From: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: [removed] Digest V96 #51
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To: otr@[removed]
Reply-To: [removed]@[removed]


 SEE INFO SECTION AT END OF THIS DIGEST FOR UNSUBSCRIBE AND OTHER INFORMATION. 
	  	         === Last Update 1/17/95  ====





	    [removed]   Volume 96 : Issue 51


Articles in this issue of [removed]:

	 Mercury Theater
	 Ozzie & Harriet/Old Time TV
	 YBYL and Remember WENN
	 To Dave from MICHIGAN
	 Orson Welles - The Shadow Episodes
	 the happy gang
	 Files by email discontinued
	
	 Re:THE MERCURY THEATRE
	 Leghorn vs Claghorn
	 7th Annual Radio Classics
	 Zero Hour
	 more on Kingdom
	 Introduction

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

Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 08:39:54 -0500
From: JRayb71827@[removed]
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Mercury Theater
Message-ID: <960207083952_138056484@[removed]>

  On CBHOLM question re "The Mercury Theater on the Air," no, the name didn't
have anything to do with Mercury autos.
  Orson Welles was appearing on stage in 1934 in "Romeo and Juliet," when he
met young John Houseman.  Houseman liked Welles' work and wanted to use him
in a show he was producing.  This led to a joint effort by the pair when they
took over a Negro WPA group and wound up putting on several shows under the
WPA set-up.  Finally, in 1937, their group of actors did "Les Miserables" on
the Mutual radio net.  They still weren't called the Mercury Players, though.
 But, later that same year Houseman wound up leasing the old Comedy Theater
and renamed it the Mercury Theater.  Who knows why?  Anyway, in November of
'37 they put on their modernized stage version of "Julius Caesar," and it was
a big hit.  That led to an offer from CBS during the summer of '38 and the
first thing they did on CBS air was "Dracula," (July 11) and it was done as
"The Mercury Theater on the Air."  Some of the early cast members when it was
just on stage were such as Martin Gabel, Agnes Moorehead, George Coulouris
and Joseph Cotten.  When they went to radio, such fine performers as Ray
Collins, Karl Swenson, Kenny Delmar, Alice Frost and Frank Readick also
became regulars.
  So, the group was named after the theater, not the car.  

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

Date: Wed, 7 Feb 96 07:52:18 -0600
From: rrepotsk@[removed] (RICHARD R. REPOTSKI - LADA)
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Ozzie & Harriet/Old Time TV
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Was the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet on the radio prior to its run
on TV?
[removed] of Old Time TV Shows, is there a service on the net
that provides info or digests on that topic?
Thanks for any info you can provide.

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

Date: Wed, 07 Feb 1996 09:41:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: wmackey@[removed]
To: otr <otr@[removed]>
Subject: YBYL and Remember WENN
Message-id: <[removed]@[removed]>

All: Concerning You Bet Your Life on radio and tv.  

The may I remember it, the show was orginally recorded for radio and 
edited down.  The program would run for upwards to 90 minutes with 
Groucho talking with the quests.  This would be edited down to the 20 
some minutes for air time.  It was heard on both radio and tv for several 
years before the radio version was dropped.  The tv show was filmed and 
edited down.  A second reason for editing, other than time, was that 
Groucho would sometimes make a comment that at the time would be 
considered "off-colour" to some people.  (The old story about the quest 
who had 13 children because the man loved his wife and Groucho quipping 
he loved his cigars too but he took it out occassionally, which never 
made it on the air, but exists in unedited form somewhere.)

So at one time both the radio and tv show were the same, for people who 
didn't have tv could still listen when others had deserted radio for tv.  
Except for Jack Benny who was still on both until about 1955.

New topic--

Jim Wider, the Remember WENN episode tonight is new.  If I remember 
correctly, as discussed here, it will be monthly (twice monthly?) for the 
rest of the run.

Joe (Groucho fan) Mackey 
Huntington, WV

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

Date: Wed, 07 Feb 96 10:43:39 EST
From: TBARNETT@[removed]
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: To Dave from MICHIGAN
Message-Id: <m0tkC21-000YPMC@[removed]>

To: SMTP    --AHIPC2S

From:    Tom Barnett

Subject: To Dave from MICHIGAN

This is to the new collector Dave from MI.   My name is Tom Barnett, and I
am from Michigan also (the metro Detroit area) I started collecting OTR
when I was 13 and I am currently 26. Mygreat love is Fibber McGee and
JACK BENNY!!!!
My Email Address tbarnett@[removed]


Another HUGE  collector and dealer who is the nicest guy in the world
and also from MI (I think the Livnoia area) is Bob Burnham and he has
quite a huge Jack Benny Collection also. I'm not sure of his Email
off hand but you can reach him through this newsletter as he is
a subscriber.

