Subject: [removed] Digest V2005 #389
From: [removed]@[removed]
Date: 12/19/2005 12:36 PM
To: [removed]@[removed]

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


                            The Old-Time Radio Digest!
                              Volume 2005 : Issue 389
                         A Part of the [removed]!
                             [removed]
                                 ISSN: 1533-9289


                                 Today's Topics:

  I Hid it Under the [removed]          [ Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed] ]
  A&A and Pepsodent                     [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
  Jack Benny meets Bugs Bunny           [ Steve Salaba <dangerdanger@sbcgloba ]
  Re: Amos 'n' Andy in the King Kong m  [ Dixonhayes@[removed] ]
  (Professor) Irwin Corey               [ "[removed]" <asajb2000@ ]
  Leff Marches On                       [ Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed] ]
  Amos & Andy sponsors                  [ Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed]; ]
  King Kong                             [ "Paul Grieves" <paul@[removed]. ]
  12-19 births/deaths                   [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
  King Kong and OTR                     [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
  WTIC's Golden Age of Radio/One Night  [ "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed]; ]
  David Sarnoff / Titantic              [ Andrew Steinberg <otrdig1@[removed] ]
  Jack Armstrong                        [ Jay Sweet <sweetedit@[removed]; ]
  Library shows                         [ "RadioAZ@[removed]" <radioAZ@bas ]
  Ask A Simple [removed]              [ "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@juno. ]

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

Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 16:42:48 -0500
From: Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  I Hid it Under the [removed]

Gerald Eskenazi's remembrance of radio is editorialized in Saturday's Wall 
Street Journal.

While the reviewer likes the book, he claims that listening to radio on 
cassette or downloaded from the Internet "leaves him cold," and "didn't grab 
him like the book."

This link should work for a day or two.

Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]

[removed][removed] 

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

Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 19:00:54 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  A&A and Pepsodent

On 12/18/05 4:42 PM [removed]@[removed] wrote:

Having just seen the new Peter Jackson remake of "King Kong" I noticed a
Times Square billboard advertising "Amos and Andy" sponsored by Pepsodent
and I was just wondering if any of the A&A experts here can tell me if they
got this right or not? I know that Rinso detergent was the sponsor most
associated with the show on radio but perhaps since this takes place earlier
in the Depression maybe Pepsodent was in fact an earlier sponsor.

The Pepsodent Company sponsored "Amos 'n' Andy" longer than any other
firm -- backing the program for the 2312 episodes aired between August
19, 1929 and December 31, 1937.  Pepsodent was based in Chicago, and
became interested in the program during its run on WMAQ. Pepsodent
advertising manager Harlow Roberts and Albert Lasker of the Lord and
Thomas advertising agency (who was also a major stockholder in Pepsodent)
spent the first eight months of 1929 lining up arrangements with NBC for
a six-nights-a-week fifteen minute slot, creating the first nightly strip
in network broadcasting.

Bill Hay's nightly commercials for Pepsodent emphasized the slogan "Use
Pepsodent Toothpaste Twice A Day -- See Your Dentist At Least Twice A
Year," and in doing so helped to create the American habit of visiting
the dentist every six months. Later in the run, Hay's commercials
introduced Pepsodent's "remarkable additive" Irium, a name made up by
Lasker to describe sodium alkyl sulphate -- a common form of soap.
Beginning in 1931, commercials for Pepsodent Toothpaste alternated on the
program with those for Pepsodent Antiseptic, which promised to make one
dollar do the work of three in fighting germs, colds, and bad breath.

The billboard advertising "Amos 'n' Andy" actually existed at the 47th
Street end of Times Square during 1930-31, on the building now known as
the Renaissance Hotel, as a modification of an animated Pepsodent
billboard that had existed at that site since 1928. Beneath an animated
figure of a girl in a swing flicking back and forth beneath a clock, the
message flashed two messages: "Pepsodent On The Air With Amos 'n' Andy"
and "Pepsodent Removes Film From Teeth." The billboard had been replaced
by 1933, and thus is an anachronism in Jackson's film.

Elizabeth

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

Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 19:01:03 -0500
From: Steve Salaba <dangerdanger@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Jack Benny meets Bugs Bunny

I was just rereading Milt Josefsberg's book about Jack Benny (a recent
purchase) and in the section on Mel Blanc, Milt mentions a show where Jack
takes Polly the Parrot to an animal psychiatrist and Jack has an argument
with Bugs Bunny in the waiting room. This is a show I'd love to hear - does
anyone know which show it was and if its available anywhere?

