Subject: [removed] Digest V2002 #23
From: "OldRadio Mailing Lists" <[removed]@[removed];
Date: 1/23/2002 9:49 AM
To: <[removed]@[removed];

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2002 : Issue 23
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Nig  [ lois@[removed] ]
  Mp3 cd Boombox                        [ "ecrasez" <ecrasez@[removed]; ]
  Image vs Reality                      [ "Brian Johnson" <CHYRONOP@worldnet. ]
  MP3 files                             [ "daveclea" <daveclea@[removed]; ]
  World News Today                      [ Tony Baechler <tony@[removed]; ]
  looking for complete runs [removed]       [ "Ryan Hall" <pezman419@[removed]; ]
  Coach Art Turf                        [ Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed]; ]
  Lincoln Highway log                   [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  Another Syracuse, NY radio site       [ "Marie A. Lamb" <malamb@[removed] ]
  Arthur Godfrey and Julius LaRosa      [ Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed] ]
  RE: FAKE SEGMENTS ON I CAN HEAR IT N  [ Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed]; ]
  Godfrey and LaRosa                    [ "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@attorneyro ]
  Gildersleeve                          [ JimInks@[removed] ]
  godfrey-larosa: rest of the story?    [ Michael Berger <makiju@[removed]; ]
  Re: Gildersleeve the Guardian         [ "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@hotmail ]
  Today in radio history                [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
  RE: Gildersleeve the Guardian         [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
  Re: Godfrey and LaRosa                [ "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed]; ]

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 04:52:00 -0500
From: lois@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: #OldRadio IRC Chat this Thursday Night!

A weekly [removed]

For the best in OTR Chat, join IRC (Internet Relay Chat), StarLink-IRC
Network, the channel name is #OldRadio.  We meet Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern
and go on, and on! The oldest OTR Chat Channel, it has been in existence
over five years, same time, same channel!

Our numerous "regulars" include one of the busiest "golden years" actors in
Hollywood; a sound man from the same era who worked many of the top
Hollywood shows; a New York actor famed for his roles in "Let's Pretend" and
"Archie Andrews;" owners of some of the best OTR sites on the Web;
maintainer of the best-known OTR Digest (we all know who he is)..........

and Me

Lois Culver
KWLK Longview Washington (Mutual) 1941-1944)
KFI Los Angeles (NBC) 1944 - 1950
and widow of actor Howard Culver

(For more info, contact lois@[removed])

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

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 11:10:45 -0500
From: "ecrasez" <ecrasez@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Mp3 cd Boombox

I just bought myself a little boombox for listening
to my OTR shows on mp3 cd. The Philips AZ1155 is a very
nice little unit, which seems to be able to play every [snip]

I also found this unit at Best Buy, where the price has dropped
to $99. It played every bit rate I tried, and I really liked
it - until I found out there is NO headphone jack. Other than
that, it sounded great.

The Sony unit (don't know the model #) I located at Radio Shack
& another independent dealer for about $129 -$149. This had problems
playing the lower bit rates and was very disappointing. It was
also much heavier than the Phillips. Like the Phillips though,
it comes with a remote control.

If anyone knows of a good mp3 boombox with a headphone jack,
please let me know. I'm dying to listen to some of my stuff w/o
the computer.

Bob S.

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:37:57 -0500
From: "Brian Johnson" <CHYRONOP@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Image vs Reality

Michael Biel wrote "Don't forget Der Bingle whose motto with his first flock
of kids was 'Spare the rod and spoil the child.'  Apparently he wore out
quite a few rods on those kids.  Rumor has it that he had
reformed when he had the second group of kids."

This line has been popular since Gary Crosby's self-serving "autobiography"
came out following Bing's death. In his award-winning look at Crobsy's life,
author Gary Giddens recounts how, in 14 hours worth of interviews with the
eldest Crosby boy, Gary was unable to even recall the accusations he made
about the old man, let alone substantiate any of it. Gary Crosby admitted
that most of the book was written in an alcoholic haze. His brother Phillip,
the only surviving son of the first marriage, has also consistently denied
the premise of "Going My Own Way."

The biggest knock against Bing was that he was mostly an absentee father.
Turned down for military service, Bing threw himself wholeheartedly into the
war effort during a crucial time in his sons' lives. His first wife, Dixie
Lee, was also fond of the bottle and Bing's absence probably didn't help
things.

