------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2005 : Issue 311
A Part of the [removed]!
[removed]
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Encylopedia/WTIC GDOR [ "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed]; ]
Senators and congressmen, oh my! [ Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed]; ]
Re: FOTR Convention [ alo <alo@[removed]; ]
Re: Murrow vs. McCarthy [ Jim Widner <widnerj@[removed]; ]
Exploding another myth [ "Jim Cox" <otrbuff@[removed]; ]
Ed Murrow [ "HOWARD BLUE" <khovard@[removed]; ]
the first synthetic detergent [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
10-10 births/deaths [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Mr Kitzel [ Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed] ]
Re:Ass Directors. [ Hal Stone <otrjug@[removed]; ]
WLS "Stand By" [ "Bill Knowlton" <udmacon1@[removed] ]
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2005 17:44:20 -0400
From: "Bob C" <rmc44@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Encylopedia/WTIC GDOR
After 10 months of reading (or trying to read) a few pages each
day, I have finally finished John Dunning's Encyclopedia of Old
Time Radio. (I ordered it last year when it was on sale for about
$19.) The thing that struck me the most was how many programs
were short-lived. When we think of OTR, the best-remembered ones
are those that were around the longest ...and obviously, they
were around the longest, in most cases, for good reason. I didn't
keep count, but the summer replacements and other special
circumstances aside, it was interesting to see how many programs
were on for only a matter of three to six months or one or two
seasons. Same for TV today, of course, but I hadn't put OTR in
that same perspective. Gee, weren't all OTR programs great and
didn't they run 10-20-30 years?
I also appreciated Dunning's recommendation of some programs and
saying that they were available in good quality sound. I'll be
getting several of "On Stage" with Elliott and Cathy Lewis, a
series I missed way back when. Guess I need to go the library and
look up the radio schedules in the newspapers to see what was on
opposite the show. Even if there was a conflict with an existing
favorite, I might have heard it once and decided it was beyond
the mind of this 9-year-old.
-0-
In a posting last week, Steve Carter had praise for the reruns of
WTIC's Golden Days of Radio on the Internet. I've enjoyed the
programs, too ... but with some reservations, realizing a number
of factors end up shaping the final program ... like why does the
sample of a program run on and on and on? It could be the guest
was late for the interview and because of another appointment
could spare only a half-hour to talk. I do think some of the
interviews were "by the seat of their pants" ... with questions
not all that concise and directed toward getting some solid
information from the guest. But it's easier these days to do the
necessary research on a program or personality than it was in the
mid-70s.
However, it would have been nice if some misinformation by the
guest were corrected or simply not used for the broadcasts then
or now. For instance, Vincent Price made a comment to the effect
that the stars' fees for appearing on Lux Radio Theatre went to
the Screen Actors Guild home. Of course, he was thinking of the
Gulf (etc.) Screen Guild Theater.
The interview with Martha Raye is one of the worst I've heard ...
not a relfection on the interviewers necessarily and no
reflection on her talent back in OTR (she was a good singer),
but -- if I heard her correctly (and it was hard to understand
because of her mumbling) she told Dick Bertel and Ed Corcoran
that the USO tours didn't start until after the war -- which
caught them short because they too knew that wasn't correct --
and then she says she was over in London during the Blitz. She
either was confused on her times or her terminology or both. In
general, she just wasn't as responsive as you want a good
interview to be ... you can hear in your own mind Dick and Ed
thinking, "Say more, say more."
So far, my two favorites of all the programs I've heard are
Vincent Price for his sheer enthusiasm about radio acting ... and
playwright Robert Anderson for his insight into writing for
radio. Mel Allen, though he seemed awfully hesitant at times,
also was a delight.
Bob C.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2005 17:45:34 -0400
From: Rick Keating <pkeating89@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Senators and congressmen, oh my!
"> It's by the same reporter who
can't tell the difference between Senators and
Congressmen"
"Huh? Unless something changed when I wasn't looking,
Senators are congressmen."
That is _technically_ correct, as elected officials in
both the [removed] House of Representatives and the [removed]
Senate are members of _congress_. However, a senator
is referred to as "senator", while a representative is
referred to as "Congressman" (or "Congresswoman"),
rather than "Representative."
