------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2001 : Issue 288
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
My 5 favorite otr shows [ Jer51473@[removed] ]
Slogans and Yeast [ wa5pdk@[removed] ([removed] L.) ]
Internet radio listening [ "Mary Anne Morel" <morel@planetmail ]
Eating yeast, smoking and listening [ "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@hotmail. ]
Burn'em Up Barnes [ "Donald & Kathleen Dean" <dxk@nfoli ]
Superman Themes, the rest of the sto [ Graham Newton <gn@audio-restoration ]
Fu Manchu [ JimInks@[removed] ]
Re: How old? [ ChibiBarako <cvc@[removed]; ]
Yeast [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
Jack Kirkwood [ Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed]; ]
Radio Premiums and Information .. [ "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@ ]
Child radio actors [ "rich" <rich@[removed]; ]
Thank you Elizabeth! [ Jer51473@[removed] ]
RE: How Old Are We? [ "Allen Uebele" <auebele@[removed]; ]
Rehersal Recordings [ Paulurbahn@[removed] ]
age [ Michael Nella <serialous@[removed] ]
Re: Birthday gifts [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
Re:Abbott & Costello [ Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed]; ]
Age and acting [ lawrence albert <albertlarry@yahoo. ]
Age plus [ ARago17320@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 21:16:46 -0400
From: Jer51473@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: My 5 favorite otr shows
It would be interesting to hear everyones top 5 in order of preference. Here
are mine if anyones interested in order of preference. Btw i'll be 65 next
month and my favorites back in radio days would have been different and too
many favorites as i preferred drama, detectives, and comedy when i was
younger. Today, as you see its comedy. Here goes--- Phil Harris-Alice Faye,
Jack Benny, Amos n Andy, Fibber Magee n Molly, and the Aldrich Family (sorry
Harlan).
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001 23:12:53 -0400
From: wa5pdk@[removed] ([removed] L.)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Slogans and Yeast
Elizabeth touched on a couple of points that I recall something about.
There is a slogans that still reverberates in my head while I am washing
[removed] of the most recurrent is about a candy bar that did not
make the grade in spite of a catchy slogan: "[removed] Nickle Candy
There [removed]"
Now about yeast. In the 1930's my folks had a neighborhood grocery
store and we had Fleishmann'sYeast cakes in the ice box. I had acne, so
I ate those cakes until their taste became tolerable to me. I do not
think they did anything for my pimples and very little for my
intestines. Since it was still the era of the dreaded "intestinal
intoxication" theory of disease, my father insisted I drink warm glasses
of Crazy Water Crystals every day to promote "regularity". We listened
to daily radio broadcasts from the Crazy Water Hotel in Mineral Wells,
Texas. The day of the Spa was coming to a close in that period, but it
was still fashionable to take "Mineral Baths" for arthritis and related
disorders.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 08:22:55 -0400
From: "Mary Anne Morel" <morel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Internet radio listening
Hi, Everyone:
I was just reading a letter from J. Alec West which discusses Internet vs
television popularity and the opportunity OTR has to build up
listenership--especially young people--within the Internet community.
It made me think of a recent comment made on another mail list I subscribe
to--not an OTR list--which was critical of downloading old radio programs
because it slowed down the global Internet system and made transmission
difficult. In effect, said the letter(I am paraphrasing here), OTR people are
non-tekkie piggies who are ruining things for everyone.
What do computer experts on this list think of this comment? Does downloading
of programs really cause glitches or significant slowdown in transmission for
the rest of the Internet crowd? Am I going to be sent to computer hell for
downloading and listening to Jack Benny or the Six Shooter? And will my
punishment be never to hear another OTR program, but to endure Oprah, Rosie
O' Donnell, Jay Leno, Conan O' Brien et al reruns forever?
Cheers,
Mary Anne Morel
PS If any of you have the misfortune to land in computer hell, what would be
your worst punishment?
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 08:30:37 -0400
From: "B. J. Watkins" <kinseyfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Eating yeast, smoking and listening to OTR
First, speaking of yeast and why people ate it, I've been wondering why I
and many other kids had a spoonful of cod liver oil forced down our little
throats by our loving mothers back in those days of yore. Anyone know? And
why do I never hear of it today?