As for his discipline of the boys, none of us who toil away at our parenting
in relative anonymity could possibly ever imagine doing that while being the
most famous man alive. Few people outside of politics had ever achieved the
level of recognition that Bing did, save Charles Lindbergh. And for Crosby,
Lindbergh's problems (the kidnapping and murder of his son in 1932 and the
subsequent trial in 1936) were not items in a history book, but the front
page story on that morning's newspaper. If Bing reigned in the boys too much
it mostly likely was done out of love and protection and not of malice.

By the time Bing's second family came along, he had slipped into
semi-retirement. The spotlight was on Elvis and the Beatles. He and Kathryn
raised their children in the San Francisco Bay area, not Hollywood. Life
afforded Mr. Crosby a second chance to get it right. We should all be that
lucky.

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:38:14 -0500
From: "daveclea" <daveclea@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: MP3 files

Thank you to all who have offered help. I have downloaded "Free Agent" and
"APicViewer" but because Cox Communications "[removed]" replacement for the
bankrupt Excite@ Home is really floundering during this transition I am
unable to connect to the "[removed]". It is an on [removed] again
proposition just to send and receive e-mail.  Hopefully, in the near future,
Cox will get their act together and I will be able to try these programs.
I located the Newsgroup "[removed]" and
found a number of apparent MP3 files which display as "corrupted"
text.  I cannot find a way to access these files with my "Real
Audio" MP3 player.
Thanks again.

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:38:39 -0500
From: Tony Baechler <tony@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: World News Today

Hello.  I am looking to acquire this program on cassette tape.  If you are
an mp3 collector, please disregard this message.  Yes, I can tell mp3 sound
quality.  J. David Goldin shows 74 of these to be circulating, many of
which are only half shows.  It seemed to be on the air from 1942-45.  This
is not the same as "World Today" or similar.  Jerry Haendiges does not have
it in his catalogs.  They run about 24-25 minutes, recorded by WBBM and
broadcast on CBS.  My father is looking for these if you can help.  I
cannot use reels and would prefer to avoid audio CD.  Formats like mp3 or
CDR are out of the question.  I am willing to pay for tapes.  I do not have
much to trade and it is inconvenient for me to dubb.  Please write me off
list.  If you have other news programs such as "World Today" or similar, I
might be interested in them also.  Sound quality is not a big deal since I
realize that many of these are from shortwave.  Anyway, if you have them
available at reasonable terms please contact me.  Thanks.

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:38:53 -0500
From: "Ryan Hall" <pezman419@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: looking for complete runs [removed]

Hello all,
I wish to express my thanks fto all the folks who provided me with copies of
my lost Shadow CDs. I am know [removed] I found out they [removed]
full runs of Suspense and Lone Ranger. I hear that somewhere out there
someone has both full shows in MP3 CDs. If anyone would like to trade for
[removed] I hate to ask the same people who generously helped replace my
missing Shadow shows because I feel like a nuisance and a [removed]
let me know. Thanks, Ryan

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:40:02 -0500
From: Jim Widner <jwidner@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Coach Art Turf

Got this inquiry at my web site. If anyone can help please email me and I
will pass on.
Thanks.

- ----
Hello, I hate to bother you but I have been looking for any information on
a show that had "Coach Art Turf" as its main character. It was played
during the 1970's as a short parody to a football coach interview. My
father and I used to listen to it every Saturday night. I have already
contacted the station that played it but as times change and personnel
change also they have no idea. If you can offer any suggestions I will be
deeply appreciative.
- ----

Jim Widner
jwidner@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:40:43 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Lincoln Highway log

Regarding recent talk of THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY on radio, I once did a
broadcast log for SPERDVAC with a brief article about the series.  The log
listed most of the titles, guests, and all the airdates and episode numbers.
  Anyone happen to have a copy they could zerox for me?  Since the printing,
I haven't been able to keep a copy for myself.  I'll post it on the OTR
Digest if anyone wants, it wasn't a long log at [removed]
Martin

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:41:08 -0500
From: "Marie A. Lamb" <malamb@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Another Syracuse, NY radio site

Thanks to Duane Wadsworth for the info about that marvelous site for
WOLF 1490 from Syracuse!  I'm a Syracuse native who wound up in the
public radio part of the business, and that brought back a lot of
childhood and teenage memories!

I did a little surfing around, and I found another site dedicated to
WHEN 620, especially to its history in the 1970s and 1980s when it was
a music station with a lot of fun goings-on as well.  (It is a sports/talk
station now.)  Any Syracusans who are in their 40s, as I am, should
remember those days well.  You can see for yourself at:

[removed]

Enjoy, especially if you remember radio in my part of the world a couple
of decades back!