Thus: "As Congressman Stan Laurel led the way out of
the Oval Office, Senator Oliver Hardy fumed after him.
"Well, Stanley, that's another fine mess you've gotten
us into."
In newspaper first reference, a member of congress
would be identified as Sen. X or Rep. Y (or [removed]
Rep.); and on the state level, it would be "State
Sen." or State Rep." However, for most people in
ordinary conversation, the word "congressman" (or
"congresswoman") has become synonymous with a member
of the House of Representatives, rather than the more
correct description of a member of either house.
Why that is, I don't know; but even the senators and
representatives do it via their press releases. Sen.
Carl Levin doesn't send press releases from
"Congressman" Levin; but Represenative Joe Knollenberg
does send press releases identifying himself as
"Congressman."
Like I said, I don't know why senator aren't
Congressmen (and women)- even though they are; but it
was probably some elected official's fault.
Rick
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2005 18:36:33 -0400
From: alo <alo@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: FOTR Convention
At 05:48 PM 10/9/2005, Jughead wrote in part:
BE STILL, MY HEART!!!!! Will Elizabeth McLeod really be there. Does that
mean I will finally get to meet her in person, and thank her personally for
the nice "squib" that she wrote when she was one of the first people to read
the manuscript of my book.
Yes, she'll be there. She's looking forward to it so much, I can't begin to
tell you.
Hmmmm. I wonder if we can prevail upon her to do a few dance steps (in
costume) from the role she played in "Chicago". Now, that alone would be
worth the price of admission to FOTR.
She says that the costume has been tragically lost. (She didn't use the
word "tragically" though.)
I do hope that folks enjoy her presentation, which probably will not be
padded out by a song & dance number (though, hey, it *IS* an idea ....).
Also, it's worth a mention that if you've not purchased her book, please
consider doing so. It's very good & I (for one) would very much like to see
her write another one. Ordering through her site gives her an extra nickel,
too, which won't come amiss.
[removed]~[removed]
Amanda
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2005 21:05:43 -0400
From: Jim Widner <widnerj@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Murrow vs. McCarthy
Dixonhayes@[removed] wrote:
" seeing McCarthy's quotes rehashed in a newspaper column is *not* the
same thing, and clearly wasn't back when television was new, its
investigative powers largely untested."
I'm glad to see Dixon mention this because for all the criticism Murrow
might have gotten for coming to the gate late, there were several
factors that made him the more memorable of the McCarthy critics.
First, his radio reputation from World War II as a top-notch journalist.
His commentaries during the war (and before America's entry into it) had
profound effect upon the American public.
Secondly, the power of television. Despite the Drew Pearsons, Scotty
Restons and Herb Blocks's it has to be said that television was very
rapidly becoming the medium of choice among Americans. As Dixon points
out, the power of the image and sound was becoming much more powerful
than the written word (for better or worse). The effect of Murrow's
broadcast, despite being late, still probably was more effective in
putting the final nails in McCarthy's coffin as a Senator.
This was followed by both McCarthy appearing very badly (as Nixon did in
the Kennedy/Nixon debates later) on television and his badly blabbering
his response to Murrow's broadcast didn't help.
Then came the McCarthy-Army hearings which were televised over ABC, as I
recall. Once again, the power of the image and sound.
So despite Murrow being late to the starting gate, his effect was
probably more powerful. The earlier columnists and cartoonists certainly
bloodied the Senator, but Murrow helped push the knife in.
Jim Widner
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2005 21:06:23 -0400
From: "Jim Cox" <otrbuff@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Exploding another myth
1937 - The longest-running detective show debuted. Mr. Keen, Tracer of
Lost Persons lasted until 1955. Three different actors played the title
role, Bennett Kilpack was Mr. Keen the longest, and Arthur Hughes saw
the final show.
I'm guilty of believing that Arthur Hughes, one of the most gifted and
professional daytime actors (Just Plain Bill during its 23-year run),
portrayed Mr. Keen in a major way, too. It's true Hughes was one of few
thespians in the Hummert camp who appeared to resonate with his superiors
outside the studio, possibly the only one to do so. But that didn't elevate
him to portray "the kindly old investigator" in broadcasting's
longest-running detective series, nevertheless, as several well-intentioned
sources have stated. I was guilty of making that mistake, too, until I read
the 1,693 scripts for Mr. Keen while researching that venerable series for a
book. I was finally able to put that myth to rest in so doing.