Looking forward to hearing from you!!!!!

Tom Barnett
EDS/VDTO Finance and Personnel Systems Support
(810)986-0389 (8-226) Internet:TBARNETT@[removed]

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

Date: 07 Feb 96 12:06:19 EST
From: "David L. Sharp" <[removed]@[removed]>
To: unknown <otr@[removed]>
Subject: Orson Welles - The Shadow Episodes
Message-ID: <[removed]@[removed]>

MTPawckette@[removed] had written:

<<On a side [removed] have a request for a friend.  He would like a log of all
Shadow episodes that starred Orson Welles.  If anyone has such a list, please
post it or email me at MTPawckett@[removed]>>

Here are the episodes in which Orson Welles played The Shadow:

The Death House Rescue 9/26/37
The Red Macaw 10/3/37
Danger in the Dark 10/10/37
Murder by the Dead 10/17/37
The Temple Bells of Neban 10/24/37*
The Three Ghosts 10/31/37*
Death Rides the Skyway 11/7/37
Terror Island 11/14/37
The Ruby of Modoc 11/21/37
Circle of Death 11/28/37
The House of Greed 12/5/37
The Death Triangle 12/12/37
Cold Death 12/19/37
The Voice of Death 12/26/37
The Idol Talks 1/2/38
The League of Terror 1/9/38*
Sabotage 1/16/38*
The Society of the Living Dead 1/23/38*
The Poison Death 1/30/38*
The Phantom Voice 2/6/38*
The House of Horror 2/13/38
Hounds in the Hill 2/20/38
The Plot Murder 2/27/38
The Bride of Death 3/6/3/8*
The Silent Avenger 3/13/38*
The White Legion 3/20/38

The following episodes were broadcast during the summer of 1938, but have no
particular broadcast date:

The Hypnotized Audience
Death from the Deep*
Firebug
The Blind Beggar Dies
Power of the Mind
White God
Aboard the Steamship "Amazon"
Murder In Wax*
Message from the Hills
The Creeper
Tenor with a Broken Voice*
Murder on Approval*
The Tomb of Terror*
Death Under the Chapel
Caverns of Death

I have 14 of the 41 above episodes (as noted by the *) and have always found
Welles' Shadow and the stories to be the best of the whole series.

If anyone else is interested in any of the other radio broadcasts I have a
complete chronology of Shadow broadcasts (and also chronology of all of The
Shadow novels) from the book "The Shadow Scrapbook".

David Sharp - fan of The Shadow

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

Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 11:07:16 -0700
From: "Deane D McIntyre"  <dmcintyr@[removed]>
To: gcoppen@[removed], [removed]@[removed]
Subject: the happy gang
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

The Happy Gang was on CBC radio for many years, from the late 1930's
until the very early 1960's (1961?). The name of the show itself was
The Happy Gang. For a season or two the show was also carried in the [removed]
on, I believe, the Mutual network.
I do not know of a source of recordings of the Happy Gang. As you
say, as far as I know the CBC is not a source. Some time ago (late
80's) I did hear on the CBC a partial broadcast of what was claimed to
be the earliest surving show of the Happy Gang. It was from 1939, and
was a special show to celebrate the opening of the CBC station in
Saskatchewan, CBK. One of the songs in this show was the Beer Barrel
Polka. As the word "Beer" could not be used on CBC radio at that time,
it was introduced simply as the "Barrel Polka".

Perhaps some recordings exist of the American broadcasts on MBS.

Cheers, Deane D McIntyre
dmcintyr@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 07 Feb 1996 12:40:53 -0600
From: lgenco@[removed] (Louis Genco)
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: Files by email discontinued
Message-ID: <[removed]@[removed]>

My weak-brained fileserver daemon has quit.  Files will no longer be
available by email.  The daemon was overworked by requests from AOL-ers who
used this method rather than WWW or FTP to get the information.