I just had a horrible thought: will I wind up in somebody's tribute site
someday?  <gasp>

Marie Lamb
WAER Jazz 88 Syracuse University [removed]

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:41:31 -0500
From: Dennis W Crow <DCrow3@[removed];
To: OTR Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Arthur Godfrey and Julius LaRosa

Lee Munsick posted that Arthur Godfrey did not fire Julius LaRosa.  Lee is
an expert on Godfrey so I don't question his statement.  But I think he
needs to elaborate.

Certainly, Godfrey did fire his bandleader Archie Bleyer, who Dunning
reports was connected to LaRosa. Dunning also quotes Godfrey as saying that
LaRosa lacked humility.

This event has always been referred to as the undoing of the great Godfrey.
Ironically, it was the undoing of Julius LaRosa too because his fame
quickly vanished. There must be another story here   Would you agree, Lee,
that this incident was at least a turning point in Godfrey's career?  I'd
appreciate your total take on this if you're willing to give it.

Dennis Crow

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:42:08 -0500
From: Michael Biel <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: RE: FAKE SEGMENTS ON I CAN HEAR IT NOW

From: "Owens Pomeroy" <opomeroy@[removed];
The posting about the recreation of actual news events on Murrow's
I Can Hear It Now reminds me of the one of "the final broadcast
from the Phillipines,"  with the telegraph clicking and the voice
repeating what the message said.  This obviously WAS a recreation.
It was later revealed that either Murrrow or the producers of the
album contacted the original operator who sent that message to
re-create it for the album.

We've discussed this program here before, and you are confusing several
different situations.  While the event is a studio re-creation, it was
not done by Murrow and Friendly.  It was an actual wartime dramatic
broadcast re-creating the event much like "The March Of Time" re-created
news events as a live drama.  This program is probably "The Army Hour"
of May 31, 1942.  The actual event took place on May 5.  Thus the
original telegrapher was in enemy hands at the time of the May 31
broadcast.  What we apparently have not been able to ascertain is
whether that telegrapher, Irving Strobing of Brooklyn, [removed], survived
the Battan Death March and the several years of prison camps that
followed.

Michael Biel  mbiel@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:42:24 -0500
From: "A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Godfrey and LaRosa

Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002 19:42:55 -0500
From: leemunsick@[removed]

Fact is, Mr. Godfrey did NOT fire Julius Larosa.  Period.

He released Julie from their verbal agreement AT LAROSA'S REQUEST!

That's a new one on me.  I always understood that Godfrey said something
on the air to the effect that LaRosa was going on his own and wouldn't be
with Godfrey any more, and that this came as a surprise to LaRosa.  I
hope our Elizabeth, resident history expert, will weigh in on this one.

--
A. Joseph Ross, [removed]                           [removed]
 15 Court Square, Suite 210                 lawyer@[removed]
Boston, MA 02108-2503           	         [removed]

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:42:39 -0500
From: JimInks@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Gildersleeve

Leroy and Marjorie were the children of Gildersleeve's sister.  I haven't
listened to the first episode in sometime but I know this reference was made
a few times over the years, if not early on.

Hal Peary said in an interview that it was decided to make Gildy a bachelor
when they started the series.  I think he said they got a letter or two about
the wife, but for the most part, nobody noticed.  Off hand, I only recall
hearing one Fibber McGee show where the wife has a speaking part.  They
generally just referred to her.

-Jim Amash

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:43:25 -0500
From: Michael Berger <makiju@[removed];
To: otr <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: godfrey-larosa: rest of the story?

I saw a biography video not long ago about Godfrey that
praised him for the showman he was, but also told the
LaRosa story much differently, not using media stories, but
interviews with LaRosa; Godfrey apparently never went into
the topic aside from his "lack of humility" criticism.

In any event, here, from his website

[removed]'[removed]

is what LaRosa says today:

"Thank God for the press's awareness and the public's
awareness! They knew that the big guy should never hurt the
little guy. And Arthur Godfrey was the big guy, trying to
hurt this kid, and that's why they turned on him. And the
public turned on him really bad.

"The man literally is the father of my career and I'll
always be grateful to him. But it turned out he wasn't a
very nice man."

La Rosa thanked Godfrey for giving him his great break and
left the show.

He learned Godfrey could not overlook the fact that La Rosa
had hired a manager after his first hit records. No one of
Godfrey's "friends" could have an outside manager. In
addition, La Rosa (like the other men on the show) had
refused to go to dance classes ordered by Godfrey. Perhaps
coincidentally, Godfrey repudedly had a soft spot for
Dorothy McGuire, who was involved with La Rosa. However,
the stated reason for the firing was, said Godfrey, "a lack
of humility." For years, LaRosa wondered what that meant,
and today he believes:

"Fundamentally, humility is not a quality that exists in
people. It is something only between a person and his God.
What people consider 'humble' is actually good manners.
Good manners is the bottom line."