Secondly, the post by Sandy Singer about Curley Bradley and Marvin Miller
reminded me that these two gentlemen each share a memory I have regarding
smoking: Curley Bradley was the first and only person to ever smoke in my
beloved litle Honda (how do you tell Tom Mix he can't smoke?), and Marvin
Miller was the only person to ever smoke in an interview booth with me at a
radio station. I did tell him that smoking wasn't allowed in the station. He
said if he couldn't smoke, he was going home. Given the choice we opted for
three hours of interview through the haze!
Finally, just a reminder that Bobb Lynes and I will be on KPFK [removed] FM, Los
Angeles ([removed] Santa Barbara) on Monday night at midnight (Tuesday AM) for
three hours of old time radio. That's Pacific time. If you can't sleep, tune
in. For those out of southern California, log on at [removed]
Barbara
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 08:31:31 -0400
From: "Donald & Kathleen Dean" <dxk@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Burn'em Up Barnes
Hi Folks:
I've been away for a week and just catching up on the Digest's. In
#275 Jon Martin asked:
My father mentioned that one of the shows that he really used to like
growing
up in the Boston area was "Burn'em up Barnes" about a race
car driver. I haven't been able to find any information. Has anyone else
heard of the show?
I don't know about a radio show, Jon but I do have a 12 episode movie serial
called Burn'em Up Barnes. It's been a while since I've seen it but I do
remember
it is about a race car driver.
Also, I started being interested in collecting OTR in 1960 and started my
collection in 1961. I also recorded a few things from radio in the early
1960's.
I have well over 1500 reels of shows which represents thousands of shows.
I'll be 67 next month.
Don Dean N8IOJ
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 08:33:04 -0400
From: Graham Newton <gn@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Superman Themes, the rest of the story, or part
of [removed]
"Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; said to the OTR [removed]
On the subject: Re: Superman Themes (slightly OT)
A. Joseph Ross first wrote:
I find it hard to believe that it was just generic library music, not
intended for Superman. But since Graham Newton is the expert, I assume
he will know the true facts.
And Michael Hayde [removed]
I'm looking forward to Mr. Newton's expertise.
As the guy who did the mastering and restoration on all the Superman TV music
for a total of 3 CDs that Paul Mandell produced for Varese, I can confirm
that, other than the main title theme attributed to Leon Klatzkin, all the
music across the run of the shows came from libraries. Most of what you
hear on the Varese release came from 78 rpm 10" and 12" library discs in my
own collection. A substantial portion of the MUTEL library was licensed to
Capitol Records as their "Q" (the "Q" stood for "quality") library, and it
is from many of these recordings that we got the stunning quality heard on
the Varese disc:-
Adventures of SUPERMAN, Music from the 1950's Television Series
Varese Sarabande, cat # 302 066 093 2
35 tracks (with a surprise "hidden" 36th track at the end) It runs a total
of 72:16 and makes for some exciting listening.
MUTEL was extensively used in the early Superman shows and gave them a heavy
dramatic sound, and later, libraries from Britain including Paxton and
Francis Day & Hunter, with the Video Moods library from Emil Ascher
in New York.
For the aficionados of this music, there are three CDs that we did, but
only the first one (the MUTEL music) has been released by [removed] the
other two may be released directly by Paul Mandell subject to prospective
arrangements now being made. Paul and I have collaborated for years on
researching these mood music libraries and the composers.
Although there are questions about this, Leon Klatzkin is credited on the
actual music score for the TV show main title theme "SUPERMAN", of which
I have the piano score.
The Superman theme on radio was definitely adopted from Paramount's
Superman cartoons, and probably for sake of consistency, although it was
played on a studio organ instead of by an orchestra. The Columbia
serial used different music still, opening with a flourish of notes that
sounded like "Suuu-Purr-Mannn" as the title "SUPERMAN" hit the screen.
An interesting aside, George Reeves, TV's superman appeared in "Gone With
The Wind"... he played a bit part, one of the Tarleton Twins who were seen
on the steps of TARA with Vivien Leigh in the opening scenes.