Lou
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WWW page on "Old Time Radio":                   [removed]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 14:37:23 -0500
From: JRayb71827@[removed]
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

ard and Charlie Laughton were exactly right about Jack Smart
("Senator Bloat" on Fred Allen) and J. Scott Smart ("The Fat Man") being one
and the same.  I goofed.  I just verified with John Dunning ("Tune In
Yesterday").
  Neither John nor Frank Buxton and Bill Owen ("The Big Broadcast") nor
Vincent Terrace ("Radio's Golden Years") mention it being the same person.
   Even Robert Taylor in his excellent book "Fred Allen - His Life and Wit"
doesn't say anything about it.  As a matter of fact, Taylor mentions Smart
being on with Allen on "The Linit Bath Club Revue of 1932," and says - quote
- "The versatile Jack Smart, an eventual mainstay of the Mighty Allen Art
Players and Allen's Alley, who enjoyed a second career as a professional
painter and sculptor, portrayed an usher."
   Painter and sculptor, but no "Fat Man" mention.
   What this has done in addition to making me own up to my faux pas is to
instill a desire to find out more about Smart so I can do an article in my
OTR newsletter, "Thrilling Days of Yesteryear."  If anyone has any material,
you can either post it here on the Digest or if it's overlong Email me direct
or snailmail me at:
                        John Rayburn
                        [removed] Box 36106
                        Denver, CO 80236
  Again, thanks for pointing out my miscue.  

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

Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 14:56:46 -0500
From: SeptSev@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re:THE MERCURY THEATRE
Message-ID: <960207145645_416898408@[removed]>

Hello Friends:
In response to the inquiry on the origin of the name "Mercury Theatre.":
The radio show, "Mercury Theatre of the AIR" first began broadcasting  July
11 1938 on CBS.  The show had no sponsor, and the reason it was called
"Mercury Theatre of the Air" was because Orson Welles and his theatre--the
Mercury Theatre--were both signed to do the radio show as a summer
re-placement for the "LUX Radio Theatre." This was the first time an entire
legitimate repertory company had been hired to produce radio plays.  The
Mercury was the hottest theatre ticket in New York, and was founded by John
Houseman and Welles after they had worked together in NY on the WPA Federal
Theatre Program, staging such critically aclaimed shows as "Macbeth." The
Mercury premiered  in 1937, with an amazing production of Julius Caesar. 
As to the reason the company was called Mercury: neither Houseman's bio nor
the bios I have on Welles mention the reason directly.  But all sources do
confirm that the theatre company was formed literally overnight; perhaps the
name refers to the mythic figure Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods.
At any rate, after the theatre company became the toast of the town, and CBS
signed them up to do radio(while still doing theatre), on October 30, 1938,
the Mercury Theatre of the Air broadcasted THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, which sent
shock waves around the world.  As a result of this , on December 4, 1938,
Campbells Soup decided to sponsor the show, and it became "The Campbell
Playhouse", which was broadcast until March 31, 1940, when Welles went west
to do CITIZEN KANE.
The Mercury auto company had nothing to do with either the theatre company or
the radio show.  And the name of the theatre used by Welles to stage his
theatrical productions had originally been called "The Comedy," so the
theatre took the name of the company, not the other way around.
Regards,
Thom Bray septsev@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 7 Feb 96 13:00:38 MST
From: dpk@[removed] (David P. Kilcrease)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Leghorn vs Claghorn
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

I remember seeing an old movie from perhaps the late thirties that had
a southern politician character that sounded just like Leghorm and
looked like Colonel Sanders (white suit and beard, with a black string tie)
I realized where Leghorn had come from. Maybe this character was a movie
version of Senator Claghorm.

						Dave Kilcrease
						dpk@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 17:17:45 -0500
From: alabok@[removed] (Bob Jennings)
To: otr@[removed]
Subject: 7th Annual Radio Classics
Message-Id: <[removed]@[removed]>

