------------------------------
The Old-Time Radio Digest!
Volume 2003 : Issue 428
A Part of the [removed]!
ISSN: 1533-9289
Today's Topics:
Harry Bartell's Birthday [ Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed]; ]
Birthday Greetings [ "Randall F. Miller Jr." <rfmillerjr ]
yes, more OTR books needed [ benohmart@[removed] ]
MARCH OF TIME [ SIrvinProd@[removed] ]
Early 3D movies [ "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed] ]
Lena and other things [ vigor16@[removed] ]
Paul Frees in THM [ benohmart@[removed] ]
OTR recreations [ corganoid@[removed] ]
a little research help needed [ benohmart@[removed] ]
Thank you Howard Blue [ OTRGURU@[removed] ]
Re: Time's Agency [ Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed] ]
THE BEAR THAT WASN'T [ oldpdb@[removed] (Paul Barringer) ]
The perfect gift [ Henry Howard <hbhoward@[removed] ]
Wanted: Laramie, Wyoming resident? [ "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@hotm ]
Mr. District Attorney [ Bob Beckett <bobbyb1324me@[removed] ]
Re: Seasons Greetings from our gover [ "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed]; ]
March Of Time ad agency [ Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed] ]
The Big Clock [ "Mike Kerezman" <philipmarlowe@cfai ]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 09:27:56 -0500
From: Ron Sayles <bogusotr@[removed];
To: Olde Tyme Radio List <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Harry Bartell's Birthday
I wanted to send this early so all the people on the list could wish Mr. Harry
Bartell a very happy 90th birthday.
November 29th births
H A P P Y 9 0 th B I R T H D A Y H A R R Y B A R T E L L ! !
Hope the you have at least 90 more.
11-29-1905 - Mario Braggiotti - Florence, Italy - d. 5-18-1996
pianist, composer: "Fray and Braggiotti"
11-29-1906 - Luis Van Rooten - Mexico City, Mexico - d. 6-17-1973
actor: George Priestly "County Seat"; John Perry "John"s Other Wife"
11-29-1913 - Harry Bartell - New Orleans, LA
actor: Archie Goodwin "Advs. of Nero Wolfe"; "Adv. of Sherlock Holmes";
"Gunsmoke"
11-29-1917 - Merle Travis - Muhlenberg County, KY - d. 10-20-1983
singer, guitarist: "Hollywood Barn Dance"
11-29-1927 - Vin Scully - NYC
sportscaster (Baseball"s Poet Laurate) Play-by Play announcer for the Dodgers
November 29th deaths
01-18-1904 - Cary Grant - Bristol, England - d. 11-29-1986
actor: Jim Blandings "Mr. and Mrs. Blandings"
05-03-1898 - George H. Combs - Lee"s Summit, MO - d. 11-29-1977
congressman, commentator: "Now You Decide"; "Spotlight, New York"
06-17-1904 - Ralph Bellamy - Chicago, IL - d. 11-29-1991
actor: "These Are Our Men"
07-20-1938 - Natalie Wood - San Francisco, CA - d. 11-29-1981
actress: "Lux Radio Theatre"
Ron Sayles
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 09:28:05 -0500
From: "Randall F. Miller Jr." <rfmillerjr1@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Birthday Greetings
May I just take a moment to wish Harry Bartell a very happy 90th birthday!
Thanks for all your entertainment and enjoyment you have brought me and my
family!
--Randy Miller Jr.
Senior Engineer WITF-TV/FM Radio Pennsylvania
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 16:59:14 -0500
From: benohmart@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: yes, more OTR books needed
I'm glad the discussion has got onto subjects for more OTR books. I know that most
OTR fans are in it for the audio (that's the whole point, after all, right?), but I would
really, REALLY like to see more done, especially full biographies on supporting players.
In the 1970s Charles Stumpf and another person, whom I can't find, were going to do a
book on Sara Berner, as this other person was friends with her sister. Alas, it never
came to be. What a shame. I myself was going to attempt one on Parley Baer, but I'm
just too busy these days. After I finish up Bickersons, Daws Butler and Don Ameche
next year, I'm just concentrating on publishing full time. I'll leave the writing to better
minds than mine.
So - if there are any people here who were thinking about doing a book (biography of
star or a history of a series), DO IT. It's very important. Martin Grams, Jr. can't do it all!
Though he should be knighted someday for all the work he's done (in fact, the Queen
bought one of his Hitchcock books, so it's possible!).
If you need a publisher, I'm here. But whatever road you take, start walking!