... Graham Newton
--
Audio Restoration by Graham Newton, [removed]
World class professional services applied to phonograph and tape
recordings for consumers and re-releases, featuring CEDAR processes.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 08:33:17 -0400
From: JimInks@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Fu Manchu
Does anyone know who was the narrator for the Shadow of FuManchu? It sounds
to me like it's Paul McGrath from Inner Sanctum but a friend of mine is
convinced it's Gerald Mohr.
-Jim Amash
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 08:54:29 -0400
From: ChibiBarako <cvc@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: How old?
I'm 39 years old (really!!). Growing up in Chicago in the seventies I
was first exposed to OTR via Floyd Brown's Sunday evening show, just
before his "Kumbaya" segment. I fell immediately in love and had to
have a radio near me every Sunday evening at 8:30. (Sometime in this
period -- somewhere between third and fifth grade -- I got a Scholastic
paperback transcription of War of the Worlds, and dreamed of performing
it on the radio. I did record a few odd things, but they're probably
long since taped over or demagnetized.)
When Floyd Brown stopped doing OTR, I lost track of it till I attended
college in the early eighties. One of my chemistry profs was fond of
listening to WNIB (now dark, alas!) for classical music in the lab. I
tuned my radio to [removed] and one Saturday afternoon discovered -- OTR!!!
To be precise, Chuck Schaeden's Those Were The Days. From there I
discovered his weeknight show on WBBM (which used the shows from When
Radio Was for the Chicago market; it's why I've never heard Art Fleming
in association with OTR). I began taping off-air like a maniac. (I was
too cheap to buy the recorded tapes at the time.)
In the nineties I also listened to Don Corey's Remember When and
actually had the chance to get to know Don as he ran a small OTR shop in
suburban Chicago. Unfortunately, market forces temporarily forced RW
off the air and the shop was moved to another suburb 50 miles away. (RW
is now on a low-powered college station that I can sometimes get in my
car with a bit of difficulty. I gather it's also on my local station
but it runs against TWTD. *sigh*) I have several boxes of Don's
studio-produced RW tapes, but I have no cataloging system whatsoever. (I
always tell people I'm not a collector, I'm an accumulator. *grin*)
After several life changes in the mid-nineties, I joined one of Chuck
Schaeden's fan recreation groups, and I've been living a childhood dream
of actually doing radio. Oh, sure, it isn't broadcast, and we play all
sorts of odd places like libraries and church basements (and retirement
homes of various levels of care), but on the whole it's been fun. And
it's more creative than one might think being a soundman for such a
group because 1) a lot of the "traditional" effects aren't available
anymore -- when was the last time you saw cellophane? properly noisy
cellophane?? and 2) all our effects must be portable in somebody's car
-- frequently mine! (and we have no permanent storage!) So I love going
to #OldRadio on Thursday nights and listening to stories from the people
that *really* did radio (cheap shameless plug!).
Well, this is turning out to be almost as long as the rest of the
Digest, so I'd better sign off now!
Cynthia
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 10:32:30 -0400
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Yeast
I recall the commercial suggested you mix it with a glass of tomato
juice.
Sandy Singer
A DATE WITH SINATRA
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 10:34:27 -0400
From: Sandy Singer <sinatradj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Jack Kirkwood
I liked an afternoon comedy show starring Jack Kirkwood.
The Kirkwood madness was fed to the full network -- put a little
something in the pot, [removed]
Sandy Singer
A DATE WITH SINATRA
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 12:16:18 -0400
From: "Stephen A Kallis, Jr." <skallisjr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Radio Premiums and Information ..
The recent thread on OTR listeners versus OTR scholars underscores
something that crops up from time to time. To me, listening to OTR
recordings is the focus of the Hobby. The enjoyment of hearing the old
shows over again is what makes the Hobby worthwhile.
However, I can sympathize with those who want to make certain that the
past is preserved accurately. More than once I've discussed the "Decoder
Ring" myth. More than once I've encountered those who thought Jean
Shepherd's story about getting an Orphan Annie decoder pin and
deciphering a "secret message" that turned out to be an Ovaltine
commercial. I have a desire to set the record straight on both accounts.
Today, I was browsing through that auction site, and I saw a listing for
a Tom Mix Magnifier Decoder. Curious, I checked the listing, and what
was being presented was a 1940 (brass) Compass and Magnifier less the
miniature compass. It has no cryptological function whatsoever.