Hi Everybody;
        I just want to take the opportunity again to remind everybody about
the 7th Annual Radio Classics Live, a recreation of the golden days of
radio, which will take place on Friday and Saturday March 29 & 30, 1996 in
Brockton Mass.
        All proceeds of this event go to support the Peg Lynch Scholarship Fund.
        A number of talented otr personalities will be on hand to help with
the recreations include Peg Lynch herself, Dick Van Patten, Rosemary Rice,
Fred Foy, Arthur Anderson, Don Buka, and sound effects wizard Barney Beck
handling the special sound effects.  Local Boston radio personalities Jess
Cain, Frank Fitz, Ken Meyer, Norm Nathan and Marion Wroble will also
participate.
        Friday's event will be held at the auditorium on the Massasoit
Community College campus in Brockton, beginning at 7:30 and will present
recreations of The Lone Ranger, Ethel & Albert, Duffy's Tavern, and I
Remember Mama.
        Saturday's show will take place at the Holiday Inn (just around the
corner from the Massasoit College campus) and will feature a buffet dinner
with shows including recreations of The Thin Man, Sorry Wrong Number from
Suspense with Rosemary Rice, a completely new and different Ethel & Albert,
and Let's Pretend: Rumplestilskin.
        The cost of the Friday show is $[removed], the Saturday show & buffet
dinner is $[removed], or a combination ticket to both performances is $[removed]
        Checks should be made out to the Massasoit Foundation and sent to
Prof. Bob Bowers, Massasoit Community College, One Massasoit Blvd.,
Brockton, MA 02402.
        For additional information and dirctions call 508-427-1234.
        This is always a great show with tremendous recreations of classic
radio shows and a chance to meet and talk with the otr personalities
afterwards.  I hope you can plan to come to the 7th annual event, it will be
well worth your time, and remember, all proceeds do to support the Peg Lynch
Scholarship Fund.

        ---Bob Jennings

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

Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 18:40:46 -0800
From: AndyBlatt@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Zero Hour
Message-ID: <960207182958_24421965@[removed]>

Back in the early 1970's Rod Serling hosted a Mutual program (I believe)
produced in stereo call The Zero Hour.  There are at least a couple dozen of
these programs, in stereo.

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

Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 19:30:31 -0800
From: AndyBlatt@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: more on Kingdom
Message-ID: <960207192653_24427076@[removed]>

A comment on Platecap's (Bob B's) comments about Kingdom.
My dealing with them is mostly for equipment.  They are reasonably
quick in their response time, for questions, quotes and shipment.
(They are the only East coast tape dealers except for Soundd Investment in
Georgia and Audiotapes, Inc. in Virginia.)
They also will meet bona fide quotations on equipment (Marantz mostly) and
other related items, and they offer discounted Federal Express delivery.  I
haven't dealt with them in several months, but I would like to affirm Bob's
comments.

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

Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 12:18:56 -0500
From: ChezKoa@[removed]
To: ort@[removed]
Subject: Introduction
Message-ID: <960207121854_138194455@[removed]>

Hi, my name is Doug and I am a radio-holic. I am retired Military, orginally
from Kalamazoo Michigan and am currently living in San Antonio TX.  I have
enjoyed radio shows for more years than I care to admit but, as a hint, I use
to listen to Our Miss Brooks (has anyone completed a log for this show?),
Have Gun, Will Travel and Yours Truely Johnny Dollar before they were
re-runs.  I read the back issues of OTR Digest before I subscribed to get a
feeling for this group and was impressed.  I even got a new word, archive,
which sounds so much better than saying I got piles and piles of tapes in
almost every room of the house.  I will probably use that term as much as
"searching for collectables" instead of saying that I buy lots of junk at
garage sales.  I am a member of NARA and have collected (mainly on reel to
reel) shows for many years.  I am glad I started when I did, judging by the
price per hour charged today, I don't know if I could afford to start a
collection of any size and depth. My shows are not cataloged, by the time I
got my first computer (Commodore 64) the software was such that I did not
want to devote the time to do it. Now that software has improved, my
collection has grown larger and my time is being spent on other things, I do
have the reels labled, the historical notes written inside each box and the
shows together in the same location so I can find what I am looking for, but
no catalog. My interests are varied and I tend to go off on tangents.
 Currently I have been playing a lot of Norman Corwin (I have been looking
for a copy of the "Document A/777 show), Fibber McGee and Molly and Gunsmoke.
My favorite period for shows are from 1940 to 1946 although I also like a lot
of the series produced after such as Dragnet, Nightbeat and the Six Shooter.
 I enjoy reading about radio history, shows and personalities (research
materiel as oppossed to having old books and magazines scattered everywhere).
 I am not sure how much I will contribute to the ongoing discussions but if a
question comes up to which I know the answer, I will gladly join in.  I am
looking forward to being a member and get a daily dose of OTR instead of a
quarterly one when the NARA newsletter arrived.  Happy listening.       

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

    


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---- 
End of [removed] Digest V96 Issue #51