Arthur Godfrey, a man whose public image was a
down-to-earth, plain-speaking Mr. Nice Guy, was actually
tyrannical and judgmental. "And he was a guy who couldn't
afford to be judged!"

Unfortunately for Godfrey, this happened just before "Eh
Cumpari" went on to be a top pop single in 1953, followed
by "Domani," another hit song for La Rosa and Cadence
Records. Arthur Godfrey's shows, and his career, went into
a decline and never recovered. [ end excerpt ]

Cadence Records was apparently the creation of Godfrey
bandleader Archie Bleyer, for the purpose of boosting
LaRosa.

Very probably there is much more to be told, but I think
Mr. Munsick's dismissal is not the end of this story.

Michael Berger
Please reply to: intercom1@[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:43:35 -0500
From: "Dave Walter" <fredallenfan@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Gildersleeve the Guardian

"welsa" <welsa@[removed]; writes concerning Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve
becoming the executor of his brother-in-law's estate in the first episode of
"The Great Gildersleeve":

As I see it, you have a brother-in law by one of two ways--either he is
your
wife's brother, or your sister's husband.  There is no mention of a wife
anywhere in this episode.  But why would he be administering only the
brother-in-law's estate?  Why not the BIL's wife's estate, too?  This small
detail is not explained at all.

My potential theory here would be that Gildersleeve's sister had previously
died and her estate's executor would have been a member of his
brother-in-law's biological family, and to return the favor Gildersleeve was
named as his brother-in-law's estate's executor.

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:43:43 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Today in radio history

  From Those Were The Days --

1937 - In an article published in Literary Digest, Edgar Bergen
mentioned that he made his dummy pal, Charlie McCarthy, the beneficiary
of a $10,000 trust fund to keep him in serviceable condition and repair.

  Joe

--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:44:05 -0500
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: otr-net <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: RE: Gildersleeve the Guardian

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 06:58:25 -0500
From: "welsa" <welsa@[removed];
Subject: Gildersleeve the Guardian

I also remember talk about whether or not he was married while in Wistful
Vista. I'm not sure how it was all resolved.

  Being a Gildy fan, but not an expert, there were several times during
the FM&M days his wife was mentioned.  I recall the Hallowe'en party
show from 10/37 (or '38) where he hosts a Hallowe'en party and says his
wife is ill but to continue with the party.  (This is the show Fibber
lets out the air in the tires of Gildy's car only to find it was
actually his car he let the air out of.  And this brings up another
question: Did Fibber own a car or not?  There are shows during the war
years he talks about not being able to drive due to rationing and other
times he says he doesn't have a car.)
  Gildy's wife, IIRC, was never heard on the show, but only referred to.

As I see it, you have a brother-in law by one of two ways--either he is
your wife's brother, or your sister's husband.

  A touching show in the late '40s where Marjorie is going to marry
Bronco and Gildy and Leroy are in the attic looking for his sister's
wedding gown.  They find a picture of the deceased sister and Gildy
remarks she was a wonderful sister and is still missed with he and Leroy
talking briefly about her.  I don't think the cause of her missing was
ever fully explained but there seem to be hints, over the years, she and
her husband were killed in a car crash, hence the reason Gildy went to
Summerfield in the first place.  And The Gildersleeve Girdle Company was
never mentioned in his series, but was on FM&M.
  Joe

--
Visit my home page:
[removed]~[removed]

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

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:44:11 -0500
From: "Michael Hayde" <mmeajv@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Godfrey and LaRosa

Our "Godfrey Guy" Lee Munsick wrote:

The media said---and thus the lemmings believe.

Fact is, Mr. Godfrey did NOT fire Julius Larosa.  Period.

He released Julie from their verbal agreement AT LAROSA'S REQUEST!

Lee, speaking as a fellow writer, I'd understand if you were reluctant to
give away anything that is reserved for your book.  But that's something of
a bombshell.  It contradicts not only the media reports of the day, but
LaRosa himself in Max Wilk's "THE GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISION: Notes From the
Survivors."  If this was a mutual agreement, why was there so much
bitterness between them?  Why would Godfrey have to hold a press conference
within the week to defend himself?

One personal memory: On the 1976 MDA telethon, LaRosa was hosting the local
portion in NYC.  After Frank Sinatra had reunited Jerry Lewis with Dean
Martin, LaRosa joked, "I'll even work with Arthur Godfrey today!"

Michael J. Hayde

--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2002 Issue #23
********************************************

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