Now there is no way that any one person, or reasonable group of people
can become (or ought to be) Premium Police, but it does get a little
frustrating to see that relative rarity, an OTR item, get blurred by
those who haven't any idea what they were all about. I suppose the best
one can do is to help explain to receptive audiences The Way Things
Really Were.
Stephen A. Kallis, Jr.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 12:17:03 -0400
From: "rich" <rich@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Child radio actors
Not long ago I had occasion to interview Rabbi Arnold Wolf (rabbi emeritus
of Chicago's KAM congregation and an estimed figure in Reform Judaisim)
concerning his role as a civil rights activist on Chicago's North Shore in
the early 1960's.
As we were setting up for the interview (which will eventually appear in a
TV documentary I'm preparing) Rabbi Wolf confided that he had been a child
radio actor in Chicago in the late 1930's and early 1940's.
Seems that his uncle Blair Walliser, a producer at WGN, got him the gigs.
Little Arnie Wolf had bit parts on "Jack Armstrong" (where he had
challenging lines like, 'Gosh, Jack!' and 'Wow!). He also says he appeared
occasionally on soaps like "Ma Perkins" and "Mary Marlin"---plus broadcasts
on WBEZ which was licensed to the Chicago Board of Education at the time.
After I'd deposed Rabbi Wolf on the civil rights matters, I had him speak at
length about his radio career. He ended the interview with a rousing chorus
of "Wave the Flag for Hudson High".
Rich Samuels/WTTW Television
[BTW: my "Broadcasting in Chicago: 1921-1989" website has moved to
[removed]. My previous webhost suddenly bit the dust]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 12:17:33 -0400
From: Jer51473@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Thank you Elizabeth!
But where were you about a year ago when I posted an inquiry about Charcoal
Chewing Gum. Nobody had heard of such and many said I was talking about
Blackjack Gum which came along years after Charcoal went off the market.
There were dozens and dozens of posts on the Digest about this with the vast
majority indicating that I was mistaken. There was one post, however, that
said the gum had existed and it had been a product of the Peter Paul
Company. Maybe that poster was you, I dont remember, but in any case, your
post now confims to me that it was indeed a Peter Paul product and it did
indeed exist. I remembered the product from the late thirties or early
forties when I was 4-8 years old and throughout my adulthood I had never
found anyone who remembered such a product. The radio ad use to end with a
musical jingle decreasing in sound as it said Charcoal Chewing Gum-charcoal
chewing gum-charcoal chewing gum-charcoal chewing gum charcoal chewin------
Thanks again
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 12:49:10 -0400
From: "Allen Uebele" <auebele@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: How Old Are We?
I am currently 38 years old, however, I was introduced to OTR about 5 years
ago from a dear friend at work. He knew of my interest in sci-fi and hooked
me with several episodes of X-Minus One, Dimension X and a crystal clear
copy of the 1938 version of Lights Out - Bathyscope. I was very intrigued
at the snapshot of history, especially the ability to listen to the
commercials and live broadcasts of the time.
Now, I collect most of my material from the kind sharers in the
[removed] newsgroup. It was a share blitz of the
CBS show, Suspense, that made want to form my own live broadcast of the
Suspense shows. [removed]
The broadcast led to me creating an on-line web page devoted to Suspense.
I am currently experimenting, in my free time, with keeping my FTP site open
as well as updating the web page as time allows. (thank god for cable
modems - grin)
As I am still learning so much about OTR, I tend to fall back and absorb all
the wonderful information that the OTR digest keeps publishing and typically
I don't contribute myself. I can't say it enough to all of you -- THANK YOU
THANK YOU THANK YOU to all for contributing and sharing your experience and
VERY detailed knowledge!
Although, the internet phenomena has helped me grow my own collection of
material immensely. I remember those first 5 cassette tapes my friend made
with great fondness and appreciation -- Cheers to you Wes!
Allen Uebele
delaluna@[removed]
[removed] or [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 12:49:19 -0400
From: Paulurbahn@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Rehersal Recordings
I believe the Lux Radio Theater production of Casablanca is a rehersal
recording according to some of the logs I've read. It sounds like a show to
me.