Ben Ohmart
The Walter Tetley book
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 16:59:21 -0500
From: SIrvinProd@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: MARCH OF TIME
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In response to Martin Grams question about which advertising agency
represented Time Magazine for THE MARCH OF TIME, it was Batten, Barton,
Durstine, and
Osborn, or BBD&O. William Spier was an executive at that agency, beginning in
1929, and was involved in the initial development of THE MARCH OF TIME, which
began in 1931. In a 1970 interview, Spier recalled, "They had a big meeting
with Time Magazine, who was one of the clients at BBD&O. Somebody said, 'What
do
you think Time Magazine should put on the air if they were going to do a radio
show?' And I heard myself, and somebody else echoing, I think we both said at
the same time, I've forgotten who, said 'Dramatize the news!' And so we
invented a show called THE MARCH OF TIME, in which we simulated the voices of
the
famous people." Of course, Spier went on to direct many of the the broadcasts
and helped establish unknown voice talent such as Orson Welles and Agnes
Moorehead. And, needless to point out to Mr. Martin Grams, Spier went on to
produce
and direct such favorites as SUSPENSE and THE ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE. After
an early marriage to a female executive from BBD&O, Spier married entertainer
Kay Thompson (godmother of Liza Minnelli), and later, actress June Havoc
(sister of Gypsy Rose Lee). There is a great deal more to Spier's amazing
career,
which I am researching now. Pardon the shameless plug, but I am writing an
exhaustive biography of Kay Thompson which will include a wealth of
information on
Spier, one of the foremost radio pioneers. I certainly welcome any stories,
photos or recordings related to Spier and/or Kay Thompson that lurk beyond the
readily accessible stuff.
Best Wishes,
Sam Irvin
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------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 16:59:29 -0500
From: "Philip Chavin" <philchav@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Early 3D movies
In #425 Martin Grams asked us to elaborate on or add to the items
mentioned in his posting. I can
elaborate on his early 3D movies item, on Bwana Devil and House Of Wax. (OTR
connection: Arch Oboler wrote and directed 'Bwana' and OTR actors Frank
Lovejoy and Vincent Price, for example, starred in 'Wax'.) I experienced
the world premieres of both movies - I happened to be living in LA at the
time.
For the 'Bwana' premiere, on 26Nov1952, I was the first spectator to stand
by the entrance to the Paramount Theatre (later re-re-named the El Capitan)
on Hollywood Boulevard. Later, the stars arrived and walked past or paused
next to me. I borrowed a piece of paper from a person next to me and got
the only movie stars' autographs I've ever asked for: those of Ronald
Reagan, Ann Blyth, and Pat O'Brien. A glamorous and memorable night for
this teenager. (I never did see the movie.)
For 'Wax', on 16 or17April1953, I went to the 24-hour "premathon" at the
downtown LA Paramount Theatre. (A Warner Bros. movie shown at a Paramount
Theatre.) The ticket cost $[removed] Before going into the auditiorium I sat in
the lobby and star-watched. Shelley Winters walked past and an elderly
gentleman at my side said loudly, "Ah, the beautiful Shirley Winters!" I
snickered because he got her first name wrong. (However, years later I
learned that Shirley was her real name! Had the old fella really known that
or was he 'lucky'??) In the auditorium, seated right behind me was Hugh
Marlowe (OTR actor). When the movie was over, as I left the auditorium, I
accidentally stepped on the back of Bob Stack's shoe. (He was the star of
Bwana Devil!) I apologized, of course. I loved 3D, I didn't mind the
special glasses, and I loved the movie. Another glamorous and memorable
night.
-- Phil C.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 16:59:40 -0500
From: vigor16@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Lena and other things
Hi,
Tell me if you heard this before. If we've been there, reply off line
and don't take up space. I was listening to Fibber McGee & Molly the
other night and a character came on, similar intro as Beula, and her name
was Lena. It sounded like a strange character. Where did she come from
and where did she go? Who was she?
For that matter, who played Alice Darling? What was the reason for not
announcing performers on the show at various times in the show's airing.
If I recall, the show would tell you at the beginning who was going to be
on, but some shows don't have the names of the personalities or
characters, but the intro seems to be intacts. My other question has to
do with Arthur Q. Brian's character "Doc Gamble". I thought I had heard
G. Gordon doing that character at some point in my listening. Thank you
for your time and interest.
Deric
Nice to hear from you!
God and I care
Deric J. McCoy "
314-352-0890
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:02:52 -0500
From: benohmart@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Paul Frees in THM
As I'm on the last pages of my book on Paul Frees, I was compeled to see this film,
which begins with the line "Welcome, foolish mortals" (which is actually the Name of my
book, though I'm a little sorry about that now, [removed]). I didn't care much for it. Found it
a little dull, and not at all like a ride (as Pirates was; a surprisingly Great film). Still, I
guess Frees was one of the singing busts in THM, though from all the pictures I have,
the likeness wasn't very close at all. Why they didn't put him as one of the paintings,
since he was an accomplished artist, I'll never know.