Quoting from page 66 of "Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons" (McFarland,
2004): "By mid-1946, busy radio thespian Arthur Hughes was being called
upon with some frequency to substitute for [Bennett] Kilpack as Mr. Keen.
The regular actor was more often than not out of the lineup due to
unexplained illness, sometimes for weeks at a time. It was a pattern that
was to plague him for much of the remainder of his tenure. Hughes filled in
for Kilpack a combined 22 weeks: June 20, 1946 through July 18, 1946 (five
weeks, due to illness); August 8, 1946 through September 19, 1946 (seven
weeks, illness); September 25, 1947 (one week, illness); and February 19,
1948 through April 15, 1948 (nine weeks, reason unstated). On October 26,
1950, the program's 1,314th show, Kilpack -- then 67 -- played for the very
last time the part of Mr. Keen." The following week Philip Clarke took over
the role, remaining with it to the last aircast on Sept. 26, 1955 (and not
an earlier date published by a usually reliable Dunning and several other
reporters).
Arthur Hughes was probably selected as the fill-in because he and Bennett
Kilpack sounded so much alike, his perceived friendship with producers Frank
and Anne notwithstanding. But with 1,693 episodes and his performing in
just 22 of them, he hardly could be considered little more than a bit player
in the lead role.
Jim Cox
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2005 23:27:05 -0400
From: "HOWARD BLUE" <khovard@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Ed Murrow
I don't know if Ed Murrow was first to attack McCarthy or last -- but I do
know that he put his money where his mouth was. The late actor Joe Julian
who worked on March of Time etc. and did a lot of work for Corwin who loved
him, was one of the victims of the blacklist during the McCarthy era.
Julian decided to fight the people who smeared him by suing them. Ed Murrow
put up $10,000 to help Julian with his legal fees.
Howard Blue
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 00:22:57 -0400
From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: the first synthetic detergent
Joe Mackey writes:
1933 - Dreft, the first synthetic detergent, went on sale. Ten years
later, Dreft was the sponsor of The Dreft Star Playhouse.
I didn't know detergents were sold that early. I thought they were a
post-war product. Assuming detergents were better cleaning agents, why were
radio advertisements still pushing laundry soaps into the late 1940s?
Or do I have my timelines mixed up?
Or was there a wartime shortage of chemicals to make detergents?
Or were detergents too expensive vs. laundry soaps?
Or were early detergents too harsh and/or "stinky"?
Or did consumers just not want to change from their familiar products?
Just [removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 09:17:51 -0400
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: 10-10 births/deaths
October 10th births
10-10-1900 - Helen Hayes - Washington, [removed] - d. 3-17-1993
actress: "New Penny"; "Electric Theatre"; "O'Neill Cycle"
10-10-1903 - Vernon Duke - Pskov, Russia - d. 1-17-1969
broadway composer: "Mildred Baily Show"; "Good News of 1940"; "March of Time"
10-10-1908 - Johnny Green - New York City, NY - d. 5-15-1989
conductor: "In the Modern Manner"; "Jack Benny Program"; "Man Called X"
10-10-1909 - Florida Friebus - Auburndale, MA - d. 5-27-1988
actress: "Great Plays"; "Theatre Guild On the Air"
10-10-1911 - Marion Shockley - Kansas City, MO - d. 12-14-1981
actress: Rosemary Levy "Abie's Irish Rose"; Nikki Porter "Advs. of Ellery
Queen"
10-10-1911 - Zeke Manners - San Francisco, CA - d. 10-14-2000
singer, disc jockey: "Zeke Manners and His Gang"; "Zeke Manners"
10-10-1913 - Johnny Downs - Brooklyn, NY - d. 6-13-1994
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