Paul Urbahns
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 15:16:29 -0400
From: Michael Nella <serialous@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: age
I'm 22 years old now ( and I see I am not the only one that young on this
board. ). I've been collecting for almost 5 years w/ about 6500+ shows in my
collection. I was also wondering about the people who got started in OTR
after it stopped, what was the program that first got you interested in the
genre. Thanks
Michael Nella
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 15:16:31 -0400
From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Birthday gifts
I agree, there are several birthday gifts which might
work for someone celebrating their centennial
(-50). A few of them which come readily to mind are:
Sea bound adhesive
Geritol (do they still make it?)
Cod liver oil
Gingko biloba (for memory)
St. John's Wort
Grecian formula (or Mop & Glo, depending on how you
look at it)
Aspercreme
Icy Hot
These are just suggestions, mind you. This entire exercise
is made purely tongue in cheek---right?
Kenneth
PS Truth be told, I'm only 44 and have used more than a
couple of these products already.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 15:33:26 -0400
From: Kenneth Clarke <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re:Abbott & Costello
I need some clarification regarding Abbott & Costello.
I recently saw a movie which covered their career starting
with stand up routines and continuing throughout their
career on radio. Near the end of the movie, it was noted
that Bud and Lou had some trouble with the IRS and were
in debt. I'd be interested to hear more about this.
I already knew about Lou Costello getting rheumatic fever.
He was hospitalized for it and (I think) was in the hospital
when he passed away.
Someone at work suggested that Abbott and Costello had
creative differences (arguments) which led to the dissolution
of their act. Other accounts of their work as a comedy team
and personal lives paint quite a different picture, however.
Were they as close off stage as they were on stage?
Kenneth Clarke
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 17:57:48 -0400
From: lawrence albert <albertlarry@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Age and acting
I have the best of both worlds. At the age of 52 I
both collect OTR and act on a regular basis in New
Time radio.
I started my collection in 1972, but I'd been
interested in OTR since the late sixties. While I was
stationed in West Germany I came across Jim Harmon's
book about the great heros of radio. He wrote about I
LOVE A MYSTERY, THE SHADOW, SUPERMAN etc. etc. My
curiosity was on fire. Unfortunately I wasn't able to
listen to any of these shows for some time. It wasn't
until I went to Viet Nam that I heard some of the late
fifties shows over Armed Forces Radio.
When I came back I bought The Themes of OTR albums,
Vol 1 & 2 and this became the blocks on which I built
my collection.
In 1994 Jim French hired me to work on his KIRO
Mystery Playhouse series, I've been a professional
actor in the Seattle area for over 25 years. Anyway
Jim called me because one of his people couldn't do
the scheduled recording session and he just happened
to have my voice tape on his desk when he was looking
for a replacement. Thank god for my love of otr. I had
a better than rough idea of what I had to do and the
type of acting reguired.
The upshot of all of this is , to date I've done over
100 episodes of Jims shows, THE ADVENTURES OF HARRY
NILE, KINCAID, THE STRANGE SEEKER, IMAGINATION THEATRE
and my personal favorite THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF
SHERLOCK HOLMES. Ok, it's my favorite because I play
Dr. Watson. All this with the added plus of working in
several recreations with many of the OTR greats at the
Seattle conventions over the years.
While I'm at it I want to publically thank Harry
Bartell for all of the guidence he's given me to help
improve my skills at the microphone. He's been rough
but honest in all of his advice. Thank you my friend.
I think I've been blessed by the OTR gods.
Lawrence (Larry) Albert
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 21:31:12 -0400
From: ARago17320@[removed]
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Age plus
Hello to all,
I am 63 and listened to OTR as a kid and loved it. I admit I got hooked on
TV for about 20 years. In the early 70's I watched movies, sports and
British Comedies. Now I use the TV only for playing VHS tapes.
I got back into radio through CBS RMT and then "When Radio Was" I have a
collection of cassettes that I have not counted and about 700 shows
downloaded onto discs that I will eventually transfer to CD.
Just sent that email to AOL that Charlie asked us AOL users to do. Hope
enough of us do that and they at least give us an option on [removed] to send Plain
or HTML text.
Another great thing about eating yeast is that you could rise above your
problems. Sorry, I'm going. Please,no nasty comments, the devil made me do
it.
Take care,
Al Ragonnet
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2001 Issue #288
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