Ben
The Walter Tetley book
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:04:05 -0500
From: corganoid@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: OTR recreations
Greetings all,
I am in the planning stages of creating an OTR re-enactment group in my area.
I have theater experience, but have never done anything like this before.
Any of you who have groups or have done re-enactments (or performed in the
real thing) please send me any tips or pointers you might have. Or just drop
me a line to tell me about your experiences with re-enactments you were part
of
Please contact me off list as to not clutter up the digest.
Thanks.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:04:20 -0500
From: benohmart@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: a little research help needed
If there are any interested parties who live within driving distance of Syracuse, NY and
can perform a quick copy and mail job for me, I would be willing to reimburse them for
their time and trouble. There's an OTR file I need and I can't drive so far away to pick it
up but if someone has free time and lives within driving distance, please contact me off
line.
Ben
The Walter Tetley book
[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:05:01 -0500
From: OTRGURU@[removed]
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Thank you Howard Blue
Many thanks to Howard Blue, author of "Words at War," for his kind words
about my book, "Speaking of Radio" in a recent issue of the OTR Digest.
Howard
said,
Chuck has done some of the very best interviews that I've heard
pertaining to old time radio; his questions were probing, thoughtful and
sensitive.
Saying things like this about Chuck and his work is like saying Bob Hope was
funny and Mount Everest is tall."
I'm blushing, Howard. Many thanks.
Chuck Schaden
"Speaking of Radio -- conversations with the Stars of the Golden Age of Radio"
[removed] click on "Speaking of Radio" for more information
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:05:15 -0500
From: Elizabeth McLeod <lizmcl@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Re: Time's Agency
On 11/28/03 12:52 PM [removed]@[removed] wrote:
Time Magazine was the sponsor of radio's THE MARCH OF TIME but I can't find
in any reference books who the advertising agency was representing Time.
Does any experts on this Digest know who as the advertising agency?
As of 1939, MOT was produced by the New York office of Batten, Barton,
Durstine and Osborne -- the agency of which Fred Allen once said "the
name of that company sounds like a steamer trunk falling down a flight of
stairs."
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:05:33 -0500
From: oldpdb@[removed] (Paul Barringer)
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: THE BEAR THAT WASN'T
Ken wrote that the MGM album of "The Bear That Wasn't" had Keenan Wynn
as the narrator.
Why do I keep thinking Paul Frees?
I know my mind is going (they say that is the second thing that goes, I
won't comment on the first), but I can't get it out of my head.
Was there another program (like Ken said) or am I really losing it. The
later is probably the fact.
Could there have been a TV program with that name and I remember that?
[removed]
oldpdb(Paul)
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:05:39 -0500
From: Henry Howard <hbhoward@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: The perfect gift
For the OTR and big band enthusiast, the Heil Classic Pro microphone is a
modern reproduction of the beloved RCA 44 microphone. About the size of the
RCA 44 Junior, this microphone Mate Steel body is die cast zinc and comes
with a cast steel base with that famous RCA stainless trim. Best of all, it
sounds as good as it looks.
While RCA 44ís cost well over a thousand dollars and up, this newly introduced
dynamic sells for under $270. I liked the microphone in use so much that I
ask to become a dealer.
For any OTR list orders for the microphone between now and the end of the
year, if you enter OTR in the code box on the order form, I will send a
contribution to Charlie for the new server and the continued operation of the
list.
You can see and hear the microphone at
[removed]
Henry Howard
radiodrama digest moderator
[removed]
audio drama skills training
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:05:52 -0500
From: "Martin Grams, Jr." <mmargrajr@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Wanted: Laramie, Wyoming resident?
There are special Old Time Radio papers being offered to me in Laramie,
Wyoming and as much as I would love to say "yes" to the offer, the distance
between Laramie and my house is more than a horse-back ride away. The cost
of flying across the country and hotel/motel fees can be a little on the
expensive side.
I am curious to know if there is anyone on this Digest who is within
residential or driving distance of Laramie, Wyoming. If there are, and they
are willing to perform a small favor for me by picking up the material and
mailing it to me, I would be more than willing to reimburse them the
postage, the fees involved in getting the material, and of course $
reimbursement for their time and trouble. (Not to mention they would
receive the rare opportunity to view some fascinating first-hand OTR
material not available elsewhere.)
There are people on the Digest who will vouch I am good for the money, and I
can reimburse in advance if they wish.
Please contact me off line and I'll e-mail the details and they can decide
if they want to take on the task. (Don't let me frighten ya - it's an easy
job.)