10-10-1915 - Harry 'Sweets' Edison - Columbus, OH - d. 7-27-1999
jazz trumpeter: "Jubilee"; "One Night Stand"
10-10-1918 - Paul Dubov - Illinois - d. 9-20-1979
actor: Frank Race "Advs. of Frank Race"
10-10-1920 - Bernard Grant - The Bronx - d. 6-30-2004
actor: "Rober Kilgore"; "Big Story"
10-10-1926 - Oscar Brown, Jr. - Chicago, IL - d. 5-31-2005
singer: "Destination Freedom"
10-10-1926 - Richard Jaeckel - Long Beach, NY - d. 6-14-1997
actor: "Lux Radio Theatre"
10-10-1930 - Harold Pinter - London, England
writer, actor: "Focus on Football Pools"
October 10th deaths
01-20-1903 - Leon Ames - Portland, IN - d. 10-10-1993
actor: "Earplay"; "Screen Guild Theatre"; "Screen Director's Playhouse"
01-31-1892 - Eddie Cantor - New York City, NY - d. 10-10-1964
singer, comedian: (Banjo Eyes) "Eddie Cantor Show"; "Chase & Sanborn Hour"
03-19-1912 - Russ Case - Hamburg, IA - d. 10-10-1964
orchestra leader: "On a Sunday Afternoon"; "Peggy Lee Show"; "Your Hit Parade"
05-06-1915 - Orson Welles - Kenosha, WI (Raised: Chicago, IL) - d. 10-10-1985
actor: Lamont Cranston/Shadow "The Shadow"; "Mercury Theatre on the Air"
05-24-1886 - Paul Paray - Treport, Normandy, France - d. 10-10-1979
conductor: "New York Philharmonic"
07-07-1915 - Yul Brynner - Vladivostock, Czarist Russia - d. 10-10-1985
actor: "As Easy as [removed]"
07-08-1910 - Jack Rubin - New York - d. 10-10-1952
writer: "Hallmark Hall of Fame"; "The Hardy Family"; "Hilltop House"; "The
O'Neills"
07-10-1918 - Ernest Ricca - d. 10-10-1987
director: "Lorenzo Jones"; "Valiant Lady"; "Stella Dallas"; "Romance of Helen
Trent"
10-05-1912 - Tony Marvin - Brooklyn, NY - d. 10-10-1998
announcer: "Arthur Godfrey Time"
10-23-1884 - Cesar Saerchinger - Aix-la-Chapelle, France - d. 10-10-1971
news correspondent: "Story Behind the Headlines"; "America's Town Meeting of
the Air"
11-30-1885 - Charles West - Pittsburgh, PA - d. 10-10-1943
actor: "Dramas of Youth"
12-19-1902 - Ralph Richardson - Cheltenham, England - d. 10-10-1983
actor: Doctor John H. Watson, "Advs. of Sherlock Holmes"
12-24-1914 - Ralph Marterie - Naples, Italy - d. 10-10-1978
bandleader: "Marlboro Cigarettes Show"
xx-xx-1940 - Phil Harper - (Raised: Chicago, IL) - d. 10-10-2004
actor: Harry Nile "The Adventures of Harry Nile"
--
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 09:18:08 -0400
From: Joe Mackey <joemackey108@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Mr Kitzel
Discussing what Mr Kitzel really looked like Laura mentions a 1955
show with his appearance.
I have a tape of a kino of a early '50s show where Jack is returning
from a vacation in Hawaii and a mysterious man is seen through out the
show on the ship covered head to foot with various items, including
IIRC, a bee keepers outfit. At the end it turns out to be Mr Kitzel who
is hiding from his wife or the like. His size and appearance fits will
with the Kitzel character being short, thin, a bit on the mousey side.
Joe
--
Visit my home page: [removed]~[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 09:19:43 -0400
From: Hal Stone <otrjug@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re:Ass Directors.
On the subject of Assistant directors in [removed] promise this is the last I
have to say on the matter.
I recently stated, adamantly, that in my 15 years as a performer in OTR, and
working with many [removed] Directors, I NEVER SAW ANYONE OTHER THAN THE PROGRAMS
DIRECTOR make timing notations on the script.
Then, in deference (and out of respect for Doc Biel) left a little wiggle
room for him by saying that Asst. Directors might have been used out there
in La La Land, where all sorts of weird things were "practiced". (And still
are.) :)
However, my good buddy, and fellow Air Force Vet, and renowned West Coast
OTR actor Conrad Binyon, substantiated my claim that [removed] were
A figment of someone's imagination, EVEN IN [removed]!!!!!!