BTW, I was just watching my Jack Benny set of DVD TV shows and there's a
segment where Western Union boy Mel Blanc recognizes Jack as having been to
Waukegan High School together and asks Jack "What are you doing now?" Jack
breaks up as he tries to say "I'm the voice of Bugs Bunny"!
--
Steve Salaba

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

Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 19:01:22 -0500
From: Dixonhayes@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Re: Amos 'n' Andy in the King Kong movie
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In a message dated 12/18/05 3:43:44 PM Central Standard Time,
[removed]@[removed] writes:

I noticed a
Times Square billboard advertising "Amos and Andy" sponsored by Pepsodent
and I was just wondering if any of the A&A experts here can tell me if they
got this right or not? I know that Rinso detergent was the sponsor most
associated with the show on radio

I'm sure Elizabeth can give a more thorough sponsorship history but yes,
Pepsodent sponsored "Amos 'n' Andy" during the period in which the new "King
Kong"
movie is set. The precious few recordings of complete shows or at least
partial shows from that period back that up, including one 1932 show that
features
the opening theme and Bill Hay reading a Pepsodent spot.  I'm sure Peter
Jackson included the billboard likely for one of two simple reasons: to show
some
pop culture from the period, or to just get the look of Times Square right for
the scenes set there, perhaps based on some period photos or newsreel footage.

Rinso didn't begin sponsorship until the show adopted its half hour sitcom
format in 1943.

Dixon

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Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 19:01:34 -0500
From: "[removed]" <asajb2000@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  (Professor) Irwin Corey

According to [removed],

Corey thrived on the radio, memorably appearing on
Edgar Bergen's radio show as a tutor to Charlie
McCarthy.

So, yes if this is correct, he did appear on radio.

Andy Blatt

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

Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 21:14:13 -0500
From: Sean Dougherty <seandd@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Leff Marches On

Laura gets quoted in another article in Inside The Bay Area bemoaning the
Jack Benny snub in this year's stamp set.

Sean Dougherty
SeanDD@[removed]

[removed]

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

Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 21:15:22 -0500
From: Dan Hughes <danhughes@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Amos & Andy sponsors

Charles Adams says (of Amos and Andy),

I know that Rinso detergent was the sponsor most associated with the
show on radio but perhaps since this takes place earlier in the
Depression maybe Pepsodent was in fact an earlier [removed]

Pepsodent was the sponsor from 1929 through 1937.  Then Campbell's Soup
1938 through 1943, THEN Rinso.

---Dan, [removed] (spiffy home page) (gussied up for
Christmas)

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

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 08:36:59 -0500
From: "Paul Grieves" <paul@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  King Kong

From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
Subject:  Re: Check and Double Check -- at the Box Office

.............RKO also had to swallow the heavy network line costs for
the 65 "Amos 'n' Andy" episodes aired from Hollywood during the making of
the film.

Has anyone seen the new King Kong film yet ?  In the latter part of the film
when Kong rampages round New York, there is a homage to OTR in Times Square.
One of the signs advertises Pepsodent and has Amos 'n' Andy prominently
displayed on it.  Someone's been doing their homework !

Paul

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

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 08:37:13 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio Digest Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  12-19 births/deaths

December 19th births

12-19-1882 - Bronislaw Huberman - Czestochowa, Poland - d. 6-17-1947
violinist: "A Tribute to . . . ."
12-19-1888 - Fritz Reiner - Budapest, Hungary - d. 11-15-1963
conductor: "Curtis Institute Musicale"; "Ford Sunday Evening Hour"
12-19-1894 - Ford Frick - Wawaka, IN - d. 4-8-1978
baseball comissioner: "Baseball: An Action History"; "Play Ball";
"Tribute to Babe Ruth"
12-19-1902 - Ralph Richardson - Cheltenham, England - d. 10-10-1983
actor: Doctor John H. Watson, "Advs. of Sherlock Holmes"
12-19-1907 - Ray Noble - Brighton, England - d. 4-3-1978
bandleader: "George Burns and Gracie Allen Show"; "Chase & Sanborn Hour"
12-19-1911 - Clark Dennis - Roscommon, MI
singer: "Breakfast Club"; "Fibber McGee and Molly"; "Chesterfield
Presents"
12-19-1912 - Frank Holliday - San Francisco, CA - d. 8-3-1948
singer: (The Rockaway Four) "The Gay Nineties Revue"
12-19-1915 - Edith Piaf - Paris, France - d. 10-11-1963
singer: "The Big Show"
12-19-1919 - Benedict Freedman - New York, NY
writer: "The Red Skelton Show"
12-19-1923 - Gordon Jackson - Glasgow, Scotland - d. 1-15-1990
Freelance actor for the BBC
12-19-1924 - Rex Barney - Omaha, NE - d. 8-11-1997
baseball color man: "Game of the Day"
12-19-1933 - Cicely Tyson - New York, NY
host: "Sears Radio Theatre"; Thursday, Love and Hate Night