Martin Grams, Jr.
mmargrajr@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:06:00 -0500
From: Bob Beckett <bobbyb1324me@[removed];
To: Old Time Radio Digest <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: Mr. District Attorney
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Hello all,
I was wondering why there seem to be such a limited number of shows
available of "Mr. District Attorney"? Considering that it was one of the top
rated programs on the air for several years, with the shows starring Jay
Jostyn being even scarcer than those starring David Brian.
I remember listening to that show as a kid (starring Jostyn) every week,
but there only seem to be a dozen on so available for purchase with him as Mr.
[removed] Is there a particular reason why??
Bob B.
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------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:06:34 -0500
From: "MICHAEL BIEL" <mbiel@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: Re: Seasons Greetings from our government
From: oldpdb@[removed] (Paul Barringer)
It's because of them and the ones who have served before them
that you and I can sit around reading lists like this one and not
worry that someone is going to suddenly come in our house
and jail us for reading and remembering our love (OTR).
This may sound a little corny, but I am proud to be an American
and proud that I have served my country. oldpdb(Paul)
Apparently Paul has never had the pleasure of a home visit from the FBI and
have the Feds sift thru your collection of 16mm films of Old Time TV. Well
I have, and I have talked to other collectors at OTR conventions who also
collected TV programs on film who have had the same experience. Charlie, I
am not going to start another copyright discussion, but I think everyone
should know that an extraordinary amount of what OTR collectors and dealers
do in copying and selling programs is actionable if the rights owners feel
strongly enough about protecting their property. You know those FBI
warnings you see on the head of DVDs and pre-recorded videotapes? A strong
point could be made that these warnings could likewise be placed on
legitimate releases of OTR recordings as well. Almost three hundred people
received notices of pending lawsuits from the RIAA several months ago if
they were suspected of allowing the uploading of sound recordings in their
computer files.
Just because many have, thankfully, served our country, this does NOT mean
that we are safe in our homes from being jailed for reading and remembering
OTR. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Especially considering the
Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Patriot Act, we as individual
citizens are LESS secure from having our homes and computers searched than
ever before. This may sound a little corney, but our soldiers and our
government are doing more for protecting the commercial interests of the
corporate media giants then protecting our individual rights to read and
think what we want to. Laws passed since 1996 have potentially extended
copyright protection to all pre-1972 sound recordings until the year 2067.
This might include OTR. The Supreme Court upheld this outrage earlier this
year. Hundreds of independent internet "radio" stations have disappeared
in the past year under the threat of possibly huge retroactive copyright
royalty payments to the huge corporate recording companies. Just this
month Michael Powell's FCC authorized the future inclusion of spoiler
signals in digital telecasts that might disable free digital recording of
TV programs. There is a possibility that I would be breaking a law if I
were to tell you how I adjusted the two DVD players I bought this morning
to enable them to play discs from any region code. That law was passed to
protect the huge corporate movie monopoly, not to protect our rights as
citizens to be able to view DVD recordings from around the world.
We should be outraged that we are not as secure in our home and computer as
we think we are. You don't think it can happen to you? Just ask that 12
year old girl living in a NYC project apartment whose mother had to agree
to pay the RIAA two thousand dollars a few months ago because they didn't
know they should have disabled the music uploading link in their computer.
Our armed forces did not protect her right to share music files, and they
are not fighting to protect our rights to share our OTR programs.
Michael Biel mbiel@[removed]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:06:42 -0500
From: Herb Harrison <herbop@[removed];
To: [removed]@[removed]
Subject: March Of Time ad agency
I did a Google search and found this, relating to the question:
From the site [removed]
"Some of the successful Young and Rubicam productions were the "Kate Smith
Hour," "We, the
People," "Duffy's," "Bulldog Drummond," "Sherlock Holmes," "Burns and Allen,"
"Eddie Cantor," "The March of Time," and "The Aldrich Family." ...
Hope this helps,
Herb Harrison
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 17:06:51 -0500
From: "Mike Kerezman" <philipmarlowe@[removed];
To: <[removed]@[removed];
Subject: The Big Clock
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I recently heard the "The Big Clock" on the Screen Director's Playhouse I
believe. It seems like I've heard a version of this story years ago on a tape
set of Rod Serling's The Zero Hour. It had a different name in the title but
some of characters were the same. The thing strikes a chord is the entity in
the story called 'Janice Publishing' which I believed was used the Zero Hour
story which eludes me. It seems like the Zero Hour version had a more futurist
glaze to it if I remember right.
Mike Kerezman
Macomb, Oklahoma
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--------------------------------
End of [removed] Digest V2003 Issue #428
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