But then, My other good friend, (and secret lover) [removed] (Snooks) Watkins
[removed]
Yep, Jug, that was the way some did out here on the West Coast. In fact it
was even demonstrated to us in 1982 when Fletecher Markle directed a
re-creation of a Suspense show at Columbia Records in Hollywood. Ken McManus
was his assistant director who did the timing.
To which I [removed]!!!!!
BJ, my darlin, permit me to pick your statement apart. And set you back on
the road to enlightenment, truth, and the real facts of life in OTR land.
You [removed] if it was totally factual, "That was the way some did out here
on the West Coast".
Huh? Vas you dere, Sharlie? Can you tell me with any degree of certainty
that during the period of Radio's predominance as an entertainment medium
(1930's to the mid 50's) that Directors had "Assistant Directors" who timed
their shows for them. Was it "some"... "a few"... or one Hollywood idiot who
either couldn't tell time, couldn't read a script and still make notations
in the margins, or couldn't exist without some flunky doing his menial tasks
for him, which probably included polishing his boots. After all, that was
the "uniform" of the posturing, pretentious Hollywood Director. Boots,
Jodhpurs, cap, etc. I wonder if he also used a megaphone to talk to the
radio cast. :)
I say [removed] vast majority of the Directors in OTR (99 &9/10s) did not
use someone else to time their scripts for them. (If in fact, one or two
West Coast Woo Woo's did, that does not make it standard practice in OTR,
anymore than the myth that many performers dropped their script pages on the
floor during a performance. (Oh, please God, let's not get into that red
herring again).
But here's the really telling point of [removed] posting. She had every right to
assume that Asst. Directors were used to time scripts. After all, and I
again quote ...
In fact it was even demonstrated to us in 1982 when Fletecher Markle
directed a
re-creation of a Suspense show at Columbia Records in Hollywood. Ken McManus
was his assistant director who did the timing.
Let's examine that statement. I retired, after 20 years as a TV Director, in
1980. I used many Assistant Directors during those 20 years. (It was not
only a DGA (Directors Guild of America) union requirement, but when a
director has to concern himself with Camera movement, lighting, performances
scenery, and idiot producers, he needed all the help he could get. Heck, in
films, they sometimes had 2nd and 3rd asst. Directors.
So I offer this possible explanation for what you saw demonstrated in 1982.
Your Director, Fletcher Markle ( I don't know the gentleman) was probably so
used to using an Assistant Director (if he had graduated to TV in the 50's)
that the two of them became inseparable.
Whenever I shot TV on the West Coast, (Which was often enough) I always used
the same wonderful man who was an invaluable AD. His name, Buddy Morrison.
My AD on the East Coast was like my right arm. His [removed] Rockefeller.
(And yes, he was related to "the" Rockerfeller's). What fun it was to boss a
"Rockefeller" around. :)
Ad's and "Floor Managers" (two separate categories essential to live TV
production) were used almost from the beginning of TV's domination (and
eventual demise) of Radio Broadcasting.
So BJ, my dear one, what you saw in the 80's did not at all reflect what
went on in the heyday of OTR.
Love ya
Hal(Harlan)Stone
Jughead
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 10:57:56 -0400
From: "Bill Knowlton" <udmacon1@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: WLS "Stand By"
Stand By," a weekly magazine published by WLS, Chicago, was published from
1935 to 1938. It not only reported on the activities and programs of WLS and
its staff, it also ran items about the radio world in general. I've been
assembling a collection of "Stand By" and am enjoying the tidbits. As the
[removed]
"Jack Benny, comedian, has commissioned Adrian, celebrated style expert who
creates screen costumes for Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer and other M-G-M
stars, to design a bib for Joan Naomi Benny, his one year old daughter."-Aug
3, 1935
"Even the Burns and Allen baby, Sandra, is a seaplane commuter. The comic
couple flies to the CBS studios from Catalina, where George and Gracie are
filming a picture. So they've got the youngster flying back and forth
because they're afraid she might get lonesome without them"-Aug 3, 1935
(didn't both these kids get involved with biographies on their respective
parents?)
"a New York matron telephoned the CBS studios the other day: 'I want you to
have your Mr. Broake Carter come right over to my house and fix my radio. It
hasn't worked right for a week.'"-Aug 3, 1935
BILL KNOWLTON
--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #311
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