December 19th deaths

01-12-1912 - Sara Berner - Albany, NY - d. 12-19-1969
actress: Mable Flapsaddle "Jack Benny Program"; Ingrid Mataratzo
"Jimmy Durante Show"
02-01-1922 - Renata Tebaldi - Pesaro, Italy - d. 12-19-2004
lyric soprano: "Bell Telephone Hour"; "Metropolitan Opera
02-24-1895 - May Singhi Breen - New York, NY - d. 12-19-1970
singer: (The Ukulele Lady) "Sweethearts of the Air"
04-16-1913 - Les Tremayne - London, England - d. 12-19-2003
actor: Nick Charles "Advs. of the Thin Man"; Michael Waring "The Falcon"
06-01-1901 - John Van Druten - London, England - d. 12-19-1957
writer: "Radio Guild"; "Chase and Sanborn Hour"; "Theatre Guild On
the Air"
06-23-1910 - Milt Hinton - Vicksburg, MS - d. 12-19-2000
jazz bassist: "Town Hall Concert"; "Monsanto Night: Benny Goodman"
06-27-1912 - Audrey Christie - Chicago, IL - d. 12-19-1989
actress: Assistant to Peter Standish "Peter Standish, Medical Examiner"
07-31-1902 - Robert E. Griffin - Hutchinson, KS - d. 12-19-1960
actor: Wilbur Ramage "Story of Holly Sloan"; Michael West "Bright
Horizon"
09-12-1914 - Desmond Llewelyn - Newport, South Wales - d. 12-19-1999
actor: Archdeacon Erabazori "Nemesis"
09-25-1875 - Clyde Fillmore - McConnelsville, OH - d. 12-19-1946
actor: Sam Aldrich "The Aldrich Family"
10-02-1900 - Barton Yarborough - Goldthwaite, TX - d. 12-19-1951
actor: Ben Romero "Dragnet"; Doc Long "I Love A Mystery/Adventure"
11-10-1915 - Bob Shepard - d. 12-19-1993
announcer: "Pot O' Gold"; "Counterspy"; "Break the Bank"; "You Can"t
Take it with You"

Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:11:47 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  King Kong and OTR

Charles Adams commented about the Amos n' Andy reference in Times Square.
That was accurate.  Although the setting was not officially given on screen
by insert title cards, the year was supposed to be 1933, the same year the
RKO movie was released.  The set designers used photographs of New York and
Times Square dated 1933 and reproduced everything as it appeared on the
photos - including the Amos n' Andy sign.  Pepsodent was the sponsor.

The ONLY thing the designers publicly admitted to changing was the Universal
Studios sign in Times Square.  It was originally for Columbia Pictures but
Columbia would not give permission without being paid so since Universal
helped with this film's release, the CG crew inserted a a Universal Studios
sign.

There are other nostalgic references in the new KING KONG (not meaning to
stray from the topic) - King Kong's ice-skating in Central Park was a
reproduction of the ice skating scene from BAMBI.  Al Jolson's "I'm Sitting
on Top of the World" was a cute musical opener.

Also recommended is CINDERELLA MAN, which just recently came out on DVD -
for anyone who wants to really see how the depression is depicted, and how
the radio was used to bring the fights to the homes and bars - including the
lingo used by the sportscasters - and the tubes inside the radios are even
shown.

Small bit of curio - RKO actually produced a small mini-series for radio in
1933 to hype the KING KONG movie.  They took the film script and divided it
into a handful of chapters and the serial was broadcast over the air while
the movie was showing in theaters.  Even RKO was trying to use the medium of
radio to sell movie tickets.

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

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:11:56 -0500
From: "Bob Scherago" <rscherago@[removed];
To: "Old Time Radio" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  WTIC's Golden Age of Radio/One Night Stand
 with the Big Bands

The latest "Golden Age of Radio" programs with Dick Bertel
and Ed Corcoran, and "A One Night Stand with the Big Bands"
with Arnold Dean can be heard at [removed].

Each week we feature three complete shows in MP3 format
for your listening pleasure or for downloading; two "Golden
Age of Radios" and one "One Night Stand." We present new
shows every week or so. The current three programs will be
available on line at least until the morning of 12/27/05.

Program 7 - October, 1970 - Rudy Vallee

"The Fleischmann Hour," nationally known as the Rudy Vallee
Hour--the first-ever radio talk show--debuted in 1928 with
200 million listeners. It was a live variety revue and Rudy's
guests were a mixture of the famous and the unknown. He
was the first to invite black musicians to be on his show,
and in appreciation, artists such as Louis Armstrong and
Josephine Baker invited Rudy to their clubs in Harlem.
Among his blunders: turning down the Andrew sisters and
believing that Barbra Streisand had no talent.

