
    both web-based and mailing lists.  --cfs3]

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 22:35:38 -0400
    From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Radio Spirits

    About Radio Spirits financial status, Sean Dougherty comments:
    "Sales are down, fyi."

    I would only expect as much. Despite their high market presence, I suspect
    they are no different from even our friendly vendors. It is simply that the
    Internet and the free mp3's floating around make it very tough to sell in
    such an environment. The only saving grace I would suspect Radio Spirits
    has is that they have a lot of outlets among non-otr fans who discover the
    tapes/CDs in bookstores and at various niche outlets and aren't aware of
    what is available online.

    Radio Spirits has already tried the litigation route to no real effect
    except that people are more aware of licenses, etc. But just like the music
    industry fighting the likes of Kazaa and its various heavy users, the
    battle seems almost unsurmountable.

    Even among our friendly vendors a number have either dropped out (such as
    The SciFi Guy) or claim to be going out such as Steve Kelez or struggle on
    with fans who remain loyal to their catalogs.

    It just seems that many of the fans of the free download are not always
    interested in quality. I saw some comments recently from one quality mp3
    vendor that his sales are lukewarm - he blamed the ubiquitous freebies that
    seem to remain popular - quality be damned.

    Even at conventions, I have heard comments that sales are down and from
    others who are looking for shows bemoaning the lack of mp3 sales at these
    conventions. Not wanting to start another mp3 versus uncompressed file war
    - I don't think quality is the issue necessarily at these conventions,
    though some vendors simply will not go that route for that reason - I think
    that there are many of the usenet crowd who aren't interested in collecting
    as much as listening. There are some who get their copies from usenet and
    private boards who are collecting oriented trying to   achieve as complete
    a run of some series - then keeping an eye out for better quality throwing
    out their previous copies. But some of these same collectors simply will
    not purchase being more willing to hold out for a better copy knowing that
    someone will always come up with a better copy.

    Either they are ignorant of the archival aspect of keeping a pristine copy
    in uncompressed format, or they don't care.

    This is no judgement on anyone's method of collecting, merely my own view
    of the situation perhaps besmirched with a tint of unintentional prejudice.

    Jim Widner
    jwidner@[removed]

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 00:11:42 -0400
    From: Fred Berney <berney@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Re: Bob Hastings

    I was watching the Poseidon Adventure the other night and happened to
    notice that Bob Hastings name appeared in the credits. The part he played
    was the MC on the ship. After watching the movie, I rolled back the DVD and
    checked out the scene with the MC and sure enough, it was him.

    No real close up, but several medium shots. How many of you realized he was
    in this movie? I wasn't until just now.

    Fred

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

    Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 00:11:53 -0400
    From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Adolph Valesco, violinist at LA station KFWB
     & KNX (under Adolph Valesco's concert ensemble).

    Someone is seeking information and possibly recordings (?) concerning
    Adolph Valesco, who played violin and worked at Los Angeles Radio Station
     KFWB ( under the name Valesco Gypsy Ensemble) and KNX (under Adolph
    Valesco's concert ensemble).  He had a weekly time broadcasing from
    Exposition Park program under the name Adolph Valesco's Gypsy Sextet.

    Please reply off-line to me

    Thanks

    Howard Blue

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

    Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 14:12:45 -0400
    From: Howard Blue <khovard@[removed];
    To: [removed]@[removed]
    Subject:  Ed Walker's interview re WORDS AT
     WAR--Sunday night

    I just completed a conversation with Ed Walker, of radio station, WAMU
    ([removed] FM). Ed interviewed me concerning my book, WORDS AT WAR, my history
    of World War II era radio, for his show, The Big Broadcast.

    The interview will be broadcast live at 10:00 PM this Sunday night (Sept.
    7) at 10:00 PM.  It can also be accessed from the Internet for an
    additional week after the live [removed] on
    [removed]

    Howard Blue

    --------------------------------
    End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #331
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