We were fortunate enough to interview Mr. Vallee at length,
and broadcast this Golden Age program as a two-hour special.
We present it here, uncut, in two parts.

"A One Night Stand with the Big Bands" With Arnold Dean

This program was originally broadcast on WTIC in 1969, on
the 25th anniversary of Glenn Miller's death, December 15,
1944. It predated the "One Night Stand with the Big Bands"
series. We present it here to mark the 61st anniversary.

In 1942, at the peak of his civilian career, Glenn decided he
could better serve those in uniform by putting one on himself.
By doing this, the band gave up a $20,000 weekly income.
Too old to be drafted at age 38, Glenn first volunteered for
the Navy but was told that they didn't need his services. Not
giving up, Glenn wrote to the Army's Brigadier General
Charles Young on August 12, 1942. Miller persuaded the
Army to accept him so he could in his own words, "put a
little more spring into the feet of our marching men and a
little more joy into their hearts and to be placed in charge
of a modernized army band."

Glenn soon became part of the Army Specialists Corps with
the rank of captain. For the next year and a half, besides
arranging music, Glenn created and directed his own 50-
member band. Captain Miller's mission was morale building,
bringing a touch of home to the troops and modernizing
military music. Glenn was also a talented fund raiser, and
raised millions of dollars in war bond drives. He also
attracted Air Corps recruits through his I Sustain the Wings
weekly radio broadcasts.

Still wanting to do more, Glenn arranged for overseas duty
for the band. The Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band was
extremely busy and Glenn wrote home that in one month
they played at 35 different bases, while performing 40
radio broadcasts in their spare time.

Finally, on December 15, 1944, Glenn boarded a single
engine C-64 Norseman aircraft to travel to Paris, France
where he was to make arrangements for a Christmas
broadcast. Tragically, the plane never reached France and
was never found.

In the 1970's WTIC decided that there was a market in
the evening for long-form shows that could be packaged
and sold to sponsors. Two of those shows were "The
Golden Age of Radio" and "A One Night Stand with the
Big Bands."

Dick Bertel had interviewed radio collector-historian
Ed  Corcoran several times on his radio and TV shows,
and thought a regular monthly show featuring interviews
with actors, writers, producers, engineers and musicians
from radio's early days might be interesting. "The Golden
Age of Radio" was first broadcast in April, 1970;  Ed was
Dick's co-host. It lasted seven years. "The Golden Age
of Radio" can also be heard Saturday nights on Walden
Hughes's program on Radio Yesteryear.

Arnold Dean began his love affair with the big band
era in his pre-teen years and his decision to study
the clarinet was inspired by the style of Artie Shaw.
When he joined WTIC in 1965 he hosted a daily program
of big band music.  In 1972, encouraged by the success
of his daily program and "The Golden Age of Radio"
series, he began monthly shows featuring interviews
with the band leaders, sidemen, agents, jazz reporters,
etc. who made major contributions to one of the great
eras of music history.

Bob Scherago
Webmaster

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

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 11:41:21 -0500
From: Andrew Steinberg <otrdig1@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  David Sarnoff / Titantic
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My understanding is that David Sarnoff was not a radio operator receiving
reports from the Titantic as it sank. What is the true story?

Visit [removed] for OTR program title and date corrections

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Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 11:41:33 -0500
From: Jay Sweet <sweetedit@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Jack Armstrong

I just wanted to send a quick note to thank everyone for their responses to
my request for help finding episodes of Jack Armstrong.

My friend was able to find some nice copies for her grandfather using your
advice.

Jay Sweet
sweetedit@[removed]

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

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 14:32:45 -0500
From: "RadioAZ@[removed]" <radioAZ@[removed];
To: "OTR Digest" <[removed]@[removed];
Subject:  Library shows

I'm looking for any shows from most any radio series that revolve around a
library in some way or the other.  I already know of an episode from the
Halls of Ivy about getting money for the library.  Anyone know of any other
shows with that theme?

It seems to me I once heard a mystery of some type about someone going back
to their home town for a visit and getting involved in the murder of a
librarian.  But I don't recall what series that was nor the name of the
episode.

Thanks for any help.

Ted

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

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 14:32:59 -0500
From: "kclarke5@[removed]" <kclarke5@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject:  Ask A Simple [removed]
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       My question is quite simple.  When and why did the RCA Victor Company
change to RCA?  I heard it mentioned as a sponsor of one of the radio
programs
I've got in my collection yet it's diffent on some later programs.

Another OTR Fan,

Kenneth Clarke

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--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2005 Issue #389
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